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Lifestyle // Beauty

Guide to Napa With Claiborne Swanson Frank

Posted 04.13.12 by Kristen Spaulding
Claiborne Swanson Frank

Claiborne Swanson Frank with her dog Blue at Lake Hennessey in Napa Valley.

Photographer Claiborne Swanson Frank’s debut book, American Beauty, is her vision of modern American beauty and style.  The book, published by Assouline, is a portfolio of stunning portraiture that celebrates America’s new creative guard.

“I am wildly proud of the book.  It was birthed from a dream and to see it actualized is still a trip; I’m still pinching myself,” says Swanson Frank.

Swanson Frank’s photography not only captures women in their greatest beauty, it also highlights the beauty of America’s landscape.  Swanson Frank’s self-portrait (pictured above) was taken on Hennessey Lake in Napa Valley, California. Swanson Frank grew up in San Francisco and has a house in Napa Valley where her family owns and operates Swanson Vineyards.

“Napa is one of the most beautiful locations in the world, surrounded by mountains and endless vineyards with some of the best restaurants and wineries in the world.  You can go for a hike or get a facial, it’s the most amazing mix of beauty and culture,” says Swanson Frank.

Claiborne Swanson Frank’s Guide to Napa Valley:   

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Lifestyle

Behind The Book: Neon Butterflies by Bill Concannon

Posted 04.04.12 by Jean Scheidnes

neon

In 1898 two British chemists discovered a rare gaseous element that glows when “excited electrically.” They dubbed it “neon” from Greek, meaning “new one.”

neon

Fast forward to the 1970s, when Bay Area–based artist Bill Concannon started working with neon as his medium. He founded Aargon-Neon, a shop that produces commercial signage, in addition to teaching the craft of neon-bending in an art context.

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Lifestyle // Women's

Book It to the Manolo Blahnik Book Foursquare Hunt on Saturday

Posted 03.29.12 by Jean Scheidnes

manolo

As part of this week’s Neiman Marcus Shoe & Handbag Event, we have a Foursquare game you can play to win a Manolo Blahnik coffee-table book on the spot! Visit any Neiman Marcus store on Saturday, March 31, and check in on Foursquare. (You need to have the Foursquare app on your smartphone.) You’ll see a Foursquare Special containing instructions to seek and find the way to the book. There is one book prize per NM store. The book, Manolo’s New Shoes, was written by Blahnik with contributions from Suzy Menkes, Grace Coddington and Milena Canonero. It holds 130 of the designer’s exquisite sketches.

If you play along but don’t happen to win the book, don’t despair. While you’re in the store, you can also register to win a pair of Manolo Blahnik BB Glitter Pumps (one winner per store.) With any regular-priced Ladies Shoes or Designer Handbags purchase of $350 or more, March 29-April 1, you’ll be automatically registered to win the shoes AND you’ll receive a $50 “gift card” to be used on a future purchase. (Some limits and exclusions apply.)

manolo

Manolo Blahnik glitter BB pump

If for some reason you need more shoe inspiration, check out NM’s Shoe & Handbag Book, featuring the gorgeous Paula Patton.

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Lifestyle // Women's

Conversation With: The Project Runway All Stars Judges

Posted 03.22.12 by Ken Downing

Who will win the biggest prize package in Project Runway history? Whose collection will appear in Neiman Marcus stores and NeimanMarcus.com? You’ll find out tonight! I’m a guest judge on the finale, and I stole a few moments with my fellow judges offstage at the taping. It’s a little taste of tonight’s show. Follow @NeimanMarcus on Twitter for my live commentary.

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Lifestyle // Women's

Conversation With: Marie Claire’s Joanna Coles

Posted 03.21.12 by Ken Downing

Marie Claire editor in chief Joanna Coles and I have been part of the inaugural Project Runway All Stars season, which concludes Thursday night! The winner’s prize package will include a guest editor position at the magazine and distribution of his collection at select Neiman Marcus stores and NeimanMarcus.com. Watch the finale on Lifetime, stay tuned for the after-show show, and follow @NeimanMarcus on Twitter for my #PRallstars live commentary.

In this video, Joanna and I shift gears and talk trends for Spring 2012.

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Lifestyle

Project Runway All Stars – Episode 11, Finale Part 1

Posted 03.16.12 by Sarah Bray

This recap of Project Runway All Stars contains spoilers! Stop reading if you don’t want to know details from last night’s episode.  It’s the final challenge. In the past 10 episodes the three designers left have proved their talents through some of the most original tests of creativity. Michael, Mondo and Austin have transformed dollar store trinkets into runway-worthy ensembles, lit up looks with electricity and impressed design aficionados from Diane von Furstenberg to Miss Piggy. The episode opens with Georgina Chapman, Isaac Mizrahi, and Angela Lindvall on the runway to announce that, while designers usually spend months or at least weeks on “Project Runway” designing a collection, the final challenge will be much shorter than that and will involve designing a mini-collection to showcase specific talents. Translation: 5 looks, 4 days.

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Lifestyle // Women's

SXSW Interactive Through the Lens of Fashion

Posted 03.15.12 by Jean Scheidnes

These days every member of the fashion media flock wants to be a digital savant, or at least digitally competent. So it’s no wonder that the NMdaily staff crossed paths at SXSW Interactive with the likes of Burberry, Lucky, Teen Vogue, Lyst, trend forecaster WGSN, fashion PR powerhouse KCD, and our sister store Bergdorf Goodman. Below is a recap of just some of what we learned and discussed amid the massive, diverse 5-day scrum of panels, speakers, shows and parties in Austin, TX. All the running around left scant time for seated meals. (Thank goodness for gourmet food trucks.) And this was just the Interactive portion of the festival. Stay tuned this week for Music and Style X!

The Fashion Fog: Redefining Content & Commerce

Panelists: LuckyMag.com Executive Editor Lauren Sherman, Pose Director of Marketing & Communications Alisa Gould-Simon, ideeli Senior Product Manager Allison Kellman, Of a Kind CEO Claire Mazur and Of a Kind President Erica Cerulo.

The Fashion Fog panel looked at how the lines between content and shopping are becoming increasingly blurred.

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Categories: Lifestyle » Books & Media, Women's » Contemporary Fashion, Lifestyle » Culture, Leisure & Travel |

Lifestyle

Project Runway All Stars – Week 10, A Look for Nanette Lepore

Posted 03.09.12 by Sarah Bray

This recap of Project Runway All Stars contains spoilers! Stop reading if you don’t want to know who won or lost last night. It’s the second to last episode and there are only four designers left. The episode opens immediately with the contestants drawing their battle lines and declaring two teams – A&K (Austin and Kenley) and M&M (Michael and Mondo).

“You are all now battling it out for a place in the finale, where one of you will win the grand prize,” Host Angela Linvall says as she stands atop the runway. “This means your designs will be placed within the walls of Neiman Marcus stores, the finest luxury retailer in the United States.”

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Lifestyle // Women's

Behind The Book: On The Go

Posted 03.05.12 by Sarah Bray

Neiman Marcus went with real moms instead of models for this month’s On The Go mailer sent to homes across the nation. On The Go is where NM stocks trendy activewear from the likes of Adidas by Stella McCartney, EA7 Emporio Armani, and James Perse. The trio tapped for the job were a former pilates instructor and mother of three, a marathon runner and mother of four, and a yoga enthusiast and mother of three.  The on-the-go moms, that typically spend their day in the car pool lane, carting kids to activities, while sneaking in workouts, traded mommy duties for a day to play model for photographer Walter Chin, NM creative director Lori Stadig and art director Devin Hall.

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Lifestyle

Project Runway All Stars – Week 9, Up in Lights

Posted 03.02.12 by Sarah Bray

This recap of Project Runway All Stars contains spoilers! Stop reading if you don’t want to know who won or lost last night. With only five designers left, it’s getting down to the wire, literally. Host Angela teases this week’s challenge saying, “Innovation and technology are just as important to the fashion industry as thread,” she says. “You will be using both in this challenge as you light up the runway with your designs.”

This week the designers are asked to use lighting technology to create an avant garde look. The winning design will be worn by one of music producer Pharrell William’s artists. The runway will be lit by black light, and everyone wonders, will the Neiman Marcus Accessory Wall be glowing too?

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