A Fashionable Guide to New York

New York never fails to show its glamourous side this time of year. 

Flying into Manhattan this week to shoot a new book, I was overwhelmed to see a city glowing in the Indian summer sunshine, wearing its best Fashion Week frocks and promenading the grand avenues and secret fashion haunts in classic New York style. 

The city's windows may have changed their wardrobes to dark, dramatic winter outfits but on Madison Ave, and Prince Street, and Bryant Park, and the always-beautiful West Village, locals were wringing the last out of the summer season with easy, flowing, bare-shoulded, open-toed elegance, swinging 1960s-inspired bags and pouting plum-toned lips. (Clearly, the colour du jour in 2014.)

[Image of Juan Carlos Obando's show via Habitually Chic, who always covers the shows well.]

Fortuitously (since I'm writing a book about New York fashion and style), the in-flight entertainment on the Qantas flight from Sydney included the extraordinary doco The Editor's Eye; an ode to Vogue fashion editors, past and present. Ms Coddington and Ms Wintour were magnificent as always, but it was the former editors – including the legendary Polly Mellen and Babs Simpson – who were really enthralling.  (Tip: Watch it for a glimpse into the fashion editors' homes as much as their aesthetics.)

New York's Fashion Week has now wrapped up, but here's an insight into places where you can still find a very Manhattanesque glamour.

Ralph Lauren's Madison Avenue store

A refined world of black and white sophistication, where I spotted exquisite leopard-print dinnerware alongside glamorous design books. Always a great source of home and fashion inspiration.

867 Madison Avenue, New York.

More from Ralph Lauren and the latest Spring 2014 homewares collection. The plum and black was very Hollywood.

Kate Spade's new flagship store on Fifth Avenue

An ode to colour and joy. 

(As with RL, Schiaparelli pink and black was a significant part of Kate Spade's new collection.)

The always-gorgeous NoMad Hotel in the NoMad District

Had a business lunch here today with a New York editor, sitting amid the pink-and-gold salon-style interior, listening to the chatter of fashion, finance, real estate and plans for weekends at Hamptons idylls. Far from pretentious, it was an experience in pure fantasy. If only we could all live in this kind of interior, and this kind of life.

1170 Broadway, New York.

The amazing rooftop terrace of the NoMad. (Sneak up here for a great view of the Empire State.)

The irresistible fabric stores of the Garment District

My newest discovery in this neighbourhood is Rosen & Chaddick, a more upmarket version of Mood Fabrics. This is the place where many up-and-coming fashion designers, stylists and interior designers source their fabrics. Rows are filled with high-end fabrics, including many in this season’s color and print trends. I spotted lots of bolts marked 'Armani' that had clearly come from Mr Armani's atelier. (The store is a great source of designer fabrics.) There are 125 linen colors alone, so be prepared to spend a while. The staff are lovely, and prices are surprisingly reasonable.

561 Seventh Ave, New York. rosenandchaddickfrabrics.com

Another new discovery is the New York Botanic Gardens, and the Peggy Guggenheim Rose Garden within it. 

The roses were on their last petals in the Indian Summer heat, but it was still a superb display of colour, form and horticultural glamour. 

(Speaking of roses, my latest favourite is the Paris de Yves Saint Laurent hybrid tea rose, above, which has the most enchanting form.)

The window merchandising of Bergdorf Goodman, which is always spectacular. 

No wonder they produced a book detailing the history of the store's window displays.

Fifth Avenue at 58th Street, New York.

The new Harlow restaurant

Truly splendid. 

As W magazine commented: "With its Dorothy Draper-esque decor and ornate boiserie, the venue fittingly evokes a sense of true Old Hollywood glamour..."

111 E 56th Street, New York.

Maison Kitsune

A favourite Parisian-inspired store, tucked away on the NoMad Hotel's ground floor. Always lovely things to be had here.

The whimsical windows of Saks Fifth Avenue, with their tributes to Dior during Fashion Week.

The new High Line Hotel

This hotel, housed in a 19th Century Gothic landmark building, is set to be hugely popular, especially with the demographic who frequent the Ace Hotel up the road. Just opened, it's still experiencing teething problems but the rooms – designed by my favourite New York architects Roman and Williams – are handsome (and huge), and the Refectory Hall is like nothing else in the city.

180 10th Avenue, New York.

The City Club Hotel

Another glamorous bolthole for fashion lovers, this hotel was decorated by one of Anna Wintour's favourite design names, Jeffrey Bilhubr. Opt for the duplex suite (above), which was created out of a former ballroom and features its own library.

55 W 44th Street, New York.

Henri Bendel

I spotted these two gorgeous models (one of them in a grey pinstripe dress: so chic) being introduced to Henri Bendel's best products by one of the store's personal shoppers. Surely the most civilised way to shop?

712 Fifth Avenue, New York.

Oscar de la Renta

Still one of the city's most sublime design talents. His Spring 2014 collection (above), which was unveiled at New York Fashion Week this week, were pretty, flirtatious and delightfully feminine.

722 Madison Avenue, New York.

And lastly, Bryant Park, a beautiful place to pause and catch your breath after the glamorous madness of Manhattan...

Thinking Pink: Hotels & Homes in the Season's Hottest Hue

Did you see the sartorial fuss made over Simone Rocha's latest fashion show? 

Simone, who is the talented daughter of design legend John Rocha, released a collection that ranged from Pepto-pink princess coats to classic black LBDs with a twist. It was pastels, but not as we know it. Just look at the tea coat above. It could be Jackie O all over again.

 The website Refinery 29 loved it, saying: "We’re tickled pink for her." 

(Pun intended.)

Pink, it seems, is the season's hottest hue, at least here in Australia where we're heading into spring. As a fashion editor friend said: "Blush is fast emerging as the colour of summer."

If you're a fan of rose shades, here are some lovely places to find them.

The Fielding Hotel, Covent Garden. 

A great little cheapie loved by Australians.

{thefieldinghotel.co.uk}

Garden designer Arne Maynard's country retreat in Wales, Allt-y-Bela. 

Arne is loved by many notable Londoners, including Tricia Guild of Designer's Guild, for whom he designed a sublime townhouse garden. 

He also won Gold at Chelsea for the Laurent-Perrier Garden.

You can stay at his country property. I've booked in for October. Can't wait.

{www.alltybela.co.uk}

More from Arne Maynard's beautiful blush-pink country home, Allt-y-Bela. 

Another beautiful place to book for your next getaway. 

This carriage house is in downtown Manhattan, and is available to rent through One Fine Stay.

Just love that mezzanine.

{onefinestay.com}

The newly redecorated Beverly Hills Hotel in LA. 

The hotel's famous signature pink (a dominant part of its brand) has been given a lift so it comes across as being less saccharine sweet and more Modern Glamour. 

Still a gorgeous place for lunch, even after all these years. 

(NB It's great if you have a long stopover in LA en route to NY and don't know what to do.)

Las Alamandas in Mexico. 

Another stylish hideaway with a surprising colour palette.

Owned by Isabel Goldsmith, the daughter of the late British financier Sir James Goldsmith. 

More from Las Alamandas.

An ode to rose, Charleston in South Carolina is one of the pinkest cities in the US. 

We're heading there in 2 weeks, and looking forward to seeing the South's famous grace, style and charm. We were going to stay in this hotel, above, but changed our mind for various reasons, and are now staying in the brand new Zero George Street, which has rave reviews. But is far less colourful.

More from Charleston's pink-toned boulevards.

Cabbages and Roses' store in Chelsea, London.

Not sure of credit, but will locate. Just love this.

New book. Looks good.

Gucci. Fabulous.

An oldie, but a goodie.

Dior by Dior: The Autobiography of Christian Dior.

And lastly, wonderful news for Schiaparelli (perhaps the most famous pink name of all), with Christian Lacroix taking the helm of this great French design house.

The famous salon in Paris has also had a revamp (above)

Elsa Schiaparelli would be pleased.

Funny and Curious Things about the World of Books

LITTLE GIRL: "I love books. I’ve written a book."

BOOKSHOP OWNER: "Have you? What’s it about?"

LITTLE GIRL: "I don’t know. It’s in my head. I haven’t read it yet."

Every year there's a new survey by some company or another about what people dream of most. And every year, sitting longingly at the top is: Write A Book. (But not in upper case.)  

I think everyone should write a book, and not just because everybody has a great story in them. 

I think people should attempt it because it would make the dreamers (and the critics) realise it's easier said than done...

But that's no reason not to begin.

(*Bad grammer here; don't follow my example.)

But if being an author is sometimes a struggle (the long hours, poor pay, the damage to the health, the social life and the bank account), then being a bookshop owner must be even worse. 

Sure, you're surrounded by lovely titles all day long ("I think I'll read Cecil Beaton today...") but then there are the customers... 

The strange and startling questions of the curious breed known as bookshop browsers have been chronicled in the wildly successful bestseller Weird Things People Say in Bookshops, a diary (of sorts) by London bookshop manager Jen Campbell. It's very, very funny. Seven reprints. And now a sequel.

Here, inspired by Ms Jen Campbell, and a new project that I'm working madly on  adding to The Production Pile, is some literary lightness to end the week...

(All books from our house; photographed in poor light late at night with a bad camera)

WEIRD WONDERFUL THINGS PEOPLE SAY IN BOOKSHOPS:

CUSTOMER: "Do you have this children's book I've heard about? It's supposed to be very good. It's called Lionel Richie and the Wardrobe.”

CUSTOMER: "I read a book in the sixties. I don’t remember the author, or the title. But it was green, and it made me laugh. Do you know which one I mean?"

CUSTOMER: "Do you believe in past lives?"

BOOKSELLER: "Erm, well, I ..."

CUSTOMER: "I do. I absolutely do. I feel very at one with everything. I’m pretty sure this is my seventh time on earth."

BOOKSELLER: "I see."

CUSTOMER (looking pleased with herself): "And I’m almost certain that in a past life I was Sherlock Holmes."

BOOKSELLER: "You know, Sherlock Holmes is a fictional character."

CUSTOMER (outraged): "Are you trying to tell me that I don’t exist?"

CUSTOMER: "Do you have this book (holds up a biography) but without the photographs?"

BOOKSELLER: "I think the photographs are published alongside the text in every edition."

CUSTOMER: "Why?"

BOOKSELLER: "I suppose so you can see what everyone looked like."

CUSTOMER: "I don’t like photographs. Could you cut them out for me?"

The tumblr site is almost as funny – weirdthingsinbookshops.tumblr.com

And here are some more curious questions that author Roddy Doyle (Booker Prize winner) was once asked at a literary event:

"Is Roddy Doyle your real name?"

"Does your wife love you?"

"The internet says you have two children, yet you claim to have three?"

"How can you write accurately about the Dublin working class when you actually live in Los Angeles?"

Author and comedian Dave Barry once gave a talk in a bookstore. 

"Hey – is that you?" asked a customer, pointing to a poster of Dave Barry that publicised the event. "Yes," said Dave Barry. 

"Good, great," said the customer. "Could you tell me where's the men's room is?"

If you want to know about publishing illustrated books (cookbooks, design books, travel books), there's a great interview with Lantern's Julie Gibbs [here].

Or here –  thedesignfiles.net/2013/03/interview-julie-gibbs

The New York Times' take on books is [here].

'Books As A Way To Grace A Room'

Or here –

www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2011/01/05/garden/20110106-BOOKS.html

How a private library is built (an amazing blog post): [here]

Or here:

belgianpearls.blogspot.com.au/2012/01/library-project.html

And finally... this beautiful letter.

In February of 1820, on learning that his good friend Lady Georgiana Morpeth was suffering from a bout of depression, the author and essayist Sydney Smith sent her the following letter, in which he listed twenty pieces of advice to help her overcome life's low points.

1st. Live as well as you dare.

2nd. Go into the shower-bath with a small quantity of water at a temperature low enough to give you a slight sensation of cold, 75° or 80°.

3rd. Read amusing books.

4th. Be as busy as you can.

5th. See as much as you can of those friends who respect and like you. And of those acquaintances who amuse you.

6th. Don't expect too much from human life—a sorry business at the best.

7th. Avoid poetry, dramatic representations (except comedy), music, serious novels, melancholy people, and every thing likely to excite feeling or emotion not ending in active benevolence.

8th. Do good, and endeavour to please everybody of every degree.

9th. Make the room where you commonly sit, gay and pleasant.

10th. Struggle by little and little against idleness.

11th. Don't be too severe upon yourself, or underrate yourself, but do yourself justice.

12th. And keep good blazing fires.

Yours sincerely,

Sydney

(I like No 1 and No 3 the best.)