News Alert from WWD

How can this be?????????????????????????????????????????????

Domino magazine is closing. I am sad. Very sad. I have every issue, including the very first.

This just in from Domino magazine:
A great event at Bergdorf Goodman tomorrow evening. Please read on.

HOLIDAYS BY DESIGN

The authors of this year’s hottest design books come together
for an exclusive book signing event at Bergdorf Goodman

Deborah Needleman, Domino: The Book of Decorating

William Yeoward, On Entertaining

Charlotte Moss, A Flair for Living

Michael S. Smith, Houses

Celerie Kemble, To Your Taste

Thom Filicia, Style

Hosted by Nicholas Manville,
Vice President, Decorative Home, Bergdorf Goodman
and Jane Stubbs, Founder, Jane Stubbs Books

Tuesday, December 2, 2008
6:30 – 8:00 PM

Bergdorf Goodman
Fifth Avenue at 58^th Street, Seventh Floor, NYC

Here is another story about taking "the bus" to "design." The timing of these two events on this blog is pure coincidence.




The Domino: The Book of Decorating Release Party at the J.Crew Collection Boutique for me began auspiciously last night. After a revitalizing after-work swim, the M101 bus and I were perfectly in sync at 3rd Avenue and 47th Street, where it whisked me uptown to one of the more fashionable parties I have attended in a long while.

If I may focus on the fashions of the evening for a moment, one key trend I noticed was wool tights and patent leather shoes, often combined with wool skirts with a luxe sheen and cashmere sweaters. This alternating effect of shiny-rich-shiny-rich from toe to head was quite attractive. I have to say, after last night's event, I am a fan of J.Crew's new aesthetic. An aesthetic that is thanks to Jenna Lyons Mazeau, Creative Director of J.Crew who worked her way up from assistant designer (I like this sort of success story), and who is now featured in a ten-page spread in the November issue of Domino (pp. 102-111) and on page 165 of the new Domino book.

I personally would suggest a shopping trip to the J.Crew Collection Boutique on Madison and 79th, if not only to further investigate the clothing, shoes and one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry, but also to check out the original artwork and light fixtures from Jenna's own home. You will, course want to buy the Domino book too. For the full effect.

I will let my photos and captions tell the rest of the story.

Each guest was given a copy of the new Domino: The Book of Decorating.
I am savoring each page.


I was offered a vodka shot and caviar as soon as I walked in.
Very nice.


At 7:15pm, the party was in full swing.


Dainty hors d'oeuvres.


The well-heeled crowd.


I must get some wool tights and patent leather shoes.


More wool tights and patent leather shoes.
You want some now too, don't you.


One-of-a-kind jewelry under glass.


A color story that caught my eye. Follow the links.
Bootcut cords in "Faded Cement" with skinny silver belt.
Navy/white striped Victoria Ruffle Shirt
Cashmere Crewneck Sweater in Citron
Jacket, check this piece out in-store.


Shoe display at J.Crew Collection Boutique.
I love that sculpture.


Check out the grey walls in the shoe area of the Collection Boutique,
and read the November issue of Domino to find out more.

Display table at J.Crew Collection Boutique. The "roses" they created with the
pant hems are so clever.

A room on the seventh floor of Bergdorf Goodman is devoted entirely to
John Derian's new furniture collection and his signature aesthetic.
To the left of the table: the "Field" tufted bench, $6160.
Against the wall: the "Dromedary" love seat, $4860.


The "Fritillaria" chair, against the wall at near the table.
Upholstered: $3410. Slipcovered: $3740.

The designer of the hour, John Derian, third from left.

Please turn to page 44 of your June/July 2008 issue of Domino Magazine. You will see a full-page spread of John Derian's new five-piece furniture collection which debuted last night at Bergdorf Goodman. The cocktail party, sponsored by Domino, was an extremely enjoyable event to attend. Beautiful spacious surroundings, great people-watching and delicious hors d'oeuvres, which included seared tuna on toasted black sesame rice crackers, vegetable spring rolls, fava bean hummus on baguette, duck in blinis, and miniature crab cakes topped with guacamole. The specialty cocktail of the evening was a vodka lemonade garnished with mint and sliced lemon. Very refreshing.

But let's get back to the furniture at hand. John Derian's new collection of classic antique-inspired couches and arm chairs were displayed in a room with a similar aesthetic found in Derian's East Village shop. The five shapes (four couches and one chair) are offered in muslin and two shades of linen, neutral tones which will please many a Hamptons summer home owner and interior designer. The collection will be offered exclusively at Bergdorf Goodman, on the seventh floor.

A Derian-style vignette.


Domino staffers peruse page 44.

The signature cocktail for the evening:
vodka lemonade garnished with mint and sliced lemon.

It was a cold and wet evening, but

the rain did not dampen the celebration.

Anything that comes in a Bergdorf Goodman envelope has got to be good! I will tell you about John Derian's new furniture collection (available exclusively at Bergdorf Goodman) and the party presented by Domino Magazine and Bergdorfs tomorrow. It is nice to be a blogger. I like perks!

The coat check
curtained off with hole-punched craft paper.
I would describe the look as 'Eco-Moroccan.'
Don't you think?

The dramatic approach to Domino's festivities
at Industria Superstudio.
The invitations festooned.

Party revellers, featuring two staffers wearing the
Vanessa Barrantes Dress at center. At left, accessorized
with the bronze open toe Art Deco-style heels.

I love this shot.
The 100% recyled napkins and stemless glasses at the bar.

The time at the Domino green issue release party was visually rewarding, as all design-based things should be. I give you my photographic observations and captions for your vicarious enjoyment, down to every last craft paper and pressed board eco-friendly detail.

Simply stated, the Conde Nast crowd is quite good looking. I enjoyed sipping my pomegranate and Prosecco cocktail in the stemless glass that is all the rage right now, enjoying an organic truffle or two, and watching all the fantastic outfits go by. At first I could not comprehend just how each outfit worked so well to make each woman look so fashion-forward yet so effortless. I was in the presence of fashion masters. Shalom Harlow was an expected guest at this party, after all. This was high-caliber dressing. I sipped and studied. Suffice it to say, many mental notes were made by me.

Indonesian fish cakes with tamarind sauce.
All hors d'ouevres were presented on a pressed board tray,
topped with craft paper, and adorned with a similar young branch.
I like this action shot I got.
In all of the photos I did not use a flash.

Domino commissioned soft, roomy totes made from certified organic hemp and cotton.
The bags were a limited edition of 500 and complimentary when you shopped.
So naturally, I shopped. I love my bag.

Domino Pencils provided to mark our shopping lists.
Some Fair Trade Organic French Roast Peace Coffee I purchased.

An example of The Dress (right, back) in the party crowd.
Note how the ruffle sleeve flatters her bare arm.

Vanessa Barrantes Sophia Dress (Side Buttons)

If you attended the Domino party at Industria Superstudio last night, you noticed this dress by Vanessa Barrantes walking around quite a lot. The dress, cut from fabric with bamboo fibers in the mix, was selected in navy as the official uniform of sorts for the walking-around magazine staff.

Let me tell you, bamboo has incredible drape. The dress looked really quite stunning on each and every person. I loved the shape of the skirt. A little volumetric, a little tapered. (This mannequin doesn't do it justice.) All wore the buttons open, as pictured below, with black tights, and most with black patent 3 inch heels. Some wore colored shoes, like silver sling-back wedges, or bronze open toe Art Deco-style heels, which also looked quite striking.

The Vanessa Barrantes Sophia Dress (Side Buttons)
worn open, as shown, by the Domino staff

Domino Magazine's issue release party was held last night at Industria Superstudio, to celebrate their first "Green" issue and collaboration with eco-blog TreeHugger. I was invited, for my blogabilities, and I have lots of pictures of the event to show you. In the above invitation (made from all recycled materials) are the 125 pioneering companies and people celebrated in the March issue with "undeniable eco cred." The invitation also said that their would be shopping (cash and checks only) while I enjoyed organic food and cocktails. Sounded like fun. I wanted to finger the merchandise from these 125 winners, particularly the clothes. And the furniture.

Birch print trumpet table lamp from West Elm [image: westelm.com]

It is my hopeful belief that one of my favorite blogs, It's (K)not Wood, inspired this trumpet table lamp with "birch print shade" from West Elm. At this point in blog history, the design world is certainly looking to the blog world, not only for artistic inspiration, but also for market research. My thinking about their thinking is this: Where there is a successful blog devoted to faux woodgrain, there must be a market for faux woodgrain.

Two additional pertinent examples come to mind. For their current March 2007 issue, Domino partnered with the reputable eco-blog, TreeHugger, to produce the "Green Issue," a resource for eco-minded products and services. Deborah Needleman, Editor-in-Chief, writes in a letter included with my special advance copy (Domino recently put me on a special bloggers list(!)), "I know for us, it was precisely the jump-start we needed to consistently make eco an integral part of our mix, and an important criterion for our inimitable filter of the marketplace." And what better place to look, than a blog with a demonstrated track record.

The second pertinent example is on MarthaStewart.com: a list I found called, "Essential web sites and sources (BETA)" which includes TreeHugger, CoolHunting, and other noted design-related blogs. Considering all of the fresh ideas the Martha staff has to generate each day, why not look to bloggers for market-tested inspiration?

I have been saving my issue of Domino that came yesterday in the mail for this morning to read with my cup of coffee and toasty pb. I love Domino.

We are on the same wavelength! They tout Malin+Goetz and Flight 001 in the Gift Guide and Domino Deals too. Every month I open Domino and say, hey I was going to write about that! Well this time, I wrote about it before I read about it.

I also like the silvery gift tags they give you on page 199. I might use them!

from page 16 of Domino

Check out Domino magazine's online "Daily Dot" which is bloggish in nature. They even pull information from other bloggers! I was hunting around on dominomag.com for the slideshow promised on page 16 of the June issue: "Which Vase for which flowers?" Not as easy to find as I thought.

Found it. But just by clicking on everything. I clicked on know-how, scrolled down to gardening and clicked on flower + vase pairs. That was not as easy as it should be. Here is the page for the slideshow. One more click after that.

The slideshow was not so inspiring. If you want great flower arranging ideas, go to any hotel lobby and check out their arrangements. They are always grand and inventive. Which reminds me, you can buy peonies for only $4 a bunch on the Uppper West Side!

Speaking of Domino, do you remember their first issue when they talked all about console tables? That issue was perfectly timed before our move (to our new apartment with a nook just perfect for a console). I really loved one clear plexi version they showed, the way it just melted away into the space. But instead of spending more and more and more, I refashioned a piece we already had. And then added art above (not pictured) and a small rug below.


This console table originally had a lower shelf which I removed to make way for more "layering" of decor underneath. Basically, the console is a great chance to accessorize with all of your beautiful things. Think about the space above and below, on the walls, etc. I love these nesting Japanese-inspired trays. They are made of Japanese lightweight kiri (paulownia wood). The grain is so very nice. I have tried to hunt for a shopping link online, but I can't find one. Write to me with a source if you have one and I will post it. Here is a nice close-up photo of the wood grain. I love it!! I have this wood stump too. See Buddha pic on the side bar. He is standing on it.

This caning pattern is starting to creep up everywhere. They are forcing it. All the magazines and designers are in collusion about this one. My 2 cents: avoid it. For one thing, it is too Cape Cod. For another, they are blowing it up only to blow it out. (You see, I blew it up too: oversized the picture to prove my point. haha!) Look, Jonathan Adler already has it on sale. And please disregard page 104 of your new March issue of Domino. If you see me do this caning pattern this season, please forward me this post, and give me a slap on the wrist. Anyway I prefer Labyrinth. It is so much more shibui. (Keep scrolling, the definition of shibui is right after wabi and sabi. Appropriately!)