{NM Daily}

“We call it our good luck flat – since we moved in, it seems everything has been possible,” says designer Mary Katrantzou, when asked to describe living in London.  The Greek-born Central Saint Martins graduate, who started in fashion only four years ago, continues to develop her signature: hyper-realist prints—of perfume bottles, blown glass, 18^th Century portraiture, interiors and most recently, objects d’art—coupled with experimental silhouettes.  Meanwhile, fashion’s elite continues to crave her maximalist aesthetic – the counterpoint to Celine’s “Phoebe Philo effect” that captured the fashion scene two seasons ago.

In their determination to get an authentic shot for the latest issue of The Book, our creative team literally placed a piano on the sands of remote Bandon Beach in Oregon. To get to Bandon, the team led by senior art director Lori Stadig flew to Eugene and drove for 3 hours. “It just had to be that beach, because of the unusual rock formations,” says Stadig. “And it’s just so beautiful there.” The run-down piano, purchased in Portland, was already “on its last legs” so a prop stylist removed its innards, to lighten the load. It had to be transported in the bed of a pickup truck because the beach wouldn’t allow a moving truck. On site, the crew waited for the light to be just right (not too sunny.) Afterward, the piano was donated to a Portland performance artist. See the final image after the jump.

If you’ve ever dreamed of being a shoe designer, now is your chance, in a way. During the month of July, Neiman Marcus is offering a chance to mold your very own Manolo Blahnik masterpiece. Similar to shopping for a sleek set of wheels, you will first need to select your make and model. Any Manolo body-style on the lot is yours for the taking, be it a low-heel sling back, classic pointed toe pump or open-toe d’Orsay.

Marco Bicego hails from a long line of goldsmiths. The days of his childhood in the Veneto region of Italy were spent at his father’s 50-year-old atelier meddling, molding and manipulating metal. As time went on the congenitally creative Bicego began to experiment with design by blending the influences of modern architecture with tribal culture, and merging the untouched beauty of nature with the diversity of art.

Prada Candy

Until now the Prada woman embodied in Prada fragrances has stood for sophistication, control, refinement. We see those qualities most clearly in Infusion d’Iris. But if you consider Miuccia Prada’s ready-to-wear collections in recent years, fairy pants and banana skirts come to mind, and another mode of femininity has strutted into view: girly, flirty, impulsive and prone to excess. Prada Candy was created for her.

The sweet scent featured notes of musk, benzoin and caramel. The striking bottle is dressed with a Prada signature, a Saffiano leather stripe in hot pink, and comes inside a box imprinted with an illustrated blonde bombshell—a nod to beauty packaging from the Fifties.

French actress Léa Seydoux (Midnight in Paris, Inglourious Basterds,) is the face of the Prada Candy ad campaign.

Preparing for a summer getaway can be challenging, but getting your lackluster legs in top form for your swimsuits and shorts is easy. Here is our simple 4-step plan to achieve gorgeous gams in a hurry.

The Venice Biennale is the oldest, and remains the grand dame, of the international expositions for contemporary art. This year it encompasses 89 national pavilions, 37 official collateral shows and other parallel events, on view through November 27. It is spread across the Giardini, the Arsenale, the six administrative units of the city and the nearby islands. Contemporary works play against the legacy of Venetian masters, adding to the visual tapestry of it all.

Espresso Chcolate Martini

A sweet way to perk up on a hot afternoon.

Espresso Chocolate Martini: 

1.5 oz. Absolut Vanilla

1 oz. White Godiva

1 oz. Dark Chocolate Godiva

1 oz. Illy Caffe espresso shot

Shake with ice and strain into martini glass.  Rim the glass with cocoa powder. Cheers!

They say that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure – and that certainly holds true for the women lucky enough to slide into Christian Louboutin’s Ecotrash Platform Slingback. The unlikely shoe, or rather art, features real rubbish compiled over time from the garbage cans at Christian Louboutin’s atelier in Paris. Pieces of thread, postage stamps, scribbled sticky notes, leftover sequins and fabric swatches from seasons past are packed under the clear PVC plastic of this statement-making slingback. 

With bikini season in full swing, Bliss releases the Fat Girl Brush—the tool its estheticians use for dry brushing the body during treatments at Bliss Spas—so you can kick-start your skin smoothing routine and get spa-worthy results at home. (The name is a play off Bliss’ ever-popular Fat Girl Slim anti-cellulite cream.) Fat or slim, all girls can develop the dreaded dimples.  The trick to battling bulge is in the technique. Natural fiber bristles are brushed against the body, from shoulder to shin, in short, quick strokes.  This massaging action increases circulation, reduces the “look” of cellulite and helps to detoxify the lymphatic system while tightening and sloughing the skin, Bliss says. We suggest you brush up your technique before summer’s end. Fat Girl Brush hits Bliss counters at Neiman Marcus stores this month.