a LIFE of STYLE

CHRISTOPHE POURNY & MARTHA STEWARTMartha Stewart welcomes FrenchLINEN WRAPPED TABLE TOP restoration specialist Christophe Pourny back to her show.   On March 9th, they explore the age old Technique of linen wrapped furniture.   Watch as the two suggest the perfect solution for furniture finds that you might think are hopeless.   Plus Pourny gives industry secrets on how to keep your furniture like new.  Click on a one of the photos to visit Martha Stewart's website, and watch the segments.

The 82nd annual Academy Awards was long on nominees (10 for best picture!) and long on time, as in it ran 30 minutes long.   The show, chock full of Hollywood's finest was beautifully shot and produced.   The evening got off to a shaky start with the well executed but awkwardly written musical opener performed by Neil Patrick Harris.     Host's Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin were great together as a comedy duo.   I'm sure someone is writing a buddy film for them as  you read this!

I must say I thought the fashion was not so exciting.   Everyone looked pretty, but I felt like my brain was on auto pilot as I watched the entrances.  Maybe I'm just suffering from sensory overload from award season. SANDRA BULLOCK IN MARCHESA  

Sandra Bullock won an Oscar, which many thought would never be in the cards for the bankable movie star.   While Bullock has incredibly successful films, they aren't always the favorite of critics.  CHARLIZE THERON - CHRISTIAN DIORI'm not usually a big fan of Marchesa, and I don't think Sandra's dress flattered her all that much. She looked beautiful, but that was all on her own.   I wish the dress was a little more fitted and hugged her curves.   Bravo Ms. Bullock!  It is so pleasing to see someone of great integrity rewarded for their hard work.

Two stand outs in my mind were Demi Moore in Atelier Versace and Charlize Theron in Christian Dior.  DEMI MOORE - ATELIER VERSACE Both ladies chose colors that stood out and were flattering, and both know how to make an entrance.   Demi Moore amazes me,  that woman works it year after year!!  Bravo ladies!.

Special mention to the dreamy set designed again this year by David Rockwell.   Rockwell had the impossible task of topping himself from last years Swarovski studded set.  He succeeded, it was magical.

Here is the short list of winners:

Best picture

• "The Hurt Locker"

Actor
• Jeff Bridges, "Crazy Heart"

Actress
• Sandra Bullock, "The Blind Side"

Supporting actor
• Christoph Waltz, "Inglourious Basterds"

Supporting actress
• Mo'Nique, "Precious"

Director
• Kathryn Bigelow, "The Hurt Locker"

CLAUDIA SCHIFFER - FERRAGAMO SPRING 2010CLAUDIA SCHIFFER - FERRAGAMO SPRING 2010Photographic master Mario Testino captured super model Claudia Schiffer, who channeled Grace Kelly - enveloped in layers of FERRAGAMO.  Schiffer is all beauty and elegance in these shots.GRACE KELLY

Claudia portrays a glamorous Ferragamo client - surrounded by her latest choices - the key styles of the season.   Not able to choose, this style icon had to have them all!   

Can you blame her? 

DOLCE & GABBANA - SPRING 2010

This is really a "Campaign Watch" article, but I couldn't resist the temptation..   Madonna doing dishes is just too good of an opportunity to pass up.   The queen of re-invention is once again the star of a major fashion campaign for Spring 2010 as she works the kitchen for Dolce & Gabbana.  DOLCE & GABANNA - SPRING 2010

Madonna was just the face of Louis Vuitton, not for one, but two consecutive seasons.   Marc Jacobs was over the moon to have Madonna star in the campaigns back to back.   They were photographed together at parties, Madonna attended Marc's Spring fashion show, - clearly fashion friends.  THEN, Madonna posed for Dolce.  Friendship over.   Marc was quoted as saying that he doesn't want Madonna at his Fall 2010 fashion show - and that she was never invited to the last show.  The designer said she called and said she was coming - so what could he do?   What could he do?  How about not have her star in the campaign of the French fashion house you have creative control over?  Anyway, back to the Dolce Ads.

Madonna looks beautiful as she channels Sophia Loren in an homage to Sicilian cinema in Dolce & Gabbana's Spring campaign.   There is a sensuality and passion in the pictures that capture the era of the great Italian cinema of the 50's.  Cleavage and Pasta -now THATS Italian!  Like Cher, Madonna has continued to "Turn Back Time" year after year.   The latest images give her an other - worldly glow of youth and vitality.       

DOLCE & GABBANA - SPRING 2010Bravo D&G, you obviously got the attention of the fashion crowd - or at least of one fashion designer!  Bravo too to Madonna.  In a year when Lady GaGa has stolen her thunder from even the most die-hard fans, Madonna remains current in fashion mags around the world with this main line campaign.

MICHAEL DAWKINS TOPAZ OPEN LINK & MESH EARRINGMichael Dawkins, Sandra De Ovando, OVANDO - WHITE CUBEand Jacques Torres are three Artists that make New York what it is.   New York draws the most talented people from all over the world to it's city streets.

Jewelry designer Michael Dawkins is originally from Michigan, Floral designer Sandra De Ovando hails from Mexico City, and Chocolatier Jacques Torres is from the South of France.    Three very different people, from three very different places, all with a creative passion, and all calling New York City home.

Click New York Artists to read more about these talented New Yorkers.

Plan a day to visit WHITE CERAMIC LAMP - 1950'Sthe coolest furniture store in Tribeca.   Duane Street has an eclectic mix of mid-century and antique pieces for your home.   click DUANE to read more.

ALEXANDER MCQUEENReports from London say that Alexander McQueen was found dead in his home Thursday morning.   While it is too soon to know what happened - deepest condolences to his family.  McQueen was 40 years old.ALEXANDER MCQUEEN RUNWAY

McQueen was known to be a troubled soul who had struggled with personal demons for years.

What a tragedy for this young talent to leave us so soon.    While never achieving the commercial success he could have, there was such a strong momentum building.   It seemed that Mr. McQueen was finding a niche, and a way to commercialize his dark view of fashion. GAGA IN MCQUEEN FOR "BAD ROMANCE"  Lady GaGa had recently put McQueen on the map for millions around the world,  as her fans obsess over her GAGA EMERGES IN ALEXANDER MCQUEENoutrageous costumes - much of which is from McQueen. 

The designers website was off-line at the time this article went live.

Rest In Peace Mr. McQueen.

ALEXANDER MCQUEEN - ALIEN PLATFORM Not exactly what they are wearing on Pandora, but fashion designers from NY, Paris, & Milan have been showcasing platform shoes that are out of this world!

The trend has been rising for a few years  now, and who can say when it will reach it's peak or shall we say summit?   It seems that women have always wanted longer legs and smaller feet.   To say these shoes give you height, is an PANDORANS FROM AVATARunderstatement!  Balenciaga, John Galliano, Alexander McQueen, and Ferragamo all have amazing platform shoes  for Fall 2009 and Spring 2010.

JOHN GALLIANO -GALACTIC GYPSY ON THE RUNWAYNo one can compete with Lady GaGa as the poster girl for the platform trend.   GaGa is an international style icon, and her image is as powerful - as her sound.    Her incredible video for BAD ROMANCE featured dazzling creations by Alexander McQueen.  With all her talent, maybe GaGa is from a galaxy far, far away.  She recently told Oprah that she had the idea of painting herself blue, long before Avatar came out.   Maybe James Cameron will ask GaGa to be in the sequel!LADY GAGA "BAD ROMANCE" - ALEXANDER MCQUEEN

Of course Ferragamo is no stranger to platforms.   After all, Salvatore Ferragamo was the first designer to show the platform ( in fact, he received the first ever shoe patent for his cork wedge platform back in the 1937).    The image of his multi-colored platform wedge from the early 30's is known around the world.FERRAGAMO CIRCA 1932FERRAGAMO FALL 2009 - LUISA - PLATFORM STILETTO

For Spring 2010, the House of Ferragamo celebrates the legacy of Salvatore's innovation with a group of shoes inspired by the sea - and the iconic Ferragamo platform.    With countless folds of leather, painstakingly crafted by hand and studded for texture,  each shoe is a work of art.  Ferragamo was the first designer to utilize "sea leathers" or skins from the ocean.   Stingray, eel, python, and various fish skins were all in the designers collection in the 30's.FERRAGAMO GIORDANA - $1,150.00

The spring 2010 collection is full of neutral metallic options that are as hot with jeans as they are with that little party dress. The house has also just revamped their website - making purchasing on-line so much easier - click FERRAGAMO

Everyone knows that shoes have taken over as the HOT accessory in women's fashion.   You can rock your jeans from last year, but shoes are one item you want to invest in each season.   One or two great pairs can keep your entire wardrobe relevant.   

BALENCIAGA "TOY" SHOES - 2007/8In August of 2007, these colorful killers by Balenciaga ran in a story in Elle Magazine.  Inspired by toys (Legos), at the time they seemed really far fetched.   Fast forward a few years, and they seem to be right in step with the trend!

*Jason Jobson is a representative of Salvatore Ferragamo Inc.

JOHN BARTLETT - FASHION DESIGNERNew York fashion designer John Bartlett has never done things the easy way.  His fashion collection made waves from it's debut in the early 90's.   Bartlett designed his menswear collections with color and detail that was unlike most at the time.   Not feminine at all, in fact masculine, rugged, and classic.  In the uber conservative world of menswear,  however, not the norm.   Menswear designers were used to putting on their industry blinders when it was time to choose colors and add details. 

CLAIBORNE BY JOHN BARTLETTIvy league educated, Mr. Bartlett was obviously smart enough to know he was not taking the short road to any career success he might have mapped out in his head.   His determination to do things - as they should be done, won him kudos and respect from editors and buyers.   It also gained him the attention of Donnatella Girombelli, a Fellini-esque Italiana who ran the GENNY/BYBLOS fashion house.   Bartlett's collection would be backed by GENNY and produced in Italy in the late 90's.   John took the opportunity at the time to add Women's RTW to his runway.  (Genny had state of the art production facilities.   In fact, when Genny eventually went up for sale - Prada bought the house primarily for the factories).   Stylish and urban - John Bartlett's collection for women made sense.  JOHN BARTLETT WOMENS PREVIEW

As is the case with so many of the Italian-American fashion partnerships, it didn't last.   Someone should do that fashion movie one day.   The obscure Italian fashion houses - and the characters that run them!   Directors out there, here's three - Marriuccia Mandelli of Krizia, Donnatella Girombelli of Genny, and Mama Gerani of Iceberg.  The movie practically writes itself!

Fast forward to 2010.   Bartlett is fresh off a collaboration with Claiborne that saw him take his Men's collection to the masses in a way John had never done before.   The collection was clean and upbeat, and embraced by those that got their hands on the pieces.   I found myself fighting my way through the crowds of Herald Square to look for the collection at Macy's!   

Now with his own namesake boutique on 7th Avenue in Greenwich Village, Bartlett has the perspective of a seasoned veteran.   His decision to bring back his Women's collection for his Fall 2010 has garnered much anticipation by those following the New York fashion scene.   There are few designers that have a unique perspective and a narrative to tell.   John Bartlett is one of them.RG / JB T-SHIRT

A collaboration with Rogues Gallery has also developed a cult following for the cool T-shirts and bags that are available at the John Bartlett Retail Store.  Visit the website to shop for the men in your life- and ladies, you can hold your breath - Women's is coming shortly!!  

Shop on-line today.  click - John Bartlett Store.