Inauguration

On Monday, President Obama gets "Sworn-In" for another presidency term. I remember how excited I was four years ago. It was my first American Inauguration and the country was poised for something truly monumental. Perhaps the excitement and expectation will be dimmed slightly this year, but no doubt Michelle Obama's fashion choice will still amaze and excite. Her lemon-colored J-Crew ensemble in 2009 blew the political and fashion worlds apart. Whoever had the gumption before Michelle to wear a high street brand to what was probably the most important day in her life! And my did she carry it off beautifully. And then to wear an "unknown" designer to the Inauguration ball that night (Jason Wu) was a brilliant move of confidence, independence and fashion agenda setting for the White House.  And even if Obama himself is somewhat greyer than 4 years ago, he is still a striking figure in an always well cut suit. I actually feel truly blessed to have such a good looking and capable couple leading this country.

So in honor of Monday's festivities, let's have a look at what the First Ladies of the past have worn for their husband's Inauguration.

Mamie Eisenhower, 1953

Jacqueline Kennedy, 1961

Lady Bird Johnson,  1963

Pat Nixon, 1969

Rosalynn Carter, 1977

Nancy Reagan, 1981

Barbara Bush, 1989

Hilary Clinton, 1993

Laura Bush, 2001

Michelle Obama, 2009

images: (1) penndems, (2,3) Life magazine, (4-5) Bettman, Corbis, (6) jimmy carter library, (7) on this day in fashion, (8) bush presidential library, (9) brennan, AP, (10) instyle, (11) vogue princess nailja 

Mellow Yellow

 I went to Palm Springs for the weekend after the LA conference. My first time there and I really loved it! The desert is phenomenal (photos to come in a later post) and I stayed at the Viceroy which was truly rock star-like fabulous.  This is where I renewed my love for all things yellow.

Kelly Wearstler has made "citron" her signature color for the hotel. It works so well when used as a "splash" of color. It completely lifts a room instead of just using white all the time.

This spring in fashion, it is all about pastels. And yellow dominated across all categories. No doubt we will see yellow in all its guises on the streets. 

Carolina Herrera Spring '12

Derek Lam Spring '12

Oscar de la Renta, Spring '12

Burberry, Spring '12

Jimmy Choo Spring '12

Givenchy Obsedia Yellow Clutch

So whilst its cold and drab in wintry New York, I have compiled a few things yellow that make me feel happy - and bring a little color back into my day. 

Wallpaper from Scalamandre

Mark Rothko

Marimekko fabric

Porthault bedlinen

Le Creuset

images: (1) apartment therapy, (2, 5, 13) mine, (3-4) Viceroy,  (6-9) style.com, (10,11) bergdorf goodman (12) mind of a christian girl, (14) gilly's place, (15) habitually chic, (16) great modern pictures, (17) luxist, (18) sue fisher, (19) this next, (20) stock news on net, (21) drive, (22)camille's style, (23) decor pad

Daphne Guinness

I must admit I have never been that "in" to Daphne Guinness. She's always been on my peripheral vision here in New York - tottering around on heel-less shoes at the same art exhibition as me,  dining at the same restaurant, getting ready for the Met gala in the window of Barney's - but I have never actively followed her exploits or had a fashion crush on her. I always dismissed her as some poor lost spoilt english heiress who was undernourished and overwrought and had nothing to do except try and look eccentric.

But recently, all that has changed. There's a "Daphne Air" at the moment. She has pervaded my space but in a good way.  It started with a fantastic article on her in the New Yorker, followed by a trip to the Fashion Institute Museum's exhibition of her wardrobe.  And after watching various videos about her, I actually think she is quite a fantastically (still) eccentric, interesting,  humorous-as-only-the-Brits-can-be and rare creature.  For those who are not intimately acquainted with her, here are some 101's:

• Heir to the Guinness beer fortune
• Granddaughter of Diana Mosley, one of the Mitford sisters
• had 3 kids with her first husband (how they emerged from her teeny pelvis belies belief)
• Was besties with Alexander McQueen and Isabella Blow
• Bought all of Blow's clothing after she died to save them from going to auction and being plundered by "souvenir-seekers"
• Has a fantastically interesting wardrobe collecting vintage Chanel, McQueen, Alaia, Givenchy and Valentino as well as a jewelry collection to die for
• Wears a badger stripe through her hair and gets away with it
• Involved with Bernard Henri-Levi the French philosopher who remains married to a chanteuse
• Famous for wearing staggeringly high platform shoes without heels and not falling over
• Prefers to think of herself as a "bee, flitting from one designer to the next" rather than a muse
• Has done collaborations with MAC, Barneys and Comme de Garcons
• One of today's most original fashion icons

Here is her tribute to Mcqueen that is showing at the FIT exhibition.

I Heart Lanvin

Thank you Alber Elbaz for having some fun with fashion! It makes me love you even more. And BTW, your fall collection is to die for xx

To see full screen, click HERE.

The Forgotten American Style Icon

Think of the great American style icons and names like Jackie O, Grace Kelly, C.Z. Guest and Babe Paley all come to mind quickly. But Ann Bonfoey Taylor? Never heard of her - until I read the WSJ last weekend. My, what a wardrobe! And what a woman! Born in 1910, Taylor became a fashion legend and extraordinarily accomplished woman. She was an Olympic skier who never made it to the Games because of the outbreak of WWII, so she became a flight instructor for the navy instead. She was an accomplished equestrian, fox hunter and tennis player, she married a man called 'Moose,' was a member of the social elite and built one of the first houses in Vail before dying there in 2007.

She graced the pages of Vogue, Town & Country and Harpers Bazaar through the 50's and 60's, was photographed by the likes of Edward Steichen, Louise Dahl-Wolfe and Toni Frissell, and her wardrobe included pieces from legendary designers such as Balenciaga, Givenchy, Mme Gres and  Fortuny. In 2008, Taylor's family gifted her wardrobe to the Phoenix Art Museum, where it was recently seen in an exhibition entitled, "Fashion Independent: The original style of Ann Bonfoey Taylor." Here are some photos chronicling her fashionable life.

images: wall street journal, artbook

Toe Part II

I was playing with different outfits yesterday. The challenge is its summer here, which means a) I'm going to miss half of it because I'm wearing a ski boot in the wrong season and b) it's a little hot and humid to be wearing long pants every day. And what to wear on the other foot? I tried flats but the boot is quite high, so then I tried a heel, but my heels are higher than the boot. So either way, I am lopsided.  But here are some options I quite liked.

I thought the Van Noten metallic offsets the drab grey

Perhaps the studs on this offset the buckles on the boot?

It's all about color blocking this season, so I have to wear these pink Manolo's

 even if my boot is off the ground

I think the rope wedge works for the weekend?

The worst part of this saga are the shoe sales. Barney's, Bergdorf et all are in full spring sale swing, with heavenly summer shoes at 40% off! What's a hobbling shoe-aholic to do? Well, on Friday I threw caution to the wind and limped into Giuseppe Zanotti to get their much coveted metal and leather sandal. I whipped off the boot much to the sales assistant's surprise and told him he was doing me an emotional favor by helping ease my bandaged and swollen right foot into the sandal to make sure it fit. Perfection. Whilst I may have missed the Blahnik python sandal, this one was my perfect size.  Who cares if I only get to wear the left one for a while?!

image: michiel kueper

White Out

Oh, can it be true? Today was a heavenly day of a balmy 22 degrees celsius! How delicious! Finally spring has broken through and the city is about to be bombarded with white! White buds, white blossom, white fashion. If you haven't already guessed, it's all about white this spring/ summer. And isn't that the most universally flattering color? Whether you're nestled amongst white calico cushions or wearing a white cotton dress, wrapped up in an oversized white bath towel, sleeping in crisp white cotton sheets or smelling of white flowers like gardenias and lilies, white makes you look and feel feminine, flirty and light as the summer air.

The trend has already started in my apartment thanks to a work event this week. I  have a profusion of white flowers in my kitchen and living room.

And I've started to dust off my spring wardrobe. That white suit must be dry cleaned and the DVF top dipped into bleach. I need to add a minimalist Jil Sander white skirt and fingers crossed, a Derek Lam linen dress. This season there is every white dress possible to choose from; sexy, flirty, playful, lace, cotton, silk, bell shaped, hip hugging, long, short, belted or kaftan. Here is a round up of my faves via style.com:

Derek Lam

Derek Lam

Cushnie et Ochs

Alberta Feretti

Alexander Wang

Alexander McQueen

Calvin Klein

Tibi

Chloe

Chloe

Thakoon

Temperley

And in case all white looks too bland, why don't we add a flight of fancy with these incredible Christian Dior  confections? Perfection!

images: shoes: fashionurbia