WHY DON'T YOU .. day 2

In honor of still one more book being published this week based on the illustrious life and career of Diana Vreeland, I dedicate this week’s series to her and her spirit.  The book’s title is Empress of Fashion: A Life of Fashion authored by Amanda MackenzieStuart. (http://www.nyjournalofbooks.com/review/empress-fashion-life-diana-vreeland).    So, this author’s version will be dedicated to a large number of those who are my INTERNATIONAL “friends” on Facebook; the ones who carry on in the tradition of great style and fashion and offer the most original and superior goods and services imaginable.  So, this week will be all about... WHY DON’T YOU?

Norman Ambrose… WHY DON’T YOU... entertain at home in your graphic appliqué dress when in Lyford Cay or Palm Beach  thi season and then maybe wear spectacularly embroidered   beach coral when off to the club for New Years Eve(http://www.normanambrose.com/)

Los Milagros… WHY DON’T YOU … plan a surprise south of the border getaway at one of Cabos’ best kept secrets?  Your “innkeeper” Sandra Scandiber provides the ultimate in cuisine and surroundings. (http://www.losmilagros.com.mx/) Tell her I sent you!

Samy David… WHY DON’T YOU … order an amazing piece of porcelain from Samy D. of Tel Aviv?  Per chance it is one of the exquisitely executed pieces of jewelry (art for the body) or the fabulous dinnerware or a piece of fine art.  Maybe check in to the Alma (http://www.almahotel.co.il/) and have a “religious “experience (www.samy-d.com)

The Blonds… WHY DON’T YOU … party like a rock star while  dressed like one  in a fabulously jeweled and custom made corset, fish nets and spikes?  This design duo dresses everyone from Britney Spears to Fergie to Adam Lambert to Nicki Minaj!  (http://www.theblondsnewyork.com/collections_dye.html)

John Lyle… WHY DON’T YOU own a piece of shagreen?  This premier furniture designer and showroom offers the most original designs for the home. P.S. Shagreen is a type of rawhide consisting of rough untanned skin, formerly made from a horse's back or that of a wild ass (maybe you know one or more). Shagreen is now commonly made of the skins of sharks and rays. (http://www.johnlyledesign.com/) Maybe you can convince John to design something especially for you.

Steven Oo… WHY DON’T YOU… order a hand (and we know whose hands) knitted unisex sweater from one of the most talented knitters of the 21^st century?  If ready to wear is more your thing... shop his looks at Anthropologie or (http://stevenoo.viewbook.com/)

Ward Kelvin … WHY DON’T YOU… wear chandelier earrings with that simple black dress or the white strapless for New Year’s Eve or opt out for a drop dead collar of pearls, gold and diamonds with either (http://www.wardkelvin.com/) and wear your studs instead

Victor Raul Garcia… WHY DON’T YOU… accessorize and adorn your walls with 21^st century art by an up and coming contemporary abstract painter from New York City? (http://www.victorraulgarcia.com/) and show your friends that you are a patron of the arts a la the Medicis.

David Shults ... WHY DON’T YOU... have a moody photographic portrait done of yourself to hang in the study or give to a loved one… of course in black and white … it can even be done “chez nous” (davidshultsphoto@gmail.com) .. He is my “Aberdeen”

George Zaharoff … WHY DON’T YOU… take a trip to the windy city and shop til you drop at his glorious new flagship at 110 Oak Street … you can even do it as a day trip… and stay for cocktails … exclusives await .. (http://zaharoff360.com/) tell George I sent you !

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Meet & Greet George Zaharoff

In honor of the opening of the George Zaharoff store at 110 East Oak Street in Chicago, I would like to reintroduce the eponymous designer to all.  The first of its kind to open in the United States, the George Zaharoff flagship store will house the “world of Zaharoff” all under one roof.  The product range and brand extensions will complement and enhance the already celebrated collections that are available elsewhere.  The shop will feature accessories exclusive to his collection as well as bespoke services as well as products never before offered anywhere that have been exclusively executed for the eponymous brand.  Look for George starting on October 27 and say hi from me!

Meeting George Zaharoff is like running into your long lost friend from times gone by. George is warm and open, spiritual and very “intimate” when he speaks of his life and his business. He is a rarefied person who loves what he does and draws you into his world during that encounter. His notoriety has been achieved via his men’s tailored clothing collection which offers men fashion without going over the top; as they say the devil is in the details. The clothing, at lack of a better word, has nuance, just a little something that makes it very au courant without looking foolish in any way. His latest venture is on the web with the addition of a capsule ladies collection which in time will grow to equal that of the menswear. If you are not into clothes, you might just love the scent…..learn the name …know the name…get used to it!

1. What trait do you most treasure in yourself?

I am very empathetic

2. What’s your bliss?

On an airplane, over an ocean, 40,000 ft. – in first class.

3. Who or what is your inspiration?

The world around me, anything or anyone can inspire me.

4. Who is your favorite designer?

My mother is my biggest influence, but in terms of internationally known designers, Gianni Versace & Valentino are tied.

5. What’s your most treasured possession?

My little Piccolo, a three-year old Italian Greyhound, is my little heart.

6. If you couldn’t do your present job, what would you be?

There’s nothing else I would want to be.

7. Where is your ideal home?

I’m the multiple residence type. I could have a place in the Hollywood hills a loft in Manhattan and an apartment in London.

8. What do you wear to bed?

A pair of light blue-striped Hanro boxers. I own ten of them.

9. In a word, what do you think about fashion?

Tough

10. How important is the truth with regard to your work?

Very important, without truth, who am I as a person?

11. What’s your advice to an aspiring designer?

Never give up. Never, ever, ever, ever (ever) give up.

12. Do you pay attention to other designers’ work?

Unfortunately I do not.

13. If you could have dinner with anyone, dead or alive, who would you pick?

Dead - Jesus, to teach me the speed and power of thought, He knew how to control the physical world. Alive? Oprah.

14. Do you read your own reviews?

You know, I think listening to reviews is much easier than the weekly retail sales reports.

15. How important is the link between the music business and fashion?

The music business changed with MTV. No matter how talented or talentless one is vocally, it’s all about presentation. It’s all theatre.

16. Do you think the music business influences fashion?

Yes and no. Once in a generation you have a Madonna or Lady Gaga that will influence and create a trend. But I would like to think designers create trends.

17. What is your approach to a new season?

I meditate about it, put it out into the Universe and wait for direction. It just happens naturally.

18. What stimulates your creative process?

The world around me through my travels. It could be coming out of a local Starbucks or in the Gobi desert looking at the material of a ger.

19. Do you wish to convey any message from your designs?

Yes, love and oneness – my wish is to show the customer how they are inspired in the process.

20. Would you wear your own designs?

I already do. I would not put it out into the market if I would not wear it.

21. Are your designs purely esthetic for the ideal or do you take into account different body types and personalities?

A fashion house cannot cater to every body type and personality.

You can’t stand for everything and everyone.

22. Who is the one opinion that you trust?

My team.

23. Does politics hold any influence over your creative process?

None.

24. If you could collaborate with any other createur, who would it be?

I love collaborating with people in general. I love teams. I would love to work on a project with Karl Lagerfeld.

25. If elected president, what is the first thing you would do?

Bring all our troops home and focus on the US. Very isolationist in thought for being a worldly gent, but I think we need to get our house in order first before helping others.

26. Who is your perfect customer?

I have a few of them, someone who says to me, “I need four suits, four sports jackets, five trousers, shirts and neckwear” and gives me an unlimited budget. I love working with magnificent fabrics that end up costing $20,000 when made into a suit

 NYC fashion; Jeffrey Felner's designer talk... George Zaharoff

http://zaharoff360.com/