GANT Rugger A/W 2010 Feat. Deerhunter & The Preppiest Catch

This video lookbook for GANT Rugger made me want more. It captures the essence of friends, traveling, and the winter season. Plus, it features enviably cute duds.

When They Were Young

I love seeing photos of seasoned designers before the height of their career. Something about seeing their baby faced images makes them relatable, and reminds me that they, too, put work into getting where they are today. Plus, it's funny to see that they were also susceptible to trends; the good and the bad (talking to you, Michael Kors!)


Carolina Herrera, to this day, pristine.


Diane Von Furstenberg: the visionary behind wrap dresses.


Can you believe this is Michael Kors?


Karl Lagerfeld: wowsa.


A dapper Oscar de la Renta.

Madewell Archive Leather Boots

As previously mentioned, my sisters were kind enough to give me an awesome gift card to Madewell for my birthday. Now that we're in the midst of changing seasons, I think it might be time for a pair of investment boots. Check out these Archive Leather Boots -- perfect for the season!

Taschen Books: Christo & Jeanne-Claude

Artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude are known for taking drapery to an extreme. They have solidified their reputation for mastering the art of large-scale site-specific installations. Now, their impressive body of work is featured in Taschen's Christo and Jeanne-Claude book ($1000). Add this to the dream coffee table list!





"The work of the artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude transcends borders, resists categorizing, and embraces contradiction. This is the only large-format book that includes all of their projects, from Christo and Jeanne-Claude's works from 1958 to urban and rural temporary works of art, such as The Gates in Central Park, the Wrapped Reichstag in Berlin, and Running Fence in California. Part biography, part critical analysis, part catalogue, the book has a lively text by the critic Paul Goldberger that traces both the lives and the works of an artist couple who established a category all their own: a category somewhere between conceptual art, urban planning, architecture, politics, engineering and art."

Tavi for Blackbook

There is definitely a lot of skeptics surrounding 14 year old blogger, Tavi, or better known through her blog as Style Rookie. Her precocious attitude and undeniably savvy sense for fashion has caught the attention of millions of readers, magazine editors, and noteworthy designers (the girls from Rodarte adore her)

Blackbook hired the teeny blogger to style a shoot all on her own, and put her to the test. The outcome? From their response, "flawless."

Jane Birkin & Serge Gainsbourg "Je T'Aime"

This is one of my favorite videos, starring two very influential people: Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg. Their much publicized marriage always made people want more, even though the couple was already revealing so much. But looking at the chemistry in this video, you can definitely understand why people were so enthralled with the couple.

Blogging for Dreaming of Palm Trees

Hello, readers! Sorry for the disappearance. These days have been quite busy preparing for an exciting project I'm working on (keep a lookout for details...)

However, I've been given a very cool opportunity to contribute to a great new blog: Dreaming of Palm Trees, started my sister, Claudia. Check out my very first post today! And keep checking back for more.

Dune Metallic Spike Flat

For New Yorkers, in the next month or so, we'll have no choice but to embrace the changing cooler climate. But, given that I'm a native Miami girl, I still have a strong desire to collect sandals - no matter the season. This metallic spike detail flat (£60.00, add £10 for U.S. shipping) by Dune holds it's own, and is the perfect sandal to spruce up even the simplest outfit.

Catskills Wedding Beer: Best Man's Bitter Brew

As previously mentioned, I attended a Catskills wedding last weekend for two really great friends, Rachel and Darren. It was one of the most uniquely beautiful weddings I've been to. The couple (and maid of honor) put together such a detailed event, it was hard to keep track of everything! But one of the standout details was the custom made beer made by the best man, Bill.

Here is a very thorough background on the birth of this beer, courtesy of the best best man.


Best Man's Bitter Brew

I wanted to make something for the wedding that would be relatively light and drinkable, what beer drinkers would call a "session beer," with just enough bitterness and hop flavor and aroma to keep it interesting. I decided to do a type of English pale ale called a "special or (alternately) best bitter." The style I chose also made naming the beer fairly easy: Best Man's Bitter Brew. English pale ales (bitters, special/best bitters, and extra special bitters) tend to be a bit less hoppy/more balanced than American pale ales. They also tend to be slightly darker in color than their American counterparts. This beer was a little nontraditional, though, in that I used hops from New Zealand that added a little more citrus aroma instead of East Kent Goldings hops.


Read more...

Madewell + Dior + Me = Match Made in Heaven

So far, my birthday is off to a great start. My amazing sisters Claudia (Dreaming of Palm Trees) and Lisa Michelle have already given me their gifts and I am so excited. I received a fancy gift card to Madewell and the Dior Extase Mascara Set. I am one lucky lady! Now I have to pick what I want. Choices, choices!


Madewell.


Available at Sephora.

Black Swan Directed by Darren Aronofsky

Darren Aronofsky, the director of such films as The Wrestler and Requiem For A Dream, directs this psychological thriller starring Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis about two competitive ballerinas willing to fight to the death. If the trailer is any indication of the intensity on screen, then we can only imagine what the whole film will be like!


Synopsis Courtesy of FreeWilliamsburg
Natalie Portman stars as Nina, a ballerina in the New York ballet circuit who has recently won the lead in Swan Lake. Her blossoming career takes a tense and competitive turn when a new dancer (Mila Kunis) joins the cast. If that sounds surprisingly tame coming from the director of Requiem for a Dream and The Fountain, the trailer will certainly remind you of who’s at the helm as it quickly transitions from dramatic rivalry to psychological thriller. 

Frankie Valli "Beggin'" Pilooski Edit

For the longest time, I would enter party after party hearing this song, but was never able to pin down the artist and name. Finally, I asked my music sleuth boyfriend who told me who it was. Now I can listen to this song repeatedly at my disposal and it never seizes to give me the urge to dance. Enjoy!

	Franki Valli - beggin' (pilooski edit)
	Found at skreemr.org

Andreas Nilsson Directs Yeasayer "Madder Red"

Director Andreas Nilsson's new video for Yeasayer features an oddly shaped "pet" beloved by actress Kristin Bell, and continues to fortify his reputation as the experimentalist director with a style complete on it's own.

"The Heart Is A Stone" by Acid House Kings

I'm officially back to the grind, and plan on showing you some amazing photos from the great Catskills wedding weekend! I actually witnessed a shooting star with a flame Friday night for the meteor shower.

In the meantime, enjoy this quintessential summer song by Acid House Kings called "The Heart Is A Stone."

Catskills, Here I Come...

This is my last post for the weekend. I'm off to the Catskills for a wedding (hence the Dirty Dancing photo where the film takes place), and will be posting again on Monday. Like the film, I hope the ending reception breaks out into a choreographed dance ending with me swan diving into the crowd. But really, this wedding should be amazing. It's a Great Gatsby'esque theme, which will include homemade beers and locally distilled whiskey (keep an eye out for my report on those!)

Have a great weekend, Platform readers!

Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child

(Song featured in trailer is "Salt Peanuts," by Charlie Parker)

The Radiant Child, directed by Tamra Davis, centers on a rare interview that the director and friend shot with Basquiat over twenty years ago. The never before seen footage and definitive documentary chronicles the meteoric rise and fall of the young artist, and provides an in-depth look at the person who strongly influenced a generation.

If I were sticking around this weekend (have an upstate wedding in the Catskills!) I would make it a point to see this movie.

SHOWTIMES (NYC)::Th Radiant Child, Film Forum

Sprout Home (NYC)

Sprout Home, in Williamsburg, is far and beyond one of my favorite flower & garden shops. Their eclectic offering sets them apart, including a vast array of flowers and plants like venus fly trap, tillandsias, and terrariums (which is like an aquarium for plants). If you're looking for something unique, Sprout is the way to go!

Prism Watch by ModCloth

(Image courtesy of AnOther Magazine)

I've been on a hunt for a cool watch for some time now. I'm not a natural watch wearer, so when picking one, I believe it really does have to stand out. Enter: the prismatic watch designed by ModCloth. It looks like something out of Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory, and has enough personality to complete even the simplest outfit.

Shop::ModCloth Prism Watch $39.99

Blooming Beer Gardens

The Standard (Image courtesy of NYTimes)

I love biergartens. They're the perfect way to spend lazy summer days with friends, while drinking savory, well-crafted beer. NYTimes caught on to the biergarten trend (they're popping up everywhere!) and has listed some of the new ones worth visiting. Enjoy!

It's All In The Jeans

When Brooke Shields proclaimed that nothing gets between her and her Calvins, the media world went into a tizzy. Who knew that jeans could be so provocative? But in my attempt to find good jeans and hold on to the ones I love with dear life, finding the perfect jean can be a task. And when you do find the right ones, it can really boost ones confidence (I'm probably speaking to the ladies on this one!). Here is my roundup of good jeans, some affordable and some worth the investment.

{Uniqlo $34-$45}
As a petite girl, I can attest that the feat of finding jeans can be that much harder. However, Japanese brand Uniqlo is all about catering to us little gals - and! it's affordable.

{BDG $60-$75}
Available at Urban Outfitters, BDG come in the best shades and washes ever. This brand is definitely about channeling rocker chic.

{7 For All Mankind $100-$250}
This brand definitely starts to teeter on the pricier side, but they're the Volvo of jeans. Reliable, safe, and worth the investment.

{A.P.C. $130-$200}
These are what I like to call no fuss jeans. They're modest, comfortable, and will last a lifetime (or at least two years if you take care of them)

{All Saints $130-$200}
They just opened their first SoHo store, and I fell completely in love with their denim collection. They have particularly flattering white jeans, and that is hard to come by! p.s. they have great online sales, so you can snag some denim for around 40 bucks. You just have to take a chance on fit.

{Acne Jeans $200-$350}
Although I have yet to purchase a pair of Acne jeans, I have popped into their downtown store to try on the luxe denim. Point to shopper: sizes run abnormally small! So if you plan on eating a big ol' slice of pizza after your purchase, also plan on paying that eye doctor bill when your button goes flying off into the cashiers eye.

Hope you guys enjoy these recommendations as much as I did giving them!

Wasara Paper Plates

If you're anything like me and dread washing dishes after a party, but don't want to sacrifice style for paper plates, then these single-use, biodegradable and compostable plates are for you, designed by Wasara. Love.

Warp Records Introduces PVT "Window," Directed by Clemens Habicht

Warp Records definitely has a knack for cherry picking notable talent, in music and throughout other areas, like film and video. And this new video for PVT, formerly known as Pivot, directed by Clemens Habict definitely gives a subtle twist on a band performing in front of a camera. The album, Church With no Magic, which the video track "Window" is off of, is coming soon to Warp Records.

Blog Spotlight: Ditte Isager

Danish photographer Ditte Isager has a blog where she publishes a lot of her gorgeous portraits of celebrities and homes. Her style strikes in such a different way than most, as though you're really being let into personal spaces instead of just styled shoots (although she has those too). We love.





Visit, www.ditteisager.dk

Gia Coppola Directs The Soft Pack "More or Less"

This video for San Diego band, The Soft Pack, directed by Gia Coppola, looks like an homage to 90s, which is the best part about it.

Coppola, who's on her way to becoming a seasoned director, has already directed a video for Zac Posen and Rodarte's Target line, as well as an Opening Ceremony collection video. And although Coppola's last name is congruent with directorial lineage, she's undoubtedly making a name and style all for herself. Can't wait to see more!

Platform Sale Rack: Opening Ceremony

OFFICIAL SITE::OPENING CEREMONY

Restaurant Spotlight: Bacaro NYC

It's been too long since I've paid a visit to Bacaro, even though it ranks high on my favorite NYC restaurants (although a big list!).

The menu features a drool worthy list of appetizers including Carciofi (stuffed artichoke $9), Fiori di Zucca (stuffed zucchini blossoms $12) and for dinner, Risotto asparagi with white asparagus ($16), or, try their Gnocci con fungi (mushrooms $14) in brown butter. Translation: delightful.



OFFICIAL SITE::BACARO NYC

This Way of Life, Directed by Thomas Burstyn

Now playing at IFC Center, This Way of Life, directed by Thomas Burstyn, is the triumphant story of a family from North Island, New Zealand, who have been tested with the trials and tribulations of living on very little, and yet, have remained positive and unified.




SHOWTIMES::IFC Center (NYC), THIS WAY OF LIFE

Comme des Garçons Clutch Bags

Available at Dover Street Market, these simple yet stylishly chic Comme des Garçons bags are what we like to call "investment bags," meaning you'll have them forever.