My new Essie obsession: Summer 2011 Essie collection's best Absolutley Shore.
Both still my top two Essie favs of the moment! Eek but I have so many! Russian Roulette, Candy Apple Mint, Cute as a Button, Turquoise and Caicos, and the list goes on!!
Absolutely Shore
Both still my top two Essie favs of the moment! Eek but I have so many! Russian Roulette, Candy Apple Mint, Cute as a Button, Turquoise and Caicos, and the list goes on!!
Royal Wedding Garb
Can you see my fastener!?
Location: Madison Square Park
Dress: Libertine for Target
Thank you Vogue
Oh Vogue, how I love thee! You keep getting it right with your leading ladies... Anne Hathaway... Angelina Jolie..and now again Natalie Portman. Many kisses to you!
And a favorite shot from Vintage Portman/Vogue, 2004:
Black Swan
I heard of Black Swan this past summer and was at the edge of my seat with anticipation of its arrival in theaters. As suspected, the film did not disappoint. It is a truly beautiful, haunting, and gorgeous piece of work. How could it not be though when you put Aronofsky at the helm?A brilliant director that is not afraid to dive into the messy parts of life, Aronofsky will turn the most beautiful thoughts and images into deeply ugly, but yet real moving moments; and then he will take the most grotesque, thoughts, ideas, and moments and make them brilliantly gorgeous. Need further proof of this? Simply take a look at Ellen Burstyn's performance in Requiem for Dream. Haunting!
In Black Swan, Portman nailed it as Nina Sayers. And of course she did so because she too is simply brilliant. If you haven't seen her in Closer, I highly recommend! The Black Swan supporting cast was brilliant in the demise of Nina. Kudos especially to Ms. Ryder, who I will always refer to, of course, as a Veronica.
I long for my next viewing of Black Swan!
Spying Eye Candy
I never tire of museums and shopping and just keeping in check visually. Looking at clothing, accessories, decor and fashionistas on the street has a similar affect on me as perusing a museum. Whether it's at an Olive & Bettes (which rarely happens) to an H&M (which happens too often,) and spying the fashionistas in between, I am inspired to create Jolene Jewelry or some fab outfit from the remnants of an old Salvation Army jaunt.
I am just as charged by the art of The Met and MoMA as well as local galleries, random happenings on the street and student-shows. I figure, as long as I'm getting eaten alive by New York City, I may as well go down looking at some of the world's most phenomenal works of art and soaking up the loveliness of the streets!
FIT Students used mannequins to conceive, design, and execute fashion presentations for the class Visual Presentation and Exhibition Design. Displayed in the lobby of FIT; The School of Fine Art on 7th Ave-Fashion Avenue in Chelsea now thru April 21.
Marina Abramovic': The Artist is Present
MoMA exhibit, Now thru May 31. Sound pieces, video works, solo performances and collaborative pieces made with Abramovic's former Partner Ulay make up this phenomenal installation at MoMA's top floor. Explores the worlds of energy, life, and art. Marina is even there for a solo performance.... she sits at the table and anyone from the crowd can join her for as long as they want...I am planning on doing it myself before the work ends on May 31.
New Mad Men dress: $10 find; Buffalo Exchange
The gorgeous dress definitely makes me feel like a lady of the Mad Men era, certainly due to the details—see button closures on the shoulders, inside buttons for hiding bra straps, and the narrowness of the bodice. Women were tinier then and I know I always have a vintage steal when my ribs have to crush together to zip the dress. Also features the Ladies Garment Union workers label.
Dino and cocktail purse; Bergdorf's window/Fifth Avenue
I love mixing ideas and aesthetics and nothing is more sweetly funny and aesthetically pleasing to my eye than seeing a semi-scary looking dinosaur carrying a diamond-encrusted cocktail purse and hitting on a lady clad in crystals.
Every time I see a Chuck Close painting I am in awe and stunned by the detail and beauty. Recently I saw his works at the Met and again felt inspired and awed.. how is this man doing this!? And no less from a wheelchair!? Photo from Stiw Kit.
Five American Design Influences
Recently I was asked to think about my five top American influences in design, particularly Interior Design. It was a tough assignment because I kept thinking of it so broadly, but when I really just thought, "what do I like?" It was a cinch! And what I came up with, after a brief elimination ceremony, I think, is pretty accurate. Oh, and these are in no particular order. Enjoy!
1. Jonathan Adler
I heart Jonathan Adler. That is exactly what happily runs through my mind every time I pass one of his shops or catch a glimpse of one of his fabulous decor pieces in a magazine. The Brooklyn-based designer just simply makes my heart skip a beat because his designs are fresh, funny, fabulous and, all at the same time, totally classy and chic!
Having originally started as a potter, Adler kept at his craft with little encouragement from the outside world. Good thing he did because today he has 12 shops, a booming interior design business, and a stint on a reality show for his expert design sense, all spun (pun intended) from pottery orders from Barney's back in 1994. What definitely makes his designs so appealing is its evident he is having fun and doesn't take the business of interiors so dead-pan serious, and, at the same time, he knows quality is key. Adler's interiors are always at the same time, warm and welcoming while also remaining to be decadent and achingly beautiful.
Shown above is a living room designed by Adler that features one of his most popular pottery designs.
Hailing from North Carolina, Ruthie Sommers doles out her stylish and creative twist on traditional design aesthetics to her clients from her West Hollywood design firm, Chapman Radcliff Home. Sommers' style consists of a girly chic with flair for the contemporary mixed with old world appeal, certainly something that is very similar to my own approach in design.
Sommers is a risk taker and often marries modern-day décor with vintage steals. She is not afraid of color, texture, or making a serious statement with a little fun as evidenced with the zebra rug shown here. A Sommers designed space is completely livable and, with pops of color, can easily change any mood into that is just simply being happy and relaxed.
I met New York-based Artist Bill Finks years ago at a design show in Chicago. It was the end of the day and I was tiredly finishing up a few last-minute aisles to see if anything would catch my eye, and it was during this time I almost died as I spied the recycled art dolls of Bill Finks. I was crazy excited as these pieces just spoke to me. With beautiful faces, intricate details, and a total sense of originality no two dolls were alike. At first sight the dolls seemed a little morbid, but upon close inspection, it was obvious, old sad doll parts were happily come to life again in art that was breathtakingly lovely.
Finks lives with his wife Marcia, also an artist, in New York and the two happily create their own respective works of art in the city and in Kingston, New York. Finks makes his dolls from old doll parts, vintage tins, buttons and other trinkets found at flea markets, garage sales, and other used goods shops throughout the country. All pieces are one-of-a-kind and sell out at every show he is exhibiting.What I specifically love about these dolls is that they are slightly girly with that morbid twist and they always inspire my own creativity. They also are a beautiful example and wonderful tribute to the joys of what happens when one reuses and recycles.
Every show I make a point to visit Bill and see his new set of dolls and last Christmas I was pleasantly surprised when I was checking out the windows at Bergdorf Goodman, to see two beautiful Bill Finks’ originals in the windows.
Luxury and fashion come together in all pieces from Dransfield & Ross as headed by John Dransfield and Geoffrey Ross. Based in New York City the Dransfield & Ross aesthetic is simply classic pieces, done in a couture fashion. Known mainly for their luxe pillows and super comfy bedding, the designs are evocative of Europe, the tropics, and far off places of eternal beauty in nature and life.
I love Dransfield & Ross because it simply makes a girl swoon and dream, but yet the beautiful pieces and styles aren’t so far off from reality; it's the ideal combo of luxury and modern elegance. Also, aside from simply wanting to climb in bed and fall asleep on a bedding of luxury, what makes their designs so appealing as well as are the sweet little details. Adorable designs and touches of whimsy rest amongst the designs of the company and such details aren’t fully noticed until the piece is thoroughly studied. So a bit of playfulness is included on a piece that overall is quite adult and ladylike.
One cannot speak of American influences in interior design without speaking of Frank Lloyd Wright. Wright revolutionized America design and the American home from the latter part of the 19th Century throughout the 20th Century to his death in 1959. And, thereafter, his aesthetics and visions can be seen in most all American architecture from 1960 to today. Wright gave Americans homes for which they could breath in as they were designed to offer space and an easy flow from room to room as opposed to the Victorian homes of the 19th century.
I love Frank Lloyd Wright for many reasons, but probably mostly because he was a pioneer in organic design. When designing he thought of a home’s inhabitants, as well as the land and environment where the home would rest. His homes were built with an appeal toward nature and were built by using materials native to the land. Woods were often stained, as opposed to painted, to show their true beauty and so forth. Wright is a Midwestern and so am I, so I feel a genuine connection to him and especially to his most popular designs, the Prairie Houses that originated in Midwest soil.
Wright was a visionary in all facets; he wasn't just the architect but his hand was in everything. He designed the interiors and all pieces including the furniture, glass, fabric, dinnerware, and beyond—all of this was done to ultimately create an overall design that would allow for a pleasing flow and energy for the inhabitants and environment. In total, Wright designed 1141 works, including not just homes, but also churches, libraries, schools, offices, and most notably, the Guggenheim Museum.
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