Black Friday

Harold Lloyd and Ann Christy in Speedy (1928)

Instead of rushing off to the shops this Black Friday, I spent the morning with a friend having a leisurely breakfast at the Café Sabarsky before seeing the Egon Schiele exhibit at the Neue Galerie (more on this later). While I'm sure I missed out on some good bargains, it was way more civilized than fighting the crowds (I do that every work day anyways on the Grand Central shuttle). Might just have to spend every Black Friday this way. 

Mrs. Parker at Kate Spade

One of my dearest friends sent me the perfect birthday gift last week: a gold bangle from Kate Spade engraved with a quote by Dorothy Parker—"Take care of the luxuries and the necessities will take care of themselves." I absolutely love it. Everyone already knows how I feel about Mrs. Parker but I’m also a big fan of Kate Spade and on any given day can be found carrying my Kate Spade messenger bag along with my iPhone in a Kate Spade Scottie dog case. So naturally I jumped online and discovered not only bangles but bags and notebooks and phone cases as well. I want them all but think I shall settle on one phone case (“I’ve never been a millionaire but I just know I’d be darling at it.”) and the bag above. Thank you Kate Spade. Getting it right as always.

To check out all of the Dorothy Parker items, visit Kate Spade here.

Pot of Gold

I'm not a big eyeshadow person—mascara and the occasional eyeliner are usually fine by me—but I couldn't resist picking up Chanel's Illusion d'Ombre in Vision the other day. A lovely eyeshadow that adds just the right amount of golden glitter, it's the perfect festive touch for attending holiday parties or drinking cocktails. And it's an excuse to add another Chanel item to my make-up arsenal.

This pot of gold is part of Chanel's Holiday Collection, which you can purchase here.

Halloween & Coffee

Halloween and coffee, two of my favourite things. What better way to enjoy my morning coffee this Halloween season than with this new ghost mug from Emma Bridgewater? I mean, how can I resist ghosts wearing orange Wellies? I'm a big fan of Emma Bridgewater and can't wait to add this mug to my collection (I just ordered it along with a marked down one for the Queen's Jubilee).

And the coffee I will be drinking in my new ghost mug will be made with my new Nespresso Pixie espresso maker! The smallest in the Nespresso line, the Pixie is compact, red, and just so damn cute. I've never been one to own a lot of gadgets and have happily been making coffee for years with either a French press or an Italian moka so this is a big deal for me. I'm sure the thrill of the new will wear off soon (I only got it a few days ago) but for now I'm looking forward to making coffee every morning.

For more on the ghost mug, check out the Emma Bridgewater site here. For more on Nespresso machines, check out their site here.

Fruit & Veg

I have a love/hate relationship with Eately, Mario Batali’s behemoth marketplace in the Flatiron District. The hate part comes in to play whenever it’s crowded (which is almost every time I’ve ever been) and the isles and passageways become almost impossible to navigate. The bad lighting doesn't help matters either. But the hate turns to love when I am finally able to manevour my way over to the fruit and veg section.

While I am fortunate to have many choices for groceries in my neighbourhood, Eately has been scoring points with me lately in the produce arena. For a relatively small produce department, they offer a wide array of choices. Armed with a grocery list, I rarely leave an item unchecked. Basics like strawberries, cherries, and asparagus? Check. Tomatoes? Red or Yellow? They have both. Check. Zucchini? Check. How about some Zucchini flowers too for your risotto? Check. And the fresh herbs. Unlike other shops that routinely seem to be out of whatever herbs I need (Whole Foods, I’m talking about you), Eately has a small but strong selection. And the prices are the same or lower than the local competitors. And they even have a vegetable butcher who will chop and clean your vegetables for free (ok, I'd feel kinda strange asking someone to chop up my vegetables for me but I like knowing I could ask).

On a recent trip, I came away with some lovely strawberries and red grapes, zucchini, baby artichokes, and butter lettuce, golden yellow tomatoes, and big bunches of fresh dill and basil. Everything was delicious and affordable (as was the fresh mozarella, bread, and coffee I picked up from other departments). Eately, I'll be coming back (but please figure out a way to improve the traffic flow).

For information about Eately, visit their website here.

Photos taken by Michele on her iPhone (which contrary to what many people claim, is not the same as taking photos with an actual camera).

Jubilee

I adore Emma Bridgewater pottery. My daily dishes are the Black Toast and Marmalade pattern, and I have a variety of mugs (my Union Jack one is in heavy rotation). So when I saw that they had some special Diamond Jubilee pieces I knew I would love them.

After checking out their website I came to one conclusion. I want everything. The mug, pet bowl, tea towels, egg cosy, and most of all the Diamond Jubilee Crown. How brilliant is that?

To see all of the Jubilee products, visit Emma Bridgewater here.

Jewelry Box

The other day I popped into Lori McLean, a charming shop on Grove Street in the West Village. Filled with jewelry and other treasures, it's just the type of place I love to explore, especially when it's on one of my favourite streets.

The shop is tiny but carries a punch with its mix of new and vintage pieces including lovely pearl drop earrings and Victorian lockets. In addition to jewelry they also have a sizable supply of John Derian as well as Laura Zindel porcelain, candles, and a variety of cards.

Although I wanted everything in the place I was especially taken with a collection of earrings by Jane Diaz (above), a local designer. I settled on a pair of art deco inspired ones made of moonstones. They're gorgeous, and I can't wait to wear them.

If you're in the West Village, do check out Lori McLean or visit the website here.

Photos by Michele.

Bell'occhio

During my trip to California, I popped into a favourite shop—Bell’occhio. Hidden away on a tiny side street, it’s filled with all sorts of lovely things that you never realized you needed but find you must have (A Napoleon wine stopper? A necessity in every household). Stepping inside Bell'occhio's doors, you feel like you’re in Paris circa some past decade. There are spools of ribbons, glittering jewels, boxes shaped like fruit, jars of ink and creamy stationary, Tricorn hats, checkered linens, Marie Antoinette dolls, and much, much more.

I wasn’t allowed to take photos inside otherwise you’d be looking at a slew of images. Instead, I’ll share with you the items I purchased.

I wanted everything but ended up settling for an Eastbound passage ticket complete with a notice of safety regarding my baggage that makes me feel like it's 1930, a packet of handmade caramels, a wee engraved card of a fox, tricolour wire ribbon, a blackboard mat, German Reform Schule chalk, a 3D postcard of the Eiffel Tower, a Napoleon wine stopper (the label on the package says “Able was I, ere I saw Elba”), and some black stretch velvet ribbon.

The ticket is now on my desk along with the fox card; the Eiffel Tower postcard is on a bookshelf. There are still some caramels left (miraculously) in the kitchen and the blackboard mat is hanging on the side of my refrigerator with the box of chalk nearby so I can jot down things I need to pick up. Napoleon is serving time with the wine glasses and the ribbon is waiting to be turned into something (the black velvet is definitely becoming a choker but I’m not sure yet what will happen with the tricolour). All in all, a nice collection of items to bring home.

If you are going to San Francisco, make sure and visit Bell'occhio. If you’re not, they have a website where many of their items can be purchased here.

Photos by Michele.

Camera Bag Love

I've needed a new camera bag for a while now. I have a functional Canon bag but it's a bit bulky and not all that attractive. So when I read about the *emera messenger bag on Victoria's blog SFGirlByBay, I knew I had to check it out.

I picked one up last week and love it. Lightweight, water resistant, room enough for my camera and other items, it suits me perfectly.

I got mine at Adorama in my neighbourhood but you can visit *emera's site for this and other camera bags.

Wicked

With the start of fall comes the changing of nail colours and the return of an old favourite—Wicked. This Essie polish has been around for a while and although there’s probably a ton of other, newer colours out there that I should try, I like Wicked and am quite happy with it. There is something about its darkness that seems to scream cold weather. And I also like to think it looks flapperish in a vamp sort of way. So this fall, it’s Wicked for me.

Divorced, Beheaded, Died

I just started a new biography of Catherine of Aragon by Giles Tremlett. It's well-written and gives a lot of insight into what court life was like especially in Spain (something I knew little about). Reading the book also reminds me that a) in most accounts that I've read Catherine is unfairly overshadowed by Anne Boleyn, b) I am so happy not to have lived during that time (can you imagine the smell?), and c) I've always wanted that Henry VIII disappearing wives mug. Have you seen it? You fill it up with a hot beverage and the wives disappear. I don't know if it works very well and God knows I don't need another mug but I've always wanted one. I imagine pouring a big cup of coffee and chanting "divorced, beheaded, died; divorced, beheaded, survived" as they disappear. Silly, I know, but very amusing nonetheless.

If you're interested, you can get one here.

Summer Shopping

Walking around New York in the summer calls for the ducking into air-conditioned shops to escape the heat. Understandably one sometimes exits said shops with a bag or two in hand. So I thought I'd share with you some new favourite things I've picked up this summer (this does not include those new favourite things purchased online while escaping the heat by not leaving ones home at all). 

Shoegasm is kind of an institution in New York with loads of cute styles at affordable prices. I was drawn to these for their vintage appearance; they look lovely with a 1930s dress. And they’re super comfy, which is always a bonus in the shoe department.

As we can all agree, one can never have too many bags. The latest addition to my collection is the Chelsea Leather Reese Satchel from Coach. In a nice walnut colour (I think of it as classic British tan), it’s a perfect size, and I adore the shape. I’ve needed a non-black bag that I can use on a daily basis and this seems to do the trick.

The last thing I need in my flat is a bulky paper shredder but moments of paranoia leave me uncomfortable tossing certain papers in the garbage. These shredding scissors from Restoration Hardware help ease my mind. They're not as efficient as a machine but they do the job in a pinch.

A new summer favourite, Tatcha blotting papers are a great way to reduce the shine on ones face without disturbing your makeup. And unlike some other blotting papers, these don't leave a powdery residue on your fingers or face. I purchased mine from Space NK.

So dear readers, what are some favourite things you have picked up this summer?

Dior Addict

Although I am a big lipstick fan, I tend to always gravitate toward dark, matte colours. For the summer, I decided to branch out and try something different. The ads for the new Dior Addict lipstick had caught my eye and after trying it out I must say, it lives up to the hype.

With a gloss like consistency, it's more sheer than your average lipstick but still leaves a pleasing amount of colour. And I swear it makes my lips look fuller. There are more than 40 colours to chose from; I went with #681 Icone, which is a pretty rosy pink. The campaign for the lipstick is very cool and includes a short film with spokesmodel Kate Moss and music by Duran Duran. As she says, "a girl can't make an entrance without her lipstick." I couldn't agree more.

Lipstick Obsessed

"Observatory Time: The Lovers" Man Ray (1936). Otherwise known as Lee Miller's lips.

Mrs. Parker loves her lipstick. In fact, I feel awkward if I leave the house without it (add referring to myself in the third person as making me feel awkward as well). This obsession, if you will, means that I have a large collection of lipsticks and glosses in a variety of colors. Sometimes, when I’ve fallen in love with one, I’ve bought multiplies in case the color is discontinued (note to MAC, please bring back Marrakesh). Trips to the UK used to involve the purchasing of large quantities of Boots No 7 lipsticks until they became available in the States. So I guess what I'm trying to say is that I consider myself to be a bit of a lipstick expert. And if pressed to name my favourite lipstick brand, I would answer Lipstick Queen.

Created by the brilliant Poppy King, Lipstick Queen is simply one of the best lipstick brands I have ever worn (perhaps even the best). From its perfect colours to its cool packaging, Lipstick Queen is my go to for lipstick. The ten main shades come in two choices, Saint or Sinner. Saint is all about shimmer and shine while Sinner is dark and matte. Of all the colours, Rust Sinner is my favourite. When I got a chance to meet Poppy at an event last year I gushed so much to her about my love of Rust Sinner I'm afraid she must have thought me a bit mad.

A sort of brownish red, Rust Sinner's rich pigment gives me perfect bee-stung lips while complimenting my complexion like no other lipstick does. Its thick texture is probably as close as I'll ever come to knowing what lipstick felt like in the 1920s and always makes me feel like I'm wearing a bit of flapper glam. When I recently had to take new passport photos, I made sure that I was wearing my favourite colour (after all, custom agents and I will have to look at that same photo for the next ten years). 

So do go out and try Lipstick Queen. I'm sure there's a perfect colour waiting for you. And if any of you dear readers have a favourite lipstick I'd love to hear all about it.

Purple Loveliness

Longchamp, the French leather goods company, knows marketing. Their store window in Soho normally features just a handful of bags, each strategically hung with lights hitting them just so. A few seasons ago there was a yellow bag in the window that acted like a beacon. Every time I walked by, I would stop and stare before thoughts of the price tag would cause me to move wistfully on.

For some time I have wanted a purple bag. So imagine my delight the other day when I received an email stating that Longchamp was having a sale. I reacted like any sane girl would—I immediately bolted out of the office and ran over to the store. There I purchased a small, stylish bag in raisin (read: purple) from their Roseau collection. Mission accomplished. I can now start flourishing said bag around town. Now if I could only find something similar in orange...

These Boots Were Made for Rain

I've always loved Hunter boots but as one who is short in stature, their traditional Wellies are just too tall for me. That's where their Brixten boot comes in. They are just tall enough to keep your feet and ankles dry while short enough so that they don't overpower your legs. And when you add a pair of thick socks your feet stay warm as well. They also come with a Royal Warrant from the Queen (not important, I know, but thought I would share). I just got my first pair, and I've been strolling down the street happily stepping in puddles and marveling at their comfort. Although they come in different colors I went with basic black. I might just have to get a second pair in green though. Love these boots.

A Tub Full of Joy

Claudette Colbert in The Sign of the Cross.

One of the great joys of life is taking a long bath that leaves you feeling relaxed and smelling lovely. And so I'm always on the lookout for that perfect bath product. Earlier this year, while shopping at Space NK, I stumbled upon the British brand Lubatti and quickly fell in love with their Tuberose and Mimosa bath oil. 

I adore the smell of Tuberose (my favourite perfume is Robert Piguet's Fracas) and the combination of Tuberose with Mimosa is absolutely heavenly. After my first purchase, I read up on the company and learned that the products are based on recipes from the 1920s (no wonder I like it so much).

I'll admit to being overly generous with my use of bath products and go through bottles quickly. So you can imagine my dismay dear readers when I walked into Space NK last week only to find the shelves empty of any Lubatti products. The reason? They are no longer going to carry the brand (at least here in the States). I was completely gutted until one of the sales women told me that all of their remaining Lubatti was going to be available the following week at their private sale at a marked down price. So guess where I was early yesterday morning? At the shop, buying up the last bottles. I'm sure someone in New York will end up carrying Lubatti eventually. But in the meantime, I will try to be a bit more conservative with my bath oil although I can't make any promises.

To Market, To Market

"Give me books, fruit, French wine and fine weather and a little music out of doors, played by someone I do not know." —John Keats

My tiny flat is filled to the rafters with books, and always has a couple of bottles of wine stored in its postage stamp of a kitchen. Although I could do nothing about the weather (New York is in the middle of a heat wave), I knew one place where I could find fruit and music on this holiday Monday. So I ventured out into the blistering sun and headed for the Union Square Greenmarket, where farmers from all over the state (and New Jersey) set up stalls to sell their produce. At the first stall, I was greeted by a beautiful display of cherries of all sorts—Bing, Ranier, and even sour ones, which I discovered are bright red.

At the end of one table, a wooden crate held a multitude of tiny red and yellow plums.

At another stall, small tubs of glorious peaches filled the air with their sweetness, beckoning for someone to pick them up.

Produce is not the only thing for sell at the market. You can also find breads, jams and honeys, fresh eggs, cheeses, and beautiful flowers, like these glorious sunflowers.

Having purchased an enormous amount of cherries and some golden peaches, I looked around for some musicians but none were to be found, probably because of the oppressive heat. So I cranked up some Cab Calloway on my iPod as I headed up 18th Street and stopped off at Books of Wonder, an incredible children's bookstore, which had this very intriguing window display built by Cynthia von Buhler to promote her new book But Who Will Bell the Cats? (it includes sets that appear in the book.) I must confess, I can never ignore a bookstore. The pull of all the vast possibilities that lie within are too great. Besides, I like to support the few local booksellers who are still in the city. Which is why I left the store with a reissued copy of the original 1930 edition of The Secret of the Old Clock, the first book in the Nancy Drew series.

Before they were rewritten and condensed in 1959, Nancy had a blonde bob and drove a blue roadster, and exhibited all the fearlessness of a baby flapper. I'm looking forward to revisiting this book from my childhood while enjoying the other spoils of the day.

Photos by Michele.