LX Brooklyn Fall/Winter 2013

from the publisher

Welcome.

We’re proud to announce the premier edition of LX Brooklyn. It is with great appreciation, as our gift to you, we are publishing this beautiful coffee table piece. Within its pages, you will find unique and captivating stories, artistic photography, jewelry features and more.

This issue showcases photographer Berry Behrendt, as he has gloriously captured the essence of Audrey Hepburn for our “Behind the Lens” feature.

And that’s just the beginning.

Read about the globe’s leading hoteliers across the world in the “Best New Luxury Hotels.” Celebrate an iconic automobile, the Porsche 911, that was introduced 50 years ago. Also meet Pedro E. Guerrero, the personal photographer of possibly the most famous architect the world has ever known in “Documenting Genius.”

Locally, we feature “Elegance...Without Attitude, Malsons Brings Manhattan To Bay Ridge—With A Twist.” We enjoy seeing you each time you visit us and we look forward to hearing your stories and being part of your life’s special moments. As we walk through the days of this season, know that you can count on us at Malsons Jewelers to help you choose the perfect gift. We have been serving the local jewelry needs of the community for 43 years and we’re proud to offer the most diversified selection of designers in Brooklyn.

Please enjoy this issue of LX Brooklyn.

Warm wishes to you and yours, Morris Esses

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Features

inside

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Community 15 Elegance...Without Attitude

Malsons Brings Manhattan To Bay Ridge—With A Twist

Jewelry 10 Tacori, The Story 36 Gift Guide 60 Alex and Ani Jewelry

Photography

19 Behind the Lens of

Berry Behrendt: A Tribute to Audrey Hepburn

54 Documenting Genius: Pedro

Tacori, The Story

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Malsons Jewlers Gift Guide

E. Guerrero

Lifestyle

28 50th Anniversary of the Porsche 911

43 New York Serenade Piano Fashion 65 Street Style Travel 46 Best New Luxury Hotels Holiday 32 Signature Holiday Recipes

Behind the Lens of Berry Behrendt: A Tribute to Audrey Hepburn

19 28 50th Anniversary of the Porsche 911

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cover on on thethe cover

Publisher MORRIS ESSES Editor JON ROBERTS Senior Designer ANGIE HALTER

Featured on the cover is the work of international fashion, beauty and portrait photographer, Berry Behrendt. Read more about Behrendt in our exclusive "Behind the Lens" feature on pages 19-27.

Project Coordinators NICOLE HIGGINS COURTNEY DRETH ASHLEY ANDERSON

LX: a coffeetable magazine LX® Magazine is published by LX Publications, LLC, 524 North Main Avenue, Suite 110, Sioux Falls, SD 57104. LX® accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts and or photographs and assumes no liability for products or services advertised herein. LX® reserves the right to edit, rewrite, refuse or reuse material, is not responsible for errors or omissions and may feature the same content on lxmagazines.com, as well as other mediums for any and all purposes.

Copyright © 2013 LX Publications LLC. All rights reserved. The entire contents of LX® are protected by copyright© and may not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of LX Publications, LLC. Reproduction in whole or in part or storage in any data retrieval system or any transmission by any means therefrom without prior written permission is prohibited. LX® and LX® Magazine are trademarks™ of LX Publications, LLC. 8

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The Story.

The Family.

Blending the finest traditions of old world sensibilities with exquisite contemporary designs, Tacori’s highly regarded works of the jewelry maker’s art are coveted by glitterati appreciative of its unique and distinctive European flair all over the world; familyowned, the Tacori company’s philosophies and traditions have made it legendary within the ranks of the crafters of fine jewelry.

Tacori’s designs are so intricate they defy duplication. Further, its strict marketing standards ensure its products are always presented in the most favorable manner possible. For these reasons and many more, the name Tacori has come to symbolize the absolute finest in presentation, quality, attention to detail and personal customer care.

Capably guided by the strong, yet gentle hand of the company’s founder and family patriarch, Haig Tacorian, Tacori’s fine jewelry brilliantly mirrors the passion guiding the family whose name it bears. Tacorian left Europe with his wife Gilda in 1969 to start a new life in the United States. The principles upon which he founded and guides the company have made it one of the world’s premier brands.

Paul Tacorian, the company’s president of sales and marketing, set the jewelry world on its ear with his innovative, full-page ads featuring achingly beautiful images of the masterworks his family creates. Tacorian’s advertisements were groundbreaking in that they were the first dynamically photographed, full-page, art quality advertisements run by a jewelry concern. So beautiful they could hang in an art gallery, it’s almost laughable today to think this wasn’t being done before he did it.

Nadine Tacorian, the company’s president of operations, fiercely adheres to the standards set for the company, yet simultaneously engenders ever more creative takes on the traditional cues established by Haig Tacorian for the brand. Remarkably, even while inspiring outstanding creativity from the design staff, she has also introduced a myriad of efficiencies to the processes employed in crafting their creations.

Together, in addition to creating and marketing intricately crafted artisan jewelry, the Tacorian family upholds an uncompromising legacy of passionately fusing classic elegance with modern inspiration.

“The Tacorian family upholds an uncompromising legacy of passionately fusing classic elegance with modern inspiration.”

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The Pieces.

It’s been said jewelry tells stories of timeless qualities — stories that transcend time.

In the case of Tacori, this radiates from the aura of heirloom elegance illuminating its progressive styles. Modern, yet traditional, at the core of every Tacori design is the company’s signature crescent halfmoon pattern. The pattern is so distinctive Tacori was granted both a copyright and a trademark for it.

The crescent half-moon is so difficult to duplicate, when one sees it they can be unmistakably assured they are in the presence of an example of Tacori’s artwork.

So timeless are the company’s creations, they just as readily grace the youthful beauty of a woman in her twenties as they do her grandmother. This quality sets Tacori’s heirloom pieces of timeless elegance apart from trendy “here today, gone tomorrow” designs endemic to mainstream fashion jewelry. Imbued with value transcending both time and currency, Tacori’s jewelry is nothing less than a work of fine art a woman can wear.

Always innovating, one of Tacori’s most popular lines is its 18k925 creations rendered in 18-karat gold and the purest sterling silver. The Tacori 18k925 Collection represents a new collection of Tacori design; specifically referring to the 18-karat gold and 925 silver metal combination, which makes these pieces bold, fun and wearable. The new

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18k925 Collection is full of colorful gemstones, stylishly taking iconic glamour and adding a modern Tacori twist.

Tacori’s Dantela Collection beautifully juxtaposes the modern with the traditional and the classic with the unconventional.

A veritable symphony of dazzling design and eye-catching allure, the collection’s name “Dantela” means “lace” in Romanian; a nod to the Tacorian family’s heritage.

Also a singular work unto itself, the Tacori diamond is certified by no less than two external authorities (the GIA and GemEX), in addition to Tacori’s own diamond experts. Fewer than five percent of the diamonds considered by Tacori’s diamond experts make the grade. Because of this, Tacori’s exceptional gemstones carry a titanium-clad guarantee of quality and are certified to be conflict-free. Chosen specifically to mesh in perfect harmony with the company’s designs, few diamonds match the fire and brilliance displayed by a Tacori stone.

Whether it’s engagement or wedding rings, fine jewelry or diamonds, the Tacori name is engraved only after several degrees of rigorous inspection, certification and approvals have been conducted. Only the finest gold, platinum, and diamonds with at least G color and VS clarity will do. Setting aside the overarching beauty of the pieces themselves, these guidelines and processes ensure the transcending desirability of Tacori’s jewelry eternally endures.

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“Paul Tacorian… set the jewelry world on its ear with his innovative, full-page ads”

Design Passion.

From the innovative vision of the designers, to the crafting and polishing of the intricate signature crescent details, the creation of Tacori jewelry takes place under the Tacorian family’s guidance at their design studios in California. Their philosophy of personal care and quality guides every aspect of the process. Each piece is precisely matched to hand-selected gems. If it bears the Tacori name, you can be absolutely assured it has met the rigorous standards of quality and beauty unique to Tacori as established by Haig Tacorian, back in 1969.

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©2013 movado group, inc.

THE BOLD TITANIUMS TIME REVEALS A NEW MASCULINITY. MOVADO BOLD® BRACELET WATCH WITH 46MM TITANIUM CASE. BLUE DIAL/ORANGE ACCENTS. MOVADO.COM

MALSONS JEWELERS 464 86th Street (Between 4th & 5th Avenue), Brooklyn, NY 11209 • 718-491-6666 Kings Plaza, Lower Level, Brooklyn, NY • 718-253-6236 www.malsonsjewelers.com

Elegance...

Without Attitude Malsons Brings Manhattan To Bay Ridge—With A Twist Elegance, as they say, is found in simplicity.

If you ask Morris Esses, he’ll tell you elegance is also found at Malsons Jewelers. And frankly, both notions are correct. Esses’ concept for the Bay Ridge Malsons store is pure simplicity and in so being, it is also exceptionally elegant. His aim was to bring the style, beauty, and service orientation of an upscale Manhattan jewelry boutique to Brooklyn—while leaving the Manhattan attitude on the other side of the bridge.

In his favor was the fact the Malsons staff was already thoroughly interwoven into the fabric of the borough. While the new flagship Malsons store opened for the first time in March of 2012, it had technically already long been a part of the Bay Ridge community. Originally located on the same block, the store was formerly known as Barrington’s Jewelers. When Esses joined forces with Malsons, he brought everyone from Barrington’s with him to the glamorous new location.

Here’s the thing though, while Malsons is new to this neighborhood, the company has been around Brooklyn some 43 years.

Back in 1970, Jack Bibi had a similar idea and opened the first Malsons as one of the founding stores of the King’s Plaza shopping mall. So, while the store itself is new, the name and the people running it have a long history in the area. By combining the neighborhood savvy of the Barrington’s staff with a luxurious atmosphere offering affordable watches, jewelry and gift items, Esses and his partner Ruby Bibi, have brought an exciting new shopping experience to the area.

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“Our goal was to take things to a whole new level for Bay Ridge,” explains Morris Esses. “While we were doing quite well at Barrington’s, we also saw an opening for a store with more distinctive jewelry designs, as well as notable Swiss watch brands such as Rado, Tissot, Gucci, Movado, Raymond Weil and Michele. Additionally, for brides and grooms, we also have the largest selection of bridal jewelry in Brooklyn— featuring top designs by Tacori, Gabriel & Co., Scott Kay and much more.”

Moving into the new location essentially tripled the size of the old Barrington’s store. This presented Esses with an opportunity to represent a much broader selection of offerings. Marked by exceptionally gracious décor, and an upper level presenting enticing giftware by Michael Aram, Lladró, Swarovski and Baccarat, Malsons is a veritable palace filled with exquisite treasures.

And yet, with all the uptown flair, the staff is just as friendly, knowledgeable, and down-to-earth as they were under the Barrington’s banner. Plus, local celebrity jeweler Nabil is still doing his beautiful custom designs, consultations, and fine repairs. With this type of personal attention fostering longstanding relationships, many in the neighborhood consider Malsons their jeweler—as opposed to just another jewelry store.

“In so many ways we’re the same, and yet we now offer so much more than we ever could at the previous location,” says Esses.

“Plus, it just feels good to offer Bay Ridge such an upscale shopping experience.”

It’s that simple, and yes it's elegant too.

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S AY I T W I T H D I A M O N D S .

upgrade. get en ga g ed. res tyle. celeb ra te.

C O M P E T I T I V E LY P R I C E D L O O S E D I A M O N D S .

behind the lens of berry behrendt

By Lyndon Conrad Bell

a tribute to

audrey hepburn

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Photographer Berry Behrendt Styling Wouri Vice Market Editor Ade Samuel Makeup Sonja Yaso Hair Andreas Schoenagel, Artist Management (using EZ Keratin) Photographers Assitant Anna Dilthey Model Rachele Schank, Women Direct, NY

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Berry Behrendt, born in Hamburg, Germany, started his career as a photographer after touring and recording as a musician in Europe for several years. His distinctive style won him considerable demand quite quickly.

In short order, Behrendt received assignments to shoot fashion and beauty spreads for a number of well-known European and American magazines, including German Vogue, Soma, Vibe, Essence and Sunday Telegraph Magazine. Behrendt has also produced images of musical artists such as Missy Elliott, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Moby, Busta Rhymes and Bootsy Collins.

While he maintains a Hamburg office, Behrendt has also lived and worked in New York City since 2001. To learn more about the man, his work and what happens behind the lens of Berry Behrendt, we commissioned him to shoot this series of photographs so we could discuss them with him in detail.

Fashion inspires me, sure, but it’s really more about the personality of the model, which I choose based on the assignment.

- Berry Behrendt

Top Enekyo Pants Gucci Shoes Edmundo

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Dress Blumarine Necklace Fenton Fallon Bracelet Larucci

LX Magazine: Clearly you were going after an Audrey Hepburn theme with this shoot; please describe the process you went through to create these images.

Berry Behrendt: As soon as I learned what we were trying to accomplish, the film Breakfast At Tiffany’s popped into my head and became our theme. With the Hepburn theme, we had a terrific head start because explaining to the stylist, makeup artist and hair stylist what we were going after was very easy. Everybody in fashion knows Audrey Hepburn, so we were off and running in pretty short order.

LX: What did you see in this particular model that made her right for the shoot?

BB: I met Rachele on another shoot I was doing and thought of her right away when this project came up. She has an outgoing personality that works particularly well for what we were going after. She’s very friendly and very lively. Even before this assignment, I had already seen an Audrey Hepburn-esque quality in her. Rachele really made the shoot. In fact I conceived the project with her in mind, so the shoot just sort of evolved around her.

LX: What is the foundation of your photographic approach?

BB: Fashion inspires me, sure, but it’s really more about the personality of the model, which I choose based on the assignment.

My approach is also driven by the theme. You have to make sense of the clothing first, or the jewelry or whatever it is you’re featuring. Beyond that, you just have to impart a particular feel to the images. My overriding goal is to always try to do something interesting with the person I’m shooting. Ultimately, my work is driven more by the person in the image.

LX: These photographs have a very definite look and feel to them, even if I didn’t know you shot them all, I would know they were all shot by the same photographer. In other words, you have a clearly identifiable style. How did you develop it?

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Dress Novis

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BB: Thanks for saying that. Honestly, I’m actually always debating with myself if I truly have a style. These days, there are so many photographers out there; it’s difficult to stand out.

One of the things that concerns me these days is for so many photographers out there now, their work all looks the same. It’s almost as if photographers are becoming somewhat interchangeable to a degree. I’m not saying I’m any better than anyone else, but I really try to make my work look different somehow.

Having been doing this for more than 20 years now, I have learned in most cases the style is dictated by the client. Of course, I like to think the nature of the look I achieve is why my clients come to me. That said, you must have a variety of ways to get there. The main thing is I do what I do, and I make sure I like what I do.

Typically, if I like it, others do too, and this seems to work consistently for me.

Most of all though, I try to have a believable relationship with the model—and see that relationship conveyed in the finished photographs.

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Turtleneck & Pants Moschino Hat Patricia Underwood Necklace Fenton Fallon Earrings W29

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Dress Furne One Gloves Sermoneta Earrings Circa 66

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Fur & Feather Boas Adrianne Landau Gloves Caroline Amato Earrings Fenton Fallon

Hat Patricia Underwood Top Enekyo

LX: What’s your background? Did you study photography formally? How did you decide to become a professional photographer?

BB: Actually, no, I didn’t study photography formally. I was a working musician for a while and started in photography as an assistant for an established photographer to supplement my income. In doing so, I learned enough to take on small assignments on my own. After a couple of years of doing this, people started seeing my work and asking me if I could shoot things for them.

Truthfully, photography just sort of evolved into my career.

LX: Coming up, who were some of the photographers you admired? How did their work influence yours?

BB: Richard Avedon, Cecil Beaton, Irving Penn and many of the other classic photographers have informed my approach. This particular shoot was definitely inspired by Avedon’s work with Audrey Hepburn. There are a number of young contemporary photographers I enjoy as well. And while their work is completely different from mine, I still find inspiration in what they are doing.

LX: What was your first professional assignment?

BB: My first assignment was for the photographer for whom I was assisting. It actually came about by happenstance. He was off skiing in the Swiss Alps when this big catalog shoot came in. He couldn’t get back in time, so I had to shoot it for him. Doing that shoot forced me to take responsibility for producing images for the first time. From doing this, I learned I could take the responsibility—I could actually execute a shoot. When you’re the photographer, it’s your responsibility to make sure everyone on the set is instilled with the confidence the work will turn out well. That shoot was my baptism by fire so to speak.

LX: Describe your dream assignment.

BB: Honestly, every assignment I get is a dream assignment these days. I really love to work. A client who respects what you do and is happy with the pictures you make is the absolute best. This, for me, is a dream assignment. I also like photographing interesting people from a variety of fields; musicians, politicians, actors—fascinating people I’d like to get to know. I suppose that qualifies too. More than anything else though, I really like what I do, so any chance I get to do it is a dream come true.

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A Tradition of Brilliance

By Lyndon Conrad Bell

In September of 1963, the world got its first glimpse of what would become the most successful sports car the planet has ever known. Over seven generations of steady development, the Porsche 911 has continually evolved in a manner in which there can be a straight line drawn between the first Porsche Type 901 show car and today’s Porsche 911 50th Anniversary Model grand touring/sports car.

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When the 911 was initially shown at the 1963 Frankfurt Auto Show, it was called the Porsche Type 901. The people running the French car company Peugeot objected, declaring their company had established the rights to use three-number model designations with a zero in the middle. Rather than get caught up in a prolonged legal battle, Porsche replaced the zero with a one. When the car went on sale in 1964, it was billed as the Porsche 911.

Porsche has applied the principle of continuous evolution to the 911. In other words, rather than remaking the car from scratch every five to seven years, Porsche works to improve some aspect of the car every year, altering its aspects only to improve the performance of the model.

As a result, the overall mechanical layout of the Porsche 911 is essentially the same as it was on that first Type 901 introduced in 1963. Further, the profile of today’s car mimics the original car’s almost perfectly.

In fact, the shape has become so iconic, it is immediately recognizable as a Porsche 911—whether you’re looking at the 1963 car, the 1983 car, the 2003 car or today’s 2013 car. Interestingly though, the 911 is actually an evolution of an even older model, the Porsche 356, which was introduced in 1948. Although truthfully, if you want to go all the way back, both of those cars owe their powertrain layout and overall shape to the Volkswagen Type 1 originated by Dr. Ing. Ferdinand Porsche—the namesake of the company and one of the most prolific automotive engineers of all time. www.lxmagazines.com www.lxmagazine.com

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For the record, it is POR-sha—not “PORSH”.

Porsche is credited with creating the first gasoline electric hybrid automobile; one of the earliest purely electric automobiles; the Volkswagen Beetle; and the Mercedes-Benz SS/SSK range of automobiles—in addition to some of the most formidable racing cars of his time. As remarkable as all of that is, his crowning achievement—the one towering over all of the others— is the creation of the Porsche sports cars.

Except…Ferdinand Porsche didn’t do the 356, nor did he do the 911.

Porsche’s son, Ferry, did the 356 based on the rear-engine/rear-drive Volkswagen Type 1 (also known as the Volkswagen Beetle) his father created to fulfill Adolf Hitler’s desire for an affordable automobile for the German people. So, while we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Porsche 911 this year, the truth

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of the matter is the car’s lineage goes all the way back to 1931.

Development of the actual 911 started in 1956, under the direction of Ferry Porsche. The other people key to the development of the car were Porsche’s automotive stylist son, Butzi Porsche, body engineer, Edwin Komenda and powertrain engineers, Hans Tomala and Ferry’s nephew, Ferdinand Piech—who joined the project in its latter stages to do some finishing work on the engine. Where the 356 used a swing arm rear suspension and a horizontally opposed air-cooled four-cylinder engine mounted behind the passenger compartment, it was decided the 911 would use an independent rear suspension setup to improve handling. For more power, the new car would employ a horizontally opposed air-cooled sixcylinder engine.

From its original displacement of 2.0-liters and 130 horsepower, the 911’s engine has grown to as much as 3.8-liters. Further, it now employs liquid cooling and has produced over 400 horsepower in production applications. Turbocharged racing versions have produced in excess of 1000 horsepower. As much a trademark of the car as the Porsche badge on its nose, the aural signature of the 911’s flat-six engine is uniquely distinctive.

It can be argued quite successfully the Porsche 911 is more than a grand touring/sports car. It is an icon around which a cult-like following has developed. The people who love the 911 are so fanatic about the model they will literally spend hours arguing with other people about the correct pronunciation of the company’s name. For the record, it is POR-sha—not “PORSH”.

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Much has been written and discussed about the secret of the success of the Porsche 911.

To date, in excess of 300 books have been produced about the car. Further, new tomes are published each and every year. The car has been examined from every conceivable angle. However, the answer to the question of the success of the 911 is actually very simple. The Porsche 911 is unique in the automotive world. Like no other automobile, it seamlessly combines opposites. With a 911 you get sportiness and everyday usability, tradition and innovation, exclusivity and social acceptability, design and functionality.

Since 1963, some 820,000 copies of the model have been built over seven generations. More than just the most successful sports car in the world, the Porsche 911 is also the most successful sports racing car human beings have ever known. In addition to competing on racetracks, the 911 has also been modified for rallying purposes and proven quite successful in that area of motorsport as well.

Ferry Porsche described the exceptional versatility of his masterpiece quite succinctly when he said; “The 911 is the only car you can drive from an African safari to Le Mans, then to the theatre, and onto the streets of New York.”

Thanks to its continuous evolution, the Porsche 911 comes just about as close to perfection as any car will ever get.

With that said, the next one will be even better, and the one following it will be even better still. What we have in the 2013 Porsche 911 is the culmination of everything the world’s most successful sports car company has ever learned about building cars—all contained in one model.

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SIGNATURE

By Nichole Odijk DeMario

There is nothing like holiday recipes, those that stay nestled in recipe boxes or in cookbooks reserved for that special time of the year.

When bar professional, Tony Abou-Ganim was selected to create the cocktail program at the Bellagio Las Vegas in 1998, he made sure to include something unique to commemorate the holidays—Hot Buttered Rum. “I wanted to create a signature holiday drink that would be served every year at every bar and with luck it would become a Bellagio holiday tradition," said Abou-Ganim. “I feel creating special traditions are a huge part of properly celebrating the holidays.” Abou-Ganim, whose accomplishments include, but not limited to: author of The Modern Mixologist: Contemporary Classic Cocktails among other titles, three time winner of Iron Chef America and one of two Americans to win the Bacardi Martini World Grand Prix.

Hot Buttered Rum Serves 10 to 12

Batter ingredients: 1 pound light brown sugar 16 tablespoons (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature 2 teaspoons cinnamon 1 to 2 teaspoons allspice Freshly grated nutmeg 2 teaspoons vanilla extract Each drink: 1 – ½ ounce rum, preferably Mount Gay Eclipse Boiling water, as needed

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Beat together the brown sugar, butter, spices and vanilla extract until well combined. Refrigerate in an airtight, resealable container until ready to use. When ready to prepare drinks, combine two heaping tablespoons of the batter and rum in a warmed coffee mug. Add boiling water, fill to the top and mix well. Serve with a spoon.

Notes: Must be served steaming hot, not lukewarm. For a non-alcoholic option, omit rum.

It is best to make the batter in advance so the spices have an opportunity to mingle. Be sure to remove the batter from the refrigerator at least six hours before serving to allow it to soften. Batter may be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 1 month or frozen for up to 2 months.

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photo: Tony Abou-Ganim www.lxmagazines.com

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Photo: Hedy Goldsmith

Maple Flan Serves 8

Ingredients: 3 cups heavy cream, at room temperature ¼ teaspoon kosher salt 1 vanilla bean, split 2/3 cup sugar 1 cup maple syrup, preferably Grade B earl amber 7 extra large egg yolks, room temperature

Hedy Goldsmith, who among her many accolades, is a 2012 and 2013 James Beard Award Finalist for Outstanding Pastry Chef, author of Baking Out Loud: Fun Desserts with Big Flavors and guest on Iron Chef America. She loves adding an element of surprise to her holiday desserts.

In a large saucepan, bring the maple syrup to a boil over medium heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low, simmer for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the syrup is reduced to ¾ cup. Keep an eye on the pot; reduce the heat if the syrup threatens to boil over.

“I love creating non-traditional, unexpected holiday desserts.

Maple Flan is a great one that can be made well in advance. It’s flavor-forward and plays beautifully in the sandbox with figs, apples, pears, grapes, chestnuts and chocolate,” Goldsmith says.

Slide the pan of cream off the heat, fish out the vanilla beans and slowly add the cream to the caramel whisking until blended.

Position an oven rack in the center of the oven, and preheat the oven to 300 degrees. In a medium saucepan, combine the heavy cream and salt. Scrape all the seeds from the vanilla bean and add to the saucepan along with the bean. Cook over medium heat until just simmering, about 4 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat, cover and set aside for at least 30 minutes.

Arrange eight, 6-ounce ramekins in a baking dish that has 2-inch high sides.

In a small saucepan, combine the sugar and 3 tablespoons of water and cook over low height, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is dissolved and the liquid is clear. Increase the heat to medium high and boil without stirring, 3 - 5 minutes, or until the sugar begins to turn golden brown. Gently swirl the pan over the heat to even out the color and cook for 2 - 3 minutes longer or until the sugar turns deep amber. Carefully and quickly pour the liquid evenly into the ramekins, swirling each one to cover the bottom completely.

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In a medium bowl, whisk the egg yolks until blended. While whisking constantly, slowly pour the warm maple mixture into the egg yolks until blended.

Pour the custard through a fine mesh strainer into a clean bowl.

Pour the custard into the prepared ramekins in their baking pan. Put the baking pan into the oven, and carefully fill it with very hot water halfway up the sides of the ramekins.

Tightly cover the pan with foil and bake for 45 to 55 minutes, or until the center of the custard jiggles slightly when the ramekin is shaken.

Carefully transfer the baking pan to a wire rack, uncover the pan and let the flans cool completely at room temperature.

Remove the ramekins from the water bath and cover them with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 8 hours or up to 2 days.

To serve, run a thin knife around the edge of the custards and invert them onto small serving plates.

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Gift Guide Malsons Jewelers

GETANA & CO

MICHELE

14K Yellow Gold Emerald Ring .18 CT $1,295 14K Yellow Gold Emerald Earrings .70 CT $1,995

Ladies ‘CSX’ Diamond Bezel Chronograph $2,395

MICHELE Ladies Serein 100 Diamond Moon Phase Stars $1,995

MICHELE

GETANA & CO

Ladies Deco Day Diamond Chronograph $1,995

14K White Gold Amethyst .66 CT Earrings $1,795 Pendant $1,195 36

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MOVADO Men's BOLD watch, Stainless Steel Case and Bacelet, Silver-toned Dial with Rose Gold-toned Accentsl $495

MOVADO Men's BOLD watch, Stainless Steel Case, Black Dial with Electric Blue Accents $350

MOVADO Mid-size BOLD watch, Yellow Gold Ion-plated Stainless Steel Case, Yellow Gold-toned Dial $495

MOVADO Men's Serio watch, Stainless Steel Case and Link Bracelet, Black Museum速 Dial $995

ALEX AND ANI Gold and Silver Charm Bracelets

MOVADO Ladies Bold Chronograph Mirror Bezel Silver Dial $750

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TACORI 18K Gold Diamond Crescent Frame Pendant $2,200

TACORI Sterling Lilac Blossom Amethyst Pendant $290

TACORI Sterling Lilac Blossom Amethyst Ring Sterling Lilac Blossom Rose Amethyst Ring $760 each

TACORI Ribbon Twisted Engagement Ring* $5,130

TACORI Royal T Collection Enagagement Ring* $11,900

TACORI 18K Wedding Band $6,670

TACORI Crescent 18K Engagement Ring* $7,280

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*center diamond not included

18K White Gold Diamond Cross Pendant .53 CT $1,595 14K White Gold Chain (Priced with Pendant)

18K Diamond Earrings 2.76 CT $3,295

18K White Gold Diamond Earrings 5.00 CT $7,995 14K Yellow Gold Diamond Earrings .87 CT $995 18K White Gold Diamond Pendant 1.20 CT $1,695

14K White Gold Tanzanite Ring .64 CT $3,995

18K Diamond Ring 2.15 CT $3,295

18K White Gold Sapphire Bracelet 3.65 CT $3,995

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SWAROVSKI Cross Pendant $140

SWAROVSKI Vita Large Crystal Pendant $220 Vita Crystal Earrings $125

SWAROVSKI Tennis Bracelet $145

MARC JACOBS Ladies Henry Glitz Stainless Steel $200

MICHAEL KORS Ladies Darci Glitz Stainless Steel $275

MICHAEL KORS Ladies Chronograph Pressley Stainless Steel $275

SWAROVSKI Slake Lilac Bracelet $70 40

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14K Wedding Band 2.64 CT $7,495

18K Yellow Diamond Engagement Ring 2.67 CT $12,995

14K Engagement Ring 2.00cttw $2,595

14K Engagement Ring 1.34 CT $3,495

14K Engagement Ring 2.90 CT $4,995 18K Engagement Ring 1.34 CT $2,995

Engagement Ring 1.00 CT $1,495

14K Wedding Band 3.75 CT $7,995

18K Engagement Ring 1.34 CT $2,995 www.lxmagazines.com

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GUCCI Men’s Steel Chronograph $1,680

RAYMOND WEIL Mens Tango Grey Dial Roman Numerals $1,395

GUCCI Ladies Silver Dial Stainless Steel $750

RAYMOND WEIL Ladies Noemia Mother Pearl Face Diamond Dial $1,050

RADO Men’s Centrix Jubile Ceramic Mini $1,500

TISSOT Men’s Chronograph Black Dial Stainless Steel $575

RADO

TISSOT Men’s T-Race Analog Digital Rubber $575 42

Men’s True Black Ceramic Bracelet $1,100

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Moments in Time on Luxury Piano All photos courtesty of Piano Solutions XXI

When Guennadi “Gene” Korolev established Piano Solutions XXI, he had a new vision for piano restoration. He wanted to build a “one-man shop” and be able to restore a piano from start to finish. Gene dedicated his whole life to perfecting the restoration process and now has the most innovative and technologically advanced shop in the industry.

In February of 2012, Gene, along with his daughter Katherine Banyasz, began working together on a custom piano project — dubbed “New York Serenade” — featuring the most advanced technology and use of new materials on a piano. While Gene used his scientific background and great knowledge in piano technology, Katherine provided her creative input and knowledge in arts and design. www.lxmagazines.com

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The New York Serenade is adorned with 164,000 cubic zirconia stones; with every stone inserted by hand into the piano case.

They selected Steinway and Sons unique model A-III for this challenging custom piano project.

As a tribute to the Swing years in America, the artistic inspiration for New York Serenade, according to Katherine, came from the periods of the 1920's to the 1940's, when the Art Deco movement and the Swing era of jazz and big bands flourished in New York City.

This custom piano is adorned with 164,000 cubic zirconia stones that sparkle with various intensity, showcasing nostalgic imagery of New York City’s familiar places like Grand Central Station, The Cotton Club, Brooklyn Bridge, Central Park and of course Steinway Hall. The lid shows the New York Skyline and a magical moon shining over the Hudson River. The designs continue thoughout the piano with overlapping images. The mystical floral-like patterns bring together images to one magnifying effect.

The soundtrack also transmits wireless on a home theatre system or highresolution sound system that enables this piano to produce the effect of a full symphony orchestra or a live jazz band entertaining.

One of the most important innovations in this piano design is a trapwork made from aircraft aluminum with ballbearings in rotating points of the moving mechanism. The friction and durability of this trapwork surpasses any existing trapwork on the market today.

New York Serenade is a piano made for someone with great taste for luxury, art and design. A piano that will serenade you and take you to a new world of music and elegance.

Every stone was inserted by hand into the piano case, and took the fatherdaughter duo 16 months to put into place.

In addition, this piano also comes with seamless installation for Live-Performance Model LX, a high resolution sound reproducing system, with sustain and shift proportional operating pedals. A completely wireless operation with using an iPad.

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BEST NEW

HOTELS

By Martin Sayers

The world may still be in the grip of recession but the globe’s leading hoteliers don’t seem to have noticed. A range of high-end resorts across the world have recently opened and offer no compromise in terms of location or facilities.

Palais Namaskar - Morocco Palais Namaskar in Marrakech is one of the newest pretenders to the title of Morocco's most luxurious hotel. This spectacular Moorish building is nestled between the Atlas Mountains and Djebilet Hills, and offers immaculately kept grounds studded with lakes, ponds and scented gardens, as well as a variety of outdoor baths, heated swimming pools and Jacuzzis.

Rooms, suites and villas are available for booking, as well as two multibedroomed ‘palaces’ that include private kitchens, swimming pools and 24hour butler service. The hotel even has its own liveried private jet that is on hand to collect guests from any airport around the world and fly them directly to Marrakech.

Palais Namaskar

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Hotel Burj Al Arab

Hotel Burj Al Arab

Hotel Burj Al Arab - Dubai

This new hotel in the billionaire’s playground of Dubai has been designed to resemble a billowing sail and at around 700 feet tall, dominates the skyline.

The 28 double-story floors of the hotel accommodate 202 luxury suites, with prices ranging from $1,000 to over $28,000 per night. Chauffeur driven RollsRoyces are on offer to all guests and each floor of the towering structure boasts its own reception desk, while a team of butlers provides 24-hour service. Private shoppers are on hand to ensure that guests can benefit from Dubai’s legendary shopping scene without leaving the resort and the hotel, which features six signature restaurants and its own private beach.

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The Shangri-La at The Shard - London

London’s most anticipated luxury hotel opening for many years has been legendary Hong Kong hotelier Shangri-La’s contribution to the incredible skyscraper known as ‘The Shard’. This new building, designed by architect Renzo Piano, is the tallest in Europe standing 70 stories tall and is scheduled to open this fall.

The hotel is the first new-build, five-star hotel in the Central London area in over a decade. With 202 deluxe guest rooms, averaging more than 452 sq. ft., The Shard will be amongst the largest in the city — introducing a new standard of ‘suite-style’ accommodation to the British capital.

Facilities include a Champagne bar situated on level 52, which boasts spectacular views over the River Thames and the city of London.

The Shard

Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti - Tanzania

Set in the heart of Tanzania’s famous Serengeti National Park, this property has a collection of rooms, suites and private villas that enjoy views over unspoiled wilderness. The setting offers guests the opportunity to get close to wildlife in a safe and ecologically responsible environment while still enjoying the height of luxury.

Four Seasons Safari Lodge

Featuring contemporary African architecture sympathetic to the natural landscape, the centerpiece is a two-story great house that offers several dining options with indoor and outdoor seating, which is connected to guest accommodations and a spa by elevated wooden walkways. The hotel’s large infinity pool overlooks an active watering hole that is regularly visited by a herd of elephants.

St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort

St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort - USA

Heralded as the ‘most anticipated luxury hotel opening of 2012,’ the new St. Regis resort in Miami is certainly an attractive option for anyone who wants to vacation in Florida.

Each of the hotel’s 243 rooms and suites features glassenclosed balconies that offer floor-to-ceiling panoramic views of the beach and ocean beyond. The location doesn’t get any better as far as Miami is concerned as the hotel is perched oceanside in the exclusive Bal Harbour district, directly adjacent to the world renowned Bal Harbour Shops and just minutes from the buzz and vibrancy of South Beach.

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Ballyfin - Ireland

Nestled at the foot of Ireland’s Slieve Bloom Mountains, Ballyfin is a Regency-era mansion that was once the family-seat of the Cootes family before being run as a school. After falling into disrepair, the site was bought by developers and the house underwent eight years of meticulous restoration before opening as one of Ireland’s most luxurious hotels in 2011.

Just fifteen guest rooms are contained within this huge house, which boast 600-acres of parkland containing a lake, ancient woodland, garden buildings, follies and grottoes.

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The Alpina Gstaad The Alpina Gstaad

The Alpina Gstaad – Switzerland

This luxury hideaway in the heart of the Swiss Alps represents the first luxury hotel to be built in the exclusive ski resort of Gstaad for over 100 years. Although new, the hotel has been built in traditional Swiss style, with all the stonework handcrafted by local stonemasons. Alpine herbs and flowers have been planted in the lush gardens that surround the property.

The Alpina boasts attractions such as a wine tasting room, a cigar room, a private cinema and a 25-meter indoor lap pool, while its spectacular location ensures incredible views of the surrounding mountains from every room. The hotel will also host the first Western European location of the renowned Japanese restaurant MEGU.

Palace Hotel Tokyo – Japan

This contemporary Japanese hotel occupies the most enviable position in Tokyo – right next to the moat that guards the Imperial Palace, home of the Japanese royal family. The 23-story property cost $900 million to build and the 290 guest rooms are all built on the palace side of the building to offer uninterrupted views across the Imperial gardens.

Palace Hotel Tokyo

Guests can also avail themselves of seven restaurants, the first Evian spa in Japan and an in-house shopping mall that features seventeen high-end retail outlets.

Palace Hotel Tokyo

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Amanzoe - Greece

The Amanzoe is perched on Greece’s Peloponnese peninsula and boasts 38 guest pavilions that are all built on different levels to ensure privacy and allow for uninterrupted views across the sparkling Aegean. Each pavilion has its own courtyard featuring marble walls and a private terrace, while guests also have access to the hotel’s private beach, as well as restaurants, a library and an art gallery.

Dusit Thani - Maldives

New hotel openings tend to go unnoticed in the tourist Mecca of the Maldives but the Dusit Thani Maldives is something special. Encircled by a reef that supports an abundance of marine life this exclusive resort is housed on its own private island and is also close to Hanifaru Huraa — a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve renowned as a feeding ground for manta rays and whale sharks.

The complex also boasts the largest swimming pool in the Maldives, while guests are able to enjoy a unique spa experience thanks to the Devarana Spa, which features six treetop treatment pods nestled amongst the leaves high above the island.

Amanzoe

Dusit Thani Maldives

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Documenting Genius Architectural Photographer Pedro E. Guerrero

By Lyndon Conrad Bell

Faced with the prospects of a future career as a bilingual clerk at a department store or a carryout boy at a supermarket, 20-year old Pedro Guerrero left his childhood home in Mesa, Arizona to learn a craft at which he would be accepted for who he was, rather than what he looked like. His quest took him to Los Angeles, where he enrolled in the Art Center College of Design.

Fate has a way of leading us to our destinies, and for young Pedro, fate chose the path of photographer.

Without a hint the field would become a passion for him, Guerrero enrolled in photography classes there, largely because he had no experience in any of the disciplines offered. Well, that and all the other classes were full. Guerrero says after exposing his first roll of film, developing it and printing his first image, he knew photography was what he’d be doing for the rest of his life.

ve uerrero Archi © Pedro E. G

Thanks to that realization, we have some of the most beautifully crafted and carefully detailed photographic images of some of the 20th century’s most gifted American architects— including Frank Lloyd Wright—but we’re getting ahead of ourselves.

In 1939, Frank Lloyd Wright hired 22-year-old Pedro Guerrero as his resident photographer, the start of a collaborative bond that would last until Wright’s death in 1959.

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Guerrero studied photography at the Art Center; however by his own admission, he was in all probability, the worst student the school ever had. The Art Center College of Design was geared for commercial artists, and while Guerrero ultimately became quite celebrated for his commercial work, he was more intrigued by art photography. In fact, an administrator at the school once told him that even though Guerrero had come there to learn, he was defying the school to teach him.

Whether Guerrero was already aware of his own path, a rebellious individual, or a combination of the two is difficult to say. But ultimately, he became disillusioned with the school.

After studying there for only two years, Guerrero returned to his home in Arizona. Still working with his cameras, but moping around the family home, Guerrero’s father—who had been following the career of Frank Lloyd Wright—suggested young Pedro go to see Wright and inquire as to his needs for photographic services.

Guerrero knew very little about Wright, other than the fact he was an architect. Further, Guerrero knew very little about architecture.

He had seen a photograph of Wright, and he had also seen a photograph of Wright’s Pennsylvania house, “Fallingwater”.

But other than that, he really didn’t know much about the man.

This, as it turned out, was quite fortunate.

© Pedro E. Guerrero Archive Guerrero photographed Mr. Wright taking a tea break at his exhibition Sixty Years of Living Architecture in New York City in 1953.

Guerrero said if he’d had an inkling of how accomplished Wright really was, he would have been embarrassed to go see him. So it was a highly inexperienced and wholly unaccomplished 22-year old Pedro Guerrero introduced himself to Frank Lloyd Wright—one of America’s most revered architects—as a photographer.

Which, by the way was the first time he’d ever introduced himself that way in his life. However, it wouldn’t be the last.

With an extremely thin portfolio—but excellent timing— Guerrero was invited to come in and show Wright what he could do. By his own admission, Guerrero had the world’s worst portfolio. The school had tried to train Guerrero to be a commercial artist, but he had focused on fine art instead.

Because of this, his portfolio contained such jewels as an image of a girl and a dog, as well as a dead pelican on the beach with a beer can.

Fortunately though, Guerrero had also done quite a bit of artistic female nude work, which intrigued Wright. The two developed a rapport and within 15 minutes Wright had invited Guerrero to start work—that very day. What Guerrero didn’t know at the time was Wright’s previous photographer had just eloped with one of the apprentices, leaving Wright without photographic services.

© Pedro E. Guerrero Archive Mr. Wright appeared without shaving for this portrait in 1947. Guerrero had to move the camera back to conceal his stubble.

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With a charge to photograph everything he saw on the site, because everything there was important to Wright, Guerrero was hired as Frank Lloyd Wright’s photographer. An almost unbelievable situation, Guerrero’s good fortune really demonstrates the extreme value of timeliness—as well as being willing to work for very little money.

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Guerrero said Wright told him the pay wasn’t much, but he could live at Taliesin West and use Wright’s camera. Guerrero later found out the pay wasn’t anything, but he said it didn’t matter—after all, look where he was. Working for Wright was the equivalent of getting a postgraduate degree in commercial photography.

Interestingly though, the direction Wright gave Guerrero was very minimal. All he told Guerrero was he wanted to recognize the work as his own. Wright eschewed bird’s eye views, worm’s eye views, and abstract views. He wanted to see the work the way he drew it. Given Wright drew from a sitting position, this meant Guerrero shot from eye level more often than not. Further, as much as possible, he shot Wright’s designs in their entirety because Wright wanted to see as much of the architecture as possible in one shot.

© Pedro E. Guerrero Archive Taliesin West: This was one of Guerrero most dramatic photographs of Taliesin West. This 1940 view of the drafting studio shows the extravagance of the reflecting pool, designed to add both beauty and utility.

After Mr. Wright’s death, Architectural Forum assigned Guerrero to photograph the house in Bethesda, Maryland, he had designed for his son, Robert, in 1953. © Pedro E. Guerrero Archive

David Wright’s house in Phoenix © Pedro E. Guerrero Archive

Fortunately, this nicely dovetailed with Guerrero’s vision, so he found Wright quite easy to please. For Guerrero, the buildings were essentially large sculptures and he photographed them on that basis.

© Pedro E. Guerrero Archive Shot in 1947 for a House and Garden feature, this photograph never appeared because Mr. Wright did not have enough other postwar work to show.

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When World War II started, Guerrero served as a photographer for the Army Air Corps. Upon returning, he resumed his work with Wright. However, his photography had by then also attracted the attention of a number of other architects—as well as fine artists. Sculptors Louise Nevelson and Alexander Calder commissioned Guerrero to document their works, as did architects Philip Johnson and Marcel Breuer.

Still, out of loyalty to the man who gave him his first break, Guerrero avoided working for a lot of different architects until after Wright died in 1959.

A number of prominent magazines also gave Guerrero assignments based on his work with Wright. These included Architectural Forum and Harper’s Bazaar, as well as House and Garden. He also authored a number of books—among them; Picturing Wright: An Album from Frank Lloyd Wright’s Photographer and Pedro E. Guerrero: A Photographer’s Journey.

In 1962, Guerrero traveled to Cambridge, Massachusetts, to photograph the functional kitchen of the fabled Julia Child.

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Swathed in her plaid shirt, Indian vest and trademark scarf, sculptor, Louise Nevelson gazes at her artwork.

Alexander Calder posed with a stabile named Sabot (French for shoe) in 1976 in front of his huge Saché studio.

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Jazz Trio 13 3/4" x 11 3/4" Limited edition of 3,000

THERE IS POWER IN POSITIVITY The Uplifting Qualities of Alex and Ani Jewelry

By Lyndon Conrad Bell

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As many philosophers and students of human nature have noted, positive things happen to positive people. Those observing the success of Carolyn Rafaelian’s Alex and Ani brand and wondering how she did it would do well to witness her eternally sunny, almost infinite sense of joy. One of the most positive people you’ll ever meet, Rafaelian’s spiritual philosophies are vividly reflected in her jewelry line.

Rafaelian sincerely believes every individual has a positive message to share with the world. By incorporating powerful symbolism and designs into each Alex and Ani (+) ENERGY piece, Rafaelian’s jewelry lines provide a vehicle for the wearer to express their individuality in an organic, spiritual way— while being simultaneously enlightened and uplifted by the experience.

Remarkably, it all begins before the jewelry is even created.

One of Rafaelian’s guiding qualities is her devotion to her local roots. The company’s tagline “Made in America—with Love” is actually short for “Made in Rhode Island, my home state and where my family has always done business, because I believe in doing right by my roots. Which is also why I source all of the materials I use locally, and employ as many Rhode Island vendors as possible to support my endeavors.”

But that would take up way too much room on the packages.

Seriously though, Rafaelian based her company in Cranston, Rhode Island, where her father also established the Cinerama jewelry manufacturing concern back in 1966. In those days, Rhode Island was known as the “Jewelry Capital Of The World” because so many jewelry manufacturers were located in the state. Over time, with the rise of outsourcing, the vast majority of those companies were driven out of business—along with the ancillary enterprises supporting them. With Alex and Ani, it is Rafaelian’s intention to bring as much jewelry work as possible back home to Rhode Island.

What’s more, even when she was designing and manufacturing jewelry for large retailers like Bebe, Express, Victoria’s Secret and Chico’s, Rafaelian always insisted upon having all of the work done in America. And, as much as possible, in her home state of Rhode Island. Because of Alex and Ani’s success, the vendors she currently works with have had to hire additional people, as well as add more shifts to their operations. In essence, Rafaelian is responsible, in a very big way, for bringing positive energy back to the industry her state once owned lock, stock and barrel.

Alex and Ani’s signature product is its collection of bangle bracelets. Produced with an innovative expandable design, they adjust to fit every wrist. Adorned with charms promoting consciousness and unity, and built in an environment of love, trust and joy, Alex and Ani bracelets are said to infuse a spirit of positivity into their wearers. Walking through the Alex and

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Ani manufacturing facility, you’ll see ladies who have been working there practically forever, happily crafting the pieces and taking immense pride in their work. The atmosphere is one of joyous serenity, and all of that love goes directly into the jewelry.

Further, the vast majority of the bracelets are fitted with charms and inspirational words reflecting spiritual undertones, all of which are designed to give the wearer a spiritual lift. In addition to being infused with love and positive energy, Alex and Ani products are also highly eco-conscious. All of the Alex and Ani jewelry is made from sustainable recycled materials from Rhode Island mills.

Named for Rafaelian’s two oldest daughters, Alex and Ani the company is enjoying spectacular growth. Under the stewardship of CEO Giovanni Feroce, a former U.S. Army major and a former Rhode Island state senator, Alex and Ani has evolved from a reasonably successful jewelry manufacturer into a lifestyle juggernaut. Feroce’s long-term goal is to see Alex and Ani become a total lifestyle brand like Ralph Lauren.

To that end, a number of loosely related companies have been brought into the Alex and Ani fold, all of which serve to promote one another through cross marketing.

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®

Teas and Javas is the coffee bar concept, each of which can typically be found near one of the Alex and Ani boutique locations.

By the way, the company plans to have 57 boutiques open from Massachusetts to California by the beginning of 2014. The Seven Swords media company was brought into the Alex and Ani portfolio of companies to produce the organization’s media, as well as do work for other companies—including an innovative Alex and Ani Super Bowl ad for local TV markets.

Alex and Ani University, originally founded for Alex and Ani employees, is now taking on individuals from other companies— essentially turning the firm’s training department into a profit center. And then there’s Carolyn’s Sakonnet Vineyards, producing some 13 varietals of wines. In the works are lines of cosmetics, home furnishings, and apparel. If this is the first time you’ve ever heard of Alex and Ani, rest assured, you’ll be hearing a lot more about the company very soon.

Offered alongside the standard line of Alex and Ani (+) ENERGY jewelry, Rafaelian also has a jewelry line called Charity by Design, which produces exclusive pieces for specific philanthropic causes in support of their efforts. Charity by Design enables non-profit organizations to reach their goals with innovative, creative designs. Proceeds from the Charity by Design Line are donated directly to each organization, empowering them to contribute to the lives of others, and make the world a better place.

Underlying all of this is Carolyn Rafaelian’s deep belief in spirituality, positivity, and responsible business practices. She has made it her life’s work to support communities and organizations, while inspiring her customers to relish what is unique and authentic about themselves—and in turn revealing the beauty residing within themselves.

It is said simply wearing a piece of Alex and Ani jewelry makes you feel better.

Carolyn Rafaelian is living proof of the power in positivity.

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©2013 movado group, inc.

DEREK JETER, HUMANITARIAN, LEADER, ATHLETE. SERIES 800® PERFORMANCE STEEL™ BRACELET CHRONOGRAPH WITH 42MM CASE, BLACK ALUMINUM TACHYMETER BEZEL. MOVADO.COM

MALSONS JEWELERS 464 86th Street (Between 4th & 5th Avenue), Brooklyn, NY 11209 • 718-491-6666 Kings Plaza, Lower Level, Brooklyn, NY • 718-253-6236 www.malsonsjewelers.com

New York Fashion Week Street Style Influencing Consumers More than Runway Shows

Photos by UsTrendy

A new trend has emerged at New York Fashion Week and its not the clothing on the runway! More and more people are looking beyond the runway to the attendees' street style.

Street Style is influencing consumers more than ever and its apparent at New York Fashion Week. With "street style" being a trending topic through social sites, like instagram, showing your style has proved to be a new shopping trend.

Online retailers, including UsTrendy.com have seen significant increasees in sales from "Street Style" marketing and promotions. CEO and Founder Sam Sisakhti, states: "We have seen a surge in products that have a street style photo.

It's almost as if customers are seeing themselves wearing the products in real life with the look and style of the photos. With brick walls, city skylines and outdoor product backgrounds, customers can envision living in these clothes."

All attendees of New York Fashion Week show their street style and dress to impress. Consumers are not only interested in what the models are wearing, but are also looking for what the attendees are wearing, showing that New York Fashion week has more influence than just what's on the runway!

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ART OF DECO DiAmOnD, DiAmOnD DiAl On DiAmOnD TAPER BRACElET

serein 16 diamond

Bay Ridge | 464 86th Street | 718.491.6666 Kings Plaza | Lower Level | 718.253.6236