HEIGHTS of FASHION

African Burchell Zebra Rug!

So every time I buy something I try to justify it..either by convincing myself that I need it as opposed to wanting it...other times I make a swap, i.e. I buy something I sell something on ebay. This time around my justification is Xmas! What better reason to get myself gifts, lol! 

Gift #1 After years of yearning for an authentic African Burchell Zebra rug, I finally found a seller on craigslist who gave me the deal of the century..ta-da! (P.S. this zebra was not hunted! Died of natural causes.)

inspiration..

I

Can't wait til' I find a Zebra head mount!

Gift #2 Rock tees from Urban Outfitters...although I love my "Milano" tee that you guys see me wear all the time, I figured I should get a few back ups, just to vary... and I'm super happy with my choices

Gift #3 I've also been yearning for a Panasonic Lumix 20mm 1.7 aspheric lens (as you can see I yearn alot, lol,) which will make my GF1 dslr the most practical camera to travel around due to its manageable size. I couldn't wait to try the lens and I was not disappointed! check out the clarity!

Gift #4 Last but not least, I couldnt resist buying the Christian Louboutin book! For the following reasons: it's Pink! its got a leather cover! and it's got shoe's galore!

I don't really care for xmas to tell you the truth, I believe we should give everyday and help those less fortunate at all times, and I do try to do so in my own personal way... but this year is different. Since having twins I've had a slew of people help me with my 3 babies..from family members to friends, so this year I will be giving each person a lil' something to show my gratitude for being so kind to me and my family..in total 22 people! Expensive right? well, no! Thanks to gilt.com and other online stores, I managed to not break the bank! I.e. some of my loved ones will receive D.L. & Co. diffusers and candles! I'm such a fan! especially their packaging!

xoxo!

Gisela

A Little Getaway

Last weekend the hubby and I treated ourselves to a lil' getaway for our birthdays. I booked us a room at Thompson Hotel's "Gild Hall" in the Financial District. Most hotels in Manhattan are overpriced and underwhelming in decor but this one was affordable and visually impressive! Designed by Jim Walrod, Gild Hall combines rustic and deco pieces to create a homely yet chic environment. 

Fabulous bed with SFerra sheets! I 

Loved the lighting in the bathroom. Below is a pic of my all-timefavorite products:

Creme de La Mer - definitely worth the splurge! I have horribly dry, lifeless skin during the winter and this is the fountain of youth!

Khiel's Anti-perspirant/deoderant - I came upon this product after years of looking for a deoderant that would keep me fresh and non-smelly. This is deoderant is heaven-sent! I'v been using it for 3 years now and I'm fresh and confident daily.

Lancome's Tresor - I found my signature scent about 20 years ago when my mom gifted me a sample. It's the perfect autumn/winter scent for my body chemistry! The hubby loves it. This year I found my summer scent too, Chloe!

Chanel's Pro-Lumiere foundation - Again, another product which took years to find. It's an all coverage foundation, but feels very light and fresh. Makes the skin feel supple and vibrant and not to mention it hides all my skin's imperfections.

Khiel's Ultra Facial Cleanser- Just received this as a sample at Khiel's. Loved it the first few times I used it. Very light, no fragrance, just natural. I will continue to use it and see if it's a keeper :-)

 

Hubby and I after we took in the Broadway Show "Rock of Ages." It was a super cute show, started off slow but ended with a bang!

 

 

 

Kelly Wearstler: My Hero

I have written a couple times ago about my favorite interior designer: Kelly Wearstler.  When I met her a couple months ago, I was just floored and just couldn't even express myself articulately. Anyways, she started a blog called MY VIBE MY LIFE and the images below are from her first posting.  I am so glad she letting us in her whole creative process and showing us ideas of some of her projects she is working on.

 
What I adore about Kelly is that she is a risky designer. She never holds back when she designs and challenges herself each time to do something different. She doesn't care if people criticize her work for being over the top as her aim is not please the masses. 

 xoxo,

Maury and Gisela

imagines by kwid

Designer Spotlight: Mary Katrantzou

 If you haven't heard of Mary Katrantzou, you must be lying under a rock. I have to say, she had one of my favorite collections for Spring 2011, if not- MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE, don't tell Alber Elbaz and the Late McQueen that:) Mary, a Greek Native, attended Rhode Island School of Design and then completed both her BA and MA at Central Saint Martins. She previously worked for Sophia Kokosalaki and freelanced for Bill Blass, amongst other designers. Since I am so in love with Interiors and I am trying to figure out a new career path, this collection had me thinking...that I too can combine my two passions and have them engage into a beautiful and successful marriage. 

It is with no surprise that the Queen of Fashion, Anna dello Russo has already been wearing Katrantzou's designs.

Her inspiration for Spring Summer 2011 was interior decoration...she was inspired by World of Interiors and Architectural Digest Magazines. Interestingly Katrantzou was formerly an interiors textile designer.  "Trompe l'oeil prints, garment shapes, trims and accessories played with the theme of how we adorn the interiors of our living spaces, contrasted with the views through our windows", she said.

I am loving the fringe on this skirt.

Her signature is playing with fabrics digitally.


I love the color combo, the textures, the different fabrics prints, the beading, the embroidery...it all seems to work.

I love the chandelier crystal drops she used to trim this elaborately embellished lampshade skirt.

Side panels sewn into the skirts of dresses are cut to drape like curtains waiting to be drawn, or, as seen  pleated folds of the top part of a curtain adorning a bodice melt into a print of its bottom half.  Shoulder lines of dresses stand stiff like curtain pelmets.


The elaborate prints depict flowers in vases of which the petals sometimes protrude from the garment.  Beading is used to outline the patterns of tiles on a floor or forms the crystals of a chandelier.

Bold Statement: Detail look of one of her amazing necklaces...all it needs is 2 candlesticks...lol.

The finale...

Dominican Model Rose Cordero looking fabulous!

Absolute Perfection!

So which room do you want to live in?

Miraslova wearing Katrantzou

Katrntzou just won one of the most prestigious and coveted fashion awards in the industry, the Swiss Textiles. She managed to beat her competition- Jason Wu, Duro Olowu, Adam Kimmel, Juun J and Damir Doma. She was so overwhelmed that she cried backstage when the winner was announced. The award gives a good healthy financial support for up-and-coming designers like Katrantzou, who now pockets €100,000 in prize money – €10,000 of which will be used to purchase Swiss textiles. Marios Schwab, Rodarte and Alexander Wang are past winners of the award.

Nicholas Guesquiere, watch out, there is a new star in town. Do you guys love her style, or is it a little bit too much for you?

xoxoxo,

Maury

images from streetpeeper.com, thefashionspot.com, google.com, weknowwhatyoudidlastnight.com

Seeing Red

Lately, Gisela and I have been talking about what colors have been inspiring us this Fall season. As you all know, we always wear tons and tons of black, but this season we are trying to look more into COLOR. As a result, Gisela has been obsessing over RED RED RED lately, and it didn't take long for me to notice and be influenced as well. I have a knack for colors in Interiors, but don't really try it on my myself when buying clothes or trying things on. Lately, Gisela has been scouting all over Ebay for an amazing Tailored suit just like the Givenchy ones, and I of course have been looking at spaces that inspire me for some of my clients.  We wanted to share some pics of some of the looks we are loving and some of the spaces that oomph the color red. Well, I guess you guys can't wait to see one of us wear RED, I guess we are going to start painting the town in RED.  BTW, What are some of your favorite looks showing red?

Givenchy Fall10

Brioni SP11

Bottega Veneta

Dree Hemingway in the Red Carpet

It Girl....Miroslava Dumas- Love this girl so much!!!

Puerto Rican Model of the Moment, Joan Smalls

Giovanna Battiglia wearing Alaia

 The Master of Red...Valentino celebrating his 45th year in Rome

Jonathan Adler's Design for Barbie in celebration of Barbie's 50th Anniversary

The Legend of Diana Vreeland's NYC Park Avenue Apt. As soon as I thought of Red, I thought about her. She is one of my favorite inspirations of all time!!!!

Miles Redd Interiors..always using a punch of red. 

Christian Louboutin Boutique

Interior Designer Michael Smith's Powder Room

xoxoxoxo

Maury and Gisela

Vote: The Selby in my Place

Hello guys,

So, I am pretty sure you guys are all familiar with the fabulous Todd Selby. Well, he is having a contest with CB2 to have people show off their homes in 3 pictures and the person that wins would get 10k to spend at CB2 and an amazing shoot with him in their home. After being a huge fan of him and admiring his work, I decided that this could be a great opportunity for me to enter.  I haven't show you guys pics of my apt, but I have a beautiful 3 bedroom apt that I completely remodeled in the course of a year. I am still not done, but I feel very comfortable and it's my escape from the crazy NYC hectic lifestyle. I would love for you guys to vote for me and I promise to you guys tons more pics. I will post some before and afters as well in the future. Gisela and I are extremely passionate about Interiors that we are beginning to take this hobby/passion very seriously.  

I called my space- "Eclectic Escape: Anna dello Russo of the Heights" OMG, I WISH I WISH!!!!!

Please help me get votes for my apartment by going to the link and voting!

http://www.theselbycontest.com/entry/80545

please please please vote for me!!!! Gisela is also going to enter so we will post her entry so you guys can vote for her as well.  

A section of my living room

  
 I converted one of the bedroom and made an office to work and meet my clients

 I used the other bedroom and made it a huge walk in closet...it was one of my dreams and I made it happen. You are looking at one portion of my closet...I have lots more to show.

Please let us know what you think of the sneak peak of my apt and more importantly...VOTE VOTE VOTE

xoxoxoxo

Maury 

Visually Stimulating

 

 

 

 

Anna Dello Russo is a style icon that I follow and cherish for the image she exudes. Jak and Jil posted these amazing images of her amazing apartment and I just had to repost as I am a big follower of her style. Below is an article I found on the fashionspot.com about Anna. 

Name: Anna Dello Russo

Occupation: Formerly of L’uomo Vogue, now Fashion Director at Large & Creative Consultant, Vogue Nippon 

Her World: High fashion, High credit limit 

THE STORY 

After finishing her degree in Italian Literature and Art History and attending the Domus Academy in Milan, Dello Russo’s rise in the fashion industry was swift. She spent just one month at Donna Magazine, after which she met Annalisa Milella, who at the time was working with Vogue Italia. After only 8 months of collaboration with Milella, Dello Russo found herself working full time at Vogue Italia. She spent 18 years as a part of the Italia family, working at both Vogue Italia and L’Uomo Vogue and in 2006, she parted ways and began to work freelance. Officially, Dello Russo has said that she was tired of working in men’s fashion and wanted to get back to her roots, but rumor has it that her activity as a professional consultant was hindering her relationships at the magazine. It is reported that she was making so much money it caught the attention of the Revenue Authorities and the Journalist Association. Although she has clearly articulated that she was never made to choose, Franca Sozzani has been quoted saying that she ‘[could not] allow that people working at [her] magazine [would be] consulting at the same time.’ Dello Russo’s client list is said to be only important and international clients but she keeps it very private in efforts to not out shadow the brand’s fame. “I’m called to make the cake but all the ingredients are already there.” As fashion director and creative consultant for Vogue Nippon she still has an office in the Milanese quarter of Conde Nast but she spends most of her time contributing to the creative vision and branding of designers and fashion houses alike.

Despite her grand contributions to the international fashion community, Dello Russo is best known for her impressive wardrobe and incomprehensible fashion collection. Obsessed with image, Dello Russo admits that clothes are like a disease for her. She doesn’t just shop, she collects; buying clothing she might only wear once, if ever. She has an obsession with jewelry and accessories; including a collection of over 4000 pairs of shoes and keeps a display window of her favorite shoes and another for jewelry in one of her homes. She keeps a separate apartment exclusively for her clothing. Everything is tagged and enveloped, she keeps very accurate archives and dreams of one day having her own foundation. 

THE FINAL INSIGHT

"Everyone has a strength. The English people sell very well because their editorial style is a little avant-garde; they are always the first at looking for new ideas. We Italians, have a very beautiful product that no one can beat, for quality, efficiency and tradition. The French people have that allure; in Paris you can feel a fantastic glamour at each show. The Americans have the money and the power, can you ask for more?"

 

 

 

 

 

As we are beginning to wrap up the Fall 10 collections I had to post on one of my favorites every season: LANVIN. Alber Elbaz to me is a visionary that doesn't settle for creating a minimalist world for his followers, he lavishes every dress with every ornamental trim or object he can find. From feathers, furs, beads, sequins, jewelry, metals, etc...he doesn't let one thing dictate his collection and in this fall 10 collection we see how awesomely divine he can be in every way. I can clearly see Anna dello Russo wearing every piece in this collection, perhaps she is one of Alber's muses. 

 

xoxoxoxoxo

Maury and Gisela

Images: JakandJil and Style and Vogue UK