Lifestyle

Fashion Cafe: Kent Rathbun’s Mac & Cheese

Kent Rathbun

Kent Rathbun

The busiest time of year is upon us. Decorating, shopping, traveling…entertaining! There’s so much to think about, that it’s easy to forget an ingredient or the turkey at the store. We have it taken care of. NeimanMarcus.com serves the best the gourmet world has to offer and our renowned chefs will ship straight from their kitchen to your doorstep.

Kent Rathbun Neiman Marcus Mac and Cheese

One of the most delicious dishes this holiday season is Kent Rathbun’s Mac & Cheese. The comfort of toasty pasta blended with creamy white cheddar cheese, a hint of nutmeg, peas and smoked pork will delight the senses and satisfy every guest.

Kent Rathbun Neiman Marcus Mac and Cheese

NMdaily stopped in the chef’s restaurant, Rathburn’s Blue Plate Kitchen, to see what makes his mac and cheese downright delectable.

Categories: Lifestyle » Food | Tagged , ,

Women's

Stylish Space: Elizabeth Locke’s Virginia Farmhouse

Elizabeth Locke Neiman Marcus

Jewelry designer Elizabeth Locke‘s Virginia farmhouse is a modernized reflection of the past, like her designs that feature rare treasures such as 17th-century Venetian glass intaglios and ancient Greek and Roman coins. Locke takes pride in preserving the original bones of the house, built in 1816, while adding necessary conveniences where needed.

Elizabeth Locke Neiman Marcus

Decades ago Locke and her husband traded Manhattan for the 100-acre property known as Clay Hill. “We had always thought of living on a farm, and when we found Clay Hill the decision was made,” Locke says. “We knew nothing about the area we were moving to, or anything else for that matter.  I just fell in love with the house and wanted to live there.”

Elizabeth Locke Neiman Marcus

Elizabeth Locke Neiman Marcus

Inside the historic home, a teal powder room leads to yellow striped sitting room—each space in the center-hall colonial carrying its unique personality, yet seamlessly complementary. “My favorite room is the green library and my second favorite would be our bedroom where I look at the painted ceiling.”

Elizabeth Locke Neiman Marcus

Locke describes her interior design aesthetic as colorful but classic, a description that mirrors the appeal of her jewelry collection. “It’s hard to separate my life from what I design, so I think it all sort of flows together.”

Elizabeth Locke Neiman Marcus

Elizabeth Locke Neiman Marcus

 See Elizabeth Locke jewelry at NM stores and NeimanMarcus.com 

Categories: Women's » Jewelry, Women's | Tagged ,

Lifestyle

Living: John Derian NM Tray

John Derian‘s decoupaged collectibles crafted from a curiosity-shop array of hand-cut and pasted images make for the perfect hostess gift this time of year. The plates, platters, paperweights, coasters and bowls, that are made in his East Village, New York City studio by himself and a small team of artisans, check off two quintessential elements of a proper houseguest offering—thoughtfulness and personalization. For the holidays the NM gift gallery buyers commissioned a decorative hand-blown glass tray. The limited-edition dish features a historic rendering of the Neiman Marcus flagship from our archives.

Snag the NM collector’s edition while you can by calling 1.800.937.9146.

Categories: Lifestyle » Home Design, Lifestyle | Tagged ,

Lifestyle // Men's

Conversation With: Rob Kardashian of Arthur George

Rob Kardashian

Rob Kardashian. Photo by Giuliano Bekor.

Whether you watch their reality television show or not, you are likely familiar with the Kardashians. The family’s fame, built on an entertaining mix of affluence, beauty and drama, has fans of all ages fascinated. And after seven seasons the cameras are still rolling, documenting their day-to-day lives, scandals and all. If you catch even a single episode, you know that the sole brother in the Kardashian clan, Rob, is often overshadowed by his older sisters Kourtney, Kim and Khloe. But this season Rob is stepping out with an independent business venture—socks. NMdaily caught up with the Kardashian bro, to talk siblings, style and his new men’s sock line Arthur George, which you’ll find exclusively at NM this month. For each pair sold, a second pair is donated to the Family Emergency Shelter Coalition.

NMdaily: Where did the idea to do a sock collection originate? Why socks?

Rob Kardashian: Socks have always been a signature part of my own personal style. I would get so excited when I found a really cool pair of socks, and I started wearing my pants a little shorter to show them off, because I thought cool looking socks should be seen. I had a hard time finding socks with the designs and personality, so I decided to create the type of socks my friends, family and I would wear.

Arthur George socks in The Christmas Book.

Arthur George socks in The Christmas Book.

NMdaily: Initially, did your family support your business idea?

Rob Kardashian: Yes! My family was extremely supportive, and was very excited that I found something I am passionate about and able to turn into a business. I graduated from USC with a business degree, so it’s exciting to marry the skills I learned in school with my creative ideas.

NMdaily: What’s special about your socks?

Rob Kardashian: The patterns and designs are very diverse, and they’re really colorful and fun to wear. There’s something that appeals to everyone regardless of age.  In regards to the quality of the socks, they’re Egyptian cotton, made in Italy, so the quality is really nice and luxurious.

NMdaily: What is the significance of the label’s name?

Rob Kardashian: Arthur is my middle name and George is the middle name of my father Robert Kardashian. In my own way, I’m able to pay homage to my father with the name of my line.

Arthur George

Arthur George socks are made in Italy from Egyptian cotton.

NMdaily: Where do you find inspiration for your designs?

Rob Kardashian: I find inspiration everywhere! Wallpaper, artwork, patterns, clothing…I am really attracted to design so if I see something that speaks to me I make mental note of it.

NMdaily: Are these socks for day or night? What do you wear them with?

Rob Kardashian: They can be both…but for the most part they are evening socks that you can wear with a suit. They’re also perfect for the daytime businessman who has to dress up for work every day. Personally, I like to wear mine with shorts to really show them off!

NMdaily: What style is your personal favorite?

Rob Kardashian: I can’t pick one, but yesterday I wore the camouflage ones, and right now I’m wearing the horseshoe pattern!

NMdaily: Any famous feet wearing your socks?

Rob Kardashian: Right now, just my family! Lamar, Bruce, Khloe, my mom and Kylie seem to be the biggest fans so far!

Arthur George

Arthur George

NMdaily: Have your sisters’ entrepreneurship inspired you to create your business? 

Rob Kardashian: Of course. My mom and my sisters are amazing entrepreneurs and I admire the brand they have created for themselves. Each of them have their own strengths when it comes to business, but they all share the same philosophy as I do, which is only put your name on quality products that you truly believe in and love.

NMdaily: Do you think you will just stick with socks, or are you interested in expanding into accessories or perhaps apparel in the future?

Rob Kardashian: Right now I am just focusing on perfecting the sock line before I venture into anything else, but I’m looking to expanding into apparel when the time is right! Eventually I’d love to open some men’s apparel boutiques with some really unique brands and items.

Arthur George is available now in Neiman Marcus stores, and will launch on NeimanMarcus.com on November 9. 

Categories: Men's » Accessories, Lifestyle » Books & Media, Men's, Men's » Sportswear | Tagged , ,

Women's

Road Test: Isabel Marant Wedge Sneakers

Pumped up kicks are on the feet of “it” girls everywhere. The stiletto-meets-sneaker was the ultimate must-have accessory at fashion month in September, inducing an international fashion phenomenon that was instantaneously followed by an international wait list. Seen on the feet of fashion editors, bloggers and supermodels alike, the original wedge sneaker by Isabel Marant (master of casual-cool Parisian chic) is perhaps the most coveted within the fashion set.

Isabel Marant wedge sneaker, Resort 2013.

I velcroed-up in one of the new Resort 2013 styles for a playful romp around the park adjacent to our flagship store. Paired with the leather leg and an oversized knit, I took to the jungle gym to test the athletic abilities of the 4 inch heels.

Isabel Marant wedge sneaker, Resort 2013.

Did they feel like 4 inch heels? Not at all. In fact they felt like my running shoes, but boosted my posture the way only a fabulous pair of pumps can. It’s no wonder this unlikely trend has stuck.

Isabel Marant shoes are expected to deliver in December at Neiman Marcus Dallas-NorthPark, Houston, San Francisco, Ala Moana and Coral Gables.

Categories: Women's » Shoes, Women's | Tagged , ,

Lifestyle

Seeing Things: Mario Testino in Boston

Mario Testino

Mario Testino

Photographer Mario Testino’s compelling fashion and celebrity photographs present an inside look at some of today’s most elusive and exclusive subjects. Known for illustrating fashion, elegance, sex, and nudity with unique aesthetic and stylistic range, Testino has created iconic images for international publications, such as Vogue, Vanity Fair, and V, and major fashion advertising campaigns for Burberry, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, and Versace. (He recently dished to the Guardian that he also shoots Anna Wintour’s passport photos. And why not?)

Kate Moss by Mario Testino. London, 2010.

Kate Moss by Mario Testino. London, 2010.

Beginning this week and running through February 3, 2013, an exhibition of his fashion photography will be at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

Stella Tennant by Mario Testino. New York, 2006.

Stella Tennant by Mario Testino. New York, 2006.

 Mario Testino: In Your Face showcases 122 images that offer a retrospective of his prolific career, which began shortly after Testino’s arrival in London from his native Peru in 1976.

Carmen Kass by Mario Testino. Los Angeles, 2009.

Carmen Kass by Mario Testino. Los Angeles, 2009.

In Your Face draws upon thousands of exquisitely styled images that document his creative journey in pursuit—and in celebration—of beauty.

Gwyneth Paltrow by Mario Testino. Paris, 2005.

Gwyneth Paltrow by Mario Testino. Paris, 2005.

Mario Testino: In Your Face runs through February 3, 2013 at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

Categories: Lifestyle » Art, Lifestyle | Tagged ,

Beauty // Lifestyle

Conversation With: Bobbi Brown

Bobbi Brown

Bobbi Brown

Despite being the name behind an international cosmetic line, Bobbi Brown‘s mantra is more about inner beauty than covering up what’s on the outside. This focus on the make-up of your personality rather than looking perfect is what Brown’s newest book Pretty Powerful is all about. In her inspiring eighth tome she interviews dozens of real women, celebrities and athletes about what beauty means to them. The result—a manual that is filled with pretty and powerful images, tales and tutorials. NMdaily spoke with the cosmetic guru last week at NM Dallas-NorthPark when she stopped in to sign copies and greet hundreds of product loyalists.

The Bobbi Brown counter at NM-NorthPark.

The Bobbi Brown counter at NM NorthPark.

NMdaily: When did you realize that beauty products could be about embracing your features and inner beauty?

Bobbi Brown: I realized years ago that I couldn’t compete with models, actresses or the near-perfect photos in the magazines.  But I did put all I learned together to make myself feel and look better by using makeup that enhanced what I already had.  Don’t compare yourself to images of youthful perfection – celebrate what you have instead.

NMdaily: You compiled a very diverse group of women for your new book. How did you decide whom to feature? 

Bobbi Brown: All of the women in the book have inspired me in their own special way. They come from all different backgrounds, are uniquely beautiful and have motivating life stories that are truly empowering.

Brown's new book.

Categories: Beauty, Lifestyle » Books & Media, Beauty » Makeup, Beauty » Skin, Beauty » Styles & Color | Tagged ,

Women's

In Detail: Koral Los Angeles

After selling 7 for All Mankind five years ago, co-founder Peter Koral along with his eldest son, 29-year-old David Koral, and fellow 7 for All Mankind alumnus Rick Crane have dipped back into denim. In late July the trio launched Koral, a new Los Angeles-made denim label that prides itself in simplicity and craftsmanship.

Unfussy pockets and a discreet logo captures the essence of the brand and the product.

Koral’s finishing techniques enhance the natural nuances of denim, with handcrafted details that are meticulously applied to reveal dimension, texture and character.

With the distinct knowledge of how denim ages naturally, the brand’s signature Lived In Length collections are featured in a range of progressively altered washes from 0-Month to 48-Month.

Categories: Women's » Contemporary Fashion, Women's | Tagged , , ,

Women's

Road Test: Textured Denim

Cusp assistant buyers Brittany, Sarah, Brooke and Ally outside the NM flagship.

Cusp assistant buyers Brittany, Sarah, Brooke and Ally outside the NM flagship.

This season new textures—metallics, leathers, brocades, velvets, jacquards—pop into the already enhanced denim mix that emerged in the Spring.

Brittany, Brooke and Sarah in Fall denim from 7 For All Mankind.

Brittany, Brooke and Sarah in Fall denim from 7 For All Mankind.

Cusp assistant buyers Brittany, Sarah, Brooke and Ally top off their favorite statement skinnies (four new styles of denim that you can only find at Neiman Marcus this Fall) with laidback chunky knits and ankle boots.

The pattern detail on Ally's Rich & Skinny waxed denim.

The pattern detail on Ally's Rich & Skinny waxed denim.

Brittany (in 7FAM) and Ally (in Rich & Skinny) stop for coffee at NM Fashion Cafe.

Brittany (in 7FAM) and Ally (in Rich & Skinny) stop for coffee at NM Fashion Cafe.

On Brittany: 7 For All Mankind skinny lace jacquard jeans, Vince knit, Rag & Bone Newbury leather bootie.

On Sarah: 7 For All Mankind metallic Chinoiserie jeans, Splendid top, Splendid faux fur vestB Brian Atwood pumps, Chanel handbag.

On Brooke: 7 For All Mankind skinny gummy jeans in cobaltFifteen Twenty blouse, L.A.M.B. boots, Balenciaga “City” bag.

On Ally: Rich & Skinny brocade waxed skinnyJoie top, Balenciaga Glove sandalValentino Rockstud tote.

Brooke and Sarah in Cusp sorting through their Fall denim buy.

Brooke and Sarah in Cusp sorting through their Fall denim buy.

Categories: Women's » Contemporary Fashion, Women's | Tagged , , ,

Men's

Road Test: Prada Levitate Shoes

Assistant buyer Max Lysak wear the wingtip version in brown burnished leather.

Assistant buyer Max Lysak wears the wingtip version in brown burnished leather.

Miuccia Prada has taken men’s shoes to new heights. From colorful foam platform brogues to wingtip golf shoes and rubber-dipped lace-ups, the soles on Prada’s shoes for guys stand out. For Fall, a new shoe series appropriately titled ‘Levitate‘ features transparent air-bubble soles. The sport-style support might seem more fit for a workout than the office, but it’s precisely this clever juxtaposition that keeps the luxury label’s fans on their toes.

Assistant buyers and Max and Chris road-test the Levitate shoe at the park next to the NM flagship.

Assistant buyers and Max and Chris road-test the Levitate shoe in downtown Dallas.

To get a better sense about what the sneaker/dress shoe hybrid is all about, we challenged men’s shoe assistant buyers Max Lysak and Chris Buffington to road-test the Levitate.

A close-up on the elevated footwear.

"The Levitate combines the two types of shoes Men typically rely on: 1. A dress shoe for work, and 2. A sneaker for leisure," Buffington says. "The air bubble is 360 degrees, compared to other sneakers that offer similar construction only in a few areas of the sole. This craftsmanship adds extra comfort on a daily commute."

When asked what they would wear the cross-over footwear with, both buyers agreed: anything!

Lysak, who admits he favors the brushed silver version on his colleague’s feet, says “the casualness of the sole with the leather upper gives off the young, hipster, look. Pairing them with a clean, slim outfit is fresh.”

“A pair of cuffed dress pants to work, dark denim at night, or shorts on a Saturday afternoon,” Buffington concurs, as he jumps off a park bench demonstrating the shoe’s athletic traction. “The sole purpose of the Levitate collection is versatility… no pun intended.”

The 360 degree air bubble.

The 360 degree air bubble.

Categories: Men's, Men's » Shoes | Tagged ,