It has to be no secret that I love Sex and the City, I love Carrie Bradshaw, and I love Sarah Jessica Parker (I’m even old enough to remember her from Square Pegs and that 80s dance movie she did with Helen Hunt).  Anyway, lately I’ve been staying up late and SATC comes on here, 2 episodes back-to-back, at midnight. So if I’m up til 12, I’m up til 1. Well recently were the Carrie-moves-to-Paris-with-Petrovsky episodes. Not my favorites, but Carrie’s outfits… well that’s another story entirely.

When she is fleeing New York and runs into Big (who looked very old and ashen with bad teeth)…

The luminous Versace gown (I guess if you’re going to get your heart broken, you may as well feel like a beautiful princess in a fairytale during the process)…

And my all-time, #1 favorite, Sonia stripes…

Wish I could have found a larger image of the whole ensemble -- the coat, the hat, the bag... sheer perfection.

Thank God for Patricia Field. No matter how old the episodes get, the fashion just never gets old. Inspiration for days…

Came across this wonderful video from The Bedlam of Beefy and thought it would be a great way to start the week….with some laughs & inspiration.  Enjoy!

I have many celebrity girl crushes, but this story is about Princess Buttercup, Jenny… Robin Wright. I just love her natural, unkempt beauty. And she’s always had this sort of soft-but-rough edge to her that’s only gotten better with age. She is not the most amazing and natural model, but I still adore these shots of her by Peter Lindbergh for Italian Vogue.

So this could be anyone. But I just love how Lindbergh threw in this pop of color. And I think it fits with the whole story -- kind of undone "done."

Maybe my favorite shot, it's like seeing a famously beautiful actress in HD. Lines and aging are part of real life, baby. And she is beautiful.

Many thanks to Fashion Gone Rogue for the images and the inspiration.

So a few nights ago I was at a trunk show (for fabulous up-and-coming designer, Marisa Swystun — find her at Koros). It was a very interesting chain of connections that had brought me there and I was grateful that fate had worked its magic. Marisa is a smart and talented designer. She understands design, she understands the market, she has great taste, and she’s realistic, hard-working and determined. I was very impressed. 

Anyway, as I was browsing through a rack, I found myself chatting with a woman from my neighborhood, a stranger to me before this evening. We continued to browse the rack together and came upon a gorgeous little black dress. It was a basic shift with long sleeves and was made of this beautiful silk satin cutout fabric. I said something about wearing it during the day and my new acquaintance looked at me with — not surprise, not curiosity, not confusion… it was a look that was something akin to disgust. When she finally found a way to speak, she blurted, “But it’s shiny. And black.” It was clear that the idea was preposterous and I was off my rocker. 

Well I don’t think I was off my rocker. I would wear a shiny black dress during the day. If I were in a corporate environment, I’d toss a blazer over it with some opaque tights and a heel; if I were running errands, I’d throw on some faded or light wash jeans, a distressed leather belt, and some wedges. Improbable? Maybe. Impossible? Certainly not.

Here’s a few shots of other “improbable” day pairings. Lace, sequins, crystals, lamé… Rules be damned!

Is black and shiny for day so preposterous? Fashion is about self-expression and feeling good about yourself and having fun, right?? Am I off my rocker????

images via jakandjil and the sartorialist

Over the winter is the first time I ran into Delaina & Isoledad.  Kit, my daughter, and I were walking to our neighborhood diner.  We’ve lived in our neighborhood well over a decade so we know everyone!  So here comes the most adorable girl in a vintage pink wool toggle coat and boots walking her dog with matching bows!  Of course, I immediately ask Kit “who is she…and did you see how adorable she is and her dog??”   I’ve seen her a couple of other times as well, each time incredibly stylish with her own adorable spin and each time vowing I am going to take her picture!  Then one day a couple weekends ago…she’s standing right outside my house!  Threw the battery in my camera, ran outside and rudely (sorry!  But Delaina had me on a mission) interrupted her conversation with my neighbor  I loved how she described her style….”my sisters always teased me when I was little because I would do things like layer my socks and/or tights, then they borrowed all my clothes when we were teenagers and now they ask ‘how do you do it??’ ” Ms Delaina..

and Isoledad!! Imagine him fluffier with bows! Such a cute pair!

I love that Delaina had a story about each of the pieces she had on. She made the earrings she has on many years ago, the scarf was dry clean only but was accidentally washed, her cute cotton/crochet tank is vintage.

Those are tiny little flowers in her hair...adorable, right??

see you around the neighborhood!

I came across this incredible studio shoot while surfing on Oak the other day.  I love it when all the elements of an editorial are kicked up another notch…the hair/makeup, the styling, the prop styling, the photography, the modeling and all in a bare studio space.  Wow…would love to sink my teeth into some collaboration like this….even if it were to just watch it all come together

editorial via OakNYC.com

photography by Gray Scott - www.grayscottstudio.com

model Jules at 1 Model Management

hair by Wesley O’Meara for Tresemme @ The Wall Group

makeup by Katey Denno @ The Wall Group

photography 1st assistant, Joe Polofrone

photograpy 2nd assistant, Andy Lin

stylist assistant, Megan Fletcher

casting, Kyle Garson

Location, Avalence Studio

Happy June everyone!  Hope you all had a great holiday!  The long weekend started for us with a photo shoot in the morning then Kuma’s Corner for some gigantic burgers in the afternoon.  It was a great day.  Perfect sunny weather, the energy of the city was filled with Cubbie fans and Obama (along with his five double helicopters…always exciting when those buzz by!) AND we had the pleasure of meeting & working with FORD hair/makeup artist, Maggie Kerr.  From the minute Maggie walked into our studio, we were smitten…Brandon declared girl crush within the first half hour!  Aside from her fabulous style & great eye, she has an incredible wealth of knowledge about this industry and utterly utterly sweet.

Gorgeous souvenir her boyfriend brought back from Japan. Maggie looped a chain through and wears the ancient piece as a necklace.

another n.d.c fan! Maggie says her n.d.c's are the only mocs she's found that "feel" pretty. All else are too "boxy". Maggie also says her n.d.c's only come off for yoga, bed or shower. My fav's are the Lou's in white :)

I wish I had a back shot of her dress. Soooo cute. You can see a bit of it....same colorul fabric in back too. Something she picked up, I want to say, while in Spain last year?? Much like us, Maggie shops her closet and incorporates newer items like her n.d.c's to keep her current.

Maggie and Brandon

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