The Style Files: Maxine Trowbridge of Pink Memo

English-born style maven Maxine Trowbridge has made America her home for over twelve years and refers to herself as “Britican”, taking on the best of both cultures. She began her career in fashion after studying at London College of Fashion. Since then, she has gone on to work for a British luxury fashion house, created a women’s sportswear collection and online boutique, then moved on to work in marketing and product licensing at Miami’s Ocean Drive magazine. Ultimately, Maxine managed to marry all of her passions by creating Pink Memo, an online fashion magazine and style destination which provides readers with the latest scoop on fashion, runway reports along with lifestyle and luxury news.

Name: Maxine Trowbridge

Occupation: Founder & CEO – PinkMemo.com

Hometown: Glastonbury, Somerset, England

Current City: Dallas, Texas

LDV: What inspired you to begin your career in Fashion?

MT: At the age of 14 I knew I wanted to be a fashion designer, which is how I started my career, as a fashion designer for an established British luxury house in London. I was also fascinated with computers at an early age, writing simple calculation code. So it seems only natural to be doing what I am today – I love the juxtaposition of fashion and technology. I also grew up with a strong sense of successful and celebrated women – Margaret Thatcher, the Queen, together with Princess Diana and Madonna, they were all very important in my world growing up, and all were an inspiration in their own way.

{The Lovely Pink Memo Ladies, Katrina Szish, Anisha Lakhani and Maxine Trowbridge with Tamsin Londsale}

LDV: What do you love most about it? What is the most challenging aspect?

MT: I always wanted to start my own company, and PinkMemo is a product of my skill set and passion. Juggling the multi-tasking is always a challenge, but it is also the aspect I enjoy the most about being an entrepreneur.

LDV: Where do you find inspiration?

MT: Pop culture, and everyday experiences. The sheer amount of information that I read everyday inspires me, even sub-consciously. I read a mix of industry online publications from advertising, online trends to fashion. There is an inspiration every minute with the vast input of information read.

LDV: Who are some of your personal style icons?

MT: Terribly cliché but I have always loved Audrey Hepburn, Vivienne Westwood is an inspiration, and Daphne Guinness.

{Image Credit: Paul Costello}

LDV: How would you describe your own style?

MT: Like my star sign – Libra. A classic twist of eclectic.

LDV: What is the trait you most admire in a person?

MT: Integrity. Honesty. A sense of humbleness. Too many people are full of self-importance. Keep it real!

{Image Credit: Paul Costello}

LDV: What is your principal weakness?

MT: To do well, to be good, I am to busy pleasing. My grandmother’s motto in life was ‘nothing is good if better is possible’. A great motivator, but where do you draw the line. I am never satisfied, and this can be a negative weakness. Sometimes its ok to be pleased with an outcome or success, I have a tendency to over criticize myself.

{Image Credit: Rodney Smith}

LDV: What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?

MT: Never give up!

{Image Credit: Phil Poynter}

LDV: What do you consider your greatest achievement?

MT: See point 7 – working on it.

{Image Credit: Tatler Russia}

LDV: What is your idea of living “la dolce vita”?

MT: My time is consumed with PinkMemo, so my “la dolce vita” would include a balanced lifestyle that includes traveling to exotic destinations, learning about other cultures, the luxury of reading books. Doing something selfless, getting involved with charitable work in a third-world country.

 

{Image via Everything Fabulous}

Bloom: Orchid

Food: Chocolate – anything from England, it tastes much better. Walnut Whip sounds good right now.

Drink: Champagne

Thing to Wear: Red lipstick.

Destination: Sailing in the BVI.

Season: Spring

Meal: Black truffle risotto

Musician: I adore Prince.

Artist: Anish Kapoor / Damien Hirst

Film: The Pillow Book

Television Show: Graham Norton Show

Book: About to read - The Widow Cliquot

Magazines: When I can get a copy - Tatler

Blogs: PinkMemo - The Front Row.

Texture: Velvet

Fabric or Pattern: ikat

Color: Pink – of course

Scent: Tom Ford: Black Orchid

Extravagance: Facial – I don’t get them enough.

Quote: “I am extraordinarily patient, provided I get my own way in the end.” - Margaret Thatcher

Italians Do It Better: The Best Turkey You’ll Ever Have

For the past few years, I have asked my mother and mother-in-law to let me host Thanksgiving. After years of doing it themselves, I think they happily relented. They knew that I enjoyed cooking and that the food I make is usually pretty good. My mother-in-law isn’t a big cook, so I knew that impressing her wouldn’t be an enormous feat, but I knew my mom and dad would be a different story as they are both incredible cooks. I’m sure they were a little dubious deep down about how my turkey would turn out that first year, but they always seemed to have full faith in me. Knowing that this was the first time I had made a turkey in my life, I had to come up with something good! I couldn’t disappoint my entire family. After all, bad food makes me cranky.

I knew it would be best to find a great recipe for my first go ‘round. I happened to watch an episode of Everyday Italian with Giada DeLaurentiis right around that time and the turkey she had made sounded amazing. I tested the recipe on roasted chicken and the result was scrumptious! The chicken was moist and had the most subtle, amazing flavor from the citrus, herbs, and let’s face it, the butter certainly didn’t hurt! I ended up making Giada’s Turkey with Herbes de Provence and Citrus for Thanksgiving that year and I haven’t looked back. This is the turkey I will be making for my family for years to come. I don’t feel weird saying this because I’m tooting Giada’s horn rather than my own, but everyone who’s ever had it has said it’s the best turkey they’ve ever tasted. It is seriously amazing. If you’re not sure what to do with your turkey this year, trust me, this is the way to go. If you’re not in charge of the big bird, be sure to try this same strategy on a roasted chicken. You’ll think you’ve died and gone to heaven! Click here for the recipe or watch the video below.

10 Things I Can’t Live Without: Bailey of Peppermint Bliss

Today’s “10 Things” list comes from one of my favorite “newer” bloggers, Bailey of Peppermint Bliss. The girl is hilarious, has a no BS approach about life (which is incredibly refreshing), and she does it all with great style! It just so happens that Miss Bailey is also a native Houstonian, though she currently lives in Chicago where she works as a fabulous interior designer.

Well hello there dollbabies! I am so super flattered that Paloma would have me on her fabulous blog. She has always been one of my favorites, I think she was one of the first blogs I ever read and I felt an immediate connection, especially when I found out that she lives in my hometown of Houston! When creating this list I tried to think a little outside the box, obviously my most essentials in life are my incredible friends and my super foxy new husband who I adore and IS my favorite thing.Isn't he darling?

These are the other little random things that make my world go round! Hope you enjoy…

1. Breadgastrology.com

When people talk about being on a diet and exclaim proudly that they have given up bread, I feel grateful that they have cut to the chase and have clearly indicated to me that we will probably not be friends. People who talk about how bad bread is for you, I want to sock in the face, I take it so personally. And if you want to put salt on your butter, well then come sit by this girl.

2. Cocktails

Miles Redd via Domino

My parents used to joke that French jail would be my dream because I would actually prefer to subsist on bread and water alone. That is false. Bread and cocktails alone would be my dream. Margaritas, champagne, a gimlet, I am an equal opportunity imbiber- and maybe a bit of a drunk- although if you put a mint julep in front of me you might end up wearing it.

 

3. Baths

Katie Ridder

People often find it curious that I pretty much refuse to shower. I just find a bath much more civilized. Growing up my mom had a TV in her bathroom and I remember sitting in there till I was completely pruney just chillin on out for hours. Now that I live in the cold blue yonder, baths are pretty much necessary to keep me from freezing to death.

4. Wallpaper/Textiles

Tori Mellott via Domino

Having just recently started my own interior decorating business, I am absolutely obsessed with textiles. I would wallpaper every room in my house if I could. I am constantly inspired by fabrics and use them as my main inspiration and starting point when designing for clients. Everytime I walk into a showroom its like a museum for me, filled with unbelievable art, except its better cause you can run your paws over it which I have found is generally frowned upon in real museums.

5. Entertaining

Eddie Ross

Pete and I both love to entertain. I have become quite domestic in my old age, and definitely would say I know my way around a kitchen. There is nothing I love more than a theme or some flare, and whether it is our weekly Worldly Wednesday dinners where we cook a different cuisine from around the world, or more traditional events like Thanksgiving which we are hosting this year, there is nothing I enjoy more than food, bevys, and fellowship with friends and family.

6. Music Videos

Video killed the radio star, and for my money, Vh1 video jumpstart is the only alarm clock you could ever need. Except for the occasional unfortunate Train moment, there is no better way I can think of to start my day. I also download hot lady music videos-think Rihanna, Britney- to my iPod to watch while I work out. There is nothing like Rihanna Rude Boy-ing in your face to get you going.

7. PupperzBernieBoyBellaGirlBella out on the town...

I know I said I would keep the obvious essentials off of this list, but my darling nuggets were sitting there staring at me with their sad eyes and I couldn't leave them out. They are the most hilarious, entertaining, fuzzy joynuggets and they light up my life more than is probably normal. I mean, look at those faces!

8. Online Shopping

It started when I was in boarding school in the hinterlands, and has grown into a full on obsession. Thank goodness I have a blog-and now clients- that sort of legitimize the sickness. I honestly have very little desire to visit a store in person, I feel like I am always so sloppy juggling bags and my purse and crowds make me sweat. But a beautiful pure online marketplace is just magic. My favorites are ShopBop and net-a-porter for clothes. 1stdibs, GardenHouse, and Furbish for home. And FredFlare and GirlProps for smiles.

9. Travel/AdventuresMy best friend Laura and I at Graceland on our RoadtripShowing off all of the bumper stickers we collected over our trip, and our home for 6 weeks, The Beast.

I have been lucky to travel a lot in my life, and nothing fills my soul like exploring different cultures and experiencing things you have only ever seen in pictures come to life and become a part of your history. Obviously there is nothing more fabulous than far flung destinations like Germany (my most favorite place I have ever been) or Japan (next on my list), but there is something about the good ol' fashioned Road Trip that makes my heart sing. The freedom to hop in a car and just go sustains me when I get overwhelmed with life. To this day one of the most important experiences of my life was driving from Houston to Montreal and back for 6 weeks with my best friend. We visited all of those kitsch americana sites like Graceland and Niagara Falls, and saw the country in such a unique way. Everyone should do that once in their lives with someone they love.

10. Pictures(One of my favorites from our wedding...don't even get me started on a wedding album. I don't even know where to begin!)

I am a super visual person, and there is nothing I cherish more than my memories with family and friends and photos of magical times. My end-of-year resolution is to get better at making albums and actually putting pictures into frames. I am blessed and cursed to have the most wonderful friends in the world all spread out around the world, and I love being able to surround myself with all of the beautiful faces I love everyday, even if I can't squeeze em in person. Another goal of mine is to actually learn photography next year...dream big!

Thank you so much for having me, Paloma! And I cannot WAIT to see the first issue of High Gloss!

Boxwood Interiors

Last week, my friend Jeni came to visit from California and I took her to some of my favorite places in Houston that I knew she’d love. Among them, was Boxwood Interiors, a charming store featuring an amazing selection of pillows, furniture, lighting, decorative accessories, and paints and wallcoverings by Farrow and Ball. I’ll let you in on a little secret, we sourced a few items from Boxwoods for a High Gloss photo shoot that we can’t wait to share with you! But more on that later. First, I’d like to share a visual tour of this amazing shop. Boxwood recently underwent a major makeover. The store nearly doubled in size and they added a ton of fabulous new vignettes, brightened the space, and added some show-stopping details.

{It was quite appropriate that we visited Boxwood on the same day that we heard Miles Redd speak. This amazing octagonal partition is painted in Miles’ favorite color, Hague Blue in Full Gloss finish by Farrow and Ball. It is such a gorgeous shade and this image doesn’t even begin to do the amazing partition justice.}

{Boxwood mixes styles so well. There are plenty of things that appeal to the French and Belgian loving set as well as a great assortment of pieces that appeal to those who love a more modern dose of color.}

{Pillows, Glorious Pillows!}

{So Many Lovely Details}

{I love the mercury glass lamp, subdued color palette, and Donghia suzani pillows in this vignette.}

{How gorgeous is that mirror?}

{I love the framed abstract paintings here. Sally Wheat has some similar ones in her home. Sally, if you’re reading this, what is the artist’s name?}

{This console is bananas! The photo doesn’t even begin to do it justice. It is covered in what looked and felt like seagrass and studded with nailheads.}

{I loved the gilded wheat sheaf table and these neat stools.}

{These Kobo candles smell so nice and feature such lovely packaging.}

{Gorgeous Mercury Glass Lamps atop a Beautiful Console Table}

{There is literally eye candy in every corner of this store. I am crazy about this fabulous end table with Greek key detail.}

{A Pretty Table Setting and Chandelier in front of Gorgeous, Hand-Painted Wallpaper by Farrow and Ball.}

{I love the simple lines of this furniture. It would be great in an outdoor area.}

{Another Beautiful Vignette}

{More Mercury Glass Lamps – Love!}

{A Fabulous Assortment of Farrow and Ball}

{A Nod to the 1950s via a Wheat Sheaf Table and Cute Poodle Lamp}

{Yet another lamp I was dying over! I wasn’t kidding when I said I was a total lamp tramp!}

{I wish I’d gotten a better picture of their gorgeous cash wrap /check-out counter. You can see it up close in the previous picture. It features carrera marble and antiqued mirrors. I doubt there is a prettier one in existence.}

{So, the gorgeous Hague Blue octagonal partition from the beginning of this post separates the retail part of the space from the offices in the back. Boxwood also provides interior design services.}

Thank you, Mimi and Jenna for being such gracious hostesses and treating us like old friends during our visit!

{All Images by Paloma Contreras – Please Do Not Use Without Consent}