ali mode

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Elson & Co.

Fashion Underfoot II - Thakoon

Elson & Company, one of my all-time favorite rug companies, has launched a new Fashion Underfoot II collection, and the designs are unbelievably beautiful. With all the big names out there like The Rug Company, Safavieh, and the like, Elso & Co. always seems to coast somewhat under the radar. However, their designs, and the creative talent they work with, are both top notch. One of their best know collaborations is with Oscar de la Renta, but they've also done collections with Fabien Baron, Kathryn Ireland, Hable Construction, and Lulu DK. The owner, Diane Elson Bankoff, also happens to be one of the loveliest people I've ever worked with. Just wanted to share some of the new collection, along with a few of my favorite oldie but goodies from Oscar.

Fashion Underfoot II - Marchesa

Fashion Underfoot II - Peter Som

Fashion Underfoot II - Oscar de la Renta

Fashion Underfoot II - Tory Burch

Fashion Underfoot II - Cynthia Rowley

Fashion Underfoot - Oscar de la Renta

Oscar de la Renta Durrie Collection - Sevila

Friday, August 7, 2009

Inspiration: Australian Gourmet Traveller

I really love to cook, but what I'm finding I love almost as much is food photography. What was once a huge thorn in my side (long story) has now become a total obsession. Some of my favorite photographs are from the website of Australian Gourmet Traveller. Not only are the recipes great, but the images are so lush and tactile, it's enough to make you start salivating. Here's a little taste of some of the gorgeous photography you'll find on their site, but believe me, there's plenty more where these came from. Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Roberta Roller Rabbit

Apologies for the lack of posts lately. I just started at a new job and am still trying to work my daily routine. Looks like the globetrotting Roberta Freymann of Roberta Roller Rabbit has finally made her wonderful prints available to online shoppers. The tunics are perfect as beach cover-ups that can easily take you from the sand to dinner (I'm thinking a belt and some jewelry would do the trick) and the price for her printed pillows is incredibly reasonable at a mere $40. Not to mention her great tablecloths - I'm thinking I might just need one of those for my next summer dinner party. Happy shopping!

Monday, August 3, 2009

VOGUE Living Australia

I wanted to start off the week with these beautiful images from the May/June issue of Australian VOGUE Living . The issue is guest edited by Catherine Martin, the Academy Award-winning set and costume designer, and frequent collaborator of husband, director Baz Lurhman. The entire issue is amazing, but one of my favorite stories was the home of Gael Boglione and her husband Francesco, located on the outskirts of London. The couple describes how they paired down the swags of fabric that were almost suffocating the house, and cleared out the cluttered rooms filled with long forgotten antiques. They also started a garden center next door, which includes a restaurant serving up seasonal dishes. It's just so rare to see a storied home done with such elegant simplicity, and I can't get over the depth and beauty of their limewashed walls. Another highlight for me was the couple's incredible art collection with works by Lucien Freud, Damien Hirst, and Gary Hume. For anyone who's ever been afraid to mix contemporary pieces with antiques and vintage finds, I hope this home inspires you to give it a shot. Happy Monday everyone!

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Paperless Post

I received my first invite via Paperless Post the other day and I'm obsessed! Evites are so a thing of the past. Don't get me wrong - for a small party I'd still opt for actual paper and pen, but for a larger soiree these are definitely the way to go. It's free to become a member and it will run you around $5.00 to send 60 invites. The paper styles and motifs they offer are just so chic and I love how they've managed to simulate the experience of opening an envelope to reveal the invite within. All the thrill, none of the mess.

Photos: Paperless Post / style.com

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Pronounce It Right

We've all been there - you read about someone or something interesting and find the conversation at a subsequent cocktail party turning to that exact subject, but...you have absolutely no idea how to pronounce it correctly. You're dying to put your two cents in, but, for fear of looking like an idiot, you remain silent. Well, Pronounce It Right has come to the rescue. Not only can you search within categories such as Food, Art/Photography/Architecture, Literature/Poetry, and Politics (hello Mahmoud Ahmadinejad), there's also a search box for you to type in that pesky name you were dying to bust out. For all you design lovers who still aren't sure how to pronounce the name of those gorgeous Thonet chairs, check it out. Trust me, this one is a shocker.

Friday, July 24, 2009

Robert Longo

Robert Longo's studio, The Selby

We all feel moved by works of art for different reasons, but having the chance to peak inside an artist's studio can really transform the relationship you have with their work. It's a reminder that the pieces you love don't just magically appear on the gallery wall. They are the slow, meditative work of a pair of hands, masterfully employing a medium to create something beautiful out of what was previously just a bunch of art supplies. For me, it's a wonderful reminder that art isn't something apart and untouchable, but something that is brought to life through labor and creativity, just like you or I might bring to life a recipe or a room.

The work of Robert Longo always reminds me of this through the sheer simplicity of materials: charcoal on paper. Using only what those of you who have ever taken an art class know to be the most elemental of building blocks, he creates images so striking, they stay with you long after you've looked away. Some of Longo's work was featured in the first issue of Dossier, and his work is currently on view as part of The Pictures Generation, 1974-1984 show at The Met. Best of all, The Selby recently shot Longo's studio here in NYC. I'm off to grab a pad of paper and some charcoal and get to work. Happy Friday!