I have been a fan of her blog ever since I first laid eyes on it,  two years ago. I love her work and often felt we shared an aesthetic. So, when she emailed me out of the blue this cold January to ask to get together and, oh, yeah, take your picture, I had to keep from jumping out of my skin with excitement. She is one of my favorite photographers and you know what it’s like to meet your idols in life!! I had to act cool. Instead, we immediately started exchanging stories and jokes, and hours and hours flew by. Just like that.

© Photo Garance Doré www.garancedore.fr/en/

And then she asked me another favor: would I write a NYC guide? (I am a Gemini, and anyone who follows astrology knows that we are walking databases!) So I had two heart attacks, one after the other!! Just like a teenage girl.

© Photo Garance Doré www.garancedore.fr/en/

Thank you, Garance!!

Originally published on The Huffington Post on June 7, 2010.

Watch me tour the city’s premier vintage archives: the hush-hush resources for celebrity stylists, fashion insiders and top designers, and the most eccentric, amusing dress-up chests imaginable. I also share some vintage shopping tips.

Originally published on The Huffington Post on 26 May 2010.

With Memorial Day weekend coming up, here are some summer style jump-starters for the men out there. After my 10 Summer Style Spiff Ups for Women, the response was loud and clear: make one for us men too! With the help of my bespoke-obsessed boyfriend, here are 10 classics – that easily go from town to country, or the beach – for the dapper gent and the sporty jock. I know they have a penchant for the preppy but many have updated, modern twists and what can I say… classic is classic: it works!

1. Lock & Co Straw Hat. Available at Lock & Co

Lock's website declares that the origins of today’s boater hats are the sailor’s hat issued to midshipmen in the Royal Navy near the end of the nineteenth century to provide protection from tropical sun. These hats were then adopted by children in Victorian England and became part of their uniforms wearing their school or house colors as bands. And did you know that Panama hats are made exclusively in Ecuador and are hand-woven from the Tequilla Palm? The origin of the black band on the hat dates back to 1901 when Queen Victoria died.

2. Wilson Six.One Tour BLX. Available at Wilson

As in: 6 - 1, game over! Ace ‘em just like R Fed with this classic Wilson frame with all the modern updates for immaculate accuracy, power and precision. Giant Roger Federer signed tennis ball not included. Photo Getty.

3. Brooks Brothers Social Primer Bow Tie. Available at Brooks Brothers

This bow tie is yet another innovative - and playful - take on a classic designed in collaboration with K. Cooper Ray and just in time for the Summer bow tie season. Using Brooks’ authentic fabrics, the collection features reversible styles that create not one, but many ways to wear the bow tie.

4. Sperry Top Siders. Available at Sperry

Sperry is celebrating 75 years of the ultimate low-fi lace-up for kicking around town or healing out during the regatta.

5. Flower in Lapel with Linen Pocket Square

Details, Details! So dapper and dignified is a summer blossom peeking out from a man's lapel that it sets the lady's heart a flutter. Add to that a crisp, colorful linen pocket square and all eyes will be on you! Bespoke suits (and many off the rack) are made with a small cut-out in the lapel with fasteners on the reverse side to keep the flower stem in place. Pocket square from Bergdorf Goodman. Photo Kate Schelter.

6. Laird Hamilton Stand Up Paddleboard. Available at REI, Surf Tech and Laird Hamilton

The new craze in surfing are these stand up paddleboards (and paddle) which are great for cruising lakes, rivers, creeks, or wave riding. Walk on water!

7. Murray’s Toggery Nantucket Reds. Available at Murray’s Toggery

The. Most. Classic. New England. Pant... Period! Now available in shorts too.

8. Argentinian Belts. Available at Arandu

Made popular by dark and handsome Argentinian polo players, and now in demand for the fly fishing set, these hand-woven leather belts are easy going with a nice pop of color. Thread them through your jeans, khakis and Nantucket Reds and you're golden.

9. Swatch Color Code Watches. Available at Swatch

Accessorize your rope bracelet with these monochromatic timepieces – sporty for summer. They come in matte and shiny in every color of the rainbow.

10. Smathers & Branson Flask. Available at Smathers & Branson

For those long breezy sails or late afternoon tee times.

Originaly published on TheHuffingtonPost.com on 17 May 2010.

Whether you’re a city slicker or beach bound — these styles are equally useful for both — here are 10 easy pieces to stay chic in the heat and jump start your summer.

1) Lanvin Silk and Straw Hat. Available at LouisaviaRoma.com

The technology of this hat falls somewhere between a child’s craft project and effortless style. Silk ribbons are shredded and knotted to look like a flower. This would also make a great DIY project with an old panama hat and some satin ribbon as it has a hand-made quality (which is exactly what’s so appealing about it.)

2) St James for Calypso Stripy Shirt. Available at Calypso-cell.com

They took the traditional St James striped blue tee, and gave it a vintage wash for a new take on an old weathered favorite. This is the ultimate Francophile Picasso beachy look that equals instant style when worn over a bathing suit on the beach, or with shorts or white jeans.

3) Chanel Mini Classic Pocketbook. Available at Chanel

Enter "The Tiny Pocket Book"! Lighten your It Bag load for summer, and pair it down. This bag is more like jewelry than a heavy handbag.

4) Christian Louboutin Animal Print Sandal. Available at Net-a-Porter.com

One part pony hair leopard print, one part Grecian goddess, these flats are a step in the right direction from the all-popular gladiator style. The ankle architecture looks great with long, flowy, toe-dusting dresses or short mini skirts. Try them with shredded jean shorts and a t-shirt.

5) Farmer’s Market Carry-Alls: The French Tote and European Wicker Cart and Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. French tote available here and Wicker Cart available here.

Farms are bursting with their most colorful, tasty veggies and fruit of the year. Stock up and buy fresh, buy local. Farmers markets aren’t all hippies (who play pan flutes) and vegans. They are the new see-and-be-scene in your local piazza filled with savvy foodies like your stylish self so make sure you know your chard from your chervil and look chic! Read Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver.

6) Alexander Wang Leather Corset Shorts with Front Tie. Available at Shopbop.com

You won’t look like Zena Princess Warrior or a female version of Mad Max in these, I promise. Pair with a ratty white t-shirt or a light blue oxford with rolled-up sleeves and, Voila! you’re “country” with an edge. A fashion forward edge. Also goes great with the striped shirts above and your favorite black sandals.

7) Vince Draped Suede Jacket. Available at Neiman Marcus

Now this may be called a leather jacket but it actually feels more like paper, stretchy paper because it’s so light. But paper is also the wrong word because it’s soft like butter. Whatever you want to call it, this is perfect worn as a cardigan or a jacket over jeans or a pretty floral mini dress. Treat it more like a jean jacket and you’re good.

Paul + Joe Sister Leopard Ikat Bikini. Available at Mywardrobe.com

With bikinis, I’m assuming if you wear one then you feel good in one. Bikini Styling Tip: less is more, that is, the less fabric the better. A suit should be snug on you (but not tooooooo snug); if it’s baggy it only gets worse with water! Bikini tops also double as colorful bras with summer sundresses.

9) Vince Denim shirt. Available at Net-a-Porter

Actually this pairs well with your leather shorts and is also a great beach cover up. My boyfriend likes to take his chambray shirt to the beach so he can dunk it in the salt water and air-dry. It creates a nice fade with a dry crinkle.

10) The Princess Sovereign Bike and Berkley Helmet. Available at Adeline Adeline

Slow Transportation is like the Slow Food movement: returning to the joys of simple everyday pleasures in a healthy, fulfilling way. Talk about smelling the roses, this quintessential English town and country bicycle is still handmade in their Stratford-upon-Avon factory. Throw some blossoming pink peonies in the front basket, ring-ring your bike bell and pedal through the streets in a “time stops” romantic elegance. We just hope The Sartorialist spots and shoots you!

Photo Kate Schelter.

Yesterday I visited my friend Lisa Salzer at her Lulu Frost headquarters. I am always struck by the sheer amount of stuff in her studio. You want to dive into all the luscious materials and tools and play for hours. I would like to share with you the brilliance behind the beauty. The madness. The piles. Drawers of gems, rolls of ribbon, the sheer talent of gently marrying concepts together in a seamless way “so Lulu Frost”, all while the Beastie Boys play softly in the background. This is the soul of Lulu Frost from which all beautiful, sublime, handmade jewelry is created.

Fasteners. Photo Kate Schelter.

The army of plyers. Photo Kate Schelter.

Spools of old chain. Photo Kate Schelter.

Antique pendants. Photo Kate Schelter.

Trays of treasures. Photo Kate Schelter.

This and that. Photo Kate Schelter.

Antique shoe buckles. Photo Kate Schelter.

More, more, more... Photo Kate Schelter.

Boxes and boxes of beads. Photo Kate Schelter.

Necklaces in the making. Photo Kate Schelter.

Collections of cuff links. Photo Kate Schelter.

A bracelet glove in surgery. Photo Kate Schelter.

Bags of diamante balls, silver beads. Photo Kate Schelter.

Zipplocks overflowing with un-bent gem settings. Photo Kate Schelter.

Numbers from the old Plaza Hotel. Photo Kate Schelter.

An inspiration board. Photo Kate Schelter.

Lulu is loved by all. A wall of gushing thank you notes. Photo Kate Schelter.

We love Lulu Frost!

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

The Caravan shades by Ray Ban might just be the perfect fall sunglasses. Why? Because they’re not overplayed and they go perfectly with a denim jacket a nice scarf thrown just so around one’s neck. Can’t you just see how perfect they are for a Saturday stroll in the city (windy, sunny, crisp) or for a walk in the country (big Aran sweater, jeans). Chris recently bought them as slightly less common alternative to the Persols, and Rayban aviators and wayfarers we see so often on the street. They work for girls and guys alike. I think certain sunglasses go with certain seasons and places. Most importantly one must find the right frame to fit one’s face, and after that: as the ad says below, “you need more than one kind of sunglass” for different places and purposes.

Originally published on The Huffington Post on 23 September 2009.

Favorite Fashion I loved (for Spring 2010), Movies I watched, Books I read, Places I went.

1) Tie Dye: Proenza Schouler

2) Beau Chapeau: Carine Roitfeld’s Hat

3) Bambi Sequins: Erin Fetherston

4) Film Premiere: Coco Before Chanel

5) New Talent: Chadwick Bell

6) Hot pants onesie: Erin Wasson RVCA

7) Suede biker jacket: Phi

New Rainbow Room: Boom Boom Room

9) Street Style Book: The Sartorialist By Scott Schuman

10) Artery Art: Brian Reyes heart arteries print tshirt dress

11) Book Signing: I Love Your Style by Amanda Brooks
Amanda will do book signings at Chanel in LA Wednesday, September 23rd and in Chicago on the 30th.

12) 25th Anniversary Party: Paper Magazine

13) Denim: Waris’s jean jacket

14) Midnight Snack: The Standard Grill

15) African prints: Marc by Marc Jacobs

16) Cargo Safari Look: Altuzzara

17) Lips Dress: Philosophy di Alberta Feretti

18) Rage purse: Marc by Marc Jacob’s orange baby bucket bag with gold studs

19) Leopard print bootie: Christian Louboutin at Barney’s

20) Leather shorts: Alexander Wang

21) Nude leather dress: Elise Overland

22) Lingering Trend: Boyfriend blazer /tuxedo jacket

23) Flash Dance sweatshirt revival: Charlotte Ronson

24) Sequined Coat Dress: 3.1 Phillip Lim

25) Best entire show for wearable street style:
a tie between Boy By Band of Outsiders and Rag + Bone

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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.