“I have a saying–It’s chic to repeat,” said Jean Shafiroff as she addressed the crowd at the Michael Kors store at 790 Madison Avenue last night. As the “Humanitarian with Heart” honoree at the upcoming 20th Anniversary Hamptons Heart Ball (June 25) to benefit the American Heart Association, as well as a sponsor of this and many other worthy causes, Jean is known as much for looking good as for doing good.

“If you invest in one of his dresses I’m sure that Michael Kors wouldn’t want you to only wear it once” she explained while encouraging everyone to shop that from now until May 30, in this store only, 20% of all proceeds will be donated if you mention the AHA.

The scene

Jean also recounted the story of how her recently deceased father lived until the age of 94 even though he had suffered a heart attack when he was quite young. Crediting the great medical care that he received at St. Francis Hospital on Long Island  as well as his dedication to a strict but healthy diet, Jean told how her father was able to enjoy a long, full life.

Jean Shafiroff, Andrea Warshaw Wernick, Nicole Noonan, Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin, Randi Schatz

The Hamptons Heart Ball will be held at Hayground School in Bridgehampton. Dr. Frank Spencer, Professor of Surgery at NYUL Medical Center will be the recipient of the Distinguished Service Award. Chief Weather Caster Lonnie Quinn of CBS-TV news will serve as emcee. Now that she had gotten all that out of the way, Ms. Jean went into the dressing room to change from the MK dress she rode in on — complete with matching leather elbow length gloves — to another special MK dress: one that she had donned with Colin Firth during an event for “The Kings Speech.” She thanked Michael Kors and admitted that the dress had photographed very well.

“I’ll never wash this since Colin Firth touched it,” she remarked coquettishly. Then she posed on the stairs, first alone and then with the events co-chairs Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin, Nicole Noonan, Randi Schatz and Tracy Stern who also changed from a long navy dress with midriff baring cutouts and metal rings to a amazing metallic Kors jumpsuit.

The room soon filled with the usual suspects including R. Couri Hay, Adele Nino, Rosemary Ponzo, Lucia Hwong Gordon, Chiu-Ti Jansen, Montgomery Frazier, Ben Mindich and many others.  Photos were taken early and often.  Each time another individual joined the party it called for another round of snaps making the permutations seemingly endless.

For more information or to buy tickets to the Hamptons Heart Ball, visit Hamptonsheartball.heart.org

Victor de Souza Beauty Launch

While I always like an uptown event for its convenience factor, I definitely feel more adventurous, younger, hipper at a downtown event. I recently attended a beauty launch for Victor de Souza’s new line of lipsticks at Osswald NYC Parfumerie & Luxury Skin Care Boutique at 311 West Broadway. Victor has always had an interest in beauty and has worked with some of the top makeup artists in the world including Kabuki, Francois Nars as well as Dustin Lujan who he partners with here. In addition, both of Victor’s sisters are skilled makeup artists and his father was one of the top chemists in Argentina making this foray into cosmetics a natural for him.

Victor de Souza & friend

Once Lujan and DeSouza’s new formula called Hyla-Bubble was created (it traps Hyaluronic acid in micro-bubbles allowing a replenishing of moisture upon pressing the lips together), Dustin and Victor turned to finding the perfect packaging. Inspired by Max Factor’s 1920’s smooth, weighty metal casing with a modern day twist of a metal spike on top resembling a chess piece, the product will make quite a strong and interesting statement on your makeup vanity or in your bag as well as when you apply it.

The lipsticks include three different formulas including Prismatic lipstick for extra moisture and shine; Satin lipstick for the most sensitive lips and Matte lipstick in a moisture intense formula. All formulas are matched to the appropriate color (ranging from nudes to a bright fuchsia to a dark burgundy), and are named after cult films such as Liquid Sky, Doom Generation, Stage Freight, Mysterious Skin, Female Trouble, The Hunger, and Raspberry Reich.

The scene

Real women are used in the advertising including two students, a blogger, an actress, a media strategist, a visual artist and an interaction designer for Google. At the event, banners of the women hung in the space as well as graced the lipstick display stands. I spoke with Katy Bychkova, one of the models who has her own blog: Stylesprinter.com and guess what we talked about? You guessed it: makeup!

The event was well attended by notables such as Hungarian Ambassador Katalin Bogyay and her husband Dr. Tamas Lorinczy, Tanja Dreiding Wallace, Lee Fryd, Ruben Farjado of Harper’s Bazaar, Mike Stefanov of Esquire, as well as a few of the same guests as the uptown Michael Kors event including Tracy Stern and Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin. On another night there probably would have been more attendees from uptown but Jean Shafiroff was hosting a competing charity event at the same time. Now if these women could just figure out how to be in two places at the same time. I’m sure they would love that especially if it enabled them to wear two different outfits simultaneously!

For information on Victor de Souza Beauty, visit Victordesouzany.com, Osswaldnyc.com or call 212-615-3111

– Laurel Marcus

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Are you planning a shopping trip to Paris? Do you admire the style of iconic Parisienne Ines de la Fressange? Do you wish she could give you the 411 on where the fashion insiders shop, dine and stay in the “City of Lights”? The aristocratic 1980’s runway model and former face of Chanel (who returned to the runway for the Chanel Spring 2011 show at age 53 and starred in a L’Oreal campaign) aims to do just that with her new book “Parisian Chic City Guide” co-written with Elle fashion journalist Sophie Gachet.

This pocket diary-sized soft back, whose cover is designed to look like a passport, is intended as a follow up to her 2011 best-seller “Parisian Chic” which included style tips and an abbreviated shopping guide. The City Guide has a few adorable accoutrements including a “Gallic” colored elastic closure, ribbon marker and an expandable pocket for billets, receipts or n’importe quoi.

Ines de la Fressange © Alessandra d’Urso/Flammarion 2015

In the brief author’s note, Ines mentions that she is constantly receiving text messages from friends asking her where to buy the perfect dress; furniture for a new apartment; or where to dine near Saint-Germains-des-Pres. “I told them all about Google, but apparently, it’s no match for me!” writes Ines. “I published Parisian Chic in 2011, which included some of my favorite addresses, and that satisfied them for a little while. But soon enough they were clamoring for more. Which prompted me to write this city guide, full of all the new places I’ve discovered since then. I’ll be thrilled if it helps you out, too”

Click map for much larger view

With a “Vive Paris!” she launches in with sections by locations or arrondissements. There are stores that contain classic wardrobe staples (what a true Parisienne relies on) as well as one-of-a-kind boutiques for items (mostly custom made) that you won’t find elsewhere. There are a large array of jewelers, handbag designers (again lots of custom work in these two categories), florists, home decor both vintage and new, stationers, restaurants, patisseries, (I want to say butchers, bakers, candlestick makers), hotels and more.

Of course, I mustn’t neglect to mention that Ines has her own store/brand which she recently relaunched called Ines de la Fressange Paris, and, no surprise here, she strongly advises you to check it out. Each store has a page or two which lists the following: “Why go?,” “The must-have,” and “say it like La Parisienne.” She touts her store as “a cross between a fantasy department store and a sundries emporium.” The “must-have” is “everything” and “people come from all over Paris for the olive oil we sell.” As for what does La Parisienne say?: “I went in to get a pencil sharpener and ended up ordering a full-length gown from the design studio.” Ahahahaha…

Interior of Ines de la Fressange Paris store © Dominique Maître, from Parisian Chic City Guide (Flammarion, 2015).

As far as how exciting many of these boutiques really are, il est tres difficile de savoir as their online presence (when there is one) does not look particularly interesting. It should probably be noted that, while Ines, even at age 58 and sans visible age intervention, still retains incredible stature (she’s 5’11”), legs for days, great hair, and a terrific smile. As far as her iconic “French style,” she could literally wear the proverbial burlap sack (probably cinched with a great belt) and she’d still look “incroyable”.

As a brand ambassador for Roger Vivier as well as a designer of a line for UNIQLO (her Spring 2016 is due out Jan. 21) featuring the classics (Safari, Sports, and the sea faring Bleu Marine) in classic colors which are her trademark) she is one femme occupee. If I had to name a few stylish French women of her genre I would mention the late Loulou de la Falaise and fellow UNIQLO designer Carine Roitfeld. Just to show how integral Ines is to the French, she was, from 1989 to 2000, the face of Marianne, the official symbol of the country.

Parisian Chic City Guide (176 pages with 200 color illustrations) is due out on February 2 through Flammarion (distributed by Rizzoli through Random House) and can be pre-ordered on Amazon.It would make a good gift for a stylish friend who is lucky enough to be “April in Paris” bound (or any other month for that matter).

-Laurel Marcus

The post “In With Ines: A Chic Parisian Guide” appeared first on lookonline.

I’m a bit late to the party (that expression probably needs to go) however I’ve just become aware of the varied lists of banned words, phrases and expressions for 2016. It seems that every year, Lake Superior State University (LSSU), The BBC, New York Magazine and Time Magazine come up with an inventory of misused, overused, useless or otherwise ridiculous words which they feel have outlived (or perhaps never had) any real purpose.

You can see the lists HERE and HERE  I’d like to propose my own fashion and celeb inspired list to say “Bye, Felicia” to in 2016. They appear in no particular order.

Giuseppe Zanotti Sick shoes Resort 2016

SICK and it’s cousin ILL–as applied to an article of clothing (as in “Those Giuseppe Zanottis are sick!” or “Look at the ill skulls on the McQueen sunglasses.” These words have had a good run in the fashion vernacular. Time to substitute something like “That’s a healthy Prada coat!”

Rachel Zoe

DEAD, DYING, SLAY–These words make some sense coming on the heels of SICK and ILL. I’m holding Rachel (“I DIE!”) Zoe responsible for their prevalence. How about some other “killing it” words to take their place. I propose something like “Did you see her in those Gucci culottes? She absolutely destroyed it!” Interestingly, a search for “to kill” synonyms produced no less than 45. Conversely, the phrase “life giving” (the expression “Giving me life” meaning bringing me joy is on a few lists to be “rubbed out”) has notably fewer synonyms. What does that say about our culture?

Back to Basics

BASIC— Generally used as a sartorial insult to indicate someone wearing something boring as in “She’s a basic bitch.” I guess this would include those still into Normcore.

The Material Bitch

BITCH–This is a “problematic” word (see LSSU list). Co-opted by the gay community and brought to the mainstream in song titles by Britney Spears and Rihanna who actually took it gender neutral in “BBHMM,” my complaint is that most of the “bitchiness” previously inherent in this word has been defused. I do enjoy it in acronym form (definition: a “bossy woman”) as here: “In light of recent news that Madonna’s son Rocco is asking to live with his father in London full time, we can perhaps assume that the long held rumors surrounding Madge are true and that she is very much the HBIC whether on tour or at home.”

DOPE–Just another rapper-influenced word serving pretty much the same function as cool/hip/chic. It can be applied to an article of clothing, an overall look, a song, movie, or dare to dream, a book. I tend to see it used in its superlative form as in “She’s the dopest girl” (Tyga describing Kylie Jenner). Across the pond and when used by the more posh, the term, ironically, for a fashionable look would be “smart.”

RiRi is always On Fleek

ON FLEEK–Previously banned for 2015 on the LSSU list along with TURNT and YAASSSS. I’m just confused as to why we need an expression that really only seems to apply to eyebrows  resembling Cara Delevingne’s. According to some, an outfit can also be “on fleek,” SO (LSSU banned word alert) why not just use the already prevalent “on point.”

AF–An acronym for “As F..k” I’ll admit to using this one early and often but it probably needs to go. Usage: “That vintage limited edition Chanel bag is dope AF!”

Wynona Ryder’s First Ever Beauty Ad

INSPO–Abbreviation for inspiration. The problem is how it has become so overused in the fashion world. “Winona Ryder’s Marc Jacobs Beauty ad is my new makeup Inspo.”

Lady Gaga in a Game Changing Dress

GAME CHANGING— This one bugs me due to its non-stop use in the fashion and beauty media. A new under-eye concealer may do the trick but unless you’re in your fifties and you were just carded, it’s not game changing.

Bye Felicia!

BYE, FELICIA!–Apparently this came from the 20-year-old movie “Friday” and was uttered in order to dismiss an annoying or irrelevant person (See definition).  It’s recently been resurrected into the current vernacular due to a VH-1 TV show with the same name. I’m sure many wish to say “Bye Felicia” to the Kardashians.

Nobody Needs a Birkin

NEED–The fact that this last word, arrived in three separate fashion emails one morning this week actually floored me. “Sorry, not sorry” The Outnet where they’re bold enough to send this missive: “You NEED to see these New Pieces By Iris & Ink–We’re In Love.” Bergdorf Goodman aimed to enlighten me with “What You Need This Month.” Vogue.com sent this helpful, if borderline passive/aggressive message: “The Only Beauty Products You Need For 2016.” We are all familiar with/may even be one of the fashion Instagrammers who showcase a variety of hot off the designer’s showroom items with the caption: “NEED!” I get that you have a desire to possess this item however, you probably don’t require it to sustain your life — just sayin’ — WANT is probably the better word.

Whether or not you agree with my list or any of the others just remember, in the immortal words of the BeeGees “It’s Only Words.” 

Laurel Marcus

The post My 2016 Banned Words: Fashion and Celebrity Edition appeared first on lookonline.

Question: What did the coat check attendant at the New York Botanical Garden Winter Wonderland Ball have in common with the Maytag repairman? Answer: Neither one was needed last night. As a result of  the balmy early fall-ish weather we’re currently enjoying, most guests did not bother with coats.

Jennifer Wright, Daniel Kibblesmith

Of the three times I’ve attended this event — the crowning glory of the fall social calendar aka the last hurrah before everyone heads off to their second, third or fourth homes in beach or ski locales– this time was the most surreal as the only snow to be seen was the fake kind placed in the corners of the dinner tent.

Interestingly, this may have been the most “fashion-y” of the three times I’ve attended with so many designer/muse duos bringing their “A” game. Whatever was lacking in holiday appropriate weather (and believe me I’m not complaining!) was more than made up for with the beauty of the scenery and the glorious and creative fashions.

Selita Ebanks

I love that both men and women really seem to make an effort for this ball, which has a suggested color scheme of black and winter white every year. Indeed there are many who follow the “dress code” and probably just as many who go all peacock coexisting peacefully in one venue.

Georgina Bloomberg

The event which raises money for children’s educational programs at the Gardens was sponsored this year by Herve Leger, HFZ Capitol Group, Van Cleef & Arpels with additional support from Glamour Magazine. Several women donned Leger long bandage dresses including Georgina Bloomberg, an event chair, in a gold metallic iteration.

Maggie Norris, Nicole DiCocco, Joy Marks

A striking threesome posing by the 3-D holiday train tableau was designer Maggie Norris wearing one of her signature military styles in long form along with Joy Marks in an eye-catching “Marie Antoinette meets Little Bo-Peep” get-up including a floral headpiece avec l’oiseau yet missing a shepherd’s crook. I’m suddenly having flashbacks to the Sex and The City Movie scene when Big stands Carrie up at their wedding. Afterwards she realizes she may have gotten “carried away” (ha)scaring him with the over the top wedding accoutrements . “I put a bird on my head!” she admits.

Left: Alexandra Lebenthal

Anyway, back at the Ball they are joined by Nicole DiCocco in a white vintage “wedding gown” as she says her father called it, paired with a stunning fur and fabric bolero jacket. When she found the gown in a store in Palm Beach it needed absolutely no alterations. She quips that she’s all set should a marriage be in her future.

Dr. Susan Krysiewicz, Kim Hicks

Also in furry winter white were the dynamic duo of Dr. Susan Krysiewicz and her designer friend Kim Hicks. These two always come dressed to impress at the NYBG events as I realized that we often feature them. Hicks designed both of their fabulous white fluffy outfits and Dr. Susan stopped to show me her ivory mink pompom heels. Although she is a physician IRL (not just playing one on TV –wink) in her off time she is a bona fide fashionista who really enjoys getting dressed up for an event such as this. Designer Kim mentions that she’s currently working on adding creative and colorful furs– she sources the pricey pelts in Paris (say that three times fast)– into her line.

Jean Shafiroff in a Victor de Souza gown

Of course no social event of this magnitude would be complete without Philanthropist Jean Shafiroff who, although she is on the petite side, can always be guaranteed to have the biggest dress in the room. This one needs its own zip code! Accompanying both the dress and Ms. Shafiroff is its designer Victor de Souza, in a fetching metallic mint green suit,

Victor de Souza speaking with Alexandra Lebenthal

Jean somehow commandeers this magnificent Gone With the Wind frock to front and center as if she wears huge ballgowns every night–oh, that’s right– she does. VdS has outdone himself in this masterpiece which he worked on in stages. It didn’t get “inflated” until the last minute–somewhere there’s an entirely empty crinoline factory. Ms. Shafiroff who is working on a book about philanthropy to be published in February tells me that she is channeling Audrey Hepburn with the length of her white gloves which stop at the elbow rather than above it. Ok, maybe with the gloves but that dress is as far from a simple LBD as you can get!

Ana Arsov, Jasmina Denner & Nicole DiCocco

The crowd is a mix of well-heeled (and obviously well clothed) Millennials as well as those not quite Old Guard but certainly aged enough to be their aunties, uncles or dare I say it, moms and dads.

“Although technically it’s not, this really is a fashion event” remarks Ms. Shafiroff as dinner is called.

As I walk towards the exit, I overhear a man in a black and white patterned dinner jacket telling what must be a couple of “event newbies” that once you attend the Winter Wonderland Ball, you will be always come back. A well put testament to how even sans the-Yule-like weather, this event retains its charm.

– Laurel Marcus

The post NYBG Winter Wonderland Ball Warmly Celebrates the Season appeared first on lookonline.

Chances are that if you’re a reader of any kind of magazine or internet content you’ve come across the seemingly friendly but possibly deadly listicle. A portmanteau of “list” and “article” (not related to a male body part) these annoying little bugaboos have become an industry-wide epidemic. Glance at any or all of the covers of women’s fashion magazines and you will see them in their glory bearing titles from the innocuous: “165 Best Beauty Buys,” or “20 Most Googled Style Questions Answered” to the slightly more insistent: “89 Brilliant Ways to Step Up Your Style,” “The 11 Nail Polishes You Need to Try This Winter” “10 Fresh Ways to Spring Clean” to the downright offensive albeit hilarious:: “5 Ways to Get What You Want Under the Tree & In Love” or “27 Amazing Reasons It’s Great to Be A Woman” (did Caitlyn Jenner write that one? ha). Some are truly cringe worthy as in “52 Holy S*it Sex Moves.” By the time I got to “382 Shoes That Scream Buy Me” I felt more than a little violated.

Of course this is not really anything new; lists are in our DNA. When it comes right down to it, what are The Ten Commandments but a list. Centuries later phenomena such as Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People, Forbes and Fortune’s 500 lists, and People Magazine’s 100 Most Beautiful People have just signaled a downward continuance of the trend.

And those lists were popular and begot more bite sized lists like People’s 25 Most Intriguing. Time Magazine broke it down still further to “7 Things the Most Interesting People All Have in Common.” There’s even a book by well renowned Italian novelist, medievalist, semiotician, philosopher and literary critic Umberto Eco called “The Infinity of Lists: An Illustrated Essay ” which is basically a very high-brow compilation of lists.

Naturally all bets were off once the internet seized on this arena. It wasn’t long before writers and editors decided to spawn devil children: listicles were at once popular and easy to produce. What’s more they could tie advertising to them known as “click bait” and score on all fronts. Entire websites sprung up (I won’t name any names here but to paraphrase Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart, we all “know it when we see it”) solely for the dubious purpose of seeing how many clicks they could get, how little unique content/effort they could put forth and how many ads they could link to.

This in turn set up the situation that one is now likely to encounter online which could be termed “49 Stupid Things I Compiled 5 Minutes Ago Under a Loose Heading To Make it Seem Like I have Something Original to Say.” Apparently there have been studies indicating that there’s a science to using the most appealing numbers (10, 15, 21 or 25 are goodies) with odd or prime numbers statistically receiving the most clicks. Indeed the whole concept is driven by an overload of info in the modern age; our fast pace and collective ADD sparking the need for easily digestible content. It’s been stated that readers enjoy knowing how long an article is before investing their valuable time, hence the act of assigning a number to the covered points or featured products is tantamount. Some sites have gone a step further with search engine optimization, meaning that their “writers” deliberately attempt to use words that rank higher on Google and other search engines; a concept at once fascinating and propagandizing.

Since I know nothing whatsoever of the actual “art” of writing a listicle having never done so, and have no idea what the optimal words are, I thought it would be fun to brainstorm or suggest titles since that is what initially draws you into their spider’s web.

Apropos to the holiday season I propose: “Ho-Ho-Ho or No-No-No–15 Ways You’re Unintentionally Slut Shaming Your Bestie” Along that same thread: “12 Holiday Sweaters Guaranteed Not to Get You Laid”

For 2016: “61 Style Resolutions Only Rihanna Could Nail” Or maybe “7 Things That You Never Want to Find at the Bottom of Your Handbag” (Obvious choices would be a Popsicle or a rodent)

For the celebrity obsessed: “5 Pop Stars Who Actually Sing Live “ (although I bet that’s been done if there are that many).

“21 Actors Interviewed on Location: 3 of Them Totally Knew Where They Were.”

For the art enthusiast: “35 Most Iconic Fashion Photos Taken In or Around Kidney Shaped Swimming Pools” or “11 Superfluous Mentions of Art at Art Basel”

Lastly, a meta example: “9 Randomly Invented Listicle Titles That Are Almost as Absurd as Real Ones”

– Laurel Marcus

The post Decoding the Mystical Listicle appeared first on lookonline.

“Am I willing to lose my dignity, wisdom and self respect for another chance at my twenties?” Liza Miller (played by Broadway star Sutton Foster) a 40-year-old divorced New Jersey housewife and mother to an 18-year-old daughter, asks her best friend Maggie (Debi Mazar of “Entourage”) on the first episode of TV Land’s “Younger.” “Yes” says Maggie, who is already planning her friend’s makeover. “Yes, you are.”

Debi Mazar (Maggie) Gives Sutton Foster (Liza) a Younger look

The premise is that in order to jump start/reignite a career in book publishing begun 15 years earlier and abandoned for stay at home motherhood, Liza turns back the clock to her 26th year and a double life, apparently fooling a boss, co-worker and boy toy in the process. I vaguely remember hearing of this Darren Star (“Sex and The City”) produced show in its debut last spring yet didn’t view it/become addicted until I happened to catch a recent marathon; binge watching half of the 30 minute 12-episode series on TV while mainlining the last six commercial-free online (a much preferable experience).

Liza (Sutton Foster) in Younger

The second season will premiere January 13 with an hour-long episode so there’s still time to catch up on the first. I realized the irony in that, one of my other favorite series “Jane By Design” which ran on ABC Family in 2012 for only one season (I was crushed when it was not renewed) actually featured the converse of this plot: a teenage girl in high school pretending that she was in her twenties in order to land a job in a fashion design house. “Jane By Design” had several parallels to the “Younger” story line including one person (a male friend from childhood) who was in on the age deception from the start and covered for Jane just as Maggie does for Liza.

Hilary Duff (Kelsey), Sutton Foster (Liza), Debi Mazar (Maggie)

“Younger” which is based on the 2005 book by Pamela Redmond Satran, is not “The Carrie Diaries” ie a younger version of “Sex and the City.” Instead it is a fun and entertaining romp through the NYC that includes Brooklyn with its hipsters vs. the “old timers” such as Maggie, who bought her art studio/loft apartment when rents were cheaper than in Manhattan. After Liza’s gambling and cheating husband (the irony is that he leaves her for a younger woman) over-mortgages the NJ house, Liza is forced to sell. She moves in with lesbian artist Maggie (a “friend who is a girl”) and also her partner in crime/ keeper of the age deception secret/lie.

Kelsey (Duff) and Liza (Sutton) at the Office

Other cast members include Kelsey Peters (Hilary Duff) as Liza’s millennial co-worker, Diana “Trout Pout” Trout (Miriam Shor) as Liza’s head of publicity boss, and Liza’s young love interest Josh (Nico Tortorella).  The ensemble work well together although one must suspend disbelief to think that book smart, Dartmouth educated Liza would have much in common with unschooled tattoo artist Josh than an obvious physical attraction (incidentally the word “cougar” was unbelievably never uttered in the whole first season).

What IS said makes for some pretty funny observations between Gen X and Millennial experiences in everything from personal grooming (or lack thereof) of the bikini area, to new food (Korean Bibimbap from a truck), workouts (Crossfit , Krav Maga), email providers (bye to AOL, hello to Gmail), to text-speak (K instead of OK). Naturally a large part of Liza’s job revolves around being social media savvy. Upon learning that she is expected to Tweet as a modern day Jane Austen, Liza asks Bing “how do I open a Twitter account?) Somehow, only guest star Jane Krakowski (30 Rock) seems to realize that Liza is a pretender to the under 30 throne and quietly warns her that her hands are a “dead giveaway.” Actually, the hand thing is a recurrent joke.

Patricia Field on set of Younger

Costume Designer Patricia Field (also of SATC fame) is responsible for Liza’s wardrobe transformation from suburban housewife to publishing assistant. Apparently upon hearing that she was being given this task, she thought “I’m not a magician.” Luckily when she met Foster she said it wasn’t hard to make her believable as a 20 something through wardrobe. Field, who just announced that she’s closing her Bowery store, an institution for underground types for 50 years, citing health concerns and a desire to pursue other opportunities, is not known for her costuming subtlety. Here she tends to overdo the Brooklyn hipster look for this part IMO.

Hilary Duff with Pat Field

The thinking behind Liza’s wardrobe, according to Pat Field, is that, if Liza were a real person, she would be borrowing items from her daughter’s closet as well as shopping in thrift stores as she doesn’t have a lot of money to spend on clothing. In the show she tends to wear a lot of “non-outfits” mixing patterns and prints with loose pullover sweaters, plaid shirts tied around her waist, army boots and berets (perhaps as a nod to a hipster version of Mary Tyler Moore). The effect ends up looking a bit disheveled in a collegiate, Free People, Boho, “I just picked this up off the floor” way which I find slightly disturbing. I keep waiting for “Trout Pout” to tell Liza to clean up her act in every episode.

One Noteable Exception to Liza’s  Inexpensive Wardrobe The Sold Out Burberry Cape

By contrast, Junior Editor Kelsey (also 26) looks much more professional, toned-down and put together. She wears age appropriate yet fashionable work clothes including blazers and short skirts along with natural looking makeup as opposed to Liza whose makeup seems wrong — noticeably blue or green eye shadow and bright pink lipstick is more befitting a real housewife. What’s missing is some of the drama shown in “Jane By Design” as Jane was always rushing around having to change her “look” between school and work whereas that has rarely happened with Liza (other than a quick change of letting her hair down or removing a jacket) in” Younger.”

Perhaps the character with the most aggressive wardrobe is boss Diana who buys herself a Judith Lieber bag in one episode and poses with it for an online dating service profile photo to an inauspicious outcome. Her “Devil Wears Prada-type” character is always in an eye-catching print or embellished dress accessorized by an over-the-top costume-y statement necklace which makes her a bit of a caricature of a book or fashion editor. When Kelsey declares that its pathetic that Diana who is 43 lies about her age claiming that she’s 41, Liza recovers quickly agreeing that it is “Totes pathetic. #PATHETIC!” demonstrating that she is down with the lingo.

The entire concept of ageism is played nicely by the ensemble cast with Liza occasionally “mothering” the Millennials, making a too-old reference, and identifying with her generational boss. Some critics have complained that 40 year olds are not really that clueless and naive of popular culture today (Liza doesn’t know who Lena Dunham is; asks if IRL is in Queens) especially since she has a teenage daughter (albeit one studying in India) but I would say that many of these foibles are exaggerated for a laugh.

Naturally, there is an age appropriate love interest for Liza, an executive who lurks in the publishing house wings; a story line that I’m willing to bet will become more important in Season Two, creating more controversy since Liza’s divorced boss “Trout Pout” is avidly pursuing (read: throwing herself) at him.

To watch full episodes of Season 1:  http://www.tvland.com/shows/younger/watch-younger-now

– Laurel Marcus

The post “Younger”, But Wiser… appeared first on lookonline.

Et tu Pantone? In a sign of our current state of political correctness/gender fluidity, the color institute has become afraid/indecisive naming twin colors for 2016: Rose Quartz and Serenity (is this a color or a bladder control product)? The Institute claims that these colors taken together are meant to invoke relaxation, harmony and balance in our chaotic world; not to bring to mind a baby shower; while saying that they are “welcoming colors that psychologically fulfill our yearning for reassurance and security.” It seems to me that Prada, in particular, has already nailed these colors (although their blue was a little greener) in their Fall/Winter 2015 collections. In addition to this being one of the first times that Pantone has selected anything in the pastel range, this two-fer may lead us down a slippery slope.

Amy Schumer’s Pirelli Calendar photo

What’s next? Should we get ready for two Miss Americas (one always has a scandal), two Presidents (we won’t trust either one of them), or two horses winning the Triple Crown? Soon everything that we hold dear will be surrendered and it will truly signal the apocalypse. Amy Schumer will appear semi-naked sans photo shop with VBR (visible belly rolls) in the Pirelli Pin-Up Calendar while most of the other “months” will be clothed. Aaargh!

For those who feel adrift in the modern age there are very few things that are recognizable  from our youth– few things changed with the times at all. For some reason No. 2 pencils come to mind; they are the same trusty instruments that they were in grade school/middle school/high school (ugh! SAT’s)/college and beyond which is comforting. I pencil in my crossword puzzles rather than write over the wrong answers in pen. Pencils are handy for pushing buttons; I keep one around just for the purpose of reaching a difficult switch on my HVAC unit.

Paul Smith cuff links from Mrporter.com

Recently I received a credit to spend on a men’s online shopping site. I rapidly clicked to the accessories section — my husband has a cuff links compulsion; the male version of a shoe addiction. Although he’s a lawyer rather than a teacher I was willing to bet that these Paul Smith pencil sleeve fasteners would hit the sweet spot between whimsical and reassuring. Bingo!

Shatzi kids scarf

Shortly after that I was flipping through another email featuring hats and scarves when I came upon a pencil scarf. Although available in “Ticonderoga yellow” for adults, this kids version was close to the baby pink and blue of the Pantone picks. http://shatzilife.com/collections/kids/products/the-pencil-scarf?mc_cid=4b2f3587c8&mc_eid=e45959d197

Also Pantone proper is this No. 2 pencil 5 panel hat on sale for $22. http://valfre.com/products/no-2-pencil-5-panel-hat

If you want to listen to music, here are pencil earbuds. http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/magic-pencil-earphones

Gold filled pencil necklace $145

Rather wear your pencil around your neck? While more of a mechanical pencil, this is reminiscent of Joan Holloway’s Mad Men pen necklace. http://www.frenchgardenhouse.com/item_5042/Georgia-Hecht-Antique-Love-Letter-Gold-Filled-Pencil-Necklace.htm

Costis pencil bracelets

Check out Costis for the real deal: 18k white or yellow gold with tsavorite and black diamonds, diamonds and rubies, or red spinel and black diamond jeweled pencil bracelets, necklaces and pencil shaving earrings. http://www.costis.com/prodotto.php?idc=29&idp=37#37

Markin ring

Other fine jewelry with a pencil theme can be found at Vladimirmarkin.com including a ring ($420), golden pencil pendant ($1,700) or earrings ($1,800). There’s also a pair of paperclip earrings in silver $450) that look interesting. http://www.vladimirmarkin.com/products/ring-pencil

Me & Zena Write On ring (also available in blue)

If you are interested in realism on a budget check out the Me & Zena write on pencil ring. http://www.meandzena.com/products/write-on-pencil-ring

Artist Norma Copley pencil bracelet

Feeling flush? You might like Artist Norma Copley’s chic 22k gold bangle bracelet with coral eraser– a numbered piece in a limited edition collection of only 7 or 8 pieces with space for engraving the owners name. http://www.robinkatz.co/noma-copley-pencil-bangle/

Susan Lenart Kazmer jewelry

Another handcrafted showstopper: Susan Lenart Kazmer’s awesome bracelet. susanlenartkazmer.com

Etsy Miceart colored pencil bracelet in resin

All about the colored pencil? Etsy’s got you covered with many color variations on this resin encased bangle including a Pantone perfect iteration. https://www.etsy.com/listing/234682487/resin-bracelet-bangle-bracelet-resin?ref=related-2

Elevenses pencil skirt on eBay

In terms of clothing, there’s (ahem) the pencil skirt. Ahh the company Elevenses are a funny bunch– making a pencil skirt with a pencil print is so “self-a-wear”. They featured it in two colors, both out of stock but available in limited sizes on eBay.

Pencil updo

Lastly, if all of this has left you a little hot under the collar, here’s some instructions on how to put your medium to long hair up in an actual pencil. http://pencils.com/how-to-put-your-hair-up-with-a-pencil/. Ah, I feel transported back to middle school when I was jealous of any girl that could slay this look. Of course those were the days before youtube videos and online how to’s gave us such power… before the concept of Pantone picking hues of the year was even a colorful dot on the not so tranquil horizon.

– Laurel Marcus

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New York, Paris, Atlanta?  While this Southern city would not be on anyone’s short list as a fashion capital, I recently attended two great museum exhibitions which go a long way towards putting Hotlanta on the couture “must visit” map.

This past weekend I felt like I had a preview on the upcoming Metropolitan Museum’s Spring 2016 Exhibition of Manus x Machina as I viewed “Iris van Herpen: Transforming Fashion” at Atlanta’s High Museum of Art (high.org) on view through May 15. The Met Museum is planning to showcase several of her works as well since they are on the forefront of the relationship between what is handmade vs. technologically produced.  The High Museum is the first US exhibition for Iris van Herpen as well as their first fashion exhibition ever–a high water mark to live up to for any future fashion exhibitions.

Smoke dress made out of oxidized steel wire

If you are at all familiar with van Herpen’s work (she dressed Lady Gaga in her experimental period as well as Bjork) you will not go there expecting to see clothing that you can actually wear. Instead think of what would happen if Project Runway’s unconventional challenge, its avant garde challenge and its 3-D challenge were all rolled into one and placed in the hands of an artist/nature enthusiast/mad scientist. The graduate of ArtEZ Institute of the Arts Arnhem, now 31, began collecting various materials when she was 18 but says she didn’t know why.

Umbrella spine dresses

A former ballet student and native of Amsterdam, who still works from her studio there yet shows at Paris Fashion Week producing two collections a year, admits to being more influenced by nature than technology. This exhibition features 45 outfits spanning from 2008 to 2015 incorporating materials as diverse at the spokes from children’s umbrellas, various resins, polymer, goat leather, tulle, stainless steel, PET (polyethylene used in plastic bottles), transparent PVC, Swarovski crystals, hand blown glass balls and laser cut acrylic sheets. The outfits are grouped together by collections inspired by everything from outer space to microbes, biology to micro conductivity. The effect is dramatic, cool, creepy and surreal.

This dress features chicken heads

The designs are shown on custom built mannequins made to exacting specifications; there is no “wiggle room” or give in a strapless “glass” dress supported entirely by how it sits on the hips. I found it of note that IVH cites being influenced by her dance background and credits “movement” as an inspiration. There is some movement in the look of the pieces themselves however it would be near impossible for the wearer to freely move around in these outfits as many are quite restricting either at the neck, chest or hip area. In the accompanying video you do get to glimpse the models coming down the runway with great care as well as with flesh colored under covering as several of the items are completely transparent.

3-D Printed dress

While many of the fashions and footwear (in collaboration with Noritake Tatehana) are reminiscent of Alexander McQueen for whom van Herpen interned, they also brought to mind some from the Susanne Bartsch Fashion Underground exhibition at FIT, albeit with a handmade organic 3-D twist. Van Herpen explains in the video that her influence is primarily through nature rather than technology and that she enjoys trying to “control the chaos” of an unyielding material.

About her design process, van Herpen says she sometimes sketches a design while looking at a potential material. Working in collaboration with other artists she ” enjoys the challenge of getting it to do something it’s not meant to do.” Examples of this include her creation of a “water dress” (made out of taking a blow torch to the PET Polyethylene material somehow making it look like a giant liquid splash) and a steel dress that appears as if it’s enveloped in oxidized smoke. Interestingly, van Herpen addresses the fact that often what is made by technology in terms of 3-D printing can be reproduced by hand after seeing how it is done by machine, however it will just take longer. It is indeed impossible to know exactly what was handmade and what was machine made when viewing any of her seamless fantastical finished pieces.

Dress of transparent acrylic sheets, cotton and tulle

So much of Iris van Herpen’s collection is almost begging to be touched and I found myself fighting the strong impulse to do so. To that end I was very happy to reach the last part of the three floor exhibition to find a “please touch” display featuring samples of some of her more unusual materials including the heated resin which truly looks like a mossy lichen on a dress but in actuality, is a rubbery textile created by applied heat and magnets.

Oscar de la Renta Exhibition

The other exhibition which I viewed (just down the road from the High Museum), was one that I had previously written about: see article in the form of its companion book: Oscar de la Renta: His Legendary World of Style by Andre Leon Talley. I hadn’t realized that this exhibition was “hitting the road” however it is on view until December 31 at the brand new SCAD Atlanta (scadfash.org) in slightly modified but larger form than its initial Savannah viewing.

Oscar de la Renta worn by Beyonce

There are now more pieces from new designer Peter Copping included as well as a few Oscars that were on permanent collection in the Atlanta museum. SCAD Atlanta lets you get really close up and personal with the fashions including many worn by famous women including SJP’s Met Gala “signature” gown, Taylor Swift’s Met gala gown, Kirsten Dunst’s Marie Antoinette dress, Laura Bush’s inauguration suit,

Anna Wintour’s coat (left)

Huma Abedin’s wedding gown, outfits worn by Anna Wintour (Abedin and Wintour both wrote forewords in the book) and many more. The young student docents are there with iPads to show you how the dress was worn which is a nice touch. The accompanying video is a documentary which was produced by a SCAD Savannah student detailing her experience while working to put the exhibition together.

A note of interest in comparing the two exhibitions: although they are both very much worth seeing, know your audience.  I was accompanied by my husband, daughter and two boys in their early twenties (my son and my nephew) for the Iris van Herpen exhibition and they were loving it however I would not ever subject the boys to the de la Renta exhibition which I’m sure they would find a complete snoozefest.  On the other hand, if you are someone who appreciates fine design and workmanship of a more traditional nature then you might prefer the OdlR exhibition.

– Laurel Marcus

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Beth Bernstein’s third and latest book “If These Jewels Could Talk: The Legends Behind Celebrity Gems” (due out November 23) has a lot in common with a fine, vintage wine — the “grapes” for the book were aged 22 years. Author, consultant, jewelry designer Bernstein’s initial ingredient or idea “stems” from a childhood fascination with the style and glamour of Old Hollywood as represented by the stars of the silver screen who would often wear their own jewelry in a film. As I previously mentioned in my Doyle & Doyle book signing article, as a child Bernstein would stay up late with her grandmother, re-watching all their favorite old movies, dressed up in rhinestone tiaras whilst imbibing ginger ale out of champagne glasses, all setting the stage for this compendium.

Elizabeth Taylor’s set © Bulgari

The book shines like a well cut stone in several ways. The first five chapters detail the various gemstones individually (sapphires, emeralds, rubies, diamonds and pearls) cataloging which famous women preferred which as well as how they were acquired, designed into jewelry, worn and eventually sold. There are many fascinating anecdotes: Marlene Dietrich accidentally baked her 37.41-carat emerald cabochon ring into a cake at a dinner party; Elizabeth Taylor’s dog found the famous La Peregrina 35mm pearl, once owned by Queen Mary I of England and Queen Isabella of Spain, a good chew toy; Elizabeth Taylor’s one-time husband Mike Todd secretly commissioned a pair of her paste earrings into real diamonds to which an unsuspecting La Liz remarked that they “felt different on her ears.”

Audrey Hepburn wearing necklace and tiara in Roman Holiday ©alamy

The other chapters of the book go into further detail and explanation about the role of gems in movie roles. Sometimes the jewelry was integral to the plot as in “To Catch A Thief”, or could even involve a tie-in such as Audrey Hepburn in “Breakfast At Tiffany’s.” At other times the jewelry seemed to be worn despite the fact that it was not even of the designated time period as in Rudolf Valentino’s Cartier Tank Watch which appeared on his wrist in a still for “Son of A Sheik.”

Carole Lombard wearing star sapphire ring © Corbis

Notable pieces are profiled whether owned by royal jewelry collectors/enthusiasts such as Wallis Simpson (The Duchess of Windsor), Grace Kelly, Princess Di and Queen Elizabeth; Hollywood legends such as Carole Lombard, Mary Pickford, Jean Harlow, Myrna Loy, Marilyn Monroe, Gina Lollobrigida; current celebrities such as Beyonce, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kim Kardashian West, Jessica Simpson and Emily Blunt; or even past and present political figures like Jackie Kennedy and Michelle Obama.

Coco Chanel  ©alamy

Of course, Coco Chanel is in a class by herself as she was the first proponent of mixing real and faux pearls (high and low) all together at once. It’s also interesting to note the amount of jewelry that was worn in the hair by some of the stars of the ’30s and ’40s including actual brooches and clips not originally intended for that use. I would have liked to know a bit more about how the on screen fashions were selected. Were they in coordination with the jewelry or perhaps influenced when the wardrobe designer sketched it?

Duchess of Windsor 1945  ©corbis

Not directly related to the book but in a similar vein and also happening Monday is an auction at Bonhams in conjunction with TCM called “Treasures From The Dream Factory“  featuring the jewelry of Natalie Wood as well as costumes worn in films such as Judy Garland’s Dorothy dress from “The Wizard of Oz,” and a gown from “Easter Parade,” Marilyn Monroe’s red gown from “River of No Return” and skirt suit from “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” along with costumes worn by Lana Turner, Merle Oberon, Sophia Loren, Grace Kelly and a white suit that Katherine Hepburn wore while promoting “African Queen”.

Tiffany Diamond © Tiffany & Co

The last section is a directory of all of the famed jewelry designers mentioned throughout the book including those who have gone out of business such as Trabert & Hoeffer-Mauboussin, and Paul Flaco to those who are going thriving today such as Tiffany, Bulgari, Verdura, Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Harry Winston and David Webb. If you have a strong interest in fine jewelry or are fascinated to the point of voyeurism in how “the rich are different from you and me” then definitely pick up this book.  As someone with a little third hand knowledge of collecting and auctioning fine jewels, I found that although the book visually resembles a Sotheby’s or Christie’s Fine Jewelry catalog, it is informative and mostly succeeded in keeping my attention in all but the most descriptive and technical parts.

– Laurel Marcus

The post “If These Jewels Could Talk” They’d Probably Never Shut Up! appeared first on lookonline.

If you could put Holiday/ Inspiration/ Interior Design/ Spirituality and now the debut of jewelry all in one pretty package tied with a bow this would be it. I’m speaking not only of Katie Scott’s showhouse room called “Private Spaces” on view at Holiday House NYC (2 East 63rd St.) until December 2, but also about the woman at its core. Katie Scott is an award winning Houston Based interior and jewelry designer who lets her heart and soul guide her in the way she lives her life. Encouraging others to join her on this journey she begins a new project by asking her interior design clients how they want their space to make them “feel.” I attended a press breakfast to highlight both her jewelry and the diminutively elegant space.

Stanton Scott and Iris Dankner

Designing baubles came out of Scott’s wish for contemporary inspirational jewelry to “reflect how I was feeling on the inside and match it on the outside.” Both her interior design business (started in 2005) and her jewelry designs (2013) began as she sought greater fulfillment spiritually and found her inner peace after a bad divorce. She recounted the story of how she initially reconnected with her current husband and business partner Stanton Scott (they had known each other briefly in college), after realizing that the phrase “Let It Be” had become her mantra as well as becoming the title of her book, or spiritual “documentary,” on display here on the bookshelf.

Let It Be by Katie Scott

“At that time I didn’t even trust my own ability to know what was right for me” she said “but when I saw Stanton (at a tennis tournament) and we had just started talking, the band began playing ‘Let It Be’ and I knew.” She literally thanked God for the sign. There is also a philanthropic angle — 30% of the sales of her signature “Let It Be” bracelet and ring will go to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BRCF). This is the eighth season of Holiday House NYC which brings together top interior designers creating original holiday-themed living spaces with proceeds also going to BCRF.

The scene

In true fashion to her beliefs, Scott has taken what some might consider lemons (through a lottery she was given two small passageway rooms to design instead of one of the Grander salons, and I do mean GRAND!) and made sweet lemonade. “My room at the Holiday House truly is a jewel box. What others may have seen simple as a ‘pass through’ between other rooms, I saw as an undiscovered space, ripe with possibility,” she explains, “it reminded me that sometimes the small joys that cannot be seen at first are the ones that truly adorn our life in the most radiant form.”

Katie Scott displays a pendant

Indeed, the room works perfectly as a dramatic dark canvas to showcase her jewelry including a specially designed “cuff stand” for her leather or python cuffs with interchangeable screw-off attachments. If for instance, one day you feel like displaying a jeweled sapphire burst (one of her most iconic designs present in her new logo), and the next you want to go with a diamond hamsa or a cross, you have the ability to do so.

Her jewelry ranges from archetypal Judeo-Christian symbols including the Star of David and crosses on pendants and cuffs; to the more fanciful: angel wings, rosary or meditation bead rings, thorn cuff and stunning diamond studded Full Moon Wish Collar — open to the front and featuring pave diamond circles just above the collar bones. Prices range from under $200 for smaller talismans without stones to around $10,000 for some of the show stopping jewel encrusted pieces. Materials used range from silver to rose gold, diamonds to leather. The jewelry can be purchased at Neiman Marcus as well as online at katiebydesign.com.

Cuff Console and mirror

“When confronted with a small space such as this you would think to go light, however this works!” remarked Amy Rosi of Aros Communications, branding manager of Scott’s jewelry, as we took in the black brass beaded linear wall and ceiling covering which Scott chose because it resembles wax drippings. “I didn’t intend this but everything that I’ve chosen here resembles a piece of jewelry” Scott mentioned as we took in the Natasha Badaran Cuff Console (shaped like a sculptural cuff with “swiss cheese” type openings), the Lindsey Adelman and Jean de Merry Chandelier which reminded me of a giant brass pendant, as well as the de Merry over console mirror which resembles an interesting brooch or earring.

Jewelry alcove

I also had the fortune to meet Iris Dankner, Founder & Co-Chairman of Holiday House NYC, who looks uncannily like a better preserved Carine Roitfeld. Dankner, a breast cancer survivor of 19 years, also believes that the “Supreme Being” works in mysterious yet remarkable ways in allowing early detection of the disease for which she had no family history. In a story similar to Guiliana Rancic’s, Dankner learned that she had breast cancer while undergoing infertility treatments.

Highlights of the Holiday House include the top floor’s “Glamping” bedroom complete with bear by Vicente Wolfe and a very untraditional living room which features contemporary portraits of Kate Middleton, Carolina Herrera and Iris Apfel along with a stuffed skunk taking up residence on an armchair. Interestingly, I think that each of the featured showhouse designers would need to call upon some inner strength or enlist the help of a higher power — they only get five days to install a whole room here! I guess that’s not a big deal for The Almighty who created the whole world in seven including a day of rest.

For more information visit holidayhousenyc.com.

– Laurel Marcus

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