I am very fortunate to have the Printery, the century-old bespoke stationery company owned by my friends Bill and Mary Miller, in my back yard. Tucked away in Oyster Bay, NY, and housed in an 18th century building with sloping floors, the shop is jam packed with gorgeous papers and cards. Granted you can find their products in numerous stores and online, but the experience of sitting with Bill and choosing the perfect card or scratch pad is memorable. The Printery is my first stop for hostess gifts which I need in abundance this time of the year.
The perfect holiday note card
Gorgeous bespoke stationery
Great hostess gift
What's New
Belted leather biker jacket
Triple Francois 18kt gold vermeil earrings
Jimmy Leather Puffer Jacket
Le 57 quilted leather shoulder bag
Blade velvet slingback pumps
Logo-embellished leather loafers
Crocheted Cotton-Blend Midi Skirt
Katrin Sigurdardottir installation at the Met
My favorite permanent exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum in NYC is the 18th century French period rooms from the Hotel de Crillon and the Hotel de Cabris. I love the gilt and panelling and snugness of the Crillon room especially (below). Last week the Met unveiled a new exhibition entitled Boiseries by the Iclandic artist Katrin Sigurdardottir. Boiseries is comprised of two site-specific full-scale installations based on the French period rooms I so love.
Hotel de Crillon period room at the Metropolitan Museum
Katrin Sigurdardottir at the Met
October 19, 2010–March 6, 2011
Lila Acheson Wallace Wing, Mezzanine Galleries
Natalie and her girls courtesy of American Vogue
Recently over dinner I asked Natalie to name a few of her favorite things to share with our readers- enjoy!
- Porsche Targa in black
- Cartier Balon Bleu watch
- Recent film “A Man and a Woman”
- Musk Oil by Kiehls
- Personal stationery by Smythson
- Diptyque candles
- Present from her husband- diamond tennis bracelet
- Lunch spot in London- Scott’s
- Eve Lom TLC Moisturizer
- Prefers heels to a wedge
- Globe Trotter luggage
- House present- personalized trays
- Smart Car
- Vacation spots- weekends at her country cottage and Ibiza
- Bowery Hotel NYC
- Favorite non work activity- sleep!
Natalie is the founder of Net-a-porter.com and is currently working on Mr. Porter, an eagerly awaited men’s site.
Julia Glass is profiled in my boarding school alumni newsletter. I have not read any of her books but this one looks good and got a great review. I will let you know!
Valentino
I only wanted a few things this fall but the Stella dress was too short and the Lanvin boots were just not right. I love Celine in theory but not on me. As I packed my girls off to school and paid the riding bills from summer (painful) I was ok with a purchase-free fall. But then I saw these shoes in the Valentino shop window on Madison and could not resist!
Valentino Spring 2011
Just when I was starting to think that the only collection I loved was Derek Lam, along came Valentino. I actually own quite a bit of Valentino, but nothing recent. So this collection makes me very happy indeed!
Valentino Spring 2011
Faye Dunaway in Network
Arthur Penn the director of Bonnie and Clyde just died and this got me thinking about Faye Dunaway. I googled her and up popped the most incredibly modern images. Camel is certainly not new but it does look fresh this season just as it did on Dunaway in Network and The Thomas Crown Affair.
Faye Dunaway in The Thomas Crown Affair
Dean in his studio
My friend Dean Harris is an extraordinary jeweler and it is no surprise that he has been invited to participate in the Accessories Bazaar that Harper’s Bazaar is hosting next week. The two day event, September 15 & 16, will showcase some of the best jewelry designers today and is open to fashion week attendees. Over the past 10 years Dean’s jewelry has been on the cover of 24 U.S. and International magazines, but Harper’s Bazaar was his first thanks to the fabulous Brana Wolf.
Continue…
Newport party pics from the New York Times
I always scan these pages looking for friends (Sherri Grace in her amazing purple gown, circled). Personally, I am not a big party person. I am such an early riser that I am really not much fun nor very interesting after 9pm and this may be why my “new” floor length evening gown still has the tags on it (it is two years old).
I am always stumped as to why the magazines devote so much coverage to evening wear. However, as this page illustrates, more women are buying and wearing it than just celebs on the red carpet. I love how the guests are so happy and colorful and there are very few black dresses. Makes me want to rip the tags off my dress, take an afternoon nap and go to a ball!
An article from the Vogue November 2007 issue written by Mark Holgate
I did a bit of browsing yesterday at Barneys, Bergdorf Goodman and Jeffrey. The big question for me re. fall clothes is, do I actually need anything? No, not really. Just one look in my fashion diary and I can quickly confirm that I need very little (grey wool trousers and black leggings are on my list).
Wanting something new is a different matter that I am wrestling with, especially after I watched Six Items or Less on The New York Times .com and read in WWD about the new frugality and consumers wanting less. The adage that we wear 20% of our clothes 80% of the time definitely applies to me and gives me pause when I consider adding to my wardrobe. Would I restrict myself to 6 pieces of clothing for a month? Not intentionally. But there is something about the concept that strikes a chord. The take-away is that I want to create a simple wardrobe consisting of my go-to favorites and plan to shop accordingly.
The above story from the November 2007 issue of Vogue was written by Mark Holgate who must have been prescient since it ran moments before the downturn. The ironic timing aside, I love that the stylist Aleksandra Woroniecka above wears just a few pieces- but the few pieces are great and timeless. Here we are 3 years later and I would love to own everything on her rack; the perfect simple wardrobe!
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