It Started With a Wrap !

Hi.

I have a new found love for Diane Von Furstenberg and her cool self.  She's an art lover, creator, and high on my list of strong, inspiring women.

Always on my radar for her insanely gorgeous fashion sense, use of color and pattern, but after reading her memoir The Woman I Wanted To Be,  she is even higher on my list of strong and inspiring women.  Book No. 2, released just this November  Journey of a Dress, is a fascinating look at over 200 images evolving the dress itself as well as her amazing art collection.  Diane is even hotter right now with the kids, my kids.  Her own show House of DVF is wrapping it up (no pun intended) Sunday night.   Yeah - I've been watching, who an I kidding.  While the girls on the show are driving me nuts - I am loving Diane, which prompted me to get her book.... good read !

"Journey of a Dress" celebrates the 40th Anniversary of the "dress that changed everything." Celebrated last January with an exhibit in Los Angeles 200 mannequins clad in the vintage and contemporary take of the wrap dress. 

I knew she launched her own business in her 20's and in 1974 her jersey knit wrap dress not only became a trend setting style never to lose it's appeal, (some saying it's figure clinging silhouette ushered in women's lib and more sexual freedom) but I learned so much more about her, fascinating stuff.    She doesn't know the meaning of the word dull or even defeated. Even after losing her business in her 30's, a huge comeback in her 50's and now in her 60's she continues to innovate and inspire and the classic wrap will always be in style.

Formerly known as Princess Diane of Furstenberg (Germany) after marrying into the family, she kept the name, yet could not use the title after her divorce in 1972.  Her re-launched fashion company and the re-introduced of her famous wrap dress came in 1997.  She is a global brand offering 4 complete collections each year, available in over 70 countries and by 2014 some 85 retail shops worldwide. Now headquartered in the Meatpacking district in NYC, her brand includes more that wearable fashion, her iconic style can enter your home by way of a gorgeous rug

collaboration with The Rug Company and textiles with Kravet Fabric (my wheel house).  

Being that I had Ms. Von Furstenberg on the brain when I got my Kravet samples in the mail - I started taking a new look at her patterns.  I chose her pattern Climbing Leopard in my Pantone 2015 design board inspiration.  Definitely not for the tame. I love this rug.

All of her patterns and colors are timeless I would say.

Afraid of Python pattern . . . . 

Why?

In love with this Tribal pattern.  As timeless as a wrap dress.

The Kravet launch was in May.  Textiles and trims showcasing her love of pattern and color, much like her memorable fashion look.  Take a look at my favorites in the collection (all available at our showroom).

DVF's NY home office is filled with inspiration, I had no doubt,, and I can relate - without maybe the view! A room filled with color, texture, pattern, inspiration and history.  Personal and enveloping.  I am guilty of filling my office with the same and it just helps me that much more in finding inspiration, while being comfortable !  Shot for AD, take a look.

image via AD

She moved in her West Village location in 2008.  My favorite part of town and often where I stay.  This past fall we were around the corner at the Dream and on mine and Kate early morning walk she noticed DVF right away...  On Washington Street between 13th and 14th Avenue, it draws you in with it sleek styling.  Roof top I know the view of the High Line is gorgeous!

photos by elizabeth felicella

So, House of DVF  - while full of ridiculous, inexperienced, 20-something females plagued with a sense of entitlement that make me cringe, Diane is the one to watch and I have been sucked into all of it.  The finale is tomorrow night where a 20-something Brand Ambassador will be chosen.  My hope is that one of these 3 remaining women will eventually has the polish, talent and style one should have to be included in Diane's house !

Can you tell it's a cold, rainy Saturday... all my installs are done for Christmas and I haven't moved from my spot by the fireplace.  Reading and surfing and begging the kids to bring me more tea ! Thank goodness all the shopping and wrapping is D O N E.

Holidays are beginning.

The Resurgence of the Chesterfield

Hi again . . .

I say "resurgence," though the Chesterfield style sofa has been around forever, you may just have only seen or thought of them in those manly offices out there.

Modern to industrial to traditional, the Chesterfield sofa is back, and I love it.  The richly detailed diamond tufted upholstery and rolled arms are it's most distinguishing features.  Many credit the Earl of Chesterfield who commission a cabinet maker to design an elegant yet masculine piece and it became a sought after style for most of the early 19th century, becoming symbolic to British aristocracy and wealth.

I have long loved the iconic style and my desire for one came about when I paid a visit to the show room of The Rug Company in Manhattan earlier this year.  Here's were it all started for me . . . can you say yum.... (now only to snag that peacock feather rug . . it's a beauty)

So as a Christmas present to myself . . it sits and is often fought over by all of us, deep enough for two nappers and quite the focal point.

Take a look at all the other rooms I have saved on my Pinterest boards to draw inspiration from and take a good look at how a Chesterfield doesn't have to be office boring !!

Think about it, or just give me a call, be happy to find the perfect fabric and order you one too.

Dear Diary . . . {Chapter One}

I left Charlotte on Saturday the 19th for a six day - jammed packed trip to the Big City.  With Ashley in toe, I landed at JFK and quickly arrived on the West Side, compliments of a great client offering up his apartment for the weekend (thanks Dan!)  Love Riverside and TriBeca and the view on the 39th floor was amazing, Miss Liberty was -a- waving!

Lunch was in order and have to say - the Seafood Cobb at Sarabeth's on Greenwich blew me away, you must try it !

We came to Manhattan for the NY Contemporary Show (and I stayed for BlogFest 2012 - which was pretty great -  with more on that to come) . .  but on Day One  it was all about finding new inspiration at a few new and old (favorite) places.  

We checked out "Room"

photo by Andrew Karcie for  New York Magazine

 25 North Moore

New York

NY

10013

Their showroom is very upscale, minimalist and as quoted by New York Shopping "the style you see in Elle Decor."  Knowing what was to come at BlogFest, I was intrigued !

Their pieces can be customized right across the bridge.  Unique, interesting, simple and excellent quality.
I love the idea of the floating desk above with metal wall back and shelves.  Check out this light fixture!
It reminds me of a big ruby ring and I would love in my tiny but tall powder room !

Beautiful things to be had at Room

I always love to just wander when I'm in the city.  "Window" shopping is one of my favorite things to do, we started heading towards Soho from the West Side.

How about a little Kate Spade

I love the pink and red, but the black is what makes it pop (Note to self:  Get a hold of Kate and see if she will make this paper available !!)

Animal print is here to forever stay.

How about a little Prada

I love the pattern on pattern (Note to self:  bright tribal pattern on a pair of chairs)

How about a little Juicy Couture

So JC is a too young for me, I love their store on 5th.  Always love to check out the windows and interior decor.  I am loving the Palm stencil in black and white, (Note to self:  great as a off center graphic wall application)

JC's stairwell on the corner of 52nd and 5th (Note to self:  how about a large scale "city" scape in a stairwell... hum...)

Also love all the frames in that stairwell.  Start collecting.

Ok.. so on this trip H&M was more in my budget ! - let's call it the "hi - low clothing project"

Destination stop . .  one of my favorite vendors, The Rug Company.  It's been a while since I saw their new showroom and wanted Ashley to see . . so we stopped by

lucky for us we timed it right and ran into our rep Courtney Logan.

Take a look at a few of my pics !

and a few from a pro !

photo by Heather Clawson for Habitually Chic and The Rug Company

Their showroom is amazing !!! Love the space
Courtney came by our place recently at  Lucy and Company and showed us these great new dhurrie samples . . .  think The Rug Company is out of your price range. . . think again.  Some of these patterns and colors are quite affordable with a faster lead time.

. . . .  Courtney also showed us this amazing video . .
Want to really see  the workmanship behind your investment  - this will do it!  Worth every penny if you ask me.  The floor is your 5th wall don't forget, just beautiful.

These tear sheets are a few of my all time favorites.

The Rug Company is an amazing source with one of a kind patterns brought to you my many of your favorite designers, just to name a few. . 

Alexander McQueen

Vivian Westwood

Susan Sharp

Sue Timmey

Paul Smith

Kelly Wearstler

Martyn Lawrence-Bullard

Allegra Hicks

Nina Campbell

Check them out at The Rug Company and we will also be happy to source for you.

After that eye candy, we headed uptown to 5th - I always like to check out the Bergdorf windows, and low and behold . .  a little more Prada.  Dazzling Flame Shoes from the Spring 2012 Collection.

The story on the windows, in case you are wondering . . . as interpreted by Vogue Daily and moi . . . 

Bergdorf's senior director of visual presentation, David Hoey and Linda Fargo used the word "Conversation" as inspiration for their windows.  Bergdorf's trademark whimsy was a perfect match for the The Costume Institutes Spring 2012 Collection, entitled "Schiaparelli and Prada:Impossible Conversations,"  which visits the connection between two iconic designers Madame Schiaparelli and Miuccia Prada.   The windows hope to spark a "tantalizing teaser" says Fargo, to encourage people to take a few extra steps down to the MET.

Then headed back downtown.

A quick last stop at the Chelsea Market near all that great shopping on 14th street.  Fresh food and great architectural detail !  I love strolling the market.

It was a long, but fun day of getting ready for the week ahead.

Stay tuned for Part Two, The Contemporary Show !