Solo, Lochte, & Williams - Vogue US – June 2012

For the June cover of Vogue, Annie Leibovitz captures three top Olympic hopefuls – Hope Solo (women’s soccer), Ryan Lochte (swimming), and Serena Williams (tennis). With Opening Ceremonies of the XXX Olympiad set to begin Friday, July 27th, even Anna Wintour thought it best to bring a touch of what will be on display in London to the pages of Vogue.

Vogue’s go-to girl Karlie Kloss accessorizes with a handful of other Olympians, clad in design gowns, inside the pages of the June issue. However, how do you feel about Ryan Lochte’s presence on the cover? Being only the fourth man to earn the honor (George Clooney, Richard Gere and LeBron James were his predecessors), it certainly stands out from the standard Vogue fare, but it feels a bit like a Sports Illustrated issue.

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Scarlet Johansson – Vogue US May 2012

Promoting her soon to be released movie The Avengers, starlet Scarlet Johansson shines in all of her retro glamour beauty on the May 2012 cover of Vogue captured by Mario Testino. In her interview with Jason Gay (click here to read), Johansson shares the struggle and pain of her divorce from Ryan Reynolds, but beams when she begins to talk about her now blossoming personal life after quite a tumultuous year.

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Happy Birthday Sarah Jessica Parker!

As the style icon and famed actress from Sex and the City rings in her 47th birthday today, I thought what better way than to celebrate Sarah Jessica Parker’s birthday than to watch one of her films.

While it won’t be Sex and the City reruns or either of the movies (which I did enjoy regardless of what critics say), it will be one that I have been anxious to view – I Don’t Know How She Does It. (Update – watched it and loved it. A lovely, simple film that is believable and not full of Hollywood hoopla.)


So raise your cosmopolitans, read your New Yorkers and take a fashion risk to reveal your signature style today in homage to SJP. Here are a few of the style lessons she has taught me over the years. I’d be curious to know what you’ve learned from her style. Do tell.

1. A fabulous heel completes the outfit
2. Wear a fedora
3. Top knots are very chic
4. Have fun with accessories
5. Take a risk, simply wear it with confidence
6. Have fun with fashion

Below are more than 50 of my favorite Sarah Jessica Parker fashion moments via Carrie Bradshaw, Vogue and her fabulous style in general. Enjoy.

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Meryl Streep - Vogue US – January 2012

Go Meryl! With Meryl Streep’s most recent film depicting the life of former Prime Minister of Britain Margaret Thatcher – The Iron Lady – set to be released on January 13, 2012, and the Oscar buzz already swirling for her performance, it is little surprise that Anna Wintour choose the iconic and talented Academy Award winning actress to grace the first cover of 2012 for Vogue.  However, Streep is the oldest (62) model to be on the cover which is reason for even more applause.

Photographed by seasoned veteran Annie Leibovitz, the issue is set to hit newsstands soon and sure to be a cover to provoke great conversation. (View a trailer for The Iron Lady here.)

Rules of Style – Stephanie Winston Wolkoff

Meet a real-life Anne Hathaway’s character in the film The Devil Wear’s Prada. Stephanie Winston (Harry Winston was her grandfather) Wolkoff began working at Vogue in 1998 and for the next 11 years was the director of special events/manager of Public Relations whispering in Anna Wintour’s ear the names of all who were at any special gala. However, last year, she was appointed as the first New York Fashion Week’s Fashion Director (read The New York Times article about what her job entails here.)

With her years of fashion experience, a degree from Loyola University in Communications, manager of Client Services for Sotheby’s before moving on to the pinnacle of all fashion magazines – Vogue, Winston Wolkoff has been well prepared for the trials, last minute demands and society expectations.

Being the mother of three all under the age of nine, she takes to heart one of the most significant lessons Anna Wintour taught her, one can achieve balance between life and work.

And one of the other helpful bits of wisdom from Anna Wintour – follow your instincts - certainly paid off as she has brought the fashion frenzy to the public more than it ever has been before every six months.

Standing at 6’1”, she confidently stands in all of her height along with the heels she decides to wear on any particular day, and I must say, this confidence, this ability to say, yes, here I am, is something that caught my attention.  Below are a few more style rules that Stephanie clearly follows.

(Get to know more about Stephanie here and here and here, as well as here.)

View Your Body in Thirds

No matter how tall you are, view your body as though it were divided into thirds. Tim Gunn’s rule of thumb is to never cut yourself in half, but instead either elongate your legs (as Stephanie does above) or wear a dress that hits you around the knees.

Enjoy Wearing the Dress

In this beautifully stunning navy Vera Wang gown at this past year’s Costume Institute Gala, Winston Wolkoff stated that it was one of the favorite things she has ever worn.

Layers of Black

 

One Piece of Statement Jewelry 

 

Own A Gorgeous Coat

 

Stand Up Tall

 

Find The Balance

 

Diamond Studs

While we can’t all be the granddaughter of “The Jeweler of the Stars”, we can conduct ourselves with similar grace, carriage and the respect of someone who is deserving of great success and happiness because ultimately we all have to make a name for ourselves and our actions really do hold quite a bit of weight.

View more Rules of Style:

*Aerin Lauder Zinterhofer

*Natalie Massenet

*Kate Beckinsale

Images: (3) Source (4) Vorrasi (5) NY Times (6) Source (7) Source (8) Source (9) Source

Tom Ford Is Back

At the age of 49, Tom Ford now prefers to be called Mr. Ford, opposed to simply Tom, and his Spring 2011 collection demonstrates this elegant and proper change. Kept under such tight wraps, only a carefully selected few were invited to view his private show during Fashion Week on September 12th at his Madison Avenue men’s store. In fact, the models where women he introduced as “many of the world’s most inspirational women”, referring to the likes of Lauren Hutton, Rita Wilson, Julianne Moore, Karlie Kloss and many more. Click here to read the entire article about the event written by Sarah Mower.

In December 2010’s issue of Vogue, Tom states that he was inspired by the seventies with all of the softness and textures that are begging to be touched. Photographed by Steven Meisel with models Karen Elson, Stella Tennant and others, Ford reminds us that his designs are about individuality.  With silk blouses, draped necklines, a leopard print sheath, a back-tied silk dress and suede trench, even just his peek is stimulating enough to give him a round of applause.  I can’t wait to see the entire collection.

Click here to view even more of his designs and discover the inspirational women who modeled for him.

Images courtesy of Sandi In The City

A Fashionable Tale

In the July issue of Vogue (Marion Cotillard cover – gorgeous!), Peter Lindbergh photographs Ewan McGregor and Natalia Vodianova in a lavish tale of betrayal by using the fall collections as his muse. I was quickly reminded of the femininity that graced the runways back in February, all of the belts, layers and brilliance from the designers (see my favorite looks).  Follow the story through pictures and see if you can make sense of what is actually going on.

Images courtesy of Oh Fashion Model

A Quick Peek – SJP in Vogue

   
I will happily admit that I am a fan of the lovely Sarah Jessica Parker. While I know she is a bit ubiquitous, I’d much rather have someone of her work ethic gracing the pages of magazines such as Vogue, than someone who  . . .  well, you probably know what I’m getting at.

This week, thanks to the heads up of Heather Clawson of Habitually Chic, Vogue’s May issue will hit newsstands and with it the beginning of the promotion of the upcoming Sex and the City movie (released May 27th). Mario Testino took these photos as well as a handful of others at The Beacon in Jersey City.  Click here to read more about Miss Parker.

All Images Courtesy of Vogue & Just Jared– May 2010 issue

Tea Time!

Recently one of my close friends mentioned she was putting together a tea party for her young daughter’s upcoming birthday and asked if I had any ideas.  I immediately was taken back to when I would go through my box of “dress-up” clothes as a young girl and pretend I was quite the proper high society lady.  I can still remember the pink satin dress, trimmed in flashy silver tinsel-like ribbon.  While it was a hand-me-down-dress from a second hand shop, it meant the world to me.  Goodness gracious, it was a dress after all, and a long, fun-to-touch dress at that.  I felt so beautiful, especially with the long white satin gloves – oh those were my favorite.  There were other dresses that my friends and cousins would wear, but I always snatched this one up first, along with the gloves. 

Now I don’t recall if we ever actually had tea, but we felt we were dressed appropriately for a high tea gathering most certainly.

So what exactly are the essentials when putting together a tea party?  Well, below are a few of my ideas for either adults or children. Have fun perusing and getting lost in lovely nostalgic moments. 

First of all, as I mentioned above, set the tone by dressing for the part as Annie Leibovitz has posed the characters of Alice and Wonderland in Vogue.  Oversized dresses for young girls, mother’s heels and costume jewelry galore, and for grown-ups, why not dress to the nines?

A beautiful photo in Country Living does a fantastic job of demonstrating that fabulous decor doesn’t have to be matchy-matchy. Grab a tablecloth from a thrift shop, along with tea cups that catch your eye.  This way if they break, you haven’t spent an arm and a leg. Oh, and don’t forget to use cloth or linen napkins, all the more seemingly elegant and proper.

As for the food, finger food, finger food, finger food.  Cucumber sandwiches anyone?  The Ultimate Weddings blog posted ideas for a wedding reception that revolved around the theme of a tea party.  Click on their link above and read the article for even more perfect ideas to style, arrange and plan for a tea party on any budget.

And who can forget dessert?  If it were up to me, dessert would be the first course. Cupcakes are a great finger food that allows for creativity, preferences of taste and style that matches the theme.

Even if you don’t live in New York City and can’t stop at the famous Magnolia Bakery, you can create some memories in the kitchen with your helpers as they get to decorate their very own “piece” of dessert.

And to top off an already enjoyable time, purchase some flowers or pick them from the garden to adorn the table.

Hopefully this list covers most of the basics of what will most certainly will be a grand time had by all.  

What are your must-haves at tea gatherings that you’ve attended, either as a child or as an adult?  I would love to hear!

And to to Emily and Sophie, may your high tea be a splendid event! 

Images: (4) ioffer (5)tearex(6) Martha Moments (8) Style Hive (10) duet – weddings (11) image shack

Bravo Jen!

Not long ago, I remember reading in Vogue’s December 2008 issue that Jennifer Aniston was taking on a major remodel of her new home in Beverly Hills.  It seems the great reveal of her finished home has been much anticipated by many and I must admit, I am one of them. Before taking a look at the finished product, I’ve included a few quotes regarding the house from that article:

“ trying to take in the scale of this unusual house; all 10,000 square feet are on one floor, and everything is of a surprising proportion – the rooms, the doors, even the doorknobs are bigger than you’d expect . . .”

“The handles on her office doors are enormous bronze mudras hands from Thailand, ‘I know there’s a meaning to the positioning of the fingers,’ [Aniston] says, ‘and I should know what it is, but these basically are meant to ward off evil spirits.’”

“The house was designed in 1970 by architect Hal Levitt, best known for the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas.”

“What she thought was going to be a four-month project turned into a nearly two-year journey.  She seems to be loving every minute of it.”

“The house itself suggested a decor, one that Aniston hired interior designer Stephen Shadley to help her execute and describes it as ‘combo platter’: Hawaiian lanai meets Balinese Zen palace.”

“'It wanted to have that feeling that when you walked in you were able to throw your feet up and just be peaceful. But I also wanted it to feel . . . sexy.’ [Aniston] narrows her eyes and shakes her hair for comic effect. ‘This is a sexy house!’”

A big thank you to Erin Gates of Element’s of Style for finding these photos of Jennifer’s home.  The photos appear in this March’s issue of Architectural Digest and photos are by Scott Frances for AD.

Let’s see if the descriptions of what was desired are what you had envisioned as you were reading the quotes.

O Magazine  recently was invited to Jen’s home as she hosted a few friends for dinner. Both the picture above and both below are courtesy of this particular article which coincidentally gave a small peek into her home.
“My friends love coming over because they get fed. It’s the best restaurant in town,” says Jen. Click here to read the entire article.



While some people expected the decor to be more feminine and bohemian, I can appreciate the need to stay true to the architectural style of the home with regards to the decor.  To me this house says very straight-forwardly, ‘An adult lives here’ and I like that. There appears a sense of calm and a love of light and the outdoors, and it seems quite clear that the someone who pulled this all together has it all together.  Bravo Jen.