Picture Graf: Ann Taylor

What's more wack-a-doo here: That Milla Jovovich is doing Ann Taylor ads?

or this little friend grafittied on her shoulder?

Don't I Look Cute Today: Friday April 30th, 2010

. 

Some French woman today asked me if I was French.


I replied I'm a part time mime.

Gotta make those Euros.



(GAP long sleeve striped tee, striped vintage suspenders, Prada 50's cut black pants and fave vintage black boots)

Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Shorts

My favorite color is yellow, so I'm admittedly a bit biased, but I think these See by Chloe shorts are where it's at plus five!



And with all those pockets, you can carry some coins for a little lemonade.



(Cotton blend yellow shorts, See by Chloe, $64 at www.theoutnet.com)

A Snuggle and a Snog

Funny thing about New York, everything is so immediate: on the street glances lead to whirlwind romances, casual banter leads to happily ever after.

Or at least it feels that way on a sunny Thursday afternoon in Mr Air Con's apartment. He's an Australian chap I know visiting New York from Japan to research Japanese history for NYU. Got all that?

Anywho, back in that rutty little room with the air conditioning and the hot hibiscus tea. I don't know if it's the heavy temperature contrast on my already tousled senses or what, but I've got dreams of letters and sodas in my eyes as I look up at him.

M:  you're so cute. you've got some poor boy pining away for you over East, right? (it's always how it goes)

AC:  ha, no actually.

M: well, I have to tell you if you weren't leaving Monday, I'd try to settle you down.

And it's true.

Hard to find is a guy who can balance a snuggle with a snog, but today Mr Air Con gave me cuddle "what for" and made me a cup of tea. Now that's what I call a  perfect gentleman and a perfect day off.

Why Can't I Get Just One Kiss

Thanks Miss JP for the good luck kiss last nite!

Thanks for the AD: Ivory Soap

Spotted in the men's room of The Village Tart restaurant:

Don't I Look Cute Today: First Day of School

Yesterday was my first day at a new gig

Out With the Pasties

It's official: Giles Deacon replaces the wonder twins, Lindsay and Estrella at Ungaro. This is great news for fashion fans: a classic house with a new designer obsessed with pop and color.

But I will miss Lindsay. Perhaps Giles will put her in the front row of his debut. Or is that salt in the wound??

To be continued....

Smart Cookie

The April windows of the 59th Street Bloomingdale's are a zoo!

In conjunction with the World Wildlife Fund, Lilly Pulitzer designed Nabisco's animal cracker boxes in her signature Palm Beach colors and motifs.



Monkeys and rabbits loop de loop!

I've Got Lanvin Lust

This Lanvin brooch gets me with a right old mix of 40's strength with Byzantine opulence.

I've got Lanvin lust bad!

Perfect Day: Tarts, Vintage and Hysterical Women

Miss LU and I spent the bulk of an ideal Saturday brunching and buying new clothes (I've been on sartorial starvation too long. I need my fill).

Brunch took place at the Parisian haunt in my hood, The Village Tart.

A massive sea salt croissant and blueberry oatmeal muffin basket kicked the meal off with a flavor bang. For the main we shared a crimini, shitake and portabella tart and a baked rigatoni and cheese casserole with arugula salad. All delicious and the full we shared after was divinely balanced.

Post we putzed around picking up new printed dress shirts, cuz there's a dramatic shortage of those in my closet.

How genius is this Theory dandelion print shirt from Buffalo Exchange?

I returned to my den to wind down and watch movies with Mr G.

If you haven't seen "Suddenly Last Summer", like I hadn't, queue it up now in the old Netflix now. Katherine Hepburn makes quite an entrance and Elizabeth Taylor gets to have a truth serum induced breakdown.

The scenery chewing between these two dames is staggering and there's an epic garden set to rival Eden.

And then over some black tea and jellybeans, Mr G and I ended the day with one more nutty broad: Jessica Lange in "Frances". 

Not sure if I'd recommend  this one outside of seeing Ms Lange in her radiant peak and some great wardrobe.

Doin' It: Kenneth Jay Lane on Max and Chloe

Big fan of Kenneth Jay Lane!



And so is the site Max and Chloe, obviously:

(Swarovski Crystal Bib Necklace, Kenneth Jay Lane, $813 at http://www.maxandchloe.com/)

(Gold Plated Austrian Crystal and Enamel Panther Ring, Kenneth Jay Lane, $120 at http://www.maxandchloe.com/)

(Silver Plated Austrian Crystal Earrings, Kenneth Jay Lane, $150 at http://www.maxandchloe.com/)

1, 2 Freddy's coming for you....

Or at least my Netflix queue....

Earth Day: Vintage

One of the truly best thing you can do for the earth and still be a fashion and furniture fiend? Vintage.

These items already exist, do not require energy or resources to be produced and need good homes.



Inspired, here's some hits from my recent trip home from the vintage store where I used to work.








I love the jawbreaker vibe of these shoes and if they're good enough for Jackie-O...

(Leather Polka Dot Peep Toes, size 6.5, Oleg Cassini, $68 at Venus on the Halfshell, 301-662-6213)

(Glass Topped Wood + Rattan Weave Coffee Table, $450 at Venus on the Halfshell, 301-662-6213)

(Cotton Sundress with Rooster Print, size small, $145 at Venus on the Halfshell, 301-662-6213)

(Plastic Shade Hanging Lamp, $145 at Venus on the Halfshell, 301-662-6213)

Earth Day: Matt and Nat

I have a Matt and Nat bag that I always get compliments on and I'm always proud to boast how all of M+N's bags are 100% Vegan and made from recycled or refurbished materials.

Perfect for Earth Day.

Check out the results:

(Teal Vegan "Ladytron" Bag, Matt & Nat, $145 at http://www.mattandnat.com/)

(Vegan Wallet with Antique Brass Hardware, Matt & Nat, $95 at http://www.mattandnat.com/)

(Vegan and Antique Brass Hardware Handle Bag, Matt & Nat, on sale $154 at http://www.mattandnat.com/)

They also have men's pieces and jewelry and belts. Love them!

No Fixed Profession

While watching the documentary "Scott Walker: 30th Century Man" with Mr G we saw the inhabitants of my Ipod speak reverently of Mr Walker on the screen: Goldfrapp, Jarvis Cocker, Dot Allison, Marc Almond, etc.

But this guy was my favorite:

I feel you, buddy.

Why Haven't We MET?

It's almost May and the usual din surrounding the annual Costume Institute Ball at the Metropolitan Museum of Art is mysteriously non-existent right now even though it takes place on Monday May 3rd.

Granted the theme of the current exhibit, 'American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity', is a bit  uninspired (witness this high school student looking collage on VOGUE.com) 

And has GAP even announced its tie-in designer colab yet?

I hope it's not this sad Coachella clothing attempt?!

Is the recession killing off The Met Ball?!

Doin' It: Tim Hamilton on Ebay

Why do I really want these??

She's a Mott-erial Girl?

Ooh rumors are circulating online that Madonna is shooting the Fall 2010 Dolce & Gabbana ad campaign around Mulberry and Mott streets in my neighborhood this week.

I'm so loitering on the stoop the next few days.

The TIDE has Turned

Hmm... read this article just now on Money Talks News and I'm intrigued. I've always guessed laundry detergent is just a big plastic jug of that bubble mix we used as kids and a total waste of money.

In the article it gives you a recipe for do it yourself detergent. I am soooo checking this out once my dregs of Mrs. Meyer's Geranium detergent runs out. Especially since I have my own geranium essential oil to add to the mix.

From  http://www.moneytalksnews.com/


The Recipe



Below is a homemade laundry detergent recipe that seems to work pretty well.

You'll need:


• 4 cups of water.


• 1/3 bar of cheap soap, grated.


• 1/2 cup washing soda (not baking soda).


• 1/2 cup of Borax (20 Mule Team).


• 5-gallon bucket for mixing.


• 3 gallons of water.


First, mix the grated soap in a saucepan with 4 cups of water, and heat on low until the soap is completely dissolved. Add hot water/soap mixture to 3 gallons of water in the 5-gallon bucket, stir in the washing soda and Borax, and continue stirring until thickened. Let the mix sit for 24 hours, and voila! Homemade laundry detergent.


Total cost per load? In the neighborhood of 2 cents. Store-bought detergent, depending on what you buy and where you buy it, can cost about 20 cents per load -- 10 times more.




Then again.... Seems like a lot of work and where does one even get Borax? 

To be continued....

Taking Liberty: H+M

There's been big business in fashion as of late to pinch the look of Liberty of London's floral motifs.

H+M even went so far as to do a "limited edition" collection completely of Liberty-esque prints.

But I do like this skirt's acid watercolor electricity:

Besides it's got a much more Balenciaga Spring 2008 vibe.

(Floral print skirt, H+M, $29.95 at http://www.hm.com/)

If I Still Had A Car

windows down:

I Wanna Live Here

How invigorating is that yellow brick entry?

With a foyer like this I'd probably make it to work on time and energized!

Thanks Mr Air Con for showing this off to me.

No wonder you're always so cheery.

Frugal and Fruity

It's breakfast time in New York.


I'm more of a coffee til 3pm kinda guy, but Mr G loves his grapefruit juice.


These are for him and at this price they won't squeeze the budget.

("Squeeze" juice glasses, Crate and Barrel, $2.95 at http://www.crateandbarrel.com/)

Most F-able Wedding Ever

As for this weekend, it was a fun filled whirlwind trip back home for a wedding of two friends. My date was my friend I haven't seen in a minute

The wedding was really magical and sleek: a stunning bride I've known since middle school, a handsome groom I've become quite fond of getting married in the old armory.

They did a great reception redecorate. I forgot quickly that I used to vote here.

When the happy couple were
"presented" my friends at the table and I all agreed they are a very attractive couple.












I'd go so far as to say this was the sexiest wedding I've ever been to. Many of the bridal party and guests were also very F-able.

Actually, one of the guests was very F-able. I'd noticed this guy earlier. Tall dark and handsome, in his grey "dressy" jeans and purple dress shirt combo, he was looking good. When I went up for my Seagram's Seven and Seven # 5 or 6 (hey, open bar. don't judge), he made his move.

And he knew exactly who I was.

Mr Dressy Jeans:  Your name's Mac, right?


Me:  Umm, yeah....

Dressy Jeans:  It's F_. Remember me?

oh....yeah. Yeah, I do.


So the guy that I'm obliviously checking out at my friends wedding is a boy I'd made out with many a moon ago and is now picking me up.

Somehow, this all seems about right.

And Wow, my tastes are still the same from 6 years ago. That and Dressy Jeans has matured into his sexy. He is quite handsome and witty. I also quite enjoyed his festive and fun friends at the table next and joined them for an after party and more dancing.


Needless to say, spent the nite at Dressy Jeans and then had an awkward walk of shame to my mom's house. Oy, nothing like a 30 year old slinking into his mom's after being out all nite. Classy.

(doing my spot-on Olivier Zahm impression)

But thanks to the bride and groom for making this reunion possible ;)