Surf’s up! You can impress your guests even if you don’t live near the sea.  Sea Side Inspired will inspire you to pick up some beach themed items that will have a dual purpose at your dining table-to look stylish and serve a function!

Sea  Side Shell Themes

Photos Courtesy of seasideinspired.com

This Coral Candelabra will look elegant on a long, glass table. When lit, the glass will pick up on the reflection of the flickering lights and its transparent effect will remind you of the clear ocean itself.

Coral Candelabra

Photo Courtesy of seasideinspired.com

Your guests will also love eating from whimsical shell serving dishes. The white milk glazed Terra Cotta bowls are embossed with sea shells, giving it a vintage look.

Shell Serving Dishes

Photo Courtesy of seainspired.com

To add a pop of color to the serene table settings, you can opt for textured red coral shaped napkin holders. They will look red hot paired up against a white linen napkin.

Designer Coral Napkin Rings

Photo Courtesy of seainspired.com

More beach friendly color pieces that will bring the whisper of the ocean to your sea inspired setting is the shell plate. The small oyster shells are ideal for serving tapas and will add luster and muted tones of the beach to liven up a neutral table.

Natural Shell  Plates

Photo Courtesy of seainspired.com

When prepping for your next summer dinner party, let the ocean inspire your serving style.
Cheers,
Jaima

One designer who truly embraces the banana leaf is Charlotte Olympia. Her Beverley shoe has lines, colors, and a texture that mimics the tropical print.

Charlotte Olympia Beverly Shoe

Photo Courtesy of Charlotte Olympia.com

Her Perspex Pandora clutch is also vintage inspired and is esthetically pleasing and functional (not to mention very chic).

Pandora Perspex Box Clutch

Photo Courtesy of net-a-porter.com

Not sure if wearing the pattern is for you? Try incorporating it into your home. Elements of Style also boasts the banana leaf print as a décor must by featuring it on wallpaper, upholstered chairs, and even pillows. Celebrities like Nicky Hilton shows her love for the print by positioning it around her entire dining room! It looks inviting, warm, and posh with her  black chairs and white furniture.

Nicky Hilton’s Dining Room

Photo Courtesy of elementsofstyleblog.com

So wear it and share it! Your friends will be impressed and inspired by this vintage print.

Cheers.
Jaima

Yes, the  houndstooth  has found its way back into fashion this fall.  Oddly enough it has a classic yet retro feel about it,  giving it a  fresh revitalized look. Popular in the 1990′s with designers such as Moschino, Armani, Chanel and Louis Vuitton we see it etching its way into  this fall’s fashion’s.
Handbags, shoes, boots, clothing and even jewelry are getting into the trend.  Read on..

Stylish Houndstooth Handbags and Booties

This reminds me of when I had a hounds tooth suit yet I wore it with black pumps and a solid black handbag.  I also use to mix up my look wearing a  crazy 90′s style psychedelic jacket and  a houndstooth skirt.  Fun  and a lot of pattern mixing but it seems to be coming back but with a more stylish mix of fringe, print and color. 

Gwyneth Paltrow and Kim Kardashian

Love how it has surfaced onto shoes and jewelry.

The Houndstooth Ballet Flat and Bangle

Style these fresh accessories with a solid or color blocked suit to make your outfit  have some punch to it. Or, mix up the scales of  Houndstooth to make a fashion statement.

Salvatore Ferragamo

Accent a black suit or any color for that matter with a clutch. Always stylish when accenting any  ensemble.

If your not brave enough to wear an entire outfit, just wear a little  houndstooth, either  with a scarf or a pair of shoes to accent an outfit. Sometimes less  can be more...especially with this bold print.

 Miroslava Dumo's favorite print style / Chanel

I love this outfit, especially with the pink fringe check on the trim.  It frames the houndstooth yet adds just a small pop of color to the style. She looks  fabulous.

Kim Kardashian

Of course, Kim looks great but the chair says luxury all the way. This print really makes a design statement and would look great in  any interior space.  I could see this chair against a room painted or wallpapered  in a  lime , orange or pink grass cloth.  Now that would be stunning. Can you see it?

So keep a look out for this falls new black and white edition of houndstooth. It's already starting to become a bold look!
Cheers.
Jaima

Photos courtesy of  cashmere scarf  on branch from Amazon.com; houndstooth black and white scarf from buy.com;/celebrities images from fabsugar.com;Kim kardashian and Salvatore Ferregamo  from jadorefashionlove.blogspot.com; Chanel suit from waynetippetts.com

Are you getting enough vegetables in your diet? Well, you certainly can make up for it with the new line from Dolce & Gabbana this spring.  These fashions inspire  a menu of fresh and fruity vibes. Read on...

Dolce & Gabbana Spring 2012

Pomagranites, tomatoes and eggplants flaunt the runway! I love this whimsical approach to fashion. Definitely makes a healthy statement!

Dolce & Gabbana Eggplant Dress

Dolce & Gabbana Tomatoe Dress

These prints are easy on the waistline! You can’t resist wanting to bite into these looks!

Dolce & Gabbana Squash Print

Spice up your fashion plate this spring with a vegan menu.  Very refreshing. Very slimming. Yum Yum.

Photos courtesy of peekmoon.com

Black and White Summer Fashionistas

I like to  call it my mobile office tote when I’m on the go working. But hey… I also like it for play. This tote is especially good for pool parties, a barbeque get together with friends and for those spontaneous, overnight pajama parties we girls like to have once and a while.  What ever your fancy, the Oh My Gosh Tote is the “classic bag” to compliment your lifestyle!  Enjoy!
Jaima

Photos courtesy of Alice & Olivia; Shoes www.style.com; Woven Tote www.jaimacompany.com

It’s great when art brings such pleasant memories to mind. I hope it does the same for you, no matter where you are in the world. Thanks Patty! It’s beautiful.

Boats in the Harbor by Patty Kent

Photo Courtesy of Jaima & Co. and eye-wear-glasses.com

These looks aren’t just for ladies. Men are definitely getting in on the act! It’s great you can buy these styles today from the french firm Face a’ Face.

Retro is definitely in! So get a little Mad…with style that is!
Cheers.
Jaima

Mad Men Style Accessories / Jaima & Co.

Of course, our jewelry is designed for today’s style with a  retro flare. We used real  rice pearls when designing the Georgette necklace, an updated classic.  Our lariat necklace was created with a  burnished silver toned chain instead of gold and in our pearl necklace we added rock crystals to add some depth and layering. So here’s to Mad Men fever…an era of style we love!

Photo of  Georgette Necklace; Lily Bracelet; Lariat Necklace from www.Jaimacompany.com Photos from madmen images tvguide.com; housebeautiful.com

Peter Henry Brown 1914 -2012

Photo of Jaima and Peter in Toronto January 2012.

PETER HENRY BROWN
In his sleep after a long and full life, as he had always wanted, of complications from heart failure, on March 29, 2012, in his apartment at the Amica Balmoral residence in Toronto, where he lived with his most recent collection of friends.  He had many.  Born February 7, 1914, in Enfield, north London, England.  Predeceased by his beloved wife of 56 years, Cicely (Betts), his parents Stanley and Cecily Brown of Windsor, England; by his adored older brother Harold (killed in service during the Second World War), and brothers Herbert and Paul, but survived by his children Ian (Johanna), Timothy (Frank), Jaima (Rick) and Julia (Matt); stepson Peter Lake (Betty-Lou); grandchildren Hayley, Walker, Remy, DJ and step-grandchildren Claudia, Alexandra, Christopher and Andrea.  A Royal Navy reservist and decorated Lt. Commander in the Royal Navy, he served at the Battle of Narvik and in special operations in Norway and elsewhere during the Second World War.  He was hired by the London Metal Exchange in London at the age of 16, and continued working at his beloved trade as a scrap broker, in Africa and India and China and later Canada, where he first settled in Montreal, until his 98th year.  A dedicated athlete who tried out for England as a rugby player and played his last game of squash at the age of 87, he believed that a clean and healthy body meant a clean and healthy life.  He will be remembered for his quiet kindness to his family and friends, his steady good nature, his implacable patience and self-control, and his quiet but fervent dedication to his gentlemanly ideal:  to never willingly cause pain to anyone.  Visitation with the family on Saturday  April 7  from 3 to 5 p.m. at Ward Funeral Home, 52 Main Street South, Brampton. Funeral service to be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, April 9, 2012 at St. Alban’s Anglican Church, 537 Main Street, Glen Williams (Georgetown), Ontario. A book of memories can be signed at
www.wardfuneralhome.com

As an expert designer / stylist, I have always loved leopard prints and used them in home styling for years.  This spring look caught by Tommy Ton,  snapped this fun leopard dress in Europe.  I’m now  motivated  to start a Pinterest page on leopard prints and am going to design a leopard print handbag. A must! Leopard always looks great in  fashion and in the home. It’s always in style and brings a touch of exotic flare into our lives.

Photo Courtesy from Tommy Ton. Style.com