Back In A Moment

I have been travelling, but I'll be back with a bang on January 4th.

An Early Resolution...

Fat Skinny Person: Someone who remains the same small size despite morphing into a human amoeba with zero muscle tone and the energy level of Al Bundy.

I am a fat skinny person. Starting today, I will reintroduce myself to the treadmill. I will also clean up my diet and remind myself that cookies do not equal breakfast and diet cokes are not a water substitute.

Present Twelve: Dream Stocking Stuffers for Her

Stockings are for kids. This year, skip the stocking and put her stuffers in Globe-Trotter Luggage .

(21" Globe-Trotter Trolley Case available at the Conran Shop , $1750)

Throw in a couple of Hermès beach towels (Hermès, $465).



Add Bernard Maisner hand-colored note cards (Set of eight, Bernard Maisner, $100)

and a few Belle Fleur candles (Barneys, $48).

Then...

Rent a yacht through Charterworld and island hop in the Carribean.

I like the 115-foot Wheels, which rents from $60,000 per week.

Before you balk at the price tag, remember that you get to invite friends. Split the cost with three other couples and you're down to a paltry $15,000. Now that's not so bad, is it? Wheels holds ten guests, but stick to eight for added comfort.

And if you still think something is missing in her stocking, throw in a Cartier Love Cuff. (Cartier, $36,500)

It's the perfect thing to accessorize her bikini.

See Yourself In Polaroid

I love New Year's resolutions. The key is choosing ones that are fun to keep. In 2007, for example, I resolved to drink champagne more often. I'm pleased to report success on that front!

So here's one for 2008. I'm buying a small journal and a Polaroid instant camera. Then, I'm spending a day mixing and matching outfits from the contents of my closet, the photographs of which will go into the journal.

There's a reason designers use Polaroids to organize a runway show. They're the fastest and most efficient way to catalog looks.

So get your camera and shoot away. And the next time you look in your closet and think, "I have nothing to wear," you'll know otherwise.

[pictured: Polaroid One 600 Ultra Instant Camera $59.99]

Present 11: Aid To Artisans

Aid to Artisans helps artisans help themselves by teaching them business skills and connecting them with markets in the United States and Europe. By purchasing products from the organization's website, you are supporting artisans around the world and getting something beautiful in return.

(top: Kyrgyz Hand-Felted Rug $1500, bottom: Usbek Silk Scarf $42)

Closet Therapy

My closet is a nightmare, but a nightmare I have to tolerate living in a rental. Still, my favorite Manolos deserve a break from the dust bunny convention that holds daily meetings on my closet floor.

My Solution: Closet Fetish Shoe Boxes

Price: $15 or 35 for $350.

Ten to fifteen bucks for a shoe box, you ask? They're worth it. If you're like me, you're sick of your stilettos falling like a row of dominoes each time you reach for a shoe. These boxes offer a chic solution, and the 4x6 frame on the outside of the box allows you to display a photograph of the shoes inside.

Shopping In Cyberspace With My Mom

Yesterday, my mother called me in a panic. She had just arrived home from St. Barts (I know, I hate her, too) and had started stressing about holiday shopping. For those of us who live in a big city, finding fantastic gifts is doable, even if it's stressful. We're just a short drive away from Berdorf's, Barney's, Saks or Bendel's with a hundred cute boutiques in between. It's easy to forget that most of the country does not have such easy access to the newest, the brightest and the best that designers have to offer. For my mom, who has fantastic taste, great shopping is a three hour drive away.

Luckily for her, she has me - Santa's Little Helper; we'll ignore my self-interest in assisting my mother with her holiday shopping and focus rather on my generous spirit. I suggested that instead of fighting the pre-Christmas shopping masses, she avoid them altogether. More specifically, I suggested she do all of her shopping online. She was skeptical and wondered whether she would find great gifts. I assured her that she would. So together, on the phone and on the Internet, we shopped yesterday, hitting Bergdorf's, Barney's, Saks, Neiman's, Intermix, Shopbop, Net-A-Porter, and eLuxury. Check out a few of the items we picked up on our outing. I'm unable to show most of them in case prying eyes are reading this post, but every site I listed had items I would be thrilled to receive.

Top: Givenchy Two Tone Shopper, Barneys $1600
Middle: Burberry Quilted Riding Boot, Neiman Marcus $940
Bottom: Helmut Lang Honeycomb Coat, Shopbop original price $790, sale $553

Sheared Minx: Freja Beha Erichsen

After posting my thoughts on the Chanel Pre-Fall show, I realized that two out of the three pics I included were of Freja Beha Erichsen, another model with an amazing haircut. (see my previous post on Milagros Schmoll)

While there's something to be said for long locks, some faces just come to life with a great cut.

King Karl Reins Supreme; A Darker Mood for Fall

Following a spring collection that was not one of my personal favorites comes a pre-fall collection that is truly spectacular. Karl Lagerfeld delivered, and delivered big, when he presented Chanel's pre-fall lineup in London this week.

The collection showcased Métiers d'Art, the decorative handwork that is a cornerstone of Parisian haute couture. In 2002, Chanel bought the ateliers - Lesage (embroidery), Lemarié (feather work), Michel (millinery), Massaro (shoemaking), Desrues (costume jewelry design), Guillet (floral design), and Goosens (silversmithing) - that provide this handwork for the couture houses. Chanel did this to provide financial stability for the ateliers and also to preserve their art; without the ateliers, their crafts would certainly die.

The collection was a mix of Paris/London style. Coco Chanel's relationships with Arthur Capel and the Duke of Westminster were the starting point. But it was made current by Amy Winehouse-inspired beehives and a thoroughly modern edge to the clothes that is sure to attract it-girls around the globe.

What would a Chanel collection be without tweed? One expects tweeds from Chanel, and there were tweeds. But the presentation was decidedly new. There might be two different tweeds in a given jacket, seemingly frayed edges, or tweeds with touches of chiffon or feathers. And if the show was any indication of what is to come for fall, leather will play a more dominant role. Intermingled in 60+ look collection were maxi skirts, an ankle-length trench, fingerless gloves, and classic quilted bags - all in black leather.

The look was unquestionably darker than the norm of late in fashion, and at once, it made the past several seasons seem saccharine by comparison. But the darker mood at Chanel hit the mark. Hopefully, other designers take the cue.

[Pictures from style.com]

Present 10: Stocking Stuffers For Him

A blissage75 Massage
(Bliss, $150)





Sterling Silver Monogrammed Yo-Yo
( Adler's Jewelry, $105)








How's Your Drink?: Cocktails, Culture, and the Art of Drinking Well, $20
(Barnes & Noble, $20)










F1 Leather Passport Cover
(Flight001, $40)








Kiehl's Products for Men
(Kiehl's, prices vary)











Shure SE530 Sound Isolating Earphones
(shure.com, $499)

Obama Elected!

Michelle Obama that is. This is how one looks chic on the campaign trail.

The Higher The Hair, The Closer To Heaven

Let's face it. We'd all like to go to a stylist to get coiffed before a big night out. But sometimes, no can do. Maybe there's a last minute invitation, or it's the end of the month and the funds are in a sad, sad state. You're got to pull it together on your own.

Fortunately, top makeup artists and stylists represented by Ford Artists have been posting an excellent series of how-tos on the web. If you've ever wondered how to get great, big evening hair, this is how you do it.

Spring '08: Looks I Love

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Look 1: Christian Lacroix. Great for that April day in New York, when it's unseasonably cold, but you're over your winter wardrobe.



Look 2: Dior. Love the color, love the drape. Love everything about it. I have a general aversion to flowers, but these roses speak to me.

[pictures from style.com]

Get Inspired

The Inspiration: Bianca Jagger (c. 1972)


The Realization: DKNY 3-Piece Pantsuit (Spring '08)

Leather Makes a Comeback

Leather pants are popping up everywhere, and I like it. For Angelina Jolie, leather pants are certainly not news. Still, it had been a while since we had seen her in them until last month's Beowulf premiere.

Then, SJP wore her leather skinnys this past week at Movies Rock. I'm not crazy about the coat/jacket part, but I get it. It was freezing. I just wish I could see see the top underneath.

When it comes to wearing leather pants, my advice is to keep it clean. A simple black sweater, à la Ange, or a fitted button-down shirt would do nicely.

Spring '08 - Looks I Love

Look 1: Calvin Klein. Perfect for a hot night. Reminiscent of '90s Gucci when Tom did the white cut-out dresses


Look 2: Celine. Love the whole look but could wear the boned jacket a hundred different ways. Goes with everything from jeans to a ball skirt (which could be incredible).

Look 3: Chado Ralph Rucci. I haven't wanted to wear a dress so much since Alexander McQueen showed his Oyster dress.

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Spring '08: Looks I Love

Look 1: Balenciaga. Balenciaga gets so much press (albeit deservedly so) that I almost shy away from it. The floral print dresses with sutured fronts have been everywhere, but I think this sculptural navy and white number is the one for me.

Look 2: Bottega Veneta. I love a dress that's polished without sacrificing sex appeal, and this one makes the grade.

Spring '08: Looks I Love

Look 1: Adam. From lunch to beach to casual night out. What's not to like?

Look 2: Akris. For when I'm having a grownup moment.

Look 3: Alberta Ferretti. Just a great little dress. Instant chic.

Look 4: Alexander Wang. There are some women who, even on a Saturday morning, are a vision of polished perfection. That's not me. I'm undone chic, and this is precisely what I'd wear in my down time.

What To Do

If you live in Manhattan, you woke up to the first snowfall of the season and 21-degree temperatures. I'm making one brief foray outside to Starbuck's. Then, I'm bunkering in my apartment the rest of the day with my beloved and our furry child (our three-year old miniature dachshund).

But what to do... I'm getting domestic. On the menu chez moi: Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp and Beer and Cheddar Soup. If you're looking for recipes, try two of my favorite online resources, Epicurious and Food Network. You're sure to find good recipes from both. And if you're thinking to yourself, "Sounds good, but there's no way I'm shopping for groceries today," go to the Food Emporium website. If you're in Manhattan, you can order groceries online, and as of right now, they can deliver them as early as 3-5 pm today. Happy eating.

Holiday Bedazzling

With the cost of gold going through the roof and the cost of jewelry right along with it, why not try a little vintage this holiday season. I like these because they are pretty but not too sweet. There's a certain weight these pieces that feels right. Remember a few years ago when it seemed like every designer from Prada on down was grouping old-fashioned brooches on sweaters? When you're shopping vintage, I'd avoid anything that looks like that. It's too quaint.

There are a million ways to get your hands on great pieces like these. Check out your local vintage stores, shop online, visit estate sales or go about it a more traditional way - raid your mother's and grandmother's jewelry chests.

[all jewelry found on eBay]

A Cross To Wear

Coming across the Tom Ford-era Gucci looks got me thinking about the fantastic cross necklaces Erickson Beamon did for Gucci back in the day. I loves this cross by Cathy Waterman (above left, $22220), available at Barneys. If it's out of the question, I love the idea of a vintage rosary. I found this one (below left) on eBay.

Circa 1997

I was going through my photo archives, and I came across these.

[Tom Ford for Gucci, Spring 1997]