opulent.

indian designer naeem khan grew up immersed in the world of intricate textiles and clearly inspired by this experience, has since made a name for himself as a designer of opulent cocktail dresses. his spring 2010 collection showcases his ability to carefully craft looks that are as equally sophisticated as they are luxurious. 

naeem kahn spring 2010

t.

t magazine's holiday issue recently came out and i cant stop admiring the incredible feature of taylor swift. i used to be less than a fan (until her hilarious episode of snl) but they did a wonderful job of re-interpreting her innocent all american persona to give just enough edge. there is such a sense of apathy contrasted by her over the top wardrobe and makeup, strangely capturing the quintessence of american culture. from the kitschy furniture to the highly teased pigtails its both unexpected and refreshing (not to mention she is entirely stunning). impressive.

t magazine

host : left of center

house&home, lanvin spring 2010

contrast.

givenchy spring 2010

the host : dark night

net-a-porter, vivre, house beautiful, gilles mendel

cited : margot tenenbaum

michael kors pre-fall 2010

the host : safari

net-a-porter, vivre, house and home

the alternative tree.

living in new york makes it pretty difficult to decorate for the holidays. last year i sacrificed half of my mini apartment for christmas cheer (a living room or a forest?). this year, if possible, my apartment is even smaller. the thought of a treeless holiday season is just out of the question so when i found this genius solution, i knew just how how i was going to bring christmas to life and still be able to walk through my door. oh domino, come back.

domino magazine

the elements : holiday entertaining

in my opinion, an intimate cocktail party is the best way to bring friends together and celebrate the holidays. whether its a small gathering or a festive blow out, the holidays are a great excuse to bring out your fancy clothes and exercise your entertaining skills. in planning an event, there are a number of crucial steps to make the night a success. i'm obsessed with details and spare none in my planning process. i always start with a hand printed invite (snail mail - no evites or facebook). this helps to set the tone for the evening and gives a chic and sophisticated feel to the party. it's best to give your guests ample time to save the date, three weeks prior to the party is safe. once your invites are signed sealed and delivered it's time to prepare the menu. with a smaller gathering (eight guests or less), an elegant seated dinner is a great way to keep everyone engaged. with a larger guest list, hors d'oevres, wine and a signature cocktail (i'm using a pomegranate sparking elderflower this year) is just the right mix. in the past i've baked mini pastries but this year am opting for a cute spin on candy jars for guests to graze as they mingle. the music will set the mood for the evening. i tend to start off with something soft (steering clear of holiday songs) to allow guests to settle in and transition to more upbeat songs as the night progresses (and the drinks flow). the decor is clearly important and i've found it works best to stay relatively simple and stick to one color palate. often i will use poured cocktails as the initial tablescape decor making it easy for guests to help themselves. with enough pre-planning, a special event can come together effortlessly allowing just enough cheer to brighten the evening. enjoy.

bundle.

winter showed up yesterday. just like that. today, for the first time i brought out my favorite winter coat and like a marshmallow braved the chill. it can be difficult in the deep winter months to maintain some sense of style while warding off hypothermia. anyone who has tried to rise above the cold and suffer for fashion in the new york winter has been quickly deflated and chilled into the puffiest and perhaps least feminine of coats. each year i try my very hardest to find a middle ground, i refuse to believe that you can't be at once chic and bundled. below are a few of my favorite finds for staying warm this cold season.

1. rag & bone

2. vivienne westwood

3. aubin & wills

4. sonia rykiel

5. derek lam

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miu miu spring 2010

in the details.

domino

soft touch.

sonia rykiel

michael.

really just not over it yet.

michael jackson

chlorosis.

a few years back on a weekend trip to the MOMA, i stumbled upon this piece, done by south african artist Marlene Dumas, and was so drawn in to this day i consider it a favorite. an artwork based on polaroid portraits of subjects fallen with chlorosis, an ancient disease. lovesick disease. a bunch of faces, beautiful but disturbing, their haunting expressions told the story of a love gone wrong. the disease, marked by a greenish skin tone, is supposed to have affected young females who were suffering from unrequited love. the artist drew twenty-four faces. each one on their own separate panel. 


it is no longer on view but couldn't help but share. 

marlene dumas, chlorosis (1994)

the weekend.

snow white.

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fashion east spring 2010

warm furry accents.

wouldn't you just love to cozy up in one of these lush rooms on a chilly night?

monday.

if only all monday's started like this. quite a nice way to start the week i would say.

unknown