Seasonal Urban Expression. . .

(Barney's)

It is that time of year again. . .in the country friends and family pile into the "good' ole' minivan" or some sort of hay-filled, semi-attached truck to witness the splendor of holiday lights. Here in New York City we still gather together, but instead of hay-induced, holiday-light extravaganzas we witness holiday-inspired storefront windows. The storefront windows are so impeccable and creatively conceived that even the Ginchiest New Yorker will pause for a moment and take in the visual inspiration.

Department Store windows are a blank canvas and provide visual stimuli year-around, but during the Holidays the shop windows explode with narrative and holiday splendor. The sheer level of creativity cannot be matched, as each window acts as a portal into a fantastical world unique to each retailer.

(Simon Doonan-Barney's Creative Director)

(my favorite this year)

(Tiffany & Co. paper cut outs)

(Tiffany & Co.)

The big 6 must see displays are:
Bloomingdales
Barney's
Bergorf Goodman
Saks
Lord and Taylor
Macy's

(Henri Bendel, candy and cakes)

Other this year:
Henri Bendel
Dylan's Candy Bar
Anthropologie
Tiffany & Co.
Cartier
Fendi
Louis Vuitton

(Lord and Taylor, Christmas Past)

(Lord and Taylor)

(Bergdorf Goodman)

Which window is your favorite this year?

Give My Regards to Hollywood: Tony Duquette

Duquette and Wilkinson

Tony Duquette was said to have been discovered by Lady Elsie de Wolfe Mendl, the international arbiter of taste--what a stirring way to begin ones career! Throughout his life, Duquette lived and designed in the most lavish of fashion, and exoticism and excess best describe the foundation of his work. The more the better: more adornment, more color, more texture, more money. You could say Duquette was the designer of more.

Duquette's office at Drawbridge

Duquette's famed studio

Entrance to Sortilegium

Duquette began his luxist career as a designer for Metro Goldwyn Mayer productions under the watchful eyes of the great Arthur Freed and Vincent Minnelli.  He created costumes and set designs for the studio's pictures.  As Duquette's studio career began to take off, so did his work with interiors. . . then he went to War, can you imagine the flamboyant Duquette at war--did he bring his satin cape? Anyway...When he returned in 1948, Duquette got back into business with his wife (Yes, wife.  Affectionately nicknamed "Beegle") and worked with clients such as: Vincente Minnelli, Elizabeth Arden, Doris Duke, Mary Pickford, J. Paul Getty, David O. Selznick and the Duchess of Windsor.

Set for the opera "The Magic Flute"

Dolores Grey-costume by Duquette*

*notice the cape

Tony Award Winning costumes for "Camelot"

During the late 1970's Duquette formed the Anthony and Elizabeth Duquette Foundation for the Living Arts, a non-profit public foundation whose purpose was to present museum quality exhibitions of artistic, scientific and educational value to the public. Duquette's foundation is yet another example of the many hats a contemporary designer can wear--he was a designer, businessman, and philanthropist all wrapped up in a neat, velvety, and sparkly cape.

Tony and Beegle

Duquette's legacy lives on through his design studio, now managed solely by his business partner Hutton Wilkinson. Duquette's style is also furthered today by retailers who sell his furnishings and design/art objects, not to mention his two books: "More is More" and "Tony Duquette".

1980's, Wilkinson and Duquette

Tony Duquette's website

Hutton Wilkinson's website

The Playboy: Kelly Wearstler

Big, brash, and bold are all words that start with the letter B--and all describe the work of Kelly Wearstler. Kelly brings sexy back to design with her mix of large scale and public projects--her aesthetic can best be compared to the famed Dorthy Draper, but with an added sexiness found in our contemporary context. There is something effortless, yet meticulously planned and executed about Kelly's work-a west coast sensibility with a dash of South Beach flair all in the context of high style.

(BG, the restaurant at Bergdorf Goodman, here in NYC)

(Viceroy, Palm Springs)

Kelly commands color in a manor which is foreign to most, almost brazen--lush colors and textures can be found in both her residential and commercial projects. To be frank I don't really know how she does it. . . she uses the most luxurious textiles--the most luxurious of everything and somehow makes it all work together cohesively. Her projects can be found from Los Angeles to New York City and her empire extends far beyond her interiors. Kelly has created a venerable design empire including: design/lifestyle books, product lines at retailers like Bergdorf Goodman, and a presence in the media. Kelly has taken her work to a level rarely achieved by most designers: super-stardom. Take a peek below and indulge yourself in pure GLAMOUR!

(A selection of Kelly's Books)

(The Tides, South Beach)

(Viceroy, Miami)

(Brentwood Estate)

(Malibu Beach Residence)

Kelly Wearstler's Website

All is Fair. . .

There are a number of interesting ways to scope out what is new or "in vogue" in the design and art markets throughout the year--showrooms, galleries, and auction houses first come to mind, but there are events that give a connoisseur more breadth and depth of what is actually happening in the market and what is currently in style.

Design and art fairs are really an ideal way in which to admire, collect, and purchase design and art objects. I know the images of clowns, ferris wheels, cotton candy and the like are bobbing around in your brain when the work "fair" is uttered, but besides some of the eccentric/crazy people you might see attending both an art fair and actual fair. . . the similarities stop there. In actuality these fairs provide the masses with an opportunity to see fabulous works and a great multitude of them stemming encompassing every genre imaginable.

One of the best aspects of art and design fairs is the opportunity to talk to people in the trade. Some of the best conversations about art and design I have ever engaged in were with galleriest or specialist representing showrooms at fairs, these representatives are here for you and are interested in the subject matter in their booth, so ask questions and create a dialogue. You might enter a fair with the perfect idea for sofa or antique settee, but then something catches your eye and everything changes.

(Scope NYC)

Here is a short list of upcoming NYC fairs:

The International Fine Art & Antique Dealers Show: arms and armour, bronzes, rare books, carpets, ethnographica, furniture, garden furniture, glass, jewellery, maps, manuscripts, marine artefacts, pictures, porcelain, pottery and sculpture

IFPDA Print Fair: diverse works on paper ranging from the traditional to contemporary (prints only) from IFPDA members.

Modernist Show: furniture, silver, decorative arts, fine art, jewelry, and glass from 1890 to contemporary.

(Pulse NYC)

Spring is high season for fairs in the NYC, during the fall/winter (December) the same fairs can be found in Miami. Literally the entire fine/decorative art worlds stop and all attention is directed south to Miami centering on Art Basel. Along with Basel there are a multitude of satellite fairs that can also be found in New York in the Spring. Here is a list of the main happening this winter in Miami:

*notice many of these events have sister fairs in NYC, Basel, or elsewhere*

Art Basel Miami Beach: the big-daddy of fairs, the main event. The sister show takes place in Basel Switzerland-really these are the two most prestigious fairs in the world

Art Asia: Asian Contemporary Art

Design Miami: furniture,lighting and art objects mainly modernism (1900-to present) with a few booths specializing in 18th and 19 century.

Pulse Miami: contemporary art

Red Dot Miami: smaller boutique fair offering a myriad of work on paper, sculpture, and paintings.

Scope Miami: emerging contemporary art

(Art Asia Miami)

(Art Basel Miami)

There literally is a fair for every taste and need. . . dig in-get dirty-enjoy!