quiet paws.

It wouldn’t be too inaccurate a statement to say that I pretty much adore everything about this show. Apart from providing a fascinating insight into the world during the 1960s, Mad Men delivers consistently interesting plots played out by a fine cast of actors.

The visual authenticity of the show is achieved through a combination of impeccable costuming and set designs which are styled to absolute perfection. Everything looks right, and when scenes come to life with the presence of the actors, everything feels right.

I heard about this beautiful Vanity Fair editorial (The Ultimate Mad Men Summer-Break Album) some time ago, but only recently managed to find it within the September 2009 issue. The photographs are quite simply stunning! Despite the madness that seems to be Annie Leibovitz’s life, I absolutely adore her photography.

The photographs accompany a great article about the show’s creator Matthew Weiner, and the casting of Jon Hamm and January Jones as Don and Betty Draper.

If I was forced to choose a favourite character, it would be an easy answer for me – Don Draper would be the winner of such a contest. I love him for so many reasons, but perhaps this could best be said as, ‘I love him for the man that he almost is’.

Anyway, I just felt the need to share these beautiful images. Perhaps you’re a fan of the show yourself, or perhaps you adore finely styled photography… either way, I hope you enjoy!

PS. I’m laying much blame at the feet of Mad Men for my recent re-discovery and love of all things that are ‘the dress’…a happy curse to be burdened with indeed…

I often find myself lost in thought, reflecting on what has already come to pass and what is still yet to be. What decisions have I made to bring me to precisely this particular moment in time? What choices will tomorrow bring so that once more I may guide my own path towards some unknown, yet hopefully magical destiny?
… What cards will next fall?

It all started with seeing a photograph of Australian model Miranda Kerr wearing this dress some months ago. Normally I find myself ‘relatively’ immune to the temptations of (1) designer clothing garments, and (2) clothes worn by models, but for some reason my obsession with this Tarot Minded Dress by Australian label Antipodium took on obsessive proportions. The beautiful fabric and cut of this dress got under my skin, scurried into my mind, before finally burrowing deep within my heart.

I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I intended to be… (Douglas Adams)

The dress swirled its way through my dreams, passing to me in subliminal fashion its multi-coloured visions of how charming life could be with it by my side. Before I knew what happened, this dress HAD to be mine!!

I searched for many, many weeks online and in stores, with no luck to be found. But then on a most auspicious day, THE dress appeared in one of my most-visited online stores. My hands followed the path already laid out by my head and heart, clicking immediately to ‘add to cart’ – the beauty was finally mine!

As silly as this may seem, now this dress has come home with me, I’ve fallen even more head over heels in love! It swishes and flatters while I tumble and swoon… I even adore the label which was attached to the dress:

‘This cosmically blessed print was designed by the very sexy Tamara Littlewood exclusively for Antipodium. May compliments and eternal blessings rain down on her and you‘ …

… only I like to think that second sentence is referring to me and the dress.