Christie's Arbiter of Style

Christie's auction house was kind enough to as me to be their Arbiter of Style this month.  I chose my favorite pieces from the upcoming Interiors Sale, taking place June 18 and 19 in New York, including this gorgeous painting Anemones with Red Cloth above by artist Nell Blaine. I also answered some fun questions you can read here. I've learned so much from attending auction previews over the years that I highly recommend stopping by even if you think you can't afford anything.  And who knows, you might just get lucky and find something great! Thanks again Christie's! 

Chic at Cannes

The Cannes Film Festival is in full swing on the French Riviera right now but stars have been posing on La Croisette since the first festival in 1947. The heyday for me was the time of the late 1950's to early 1960's from when these photos were taken.  While today's celebrities look pretty good, they can't hold a candle to the movie stars of the past. C'est magnifique!

Sophia Loren, 1959

Natalie Wood sailing at Cannes in 1962. 

Cary grant and Kim Novak in 1959.

Ingrid Bergman in 1956.

Cannes Film Festival in 1956.

Romy Schneider at Cannes.

Outside Cannes Film Festival in 1962.

Orson Welles in 1958.

A Dutch actress in 1962.

Natalie Wood looking tres chic at Cannes in 1962.

German actress Elke Sommer at Cannes in 1962.

Ginger Rogers at Cannes in 1956.

Ingrid Bergman and Roberto Rossellini in 1956.

Natalie Wood and Warren Beatty in 1962.

Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin at Cannes.

Elizabeth Taylor at Cannes. 

Grace Kelly

Romy Schneider

Bon Weekend

"Flowers... are a proud assertion that a ray of beauty 

outvalues all the utilities of the world."

- Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1844

Photo by me via instagram

Take a Chance on Greece

"Of all peoples, the Greeks have dreamt the dream of life best." - Goethe

For her third season of Chance, founder and creative director Julia Leach not only dreamed of Greece but traveled there to capture the spirit of the collection on location.  She worked with local photographer Yiorgos Kaplasnidis and a local model  in these stunning images shot on the island of Paros. Greece was the perfect backdrop to not only her signature stripes but new caftans and tunics debuting this May.  The Chance ethos is described as "classics that travel the world" and if you can't get away, you can feel like you have thanks to Julia. 

Chance Greece inspiration board. 

(click images to enlarge)

Photos by Yiorgos Kaplasnidis courtesy of Chance (click to enlarge)

Bamboo Story

One of the more avant guard rooms in the Kips Bay Decorator Show House is Sara Story's Bamboo Story space. She provided background information on the design so I thought it would be nice to share it in its entirety. 

" Sara Story's installation is a composition of form and color that invites viewers' heightened reflection through dynamic optical effects. In the abstracted sitting room, fractal upholstery pieces covered in solid colored lilac lambswool and binary pair of black and white coffee tables sit on a geometric floor pattern, establishing dynamic tension between figure and ground. 

The walls are covered in the black and white rendition of the "bamboo" pattern from Sara's recently launched wallpaper collection. In Asian symbolism, bamboo is a sign of strength, and the pattern is reflected in a lilac ceiling polished to a mirror finish. A custom vanity in the bathroom displays a full spectrum of the same lilac hue, relief from the after-effect of looking at a rigorous checkerboard of black and white tile on the walls and floor."

Sounds good to me. 

Photos by Heather Clawson for Habitually Chic

All About Eve

I always wish that readers would remember that the designers who participate in the Kips Bay Decorator Show House spend tens of thousands of dollars of their own money on their rooms. And more importantly, it's all done for charity before they criticize a space that's not their taste.  That said, one of my readers did point out this morning that so far I've posted some of the more traditional rooms (this is not actually what she said but it's probably best not to post the actual email) so I'm going to highlight a few more of the modern spaces today. First up is the top floor "Family Lounge" by Eve Robinson & Associates.  It's a light airy space  with a custom grey hide rug by Kyle Bunting that elevates the room beyond the usual family rec room decor. 

Photos by Heather Clawson for Habitually Chic