Scene of the Time: New Years 2012

For New Year's, Mr Taurus and I celebrated with a quiet, intimate little affair at home. Bowls were scattered with symbols of luck in the new year: basil, oranges and peanuts

The table featured a light dusting of homemade confetti crafted from  Lancôme and Fendi ads from the December ELLE

My mother's thank you cards sent to us serves as impromptu seating cards

And we popped a bottle of champagne I'd saved from a styling gig to toast the successes of 2011 and the new triumphs ahead for 2012

Happy New Year! 

I'm Back...?

But in a Christmas cookie hangover....

Bare with me today...

It's a Gift: Kelly Rowland's Presence

In 24 hours I'll be in Maryland celebrating the holidays with my family! I'm no Scrooge, so I'm leaving you with a special holiday gift.


Ms. Kelly Rowland is a judge and mentor on the UK (and far superior) X Factor and recently took to the stage to sing* a medley of hits.


The Brits LOVE her and you know what, she's definitely a favorite around the It Can't All Be Dior office.


Watch this B shimmy in hot pants as you indulge in yet another frosted baked good


                                


Happy Holidays!


* Everytime a pop star sings live, an angel gets his wings

It's a Gift: Ginger Soap from Body Shop

Guys don't make gift giving easy especially if they're before their tie receiving prime but beyond the age of Legos (although I beg to quibble that expiration date.)

One thing guys of any age have in common: they're dirty. Trust me; I am one. I know. Why not give them an elegant but masculine soap to remedy that problem 

The Body Shop's ginger soap feels like a luxurious present and features a refreshingly woodsy scent. The ground walnut shells exfoliate without being abrasive and the smell is a complex mix of spicy warmth, toasted chestnut, a spike of candied orange rind and a hint of rustic sweetness like brown sugar or molasses. 

Added bonus: like every Body Shop item for the past thirty-five years, this soap is not tested on animals. It also does not contain parabens and is made with Community Fair Trade soya oil

The results are a cruelty free soap that leaves a light, invigorating ginger scent and skin soft. Man, oh man! 

I highly recommend this soap for you, your boo or any dude on your holiday list. There's an extensive supporting line too if your man's comfortable enough to indulge in lotions and scrubs. No judgement

(The Body Shop ginger soap, $5 for 3.5 oz bar, other sizes and products featured in this scent,  www.thebodyshop-usa.com)

Going for the Gold (Beauty Trend)

Featured in VOGUE's December issue was a "Oh silly rich people" suggestion of gilding your face for holiday parties. Seriously

The one page real estate harkens to the confidence VOGUE has in this trend blowing up, yet Bloomingdale's took it to heart, slathering their Soho mannequins in a facial gold rush

And Broadway between Broome and Spring Street must have a magazine share program, because a mere block away our Brit friends at Topshop applied goldleaf to the MALE mannequins too. Who says you just guild the 'Lily', when Luke and Larry can sport a metallic mug too

Meanwhile, I say until they go all Jill Masterson, I'm gonna give this emerging beauty trend the golden ticket. I can't wait to see ladies (and lads!) at cocktail parties radiating with those golden complexions.

Christmas Night Fever

Paul Smith's holiday window features little dioramas including this boogie Winter Wonderland 

Go Santa, go Santa

Window Dressing on the Side: Out Jumps Evil Illuminated Santa Claus

Desigual is this great omnipresence in Spain that here in New York is just yet another hooker wear peddler on Broadway.


But what the hell is going on with this creep-tastic holiday window?

More than reindeer would pause if this glassy eyed, fat, red light mound of plastic head and hands was clawing its way over on my Christmas eve

It's a Gift: Hunter Intarsia Sweater

Even though I'm a vegetarian this hunter intarsia knit sweater on Ebay right now would be a-ok in my holiday stocking this year

And it's perfect cuz until my paycheck gets that mythical bump I hear is supposed to happen in your 30's, this is as close to Hermes as I'ma gonna get

(100% Acrylic goldenrod intarsia hunter pattern crewneck sweater, Fuzz Dandy,  $34.35 at
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mens-mustard-country-hunting-jumper-indie-vtg-s-m-l-xl-/290537098360?pt=UK_Men_s_Jumpers_Cardigans&var=&hash=item895f93ef76)

Umm... This Be Good: My Sister's X-mas Carrrrd

I love my sister. Sometimes we share a brain. Knowing "Season's Greetings" is wide open to interpretation, this is the Christmas card she chose to send out this year:

This is 100% her baby too. She photographed and developed the visual concept of two drunken pirate skeletons coming back for one last celebration and to me it captures the holiday completely: live it up with those you love!


Thanks Kelly and Happy Holidays to you, too.

DON'T: ELLE's Drab Work of ART

One of the many boring Jessicas covers the December issue of ELLE magazine

but that's not even my main gripe here. ELLE's picked up this bad habit of denoting a theme to each issue of the year and out of nowhere (perhaps to time with Art Basel?) decided December is now "ART-ember", celebrating artists and the art scene.



Meh.




Strip me of my gay card and all, but I couldn't snooze faster at the mention of "ART". Yuk. So pretentious and preposterous the way those white folks flit about flapping hands and making wild gestures over adolescent splatter and nude self-portraits while onlookers nod approvingly and sip cheap magnum wine. Ugh






Sure enough I breeze through the front of book's tedious "we can make this tie together, I swear" pile up and into the well featuring a stunning China Chow in the most uninspired outfits

How is that even possible? This B's got style enough for all 12 issues!


Sadly the whole thing wraps up with the back cover's Dolce & Gabbana ad with Ms Scarlett Jo-Blank Stare

So bookend dull starlets, missed opportunities with actual women of (color!) style and pigeon holed, irrelevant concepts....

Isn't there a holiday or two going on, ELLE?  DON'T be such a Grinch!

Guest Blog: Holiday Gift Guide 2011

Hey guys, make sure to check out my Holiday 2011 gift guide

http://www.twoandseven.com/2011/12/07/macs-gift-guide-personal-wish-list/

A special guest post for  fashion blog, "Two + Seven" 

http://www.twoandseven.com/2011/12/07/macs-gift-guide-personal-wish-list/

Window Dressing on the Side: Lord and Taylor's Light Box

Lord and Taylor created little peek-a-boo vignettes featuring layered lights and fabulous little baubles for every lavish lady

on your list

And a little something for the fancy fellas too

So when you're around 39th + Fifth for all those sample sales, make sure to pop by for a peek.

H.O.H. , H.O.H. , H.O.H.

Have I mentioned my love for House of Holland? Well if you're sending a X-mas card to Stately Grand Street Manor this year it better be this little charmer from H.O.H.

Inside reads 'HOH HOH HOH Merry Christmas'

Pack includes 4x Red and Green, 4x Green and red, 4x Black and White.

(Pack of 12 House of Holland Christmas cards, £7.99 at http://shop.houseofholland.co.uk/)

Santa Clause is Coming to Town (Oh and Satan too)

Believe it or not, this is a Christmas post

In parts of Austria, Germany and Italy when St Nicholas holds his grand "Krampus" procession into town he doesn't come accompanied by merry little toy making elves, but rather child eating demons

 They're present to hold court on the children and determine who's worthy of trinkets and candy and who's seeing a far darker fate

(This guy's all business as he steers the cart to remove mischief making tots)

After the devil's march, St Nicholas finally glides in right at the end after making everyone wait around.

Diva!

And works the zealous crowd.

Next year, I'm booking a December 4th trip to the Alps, honey. I gotta see this in person!

Harper's Bazaar Brazil Puts Fur on their December Cover

And for once I love it!

The cat's totally copping a feel off cover girl Caroline Trentini. That's one festive frisky feline!

Slave for Love of Fast Fashion

And family

H+M's holiday ads are out and Bryan Ferry is center stage with his son, Tara.

Now I don't know why you'd name your son after everybody's favorite (but recently shot in the head) actress from True Blood, but hey, you sang the love theme song to Legend. How am I gonna question you? 

 Meanwhile there's a bunch more gay icons with they kids up in this

Former Madonna boy toy and still hot daddy-o, Tony Ward with his daughter 

And mulit-generational models Jerry Hall and Georgia May Jagger looking beautiful, big smiled and blonde

(I'd hold on for dear life too, darlin': that's Jerry F-in' Hall!) 

Good Advice: Just a Dab Won't Do Ya!

"When in doubt, apply more glitter"

-Ms. Kylie Minogue's advice for when an endeavor isn't panning out, courtesy of Women's Wear Daily at her launch of her 'Dazzling Darling' fragrance. 


Hmm... not sure that's really the way to get a promotion at the office, but worth a try. 






(Golly, it's fragrance central over at Stately Grand Street Manor today. Must be thoughts of Christmas wish lists....)