February 28, 2011

C.Z. Guest & Weber | Oscar Chic


The Oscar razzle-dazzle brought to mind this wonderful C.Z. Guest portrait by Bruce Weber, taken in Palm Beach in 1988. Somehow, Weber makes it all look so understated and chic. It's from one of my treasured books, A House is Not a Home.

Oscar Couture | Chanel & Givenchy


And, the winners? Well, Cate Blanchett is such a star in Givenchy couture and Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry. Michelle Williams looks so fresh in Chanel couture with Harry Winston earrings highlighting her adorable pixie cut. They both had simple, chic hair and naturally glamorous make-up. Just beautiful!


Images: Getty/AP

February 25, 2011

The Envelope Please


I hope you enjoy the 83rd Academy Awards this weekend! For a yummy Oscar dinner, I suggest this classic from The Silver Palette and plenty of good champagne! You can cast your vote on the New York Times ballot here. Cheers!

Illustrations by the celebrated René Gruau
Champagne Primer: Quintessence Blog

February 20, 2011

Fashion + Etchings


It's interesting, how one day you can be looking at two completely unrelated things, and find a connection. A synergy, a story, a city scene, movement and, even a tug between bold color and black + white—street-style fashion photography + etchings:















These colorful street scenes were shot during New York Fashion Week {2011} by photo-blogger, Tommy Ton for Style.com {photo no. 2 was taken behind the scenes at Proenza Schouler, 2010}.

Etchings on Paper by Gary L. Shaffer, 1990s from the series entitled, "Passing Through" 12" x 9", $545 each from Lost Art Salon.

Fashion Week is sort of a passing through. And, as Sorkin wrote about fashion in The Social Network, "it never ends."

Street + Sunday Styles | The New York Times

Trailer: Bill Cunningham

February 13, 2011

JAZZ | THE NEXT BIG THING


"Best new artist" nominee, Esperanza Spalding is slated to perform tonight at the Grammy Awards. At age 26, Esperanza is a powerhouse of musical intellect and sensitivity. While growing up, the Portland, Oregon native was greatly influenced by her mother's own musical interests—and apparently, it was a performance by Yo Yo Ma on an episode of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, that prompted her to pursue a life in music. In 2005, almost immediately after graduating from Berklee College of Music, she became one of the youngest professors ever to be hired by the renowned institution. Esperanza has a love of fusion music deeply rooted in traditional jazz. She also has a great appreciation of the music and culture of other countries, citing Brazil as a favorite... "With Portuguese songs, the phrasing of the melody is intrinsically linked with the language, and it's beautiful." Her latest album Chamber Music Society, which was released this past August, blends her classical roots with the jazz world. When asked if the Grammy nomination has changed her life, she said... "I'm going to buy a dress that I wouldn't have normally bought to go to the awards ceremony, but I still take the subway—things are pretty much as they were before." Esperanza is determined that fame will not distort the soulful core of her artistry. Let's hope she's right. Best of luck to Esperanza Spalding!


Esperanza singing Fall In

POST NOTE: She won!!

Images courtesy, Google

February 9, 2011

CITRUS PALETTES

These cold February days are brightened immensely by all of the citrusy palettes I'm seeing—I'm particularly drawn to these colors. The photographs of Aran Goyoaga stop me in my tracks each and every time I see one. They feel so light and spontaneous and are styled so perfectly—a spoon holding just the right amount of sugar, a napkin with ever so lightly used creases, tucked next to a bowl. Aran uses the most simple and delightful objects. She is currently writing and photographing her first cookbook, which will be published by Little Brown in the fall of 2012. I can't wait! In the meantime, I'll continue to stop every time I see one of her photographs. You can see more of her work and her award-winning blog here.

February 1, 2011

A MAN WHO LOVED PUCCI

When my friend André was in his early 20's and living in Paris, he fell in love. Madly in love. With his death in 2000, I inherited his writings. In the mix, there are many poems about heartbreak and love. The photo above was taken of him around that time... the time in which, he wrote the words below. He loved a girl in Pucci and the beaches of the Côte:

More beach and
Flowers everywhere
The water was too blue
And the sand too white and
Pink for reality
Odd little machines
And a hungry cat by the waterside
Hysteria of flowers and fertile trees
"You've got freckles on your butt..."
And, a Pucci, too
Covered with sand and sun
I had never seen a more
Real woman:
I feel now like your shattered dream.

by André de Riano, 1961


Read Poem II here.
Our friendship.
Images: André, private collection • Veruschka in Pucci, the Condé Nast archives