Au Revoir

Dear loyal friends and readers,

Good news and bad news. I always like the good news first so here it is: I've been hired to be the new Fashion Director at Barneys! I am really excited. I started this week and have been loving it already. It is my DREAM JOB! The bad news is that I won't be able to continue this blog. Its important for me to put all of my energy into helping to make Barneys the most exciting, inspiring and chic place to shop in the world. But here's the silver lining - I'll be blogging for Barneys! You can follow me here starting today.

I can't thank you all enough for the loyalty and enthusiasm you have shown me in this short time.

Love,

Amanda

I ♥ Your Style: Anita Pallenberg

In the last few weeks I've been reading Keith Richards' autobiography, and he inspired me to revisit Anita Pallenberg's boho rock-chick style. I'm not sure I've ever come across anyone who is as cool as she is. You can see how and why Kate Moss is inspired by her.

Snapshot: Karen Elson on vinyl

My friend Randall Poster, who is the music supervisor for all the best films, gave me a 45 of Karen Elson's latest song. Beyond the chic cover image, and the fact that it's Karen Elson whose style AND music I love, I'm most enthralled by the fact that it's a record! I do actually own a record player - I bought it at a yard sale on Shelter Island a few years ago. It's the most popular item in our summer house - people love to DJ on it. Can't wait to play this one. I might have to frame the cover.

I ♥ Your Style: Muriel Brandolini

I'm not sure if anyone has more style than Muriel Brandolini. She's stylish in the way she looks and in the way she lives. She has chic clothes, the most amazing jewelry, incredible homes and she's a fantastic cook. The quality I admire in her most is the confidence she has in doing things differently, in breaking the rules. Case in point: the other day I was sitting in her kitchen watching her make a salad nicoise. She cut all the incredients with scissors instead of a knife (she said it's easier that way), and then she put on rubber surgical gloves and tossed the salad with her hands. She said, "Food always tastes better when you touch it." She was right. It was delicious. 

I ♥ Your Style: Diane Kruger's bow tie look

Back when I was researching my book I noticed that Diane Kruger loved Chanel, especially a black and white bow tie look. Since then I've seen her riff on that same look again and again. By now it's safe to say it has become somewhat of a signature for her. I love almost any girl who develops a signature. It shows discipline and confidence, two crucial ingredients in creating your own style. It would be too much if she wore this look all the time, but I love how she returns to it every now and then.

I ♥ Your Style: Susanne Deeken

It gives me a real high when I discover a new chic girl that I've never heard of before. In Susanne Deeken's case, I met her at a friend's house for dinner. When she walked in she immediately caught my attention because she was wearing the Chloé jumpsuit I'd been coveting (pictured below - it looks like a sweater and pants with a belt but actually it's all one piece!). It didn't take me long to notice that her style, while for the most part subtle and classic, was just absolutley perfect in both proportion and detail. It didn't take me long to find out that she's Marc Jacobs' muse and for a minute I thought she might be one of those uber-cool girls that are really hard to talk to. But she was generous and laid back and funny! The other day I saw a picture of her on my friend Chelsea's Cat Party blog, and it reminded me to dig up some photos of her. Enjoy!

White Magic

I'm going to Palm Beach next weekend, and I'm starting to think about what I'm going to wear. I learned today that my Thakoon resort order will be ready by then which will be perfect because it consists mainly of breezy tops and cute shorts - perfect for a sunny Florida getaway (looking at the 15-day forecast it looks like the thermometer will hit 80 while I'm there!). The one thing I still need to get is a pair of white sunglasses. I've never owned a pair but I love the quirky, oddball glamour they project. Who knows what they'll look like on me, but I'm going to try anyway. Here's my inspiration:

Snapshot: Carlyne Cerf de Dudzeele

I went to a birthday dinner last night and saw stylist Carlyne Cerf de Dudzeele there. It took me a minute to figure out her handbag situation. I first noticed the white Chanel bag on the signature white chainlink strap, but then realized that she'd attached a black bag into the white strap too. It looked really cool. I reached into my purse to snap a shot and realized I'd left my camera at home. Damn. I thought about it again today - it was haunting me. Then I thought I'd google her to see if I found any great photos of her - she has amazing style - and first up was this shot Terry Richardson took of her unique handbag combo. Voila! Thanks Terry!

My favorite looks for Spring: Diane Von Furstenberg

I was giddy at the end of DVF's Spring show. I knew she was working with a new designer and, having spoken with her a few days before, that she was very excited but nervous about the new direction her collection was taking. Even before her legendary runway walk at the end of the show, I knew everyone would love it. It was exactly how DVF would be dressing today if she were her own best client. It was the spirit of DVF as she dressed in the 70's but pared down and simplified to address how we all want to dress today. The sophisticated colors and easy shapes especially drew my attention. 

I ♥ Your Style: Cher in the 70's

I've been sitting here trying to find a gentle way to describe the way Cher looks these days, and I'm not finding the words. In contrast though, I only have good things to say about her look in the 70's. She was a hippie but with a little extra dose of glamour and polish that made her stand out from the other groovsters of that era.

Top to Bottom Cher in 1975, Between 1965 & 1970, at home in the 70's, 1968, with Tina Sinatra in 1967, 1977, with Gregg Allman in 1977, 1974, wearing Sonny Bono's glasses in 1967.

My favorite looks for Spring: Calvin Klein

In a season where most designers did their best attempt at minimalism, Francisco Costa schooled them all with his confident and accomplished collection of precise and chic clothes at Calvin Klein. That said, I'm very specific about minimalism - I am not a conceptual dresser. I do better with classic clothes designed very, very simply than the more rigorous designs that minimalists - Francisco included - sometimes offer up. Francisco and I often serve as each other's date at fashion events and you can bet I'll bet showing up in one of these looks next time we step out together.

I ♥ Your Wedding Style: Audrey Hepburn

Two of my favorite wedding dresses ever were worn by the same woman: Audrey Hepburn. At her first wedding to Mel Ferrer in 1954 she wore a tea length Balmain dress with a stunning crown of roses around her head (I would copy the rose crown years later for the Met Ball). Her look was young, romantic and feminine - a true first time bride. Fifteen years later when she married Andrea Dotti, she was equally as chic in a 60's minidress and matching headscarf - but more grown up and subdued this time. I love looking at women in their wedding dresses - it's the ultimate expression of personal style. In fact, I'd like to write a book about wedding style. Stay tuned.....

Left to right  Audrey Hepburn with Mel Ferrer (1954) and Andrea Dotti (1969)