IN VOGUE: Andre' Leon Talley

Celebrating #blackhistory as it's now Black History Month...so enjoying the ALT memoir, entitled "The Chiffon Trenches" ... Enjoy ! DF (PS: auction going on now at Christies !)

COLOR STORY: Beautiful Browns

Billy Baldwin

Armato, Kelly Wearstler for Visual Comfort

William Rankin McLure IV

Alessandra Branca

Dean Farris

Ralph Lauren

Dean Farris Interior Design

Cognac, topaz, whiskey, cocoa, tete de negre, coco, coromandel, mahogany, oh the endless range of rich and elegant browns!  Mid week musings from DFS !

* * * * *

AFFAIR OF THE HEART, Saint Laurent

Gaspard Ulliel as Yves Saint Laurent, SAINT LAURENT, 2014

 

This 2014 biopic by Bertrand Bonello inspired me, and is a perfect treat for a loved one on St. Valentine's Day.  My good friend, Mary, had recorded it for me from STARZ, and I adored it!

SAINT LAURENT

SAINT LAURENT

Do check out this film, if you can, there was another one made, which I haven't seen yet, but I hear this one is more jazzy and interesting from the point of view of having a most attractive young French actor portray the fabulous, volatile, and mercurial YSL in the sixties and seventies.  Look for Lou Lou and Betty Catroux too!  So chic! (in French with English translation).  DF ***** bonne fete de Saint-Valentin

Tommy Hilfiger on his memoir ‘American Dreamer’

Tommy Hilfiger on his memoir ‘American Dreamer’: Iconic designer 65 talks about the evolution of his label and why there is such a thing as being too popular

I'm really enjoying the new bio on designer Tommy Hilfiger, called "American Dreamer" - it's a real page turner, and gives fantastic insight into the drive and determination to succeed that took Mr. Hilfiger all the way to the top of the fashion world, a world where the word ruthless takes on a whole other meaning. 

Read more about Tommy here !  A true American success story, and a great inspiration to all of us.  DF *****

* * * * *

2016 Inspiration: Coco Chanel

My very sweet and kind and talented friend, Julie Britt, sent this video to me to kick off 2016...funny too, that Jackie Rogers was at dinner with us the night we were in Watermill visiting Tom and Julie, as Jackie had modeled for Madame Coco in her younger days living abroad.  Fabulous!  DF *****

Here I am channeling the spirit of Coco

YSL/Halston in Naples !

Baker Museum, Naples

Yves Saint Laurent + Halston: Fashioning the ’70s offers a unique perspective on two of the best-known fashion designers in modern history who defined the sexy and glamorous looks of the 1970s. The approximately 80 ensembles and 20 accessories — drawn from The Museum at FIT’s extensive collection of pieces from both designers — reflect the social, economic and political realities of their creators and the world at large. November 7, 2015 – March 6, 2016

I was thrilled to see that this exhibition was coming to town~ and in partnership with my alma mater (FIT) no less!  DF***** 

* * * * *

Happy Birthday RL !

Ralph Lauren

Happy Birthday to Ralph!  An ultimate inspiration, icon, and success in business and in life.  When Albert Hadley was asked by the Laurens to visit their Fifth Avenue apartment for a consultation, Albert took in what magic Angelo Donghia had created~(an uptown loft in white)~and was so impressed that he said he wouldn't change anything!  Brilliant! 

This crisp image of RL himself reminds me of the time I was on the beach in the famous Hamptons, and saw Calvin come out in a white terry robe, standing on a terrace, looking just like one of his own models!  New York, you gotta love it!  DF *****

* * * * *

Heaven on the U.E.S.

via September Traditional Home

Kevin and Jay McLaughlin founded one of my favorite shops, now with 100 locations, called J.McLaughlin...the home of Kevin and his wife Barbara, is featured in the September issue of Traditional Home magazine, and what a warm and inviting townhouse it is.   
Working with their long time friend, architect Doug Larson, the house was re-modeled to suit the needs of their family.  The library, above, was done in a subtle glazed olive...

via September 2015 Traditional Home

I was excited to see the link to this story posted on the J. McLaughlin blog, and enjoy sharing it with you dear readers.  Lucky me, Naples has two McLaughlin shops, and a busy internet site as well.  They have also recently opened in Montecito, CA.  I just came back from some fun in the sun, on the east coast of Florida, and hope to share some shots with you from that trip soon!  So, stay tuned!  DF *****  

* * * * *

Mad For Scaasi

Fashion designer Arnold Scaasi

Arnold Scaasi (changed from Isaacs) worked for Charles James...need I say more?

Arnold Isaacs (May 8, 1930 – August 3, 2015), known as Arnold Scaasi, was a Canadian fashion designer who has created gowns for First Ladies Mamie Eisenhower, Barbara Bush, Hillary Clinton, and Laura Bush, in addition to such notable personalities as Joan Crawford, Ivana Trump, Princess Yasmin Aga Khan, Lauren Bacall, Diahann Carroll, Elizabeth Taylor, Catherine Deneuve, Brooke Astor, Arlene Francis, Mary Tyler Moore and The Baroness Wendy DeVere-Austin.

Isabella in Scaasi, décor by Valerian Rybar



Décor by Scaasi

While many of my readers who are much younger may not have heard of him, he was quite a success in his chosen field, and maintained a celebrity and socialite clientele for many years... This post is a tribute to a great designer, may he rest in peace! 

Sutton Place, New York

* * * * * 

Romantic Chinoiserie in Paris

Andrew Gn, Elle Décor, Paris

I first saw this image of fashion designer Andrew Gn's Paris flat, on the Chinoiserie Chic site~although it's actually via Elle Décor magazine, I wanted to put my two cents worth in about this particular look, the idea of a "romantic" apartment in Paris, filled with fabulous French and chinoiserie inspired objects, porcelains, and Louis XV style... a perennial favorite of mine. 
Our friend and client, Jane, mentioned that she loves chinoiserie, and she's a fashion diva too, she had her own boutique in Mountain Brook, Alabama.  The last time I saw her, she was wearing a chartreuse yellow green Loro Piana with a Jimmy Choo minaudiere, and beige fishnet stockings with gold lame' sandals... with dripping gold bracelets.  She's so chic, and fun too!
Read more about Andrew Gn here on his site...enjoy!  DF *****

* * * * *

Valentino Haute Couture 2015

Valentino 2006

My sweet friend, Julie Britt, sent me the link here for the recent Valentino Haute Couture show in Rome...enjoy!  DF

* * * * *

Zang Toi Fashion Designer

Zang Toi, New York

Zang Toi, one of the most fashionable of the NYC fashion designers...is someone I was most fortunate to become acquainted with during my time at Bergdorf Goodman.  I love this shot of his salon, the limited palette makes it so chic, and his clothes are featuring all black this past season.  As for Zang, he often wears black and white, which would make sense in the context of the image above!  Enjoy!  DF *****

PS I think that's Kirsten Dunst in the grisaille murals from the Sofia Coppola film...Marie Antoinette.

Passion for Fashion

Iris Barrel Apfel via Bing Images

OK ! I saw the new film "Iris" last night, and haven't enjoyed anything so much since I saw the play about Diana Vreeland years ago, at the Manhattan Theater Club...(Full Gallop)...

This is what I saw when I came out of the cinema !

When one has a strong point of view, one has STYLE ! The fire of passion burns eternally for the shrines of fashion~and Iris certainly has the passion, the grand passion - she and her husband Carl, founded and ran the iconic textile house, OLD WORLD WEAVERS, for over forty years, then sold it to STARK...we represent both OWW and Stark in our showrooms, MP Interiors, at the fabulous Miromar Design Center.  This morning I reviewed some of Madame Apfels fabrics with a fresh eye, after having seen her in "Iris"~and I still vividly recall the Venetian elegance of her showroom at the D and D building.  It had the most sublime hushed and calm atmosphere...Enjoy! DF *****

* * * * * 

Pauline in My Dreams

Baroness Pauline de Rothschild

Last night, after burning my new "Saint Germain" candle from Ralph Lauren, I had the most vivid dream about the late Baroness de Rothschild....she was talking to me, and giving me a tour of her home ~and wearing a tailleur of a chic solid grey fabric, with the most elegant black patent pumps, which were quite low, and very flattering to her long legs and narrow feet.  I just discovered this blog , called the Esoteric Curious, which has a good bio of her life in a very palatable length, do read it!  Enjoy !  DF *****

"The great danger for an American woman married to a Frenchman is to become too French. To assimilate too much of another nationality weakens you. Though on the surface I might not seem to be 100 percent American, I have tried to remain as shaggy inside as possible."

Baroness Pauline de Rothschild

Entertaining at Home

The de Rothschilds at home

They say one picture is worth a thousand words~ and I think this one proves the point!  How divine to be entertained at the home of Baron and Baroness de Rothschild.  The thing that intrigues me about this iconic image is the beautiful look of happiness and contentment on the elegant face of Pauline, the Baroness.  The luxury of a fur throw on a sofa cannot be overstated either.  Enjoy!  DF *****  

************

Oscar de la Renta

Farewell to Oscar, In Memoriam

Fabulous Oscar de la Renta ! We were saddened today to hear of his passing, he was such a huge inspiration~ (see earlier posts) and for some more of his divine inspiration click here

*******

Oscar de la Renta for Lee Jofa

Oscar de la Renta for Century

 *******

Fashion Favorites: Brad and Yves

OK, I admit it, I had a blast tonight watching BRAD GORESKI on his new show, called "It's a Brad, Brad World". Brad has a disarming way of staring straight into the camera and totally revealing himself to the world, which I admire very much. He admitted that the pop star/actress Madonna changed his life, and helped him to realize he must approach what he wants with full force and energy. I agree with Brad, and can just imagine what Lady Gaga is doing for the young creatives out there who may be temporarily stranded in Kansas, or in Brad's case, Canada. I also love the way he looks, and he so reminds me of the late YVES SAINT LAURENT, one of my very favorite fashion designers of all time. Check out these two head shots and you'll see what I mean. Congrats Brad on landing the contract with Kate Spade! It's just the beginning of fabulous and mind blowing things ahead. Werk that lewk! DF *****