posing

as a Zurbarán

Cate Blanchett, in Elizabeth 

costumes by Alexandra Byrne

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Scheerer, Simple but Never Plain

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I've never met Tom Scheerer but I have his new book-and I bet if I met him, I'd then tell you, he's laid back-but an absolute gentleman-like his decorating. Today, there's something quite unique rooted in the idea that a room can be pretty-and chic-and simple.
Simply beautiful.

 

Scheerer's approach to a young teenage girl's room is clearly sophisticated and smart.

His new book will get you thinking- Edit.
How can I edit my rooms to read a little more clearly? The tablescape with a lot of this and that-clear it off and start with your favorite pieces and stop. My tables get cluttered at times-and I have to Edit. I always feel better after I've Edited.

Tom Scheerer has collaborated with writer Mimi Read on his new book Tom Scheerer Decorates. Its pages come across as smart- serious-and sincere. Yes, sincere. There is direction-and meaning to Scheerer's rooms. One can see a finely balanced point of view, with nods to Billy Baldwin, but centered in the moment, thoroughly today.

Scheerer Signatures

Scheerer relies on Lyford Trellis by China Seas in a number of his rooms-his own design created for the Lyford Cay Club-Bahamas.  

It's an absolute classic-though the paper takes on a modern edge wherever Scheerer uses it.

One of my favorite Sheerer signatures is his use of  pattern -I especially love it on furniture...

I want to do this-it's so smart & fresh, what a way to add softness to a room without fuss.

Floating bookcases are no nonsense-yet sculptural.

Style is a word that comes to mind when looking through the pages of Scheerer's book. 

This room with 18 foot ceilings is the very best-I can't imagine standing in it and not thinking-Style. 

Scheerer Style.

This book is a keeper-when you finish reading it-I think you'll be going back to it again and again for refresher courses- and for a fresh take on what decorating can be in the hands of a Classicist like Tom Scheerer-plain and simply-Beautiful .

Available September 3rd, here

thank you to Vendome Press for the advance copy of Tom Scheerer Decorates, with Mimi Read and photographs by Francesco Lagnese, and for the use of photographs from the book with permission.

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IF

SHE were Madeline Castaing.

the more mature Castaing- noted for her wig with a visible chin strap-helping gravity along.

photograph of Kate Mosee by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott for W Magazine, March 2013
read about M.Castaing here


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about

the little black dress?
No
about
the little black bag

I

the little black bag for day
the little black bag in suede with a jeweller's gold frame & chain
the little black bag whose suede is changed every five years

 II

the little black bag by night
the little black bag in suede with a jeweller's gold frame & chain
the little black bag holds a charming Viennese pinchbeck box

III
the little black bag was Pauline Potter's
the little black bag was photographed by Horst
the little black bag was in VOGUE 1950

IV
lucky little black bag
lucky little black suede bag
lucky little black bag in suede with a jeweller's gold frame & chain






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an Opera by Horst

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the images of  HORST, be it Cy Twombly's palazzo in Rome, Gloria Vanderbilt in New York , Pauline de Rothschild's flat in London, her triumphant French Mouton, the London rooms of Princess Radizwill, all

have irrevocably  effected-and gratefully so- my eye.

What is a beautiful room, timeless design? 

Rooms that are inhabited, this is how Horst photographed his rooms -in most cases- for Vogue, owners living within the beautiful room-with its timeless design. 
Inspiring.

In an Italian Villa

an Opera

bel canto

 Maestro Horst P Horst

 

Liberetto by Valentine Lawford


Synopsis

Donna Marella Agnelli calls on a chorus of artisans from the region to restore her villa, along with a sextet of international experts.

 ...to the delight of all.

 

Aria  
  prima Donna Marella Agnelli

 posing for Horst in style at the restored Villa Agnelli, 1967

Aside  "Everyone had such a good time, that the rooms were finished in three months."

recitative

detail of a rare Chinoiserie console-with Piedmontese objects on view, the polychrome bust is of Carlo Emanuele, Duke of Savoy and King of Sardinia, his father, Victor Amadeus II, commissioned architect Fillipo Juvara to design the eighteenth century hunting seat.

 Crescendo

close up of the Rococo Piano Nobile, and in full-below

Finale

all photographs are by HORST, originally taken for VOGUE & published, January 1967

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the SEPTEMBER ISSUE

OFFICIALLY
A LETHAL WEAPON

...last year it was only dangerous to the postman.

to Sarah, from Oscar

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two of my favorites together again.
& here

summer craving?

for Southern cuisine?

"As God is my witness, I'll never be hungry again."

-Scarlett O'Hara, in Gone with the Wind, & from the opening pages of Edna Lewis' cookbook

just in case you have beautiful tomatoes(down here they were not so beautiful-and on the wane), check out the extraordinary cookbook from chef Edna Lewis & Scott Peacock, The Gift of Southern Cooking. the BLT Salad is sublime.

Y'all will never need another Southern cookbook

ALL you need for the Salad: 1 head iceberg lettuce, 8 slices good quality bacon, 4 slices white loaf bread, 4 large ripe tomatoes-cored and cut into 1 inch pieces, kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, 1/3 to 1/2 cup Mayonnaise (I suggest Duke's)

Here's the receipt at access Atlanta.com



n

girls of Summer

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 Slim and Babe, 1953 taking a break ashore. The pair spent four weeks of their summer on board Alexander Korda's rebuilt antisubmarine boat cruising the Mediterranean.

Note- the pearls-white handbags-and the sensible shoes.



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hey Sailor

Jean-Charles de Castelbajac,1949

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Objects of Desire from Object Lesson

Friend in creative exploration and "object lessons," Carol Fertig, is at One Kings Lane today-knowing her eye-it promises to be an eclectic and exciting Sale.

I for One can't wait. The SALE starts today! 

We are just in time- see you there at 11 a.m est, the Sale- here.


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hey Sailor

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I was struck early in the summer, late as always, for A Trend-but nonetheless, I was struck- by T magazine's Three's a Trend stories on the latest resort collections that trickled through the month of  June.
firstly, three is a trend, who knew? but I like the idea. If it has to be trendy-good things are said to come in threes-Isn't that right?
 I particularly liked the trend "the Sailor Look floods Resort."
Seems the sailor has returned home to port. 

I reminisced about the dozen or so- Sailor "outfits" I had from ages 1 year to age 30. There was a point when I was buying sailor blouses by Ralph Lauren every summer-one particular favorite was a crisp white wrap with a bright blue sailor collar trimmed out in white piping. I-indeed would not be adverse to a 53 year sailor look if there was such a thing. I lean -perhaps-to more of a deep midnight navy suit- in the Martin Margiela or Dries Van Noten mode-with a touch of white, more Subtle Sailor today- for me- I'd say.  
Still a Sailor is always in Style, right?

 Jacques Barenton by John Singer Sargent, 1883.

I always fall back on Sargent- his paintings- when it comes to trends, and style. 
He- the great portrait painter of his day-perhaps trendy even, What was he seeing, thinking?
Sailors-it seems. 

Caspar Goodrich by John Singer Sargent, 1907.

 

 Cecil Harrison, John Singer Sargent, 1888.

Sargent adored the look, so do I.
yes, three's definitely a trend, or rather Classic I think.

on the couch with Édouard

MANET.
most Sofas- don't move me...his do.
most of Sofas seem to be "on the couch"- suffering from all the disorders one is treated for there.

His have all the qualities I want-in a Sofa.

Great Depth.

"The Rest, A portrait of Berthe Morisot"

Colorful.

"Madame Manet on a Blue Sofa"

 

Monogamous.

 "Jeanne Duval, Baudelaire's Mistress"

 Elegant.

"Woman with Fans"

Au Courant.

 "The Reader"

 Laid Back.

 "Young Woman Reclining in Spanish Costume"

 A Good SOFA is hard to find, No?

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Great CHAIR

GREAT ART

Nothing ever sits so well as a French Bergere for creating great ART,

the chair, the home of the great artist Matisse.

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