The D to the V to the F

Let me just say I think Diane Von Furstenberg is rocking it!  There are certain women of a certain age that truly inspire me, and she is one of them.  When Kravet asked me if I was interested in interviewing Diane, I jumped at the chance.  She collaborated with them on a new fabric and trim line.  It is totally in keeping with her brand identity and everything you would expect from DVF!

Mario Testino

A pop icon, a princess (once), a mogul, and mother (to 2 children and an empire) DVF encompasses and defines a strong, passionate, successful woman who seems to "have it all."  Diane began her career as so many women do.  She did not want to be considered just a wife to Egon Von Furstenberg, she wanted something for herself.  She began designing women's dresses, which led her to New York, which led her to Diana Vreeland, and a career was born.  She gave us the wrap dress four years later. It wasn't just a body hugging jersey dress ~ it became a movement.  Like being freed from the corset in the early 1900's, this little wrap dress represented liberation.  It signified a new woman looking feminine, free spirited, in a man's world (and you could be out of it in 30 seconds...her words not mine).  Everybody took notice!

As the years went by, Diane moved to Paris and had a string of successful business ventures, including decorating The Claridge, an experience she really enjoyed.  It gave Diane the confidence to relaunch her business, introduce the iconic wrap dress to a new, younger legion of fans, and expand beyond "the dress."

Grand Piano Suite

She was fashionably late this night, but the always fashionable Diane slinked across the room and spoke of her inspiration for the fabric collection with Kravet: photography and nature, her passion for design, and what's next for her and her team.  I didn't get the chance to interview her because she was immediately mobbed, but no matter, I met her and she's fabulous!  Her love of black, white, and beet (her signature) was the cornerstone of the collection.  Vibrant, bold, graphic, vivacious patterns in bright colors are the foundation of the collection, mixed with subtle color and solids along with the addition of coordinating trim tell a complete story that is pure Diane.  Since she is so textile driven, it's a natural progression.

photos via Kravet

The DVF empire encompasses sportswear, beauty, tabletop, fragrance, jewelry, bed and bath, and now the fabric collection.  Rugs are on the horizon as well.  There is no stopping her.  At 67 years old, she is "in the early fall" of her life ~ she has much more up her jersey clad sleeve.

You heard it here first!  She has a reality show on E! coming in November, the premise being interns put thru the paces vying to be the DVF global brand ambassador for a time.  She has 2 adorable books being released, and since she embraces social media and has an eye towards the future, look for a limited a edition of Google Glass due out in June.  You can add your name to the waiting list at Net a Porter.

Diane has been called, "The most marketable woman since Coco Chanel."  She says, "It's all about being the woman you want to be!"  Plain and simple.



That's a wrap!

SURREALLY?

Surreal appeal is alive and well a half a century later.  Dali, the daddy of surrealism based his famous lips sofa on the pout of Mae West.  Forty years later the company Studio 65 for Gufram recreated the sofa based on Marlyn Monroe's kisser.  The term was coined in 1917 to describe a radical movement that was aimed at changing one's perspective in a radically changing world and challenge the status quo.

sur·re·al·ism

:  the principles, ideals, or practice of producing fantastic or incongruous imagery or effects in art, literature, film, or theater by means of unnatural or irrational juxtapositions and combinations

Maison Moschino Hotel

Surrealism inspired pop art of in the 60's and post modernism in the 80's.  We're seeing it surface again because it seems to signify an economic buoyancy.

Surrealism is one of the most influential art movements of the twentieth century.
The symbolism marries concept, fine art, and function, and is inspiring a whole new legion of artists.  The belief is that one's liberating one's imagination.  It frees the mind to look at things from a more imaginative perspective.

Damian Hirst and Hoosenbuhns ring

Delfina Delettrez

Cartier's famous, rare crash watch originally designed in the 60's has been reissued because of renewed interest

A true original, Elsa Schiaparelli thought of herself not as a fashion designer, but an artist with an interest in fashion.  She set out to be different and flamboyant, not realizing her surrealist designs would become iconic.

Elsa Schiaparelli, shoe hat

Jake Phipps  bowler lights

Lanvin

Like moths attracted to a flame, made more beautiful by the substitution of butterflies, the point of the surrealist perspective is to make something unremarkable or ordinary extraordinary and unexpected.

Ingo Murer

Several pieces of surrealist art were installed in this year's Kips Bay Showhouse ~ in Vincente Wolf's room.

and Juan Montoya's room ~

and Georgis' study ~

Contradiction and juxtaposition are hallmarks of this look.  Things are exaggerated, off balance, incongruous.  There is a reality in a seemingly unrealistic moment.

Moooi's pig table

While I don't think of Fornasetti as a surrealist designer, he did create a distinctive visual language possibly born from surrealism; defined more as trompe l' oeil.  Surrealism is an assault on our senses, while trompe l' oeil forces us to change our perspective of sight.  The latter is infused with wit and whimsy; which is a very surrealist quality.  Fornesetti's body of work was prolific and commercially very successful.

You can not have this conversation without mentioning Magritte.  He seemed to straddle genres with a bit of realism thrown in.  While he is "fooling the eye", a study of scale was always subject matter number one, as was challenging the viewers idea of perspective or their preconceived perception of reality.  Jeff Koons called Magritte's work poetic.  "He forces you to feel something, you participate in an experience."

Anseim Reyle reapplies the concept of modernism as he interprets it, into high art that uses humble material along with light to reexamine the modern aesthetic with a nod to pop art.  Many artists are breaking the boundaries of traditional shape and perspective akin to the likes of Magritte and Dadaism.

by Henzel Studio hand knotted rug

The pulls, while hard to see, are half mushrooms.  The natural elements that co exist in the woods, as if you could have stumbled upon them individually, make a playful, magnetic piece: when assembled together we are forced  to view these materials in an entirely different way.

Chris Lehrecke and Gabriella Kiss

Art, no matter the genre, moves you. What is your experience;good or bad,pleasant or unpleasant?

Coincidentally, I will be visiting the Dali museum in St. Petersburg at the end of the month.  Dali said the world needs more fantasy, and these many years later, I think we can all agree!

Fabulous Finds Courtesy of Viyet

Have you heard, are you familiar?  Viyet, the upscale resale online site for fabulous finds is a go to source for "like new" treasures out of the chicest New York homes and showrooms.  For now sellers only come from the New York area, I hope they open that up to a wider audience, but anyone is welcome to shop and shipping is made easy.   There are very few avenues to sell highly desirable/designer furniture, especially at up to half off: at the very least, you may learn a thing or two. You won't be disappointed, even if you're just browsing

Some of my top picks:

This David Weeks Sarus chandelier is a sculpture of light, is very special, and a steal at $5,500.00

Called a metal master by Architectural Digest, Walter Craven's metal and wood bar stools are magnificent.  These adjustable swivel stools in walnut and wrought iron come as a set of 4 for $4,500.00 or make an offer.

James Huniford commissioned artist Dan Miller to paint these skateboards for a model apartment he designed.  What a great way to introduce art into a boys room and for a mere $546.00

Barbara Barry's elegant, iconic, X back chairs : 2 arms, 2 armless covered in yellow and green stripe silk would feel at home in a traditional or contemporary interior.  They would retail for well over $1,000.00 each with the fabric, these can be yours for $2,995.00

Conneticut designer Lynn Scalo created these French torchiere floor lamps topped with a more modern shade to give it a dramatic presence.

 At $7,590.00 they are a little pricey for some of us, but the point is you never know what you'll find that is exactly what you didn't know you needed!

With information like condition reports, possibly origin or designer, and a tightly curated sample of exclusive merchandise, you can shop confidently and shop often.  Viyet prides itself on full transparency.  They are so confident you will be happy with your purchase they have a no questions asked 48 hour return policy after receipt of the item.  I love a win/win.