anya hindmarch

I enjoyed this article about Anya Hindmarch from the September issue of Vanity Fair. She's one of those really cool people you wish you knew. And I loved this picture.
{image: Simon Upton/The Interior Archive via Vanity Fair}

lulu de kwiatkowski

Love this girl--her style, her fabrics, and her book of collages. There is a nice profile of her (with more pictures of her collages) over on 1stdibs. This collage is about her childhood; mine would probably include ballet shoes, Hello Kitty, and Chef Boyardee. And it would probably be completely made of stickers, as I was quite an avid collector.

fashion week

Get your style.com lookbooks ready, kids, 'cause New York Fashion Week starts Friday. I know my girls will be watching (and by "my girls," I'm talking about two of my all-time favorite style icons, Marina Rust and Aerin Lauder).

why i love ruthie sommers

Not only is she an incredibly talented designer, she also sounds like like an awfully down-to-earth kind of girl. Like this quote, from her profile on 1stdibs: "Sommers practices her mother's daily mantras, which range from modesty (especially when it comes to showing designer labels), to writing thank-you notes and being mindful of the environment. 'I re-use everything I can,' says Sommers. 'That's why I adore antiques--plus, they're green!'"

good genes

Such a lovely outfit, worn by Charlotte Casiraghi. I'm guessing she got those cheekbones from her grandmother.
{image: Richard Young/Rex USA for style.com}

gertrude bell

I think it's sort of funny that I just started reading a book about a woman exploring the desert, and then my air conditioner broke. Nevertheless, I think this title is going to be very interesting. I imagine she slept in wonderful tents, and amassed quite a collection of textiles along the way.
{image: domino, march 2008}

yves saint laurent, 1936-2008

Le Smoking, photographed by Helmut Newton, 1975

Mondrian dress, 1965
{image: The Metropolitan Museum of Art}

with muses Loulou de la Falaise and Betty Catroux, 1978
{image: Guy Marineau for The New York Times}

Without question, the fashion world will never see another genius of this magnitude again.

All in the Family

If the Missoni reincarnation doesn't work out for me, maybe I can join up with the Ferragamos. Not a bad looking bunch. Not to mention the shoe perks. I think I could live happily ever after at their little estate in Tuscany.
{images: Salvatore Ferragamo Fall 2008 RTW at style.com; Harper's Bazaar

In My Next Life

Margherita Missoni (Greg Kessler for style.com)

I think in my next life I will choose to come back as Margherita Missoni. I mean seriously--she's gorgeous, she gets to wear all those amazing clothes, and I've yet to see a compromising picture of her. And I don't want to hear about if you have.
{images: Missoni Fall 2008 Ready to Wear at style.com}

Eames Everywhere

This dress

Gucci dress, Harper's Bazaar, January 2008

reminded me of this fabric

"small dots" by ray and charles eames, 1950

and of course I can't wait for these.


And this made me laugh out loud.

beachbungalow8 via bonjourbruxelles

Everybody Was So Young

One of my favorite biographies is Everybody Was So Young by Amanda Vaill, the story of Sara and Gerald Murphy. Friends with Hemingway, Fitzgerald, and Picasso (just to name a few), they were the epitome of Jazz Age glamour. They entertained at their home on the French Riviera, Villa America, which from the book's description sounds quite wonderful:


To read more, check out these articles from New York Magazine, The New Yorker, and an exhibit at the Williams College Museum of Art.

Live Like Aerin

I love Aerin Lauder. Love her clothes, her hair, her houses, her make-up...I could go on and on. But I won't. So you can imagine how happy I was to read at Fashion Week Daily that she is launching a lifestyle line exclusive to Bergdorf's. The Private Collection Boutique will include everything from Lanvin flats to makeup brushes to candles, and will debut next month. Maybe I should go ahead and book a flight to NYC.

{image: harper's bazaar}

Louise Taylor Turner

My friend Susanna's grandmother, Louise Turner, was a wonderful artist who died in the Orly Air Crash of 1962, along with many civic and cultural leaders of Atlanta. The group was returning from a European museum tour with the Atlanta Art Association (eventually to become the Atlanta Art Alliance, which would administer the High Museum of Art). Mrs. Turner's paintings were those of a woman who truly knew and loved the Deep South and its people.

{images: southeastern color}

Walter Inglis Anderson

While in Ocean Springs, Mississippi for my friend Carrie's wedding, we visited the enchanting Walter Anderson Museum. Born in 1903 in New Orleans, Anderson spent his adulthood capturing the natural splendor of the Gulf Coast. He was prolific with his watercolors, but also devoted much effort to linoleum block prints and murals. Anderson wanted his art to be accessible to all, and his family runs a shop devoted to that purpose. More good information about him here, and the memoir by his wife is an excellent read.

{top image: walter anderson museum}

Alice Waters + Chez Panisse

I am excited to learn that Alice Waters, of Chez Panisse, has written a new cookbook, The Art of Simple Food. Known for her exquisite use of fresh ingredients, she is one of the most important chefs of today. On one our first dates, my husband made her Long-Cooked Broccoli from Chez Panisse Vegetables. I knew if he could make broccoli taste that good, I should probably keep him around.
P.S. The Chez Panisse website sells the wonderful restaurant posters by David Lance Goines.

Isaac Mizrahi's Style Book

That Isaac, what a wacky and wonderfully talented guy. He published two free (or $3 shipping) Style Books, that have since "sold" out. But you can download them both here, and they are definitely worth the loading time. Great articles, and beautiful, beautiful pictures.

Denyse Schmidt + Gee's Bend

I have always loved the quilts of Denyse Schmidt. She creates quilts that don't make me feel itchy and sneezy. Can't help but think that she gets quite a bit of inspiration from the very talented ladies of Gee's Bend, as featured on these 2006 stamps.

{images: top, denyse schmidt; middle, barnes and noble; bottom, usps}