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.

Call time

Hair + Makeup, led by Orlando Pita and Estee Lauder's Tom Pecheux

Julia Nobis & Alana Zimmer have a moment to chill

The girls!

Derek Lam designers Shinhye Suk & Lislie Yeung

Anna shares a laugh with Derek Lam CEO Jan Schlottman

Derek shows Anna the evening gowns

Derek interviewed before the show

Karmen Pedaru during rehearsals

Run through!

Tati Cotliar given a tour of the new runway

Liu Wen gets the finishing touches

Backstage before Derek Lam's Fall/Winter 2012 show, inspired by the Library.

All packed up

All packed up and ready to go for Derek Lam's library-inspired fall 2012 show, today at noon.  Check back here for more behind the scenes action and my faves from the collection.

Nude

A painting by the late Jack Meanwell and an old V Man photograph of gorgeous Doutzen Kroes.

The night before

Saturday night at 10 Crosby Street, New York Fashion Week spring/summer 2012 collections.

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!

New day

Julia Nobis, Hanne Gaby & Jac

Karmen Pedaru

Alana Zimmer & Ginta Lapina

Michel Gaubert created a perfect musical complement to Derek Lam's sunny, polished spring'12 collection shown Sunday, September 11 at Lincoln Center.  Above are a few fun snapshots from backstage.

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.

Independence

Have a safe & fabulous weekend, wherever you may be, to celebrate this glamorous mess of a country I call home!

At least it's spring inside Dean & Deluca

Heaven & hell

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

We rocks tha party that rocks ya body

Constance Jablonski gets a quick touch-up from Orlando Pita before walking Derek Lam.

Derek Lam + eBay

Vote for your favorite look here and buy it in 2 weeks - all for under $300!

Backstage

Edita, Tom Pecheux, Magdalena, Daphne, Constance

Fei Fei & Liu Wen

Emily

Break through

Jonathan Cohen Collection: If you don't know, now ya know.

Community beautification

Lauren Hutton looks better than ever as the new face of Alexis Bittar, beautifying streets all over downtown New York.

A glimpse of the future

Isabeli Fontana in the new spring +J collection, Jil Sander's line for Uniqlo. The SoHo staff is busy setting up shop in the curtained side store for tomorrow's debut. The future will be sleek.

An afternoon in Chelsea

Last Saturday was cold and overcast, and I didn't have much on my agenda. While sipping coffee in bed with some months-old fashion books, I was thrilled to notice an ad for a Robert Rauschenberg show at the 21st Street Gagosian Gallery in Interview. I bundled up in Duckie Brown and Richard Chai and was on my way to Chelsea. I love seeing art at either NYC Gagosian Gallery - it always feels like a private museum showing, and I've never had a line or a crowd. I love Rauschenberg's work and had a great time making the rounds of all the work at least three times to see what thoughts it might give me.

After the show I decided to check out Jean Nouvel's new building on 19th Street, just a few blocks away. It is pretty cool! Frank Gehry's building for InteractiveCorp reflects it beautifully from across the street (below shot). And I'm sure it would all look far more fabulous on a beautiful day, but certainly not bad for a gloomy January Saturday!