Big shoes, being filled.

I will admit, I was a skeptic at the thought of the young Alex Wang taking the helm at Balenciaga. I felt his knack for keeping the downtown set looking effortless in an evolving wardrobe of rock chic was going to be his creative calling. Two seasons in at Balenciaga however has started to change my mind about the scope of his talent. This seasons show was sleek, sophisticated and made me think of the original Cristobal himself.

En route

Heading out to go see this little bundle of sunshine. Cannot wait to meet her!

The Last days of Summer

For most people this past week has signaled the return to school, the end of summer Fridays and well, Fall. But for me these past few days have been the final (and longed for) frolic at the beach. My boyfriend and I have been working so much this summer we've barely had a moment together, let alone a moment when we weren't discussing logistics and then running out the door.

On Monday my incredibly generous & lovely friend Jean Marc Houmard (owner of the legendary Indochine & Acme) lent us his Fire Island summer house. To try to explain this effortless chic & uber stylish tree house by the beach would be pointless, I'll let the photos speak for themselves. Suffice to say, Jean Marc has style in spades and has mastered the art of creating a warm inviting space that at once puts you at ease while simultaneously inspiring the senses. I guess if you've ever been to his restaurants you probably know that by now.

Needless to say, we had a blast. I haven't stopped smiling and I had no idea just a mere 48 hours away could produce such a state of peace. (thank you, Jean Marc) and thank you to my agent Annie too who made a deadline flexible so we could have a little summer this summer.

Grateful Wednesdays

It's an absolutely glorious end of summer day. I woke up in a beautiful charming tree house in Fire Island and enjoyed the last few hours of a mini vacation. Today here is what I'm grateful for:

1. My family and friends are healthy. I don't take this for granted ever. 

2. I go to spend the most blissful 2.5 days alone in a beautiful place with my man (more on that tomorrow). 

3. Ferries. Seriously. I rode a ferry back to mainland today and you know what I realized? It's hard to be stressed on a ferry. 

4. Trailblazers, fearless women and bold perspectives. I just read Carine Roitfelds book Irreverent and it really inspired me to step it up. 

5. Banana pancakes. 

A well mannered breakfast

It's been a perfect Saturday morning: sunny & crisp with time to linger in bed with a cappuccino and the weekend Times. To top it off I got inspired by this early fall day to whip up one of my favorite weekend treats: whole wheat pancakes. 

Here's the recipe:

(it's so easy and before you know it you'll be happy you stayed in for brunch)!

• Ingredients:
• 1 cup milk
• 1 tbsp vinegar* (white wine or apple cider)
• 3/4 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/4 oats, oat bran and/or flax meal
• 2 tsp sugar
• 1/4 cup chopped nuts
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 egg
• 2 tbsp melted butter
• butter for greasing the griddle
• *fresh fruit can be added while their on the griddle or after

        Directions:

• Combine the milk and vinegar and let the mixture curdle while you mix together the other ingredients.
• In a big bowl, whisk to combine the whole wheat flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
• In another bowl, whisk together the egg, melted butter, and the curdled milk, until it looks fairly homogenous and smooth. Whisk this wet mixture into the dry ingredients, and stir the two together until just barely mixed. You want any visible loose flour to be stirred in, but there should still be plenty of lumps. If you stir out the lumps, the pancakes will likely be tough.
• Preheat a nonstick griddle to 375 degrees F and grease the surface with butter. Add small scoops of pancake batter and use the cookie scooper to gently smooth the scoop into a flatter circle. Cook for a few minutes, until you start to see little bubbles forming on the surface. Flip the pancakes with a turner and cook for a few minutes on the other side, until you peek underneath and see that the bottom is golden brown. Serve with butter and real maple syrup. Enjoy!

              

Girlfriends

I've been spending a lot of time with my girlfriends lately and its got me thinking about how important these relationships are in my life. Often when I was single & frustrated by dating and men I would think about how I could easily live a fulfilled life with just my girlfriends. The kind of women I have in my life often make me feel giddy with delight and blessed to the gils. I treasure every one of the women in my life and without these relationships my life would be empty. I love the spontaneous meet ups, drinks that spill into dinners that spill into late hours of the night just chatting and laughing away. Usually over good food and drink. I love that I have all kinds of girlfriends because lets be honest ladies, we have a lot of parts to us & we need a range of connections to celebrate these identities. Being able to laugh until you fall off your chair, cry until you've reached catharsis and to feel all the best parts of yourself come to the fore, this is what it is to be around good girlfriends.  To me my girlfriends are part of my family. I tell them things no one else knows, I am lifted, bonded, inspired and supported by this dynamic network of amazing women.

To all the amazing girlfriends in my life: thank you. I love you. Each and every single one of you. 

Art History.

Sonia Delaunay has been on my mind as I've been attending the Spring shows. Her muted palette & shapes really seem to resonate with the runway right now & I feel she's an important player in the art world who often gets neglected in the Art History books. She was a member of the Orphism movement which sought to translate nature through strong colors and geometric patterns. She was influenced by the cubists but her work has always reminded me of the early work of the abstract expressionist Kandisnky more than the cubists. She made sets, textiles, costumes and furniture too. Aren't these paintings beautiful? Much like Lee Krasner I feel she was often in the shadow of her husbands fame.

A True Gem

Veronica Moore has been one of my closest friends for years and I'm really happy to finally have a space to talk about her. Veronica makes handmade jewelry that will make you swoon until you fall over and when you wear her pieces you feel like the Queen of Sheba.  Not just because what you're wearing was made with intention and craft and love but because her pieces are completely one of a kind and are made of materials that come from the earth. Veronica is a fascinating woman, she was a model (she is immortalized on the cover of a Tom Jones album shot by David LaChappelle) she's designed & hand beaded burlesque costumes, her work has been profiled in Elle, W Magazine and Paper,  Most recently, Veronica's creations were worn by Marisa Monte in a recent portrait by the celebrated Italian artist Francesco Clemente. You can see more of her work on her site:

www.veronicamoore.com

I had a chance to explore her home which doubles as her showroom & pick her brain on her creative process. 

WMW: What sparked your interest in jewelry? Was it something that you were always drawn to?

VM: I wasn't always drawn to jewelry, but as a kid I collected rocks and would arrange

      them into bracelets and necklaces. I love stones and crystals.

WMW: Has learning a different visual language (one which involves metal, gems and working with your hands) shifted the way you take in the world around you?

VM: Yes. I see the world differently because I find peace in the work. I try to 

      bring that state of mind with me outside of the work.

WMW: What do you get most excited about when you sit down to your bench to work?

VM: I get excited about a new stone, metal or tool. Or working out a new idea.

      or just sitting down to "play" with metal and see what happens.

WMW: What is your intention when you create a new piece? Do you have a muse in mind? A particular client? 

VM: When I sit down to make a piece, my intention is to make something beautiful

      that will take your breath away and/or challenge myself in the medium (which

      is wire). I am inspired by jewelry Masters such as Alexander Calder, Verdura,

      and Tony Duquette. I also get inspired by nature (color! shape!), especially

      flowers, a great gown, fairly tales, people…….I could go on!

WMW:  Do you have a favorite piece? Which one & why?

VM: I have many favorites! My go to piece is always a big bound ring. Either the

      amethyst my teacher gave to me, or this beautiful labradorite cabochon I got

      at the Tucson Gem Show.

WMW:Is there someone you would love to see wear your jewelry who hasn't yet?

VM: I would love to see everyone in my jewelry!

WMW: How do you find balance between staying inspired, creating work, marketing yourself and getting down time?

VM: I am constantly trying to keep balance. I need to be in love with my work

      so my pace is probably a bit quieter/slower than others. I also think it is

      very important to create your own joie de vivre.

I got to explore Veronica's work in her house (which is itself a gem of endless inspiration & wonder) these are just a few of her incredible pieces. All made by hand. 

Swoon away:

Veronica hand working a new piece

 The legendary Maharaja necklace

Veronica hammering some metal

Spring Fever.

Soft subtle hues & pastels are in for Spring 2014 and I can't wait.

Here's a few from the latest shows:

Alexander Wang

Band Of Outsiders

Honor

Karen Walker

Phillip Lim

Prabal Gurung

Delpozo

Tanya Taylor

The Row