Indigenous

Just chasing summers light and saguaros, and painting pictures in the sand. Another day outdoors in the life of the beautiful desert mountains, in my native home of Tucson Arizona. This overwhelming landscape never gets old and never ceases to amaze me. Grateful.

creative director + stylist: sydney ballesteros
photos: puspa lohmeyer
location: gates pass, tucson az

wardrobe:

dress: how sweet it was vintage (tucson, az) | hat: vintage | shoes: handmade espadrilles from spain (similar here) 

Monday Muse | Audrey Hepburn

Simple woman, classic beauty, timeless style, chic, intelligent, innocent, kind hearted, funny, humanitarian, giving, graceful, one of a kind.

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"The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides." ~Audrey Hepburn

 

 

Hail to the Straw Hat

Protector of the summer sun and timeless style accessory, we salute you.

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xx~syd

Pierre Balmain | 1946

Chic then, chic now.

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xx~syd

Plain White T | Casual Chic

I’m not entirely sure if it’s the heat that is getting to me, or just the lazy vibe of summer itself. Most likely it’s a combination of both, but all I want to wear these days is a white t-shirt and jeans (preferably a loved pair of vintage 501 button down levi’s). This casual chic ensemble is perfect for a Sunday brunch outing, followed by some treasure hunting plans and a little adventurous wandering perhaps?Black leather converse and leather ray ban wayfarer frame sunglasses! I am definitely swooning over the chic spin on these classic pieces. The black leather backpack might even come in handy as a stylish shopping or camera bag. Boom.

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xx~Syd

Mondays Muse | Liza Minnelli

Liza Minnelli wearing double Tiffany/Peretti bone cuffs in the seventies. Chic.

" I feel like I haven't done my best work yet, I feel like there is a world of possibilities out there."

~Liza Minnelli

Black Tank

Just dressing up a basic black tank with a cool cotton vintage Harwood Steiger print skirt, and some silver accessories, the usual happenings in the summertime around these parts….

styling: sydney ballesteros
photos: puspa lohmeyer

wardrobe:

black tank: target | skirt: vintage : belt: vintage | silver mexican jewelry: vintage | straw tote: target
 black lace up espadrilles: nordstrom, a few years old (similar here)

xx~syd

Paint it Black

We all know how valuable a basic black shoe is. It's needed for almost any occasion and it complements almost any ensemble. I like to think of it as a commodity in the wardrobe dept. A black shoe (or black anything for that matter) just gives that dose of classic and refined bit of polish, that makes things feel sophisticated and exude panache.  Here are eleven of my top picks for the a basic everyday black summer shoe, ranging from sandal and slip-on to classic and comfortable.

1. Franco Sart | 2. Madewell | 3. Soludos | 4. Need Supply Co. | 5. Birkenstocks | 6. Sam Edelman  

7. Micheal Kors | 8. Loeffler Randall | 9. Stuart Weitzman | 10. Repetto Ballet Flats | 11.  Joie Espadrilles

One Kings Lane + GG of the West | The Vanity Series

Personal style and decor just go hand in hand, and in most presentations, they are often an extension of one another, that display a similar visual aesthetic. Even when I don’t intentionally do it, my personal style and hunted collections of the things I love to keep around me come through. The way I style my wardrobe and my home have that same connection and attention to detail, both united with the things my eye is naturally drawn to. Personal style to me is a form of self-expression and communication if you will….. it paints the story of your life and the things unique to you.  

I was recently asked to collaborate with online home decor retailer One Kings Lane, to design a personal vanity, in a series of collages called the Reflect your Style campaign. I was thrilled to be asked to participate in this project! A. I am a huge fan of OKL and the beautifully curated things on their site (a.k.a- the vintage section) B. I believe your vanity is an extension of your personal style and provides another space to curate within your home, a very personal space. It often houses favorite beauty products, and is accessorized with things that are aesthetically pleasing, give meaning and sentiment, or just plain make you happy to have with you. The statement piece of a vanity might be the mirror, just as the statement piece for my ensemble is a piece of bold jewelry. All of the same ingredients for the way I put together accessories for an outfit. For me, it's those touches of one of a kind treasures that I have hunted and collected over the years. Mixing in a vintage garment, necklace or cuff, can completely make a look become yours.

My vanity selections are both an eclectic mix of my personal style (vintage + new), native southwest surroundings, and love of seeking vintage one of a kind treasures. I often refer to this cultivated style as Desert Chic, I guess my vanity is no exception to the visual inspiration gathered there. The elements are simple and chic, yet entertain the ideas of understated bohemian with the touches of native patterns, materials and texture, and there is always a sprinkle of classic feminine glamour on the surface that refines it. On my vanity, you will also find some of my favorite daily beauty products, my loved pieces of vintage jewelry, a picture of the ones dear to me, and of course- my black glasses. So what's on your vanity?

furniture, décor + jewelry:

vanity | mirror | cowhide chair, similar here | tray, similar here | wall lamps, similar here | brass horse | roses | driftwood candle | malachite jewelry box, similar here | picture frame | turquoise ring, similar here | coral necklace | silver navajo cuff | onyx earrings, similar here | tooled leather clutch purse

beauty products:

nail polish | lipstick | foundation | perfume | hairbrush | bobby pins


If you love the hunt too and haven't yet familiarized yourself with One Kings Lane, I would suggest that be at the top of your to-do list! I constantly find beautiful one of a kind things to add to my collection. They also have a handy Home Decor Handbook to help identify, educate and inspire along the way....

xx~syd

Summer Whites

There is nothing better than the feeling of wearing a white cotton shirt on a hot summer day. This ultimate wardrobe staple can be dressed into so many ways. For this look, I was in the mood to tie it into a knot and pair it with some white vintage cigarette pants. Feeling a little inspired by a classic film actress, Grace or Audrey keeping things chic in the southwest perhaps.... 

creative director + stylist: sydney ballesteros
photos: puspa lohmeyer

location: tucson, az
wardrobe:

shirt: calvin klein | pants: vintage | sandals: target | silver jewelry: vintage 

xx~syd

Simply Summer

The summer means stripping down to the comfortable basics, down to the things that are cool (as in temperature), relaxing, timeless, and effortlessly chic. In my experience, that feels like a simple everyday white dress, a straw sunhat, and a pair of favorite espadrilles. Finish it off with the lovely smell of a summer fragrance and a bright poppy red-orange lip. It's all you will ever need, all summer long. Happy Summer!

hat: eugenia kim | dress: madewell | sandals: joie | sunglasses: karen walker | lipstick: nars | parfume: diptyque | cuff: holiday boutique | tote: cuyana

xx~syd

Brown + Turquoise

Simply painted in the colors of the desert…

creative director + stylist: sydney ballesteros
photography: puspa lohmeyer
location: de grazia gallery in the sun (tucson, az)

wardrobe:

dress: vintage (desert vintage) | zuni turquoise squash blossom, cuff + ring: vintage (razzle dazzle vintage) | tooled leather clutch: vintage | boots: sam edelman 

xx~syd

Blending into the Cactus

This green dress reminds me of the beautiful color of a cactus, and the modernists era Trifari jewelry reminds me of the sharp lines on an agave cactus. On this day, I guess I was trying to blend in…..

styling: sydney ballesteros
photos via: puspa lohmeyer

dress, belt and jewelry: vintage | shoes: zara

xx~syd

I See Green

Well, if were going to talk about it (St. Patrick's Day that is...), lets talk about it in the best of possible ways. The homage to the color green and the best things that come in it, like malachite and emeralds!

 

 

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Happy St. Patrick's day friends!

 

xo~syd

Alexander Calder

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I have been a long admirier of the mid century work of artists Alexander Calder, who is credited as part of the modernists movement. I have a curious interest in his life and work, but lately he has been on my radar more often due to the current exhibition at the LACMA, (which I plan on attending before it ends in July 2014). Follow the Alexander Calder information page on Artsy.com to view collections and keep in touch with all of the current Calder happenings and exhibitions around the world. 

I am quite fascinated with his iconic and Avant-garde circle of insider artist friends (who included Georgia O'Keeffe + Peggy Guggenheim). And also the modern kinetic abstract mobiles + sculptures that look so simple, but are yet so complicated, only an engineer (he so happened to be one) would completely understand all of it's working components.

Another chapter in his life that was quite incredible, were his jewelry making years. His handful of jewelry and metal work are considered highly collectable and rare, making only 1,800 pieces entirely by hand. He rarely used solder in his pieces and almost always conjoined using the rivet or wrapping process, using metals like silver, copper + brass. His oversize statement pieces are simple, but striking and most have a very chic modernist appeal to them, they can be viewed as a piece of wearable surrealism art. I just want to hold one in my hands, since owning one is most likely out of the question and budget (they have auctioned off for upwards of $500,000).

Alexander Calder found beauty in the things that we often overlook using industrial materials and scraps. He was definitely ahead of his time, being that his most significant pieces were created before 1945. I recently took a jewelry making class at my local community college, it's something I have wanted to pin down for a while now and finally just made the time for it. A few of the pieces I made in class were also created with a rivet process (inspired by Calder). I just love the handmade feeling it emulates and I now have an entirley new appreciation for this craft all the way around.

Some influencial women of style graced with Alexander Calder pieces included:

 Georgia O'Keeffe

 Angelica Huston

Peggy Guggenhiem

Textile designer Eszter Haraszty

Calders wife Louisa Calder

xx~syd