I think I first read about Lonny in last month's Vanity Fair. Page from Lonny Magazine.

Have you seen Lonny Magazine? (Sorry, I couldn’t resist the pun with Doug E Fresh and Slick Rick’s song “La Di Da Di.” Lonny is actually a combination of the words London and NY.) It is a new beautiful, inspiring digital home/interiors publication that you scroll through just like a normal magazine… except for it’s online which means it has automatic links to the websites of every product it lists. Pretty genius and user friendly. And it’s loaded with illustrative pictures, savvy tips, pithy profiles of design types. Click here to view Lonny.

Page from Lonny Magazine.

Page from Lonny Magazine.

My mom always carried a pocket book (Coach was all the rage in Chestnut Hill, PA in the 80′s). I didn’t know what a bag/clutch/handbag/purse/minaudiere– you name it–was until I started to read fashion magazines in college. People would kind of laugh when I said “pocket book” as though it were an outdated term. But I have always been one to carry a small sized bag that held just a wallet, lip balm, keys, and now my blackberry. I’m so excited that these little sisters of the It Bag are coming back into style to lighten the fashion load.

My everyday pocketbooks (Chanel, Cole Haan, Anya Hindmarch). Photo Kate Schelter.

DIY! I was inspired by my Chanel to change the chain on my little Cole Haan. Photo Kate Schelter.

I thread unfinished silk ribbon from MJ Trimming through the chain. Photo Kate Schelter.

The ribbon has a certain Lanvin effect too, oui?! Photo Kate Schelter.

Pocket Book = Hands Free! Photo Kate Schelter.

Décor It Girl and Haus Interior owner Nina Freudenberger offers some great tips.

Best way to figure out a color scheme for a space?

Start with the walls. The easiest way to chose a paint color is to find the one object in the room you obsess over. Within that piece, choose the color which draws your eye. Take the actual object to any paint store and have it color matched (most paint stores will mix the exact color if you bring in an item, fabric, etc.) If you are worried its too dark, have them add white to lighten it up, or go as far as to have just a hint/glow of that color in the majority of white.

What are the best items you find for the cheapest when decorating?
Amazing finds at flea markets such as Brimfield, Mass; Twice a week, the Bekman Gallery debuts a limited edition of an artists work, starting at $20. The artist list is incredible.

Where do you go for inspiration when you’re all “New Yorked City-ed out”?

I go upstate to the Hudson Valley. Not only is it an amazing place to visit but it’s also home to some of my favorite antique stores. Make sure to stroll down Warren Street in Hudson, and to drive all the way north on Route 9, through Springfield and Rhinebeck for great vintage furniture shopping along the way.

What is your favorite New York building/architecture?

The Four Seasons Restaurant by Philip Johnson. Being enveloped inside the genius of Mies van der Rohe’s Seagram building and the moving wire mesh curtains (due to the air-conditioning, which reportedly was a “happy mistake” found out only after the installation) is enough for me to be sure that this is an absolute masterpiece of architecture and interior design.

If you were a restaurant which one would you be?

A cross between Marlow & Sons, and Charles.

If you were a book which one would you be?

I would hope to be A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers… at least, one day, hopefully….

Can you share some “Haus” tips with us?

Trophies – whether using just one or a few, these look great on a bookshelf or end table in your library. Think about having them engraved with your favorite funny quotes.

Rope Knot – perfect as a door stop or place on the lower shelf of an entry console for a nautical accent.

Fouta Towels – these are 100% organic cotton and a great alternative to standard terry cloth. Wash them twice, they become extremely absorbent and are less abrasive on the skin than a typical bath towel.

Haus Interior, 250 Elizabeth Street, NYC, Tel 212 741 0455

We asked New York City-based wine consultant Jaime Dutton a few questions about wine to help us get through the summer.

Sipping Champagne from coupes. Brideshead Revisted (1981)

What’s the best wine trick to instantly make a meal more “summery?”

Put a pretty ice bucket on the middle of the table with a bottle of red, white and rose in it.

Also, mix a nice white wine with some sliced peaches, a lemon wedge, fresh mint and a little bit of sparkling water and you have a delicious, summery drink.

Best wine to pair with lobster or fish?
White – a crisp, bright (meaning with fresh acidity, not heavy or buttery) Chardonnay from Macon (Domaine Chene, Heritiers de Comte-Lafon) or a Bourgogne Blanc (Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey, Thierry Matrot). I also love a great Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire Valley in the summer – Quincy (Domaine Mardon), Pouilly-Fume (Domaine Alain Cailbourdin) or Sancerre (Domaine Bailly-Reverdy) are all regions where you can find delicious summer whites.

Red – I would suggest a lightly chilled Beaujolais like a Fleurie, Morgon or Brouilly. These wines are all 100% Gamay and there are many great Beaujolais producers that are making very delicious, fruit driven wines – nothing better with grilled fish. As for producers look for Jean-Marie Foillard, Marcel Lapierre, Chateau Thivin – they are all delicious, especially when served slightly chilled.

Beer and Veuve with my mom's lobster dinner on Cape Cod for July 4th.

Best wine to pair with grilled steak?

For summer evenings on our terrace I like a Syrah from the Northern Rhone (Christophe Curtat – Saint Joseph Rouge, Alain Graillot – Crozes-Hermitage) or a Cotes du Rhone (Domaine de la Remejeanne, Domaine Escaravailles). These are simple wines––we enjoy them at home and they are great in the summer.

Best wine to give as a summer weekend house gift?

Something that you love to drink. I think Rosé is a nice gift. You can never drink enough Rose in the summer. Another idea is the fixings for a Kir Royale––a bottle of Creme de Cassis and a bottle of a dry sparkling wine (Champagne or Cremant de Bourgogne) or a bottle of Bourgogne Aligoté. A little bit of Cassis in the bottom of the glass, topped off with the white wine and you have a delicious, refreshing and lovely drink.

Great simple summery recipe accompanied with wine?

Pesto pasta and summer squash served with a lovely glass of Chateau Thivin, Cote de Brouilly 2007.

Dom or Veuve?

Dom of course – but the price difference between the two make it a hard comparison. The best way to go with Champagne is “grower-Champagne” not the big brands (check out the Champagne that is imported by Terry Theise). From the Champagne houses, I always reach for Pol Roger or Nicolas Feuillante.

Champagne coupes in Brideshead Revisted (1981)

What is your favorite drinking glass for wine or champagne?

Champagne – I like the old-school crystal Champagne Tulips (coupes), they are so classic, elegant and pretty.

House wines – we like to drink out of the Spanish tumblers that we picked up in the Basque Country. They are shallow glasses, but perfect for a little glass of wine.

Classic champagne coupe.

Email Jaime Dutton at jdwine@gmail.com

How cool is this gorgeous settee, covered in muslin and then gloriously graffitied on by Pamela Bell’s children and their friends?! I am so inspired by this. Click here to view the New York Times slideshow.

Photo: Phil Mansfield for The New York Times

Photo: Phil Mansfield for The New York Times

Brainy, colorful, pithy art direction; lovely, listenable, lyrical tunes.

I love this video for the song Any Fun by Coconut Records (Jason Schwartzman), featuring Chloe Sevigny. I also love Chloe’s hair, her Baja top, smiling (in general), and having fun. (Shout out to CJS for showing this to me. Fun-ie!)

Click on the images below to watch it. The video is by William Strobeck and Mark Gonzales.

My dear friend and former Marc by Marc Jacobs shoe designer Valeria McCulloch, aka ValBlu, is all about the color blue. Yves Klein indigo to be exact. Everything she wears, owns, and sometimes designs is blue. Sharpie even named a marker after her (below).

What we find most fascinating is that she actually colors in her favorite shoes if they are not already blue. Here is an inside look into her fascinating creative process.

ValBlu sharpie-coloring her Chanel ballets

Seriously!

Formerly seersucker, now blue, Louboutin pumps

Blue ruby slippers she designed for Marc Jacobs

grey Hermes wedges she sharpied blue

ValBlu profiled in New York Magazine

Valeria “ValBlu” McCulloch
Shoe Designer. Yves Klein blue.

Originally published 18 February 2008, New York Magazine

Why blue?
In college, I majored in color theory. Blue was the most interesting color, historically. Germanic tribes wore it to ward off enemies; Christians used it to denote divinity. Wearing blue for me is being in a dream all day.

Do you make your own blue shoes?
I go to leather fairs and have the factory make me shoes. I also buy white Chanel and Christian Louboutin shoes, and I color them blue with custom-ordered electric-blue Sharpies.

Do you wear blue makeup?
I wear YSL No. 3 mascara, Chanel Blue Satin nail polish, and blue Lancôme lip gloss, which looks clear when you put it on. And my bathroom products are blue, like my toothbrush.

Does the color reflect your personality?
Blue signifies loyalty, and I’m very loyal. It’s hard in this industry, but I’m a humanist.

There was a lot of electric blue in recent seasons.
It’s getting trendy. When it hits “mass,” it’s a turnoff.

What do your friends think?
My friend studied photography, and I was part of her thesis. She did a color study and took photos of me.

What color is your apartment?
My living room is neutral, but just go into my bedroom. I have a blue Nintendo, bedside table, suitcase, pillow, BlackBerry. And I collect blue gemstones. People once believed that sapphires had healing properties.

How does blue make you feel?
Blue is a peaceful color. The U.N. has a blue flag; all the presidential campaigns have blue. It touches every realm of life, from cosmic to future.

1. Spray Bumble + Bumble Surf Spray onto damp clean hair.

2. Blow dry or air dry as desired. Do not brush.

3. Take your hands around a small front lock of hair (about a pencil in diameter) and rub vigorously back and forth, just as you would if you were gambling and you’d just tossed the dice. Rub and repeat as desired.

4. Continue throughout the day as you like.

5. Spritz with Bumble + Bumble Tonic. Voila!

1. TOMS Shoes Comfier than Vans, lighter than a flip flop, and way more charitable than any other fashion company, TOMS are my favorite summer shoe for everyday wear. An instant classic up there with Haviannas, Reefs and your gladiator sandals. Every pair you buy for your cute little feet, guarantees a FREE pair to child in need. www.tomsshoes.com

Toms Shoes

2. Essie Nail Polish in Short Shorts When you’re not covering your toes with Toms, paint them neon pink, to go perfectly peeking out from your black Alaia strappy heels.

Who wears short shorts? We wear short shorts!

3. Bumble + Bumble Surf Spray Who you callin’ Surfer Girl? Whether you live at the beach and actually know how to surf, or never leave your Tribecca loft, this product will give your hair the just-swam-in-the sea-and-air-dried-on-the-beach texture and feel.

4. Neutrogena UltraSheer Dry Touch Sunblock SPF 80 Do what your mother says: cover up and protect your baby soft skin from the sun. This UVA + UVB blocker is so light that you don’t feel it at all, and it doesn’t let in any harmful rays. Editors choice of Allure magazine, it is also endorsed by the American Cancer Society. Another tip: squeeze some zinc oxide onto the bridge of your nose, and across your cheekbones, life guard style, to really create an opaque shield.

5. L’Oreal Sublime Bronze Now that you’re covered in sunscreen doesn’t mean you must forgo your tan. Quite the opposite. Layer on this self tanner and watch your inner bronze blossom. Try mixing half and half with a basic body lotion and the effects are a little more subtle and elegant.

Work your inner Brazilian

6. Rope Bracelets Need we say more? A classic that will surely say “I’ve been at the beach all summer” even if you haven’t been at all.

Naughty Yachty!

7.  Ice Cream Memorial Day through Labor day, the best ice cream one can experience is served up at Four Seas in Centerville on Cape Cod. Bordering the Kennedy compound in Hyannis Port, this is where Caroline Kennedy’s ice cream was from that was served at her wedding. Try Mint Chip, Coconut, Mocha Chip, Fresh Peach and Peppermint Stick. The lobster roll is the best one I’ve ever had.

Best Cape Cod lobster roll and ice cream

8. Alex Katz Beach Towel By Works on Whatever. Soft, plush and stylish. Wide enough to sunbathe a deux. Available at The Standard Hotel in Miami or Shop Works on Whatever.

Works on Whatever towels

9. Hugo Guiness canvas tote from John Derian.

10. Hermes Eau d’Orange Verte Refreshing, lite, and lemony. You can’t over-do this when it’s hot out.

Fragrance as refreshing as a Hendricks gin gimlet