A New York Fashion Week Icon Speaks: Lynn Yaeger
New York style fixture Lynn Yaeger is one of the fashion world?s most recognizable personalities. A prominent fashion writer, she spent decades at the Village Voice and regularly contributes to Vogue, T The New York Times Magazine, and Travel + Leisure. She talks with L-atitude about what makes her tick: style, travel and her favorite city. New York style fixture Lynn Yaeger is one of the fashion world?s most recognizable...
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Woman of the World: Lindsey Calla, NYC
A photographic series inspired by the women who inspire us. L-atitude?s Women of the World artfully blend global fashions with local flavor, bringing a lifetime of travel experiences to everyday style. A photographic series inspired by the women who inspire us. L-atitude?s Women of the World artfully blend global fashions with local flavor, bringing a lifetime of travel experiences to everyday style.
Lindsey Calla, Meatpacking District, NYC
What are you wearing?
A Bensoni dress and Otrera scarf. The scarf was a gift from the designer. The gold jewelry is Banana Republic and Lia Sophia; the watch is Fossil. I actually felt really inspired by different cultures and iconography, and I think the scarf sort of sparked that. The ?evil eye? reminded me of Greece. The flats ? I don?t usually wear flats ? are Boden and really comfy. The bag is Gucci and the sunglasses are from a store in Sydney called Dotti.
If you could jump on a plane right now, where would you go and why?
I've been dying to go to Bhutan, Nepal and India. I recently came across a jewelry line that was handmade in Nepal that was so stunning. The culture fascinates me because it is so different than how we live here, more spiritual and deeply rooted in culture and tradition. I also have an ongoing love affair with Sydney and Florence. There is something about Sydney that is so freeing and it brings out the best in me. I could live between both of those places and be pretty happy!
Style icons, past or present?
I love Georgina Chapman, Bianca Jagger, [fashion blogger] Gala Gonzalez and Rachel Roy.
Where do you get inspiration for your blog, SaucyGlossie.com?
I [look to] art history and different cultures. I'm also always out at events and appointments to see what the latest trends are. I interview a lot of designers ? and they always have amazing stories on how they created their pieces. Listening to them always turns me on to different things that I didn't know about before. My blog is constantly evolving like my style; it is always changing and shifting [to reflect] what?s catching my eye at that time. It's almost like a mini style time capsule!
New York, Globe-Trotters: Joanne Cordero Reyes
03.05.2010Joanne Cordero Reyes, the creative powerhouse behind Vicente Villarin, is a woman of accolades. Each one of the SoCal-born, New York City transplant?s gowns is like a dream come true -- delicate, timeless, romantic and awe-inspiring.
The Parsons graduate, who was nominated as one of the top 10 designers of her class, went on to design evening wear, luxury and bridal collections for Reem Acra, J. Mendel and Monique Lhuillier. Vicente Villarin has been named one of the Top 10 New Designers by Style.com and one of the Top Five by New York magazine. Most recently, Carolina Herrera has enlisted her talents. A very huge deal, indeed.
Joanne Cordero Reyes, the creative powerhouse behind Vicente Villarin, is a woman of accolades. Each one of the SoCal-born, New York City transplant?s gowns is like a dream come true -- delicate, timeless, romantic and awe-inspiring.
The Parsons graduate, who was nominated as one of the top 10 designers of her class, went on to design evening wear, luxury and bridal collections for Reem Acra, J. Mendel and Monique Lhuillier. Vicente Villarin has been named one of the Top 10 New Designers by Style.com and one of the Top Five by New York magazine. Most recently, Carolina Herrera has enlisted her talents. A very huge deal, indeed.
Here, Joanne gives us a quick tour of her New York, a list of travel essentials, fashion must-haves and much more.
If you could have two hours with any designer, living or dead, who would it be?
Christian Dior ? when real glamour was born. My most favorite Dior evening piece ? one that will always take my breath away ? is the Junon dress.
What?s your New York shopping ritual?
Every now and then, I?ll end up at Chuckie?s and do damage on shoes. I like to go for a walk or run when the city is quiet and pass the boutique windows along upper Madison Avenue. I tend to end up standing in front of Bergdorf Goodman, admiring the window displays. It?s something I?ve been doing since the day I first moved to New York.
What?s the first thing that you ever designed?
This is going to sound really cheesy. I was maybe 7 years old. For a class project, we had to draw and use watercolor. Out of nowhere ? I just drew all these killer whales and the ocean and I brushed over it. ? I finish, and I have all the paint on my hands ? and it was the best feeling in the world. [My teacher put my work up] on the wall, and I [couldn?t stop] staring at it. That?s when I knew I wanted to be an artist. That?s the first thing I ever ?created.?
Do you have any wardrobe or lifestyle must-haves?
My black tights. My stilettos. My eyeliner.
Give us a quick tour of your New York.
I love food and have so many favorite restaurants in New York. I adore La Mangeoire ? great great atmosphere and South of France cooking ? Raoul?s, and Balthazar or Pastis. I love the lighting and having a nice dinner with a glass of wine. For brunch, Caf? Joul; I adore their pastries. My friends and I go back to Ali Baba for great Turkish food every now and then and pretend to know how to read our fortunes from the Turkish coffee cups. Macaroon Caf? is a cute French place in the middle of fashion-district chaos.
I also like to take a stroll along Madison Square Park. I really like how it is the center of madness and can be quiet at certain times of the day. But I have to say, when I find the time, my personal retreat is Fort Tryon Park, which overlooks the Hudson River. The garden is beautiful and the Cloisters are amazing.
What are your travel essentials?
Research before you go! Not always, actually. If you?re going to a touristy place, of course you?re going to want to see all of it. But it?s also just kind of fun to get off the plane and discover and get lost for a while. There?s one thing I always do, wherever I may go. For a day, I like to pretend that I?m a local. I go into the grocery store, see what food they sell and watch how people carry themselves. Even bread ? it?s different everywhere! I just love taking that all in.
Can you talk a little bit more about your grandfather ? who your line is named after ?
He composed classical music; he was a pianist. ? He had a band that he would travel with; he went to Italy and Paris and Rome and Shanghai. He taught me that as long as you do what you love, you?ll always be happy.
Click here to view the collection.
Hong Kong, Globe-Trotters: Danielle Huthart, WHITESPACE
05.18.2010For a company founded just 5 years ago, Hong Kong-based design consultancy Whitespace has an impressive portfolio ? with work, literally, all over the city, Hong Kong is its canvas. If you live here, you?ll fast become familiar with Whitespace?s creative and branding services; their diverse group of clients include the Press Room, JIA Boutique Hotels, Kush apartments, DOZO! Sushi, and Marie?s Patisserie and Boulangerie (By Brunch Club), just to name a few. Founder Danielle Huthart, a Parsons graduate, is at the helm, making her dreams of a unique creative studio come to life with each project. We got the chance to pick her brain.
For a company founded just 5 years ago, Hong Kong-based design consultancy Whitespace has an impressive portfolio ? with work, literally, all over the city, Hong Kong is its canvas. If you live here, you?ll fast become familiar with Whitespace?s creative and branding services; their diverse group of clients include the Press Room, JIA Boutique Hotels, Kush apartments, DOZO! Sushi, and Marie?s Patisserie and Boulangerie (By Brunch Club), just to name a few. Founder Danielle Huthart, a Parsons graduate, is at the helm, making her dreams of a unique creative studio come to life with each project. We got the chance to pick her brain.
Why did you choose Hong Kong to start your company?
I was born and raised in Hong Kong, and my family is here, so Hong Kong is home. I spent about 10 years in New York and needed a change; Hong Kong was obviously the first place I?d come back to.
If you could start another design consultancy anywhere in the world, where would it be?
I?ve done New York, and even though it?s still one of my favorite cities, I would say Paris because I?ve never lived in Europe. I?m half English, but funny enough, I?ve never lived in Europe. It?s just a fantastic city and [close to the heart of] what we do in design. There?s so much fashion, art and culture there and where so many of these [creative movements] originate from.
Where do you like to shop in Hong Kong?
I used to shop a lot every time I came back to Hong Kong from the States. I liked going to Tsim Sha Tsui and those areas with the cool boutiques that bring back small collections from places like Japan. It think those are a lot of fun to browse and look around. However, since coming back to Hong Kong, I don?t really have much time to shop. But if I do, I like places like D-Mop; I think they have a really good selection. Joyce is also a really good place to look around. Hong Kong doesn?t really have that kind of eclectic boutique where stumble across something, but stores here have a little bit of everything. Buttonhole is still great; I?ve picked out a couple of pieces there that have managed to stay in my closet.
Where do you go in Hong Kong to pamper yourself?
I go to the Four Seasons Spa ? that?s a real treat.
What do you enjoy the most about your career?
I love what I do. I have always really enjoyed art; the fact that I can make a career out of something I?m really interested in is amazing. ? I love working and communicating with people. Throughout that last couple of years, we?ve worked with some really interesting and offbeat clients. Every time we encounter someone new, we learn something from it. Even understanding the client?s business is really interesting. For example, we?ve worked with all these characters: we?ve worked with an orthodontist; we?ve worked with a club owner; and one guy was like a serious gangster. They all have a different perspective on design, and I learn from understanding how they view things. It?s a combination of things that I like: the people, the type of projects that we?ve done, designing, and creating Whitespace.
What are your wardrobe or lifestyle must-haves?
My sister gave me this amazing shawl that I?ve had for years and I never travel without it. It?s the single most useful item I have in my wardrobe. I wear a lot of black, and I also love white. Flat shoes are definitely a must. I love the classics and the basics, just things that are simple. I try to be a bit more conservative in buying things; I try to buy things that last and not buy anything that is too fashionable.
What is your favorite travel destination and why?
I really do love the Philippines. I've only been there once however but still think it's the best place for a beach holiday. I went to Manila for a friend's wedding in Tagaytay, and then headed to Boracay for a few days. I ate mangoes and sat on the beach from morning till night. ? Other favorite travel destinations would either be Paris or Bali.
I was last in Paris in January [and going back soon]. I?m really excited to see Chanel's apartment at 31 Rue Cambon. There are all these great shops in Le Marais such as Merci and Surface to Air on Rue des Archives, and numerous others in Rue de Temple. There are also the little shops that sell old maps, postcards and lithograph prints. Being a graphic designer, I always end up picking up magazines or books. I think there's always something to discover.
When I visit Bali, we stay in Canggu; Eco Beach (which has dark sand) is nearby and there are some warungs [outdoor restaurants] that you can hang out at and watch the surfers. On the way, there's the Tuck Shop for good coffee and WiFi, and then some little boutiques along Jalan Raya Seminyak. There is a good fabric store with interesting prints and batiks that I discovered on the way to Double Six Beach. Up in Ubud, there's an incredible shop on Jalan Monkey Forest that has great indigo fabrics done in a Japanese style. My mother actually lives in Jakarta, so we go down to Bali often to stay at her villa. Indonesia feels more like a second home, but it's still a favorite and frequent travel destination.
Mumbai, Globe-Trotters: Mashoom Singha, model / television host
06.16.2010You?ll see a lot of Mashoom Singha in Mumbai. The model and television host?s sculpted face and never-ending legs make regular appearances in Vogue, Elle and L?Officiel. She?s been featured in Kingfisher?s coveted swimsuit calendar; ad campaigns for Motorola and JW Marriott; and has walked the ramp for top Indian designers like Ritu Kumar, Rohit Bal and Wendell Rodricks.
But meet her in person and you?ll discover a lot more. For one thing, she?s a qualified engineer who, upon her supermodel sister Shamita?s prodding, circulated shots of herself while she crammed for final exams. Ace Indian photographer Atul Kasbekar spotted them and instantly signed her to his modeling agency. And just like that, her life changed. When Mashoom isn?t busy at work, she also runs a Mumbai wine tasting club called We Know Vino. Mashoom lets L-atitude into her closet, her travel plans and her favorite Mumbai haunts.
You?ll see a lot of Mashoom Singha in Mumbai. The model and television host?s sculpted face and never-ending legs make regular appearances in Vogue, Elle and L?Officiel. She?s been featured in Kingfisher?s coveted swimsuit calendar; ad campaigns for Motorola and JW Marriott; and has walked the ramp for top Indian designers like Ritu Kumar, Rohit Bal and Wendell Rodricks.
But meet her in person and you?ll discover a lot more. For one thing, she?s a qualified engineer who, upon her supermodel sister Shamita?s prodding, circulated shots of herself while she crammed for final exams. Ace Indian photographer Atul Kasbekar spotted them and instantly signed her to his modeling agency. And just like that, her life changed. When Mashoom isn?t busy at work, she also runs a Mumbai wine tasting club called We Know Vino. Mashoom lets L-atitude into her closet, her travel plans and her favorite Mumbai haunts.
What do you love most about being a model in Mumbai?
Mumbai is home for me. In spite of the rush and frenzy of the city?s fashion world, which I love by the way, the industry is also very warm and accommodating. I?ve worked with some fabulous and super creative people in Mumbai, many of whom ? model Sanea Shaeikh, choreographer Alison Kanuga, backstage coordinator Vahbiz Contractor - have become close friends.
Which new and upcoming designer would you bet your money on to be the next big thing in Indian fashion?
Anand Kabra's ability to experiment will yield some bold designs in the near future; Nachiket Barve will be recognized for his use of color, textures and the wearability of his garments; and Swapnil Shinde?s luxurious gowns are perfect for the red carpet.
What?s your favourite shopping ritual in Mumbai?
There are a bunch of standalone stores in Mumbai where you get great finds that won?t burn a hole in your pocket. I usually hit boutiques like Izzo and Taxxi & Vitamin K in the hip Bandra district for my monthly shopping fix. If I?m in the mood to hunt, export surplus stores like Cotton On also yield some great finds.
Have you been to any international fashion weeks? How do they compare to the Indian ones you?ve been part of?
I have watched an international fashion show in New York, which was managed at a much larger scale, and the level of organization was exceptional. However, with every passing year Indian fashion weeks are coming closer to achieving international standards ? now, there?s no stopping us.
What?s the most challenging ramp you?ve had to walk?
From fashion shows with escalators to glass lifts, I've done them all. But the most challenging ramp I?ve had to work with was one built on a swimming pool. It was hard to maintain my posture with all the water around, and the stilettos weren?t helping. But I made it across eventually and it was a great experience!
Name one thing you wanted to steal off the ramp and take home with you from the last fashion week.
Exquisite half-sarees and beaded jackets from designerAnamika Khanna.
If you had to do an outdoor shoot anywhere in India, which city would you pick and why?
Studio shoots are boring! I love outdoor pictures. Ladakh [in India?s northernmost state of Jammu and Kashmir], with its stunning visuals of mountains and rivers would make for a great location.
Your job requires that you travel extensively. Tell us about your favourite travel destination and the style souvenirs you bought back home?
My favorite travel destination would have to be Spain. I covered the entire southern region and crossed the river into Portugal. But my coolest style souvenirs are all from Miami's design distract. Here, there are a bunch of wholesale stores that sell great designer wear at half the price. I bought some amazing dress from Adrianna.
What's your favorite travel ensemble?
It would have to be the tracksuit ? comfy for long flights and stylish.
If you could spend an hour with any international designer who would it be and how would you spend it?
I?m crazy about shoes, so it would have to be Christian Louboutin. I would love to watch the genius at work.
You?ve been featured in the coveted Kingfisher swimsuit calendar. Do you think photo shoots in India have gotten bolder in the last five years?
Yes, they have. And so long as it?s done in good taste, I?m all for it. It?s great that people in India are now broadening their minds to make room for all forms of creativity.
You also run a wine club called We Know Vino with your model sister. What?s your favorite place to drink wine in Mumbai?
The Tasting Room in Lower Parel. Not only do they have a great vino collection, but they also offer wine flights [tastings of multiple wines] to those who are experimenting or want to increase their understanding of a specific region.
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