Everyday Luxe 3

When I was younger (read: teenager) I really wanted to be all cool and light candles in my room. My mom said I would burn the house down, and thus shut that dream down.

But what about when you moved out, Charlotte?

Well the fact that I lived in a 100 + Victorian mansion in college didn't help my dream either.

This is Tyler House:





Est. 1898

  

It has a "burn time" of around 60 seconds. No really, the insulation is some combination of horse hair, newspaper, and hay. A lot of the beautiful carved wood has been around since Smith College cleared trees while making room for the campus. I'm pretty sure my college house is an elegant, beautiful death trap.

I might have made it more of a death trap by doing stupid things, too.

And I love it.

Candle Time

But getting back on track, now that I'm an adult and live in a building made of steel and concrete, I can't get in trouble for lighting candles! And I do, probably 2-3 times a week.

My favorite place for buying candles? Target (don't judge) and Kringle Candle (my favorite scent is Watercolors).  

But this is not called Everyday Affordable, so let's move on to some ridiculous candle options:

1) Diptyque Paris is known for their famous scents, but did you know they also offer HUGE outdoor/indoor candles? At 5 wicks, it was the biggest one I could find, and it comes in a pretty reusable pot (I would love to plant flowers in it).



Diptyque Paris Indoor/Outdoor Candle in Tuberose



Price? $275 via their website.

2) Jo Malone may be better known for her refreshing perfumes, but she also offers up home decor scents as well. Try this 4 wick candle which is the equivalent of burning 2 candles at once.



The Jo Malone Luxury Candle comes in 4 different scents



Price? $425 via their website.

3) And the most ridiculously luxe candle I could find was by Welcome Home. This is a black soy candle with 2 wicks.




The Fanciest: Welcome Home Candle


But what makes it so special? That lovely decor on the vase is actually a 38 diamond (2.23 carats in all) necklace, y'know to spruce it up.



Diamonds are a candles best friend...?



Price? $6,495 via their website. I feel like you're really just buying a diamond necklace that comes with a candle at this point.

I think my favorite of the bunch is the Diptyque Paris candle. What's yours?

Love,
Charlotte

Everyday Luxe 2

I'm back with another edition of Everyday Luxe.

In honor of the misty rain today (it seriously looks like Seattle right now) here in Denver, I thought I'd share with you a few very fancy umbrellas, from one of the rainiest places on Earth (no, not Seattle): England!




Misty Denver



And yes, I said umbrellas.

This is everyday luxe... and I carry an umbrella nearly everyday... just not like these beauties.

1) James Smith & Co.'s Ladies Animal Head Umbrella

In 1830 James Smith founded the famous firm of James Smith and Sons at Foubert Place in London's West End. A branch shop was opened just off Savile Row and it was from here that umbrellas were sold to Gladstone, Bonar Law and Lord Curzon, among many other dignitaries. The business in umbrellas has always thrived, perhaps because of the English weather, but also because of the outstanding reputation the company has for umbrellas and walking sticks and the repair service that they offer for them. The company was also one of the first to use the famous Fox Frame and similar frames have been used ever since.

So cute and practical at only $114 USD. Almost too practical...

2) Pickett Whangee Wooden Shaft Umbrella

Handmade in England by expertly skilled master craftsmen using one solid continuous piece of wood, they are as strong and sturdy as a walking stick and feature twill nylon covers individually hand sewn onto a metal rib frame. They are available in a wide range of exquisite wood constructions and have been wind tested, withstanding speeds of 27mph! This will set you back $521.




Whangee is a type of super strong bamboo wood.


And my favorite:

3) Swain Addney Brigg Ladies' London Tan Leather & Campari Nylon Umbrella

Found in 1750, and handmade in Cambridge, UK since 1835 - Briggs is synonymous for the best in terms of umbrellas.They even have the official Royal Warrant, given by HRH The Prince of Wales who uses his quite a bit in rainy England.

This one-piece, ladies' umbrella boasts a hand-stitched saddle leather handle in London Tan. The umbrella canopy comes in a rich Campari nylon.

And don't worry you can get engraved for only an extra $90. Which is probably worth it since you are going to be shelling out over $800 for the umbrella itself.

Look! a Royal Warrant or crest-like thing I stole from the Briggs' website!

Love, Charlotte

P.S. In case you missed the first Everday Luxe, it can be found right here.

Everyday Luxe

This is going to be a series (maybe?) of objects you need everyday... or every other day... but not the classic just bought it at a box store version. I'm talking holy-crap that is as much as my rent versions.

To start it off: Rain Boots.



Tour Hunter Boots, $135 at Nordstrom



Why rain boots? Because I love rain boots. And I grew up in Seattle where they were a necessity, and then at Smith where they were a status symbol of sorts.

At Smith the rich/bitchy/cool/stylish girls all rocked a version of the timeless Hunter Wellies.



Original High Gloss Hunter Boots, $135 at Nordstrom



While nearly everyone else rocked some cheap target version like so:

I will disown you as a friend if you wear these around me. Target cheetah boots, $15 on clearance (for a reason)

I bought a pair of Hunter's when I was at Smith, but I found the fit uncomfortable. While the boots fit my small foot (size 5.5 - 6) it was suffocating my calves. I couldn't easily remove the boot due to a suction mechanism. I literally had to have my neighbor come over to help pull them off. Needless to say they were quickly returned to Nordstrom for an exchange. And due to some weird return error I never got the exchange but a straight refund. I took that as a sign that Hunter boots were not for me.

But even the pricey, Hunter wellies can't stand up to the ones I'm drooling over.

Readers, meet Le Chameau's Chasseur.



Le Chameau Chasseur boots, $490 at Orvis.



For a measly $490 you could be rocking the same rain boots as the queen and Kate Middleton.

 I'm not kidding, she basically lives in them.

 So does Prince Harry.

Why nearly $500 for a pair of boots? Because they work, and they are made to last. I've read reviews about people having them for nearly 10 years. My rain boots barely make it past 1 or 2 years before they crack right around the toes and flood my feet.

The Chasseur boots is leather lined, so your feet don't get that sweaty clammy feeling (awesome), and they've been made the same way (by hand) since 1927 (if it's not broken, don't fix it), and it takes 9 months of intense training to become a Le Chameau boot maker (basically they are experts).

Each pair is handmade by a single boot maker from start to finish from natural rubber. They slip on and off easily (no suction problems, here!) due to their full length gusseted zipper aka you never have to wrangle your skinny jeans inside a pair of rain boots again!

If the royal family, living in the rainy UK, can teach us anything- it's what rain boots to buy. These people can afford the finest the world has to offer and they choose Le Chameau.

Where to buy? The site I trust most with a purchase like this is going to be Orvis. You can find the boots here.

Love, Charlotte

Photos of products sourced from links. Photos of Prince Harry/Kate Middleton stolen from the interwebs.

PS of course in all the photos I grabbed, Kate is wearing the Vierzon version found here.