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Entries from November 2009
Lux Lotus Icons: La Belle Otero
Lit Chat
Jean Thompson's Do Not Deny Me, which I helped to publicize this summer, is one of the New York Times 100 Notable Books of 2009... Vendela Vida selects Tayari Jones's Leaving Atlanta as one of her 15 essential reads for Marie Claire in this month's issue (I publicized Tayari's next novel, The Untelling, and today is her birthday!)... Also essential: heartbreakingly masterful critic Emma Garman on beautiful teenagers and anarchist love songs at The Rumpus... Fictionaut, which I advise, debuts a new feature with prominent authors' first stories, today it's TC Boyle with an early rumble of Drop City, one of my all-time faves... and in more personal news, I woke up to a note from a cherished correspondent: "have you read 'mating' by norman rush... her biting details remind me of you you you." Haven't yet, and I will.
My True Love Gave To Me (Vol. V)
Vintage 1980's PIERRE CARDIN Paris Slouchy Wool Bomber Jacket–– $185 at Catbooks1940s
Model One Radio in Cobalt/Cherry–– $150 at Tivoli Audio
Sally Bra, "inspired by Audrey Hepburn's character 'Holly Golightly' in the film 'Breakfast at Tiffany's'. Named after her incarcerated mob boss friend" –– $185, made-to-order at Hopeless
Electric bicycle–– $2500 at Kalkhoff
The New Standards
Tonight I saw The New Standards at Le Poisson Rouge and it was sublime. If you like Pink Martini and Las Rubias del Norte, you'll love them. My friend Katherine Lanpher had a big table, with David Carr, Gabriel Cohen, Craig Duff, and a gang of pals. I got warm cookies and milk and five dollars for the photo booth.
Windowlicker
Today I made beef bourguignon and chocolate pudding, the latter of which my sister and I ate while we watched Butterfield 8, the latest addition to our favorite genre, classic conflicted call-girl movies... Breakfast at Tiffany's, Belle de Jour (she says the book trumps the film on the matter of the second count, p.s. and I can definitely vouch for Capote's novella being infinitely more quotable on the first). Elizabeth Taylor's Oscar-winning turn as Gloria riveted us, from her iconic style to her ways of handling romantic affairs, and well, her affairs in general.
The best moment in the film, adapted from John O'Hara's novel, comes when she bursts into her besotted male best friend's place in the middle of the night and preambles a heartrending confession by saying, "I have to tell you something. Nobody knows this except a certain man, somewhere who I like to think of as standing in the middle of a lake filled with burning gasoline." So much for subtlety. With a moue like that, who needs it?
[Estee Lauder Lipstick in "Mocha Pink," $17.50 at Saks Fifth Ave]
Windowlicker - from the French for window shopping: faire du lèche-vitrine - often appears on Tuesday and Thursdays at 10am EST-ish.
A Dashing Pair
My aunt is looking for two chairs to go next to her fireplace in her home in Virginia, and wants something with a vintage feel to go with her "comfortable, traditional" style in muted browns, reds, neutrals. I said I'd have a look on Etsy and see what I could find:
Pair of 1950s slipper chairs, $765. These remind me of Palm Springs, and would be a pleasant surprise in a classic setting.
19th Century Neo Renaissance Chairs (Set of Six), $600. More than a pair, but about the most amazing thing I've ever come across. I wish more than anything I had a little cottage to disperse them about. Look at what Lacroix did with a similar set, and dream...
Two Plum Blossom Chairs, $480. Subtly redone in a charming fashion, and well priced. West Coast cool in an East Coast palette.
Pair of mid-century hoop style iron chairs, $400. These might be a bit much indoors for most people, but the other night I was watching Wong Kar-Wai's Days of Being Wild and was transfixed by a similar chair in the main character's Hong Kong flat. They're like a down-to-earth Bertoia and would be divine with a single rough silk pillow on the seat.
Pair of side chairs, $250. I would have custom slipcovers made for these in something really outrageous. I chose Laura Ashley's scarlet "Lover" print toile for my own chairs. The second time I went to Paris the room we stayed in was under the eaves and done completely, floor to ceiling in blue toile. I have very fond memories of it. I also like rich paisleys, plaid, intense chintz.
My True Love Gave To Me (Vol. IV)
"Rose tinged mocha sheer netting '20s dress with ruffled lace medallions around hips."–– $575 at Dorothea's Closet Vintage
Ernest Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises–– available in bookstores
My True Love Gave To Me (Vol. III)
Introductory Adult Package–– $150 at the Fencers Club
An extraordinary arrangement–– prices vary at Ovando
Balmain suede ankle boots–– $1200 at Net-a-porter
My True Love Gave To Me (Vol. II)
Sonia Rykiel for H&M lingerie–– in stores December 5th
Vintage Fringe Ear Cuff–– $18 at Nasty Gal
UltraHD Camcorder–– $200 at Flip
Leica C-Lux 3 Digital Camera–– $500 at Saks Fifth Avenue
Maestro Liquid Eye Liner–– $30 at Giorgio Armani
FILM IST. a girl & a gun at Anthology Film Archives–– tickets $9
My True Love Gave To Me
silk 1940s dress––long, $375 from New Orleans' Trashy Diva
How To Be a Movie Star: Elizabeth Taylor in Hollywood–– $28 in bookstores
Rose Noir–– $195 from Byredo Parfums
Scented Talcum Powder, Rose–– $40 from Santa Maria Novella
guitar–– $215 from Gibson
Collier de Chien bracelet––$1000 at Hermes