It's the most wonderful time of the year! Here in LA the brisk weather is finally starting to set in. Compared to my home stomping grounds of Salt Lake City that isn't saying much (tonight SLC is at a brisk 27 degrees while DTLA is closer to 60) but considering the almost blistering heat in recent weeks, it is still a drastic departure. And just in time, because street vendors are beginning to pull out their hot ciders and hot chocolates, which doesn't really make sense if it is 80 degrees out.
We finally made the big move and have landed in Los Angeles! Ah, it is good to be back. The coming weeks here on She Wore Stars are sure to be chock full of Hollywood lore centered around L.A. sites while I get my belly full.
September is the month of the harvest -- festivals are popping up all over the place to celebrate the abundance of this season. I hope that this time of year finds you steeped in plenty, as you get ready to pull out your winter wardrobes, your Halloween decorations, and your favorite chicken soup recipes to survive the cold winter months ahead!
In the meantime, enjoy the stories that inspired me this month, including a little bit of ...
I am a tremendous fan of Jean Harlow -- not just her work, but the woman behind the silver screen. Her life was plagued by scandal and, in the end, tragedy. But before that, she was the kind of film star who, if she happened to meet you on the street, might invite you to that evening's barbecue. She truly wanted to make her guests feel welcome, and was known as more of a tomboy than a glamour girl to those who knew her best -- more at home in pants than in sequined dresses.
Which is perhaps why I had to try out one of her recipes, in preparation for the upcoming colder months.
Taking take the guesswork out of vintage shopping for you—these essentials will be the foundation of your vintage flair, taking you from summer to winter. They will anchor whatever other fashionable pieces you already have in your closet (or populating your purse & dresser!).
Most of these have been tried and tested by myself, or better yet, the celebrated starlets that used them. Here is short list of your 10 absolute must-haves to channel your inner starlet, whether she most resembles Elizabeth Taylor, or Grace Kelly, or Audrey Hepburn, or Marilyn Monroe, or....
The hubby and I have traveled to San Luis Obispo, and we are loving it! From hiking Bishop Peak to viewing humpback whales off the coast of Morro Bay, it's been an amazing getaway.
The cold weather is setting in though, some nights it gets super foggy. I love pulling out my favorite sweater, pouring a cup of tea, and digging into a good book. I am reading through the 1001 Books to Read before You Die list -- an ambitious endeavor to be sure! But it will keep me occupied on long road trips.
You never know. That hitchhiker beckoning to you from the side of the road might just be a famous celebrity. They might be Marilyn Monroe!
I just finished reading Goddess by Anthony Summers. In it, he relates a story of Marilyn waiting by the side of a road, trying to hitch a ride from an unsuspecting passerby (there had been a mishap with her scheduling that day). But car after car drove by, not realizing they were passing up the opportunity to meet the immortal Marilyn Monroe.
Hollywood is no stranger to elaborate parties, from Beyonce's masquerade ball where guests were brought to the door by horse & carriage, to Justin Bieber's circus-themed shin-dig complete with Bozo the clown. But there is only one thing that can truly make your party stand out, and that is making each and every guest feel welcomed. Hollywood celebrities of yesteryear knew how to do this well -- but Carole Lombard stood out. What she did, you should be doing too.
It is shaping up to be a gorgeous summer here in Salt Lake City – sunny skies with just enough of a breeze to make it bearable. My hubby and I have been biking the canyon trails that run up and down next to the raging river (fed by a beautiful watefall).
I love these summer nights with nothing to do but enjoy the people we care about. What are all of you up to this summer? I hope it is full of laughter, running barefoot in the grass, and friendship.
Enjoy the stories that inspired me this month, featuring...
