Henri's Tribute to Grace Kelly's Elegance

I came across this perfume last week at our local pharmacy and was curious as to it's origin.  I love a perfume with a history, don't you? And with a name like Gin Fizz, there had to be a fun story behind it.  This particular fragrance was first created in 1955 by celebrated perfumer Henri Giboulet as a tribute to Grace Kelly in the year she won an Oscar for her role in The Country Girl. The name is inspired by a cocktail that was in fashion at the time in the American bars of Paris, and was synonymous with joie de vivre and a fashionably festive lifestyle. It has a citrus and floral scent with a light, fresh smell. It's made by the House of Lubin, which has been around since 1798 making frangrances for Empress Josephine and various other royals; and the first French perfumer ever to export to the U.S. in 1828. Another fun note; Prince Rainier commissioned Fleurissimo from Creed as a wedding fragrance for Grace in 1956. Fleurissimo was made to complement the royal bouquet she carried down the aisle. Wouldn't you love to have a fragrance commissed for you as a present? Enjoy!

Grace Kelly as Georgie Elgin in a PR still for The Country Girl

...and accepting her Best Actress Oscar for her role in The Country Girl

Gin Fizz by House of Lubin

Fleurissimo by Creed

Grace's Lily-of-the-Valley Bouquet for her second, religious church ceremony.

royal wedding watch breakfast

Spring is almost here and I have Royal Wedding fever.  Yes, I've fallen prey to the excitement and am planning a Royal Wedding Watch breakfast for my ladies! I love planning parties for my friends and family. My yearly Halloween party is quite fun, with everyone always having a memorable time.  This little get-together should be equally as memorable and so much fun - I can't wait. Hats are mandatory, pj's optional due to the early hour we will be watching! I've based the morning's color scheme on the newly released Royal Collection China being sold by Buckingham Palace and The Royal Collection shop.  The porcelain pieces are pale grey and silver, with gold embellishments and a touch of pale blue.  The tea towel is my favorite piece; I love the blue starburst, as well as the garlands. So pretty. My checklist is almost complete, and I'm awaiting my final goodies to arrive from the UK.  Enjoy!

images above courtesy of http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/default.asp

For starters, I'd like to create a beautiful 'breakfast/dessert' table that will feature all of our fun breakfast foods and some very yummy sweets.  Here is my inspiration table from Amy Atlas Events. I have all the crisp white serving pieces, but will be adding touches of pale blues, greys and silvers.  My sky-blue and white damask tablecloth will be the perfect table covering, with perhaps my crisp white table runner as a topper. 

image via http://www.amyatlas.com/

image via http://www.amyatlas.com/

The amazingly talented Micheline, from Madame Butterfly Cakes, made a beautiful Fall basket cake for my family to enjoy at Thanksgiving last year, and has graciously accepted the task of making a Royal Wedding Cake for my breakfast!  She is magnificently talented and I can't wait to see what she will be creating! Maybe something like this beautiful homage to Wedgewood?  

My Wedding Breakfast Menu Cards are being created by Sarah Ridgley.  I love Etsy, and Sarah is one of the talented letterpress artists that creates true works of art and sells them on Etsy.  Here is a working draft as of today.  It will be printed on heavy, 8x10 ivory paper with rounded edges and sit on the dessert table with all the yummies that you see on the card.  Sarah is also making little tags for my dessert table.  Love them! Sarah also made the large letterpress card that will go on my foyer table to welcome my guests as they enter.  This is how I found Sarah on Etsy!  Fun!

My hat (aka Fascinator) is being created by Hats by Cressida.  Another great Etsy find!  It will be in a pale grey to match my suit (or pj's, whichever I am motived to be in!) and will look like this.  How much fun is this?

My floral arrangements, (you can't have a ladies tea without flowers!) will be pale pink, creamy ivory and crisp green. I'm trying to go for a very soft look, but with punches of crisp green.  My large glass hurricane urns that previously stood on my mantle, will adorn our dessert table filled with large bunches of limelight hydrangea.  I think this will set off the pale blue damask table cloth and other pale blues of the macaron, as well as the crisp whites of the serving pieces just right.  Lisa at Main Street Nursery is so perfect at creating exactly what I'm looking for each and every time.  Here are some ideas I've given her to work with. 

image via http://www.marthastewart.com/

image via http://www.marthastewart.com/

image via http://www.teleflora.com/flowers/bouquet/telefloras-park-avenue-centerpiece-372828p.asp

image via http://www.carolynshepard.com/

And, just for giggles; I've also included a few of those fun items that have been popping up all over the place. This flag will fly outside on the porch to welcome guests to their royal morning!  I just couldn't resist.

 

I'm counting down the days, and will keep you informed as to any fun little things I've found to add to the day's festivities!  If you see something you think I'd like, please let me know! Aren't you dying to know, what will she wear? (I personally am hoping for something very Grace Kelly-esque).