November, 2009 Archive
Audrey Hepburn auction
On December 8th Kerry Taylor will hold the Passion for Fashion auction in London. Amongst many fine vintage and antique pieces will be two racks of clothes previously worn by the eternally elegant Audrey Hepburn. I love this picture of her walking her dog, ‘Famous,’ back in 1956, while wearing a coat featured in the sale. She looks so young and timeless and the photo could have been taken yesterday.
This photograph is more Audrey the icon. It was taken by Cecil Beaton and appeared in American Vogue in 1964. The amazing hat is from her favorite designer and friend, Hubert de Givenchy.
A Givenchy black dress; worn while promoting her movie, ‘Paris when it sizzles’ in 1962. Another great photograph of her and ‘Famous’.
So smart and chic.
Givenchy again. Worn to promote yet another movie, ‘Two for the road’ in 1966.
The collection belongs to one of Hepburn’s oldest friends, Tanja Star-Busmann, now in her seventies. They exchanged letters while Tanja was still in boarding school and Audrey was beginning her career as an actress. In 1951 before leaving England to star in Gigi on Broaway, she streamlined her wardrobe and sent several dresses to Busmann. This was the beginning of an annual ritual. Later when she ordered clothes from Givenchy she would ask for extra fabric at the seams so her friend could alter them to fit. A touching story of lasting friendship.
Samuel Jackson
While trying to make an appointment for one of our clients, we heard that there were multiple bids on apartment 2A at 76 Crosby Street. I wasn’t suprised. It is in a desirable building on a very hip street.
Crosby Street is one of my favorite streets in Soho and we have sold quite a few lofts there over the years.
According to the NY Post, it turns out that Samuel L. Jackson’s bid was the one accepted, even though it was not the highest number, of 4.1MM on the $4.35 list price. We suspect it was an all cash sale.
Samuel Jackson will be joining Kelly Ripa in the building and Lenny Kravitz on the street, along with alumni such as Nicole Kidman, Madonna and Basquait.
54 Bond Street
New York is a city that is constantly in flux. When someone talks about the good old days, they usually mean the 1980’s. So if you don’t like change then this City is not for you. A case in point is 54 Bond, a collection of loft apartments in a building formally known as the Bouwerie Lane Theatre. This building is a rare example of French Second Empire style and originally housed the Bond Street Savings Bank from 1879 to 1964.
All I can say is wow! As a real estate agent it takes a lot to impress me but this building is spectacular. It is all about this corner with the high ceilings and over sized windows. Bright, elegant and airy.
The finishes speak for themselves.
The triplex penthouse is to die for and is offered at $15,450,000. If that is too rich for your blood then one of the single floors in the upper 4mill range might work for you. Check out more incredible images at 54Bond.com
Napoleon on the Bowery
The French have an innate sense of design that is truly remarkable. Even the simplest item has a level of style that elevates it beyond basic use and function. I am in love with classic Napoleon III french sofas that are easily found and make such an elegant statement. The one above can be found at Schorr & Dobinsky antiques and the gilt mirror at Lerebours. Kirsten Dunst is wearing Band of Outsiders, a hip twist on a classic look.
This Napoleon III sofa has more of a rock edge. Loving it combined with another classic; the venetian mirror. Sofa from Branca and mirror from Coup d’Etat.
The Ardea
When a broker tells me ‘It’s not for everyone’ with regards to a building or an apartment, it immediately gets my attention. It is often code for ’unique and wonderful’ which is an apt description of The Ardea.
This has to be one of the most charming, quirky, and at the same time elegant buildings in the Village. High ceilings and large windows combine with Victorian detail, that will place you soundly in another era as soon as you enter the building.
Built by George A Hearn in two stages beginning in 1895 it was called The Ardea, Latin for heron. A subtle play on words and indirect way to name a building after himself.
By today’s standards the layouts are challenging. You enter the apartment though a grand set of double doors, similar to those found in townhouses of the time, however the hallways within are narrow. There is always an elegant south facing living room that has wonderful proportions and an adjoining library that is used in many ways, sometimes as a bedroom. My favorite feature is on the back stairs off the kitchen; you often find the original box where ice was delivered and stored in the hot summer months.
It may not be for you for a number of very practical reasons, but the next time an apartment comes on the market at 31-33 west 12th street make sure you take the opportunity to see one of the great Village buildings. It is a treat for those who value the unusual and historic.
Another building that is contemporary would be The Dakota, much grander, but linked together in pedigree.
Heir
Recently I found a great antique and design store on Rhode Island; or should I say I discovered their website. I paired the above vignette with an outfit from Anna Sui, the ultimate boho diva. Referring to the work of Tim Burton, would this style be having such a resurgence if so many of us had not grown up watching movies like Sleepy Hollow?
How cool is this jewelry which I will be giving to friends, family and anyone else I think would appreciate it this holiday season.
Definitely worth a closer look, Heir
Anna Sui:Before and After
If Tim Burton and Emma Thompson decided to buy a home in Manhattan, who could they go to for guidance, and where would they live? The person would be Anna Sui and the neighborhood; the Village.
A couple of years ago I showed a client the very odd and very tiny one bedroom apartment above. It was located on a wonderful village street. They liked it but could not figure out how they would make the space work. I later heard that someone in the building was the purchaser. Imagine my surprise when I saw the same apartment in Elle Decor a few years later completely transformed.
It may not be to everyone’s taste, but in the immortal words of Rachel Zoe, ‘ I die’.
The exquisite kitchen cabinets are by Petrit Coma, you must check out their web site. The look was inspired by antique pie safes that were very common in America up until the 1950’s. The bathroom meshes a New York staple, the subway tile with the highly lacquered mirror and sink. Anna Sui lives in a much larger apartment in the same building and when I look at these pictures they are reminiscent of a Folly on a great English Estate, a building purely for decorative pleasure.
Tim Burton at MoMa
One of the most hotly anticipated exhibits this Fall, at least for me, has to be the Tim Burton retrospective at MoMa. It is extraordinary to realise the impact of one man’s somewhat deranged mind. What once seemed macabre and unsettling, is now widely accepted and whimsical.
If I had children I would subject them to his entire catalog of film at an impressionable age. Instead I will have to bring my godchildren, our nieces and nephew when they visit this Holiday season.
Above a collection of disturbing mannequins and drawings from Sweeny Todd.
Sustain with style
Being ‘green’ is a simplified word to describe a major trend occuring in our culture. That is; how do I spend money in a way that promotes the vision of a world I want to live in? Being ‘green’ is just a part of this larger movement.
Project Alabama was founded in the 2000 with the idea of creating jobs for women with traditional quilting skills, in the state of the same name. In the early days of this label it was fun to look at every piece of clothing; each a unique piece of art. I have paired a look from an early collection with two beautiful pieces of mid century style. The lamp can be found at Jon Vaccari’s New Orleans store, and the Japanese style bench at Modern Artifacts
In the course of writing this piece I discovered that they have since moved their manufacturing to India. They are maintaining the ethos of their company, but I think from looking at their recent collection at Barneys and Bergdorf Goodman that they have lost the soul these southern women put in their work. Very unfortunate, and perhaps they should rename their label. Above a top that we paired with this amazing garden bench at Berns Fry ltd
Still a perfect excercise in sustainability with lifestyle.
200 Eleventh Avenue
One of the coolest buildings downtown has to be this Annabelle Seldorf design on Eleventh Avenue. I have a lot of reasons why I like this project, but frankly they are over ridden by the one amenity that flips me out; the indoor parking.
Imagine a elevator takes your car to your floor where you can park in in it’s own windowed garage. Hi brow: James Bond. Low brow: Transporter.
All very sexy.
