i spy: sparkling dresses and lights, autumn landscapes, and romantic train travel

As the days get shorter, I get more obsessed with beautiful lights and chandeliers--and sparkling dresses!  And one year after our trip to Europe, I am still obsessed with Germany and Austria, and thus, with half timber houses and a bygone era of romantic train travel.

I have to admit, I've gone my entire life with zero interest in weddings and bridal wear, until I saw these amazing photos of Norwegian brides in their gorgeous, folkloric dresses and elaborate crowns.  Amazing!

For more of this kind of stuff, you can follow me on Tumblr and/or Pinterest.

clockwise, starting upper left:

*French actress Mistinguett, photographed at home in Paris with her hundreds of shoes (and pet monkey!), 1923. | The Lively Morgue

*dress by Madeleine Vionnet, fall/winter 1930-31. | Metropolitan Museum of Art

*1932 poster for the Flying Scotsman express train connecting London and Edinburgh. | History in Posters

*Erich Kettelhut, design for Metropolis set Day break, Morgendämmerung, 1920s. Oil painting. | La città nuova

*Lamp designed by Gaspar Homar in the Casa Navàs (designed by Lluis Domenech i Montaner Reus, 1901-1908) in Reus, Catalonia, Spain. | Wikimedia Commons

clockwise, starting at upper left:

*photos of fabulously attired Norwegian brides, 1870-1920. | via

*László Paál, In the Forest, ca. 1875. | Wikimedia Commons

*dress by House of Patou, 1927. | Metropolitan Museum of Art

*a beautiful half timber frame house in Mainz, Germany. | Photo by Pedro Szekely

*Charles Burchfield, Old House and Spruce Trees, 1951. | via

xo

K