Model Morphosis

The life of a model is ever changing. Don't be who you want to be- be who the photgrapher, designer, or magazine wants you to be. A model's physical appearance is as varied as the runways the walk on. Sometimes it's hard to believe that the girl walking gracefully at Chanel is the same one skipping youthfully at Betsey Johnson.

The NY Times ran an article called Model Morphosis charting a day in the life of a few models going through Fashion Week. If I didn't know it was just one girl, I almost wouldn't believe it.

A model goes through a lot of makeup (and makeup remover) in one Fashion Week, but imagine how much a supermodel goes through in a career. Let's run with that...

For this little experiment, I picked Isabeli Fontana. She models for Victoria's Secret, so I think that makes her pretty super. She's also doing ads for Valentino, Versace,and Roberto Cavalli this season. The photos run from 2001 to 2008. I think her makeup removal for Viktor & Rolf (row 5, 2nd, 3rd, & 4th pictures) alone could keep the baby oil industry afloat.

click picture for a larger view

Photos all via Style.com. From top left: Alessandro Dell'Acqua Fall 05, Behnaz Sarafpour Spring 05, Christian Dior Fall 02, Dolce & Gabbana Fall 04, DSquared2 Fall 06, Givenchy Spring 06, Jeremy Scott Fall 02, John Galliano Spring 05, Louis Vuitton Fall 04, Marc by Marc Jacobs Spring 04, Versus Fall 02, Max Mara Spring 06, Miu Miu Fall 08, Miu Miu Spring 04, Oscar de la Renta Fall 08, Oscar de la Renta Spring 04, Prada Fall 08, Viktor & Rolf Fall 08, Viktor & Rolf Fall 01, Viktor & Rolf Spring 05, Valentino Fall 04, Versus Fall 01, Zac Posen Fall 08, Jean Paul Gaultier Fall 03.

Met Home/Showtime House Tour: United States of Tara

Moving right along, we have the designs from United States of Tara. The purposely disjointed decor feels like falling into a Salvador Dali painting. It is dreamlike and surreal (perhaps like the title character's life as a woman with multiple personalities).

My eye is drawn instantly to the art on the walls. It's hard to look away from them! Notice the eye above the fireplace?

The furniture is very minimalist, but it's accessorized well, so that it feels like a home- not a museum.

This could almost be an entirely different room! I love the shape of the legs on the console table.

The art is provocative, but I'm more interested in the sexy chair. Unique shape, and I always love a button tufted cushion.

Fashion vs. Furniture: Autumn Trends

I can't get these great fall trends out of my head! And so, I decided it is time for another round of Fashion vs. Furniture, but this time, it's Fashion vs. Hotel. Hotel decor is, of course, a deciding factor for picking where you stay next to price and service. Everybody wants to stay someplace cool! My fashionistas are no different...

Look One:

A girl wearing a Dolce & Gabbana shaggy fur vest is one thing: Trendy. That vest won't make it longer than one season, but she can always get her trend-fix at the Clift Hotel in San Francisco...

The rest of the room may be classically beautiful, but if orange lucite doesn't scream, "Trend!", I don't know what does. And check out the resturant downstairs, Asia de Cuba. Trends may not last forever, but this one's got a good foundation to stand on.

Look Two:

Every trendy girl has a direct opposite- the classic beauty. She'll don a crimson pout, swept up chignon, and Kate Spade sunglasses day in and day out, but it will never, ever look tired. She takes her evening looks seriously, as is the case in Giambattista Valli (above), and she'll always be seen in an equally classic hotel- The Ambassador East in Chicago...

You can't compete with the hotel of choice of the ever-classic Frank Sinatra. The famous (or is it infamous) Pump Room downstairs served as his stomping ground for years. You don't get any more classic than that.

Look Three:

Donnatella Versace knows how to make a girl flash. A girl in Versace has the confidence, charming personality, and breathtaking looks to control the room anywhere, even the W Dallas...
Yes, a girl in Versace would still draw stares amongst the pretty people in Ghostbar, W's chic rooftop bar. So, get to flashing.

Look Four:

Some girl have that look of dark glamour about them, which is fortunate, because this Fall, that is the look a la Derek Lam. That girl needs a place that is just as glamorous with a good dose of edge. The place to be? Gramercy Park Hotel in New York City...

There is texture everywhere- wood, velvet, crystal. From the decadent lobby to the soaking tub, this place oozes sexiness.

Look Five:

When a girl wants a little romance, her go to gal is undisputedly Vera Wang. And when a girl needs a place to get, ahem, romantic, her go to hotel is the Delano in Miami...

How about a stay in an all white room with billowing sheer white curtains? How about a candlelit dinner in an outdoor cabana? Yep, that'll about do it!

Look Six:

Animal prints shoes? Cute accessory. Animal print coat from Blumarine? That makes for one ballsy chica. A girl in a coat like that is bold and impossible to miss which brings to mind another hard to miss locale- Trump Tower in New York City...

Any hotel that is dripping in crystal, marble, and most of all- gold is making a bold statement. And that is just where an equally bold soul needs to be.

Pre-Fab(ulous) and Mod(ular)!

I'd have to say that my new obsession would be the process of prefabrication and modular design. It's definately becoming a new trend that people are beginning to realize is more important than it sounds. Pre-fabricated and modular homes are the "new" up-and-coming thing in home building which is surprising since they've been around a little over a century. A little history lesson is in order here...

Pre-fabricated homes came about mostly because of the housing boom in the early 1900's. Because Ford was manufacturing hundreds of cars in a matter of days, homes were about to be mass produced thanks to assembly lines and conveyor belts. If you can believe it, Sears used to sell house kits in which the home was constructed at another location and was transported in about 30,000 different pieces. This allowed more Americans to purchase and build homes without a long wait or costing a pretty penny.

Today we have a similar system but now we're leaning more towards a "green" advantage to these lovely, piece-able abodes. Many companies, such as New World Home, are focusing the design and construction in a way that will save the consumer mega bucks in the long run. Between energy-star appliances and Hardiplank that doesn't have to be painted for fifty years you're sure to love the idea. When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in Louisiana, thousands of people were left homeless and without any hope of rebuilding their lives. Brad Pitt is a perfect example as an angel of hope for those thousands of people. He is one of the many that are encouraging non-profit organizations and various companies to invest in designing and building pre-fab(ulous) and mod(ular) homes.

My co-worker, SarahwithStyle, also pointed out that modular homes are being built from old shipping containers. You know, the ones that are on the back of 18-wheelers, trains, or stacked upon thousands of each other in the Port of Houston--yeah, those! How awesome is that!?

I've come in contact with various individuals who don't think that the idea of pre-fabrication is a result of the green movement and cannot be aesthetically pleasing or practical when in which I completely disagree. For example, MoMA (the Museum of Modern Art in New York City) recently had an exhibition called Home Delivery. This exhibition focuses on exactly this topic but not without the creators of these homes proving to be extradinary artists and designers. Even IKEA is into this pre-fab thing. Can you imagine purchasing one of these babies and having it completely furnished? Too cool of an idea. Let's just hope that you have a Home Owner's Association that thinks the same thing!

More Bang for Your Buck

On The Rocks Sofa from Moss.

Harper's Bazaar ran an article recently entitled "Gucci or Gas?". They discussed the effect our economy is having on consumers' ability to purchase big-ticket items or "investment pieces". Accompanying the article, they showed how you could purchase an entire outfit for the cost of one pair of Louboutins. So I decided to do a little experiment.

Take a look at the sofa above. Cool? Modern? Minimalist? Yes, yes, and yes. It's also $21, 170. Now, let's see what else you could get with that much money...

Lemme break it down for you.
21,170 dollars will buy you one sofa from Moss or...
The Dexter Sectional $4599
An Antiqued Gold Mirror $316
Two Arden End Tables $718
An 8'x10' Clyde Rug $1479
The Dylan Entertainment Console $3299
Two Exposition Leather Chairs $2658
The Hector Cocktail Table $2069
An LG 52" LCD TV from Best Buy $2600
A Mercury Glass Lamp $309
A Meurice Pendant Lamp $339
The Ventana Vista Bookshelf $1349
Three Polar Cream Pillows $129
A Wool Trenchcoat from BR Monogram $500
A pair of Ebony Boots by Via Spiga $375
A Madelena handbag from Hobo International $388
And a one-hour massage at Massage Envy for all of your hard work $39.
And you'd still have enough left for a Starbucks.

You do the math.

All items are from High Fashion Home unless otherwise noted.

Met Home/Showtime House Tour: Dexter

Next up on the Met Home/Showtime house tour, Dexter! There is a lot of white/off-white backgrounds with a strong punch of color. It gives off a fine arts museum vibe.

The red orb chair and blue paintings just jump out in this setting!

This is a kitchen to-die-for. Curved cabinetry with soothing earth tones makes for a kitchen that you might never want to leave.

Vivid imagery. Stark white with splashes of red. If you look close, you'll see the red-filled test tubes on the table. I'm not sure if I'm excited about the decor or scared....

Really subtle wall art that makes a big impact! Looks like something you would see at the Delano Hotel.

There Are Sinks...

...And there are SINKS. This is the latter. It is created with tiny stainless steel tiles which are laid by hand for a beautiful mosaic sink. Truly original. Find it at LinkaSink.

Kelly Wearstler On The Prowl For Design Books!

The New York Times did a little article last month about Kelly Wearstler's passion for out of print art and design books. They serve as inspiration for her uncanny ability to decorate with unusual themes and colors. Check out some of the books below to see some of Kelly's muses:

"Vogue Living: Houses, Gardens, People", by Harnish Bowles, amazon.com

"Horst: Interiors", by Barbara Plumb, 1993, amazon.com

"Goodbye Picasso", by David Douglas Duncan, amazon.com, $25

"The Shell: 500 Million Years of Inspired Design", amazon.com, $20

"The Bathroom: A New Interior", antiqbook.com, $100

Last Call for Ice Cream!

The Sora Bowl from Bodum as featured in Martha Stewart Living. Photo via ATNY.

If it's getting cooler in Houston, that must mean that summer is officially winding down. But there is still enough time to sit outside for a couple bowls of Blue Bell (or "ice cream" if you haven't had the pleasure of eating Blue Bell.

Ice cream bowls are a fun thing to shop for because 1. There is a good possibility you will be eating ice cream soon if you buy one, and 2. Because there is no reason for them to match the rest of your dishware, let alone each other. So go nuts! Go bananas! Go any kind of topping you can think of to put on a sundae! You're waistline may not thank you, but your taste buds will!

Eclectic ikat bowls from Anthropologie.

Feeling festive? Polka dot bowls bowls bring smiles! From Wrapables.com.

Sophisticated speckled ice cream bowls from UnCommon Goods.

Stained Glass Love

Pull the drapes aside and let light filter in through stained glass panes. Always chic and makes you unique! Here are some of my favorites:

Grand stained glass in the Notre Dame de Reims- an early study in product placement. Click to see what I mean.

Antiqued doors with brilliant colored glass- No wonder it's a Room We Love!

Breathtaking entryway via Coco + Kelley.

Modern strips of stained glass at Salvador & Amanda in London.

Met Home/Showtime House Tour: The Tudors

As a continuation of Metropolitan Home's tour of Showtime's biggest shows, we have moved on to The Tudors. The half of episode that I've seen was pretty intense, and the set design is no different.

I just love the chandeliers, sofas, and the rug that just happens to be the size of my house.

This chandelier is remarkably transcendant. It's both contemporary and very traditional at the same time.

The shape and size of the sofas is great. Bold print, cross red pillows, and the punch of gold just screams royalty.

I'm Falling for Fall!

Autumn is my favorite time of year. We get a much needed respite from the harsh Houston heat, the fashion is crisper and more ladylike than the lazy clothes of summer, and I'm getting married! Okay, so that's only this Fall, but I still get to celebrate it every year! There is a reason why people flock to the East Coast to watch leaves change color and everyone starts to wander outdoors- Fall is beautiful. And I've found so pretty things for myself and my home for the Fall...

From top left: Cashmere lined lambskin gloves from Coach, $98. Leather pillow covers from Pottery Barn, $99 each. Colorful Foliage scarf from Echo Design, $36. Cotton silk voile ombre blouse from Charles and Victoria, $298. Irish Coast Carved Chair from Ralph Lauren Home, $4245. Fiona Jacket from J. Crew, $198. Pumpkin Pie candle from Yankee Candle, $22. Kink Boot from Geox at Piperlime, $230. Lutz & Patmos Cable Throw from West Elm, $89 each.

Met Home/Showtime House Tour: Californication

Metropolitan Home has the insider scoop with a home tour of Showtime's biggest shows. I've never seen Californication, but the home decor alone might be enough to make me a loyal viewer. The interior design just oozes a laid back, yet hip vibe. Check out the photos below:

The high back blue chair is just crazy. Love it.

The colors are so soothing. The mosaic tiling that looks like burlap is awesome.



Don't you feel at ease from this picture.



This has automatically become my favorite bookshelf.

How cool is that? Who thinks of these things?

Making Space for Wine

How many of you homeowners out there have an unused space underneath your stairs? I love what this designer did with hers- wine storage. I adore the minimalist shelving that holds, what looks like, a healthy dose of vino, and almost invisible glass doors keep the wine at the right temp. It's stylish, it's practical, it's a wine-lover's dream.

The (Black and) White Stripes

I love watching trends just explode. Case in point: Black and white stripes are everywhere. Open any decorating or fashion magazine and you're bound the see prison stripes covering the pages. Yes, it can easily get busy and dizzy, but sometimes the result is hypnotizing...

A striped hallway via Domino.

Striped marble floors at the Mark Hotel.

Neutral stripes ground a bold red headboard via Domino.

Nate Berkus's stripes made the cover at Elle Decor.

Maximum impact stripes via Domino.

Okay, so Domino really likes their black and white stripes.

Your Chair is Hairy!

Rather than the requisite throw pillow on a chair, people are getting hairy by throwing fur throws on seats. My findings began here...

...at the Absolut Icebar in Copenhagen. These fur covered seats serve a purpose- prevent frostbitten drinkers...

I spied this furry little pillow in our store- I can pick one up after work!

I wouldn't mind being Julianne Moore's stylist- she got this almost $2000 chair as a gift from the actress. Photo via Domino.

The cream fur is a striking contrast to a vibrant plum chair. Photo via Domino.

Chartreuse deuce (or should I say, Two stool with chartreuse fur cushions). Wild.
Photo via Elle Decor.

With winter coming up, now is the perfect time to move your decor into cold weather mode. And a fur throw is the purr-fect place to start.

Pac Man: The Movie

I found this while perusing NotCot.org the other day and it is just too hilarious not to share. And since we're all attempting to get things back to normal post-Hurricane Ike, I think funny is in order. If Pac-Man was real, this must be what it's like.

I Love This House...

I am in love with the Dairy House by Charlotte Skene-Catling. The light coming in during the day (an exiting at night) must be incredible! Really, there isn't a whole lot to say about it- the pictures speak for themselves.

Chew On This

Here's a dose of random for your Friday morning. How far will the caramel in a Milky Way stretch? See for yourself...

via Fubiz

The Great Outdoors?

To preface this blog, let me just say that I have never been the outdoorsy type. When I went to summer camp, I would dread the night when they made us actually sleep outside. When my sister took me camping on an island off of San Francisco, I panicked at the mention of "no bathrooms nearby". My idea of a fun camping trip is a two hour picnic- until now.

Thanks to Daily Candy (which informed me of the things in this blog), I actually want to give camping a try. I have three conditions:

My main beef about camping: the fact that I feel funky. There's a reason we learned to shower daily- we smell if we don't. So for my camping trip I would insist on having a Pocket Shower. So to review... Funky dance moves: okay, funky body odor: not so good.

Here's my second beef- when you are a girl, it is not easy to, ahem, relieve yourself outdoors. And if you have to go numero dos? Forget it. Where's the car? I'm outta here. That's why I would take the appropriately named Shit Box. Guess what you do with it.

On to my third, and final, condition. If I am going to shower and poo outdoors, it better be at the Ritz Carlton of campsites. So, I will be requesting a trip across the pond to FForest in Cardigan (that's in the UK y'all). You can stay the weekend in a dome like the one above and just zone out. No cell phone, no computer, no blogging. Just beautiful, natural surroundings, calming ocean, and your fellow travelers. I may just have to give this camping thing another shot.