plum perfect in 2008

the color purple

Doesn't it look delicious? Almost as enticing as Eve's apple... I've been a bit of a rebel lately myself, evading my blogging responsibilities and instead opting for pedicures on the Georgia coast. Who wouldn't choose a good sugar-scrub by the ocean over hours at the computer? My pampering wasn't entirely in vain, as my polish color inspired me to write about one of the latest fall trends... the color purple.

oscar de la renta fall rtw 2008

michael kors fall rtw 2008

matthew williamson fall rtw 2008

style.com

Plums, eggplants, grapes, and violets turned up all over the fall 2008 runways from Paris to New York... which is good news for all. Rich shades of purple tend to be very forgiving and universal -- that is, they are easily complemented by most neutrals and they do not favor a particular complexion -- making them ideal for blondes and brunettes alike in Oscar de la Renta's fall ready-to-wear collection, which featured shades of royal purple, plum, and deep fushia intermixed with light browns, dark greys, and wine-colored suede boots. American designer Michael Kors opted for feminine shades of violet paired with soft camel-colored sweaters, furs, and accessories and elegant nude pumps. The look exudes soft sophistication and the models looked as cuddly as cashmere teddy bears... but beware! violets and light purples can wash-out certain complexions, particularly in the paler months. Last but not least, quirky British designer Matthew Williamson brought a touch of Indian flair, mixing rich fushias from Mumbai with modern tartans from Edinburgh.

black cherry chutney

louvre me or louvre me not

parlez-vous opi?

And, of course, the trend extends far beyond the realm of slick catwalks accessible only to global fashionistas. Nail polish is an excellent way to find your perfect purple (or to be fashion forward without a huge investment). OPI has added several stellar shades for the fall: Black Cherry Chutney is deliciously a dark black-red that evokes the vivid landscape of the East... Louvre me or louvre me not is a bold purple that screams royal glamour (and would look divine paired with black)... while the smoky-violet Parlez-vous opi? has a sensuous 'come hither' quality that compliments just about any style...

And just when you thought it couldn't get any better...

rebecca taylor ruffle sleeve top, $225 net-a-porter

rab labs agate picture frame, $45 vivre

diamond pattern dome paperweight, iomoi

kim seybert "wood bead" placemat, $60 vivre

chanel purple cross bracelet, bag borrow or steal

catherine malandrino deep v-neck sweater dress, net-a-porter

kim seybert "jewel cuff" napkin ring, $115 vivre

lauren merkin sequin "classic clutch," $228 searle nyc

betsey johnson "wells" pump, nordstrom

thomas paul "goldfinch" silk twill pillow, thomas paul

marc by marc jacobs "geo gems" print skirt, $187 net-a-porter

not your grandmother's chair

I love new design, but sometimes classic is best. A good piece of furniture is versatile and timeless... The wingback chair, for example, can be traced back to the early 18th century in both the northern United States and Great Britain. Originally designed to protect loungers from drafty houses by insulating the upper torso and shoulders, the wingback chair (also called the wing chair) has become a staple of classic American design. 

But just because this chair has been around for centuries does not mean it has to be frumpy or accompanied by a warm glass of milk. There are dozens of examples of hip, stylish wingbacks available today... for every style and budget.

So whether you're in the market for a good chair to snuggle up in with a book, or you just aren't sure what to do with that vintage piece you inherited from your mother, look no further. A neutral fabric or cool color is perfect for young and/or indecisive owners (you can change the look by swapping out colorful pillows and throws)... while a stately print can add depth and interest to just about any room.

eight ideas

clockwise from top left...

1. nailhead

durant stretcher-frame wingback chair with nailhead detailing

martha stewart for bernhardt furniture, www.bernhardt.com

2. carved

hanna chair with carved details, $1865.00

oly studio, www.olystudio.com

3. twill

joseph wingback chair in natural twill, $1498.00

anthropologie, www.anthropologie.com

4. printed

joseph wingback spindle chair in isle orawford "spindle" for christopher farr cloth, $1299.00

anthropologie, www.anthropologie.com

5. colored

beatrice chair in patton-aloe linen, $999.00

jayson home & garden chicago, jaysonhomeandgarden.com

6. leather

similar to shown miss potter's wingback chair in leather, $1695.00

the victorian trading company, www.victoriantradingco.com

7. modern

gertrude chair in ringo-cream linen, $499.00

jayson home & garden chicago, jaysonhomeandgarden.com

8. luxury

vintage wingback chair in kelly wearstler's "imperial trellis"

bali ha'i: andrianna shamaris

a peak at the beautful textiles and accessories

adrianna shamaris

Every time I visit my sister in New York I bring a mapped list of all the fabulous stores and outposts I want to check out. On my last excursion I had the opportunity to visit the newest outpost of designer Andrianna Shamaris in fashionable Soho. It's a wonderland and luxurious imported goods, many of which are hand-crafted from exotic woods, with a modern twist.

A native of London, Shamaris is a self-taught designer who gained her first retail experience working at the fashionable Ralph Lauren store on Bond Street as a teenager. She first began designing after living in Bali and falling in love with the culture and lifestyle of South Asia. In 1999 she was discovered by Fred Segal and began selling her furniture through his retail store in California. Her portfolio includes an entire line of casegoods as well as accessories (like picture frames and butler's trays with mother-of-pearl inlay), textiles, and resort wear. 

Personally, I was most intrigued by a pair of end tables made from wormy tree trunks filled with bold resin. It is definitely worth stopping by... if not to shop, to momentarily be transported to the exotic serenity of the Bali shores...

Andrianna Shamaris New York

121 Greene Street

New York, NY 10012

Andrianna Shamaris Malibu

3825 Cross Creek Road #9

Malibu, California 90265

a contemporary l-shaped sofa, part of the developing furniture line

a detail of wooden trays

adrianna shamaris

special mentions to my mother and her mother alyce, two perpetual hummers, who used to sing the south pacific soundtrack like they were juanita hall herself (hence, the title of this post...)

the art of stitching

antique suzani, uzbekistan, 20th century

circa trade

suzani (english), suzankāri سوزنکاری (persian) -- n. needlework, the art of stitching

I'm crazy about textiles, particularly the rich weaves from the East. I discovered the Uzbek suzani a few years ago and fell so madly in love that I devoted my entire semester screen printing portfolio to them. The textiles themselves are so vibrant and uplifting they seemed to make my hours alone in the studio late at night more manageable. 

Suzani is a decorative tribal textile from Central Asia, most commonly Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan. My personal favorites come from Samarkand, conveniently located along the famous Silk Road that has connected trade from Europe and China for centuries. The Samarkand suzani tends to favor vibrant reds, pinks, and yellows in large-scale patterns that add to the bold beauty of the textile.

beautiful umbrellas made from various antique suzanis

The textiles are all hand embroidered, using two primary stitches--the chain stitch and couching. In the chain stitch, a series of looped individual stitches form an apparent chain that easily curves and is used to follow loose floral drawings. This technique is also applied in lace and crochet. In couching, thread or yarn is laid across the fabric and fastened with perpendicular stitches of yarn or thread. This technique allows the artisan to cover large areas with thread and lends a 3-D quality to the textile.

 

Historically, the suzani has been used as a young woman's dowry in Uzbekistan; according to legend, the mother begins embroidering when her daughter is born and when the girl reaches adulthood she finishes the textile before giving it to her betrothed. The emphasis on floral motifs is generally assumed to be a reference to fertility. Recently, the ancient textile has been adapted for a variety of applications and is now gracing the people and places of the West! Check out some of the great suzani-inspired products available:

what's in store (from top right):

suzani boxes, jayson home & garden

embroidered suzani peacock pillow, ruzzetti & gow

vintage suzani chair, abc carpet & home nyc

matthew williamson africa enamel bangle, net-a-porter.com

cloisonne pot with lid, jayson home & garden

high top suzani boots, ottoman collections

madeleine weinrib pillow, madeleine weinrib atelier

window to the world

star jali white shades

deliashades.com

I live in a fishbowl.  Well, really, it's a construction site.  Every day 100's of workers are parked outside, and my room might as well be made out of glass. When I moved in, my bathroom felt like one of those bizarre peep boxes in the red light district of Amsterdam... and the roller shades I bought didn't fit!  I immediately started sending smoke signals.

Luckily, the brilliant designers at Delia Shades had a solution - custom mesh roller shades in patterns of Moorish arches, Chinese latticework, and French wrought iron.  They are the perfect solution for an exposed bathroom or a drab apartment because they add privacy and grandeur without blocking light!

The best part?  You don't have to know a thing about design or windows to order.  Take a picture of your room and the designers will help find something that works for you.  The shades are all custom made (priced from $15.00/sq ft). Problem solved.

loop lattice shades

deliashades.com