Designer Bikes, Yes or No?

I have been wanting a bike for the past couple of years, not a motorcycle, but an old fashion pedal bike. When I spend time in Key West with Michael Pelkey, we ride around town night and day on beach bikes, those faded cruisers often personalized with a home made paint job. I also have fond memories of Danilo riding me on his handlebars late at night to the New York City disco Area. We'd "pull up" alongside the limos and a doorman would take Danilo's bike and stash it in the coat room, and wave us in past the ubiquitous velvet ropes.

I love the new crop of designer bikes that have come out lately. Here are a few to consider.

Missoni bike at Target - You can still get it!  $399.

City Bike from C. Wonder - $249.

My favorite! At Wal Mart only $89.99! They are out of stock online, but I have seen it and lusted after it at my local Wal Mart. LOVE the aqua accents and the black and white damask print! I would love to ride around town on this for sure!

No post about bikes would be complete without a picture of Audrey Hepburn riding her bike! I would love to get a basket for my bike and ride Cholo around! I wonder if he would let me do it?!

Did you know that the bicycle was a very important aspect to woman's liberation? It was an equal opportunity modern way of transport that was embraced by women in the Victorian and Edwardian era, affording them a freedom to move around under their own power and on their own.

The bicycle gave women freedom

Another acquaintance, Pryor Dodge has an amazing collection of antique bicycles that he exhibits in museums around the world. He first pointed out to me the profound effect the bicycle had for women.


Please add my NEW address to your blog list:
http://thevisualvamp.blogspot.com
And please become a Follower

Where To Get The Fall Decor As Seen On WWL-TV

Happy first day of Fall!

WWL-TV invited me back to do a couple of segments on Fall decor. I did one segment on simple DIY using what you have at home, and by shopping the super market.

The second segment was about changing your home decor for Fall much like you change your seasonal wardrobe by adding a few accessories.

Since WWL-TV is a local New Orleans station I focused on the type of Fall we have here. Autumn in the South is more like Indian Summer, so I called the segment "Indian Autumn". Softer spicy jewel tones, and lighter fabrics are the key elements.

Belladonna,  2900 Magazine Street, (504) 891-4393,  provided all the beautiful "Indian Autumn" things I showed in the segment. Belladonna is a fantastic emporium attached to one of the best day spas in New Orleans. They provide spa therapy, and most important, great retail therapy. Stop by (or call them to order) any of these gorgeous things to celebrate the Fall season.

I styled the accessories from Belladonna in my house, to show how just a few key pieces make you feel you've changed with the season.

Brown pillow with fern print is perfect for Fall - the handmade vintage throw from India with spicy muted print adds just the right amount of Fall color - Pillow and throw courtesy of Belladonna -The ghost pumpkin was a tip from the DIY segment

The Visual Vamp Fall Decor - I just added a ghost pumpkin and a gourd on the demi lune - I think you can see from the above photo of how adding the spicy textiles from Belladonna add to the look - And yes, I have rearranged the furniture again

Charlee ottoman and matching pillow by Jamie Young;  Empress bamboo lamp also by Jame Young; throw is made from vintage fabric -  Get them all at Belladonna - Two DIY elements added: white squash and small bottle decorated with a leaf

You can see what a huge impact a few accessories can make - this is the chair before the Belladonna makeover

Silk Ikat print pillow on left , and mustard linen embroidered pillow both by Tourmaline Home sold at Belladonna - the glass hurricane is something you might own - Just add nuts and nestle a pillar candle in- Everyone who saw this simple DIY Fall decor idea said they have pecan trees in their yard (the nuts are pecans), and were  thrilled to see another use for them

For a muted room, you might want do add something softer for Fall - this incredible bird pillow by Pulvermacher from Belladonna is a more quiet way to announce the Fall season -  I think it looks great on the camel back sofa with nail head trim

A collection of boxes covered in vintage Sari fabric bring Fall colors in an unexpected way - Sold as a set of three at Belladonna - Keep them all, or give a couple away as gifts - Mercury glass lamp also available at Belladonna - simple DIY project, glue a leaf to a container you probably have stashed in a cupboard, and add a candle for the warmth of Fall

Autumn invites candle light and making a fire in the fireplace - Don't have a fireplace? Use this clever Fire Pot outdoors - Shown in a taupe ruffle design this Fire Pot uses Bio Fuel (shown in the bottle) - get this fab Fire Pot at Belladonna

Even the bag Belladonna uses for pillows and linens is so cute!

DIY idea shown on WWL-TV - shop your grocery store for Fall decor - I put this incredible sculptural gourd on a demi lune table in my living room - I like to use a few simple things, and this is as simple as you can get!

Rearrange furniture when the seasons change - In doing so, I felt tired of over styled coffee tables, so I chose one simple handmade Italian bowl and placed three  books with white paper covers tied with natural  twine as my way of deconstructing the usual books on a coffee table look - Pillow is by Thomas Paul

If you'd like to watch the two segments, have a look HERE, and once again,

Thank you Belladonna! And thank you to the great crew and talent at WWL-TV.

WWL-TV Fall Decor with Valorie Hart - In the first segment I talked about simple fast DIY things to do - Shop your cupboards for glass containers - hot glue a leaf or two to them, add nuts to nestle candles in, use feathers instead of flowers, shop the produce section for pumpkins, gourds, squash, artichokes, and tomitillas to create tablescapes, or mantlescapes

WWL-TV Fall Decor with Valorie Hart - In the second segment I used gorgeous accessories from Belladonna

PS About the Missoni Giveaway - You still have a chance! Enter often by leaving a comment, and becoming a Follower.

A winner will be chosen when there are 100 Followers - go HERE

And please update your blog list with my new blog address: http://thevisualvamp.blogspot.com

Thanks!

Missoni For Target Free Stuff!

I applaud the PR team for Target!!!

Web site went down early this morning because of the feeding frenzy to get Missoni for Target stuff. So Alberto and I jumped in the ancient Bimmer (1985 BMW), and high tailed across the Crescent City Connection to the West Bank (The Best Bank, or The Wank, the other side of the mighty Mississippi). We thought they opened at 10 AM, and that here deep in Cajun country there would be few Missoni lovers.

Well, yes and no. Apparently they opened the doors at 8 AM and there was a feeding frenzy of shoppers. I'm surprised there wasn't a brass band and a second line, and someone dishing out gumbo.

A nice guy who worked there said it was an orderly friendly mob, and he was kind hoping for a tug-of-war cat fight or two, but nothing liked that happened. He said the funniest thing is how the entire mob went from one section of the store to another en masse.

Eva and Faye, two nice girls who offered me their discards, had been shopping since 9 AM for Missoni at Target

We got there about ten after ten, and there were still a very few things on the clothing rack. I scored a sweater, a blouse, a pair of gloves, and a scarf. There was enough of a choice to put back quite a few things. All accessories, like headbands, and little cosmetic bags were gone.  In housewares, I found a few things, but never got to see a pillow. Shoes were picked over too, unless you were a size 8.

All of the clothes run true to size. I wear an 8, and the medium is perfect. Nice enough quality too. The size 8 shoe was too big, so I imagine the shoes are true to size too (I wear 7.5 in street shoes, 7 in dance shoes). The best stuff is the kids stuff, and there was plenty of that. I tried on an XL kids trench coat, that nearly fit, so for any of you small girls out there, check out the kids section.

Target employees said stuff will be back in stock soon, and will be around for two months.
As usual, almost immediately this stuff shows up on eBay
There are already over 3,000 items listed there!

So darling readers, I picked up a few things for you, a collection of six cute things.

Six cute pieces of Missoni for Target SWAG for you! Just become a Follower and leave a comment

Just become a Follower of my blog and leave a comment to be chosen at random.

I am trying to rebuild my new site since moving it a couple of months ago, where I had to leave nearly a thousand Followers. I miss you!  I know it's a pain to do, but that's why I am bribing you with some free Missoni!

Also please update your blog list with my new blog address thevisualvamp.blogspot.com