How I am Feeling Today...

That's right, Natasa Vojnovic*, I feel the same way! 

*Looking marvelous in Gucci for the Bergdorf Goodman Fall 2012 women's preview

Project Runway All Stars: I Nanette Lepore You!

This week we learned about the math behind running a successful contemporary label (that would be the next great American designer's market) from Ms. Nanette Lepore


I was very happy that we at least mentioned after all these seasons, that fashion design is a business first. There is no magic envelope of money and a room full of free Brothers at your fingertips.


I was very disappointed though that it went right back to fashion fantasy with this girl just looking at designs and pulling a fabric allowance out her head

And everyone easily stayed within that budget? Really? Don't they usually bitch and struggle over the measely $200 they're given for less important dresses? Seems fishy and/or a missed opportunity to expose the compromises designers face

Anywho let's talk taffeta:

AUSTIN

Austin's coat is the perfect example of how fabric is the backbone of good design. This would have been spot-on in a more structured material, but given his budget restrictions he chose this wet noodle ish. Shame cuz the color was on trend saturation and the movement I'm sure made the judges teeter

And what girl doesn't want her "That Girl" moment? 

MONDO

Remember that year Jennifer Hudson was up for an Oscar for her throw down tour de force in "Dreamgirls" and everyone was like "if she doesn't win this..."? Mondo is the J-Hud of contemporary design. I long ago suggested he has an amazing career at the helm of Forever 21 or on team with one of the labels off Bergdorf's 5th floor, because given an established contemporary designer's aesthetic he nailed it 

No surprise. What is exciting is that we're at the finale and both our boys are "IN" 

Here's where we stand as we head into the homestretch

AUSTIN   5

MONDO  5

Hmm... would you look at that. We got two winners on our hands, although we all know there can only be one on top. 

Oh, and Angela? Still nailin' it! 

Bergdorf Goodman Sent Me a Present

Ok so I'm sluggin' through work today, minding my business as I try to get back into a routine that I'd only just started before this long holiday siesta. I casually check my email and what to my wonder would suddenly appear but an email from Bergdorf Goodman

Bergdorf Goodman wrote Mac from Maryland about my blog!

What a gift and my birthday isn't for another three weeks!

And the gift keeps on giving as the official, just released full length video of 'dogs gone wild' is pure mutt!



              


I love that the spotted dog (is that a Cavalier King James??)  is dreaming of hot tea and room diffusers. Ha. Sounds like he understands the powers of tub time.

Bergdorf Lets the Bitches Run Wild

The bitches are running wild at Bergdorfs!          



                 


Now that I've been doggedly teased, when does the full movie bow (wow)?


Ooh, puns!

Four Legs Good: Joseph Altuzarra’s (Not at All Mean) Bean

Bergdorf Goodman's super fun blog, 5th at 58th, has a regular feature called "best in Show" that features store pets. This week's entry is the adorable, sweet Schnauzer from Joseph Altuzarra's showroom, Bean. 

He indulges the blog's questions, excitedly gushing about the joys of chasing squirrels and going on walks. Oh Mr. Bean, we're like two in a pod. 

His full interview: http://blog.bergdorfgoodman.com/womens-style/bgs-best-in-show-joseph-altuzarras-bean

Bergdorf's Windows are a Fright

Well they're actually just about PHOBIAS and feature paintings and sculptures by my friend, artist Mark Gagnon

Bergdorf had commissioned a whole windows worth of paintings from Mr Gagnon back in 2008 and it was such a successful collaboration, that they turned to him once more to paint fashionable interpretations of many common fears like spiders, drowning, tornadoes and Nuclear war

A talented painter, sculptor and mixed media artist, Gagnon's client list also includes (but limited to) Cartier, Barneys, Target and illustrations for publication such as The New York Times, Harper's Bazaar, Rolling Stone, Wallpaper and many more

Make sure to stop by Bergdorf Goodman's windows or pop over to their blog to check out more:

http://blog.bergdorfgoodman.com/windows/fearless


And to see more of Mark Gagnon's work, check out his Tumblr: http://markgagnon.tumblr.com/

How I Spent my Staycation

Tomorrow I go back to work. -sigh- It all happened so fast. But I spent my time wisely nicking off my goals and just enjoying my doing what I want to do and not 

what I have to.

On Saturday I went to the museum

Well... technically I went to the museum.... just didn't go in. It was madness (I forgot how crazed Saturdays in the city be!) and Miss M.T. forgot her MoMA pass so we decided that the best museum day is a day spent at Bergdorfs!

I haven't spent a day in Bergdorfs probably since I first moved here, so it felt right to wander through every floor and take in all the curations of resort and spring designs

Decision well made, Saturday well played


On Sunday Mr Taurus woke me up early to go to the Housing Works volunteer appreciation brunch where I won an award

and Mr G and I donated 3 bags of clothes to H.W. and found this vaguely racist dress
I wanted to get for my friend Miss J

(minty green wool cap sleeve dress with embroidered rickshaws, $35 at Housing Works, 245 w 10th Street, 212-358-1618)

All in all I'd say staycation well stayed. I didn't make it to Washington heights, but it's not going anywhere. I'll get there. And I didn't open an Ebay store, but donated the clothes to a good cause instead. And now I'm feeling refreshed and raring to go! Doin' it!

Kara by Kara Ross Stingray Ring

Lately I've been really feeling stingray. It's got this undeniable "careful, I could ignite any minute" sensibility that's just pure sex.

I can tell Kara Ross feels the same. She wisely offsets her creamy gold plated ring with a rough slash of stingray

And like anything so lubricious, just a touch of stingray is all you need

(Stingray, enamel and gold plated ring, Kara by Kara Ross, $130 at Bergdorf Goodman http://www.bergdorfgoodman.com)

Bergdorf Goodman Just Got a Bunch of Store Dogs

As a precautionary measure, Bergdorf Goodman is having a regular round of bed bug sniffing beagles patrol the premises. 

While that's the cutest anti-ick measure I've heard, are they any good at helping me find my size?