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

Shades of Blue

Today by divadebbi 

I have written often about my friend Stacey Bewkes, who writes the award winning lifestyle blog Quintessence.  Stacey's eye is unerring and her prose is pitch perfect. I adore this stylish Minx!

Every morning with coffee, I read about her latest globe trotting adventure. Stacey has been a past online contributor to Connecticut Cottages and Gardens.  Her first print article and photos appear in their June issue. It highlights the "blue trend" in interiors that she first noticed in Paris this January at the Maison et Objet and Paris Deco Off.  I look forward to reading it.

As soon as I spied this stack of gorgeous Limoge porcelain cups by Marie Daage,

I was inspired to create a Polyvore set featuring them. Interestingly, many of my sets that Polyvore, retailers, cosmetic brands and designers have chosen to highlight and promote have featured photographs from Quintessence.

Thank you for bringing out the best in me Q. and congratulations on CCG!

xox,

DD

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

Updating your L.B.D. This Season

 The powers that be at the website Womens Voices for Change, Dr. Patricia Allen and Style Editor Stacey Bewkes have been enjoying my Polyvore creations.  As such, they nicely asked me to create some vignettes for their Fashion Friday's column.  Here is a reprint:

About a month ago, we discovered that Fashion Friday friend Debbi O’Shea had started creating fabulous fashion vignettes on her site DivaDebbi. We thought it would be fun to invite her to create some for us, showing us ways to update for this spring season the little black dress we all have hanging in our closets. We will let Debbi explain her discovery. —Ed.

I recently stumbled upon Polyvore, a website that allows users to create and share their fashion whims with like-minded fashionistas. Not surprisingly, I’m addicted to creating outfits; it reminds me of my favorite pastime Colorforms from years past.

For the three occasions outlined, below, I chose a classic Moschino Cheap & Chic cotton crepe “Pencil” dress ($495 at Stylebop.com). This dress’s elegant style, weight, and price point was a perfect foil for different style options

Black-Tie Wedding: Unless the bride specifically requests a certain style, I would be much happier adding this spectacular lace Valentino coat to my wardrobe than another gown to hang idly in my closet. I loved the jolt the ruby satin shoes add. Makeup, too, should be thought of as an accessory. A red lip would be a must, “paired” with the earrings.

The Nude Shoe: All Eyes Up

Catherine Duchess of Cambridge wearing 
nude shoes with a Catherine Walker ensemble

I  love Day Light's Saving Time, but only when we are, "springing ahead".  Longer days of sunlight plus the proliferation of color available in ready-to-wear and accessories is a a guaranteed mood brightener. Particularly this Spring, it seems.

When Stacey Bewkes, the awarding winning writer of my favorite Lifestyle Blog Quintessence asked me if I would like to be a Style Contributor  for the website Women's Voices for Change, a fabulous resource for women over 40,  I was honored.  When Stacey asked me if there was a particular topic I'd like to cover for my second article, I suggested covering why the "nude shoe" has become such a prevalent option.

Wearing nude shoes is a neat  little trick I picked up from the late great style icon Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.   I have been advising my clients to wear them as the perfect foil for color, ever since seeing them  worn with the pistachio Carolina Herrera ensemble she wore to Caroline's wedding.  Count on Jackie to figure out a way around, God Forbid, "dyed to match".

Here's a link to the article: http://womensvoicesforchange.org/the-nude-shoe-all-eyes-up.htm  The addition of fashion is new to Women's Voices for Change. 

Led by Patricia Yarberry Allen M.D., "Women’s Voices for Change started its not-for-profit website in 2006. Since then, the WVFC community of writers, commenters, and supporters has grown steadily, drawn by a distinctive mix of news, opinion, and reflection from an over-40 women’s perspective, coupled with the authoritative medical information that is the site’s leading component".

It is a font of important health information for women over 40, as well as personal finance, relationships, career, the arts and more.  I highly recommend a visit...even if you haven't crossed that arc.

There is much we can all continue to learn from one another...at any age.

xox,

DD

Diane Von Furstenberg: Fall 2012

IMG Suite Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Lincoln Center

It's been a spectacular non-winter in the Northeast this year.  Chilled to the bone is one of my least favorite states. It actually came as a bit of shock to be truly cold again.

I was looking forward to spending the day at the "tents" to enjoy a day of  shows at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Lincoln Center, with my good friends Linda Levy and Stacey Bewkes.  Linda's husband is Peter Levy, SVP and Managing Director, IMG Fashion Worldwide.  Stacey Bewkes writes the magnificent, critically acclaimed home and lifestyle blog Quintessence.  I can never get enough of it and despite our friendship, fawn profusely. It staggers...


As such, we were able to enjoy the hospitality of the IMG VIP suite, aptly decorated like a cozy chalet:

Diva, Linda and Stacey

One of the most anticipated shows every Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, is Diane Von Furstenberg's show, always held on Sunday at 4:00.  It's a heady brew of Diane's family and personal friends. A-Listers sit cheek to cheek on a double runway, that creates 4 front rows. The people watching doesn't get any better and the house is literally, packed to the rafters.  Here's who I spotted in the front row from my perch:

Anderson Cooper, Oscar de la Renta, Barbara Walters, Ann Duong, Anna Winter and Carine Roitfeld (front to back), Brad Goreski and Rachel Zoe (front to back), Tatiana Von Furstenberg, Hamish Bowles and Diane Sawyer.

Diane Von Furstenberg and Yvan Mispelaere

Diane and her Creative Director Yvan Mispelaere,  used "puzzles" as their inspiration.  Puzzle pieces were featured as prints on dresses and tops.  Those were not amongst my favorites. What I did love, were the looks that showed women at their best; both alluring and confident.

Diane said, "This collection is called `Rendezvous'."  "It's all about loving to be a woman. It's about seduction. It is bold. It is daring. It is strong, but it has humor. It's all about liking your body, and at the same time with big coats, so it's the yin and the yang."

Here were my faves:

I'd swap an organ for this coat

To me, the beauty of these clothes is there timelessness.

And that,  speaks to the beauty of Diane as well.

Quintessence - My New Daily Beauty Ritual

To the dismay of my Mother Joan,  despite all her gentle tutoring, my thumb remains brown, in fact, it is acid etched.  Whenever she visits, she re-pots, prunes and waters  my plants and orchids, trying to will them back to life...to no avail.  Some years back, I received a gorgeous tome on orchids.  The cover was certainly lovely, so I plopped it on top of some of the decorative books that are nestled under a coffee table in my living room.  Last weekend, we went through our usual ritual.  When I noticed her rapture, reading the orchid book, I insisted she take it home... where it belongs.

Next up on the pile, was a book I purchased in April of 1987  at Sotheby's. I had the good fortune to attend one of the preview parties, for the extraordinary auction of the Dutchess of Windsor's  jewels.  I  sat mesmerized leafing through this spectacular catalog of avant-garde jewels and objects, that chronicled the love affair of the Duke and Duchess. This uniquely beautiful collection  reflected the best of quality and design from both Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels.  The French it seems,  always appreciated style and welcomed the Duke and Dutchess of Windsor, as if they were their own.  All of this is a round about way, of telling you about a gorgeous Lifestyle Blog called Quintessence-Living with Style and Substance,  written by Stacey Bewkes, who I recently had the pleasure of meeting through my friend Linda Levy.