Image crush

One essential part of my daily routine is, of course, stalking The Sartorialist blog. Each one of Scott Schuman's photos is so carefully and expertly composed while simultaneously possessing this innate air of spontaneity and ephemeral envy as well as inspiration. A few weeks ago, I came across one photo that has been nestled in the corner of my desktop ever since. To me, this woman is the epitome of classic beauty - I love the way that her pose invokes this sense of timid grace. I had a chance to speak to Schuman about two years ago for an article I was writing for the Washington Square News and I fell so much more in love with his artistry when he explained that he's not trying to capture the person he is photographing or their "story" ('how selfish would that be to impose your constructed version of someone's story on a total stranger' he explained). But, rather, is trying to produce an image that could generate a multitude of stories or reactions, not particular to the subject of the image, but to the recipient of the images. So, for me, this photo becomes such a representation of Schuman's idea of placing the viewers reaction to the image on such a paramount pedestal. I think I am so drawn to this image in particular because the woman has such a resemblance to my grandmother - deep set eyes, tan skin, dark hair and the kind of chic style that is so effortlessly simple and elegant.

Do lips lie?

My girlfriend and I were enjoying some genius, mixed cocktails the other night at Lillie's in Union Square when she told me that she had to change her entire beauty routine since landing her dream job at a prominent architectural firm in NYC. Apparently unaware that employment affects your morning face-time in the mirror, I asked her what she meant. She then went on to say that she had to toss all of the usual shades of berries, corals and pinks she coated her lips with because it isn't "proper" to draw attention to your lips in the work place. I was totally stunned by her compliance with such a "rule" that seemed, to me, so outdated and quasi-sexist. My friend was never one to look overdone- she always kept her eye makeup natural, maybe just a swab of mascara, and always looked classically chic with her subtly painted pout. To me, this notion of having to downplay a feminine asset that is otherwise tastefully accented seems totally bogus. Your thoughts? Is it okay to wear lipstick in the office or does it "force" men to view women as something other than a colleague?

What cities are made of

Whoever said that you couldn't hold a city in the palm of your hand was so wrong - well, mostly. I was recently introduced to french jewelry designer, Philippe Tournaire and his incredible architectural (literally) rings that allow you to have cities idly resting atop your finger. Check out these beautifully crafted bijoux architecture, all made from 18K gold and platinum. Although they're worlds out of even the most generous price ranges, these stunning works of art are still worth a gander.

Ah ha! The tale of a shoe sham...

If you ride the NYC subway, you are all too familiar with the advertisements for those fugly sneakers that (saving grace!) are said to tone your legs and bum while you walk - just a minor eye sore if the result is a kick ass, well, ass right? I do have a few friends who work in the restaurant business that have given in to these marketing masterpieces and now half wobble, half skip as they deliver roasted organic chicken to skeptical customers. They have told me that their legs do feel sore after a day in their shape-up toners but 'not so fast!' cries NPR. They recently announced that after study, there seems to be no difference in actual leg muscle or tone between these toning shoes and your average sneaker. So ladies, unlace your walking travesties and get rid of the gimmick - time to dig out your old college running shoes.

Pretty Rockin' - Dannijo

Anytime I hear about a sister design duo, I'm instantly hooked. My sister and I, only one year apart, share the same obsession with all things fashion so when I see these sister duos in action, I feel some sort of a jealous kinship to them. When I came across jewelry designers Danielle and Jodie Snyder of DANNIJO, I was immediately smitten by there bohemian, rock aesthetic where you don't have to choose between pretty rhinestones or hardcore studs - you can have them both! Although their collections are a bit pricey (but well worth the checkout counter gasp), they are both classic and "now" - what more could you ask for? Below are a few of my favorite pieces.

Alex Wang Sample Saleeeeee! You're welcome.

Watercolor whimsy

I pulled these shots from a few different magazine editorials just because I think it's really interesting the way that there seems to be this fascination with paint or this hazy watercolor-affect across the board. Nothing better than blending a few different mediums that result in a masterpiece.

Chanel Cruise 2011 - how bizarre?

I have to say, I was a bit confused by Lagerfeld's Cruise 2011 collection. The overall aesthetic of the collection seemed to be bit all over the place - other than a few cropped boucle knit jackets thrown over bikini tops or paired with leather shorts, I couldn't find any semblances that were strikingly Chanel. And, I hope you share in my toothy gasp when you scroll down to see the patched denim monstrosity paired with a cropped cranberry cardigan. Props to Lagerfeld, though, for having a few plus size models strutting their stuff down the runway. Let me know, am I just not getting it or is the collection as a whole kind of bizarre?