Nelly Vintage Homes: creativity at work

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Fall Book Brigade

I'm either going to have to build more shelves or move in order to accommodate all the new books coming out this fall. Lots of fabulous design books are about to be published from some your favorite decorators, as well as books by a few first time authors whose names you will definitely recognize. I'll try to do some more in depth posts once I have my copies but until then, here's a look at what's to come.

The first book that I have been dying for is by my favorite photographer Francois Halard. It will be published by Rizzoli on October 29, 2013 and will feature tastemaker homes but "the more intimate 'house portraits' that Halard would photograph for himself, where his personal vision shines through." I can't wait until the New York book signing!

I knew Aerin Lauder had a book coming out this fall so I was excited to see the cover for Beauty at Home online today. It will be published from Potter Style on October 29, 2013 and will without a doubt be as chic as her new beauty and home collections.

As I know from my posts, people love to see the homes of fashion designers. In Beyond Chic: Great Fashion Designers at Home out October 1st, photographer Ivan Terestchenko takes into the private spaces of the late designers Coco Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent, as well as Azzedine Alaïa and Vanessa Seward, to name just a few.

I felt like I won the lottery when Valentino's right hand man, Giancarlo Giammetti approved me to view his private instagram account. It's a view into a world of yachts and parties that most of us only dream about. His new book Private, Giancarlo Giametti, takes us farther back into their elegant and chic world of fashion and friends. It will be released November 5, 2013 by Assouline.

There is an amazing feature on interior designer Stephen Sills home in Bedford in the October issue of Town & Country. Fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld called the chicest house in America so it's fitting that he has written the foreward to Stephen Sills: Decoration. The book will be released October 22, 2013 by Rizzoli. Oh, and Francois Halard took the photos for the book which ups the chicness factor even more.

Canadian interior designer Tommy Smythe has already told me that he's coming to New York for Thomas O'Brien's book party for Aero: Beginning to Now and I can't wait. As we've seen from the evolution of OBrien's own apartment over the years, his eye has just gotten better so it will be interesting to also look at the evolution of the store. The book will be released on October 15, 2013 by Abrams.

Belgian gallery owner Axel Vervoordt is the designer that other designers bow down to time and again. His style is simple and spare but mixes antiques and modern pieces perfectly. I can't wait to see what's in store with Axel Vervoordt: Living with Light which will be released by Flammarion on October 22, 2013.

One book I do have already is Tom Scheerer Decorates, the title of which harkens back to Billy Baldwin Decorates. It's divided into City, Country and Tropics all of which are filled with what I think of as Tom's signature, printed fabrics and wallpaper. It's definitely one to pick up when it's published on September 10th by Vendome Press.

When I stopped by interior designer Alexa Hampton's office this past April, the galley of her book was on her desk. I can't wait to pick up the finished copy Decorating in Detail when it's published on November 5, 2013 by Potter Style.

You may have seen Jeffrey Alan Marks on Million Dollar Decorators but it's clear from his book that he's more than just a reality star. I have a copy of the Jeffrey Alan Marks: The Meaning of Home and it's filled with beautiful photos by Douglas Friedman and inspiration for your own home or design projects.

Suzanne Kasler's book became a favorite of bloggers and designers alike so I can't wait to see her follow up Suzanne Kasler: Timeless Style when it's released October 8, 2013 by Rizzoli.

If you follow interior designer Howard Slatkin on instagram, you get a little peek into his beautifully designed world. That's why I am excited to pick up his book Fifth Avenue Style: A Designer's New York Apartment when it's released by Vendome Press on October 15, 2013. Howard is also one of the founders of the home fragrance company Slatkin & Co. so I'm sure his homes smells as good as it looks!

The October issue of AD has a peek inside Timothy Corrigan's French chateau which makes me even more excited for his book An Invitation to Chateau du Grand-Lucé: Decorating a Great French Country House. It's my dream to move to France someday so I hope I can learn a few pointers from his amazing restoration project. It will be released on October 1, 2013 by Rizzoli.

And last but not least, I know some of you have still not bought my book Habitually Chic: Creativity at Work . Perhaps you can add it to your fall book order so I can start working on my second book. Merci!

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Fall Book Brigade

Chic at Work: Steven Kolb of CFDA

When you work on a book, you realize during the process that sometimes certain elements don't work or you don't have enough pages to include everything you had originally intended. Lucky for me, I knew that I would be able to feature these interviews and workspace photos on the blog. While we did feature photos of Steven Kolb's moodboard at the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) on the end papers of Creativity at Work, the full profile didn't fit in the book. With all the talk about the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund recently, I thought this might be a great time to introduce exactly what the CFDA does and how important they are to the fashion world.

This is actually Steven's old office as the CFDA has moved into a new space. This is also something that happened with a lot of people I shot for the book so perhaps some follow up visits might be in order.

I’m sure many people in New York know what the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) does but can you explain it so the average person can understand and tell us why it’s such an important organization?

The Council of Fashion Designers of America, Inc, (CFDA) is a not-for-profit trade association that leads industry-wide initiatives and whose membership consists of more than 400 of America’s foremost womenswear, menswear, jewelry, and accessory designers. In addition to hosting the annual CFDA Fashion Awards, which recognize the top creative talent in the industry, the organization offers programs which support professional development and scholarships, including the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, the Geoffrey Beene Design Scholar Award, the Liz Claiborne Scholarship Award, and the CFDA/Teen Vogue Scholarship. Member support is provided through the Business Services Network, a high-profile group of companies offering designers strategic opportunities.

The CFDA Foundation, Inc. is a separate, not-for-profit organized to mobilize the membership to raise funds for charitable causes. Through the Foundation, the CFDA created and manages Fashion Targets Breast Cancer; raises funds for HIV/AIDS organizations with 7th on Sale; addresses the issue of model health with The CFDA Health Initiative; and is a key participant in other programs such as the annual Fashion’s Night Out.

You worked for other non-profits such as the American Cancer Society and Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS (DIFFA). Was it easy to switch to fashion or did you experience a learning curve?

It comes down to having business experience. So many designers don't have the business back ground and are in need of advice and mentoring, so I help with that. In my not-for-profit life, I was helping different charities fulfill their mission. At the CFDA, it is the same, but connected to growing a designer's business. In both instances it is rewarding to see success based on my input.

How important is it for a designer to be asked to become a member of the CFDA? What benefits are there for them?

Designers must apply to become a member of the CFDA. Not everyone gets in. When considering new members, we start with talent and whether a designer has a unique point of view. There is a prestige associated with being a CFDA member, but it is more than that. We are a family of 400 designers and there is strength in numbers that influences issues that affect our industry. We also bring tangible value to the membership by creating strategic access, value and opportunity for new business development.

How important is it for the CFDA to support charitable causes and health initiatives?

People look at fashion and think it’s all about appearance, but there’s a depth to fashion that goes beyond how someone looks, that goes beyond appearance or style. Real style is about the giving, and the connection to issues that are important to us as individuals. There really is a heart to fashion.

Who has taught you the most in your career?

When I first started working for the American Cancer Society I was a bit shy. The President of the ACS took a liking to me and would ask me to help him on special projects. I am sure he did this to help me gain confidence in myself. It was extra work but I liked it. I’ve always remembered how supportive he was to me and credit him for building the basics of my work today.

Who do you most admire in your industry and why?

There are too many people to pick just one, but if I have to then I would say CFDA President Diane von Furstenberg. Diane is great. She is a working designer and a smart businesswoman. She has global business and thinks big. She is always accessible and truly hands on and I continue to learn from her both professionally and personally.

What continues to excite you about your job?

The best part of my job is that I am surrounded by creative people. I was hired as a not-for-profit manager so my skill set is different. I love the challenge of taking a creative idea and making it work.

How do you find balance in your life?

Fashion is my job but it does not define my life. My partner Jay and I have a house in Hawley, PA. It sits up a hill and is surrounded by trees. It feels like a tree fort. I spend as much time there as I can watching birds and chipmunks. Weekends are very Green Acres, “Keep Manhattan, just give me that countryside.”

What is the best advice you have ever received?

Be yourself and live your own life.

You’ve not only embraced but successfully mastered social media on tumblr and twitter. How important are these things to getting information out about the CFDA?

Social media is now. It is a direct way of sharing ideas and issues that are important to CFDA.

"The end is nothing, the road is all."

– Willa Cather

Photos by Heather Clawson for Habitually Chic: Creativity at Work

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Chic at Work: Steven Kolb of CFDA

Six Year Blog Anniversary

Today marks my six year blog anniversary. It seems like forever ago since I wrote my first post and yet also just like yesterday. I'm still amazed daily though at all the wonderful things that have come about because of Habitually Chic. Publishing my book Creativity at Work has to be at the top of the list and it's exciting to think that it will be here long after I'm gone. I've also been able to go on some amazing trips like Morocco and meet some wonderful people along the way. Thank you again for all your support and encouragement. I hope I can continue on for at least another six years.

XOXO,

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Six Year Blog Anniversary

Tuscan Chic

When I first found out that antiques dealer Gerald Bland and his artist wife Mita Corsini Bland had a home in Tuscany, it took all my will power not to beg them to let me visit. Now that it's featured in the May/June 2013 issue of Veranda magazine, I'm pretty sure everyone is going to be begging for a stay. Veranda was kind enough to offer a sneak peek before the issue hits the newsstands on May 7th. The house is actually a farmhouse that was left to Mita who is Italian and it's just as lovely as I expected.. The couple has filled the renovated space with a few antiques but nothing too precious which is absolutely perfect.

To see the couple's Manhattan home, click here. You can also read more about Gerald Bland in my book Creativity at Work.

Photos by Alexandre Bailhache for Veranda

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Tuscan Chic

Back in Stock

As many of you discovered recently, my book Creativity at Work was out of stock online and in many stores. I am happy to announce that the second printing arrived in the warehouse and Amazon and other sites now have it back in stock. Now that we have more books, I can also start scheduling more book signings. Once they are confirmed, I will announce them.

I also want to thank you all again for the kind comments and messages regarding my book and for your continued support. I really appreciate it!

XOXO,

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Back in Stock

Books, Books, and More Books

While in Toronto, I was part of an interesting conversation about design and books led by the founder of Indigo Books, Heather Reisman. She said there are two types of book lovers. The first are voracious readers who always have a book with them and buy a new book before they finished with their current book. The second are book collectors, people who love books because they are beautiful and remind them of certain times in their life. Clearly I fall in the latter category as I think most people do in the worlds of design and fashion. I admire books not just for their content but their beautiful covers and history. I love to display them so I can see them each day. This was definitely something I thought about when working on my book Creativity at Work. It's rare that people sit down to read coffee table books but I'm thrilled that so many are doing just that and also love its orange cover. In honor of all the book collectors out there, I've put together a compilation of my favorite libraries and bookshelves. Enjoy.