Edited: Bazaar Spain

Obsessed would not be an adequate word to describe my feelings about this recent editorial in Harper's Bazaar Spain with model Anna de Rijk. Her rebel punk attitude is totally infectious and each of the images above feels so powerful (to me) that I can't help but stare at them again and again. That cat, those eyes, that fringe, those heels; oh my. It kinda makes me want to take my old denim jacket and rough it up a bit a la her Balmain stunner in the top photo...I'm sensing a DIY moment this weekend! File under so bad it's good.

[Images via: Fashion Gone Rogue]

Eats: Beef Bourguignon

Thanks to the ever changing Bay Area weather, today is the perfect day to share with you a recipe for one of my all-time favorite rainy day foods. Beef Bourguignon may seem a bit tedious in its preparation, but I've tested both complicated (sorry Ina Garten) and simple recipes (love you William-Sonoma meat handbook) allowing me to realize that the end results are similarly delicious. Pare it with mashed potatoes and crusty bread to sop up all the delicious juices and I promise your belly will be thanking you. Keep reading after the jump for the full recipe. File under yummy.

Salzburg me away.

As a lover of classical music and all things sparkly, I have to admit that I have been anticipating a chance to share a travel post on Austria- the home of Mozart, Swarovski headquarters, picturesque Alpine slopes and a bustling modern art scene to boot. The lovely city of Salzburg is just the place to experience all of the above (with a slight detour for the sparkly part, see below); and with the slight chill in the air today in the Bay, I can't help but imagine myself in a much more romantic place (call me crazy but homeless people outside my door just doesn't do it for me.) Check out the complete fabulous itinerary after the jump along with the perfect outfit for exploring. File under dreaming on.

Edited: Anchors Away.

There is nothing I'd rather do on this particularly warm Sunday than take a boat out in the San Francisco bay and attempt to be just as glamorous as Georgina Stojiljkovic in this fantastic scuba inspired shoot for Elle Sweden's June 2011 issue. Although I'm not sure I'd be able to catch any fish on my imaginary boat, there would be plenty of real time to stop at the Embarcadero on the way back for some just-caught steamed crab and freshly stewed clam chowder at the pier, one of the many awesome perks of living near the Bay. File under very fishy.

[Images via: Fashion Gone Rogue]

Art Eye: I Want Candy.

Sugarcoat

I'm not going to lie; this morning was not the easiest to drag myself out of bed for my daily dosage of Starbucks coffee (tall with two pumps of vanilla and room for cream, thank you very much.) I might have stayed a little too late at a friend's DJ set in San Francisco last night, but it was totally fun, chaotic, sweet and seductive just like the painting above. In Sugarcoat by Michelle Hinebrook, she combines all these elements to produce a work that reminds me that a little bit of sugary sweetness makes everything better. File as delicious. 

[Image via: 20x200]

Heat Wave Friday.

Friday is here and with it Memorial Day weekend, and I for one am ecstatic to have that one extra day off to spend time with new friends moving on to great things and old friends who have become family. Now that it's summer time, I can't help but feel the need to put on my bikini and lounge in the sun, although unlike Tina J in Elle Singapore's spread I think I'll be skipping the lace-up heels. Still though, it is a fabulous thought. File under happy long weekend!

[Images via: Fashion Gone Rogue]

Optical Overload.

What is the saying again...less is more? Well I'm thinking more is more and what applies to fashion goes the same for home decor here. So why not pack a punch in what is usually one of the smallest rooms and go all out? Wallpapering a bathroom may have been something your grandmother would have done, but that doesn't mean it can't be fabulous in its own right. A little bit of chintz never hurt anyone. File under more please.

[Images via: Lonny, Apartment Therapy x2, Elle Decor]

Edited: Bazaar Turkey.

I couldn't help but post this arresting image of model Nadia Serlidou in ravishing red on the cover of Harper's Bazaar Turkey today because it is absolutely beautiful. But more importantly it fits in perfectly with the research I'm currently doing on fashion photography for my Histories of Photography class (that I just so happened to take for fun this summer). Looking into the library archives of Richard Avedon, Irving Penn, Steven Klein and Guy Bourdain makes me realize just how much photographers today adopt from these masters. Let the research continue! File under ah-mazing.

[Image via: Fashion Gone Rouge]

Fancy Pants.

Colored pants are the trend du-jour for the spring and summer months and although it's still too chilly in the Bay Area, those same pants will look just as well in the form of hot pants. I know I can't wait for it to be warm enough (and for me to become tan enough) to rock my distressed red denim shorts with my snakeskin flats...but I digress. For now, these multicolored legs can translate to the home as well, showing up on flowing curtains, skinny chair legs and on a staircase no less. File this one under bright!


[Images via: DecorPad, Pinterest, South of Market, Garance Dore, Apartment Therapy, Pinterest]

It Girl: Olivia Palermo.

Some of you may know her for her questionable antics on the reality series The City while others may be more familiar with her reoccurrence on sites like The Sartorialist, but one thing for sure is that Olivia Palermo is one of the best dressed front row It Girls. She may often rely on her model boyfriend as one of her best accessories but she seriously knows how to combine separates to create a look that is equal parts uptown and downtown New York. File as not so hard to live in the city.

[Images via: The Sartorialist, This is Not New]

Art Eye: Farmers Market Sunday.

If there is one thing that I love about Sundays (other than the never-ending feeling of laziness) it is the farmer's markets that spring up all around the Bay Area. I love perusing the stands searching for something delicious to complete my Sunday meals, and I am never disappointed with the yummy goodies that I find. Here, the artist Wendy MacNaughton showcases some of the best finds at any farmer's market for 20x200 including mixed mushrooms and various vegetables, which would all be delicious on any spring plate. I'm getting hungry already just looking at them. File under salivating.

[Images via: 20x200]

Golf Master.

On this bright and shiny Saturday afternoon, I will be doing something that I haven't done in a very, very long time....golfing. To celebrate the engagement of my two wonderful friends, we will all be playing a round of gold in Golden Gate Park, and I am more than a little nervous to pick up a club. Every once in a while I would go with my father to the driving range to hit balls and my cousin and I used to hit them off the mountains behind her house, but a nine hole course is rather daunting. After coming across this woman above on Garance Dore, all smiles in her green jacket, I figured it might give me a little dose of luck to wear something green (like her fab Zara blazer) in the hopes of channeling the winners of the Masters Tournament. File under wish me luck.

[Image via: Garance Dore]

Home to Runway: Black and White.

There is no better way to end the week then with a completely simple and understated post on the lovely combination of black and white- in the home and on the backs of some very fashionable ladies. I'm obviously obsessed with this color combo, just take a look at my previous posts on this Numero Tokyo black and white spread and the all-perfect black and white stripe. And I have to say, I don't think this will be going out of style anytime soon. File this one under classic.


[Images via: Apartment Therapy, My Files, The Sartorialist]

Best Dressed Cannes Film Festival.

The Cannes Film Festival continues to be one of the most over-the-top, all out glamorous film festivals in the world. I mean, how often do you wear your biggest ball gown to go see a movie? And what I love about the whole event, not only the great new movies that come out of it, but also the fresh fashion that struts down all the red carpets that week. From a feathery fun Pucci frock to showcase Anja Rubik's perfect limbs to Janet Jackson's curve hugging Ackermann confection or the strategic cutouts of Giovanna Battaglia's barely-there dress these eight ladies know exactly how to show off their best assets. Check out what each of these eight wore, after the jump, as well as one honorable mention! File under gorgeous. 

I'm Back!

The past week has been one of the busiest and most exciting of my entire life (I'm officially a college graduate) and I had such an amazing time sharing it with my family and closest friends. Now that the celebration is put on hold until I finish up my last few minor classes over the summer, I have plenty of time to do some non-school related reading, spice up the.margaret.files. and catch a screening of L'Amour Fou this weekend. Stay tuned for all sorts of newness on the fashion, art, travel and home fronts that are bound to have you looking twice. File as overload.

[Images via: Fashion Gone Rogue]

The Final Countdown.

So as you may have guessed, this week for me will be filled with my final regular semester of finals so I will be taking a self-imposed hiatus from the.margaret.files. until I have finished (and passed) all of them through the end of the week. Although I'm not so much looking forward to my international economics exam nor my advanced Spanish exam today, I am a little excited for my Chinese and Egyptian art finals, respectively, as well as my final brand strategy presentation on Valentino Fashion group. After Friday, a major celebration will be in order...consider yourself warned. File as study time.

[Image via: Fashion Gone Rogue]

Top Shots SFW Fall 2011.

Hooray for color and summer! I mean really, Sydney fashion week has totally blown me away in terms of how fun, fresh and bright all the ladies were. Then again when you have one of the most picturesque countries as your jumping off point, it's no surprise that everyone gravitated towards saturated hues. It's just the perfect thing to inject some excitement into another drab Monday. File under perk up!

[Images via: Tommy Ton]

Model Mom.

To all the moms out there, especially my mom (who acts more like my sister most of the time) I hope you all have a wonderful and girly-activity filled Mother's Day today. Now I know my mother requested something Missoni for her gift today, but on my college budget it just isn't happening, at least until Missoni is released at Target later this year. But check out the outfit after the jump made especially for my mom (and with a little surprise for her) and show some love for the mother's in your life today. File as love you.