Hey, hi, it’s me. I know. I’ve been really busy trying to make this place look a little better that I haven’t written anything here in more than two months. I’m not happy with anything I’ve tried, so it’s still you know, like this. But I have added a fun little idea board feature for all of the things I want to do to this house before I sell it or burn it down, so there’s something. And I’ve been writing every Wednesday over at Tchochkes, so you can always catch me there.
However. I need to address the celebrity home furnishings designer thing. Particularly Jane Seymour. So I spent a good month looking high and low for pillows for the sexy new leather sofa the husband and I bought in August. And so one night when I was clearly really drunk, I hit up sears.com to scroll through their pillow offerings. (Because you just never know, right? Yeah, you do. But you go look anyway.) It was there I discovered Dr. Quinn’s collection of “art pillows,” a tragedy of embroidered silk and an insult to flowers everywhere.
Apparently, “When not acting, writing or designing Jane Seymour enjoys painting in her Art Studio overlooking the beaches of Malibu, California.” Her proper noun art studio. That’s great. I like to paint too, but I would never inflict it upon anyone publicly. But for just $80 each, you can have a bad ’80s adaptation of a red rose or and African violet, or a disproportionate Star Gazer lily. Although I kinda like the Gingersnap rose graphic, it’s still not enough. And totally not $80 enough.
Instead, I’m awaiting the arrival of my yellow and gray peony print pillows from DwellStudio’s Target line. Subtle, graphic modern silk pillows, $53 delivered. Take that, Jane.
As you can see, we’re in “maintenance mode.”
An hour-and-a-half ago I thought this blog was gone. Major fail during the 2.8.3 upgrade. (I’m looking at you, fatcow.)
It’s a long dramatic story, of course, but I’ll spare you the details, except that I figured it out all by my clever little self. Aside from the part where your design and a few pictures don’t show up.
Please bear with me while home girl gets a little work done!
On my third trip to Chicago a few weeks ago, I was finally able to actually do a few things, like visiting a couple of museums, shopping and basically wandering where I pleased. The first time I went to Chicago I didn’t even see the Sears Tower, but this time I was able to visit. Sadly, the day before, they officially changed the name to the Willis Tower. However, the main attraction wasn’t the shiny new sign, it was visiting the Skydeck and, more importantly, stepping out onto one of the newly opened Skydeck Ledge viewing platforms.
But anyway, the newly christened Willis Tower. Which might actually become the common name for the building in, say, 100 years. Maybe.
But back to the Skydeck. Located on the 103 floor of the 110-story Sears Tower, the enormous space offers views of Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin and of course, Chicago and other parts of Illinois. If you read all of the signs and displays, you’d know what state you’re looking at; I just wandered around the massive crowd and took pictures.
I know the Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald is about Lake Superior, but that’s all I can think of when I see this monstrous 22,400-square mile body of water. That and, “Damn, now that’s a lake.”
I will admit that I first stepped out onto one of the four Skydeck Ledge platforms with some trepidation, mostly I think because they were so crowded. But the view, obviously, is phenomenal. Extending 4.3 feet over the city below, these tempered-glass and steel boxes weigh 1,500 pounds each and retract into the building for cleaning and maintenance.
The viewing platforms consist of half-inch thick glass laminated into one seamless unit, allowing for unparalleled views from almost every angle.
I don’t normally post photos of myself here, if I have at all, but here’s a fun pic with my giant head floating around Lake Michigan.
What people wear when they travel fascinates me, especially those who overdress. My personal favorite is the two women at DCA, 6:30 in the morning, raising hell at the check-in counter. Coordinated variations of animal prints, gold leather, loads of jewelry and crazy ass shoes. Hair, perfect. Makeup, lots. And they were pretty! But why would you do that to yourself, at such an ungodly hour? What time did you get up?
I think we all know there’s a fine line between attractive, comfortable travel wear and well, looking like a hooker (when you are not). You really can be sensible and chic without looking like a slob. But if you can actually travel in those heels, I salute you.
I mostly travel in jeans, cute and comfy shoes, a simple shirt and sunglasses. For a flight to Chicago earlier this week, I paired wide-leg, dark wash Gap jeans (#42) with a classic men’s v-neck Hanes white t-shirt (#67). I love men’s Hanes tees; my husband is a crew-neck guy and although I borrow his for lounging, I’m a v-neck girl and buy them a size bigger than I need, double wash to shrink, and they’re perfect. They’re great for travel because they’re longer than other tees, and thicker than my other faves from the Gap. They look cute with a cool scarf or a cute jacket. Also, they’re cheap. And for this direct, hour-and-a-half jaunt, the Rocket Dog ballet flats (#5) that I have had for a millions years were the perfect choice of footwear.
As for accessories, I don’t like to be too loaded down in the airport. If I’m traveling I typically switch to a smallish cross-body number like my nylon and leather Prada messenger bag, which holds everything I need easy access to—like my iPhone. I know Nina G. puts her Blackberry at #9, but my Top 10-worthy gadget is my precious iPhone 3G. It keeps me connected without having to pay ridiculous fees for an hour of WiFi on the laptop. Sunglasses—something I’ve found myself collecting in recent years—are also a must, and lately I’ve been rocking my D&G aviators (#4) with a vengeance. I got them for song at Filene’s Basement in DC last year, and they’re the perfect size for my round little face.
As for a carry on, I love my big ol’ L.L. Bean tote (#50), although as I sit here at gate G6B in O’Hare writing this, it is definitely a hell of a lot heavier now for the trip home than it was coming up here. But it’s strong and sturdy enough to hold all my crap, even if it does make me a little off balance and cranky. Of course, the orange accents on the bag, along with the cute grass-green Max Studio dress I’m wearing for the flight home, hopefully make me appear a little more cheerful than I actually am!
And while we’re on the subject of travel, a note on luggage (#51). I’m afraid this might be the last trip my trusty red United Colors of Benetton suitcase can make. I’ve had it for a very long time, and it’s literally falling apart at the seams! It’s the perfect size for a 4 to 5 day trip; the enormous bag I bought last year for a two-week journey to Central Asia is simply too large for the trips I typically take. I’ve begun looking for something new, and aside from the fantasy of a custom set of Goyard luggage, I haven’t the slightest idea where to begin. Do I want to switch to a different style, something a bit bigger, perhaps a rolling duffel? Don’t laugh if you see me in an airport with duct tape holding my little red suitcase together, I may not be able to give it up so soon!
When I was 14, I wrote a letter to Vogue magazine, inquiring as to how I might snatch Anna Wintour’s job from her one day. I don’t have the letter I wrote, but I recently found the response I received from Conde Nast informing me that after college, one usually begins in a clerical position and works their way up, and that all of the necessary typing and computer skills would be taught while on the job.
I wanted to work in the fashion press since I picked up my first copy of Vogue at the age of 13. I always knew I would write, but it wasn’t until then that I discovered what I wanted to write about. From then, while most girls were reading stories about their periods in teen magazines, on I consumed every fashion magazine I could find, from Vogue and Elle to Bazaar and Mirabella. I ordered catalogs from whoever offered them. I fell in love with Donna Karan and DKNY, Isaac Mizrahi and some guy named Marc Jacobs at Perry Ellis. I adored Commes des Garcons, Issey Miyake, Thierry Mugler and Jean Paul Gaultier. And most of all Chanel. What kind of 1990s teenage girl wants a Chanel suit?
From watching Style with Elsa Klensch on CNN each Saturday to renting Unzipped a million times, I took in as much as I could about the fashion world. I bought my first Issac Mizrahi shirt at Saks in Kansas City; my Gaultier denim jacket and crazy neon shirt at Holt Renfrew in Quebec City. My final presentation for speech class in college was on the history of haute couture. The license plate on my car has read Vogue1 since freshman year.
After graduation, I didn’t storm the Conde Nast offices as planned; instead I soon took my first real job at an interior design and lifestyle magazine here in Little Rock, where I discovered my other true love in life—furniture and design. I became more involved in the fashion side of the magazine as time went on, both writing and pulling pieces for photo shoots. Along the way, I learned my mother-in-law was responsible for launching the fashion section in the state newspaper, and mentored the fashion expert we worked with at the magazine. I couldn’t get enough of their stories about fashion week, the parties, the designers.
All of these things helped in creating my own personal style. It is something that is always changing, always being refined and redesigned, but at the heart of it all is a high-low collection of both classic essentials and timeless necessities. And it wasn’t until I read Nina Garcia’s second book, The One Hundred: A Guide to the Pieces Every Stylish Woman Must Own, that I really began to take stock of what’s in my style arsenal.
In this news series, Counting to 100, I’m taking a journey through my own One Hundred, from A-line dresses to zippered hoodies, taking stock of what forms the basis of my wardrobe and looking ahead to the acquisition of investment pieces and little luxuries in my fashion future.
Summer is here with a vengeance, and it is hot. And as far as I’m concerned, there are only two things worth drinking during the oppressive Southern summer heat—lots of water and lots of good wine.
- Conundrum: Hands down my favorite wine. Period, end of story. My mother only drinks margaritas (don’t ask), and she loves it enough to remember what its called and occasionally bring a bottle for dinner. A combo platter of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Muscat Canelli grapes—accented with Semillon and Viogner—makes it easy to pair with anything, with subtle differences in the taste depending on the dish. And if you’re imbiding sans food, you’re still guaranteed a clean and light wine experience.
- Cakebread Chardonnay: A few years ago, I twice the privilege of visiting the home of one of Arkansas’ wealthiest businessmen. Wandering through the home gawking at the collection of Chagalls, Picassos and other bold-faced names, the household staff met us (this giggly group of 20-something girls with whom I worked) with offerings of wine and hors d’oeuvres. Luckily we had drivers, as we very much over-enjoyed this interesting opportunity. While I knew of this particular wine, it was the first time I was able to give it a try. I’m picky with Chardonnay, but Cakebread’s rich and creamy, fruity and citrus-y flavors make it incredibly easy to drink. While Conundrum is my go-to, Cakebread is the most delightful wine for celebrating.
- Villa Maria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc: You’ll find me drinking a glass of this while cooking dinner…and writing this post. This award-winning New Zealand wine is extremely yummy, and even though it’s got a screw top and a low price tag, don’t assume its not impeccably crafted. Luscious and light, it was recently responsible for a drunken night in NYC.
- Montinore Riesling: I love a good Riesling, one that drinks well on its own and doesn’t pigeon-hole itself as a strictly after-dinner dessert sort of wine. This fresh and flowery Riesling from Oregon is indeed sweet, but also easy to drink with its clean balance of citrus and honey flavors.
- Snoqualmie Winemakers Select Riesling: Another crisp and easy Riesling, I first met this one from Snoqualmie last year in Atlantic City. (Shut up, I was only there to see Madonna) The guy at the wine shop in our hotel recommended this as his best Riesling, and he was right. Equally enjoyable with sushi or late-night cheese pizza, Snoqualmie boasts a light fruity flavor accented with a touch of spice. Besides, Snoqualmie, WA is where much of Twin Peaks was filmed, so how could you not love a wine from this region?
What wines are on your summer list?
