Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Ebony and Ivory

...go together in perfect harmony, side by side on my piano keyboard, oh Lord, why don't we....


Oh this song has been stuck in my head all day today, all because of my outfit.

I look better in ivory than white (or at least I think I do) and I adore the pairing of black and ivory - it always seems so chic to me:

wit shirt, zwarte broek, groffe tas en ballerina's

 a little sweater and black pants...


wow just got my Free Maybeline Falsies Volum’ Express Mascara http://p-interest.in/?maybeline


...or glossy kitchen cupboards

This was made ALL by paper. Can you believe? A travel-size chess set entirely out of paper.  The chess pieces are crafted out of tightly rolled strips of black and cream paper.  The box is millboard covered in paper (black for the exterior; white and brown for the board). Instructions on how to make it...crazy cool


How about lovely chessboards, that make me think of the iconic song "One Night in Bangkok"?

The toile wallpaper in my bathroom (more creamy than ivory I grant you!):


There is just something so chic about this combination in its simplicity.

Its that simple


Today I was having lunch out with a friend and then was off to get my teeth cleaned.  It was a gorgeous day and my friend and I were able to sit out on a patio, which in my humble opinion, can elevate any meal to new heights, what with the fresh air, the warm sun and the people watching.

I dug out my cafe capris in "natural" from a year or two ago, a creamy luisa cerano blouse and my new black featherweight cotton cardigan.  I paired it with a pair of black and cream j crew ballet slippers from two years ago - the ones with the big floppy flowers on them.



The shoes are a bit over the top, but I am very partial to them...



And cascading pearly drop earrings that you can see below:


You are all going to start calling me Joan of Arcadia - I am not a master of this sort of picture taking and I swear, they all look like I am getting a message from God! (buy more shoes, wendy...)

I loved this outfit and felt like a million bucks all day long.  If I was going to a more dressy event, I would have just traded out the shoes for nude or black pumps and would be good to go.

So does black and ivory speak to you?  Do you wear the combination much? Any colour combinations that are especially speaking to you this spring?

Have a happy Tuesday and stay safe out there!



39 comments:

  1. I snorted at your message from god!!! I think your selfies are very good - much better than my in-the-work-loo pics!

    Black and white/cream is a very chic combination; your outfit is fabulous.

    That wallpaper in your loo! OMG it is fabulous!
    I rarely wear black and white, but now that you've posted this I may have to remedy that. I am loving the combination of mustard yellow and purple at the moment. And jade green and navy.

    Thanks for brightening a rather dull afternoon with your post!

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    1. Hi Ruth! it is probably bedtime there now! I do love my wallpaper, too!! Oh mustard yellow and purple - love it too, though not sure I am able to pull it off or do it justice. Not that that would stop me...

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  2. Think that's why I got all the black and ivory pepper tweed things. Love the combo and your outfit, Wendy, you *look* like a million bucks. The shoes over the top, no not at all.

    But now I have that song stuck in my head ...

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    1. sorry - try something else, like the Pointer Sisters' Jump - now you will really hate me!

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    2. All I can think of is the SNL parody of that song with Eddie Murphy-- must be out there. Hilarious!

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    3. Lane - that is one of my all-time favourite SNL skits!

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    4. Lane - that is one of my all-time favourite SNL skits!

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    5. Lane - that is one of my all-time favourite SNL skits!

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    6. You're gonna hate me ... at least it's not Kung Fu Fighting! Agh! I just contaminated my brain with that thought.

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  3. That's a sophisticated color combo, so no I don't wear it lol. I am far from sophisticated :) I really like it, though. I just can't stop myself from adding bright colors to any outfit.

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    1. Cate - you know I swing back and forth like a pendulum, cause I love me some colour! Today I will probably be all gussied up in colour!

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  4. Your Joan of Arcadia comment cracked me up. You do look divine and angelic. I hear you on the message up above but for me it's usually STOP! I'm loving your black and white outfit, very Chanel. I tend to stick to the basic colors since pastels do not work for my skin tone. I know Jcrew calls them sorbet shades but they just remind me of easter eggs.

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    1. Although don't you love easter eggs? I am a jewel tone kind of gal myself; the pastels usually wash me out, except for a nice nude shade that matches my skin tone! I will take the Chanel compliment and run with it!

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  5. I lived in black and white/ivory/tan for years, so I have only segued into color relatively recently, but I always feel put together in neutrals. Your bathroom is stunning.

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  6. Unlike you I look better in white than ivory so optic white and black would be my color combo of choice. However I have a lot of ivory too so sometimes I can't escape it especially in winter when ivory reads softer than white.
    By the way, BR mail today is about Black and white, it must be in the air...
    I am laughing as well as your Joan of Arcadia comment, it is true that you have an "aura"in that pick...

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    1. I haven't seen that BR mailout yet - they are nothing if not prolific in their mailouts...

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  7. You are indeed chic in this! I love this combo, navy and natural. I got the Everlane navy cashmere cardigan and have been wearing it with navy Minnies and white/ecru T. Probably too much. I also just did cushions in black and ecru large flower pattern with bees and dragonflies ( from Duralee)for an Adirondack chair. Love your toile!

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    1. I need some cushions for the adirondack - must look at fabric!

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    2. I need some cushions for the adirondack - must look at fabric!

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  8. Your Divine revelations cracked me up!! You look chic and confident in your ensemble, Wendy. I've always liked black and ivory combinations, in outfits and decor. That said, love your bathroom too.

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    1. Hi ABC! I like black and ivory, but I am loving the colour combo on your blog this a.m. - I am seriously jonesing for that colourful bracelet!

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  9. MONOCHROME Well WMM, until 2012 my closet inadvertently resembled White House Black Market, minus most of the florals and geo prints and with a dose of grey in the middle. It was simple, easy to travel with and accessorize. But I started to feel a bit like a nun, an Italian nonna or an over-uniformed bistro waiter. Of course, my big departure has only been to shades like navy and chocolate, so I am way behind you. I tend to like a soft whipped cream white versus an optic/ blue white, but find ivory tricker in terms of the degree of yellow or pink undertone.

    I do like how ebony and ivory let the cut, fabric and small details of the pattern and embellishment really stand-out (thinking of ex. some of Rooney Mara's event choices and YSL a decade or so ago).

    Totally crushing on your salle de bains! I want to move in. Would really like to wallpaper our guest one, but DH has drawn one of his few decor lines. Maybe if I show him black & white he'll budge? Does like black & white tile and marble floors.

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    1. well come visit and bring him and he can see the marble and black and white! well today I am back in brights - jade and kelly green! it is fun to go back and forth!

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  10. buy more shoes Wendy! Hilarious!
    Luff black and ivory too, great outfit. Now I'm going to have that song in my head all day.

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  11. Love black and white,but i never wear it together,haha.
    I must try it:)

    I can only wear real wite,ivory is not good on me.

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    1. Funny how the shades work on us, isn't it? I am always kind of amazed by how one shade can make all the difference...

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  12. Great outfit Wendy. The shoes are a bit OTT but they suit you, probably because you love that kind of thing. It's so nice when we feel special in our clothes.

    I'm partial to navy and white myself. It's one of my go-to looks for summer office dressing. I always feel chic and classic in those colors.

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    1. xoxo agree navy & white always looks crisp, bit less harsh for many skin tones and less "formal" too. Lovely with a grass green, red or other accent to break up the nautical too.

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    2. Thanks xoxo - and I agree with you and GF - navy and white is so nice and crisp!

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  13. I love black & white anything, always have always will. The combination of the perfect black & white outfit and accessories looks sharp.

    Speaking of Paul, we got tix to his concert in August! Should be a good one.

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    1. Oh lucky you - I have been hemming and hawwing on that one - he is playing quebec city and boston - would be so wonderful to see him!

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  14. You look so so pretty in that ebony and ivory and those shoes are adorable on you. That tie shirt is perfect with your curls too.

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  15. WMM, you are looking fantastic lately. I think I've figured out what you new career should be: you should become a model!

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    1. Too funny! I kept telling Mickey drexler that I am his girl if he wants a 50 year old model who is short, slightly podgy, but a good time!

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  16. The black and ivory outfit looks great! It's always so nice when you find an outfit that you feel like a million bucks in.

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