I about dropped the magazine when I opened Elle Decor this month. Nanette Lepore has my dream home.
I am dying over the ship chandelier and her dressing room. Evita over the fireplace and the wood paneled walls. The historic feel and then the surprise of red lacquer kitchen cabinets!
I recently watched Blue Velvet for the first time. Now, I'd like to stay home and watch Mullholland Drive over and over again. (Which I've seen and love.) Getting my fix with Gucci's first tv commercial, also directed by David Lynch. This was for spring 2008, but it makes me crave the fall.
Wolfmother is kind of breaking up. Frontman Andrew Stockdale is a lone wolf now. (I promise that's the last cheesy wolf reference.)
When I heard this, a gem of a memory popped up from the 2007 Grammy Awards.
Andrew came walking down the red carpet with that big afro of his and I was so excited. I noticed the silver unicorn necklace and he confessed his girlfriend gave it to him. Aww.
Since The Police were being honored that evening, I asked him if he had a favorite Police song and if they were an influence on his music. Yeah, yeah it's a generic question that most musicians responded to with a pretty generic answer.
But he kind of looked at the carpet for a moment and then confessed they hadn't really been a big influence on him. That perked my ears. I asked who, expecting Led Zeppelin and he said Prince.
I asked him which song and if he'd sing a little of it for me.
The image above is one of the most thrilling moments in film for me. A dashing "tall, dark & handsome" entertaining Holly Golightly while her cigarette burns a hole in another guest's hat. What a fab moment!
But even better.... I'm having another giveaway! Yay!
Five books for five fabulous folks who want their own style statement. What is it? Two words that describe you. Words to live by. A daily mantra that celebrates you! (For details, scroll to bottom of post)
If you are an avid Domino reader, you already spied a really cool article about Carrie and Danielle and their "Style Statement" which sounds so fun, like a theme song!
Don't tell me you don't have a theme song?!
Ever since I was 9 years old, Prince's "Baby I'm a Star" has done it for me. I was a dancer (not a great one at that tender age) and idolized three fellow dancers who performed to this song on Star Search. They took classes at my studio - two girls and a boy who performed the most rocking routine to the song. It's so fun, confident and celebratory. I still have some of their 8-counts memorized.
So back to my Style Statement session. I spoke to Danielle - who has the most soothing voice ever. She asked me a number of questions that made me look inside myself to retrieve the most deliciously decadent answers and sometimes I felt exposed and vulnerable. It was exhilirating.
One question that rocked my world was, "What do you love and why do you love it?"
The easiest question was my favorite flower, which is the gardenia. I will never forget visiting Napoleon's Tomb in Paris. There was a tiny church behind the tomb decorated with thousands of gardenias. When I walked into the church I was ntoxicated by the scent and vision of the rows upon rows of lovely flowers. I loved the feeling it gave me & the impression I was left with.
The Style Statement is two words that describe you. The first word is 80% of your life, like your outfit, and the second is 20% of your life, like your accessories. Fashion fans - isn't that fantastic? Some examples are Cultivated Wonder, Sophisticated Era and Classic Genuine. Don't ask me what they mean, because I only know my own... drumroll please....
Contemporary Pleasure - It fits! Contemporary I get. But pleasure. I've always made the word "comfort" part of my vocabulary. I like to be comfortable while having fun and feeling fabulous. Pleasure suits me better than comfort. Thanks Danielle!
Here are some of my details for your entertainment.
CONTEMPORARY - a strong presence, because they are indeed "present," looks you in the eye - up-to-date and current with what matters most to them and are typically interested in social and cultural issues - stay on top of things and make time work for them while looking to the future - prefer to interact with genuine and authentic people but can tolerate many types of personalities - can be forceful or critical, especially of themselves and their healthy limitations
descriptive words - (my favorite part because I'm a lover of details...) abreast, au courant, connected, current, determined, in fashion, informed, in touch, in style, latest, leading edge, linked, modern, new, now, present, present-day, recent, success, synchronous, topical, up-to-date
PLEASURE
- pleasure seekers, physical comfort & gratification. - easygoing, sincerely cheerful, and free from doubt - can be highly sensitive - a peacekeeper and nurturer - always makes time for socializing and celebration - love to please and accommodate
Now, let's enjoy the most pleasurable film scene I've ever witnessed. (Ignore Mickey Rooney's embarrassing Japanese caricature. That's the one big thing I'd delete if I could.)
Enter the contest by sending an email to suzzo77@gmail.com and tell me why you need a style statement! Who doesn't after all???
I'll announce the winners in a week & you'll have to respond with your address so you can receive the book! Good luck
These photographs by Robert Adams were taken at twilight and evoke nearly the same emotions as Gregory Crewdson or Philip Lorca diCorcia. Visually stunning but tense, melancholy and chaotic. My favorite one is the bright carnival rides with skies about to break overhead. What a pairing. Adams also takes daytime photographs and keeps that same emotion. I'm realizing The Twilight Zone connection here. Another obsession of mine.
The outside of Medusa.The view from my couch. Robert chilling on the couch with me.
I picked out those shoes. They are perfect. Someone hand me an Oscar.
Medusa is a new bar (restaurant too I think...) near Silver Lake. It opened a few weeks ago & reminds me of an underground cave/pub in Paris that Robert & I visited. It was the best. I remember there was a cool tomcat that sat on my lap the entire time - when I wasn't dancing.
Those are my photos above, but I'm including some photos below I found, but who knows where. (Sorry, let me know if they're yours!) I like mine though because they keep the dark mysterious corners.
This one's for my photographers. Don Johnson as singer, fashion plate AND photojournalist. I can't take it. He's a triple threat! If you need 80's fashion inspiration, here you go. Gals, there are some gems about a minute in.
One friend quotes me as saying something I can't recall, yet I still believe I said it. As he discussed sports, I said, "I don't sweat."
Not that I don't physically, I just don't prefer to. I hate working out! I like to dance, but it's not fun when it's at the gym and presented like jazzercise. What a drag. What I like to do is walk on the treadmill while talking on the phone or listening to music, counting down the minutes anxiously.
This gym set might totally inspire me to get my workout on. My favorite piece is the headband. It seems so Wes Anderson - maybe a bit loud - but his brother created the sweet drawings on the coolest set of luggage designed by Marc Jacobs. It was featured in The Darjeeling Limited.
How have I not known about this? I am a total square in this department. (I am making the square gesture, yes) Mad Men is set on Madison Avenue in the 60's. Nuff said, right? I'm obsessed with that era... particularly the glimpse we get in Breakfast At Tiffany's. I haven't even seen an episode, but maybe I'll inspire a few of you to Tivo it like I will be doing Thursday night on AMC. Once you see this clip you will either get it... or you won't. For those of us who do... I understand why this was nominated for a million Emmys this year.
Folks, I couldn't resist. 
These photographs by Robert Adams were taken at twilight and evoke nearly the same emotions as Gregory Crewdson or Philip Lorca diCorcia. Visually stunning but tense, melancholy and chaotic.
The outside of Medusa.
The view from my couch. 
Robert chilling on the couch with me.
I picked out those shoes. They are perfect.
Someone hand me an Oscar.
