Style for Style

Style for Style by divadebbi featuring Pier 1 Imports

Tanya Taylor stripe dress / Gianvito Rossi brown booties, $1,050 / The Row hobo purse, $1,265 / Jennifer Fisher cuff earrings, $130 / Hermès hermes perfume / Pier 1 Imports floral decor

Grey Gardens and Mom

Grey Gardens by divadebbi 

Sea New York off the shoulder dress, $465 / Grey shoes, $690 / Brunello Cucinelli leather handbag / Leather jewelry / Linda Farrow sunglasses, $410 / 



I wonder if you have missed my Polyvore creations?!  Polyvore, is an interesting place. Fashionistas, like moi, from all over the world, create our little slice of paradise in our personal fashion sets and post them on Polyvore, as well as our blogs, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook accounts.

I have been a member for over 4 years and was fairly addicted to the process and the camaraderie for a long time.  At best, it always kept my eye very fresh, particularly since I would get to see what my European counterparts were swooning for...and let's face it, they just have a 6 month jump on U.S. trends.

I was pleased to be awoken from my Polyvore slumber, by my oft sited inspiration, Stacey Bewkes' incredible Lifestyle blog, Quintessence.

The photograph above, was taken at Grey Gardens in East Hampton.
The estate was infamously owned by Big Edie Beale, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis eccentric aunt, who lived in it with her daughter Little Edie for decades, despite dirt, decay and disrepair.  It was sold and lovingly restored by Sallie Quinn and the late Ben Bradlee. Stacey's friend Liz Lange, rented it last summer, allowing for a rare glimpse of Grey Gardens as it exists now.

Immediately after reading her post, I "clipped" this image and created a fashion set around it. Merci Stacey!

I have been a bit less prolific of late as I have had to deal with 3 family health crisis, one that ended with my mother Joan Lieberman's unanticipated passing, one month ago tomorrow.

I do intend to write a memorial post about the most special and important woman in my life. She was not a Diva, more Grand Dame. Beautiful, loving, determined, strong, a good listener, wry, a fabulous cook, gardener, painter and more.  I know the words will come...

Mom enjoyed my blog DivaDebbi immensely and we both were delighted that I finally found a medium in Polyvore, that allowed me to create a form of art that a brush, pencil or crayon always eluded.

So please bear with me a bit, as I try and get the sunshine back in my soul. What I wouldn't give to pick up the phone right now and say, "Hi Mommy"! Those of you who no longer can, know the void I am feeling... Those of you who can, do.

Missing and loving you Momma, more each day...

xox,
DD

C.Z. Guest American Style Icon

C.Z. Guest American Style Icon by divadebbi 

I was inspired to create this Polyvore set after reading Susanna Salk's latest book, C.Z. Guest American Style Icon, on Quintessence, my favorite lifestyle blog.

C.Z. Guest was one of Truman Capote's "Swans", a group of impossibly stylish, beautiful women that included Babe Paley, Gloria Guiness, Slim Keith, Marella Agnelli and Lee Radziwill. 

The image of this luminous group, from a time gone by, has always intrigued and amused me. Their shut out of T.C. was lasting and final, when he allowed Esquire to publish "La Cote Basque" a thinly veiled chapter from his unfinished novel Answered Prayers, that chronicled William Paley's veracious appetite for women other than Babe.

In the Pink

In the Pink by divadebbi 

Regular readers know that my absolute favorite lifestyle Blog is Quintessence written by my friend Stacey Bewkes.

Nearly every day is a visual treat, as Stacey takes us to magnificent homes, shops, hotels, cities, gardens, designer show houses and fashion shows. As exquisite as her photographs is her prose. If you love art, interiors and fashion, I insist you visit!

Recently she and Susanna Falk have teamed up with some top interior designers to film some of their favorite haunts for inspiration, known as, "Stylish Shopping with---".  As soon as I saw her latest clip, with Susanna and the gregarious and delightful Amanda Nesbit,  I knew I would be creating Polyvore sets inspired by some of Amanda's jewel box inspired decors ...thus In the Pink above.

You can see this wonderful clip by clicking this link.

That's the beauty of art in all its forms, it nurtures the soul and stimulates our creative energy.

Consider me satiated...for now.

xox,

DD

All Wrapped Up With a Red Bow

All Wrapped Up With a Red Bow by divadebbi 

People sometimes ask how I create my Polyvore sets.  Is it the model, a particular fashion design or color, an interior? How does it work?

The answer is all of the above and often in a stream of consciousness. This is how the set above came together:

• I saw the pug first, and thought of my friend Lidia Solymosi, one of the most talented women on Polyvore, who has scores of loyal followers and is crazy about her pug Ramsey.
• I spotted this stunning young woman, wrapped like a precious doll in a red bow on Tumblr and "clipped" the image into my Polyvore treasure chest.
• The pop of red reminded me of charming red Valentino dress that I sold  to one of my lovely clients today at Richards. She's wearing it to a luncheon in the City next month. She too, looked like a precious doll.
• I often liked to pair my fashion sets back to interiors I like.  I was thinking about my friend Q., whose blog Quintessence just won the prestigious Design Bloggers Best Blog of 2013.  It is a daily read for me and my favorite Interior and Lifestyle Blog. I am so proud of my friend and happy for her!!! It's a quite an honor.
• I received a lovely Christmas gift from a fave friend and client this year, Interior Designer Miles Redd's The Big Book of Chic. I could, and often do comb it for inspiration, during fits of insomnia. I remembered a particular "red room" that I loved and wanted to finish this set with it.
• I checked back through Q's blog for a photo, since I knew she attended Miles book launch party and hoped I would find my shot.
• Voila!

The rest, of the set is just little fillers that please my eye.  And of course, Ramsey needed a little zhush too.

And this is how its all done. All wrapped up with a red bow...

xox,
DD

Chado Ralph Rucci: Fall 2013

Exquisite color mixing and this glimmering sequin tunic over sik
faille pants, brought audible gasps from the audience at Chado Ralph Rucci.
Collection photos courtesy of Style.com and Quintessence

Last Sunday evening's slush and chill did not deter the fashion world,  from attending Ralph Rucci's Fall 2013 show at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Lincoln Center.  Also in attendance, pens perched in hand in the front row, were Rucci's lovely loyal ladies, Deeda Blair, Susan Gutfreund, Martha Stewart and the always magnificent Iris Apfel, pictured below.

We had wonderful seats in the second row and I was delighted to find myself directly, behind my friends Jeffry Aronsson, President of Ralph Rucci, and his beautiful wife Wendy.  It was a joy to see Jeffry accepting many well earned congratulations after the show.

Vibrant colored Pologeorgis mink bolero's and full length coats delighted the audience in the opening of the show. Rucci is fanatic about perfect workmanship and exquisite details.  He is always thinking of the future and in his hands every ensemble feels completely fresh.

If the intent was to also to entice a younger customer, there was plenty to tempt her. Lace, sequins, mink, sable, feathers, leather, chiffon and silk faille are this artists tools and in his hands, fashion is elevated to something to be revered.

Here are some of my favorite looks from this outstanding collection.  My friend Q. from Quintessence Blog supplied the "rear view" shots, exemplifying just how exhilarating the clothes are, both coming and going...

A taste of Paris...Promoted by Nordstrom February 6th 2013

A taste of Paris... by divadebbi 

I created this blog for my friend Q. who writes my favorite lifestyle blog Quintessence. I was inspired by her wonderful street photos from her recent trip to Paris.

She was delighted.

In a lovely cosmic twist of karma, Nordstrom chose to promote my set today...You see good deeds not only go unpunished, they sometimes get rewarded.

xox
DD

A taste of Paris...

A taste of Paris... by divadebbi 

One of my favorite things to do in the morning with a good cup of coffee, is checking out what my friend Q. is up to on her delightful Lifestyle Blog Quintessence.

Q. seamlessly covers the world of Interiors, Art, Fashion, Travel, Food and Antiques.  She is an equally talented writer and photographer.  I often get inspiration for my Polyvore sets from her travels among all the latest   openings and launches, here and abroad.

The Big Book of Chic by Miles Redd

The Big Book of Chic by divadebbi 

Yesterday I received the most divine Xmas gift from one of my favorite friends and clients, The Big Book of Chic by Miles Redd.

Miles Redd is a N.Y.C. based Interior Designer whose aesthetic runs the gamut from bold and glamorous to modern whimsy. Strong color, lacquered surfaces, tufted velvet and touches of animal prints are woven magically into his designs.  They are heavenly.

As I lounged in bed this morning feasting on it, with a large cup of coffee on my bedside table, I felt as if instead,  I would have done Redd's work more justice in a satin bed jacket with a silver tray bedecked in Hermes china afoot.

As L.G. and I mused through The Big Book of Chic in my office, we both admired the bedroom in the set above and how divine it would be to have a fur throw like the one featured.

I also included a charming Lucite handbag, that was featured in my friend Q.'s fabulous Lifestyle blog Quintessence.  Q.'s sister recently was in Amsterdam and visited the Museum of Bags and Purses.  Yes Darlings,
this sublime place does truly exist and she treated us to some images of the amazing treasures housed there.

I dedicate this blog and Polyvore set to these two incredibly stylish ladies who bring joy, friendship and beauty to my life with lots of love and my best wishes for a Happy, Health New Year.

xox,
DD

I feel pretty...Yay! Top Sets Winner November 18th 2012

I feel pretty... by divadebbi 

It's always nice to be recognized by the Polyvore Editorial team and included on their "Top Sets" page (November 18th 2012).  What a lovely honor!

I think it's interesting that my BFF Barbara Newman, and dear friend Q. of Quintessence Blog, both of whom have storied careers in advertising and publishing, picked this out of all the sets I post as something uniquely special.  Good eye ladies!

My Polvyore sets have now surpassed 1,000,000 views in just 7 months.  Creating them and being part of this amazing community of incredibly talented fashionistas has become a daily joy for me.

I know not all of you still quite understand my Polyvore obsession, but now that I have figured out how to sign them, you can see they are my own creations each day.

Polyvore is also a shopping tool, so if you see something you love, if I have selected it from Polyvores offerings, they can be purchased with direct links to the websites.  I also "clip" images from all of the Internet.  Those items cannot necessarily be purchased, they are simply images that inspire and please my eye.

My sets are always a reflection of my taste and how I style my clients.  I can honestly say I have never included anything I wouldn't want to personally own.  I have crafted a delicious fantasy closet.

 I hope you are enjoying them too...

xox,
DD

The GREAT Iris Apfel

The GREAT Iris Apfel by divadebbi featuring a studded clutch

My good friend Q., who writes my favorite Lifestyle blog Quintessence
recently got to hear the divine Mrs. Iris Apfel, speak.

I remember seeing a Metropolitan Museum Costume Exhibit of her extraordinary wears, layered with her iconic jewelry collection. Her style is so unique, clever and lively that she is a joy to behold.

Q.'s blog includes an audio tape of her interview with Huffington Post Sr. Style Editor Brie Dyas. 

How inspiring to still be inspiring in your nineties.  A Goddess among women...

xox,
DD

Thou Shall Not Covet Your Husband--or Your Verdura Cuffs...

Thou Shall Not Covet Your Husband--or Your Verdura Cuffs... 

My good friend Q. from Quintessence Blog recently did a return trip to the Verdura showroom in N.Y.C., to preview the new Holiday collection. It inspired this Polyvore I created.

Designed by Southerner Richard Keith Langham, the space exudes a genteel elegance:

I cannot remember a time I didn't covet owning a pair of Verdura cuffs.  Verdura's  Maltese Cross cuffs, were best known for adorning the arms of Diana Vreeland, Vogue's Editor in Chief from 1963-1971.

For me, any old pair, including the ones above will do...

xox,
DD 

It's Fashion Week...again.

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Spring 2013 at Lincoln Center

It's insane to me how fast 6 month clips fly by. There is also something completely ironic about seeing Spring collections in 85 degree weather.  It almost feels like real time, but of course it isn't.


We are back from vacation.  While the sun didn't shine much, we did enjoy the Hampton's.  How could you not?  Good food, good friends, good massages and GREAT shopping!

I missed my first ever Fashion's Night Out,  but I will be making it up for it  with a whirlwind weekend.

What's ahead?  Two fun beauty blogger parties tomorrow night in the City, a full day of shows on Sunday at Lincoln Center for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week and "The Daily" Style Sessions on the rooftop of the Empire Hotel with my good friend Linda Levy and Q. of Quintessence Blog.

Officially stoked.

Much to follow...

xox,
DD

Tally Ho Darling...

Tally Ho Darling... by divadebbi 

I was again delighted  by some of the wonderful photos my friend Q. from Quintessence took at the Hampton Designer Showhouse.  This "Equestrian Chic" study, created by Designer Patrick Lonn.


It inspired me to create an "Equestrian Chic" Polyvore to accompany it. I think that peach cashmere duffle coat is particularly lust worthy...don't you?


xox,
DD

. 

An American Girl

An American Girl by divadebbi 

One of the prevailing trends for Fall 2012 are fabulous, voluminous coats. I loved seeing this classic navy pea coat, blown up a bit and paired with scarlett skinny pants, an ivory lace sweater and what looks to my eye to be an iconic navy and red patent Manolo Blahnik shoe.  

My heart is also skipping a beat for every Yves Saint Laurent bag that has come into Richards  thus far.  Whistle clean and oh-so wearable...yes I covet. 


My friend Q. over at Quintessence recently attended the Hampton's Designer Showhouse and treated us to the beautiful photos she took while in attendance.  I snatched one (of many) and included it in the upper right corner of this Polyvore set I created..

All American beauty is beautiful...

xox,
DD