Pretend Art Connoisseur

Every so often, I like to pretend I know something about art/the art world and make my way over to the far reaches of Manhattan known as Chelsea. I make a list of exhibits and galleries I want to visit but always end up wandering into whatever gallery looks cool from the street (yes, I judge these books by their cover). On one of my excursions, I stumbled upon the Eyebeam Art + Technology Center, a venue I knew for its Fashion Week Parties yet housed a completely different theme this time. 

The exhibit I walked into appeared weird peculiar at first until I learned its meaning. It was a traveling exhibit called SURFACE TENSION that brought together designers, artists, scientists and engineers to explore the future of water. Intrigued to further explore the room as I consider myself to be one of those eco-friendly types, I was fascinated by what I saw. Immediately, I was drawn to a waterfall of words created by artist Julius Popp. The installation titled BIT.FALL was a sprinkler releasing drops of water to form words that were being streamed from current news on the internet. I could've stared at the waterfall for hours curious to see what word would come up next or down in this case.

Balenciaga

Prada

Nicholas Kirkwood

Givenchy

Alexander Wang

Back on track I visited a gallery housing a series of fashion photographs originally commissioned for the December 2011 issue of Vogue. Artist Rachel Perry Welty created self-portraits using patterns designed by clothing labels Prada, Balenciaga, Alexander Wang, Nicholas Kirkwood and Givenchy. Each "self" portrait featured the artist covered from head to toe in the print with her face concealed from view. In this fashion face off (no pun intended), my favs were the Prada photo and the Givenchy photo.

 

Further down the road, I discovered the Ameringer McEnery Yohe Gallery and what I can only describe as artistic play dough plates. In actuality these "play dough plates" were clay plates made by artist Polly Apfelbaum. I really gravitated towards each and every plate for their distinctive color and print crazy natures and because I am easily amused by colorful, shiny objects.

Lizzie was one of those girls that would use absolutely any excuse to stop paddling.

Once again owning an exotic pet was proving to be nothing but trouble.

It was so like Patty right idea, wrong execution.

It didn't matter how much overtime was needed. The pancake producers were determined to catch up with their brunch orders before brunch.

422 days without an accident at the chocolate quarry

My favorite exhibit happened to be my last and involved food (go figure). The exhibit "Edible Worlds" by artist Christopher Boffoli took two of my favorite things—food and witty writing and combined them with miniature stick figures immersed in various food dishes. Each image was accompanied by a clever explanation which I shamefully giggled at each time I read one. Naturally this exhibit made me hungry at the end and had me dreaming of my own chocolate quarry. Leaving with the satisfaction that I had filled my culture quota for the day, it was now time to fill my food quota—and I don't have to pretend to know anything about that.

Places of Interest:

Eye Beam

540 W. 21st. St., 212-937-6580

Exhibit ended August 11th

Yancey Richardson Gallery 

535 W. 22nd St., 630-230-9610

Exhibit ended July 6th

Ameringer McEnery Yohe Gallery 

525 W. 22nd St., 212-445-0051 

Exhibit ended July 7th

Recommend Markus Linnenbrink-there were songs before there was radio

starting September 6th

Winston Wachter

530 W. 25th St., 212-255-2718

Exhibit runs through August 24th

The LBJ

The LBD is a staple in fashion. For those of you that have no clue what those three letters mean, they stand for the 'Little Black Dress,' that one timeless frock that works for any occasion. Enter the LBJ or the 'Little Black Jacket.' The latest article of clothing garnering attention thanks to an iconic French brand (and the designer that helms said brand) and one iconic stylist. That brand would be Chanel designed by Karl Lagerfeld and the stylist, also once the Editor-In-Chief of French Vogue, would be Carine Roitfeld.

Originally conceived by Coco Chanel and now modernized by Mr. Lagerfeld, the designer partnered with Carine to compile a book of photographs of celebrities, models, musicians, royalty, tastemakers and trendsetters donning the jacket in stylish variations. From sophisticated to punk to free as the wind, there is an image for every style. He even convinced some species of the opposite sex (i.e. Kanye West) to rock the jacket.

Anna Wintour

Charlotte Casiraghi

Clemence Posey

Elisa Sednaoui

To celebrate the collaboration, an exhibit is traveling the world, and I was lucky enough to pay a visit on the closing day of the New York leg. Tucked deep into Soho in a cement studio space with sliding garage doors, I approached the exhibit in great anticipation. Greeted by two massive portraits of the two leading ladies of fashion—that would be Anna Wintour, American EIC of Vogue and the aforementioned Carine Roitfeld, I was immediately struck with amazement. Each image was cooler (for lack of a better word) than the next, and it was fun to play guess who in the black jacket. I wanted to include all the images I took of the portraits but had to play favorites for the sake of you reading this post. But continue on, because they say you can never have enough of a good thing and that good thing, my friend, is a LBJ.

Julia Restoin-Roitfeld

Leila Bekhti

SJP

Vanessa Paradis

Elizabeth Olsen

Chanel Exhibit

Up Next: Taipei, June 16th through July 8th

The Perks of Being a Blogger

 

I started this blog as a creative outlet for my writing (and to brag about all the cool things I do). I never thought it would lead to an invite to Lulu's Blogger Event during New York Fashion Week.

The WHO was Lulu's, an online boutique featuring emerging and indie designers. The WHAT was a shindig for fashion bloggers to mingle and preview their latest assortment. The WHERE was Open House Gallery in Soho, an event space that sponsors such creative events like Park in Here (an indoor faux park to cure those with seasonal affective disorder) and The Big Cheesy Grilled Cheese Championship (a "cheesy" contest) that occurred last weekend.

As for the entertainment, there was booze, sweet treats and games. Hpnotiq, one of the evening's sponsors, provided creative concoctions using their liquor and a table full of candy and cupcakes. As for the (drinking) game, each attendee got to spin the wheel for a prize. Since I've never been on "Wheel of Fortune," I gave it my all and spun the wheel. The result—a lovely suede jacket with shearling lining from B.B. Dakota. Score!

After my turn at the wheel, I wondered around and discovered a room full of racks with trendy, colorful clothing. I thought I had died and gone to closet heaven. I learned each attendee could take home one article of clothing from one of the four racks. To figure out where to start, a map was provided with a chart of questions leading to one of four styles: Peony Vintage, Rose Sweet Heart, Spider Mum Edgy and Hydrangea Uptown Prep. Of course, I felt I could be any of the four so I quickly surfed the racks making a mental list of my wannabe wardrobe. Luckily I was in the third round so I got to choose rather early and ended up with a mint green, pleated mini-skirt perfect for spring. I left with treats for my tummy and my closet. If these are the perks of writing down my words once in a while—well all I have to say is that I need to start writing more.

Places of Interest:

Open House Gallery, 201 Mulberry St. (between Spring St. & Kenmare St.)

http://www.openhousegallery.org/ 

Lulu's Website

http://www.lulus.com

Love at First Sight

Nothing excites me more than a pop up shop. I love the creativity that transpires from a pop up's circumstances and the sense that if you don't check it out quickly it will be going, going, gone. So when I read about this new pop up shop that acts like a pop up but is permanent, I was intrigued.

St[ ]ry (a play on the word 'story'), prefers to be thought of as a magazine changing merchandise, theme and even the store design every 4 to 6 weeks similar to those glossies that are published monthly. To start things off, 'Love' is the first theme with the store divided into four parts: Love Giving, Love Sweets, Love Him and Love Her. 

 

'Love Giving' is the section for the shopper who loves to spend a buck and feel good doing it. With brands like TOMS shoes and PACT underwear, one's purchase could give a child a pair of shoes or help the environment. I purchased a pair of salmon and fuchsia art deco inspired heart socks made from 100% wind power. 'Love Him' was right off the 'Love Giving' section and housed merchandise such as cuff links, boxers and wallets.

 

'Love Sweets' was naturally my (as well as my sweet tooth's) favorite section. Filled with chocolates of various flavors and concoctions (i.e. bacon flavored chocolate) and brands like Vosages and Dylan's Candy Bar, this section hit a sweet spot during my shopping excursion.

Last but not least is the 'Love Her' section for the ladies. Lingerie, masks and candles fill this boudoir area of the store reminding me of a French mistress's bedroom. Any woman's bedroom wouldn't be complete without a jewelry box of some sorts and this jewelry box was rather large filled with heart themed jewelry and dainty pendants. After I checked out every inch of the store, I was happy that this stretch of the Meatpacking/Chelsea neighborhood had a new interesting retail venture. So go visit St[]ry before it starts its next chapter because as they say, "Love is fleeting."

Places of Interest:
St[]ry, 144 Tenth Ave. (at 19th St.), 212-242-4853
http://astartupstore.com/ 

Christmas Through the Looking Glass

The Ultimate Holiday Party

My Dream Closet...if I Was a Barbie

It's a tradition I look forward to every Christmas. When the season roles around, I head up to the North Pole a.k.a. Midtown to gaze at the windows of the top department stores. First, I paid a visit to Henri Bendel, a New York accessory mecca. It wasn't their one large window that made an impression but rather the four miniature displays depicting the various rooms of a NY apartment. The minute details of each room were what set this seemingly ordinary window display into holiday display worthiness.

Race to the Fashion Line

Ice Ice Baby

Further uptown I headed to the finest department store on the block Bergdorf Goodman. Their windows are always nothing short of intricately detailed and luxurious looking. A window of carousels and gowns and a snow tundra theme were some of my favorites.

Come One, Come All

I Am My Hair

Off to Madison Avenue to check out a pop star's take on "Santa's" workshop. The hip, trendy department store Barneys paired up with the uber popular musician Lady Gaga and her stylist Nicola Formichetti to create Gaga's Workshop. Our first taste of a Gaga Christmas were the four windows each with its own theme. My two favorites were the "Hair" window made completely of wigs and the Gaga constellation window created by the digital agency Q4 where viewers could text in their holiday wishes to appear across the constellation.

Gaga's Version of a Mannequin

Oh Gaga Tree, Oh Gaga Tree

Mother Monster is Now a Spider

One step into Lady Gaga's Holiday Workshop, and I was blown away. Everything from the merchandise to the fixtures screamed (or sang) Gaga. The workshop, taking over an entire floor, was an explosion of color and design.

Not Your Average Display Fixture

Mother Monster Merchandise

Lady Gaga needs to rename her single to "Shop This Way" because the merchandise designed by Gaga and Nicola was addictive and fun to shop. There were Alexander McQueen armadillo shoes in chocolate, nail press on's, snow globes, leather gloves, skull candy heads, ornaments, jewelry and more. We had definitely saved the best holiday event for last. With such an impressive line up this year, not sure how next year can be topped.

Places of Interest:

Henri Bendel, 712 5th Ave. (at 56th St.), 1-800-HBENDEL

http://www.henribendel.com/

Bergdorf Goodman, 754 5th Ave. (at 57th), 1-800-558-1855

http://www.bergdorfgoodman.com/

Barneys, 660 Madison Ave. (at 61st), 212-826-8900

http://www.barneys.com/