You Go Grant!

Earlier this year, interior designer and blogger Grant K. Gibson was beyond excited to have his apartment shot for the April issue Domino magazine. Then, he was beyond devastated to learn that it would never be published when the magazine closed. So I am happy to announce that you can finally see his wonderful home in the New York Times! The best part that much of it was done on a budget not that you could ever tell! I especially love the bedroom which reminds me of a masculine version of Lanvin's blue bedroom. You go Grant! I'm so happy for you!

Lanvin: Part Deux

No trip to Paris would be complete without a trip to Lanvin. We are lucky in New York that Barneys and Kirna Zabete carry some pieces of clothing and jewelry but that's nothing like having entire store full of nothing but Lanvin! It was heaven!

Lanvin is known for their creative window displays and we were treated to the new autumn displays that feature mischievous black cats. They happen to correspond to the new print ads and also harken back to the old advertisements for My Sin perfume that also featured a black cat.

This window with the cat sticking out of the handbag was my favorite!

The September 2009 issue of British Vogue just ran an interview with the designer of Lanvin Elber Albaz. In it he states that "the people I chose to run the store are nice. I cannot work with bitches." I can attest that the salespeople couldn't have been nicer or more welcoming and not just to the celebrities. Photographer Gilles Bensimon and girlfriend Diana Picasso (daughter of Picasso!) in the store when were shopping.

I wish I could have taken photos of the interior but I didn't want to push my luck so you have to settle for just the store windows!

Everyone keeps asking me what I bought in Paris so here you go. Before I even left, I knew that I wanted to treat myself to something special and definitely something that I couldn't get in New York. I saw a pretty bracelet in Roger Vivier but the exchange rate made it much too expensive. Lucky for me, we stopped at Lanvin right after where I did find myself a little something.

This Lanvin Happy Sac couldn't be better named because it makes me happy every time I see it and it was definitely something I would have bought myself in a heartbeat but it too was much too expensive to even consider. Although, I did see it in Barneys and might have to make it mine at some point. It's so me!

Instead, I settled on a set of bracelets. They are in a taupe/blush color that perfectly compliment my Phillip Lim necklace. I wore them out to a few fashion parties when I returned and they were a big hit. Even Stefan fell in love with the men's store across the street as did my friend's husband when they were in Paris this summer so it's not just for the ladies! I wish Lanvin would open a store in New York but until they do, it just gives me one more reason to plan another trip to Paris!

Anyone Ever Heard Of Steampunk?

Perusing Etsy has lead me down some strange paths, but none more then my new found
interest in something called 'Steampunk'. I had noticed some really interesting jewelry that seemed sort of industrial and turn of the century at the same time. It was almost fantastical- like something out of a Victorian fairytale.




Well it turns out it is supposed to look Victorian or turn of the century!From what I gleaned from Wikipedia, Steampunk is a ,"sub-genre of fantasy and speculative fiction that came into prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s". It is based on literature that is from an era where steam is the primary source of energy such as steam engines. That time period is pretty much the 1880-1920s.

(this is a steampunk mouse!)


To make a long Wiki post short: Steampunk is considered a anticulture like Goth, Punk, or Rockabilly. When it comes to Steampunk fashion, I think this paragraph sums it up the best:

"'Steampunk fashion' has no set guidelines, but tends to synthesize modern styles as filtered through the Victorian era. This may include gowns, corsets, petticoats and bustles; gentleman's suits with vests, coats and spats; or even military-inspired garments. Often, steampunk outfits will be accented with a mixture of technological and period accessories: timepieces, parasols, goggles and ray guns. Even modern accessories like cell phones or music players can be found in steampunk outfits, after being modified to give them the appearance of Victorian-made objects. Aspects of steampunk fashion have been anticipated by mainstream high fashion, the Lolita fashion and aristocrat styles, neo-Victorianism, and the romantic goth subculture."



I adore the Victorian period, and I think that is why I have been inspired by the Steampunk jewelry on Etsy. Here are some of the pieces I have been looking at:


.Blue Locket


Retractable Lapel Pin


Lady's Mini Topper


Victorian Octopus Ring


Butterfly Brooch


Letter In A Bottle Necklace


Pocket Watch


What I like about the Steampunk genre is it is sort of like Goth without the weepy emo side, and industrial which gives it a hard edge. I think it looks amazing with vintage clothing because it has a timelessness about it, but also a hardness that contrasts so elegantly with the uber feminine side of the vintage outfit.

So tell me: Have you ever heard of Steampunk, and if so- when did you learn about it? Am I totally out of the loop or is Steampunk the next underground trend gone mainstream like the grunge look in the early 90's, the swing dancing in the late 90's, and the furries in the early 00's?

What Happened Dita?

This is what Dita wore to the amfAR charity event. I am not loving it! I don't have a problem with the fact she isn't wearing vintage- I love it when she wears modern fashion and twists it to look vintage. But this outfit is doing her no favors. I think the color is too bright for her skin tone and the fabric draping is overpowering her small frame. Usually when Dita dresses, she wears the dress- the dress doesn't wear her. In this case, I think the dress is too much for her. Here is the dress on the runway:



It was from the Dolce & Gabbana Fall 2009 collection. Might I suggest these two dresses from the same show as better options for the lovely Dita:




I think either of these dresses would work for Dita because they are more subdued then the hot pink number, and they stick to her classic style with a twist.

I will leave you with Dita bringing it to the red carpet at a different event:

Polkadots!

New dress alert! I love the sheen on the fabric. Plus the dress came with a matching coat! I now have two dresses with matching coats and I love them! They are perfect for the cool autumn mornings and hot afternoons. Sorry about the quality of the photos- they were taken with my iphone.





Dress/Coat: Vintage
Belt: J.Crew or Banana Republic- I cant remember which one.
Earrings: My Baby Jo
Bracelet: Vintage pearl necklace wrapped around wrist
Shoes: Anthropologie

Jeanne Lanvin's Apartment in Paris

One of my favorite things from Paris was viewing the reconstructed apartment of fashion designer Jeanne Lanvin at the Musee des Arts Decoratifs. It consists of her boudoir, chambre de coucher and salle de bain that were designed for her by Armand Albert Rateau for her apartment at 16, rue Barbet-de-Jouy in Paris in . It's a little hard to see because it's protected by glass walls but it's beauty and wonderful details are worth making the trip. The blue of the bedroom is known as Lanvin Blue and is said to have been inspired by the blue sky in a Fra Angelico fresco seen by Jeanne Lanvin. Just another example of how art, fashion and interior design all converge to great effect!

Fernando Bengoechea's Photography Lives On

Last week, I was surprised to receive a message from Marcelo Bengoechea, the brother of the late photographer Fernado Bengoechea who was swept away by the tsunami of 2004. He is reviving his brother's art of weaving his photographs and is now offering them for sale for the first time since Fernando's death. I remember tearing out a page from a magazine many years ago that highlighted this unusual art form and thinking it was the most amazing and beautiful thing I had ever seen. It was a pleasure to hear more about the process from Marcelo and know that Fernando's photography will live on.

HC: Can you tell me how you decided to start this project?

MB: The revival is something totally new. I just could not let Fernando’s art share his tragic fate. He’s dead. I have no choice than to accept that. What I refuse is to accept the death of his beautiful work so I took it as a personal mission to revive it. As a designer myself, laid off a couple of months ago after 10 years as the Creative Director for the surf brand Reef, I realized that it is the perfect time to do something like this. I had been thinking about it for a couple of years and after a good conversation with Nate Berkus I just had to do it. The reception has been so positive that it keeps me motivated to continue the project. It is still too early to say if it is going to succeed or not (financially speaking) , but to tell you the truth, it doesn’t matter, it is a success to family and friends already.

HC: Do you feel that there is a sense of therapy to the work that you are doing?

MB: For sure there is some kind of therapy in the weaving process, but mostly I feel honored, loved and a sense of continuing our friendship and good times after his death. We had the kind of relationship where just by looking at each other we knew what we were thinking and most of the time those instances were during mischief or adventures. I know a lot of the stories behind the images and that brings me closer to them and to him. His death was my first close up experience with loosing somebody important in life and I do not think I’ll ever get over it. Weaving definitely helps.

HC: Do you do all the weaving yourself?

MB: At this point I am doing limited editions, hand weaving each one of them. I watched my brother weave those images and thought he was somehow insane, now I feel his energy pass through my hands as I weave and think this is crazy. Crazy in a good way, a proud way. Vivre.com just started offering them last week and it is the only place to find them for now other than through myself. One of this days I will have a new website and make them available there as well. I am following Fernando’s original concepts, including the framing style of his latest works (the Karma Trees series that was shown at Ralph Pucci Gallery), framing them in rich Peruvian Walnut and “floating” them the same way he did. I am even using a knitting needle as a weaving tool that once belonged to our grandma and he used to weave the smaller pieces. I am also adding my touch (please see Cabeza de Vaca I and II concept) to evolve and add some design as well.

"It is a collaboration between brothers. It just happens that one of them is dead. We were able to work together in several shoots for Reef that he shot and I directed and it is great to continue our team work this way. Since the beginning of our professional careers that was a goal of ours and I am proud to say that it is still going on." - Marcelo Bengoechea

Chic Unique Vintage Finds

Zuni Inlay Vintage Ring
- Amazon Art (Etsy) $100
If ever you desired a little piece of art on your jewellery, surely this ring will appeal. The colours and pattern make it the ultimate statement ring.



Bright Print 70s Mini Dress Tunic
- Spun Sugar Vintage (Etsy) $32
The bright pinks and reds in this wild vintage dress make it look thoroughly modern. The long sleeves balance out the high hemline and no matter where you are heading, Glastonbury or Coachella, you will look chic unique!



Serena Mod Beaded Shirt Dress
- The Eves Like Us (Etsy) $32
This vintage number is beyond biker cool! Okay, maybe not too many bikers are wearing black dresses with lovely rhinestone embellishments but if they did need to glam it up a bit, surely this dress would catch their eye!



Mod Half Circle Pencil Skirt
- Leolucaescobar (Etsy) $31
This fun 60s style skirt would work wonderfully with either plain tops or bright splashes of colour from other items in your wardrobe!



Birds and Fish Knit Top
- Spun Sugar Vintage (Etsy) $28
This vintage knit top was too adorable not to be included in today's round-up. Wear alone with jeans or opt for the layered look and where a long sleeved organic black top underneath.



Vintage 60s 'The Honeymooners' Driving Coat
- Nod to Mod Vintage (Etsy) $48
I can't say no to quirky patterned coats such as this. I love the blue / grey and chocolate colour combination and length!



The Queens Vintage 70s Jeweled Pouch Bag Saks Fifth Ave
- Planet Claire Vintage (Etsy) $68
I'm not sure about you but this sweet little bag looks extra-terrestial to me. Like a fancy UFO fashioned into a stylish and pretty bag!




Graduated Rectangles, Sarah Coventry Necklace
- Lola Vintage (Etsy) $24
This striking necklace will look stunning worn loud and proud over tops and dresses or glimpsed beneath coats and jackets.