You stay classy, San Diego. I'm Ron Burgundy?

No- today's color is not burgundy... it is actually Piquant Green. But that's not what has me inspired this morning either... I have been pouring over the new resort wear collections that have just rolled out. Resort wear, as a category is a unique thing...considering we, as Americans, don't really live that live that life style anymore- we barely take vacations anymore, let alone need a separate wardrobe in the middle of winter for it. Many people misconstrue Resort to be jumping the gun on spring fashion but in fact it is it's own season of fashion- designed for the jet setters that take off for warmer weather mid winter. And this year- I'm loving the anchor!

Now I know you are wondering why am I on a fashion tangent... It is all about the trickle down...


" 'This... stuff'? Oh. Okay. I see. You think this has nothing to do with you. You go to your closet and you select... I don't know... that lumpy blue sweater, for instance because you're trying to tell the world that you take yourself too seriously to care about what you put on your back. But what you don't know is that that sweater is not just blue, it's not turquoise. It's not lapis. It's actually cerulean. And you're also blithely unaware of the fact that in 2002, Oscar de la Renta did a collection of cerulean gowns. And then I think it was Yves Saint Laurent... wasn't it who showed cerulean military jackets? I think we need a jacket here. And then cerulean quickly showed up in the collections of eight different designers. And then it, uh, filtered down through the department stores and then trickled on down into some tragic Casual Corner where you, no doubt, fished it out of some clearance bin. However, that blue represents millions of dollars and countless jobs and it's sort of comical how you think that you've made a choice that exempts you from the fashion industry when, in fact, you're wearing the sweater that was selected for you by the people in this room from a pile of stuff." -Devil Wears Prada


Well it doesn't end there... the trends that really stick in fashion keep on coming and end up as interior design trends... and just as Meryl Streep's character, Miranda Priestly, famously sights Yves Saint Laurent, I too am putting my money on their resort collection sparking new trends for next spring's home trends...

YSL's resort collection featured 2 trends- Anchors and Poppies- I'd put my money on both making it into home design trends but today's about the anchor...

Now nautical theme is nothing new for interior design, or fashion for that matter- and that's why I like this trend... a new take on a very very old classic!

Fresher takes on nautical are already popping up in lighting and accessories...

gorgeous materials like hand rubbed brass are being used...

with more sophisticated approaches to giving the nautical feel- giving it a less thematic feel

My prediction stands: In the next 12-18 months we will see this collection trickle down into the home market, we will see nautical done in a whole new light- sophisticated, clean and possibly with a new color palette (something outside of the old navy, red and white combo)

"Fashions Fade, Style is Eternal"

-Yves Saint Laurent

Sail Away With Me...

Today's post is going to the docks... today is a good friend of mine's birthday and he is an avid sailor. When someone has a passion like his you can't help but be inspired. However, sailing and all things nautical are, I find, one of the easiest themes to get carried away with. Just because someone has a love of sailing or lives near the beach does not mean it ALL needs to be anchors and sailcloth...although I have to say I have seen vintage sailcloth drapes and it was breath taking! As usual I digress... when working with a hobby or passion the advantage is that you usually know what is crap and what isn't. Gorgeous collections like the found seashells on the left add a personality to a bathroom and instantly take you into the heart and soul of the home owner...if these were store bought all perfect and regular seashells it would have the exact opposite effect and feel forced and contrived- I know that sounds silly for such a subtle difference but it is real! I have seen bowls of collected sea glass and felt the pull of nostalgia knowing that endless beach walks lead to that bowl and  I have seen bowls of store bought sea glass that is just a little too perfect and it makes me sad knowing that person can't take the time out of their life to actually look for sea glass anywhere other that Target. I guess my point is if you want to go literal with a hobby, passion or collection make sure it is genuine and make sure it is yours...and in the case of the sailboats lining the hallway- make sure they are worthy of being in such a prominent display.

Turning a passion or hobby into inspiration for design doesn't have to be as obvious as displaying a collection. It can be as subtle as capturing the spirit of an old wooden boat in the water, like the antique dressers at the right do when they are set against fresh blue paint. Or perhaps it is the spirit of the adventure and journey that draw you to the water...use vintage maps. You can get vintage maps easily now with the internet but you never really know what you are getting so I recommend scouring old book stores and antique stores in your town and on your travels and find a map (or maps) that means something to you. And because I know just how expensive it can get to frame a large delicate map don't be afraid to use it unframed like the nursery shown here.

And while I am not the biggest fan of over the top literal theme decorating there is something charming about a well placed cleat... either as a tie down for your roman shades or used as drawer pulls on an old dresser the honesty of using a real nautical cleat is a subtle reminder of that love of the water and that passion that rings so true when you talk about your hobby.

And I would be absolutely remiss to discuss the passion of sailing and not mention how utterly chic boat shoes are these day! So even if you are land locked on the Upper East Side- sport your passion and rock some boat shoes- they are seriously comfortable. And to be honest it absolutely makes me laugh that they are the must have shoe of all the co-eds around UVA because trust me we could not be further from the docks! The past few seasons have found boat shoes on major runways instead of docks so just Google boat shoes and see what celebs you can find wearing them...these are not your father's boat shoes anymore!

Photos by: Gossip Girl, Coastal Living, HGTV, OhDeeDoh