Hello friends. It’s time for our weekend guide to cool things with Elizabeth and Juliet. So glad to have you all here and to those who have subscribed, thank you so much! It’s been a busy week for me with a link up post on Spring Refresh with five others. I shared our new peel and stick wallpaper in our guest room/office for it and if you missed it, the post is here.
Entry Rugs
Do you need a new entry rug? I’ve been struggling to find an entry rug that’s the right size, not too small or big and flat enough that my door can open over it. I finally found one that checked all those boxes and I liked the look. The Lauren Rug is at World Market, ( I still call it Cost Plus), and looks very nice for the cost. I bought the 3’6 x 5’6 size and it’s $79.
Tennis is Back in a Big Way
Are any of you tennis people? Have you been thinking about playing again? Have you never, but are curious? This article on a study over 25 years gave people who played tennis almost 10 extra years of life, so if you’re thinking of trying it, do!
I’ve been a tennis nut since I was a kid. My athletic mom thought tennis could be a good sport for the unsporty me to try and lured me with the promise of cute tennis dresses like Chris Evert and pom pom socks. That worked and I had lessons starting at age 7 and I played in high school too. I didn’t play again until a neighbor asked me to join lesson about 11 years ago.
I started back with a clinic at a local tennis club and they are also at most park and recreation centers. I’ve made many friends and I get out there at least 2-3 times a week. It’s the one time I don’t think about anything else at all, except playing and I think that is good for you. I also see so many older folks still at it and that gets me happy that this could help me age well. I know it’s great for balance and overall flexibility. When I didn’t play tennis for months during the pandemic I was the stiffest person in the world, so I know it helps.
According to USA TODAY Sports, tennis has boomed during the pandemic with an estimated 21.64 million Americans picking up a racquet in 2020! Apparently being outdoors and not within 6 feet of others made it the thing to do the last two years and people have kept at it.
I noticed that tennis themed clothes are cropping up everywhere! Right now so many cute styles even if you are just a fan. Kule has darling sweatshirts, socks, totes, a vintage looking Hingis jacket (named after the Swiss player),and even a silk scarf I love.. Some of the best I linked on just click on pictures below..
Also entering the tennis club, so to speak, is Athleta now with dresses and retro 70’s striped sweatshirts with matching shorts and skirts.
I really like this tennis dress that has a genius back pocket for the bal. It comes in three colors and a decent size range to 3X. I just ordered this!
Tuckernuck also has tennis clothes – I especially like the skirts with printed shorts that peek out from the skirt, like this skirt in hydrangeas with black, or white with floral..
I also adore this quilted sweatshirt, this tournament dress ( in white too) paired with these floral bike shorts.
I might brave the bike short look someday with a sweatshirt if I had these. This look was copied off of Princess Diana. Vogue did a spread riffing off the Diana look a while back with Hailey Bieber.
Want to start running?
Are any of you runners or wish you were? I’ve been trying to get out and move more now that it’s spring and there is a great article about tricking yourself into liking running on the NYTimes. Some super advice to begin with the walk alternating short run method and go SLOW. Great advice from so many in the comments too. If you can start slow and go for a very short distance, you will be more likely to keep at it. Other advice is don’t wash your clothes all the time, keep them in a pile during the week, throw them on and just go. The less work it is, the more people just get it done!
Weddings
Apparently 2022 will have 2.1 million weddings in the U.S. and is the biggest year for wedding since the 1984! So many people have held off celebrating with their loved ones due to the pandemic. There is a LOT of people looking for guest dresses I imagine.
Juliet has a the first of many weddings this weekend and on her post last week she did a great go-to look for a rehearsal lunch and shared some pretty formal too. This week is her part two with more helpful ideas, especially if you’re mother of the groom like her. Vogue just had this article for mother of the groom looks. Some are quite pricey, but it gives you an idea of what styles are in and what styles might work at you might find similar at other price points. Nordstrom has a special wedding guest link where you can choose Casual, Cocktail or Formal, with some great frocks, shoes and bags.
Neimans also has a wedding guest edit with some the most beautiful dresses, lovely bags and all the finishing touches you might need..
Bloomingdales has a curated online area with looks for mother of the bride, guests, and by beach or cocktail or formal options. I really wish I had a wedding to attend!
Vogue is a great resource as its wedding stories archive has something for everyone. I like the stories of small weddings on a dime as well as destination nuptials and big fancy bashes. So much inspiration here like this bride, below, who found her Balenciaga dress at Goodwill ten years before she married, and these two who transformed their backyard into a beautiful jazz age themed wedding.. Oh so many stories. I love wedding stuff.
A smart option for unique wedding looks is to check out local resale shops as dresses are one of the items they carry the most of and so many have been worn just once. As I have mentioned before, I love Crossroads Trading (the one in Almaden in San Jose) and Filmore & Fifth in Palo Alto for great resale items. (Next month’s Signature Style will also be about wedding guest dresses.)
Dara Caponigro
Dara has been someone whose home style I have always loved. I followed her since she was a style director at Domino and through her stint at Veranda. Her two books, The Authentics, and S is for Style, are hands down, my most favorite design books I own.
Charish interviewed Dara and showed more of her home which is totally my kind of eclectic style. It’s chic, unique and collected – and bright! I think you’ll enjoy seeing more of it and reading the Q & A here on their blog. Dara’s Instagram here.
Ukraine & Sting
Have you seen this video Sting released this week? It’s an acoustic version of his cold war song, The Russians, in this video . It’s very moving and I hope we share this all over the world. He is raising money for the Help Ukraine Center, which gives humanitarian aid. He said he never thought this song would be relevant again, and yet here we are.
Let’s keep sharing our love for Ukraine and its people and donate in all the places we can. How great is it that everyone is sharing all the stories of this war on social media channels? Imagine WWII if we had the internet? The atrocities that were happening were not on everyone’s phones as they are now for us all to see. That has greatly helped the world get behind Ukraine and see first hand the incredible strength of these people. We can see ourselves in their shoes.
I hope you had a good week. I’ll be back Tuesday with our monthly Signature Style and this time we’ll be talking glasses- sunglasses and readers, so come back if you’re in the market for new ones.
Please pop over and see what ideas my friends Elizabeth and Juliet have for you this week..
PINECONES AND ACORNS
MAKE MINE A SPRITZER
Wishing you all a beautiful weekend, and thank you for being here!
Kim
You might also like this post on some of my Serena & Lily Favorites as they are having a 20% off sitewide sale now until 3/15. Use the code HOME on their site when checking out.
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Great post Kim! I never thought “What if we had the internet during WWII. Interesting thought….would it have saved lives? I think so.
I would think so. Wish I played tennis! The clothes are too cute!
Hugs!
Vikki
Good morning, Kim! Yes, to tennis … and running. I loved tennis as a teen. My dad was a regular player. Somehow as an adult I just haven’t played and the idea of walking into a formed tennis group as a newbie is a little intimidating. As are the short skirts. My legs … oof. But, running, that’s another matter. I do like it and we bought a treadmill during the pandemic so its easy to do with very little effort. I haven’t been at it as often as I should or would like. I’d like to get back to it so thanks for both interesting articles. Resale shops are great places to shop weddings and other events. Its amazing what can be found on their racks. I did a couple of swoops through our local shops … and did find several things. Wedding jewelry and bags are pieces to look for there as well. I’ve noticed that as we enter the early stages of wedding season, and prom season looming that more and more formal attire is available.. Too late for me though. Drats. Well, off I go to get glammed for today. I’m excited about your style post this week. I enjoy those so much. Happy weekend! xo
Kim,
I love your new wallpaper and the rug too! It is always fun to do a bit of a refresh. I haven’t played tennis in years, I am not really sporty, although in my younger days much like you with a push from my parents I played tennis, and took lessons, ice skated, played softball(catcher) until I was hit in the face, and volleyball, or and golf too. I never really “took” to any of them. I do however love to snowshoe and walk/hike, my two favorite things to do outdoors. Inside I love yoga and I have become a Peleton addict over the last few weeks.
That said, your tennis finds and outfits are lovely. I would wear the skirt with the botanical flowers! So cute.
Dara s amazingly talented! I love her books and design. I myself am a collector and love the look of “old English/Scottish” cottages with comfy sofas, dogs, piles of books and interesting bits and bobs on the tables, chairs and shelves. Not a house stuffed to the gills but one that reflects me and all of my hobbies and loves,
Thank you Kim for joining Juliet and I each week, it is always so fun to see what the two of your are up to on the West coast. I am so excited for Juliet and hope that she has a wonderful time at the wedding, it goes without saying that she is going to look stunning! As always.
Have a great weekend, hugs to you!
The photo you shared for International Women’s day is wonderful.
Good for you that you play tennis, I bet you are very good since you have been at it for so long.
No, I have never played tennis, instead I ran, hiked for 37 years. Ran races, full marathons and one ultramarathon. I do not recommend extreme running, it’s so bad for
your knees, feet, and ankles. A hard lesson learned. The endorphin high is excellent. I feel at least for me, walking would had been the much wiser choice. I guess it goes back to the old saying, “everything in moderation.”
I like your office/guest room, looks so peaceful and relaxing. The wallpaper looked like a huge challenge. Your hubby nailed it, what a guy.
No, I did not see the video that Sting released this week. I did listen, thank you for passing that on.
Thanks so much Katherine about my family photo. Really kind of you.
I hear that about running..especially on the pavement. I wonder if hiking and walking is as touch on the body? I know the impact is good for building bone, but for how long? I think you are so right, moderation seems wise in everything.
Thank you about the wallpaper, I was lucky Max was willing to tackle the hard parts! Have a lovely weekend.xo
Kim,
There is so much to love about this post! First, I loved how you shared that song from Sting…amazing!
I was wondering if you were going to Indian Wells. I know how much you love tennis. We are watching it right now wishing we were in the desert where it’s 70 degrees! I do love all the tennis fashion that seems to be popular this spring. I went to the Kule store in Rockefeller just before leaving for London. Such a fun shop!
xx
Thank you Annie. The song really got to me. I wish I was going to Indian Wells.. One of our group got a knee replacement- so next year I hope! The weather is perfect now there. I didn’t know you had a Kule store! i’d love to go. xo
Hi Kim, thank you for linking to Sting’s song, I’d forgotten about that. Ever day I’ve been watching the YouTube channel of a young mum of 3 called Olena – I saw her first on Anderson Cooper’s show. She is a former journalist and a tour guide and is staying in Kyiv. She is so determined and steadfast, but I wake up every morning just hoping and praying that there will be a video from her. Her channel is What is Ukraine.
My dad was actually Ukrainian – he ended up in Scotland after the war, and as he died when I was young I wasn’t brought up in the culture; we also never knew of any family . I did, however, cover some Ukrainian history as part of a university course so I am aware of some things. But it’s been truly inspiring to see and hear just how courageous the Ukrainians are. We’re going to another rally in Ottawa tomorrow – there are so many people of Ukrainian descent in Canada.
Thanks Patricia! Sting’s song fits now so scary too. I will look for Lena’s channel. Thank you so much. Isn’t it unbelievable the courage these Ukranians have? How wonderful you are Ukranian! I love that you all are holding rallies. So far we haven’t had many here and we should!
PRESIDENT OR EX-PRES OBAMA has COVID!
Did you see the video of UKRAINE PRESI DENT visiting a hospital!!
WHAT A MAN HE IS………HOW ON EARTH ARE THEY KEEPING HIM SAFE?
I FIND THIS HORRIFIC IN THIS DAY AND AGE!!
CANT wait to see what JULIET has to SHARE about the family wedding!
XXX
I heard that so worrying. President Zelinsky is the bravest man in the world. I just worry for his safety. I know love hearing all about Juliet’s wedding weekend! xo