Lux Lotus

Luxloves: Sterling Fell

 
Last night I was on the Upper East Side, at 79th & York, when I was drawn into the little shop on the corner, a florist called Sterling Fell, by the most entrancing display of paperwhites I have ever seen. I went inside and got to chatting with one of the partners, a Libra named Nick in a way that reminded me of Nick Carraway in The Great Gatsby (maybe because one of the other partners' last name is Pierpont, and he was telling me how they came up with the shop's name at its rechristening, although its been there since the '60s and it was his father's), and it was such a pleasure that I left with the afore-mentioned Narcissus tazetta and a topiary, a little myrtle, who I've named "Myrtle," natch, and placed gingerly on my bedside table –– all the better to coo over you, my dear –– too. Oh, the things that lend enchantment to our lives.

The Lux Look: Friday

Today–– a chance to wear out my new short-sleeved plaid jacket, a gift from Allison Devers (see her Writers' Houses: Where Stories Live), which goes so nicely with my saffron gloves from Rome. And my fantasy to live in the country and take up archery. Not pictured: the "Berlin Red" moue that appeared shortly thereafter.

New portrait by Berlin/LA-based artist Fette

Fette, Lauren Cerand at home, New York City, November 2010.

Friday in New York

Time Out New York recommends Diana Balmori's talk at Cooper Union tomorrow night in a big way. She'll be discussing A Landscape Manifesto, her "Green Vision" in the current issue of Time, and more. And thanks to my good friends at Kikkerland, we're giving Leuchtturm1917 notebooks (retail: $35) to the first 24 guests. 6:30pm, Rose Auditorium, reception to follow. Free and open to the public. Join us.

11:11AM Dance Party

Aloe Blacc, "Femme Fatale."

On Polish

A couple weeks ago, I was reminded of how the only collection that ever sounded intriguing to me was yachting silver. I found a lot of eight pieces from the 1960s on eBay and after I bid, very serendipitously discovered that several of them are from the Miles River, where I have spent some of the happiest days of my life with my dear old bestie, whose family has a dear cottage, Petit Tresor, on its banks. The box arrived today and I just spent two hours polishing everything and it looks great. And goes nicely with my "1939-1940 Badminton Club, Finalist, Singles, Class B" jewelry box (filled with loose tobacco when I took possession) that I found in at an antique shop in the Berkshires this weekend. The best thing about this collection? It arrived absolutely complete.

Tales of Enchantment

I fretted for a while before I left for lunch about what jewelry to wear and finally left without a necklace, which I thought would have made the outfit but I didn't have anything quite the thing. I stopped to check the mail on the way out and what did I find?

A necklace designed for me by Dana Trombley, with a moving note that reads, in part: I think of Lauren and I think of Wallis Simpson –– regal but daring. And so I made a piece to reflect that.

Of course I put it on immediately. Here, in a cab, 'happier than a fairy queen (and deeply grateful for a life half so charmed).'

The Lux Lotus Guide to Good Living

Tonight I was asked by a friend to attend a prestigious party honoring one of the writers he published. I wore my mother's vintage Betsey Johnson dress and matching jacket with snood, that I think she once told me that she bought in Paris in the 1970s (you only ever have to tell me once), and my glittering new necklace from Estate Jewels that seems to go with everything. I was complimenting my friends Emma and Michael on having their lovely home featured on Design Sponge today, when I realized that I had shown up, and said hello to everyone I really like, and been photographed quite a bit. So why not sail on home?

Back at the maison, I wanted something to snack on and decided to bake banana bread, so I could have a slice hot from the oven with a cup of tea before bed. Cooking for yourself is the most powerful form of love I have ever experienced. I think every jail in the world should be turned into a cooking school, just to start. There are no words for how much it has radically reformed me.

Meanwhile, I was looking at places to spend a few days in January when I discovered a listing of Scottish castles that also operate as bed and breakfasts. As I was making a little note about it, I added, "My sole aim in life is to create one comprised of entirely once-in-a-lifetime experiences." The truest thing I've said.

Windowlicker (Guest Edition)

This one is coming through exactly as it appeared, from cherished Mikki, just as I was thinking about options in London and musing in a v. What Would Zuleika Dobson Do? kind of mood...

date Sat, Nov 13, 2010 at 4:17 PM

subject for when we are rowed about the thames 

[Lace floppy hat, $35 at ASOS]

Windowlicker - from the French for window shopping: faire du lèche-vitrine - often appears on Tuesday and Thursdays at 10am EST-ish.

My Life in Pictures: Decisions