A Valentine's love letter to my tribe

With my daughter at the Women's March in NYC 1/21/2017

It's been a while since I wrote this blog. Life intervenes, shit happens. Cancer, a death in the family, unemployment, moving houses, and this project kind of got put on the back burner.

I never forgot what initially inspired me to try to write something (anything!) in the first place though - the love and support of my girlfriends.

And seriously, without these girls, whose encouragement, and laughs over bottles of assorted booze, lunches, dinners, the occasional weekend away - I never would've made it through in any kind of shape these past few years.

As women, how crucial it is that we love and support each other! And not just on a personal level, on a professional level too.

I was thinking about this the other day after reading Amal Clooney's speech at the Texas Women's conference.

Amal Clooney speaking at the Texas Conference for Women -  11/16/16

Here's an excerpt:

"As women there's a common bond. Experiences that only women go through and struggles that only women face. The worst thing that we can do as women is not stand up for each other. And this is something that we can practice everyday no matter where we are or what we do. Because if we are united, there is no limit to what we can do".

And then yesterday I read Adele's speech at the Grammy's:

"But I can’t possibly accept this award. And I’m very humbled and I’m very grateful and gracious. But my artist of my life is Beyoncé. And this album to me, the “Lemonade” album, is just so monumental. Beyoncé, it’s so monumental. And so well thought out, and so beautiful and soul-baring and we all got to see another side to you that you don’t always let us see. And we appreciate that. And all us artists here adore you. You are our light."

"And the way that you make me and my friends feel, the way you make my black friends feel, is empowering. And you make them stand up for themselves. And I love you. I always have and I always will."

At the Grammy's 2/12/2017 - breaking her award to share with Beyonce

What a beautiful tribute - heartfelt and honest - and in itself empowering.

You see, Sheryl Sandberg was only half right. Yes - we need to "lean in", but we also need to know who's there to help us if we stall for a moment.

Thank you to my tribe.

Thank you for having my back these past couple of years.  Know I will always have your back too.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY.  I LOVE YOU.

Tall girl inspiration

I've mentioned before in this blog (March 2014), how I adored L'Wren Scott.

I recently came across this photo of her, taken alongside the diminutive SJP, and it makes me smile every time I look at it. 

Whatever the sad circumstances of her suicide, I want to remember her in this moment. 

Look how confidently she is standing! How cool is she? 6 ft 3inches in her bare feet; but still choosing to wear stilettos. 

How I loved her style!

And I admired how she created an incredibly glamorous life for herself - despite the humblest of beginnings - and by all accounts still remained kind and empathetic and generous of spirit. 

Named LuAnn by her adoptive parents, she had grown up in Utah. At 18, she was discovered by photographer Bruce Weber and became a model, and later a stylist. 

It was with this background and training in fashion that she went on to found her own successful fashion label - renowned for deceptively simple and elegantly streamlined clothing that belied the complicated structure underneath.

RIP L'Wren Scott.

You'll be remembered as an inspiration to tall girls everywhere.

"Death Becomes Her" - a century of mourning clothes. A fascinating exhibit to see now at The Met.

Holiday shopping season in NYC is in full swing; the Christmas lights are up; the outdoor ice rinks are open at Bryant Park and Rockefeller Plaza...

Crowds are gathering too at the MOMA for the major Henri Matisse retrospective: "The Cut-Outs" but I head with my fashion stylist friend Cathie, for a fascinating afternoon at The Met.

On now, until February 1st, and showing in the brand new Anna Wintour Costume Center:

"Death Becomes Her" - a century of mourning clothes - 1815 to 1915.

You might be mistaken in thinking "Death Becomes Her" is a little bit of a macabre topic for a fun Sunday afternoon outing? Or just so perfectly and laughably stereotypical for the "Only in New York!" naysayers. NYC is the only city in the US where black is THE go to "color" for every season, all year round - after all...

But, believe me, the exhibition is much more than just an ode to gothic glamour.

This carefully curated collection of 30 beautiful costumes (and some jewelry) examines the societal expectations and fashion/etiquette prescribed by the ladies' fashion journals of the day around mourning.

It's beautifully done.

It covers the arc of time between 1815 to 1915 when women of a certain upper class standing were expected to withdraw from public life and activities, and adhere to strict "respectable" mourning period guidelines - one to two years in mourning for a husband; 6 months to a year for a parent; 3 to 6 months for a sibling.

To portray one's grief in the very beginning, matt black clothing was to be worn. As time progressed, small editions of white could be added, along with glossier fabrics. Towards the end of the set mourning period, more ornate beading and other embellishment could be worn, until gradually a muted palate - grays; mauves; violets and purples.

Pictured here - amazingly preserved, and one of the highlights - is one of Queen Victoria's mourning gowns. A woman who was certainly a style leader in the concept of the fashion of mourning, indeed she wore mourning gowns for the rest of her life after Prince Albert died.

Below is a spectacular sequined deep purple evening gown worn by Queen Alexandra. A fabulous example of evening wear to be worn after the initial period of mourning had passed.

And here is a brooch featuring the delicately braided hair of a loved one. Mourning jewelry incorporating the hair of the deceased was very popular, along with jet and ebony carved necklaces and pins.

The fact that the mourning fashion trend waned after 1915 is significant. 

During the midst of WW1 there were simply too many deaths, and women were needed to step up, not withdraw from society. Women were needed to fill vital roles in the war effort, and all of a sudden, in these changing times, the whole practice seemed restrictive and self indulgent.

Not that I am totally dismissive of the mourning clothes concept. I remember distinctly, after the death of my Father (four years ago now)  telling my close friends, that I wished I could've worn them.

At the time, I wanted people to know I had suffered a terrible loss, and by wearing a mourning "uniform" I hoped that strangers would perhaps have acknowledged my more sensitive, vulnerable state. 

Perhaps we would treat others a little more kindly if we saw them wearing black? Perhaps we should start a movement to bring mourning fashion back?

But, wait, what am I saying?

I live in New York. 

We all wear black all the time anyway ...

Gifts that are literally out of this World - Astro Gallery of Gems, NYC ...

Every visitor to New York should check out the rocks on 5th Ave.

The Tiffany & Co flagship store on 5th Ave, at 57th street, and made famous by Audrey Hepburn in "Breakfast at Tiffany's" - is definitely worth a visit. 

Like most women, I love beautiful jewelry, and the sparklers in the window cases here need to be seen to be believed. While you're in the neighborhood, check out the Cartier store; Harry Winston; Bulgari too. Tick them off your list.

Then jump in a cab and travel some 20 blocks further South.

At 5th Ave between 36th and 37th street, is a gem store that is by far and away more interesting, and one of New York's best kept secrets...

Astro Gallery of Gems has incredible natural rocks; fossils; gem stones and minerals - raw and uncut - mined straight from the Earth. 

What do you buy the friend who has everything? How about a 4 million year old fossil? Or a dinosaur skeletal foot? A giant glistening purple amethyst or a lump of gold pyrite the size of a small dog?

And it's not just treasures from this planet that can be bought there either...

How about a gift that is literally out of this world? 

How about a meteor? 

Here is one, about the size of a large loaf of bread, and it's yours for only $18,000.

The store is third generation owned and operated, and caters to the general enthusiast, as well as the serious collector.

I am told that contained within the safe, hidden from public view in the owner's basement offices, are even more spectacular raw gems and uncut minerals which are sold to the super rich and traded like investments.

The pieces on display are museum quality, but entry is free, and everyone is welcome to browse.

Trust me. Go there. You'll be amazed. 

Tall Girl In Stilettos: NY trending - All hail King Kale :)

Tall Girl In Stilettos: NY trending - All hail King Kale :): Like everything else in this fast paced city - food trends come and go with remarkable speed. One minute everyone was talking up...

NY trending - All hail King Kale :)

Like everything else in this fast paced city - food trends come and go with remarkable speed.

One minute everyone was talking up the wonders of the exotic acai berry.

Next up was quinoa. This is now old hat - and not just because it tastes like one.

Right now - kale has the spotlight. 

It's all about the green. Oh Yes. And not just because it's the color of the money.

Take a stroll around SOHO and you'll spot at least three women within a two block radius sipping from a plastic bottle of green sludge, as they charge down the sidewalk in their uber trendy Birkenstocks with their iPhone headphones attached to their ears.

 Apparently - we all should be gulping it too...and here's why:

 Kale is low in calorie, high in fiber and has zero fat. 

 Kale is high in iron.

 Kale is high in Vitamin K.

 Kale is filled with powerful antioxidants. 

 Kale is a great anti-inflammatory food

 Kale is great for cardiovascular support.

 Kale is high in Vitamin A.

 Kale is high in Vitamin C. 

 Kale is high in calcium.

 Kale is a great detox food.

Now - I love to be part of a trend as much as the next girl - but I just can't do the green sludge "juice thing"...

Liquid diets are not for me - well - not unless you added a lot of vodka.

 A Bloody Mary IS tomato juice right!?

And let me tell you - eating Kale in chip form is not to be recommended either.

Spying these in my local NY deli (for the wallet gauging price of $5:99) I thought maybe I could get my Kale fix in a salty; crunchy manner.

Er, Nope. 

Take my advice: if it looks like a scab and tastes like the bottom of a hamster's cage - put down the bag.

Clearly for me, the only way to go was to eat it in a salad.

And I did the other day at a great little place out in the Hamptons - LT Burger, Sag Harbor, NY. 

Drenched in a citrus dressing and served with candied walnuts; beetroots; avocado; and chicken, accompanied by a side of french fries. Yum.

And SO on trend. 

Until the next "big" thing.

In fact, I hear cauliflower is on a upswing ....

Have YOU tried it yet??

Breaking the rules in the spirit of Charles James

Photographing the exhibit at The Met was strictly forbidden and aggressively enforced, but I like to "color outside the lines" now and again, especially if it's for a good cause. 

Plus, it wasn't technically me who was doing it  - I had engaged my innocent looking ten year old daughter, who was more than excited to oblige. My little "fashionista" in training, she wandered around with her iPhone (flash off) and chose to capture what took her fancy.

And so it was that we channeled the very spirit of the truly revolutionary and rule breaking British designer, Charles James, to show you these images.

A man who in his heyday in the 1940's and '50's constructed the most technically brilliant and innovative couture clothing for the top tier of society ladies.

Who inspired a multitude of designers - including, most famously Dior's "New Look" - and has been endlessly copied and deconstructed since.

And as the exhibition makes clear,  didn't just design bespoke evening gowns either, but also invented "the quilted" jacket, and a multitude of other cuts and designs of outer wear.

Though widely celebrated and achieving fame and fortune in his lifetime, he nonetheless died penniless at The Chelsea Hotel, NY.

Don't you think my "secret" photographer did a great job?

And also following in my footsteps - check out her blog - www.tallgirlinuggs.blogspot.com