It's Love

Giambattista Valli

London meets New York: A Perfect Pairing

Recently, a very dear friend of mine from London was in town for New York Fashion Week. Only here for a brief amount of time, I took it upon myself to show her a quintessential NY night. In my mind, that meant beginning our evening with cheap drinks in the LES (Lower East Side- New York’s answer to Shoreditch), followed by an appearance at The Box, an East Village speakeasy complete with a boudoir inspired theme. Next on our list was Avenue, the uber trendy Meatpacking District club before we finally finished our evening at 4 AM over eggs at Cafeteria of Sex and the City fame… did I mention this was all on a Wednesday?

Having Natalie in town reminded me of just how fashion forward London was, even when compared to the iconic style of New York City. One thing I particularly coveted was Natalie’s adorable patterned
trousers, a trend that I guarantee will be ubiquitous stateside sometime next year.

In the meantime, this option from Asos is the perfect example of both the leopard fad and trouser trend. They are also just subdued enough not to garner looks of wonder from fellow NY trendsetters.

Even though they are far from work appropriate, they would be perfect for a night out when you’re sick of tights and not masochistic enough to go without some sort of leg coverage. Plus, you don’t have to worry about the rest of the ensemble- just throw on a black blazer and some chunky heels and you’re good to go. Or pair them with a cozy jumper when going for a more casual and day-appropriate look. Cheap Monday from UrbanOutfitters.com offers a great, lightweight version that would balance these statement-making pants. And in a dream world, I would throw on this lavish jacket from Net-a-Porter on Fall days when it is especially chilly.

Once considered the predictable staple, this new, unexpected way to wear trousers offers versatility of the previously boring look. And thanks to a visit from my fashionable friend and a reminder of just how much more exciting London style is than anywhere else in the US, I’ll be one of the first to don the patterned trouser look.

I love Sienna Miller

...and her designs, too!

Édouard Vuillard

GORGEOUS

Calvin Klein does the LBD

Minimal design and maximal taste.

Michael Kors: Confidence with a side of caution

If you're looking for a daring designer, Michael Kors is not your man. His designs are not envelope pushing, avant garde, or particularly inspired. He's safe. But at his recent Spring ’11 runway show, Kors proved that airing on the side of caution isn’t always such a bad thing.

Something has to be said for those willing to show restraint during the design process. It seems as if some designers use each season as an opportunity to show off their creative genius with overly self-indulgent clothes that are impossible to wear just for the sake of it. Michael Kors', however, refreshingly does the opposite. Rather than design clothes that speak as a testament to his creative genius, he confidently controls his talent and has become on of the most successful people in the industry as a result. He makes clothes that are meant to be lived in and not just gazed upon and his recent runway show was no exception. It is a solid and cohesive collection with pieces that could fit into any wardrobe. His bold color pallet is unexpectedly versatile and all of his looks embody the American classicism that Kors is known for. With his show being one of the most praised of the season, Michael Kors proves that wearable fashion doesn’t have to be an oxymoron.

Spotted at the Spotted Pig

New York Fashion Week is in full swing and with that comes celebrity spotting. And last night at the Spotted Pig was no exception. It was there that I spied one of my current fashion favorites, Alexa Chung.

Alexa Chung is The Moment's fashion darling. Her ability to use her innate Tom Boy awkwardness to her advantage and pull off an ironically girly charm is something worthy of imitation and envy. In fact, Alexa's unexpected style juxtaposition of masculine/feminine is so inspiring that Mulberry even has an Alexa bag to honor this muse.

However, Miss Chung lends more than just her name to her collection for Madewell. Boasting high-cropped shorts and blouses that are sure to attract a lustful gaze, her designs prove that this style savant is more than just a pretty face with a quirky wardrobe and a British accent, but also a well rounded addition to the Indie style scene.

Help Wanted in the Fashion Department

Here's an old post from when I first got to the City and landed my first real job. Even though I had my dream position, I wasn't quite sure I had the clothes to match. Read on...

In true New York fashion, my life has changed more dramatically in the past three days than it has in the entire four weeks since I’ve been here. Here’s the breakdown: on Tuesday I interviewed for a job, got it on Thursday, and start on Monday. To say my life has been a whirlwind the past few days would be quite the understatement.

The transition from student to intern to professional is pretty daunting, especially when factoring in the wardrobe. Being taken seriously in your career is obviously important, but at what style-cost?

Lately I've been wondering if one must sacrifice their fashion sense in order to obtain success in the workplace. For instance, must I be forced to set aside the Vogue, put down the Shu Uemura eyelash curler, and deny all knowledge of anything having the least bit to do with fashion if I want my new colleagues at a New York City literary agency to respect me? Let’s hope not.

One thing is for sure, I know that a complete fashion makeover is out of the question. No matter how badly I want to succeed in the literary world, everything has its limits.

Luckily, there are tons of great finds out there that can let you have your fashion cake and eat it, too. For example, this Helmut Lang would be perfect for the office. The avant-garde print juxtaposes the traditional cut brilliantly, making it a piece that can easily go from work to drinks with a few extra swipes of mascara and an added clutch. And these Lanvin pumps have longevity, which completely justifies the spending splurge.

And once I’ve proven myself enough, these daring harem trousers are definitely going to have their moment. Paired with a blazer, white tank, and amazing heels, this Topshop find screams SUCCESSFUL AND CONFIDENT IN BOTH FASHION AND BUSINESS!

Office style doesn’t have to be an oxymoron, and with a little restraint and strategic shopping, I’m sure I’ll be able to keep my love for fashion without losing my job, even though I may have to leave my Vogue-reading for at home and not while I'm at my desk.

Models and Citizens

Everyone has one thing that they are especially good at. Mine is being able to spot any model or fashion celeb from a mile away. And in New York City, this special gift certainly comes in handy.

When on the look out for a model, there are a few key traits to watch for. First of all, there's the unparallel height, which will be accentuated by sky high heels that she refuses to leave home without (even at 11 AM). Secondly, she will be lazily styled in a perfect blend of urban-boho chic (a look that usually involves super short shorts and no bra). And finally, hair will look as if she has just awoke from a nap on a beach in St. Barts-impeccably disheveled and with just the right amount of sun kissed highlights.

These are the models of Manhattan. And because the fashion industry is so prevalent here, it is rare that a day goes by that you don’t witness some variation of the aforementioned type. Especially on the brink of Fashion Week.

Take yesterday, for instance. Power walking on my lunch break, determined to get out of the NY August rain as quickly as possible and seek refuge in the closest Starbucks, who should be walking towards me but Coco Rocha. She was lengthy and pin-thin (much taller and thinner in real life, if that is even possible), carrying her portfolio through the torrential downpour sans umbrella. Despite the deluge, she remained looking impossibly chic in extremely belled black jeans and a racy leopard print blouse. Her face was bare and looked flawless. Definitely an "Only in Manhattan" experience.

Jessica Stam, a favorite of most, was another model I had the privilege of seeing. However, she was by no means as camera ready as the recently wed Rocha. I spied her at Dos Toros Taqueria in the East Village with a baseball cap but without make-up. I have to admit, seeing her in real life definitely ruined the illusion of the stunning model in the Aldo ads. Her hair was not the glossy bleached coif that she boasts in the campaign, and her complexion was not the flawless porcelain that the airbrushing had produced. Instead, she was pretty much just a plain Jane with dried out hair and a sour expression.

I'd have to say that nearly every time I've brunched at the East Village's Cafe Orlin, I've spotted one choice style icon. First it was Abbey Lee, looking stunning in a barely there tank, super short shorts and a floppy wide brim hat. Then it was Lily Cole, whose skin wasn't nearly as clear as one would have thought. And most recently, Charlotte Ronson, enjoying her meal alongside her photographer brother but, sadly, no Sam in sight.

I was also lucky enough to witness Agy Deyn at the gym and short about 3 inches of hair before seeing her again a few days later marching down Irving with combat boots and (what else) overalls. I also saw model-gone-missing Gemma Ward walking around St. Mark’s and Julia Restoin Roitfeld chatting on her cell phone in Chelsea.

Maybe claiming to have an eye for models and fashion folk isn't entirely accurate. It is much more likely that I just spend way too much time patrolling style blogs and live in a city where models are just as populous as Starbucks and Duane Reade. Either way, being able to see my favorite fashion ads in real life is truly a one of my favorite things about living in the fashion capital of the world.

(Abbey Lee looking cool, me trying to look cool)

Last New York Chapter

"A hundred times have I thought New York is a catastrophe, and fifty times : It is a beautiful catastrophe." -Le Corbusier

I have 4 months left in NYC before I move to Paris and I am determined to make the most of them.

I want to do all the things that are quintessentially New York.

Any thoughts and/or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Henry James and a Simple Life

Working in publishing exposes you to all sorts of literary tastes. Sci-fi, women's romance, non-fiction, self-help; you've got all your bases covered and then some.

Personally, I am a bit of a lit snob and feel the same way about literature as I do about fashion: you can never go wrong with a classic. Edith Wharton, Oscar Wilde, Hemingway, Steinbeck, just a few of the authors filling up my bookshelf. However, Henry James was one that I had not indulge in until very recently.

Washington Square Park is James to be added to my growing collection, which shamelessly boasts only a few random novels written since the turn of the millennium. It is the story of Catherine Sloper, the plain daughter of a wealthy doctor, who falls in love with Morris, a man whose attractiveness is his only redeeming quality. The relationship between Morris and Catherine is encouraged by Mrs. Penniman, the girl's meddlesome aunt who enjoys living vicariously through the courtship, and enthusiastically discouraged by Catherine's father, who can see that Morris' lack of employment and wealth is more to blame for the match rather than the love for his daughter.

I was forewarned by my colleagues that James' style is one that you either love or hate (something that I think is true of any author worth reading) and I fell for his writing immediately. James' style includes long sentences that inspire a sort of realistic rambling that only authors of that generation can get away with, and a catty narrator that makes his presence known at the most unexpected of time. The narration of the work is particularly enjoyable and allows of a simple tale of a wealthy man's unfaltering disapproval of his daughter's engagement to an unemployed "mercenary" to leave the reader feeling completely fulfilled.

For instance, when the character of Mrs. Penninman becomes nearly unbearable the narrator's intrusion adds some welcomed comic relief: "'She has always performed them faithfully; and now do you think she has no duties to you?' Mrs. Pinniman always, even in conversation, italicized her personal pronouns." James' confidence in creating such a playful narrator enhances this work and is arguably one of the most skilled qualities of the novel.

*************************************************************************************

SPOILER ALERT!!!!!

Similar to how the interruptions of the narrator add a level complexity to Washington Square, so does its unexpected ending. I was taken aback (in a good way) to find that Catherine ultimately rejects Morris even after years she assumingly spent pining for him. With her father dead and no other obstacles keeping the two apart, Catherine still chooses a life alone than one with her ex-fiance. But why? This unexpected decision on Catherine's part leads the reader to re-evaluate her decision. The whole time, James makes it seem as though her small and lonely life is the result of a broken heart after Morris is unable to follow through with the engagement. But even after years spent waiting for him, or at least that how it appears to the reader, she does not allow for him to court her once again.

Catherine's solitude is more deliberate and less circumstantial than one originally assumes. After she rejects Morris, James explains that her life remains unchanged: "Catherine, meanwhile, in the parlor, picking up her morsel of fancywork, had seated herself with it again- for life, as it were." Catherine is no longer the dejected character that she once was to the reader. Instead, her simpleness (something that is accentuated throughout Washington Square) is reconfirmed- she is a facile girl with a desire for a life that matches her painfully mild temperament.

While I did love this book, Catherine was a character with whom I had absolutely nothing in common. Her even temper, lack of passion and preference, her annoying desire to remain in her father's favor (a goal that the reader knows is futile), and her inability to stand up to her conniving aunt make her detestable. Her lack of depth is further emphasized when her father escorts her on a European tour in order to wean her off of Morris' affection and she returns unchanged.

Despite my issues with Catherine, Henry James managed to create characters that I was able to draw strong opinions of, which definitely no small feat (trust me, I've read too much of the slush pile not to know this). The style of Washington Square Park is one could easily be compared to Oscar Wilde's Victorian charm, but without the flamboyant imagery. It is one that favors narrative technique and developed characters over a complicated story line to create a work that will be remember, even if it is not loved. All in all, I would definitely have to consider this a "must read" for anyone who shares my passion for classic literature.

East Meets West (Coast)

Another from my time at SheerLuxe...

Hailing from Los Angeles, I’ve always admired the chic sophistication of the East Coast and, more specifically, New York. Even though the cities share a country, when it comes to style, the similarities stop there. Each destination offers their own take on fashion and style, largely determined by the industry that dominates in each.

In LA, to work in “The Industry” means to work in entertainment: the struggling actress complete with her predictable Juicy Couture tracksuit and Venti iced skinny latte from Starbucks (with two Splendas), the artsy film maker who prowls the vintage shops of Melrose to increase his indie-cred, the director who favours classic Calvin Klein tailoring in order to impress potential producers.

The key to style in Los Angeles is to dress to impress as many people as possible, because just like a movie needs to be liked by a large and diverse audience in order to be popular, so do the people making it.

Location and climate also play a big part in expanding the divide between East and West fashion, a fact that can easily be witnessed while rummaging the wardrobe closets of two guilty TV pleasures: The OC vs. Gossip Girl. In The OC, midriffs and flip flops were the staple, while the high-maintenance characters in their East coast equivalent would never be caught dead in either.

But don’t let the appearance of the effortless style in California beguile you. Both the LA girl and NY doll put in comparable amounts of time into getting ready, it’s just that the New Yorker is proud to flaunt her effort and the Los Angeles local tries to hide it.

Both the effortless look of the West and the deliberateness of the East can be traced back to the influences of their industries: walk into Vogue looking like you just rolled out of bed, no effort whatsoever, and you’ll end up on the streets, walk into a movie casting doing the same and be praised for your low-maintenance tendencies and unpretentious nature.

If it’s the flair of Manhattan that piques your interest and you want a polished look that would impress even Anna Wintour, pair this statement making skirt from Preen (or the more affordable Francois skirt courtesy of Reiss) with a blazer in either black or navy (a new neutral), tailored white blouse, and these Alaia booties, which add something tough to the look. Now all that’s needed is a chignon and some attitude and you’ve got yourself one impressive ensemble.

Looking for something less planned and more relaxed? Then the style of the West coast definitely more closely aligns with your fashion ideology. Try the carefree look of the Love Story J Brand in this subtly distressed wash matched with a bright white hippie inspired blouse, like this smock top from See by Chloe, to make you the envy of all the Kate Hudsons out there. Leave your hair loose and imperfect, ready for a day of shopping in Santa Monica or a dip in the Pacific.

While I may be an LA girl by birth, I’m a New Yorker by nature. Something about the energy of Manhattan is much more alluring to me than the beaches of Malibu. And even though I’ll give accolades to anyone who can spend hours getting ready only to look like they just fell out of their shabby chic quilt and actually pull it off, for this Cali girl, it’s the style of New York that triumphs in this fashion war.

Saving Lace

Lace: once reserved for Victorians and those hoping to channel Madonna circa 1985, has made a comeback. Romantic lace, sexy lace, gothic lace... it seems like being holy this season is in and that the rigid structures of seasons past is out! However, some might need a divine intervention in order to get this trend spot on.

One of the things I love about lace is also what makes it difficult to master: its versatility. Punk-rock, angelic, sexy, demure... it's like fashion Mad Libs. Unfortunately, with the limitless options comes the limitless potential to screw it up royally. One accessory too many and you'll look like you fell out of a Cyndi Lauper music video. One accessory too few and you'll look like you're running late for ballet practice. To sum it up- this soft fabric is pretty hard to pull off. But with the proper guidance and the right amount of self control, this look has the potential to charm even the coldest of cynics.

The most important thing about lace is to pick a style and then commit. None of this "ballerina meets Avril Levine plus a bit of Billy Idol". Decisiveness is key. For instance, let’s say you choose a romantic incarnation. Limit yourself to just a few pieces that will allude to the lace rather than yell it from across the room. The subtlety of this Phillip Lim 3.1 is brilliant (http://www.net-a-porter.com/product/80125). Even though it is drenched the delicate fabric, the silk allows for it to add texture rather than cloy. I’d pair it with some nude heels to keep the pallet light and a cropped blazer to complete the look.

If you’re more daring or have a special occasion, you’ll fall head over heels for the dresses from Kate Moss for TopShop. She offers her devotees long tulle options that make it clear why we all wonder What Would Kate Wear. Or if you want something a little less conspicuous, TopShop also offers tons of adorable crop lace tops to pair with your high-waisted jeans for an easy weekend look.

The Goth Lace Look is probably the hardest to master without looking cliché, so pick one standout piece and work around it. I’d love to wear this LBD (http://www.my-wardrobe.com/sara-berman/black-lace-dress-by-sara-berman) with heels and long pearls to add some graceful accents to this edgy choice. But buyer beware: too many accessories will make you look like a Lady of the Night, instead of the chic Girl About Town that we would all love to incarnate.

Lace is a beautiful thing. Feminine, soft, delicate, it is the ultimate luxury fabric. And while it is not necessarily an easy look to master, if able to resist the urge to over-indulge, the rewards of a well thought out lace ensemble will definitely make it worth the effort.

"I die"

Phillip Lim 3.1

Enough said.

Je suis une flâneuse

"If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stay with you, for Paris is a movable feast." -Ernest Hemingway

I have decided to move to Paris in January and have absolutely no way of justifying it other than to say "c'est la vie."

A thin line between love... and being a writer.

"Any authentic work of art must start an argument between the artist and his audience."

-Rebecca West

Being a writer is tricky. In order to be worthy of relevance, you have to say something unique. Doing so, however, makes your work vulnerable to critique, inevitably allowing it to be weighed on a scale of good vs. bad, agreeable vs. disagreeable, wrong vs. right. What would be the point of reading something that you can't argue with or against? Why read something that doesn't challenge you to establish an opinion? And that's the sitch- to be a writer you have to be OK with being hated.

I know that this whole writing pursuit is a little futile and completely self-indulgent. But you only live once. And what would be the point of it all if you can't allow yourself to be a little capricious and impractical, all in the name of passion?

My point exactly.

Celebrity Zoo: Watching Stars in their (semi) Natural Habitats

If you want to see a celebrity in Los Angeles, you are going to. They are both ubiquitous and predictable. Their omnipresence is what attracts tourists and locals alike to the all the places featured in the latest US Weekly (and provokes them to buy it) and why non-famous people make reservations at The Ivy (definitely not for the food) or shop at Maxfield (definitely not for the fashion). You'd be hard pressed to find a time when there isn't at least one Hollywood starlet haunting Robertson Blvd., or a week when at least one former Friends star doesn't drop by for some overpriced sushi at Nobu in Malibu. These spottings, however, are obvious and strategic on the celeb's part; these are the places they go when they want to be seen.

I'll never forget the time I saw MKA at Crosscreek in Malibu, looking amazing and strutting for the paparazzi on a Sunday morning when any normal person would be looking hungover and exhausted. Or when Christina Agulaira sat across from my friend during her birthday dinner at the Ivy, dressed to the nines. Mandy Moore, Jennifer Anniston, Justin Timberlake- these are just a few of the stars I've been privy to, none of which were anything less than camera ready when recognized. The same, however, cannot be said of the stars haunting the New York City streets.

Balancing out the conspicuousness of LA, is the anonymity New York. The City offers liberating to stars who would rather not have their personal space invaded by the threatening paparazzi. Here, celebs walk amoungst us mortals with little notice (and even less make-up). The spontaneity of experience is what makes a celeb spotting in New York unique. So much so, in fact, that you often don't know it is happening until it is over.

Seeing Meg Ryan walking around an East Village movie theater, looking like she just rolled out of bed, was one of those "did that really just happen?" moments of my life. Or better yet, who would of thought Agy Deyn would be drying off her newly shaved head just as I was heading off to spin at the Union Square Crunch? And there's no way I ever would have thought I'd see Penn Badgley completely engrossed in his journal while downing copious amounts of coffee while I sat enjoying my omlette at Gramercy Cafe. These stars were all completely casual and relaxed, a striking contrast to the contrived "A-Game" glamour of an Los Angeles spotting.

In New York, the big city allows for everyone, even the famous people, to get lost in a crowd. And that's what makes seeing a celebrity in New York all the more exciting- the chance of it all. Seeing someone in LA takes skill and a subscription to Star, but in New York you'd better have a keen eye, a lot of luck, and a tendency to expect the unexpected. Happy hunting...

J'aime French Fashion

Here's a post from while I was interning at Sheerluxe in London... Enjoy!

Besides crepes and a general distaste for all things non-French, Paris is also famous for its completely chic fashion. Walk the streets of Saint Germain and the natives are distinct from the crowd by their picture perfect ensembles, a style that’s exclusive to the city.

Being a complete Francophile, I've been taking notes from Debra Ollivier's informative guide, Entre Nous: A Woman's Guide to Finding Her Inner French Girl to make my life that bit more chic. Even though for most of us a Saturday shopping trip will involve trawling Oxford Street rather than Saint Michel, we can all add a spot of Parisian sophistication to our wardrobes.

The first thing to keep in mind when attempting a Parisian look is to remember how the French approach all things in life: quality vs. quantity. Walk into a French girl’s wardrobe and you may be shocked to find that it could easily fit into a quarter of the space that your clothes demand.

Look a little closer and you might just spot Chanel, Hermes, YSL... this girl knows her couture. She shops for classic pieces with longevity, rather than trendy pieces that lose relevance with each season, shopping for her life and not for a trend.

Take note, and next time, when you find yourself in a panic about a £12 neon printed dress from Primark, instead put that money towards a great vintage scarf with long-term appeal.

Even though the French lovely is a firm fan of great basics, she’s not one to shy away from quirky fashions, Sonia Rykiel being a perfect example.

On a recent trip to the city, I was completely taken aback by how many Rykiel boutiques could be spied along the Seine, but was less surprised once I witnessed the way the designer gives traditional designs an original twist. This blouse for example has a perfectly neutral colour, but its details make it specifically Sonia, and completely French.

Another thing I love about Parisian fashion is its androgynous vibe. Dressing like a bloke whilst still remaining femininely attractive is definitely no easy task. The French girl knows this, as well as the value of a good tailored blouse, like this one from APC. Paired with delicate ballet flats and cigarette trousers, this ensemble would fool even the likes of Audrey Tatou into thinking your flat was beside the Champs-Élysées, rather than the Circle Line.

To avoid making the boyish look the consequence of a laundry day that forced you into your boyfriend’s wardrobe, be sure to leave the bedhead at home, because the Parisian local is nothing if not well groomed.

The French girl wears whatever she wants and isn’t afraid to take chances, making her outfits deliberate and marked with self-assurance. So even if the androgynous idea isn’t your thing, and quirk is something you look for in the cinema rather than your closet, the confidence of the Parisian set is something that is definitely universally alluring.

To Live (and Blog) Deliberately

"I went into the woods because I wished to live deliberately and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived." -Henry David Thoreau

What comes first: the purpose or the blog?

Blogging for the sake of it seems completely valid to me. Even though it is understandable to ask "what's your blog about," isn't the point of a blog to be about nothing?

If forced to explain the motivating factor behind my recent blogging it would have to be this:

I simply want to capture this unique part of my life. Of being 23, living in New York, traveling as much as I possibly can, and trying to figure out everything else along the way.

An Ode to the WASP

WASP- (n.) an acronym for White Anglo-Saxon Protestant

I had been familiar with the term before I moved to New York, but hadn't really grasped its full meaning until officially arriving on the East Coast. Prior to, I had just assumed that it was a fancy way of saying "Caucasian." It wasn't until I walked among them that I fully realized the error of my ways.

The best way to describe the WASP phenomenon would be "Old Money." To the WASP, tradition, breeding and lineage are what matters. Pastel Locaste polos are worn to particularly boozy Sunday brunches at their Hamptons estate where they play tennis, speak with a hint of a British accent (the Motherland), and frown upon the vulgarity of "New Money.". In London, the closest equivalent would be the Public School boys who graduate from Cambridge, party more glamorously than any American I know (or at least with a bit more sophistication), all before succumbing to their fate of working in the City and inhabiting a flat off of Sloane Square.

Los Angeles does not believe is WASPS, which I suppose explains my fascination. We would rather embrace a less stuffy and more superficial show of money, a la the Entertainment Industry. As a result, coming from the West Coast mindset of "If you've got it, flaunt it," which is usually personified through expensive cars and flashy shopping trips to Robertson Blvd., has made this snobby Ivy League state of mind completely foreign, and consequentially, intruiging to me.

I've recently been turning (pun intended) to books in order to better understand this obscure lifestyle. The Great Gatsby, obviously, is the quintessential example of the WASP culture, with Gatsby himself embodying the ostentation that WASPS, like Daisy and Jack, hate. However, the distinction between old and new has not diminished much since the roaring 20's and can be experienced in a myriad of ways. Cheerful Money and Too Much Money are just a few of the enlightening works available that offer a glimpse into the world of the WASP, for those with breeding that would otherwise prohibit it.

I am well aware that my LA background makes it impossible for me to ever fully enter the WASP's inner sanctum, however, that doesn't mean I can't at least attempt to capture some of the essence of their being. Thanks to stores like J. Crew, GAP, and Banana Republic after the age of 40 when the WASP switches for Coco to Number 5, and the WASP's style Bible, Take Ivy, the preppy look is just a VISA swipe away, in spite of my "New Money" heritage.

Because, after all, who doesn't love a good Polo?

My Muse

"...and sat there for over an hour, his mind racing the paths of fruitless and wretched self absorption..."

-F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Beautiful and the Damned

Someone once told me I should be a muse.

It was during a hardcore makeout session on the front lawn of the Grand Hotel, in a blow up chair, at the Cannes Film Festival.

This is my life.

Need I say more?