Oscar Sunday

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I don't much care for awards shows, which is funny, because as a child I adored them and idolized those attending.  I remember being particularly taken, at age 13 or so, with Helen Hunt's ice blue Gucci gown the year she won Best Actress for As Good As It Gets (a favorite movie of mine).  This year, I'm rooting for Viola Davis, rumored to be wearing Vera Wang, and will be perfectly content to confirm her victory via Twitter and then waste some time at work tomorrow checking the red carpet looks.  

Anyway, today I took the 4 train up to the Guggenheim Museum, one of my favorite buildings in the world, to see the brand new sculpture show John Chamberlain: Choices.  It was magnificent, and though the pieces often feel a bit gut-wrenching, many put an irrepressible smile on my face - for the fanciful nature, the color, the shine, the unintelligible, creative jumble of it all.  Above are some blurry views of a few pieces, taken with my BlackBerry.  I highly recommend, however, that you see them in person instead.

Wishing you style and joy

Vogue.com is featuring an adorable series of designer-drawn holiday cards, and these are my favorites.  From above, Altuzarra, Mary Katrantzou, Rodarte and milliner Stephen Jones, featuring cheeky cartoons of himself, Mme. Wintour and Mme. Coddington.  The holidays are a wonderful opportunity to live your style - be it the cocktail party outfits you wear, the decorations you put up in your home, the gifts you give, the charitable contributions you make, the activities you seek to get you in a joyous mood.

I like to wear slim pants and festive shirtsleeves; buy poinsettias and burn pine-scented candles by Elton John for NEST; give interesting books and clever clothing items I know my family won't buy themselves; donate to the Whitman-Walker Clinic, GHMC, and Malaria No More; and go to Bergdorf for lunch and Pete's Tavern for drinks.  All, of course, while listening to Mariah's "Oh Santa!" or Judy Garland's "Have Yourself a Merry..."

Here's wishing you and yours a very happy holiday season and a fabulous new year!

Doll House

Courtney Love gave xoJane.com a tour of the West Village townhouse where she is currently residing.  She wore Chanel for their visit and showed off her impressive collection of modern art (including a Francis Bacon triptych and a Damien Hirst butterfly piece), antiques, and personal photos, including those of Kurt Cobain, her daughter Frances, and friends such as Donatella Versace, the late Elizabeth Taylor, Stevie Nicks, and Woody Harrelson.

I've got that Boom Boom that you want

James Blake, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Lykke Li

Toni Garrn, Leelee Sobieski, Solange Knowles et al

Santigold, Spank Rock, Rinko Kikuchi et al

Bazaar takes some fine young things - stunning models and sceney New Yorkers and the like - out on the town for a night at the top of the Standard.

Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving, I'm thankful for my family of friends and the friends in my family.  And for decent work and a safe home filled with some fabulous clothing in New York City.  Last night I had some post-Priscilla Queen of the Desert Brooklyn Lagers with my dear friend Maeve at the original P.J. Clarke's on 55th Street.  Clarke's is a true classic of a bar that, while often packed with obnoxious people, is manned by true gentlemen who play Motown and classic rock and remember your drink order and place your mobile phone in napkin-lined glasses to protect them from the bar's spillage.

I'm thankful for charming places to imbibe with my friends, that is for sure.  Happy Thanksgiving!

On the cheap

There are few chicer accessories than a copy of the New York Times or a similarly worthwhile newspaper - I hate it when fashion people haven't a clue what's going on in the world.  Throw in the newly designed can of Diet Coke and you're good to go, for just $3.00 USD!

Perf walk

This young woman had it just right strutting up Broadway after some late summer rainfall.

Thursday morning

gimme! coffee Iced Red Eye and a moment in NoLIta with First Lady Michelle Obama.

Silver skies

I.M Pei's Silver Towers at New York University.

The real new thing

"Welcome to Concrete Beach" says the lookbook for my friend Jonathan Cohen's 2012 resort collection, his best yet.  His breezy and refined downtown-luxe looks ("concrete wall splatter print" on silk satin) are what he imagines his chic girlfriends wearing as they frolic the LES rooftops and high-end hotel terraces of a New York City summer.  I'd like to imagine the same.

Keep your eye out for Jonathan Cohen Collection - it's the real "new thing."  Bravo, J!

Heat wave

Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen, who just launched their ultraluxe new handbag line with a soiree tonight at Barneys New York, somehow manage to keep their chic cool in the heat of a New York City summer.  With a mix of their signature can't-be-bothered ease and some very fashion items--like Ashley's coveted Prada sunnies and huge croc bag or MK's color-blocked Celine shirt--they look right on point as per usual.

photos via Olsens Anonymous as per usual

The Met Gala's Chicest

Constance Jablonski & Liu Wen, both in Alexander McQueen

L'Wren Scott (with Mick Jagger), in L'Wren Scott

Swizz Beatz (with Alicia Keys) in Givenchy

Graceland

Karlie Kloss and a gorgeous bouqet of tulips

The confusingly attractive Lazaro Hernandez & Jack McCollough of Proenza Schouler

Marc Jacbos & party girl Grace Coddington

Pat McGrath, Karen Elson, Anna Wintour, Edward Enninful & Naomi Campbell

Karen Elson, Stefano Pilati & Isabeli Fontana

Grace Coddington & Karen Elson

Grace & André

It just so happens that I'm listening to Paul Simon's Graceland at the moment.  It just so happens that I also celebrated my birthday at Indochine (in late March), in somewhat less regal fashion, with candle-lit Momofuku birthday cake truffles.  It doesn't just so happen, however, that I've never come across party pictures more fabulous or more inspiring.  This is no "let's try to get in, I know the DJ" sort of party.  You work tirelessly for years, and maybe you're lucky enough to score an invitation to a dinner in honor of a true fashion legend.  Grace Coddington, 70 years young, always in Vogue.  We aspire.

Night at the Met

Ashley and Mary Kate Olsen at the Met's premier of Le Comte Ory, sponsored by YSL, in matching Row sunnies and YSL clutch.  These girls know how to dress for the occasion.

At least it's spring inside Dean & Deluca

Heaven & hell

Marco Brambilia's video installation in the elevators at the Standard Hotel, NYC.