Happy Halloween

Enjoying Halloween in NYC! Wanted to wish you all a fun and safe holiday. Happy Halloween!

Grant vs. Draper

If you're taking your fashion queues from television, I hope you're watching MadMen. I just received this email from Brooks Brothers.
The Brooks Brothers Mad Men Edition Suit ($1,000; October) pays homage to AMC's hit show with a medium gray sharkskin suit designed by Janie Bryant, the Emmy-nominated costume designer for the show, and is modeled after Draper's and Sterling's wardrobes. (And who doesn't want to look like Draper or Sterling...or Joan, or Betty, or Jane?)
Features include a noticeably slim cut, diagonal pockets, narrower notch lapels, and side vents. Limited to just 250, the suit is made in a Brooks-owned factory in Massachusetts.
Classic Style.



I'm not sure Brooks Brothers can top the original, but I have to say, I'm glad they're trying.

If you haven't watched MadMen, you need to put season 1 in your movie queue immediately. The weather is starting to get the point where you need new shows to get sucked into anyway.

And We're Off!

Today's the day! We're off to NYC for a wonderful long weekend.
I imagine us stepping off the plane looking something like this...okay minus a few Louis Vuitton bags.

Speaking of Mr. Big...we do have reservations at DaMarino's in Times Square. It is a great restaurant to visit, a small underground treasure on 49th with fabulous Italian food (aka the chocolate fettuccine is rich and marvelous). The restaurant is also a favorite of Chris Noth's who has been a patron since they opened. We have seen him walking out of the restaurant during an episode of Law & Order as well as filming an episode of Sex & the City.
As fabulous as Carrie's dress is in this photo, I have a couple of new dresses to hit the town in as well. White House | Black Market is always good for a go-to little black dress. Both ensembles are guaranteed for a Hollywood kiss from my Mr. Wonderful.

Artist: Jen Stark

Jen Stark is a contemporary artist who is a native working in Miami. Her focus is primarily on paper sculpture, however her drawings are quite beautiful as well. Through the use of her detailed paper-cutting techniques she creates complex structures that reveal how remarkable common materials can become. Her ideas are inspired by microscopic patterns in nature, wormholes, and sliced anatomy. Jen graduated with a BFA from Maryland Institute College of Art in 2005 and her work has been exhibited extensively around the US.
I love the patterns and colors. In watching the artist work, I was surprised to see her cutting with an x-acto free-hand, and not using a pattern. Pretty impressive.

Designer: Tori Golub

Loving Tori Golub. Tori has been involved in the design world for over 20 years. After earning her Bachelor of Fine Arts at the University of Michigan, she began her career as a fashion stylist in London and Paris. Moving to New York, she began creating sets for fashion photo shoots before joining Andrew Frank Interior Design. Tori started her own Manhattan-based firm, Tori Golub Interior Design, in 1995.

Her interiors are beautifully serene and characterized by her trademark muted tones. I love her attention to detail. The photos below are a feast for the eyes...enjoy!

Tori Golub
The lighting fixtures are great as is the photo above the table. I'm always a sucker for Eero Saarinen tables. They seem to flawlessly find their way into so many spaces.

A perfect bed stand. Love the white accents paired against the dark wall. Love the fact the wall is not too dark, just the perfect shade of chocolate.


Again with the perfect bedside table. Love the placement and size of the framed photo with the great swing sconce. Tori also showcases a beautiful swing sconce among her own products.
The detail of the floating shelf below the mirror is a great and unexpected touch.
The backs of these chairs are fabulous. The color is spot on. Love it.


This is a great room. The daybed in front of the fireplace as well as the curved chaise are among the products in her line. Daybed can also be seen below. The colors and mixture of textures are pulled together flawlessly. The furniture not only defines the space, but gives the room a distinctly defined character.

Valentino: Themes and Variations

My love for great coffee table books is no secret. I've been collecting them for years and my Amazon Wish List continues to grow by the day. Recently my sweet husband helped me widdle that list down a bit with some great books for my birthday. One of which has become a new favorite, Valentino: Themes and Variations.

The name Valentino has been synonymous with high fashion for almost fifty years. Based in Rome, Valentino is only one of two couture houses recognized by the French government outside of Paris. The book has minimal text but the beautiful photography speaks for itself. I was most surprised to see fashions from the 50's and 60's that look like they could have been designed for a current collection. The clothes are truly beautiful and the definition of timeless design.

Here the book is shown in a closet featured in Elle Decor.
Red silk crepe evening gowns. Left: 1999, Middle: 2002, Right: 1965.

Spring/Summer 1966: Black silk crepe one piece pantsuit.
With timeless style of her own, Jackie Kennedy was Valentino's muse.

"I was in touch with Jackie and she wanted to see all the clothes. So my assistant went with a model to see her at her place on Fifth Avenue to show her part of the collection. I will never forget what followed, for it was the best day of my life. When they came back, they said to me: "Mrs. Kennedy wants all the clothes in black and white." This event marked a turning point in Valentino's career. "I owe so much to Jacqueline Kennedy. Meeting her meant so much to me. She became a very close friend. I designed her entire wardrobe, and she made me famous."
"I think a couturier must establish his style and stick to it. The mistake of many couturiers is that they try to change their line with every collection. I change a little each time, but never too much, so as not to lose my identity." - Valentino

New York, New York

The countdown has officially started. T minus 3 days and counting and we’re off to New York. I have put in my request to our friend Ben that the trees in Central Park keep their leaves until we get there. He took note of it. One of my favorite things about New York is having a local to share the trip with. Although Ben could never be confused for a New Yorker (due to his slow draw and southern Indiana charm), after 5 years living in the city, I consider him a local. I much rather pretend I know my way around the subway system and don’t look like one of the other million tourists taking pictures of the Olive Garden in Times Square. If you ask me if I have taken a picture of the Olive Garden in Times Square, I will deny it. I will also deny that in an attempt to get to Bergdorf Goodman, I inadvertently missed a subway stop and ended up in Queens.

One stop I'm excited to make is at the Guggenheim for the Kandinsky show. The show is going on now through January 13.