Grapefruit Cosmo Lite:
5 oz. ice
1 fluid oz. Monin O’Free Triple Sec
1.5 fluid oz. Voil Lemon Vodka
1 fluid oz. Ruby Red Grapefruit Juice
1 Mint Sprig
Add ice, triple sec, vodka and grapefruit juice to the shaker. Cap, shake and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a mint sprig. Cheers!
The Glamourai
I had a 30-hour layover in New York, between vacationing in Miami and then heading to Palm Springs for a job ~ and this Halston Heritage dress is the only piece of clothing that survived the suitcase switch-out. It was a score from my holiday indulgence extravaganza, and I just want to wear it everywhere!
Halston Heritage dress with Alexander Wang shoes. (Photos by Ian Witlen.)
The idea for the jeweled design of “Bollywood” ($1,395) came from an ancient Italian bracelet that has been in the Caovilla family since 1930.
Rows of skilled artisans hunched over worktables, scrupulously cutting leather and forming the slivers into delicate adornments; placing crystals with surgeon-like dexterity onto the vamps of stilettos; stitching thousands of beads, sequins, and feathers by hand, one by one. This is the scene that greets visitors to the Venice villa workshop of shoemaker René Caovilla. Here, shoes are meticulously tooled into creations befitting a modern-day fairy tale. And that’s exactly how the calzolaio wants it.
The René Caovilla compound.
The second-generation shoemaker learned his craft at the apron of his father, Edoardo, who made shoes for the highest-echelon clientele—fusing art, Venetian craftsmanship, and jewelry making. The pupil studied well and followed in the Caovilla tradition. His reputation as a craftsman and couturier led to several esteemed creative partnerships. In the ’70s, Caovilla joined forces with designer Valentino Garavani, creating shoes under the label Valentino by René Caovilla—an association that lasted more than two decades. Another brush with high fashion was in the early ’90s when Dior came calling, followed by a five-year collaboration with Karl Lagerfeld.
Jeweled embroidery incorporates five sizes and 10 colors of Swarovski crystals —each one set by hand. The embroidery alone requires five hours of labor.
It wasn’t until 2000 that Caovilla made the decision to focus all production efforts on the house’s eponymous brand. Shoes lavished with jewelry would be the epicenter of his artistic expression. The divine results have garnered a celeb following and the highest standing among shoe devotees and fashion’s elite. Simply put, a shoe by René Caovilla is nothing short of a masterpiece.
Five artisans work on each pair of sandals: one to create the embroidery, and four to craft the shoe’s other components—heel, platform, insole, and upper. A pair, from start to finish, is an 18-hour process.
The scene: cocktail hour in a New York brownstone. An Upper East Side girl with polish and Downtown style, hit with a hefty dose of Brit whimsy. Stella McCartney is half New Yorker, remember—her mom was from New York. Feathers became flowers; there were eagle motifs, embroidery. The models mingled while artists worked at the perimeters. Photos above by yours truly.
I was sitting poolside in Greece a few months ago and had a minor revelation: My fellow man does not know how to dress for the water. Socks? At the beach? A rumpled T-shirt that was almost surely worn yesterday? Putting on a swimsuit is no easier for a man than a woman, but this is supposed to be fun. Plus, bathing suits are a guy’s moment to wear color and print, and opportunities abound to display a decent amount of panache.
Lately I’m inspired by men who look like secret agents of the ’60s. The look: square-cut trunks; a loose, button-front linen shirt; and soft shoes such as espadrilles or Toms. It adds up to style that says dashing, not trying too hard, and decidedly masculine. There are some easy ways to get the look. Try printed trunks from Vilebrequin and a solid-color linen shirt from Mason’s. There’s something “finished” about pairing a woven shirt with swimwear. (Bonus: You’ll look appropriate at any poolside bar.) If you want to really look deadly good, Orlebar Brown swim trunks are in order—the side-buckle detail is perfect. I’ve seen some guys incorporating fitted polos (keep them solid colored), and metal and leather bracelets (please get them wet.) A pair of simple flip-flops in white, black, or navy is an easy alternative to espadrilles when you know things are going to get wet. And since even super spies need a carryall for the beach, grab a canvas and leather tote that, in a moment of double-agent genius, can work as a non-vacation bag, too.
MATTHEW’S PACKING LIST
1. Will Leather Goods tote, The Man’s Store.
2. Mason’s shirt, The Man’s Store.
5. Orlebar Brown wicker-print swim trunks
6. Vilebrequin shark-print swim trunks
7. Miansai bracelet, The Man’s Store.
9. Toms slip-on
You’re penning an autobiography. What’s the title? Unbridaled on Horseback
Your idea of perfection? A day without a schedule
The greatest lesson you ever learned from a child? It’s certainly not always about you
What talent do you wish you had? The most extraordinary jazz musician piano player with a decent voice
Greatest fear? People finding out my greatest fear, whatever that is
If not your current occupation, what would you like to be? Food critic
Cat/Dog/Bird/Fish? Dogmatic
If you could be any one person for a day, who would it be? David Quadrini
what puts you in a creative mood? My records
What is your most treasured possession? My brain
What is something about you that nobody would guess? I’d rather sleep in a tent than a 5-star hotel
Favorite indulgence? Dissipating into thin air when the mood strikes
If you could rewrite your history, what one thing would you change? Nothing on my end
Which artist do you most admire? Erick Swenson
What would you do with one extra hour in your day? A dip in the ocean
What is the first concert/musical performance you attended? Tricky at Trees
Your most annoying habit? An occasional excess of opinion
Which single piece of art do you wish you’d created? Falling waters house. Then I’d be living in it.
How would you like to be remembered? Like a shredding star on a warm balmy night
Secret junk food vice? McDonalds’ french fries
If you had to pick your theme song, what would it be? Jonathan Richman “Because her beauty is raw and wild”
Full Disclosure is a recurring feature in The Book by Neiman Marcus.
Irish Coffee Chartreuse:
1 fluid oz. Chocolate Callebuat Discs
4 oz. Whole Milk
1 oz. Chartreuse
Sweet Whipped Cream
Pour whole milk into an Irish coffee mug, stir to incorporate melted chocolate and Chartreuse. Top with sweet whipped cream and Chartreuse. Cheers!
Chriselle Lim, The Chriselle Factor
Chloé’s Suzanna bootie caused a fashion frenzy in 2008 when style icons Kate Bosworth and Sienna Miller could not take the go-with-everything booties off their feet. After an almost-immediate international sell-out, the French fashion house finally brought the boot back for an encore in the Spring of 2012. Today, nearly six years since its release, the triple buckle boot‘s allure is stronger than ever. Fashion bloggers continue to instigate the statement shoe’s must-have appeal by styling it with casual chic staples like chunky knits, motos and distressed denim.
Chriselle Lim, The Chriselle Factor
LA-based fashion blogger Chriselle Lim of TheChriselleFactor.com pairs her Chloé Suzanna booties with a chunky knit, asymmetrical wool skirt and Celine luggage tote.
Chiara Ferragni, The Blonde Salad
International fashion blogger Chiara Ferragni of TheBlondeSalad.com pairs her Chloé Suzanna booties with 7FAM baroque denim, and a wool and leather coat.
Ashley Madekwe, Ring My Bell
LA-based Ashley Madekwe of the blog Ring My Bell pairs her Chloé Suzanna booties with a chiffon dress and motorcycle jacket.
Alix Bancourt, The Cherry Blossom Girl
International fashion blogger Alix Bancourt of the blog TheCherryBlossomGirl.com paired her Chloé Suzanna booties with distessed denim, a simple white tee and classic black blazer.
NM’s Bruce Halus, VP of men’s clothing, ensures that our stores are stocked with the most exceptional menswear the market has to offer. So when Aquaspider, a water resistant fabric milled exclusively for Isaia, splashed onto the suit scene, Halus, an avid paddle boarder, was intrigued.
Aquaspider’s tailored technology is obtained at the fiber level, allowing the fabric to take on a wrinkle, stain, and water resistant quality. This unique fabrication not only grants the garment to breathe and retain its original hand (feel), it gives the material a natural stretch that moves and molds to the wearer’s body.
Like any NM buyer, Halus wanted to really test the claims of Aquaspider before the new product made its way into stores. So on a routine morning before work he tied up his paddle board and drove to nearby White Rock Lake for a sunrise cruise. But on this particular morning, he traded his typical wet suit for a Neapolitan-made Isaia suit.
Halus set sail with ease and confidence, noting Aquaspider’s flexibility as he took on the open water. As for water resistance, (like a paddle board pro Halus didn’t go overboard) the waves failed to inflict water damage distress.
The wet suit takes on a whole new meaning.
Mary Kate Olsen and Ashley Olsen at NM Beverly Hills. (Michael Underwood/ABImages)
When you first meet Ashley and Mary Kate Olsen, two things strike you immediately: they are more soft spoken and petite than you expected. Couple these with their unassuming manner and it’s easy to forget that they’ve been celebrities since they were 9 months old and starred on the hit TV show Full House. Dressed in head-to-toe black and sporting disheveled blond manes, they look more like a pair of art school co-eds – albeit very pretty ones in impeccably tailored pants.
But get the sisters talking about The Row, the luxury brand they created five years ago, and you quickly realize you’re in the presence of fashion titans who run a global empire estimated at $1.5 billion. As the world and tabloids watched, Mary Kate and Ashley transitioned from Hollywood child stars into articulate businesswomen who are redefining the American fashion industry. In fact, this year, the 26-year-old twins won the Council of Fashion Designers of America’s Womenswear Designer of the Year award, becoming the youngest designers to ever win the prestigious accolade.
The Row
Defined by minimalism and meticulous attention to tailoring, The Row has been compared to early Armani. Despite their world-wide reputation as trendsetters, the Olsens focus on creating pieces that are trendless, ageless and seasonless. The Row is all about classic basics that fit well, feel luxurious and blend seamlessly into any woman’s wardrobe. Even the labels inside the clothes are discrete and tiny.
Mary Kate and Ashley recently stopped by Neiman Marcus in Beverly Hills to meet with customers one-on-one. Every season, they prefer to hold intimate sessions like these rather than splashy runway shows. Just another way that the Olsens are defying expectations and writing their own fashion rules.
The Row at NM Beverly Hills. (Michael Underwood/ABImages)
NM: Tailoring is a signature of The Row. Why is fit so important to you?
Ashley: Growing up, because we are very petite, we were always altering clothing. So tailoring is something we’ve always been very sensitive to.
NM: You’ve said The Row is influenced by the way men approach dressing. How so?
Ashley: Well, I think a blazer is definitely an essential piece of a woman’s wardrobe as is shirting and sweaters. So we focus on all these basic categories that you can interchange. Whether it’s a jacket or a pair of pants, we think of the way it fits a woman’s body…
Mary Kate: And the way it feels.
Ashley: Yes, and the way it feels. Those are the most important things.
The Row jacket exclusive to NM.
NM: What were your influences for Resort 2013?
Mary Kate: Resort that we just delivered…was this mix between California…this kind of Palm Springs and Big Sur vibe…combined with rain coat weather…
Ashley: Sorry, we are thinking back to three seasons ago and trying to keep the influences straight [both laugh]. Resort 2013 was focused on outwear.
Mary Kate: Even though it is Resort, it delivers in the dead of winter. So we wanted to have things that you can buy now and, at the same time, will still work for women closer to Spring.
Ashley: It’s always an interesting season to design for, because of that.
NM: You grew up in Southern California…
Mary Kate: Yes, we were born and raised here.
NM: Does that influence The Row?
Ashley: I think it’s there and it’s about having a more casual mentality. It’s a feeling of wanting to make pieces that are easy.
Mary Kate: When it came to using prints in this Resort collection, it’s there because we used palm trees. You can see it in the sweater on the back. [Gestures to Ashley to turn around and traces the design of the a palm tree with her finger in the sweater her sister is wearing.] And you’ll see some of the prints as well in the shirting. It was about asking ourselves: ‘How do we make a palm tree look like the most special palm tree ever?’ [laughing]
