My Favorite Things

You’ve probably received your holiday gifts and chances are your wish list is still unfulfilled.  I always like to gift myself from my own wish list (hey, I gifted everyone first!) as a reward for just getting through the year. (Wink, wink!)

Being a designer, my wish list for design books is VERY long, so I’d like to share some of the books that inspire me and maybe they will end up on your wish list too!  These books come from all industries – I don’t limit myself just to my field of interior design.  You never know where inspiration may come from so I keep myself open and attuned to all trends in other fields. 

From Design Magazines:

• Abitare: 50 Years of Design: The Best of Architecture, Interiors, Photography, Travel and Trends 1961-2011

Abitare, an Italian design magazine launched in 1961, informed the world of the latest trends in the design world, from interiors to accessories to graphic design, bringing it all under one cover.  This compilation reproduces the best articles of the magazine in Italian and English.

 From Photography:

• Cecil Beaton: The New York Years by Donald Albrecht

The Museum of the City of New York is currently hosting a retrospective of Photographer Cecil Beaton’s works – a beautiful reminder of the work that’s he done including photographs of the beautiful and famous as well as illustrations of costume designs for the opera. Beaton photographed icons such as Greta Garbo, Truman Capote, Audrey Hepburn and Andy Warhol.

• Bill Cunningham New York – DVD – Richard Press, Director

"We all get dressed for Bill," says Vogue editor Anna Wintour of Bill Cunningham, New York Times Photographer. His column, On the Street, for the Style section is a must-see for the fashionistas as well as for those who aspire to be street photographers. 

From Fashion Design:

• Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty (Metropolitan Museum of Art) by Andrew Bolton

The Metropolitan Museum of Art recently hosted a blockbuster retrospective on the recently deceased fashion designer, Alexander McQueen.  The exhibit was jam-packed with his breathtaking creations and equally jam-packed with viewers! If you weren't lucky enough to see the exhibit, then this book will give you a taste of his genius. 

• Emilio Pucci by Vanessa Friedman

This book is covered in fabric using one of Pucci’s fabulous patterns (you have several choices) and quite hefty, hence very expensive. But the author spans Pucci's fashion creations throughout his career– great snapshots of la dolce vita - molto bella!

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Braving the "Open See" at Henri Bendel

Participating in the "Open See", an open call to designers for Henri Bendel, can feel a bit like being adrift on an expanse of ocean, but the rush of anticipation combined with the chance to be seen by Bendel buyers can easily make it worth it! 

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The Importance of Play

Remember that fearless approach to exploration that you had when you were little and attempting something new?  You didn’t think about it. You just proudly marched forward.  You know what I’m talking about.  That fearless exploration where you just started something without making judgements.   That initial questioning about whether or not you were finding success with your explorations did not enter into the equation.  Now, think about your approach to something new today.  No, really!   One of the most difficult things to do as an adult is to allow yourself to try new things with the freedom to make mistakes. 

Channeling that beautifully naïve approach to tackling something new can be the key that unlocks the door to discovery!  Yeah, sure, you are running the risk of failure. You are also broaching a path of discovery that could uncover what may become your best work!  You won’t know if you don’t just dive in and try. 

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