Tag: Francois Catroux

Lauren Santo Domingo, Co-Founder of Moda Operandi is a lady of many hats.  Stylish socialite, fashion business woman, co-founder of Moda Operandi and contributing editor to American Vogue.  One of the things I admire the most about Santo Domingo, is her originality when it comes to fashion choices.  You may say, well she has all the money in the world to do that but if you pay attention money doesn’t buy good taste, to say the least.  I follow Lauren Santo Domingo Instagram and I laughed at her simple but clear previous bio profile  “Why be boring…”  She recently changed it.

Lauren Santo Domingo, Co-founder of Moda Operandi - belle vivir

The native New Yorker began her fashion career as an assistant at American Vogue.  Then Santo Domingo became the PR director for Paris-based furrier J.Mendel, where she helped launch the brand’s ready-to-wear collection, working for Barcelona based Puig Group she served as lead of the PR department of Carolina Herrera.  Then managing editor and then contributing editor for Vogue.  Her most recent innovative project, which most fashion aficionados know, is the luxury e-site Moda Operandi which she co-founded in 2010 in collaboration with former Gilt Groupe executive Aslaug Magnusdottir.  This ingenious new way of shopping “allowes avid shoppers to pre-order a select edit of catwalk looks directly after they ware presented during fashion week through a series of online trunk shows, turning a six-month wait into an exciting ‘buy-now’ experience” BOF.  The site is a great platform to new up and coming designers, which I love very much.

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I understand when Betty Catroux says that all she likes to do in her home in Provence is ‘to drink wine and gaze at beauty’ because that’s must of what we did for the past two weeks during our vacation there… and there is little else I’d like to do more…  Elle Decor‘s current issue features Francois and Betty Catroux’s Provençal home, Les Ramades, in Lourmarin, in the Luberon region.  The 10 acres home has a stunning Provençal garden, swimming pool and tennis court… The couple goes to the property on the weekend to relax and break away from the daily routine…

Francois and Betty Catrux's Provencal home living room via belle vivir

Two of the many charming features are the vaulted ceilings and the unusual stone floor, which Francois had made of cement with embedded river stones. The courtyard garden is my favorite place in the house… I can only imagine the sublime experience of having my breakfast every day and drink my cafe con leche among the scent of fresh herb, cypress tree, and laurel… ah… revert…

Francois and Betty Catroux's Provençal, Betty Catroux, home Belle vivir blog

Another view of the living space with the fireplace in the background and a sculptural pendant that Catroux designed.  The costume stone floor seems to be used all throughout the home.  The floor that looks like a Moroccan rug is rather a cement floor with embedded river stones that Francois had custom made.

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