Sugar and Grace and Everything Lace

The Ice Queen Cometh... summoned by Givenchy's Spring 2010 couture collection.

Well, my summer freak-out was a little premature as yesterday dipped back to the low 60s and was joined by matte gray skies and on and off showers. Foo. So if you can't beat 'em ("em," in this case, being Mother Nature -- the inherently unbeatable) join 'em. Hence a post celebrating winter, lacy snowflakes and everything frosty. (Haha! Like I, a born and bred Southern Californian knows what frost is. You jest.)

I saved these cafe doilies from destruction specifically to make into snowflakes.

As a matter of fact, last week it was so cold the rain turned to hail and nearly pulverized our tomatoes. It lasted for all of 11 minutes and looked something like this:

Needless to say the tomato plants survived. Now, flip over to the opposite coast where the elements are a little less benign but much more reminiscent of the Winter Wonderlands of yore. My good friend from high school, Brigid (or Brigitte, as we called her in French class), is a teacher and lives with her husband in New York City. Thankfully, Brigid is a season-lover, otherwise scenes like this one around her school's neighborhood would go unappreciated. Talk about "in the lane, snow is glistenin'!"

Not to be outdone by Madam Nature, fashion runways seem to have warmed to this delicately white aesthetic and showed off more than a few collections where ivories and lace played feature roles.

Above looks are all from Dolce and Gabbana's spring 2011 ready-to-wear collection.

Pretty, right?! One thing I like about these lace designs is that they use a material that's traditionally associated with Spanish widows and grandmas in a very fresh, hip, young way. Wear your hair down and pair with a piece of chunky turquoise jewelry and some flat, natural leather sandals and you've got one stunning spring outfit. (Of course you'd also have to stock up on bleach or invest in a good dry cleaner,  because these virginal whites are just begging for Tapatio stains.)

Alexander McQueen's new head designer, Sarah Burton, channeled more snow queen than springtime virgin in her fall 2011 ready-to-wear show in Paris. Billows of silk organza and tulle soften what might have otherwise been a pretty icy show, and intricately gathered patterns resemble a rich tapestry of goose down. Incidentally, the McQueen gowns serve as both priceless art pieces as well as sleeping bags built to rival the REI "polar pod". That's something for Tilda Swinton to add to her next Narnia contract. 

Alright winter, that's quite enough homage for you! Now make like a frozen banana and split!