Year: 2010

Crosby Street Hotel

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The Crosby Street Hotel is an eclectic and quiet place with tucked away patios. During the day it’s cheerful and bright but I could see it being quite romantic in the evenings, especially on the huge back patio. CROSBY STREET HOTEL is situated on a quiet cobbled street in the heart of New York’s vibrant SoHo neighbourhood. There are 86 bedrooms and suites over 11 floors. Each has high ceilings and full length windows. Interior design by Kit Kemp reflects a fresh, contemporary style. There is The Crosby Bar, a private leafy garden, guest drawing room, several stylish private event and meeting rooms, a luxurious 99 seat screening room and fully equipped gym(source). A short film by Jean Roman Seyfried called The Reconstruction Of My Views was made that chronicles the building of the Crosby Street Hotel over a 2.5 year period. I learned the Crosby also has a state-of-the-art screening room with 99 seats. The setup uses the most advanced technologies with 3D capabilities. Of course there is a Sunday night film club too. …

Todd Merrill Antiques

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Todd Merrill is located in a building with beautiful stone carvings.  It was another store that was packed to the gills with furnishings.   You always were discovering something new that was missed in this store. Todd Merrill Antiques features American and European vintage furniture, antiques and lighting from the 1920’s to the 2000’s. Including rare and unique furniture by Paul Evans, Karl Springer, James Mont, Gio Ponti, Adnet, Fornasetti, Venini, Tommi Parzinger, LaVerne, Vladimir Kagan and many more. Todd Merrill Antiques has opened a new 4000 square foot shop focusing on American and European designer furniture and lighting from the 1920s through the 1980s, at 65 Bleecker Street in New York City. The new showroom is on the ground floor of the Bayard-Condict Building, New York’s only building by esteemed architect Louis Sullivan. The historic landmark space is located at the top of Crosby Street at the intersection of Bleecker Street, and looks directly down into the heart of Soho.(source) It was at Todd Merrill that I finally began to understand how important Paul Evans …

Moss

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Moss is one part of a space that holds three stores. The other two are Flos and Moroso. This trio of stores were my favourites on this trip. In 1994, former fashion entrepreneur Murray Moss opened Moss in a small gallery space in Soho, with a determination to transform the public perception of industrial product design. The store quickly became internationally known for its product selection and presentation, with clients ranging from highly informed design professionals, to celebrities, students, and tourists with maps. The shop grew and evolved — expanding to nearly 7000 square feet in late 1999 when Moss’s partner Franklin Getchell joined the company. Together they expanded the product base to include furniture, especially from Italian manufacturers, lighting, watches and jewelry, books, tabletop and a significantly increased focus on the studio work of the designers we offered(source). Moss also has a small section of unusual jewellery and watches. It’s just as eclectic as the other offerings in the store.  They aim to have more than just home furnishings for sale which attracts a …

Moroso

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Moroso is another store that makes up my favourite trio with Flos and Moss. This was the first store that had a lot of textiles on display that we visited.  The standout fixture was the huge white couch with the large, intricate black and white drawing behind it.  The drawing’s historical style contrasts with the modern furnishings around it.  It’s really interesting to see how each store is incorporated invisual displays.  Items from Moss, Flos and Moroso are together throughout the three separate spaces.  That collaborative sales pitch isn’t something I see often and very effective considering the niche placements of each store. The best way to introduce ourselves? Just telling you what we do. Since 1952 MOROSO has been designing its sofas, armchairs and accessories with wellknown designers such as Ron Arad, Carlo Colombo, Enrico Franzolini, Marc Newson, Toshiyuki Kita and Patricia Urquiola. MOROSO has been constructing its sofas and armchairs aiming at top quality. For its quality, the company was the first producer of upholstered furniture in Italy to receive on 24 June …

Flos New York

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Flos occupies the corner of the shared building with Moss and Moroso.  It’s home to some seriously hot looking light fixtures. You can find designers like Philippe Starck, Jasper Morrison and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni here. Today Flos is an international organization that offers a complete range of residential, commercial and even custom-made lighting products that can be seamlessly integrated in any office, hotel, or store, together with a specifically designed line of informative materials, among which a corporate manual. Flos contract division assists architects with the know-how it acquired over its forty years of experience not only as a manufacturer, but also as a specialty lighting systems designer for a wide-range of challenging environments, such as museums, stores, and theatres.(source) The store itself is quite minimal with a few tables. Most pieces are displayed on shelving built into the walls.  The standout item in the store is the oversized Kelvin LED lamp design by Antonio Citterio with Toan Nguyen in 2009. The Hooo!!! & Haaa!!! Lamp By Philippe Starck, Jenny Holzer, Moritz Waldemeyer and Baccarat …

i got: Patent Leather Booties by Chloé

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I just got my beloved Chloé booties from the Spring Summer 2008 collection fixed at Kaner. They have been out of my shoe rotation for at least a year because I’m that lazy. It inspired me to share my shoes on the blog. I really loved Chloé with Paulo Melim Andersson at the helm. I wish I was able to get a few more pieces by him before he was kicked out of the house. These were a Holt Renfrew Now or Never buy.

Venomous Villains – MAC x Disney Villains

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The Venomous Villains collection from MAC Cosmetics sounds like a lot of fun.  I can’t wait to see the colour palette for the villians. Four of Disney’s nastiest characters — Cruella De Vil of “101 Dalmations” fame, the Evil Queen from “Snow White,” Maleficient from “Sleeping Beauty” and Dr. Facilier from The Princess and the Frog — are getting their own color lineups come Sept. 30. The bold hues in the lineup — 40 in all, ranging in price from $12 to $29.50 and divided into four collections emblazoned with the characters’ images — were inspired by Pantone reproductions of Disney’s original drawings. “Disney gave us the colors used when these characters were drawn throughout their history,” said Balbier, noting that Cruella and the Evil Queen share more “real woman” shades, such as red lips and peachy blush. Maleficent is “pure fantasy,” said Balbier, noting that offbeat purples, blackened shades and pearlized nails were used. Dr. Facilier headlines the new Magically Cool Liquid Powders. “This is a featherlight powder that goes on like a mist …

i want: Shearling Low Boots by Burberry Prosum

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I drooled over the crazy shearling boots from Burberry for Fall Winter 2010 – 2011. Luisaviaroma finally has the short style for sale. Shearling Low Boots by Burberry Prosum They look pretty comfortable with the rubble sole. However, they do have a 5 inch heel.  It looks like there is a bit of a platform too.  I’m hoping the Burberry store or Holt’s carries these shoes so I can get a closer look at them. images: luisaviaroma.com

Tavan & Mitto Fall Winter 2010 – 2011

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Tavan & Mitto is Payam Tavan and Mike Mitto from Montréal. They have been designing together since 1995 where they first catered to private clients with their made to measure business. In spring 2001 they started a ready to wear collection due to the demand they were seeing. Payam Tavan has a Master’s degree from Domus Academy in Milan and worked with the head stylist at Gianfranco Ferré. Mike Mitto studied in Paris at La Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture and worked for Chanel for several seasons. This was my first exposure to the brand in person. I had heard the name before in passing but never did do any follow-up to learn more. I think they make beautiful clothing.  As an office worker, I could see myself in a lot of these pieces.  I love the draping and contrast of the structured pieces with sheer chiffon. All garments are made in Montreal (yes, even the beaded pieces). The construction is impeccable. They manage to keep their prices very reasonable even though there are …