Monday, November 22, 2010

A Sign of the Times

So this is what the world has come to... 

Bagel Bites at Nino's Pizza, St. Mark's Place
A few weeks ago I found myself at Nino's Pizza on the corner of St. Mark's in the Lower East Side.  This street alone, an icon within an iconic city, is a bastion of excess and wild style.  I hope that what I found at Nino's is not a symbol of the apathy that is quietly seeping into the corners of the Greatest City in the World. 
Because now, a relatively decent by-the-slice NY pizzeria, has slumped to buying, cooking, and selling 6-for-$4 Ore Ida brand Bagel Bites.  Yep.  I cannot make this up.  The rather proud red t-shirt wearing pizza jockey behind the glass touted "6-for-$4!" when I remarked about the mere presence of the Bagel Bites in the front row.  He even offered to smile widely and get into the picture.  It's not that he didn't admit they were Bagel Bites.  He did.  He thought they were a smart addition to the line up.
For his own pride, which he will lose at a later date when he realizes the offense he has committed, I have omitted him from the photo.  It is straight up NOT OK to sell Bagel Bites in a pizzeria, anywhere, especially New York.  People here are not supposed to kowtow and give up like this. 
If it's any sign of hope, the line at Grimaldi's in Brooklyn is still long and the pizza is still worth waiting for...


Thursday, November 18, 2010

Filling a French Cuffed Void (How Civilized, and In Time for the Holidays)

I adore an intimate accessory and touch of whimsy that only I know is there.  It gives me a dash of confidence in knowing I have a secret, and sometimes only the most observant and deserving people will notice.  Maybe that's why I am so into details.  I love details and even rewatch movie scenes for hidden lines and background images (a favorite background image is one of the 80's high school dance attendees in the background of a Sixteen Candles scene...).
Cufflinks are a wonderful way for a man who is conscious of details already since he has even bothered to wear a French cuff shirt, to express his sense of comedy and style.  Take note of some of these amazing sets. 
Check out Etsy.com for some incredible cufflinks, as well as local vintage and thrift stores.  The Missing Link on 25th Street in NYC is a mecca for cufflink collectors.  
Carved turquoise fish cufflinks wearing sunglasses...
(available on 1stDibs.com)


Gorgeous David Webb vintage leopard cufflinks. 
(available on 1stDibs.com)


You're right, these are BRILLIANT.  Rabbit In The Hat cufflinks made by some genius. 
(vintage and avalable somewhere on 1stDibs.com)

British Flag cufflinks.  Who doesn't love a Union Jack with a Jack on the Rocks on Union soil?
(available online at J Press)


Sunday, November 14, 2010

Mermaids and Sequins...

Thom Browne Spring 2011
GREAT mermaid print.
Great sequin gingham.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

interesting contrast can sometimes include trash

This is a gorgeous photo of a billowing red coat made more interesting by the contrast of green - that happens to be a trash bag.  What's interesting is that we would not knowingly include a dangling trash bag in the photo - we would consciously crop it out.  It is the heavily hanging bag that gives this photo some oomph, in my opinion, of course.

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Perfection

Photograph by Elliott Erwitt. Truman Capote's famed 1966 Black and White Ball at the Plaza Hotel.
GORGEOUS. 
Candice Bergen with bunny ears at the infamous masked ball with only 540 of Capote's ideal guests. 
...this is a little picture of perfection, captured perfectly in...black and white...

Cool and Fuzzy

This Rick Owens shearling jacket is PERFECTION.  I covet most everything that he designs, especially his leather jackets.  And then he takes it one step further into shearling territory?  The picture is a little small, but there is gorgeous detail on the sleeves as well. 
Rick Owens' wife, Michelle Lamy, is his muse and collaborator.  They are just too cool.  I wonder how they celebrate anniversaries?  Are they popping corks of rose colored champagne? 
oooh, a PINK Rick Owens jacket would be amazing, and would also never ever happen.  I am sure you can see that this couple is not exactly pink-thinking. 

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

who needs thumbs?

I don't know if this dog really gets money out of the ATM for it's person, but regardless, it is pretty impressive.  Dixie (my yellow lab) has always tried to show me, usually without witnesses, that she does not need thumbs (to get into mischief). 
The above photo is what happens when you properly channel the intelligence and mischieviousness of an adorable friend.  Maybe donating to a Leader Dog foundation is a nice thing to do for the holidays?

a few of my favorite things...all in one room!

 Here are a few inspired interiors by Mary McDonald, based in West Hollywood. 
I love the pink foyer.  That is a pink foyer.  And it has zebra.  And blue and white vases.  Did I point out the gold bamboo mirror???  I almost forgot the tufted pink chairs. 

The room below needs no explination (neither does the pink foyer, really) - it has striped walls.  Not just any striped walls.  A picture says a thousand words...

Mary does many more gorgeous and colorful interiors, have a look at her website.