By Invitation Only.. 'Some enchanted evening'..

Hello my dears! Hope you are enjoying my little 'Christmas guest post series'! Weren't Emma and Maria's posts just lovely!?! I loved reading about their Christmas inspirations and I can't wait to share the rest of the line up of bloggers extraordinaire. But today I am pausing the series in order to participate in this month's 'By Invitation Only' blog party.

You see we (the 'BIO girls') have been invited to a virtual Christmas party at the amazing house (..to-be) of our dear friend Tina of 'The Enchanted Home'.
No expense has been spared - there will be live music, carolers, tuxedo clad help, exquisite foods, and the champagne will not stop flowing.

Our brief for today's post is to reveal what we will wear to this 'enchanted evening' and what we will bring as a 'hostess gift' for our dear Tina. 

So I poured myself a cup of tea and sat down to browse my favourite fashion sites in search for a dress. Having reviewed a whole raft of fab designers and pieces I settled for the 'Lifechanger' dress by Australian designer duo 'Sass & Bide'.

  Sarah- Jane Clarke (sass) & Heidi Middleton (bide)

I simply adore the girls behind the label, and their fresh take on fashion as a whole. The 'Lifechanger dress' has a full length gathered muslin skirt and an amazing embroidered bustier with a strong ethic / tribal feel. I love that it's simple yet unique, elegant yet quirky and formal whilst also being fun & different.

Underneath that gorgeous cascade of soft black muslin I would hide a pair of Gucci 'Houston' platform heels, that really would continue to emphasize that stunning vertical line of the dress (very flattering in these times of indulgence..ahem!).

My hair would be pulled up in a bun of some sort, and the make up mainly focused on dramatic eyes, and flawless glowing skin (all over). 

As for jewelry, I would layer quite a few chunky 'Smashed' bangles on my arm, thread on a pair of 'Pointed tip' earrings to balance the sleek hair, and also slip a black onyx 'Doodle' ring on my finger (all pieces by Orit London). 
Nothing whimsical or too ornate (I am not a girly-girl), just something to enhance the ethnicity of the dress and to add some subtle glitz. Or as Marsha puts it, "It is Christmas after all, and we must all sparkle"! I love you Marsha! xx

Apart from the full length, black 'Opera cloak' I would be wearing on top of the dress upon arrival, that is it. No more no less.. Well apart from the 'hostess gift' of course, which would be a lovely 24 karat gold plated 'Whish bone' from Sue de Chiara's wonderful e-boutique 'The Zhush'.

 

I simply love these and intend to get one for myself after the mad rush to Christmas. They look as lovely on the table as they do framed and hung on the wall! 

*******

Dear Tina, the night has truly been enchanting and I thank you for your kind invitation. Marsha darling we love your 'By Invitation Only' and thank you too for always bringing us such wonderful inspiration!

Don't forget to check out all the other 

'By Invitation Only' posts around the bloggosphere!

Big kisses from the North!

xx Charlotta

By Invitation Only: 'It is in the details...'

Hello lovelies. It is that time of the month again when I join an impressive and talented group of international bloggers that post under the label 'By Invitation Only' (founded by my dear friend Marsha Harris).

On the first Tuesday of every month we post an interpretation of a given theme - in what ever flavour and flair we may individually fancy. 

Last month's post was based on William Henry Channing's 'Symphony' (HERE) and I read some truly spectacular posts from the 'BIO' participants.  
This month the inspiration comes from French writer Gustave Flaubert (best known for his novel 'Madame Bovary') who founded the saying 'Le bon Dieu est dans le détail' meaning that it's all about the details...

Life's most memorable moments are often made up of fine detail that stick out and make that specific time/place/person special - i.e. the so called 'the little things'.. A smell, a specific colour, a piece of music, the way someone speaks, a particular way of preparing a dish, a small gesture that makes all the difference.. This can be good or bad, and often the margin between the two also lays in the fine details.. One small twist and those 'little things' can change perfection into utter disaster - and vice versa.. :) That's what makes life so unpredictable, fun, and such a wonderful learning experience don't you think..!?!

Though tempting to philosophically dwell on the beauty of life and those situations where 'details' play a major part (which btw is all the time if you ask me..!), I have chosen to stay lighthearted and in line with a simple but true passion of mine - namely table decor... Or as I prefer to look at it; creating an ambient, warm, and enjoyable eating experience. And as with everything else in life, table decor is ALL about the details..!

Since early childhood I remember my mother preparing for dinner parties with great attention to detail. The linen was starched & pressed, the silver polished, crystal glasses washed & hand dried. There were always flower arrangements scattered through out the house. Candles were pre-lit as to ensure they would burn evenly by the time the guests arrived. Special foods was ordered from select suppliers, then prepared and served in the most mouth watering way possible (my mother is a wonderful cook!).

My dad would line our driveway with lanterns, and inside out, our home would glow with welcoming warmth. Nothing would be left to fait - every detail was carefully considered, lovingly attended to and every effort made to ensure our guests would feel valued and cared for.

My somewhat hectic life may not allow me to go to the same extent as my amazing parents (my mother would even hand comb the fringes on the rugs.. !), but one thing I am very particular about (and sensitive to..) is the ambience created at meal times...! I will always make an effort to create a beautiful table and pleasant mood even if it means just lighting a few candles at breakfast time to ensure the kidlets wake up with a sense of love & care. A little goes a long way in the wee hours of a school day.. 
When it comes to weekend meals (formal or casual..) I love to take it a bit further''... As do these wonderful Autumn tables... Some have made their rounds around the blog universe for some time but they are still worthy of 'detail studying'.. Enjoy! x

Image by Christine Chang via Enchanted Dream Weddings

Please pop over to the other blogettes who take part in the 'By Invitation Only' blog event this month. They really are an awesome bunch..!

Vicky Archer

Tish Jett

Yvonne Prapp

Catherine Robinson

Annie Bouterse

Coty Farquhar

Deborah Peterson

Dustjacket Attic

Shari Miller

Tina

Mona Thompson

Fifi Flowers

Jaqueline Mumford

Karin Jansky

Cecilia Gonzalez

Renee Granier

Angela Foster

Lisa

Christina Fluegge

Lene

Stacey

Have a lovely rest of the week friends.

xx Charlotta 

Image credits: 1. B.I.O logo designed by Shari of the Little Blue Deer, 2. Made by me :), 3/7/9/10/13. Pinterest, 4. Martha Stewart, 5. Dustjacket Attic, 6. Sunday in Bed, 8. Casa Très Chic, 11. Enchanted Dream Weddings, 12. Country Living.

'By Invitation Only' - Symphony...

Hello friends. Due to a hectic (but fun!) recent few weeks I haven't posted much since we made the leap from the bottom to the top of the world. That said, today I am proud to announce my participation in an international & exclusive group of blogettes that will post monthly under the label 'By Invitation Only'.

The lovely Marsha Harris of 'Splendarosa' - founder of 'By Invitation Only' - will set a theme for each post, and this month we draw our inspiration from this wonderful piece of writing by William Henry Channing (1810-1884)..

1. lzpartitime, 2. Sarah Klassen, 3. Spanish Riding School, 4. La Bella Vida, 5.Kristin who Lusts,

6. Sunday in Bed, 7/19. unknown, 8. Let's Cross the Universe, 9. From the Bottom of the Ironing Basket,

10. Pretty Stuff, 11/17. Splendid Willow, 12. Lou Boos and Shoes, 13. Patagonia Gifts, 14/15. Pinterest,

16. Kiss the Frog, 18. Life of Polarn Per, 20. Erin Farley, 21. Sunday in Bed, 22. Feel these Bones.

Keep it simple. Keep it real. Enjoy it while it lasts.

 

Before I go; 'Happy September' to you all! This is one of my favourite months of the year here in Sweden and I'll be back soon with yummy Autumnal inspiration..