Missoni for Target: SCORE!

They say absence makes the heart grow fonder. Well, I'm quite fond then! Fond of my readers, that is. And so sorry for the absence. I do have some fun things in store for the next few months!

But first, let's talk about shopping! By now, most of you have heard about the Missoni for Target extravaganza.

 

If you haven't, I'll fill you in briefly: Founded in 1953, Missoni is an Italian fashion (power) house known especially for it's colorful zigzag knitwear, which became wildly popular in the 1970s. They have since branched out into other realms of fashion, including sportswear, housewares, perfume and even hotels. On September 13th, the company debuted a 400-piece collection for Target.

Naturally, people lined up at the crack of dawn and bombarded pretty much every store across the country when it opened. Early birds grabbed tons of stuff, swapped with one another, and many of them have proceeded to sell some of their wares on ebay (for a fine profit, I might add). Shoppers crashed Target's website that day. In the days and weeks leading up to the launch, I took a look at the full collection and picked out a few things I would have liked to check out – particularly in the home wares arena, but there were some pretty cute sweaters, dresses and shoes I had my sights on.

Since I'm a 9-5er, I went to work as usual on 9/13 and did not have time for online shopping on the clock. September 13th happens to be my wedding anniversary, so a very special and romantic dinner with Oliver easily trumped a post-work trip to Target! I heard most Targets had been cleaned out of the good stuff by the end of that day, so I figured I was out of luck. Well! I finally made it over there this weekend and can I TELL you how excited I am about my score? SO very excited! I snagged the only little "rolly-polly" suitcase (as I call them). It's got navy and white zigzags and it will perfect for both car and air travel (I detest checking luggage and have become a master at packing lightly).
 

Ain't she sweet? The inside has a chic contrasting black and white zigzag in a smaller scale:

When I saw it, I pretty much just grabbed it and ran. Even the cashier noted that I snagged a rare find. When I got home and had time to explore my new gem, I discovered a few handy little pockets and a cosmetics bag containing a laundry bag and two shoe bags in yet another snappy Missoni pattern!
 

Here's little gratuitous close-up of the inside tag:


While I'm not much for pushy crowds, I wish I'd had the opportunity to hit the stores a little sooner, but, alas, my schedule didn't allow for it, and my bank account is thanking me for it. I must say, I'm quite happy with what I got, and I suspect there will be more pieces trickling in here and there, as people realize they overdid it and return stuff.

If you scored something you're proud of, don't be a stranger! Post it in a comment here on on facebook, or send me an email! I'd love to see what you've picked up!

The Sartorialist in Front of the Camera

Many of you are probably familiar with The Sartorialist, but for those who aren't, former fashionisto (15 years in the fashion industry), Scott Schuman snaps arresting photos of everyday people (who happen to be phenomenal dressers) on the streets of New York, Milan, Paris, and other fashionable cities, and posts them on his blog, The Sartorialist. He's had exhibitions of his work and has published a book, so things are good for Mr. Schuman. Intel recently sponsored this lovely short documentary of the man most often seen behind the lens. He has wonderful insights and a soft-spoken, kind demeanor. Please check out the video!


I am aware that email subscribers often have trouble getting the video links – sorry about that! I have no control over how that operates! If you can't see the video in your email, click here! It's really worth a watch! 

A wonderful Friday (and weekend!) to you all! xoxo

My Favorite Movie of All Time: DTMTBD

Today's post is not exactly about design; its about a movie, and I never write about movies, in part because I don't feel all that qualified to give my opinion. But this is a movie about which I am exceedingly knowledgeable, although the title may surprise you. This is no highfalutin' artsy film with nudity and French language subtitles. This is no deep, demented documentary commenting on the plight of one political party or another. No, this movie, my favorite of all time, is Don't Tell Mom The Babysitter's Dead. You know, the one from 1991 starring the likes of Christina Appelgate (Sue Ellen) and Joanna Cassidy ("I'm right on top of that, Rose!").

The trailer from 1991:

Some of you are aware of the love affair I've had with this movie, but for others, this will come as a perplexing shock. Why DTMTBD, you ask? Because it is ingenious! A flippant and irresponsible mother leaves her five minor children at home with a octogenarian babysitter while she galavants around Australia for two months with her boyf. When the elderly drillmaster unexpectedly kicks the bucket, the kids are left to fend for themselves for the rest of the summer (or call mom, but they choose option a). The eldest finagles her way into a job in "the bowels of the fashion industry," pretty much takes over the company despite attempted co-worker sabotage, and the rest is history. While it didn't get high ratings from the critics (duh), the New York Post deemed it the best teen hit of 1991. And how! I learned so many life lessons from this movie.

As an only child, DTMTBD schooled me on the (very realistic) inner workings of the sibling relationship. It taught me how to "shop my closet" and make unlikely clothing pairings that result in the most show-stopping work attire (I honestly still do this, especially in the midst of a recession!).

It taught me the importance of glossing over my shortcomings in order to achieve a status I didn't quite deserve yet, but would quickly grow into. It taught me that a weekend of heavy-duty cleaning really can unveil a miraculously gorgeous house once choking beneath all the dust and grime. It taught me how amazing it is to have a great boss (later confirmed by my own experiences). It taught me that LA traffic is bad. It taught me that lighting and music will make or break a party. It taught me that tangerine tights are HOT (I am still a believer in bold-colored legwear).

I could go on forever about the instruction I gleaned from this movie, but I'll stop here and let Mrs. Moz take the wheel with her unmatched catalogue detailing 20 Life Lessons from Don't Tell Mom The Babysitter's Dead. Her post is perfection on a screen, and I have my college roommate/great friend/DTMTBD cohort Colleen to thank for sending me Mrs. Moz's post on the subject. Colleen, I must add, can recite as many lines from the movie as I, and she actually tracked down and GAVE ME a VHS copy of the flick one year for my birthday (best birthday present ever!). My mean, heartless husband forced me to donate it when he insisted that we retire our VCR 800 years ago, and I've never forgiven him for it. Even without a VCR, I wanted to keep the movie. For whatever reason, I have not replaced it with a dvd, so maybe that'll be my next gift to myself.

If you have not seen this movie, I suggest you run, not walk, to your computer and demand that Netflix send it to you immediately. Look, I've made it easy for you: this handy link will take you right to it! (But why the heckfire isn't it available for instant play?) Or, if you still go to Blockbuster, check it out, but don't return it late, for goodness sake – those fees will eat you alive!

If this post has made absolutely no sense at all to you, I implore you to see this movie. I hope it impacts your life the way it has mine.

DVF in Your Home and Your Closet

I gave a lot of presentations in graduate school as part of my coursework; we worked on projects for two to four weeks, and were required to present them for final critique in front of peers, professors and guest critics (usually professionals in the design field). I learned early on that how well you presented your work was half the battle; a poor design could often be (somewhat) masked by a dazzling presentation, which wasn't necessarily fair, but it was the truth. I watched outstanding designs go completely unnoticed because the presenter muttered and had tattered posters and models while nonsensical designs were lauded because the presentations were slick and the student, adept at public speaking, sold the half-baked idea with fervor. Many of us took it a step further and actually dressed the part. That's right; my outfits almost always coordinated with the work I was presenting. No matter that I hadn't slept in two weeks or that my last meal took place a few days back or that I had forgotten what a shower felt like, I made time to pull together an outfit that reflected the colors and materials in my interior design projects. Thus the beginning of my interest in exploring how all forms of design are related.

True to form, I always see a link between runway and interiors fashions, so when I heard Diane Von Furstenburg recently launched a collection of bedding and tabletop designs for the home, I was eager to see what she showed at the just-wrapped New York Fashion Week. I figured there would be some overlap, especially because she took inspiration from her own iconic apparel prints. I've put together some comparisons to illustrate how Ms. Von Furstenburg's personal style, brand, favorite colors and fashion inclinations are reflected in her bedding and tabletop designs.




Bedding and tabletop products are available at Bloomingdale's and DVF.com
All fashion photos courtesy Vogue.com, and Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Runway Photos

Coincidently, I recently completed an assignment to write about 1970s wrap dresses, which Ms. Von Furstenburg is credited for inventing – she didn't exactly, but she certainly pushed the design into the mainstream (twice!) and women's fashion has been thanking her ever since! Read the full article here! A sneak peak:

President's Day Phunny

I have a few posts in the works, but none are done yet, so I thought I'd leave you with something funny (at least to me) today. I was poking through photos of the just-wrapped New York Fashion Week offerings, when I was struck by how many bizarre frocks there were on the runways this year. I'm fully aware that what comes down the runway isn't always practical for everyday wear, and that it's really an art form. I accept and embrace that. I also know models are chosen to act as walking hangers, allowing garments to drape, flow, cling, or do whatever the designers intended. I also know that models teeter down the runway in shoes that are either too big or too small, in clothing pinned, taped or glued on, so the fact that they make it look glamorous is impressive. However, I came across this look from Marchesa's Fall 2011 collection and was stopped in my tracks:


With the strange small head/voluminous shoulder proportions, I couldn't help but think of this look from Beetlejuice:


Uncanny, no?


Some people shop sales on President's Day; I rag on high fashion. Prefer to read about presidents on presidents day? Check out the post I wrote on Oval Office decor a while back. Otherwise, have a good Monday!

Trend Watch: Fur

Outfit by DSqaured2, courtesy Style.com

It's impossible to ignore the fact the it is now winter, at least in the North East of the U.S. (Australia: I'm jealous.) As I type, I'm looking out the window seeing the tiniest flurries floating around, and I know it's already snowed in some states. Yikes! Winter is tough, fashion-wise. It's difficult to choose outfits that work both inside and outside, a particular challenge in cities whereby most inhabitants spend a fair amount of time on and off public transportation. Wearing a giant, puffy down coat will keep you toasty on the way to the station, but once inside the train, all those feathers get really stuffy, and it's not like you can peel the coat off and get comfy when you're crammed up against 50,000 other warm bodies (some creepier than others). But the real tragedy is that all the down puff obscures what you're wearing underneath (which may or may not have taken twenty minutes to put together)!

Fur has a long, and controversial past – as a p.c. pre-teen I was staunchly anti-fur – but there's no denying that it is CHIC. Adding a splash of fur to winter outerwear is the easiest way to ramp up style without sacrificing warmth, and, from what I can tell in New York, I'm not alone in this belief. Fur is everywhere! Real, faux, full-length coats, vests, collars, trim – it's everywhere and it looks fantastic!

Yves Saint Laurent


Dynasty Clutch by Angel Jackson


Versatile vest by Fendi


Mink and velvet "Ava" necklace by Louis Vuitton


Gorgeous coat by Altuzarra


Nesta fur-trim bootie by Manolo Blahnik


Bottega Veneta coat - at once cozy and chic


I love the elegance of this simple outfit, and the fur collar adds a fun, unexpected, but very chic twist.


Darrington clutches by Michael Kors


Electric blue at Versace

It's one thing to see a trend on the runway or in magazines, but how regular people bring it to the streets is a whole different ballgame. On The Street fashion guru, Bill Cunningham recently shared his favorite fur findings on the streets of New York in this video for the NY Times, and it's worth a look.

I bring it to the streets, with my favorite winter coat; a vintage 1960s fur-trimmed number I picked up in 2008 at a favorite shop in Soho that has since closed. I coveted it for a few months and when I saw it come down in price I snapped it up. Boy am I glad I did; it has made me feel so much less drab and sad for the last few winters!

Yes, I was photographed outside of Buffalo Wind Wings (in Brooklyn, no less)! Don't hate.

This being primarily an interiors blog (that touches on graphics), I can't, in good faith, ignore how the fur in apparel fashion translates to home fashion! We've been seeing furry, fuzzy pillows and throws for a while now. Prices run the gamut, but they all make a home look and feel warm, despite the freezing temperatures.

Photo courtesy Lonny


Living room by Patric Johansson for Elle Interior


Another Lonny gem


Chic interior by Ryan Korban - a fur throw and fur upholstery, which is a great take on a classic modern chair


Via Elle Decor

Heather Clawson, of Habitually Chic wrote a great piece on Carolina Herrera, illustrating how fur intersects in fashion and interiors.

Bringing the style into your own home is easy – stores high and low are offering great furry options; from Ikea sheepskin rugs to West Elm to Williams-Somona Home to trade-only vendors like Donghia, there are fur accents for everyone!


West Elm


Williams-Somona Home


Donghia

Things I Just Don't Get: French Manicures

My inbox is finally unclogged of all those Black Friday deals. Whew! I don't think I've ever received so many emails about sales and giveaways in my life! I got through Thanksgiving without spending a dime on stuff I don't need, so I'm celebrating with the second installment of Things I Just Don't Get (in case you missed it, here's the first one). Today we're looking at French manicures. This probably isn't going to be of interest to my male readers. (Do I have any male readers, aside from Oliver, my dad and my pop-in-law? I'm not sure. Holla atchya' girl if you're a dude and you read my blog.) French manicures, for those who don't know (and/or don't care, and/or are dudes), are a type of manicure designed to resemble natural nails, characterized by pink-ish/nude base nails and white tips. Like so:

Image courtesy Stylist

Some say the style originated in eighteenth century Paris, and was popular in the U.S. in the 1920s and 1930s. Others say Max Factor invented the look for Parisienne fashionistas in the 1930s. What most people like about them is the versatility; they can be quite classy, at once polished but not flashy, and coordinate with a variety of outfits. I've always had a slight aversion to them because I've thought they were a bit tacky. That's because most French manicures currently look like this:


Or worse, this:

See? Kind of tacky, no? As is often the case, when the high-style hits the unwashed masses, it gets bastardized and transforms into a horse of a different color. Like anything, when done well, this look is elegant and sophisticated, but when done poorly, it runs the risk of looking trashy and cheap.

Apparently, there is a difference between the French manicure and the American (French) manicure, which features a beige base, as opposed to the pink base used in the French version. Why beige? Why choose to look slightly dead? I do not know. The American version also presents a more square nail shape, another feature I do not understand. However, my biggest pet peeve with French manicures is when they are applied to the TOES:

There are so many things wrong with this image - the color, the nail shape, the feet. FUNK. And not in a good way.

Well, a few seasons ago, haute couture introduced a re-imagined French manicure with a twist: crazy colors in new locations, often referred to as a reverse French manicure. I love a short, dark nail (mine are almost always short and painted some deep red, purple or springy pink) and there's something about bringing in two colors that I find ballsy and fun.




YSL images via 80s Purple


Miss Dita Von Teasing-You-With-Her-Funky-Nails

Via The Frisky

However, it's when the high-fashion is misinterpreted by very low fashion that gets me:

Ack!

If you're feeling gusty, here's a video on how to create your very own funky reverse French mani:

Things I'll Miss in New York

Now that the move is official, we are often asked about what we'll miss most when we leave New York. As excited as I am for our move, there is certainly a lot I will miss about this city! Last Sunday I had brunch in Chelsea with one of my oldest friends. After eating (snarfing) we wandered over to 17th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues, one my favorite stretch of thrift shops. So, here we are, with my first installment of things I'll miss about New York.

An all-time favorite shop is Pippin Vintage, which actually has two stores; jewelry and home goods. I stumbled on Pippin Vintage Jewelry when I embarked on the quest for the perfect engagement ring back in 2007 (with the help of my friend, who was with me on this lovely weekend afternoon!). Pippin had some great options, but ultimately I designed my own, based on a few vintage designs I loved. No matter, I've been a Pippin patron ever since!



As you can see, the store is chock full of treasures, and it's all displayed so beautifully – and it's not all jewelry; there are sumptuous fur coats and hats, as well as vintage buttons, scarves and gloves.

Right next door, the home store is a must every time I'm on 17th Street (and let me tell you, sometimes I go out of my way to get over to 17th so I just have to stop in).


That long hall of mirrors just beckons me! (I walked out with a mirror once...)

Beyond the hall, there is a little "front yard" with goodies:

And the main store is set in a charming wood frame house, a perfect setting for a little vintage shop.


I've come home with a handful of things, but always have to resist bringing back more. The shop owners are friendly and highly knowledgeable, making shopping there a pleasure. Every time I go in they've re-arranged a bit to make room for new wares. My first job in interior design taught me the importance of keeping a store fresh – and thereby moving lots of merchandise – was to constantly rotate and re-style. If you give a new home to something that's been sitting around for a while, unnoticed, it never fails that someone will suddenly see it and inquire about it. Successful merchandising at work: thank you Brian (my dear friend, former boss and showroom manager at Palecek in San Francisco). Pippin definitely employs this tactic, and it works!

I was really tempted to buy the little George and Martha Washington silhouette in the back. I had to remind myself that we're moving and now is not the time to bring stuff home. Damn conscience.



My next stop is always Angel Street Thrift Shop, a bustling store from which I've emerged with countless pieces of milk glass, a snazzy cut glass decanter, tumblers and two framed maps of olde world France and Spain. The shop isn't styled as well as Pippin, but that hasn't deterred me from finding tons of treasures.

The store was in the midst of a re-arragement session, so snapping a great photo was a little tough. But, you should go :)

Next up: the forever amazing Housing Works, which has ten locations (nine in Manhattan, one in Brooklyn). Housing Works does a pretty good job of merchandising in the stores, but their showstoppers are their windows, which contain items for auction. Current windows. left and right:


Images courtesy Housing Works

Just inside the shop:

Housing Works sells clothing and accessories in addition to house wares. The organization is very prominent in the home design fundraising world, which I've written about before.

West Elm is on the block, and while it's technically a big box store, they are killing it this year with cute but not at all junky ornaments and holiday decor. Definitely worth a look. Also on this beloved block is From the Source, the incredible showroom that displayed eight of Oliver's paintings for a few months (we just took them down to pack them up for the move).

Thus concludes my tour of 17th Street. If any of you have ever been to these stores, I'd love to know (and see) what you purchased!