noteworthy.

photo from Matchbook Magazine

Let me tell you about my new best friend Joy. 

I heard about Joy Venturini Bianchi from the cover story in this month’s edition of Matchbook Magazine. (Sidenote - Matchbook is my absolute favorite online source of witty style and interesting articles. If you’ve never checked it out, I highly recommend) Basically Joy is a 73 year old socialite and philanthropist who founded a home for the mentally disabled in 1963. She dedicated 40 years of here life to those people and even spent years living in the home with them. The house shut down in 2002 because many of the volunteers had moved on, but Joy didn’t give up her vision of helping others. She decided to utilize her resources and love of fashion to keep her dream alive. 

photo from Matchbook Magazine

She filled the walls of the house with hundreds and hundred of designer ready to wear and couture pieces donated from either her own closet or her closets of her famous and fabulous friends (Iris Apfel, to name one). The house-turned-boutique is known as The Helpers House of Couture and is by appointment and invitation only. This last year Vogue listed it as one of the 7 best vintage shops in the world. 

photo from Matchbook Magazine

This week on my lunch break at work I decided to walk into the small boutique in Ghiradelli Square that Helpers owns and Joy oversees from a distance. To my surprise, Joy was working and we bonded over a certain gold Victor Costa for Bergdorf Goodman party dress. After I shared with her that my goal is to work in fashion, she invited me to come play dress up on Friday at the Couture House. 

What I saw was BEYOND inspiring. Joy’s presence is fabulous. She’s one of those people who when you’re around, you just know they’re important. For instance - she was telling me how she attends galas and openings 5 nights a week and how I should have seen her in the Balenciaga gown she wore to the Opera the night before. But Joy’s love for the people she cares about and her charity shine through more than anything. I was so inspired by her passions and how she is truly using fashion to help others. 

We also had a fantastic conversation today about how fashion has evolved and how today it’s too sexed up and not focused enough on actually making a woman feel beautiful. We both agreed that genuinely GOOD style transcends time and trends, which is why good vintage can we worn anywhere to any occasion. She kept referring to her dear friend Iris’ opinion, and afterwards her assistant emailed me this article which is QUITE hilarious. 

Now - I wish I had snapped more pictures with my iPhone. But between Joy and being surrounded by hundreds of couture gowns from the past 7 decades in PRISTINE condition, I was slightly insanely overwhelmed. However, I’m going to start volunteering with Helpers House of Couture and am selling vintage jewelry at their Annual Autumn Party next week. SO, expect more pictures in the future. For now -

Ralph Lauren. Joy says that this is how every young girl should enter a room - bare backed and not bare chested. So much more dramatic. I LITERALLY could not agree more. 

Alexander McQueen. You guys, these pictures DO NOT do these pieces justice. If you had put your hands on this McQueen and seen the craftsmanship of this garment….you would  have died. Which I honestly did about 49 times this morning. Rough day. 

Alexander McQueen. This was during his avian stage. Each of these feathers was hand painted on the silk. 

Just me chilling in a mink coat from Bergdorfs. Totally normal. 

The dress below is Lanvin that Joy’s mother wore in the 1960s.

Insanely pretty dress below from Prada. 

Silk top from the 1940s with a Bill Blass skirt. I’ve NEVER felt so good in a skirt in my entire life. The cut was amazing, and it’s truly a reminder that when clothes are well cut, they make ALL the difference.

Such an amazing, inspiring woman. I can’t wait to learn more from her. Oh and in case you’re wondering. I bought a Prada dress, along with a coat from an Austrian designer that literally looks like it walked out of The Sound of Music, and the silk blouse top in the above photo :)

I realize this is the antithesis of my last post and if I’m being totally honest, I don’t even really like Spring. You could pretty much slap a pumpkin on anything and I’d buy it. You can’t just do that in spring. However - it was just spring fashion week….like a month ago. Retailers are busy planning away their spring seasons (I’m placing orders right now for our spring months…) and it’s time to look forward, just for a bit. You can go grab a pumpkin spice latte after this. 

Louis Vuitton. Marc Jacobs is a perpetual genius. Perusing these looks is what made me excited for spring in the first place. Such great 60s silhouettes with major MAJOR collars and lace detailing. Feminine but not in an overly cutesy way. Plus the whole show was shown on a white carousel. So dreamy. 

The final Kate Moss look is so important. 

Proenza Schouler. I was hesitant to jump on the Proenza Schouler bandwagon because it seemed like such hip hype. However, the legitimacy of their collections the last few seasons has won me over. They don’t play on trends and stay tried and true to their lines. Loved their infusion of Hawaiian prints and can’t wait to see how that plays out this Spring. 

Alexander McQueen. Sarah Burton is literally THE woman of the year. She stepped into ginormous shoes as the Creative Director after the tragic passing of Alexander McQueen in 2010 and won the world over in April the second Kate Middleton stepped out her carriage and her wedding dress of the century was showcased. She’s done such an incredible job creating looks that 100% fit the aesthetic of the house, but are innovative and fresh. 

I want to wear this red dress every day of my life. 

I want someone to wear this to awards season. 

Prada. This show was INCREDIBLE. My jaw actually dropped at the teal, pink and black colorblocked dress. This collection had such a Prada vibe with extremely wearable looks. 

Valentino. You know how much I love Valentino. And how Valentino: The Last Emperor made me cry. This show got rave reviews as the best collection since the new designers stepped in. I like it, don’t get me wrong. 

The long sleeved black dress is clearly very Valentino. And, before I digress, the long sleeved gown is AMAZING, literally GORGEOUS. 

But every time Valentino shows it kind of breaks my heart. The house has not been the same since Valentino “retired” in 2007 when an Italian conglomerate bought out the house and essentially ousted Valentino from his own company. None of the looks implicit the same level of design and inspiration. This was so evident in this most recent collection and made me think of an article I recently read (that I REALLY wish I could remember where I read it…) that debates both sides of the question - does capitalism kill art? It’s such an interesting question, especially in the realm of fashion. 

When you strip fashion of its art, you’re left with clothing; which in it’s essence is a basic economic need. Fashion perfectly bridges economics and art, which is where the tug of war comes in to play. Capitalism vs. Art. Investors vs. Designers. Who’s winning?

In the case of Valentino, the investors bought out the artistic genius. It’s interesting to wonder who’s dictating what we wear. 

Anyways. I’m off my tangent. I wrote my senior thesis on the economics of fashion and explored that topic in a much deeper sense. Also, if the topic interests you I HIGHLY recommend the book Deluxe: How Luxury Lost It’s Luster. 

I’m over spring. I’m over my tangent. And I can’t wait to wear tweed and knits the rest of the week while drinking pumpkin lattes. 

I think Autumn is perhaps the most tangible season. 

Love Story. I made my roommates watch this once and they honestly got upset because it’s a terribly depressing movie, but it’s beautiful. So if you’re into really emotional tragedies, which apparently I am because Netflix told me that once, then I recommend. 

Vogue cover, October 1936. 

Jackie O. 

Gold spray painted pumpkins on my coffee table. 

Halloween scene from my favorite movie. (It doesn’t compare to the Christmas scene, but it’s still relevant)

via JCrewing. 

A rainy day downtown last week, taken with instagram. 

You’ve Got Mail. Another fall favorite. 

Soon enough I will spend an autumn in New York.

My roommates have been gone this week (I can only tell you this now that they’re back just in case you were planning on coming and kidnapping me) and whenever I’m home alone I don’t like falling asleep. Therefore, every night this week I’ve watched Roman Holiday in bed. EVERY NIGHT. 

So today I dedicated my outfit to Audrey, in that one scene when she’s really drunk and goes home with Gregory Peck (nothing like this has EVER happened to me……………….). 

….this is because I have never met a man/boy that is even COMPARABLY close to Gregory Peck. 

My multiple viewings also increased my desire for one of these bad boys, which are lined up on the streets of my neighborhood, constantly tantalizing me:

One time I went to Rome and rode on a vespa with my future husband. Meet Sandro. He’s 62. 

The purpose of this post was…

*to emphasize my love for Roman Holiday

*to stay classy

The two subjects of this post have absolutely nothing to do with each other, but hey, this is my blog and I can do whatever I want. Also, I haven’t even begun to look at European fashion weeks yet, so, I’m going to take a break from fashion to bring you the following:

Vintage then and nows. Giuseppe Savini is a vintage photo collector and recreated the following photos in Bologna, Italy. There’s something so romantic and nostalgic about these. I love thinking about a place in the context of the lives that have passed through.  Check out the rest here. 

Kitchen goodies. Some of you may know that I work for Williams-Sonoma. I promise this is not a subliminal marketing message. I really do LOVE my job and making food and feeding people I love. Since I’ve started my job and, you know, used my associate discount, I’ve learned that quality kitchen products really do make a difference in the cooking experience. Here are some of my favorite things that will give your kitchen some personality:

1. Owl Cookie Jar, Anthro

2. Sparrow Salt & Pepper shakers, West Elm.

3. Pecan Pumpkin Butter, Williams - Sonoma. (If you’re obsessed with pumpkin things but don’t want all the calories of eating pumpkin bread/pumpkin scones every morning, this pumpkin butter is amazing on whole grain toast in the mornings for almost half the calories. HIGHLY recommended! )

4. All-Clad Stainless Steel Measuring cups, Williams - Sonoma.

5. Mauviel Copper Stockpot, Williams - Sonoma.

6. KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer, Williams - Sonoma. (This is my best friend)

7. Le Creuset Dutch Oven, Williams - Sonoma. (I’m gonna be honest. Before I started work I couldn’t have told you the purpose of a dutch oven. Now I’m obsessed with mine. They’re great for making soups and stews, and they’re just really easy to use. )

8. Apron, Anthro.

9. Bowls, West Elm. 

10. Copper Teakettle, Williams - Sonoma.

11. Martini Glasses, Williams - Sonoma.