And the front?

To see the front of Hanneli's Opening Ceremony maxi-dress, check out my first post on Glamour's Young and Posh Network! See you there! ★

Update: Glamour is currently perfecting its Young and Posh Blog, so I've decided to repost some of the images here while their maintenance is completed. I'll let you know when the blog is live. It's going to be amazing.

I fell in love with this gorgeous maxi-dress after seeing it on Hanneli during the SS11 fashion shows. I'm a huge fan of prints; I love earth tones; button-down bodice's make me smile; and the mini-slip... genius. I was so psyched to find it in stock at Opening Ceremony on a recent trip to New York. I wore it for Christmas Eve dinner, and I'll be wearing it through 2011 and beyond!

Roses, Glamour and Demarchelier

Even though my birthday was yesterday, it feels like I started celebrating back in April when I was vacationing in the Bahamas.

One afternoon while my husband and three-year-old (his birthday was Tuesday) were napping, I received an e-mail from Maggie Mann of Glamour U.S. asking if I would be interested in participating in a denim story that she was developing and which would be shot by Patrick Demarchelier. Did you lose your breath too? Well I did. Me, a new and aspiring photographer offered the opportunity to be shot by one of the most talented fashion photographers ever. I still get goose bumps when I replay the scene in my head.

My response: "Hello Maggie, how are you? I am so flattered! I am really lucky that I am sitting right now because my cheeks are burning, and I would faint if I were standing! I would love to! This is amazing!!!!!!"

Fast forward to the shoot. Every single person that I met that day was marvelous. Maggie, a personal style inspiration of mine, was a rock-star-of-a-stylist; Jillian, her assistant was super -sweet; and Monsieur Demarchelier- pleasant, cordial, and charming in that older European-man way. How does he work? He's a master- superbly precise.

So after waiting about a month for the August issue to arrive on Italian newsstands, my neighborhood newspaper dealer dropped of my copy two days ago. I am beyond over the moon over the experience. To be included in a group of such stylish women is a lovely and generous compliment.

The editorial, combined with the 34 (that's my age) long-stem roses that my incredible husband sent me, an afternoon walk to get gelato with my beloved son, and a decadent-dining experience planned by my extraordinary husband, makes for the best birthday ever!!! xx, Tamu