CC Loves… & FashionFlirts.com Giveaway!

CC’s 3 Year Blogiversary Bonanza Week continues!
First things first: the winner of CC’s $100 BareNecessities.com Giveaway is the lovely tjalaine of Haute Lunch ~ congrats, and happy shopping!
Here are just a few of the things that CC is loving right now, darlings!
These Peter Breese lithographs. Please visit peterbreese.com.
This DKNY mirror-embroidered georgette dress, at net-a-porter.com.
This Rachel Pally Lyndon dress, at shopbop.com.
This Miu Miu polka-dot canvas clutch, at net-a-porter.com.
This Juliet & Company necklace, at shopbop.com.
These violet crystal earrings from Going Dancing. So delicate and lovely! Visit goingdancing.com.au for more fabulous body jewelry! Darlings, Going Dancing is located in Australia but offers free shipping worldwide with no minimum order! In addition, Going Dancing is offering CC readers an exclusive 20% discount! Simply use the promo code "couturecarrie" at checkout! Happy shopping!
FashionFlirts.com, a gorgeous new site full of wonderful gifts for you and your fellow fashionistas!
Fabulous news, darlings! CC and Fashion Flirts have one of these wonderful Wild Child gift sets to give away to a lucky CC reader. This amazing gift set includes: a multi-row necklace, drop earrings, a stretch bracelet, a leopard print clutch, a leopard print scarf, a keepsake box, and a personalized gift tag. This prize is valued at $89.95! One Week Contest: To enter, simply leave a relevant comment on this post. For extra entries, “like” FashionFlirts.com on Facebook and/or follow @fashionflirts on Twitter and tell CC you have done so in a separate comment. U.S. Residents only on this one, darlings (but not to worry if you are an international fellow fashionista ~ there are two other CC giveaways going on right now that you can enter - just scroll down!).
Good luck, darlings!
xoxox,
CC

Architectural Inspiration: Chic Kitchen

Architectural inspiration via nuevo-estilo.es.

Tibi draped silk dress; this and next at net-a-porter.com.

Pippa Small 18-karat labradorite earrings.

Giuseppe Zanotti T Strap platform sandals, at shopbop.com.

Peter Breese illustration. Visit peterbreese.com.

Darlings, what do you think of this kitchen and the look it inspired?

CC couldn't resist including a Peter Breese original. How do you like this illustration?

xoxox,

CC

The Art of Peter Breese

As you may already know, darlings, CC adores the illustrations of Peter Breese ~ CC and PB actually collaborated recently on an article for Covet Magazine! You can see our work on page 21.
Darlings, fabulous news! CC and PB are giving away 2 Original Peter Breese sketches to 2 lucky CC readers.
In addition, 10 runners up will receive a 4x6" letterpress print on Arches watercolor paper - all hand pulled on a 1950s printing press using a zinc oxide plate. So gorgeous!
Seven Day Contest: To enter, simply become a fan of The Art of Peter Breese on Facebook and state that you have done so in the comments section of this post! The TWELVE winners of this fabulous giveaway will be chosen at random by Peter’s adorable 4-year-old daughter next Friday, June 18! International Fellow Fashionistas welcome!
Good luck, darlings, and be sure to visit Peter Breese’s website here.
xoxox,
CC

Plataforma

First things first, darlings! The winner of CC’s Modcloth $80 Gift Voucher Giveaway is the lovely Fashion Confectionary ~ congrats, darling! Happy shopping!
Sky high heels are sexier than ever, darlings! Invest in some pretty platforms to take you from summer to winter...
Illustration at right by Peter Breese. Mr. Breese created this exquisite piece specifically for this platform post, and CC is ever so grateful! Thanks, PB!
Fashion Flashback: Vogue, December 2002.
Bazaar, August 2006.
Brazilian Vogue, September 2008 ~ CC adores this look!
British Vogue, March 2009.
French Vogue, August 2007.
French Vogue, October 2002.
Russian Vogue, November 2007.
Numero, December 2006.
V swimsuit issue, 2009.
Just Cavalli Resort. This and other resort photos via style.com.
Louis Vuitton Resort
Philosophy Resort
Roksanda Ilincic Resort
Proenza Schouler Resort
DAVIS by Ruthie Davis Ice platform pumps, at shopbop.com.
Burberry punched leather T-bar sandals; this and next six at net-a-porter.com.
Miu Miu suede ruffle-back platform peep toes.
Giuseppe Zanotti cut-out shoe boots.
Loeffler Randall Yvette concealed platform color-block suede pumps.
Valentino diamanté-embellished peep toe platform pumps.
Pedro Garcia magenta suede peep-toe slingbacks ~ CC is smitten!
Miu Miu glitter slingbacks.
Miu Miu cutout platform sandal; this and next five at barneys.com.
Giuseppe Zanotti raspberry stitched platform peep toe pump.
Pierre Hardy platform Maryjane.
Christian Louboutin Josefa hidden platform.
Yves Saint Laurent teal Tribtoo pump.
Jean Michel Cazabat printed suede slingback.
Giuseppe Zanotti studded suede crisscross sandals, at intermixonline.com.
Brian Atwood Delta patent platforms, at theOutnet.com.
Last Look: Nicholas Kirkwood suede platforms with python cut-out detail, at brownsfashion.com.
The view from up here is spectacular, darlings!
xoxox,
CC
P.S. Don’t forget to scroll down and enter CC’s Dick’s Sporting Goods $100 Gift Certificate Giveaway if you haven’t done so already!

Exclusive Interview with Illustrator Peter Breese!

CC was recently honored to interview the über-talented Fashion Illustrator Peter Breese. Mr. Breese even agreed to produce some originals to accompany this Q&A, so you are the first to lay eyes on the four exquisite creations in this post!

CC’s 5 Questions for Illustrator Peter Breese:
CC: Peter, I understand that you began your career as a commercial illustrator and only recently decided to break into fashion. Why the new interest, and what have been the highlights of your experience with the fashion world thus far?

PB: Actually, [blushing] this is all very new to me. I only recently took the plunge into illustration. True, the bulk of my early work was commercial, though it was hardly a career. I was testing the waters so-to-say. Dreaming.
Why fashion? Wonderful question and one I love to ponder myself. What lured me here? Primarily, it was my fellow illustrators who, after looking at my sketch work, encouraged me to consider this avenue. However, I won’t lie, I considered fashion illustration before. You see, I am drawn to movement, like a plant to light, and the fashion world seems to be imbued with this amazing quality of perpetual motion. I love it here already, [laughing] and I’m not even an official member. I sort of feel like I’m sneaking over the security fence and hoping no one notices.

CC: What sort of educational background do you have, and when did you enter this field?

PB: Yikes, now you’re going to make me say what I attempted to avoid in the first question. Well. Alright. I have a BA in Kinesiology and Applied Physiology and a MS in Public Health. I worked as an epidemiologist (medical researcher) and a human anatomy instructor for many years. I guess you could say the human form has always inspired me.
It’s worth noting that I doodled my way through college and graduate school. In fact, when I was in law school - yes, I did the dreaded 1L year of law school as well - my professor, after noticing the doodles in my law book, jokingly recommended that I leave law school and go into art. If she reads this interview [waving]: hi Professor Smith! I guess I’m a glutton for punishment.
But where did I learn art? Well, I’ve literally been drawing all my life. So I guess you could say I have been in art school for thirty-two years and counting.

CC: What project are you most proud of and why?

PB: That is a very tough question because I am constantly evolving and, hopefully, improving. I work hard to ensure that my current work is the best, so I guess the right answer would be: my next project. Every time I see another artist’s work, I think to myself, I can be better.

CC: Do you have any advice to offer aspiring commercial and fashion illustrators?

PB: [Laughing] I will when I’ve made it. Though I can say from my early experience that if you are stubborn and persistent, the pendulum of time will come back for you. All those seconds, minutes, and hours of work will have been worth it if you are following your bliss.

CC: Is there anything else you’d like to share about your work?

PB: First, let me say how honored I am to get a chance to share this new venture with Carrie and all of you. It was loads of fun to do this interview.
For this project, I turned to traditional mediums (pencil and watercolor) in an attempt to emphasize the clothing and implied movement of the women beneath. I think the pencil and watercolor gives the figure a playful appearance that doesn’t always come through in digital media, which I use for the majority of my other projects. You’ll also notice from these pieces that I’m a big fan of Christian Dior’s Couture Spring 2009 - brilliant.
Bear in mind that these are my first steps into the world of fashion, so I am obviously both nervous and excited to have this opportunity. Like most industries, word-of-mouth and networking have tremendous power in the art world, so this is a great chance for me to move forward. Of course it could be a step backward [laughing]. Either way, I’m sure I’ll be watching the site with baited breath as your readers respond.
Thank you all.

CC: Thank you, Peter. You are truly an inspiration. Visit Peter Breese Illustration here, darlings!