NYC Apartment Update

I've had this photo saved in my archives for a while now so you can imagine the sheer joy when I found a vintage 1950s sputnik chandelier on an Ebay auction starting at 9.99 when they usually cost thousands.

Then you can also imagine my utter devastation when I forgot about it on my watch list due to this past weekend's celebrations and open up my browser to this screenshot. It sold for a mere $152.  I lost sleep over it. Alan called me stupid for losing sleep over lighting. Do I have a kindred spirit out there?!

On a brighter note, I wanted this gorgeous green over-dyed rug but at $4000 it was about as likely as pigs flying. It does get brighter...

Then I found this hand-knotted, wool, antique Turkish rug, 8 x 10 for less than most people spend on food monthly. Who needs to eat when you have a fabulous rug, right? Kidding! Per Naomi's advice, I think we're going to have it picked up to be over-dyed by a company here in the city. It's more cost effective, believe it or not, and they offer a bajil shades!

Want to see more? You can see a sneak peek of my new (!) custom drapes here and my Duchesses here. More to come!

Weekend Picture Book

This past weekend was Alan's birthday. It was one of those milestone birthdays, but being what I consider to be the easiest person to please in all of the universe, he requested no big parties, only that we do some of his "favorite things." Movies are his "favorite." So we watched four (!), half of them being beyond ridiculous and one of them "Like Crazy," a captivating film about falling in love, that I truly adored. I swear, he picked it!

Happy Birthday, Alan

It's a very special someone's birthday weekend, and I'm taking out lots of time to celebrate. We're keeping it low key, but filling it with lots of "favorite things." I'll be back soon with a report on our shenanigans :) Hope y'all are having an excellent weekend! Bottoms up!

Mint in Marrakesh

Dream a little dream- an outrageously ridiculous kaftan, minty cocktails to go with the marvelous minty mood, exotic, peculiarly interesting guests, and a legendary mixer in Marrakesh not to be forgotten for years to come.

Flirty 50s

Retro style just does it for me, especially the 50s.  I'm eternally inspired by the silhouettes- feminine, flirty, sexy, chic. 50s style is the epitome of what every woman should be.

Fun fashion history side note: During the post-war era of the 1950s, women were transitioning from conservative wartime garb to full and flowing silhouettes, also what came to be known as the era of Christian Dior's iconic "New Look."

{Miranda Kerr for Harper's Bazaar US April 2012 via Fashion Gone Rogue}

252 Lafayette Street (btw Prince & Spring)

Do you adore vintage fashion as much as I do? If so, Amarcord Vintage in SoHo will be the end of you. Think retro-fab Pucci, Schiaparelli, Dior, Gucci, and Missoni to name a few. Hanging on to your pretty pennies in this smashing little shop is like holding your breath for an unnaturally long amount of time- at some point you'll have to exhale! I snuck into the dressing room with a 1970s kaftan by a Spanish designer and hanging behind me a Pucci mini. Are you gasping for breath yet? ;)

Want to see more of "My New York?" Click here!

Weekend Picture Book

It was such a gray weekend in the city but signs of spring are still all around. Half of the trees on our street have sprung forward while the other half are at least thinking about it. This quaint house is across the street from our apartment and is the only one of its kind plopped right in the midst of mundane apartment buildings. I always wonder who lives there as I pass by. Isn't it darling?