Worth its Weight in Gold

a look at the special pieces of gold jewelry I wear and why

I like for the jewelry I wear to mean something, to have a story when people ask me about it. Yesterday was the start of New York Fashion Week which means lots of photographs, lots of beautiful clothing and lots of chatting with fashion friends I’ve missed over the summer. A woman on the street complimented me on my gold jewelry which meant so much because each piece has a memory sewn into its life with me. The most important being Kevin’s wedding band {above} which was my Grandfather’s and we all know how amazing he was. They could not afford to buy wedding rings when they were married today, September 5th, 1950, so for their one year anniversary my grandmother had saved for months to buy this simple gold band.

When I’m shooting or traveling to more rural parts of the world I also prefer to wear a more simplistic set of jewelry than the beautiful vintage ring that usually lives on my finger (and I still get caught starring in awe at it). Instead I wear another simpler ring that is very special to me. Yesterday we learned about John Hardy’s Greener Every Day initiative with their bamboo collection: when you wear bamboo, you plant bamboo. My bamboo ring is inscribed on the inside “This Planted 7 Bamboos” and reminds me not only to take care of the earth around us but also recalls a life changing journey to Bali with John Hardy and Cuyana.

a look at the special pieces of gold jewelry I wear and why

Around my neck is a long gold chain with two charms dangling off it: the moon & stars with the earth. The Moon & Stars was a gift from a woman photographer & creator of very exclusive heirloom pieces I greatly admire after I photographed her daughters at our studio. The earth was an anniversary gift from my husband to remind me of all the places we’ve been and all the dreams I have to look forward to.

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Chanel Monday through Friday

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Everyone comes to New York with a dream… and sometimes, we get to wake up from the dream and live the reality. For Fashion Market Editor Laurel Pantin, waking up in Chanel Monday through Friday in a white fluffy bed that looks like puffy clouds high in the sky, putting Chanel up there in the heavens, is a dream.  Then I realize, I think we would all love waking up and living in a Chanel dream world….

Here’s to a new week! Have a great one…

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Personal Style

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Over the past year, I’ve been going through a minimalistic phase, simplifying as much of my life as possible, including my beauty routine and wardrobe. Less is more right? When reading Steve Job’s biography, I really loved the idea of a uniform. As much as I love fashion, I love photography more and I want all of my time and energy to go into that, not picking out my outfit. So this transformation of simplification has begun and it feels really, really good.

This what I have found is important to me in this new phase of my personal style:

1. Buy less and save for quality. That item, whatever it may be, lasts longer, feels amazing, fits perfectly, makes you feel confident wearing it and is made of high quality fabrics. Even if you can’t afford these pieces new, there are sites such as LXR & Co. that sell luxury items on consignment at a fraction of the cost. I got my travel Hermes backpack that I LOOOOOVE here and a new Chanel watch for my birthday (above)!

2. Classic never goes out of style. I mean, obvi.

3. Shop conscientiously. I *love* companies like Obakki, whose philanthropic counterpart is a registered charity that focuses on providing clean water and education in Africa.  I also love FEED – with every purchase, you feed a certain number of school kids in Africa. Then there is MAIYET, a pioneering luxury brand that “incorporates rare artisan skills from unexpected places throughout the world, with the goal to promote sustainable employment in places that need it most.” I love my basic MAIYET white shirt dress and gold cuff. These things not only look good but make you feel good about wearing them and telling people about the brand because you believe in what they are doing with your money.

4. K.I.S.S. – Keep It Simple Stupid. I was very inspired by Cuyana’s lean closet initiative that “challenges us to collect fewer, better things, and to donate the pieces in our wardrobes that are merely taking up space to those who need them”. Simplifying your closet and ultimately your life feels so good, and it gives you more time to focus on things that really matter.

5. Stay fresh faced. I used to wear a lot of makeup. Even though I’ve been living in New York for 11 years now, it took a while to shake my Texas roots and ideals of beauty. I realized last year in Paris I have been spending all this time “putting on my face” when really, it’s not the makeup that makes someone pretty. I have reduced my beauty routine to Restorsea face cream, sometimes mascara, bronzer, and lipstick. That’s it. 2 mins. Boom.

Recently, we were shooting a beauty story for Joanna Goddard’s blog, Cup of Jo. It was such an amazing group of women who came together, talking, taking photographs, and sharing beauty tips. Courtney, who was just as beautiful barefaced as with makeup on, told me about a documentary called Miss Representation about the way women are viewed in the media and how that makes us view ourselves. At one point in the documentary the point is made that every time you look in the mirror, you should imagine there is a little girl standing there hearing what you are saying to yourself. Horrid right?! I told Kevin there has not been a day in my life that I have not looked at myself in the mirror getting dressed and thought “if I could just lose 10 lbs…”

And now I have to ask myself why? For what? For who? What am I judging my body against that I would say that to myself? So these may be the articles of clothing I wrap around my body to move in and out of the day, but now when I get dressed I don’t tell myself I need to lose weight, I think about the things I like, that I feel fortunate to have. It’s not only a physical makeover but a mental one. So here are my new classics and it feels really, really good on the inside and out.

Above cover photo, the basic black turtleneck. I can thrown it on with jeans and get to work and then change into a pencil skirt and go out to dinner, so versatile that I live in these! 

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Tibi Agathe Jumpsuit: it looks like a dress but it’s pants! Plus it has super clean lines and amazing pockets. And as we know, Tibi also travels very well: Brazil & Paris

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New York Fashion Week- a Retrospective

All my life I’ve dreamed of what it would be like to attend New York Fashion Week.

One camera, one lens, black and white film, and a week of shooting all the players in the world of fashion as they came together in New York City. This is my experience and the dream of fashion caught on film. 

Very special thanks to Julia Allison who made this all possible. You are Stunning. 

Credits: Mercedes-Benz Fashion WeekHonorLNA, Annabelle, LorickCallula Lillibelle, Fashion’s Night Out, Assouline, Mik Cire, Whitney Eve, Tela Design Studio by Philip Pelusi,  Milk Studios, Carolina Herrera, Oscar de la Renta, Naeem Khan

Notorious & Notable

Last night was the opening reception for Notorious & Notable at the Museum of the City of New York complete with Lauren Bacall’s “Tissue of Diamonds” dress and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis jewels… my eyes grew to the size of quarters. 

A sparking exhibit, an interesting crowd and an appreciation for every lasting style.

Notorious and Notable - Museum of the City of New York

Notorious and Notable - Museum of the City of New York

Notorious and Notable - Museum of the City of New York

Notorious and Notable - Museum of the City of New York

Notorious and Notable - Museum of the City of New York

Notorious and Notable - Museum of the City of New York

Notorious and Notable - Museum of the City of New York

Notorious and Notable - Museum of the City of New York

Notorious and Notable - Museum of the City of New York

Notorious and Notable - Museum of the City of New York

Notorious and Notable - Museum of the City of New York

Notorious and Notable - Museum of the City of New York

Notorious and Notable - Museum of the City of New York

Notorious and Notable - Museum of the City of New York

Notorious and Notable - Museum of the City of New York

Notorious and Notable: 20th Century Women of Style highlights 80 prominent New York women who used their style, talent, or wealth to capture the attention of society and the media.”

Very special thanks to Jessica Kausen!