Paris VS New York...SF is just behind.

What Does it mean about SF: in/not in? SF is never in the competition...Next to Paris or New York, but wait have you been in San Francisco before? SF rocks! I lived in Paris for about 7 years and visited SF several times while living in Paris. I also spent a whole summer in NY ( enough time to feel like a new-new yorker? 3 months) well, and still pay a visit to the Big Apple once in a while! But today I live in SF, and my heart is in San Francisco. Once I will gather all the elements on WHY those 3 cities dragged me and still hypnotized me with their wonders, that one day I'll make a Paris vs NY vs SF inspiration book with my original illustrations and pictures! To published...maybe by
a publisher of luxury and limited edition books on fashion, travel, design, art, architecture, photography and the culinary arts.

To start with, dress like a local ! Below is The grey sweater+ The turquoise necklace you MUST pack either visiting Paris, New York or San Francisco.
Pick them up at the shop before you go! You'll thank me later! :)

My shop and I are in relationship.

...And it's the best ! We met in San Francisco.

Cottage

I remember when I moved in San Fran.

After 3 months of undiscovered desert beach spots hunting on the Brazilian coast, we were ready for another hunt! We were looking for The perfect Californian cottage to live in. A little wooden house lost in a prairie where we wanted to escape!
How come we've missed this one?

Red Yellow and Blue Chairs in Transit.

I'm crazy about chairs !
All kind of chairs...
I wish I could keep them all.
But, there is a but : The shop is pretty small.
There is no room for 3 extra chairs!
And my striped pink and green chair will probably be jealous too...
I know she will.
They will all look good though around a rustic wooden table or even a glass round table top.
If I had to keep only one, I'm not sure witch one I will go for...
Probably the blue ?
Right now there are in transit at the shop.
If I keep the blue one, it will match the sofa and blend well with the floor too.
So ok, I'm keeping the blue one!
Decision made.
Please come by and pick up the other two!

POD and seed + Aline's Closet

I had the pleasure to meet Mary Podgurski, the owner of POD & seed: an amazing flowers+event+ design company based in California, San Francisco. Mary works with some of the best, to name a few she is a florist for Relais & Châteaux property and Restaurant Gary Danko! You can imagine how blessed I feel to collaborate with such a talented florist! Have a look at her beautiful blog:
http://podandseed.tumblr.com

Mary carefully selects the finest flowers and plants and designs them into unique arrangements ! When she dropped the flowers at the shop the other day it instantly changed the whole store! I'm in love with the pink orchids, really, they bloom in profusion: I never seen so many flowers on an orchid before! Pointless to describe the succulents: they brings such a peaceful atmosphere to the shop and add a natural chic "je ne sais quoi" !

It's been a while since I wanted to carry some plants and fresh flowers at Aline's Closet. I'm so happy this time is now: how perfect this is for Spring and soon-soon Mother's day !?
To quote one of my client : "The flowers are beautiful and they are so reasonably priced! " That being said, I believe everyone should care for a plant in its life, a plant they can water and watch grow: it's a good feeling, flowers bring joy to anyone that take a nano second to look at them...The plus? Not only they'll warm up your heart but they are the perfect size for your apartment!

Now, remember nothing it's eternal and that's very true for flowers...Mary selection include four varieties of succulents and flowers very low care and high performance! Come by and pick one while they are still blooming-Thank you POD and seed -The shop has never been that "naturally" cute !

Ad-venture!

I've always been an adventurer! A real adventurer need a bag just like this one.

RoofTopShoot!

One of the good thing about leaving in a great city, like San Francisco is that you meet people!!
I'm glad I met Zach Gomez, a talented photographer who was able to capture the really best of me...you can check his work on his website here: fullpotentialphotography.com
This is a quick pic of our last shoot on a rooftop- To start with...I'm wearing a white and red slim striped men shirt, my favorite washed out "black" jeans and my Melissa Love Robots pink and green heels that I bought in Brazil-Laidback Style...

The world in a shoe box

I just created another blog. The 2nd on the list! It's called : " The world in a shoe box " It a blog about everything you can put inside a shoe box, that is not only a pair of shoes...I've always been fascinated by tiny things in general -have you ever wonder why my shop is so small ? ;)- Everything small is cutter! With "The world in a shoe box" I wanted to express my 'endless love' for fashion and shoes, my fascination for miniature objects and photography and my craving for traveling ! Because space is limited in a shoe box, it will make my researches more condense and really interesting! But wait and see, You will be amazed with the quantities of stuff that can fit in a shoe box! This is my rule: As long as "it" fits in a shoe box "it" can be on the blog- Of course, once in a while my shoe box will go back to her primary purpose being a shoe box, and that will be the time for me to become a super shoe curator and stylist to show you my best shoe's picks from both women and men footwear collections !

Inside my shoe box you will travel! I will tell you so many stories, captured by images and emotions ! Welcome to " The world in a shoe box"
By the way, my shoe box holds woman shoes sized 8,5/ 39 european for woman...and heuuu let me ask my boyfriend shoe size..(it might be useful to know as well!) Just in case you feel generous, at some point, in the course of our relationship!

Http:// www.theworldinashoebox.com

Beautiful event !

Last Sunday Spring Fashion Brunch was amazing!

A lot of people showed up and the Sun was surprisingly one of us too!
Even though, no one brought plants of flowers at the event, I've got 3 people donating money instead, so I could pick my own plants! Most of my guests said they'll bring something during the week, I found this really sweet...
It was a lot of fun, and I want to thank everyone that contribute to make this event a successful one!

- Mr.Sun, thanks for shining on my corner, without you, it wouldn't have been the same ...
- Rachel Hass, thanks for your fresh and beautiful flyer design !
- Karla Mi Lugo, the nickname I gave you talks by itself: thanks dear ~bird~, for your happy performance!
- Joy Dovidio from Pain Traditionnel, thanks for your so delicious pastries! Exactly the parisian taste I needed on that Sunday morning !
- Morgan Byloos from Local Addition, thanks for spreading the news so well with helpful articles on the event!
- Andrew Dudley from Haighteration, thanks for continuous support on highlighting Aline's Closet in your blog!
- Chris Loan from Bay area expeditions, thanks for the spontaneous photographs!
- All my neighbors, again, you guys are the best!

The garden will be just like You: inspiring, beautiful and unique!
A little bit more patience for flowers to bloom! And If you are lucky enough, you will see me adding potted plants and flowers in front of my store throughout the beautiful month of April!
Xoxo

You can not buy Wisdom at the Market !

I received my National Geographic April 2012 issue today : there is a great article on Masks and Spirits in Africa and the African diaspora. The role masks play in between reality and illusion, it's creativity and the uniqueness of the ritual dress is amazing to me!

"You Can't buy Wisdom at the Market" is one from Benin, West Africa, where I was born. Did you know that Benin is also the birth land of Voodoo ( Vodun in 'fon' my language, means 'spirit')
It's one of the oldest religious expression in Africa that believes in spirits and reinforce the cultural identity of any natural elements beyond human beings. Voodoo cosmology centers around the vodun spirits and other elements of divine essence that govern the Earth, a hierarchy that range in power from major deities governing the forces of nature and human society to the spirits of individual streams, trees, rocks...Adherents also emphasise ancestor worship and hold that the spirits of the dead live side by side with the world of the living..In Africa any vodun celebration comes with great masks and costumes!
If all natural elements have a spirit and a power it definitely shows in the costumes and masks they represent : they're powerful and stunning...
Im in love with the mix and match of rich and gorgeous colors and fabrics layers, pointless to say it's inspiring me ! It's magical !

As pollen from flowers that spreads with the wind...

I'm so excited to put together another event ! It's just on time for Spring, witch is by the way "right on" with my wish to build a sidewalk community garden in the Lower Haight surrounding Aline's Closet!
On Sunday March 25th from noon to 4pm I'm inviting everyone that cares about Fashion, Art, Music, Nature (Mimosas and French pastries) to gather around my corner and celebrate Spring!
My new jewelry collection is out and it was time to seat and watch the flowers grow!

Earlier in March, in replacement to Waller and Pierce trees that have been cut down in November, I had an idea of setting a nice little garden area in front of the store: a bit like a mini garden community, something that belongs to everyone and that everyone can enjoy ...So I posted an ad on Craigslist and asked any volunteers and artists that would like to get into this with me, to get their own pot/vase/case/barel or whaterver they want their plants or flowers to grow in -Ready- for a great community garden ! Each individual pots will have names on it and the idea goes beyond if you want to write a story or a poem that belongs to your plants or flowers...This is a completely free initiative and no money is involved apart buying/getting your own pot flower/plant set. The plants can rotate and people can also bring an old plant they already have as long as it can seat outdoor-the purpose of this is to gather as much as possible nature lovers to help me start a pretty community garden setting in front of Aline's Closet, witch will eventually become the most beautiful corner of the Lower Haight! I know, it's almost already titled this way :)

I seriously want to unbellished a plain side walk : bring back some kind of Nature, art and fun! While I was preparing for my event, an online magazine called Local Addition contacted me and wrote an article about my intention...Now that I've got enough responses, I will inaugurate the new sidewalk at Aline's Closet this Sunday March 25th, noon to 4pm...
+ I will have Karla as a guest, Karla Mi Lugo, a juggling accordionist I met this year who will be playing and performing live for the occasion!
It's a Spring Fashion-Garden-Brunch Party! Have you ever heard about something like this before?
Ohhh, and before I forgot, I will of course, be offering 15%off in the entire boutique!

I want to specially thank Rachel Haas, a young talented graphic designer who 's been able to captured my initial idea and worked from my miniature sketch to produce the beautiful Aline's Closet "Spring Fashion Brunch" Flyer : Bravo!

- Now I can relax..it's officialy Spring tomorrow!
See you at the event! Xoxo

Find the shoe that fits you right!

Not the blue one...
Yes! those black one on the right.
39, European size please!
Chanel Chanel...

Life is all about finding the shoe that fits you right...xoxo

Bike...in style.

It's a vintage 1970s lady's bike and it's a beauty!

My trueloves unite at the San Francisco Fashion Film Festival.

Spring is at our doors and the inaugural San Francisco Fashion Film Festival too! With a degree in fashion design and a background in stage costumes, (before opening my store I used to freelance for other designers but mostly for the theater and opera industries) I'm so happy that my two trueloves, please understand "Film and Fashion", unite at the San Francisco Fashion Film Festival. That will be so much fun!!

The San Francisco Fashion Film Festival will offer a new take on what it means to be stylish in the cinema. With a curated selection of independent, documentary, and dramatic production films. In the film industry I'm a documentaries lover and some documentary films, will tell the stories of the designers and artists who shape the world of fashion and style! As they explore films that have inspired trend, beauty, design, and culture, they will look beyond the little black dress to the creators and influencers who have affected style through film...

Please join us! I'll be attending this event on April 7th and 8th at the Roxie Theatre in San Francisco, CA.
Look for me there!

Nada Tiramisu.

While I was at the shop this afternoon, I've spent some time talking on the phone, with my best friend. (I know a lot of people but I have only few friends and I call them my "best friends", unfortunately, all spread out in the world... Well that can be discussed in another post...) So Nada lives in Strasbourg, France. We've know each since about 13 years, she's awesome and we talked about everything friends talked about! In orher words: Life! Ok, to name a few subjects here: our sweet teen-ages spent together in Cameroun, boys (that eventually became today men, then actually men of our lives! ), gardening, and..cooking! Yesterday, she gave me her awesome tiramisu recipe-I was so excited! I was craving tira-misu all week and was thinking of making a good one soon ! So here is my week end plan: make tiramisu and share it with a very special person... Now that I have Nada recipe + the tiramisu crave + the very special person to share it with, I don't have 2 but 3 great excuses to eat some tiramisu !
-Thanks Nada!

Diamonds? Im not selling diamonds yet...

"Aline was everything you made her out to be - knowledgeable, honest, extremely helpful. I couldn't be more pleased with the way she handled me as a customer. She showed me the differences between quality grades, cuts, and colors in a very straightforward way - it was very very clear that she was not trying to sell me more than I could afford(!). As you may have guessed, I didn't feel the need to continue shopping around - I was extremely satisfied with the deal she gave me on a beautiful stone (I actually came in a little under budget!). I can't say enough how helpful your service has been and how excellent my diamond-buying trip was with Aline. Thank you so much!"
- Doug (Boston, MA)

I find this review while I was browsing the Internet, it does not belongs to me but sure it makes me smile!

Learn to be free.

Monday in pictures

...or my official day off logo!

Say: F..OOD!

See, I dream of greens and my idea of irresistible vegetables (love potatoe+asparagus!) had been captured by German photographer and stylist Imke Klee. I love her work and had the pleasure back in 2007 to met her in person in Paris and worked with her as a model on a shooting for Li Edelkoort (Trend Union)Paris/ Bloom magazine. You can find more of her work here: http://www.imkeklee.com -Look for me throughout her beautiful website! ;)

Neon velvet please!

Witch one will fit best at Aline's Closet?
It's so hard to pick only one!

Dear Mr Président,

A note to Mr.Obama from Aaron Van Blerkom with the "Dear Mr. President Project".
The Dear Mr. President project was launched by kidthing and the National Education Association (NEA).
For several weeks kidthing collected 4,500 submissions representing 47 states and three continents from children (ages 5 to 12) interested in sharing their thoughts and ideas when President Barack Obama was newly inaugurated.

Fittingly on President’s Day, a special digital book with the top 150 submissions has been unveiled and released free for download on kidthing.
Also, a digital book has been turned into a special hand-bound limited edition print of “Dear Mr. President,” which has been hand delivered to the White House. Awesome!

Today is Présidents' Day in the US and I want to wish a Happy Presidents' Day to America.

La chance?

Ada Carlson started collecting "trèfles à quatre feuilles " in 1910. We are still not sure if they bring luck, but luck was probably with her to be able to find so many in her life and patience and hard work too to collect them in such a pretty way...in conclusion:
Good (enough) luck+ hard work + patience = my new moto.

Coachella 2012

This is the lineup for Coachella 2012, coming up in exactly 59 days!!
I don't want to miss First Aid Kit and I want to see Gardens+Villa again!
It's all about viewing and earing pleasures! I hope I will be able to make it there!
- Thanks to every persons that make art and music: You make life better!

OMG ! My blog is one year old today!

-Writting a blog has made the voice in my head that whispers "I can do this" a llittle louder when the nuts and bolts of my craft are missing or perfectly fit together! Yes; I haven't missed a month without sharing : "I can do this" !

En Mode Amour

Copy of a curious love letter

After reading this I really felt bad for Miss W-.But we have a say in France that says: " le malheur des uns fait le bonheur des autres"-It basicaly means that somewhere out there another Miss "Something" must be happy that gentleman wrote this to Miss W-... Anyway, I'm pretty sure the gentleman in question can write amazing "reallove letter". I want to imagine that exact same letter written to me with everything switched out towards the expression of Reallove. It will start and end just like that:
"Madam,
The great love and tenderness I have hitherto expressed for you is true,...it is really possible I should one day be,
Madam,
your affectionate lover till death."
Valentine day is at the corner! & yes, I'm a romantic !

Goldfish VS Dalmatian