So Chic

My birthday — and Coco Chanel's — is not until a couple of weeks from now, but my present came early. And it came in a scarlet box.

Isn't this the most handsome watch ever?

Fashion and Elephants

Sometimes I have the weirdest dreams. Last night, I dreamt of Dovima and the elephants, the fashion photograph of Richard Avedon that is timelessly elegant. One of the photos that really inspired me to pursue a career in fashion. I just love everything about the photo — the gracefulness of Dovima in her classical pose, the long sinewy gown and how all this soigne and even fragility is contrasted against the hulking size of the elephants. The silk and chiffon material of the gown against the wrinkled and weathered skin of the elephants. Brilliant contrasts.

Since then, elephants have been making appearances in several fashion editorials.

Daria for Italian Vogue

Daryl Hannah for Italian Vogue

Kiera Knightley for US Vogue

Naomi Campbell for US Harper's Bazaar

German Vogue

Chanel Iman for German Vogue

Chic Reads: Patterns

I was at a bookstore the other day and chanced upon a small volume of books called Patterns published by the Victoria & Albert Museum. The volume has four books (they are also sold separately) devoted entirely to patterns and prints from designers who had made their names with creating some of the most beautiful, intricate, colorful, riotous, ad infinitum patterns around. The books also come with CDs so you can print out the patterns.

The patterns below are from 19th century architect Owen Jones. I find it amazing how these patterns still work in this modern age.

Fall Guy

I am so over summer. I am done wearing shorts and sandals. Why can't fall come sooner because I am dying to start wearing all my thick camel sweaters and jackets. I am glad that black is not the big color for fall and that camel has taken over the spotlight because it is more my color. Come fall I will be channeling the Prada look above.

And this Gucci. I already have a jacket in a similar shade and cut from Dolce & Gabbana and tons of white pants. I just need a chocolate turtleneck.

And this from Dries van Noten which hits two trends at once: Camel and Military

And this from Michael Bastian. I have a beautiful pair of velvet shoes that I have yet to wear. Fall, come already!

And this from Ralph Lauren

In The Clear

My current obsession is lucite furniture. I like how you can transform the material to any shape imaginable from clean and geometric to fanciful and ornate. Plus, I like the illusion that it doesn't crowd a room. The bed above is one of the best pieces of lucite furniture I've seen by far.

This was our old lucite table which we got at Muji

Monique Lhuillier's home is filled with lucite pieces like these console and coffee tables

On Vivre.com there are several pieces of lucite accessories from designer Serge de Troyer including a trunk, bench and porch chair.

There pieces — a desk and stool — are in the new issue of Lonny magazine. www.lonnymag.com

This is our bar cart at home

Fall Has Arrived

The fall/winter 2010 clothes have arrived at Lane Crawford and everything looks fabulous. I have always liked fall clothes over summer because there just so much more you can play with with the former: layering, texture etc. I've taken the liberty of posting my favorite pages from the Lane Crawford catalogue. My favorite trend by far is minimalism which Phoebe Philo single-handedly revived when she took over Celine.

I can't wait for the men's catalogue to come out although I have already made a mental note of my big fall purchase. Meanwhile enjoy the women's pages.

Jason Wu, Phillip Lim, Givenchy, Helmut Land, Alexander Wang, Stella McCartney, oh my...

Shoe Heaven

This is the shoe wall at the newly-opened Lanvin store on Madison Avenue between 68th and 69th streets. As someone obsessed with shoes, I wish I had enough room in our apartment to build a shoe nirvana like Kimora Lee's below

or Paula Abdul's

Or Mariah Carey's

Or Jessica Alba's

Or Christina Aguilera's

Or Eva Langoria's

This is mine