Friday Fashion: Karmen Pedaru for Vogue Germany

Glamour overdose! Vogue Germany's cover story, aptly titled High Glam, proves that too much of a good thing can still be a really good thing! We all know how much I love strong, sexy, and sophisticated editorials. Needless to say, this one delivers on all fronts. Karmen Pedaru, plus a striking poolside setting, kicks off summer with a sizzle!

And now to the absolutely GORGEOUS cover.  Is summer the most glamorous time of year? I’m beginning to think so.

Images: Alexi Lubomirski for Vogue Germany

Snapshots: My Whirlwind Daytrip to New York

Yesterday, designer buddy DeChelle Harris and I took a rather impromptu trip up to NYC. Our visit came on the heels of several design-related festivities—ICFF, Design Week, Blogfest, etc.—and while not on our itinerary, their energy was definitely in the air! New York City: the design mecca of the eastern hemisphere was all a’ buzz, and we only had 6 hours to soak it in. Here’s how:

200 Lex

Our first stop was the New York Design Center at 200 Lexington Ave. Specifically, we headed to the famed (at least in my mind) 1stsdibs showroom, a Shangri-La for all that’s antique and lovely. In less than an hour, we scurried about snapping pics and ogling wares. I couldn’t pick a favorite piece if I tried. Everything was phenomenal.

1960's Italian leather armchair. Loved the pair.

Knoll Platner Chairs. Can't get enough.

More pics forthcoming.

Hooray, Kips Bay!

DeChelle jaywalking her way to the Kips Bay show house

From NYDC, we headed uptown to the Kips Bay Decorator Show House. Eighteen designers, five floors, 5600+ square feet. If the house were completely empty, I could easily fall in love. Add the most luxurious furniture and finishes imaginable, and well…

Of course, we couldn’t take pictures [sad face], but for those interested, check out Curbed's photo gallery.

The Adorable Alex Hitz

While at the show house, we participated in a kitchen demo with Alex Hitz, contributing food editor of House Beautiful. Bless his little heart! Though hot as blazes in that tiny (but well-appointed) kitchen, he kept the smiles and southern wit coming. Between whipping up foodstuffs and periodic respites in the refrigerator’s cooling air, he signed complimentary copies of his book, My Beverly Hills Kitchen.
Merci, Alex!

The Met, Chaos, and Couture

As fashion-lovers, we simply could not leave the city without a quick trip to the Met and its Costume Institute exhibit PUNK: Chaos to Couture. No words really. From the floor-to-ceiling video installations to archival garments from the likes of Chanel, McQueen, and Westwood, it was mind-numbingly good… though, yet another no-photo zone.

The museum itself is an architectural masterpiece; its grand entry hall and stairs stop most visitors in their tracks, ourselves included!

A Mad Dash
With little over an hour to go, we hurried back to our point of departure - Park Ave to Lex, the 6 to the Q, a few more blocks from Herald Square, check-in, grab seats, mission accomplished.
‘Til next we meet, NYC!

Images: Sukio unless otherwise noted

Interiors: A Designing Duo's Moroccan Getaway

Shoe designer Bruno Frisoni, of famed fashion house Roger Vivier, and furniture designer Hervé Van der Straeten create an eclectic retreat in the medina of Tangiers, Morocco.

I’m absolutely enamored by the Tangiers residence of Bruno Frisoni and Hervé Van der Straeten. The home, appearing in the June issue of Vogue, exudes the French modern aesthetic that I love while maintaining its classic Moroccan features. In addition to France and Morocco, the couple used finds from around the globe—from Mexico to the Middle East—creating an eclectic retreat that mixes colors, styles, and textures.

Framed fragments of Warhol’s 1974 Mao wallpaper

The design was inspired by varied sources including works by Matisse, the city palaces of Damascus, and nearby homes of French expats.

The walls of a guest bedroom are upholstered in colorful, striped carpet from Aleppo

"In an ever-expanding city where clumsy construction continues at a relentless pace, the Frisoni and Van der Straeten house seems untouched by the frenzied activity outside the medina’s walls." - Vogue

Images: François Halard, Vogue

Friday Fashion: Chanel Resort 2014

With most distracted by the frenzy that is the Met Gala, Karl Lagerfeld and crew headed to Singapore for a fashionable affair of their own. The tiny island nation served as both setting and inspiration for Chanel's 2014 Resort show. And while Karl's designs usually leave me lukewarm, I like what this collection has to offer. The references to Coco’s aesthetic are unmistakable and some unexpected twists kept the show interesting.

Unexpected Twists. Amidst all the old-school glamour, Karl introduced some whimsy and wit, i.e., schoolboy uniforms, cricket bats, feathered capes... I was particularly tickled by the batik-inspired, sporty look worn by Joan Smalls. Her hair, makeup, and styling remind me of a 90s-era, hip hop diva. Yeah. She's working it.

Joan Smalls channeling T-Boz in Look 20

The unexpected. Models in schoolboy uniforms with cricket bats and shin pads

Overall, the collection provides the jet set with a range of looks for every occasion and appetite. I think Coco would approve.

Images: (1-3, 5-7) Yoshi Okamoto, Style.com, (4, 8) Chanel News

Interiors: Jamie Drake’s Swank New Digs

With sweeping views of the Hudson, fabulously tall ceilings, and a car elevator, Jamie Drake’s new apartment could easily be deemed spectacular before design work even began. But leave it to Jamie to up the ante with luxurious finishes and his trademark use of color. The result is a swank pad perfect for entertaining.

As a non-cook, Jamie designed the kitchen more for hanging out than food prep, "What I really wanted was for the kitchen to be a very glamorous wet bar." And so, the designer created a two-tiered island with gold-leafed cabinetry, an overlapping Corian table, and plenty of space for cocktails.

The master suite is just as glam in shades of gray, coral, and peach – a quiet place to unwind after a long night's affair.

Images: William Waldron, Architectural Digest