On the Street

I never know what kind of photograph I am going to get when I'm shooting on the street. So much is dependent on the moment, my subject's mood, how I approach them, and how much they trust me. I have to establish a level of comfort within the first few seconds of asking someone to take their picture. When I first approached the woman above she was very shy, but as soon as we started to speak I could see her start to open up. I commented on her gloves and told her that I had always loved looking through my grandmother's drawers and seeing her wonderful pairs lined up in a row. I explained a little bit about my project and she said that she would be happy to pose for a photo. Our entire interaction lasted under five minutes, but I really feel like I captured the spirit of this incredibly gracious and elegant woman.

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Valerie Von Sobel

To describe the myriad dazzling facets of Valerie Von Sobel in just a few short words would be incredibly unjust. She is not only a woman with a radiant spirit, but also an artist, interior designer, style icon, and actress. She is a true testament to the power of resilience. After enduring the loss of her son, mother and husband within the same year she has dedicated herself to a life full of compassion and artistic expression. Check out the wonderful work that she does with her foundation HERE and more about her art HERE.

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"Never Do When You Can Overdo."

I had the privilege of meeting 82-year-old artist, Barbara Chapman, at her stunning home in Southern California last week. When I asked her about her style philosophy she replied, "Never do when you can overdo." Stay tuned for more photos of Barbara and her wonderful home soon.

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Advanced Style: Men

Lina Plioplyte and I are thrilled to present our latest video collaboration, Advanced Style: Men, released today on NOWNESS.com. I have often spoken about my grandmothers as being the impetus for starting Advanced Style, but it was my grandfathers who left an indelible mark on my own personal style. Papa Hal would never leave the house without coordinating his argyle socks to his cashmere sweaters. He was always perfectly groomed and believed that style was an important way to introduce yourself to the world. As a kid, I would hide in Grandpa Jack's closet, trying on all his old hats from the 40s and 50s. They made me feel so grown-up and important. This video is a tribute to my grandfathers, and it also serves as a special dedication to our dear friend Lynn Dell Cohen who filmed with us a few days before her passing.

I have long been inspired by the sartorial savvy and joie de vivre of the five incredible gents in this film and hope you love them just as much as we do.

Thanks so much to our wonderful cast:
Mal Cross
Robert W. Richards
Derrill Osborn
Bob Miller
Ignacio Quiles

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Elsa Martinelli

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Black and Gold

My dear friend Colleen came all the way from Palm Springs to join the festivities at Suzi's this weekend!

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Gretchen and Suzi

This past weekend artists, Suzi Click and Gretchen Schields threw a party to welcome me to California. Every knock on Suzi's stunning antique wood front door signaled the arrival of another bedazzled beauty. Suzi, Gretchen, and their friends all use clothing and accessories as a means of self expression. Their work, home decor, and unique sense of style are reflections of their creative and artful lives. They describe this as The Power of Adornment:

People have always adorned themselves to enhance their beauty, to display their strength, boast of their wealth or to identify the social group or tribe to which they belong.
Adornment transforms us as we create our face for the world. We adorn for the power of creating ourselves as works of art.
Adding beauty to your life in the way you adorn your self and your home is a true form of self expression. We hope to inspire others by sharing our ideas to awaken our true POWER OF ADORNMENT.

To follow more of Suzi and Gretchen's stylish adventures check out their blog HERE.

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