Fall Fashions

Since I know that not all of my readers are Americans on holiday for the long Labor Day weekend, I thought I would post a little fall fashion inspiration from Vogue.  The fashion world in New York is not on holiday this weekend either.  They are putting the "labor" in Labor Day but toiling away in their ateliers and putting the final touches on their collections for fashion week.  I want to thank everyone involved from the designers on down to the pattern makers and seamstresses, and even the interns for all their hard work.  I also want to thank everyone who invited me to their upcoming shows.  I can't wait to see what magic you have dreamed up for Spring/Summer 2011.  Until then, I will be drooling over the fall fashions and planning my wardrobe.  Enjoy!

Photos by Raymond Meier for August 2010 Vogue

The Frontline with Linda Fargo

Linda Fargo is the Senior Vice President, Women's Fashion Director and Store Presentation for Bergdorf Goodman and is one of the chicest women in New York! Since the women in my family went white haired very early, I always joke that if I go white someday then I want to look like Linda! I should be so lucky! I stumbled upon her dispatches from The Frontline of fashion week and was in heaven! I've posted her pages from Paris here but you can also read about Milan and New York online. I love that they look like a Moleskine diary! They are manifique!

Chic Sophistication at Carolina Herrera

There are occasionally moments in my life in New York when I feel like I want to pinch myself to make sure they are real and attending Carolina Herrera's Fall 2010 fashion show yesterday morning was one of them. It was definitely a dream come true and also one that didn't disappoint. It's one thing to check out the photos online after a show but it's quite different to experience it in person and watch the movement of the clothes and hear the music. It was seriously magical!

Mrs. Herrera for once didn't mention an artist or photographer in her program notes as the inspiration for her collection. Instead, it was a woman with "alluring confidence" who inspired her for Fall 2010. "A sophisticated feminine attitude and striking details reveal an integrity to luxury." And while she says it was a woman who inspired her, I couldn't help but think of her living room when I saw the coat above come down the runway. Maybe the confident woman who inspired her also lives in a fabulous home like herself. Actually, I can bet on it! Enjoy!

Photos from Style.com

Donna Karan at Home

In honor of fashion week, I'm going to be posting some of my favorite fashionable interiors this week. Donna Karan is celebrating her 25th anniversary of her company and putting on her fashion show so I couldn't think of a better fashion designer to start things off. Her 7,000 SF space on Central Park West is a little too urban zen modern for me but that's what makes it so perfect for the woman who counts the Dali Lama among her closest acquaintances. "My home celebrates my family and friends, art and culture, and it holds the memories that are a part of who I am," say Ms. Karan. That Francis Bacon is pretty memorable too! Here's to another 25 years Donna!

Photos by Richard Powers

A Fashionable Townhouse

The mood board that I posted yesterday with the Rothko painting reminded me of Allison Sarofim's amazing West Village townhouse. I just came across the article about it that I ripped out of the February 2004 issue of Vogue so it was perfect timing.

I was under the impression that David Netto had designed the entire townhouse but turns out that he just helped design the modern white basement room for watching movies and hanging out. Allison actually worked with her friend Miles Redd to design the other four floors of her townhouse. I also found out that the previous owner was model Linda Evangelista. So it really does seem like a great space to post on the first day of fashion week.

This photo of Allison gives you a better sense of the color of the living room. The entire home was inspired by many sources including by the de Menil house in her native Houston which was designed by Phillip Johnson in 1950. Another inspiration was the film Bell, Book and Candle which I have never seen but is going at the top of my queue now!

In the Vogue article by Hamish Bowles, Allison says, "my main objective was to create a subtle, clean-lined backdrop so that the artwork and interesting pieces of furniture would really pop." The living room color also matches the paint color of the walls of Marc Jacob's Paris apartment.

Allison originally trained as a chef so a lot of thought was put into the design of the kitchen and dining room. She also contributed to Domino magazine and acts on occasion. I couldn't find any good photos of the garden which was modeled after the garden courtyard at the Museum of Modern Art, right down to the Bertoia chairs.

I don't know why I was surprised that the interiors are so traditional but they way they are designed with less furniture and "stuff" make them very modern.

This room is one of the most simple but it's definitely my favorite. But then again, how can you go wrong with a room that contains a Twombly, a Vuillard, an antique daybed and a vellum table. I also love how the soft silk rug looks layered over the sisal carpet. It probably also feels great under your feet when you get up from a nap on the daybed!

Less is more in the office area as well.

The master bedroom was upholstered in soothing blue silk just like Allison's mother's bedroom.

I'm surprised I didn't realize Miles Redd had a hand in this home after I saw the mirror and marble bathroom!

I know furniture and art can be tricky in the bathroom because of the steam but I love treating them like the other rooms in the house by adding them in. You just might want to make sure they aren't priceless antiques and artwork!

The basement is where designer David Netto lent a hand. All the areas, including an extra bedroom are clean and white.

I just had to research screens and projectors for a project and I can tell you that they aren't cheap! But it would be fun to have a basement screening room to watch movies.

Even though the room is white, it's not boring since all the pieces are varying shades of white.

I like that the back walls looks like it's the original brick. The Chuck Close work isn't too shabby either.

The zebra rug and fur throw also help to warm up a white space that could end up looking very cold.

I wish I had the information about the artwork. If anyone knows who it's by, please let me know! Funny how the coffee table looks blue in this shot and clear in others too.

I don't usually like such modern looking rooms but I actually think it would be fun to hang out in this one, especially since the rest of the home is more traditional. I think it's also fun that they styled the room as an homage to Eileen Gray, below, for Domino. Since they are no longer around, I hope Vogue will continue to feature fabulous and fashionable homes like this one each month! Happy Fashion Week!