The Good Life

Ahh April!

For many it is feeling like the 

winter will never end but here in California it is feeling like 

the middle of summer (at least this week).

To me, April is always associated with

the spring break road trips- like the ones we took with the kids,

 Palm Springs, the college town (and food ) tour from Georgia

 to Indiana,

the amusement park tour (Ross and kids)...

it is also the time of year, where I can't get enough of

local nurseries, seed banks, gardening and 

getting my hands dirty along with plenty of sweat equity.

It is the time of year to take stock of details~

inside and out

 prepare for the next two seasons 

as we will fill them with outdoor living, 

laughing, cooking, eating and sharing with

 the friends and family 

who mean so much.

With that in mind, I am on hiatus...

taking time to listen to the birds sing,

pro create (ART ~FOOD~ FLOWERS)

go exploring and of course, smell the roses.

Here's to hoping you get out and do the same.

xo

Tommy Hilfiger-A Nod to Boast...?

It wasn''t that long ago that I 

wrote here, a glowing report that Partners and Spade

was heading up the ad campaign  for Boast

clothing- you know the country club brand from the eightues

that is having a resurgence?  

The cool crux of the campaign, is the 

sort of left of center, quirky 

a la Royal Tenenbaums look of the characters.

Well don't look know, but it seems that Tommy Hilfiger 

seems to like the whole quirky vibe too.

Complete with sweat bands and aviators.

I know that imitation is a form of flattery when it comes to

personal style, but ad campaigns?

xo 

Bergdorf Goodman Fashion Week Windows

Bergdorf Goodman's 5th Avenue windows 

were an explosion of bright color during

NYFW thanks to artist Jason Hackenwerth 

 and a Spring tribute 

to Yves Saint Laurent's brilliantly colored collection..

via 5th at 58th

xo

The Selby Visits The Man Behind MAC

Todd Selby recently posted his visit with 

Ben Ospital the genius and co founder (with sister Chris)

of our beloved local institution:

MAC - Modern Appealing Clothing.

Started back in 1980 in a tiny little shop on 

the funky side of Post Street, MAC, Ben and Chris 

(and their mom Jeri)

had a vision and passion that to this day has 

driven their store to national acclaim.

They have always supported and cultivated

newly emerging and local talent along with 

cutting edge designers while favoring

the concepts of Belgian and Japanese lines.

Their dedication has served them well, as their 

very loyal customers and fans can attest., as they

 now shop with plenty of room to move in the 

3,500 sq foot space in Hayes Valley.

Enjoy the The Selby's photos

 and check out the links on MAC.

Paper Mag

NY Times

Travel & Leisure

xo

Ch Ch Changes

He's booted longtime women's fashion head Julie Gilhart, he's "promoted" creative director Simon Doonan to a less central position within the company, and now newBarneys CEO Mark Lee has even switched the flagship's iconic red awnings.WWD reported this morning that the new black canopies will go better with the brand's black shopping bags, but we can't help but be reminded of a pirate unfurling the Jolly Roger—the message seems to be "There's a new guy sailing this ship."

Lee also plans to renovate the flagship's main floor, launch a new black and white ad campaign (look for it this Sunday in the Times Style section), and add a section about store development to the Barneys website. Also, in a move that's as shocking as the ouster of Gilhart, Lee plans to drop Barneys is dropping Prada bags and RTW from the chain. Barneys will continue to sell Prada menswear and women's shoes, but if you want that striped stole from the Rihanna video, you'll have to look elsewhere.

HMM.... via Refinery 29

Tory Burch Meet Bond Street

From the little medallioned flats and handbags,

to a full fashioned line... 

Tory Burch has now opened up her second

European location, first Rome, now,London.

It's a bi-level 4,200 square foot boutique is situated

 in a 19th-century townhouse 

which previously served as a haberdashery—previous to that,

 it was one of the city's first Louis Vuitton stores.

From the little medallioned flats and handbags,

to a full fashioned line... 

Tory Burch has now opened up her second

European location, first Rome, now,London.

It's a bi-level 4,200 square foot boutique is situated in a 19th-century townhouse 

which previously served as a haberdashery—previous to that,

 it was one of the city's first Louis Vuitton stores.

Modern Is The New Classic For Hermes

Hermes has a new home on the Rive Gauche

and thanks to Richard Nahem of Eye prefer Paris

we can all take the tour.(Photos here)

They have lightened their approach with an airy, loft-like space on three levels housed in the former Art Noveau swimming pool of the Lutetia Hotel. At the entrance is a flower shop bursting with buoyant blooms by florist Baptiste Pitou.

Then comes the most dramatic part of the shop: A sweeping staircase made of curved strips of ash wood. Walking down the grand staircase one feels like a decadent showgirl-- all that's missing is a feathered head dress and the song " A Pretty Girl...." playing.

The drama continues with the selling floor dominated by three pear-shaped tee-pees using the same strips of wood creating a lattice work effect, projecting interesting shadows. Inside the tee-pees are sumptuous room settings with furniture and home accessories, making me want to move in on the spot.

The Hermes layout is much more informal than the Right Bank store, and it looks like aconcept shop similar to Colette or Merci.

In addition to the usual must have bags, wallets, towels, ties, scarves, luggage, and accessories, there is a bookshop with the latest coffee table books.

Le Plongeoir (the diving board) cafe serves exotic tea, coffee, and pastries. Beware, the cheapest pot of tea is 14 euros & a cup of coffee is 9 euros, but it's served on Hermés china, ooh-la-la! The cafe overlooks the shopping floor, a very clever merchandising ploy, so you can stake out your purchases while sipping your tea.

Architect Denis Montel has respectfully maintained the integrity of the space, keeping the original tiled columns and floors, and the ironwork on the upper balconies but at the same time making it contemporary.

17 rue de Sevres, 6th arr. 
Metro: Sevres-Babylone
Open Monday-Saturday, 10:30AM-7PM
www.hermes.com

Retail Snaps

Sometimes, you cannot overstate the obvious.

Love this. 

via A Continuous Lean

xo

Colorfully Engaging

It's no secret, this is a year for color.

I think this campaign on the 

kate spade website is very clever.

Focusing on one color a month through the year...

genius.

Knowing the Spades,  I'm sure we will see this

in of the all campaigns and at the store level too.
Love it.

xo

Not Your Father's Bespoke

After graduating form FIT, Amber Doyle and Jake Mueser

started their own line and now have taken on the world

of (rocker connections!) bespoke clothing,

having set up shop in the heart of the West Village NYC.

And while this is not the level of

tailoring we know from Kiton or Brioni,

there may be a niche to fill among the 

young, hip and flush.

Clubby  atmosphere...check

Well priced off-the-rack suits...check

Friends in high places...check

Plenty of single malt scotch...double check
Doyle & Mueser

It's Called Collaboration

Ok, maybe one of the takeaways here,  is in the line

"we don't expect it to pay the rent"- but,

they've earned it-because, pretty much everything they touch turns to gold.

The creativity, the bravado

oozes from people like Spade et cie and I for one 

cannot get enough.

P O S I T I V E L Y

G E N I U S

This is the first in a series from the 

VBS web series called League of TWO.

xo