Happy 2012!

I don’t make New Year’s resolutions anymore since my whole life feels like a never-ending self-improvement campaign. You should see my monthly goal list held inside this Hermès beauty.

Hermès Ulysse notebook in Blue Jean Togo leather.

Oh how I love this thing.

I do believe in reminding myself of simple ways to get more enjoyment out of everyday life and for 2012 these are my top choices:

1. Wear red nail polish more often. My friend Serene at The Elegant Bohemian often has red nails in her posts and she looks so elegant and chic. What are more classic and mood-improving than red nails?

I have to bust out the red nail polish (and leopard cuff) more often.

2. Wear sequins as much as possible. Or Hermès scarves, diamond or pearl jewelry, or whatever wonderful thing I already own. Do not save the good stuff!

Sequined cardigan by J. Crew.

Hermès Twilly in the Grand Manège pattern. I’m happy to report I’ve been wearing this baby a lot.

3. Drink prosecco with friends at every opportunity. I understand from experience that life as you know it can change in an instant so I try to make a point of having as much fun as possible, which includes bubbly with friends!

I am deep in my prosecco phase. It’s cheaper than champagne and often better. I got this from FreshDirect, the grocery ordering service in NYC, for $16.99. I will be toasting to you when I drink this on New Year’s Eve!

If you would like to read an interview I gave to The Karina Chronicles, a blog by the lovely ladies who make Karina Dresses click here.

Happy 2012!

Alphabet City

Detail of a 2006 dress by Jean Yu of black and white matte silk jersey and black grosgrain.

I don’t know if there were complaints from designers who weren’t included in The Museum at FIT’s latest show, originally titled The Great Designers, Part One, on view until May 8, 2012, but the museum briefly shut down the exhibit to rename it Fashion, A-Z: Highlights from the Collection of the Museum at FIT, Part One.

The name change makes sense since co-curators Colleen Hill and Jennifer Farley stressed to me during the press preview that putting together this show allowed them to determine what the museum has and what it needs in its permanent collection. I also heard Dr. Valerie Steele, director and chief curator of the museum, tell a group of well-heeled women on a private tour, “For ‘U,’ we knew we didn’t have good Ungaro (Emanuel Ungaro, the famous Italian designer), but we had great Undercover.” So I think for the curators the focus was on getting a better handle on FIT’s entire collection rather than making a statement about which designers they considered great, and, by exclusion, which ones they did not.

Undercover (Jun Takahashi) 2006 dress of black crepe and black cotton, embellished with the knitted necklines of multiple black t-shirts.



A Geoffrey Beene evening dress of black wool crepe, dark gray wool jersey and rhinestones, from Spring 1994.



Both dresses are by Marc Bohan for Dior. On the left is a dress from Fall 1969 of printed pink silk chiffon, metal, and faux pearls. On the right is a dress of green silk velvet, metallic pampilles, rhinestones and glass, from the fall of 1963.

I adore the color and detailing of this dress, which comes with a little surprise, as shown in the next picture.

Surprise! Check out the back of this dress, which is not visible in the exhibition. I happened to find this picture online of the Dior house model wearing this beauty from when Bohan originally showed it in 1963. Demure in the front, sexy in the back! Photo by Corbis.

On the left Jean Yu’s 2006 dress. On the right, a Zoran ensemble of purple silk and silk cording from 1979.

The Museum at FIT’s permanent collection includes 50,000 garments and accessories. Can you imagine? That’s one (gigantic) closet I’d like to spend time in.

Fashion, A-Z: Highlights from the Collection of the Museum at FIT, Part One is on view until May 8, 2012.

The Museum at FIT
Seventh Avenue and 27th Street
New York NY 10001-5992
212-217-4558
Hours: Tuesday-Friday: Noon-8PM
Saturday: 10AM-5PM
Closed Sundays, Mondays, and legal holidays
Admission is free

Making a Statement

Anna at a November 2011 Museum of Modern Art tribute to Pedro Almodovar. Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images North America.

I’ve noticed that Anna Wintour, Editor in Chief of Vogue, has taken to wearing her gorgeous gemstone Georgian collet necklaces in stacks, which I just love. They are rumored to be from the renowned jeweler S.J. Phillips Ltd. in London and cost approximately $20,000 a pop.

Do not even get me started on this insanely gorgeous (and sequined!) Chanel suit. That navy blue against a backdrop of red roses? I’m dying! Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images North America.

Anna in her necklaces at the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Awards in November 2011. Photo by D. Dipasupil/Getty Images North America.

All of this means Anna is the perfect candidate to be part of the post “How I Wear My: Statement Necklace” that my friend Adrienne of The Rich Life (on a budget) and I have planned for January 3, 2012. Why don’t you channel a little of Anna’s glamour and send Adrienne or me a photo of yourself in your statement necklace? We’d love to include your and your blog in all this elegant fun.

Collet necklace by Nerida of Art for Interiors.

Christmas in New York: Bergdorf Goodman

Detail from Bergdorf Goodman window on Fifth Avenue. Fur cape by J. Mendel.

These are just three of the many gorgeous windows from Bergdorf Goodman on Fifth Avenue between 57th and 58th in Manhattan and are easily my favorite. They are so gloriously detailed and over the top and yet the window designers who put these creations together never lose sight of the fact they want to show you the clothes to be found inside the store. I looked at these windows at 10PM so I had them mostly to myself. I know if I’d gone earlier in the day there would’ve been a line to see them.



Dress and cape by J. Mendel.




I love this tiny window depicting dancing mice on top of Judith Leiber minaudières.







It’s almost too much to take in until you get closer and let your eyes break it down into details.

Dress by Marchesa, coat by J. Mendel.




Bergdorf windows make me ridiculously happy to be a New Yorker. They are always a pleasure to see and they inspire me to dream.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!

Christmas in New York: Barneys

These are the windows from Barneys on Madison Avenue at 61st Street in Manhattan. They’re called “Gaga’s Workshop,” designed in collaboration with Lady Gaga. As you stand outside you can hear her song “Born This Way” playing, so it feels like a little disco party right there on the street.

You can’t see it in this picture, but the blue lights fluctuate. These are the most gorgeous shades of blue to see at night. I was drawn right to them.

Gaga’s Boudoir, made entirely of hair.










Gagamachine.

Christmas in New York: Hermès

The Hermès boutique in Manhattan. This window is on Madison Avenue.

These are the windows from the Hermès boutique on Madison Avenue at 62nd Street in Manhattan. I love the peek-a-boo aspect of trying to see what’s behind the honeycombs and I love all the patterns and shapes the layers of wood made.



Front of crocodile oxfords.

Heel of crocodile oxfords (Mama like).

This window is on the 62nd Street side of the store.



The focus of this window is the Magic Kelly scarf, which I just love.

Ask and You Shall Receive (Or, Thank You Valentino and Giancarlo!)

Okay, Valentino didn’t ask me to be the caretaker of his archives, which I asked for in my last post, Spotlight: Valentino & Versace, but he and Giancarlo Giammetti just opened the Valentino Garavani Virtual Museum, showcasing the iconic Italian designer’s 47-year history with over 180 videos and 5000 images, so you know I am completely freaking out, in the best possible way.

I love that the museum includes videos, original sketches, press clippings, advertising and photos of women wearing Valentino, to help viewers put the clothes in context of their time.

I also love that it is free.

I so hope there is a video, sketch and story attached to the above pink cape, from Fall/Winter 2007, made entirely of pink organdy petals, which has to be one of my favorite articles of couture, from any house at any time.