Summer Swagger

Well summer has finally arrived & that means I’m hoppin’ on the PJ & heading to the Amalfi Coast for a little R&R, hope you all have a fabulous summer!  Hahaha, not quite but it does bring to mind one of my favorite accessories- sunglasses!  It is now officially their time in the sun (sorry but I couldn’t resist the pun ;)  Any good decorator knows that the two items that give the most bang for the buck are paint & wallpaper.  For little expense you can completely transform a space with a few gallons of paint & if your budget is a little more generous there are phenomenal wallpaper options for adding color, pattern & texture.  I think of sunglasses as the paint & wallpaper of fashion.  They can transform your whole look for the least expense & unlike an outfit you can wear them everyday.  Whether your budget can sustain a few designer pairs or the super affordable & stylish options from places such as H&M or Target get on out there & start workin' on your summer swagger!  These are my standbys but I’m always on the lookout for fun, new styles:

Dolce & Gabbana black oversized - think classic Jackie O. - everyone looks like a movie star in these!

Chloé light brown oversized - these have a very vintage & feminine look & the lighter colored frames work especially well with fair coloring. 

Ray Ban aviators in silver & gold - classic style, great for more casual looks.

& if you're feeling a little flashy these Cole Haan gold aviators will do just the trick!

photos: Louis Vuitton, Dolce & Gabbana, Chloé, Ray Ban, Cole Haan (via Harper's Bazaar)

Spread Love It's The Brooklyn Way

As a teenager in the early 90’s, my girlfriends & I hopped in the car on a bright & sunny summer day & headed up to the horse track in Saratoga Springs, NY.  No, we were not going to bet on the ponies in our ladylike summer dresses & hats- we were going to rock out to a group of white Jewish rappers from Manhattan & Brooklyn in our t-shirts & cut-off shorts.  The Beastie Boys did not disappoint & we had a blast!  So much so that at one point we had a serious conversation about how we should follow them across the country on the rest of their tour.  We still laugh about that to this day but that’s how good they were!

Recently Adam ‘MCA’ Yauch, founding member of the Beastie Boys, passed away from throat cancer at the young age of 47.  I admired him for his talent as an artist but even more so for being an innovator & humanitarian & having the gumption & tenacity to follow his dreams.  Back in the mid-80’s there were almost no white punk/rap/hip-hop acts & the Beastie Boys’ music & style was completely innovative, fresh & wise-ass….I loved it!  The Beastie Boys may be Rock and Roll Hall of Famers now but I’m sure they had their fair share of naysers & criticism while they were pursuing their dream.

I believe that each of us has an innate sense of our unique God given talents & gifts whether we are conscious of it or not.  We may deny these gifts or brush them aside as silly or not important or believe there’s no way we could make a career out of them but it is when you have the courage to embrace them & share them with others that you blossom into the person you were meant to be.  And what could be better in life than living in alignment with your life’s purpose & sharing your happiness & gifts with others?   Thank you MCA for following your heart & spreading your Brooklyn love. Your life was cut short but you lived it to the fullest & that changed the world.   

We Have Lift Off

Welcome friends! 

What is chintz?  Chintz is a classic, glazed cotton fabric usually printed with floral or other flowing patterns.  There are many modern interpretations of chintz but more traditional versions are often associated with homes in the English countryside & formal apartments on the Upper East Side. 

What is swagger?  Swagger is commonly associated with being cool & stylish but I believe this is just a byproduct of knowing who you are & being totally confident & comfortable in your own skin.  It’s about celebrating the unique qualities that make you “you”.  Swagger has nothing to do with material wealth & everything to do with how you carry yourself & the energy you give off.  This is the beauty of swagger, it comes from the inside & cannot be bought! 

So what the heck is Chintz & Swagger?  Well it’s the idea of respecting the classics (they’re classics for a reason!) but giving them a fresh & modern attitude. 

I’m so excited to start sharing with you!  Here’s a little Jay/’Ye/BK swagger to kick things off: