{places: at the ballet, saint petersburg, russia}

"At the ballet, you really feel like you're in the presence of something outside the rest of your life. Higher than the rest of your life. "

~ Robert Caro

. . . there are some things that are so heartbreakingly beautiful, they cause one's breath to catch -- the sad and longing strains of an opera, the moon on a midsummer's night, the rose gardens after a rainfall, and of course, the ballet . . .


{p.s.} also new today: lovely little glimpses

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{a cashmere affair, the yakobson dance studio in saint petersburg, russia, featuring local ballerinas for j.crew [here & here] via the terrier and the lobster}

{style inspiration: pale & pretty neutrals}

. . . not quite december yet, and already things are beginning to move along at an even more dizzying pace than usual, with upcoming soirées, dinner parties and gift exchanges, boxes tied with ribbon and a feeling of magic in the air, and in the midst of all the running around, have been practically living in luxuriously soft cashmere cardigans, belted, and perfectly paired with cozy scarves and festive gold fingernails . . .

{images: photography by janis nicolay for country living; patterson maker}

{the promise of things to come}

. . . in all the busy-ness of the past few weeks and ever-enchanting pre-holiday excitement, had barely realized a new month had quietly arrived and if truth be told, must confess am often the tiniest bit more fond of september and october and all the blustery autumn promises they bring -- the golden morning light and magic of turning leaves, days in light trenches and evenings that still linger -- november, however, is often imagined with thoughts of overcast skies and chilly rains, and once the last of the leaves has fallen, cloudy days that end too soon . . . and yet, november has its own promises: nights wrapped in mohair and wool tartan blankets, pretty cashmere gloves with delicate crystal buttons, warm, crackling fires and the intoxicating romance of candlelight on evenings in, and most of all, the beautiful anticipation of the coming holiday season . . .

{p.s.} also new today: red wine & ripe cranberry

{images: 1 - mostly likely atlanta bartlett via tumblr; 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 - photography by david prince via aubrey road; flickr via julia}