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

Hanging out, naked - at a Korean Bath House in Queens...

LED light therapy sauna 

It's a shame visitors to New York tend to stay in Manhattan, and miss out on some of the other neighborhoods. Sometimes the most fascinating places are off the island, in the outer boroughs of the city. 

One such place is "Spa Castle" - a 10,000 square ft Korean bath house and spa, located in College Point, Queens - in the shadow of the Whitestone Bridge.

I was taken there by a friend who's a "born and bred" NY city girl. Always open to new and interesting experiences, she's visited it many times and raves about the place.

Arriving for the first time at "Spa Castle", you might easily mistake it for a "Holiday Inn" or other mid priced motel - the building looks so nondescript. I was almost disappointed, but inside it's another story.

If you're up for a cross cultural experience - a kind of hybrid Korean/European spa in a New York City urban neighborhood - then this is for you.

The entrance fee is $40 for a weekday all day pass - which gains you access to all five saunas and the indoor and out door spa pools and jacuzzis. Parking is in a garage underneath the building and is free. 

First off, each guest is given an electronic locker key to be worn around the wrist like a watch, and which can be swiped to purchase food and drinks or other, additional spa services, like full body scrubs or massages. 

Once inside the changing rooms, you remove your shoes and lock them in a small locker. Your clothes and wallet and all electronic devices go in another one. You are now officially unplugged. The floor, like the rest of the place, is scrupulously clean, and everyone walks around bare foot. And that's not the only "baring" that goes on - but we'll get to that...

You are lent a couple of towels, and a "uniform" of pink T shirt and black shorts if you are female; blue T shirt and shorts if you are male. You must wear these if you are wandering around the five levels of the building; in the saunas or sleeping rooms or chilling out at the many different food service or bar areas.

If you are going to hang out in the co-ed indoor pool with the "swim up" cocktail bar (alcohol and non alcoholic options) or in the many different outside roof top heated pools or jacuzzis you must wear a swim suit. 

But this is what defines this place as different to your usual "American" spa - there are several indoor single sex pools - and these are where you must hang out naked.

It takes a little getting used to, being stark naked in front of strangers, but on my visit, all shapes and sizes of the female form were represented, so really there's no reason to feel too self conscious.

In this space too, you can get a full body scrub, where you are literally laid out naked on a slab and scrubbed within an inch of your life, by the look of it. I thought I might do that next time...

But more than anything, it was so nice to see the multi generational Korean families - Grandma; daughter; children, all enjoying the warm, bubbly water, and all in the "nuddy" there together. It kind of made me feel sad that our culture is often so prudish.

The beautiful interior of one of the saunas

Later, dressed in our uniforms, with our swim suits now underneath, my friend and I headed to try out the different saunas. There are detailed descriptions of the health and wellness benefits of each of the saunas posted - suffice it to say - we did it all.

The painted interior of the largest sauna

Next, we headed to the roof and bobbed about in the heated outdoor pools and jacuzzi and laid under the different water jets strategically placed to benefit the neck; back; shoulder.

At this point, feeling ready for some lunch, we chose to try some Korean shrimp dumplings (delicious), from an extensive menu of Asian offerings (Korean and Japanese). There is also a menu of "regular" American food items, if you prefer, as well as a Starbucks - if you really can't forego a caffeine fix.

One of the roof deck outdoor heated pools

Before we left for the day, we arranged a 30 minute private foot massage (for an extra $30) which was sublime. All I will say, is that when I'm filthy rich, I will have my feet massaged every day...

And you know, hopefully financial worries are a thing of the past. You see, I did spend quite a considerable time under the LED pale blue lamp in the "Light Sauna", restoring my "Prosperity"...

Don't you want to try it too?

Revisiting a denim trend

Over overalls? 

Done with dungarees? 

I don't think so. Get ready. You'll be spotting them a lot in 2014...Maybe you'll be wearing them too...

I started seeing them on the runways in the Spring collections last year. I thought maybe they'd be a little blip on the fashion radar. Wrong.

Another fashion throw back to the late '80's early '90's, along with retro sneakers and clompy flats, they are very "in" this season. 

All the "IT" girls are sporting them, with turn ups or not; dark or acid wash; and underneath - sleeveless tanks; blouses; long sleeve T's or nothing at all ...

Alexa Chung arriving in London 

SJP in NYC

Selma Blair in LA

January Jones in LA

And I think all these women look really great. Super cool.

But what about men? 

Should they jump on the unisex band wagon and wear them too? 

Um, NO.

Case in point, Ashton Kutcher, at the Coachella music festival this past week.

Yep. That's a NO.

What? What's that you say? But "Dexy's Midnight Runners" wore them in the '80's and they were sooo COOL. 

Yes. Maybe. But some things should be left as you found them.

Let's not go there again.

Anticipating The Met Gala 2014

Elle Macpherson - spectacularly and fabulously negotiating the Met Gala staircase in flats

The Met Gala is my Super Bowl.

Or maybe, a better analogy - my Grand National and Kentucky Derby all rolled into one. Well, we ARE talking frisky, high strung, long legged fashion fillies.

Fashionistas forced to negotiate a long flight of stairs in gowns and high heels; being blinded by flashbulbs; all the while trying to make it look effortless, might not exactly be a steeplechase - but it's not that much of a stretch. And seriously, it's much more fun to watch.

Like any sports fan, anticipation and excitement builds long before the actual event - at the beginning of the season really. The positives and negatives of each contender are endlessly discussed and meticulously researched; opinions are read; bets are placed. It's the same for me.

In fact, my mind starts to race, months before the actual event, held each year on the first Monday night in May.

But here's where the sports analogy fails and this is the reason the Met Gala is such a spectacular event to watch.

Each year the rules of the game change.

The theme of the Met Gala reflects the chosen subject or theme of that year's Costume Institute exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and one must dress accordingly.

This can go spectacularly awry, and many a thoroughbred has fallen at the first hurdle.

Take for example, Gwyneth Paltrow at last year's "Punk: Chaos to Couture", trying so hard to be clever by incorporating a slash and a "punk-ish" hot pink color, but looking instead like a Pepto Bismol preppy princess - and oh so very boring.

Or poor pregnant Kimye - who just wore her very own couch fabric and look liked one too. Or Madonna, who worse than being either "boring" or "tasteless" made the fatal fashion faux pas of turning up in a punk inspired Halloween costume. 

Ah, but those are but a few of the fashion fails. What about the winners? Those that adhere to the given year's theme, but pull off a look that is both fashion forward and beautiful? I give you as an example Sienna Miller in Burberry spiked jacket and headband the same year. Now, how cool is she? Sienna is first passed the post by a furlong.

And so, this brings us to 2014, and in stark contrast to last year, the Met Gala will be a tribute to the first couture designer of the fashion world: "Charles James: Beyond Fashion"-  a designer famous in the 1940's for his classically feminine and beautifully draped ball gowns...

The dress code for this event has already caused a stir amongst men, as it has been requested they wear "White Tie and Decorations" i.e. the most formal evening wear of white tie and tails and top hats. For women, floor length dresses will be a must.

But how to interpret this look without being too literal? And how to be elegant and modern? How to negotiate that super long staircase and not trip over your enormous dress?

How to give a nod of reverence to Charles James without looking like a giant cupcake? 

I'm on the edge of my seat...

Discovering Cape May, NJ

Cape May Lifeboat

Cape May Lighthouse - built 1859

If I ask you to think of New Jersey, or ask you to find some adjectives to describe it,  probably "pretty"; "ornate" and "quaint" would be the last on the list. Most likely you'd think of "loud"; "brash"; "tough"- I know I did too...

I bet you'd picture the fictional pop cult characters of the hit TV drama "The Sopranos" - Tony perhaps, cruising in his oversized SUV on the NJ Turnpike, hairy, bear like hand gripping the wheel, large gold pinky ring, smoke rising from his enormous cigar gripped between chubby fingers.

Or maybe you'd think of the bombastic and literally, as well as figuratively, larger than life NJ Governor Chris Christie.

Maybe the iconic, New Jersey born, blue collar musicians like Bruce Springsteen or Jon Bon Jovi, come to mind, and their anthems about working class heroes, industrial landscapes and their hard knock lives.

Or perhaps more likely the infamous "reality" shows like "Jersey Shore" or "Jersey-licious" - with their over the top, loutish characters, all tattoos and greased back hair.

Then, like me, you'll be surprised to find, there is also a quiet and genteel side to New Jersey too. In fact, there are attractive and historic little towns dotted about the state.

One of the best of these is Cape May, NJ, situated at the most southern tip. Located at Exit Zero on the Garden State Parkway, it is a Victorian beauty on the NJ coast.

Established in 1857, it is America's oldest sea side resort. The whole town is designated a National Trust protected historic district. There are over 600 Victorian buildings there - stunning, fanciful, gingerbread houses painted in pastel shades with intricately carved porticos and balustrades. Today a large number of the residences have been transformed into Bed & Breakfast places; of course many Victorian buildings were constructed as hotels in the first place. Invariably they have imposing and elegant wraparound porches, and are furnished with wicker sofas and porch swings, perfect to lay upon and take the sea air.

Ornate Victorian balcony

The Congress Hall Hotel

Victorian beauty with mansard roof

Reception at Congress Hall Hotel

In the summer season, you can take street tours of the best historic houses, either in horse drawn carriages or vintage style trolley buses. 

There is a small pedestrian shopping area in the center of town lined with little boutiques selling jewelry and knick knacks and antique white lace; a classic traditional fudge shop; a 1950's style soda shop too.

The expansive, award winning, white sandy beaches are gorgeous, and you can watch dolphins from the shore. If you feel energetic, climb to the top of the Cape May lighthouse at Cape May Point State Park and admire the view for miles of the ocean and the bay.

In other words, if you want a little break from the speed and craziness of every day life, this is the perfect place in which to decompress. It's a journey back in time, and an unexpectedly beautiful side of New Jersey, that plays against the stereotype.

Grand Central Terminal NYC hidden gems

I still get a thrill when I arrive at Grand Central Terminal. The physical, cathedral like grandeur of the space, plus the hustle and bustle of commuters, always combines to send an adrenaline rush up my spine.

I get myself mentally prepared too: "OK - stay alert; be prepared; up the pace". I find it energizing. 

Most tourists, who come to marvel at the architecture, focus on the beauty of the central plaza and the center clock, or perhaps the stunning gold constellations painted on the sky blue ceiling. Most commuters are too busy rushing to the platforms to make their trains back to the suburbs to stop and take note. It's a shame both groups often miss some of the hidden gems within the building, hidden in plain sight.

"The Campbell Apartment", cocktail bar and lounge, located on the upper level and "The Grand Central Oyster Bar and Restaurant" which is situated on the lower level, are two of these such gems.

"The Campbell Apartment" harks back to the era of prohibition speakeasies. Look for a small sign on the lower level in the terminal next to a bank of elevators that will take you there, or an unprepossessing entrance at 15 Vanderbilt Ave which leads up to it, via a flight of carpeted stairs.

It is totally worth the effort to seek it out. Like the "Tardis" from the Dr. Who television series, the small entrance belies a magical space inside. It is gorgeous.

Though its name suggests otherwise, it was in fact never an apartment, but was rented as an office by 1920's business tycoon John W Campbell from Vanderbilt, who built Grand Central. After the space had been abandoned for many years and fallen into disrepair, it was re-imagined and reopened in 1999 as a swanky cocktail lounge.

Its original architecture, ceiling, moldings and faux fireplace were all completely restored and a bar was installed along one side of the room under the magnificent leaded window.

It's the perfect location to meet friends, as I did there the other month, as long as they can find it! And once comfortably nestled on one of the red velvet couches, order their infamous "Prohibition Punch" and kick back a little. Relax.

"The Grand Central Oyster Bar and Restaurant" can be found on the lower level. 

The once grand space had similarly fallen into disrepair and the marble pillars and high vaulted ceiling had inexplicably been covered with wallpaper, until it was renovated and reopened under new ownership in 1974. 

The original restaurant, opened in 1913 - "The Oyster bar" - had been named for its oyster stew.  The new management updated the restaurant name and completely recreated the menu with emphasis on seafood. Since then it has won many awards both for its culinary expertise as well as its wines. It's a stunning space and I particularly enjoy tasting their selection of oysters on the half shell (they offer a selection of 25 to 30 different varieties) or sipping one of their potent Bloody Mary's.

Check out the "whispering gallery" phenomenon while you're down there too - the effect created by the arches. Who knows what other little secrets within the walls of the Grand Central Terminal will come to light...

"The Beauty Bar" - salon/saloon - NYC

Returning to NYC after a decade away, I am thrilled to find my old neighborhood local, The Beauty Bar, located at 231 East 14th Street (between 2nd and 3rd Ave) is still going strong.

Originally an old 1950's style beauty salon, it was re-imagined and converted into a "saloon" in 1995. The owner installed a bar, but kept all the chrome-dome hair dryers. It draws an eclectic crowd who enjoy the retro vibe. 

In keeping with the history, they also offer a $10 manicure service along with your martini, most nights from 6pm to 11pm.

And if you listen very carefully I'm sure you can hear the spirits of the original blue haired ladies gossiping in their curlers...

Ralph Lauren's Magic Trick

Greenwich Avenue, in Greenwich, Connecticut runs up a hill in the center of town and caters to those with serious money to spend. The residents of this zip code are some of the wealthiest in America, in fact, some of the richest in the whole world, and this avenue is a luxury shopper's paradise. I would say every single luxury brand has a presence here.

None is so prominent as the Ralph Lauren store though, pride of place right in the middle of them all at #265, which opened in November 2009 - incredibly - in the middle of the recession.

Ralph Lauren has created a store that resembles a Grand Residence. It is very imposing, with its Beaux Arts limestone facade, enormous arched front entrance, large windows and balconies with ornate metal work. Inside the nearly 19,000 square foot building, there is a large marble tiled hallway with a sweeping staircase leading to smaller "salon" style rooms on the upper level. 

Not only does the building resemble the kind of mansion that would not seem out of place in F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel "The Great Gatsby", of course the clothes and home interior products evoke that era too.

In Ralph Lauren stores, you have come to expect the merchandise will be beautifully styled, but here it is presented on a higher level all together. 

You feel like you are literally walking into someone's unbelievably fabulous life. I've never seen mannequins that look like they are lounging about in relaxation, but in the formal sitting room, this is exactly what they seem to be doing. Here is one casually leaning against an antiqued mahogany table or another seated in a languid pose, both dressed in the most gorgeous evening gowns. You almost feel like you need to apologize for rudely gate crashing and intruding upon the pre dinner cocktails and hors d'oeuvres they are clearly about to enjoy.

Above the fireplace and marble mantlepiece is a large TV screen that runs loops of the most current Ralph Lauren catwalk shows featuring beautiful models in stunning clothes walking in time to music.

Luxury brand and luxury lifestyle - fantasy and reality - all meshed together in one glamorous place. This is experiential marketing at its absolute finest. I am living and breathing the Ralph Lauren brand and I'm totally emotionally immersed. They're flaunting the American Dream on the grandest of scales.

It's a mesmerizing sales pitch and beautifully executed.

Don't Ban Bossy

Last week I questioned what I felt to be the rather off putting strident, scolding tone of Sheryl Sandberg's current YouTube "Ban Bossy" campaign.

In my blog "Very Bossy Pants"  (3/28/14), I pointed out how Tina Fey had in fact "owned" the word "bossy" - even having titled her April 2011 memoir "Bossy Pants" - and used humor to convey a feminist perspective. 

Today, I happened to find this quote by Tina Fey's friend and colleague Amy Poehler, which I just had to share. I think she makes a very succinct point. 

Of course, Amy being Amy - clever, witty and absolutely hilarious - she also invented a humorous feminist code to live by. Maybe Sheryl Sandberg could reboot her campaign with this as the new tag line? I think it would be far more effective. OK. I'm joking. Sort of...