September 2013
Rolando Santana measures up with style and sizzle
Rag time Peek into Aerin Lauder’s fab world • Elena Rosenberg has us in stitches • Custom couture close to home • Ripening on the Vineyard Vines • Headstrong fashion: China’s battle of the pigtail
Meredith Frederick
MF facebook.com/WoodrowJewelers
september 2013
LIFE WITH A SYNCOPATED BEAT • 14
once more, with feeling • 42
CHINA’S BATTLE OF THE PIGTAIL • 16
we knew her when • 44
TIFFANY’S HEAVENLY BLUES • 20
lovin’ the lovie • 46
THE FABRIC OF LIFE • 22
living the dream • 47
SIMPLY DI-VINE • 26
northern lights • 55
LEADING LADY • 30
art, fashion find a home • 58
GET THE LOOK: MICHAEL KORS • 34 GOLDEN GIRL • 38
As a child in Belarus, Elena Rosenberg learned to knit from her mother. Now Rosenberg takes the finest wools in the world and applies her own artistic skills to create one-ofa-kind wearable fiber art. She will bring the hand-knit fashions and accessories from her Scarsdale studio to Tarrytown this month as she exhibits at Crafts at Lyndhurst. For more on Rosenberg and her work, see page 22. Photograph by Bob Rozycki. 2
aprilmarin’s next steps • 60 men suit up • 68
Real hope. Is there any truer, greater expression of hope than to bring a child into the world? To look into a baby’s eyes is to experience pure optimism, pure joy. But for that miracle to happen, sometimes you need a little bit of hope yourself. At Greenwich Hospital, we understand. Greenwich Fertility and Medical Group offers comprehensive fertility care, providing state-of-the-art treatment in an environment known for personalized attention and compassionate support. If you want to have a baby, we’re here to help. To find a physician affiliated with Greenwich Hospital, please call 203.863.3627 or visit our website at greenwichhospital.org/maternity.
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10 Waggers 12 Editor’s letter Cover photograph by Bob Rozycki.
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Four Hudson Valley Hospital Center patients with very different stories. April gave birth to twins. Ronna had hip and knee replacement. Debbie was a patient in our No-Wait ER. Neil was treated for prostate cancer in our new comprehensive cancer center. But what they all share is a passion for the higher level of care they received here. A kind of care we call...
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I live life to a syncopated beat – literally. Like millions of fortunate people, my heart has a strong, regular rhythm. But also like them, every once and a while it kicks in a premature beat. And that anticipation is a kind of syncopation. Of course, we all move to a fascinating syncopated rhythm culturally. It’s what’s driven our music since the push-pull rhythms of ragtime first beguiled at the dawn of the 20th century. This month we salute the music that enjoyed a renaissance in the 1970s, inspiring an acclaimed E.L. Doctorow novel that was born in the same city WAG was, New Rochelle. But if you know us – and we know you do – then you know our “Rag” Time issue is really about something more, in this case the “rag” business or fashion industry. WAG Country, of course, is no stranger to fashion – either to those making it, like Wilton’s Sarah Phillips, who designed Hillary Clinton’s first inaugural gown and is plunging back into the biz after a hiatus. Or those wearing it, like former WAG editor Emily Liebert, who’s launching lines of jewelry, dresses and nail polish to accompany her debut novel “You Knew Me When.” Among the rising stars in the fashion world is our cover subject, Rolando Santana, whose artistic yet approachable cocktail dresses are featured this season at Neiman Marcus, The Westchester in White Plains, where he first dreamed of being a designer. For these, Santana drew on John Chamberlain’s contemporary metallic sculptures. But for his spring collection, which bows during Fashion Week this month, Santana took his cue from the boldly colored, symbolic portraiture of Frida Kahlo. It’s a reminder of the continuing love affair between fashion and art. Other reminders include wearable fiber art by Scarsdale’s Elena Rosenberg, who brings her handmade knitwear to Crafts at Lyndhurst in Tarrytown later this month, and Art to Wear Too in Cold Spring, a boutique where the clothes and accessories are as creative as the objets d’art that surround them. The fashion-art connection is but one trend you’ll be seeing a lot of this season. Others include variations on the jeans theme – and to go right along with them – tough-tender bomber and biker jackets that let you tap into your inner Maverick (think “Top Gun”) or Brando or Dean. Red, the new black, is everywhere – sometimes starkly, sometimes subtly. It threads some of the fine bedding you’ll
find this fall at the Lexington Clothing Co. in Greenwich. Luxurious cashmeres and velvets notwithstanding, Lexington is all about extending summer into fall this year with crisp, nautical linens and bedding. So, too, is Tiffany & Co., whose Beyond the Sea Collection shimmers with Montana sapphires, teal tourmalines and creamy pearls. But when it comes to extending the soft season few do it more stylishly than the guys from Vineyard Vines. Shep and Ian Murray, who live in Greenwich and run their business out of Stamford, keep the Martha’s Vineyard vibe going with colorful, fun, marine-themed shirts, shorts and ties, just for starters. And when you think about it, isn’t that what the ragtime rhythm of September’s song is all about? Yes, we want to fall in love with autumn. But we still want to let summer linger. Just a bit. Editor’s note: This month we give a special shout out to Audrey Ronning Topping, who’ll be writing for us regularly. This month she writes on a time when fashion was lethal, “The Battle of the Pigtail.” For WAG’s October “Extremities,” Audrey will write about the controversial Chinese art of foot-binding. It’s an issue all about hands, feet and feats. We’re sure Rex Ryan will love it.
Oops! On Page 42 of WAG’s August “S’wellness” issue, we did a not-soswell thing, misspelling Chris Evert’s last name. Yes, we know. But hey, we got it right on Page 40. So does that mean we’re 1 for 2, to mix a sports metaphor?
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Life with a syncopated beat By Georgette Gouveia
T
his is the story of how a house, a city and particularly a musical form inspired a novel that in turn became a movie and a musical, bringing the story full circle. E.L. Doctorow based his seminal 1975 novel “Ragtime” not only on the city in which he lived, New Rochelle, but on his home in the spacious Forest Heights neighborhood. “The book opens with the house in this neighborhood,” says Barbara Davis, city historian and community relations coordinator for the New Rochelle Public Library, where Doctorow, then a professor of writing at Sarah Lawrence College in Yonkers, did much of his research. “In the early 20th century, New Rochelle had become one of the premier suburbs. The men worked in the city and would come home to these lovely houses and parkland. What a lovely time to be writing about. It was a period of such transition.” That transition was marked by, but not limited to, an influx of Eastern European immigrants, racial tensions and self-determination for women. If “Ragtime” seems timeless, it is partly because these are is14
sues we still grapple with today. The 20th century’s dawn was also a time when the Industrial Revolution kicked into another gear, giving rise to the tabloid media, says Theresa Leghorn, vice president of the New Rochelle Council on the Arts and former director of the Museum of Arts & Culture, where she and Davis curated an exhibit on “Ragtime” in 2008 as part of New Rochelle’s continuing “One City, One Book” program. Writing about a time when the newfangled tabloids fed and were fed by celebrity, Doctorow chose to tell his story in a way that is instantly intelligible in our Internet age, but that was still unusual in the 1970s. “Ragtime” is a tapestry threaded with the fictional happenings of the real-life rich and famous – magician Harry Houdini, reformer Emma Goldman, chorus girl Evelyn Nesbit, her onetime lover, architect Stanford White and her murderously jealous husband, Harry K. Thaw. But at the center of the tapestry is the fictional upper-class white family that lives in the New Rochelle home – Father, Mother, Mother’s Younger Brother, Grandfather and the unnamed young son. Their lives are forever changed by their relationships with an abandoned
black baby, the child’s mother, Sarah, and the baby’s father, Coalhouse Walker Jr., a ragtime musician who discovers that for a black man marching to his own beat, life can have tragic limitations. But ragtime is music off the beat. If New Rochelle is the Doctorow novel’s cinematography, ragtime is its soundtrack – a blend of marches, European classical traditions and African-American rhythms in which the accents occur between the downbeat and the upbeat, creating a ragged effect. “Syncopation was not only a new form but it was the kind of music that had this hesitation and yet a robustness,” Leghorn says. Perhaps the greatest proponent of this irresistible push-pull was Scott Joplin, composer of “The Entertainer,” “Maple Leaf Rag” and “Elite Syncopations,” among other infectious delights. In the 1970s, the music underwent a revival just as Doctorow was writing “Ragtime.” Marvin Hamlisch turned Joplin’s work into an Oscar-winning score in “The Sting” (1973), in which the music is used anachronistically. (The film is set in the 1930s, by which point ragtime was long out of favor.) Other ’70s salutes include pianist
Joshua Rifkin’s Grammy-nominated Joplin compilation and Kenneth MacMillan’s sprightly ballet “Elite Syncopations.” But it was Doctorow’s novel that captured the tune within. It won the National Book Critics Circle Award for fiction in 1975 and the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters Award a year later. In 1981, “Ragtime” was turned into a film that was shot partly in Mount Kisco and featured the last performance by James Cagney, who had retired to Dutchess County. Seventeen years later, “Ragtime” came full circle as a musical that was noteworthy for a score that included Joplin’s music and Tony-nominated performances by Audra McDonald as Sarah and Brian Stokes Mitchell as Coalhouse Walker, among others. Despite mixed reviews, the production ran two years on Broadway. The 2009 revival had the opposite experience – great reviews, no legs, closing after just 28 previews and 65 performances. Whatever you may think of “Ragtime” and its various incarnations, you’ll find it hard to resist Doctorow’s hypnotic voice, Davis says: “You may not like a character, but you’ll feel for him.” n
Images from The Dominick Bruzzese Collection of the New Rochelle Public Library.
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China’s battle of the pigtail By Audrey Ronning Topping
udrey Ronning Topping is a prize-winning photojournalist, author and documentary filmmaker. Her photographs and articles have appeared in The New York Times, National Geographic, Life, Time and Reader’s Digest, among others. Her writings and photos bring a wealth of experience on Sino-American relations that’s in her bones: Her father was Canadian ambassador-at-large and her grandparents were missionaries in China. Her new book, “China Mission,” will debut Oct. 7. For centuries hairstyles have been hallmarks of diverse cultures. They have signified social class, political beliefs, professional and marital status, racial identification and numerous attitudes. Hairstyles have also been issues in rebellions and wars. Perhaps the most striking was China’s “Battle of the Pigtail,” which my father, Chester, and his brother Nelius were directly involved in as youngsters. When the Manchu warriors rode their steeds out of Manchuria and ruthlessly conquered all of China to assume the “Mandate of Heaven” from the Chinese Ming rulers in 1640, the central conflict concerned not politics or territory but hairstyles. As a sign of subjugation to their new rulers, the Manchus issued an edict called “The Order of the Queue” that ordered all Chinese males to shave their hair back from their foreheads every 10 days and braid the back into a long queue. Resistance was considered treason with a penalty of beheading. This hairstyle, however, violated the Chinese sense of honor and decorum. The traditional Chinese hairdo for men had always been a topknot, as worn by the famous terra-cotta soldiers buried in 210 B.C. to guard the tomb of China’s first emperor, Qin Shihuang, which was discovered 2,200 years later in Xian. The compulsory “Order of the Queue” by the Manchus 16
“Keep your hair and lose your head, or keep your head and shave your hair.”
— Order of the Queue, Qing Dynasty (1640-1911)
caused widespread riots. Some areas, like the town of Chiating in the Southeast, refused it outright, offering armed resistance. The Chinese held out for eight days against the mounted Manchu Bannermen. When the town was finally subjugated, a threeday bloody massacre took place as a warning to anyone with similar ideas. Records show that 97,000 townspeople and 75,000 in the surrounding areas died in the “Battle of the Pigtail.” Then in 1850, another rebel, Hung Hsui-ch’uan, let his hair grow wild and began the Taiping Rebellion. Foreign mercenaries helped crush the rebellion and Manchu troops slaughtered millions of Chinese. The first phase of the modern revolution was nipped in blossom. Still, China seethed with hatred against the Manchus. The Chinese lost the battle, but fierce resistance to Manchu domination continued underground. This was still evident in 1891 when my American missionary grandparents, the Rev. Halvor and Hannah Ronning, went to China, where their two oldest sons, Nelius and Chester, were born. Their first language was Chinese, but they had learned English when the Ronning family was forced to return to America during the Boxer Rebellion in 1900. On their return to China, the boys were in constant demand by the senior students of their father’s school, who were eager to practice English. They had studied written English by correspondence but never heard the spoken word. One day, Nelius and Chester, then 12 and 10, were invited to the room of the most senior student, Tung Tsepei, an 18-year-old with intense eyes and an adventurous spirit.
Like the other students, he wore the Manchu-enforced hairstyle with a long braided queue dangling down his back. Brilliant and hardworking, Tse-pei was troubled by the state of affairs in China. He despised the fossilized ancient traditions and longed for new concepts and independent thinking. Chester and Nelius were flattered by the attentions of the senior boys. Tse-pei invited them to sit down while he stood with six fellow students dressed in the smart new school uniforms that my grandmother Hannah had designed. He revealed a hidden paper from under a floorboard, and the students began to read together from the document in singsong unison. When they were finished they stood smiling, waiting for the reaction of the American boys. But Nelius and Chester had not understood a word. It had sounded like a chant of Chinese nonsense syllables. Not wanting to disappoint their new friends, Nelius stole a look at the document and was surprised to discover it was the American Declaration of Independence. With typical Chinese courtesy, the American boys congratulated the students on their splendid English and agreed to give them a few insignificant constructive criticisms in pronunciation. Nelius asked them to read the declaration aloud one at a time so he could hear it better. The students were delighted and read the document repeatedly, each time improving their enunciation. The Chinese boys had substituted the name of the Manchu Empress Dowager Cixi for George III and had listed her corresponding crimes. Although the students laughed when they 17
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listed the faults of the old empress, inwardly they were deadly serious. The older generation would never dared defy the Manchus, but the students, reflecting their new knowledge and the Western unwillingness to kowtow, scoffed at their supreme ruler. The following week, Tse-pei received another document from Hankow. It was Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. He told the American boys that a man called Sun Yatsen had promised to bring “government of the people, by the people and for the people” to China. They had translated the line as “people-owning, people-ruling and people-enjoying.” One evening at dusk, Tse-pei invited Nelius and Chester to his room, where the other six were sitting in a circle on the floor. Tse-pei confided that he had organized a local cell of Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s famous United League (T’ung Meng Hui). From a secret box he carefully extricated some articles published by the revolutionary Shanghai newspaper Subao concerning reform and modernization. The articles pointed out the importance of protecting the young reform-minded Emperor Guangxu from the evil Empress Dowager Cixi. It urged the establishment of a Chinese constitution and even went so far as to recommend the killing of certain Manchus. The most dangerous document, however, was part of a manifesto titled “The Revolutionary Army,” written by Zou Rong, a courageous young activist-journalist from Shanghai. In his book-length manifesto, secretly copied and distributed by Sun Yat-sen’s followers, Zou Rong pleaded with his countrymen to “seize back their land and dare to be free.” He invoked the spirits of George Washington and the Swiss philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau and recalled the achievements of the British, French and American revolutions. He mocked the Chinese for accepting Manchu domination like servile cattle and described the Chinese officials who served the Manchus as “butchers.” He advocated forcing out the Manchus and called for equal rights between men and women, freedom of speech, freedom of the press and a constitution based on the American model. Tse-pei stood up and read from Zou Rong’s article, flinging his arms out: “How sublime is revolution! How majestic!” The American boys were riveted. When he finished, all the boys stood up and cheered. Then in a gesture Chester would never forget, Tse-pei suddenly bent forward and whipped his long queue over his head from behind. “Look at this disgrace to all patriotic Chinese,” he cried, “You call it a pig’s tail,
and that’s exactly what it is. For over 300 years, we have been forced to wear these miserable things, because we have become pigs to show our inferiority to the Manchus.” He looked up and, using his fingers like a pair of shears, added: “We are going to cut them off like this. We want short hair like you Americans. We are joining students throughout China to overthrow the Manchu Dynasty.” Tung Tse-pei’s eyes shone with a fierceness Chester had never seen before. “When Dr. Sun cut off his queue,” Tsepei said, “he did more than disguise his appearance, he changed from inside out and resolved nevermore to be subject to the Manchus. There are students like us in all the schools in China.We shall overthrow the Manchu Dynasty.” All the boys knew that even talking about cutting their hair was dangerous. Manchu soldiers and spies were on constant lookout for short-haired rebels. Any Chinese caught without a queue was beaten to death or decapitated. What the boys didn’t anticipate at the time was that within the year their hero Zou Rong and the entire Subao newspaper staff would be jailed by the Manchus for treason. In the spring of 1905, the young revolutionary whose rhetoric had inspired students all across China died mysteriously in jail. There was widespread talk that he had been tortured to death. He was 19 years old. Chester and Nelius were sworn to secrecy. Tse-pai asked them not to tell their father Lao Hutzu – Old Whiskers. He thought that Rev. Ronning would not like to hear that they were plotting revolution in his school, but he certainly would be pleased to hear that China wanted to become a republic like the United States of America. It was not until 1911, after 371 years of Manchu rule, that the Qing Dynasty lost the mantle of the “Mandate of Heaven” and the first republic was formed. The first thing the Chinese did was to cut off their pigtails. Out of Christian missionary schools in China came most of the early and many of the later revolutionary leaders in China, including Prime Minister Zhou Enlai of the People’s Republic, who wore his short hair in Western style. I was privileged to be the first Western photographer to take his portrait. It appeared on the cover of Life magazine. Audrey Ronning Topping’s new book “China Mission: A Personal History From Imperial China to the People’s Republic” will be published by the Louisiana State University Press Oct. 7. Discount preorders are now available on Amazon.com. n
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heavenly blues By Georgette Gouveia
Top, at left, bracelets in platinum and 18-karat gold by Jean Schlumberger – hand-carved turquoise and lapis lazuli with diamonds ($190,000); drape bracelet with hand-carved turquoise, diamonds and pearls ($95,000); hand-carved lapis lazuli with diamonds ($250,000); Atlas bangle in 18-karat rose gold with diamonds ($9,000).Center, from left, Tiffany Chelsea suede bucket hobos with leather in bright moss/bright moss, cognac/espresso and orchid/orchid ($1,150 each). Bottom, from left, Tiffany Mercer zip tote in bright moss grain leather ($1,250); Emerson flag shoulder bag in cognac ($1,650); and Astrid zip top handle clutch in bright moss vachetta leather ($1,150). All photographs Š Tiffany & Co.
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iffany’s Just when you thought it was time to get out of the water, Tiffany & Co. invites you to plunge back in with a host of shimmery jewels that echo the colors of the sea, draw new inspiration from Art Deco and add edgy touches of onyx. It’s brilliant counterprogramming when you think about it: In October when “Beyond the Blue: New Collections 2013” debuts, the searing heat of July will be a distant memory and we’ll be longing for a touch of the Mediterranean and Aegean seas to warm us through the coming winter chill. Besides, it’s always summer somewhere, isn’t it? Tiffany fires our imaginations with cuprian elbaite tourmalines, whose azure hue and coppery hints echo the Aegean and the Mediterranean, as do pale green tourmalines. They’re often accented by onyx, which outlines a 19.26-carat, emerald-cut green tourmaline and diamond ring and radiates from an oval cuprian
elbaite tourmaline and diamond setting, giving two classic presentations a modern edge. Meanwhile, onyx adds abstract, geometric Art Deco sleekness to a pair of drop emerald-cut green tourmaline and diamond earrings. Traditionalists, however, may prefer the organic beauty of Tiffany’s tourmaline and diamond butterfly and dragonfly brooches – the quintessence of whimsical romance. Montana sapphires – a rare, paler cousin of traditional sapphires – make a statement and reflect the emporium’s continuing commitment to American gems in a tiara of stunning diamond arabesques. Only the fourth tiara that the company has produced in its 176 years, the headpiece is for the princess in every girl. What Tiffany collection would be complete without new takes on Jean Schlumberger’s enamel bracelets, so beloved by Jackie and Liz? These hand-carved turquoise and lapis lazuli treasures are bedecked with diamond scrolls, hanging
pearls and 18-karat gold. And speaking of pearls, we find they’re used to subtler but no less stunning effect in opera-length diamond necklaces and diamond-set rings that feature South Sea white, golden and dark Tahitian pearls. Even better are the necklaces threaded with irregularly shaped pearls – a reminder that Tiffany lets the stones dictate the setting, not the other way around.
Atlas hugged
“Beyond the Blue” isn’t the only collection Tiffany is highlighting this season. The Atlas Collection is back, demonstrating the company’s ability to refresh classic designs regularly, just as it does with Schlumberger’s captivating organic forms. Atlas was the Titan who was forced by the triumphant Olympians to hold up the earth eternally, which he does so manfully in Lee Lawrie’s colossal bronze, down the street from Tiffany’s at Rockefeller Center. The new Atlas Col-
lection is characterized by a more spacious use of the iconic Roman numerals as well as by the addition of rose gold. You can bet Atlas won’t be shrugging when he sees these.
Bag it
No Atlas yourself, you’re going to need something to put all these goodies in. Why not try a Tiffany Chelsea bucket hobo in orchid, moss or cognac suede with leather or the Tiffany Reversible Tote in frost/onyx or bright moss/espresso ostrich? Or you may prefer one of the more structured bags – the Tiffany Mercer zip tote in bright moss grain leather, Emerson flag shoulder bag in cognac or Astrid zip top handle clutch in bright moss vachetta leather. They’ve got neat outside zippered compartments for easy access to cells and keys. Plus, many of the bags are lined in Tiffany blue, the better to see those cells and keys. Luxury, meet ingenuity. n
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Elena Rosenberg flanked by two of her knitwear creations.
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the fabric of life By Mary Shustack Photographs by Bob Rozycki
As a child in Belarus, Elena Rosenberg learned to knit from her mother. It’s doubtful anyone could have predicted that the step mirrored by so many other mothers and daughters through countless cultures over hundreds of years was actually the earliest spark of a most artistic career. Today, Rosenberg is a Scarsdale-based creator of wearable fiber art. But those three simple words don’t convey the artistry found in the creations that feature the finest yarns, intricate stitches, unique designs and a rainbow of color. There are scarves and shawls, cowls and capelets, shrugs, fingerless gloves and even fiber necklaces. Not only does Rosenberg design and create this work, she also takes care of her own publicity and sales, which makes for some very busy days. “Because of the nature of my things, the fall and winter are my ‘season,’” Rosenberg says, pausing to chat on a recent morning. Later this month, she’ll be exhibiting her handcrafted work at Crafts at Lyndhurst. It will mark Rosenberg’s debut at the prestigious showcase of fine contemporary craft.
‘SHOW’ BUSINESS
For many artists, exposure comes in stages, with the best often advancing from local to regional then national art, design and fine craft shows. Though she was selling on Etsy, the online marketplace for crafters, Rosenberg wanted the work, exposure and immediacy of meeting customers directly, all benefits that come with participating in a show. Rosenberg joined the circuit a couple of years ago – with a bang. Her debut exhibition came at one of the nation’s leading craft events, the American Craft Council Baltimore Show in Maryland. “They had an emerging-artist program,” she shares of the flagship show of the well-respected organization. “I applied kind of on a whim and was accepted. At that time, I was only designing and doing this part-time.” It was, as they say, a game-changer. “When I went to the show, I knew this was where I wanted to be.” Rosenberg says she felt a kinship with her fellow artists and artisans and was buoyed by the reactions of the discerning shoppers and collectors, people who have a real
appreciation for sophisticated handmade goods of singular quality and style.
FINDING INSPIRATION
Rosenberg, who moved to America with her family when she was a teenager, wasn’t knitting her days away while living in the Bronx. A student of humanities – psychology and literature to be precise – Rosenberg went on to earn a pair of undergraduate degrees from Fordham University and a master’s degree from New York University. Now she lives with her husband in Scarsdale and works out of a home-based studio, sometimes joined by her mother. This career in knitting was not something Rosenberg
long planned. Instead, she says, it was more of an outgrowth of another creative endeavor. Rosenberg has been a fine-art photographer, focusing on detailed, black-and-white nature studies. Her work earned her solo and group exhibitions at various venues including Wave Hill, a public garden in the Bronx. “That was all about textures, patterns, shapes and lines. In a lot of ways, that’s what I like about what I’m doing,” she says, linking the photography to her knitting, which she found herself coming back to. And that thread continues. “I find that most of the times, I’m actually inspired by things that are not textile-based,” she says. Instead, she can be touched by something as simple as the grain on 23
WAGGER Alissa Frey models designs by Elena Rosenberg.
a piece of wood, something that might have been a past photography subject. Creating wearable work has given her a different experience, perhaps one more personal. “This is something that can be touched and worn,” she says. “It’s a more immediate experience in a sense.”
ONE-OF-A-KIND LOOKS
Each of her works, from the chunkiest shawl to the most lace-like scarf, reflects Rosenberg’s unique approach. Also ranging from delicate to bold is her fiber jewelry, not your traditional find. “People ask, ‘Is it knitting, crocheting?’ It’s done with a crochet hook, but I don’t use traditional stitches.” No matter the project, though, it’s clear Rosenberg thrives on the creativity of her chosen field. “Before I moved into designing my own accessories and garments, I obviously studied some knitting pattern books, not so much patterns for actual items but the knitting stitches.” She says that while knitting is “such an ancient activity,” there is still room for innovation, evidenced by her own patterns. She will, though, study the past and interpret it in her own way, creating pieces that “echo things from the history of fashion.” Rosenberg herself is a strong supporter of fellow artists and artisans. A compliment on a pair of earrings she’s wearing, for example, yields the fact they are handmade by an artist. It’s the same with the custom scarf and shawl pins she uses for some of her pieces. The accents, both practical and artful, are handcrafted by Minnesota artist Harry Firth. “They’re sustainable in that they’re made from fallen trees,” she shares.
THE PROCESS
Projects, of course, vary in how long they take to complete. Ask how long a shawl might take and the answer 24
signals the elaborate nature of Rosenberg’s work: “A long time… hours and hours and hours.” That attention to detail, her unique approach and use of luxe materials have become her trademarks. “There are a lot of yarns out there, but I wanted to work with yarns which are very high quality,” she says. Indeed, a quick survey of her work finds she has used everything from Merino wool and mohair to cashmere and silk. Many of her yarns are exclusive Italian blends and she likes those yarns that feature silk elements. “The silk content gives you the soft and subtle sheen,” she says. More recently, she has begun working with organic materials such as undyed cotton yarn from Peru, as well as fibers sourced from local alpaca. “It’s just heavenly to the touch,” Rosenberg says.
MOVING FORWARD
Rosenberg always has an eye on building her business, something she pursues on several fronts, including a strong social-media presence. Since last year, she has also served as a contributing author and social-media manager for Fiber Art Now magazine. In addition, she’s a member of the American Craft Council, the Surface Design Association, the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen and the Textile and Fiber Art List. Though Rosenberg does sell online, she continues to participate in a variety of shows. Crafts at Lyndhurst gets her season under way and she then travels to Philadelphia for next month’s Pennsylvania Guild Fine Craft Fair. A pair of shows closer to home follows, Crafts at Purchase Nov. 1-3 and CraftWestport Nov. 9-10. Rosenberg wraps up her show schedule in early December with the Craftboston Holiday show in Massachusetts. She’s looking to expand, perhaps publishing patterns of her most popular designs and exploring new outlets for creating one-of-a-kind art.
For Rosenberg, a big part of what she does – and what she thinks makes her work so different than items commercially produced – is the tactile connection. Something created by her hands becomes a one-of-akind adornment for someone. “These pieces are wearable,” she says. “They’re not something to be put on a pedestal and admired. They’re meant to be worn. The body becomes an integral piece to the project.”
For Rosenberg, a big part of what she does – and what she thinks makes her work so different than items commercially produced – is the tactile connection. Something created by her hands becomes a one-of-a-kind adornment for someone.
To Rosenberg, it seems, the process isn’t finished once she puts her needles down. That comes when it finds an appreciative owner who will wear it with pride. Elena Rosenberg will be exhibiting Sept. 20-22 at Crafts at Lyndhurst, 635 S. Broadway in Tarrytown. For more details, visit artrider.com. For more on Rosenberg and Elena Rosenberg Wearable Fiber Art, visit elenarosenberg.com.n
MODERATOR
Teresa C. Younger Executive Director, CT Permanent Commission on the Status of Women
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simply
di-vine
By Georgette Gouveia
Shep and Ian Murray on their beloved Martha’s Vineyard. Courtesy Vineyard Vines.
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INTRODUCES
Demetris Delos, MD Orthopedic Surgeon
T
here are those who heed the advice “Don’t quit your day job.” And then there are Shep and Ian Murray. Fifteen years ago, they decided to take off their ties so they could make them. And not just any ties, but whimsical ones in bright colors with whales and ducks, inspired by the Martha’s Vineyard of their childhood. Thus, Vineyard Vines was born. Today, the ties are joined by shirts, shorts and women’s apparel and the burgeoning company, headquartered in Stamford, is casting an eye overseas. Recently, we caught up with the Murrays, Greenwich residents, on the Vineyard via email – ah, if only it had been in person – to learn what’s up for fall and to ask if they are among the savviest businessmen ever or just two wild and crazy guys.
them anymore. We do make some tailored items, like a blue blazer, but it’s not our core business. Who knows what the future will bring, but for now we’ll stick to a more laid-back look.”
Recently, you brought in a new women’s designer, Meg Velleca, and new vice president of merchandising, Renee Heim. How are you ramping up offerings for women?
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“Our women’s business has seen tremendous growth in the past couple of years. We feel like we finally understand just who our women’s customer is and have started to make things for her lifestyle. We’ve expanded our offering of dresses, as well as great basic items like Tshirts, shorts and pants.”
You have 35 full-line and outlet stores, including the shop in your hometown of Greenwich and a new shop-in-shop at the Bloomingdale’s Manhattan flagship. Tell us more about your re“Our customer is a fun-loving guy who tail and wholesale businesses.
Your business is 55 percent men, with your bold, marine-themed ties and sports shirts being the bedrock. Describe the Vineyard Vines guy.
would rather be sitting in a beach chair than a desk chair. But we’ve always said, for a guy that has to wear a tie to work every day, we think our designs show a glimpse of his personality.”
What’s new for the Vineyard Vines man this fall? “This fall, our collection was inspired by Maine. We couldn’t get enough of the coastal views and the classic boating communities that make this place so special. One of our favorite items is our men’s Hull Stripe Sweater that was inspired to look like the hull of a Hinckley Picnic Boat. But we also love our 5-Pocket Cords and Maine Gingham Tucker Shirt. And of course, the Overdyed Shep Shirt – perfect for a chilly fall night.”
Your bottoms – colorfully patterned shorts and pants – are also tiptop. But you don’t do tailored stuff. Why not? “When we first started out, we wanted to make ties so we didn’t have to wear
“Our retail business is growing exponentially. This fall we plan to open three more stores and another three locations during the holiday season. Our wholesale business remains strong and has been a cornerstone of our business since 1998. We are committed to building our relationships with our department store partners, including Bloomingdale’s and supporting the loyal specialty shops that have helped grow our brand….”
Fifteen years (and more than $100 million worth of volume) ago, you two quit your day jobs in PR and advertising and maxed out a bunch of credit cards to follow a dream. Was that guts? Sheer madness? Or did you just know it would work? “We started a tie company at the height of ‘business-casual’ in the ’90s and for every one person that understood why we quit our jobs to follow our dream, there were 10 more that called us crazy. We knew there had to be people out there like
www.ONSmD.COm OrthOpaedic & NeurOsurgery specialists greeNwich, ct | 203.869.1145 27
Maine Gingham Tucker Shirt, cotton-poplin, $98.50.
Printed ties, silk, $75. All photographs courtesy Vineyard Vines.
us, who would rather be out on the water than in the office. Turns out, there were.
It all started with Martha’s Vineyard, of course, where you love to spend time. What is it about the Vineyard you find so inspiring? “As kids, we grew up spending our summers out on the Vineyard with our family. It’s all about having fun and bringing together friends and family for a day out on the boat, at the beach, on the bike path…. We could go on and on. It’s where people go to enjoy a piece of the Good Life.”
Overdyed Shep Shirt, $125, paired with the Classic Piqué Polo, $69.50.
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ing out for a fishing trip, sailing or driving out on the beach. The Vineyard is a special place for us and we couldn’t be happier to share those same memories, and make new ones, with our own families now.”
What are your plans for the future?
How do you spend your days (and nights) there?
“The future is full of endless opportunities and in the coming years, we hope to expand our retail footprint domestically and start shipping internationally. We also hope to explore new partnership opportunities and continue building product -brand extensions that capitalize on our lifestyle, such as sunglasses, footwear and possibly even hotels and restaurants.”
“We spend our days with good friends and family, which usually includes head-
For more, visit vineyardvines.com. n
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Carolina 30
a Herrera From Carolina Herrera Fall 2013. Photographs courtesy Carolina Herrera.
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Leading lady Carolina Herrera channels Old Hollywood By Andrea Kennedy
A woman in Carolina Herrera looks instantly iconic. She rises above the fray like royalty – elegant, commanding, deserving of reverence – and fittingly so considering Herrera’s famed for outfitting first ladies of public office and the silver screen. Herrera’s Fall 2013 collection recalls the latter with styles reminiscent of cinematic mavens from the ’40s. At the debut, looks even sashayed to a classically-inspired custom soundtrack for an air of high drama indeed. The adoringly titled “Capriccio for Carolina” captivated the runway with Herrera ensembles as striking as the score. Commissioned by the designer, then used as the inspiration for her fall looks, the Tom Hodge composition is a contemporary take on Beethoven’s Kreutzer Sonata and resonates nicely considering Herrera’s collection also features modern spins on classic archetypes. Slim, stately silhouettes graced the runway where delicate skirts flirted with ankles to the high-tempo tune. Structured shoulders – so characteristically Carolina – achieved that charming balance of being dramatic while demure, as in the embellishments of airy fur or prettily puffed sleeves on a minimalist empress gown. Also famous for her impeccable fit, Herrera tailors certain looks to appear painted on at the waist with a cascade of fabric framing the hip. Others flow more freely, though never too generously to lose the female form. The pal-
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ette ranges from starkly white to sparkly black, plus shimmery silver, rose, ruby, royal blue and rich amethyst and emerald. And though patterns are punchy, they strike the best balance of character and class. Eyes draw to high and higher necklines. Herrera’s conservative on skin, though not sensuality. Collars – some soft and round, others in a crisscross – feature playful bows or fur chokers. Other decorous details include velvet adornments on straps and cummerbunds. In the fall 2013 show, styling forwent jewelry in lieu of a smoldering red pout and nary a hair ran askew from its symmetrical regal chignon. As for Herrera’s embodiment of Old Hollywood heroine, wide-leg trousers – high-waisted salt-and-pepper tweed à la Katharine Hepburn – fluttered handsomely with that defiant dash of masculinity that defined an era. Today, Cate Blanchett, the timeless beauty who channeled Hepburn’s gumption and glamour in Martin Scorsese’s “The Aviator,” is the latest Academy Award-winner in the fashion news for wearing one of Herrera’s designs. Not taking it down the red carpet (yet), Blanchett appears in a red oneshoulder Carolina Herrera gown in her Oscar buzz-worthy performance as the title character in Woody Allen’s summer hit, “Blue Jasmine.” As for her own biopic, we’re not sure who she would choose for the lead role, but the soundtrack would certainly contain “Capriccio for Carolina.” n
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Get the look of this highoctane coat in blue felt with patent leather trim. Front pockets slant slightly as do short dolman sleeves for eyecatching angles. Layer atop a short-sleeve turtleneck and cropped leggings.
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Get the look of this tailored number contoured in all the right spots. The frock features a zipper in front that runs down a thick metallic strip of quilted lamĂŠ.
Get the look of this luxurious statement piece, a mink houndstooth wrap, with ribbed knit top and pencil skirt. Note that Kors’ site offers a skirt with a zip-hem feature, allowing the slit to lower or lift from day to night.
Get the look: Michael Kors ‘Fall’ for high-performance glam By Andrea Kennedy Photographs courtesy Michael Kors A couple of seasons after Michael Kors’ departure from the hit Bravo show “Project Runway,” fans may be missing their favorite celebrity judge and his droll one-liners. True devotees, however, know every season is ripe with Kors, and this fall, his styles run super sleek and heavy on sportif glamour. Kors’ fall runway was electric with brights like cobalt blue – one of the season’s coolest hues – and oversized graphic prints in houndstooth and camouflage. Accessories also went exaggerated. Eyewear included über-big goggles and extra-pointed pumps that while showy kept true to his tasteful take on AllAmerican luxe. Kors’ deft infusion of personality into his paradigm of classic sportswear is what’s made him a darling of the Park Avenue crowd for decades. Some big winners that translate to the streets are the sexy, sporty-chic choices in monochromatic palettes and multiple textures of leather, cashmere, felt and fur. These body-tight numbers keep minimal at top – all expertly fit – and accentuate the hip with wellstructured peplum and hip-hugging skirts. There’s
a futuristic quality to the pieces as well, whether in clean, geometric architecture; elongated forms; wraparound eyewear; or shiny detail in glossy leather and metallic. Looks proclaim power, attitude and strut from the pulled-back ponies to racy cat-eyes. Like his jet-set campaign models, who’ve been known to go on safari or launch from a helipad, these looks seem tailored for a high-performance heroine – the one piloting the plane with every hair in place – and take her from the cockpit to the boardroom to after-dinner drinks. Patent plongé gloves, as Kors also includes, are par for the course. n
get it? got it
WAG introduces Get the Look, a new feature connecting readers with e-commerce. Use your smart phone or tablet to scan the QR code and get the look today.
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Get the look of this jet-set suit with cut-in shoulders and cropped pants. A center zipper creates 90-degree angles while leather triangles add a moto attitude in the hip.
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Get the look of this ensemble starting with a classic formfit bodysuit on top and with a suggestion of sophisticated flare below. Finish with Kors’ mirror belt for the picture of polish.
Get the look of this showstopper, featuring a side-slit peplum waist for architectural drama. Mirror belt makes another appearance to cinch the waist.
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Golden girl
Aerin Lauder’s latest luxury lines launch this fall By Andrea Kennedy
Aerin 38 Lauder.
ATELIER CONSTANTIN POPESCU
erin Lauder has everything we covet. And she knows it. Coinciding with her AERIN brand launches over the past year, she let us drool over press stories featuring her seasonally selected Saks wardrobe perfectly tailored to her model figure, her Jacques Grange-decorated dream homes in the Hamptons and Aspen, her sun-kissed, wrinkleless skin and, without really saying so, her fortune. The goal, of course, is that we ultimately drool over her exquisite taste and, in turn, her product lines, the newest of which is out this fall. First came beauty, Lauder’s entrée into her own brand last August and a fluid one considering the scion cut her teeth at her beloved grandmother Estée Lauder’s beauty empire. Next came accessories and home goods. Not only could you get her “effortless beauty” from the neck up, but also in bangles, ballet flats and baubles for everything from your bar to your bedroom. Spring brought footwear, sunglasses and jewelry; summer, a fabric collaboration by Lee Jofa. This fall – barely a year after her lifestyle brand launched – women can fill their own life-size AERIN dollhouse with her new lines of home textiles by Jofa, furniture by E.J. Victor and lighting by Visual Comfort. Through her rigorous launch schedule, Lauder also penned “Beauty at Home” (Random House), shot by Simon Upton, another vicarious open-house opportunity for women to tiptoe mentally through her halls, lusting after each detail down to her gold linen coasters. Come November, they can display her tasteful tome in their own homes, resting itideally upon AERIN’s Wainscott gold-leaf nesting tables. Lauder’s life is but a dream – for consumers and AERIN marketers. What a
poster girl, what a businesswoman. From her recently published interview by chum Michael Kors to the Vogue tour of her Southampton pop-up shop (open at 83 Main St. through December), Lauder is always selling. It’s the axiom she no doubt inherited (along with her Wainscott home) from matriarch Estée, whose granddaughter handles the task just as elegantly. Her success comes from selling a lifestyle – her lifestyle – and not necessarily the $750 24-karat gold plated sea urchin with crystal-tipped spines or those goldleaf nesting tables for $6,300. (Are you sensing a theme here?) And because her selling is seamless, consumers find themselves feeling more like they’re taking style notes from a sophisticated city gal who weekends in the Hamptons instead of a savvy executive. In one sentence, she’ll chat about what’s in her beauty bag (AERIN, naturally) or favorite goods to entertain friends; the next, she’ll muse about memories of her grandmother; the next, she’ll namedrop her world-class design collaborators for her recent product releases. She’s also a style storyteller, sharing intimate details to create kinship with the consumer. On “The World of AERIN” page of her brand’s website where she invites more “ooohs” and “aaahs” at her own high style of living, Lauder recounts how the gift of a heart locket from her mother on her seventh birthday inspired a lifelong penchant for the motif that’s visible in myriad AERIN items, like the 18-karat gold heart nesting dishes or her Patmos heart necklace. In a recent WWD piece, Lauder introduces her set of five AERIN fragrances (also out this November) by regaling us with how their scents recall “going for a bike ride and smelling honeysuckle for the first time or gardenias in my hair when I got married.” It’s just a matter of time before she narrates how the AERIN Heather Chandelier in her new fall lighting collection was inspired by a one-of-a-kind antique fixture in Lauder’s own Manhattan library.
ATELIER CONSTANTIN POPESCU is the place for people who seek the highest quality musical instruments. Since the studio opened in 1994, proprietor and musician Constantin Popescu has made it his mission to create a first-rate source that sells, rents and repairs fine stringed instruments. Atelier Constantin Popescu and The Riverside School of Music are located in a stunning, light-filled space at 401-403 E. Putnam Ave. in the Cos Cob section of Greenwich. High-quality European string instruments for professional musicians, students and collectors are found at Atelier Constantin Popescu. The sounds produced from these instruments are fit for concert halls. Children can watch instruments being repaired by Stefan Sigurdsson, a practicing luthier (craftsman of stringed instruments). World-renowned musicians and organizations like The Juilliard School trust their instruments to Atelier Constantin Popescu. Studies have shown that music helps foster brain development in infants and young children, and children who play an instrument score higher on standardized tests and typically have higher grades in math. The Riverside School of Music offers classes in string instruments, from the Suzuki method for beginners to advanced levels. The school also offers piano lessons, music theory, chamber music lessons and adult programs. Some Riverside students have gone on to study at such prestigious schools as Juilliard, the New England Conservatory of Music and the Cleveland Orchestra. Children can rent the school’s fine quality instruments at a reasonable price and as they become more advanced musicians they can buy maestro-quality instruments. The Riverside School commitment to quality and fostering a love of music is renowned.
Atelier Constantin Popescu • Riverside School of Music 403 E. Putnam Ave., Greenwich / Cos Cob (203) 661-9500
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Lauder communicates her brand message in a way that comes off as more personal, less pretentious. AERIN offerings create the cohesive sense of ease and refinement she has articulated, designed to make life more beautiful. Sounds simple enough, yet it’s many a modern woman’s never-ending quest. Lauder claims to answer the call, and the beauty (there’s that word again) of it all is that the look and feel of her lines aren’t groundbreaking. Like her brand philosophy, they’re universal. For furniture, lighting and fabrics, she presents updated classics and clean silhouettes with items like her table lamps finished in gold or volcanic ivory. Her jewelry lines by Erickson Beamon feature statement “essentials” like her gold collar necklace and gold link bracelet. Ultra-feminine
footwear by Jimlar presents floral smoking slippers in velvet, strappy heels with spotted snake and floral appliqué, plus a variety of stylish suede booties, pumps and flats. Her collection of sunglasses by Oliver Peoples comes in different shades of tortoise but just one style. Presumably, it’s the style that best suits Lauder’s face, and appropriately so, considering she calls the look “timeless.” AERIN’s fine items represent the pinnacle of modern luxury where taste is everything and money is no object. It’s the lifestyle reserved for women with childhood memories of riding ponies on the beach in Montauk or taking to Aspen for a spell. Lauder has done both, and whether or not consumers do, too, they want to relate, to own that dream. Thanks to Lauder’s market smarts, they can. n
Evening Essentials gold collar
Day Essentials gold link bracelet
Fenimor chair
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Colonnade heel
Wainscott nesting tables Photographs courtesy AERIN.
Sarah Phillips Photograph by Jennifer Bissell.
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Once more, with feeling By Jennifer Bissell
After nearly 20 years, Sarah Phillips has relaunched her fashion line – not from the streets of Manhattan but from the comforts of her Wilton home. Famed for designing Hillary Clinton’s inaugural ball gown in 1993, Phillips retired at the top of her profession in 1995 to start a family and later move from New York to Connecticut. But with her son off to college now, Phillips says it’s time for a comeback. “It’s a multitude of feelings – anxiousness, anxiety, stress,” Phillips says of the relaunch of Sarah Phillips New York. “We’re nervous and excited. The hard work is finally coming to fruition.” For years, Phillips’ clothing could be found at Saks Fifth Avenue, Henri Bendel, Neiman Marcus and specialty boutiques. But this time she’s starting off differently. She’s selling directly to private clients, allowing them to choose specific colors and get a custom fit. So far she’s held one trunk show in Greenwich with additional shows to follow in both Connecticut and New York. “Our main challenge is to get the word out to more of our market,” Phillips says. But already former clients have contacted her saying they’re thrilled she’s back. Phillips’ new line features silks and lightweight wools and a design she describes as sculptural, dramatic and timeless. Several of her pieces in the roughly 25-piece collection are based on her original collection in the 1990s. The fabrics are from Italy and France, yet Phillips says it was important to her that the clothing be made in the United States. A factory in New York City sews the clothing. “With the economic climate right now, it’s very important to support the country as best we can,” Phillips says. “I do manufacture in the United States and the way that we work benefits the client, because they don’t have to pay retail. It’s direct from the designer to the client.”
The price of the line ranges from $500 to $2,600, which is about half as expensive as it would be in stores, Phillips says. From inside Phillips’ home office, she and three employees huddle around a small table to discuss Phillips goals for her new company. The office – likely larger than most one-bedroom apartments in Manhattan – is filled with clothing, sample fabrics and inspirations for her new line. Of note are the several images of bats and their Gothiclike wingspans. “Working in Wilton is fine,” Phillips says. “But there are things I miss about New York.” Compared to when she first started in New York more than two decades ago, Phillips says it is much more difficult to restart her company in Connecticut. It’s more expensive, there are more taxes and there are too many regulations, she says. Plus, there’s no longer the ease of running across the street to meet buyers or factory employees. She’s not as close to the high density of customers either. But this time around, she’s also armed with a smartphone, email and the Internet, all modern-day conveniences she didn’t have before, making many phone calls and meetings no longer necessary. “I’m a small business owner, which is one thing that this country desperately needs,” Phillips says. “I have eight parttime employees, but the business climate is difficult. We need to encourage and do as much as we possibly can to help small business owners. It’s extremely difficult to start a business and it’s much more difficult than it was when I first started in the ’90s.” Despite the challenges, however, Phillips says she has no plans to leave the state any time soon. Her home and employees are all in Connecticut. “It feels wonderful to be back,” Phillips says. “I wish I had come back sooner.” n
Black double-breasted jacket with storm collar in silk twill shown with black pin-tucked ankle narrow pant in silk twill. Photograph courtesy of Sarah Phillips New York.
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WeEmilyknew her when Liebert’s ‘novel’ approach to publishing By Georgette Gouveia Photograph by Bob Rozycki
mily Liebert has always been one to move fast. No sooner did she and husband Lewis adopt their first son, Jaxsyn, then she became pregnant with their second, Hugo. “They’re delicious,” says the proud mom. And as she scrolls through photos of two smiling, sandy-haired preschoolers hugging each other you can’t but concur. The former WAG editor is just as quick and creative mentally. To wit: She wrote her debut novel, “You Knew Me When,” between January and July of 2012 and had a two-book deal a month later. “You Knew Me When” (New American Library/Penguin) is out Sept. 3, with the second book, “The Love That Lies Ahead,” due next September. But Emily’s need for speed belies a much longer story – that of the archetypal fiction writer struggling for her place in the sun (and on the Kindle) and her ingenious solution to the particular challenge of marketing a novel in the age of the Internet. Emily, you see, isn’t just launching a book. She’s launching a line of nail polishes, charms and dresses tied to the three strong-willed women who dominate the novel, a story of friendship lost and restored. Is this multiplatform approach – which has taken hold in other media and is seen somewhat in ebooks embedded with videos and music – an idea whose time has finally come in the publishing industry? “I would like to be starting a trend,” Emily says over breakfast at the revamped City Limits Diner in White Plains. “I know how hard the publishing climate is. I know it’s easier to sell nonfiction.” She has already done that successfully with “Facebook Fairytales” (Skyhorse, 2010) – 25 stories of lives connected and transformed through the social media phenomenon. “You Knew Me When,” though, is a 44
different animal. So Emily figures if the book doesn’t get her into InStyle magazine, fashion and cosmetics just might. And they’re a natural for the novel since the main character, Katherine Hill, is a successful Manhattan cosmetics executive who goes home to Manchester, Vt., where she and estranged BFF Laney Marten have inherited the Victorian mansion of former neighbor Luella Hancock. Emily approached a dozen cosmetic companies with the idea of a “You Knew Me When” lipstick and nail polish. She went with her first choice, Zoya, which has created a trio of nail lacquers that reflect the heroines’ personalities. There’s a classic red for Katherine, a regal purple for Luella and an offbeat emerald green for Laney. Then on a trip to the Bahamas, Emily met designer Alessandra Meskita, who has incorporated several designs based on the characters and the author herself into her fall collection. The Katherine Dress is a red strapless gown; the Luella Dress, a blue shirtwaist with more than a hint of the ’50s; and the Laney Dress, a sexy navy number. The Emily Dress is charcoal gray and white with hot-pink accents, while the Brooke Dress (after Emily’s middle name) is a form-fitting white racerback gown with colorful details on the bottom. The last piece of the puzzle was a group of charms, created by DoDo, which specializes in animal charms and inspiring sentiments and is part of the Milan-based jewelry company Pomellato. But it’s not all jewelry designs and color samples for the budding novelist. She’s part of Target’s Emerging Authors Program, which she says she pushed the newly merged Penguin Random House to get her into. “It’s not an easy road,” she says of successful publishing. “You’re going to have a lot of doors slammed in your face. You have to want it and be passionate.” Emily has wanted to write fiction from the time she was a girl growing up on the Upper East Side, the daughter of actress Kyle Rickel and Dr. Thomas Einhorn, now chief of orthopedic surgery at Boston Medical Center. After attending
Horace Mann School in Riverdale and Smith College in Northampton, Mass., she went to work for ABC News’ “Peter Jennings Reporting,” where she learned a lot about being organized. Ultimately, however, she realized that TV was not the writing medium she sought. Moving to Westchester in 1999, Emily emailed various publications looking for work and got a response from Mary Ann Liebert, publisher of peer-reviewed journals in science, technology and medicine and founding publisher of WAG. Emily started at the magazine in 2000. “It was great. I loved it,” she says. “I had never worked at a magazine and at 24, basically I was editor in chief. I loved working for Mary Ann. She has such an amazing spark. Even when she wasn’t my mother-in-law, she treated me like a daughter.” At that time, Mary Ann’s son, Lewis, was chief operating officer of Mary Ann Liebert Inc. He and Emily became engaged in 2004 and when they married a year later decided to strike out on their own. “I thought it was best for my mother-in-law not to be my boss.” Today, Lewis has a luxury aviation company, Performance Flight, which operates out of Westchester County Airport. And Emily, after editing Kerry Kennedy’s book, “Being Catholic Now,” has settled into the life of a novelist and working mom who writes four hours a day, five days a week, around her children’s schedule. Her second novel is about a 9/11 widow seeking fulfillment with her son in the suburbs. “It’s about people trying to find their happiness and isn’t that what we all want?” For Emily, that lies not only in her writing but in her family. “You Knew Me When” is dedicated to her boys. “I want to make sure they feel I’m there all the time. At the end of the day, they’re what’s important.” n
Celebrating 50 years
Bellantoni LANDSCAPE•THE ART & SCIENCE
lovin’ the lovie By Mary Shustack Photographs by Bob Rozycki
Felicia Jarzyna with some of her Lovie Clutches.
For fashionistas who like things sleek and sexy, the Lovie Clutch may just be the ideal accessory. Felicia Jarzyna, its creator and maker, has come up with a design both timeless and contemporary. It’s simple in concept – a twist on the traditional envelope-style clutch – yet bold in execution, incorporating a sophisticated rainbow of hues. And that execution is luxe all the way, with Jarzyna sewing the clutches one by one in her Wilton home studio, using the finest Italian leathers in shades and textures that signal both an unwavering confidence and quite an eye. There are no run-of-the-mill looks here. Robin’s egg blue combines with warm brown and pristine white for one series, while black, midnight blue and silver make up another design. Another boasts embossed brown suede accented with rose and gold, while black, red and white seem ever fresh on yet another. But the appeal of the Lovie Clutch continues past an initial glance. “It’s about the inside also,” Jarzyna says. And yes, when you open the clutch, rich satin linings in bold solid shades, from hot pink to vivid turquoise, raise the style quotient yet again. The clutches serve not only a stylish (and practical) purpose – but are another creative outlet for Jarzyna, who’s also a professional makeup artist. “My thing was I always wanted to be a professional artist, because I was artistic,” Jarzyna says. “I’ve always sewn, created something.” 46
Jarzyna, who grew up in Greenwich, would eventually leave the restaurant industry to work in makeup some 20 years ago. She has worked for stage productions and in advertising and fashion, to name just a few projects. Some, she shares, expanded to include costume design. Jarzyna learned to sew at an early age, as her mother had gone to fashion school in Boston. “We grew up with a sewing machine in the house,” she says, noting that home accessories were favorite projects. She also recalls trips to thrift shops where she’d find funky sweaters that she’d turn into one-of-a-kind purses. “Pocketbooks have always been my thing,” she says. One in particular that she made herself more recently brought her quite a bit of attention. “It was embossed leather in green and yellow that looks like a neon alligator,” she says with a laugh. People kept asking her about it and what else she could make. “That’s how I started making bags,” she says, an effort that eventually led to the design of the Lovie Clutch, which is itself a study in simplicity. “It’s a square,” Jarzyna shares. And it’s also something she can whip up on either a standard or industrial sewing machine, depending on the material. “I’m not a technical sewer,” Jarzyna says. “I hate zippers.” And leather is not a very forgiving medium.
“Once you’ve made that stitch, you’re committed,” she says. But it’s the step before that stage is reached that she finds most fulfilling – laying swatches next to each other to come up with unique combinations from the materials she has gathered. “Everything is so available. You can get thousands and thousands of options.” She sources her materials primarily in Manhattan and the Bronx, where she can find textures ranging from embossed suedes to patent leathers to colors and finishes matte, textured and metallic. While all designs have their own personality, some even go beyond that, earning names such as Beyoncé. “You’ve got to be a strong female to carry this bag,” she says of a gold-accented Lovie named after the singer. With the handcrafted nature of her work, Jarzyna can offer custom designs for one-of-a-kind gifts or even bridal parties. All clutches come with a cloth case for safe storage, especially important when traveling. Her bags are also treated inside and out to prolong wear and prevent staining, though it is recommended you keep them from getting wet. And the name, Lovie? Yes, it’s inspired by the ultra-rich Mrs. Thurston Howell III, from television’s “Gilligan’s Island.” “She was so spoiled,” Jarzyna says. “She had everything… She was very Fifth Avenue.” And Jarzyna, though captivated by that
fanciful character, also offers another option in Lovie’s sister line, URBAN BURB. These clutches, she shares, feature a bit of an edge or, as Jarzyna says, are “a little tougher.” Eventually, Jarzyna would like to have her signature Lovie Clutches made for her, allowing her to focus on design and newproduct development. For now, she sells the clutches in her booth at the SoNo Marketplace, the European-style market in South Norwalk. Open Fridays through Sundays, the destination is a showcase of artisans, artists, restaurants and food purveyors. The Lovie Clutches are also available online and have been featured in local boutiques. ROAM in Greenwich, for example, has just added Lovie Clutches to its fashion-forward lineup. But be warned: These Lovie Clutches can be addictive. Just ask Nan Wasson, who with Michael Heintz sells photographs and prints through Torn Edges at the marketplace. “I have four Lovies,” she said in midJune. “I love them. I love my Lovies.” Seeing her just a few weeks later, she shares that she’s now the proud owner of five. We’re not surprised. For more on Felicia Jarzyna’s creations, visit lovieclutch.com. For more on the SoNo Marketplace, at 314 Wilson Ave. in South Norwalk, visit sonomarketplace.com. Lovie Clutches are also available at ROAM, at 19 W. Elm St. in Greenwich, and online at wheninroam.com. n
Living
the dream By Georgette Gouveia Photographs by Bob Rozycki
Rolando Santana
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Rolando Santana’s clients include actress/singer, Selena Gomez.
hen Rolando Santana was a student at White Plains High School, Neiman Marcus at The Westchester wasn’t just a store, it was an ideal. “I would dream about seeing my clothes here,” he says. “It’s one of the most prestigious retailers for designers.” That dream has come true with a line of edgy yet approachable day-to-evening dresses that reflects Santana’s love of art in sculptural, textured fabrics, subtle but distinctive prints and metallic hues. Though every season is different, the goal is always the same – to put forth the best. “I want to create dresses that women walk into the store and fall in love with,” Santana says during an interview at Neiman’s, where his modest charm enables him to move easily from interviewer and publicist to sales staff and clients. It’s as effective as his classic, understated clothing. “The pieces in the collection are pieces you can wear again and again,” he says. This has nothing to do with economics, he says, and everything to do with having go-to looks at your fingertips. “As a designer working with retailers and private clients, you know they come to you wanting to feel secure. I always say, ‘The dress is the last thing I want you to worry about.’” This fall, Santana has drawn inspiration from the 48
dynamic metal sculptures of the late John Chamberlain (1927-2011), who lived and worked on Shelter Island, N.Y. There are layered, metallic looks like a dress in gradated copper, burnt orange and black with a black fur collar. There are gowns and dresses made of heavy stretch fabric that caress a woman’s curves with a sculpted, supportive inner shell, an asymmetrical neckline and, in some cases, flattering half-sleeves. These suggest Santana’s own Latino background and a marriage of sex and class. “Latin-American women are comfortable with their bodies and want to show them off,” he says, “but this is done in a subtle way. At the end of the day, you want the woman to feel comfortable and dressed appropriately.” Such sophistication – and its approximately $5,000 price tag – speaks perhaps to women of a certain vintage, though Santana notes that there is a secondary collection with different price points for younger shoppers. Among the dresses in the Neiman’s group that may appeal to them – or any woman with great stems – is a black lace mini whose long sleeves serve as a dramatic counterpoint to the ooh-la-la hemline. Meanwhile, a gray/navy sleeveless print dress in satin lamé captures the behind-the-scenes process, in which Santana plays with different prints digitally, then sends them off to Italy. That’s where the prints are tested on different fabrics and the dresses are made.
Santana’s prints are edgy, abstract. He has never used florals – before. But get set for the spring collection, which bows during Fashion Week Sept. 12 and pays homage to another artist, Frida Kahlo (190754), whose boldly colored, symbolic paintings teem with flowers and life. This despite her suffering extensive injuries in a 1925 bus-trolley collision that left her in continual pain and unable to bear children. “She always said that the two tragedies in her life were the trolley accident and (her volatile marriage to muralist) Diego Rivera. And that of the two, Diego was the greater tragedy,” Santana says with a rueful smile. The spring collection, Santana says, asks what Kahlo herself must’ve asked: “How can you make something beautiful out of something painful?” It hints at the confining harness she often had to wear to support her mangled core. It plays with flowers in various ways – in 3-D, embroidery and cutouts. And while Santana shot a video at Kahlo’s historic Blue House for the Mexican edition of Vogue – which will go viral on Vogue MX Sept. 11 – there’s nothing blue in the collection. It’s a tribute to Kahlo. And it’s also a valentine to his native land, where he was born in Cuernavaca. His mother, Josephine Santana, ran a dressmaking business there, at first from their home, and he watched her, accompanying her to fabric stores and learning the craft of building clothes at her factory from the time he was 13. He’s proud of her, proud that neither of his parents
It’s a tribute to Kahlo. (Referring to his Fashion week homage to frida kahlo.) And it’s also a valentine to his native land, where he was born in Cuernavaca. His mother, Josephine Santana, ran a dressmaking business there, at first from their home, and he watched her, accompanying her to fabric stores and learning the craft of building clothes at her factory from the time he was 13.
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Kaye – sleeveless, crushed, printed gusset dress (gray), $1,492.50. (Pants not available at Neiman Marcus.) Photographs courtesy Rolando Santana.
ever suggested fashion was an unrealistic or unworthy profession, proud, too, that they have come full circle, with her turning to him for fashion advice as she divides her time between Mexico and New York. Though he calls his mother’s business “the best school I could ever have,” he still felt he needed that “New York imprimatur.” So he left for America in 1991. After White Plains High and Westchester Community College, he earned degrees in international business at Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry and design at the Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan. He was assistant designer, then dress designer at Spenser Jeremy, creative director at Donna 50
Ellie – sleeveless, multiprinted, fitted dress with fur collar, $1,317.50.
Morgan and vice president of design at Kellwood Co.’s Designer Alliance, where he launched the Democracy contemporary dress collection. While he enjoyed working for others, he says, “I really wanted to go out on my own.” In 2009, he recognized the time was right and began his company, which now has eight employees. He’s collaborated with Manolo Blahnik on shoes for his runway looks and next spring plans to offer a line of shoes and sunglasses. Ever the pragmatist, his business yang balancing his creative yin, he says, “It’s time to branch out in a very realistic way.”
Hayri – black, long-sleeve chintz lace dress, $1,492.50.
Though he has a store-like studio in Manhattan’s Garment District, he won’t be moving from his White Plains home – a quick walk from Neiman Marcus – anytime soon. “I never detached myself (from White Plains),” he says. “Now I have this career. It’s insane. We work crazy hours. At the end of the day, White Plains is a great way to disconnect yourself from that.” Besides, he notes, Westchester is home to people like fellow designer Ralph Lauren and film director Ang Lee. “We have a lot of creative people here.” For more, visit rolandosantana.com. n
way
A most stylish – and secluded – retreat By Mary Shustack Photographs by Bob Rozycki and Tim Lee Presented by Houlihan Lawrence
CONYERS FARM BEAUTY at a Glance • Armonk • 9,488 square feet • 10.01 acres • Bedrooms: 6 • Baths: 6 full, 2 half • Amenities: Gated community, first-floor guest bedroom/suite, fireplaces, security, water view, wet bar, three-car attached garage, wine cellar, dressing room/vanity, gourmet kitchen, lavish master suite with terrace, media/screening room, spa bath, maid’s room with bath, whole-house generator, Byram Hills schools. • Price: $6.495 million
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ou just know people with style. Sometimes it’s evidenced in the way they toss a scarf over their shoulder, adding interest to an otherwise understated suit. It could be the way they integrate vintage jewelry to create a specific mood. Perhaps it’s just in their overall approach to colors, textures and prints that reflects a singular vision. Sometimes a house can strike you in a similar fashion. A drive to a sprawling retreat known as the Conyers Farm Beauty takes you along lanes that border the Greenwich Polo Club into a gated community, a secluded world away. There’s a stately classic Colonial in front of you, yet your eyes dart to the whimsical sculptures dotted about the beautiful lawns. And then there is that teal-hued door that leaves no doubt as to the flair to be found within. And once inside the home of Esther and Marc Goodman, the passion for artistic, stylish living – always with a playful twist – cannot be denied. “We like to be whimsical,” Esther says with a smile. “It’s a great house for people in love.” It’s evidenced in the wealth of artwork, the creative use of space and the clever weaving of the most vibrant and luxurious elements and amenities, all of which create the overriding sense that the people who live here truly appreciate life. Nestled well within prestigious Conyers Farm, a 1,500-acre estate enclave that spans both North Castle and Greenwich, the Conyers Farm Beauty proves aptly named. The shingle-style manor sits on 10 supremely private
acres with its nearly 9,500 square feet featuring dramatic public rooms in addition to six spacious bedrooms and six baths. Totally renovated, the home has a light-and-airy ambiance throughout, a feeling complemented by sought-after touches that include rich woods, unique stones, finely crafted millwork and artisan wall finishes. “We decided to make a project out of it, decided to make it exactly what we wanted,” Marc says of the work that began after they moved in some six years ago. These touches range from hand-painted walls to leather-wrapped banisters with silver-finished iron balustrades. The recessed dining room features walls covered in fabric, while the living room’s attractions include both surround sound and evocative lighting. There is a double-height entryway ideal for displaying a dramatic glass sculpture, a stunning formal dining room and unique fireplaces throughout. Despite its generously sized rooms, the house is warm and welcoming, an ideal backdrop for the art and design elements the couple often purchases during travels around the world. “We never feel the house is overwhelming,” Esther says. An impressive gourmet kitchen opens right into the family room, with services including the laundry and maid’s quarters set off to the side. The kitchen, an always-popular place when the Goodmans entertain, was the focus of a true revamp. It’s now a showpiece of function and style, from glass-fronted cabinets to intricate backsplashes.
Marc and Esther Goodman
“It was very Italian, Old World and we modernized it in terms of the feel,” Esther says. A main-floor guest suite, situated for optimum privacy, features an en suite bath, sitting room, terrace and its own entrance. The home’s second floor is equally expansive, with the top of the staircase serving as an art gallery of sorts, the common space between two wings that are filled with bedrooms and baths. Included is a bedroom/sitting room area once occupied by the Goodmans’ grown son, who lives in Florida. At the opposite end of the floor, the master suite is virtually its own self-contained retreat with most every amenity close at hand. The bedroom itself features a sitting area, opens out onto a porch and even has a hidden flat-screen TV (hint, pay attention to the ceiling). Hisand-hers dressing rooms are adjacent, with the emphasis on hers. “This is my pride and joy,” Esther says before adding with a laugh, “Marc gets a little corner in there.” While the “masculine” side is functional, the “feminine” area truly shines. Indeed, this is not your everyday walk-in closet. The 53
dressing room, a full-size room that leaves the generic definition of a walk-in closet behind, is a dream. “It’s just everything I could ask for – room for shoes and bags and a sink and a makeup table,” Esther says. With large paneled built-ins and a center island with more than a dozen drawers, the space fits a year-round wardrobe with ease. An extended vanity area is set beneath side-by-side windows with a chair, more drawers, a large counter space and even a small sink completing the pretty picture. A modern chandelier hangs over it all, adding another touch of style and grace. “When I first moved in, you know, I didn’t know I would fill it all,” Esther says – before Marc playfully adds: “Now you know the reason we’re moving.” Completing the master wing is a circular master bath with radiant-heated limestone flooring, heated towel rack and infinity-style bath complete with mood lighting. “This, at night, is over the top,” Esther says. While some homes might have a basement level that’s strictly utilitarian, this isn’t the case at the Conyers Farm Beauty. An architecturally impressive floating staircase sets the mood for the lower level, leading to a large space that includes a full bar area, a billiards space and an expansive screening room. “I wanted this to be not a basement (but) an open room with ceilings,” Marc says. The other end of the floor features a temperaturecontrolled 2,500-bottle wine cellar complete with a handcrafted ceramic tile floor, zinc accents and personal humidor. A spa bath finishes the area. Back upstairs, French doors open from the kitchen and family room, further encouraging one to pause on the porches and terraces that are ideal for outdoor living and entertaining. The property itself is equally inviting, with a sense of serenity created by the surrounding woods and riding trails. Stepping outside the lower-level door leads to the garden, a space already approved for the addition of a pool. Adjacent, too, is the community’s lake. All combined, the home and its surroundings have provided years of happiness for the Goodmans, who work together in Greenwich at the hedge fund Marc cofounded in 1983. “There’s not a day that we come home, that we don’t go through the gates at Conyers, that we don’t think it’s spectacular,” Esther says. And peaceful, Marc adds. “We’re obsessed with quiet,” he says. “When we get home we want peace and quiet and here, we get it.” For now, though, the Goodmans have decided to seek a new home – and another renovation project. “It’s a lot of house for only two people,” Marc says. Though he and Esther do take full advantage of the home’s features, they say it’s simply time to yield to the homeowners who will next occupy the Conyers Farm Beauty, where good living is always in style. For more information, contact Barbara Harris at Houlihan Lawrence at (914) 649-1000, (914) 234-9099, ext. 22323, or bharris@houlihanlawrence.com. n 54
Northern lights, at home and abroad
Towels from the Lexington Clothing Co.’s Superior Collection. Photograph courtesy of the Lexington Clothing Co.
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Bedding from the Lexington Clothing Co.’s Superior Collection. Photograph courtesy of 56 the Lexington Clothing Co.
At first, it might seem a bit incongruous – a Swedish clothing and home design company dedicated to the flinty flavor of New England. But not to Kristina Lindhe, creative and managing director of the Lexington Clothing Co. “I like New England so much,” Lindhe says with a warm laugh that translates over the phone from Sweden. “I like the architecture, the houses. I like everything about New England. When I started, there were companies for clothing but no one for interior design. I saw a gap in the market and decided to do something in this style.” The result is a 16-year-old company with American stores in Greenwich and the Hamptons with fashion and home design offerings that capture the spirit of Lexington and Concord. They’re crisp, classic, nautical, folklike, durable and above all, lucent. “The Nordic light is very special in the summertime,” Lindhe says. It reminds her of the light in New England, which inspired artists like Nyack’s Ed-
ward Hopper, who caught the way it sliced through porches and lighthouses from Massachusetts to Maine. Light fills the Superior Collection of striped and solid bedding and bath towels that should keep you cozy in the New England chill. “My thoughts were about quality,” Lindhe says. “What was the optimal quality? How do we do the best experience?” She turned to poplin cotton made in Italy to create blue-and-white striped and beige-and-white striped bedding – highly unusual for this fabric, she says – along with signature white bedding framed in either navy or beige. There are goose-down comforters in blue or beige, sumptuous navy velvet bedspreads, luxurious cashmere throws and shams in white or beige and white towels with navy borders. Superior indeed. For those who like their New England nights to be more informal, there’s the fall collection, with checked, striped and paisley bedding in sateen,
poplin and flannel. And while there are throw pillows with variations of the Stars and Stripes, you’ll also notice red subtly threading the paisley and checked items. It’s Lindhe’s salute to the Harvard Crimson and the red she saw everywhere when she visited Harvard Square in Cambridge, Mass. But red is also big for fall. It’s the new black. Lexington’s fall collection also conveys another big trend, echoed by Tiffany’s Beyond the Blue Collection: “You want to keep that summer feel into fall,” Lindhe says, “before it gets too cold and you have to make a change.” Prices in the fall collection range from $35 for a throw pillow to $325 for a king-size duvet cover. Prices in the Superior Collection range from $150 for a pair of standard pillow cases to $2,495 for a down comforter. For more, visit Lexington Clothing Co., 73 Greenwich Ave., (203) 489-3355 or lexingtoncompany.com.n — Georgette Gouveia
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Customer Zanne Stewart of Garrison models fashions featured at Art to Wear Too in Cold Spring.
art, fashion find a home By Mary Shustack Photographs by Bob Rozycki
A
rt to Wear Too in Cold Spring isn’t your everyday fashion boutique. Sure, it’s got a wealth of options, ranging from tops to skirts, jackets to pants and earrings to necklaces to scarves. But it’s the distinctive looks of those pieces, things not found in every mall or department store, and how they are displayed that together create a most fashionable Hudson Valley destination. And it’s all by the creative design of owner Marilyn Heberling, whose vibrant personality is what ties it all together. Hers is a most individual approach to fashion. She considers the often one-of-a-kind designs works of art and then displays them amid other artwork, including photographs, ceramics and sculpture. Oh, and lampshades. Heberling creates the quirky “ladies” that cap many hangers and form de facto mannequins. “Some of them are for sale, but some of these I can’t give up,” she says of her stable of beauties who fit right into the charmingly feminine surroundings. Look closely at the hardwood floors dotted with throw rugs. They’re not real but rather painted on. And that sense of whimsy is echoed in fanciful patchworks of sheets draped about, the dressing-room area that seems to recreate a country cottage and the whitewashed branches perched overhead. “People walk in and think I’m an artist,” Heberling 58
says. “They want to know if I had an art background… no.” Heberling says she has not formally studied art but her parents were active in community theater when she was young. She was certainly influenced by that, though the shop also reflects her own life and travels.
GO EAST, YOUNG WOMAN
An Ohio native, Heberling came to New York in the 1980s from Michigan when her husband, a builder, had a job opportunity in Beacon. They settled in Cold Spring where Heberling worked in the region’s school systems. “I’ve had like six careers,” she says, noting she used both her master’s degrees – in psychiatric social work and theater – over the years. “I made a very good living as an artist-in-residence in schools,” she says. Throughout, she says, she was also “using theater as a tool for teaching,” while also doing set and costume design. Art to Wear Too also has deep roots in Cold Spring, as Heberling was a part of Staley/Gretzinger, a fashion company featuring Heberling’s neighbors Meg Staley and Jerry Gretzinger. Heberling was involved in everything from trade shows to the eventual retail shop. When those original designers decided to close the shop, Heberling and four other employees bought it and opened Art to Wear.
BRANCHING OUT, SOLO
Four years ago, Heberling became the sole owner and transitioned to Art to Wear Too, which expanded the inventory and fine-tuned the look. “I haven’t bought anything for the space that was ‘in style,’” she says. “I buy things that I hope will fit people’s bodies.” And her customers appreciate that. On a recent afternoon, Zanne Stewart of Garrison is checking out the new fall fashions along with perennial favorites. Stewart, who moved nearby some six years ago, was the longtime food editor for the former Gourmet magazine before retiring. She thought the move from the city would prove a style-killer. “I said, ‘I guess it’s going to be khakis and sensible shoes now.’ I thought it was going to be boring,” she says. Discovering Heberling soon after, though, changed Stewart’s outlook – and she’s loved what she’s seen since. “The clothes look whimsical, but they are practical,” she says. “I love the fact everything is easy.” And, Stewart adds, fun. “The ambiance here – it’s a little Pee-wee Herman, a little Ethel Merman. I love the sensibility.” Heberling, who over the years has served as the president of the local chamber of commerce, appreciates such comments about her business. “It makes people happy, which is good.” Art to Wear Too’s customer base includes plenty of locals but fans also travel from Manhattan and New Jersey
to shop. Heberling has developed a strong core of regulars. “What my theory is, also, it’s only nice people that come in here,” she says with a laugh. “They’re a fantastic group of wonderful women.” Those women have come to rely on Heberling’s affinity for cultivating a select group of designers that together create a certain aesthetic. “Comfy (U.S.A.), Niche and Christopher Calvin. They’re my staples,” Heberling says of her go-to brands, as she walks a visitor through the selling floor. She points to a Calvin design, a button-down top enlivened by an angular edge. “It’s tailored but it isn’t,” she says of the shirt’s appeal. Dip-dyed pieces and floral prints, abstract designs and bold textures are at every turn. She stops to admire the funky tunics from Lior, a company she playfully notes is “from Paris, France, Europe.” Most collections, such as the finely detailed pieces from New Jersey designer Yolanda Kwan, are created closer to home. “One thing I am very proud of – I think 95 percent of them are made in the USA,” she says.
ART, ART EVERYWHERE
Every brand seems energized by the art that surrounds the fashions and accessories, which also include Joli Jewelry. Another nod to local, the handmade, limited-edition work is by Jody Lyons of Cold Spring and Brooklyn. The more traditional art, also for sale, is a vivid example of Heberling’s vision. She points to the paintings by Imogene Drummond, whom she calls “one of my best customers,” and notes “the color and the round lines” of
“The ambiance here – it’s a little Pee-wee Herman, a little Ethel Merman. I love the sensibility.” — zanne stewart
Marilyn Heberling is the owner of Art to Wear Too in Cold Spring.
her work help create a mood. Mindy Véissid’s photography, Heberling says, was chosen for its unique perspective, turning the ordinary into something more. Judith Rose’s ceramics also add flair, while Michelle Clifton’s soft sculptures, which have ranged from a lifesize mailbox to an oversize sneaker (a popular photo op, especially during the special events Heberling often holds), signal something decidedly playful. Again, it’s part of the multilayered appeal. “The fun of this – that is what I wanted,” Heberling says. For many, a visit to Art to Wear Too will result in finding something both effortlessly fashionable and often fan-
ciful, pieces they’ll end up wearing again and again. A prime example is the white Oxford shirt that Heberling pulls out. It seems nice, if straightforward, until she turns it around to reveal a set of the tiniest pleats, a detail as flattering as it is unexpected. And that’s how it goes here. Hems can be asymmetrical. A basic tank can have a notched neckline that makes all the difference. “I guess that’s what my signature is – it’s almost normal but not quite,” Heberling says, bursting into an infectious laugh. For more on Art to Wear Too, at 75 Main St. in Cold Spring, visit arttoweartoo.weebly.com or call (845) 265-4469. n
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AprilMarin designs also feature knitwear and accessories. 60
AprilMarin takes its stylish next steps By Mary Shustack Photographs by Bob Rozycki and courtesy AprilMarin
There’s a decidedly feminine, sweetly stylish space that’s joined the Armonk business community. While AprilMarin indeed sells clothing and accessories, its space is not your traditional boutique. Instead, it’s the headquarters of the company founded by fashion designers and entrepreneurs April Bukofser and Marin Milio. “We use it more as a showroom-type office,” Bukofser says of the cozy suite the duo opened in May. A study in pink hues, lace accents, mirrors and yes, racks of clothing, the studio also serves as a tangible sign of the steady success of the AprilMarin line. What began as almost a whim has turned into something much more. “It really started as more of a hobby,” Bukofser says, looking back at the time when she and Milio met as students at Pace University. Soon after earning their degrees, their dreams of combining their business skills with a love of fashion started to come true. Though still working other jobs, they would
team up to launch AprilMarin six years ago. The line of custom couture, sold primarily online, pays tribute to classic lines and a certain easygoing elegance but still has a distinctive flair. “We just love the classic look,” Bukofser, of Pound Ridge, says. But at AprilMarin, she adds, “It has a modern edge.” It might be the designers’ way with a ruffle, a collar, a trim or an overall cut that turns the expected into something memorable. There are the geometric sleeves of the Capri Dress, the flattering neckline of the Chelsea Dress or the flirty ruffles of the bestselling Dylan Ruffle Jacket. Bukofser and Milio used their marketing skills to create a strategy and decided they could indeed offer something consumers were not already finding online. “There were just tailored shirts, and they were square and didn’t have a lot of collars, ruffles,” Milio, who lives in Armonk, says. For AprilMarin custom clothing, clients simply supply their (very detailed) measurements and color choice to receive a dress or jacket that is truly personal. In the early days, the duo would host
April Bukofser, left, and Marin Milio, the founding designers of AprilMarin.
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parties that served as showcases and helped women with the ordering process. Today, those measurements are taken so that a custom creation can be made for AprilMarin in Vietnam within three to four weeks. Milio says that the women who do supply their measurements will find a fit like never before: “It’s a home run.” The company has continued to offer its dresses, jackets, skirts and suits, many in a polycotton blend that’s stretchy, comfortable and washable. Knowing what a woman’s needs are helps the company, which continues to connect with an online clientele. While the pair will see customers in the Armonk space, “I’d say probably 90 percent of our business is online,” Bukofser adds. “We’re having a lot of traction.” Repeat customers – measurements are kept on file – simply have to get in touch for a new piece. And those getting in touch are not just your next-door neighbors. Television personalities ranging from talk-show host Wendy Williams to newscasters to reality-show personalities (even a Kardashian cousin) have become AprilMarin clients. “I think a lot of it was word of mouth,” Milio says of the company’s earliest success. People were responding to the chance to have custom fashions at less than couture prices.
Three years ago, Bukofser and Milio quit their jobs to devote themselves to AprilMarin full time. The designers, both in their early 30s, like to call themselves “mompreneurs” as they have both had children since the company launched. “I think the collection also changes with our lifestyles,” Bukofser says. When she and Milio were younger women working in Manhattan, they were all about the pencil skirts and tailored looks. Now, as businesswomen who are also mothers, they build in a bit more flow. Throughout, it’s always been about the fit, they agree. It’s what has made the Dylan jacket so popular. “It fits every body,” Bukofser says of the ruffled number. Three years ago, they added an accessories line – one-sized items such as scarves, shawls, capes and gloves that make ideal gifts. One key moment in AprilMarin’s history came courtesy of an opportune plug of the City Ruffle Shawl, which was the featured fashion item during the “Today” show on a 2011 morning. “We ordered 4,000 and kept crossing our fingers, and saying we don’t want to get stuck with them,” Milio says of that event preparation. Well, those 4,000 sold in the first nine
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minutes. A total of 16,000 were sold in an eye-opening day. “That just gave us a whole different perspective,” Bukofser says. “There’s a whole different world out there. They can buy AprilMarin, too.” It’s been steady progress ever since, with the Armonk showroom giving the designers a designated workspace free of the distractions of home. And it’s going to prove valuable as things look to get only busier in months ahead. “We are doing a ready-to-wear line,” Bukofser says of the jump into standardsize offerings. The company will have a spring 2014 show this autumn to highlight the new fashions that may one day be found in a store near you. That has always been a hope, Milio says. “I think in the back of my head, I wanted to go to stores.” To mark all this, AprilMarin will host a Grand Opening Sept. 26 that will also feature a book-signing by Emily Liebert. (See related story.) The evening will also be a chance for Bukofser and Milio to thank their many loyal customers – the invite list includes several hundred. One of those is Cat Alessio, who remembers her introduction to the line, when
AprilMarin participated in a boutique at the Stamford Jewish Community Center. “That’s how I met them, and I fell in love with their stuff,” she says. Today, the Stamford woman not only works with them – when creating vendor events for local organizations – but can often be seen sporting their designs. “They keep my measurements on hand, and I’ll just order from them,” Alessio says. For Alessio, AprilMarin pieces in her wardrobe have become standbys. “It’s not boring, and I love how I could incorporate (AprilMarin) with the pieces I already had existing in my wardrobe,” Alessio says. “I think their stuff can blend in with anyone’s style.” She loves not only the personal touch (“They’re so hands-on and so involved”) but also how versatile the AprilMarin clothing is. Alessio notes a particular dress she has that is ideal for a wedding or dinner party. But, she adds, she’ll also pop it on “with tights and boots” to be ready for a night out with her girlfriends. As she says, “There’s a simplicity to it, but it’s still modern and contemporary.” And that is what AprilMarin is all about. For more on AprilMarin, visit aprilmarin.com. n
COMING this FALL
WOMEN WHO MADE THE GREATEST IMPACT IN 2013
You can be part of this celebration by nominating women from Westchester and Fairfield counties who have had an impact on business or their communities.
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO MAKE A NOMINATION, CONTACT HOLLY DEBARTOLO AT (914) 358-0743. Another spectacular Business Journals and Wag magazine-sponsored event.
wear
No helmet required By Andrea Kennedy
Burberry’s white calf leather nickel studded biker jacket and white calf leather color block biker jacket. Photograph courtesy Burberry.
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Fall – when fashion gals north of the equator get that girlish goody-goody giddiness of grabbing their long-lost longsleeves. Reunited, and it feels so good. A most wonderful time of the sartorial year gets fuel-injected this season with highpowered leather jackets. Biker jackets in particular continue to rev up the runway with modern tweaks and polished design for a look that’s clean, contemporary and quintessentially cool. Glossy black with metal accents is, of course, the traditional approach. Structured shoulders lend a tone of power – intimidation, even – and there’s something so slick about that asymmetrical zipper. The allure of edginess leads many a good girl to go bad, and many a bad boy to get the girl. Burberry, known for its iconic outerwear, innovates the look with characteristic tip-top tailoring, buttery leather and luxurious details like shearling, snakeskin, quilt lining and shiny nickel stud work. Sculpted, belted and cropped, these jackets offer cuts for all body types and colors for all tastes, including white, tan, oxblood and tourmaline yellow. Obviously divergent from their Fonzinspired predecessors, these pieces are decidedly more posh, even Euro chic. (Fonzie’s remains a legend of Americana in its own right, considering it’s enshrined in the Smithsonian.) But while designers have evolved the look for the modern woman, they’ve retained that vibe that lets us channel our inner rebel from Peter Fonda in “Easy Rider” to punk icon Sid Vicious and rocker Alison Mosshart. Tap into “Top Gun,” too, with another jacket on trend this season – the bomber. Also historically made of leather, and also antecedent to the biker, these high-speed sports jackets have been reimagined in couture via silk, satin, quilting and embroidery. Some roomy, others tailored, the runway caught a fleet of them for fall, full of feminine textures and fits. So are you a haute Hells Angel or modern Maverick? And do you really have to choose? Try both if you dare – and with no fear of helmet hair. n
Burberry’s dark camel lambskin cropped jacket and dark brown python leather biker jacket. Photograph courtesy Burberry.
T by Alexander Wang reversible pebbled bomber jacket. Photograph courtesy Neiman Marcus.
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wear
The anti-blue jean Anything but your basic blues By Andrea Kennedy
Joe’s Coated Ruched Skinny Ankle in Wine. Photograph courtesy Joe’s.
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Perhaps no other fabric in history has endured such a torrid love-hate relationship with the fashion world than denim. It all started with jeans, that utilitarian mining pant of Levi Strauss lore. We’ve seen them ripped, zipped, cut off, torn, stone-washed and pre-worn (still trying to figure out that last one) through the glory of James Dean and the unglory of Courtney Love circa ’90s grunge. But never before have we seen them quite like this. Denim has evolved as a means, not only an end. Jeans have taken a sharp upswing from their former selves – been redefined even, for you leather lovers out there – and in a more sophisticated way. While not even in the same realm as your “mom jeans,” they’re also more fashionably refined than your teen’s jeans. The year 2013 marks the 140th anniversary of when Strauss patented his legendary trouser, and premium brands are marking the milestone – whether they know it or not – by making blue jeans look anything but. The first giveaway, of course, is the deviation from blue, the indigo dye that dominates the genre. Joe’s, a consummate favorite, features a coated wine-colored pair for fall that’s ruched and hugs the ankle. (Forget your fear of spilling merlot.) What rag & bone – among others – calls jeans may not even use denim at all. Its beaded Hyde style comes in adorned leather but with all the familiar trimmings like rivets and zip-fly, button closure, belt loops and five-pocket cut. The brands, of course, can be found on shelves at local tony department stores but are so worthy of a city trip to check out their boutiques. Designers sticking to denim use it more like a canvas, breathing a second and more artful life into their pieces. Blacks, brights, mattes and contrast hues comprise the latest jean color wheel. Muted sateens are soft to the touch and lacquered finishes give a sheer sexy gloss. Exotic prints are hotly on-trend, transporting the pant to distant lands. Bold graphic patterns catch the eye and colorblocking takes the stage with earth tones and monochromes that add a hint of subdued Mondrian. But fall’s foray into premium denim
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certainly doesn’t discredit the boot-cut, skinny, patched, cuffed and boyfriend models ladies will always love. Like the crisp white button down, those staples are never going away. But their new runway-
worthy counterparts are such an upgraded incarnation they may just replace your more boring business slacks. And with all the secret stretch denim out there, they’re likely to be doubly comfy, too. n
For more information, visit www.savvyaffairinc.com 67
men suit up By Torey Van Oot Photographs by Bob Rozycki
Peter Ebner
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Less than an hour after The Westchester in White Plains opened its doors for the day, Peter Ebner had already packed a spacious Nordstrom dressing room with some of the season’s most stylish looks for men. Sharp Canali and Hickey Freeman made-to-order suits, some still marked for alterations, hung from hooks on the wall. Purple paisley and textured gray ties popped against tasteful David Donahue dress shirts. Peter Millar slacks paired with plaid button-downs, and sweaters fit for a casual weekend lay stacked on a bench. He had even picked out a selection of socks that included a bright orange pair from Hugo Boss. “I believe in hot socks,” Ebner said. “I think the most conservative guy in the world should wear hot socks.” Ebner wasn’t shopping for himself. The offerings were on display for one of the many clients he serves as a personal stylist in the men’s department of the store. “He’s a fairly conservative dresser, so I’ve tried to show a mixed media, where you take that plaid shirt or that tattersall shirt, you put it with a very fine patterned tie,” Ebner said as the two examined the items. “That looks great,” the longtime client said, pointing, predictably, to the most conservative of the three outfits, a mostly gray ensemble. Some of the other pairings, all based on suits he had already purchased in advance of one of his son’s upcoming bar mitzvah, were a little too bold for the Westchester attorney’s tastes. The purple paisley tie and corresponding purple pocket square Ebner had matched with a purple and gray striped shirt were deemed too flamboyant. “That, I don’t do that... It’s a little too fashionable,” he said of the fabric flair. Ebner isn’t a big fan of pocket squares personally either. But he sees his job as a stylist as encouraging clients to “get out of the box” and try new things. “Men don’t have any sense. They’re very, very regimented,” he said. “They think if they’re wearing a plaid suit, they need to wear a solid shirt. So we try to show them that they can wear a plaid, with a correct stripe, and also that they can wear a different type of neckwear, that they don’t always have to be so straitlaced.” That doesn’t have to mean modeling the latest and craziest runway looks. For the client Ebner was seeing that day, pairing a navy Hugo Boss suit with brown shoes, both purchases from earlier sessions, was a big step. The color palettes of his closet had expanded from the traditional navies and grays, staples of the finance and law set, to include “browns and beiges and ‘summers’ and greens and blues and tan” since he started working with Ebner. “If it wasn’t for Peter, I would actually look even more boring,” he joked. Ebner doesn’t have any formal styling training outside of Nordstrom. He says he relies on intuition, experience and his observations of what trendsetters in the media and on TV are sporting. But he does bring a long track record of working in the clothing business to the job. He
worked in the women’s garment industry before joining Nordstrom in the 1990s, climbing from a temporary holiday position to full-time work in the men’s department. He found his calling as a stylist in the late 2000s, when the White Plains location launched its in-house program. “I have a more critical eye than the average person, I think,” said Ebner, looking sharp in a blue-and-brown checkered suit, a striped shirt and a silk knit tie. His clients range from recent graduates getting outfitted for job interviews to an 80-something law professor who is no longer able to come to the store comfortably for fittings. Ebner, who sees serving the customer as his top priority, now takes the clothes and a tailor to the man’s home. Many clients come in seasonally or yearly, though one man who works near the store comes in much more frequently, calling on Ebner for help with everything
from workout wear to purses for his wife. While he gets paid based on commissions from his sales, Ebner knows giving customers value and catering to both their tastes and what looks best, instead of pushing the most expensive products, is key to building lasting relationships and securing returning business. But that approach doesn’t mean shying away from showing clients what he likes to call “nuggets,” fun addons or accessories they wouldn’t have tried themselves, when they come in for an appointment. Case in point – the “hot” socks, priced at $14 a pair, actually appealed to the disciple of muted men’s executive socks. “I actually would,” the client said when asked if he would wear the “funky” footwear. “It’s one of those things that, it’s under the radar.” It’s kind of like underwear, he added: “Only I know.” n
Joe Lucadamo, Nordstrom’s tailor, fits a customer.
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havin’ a ball By Georgette Gouveia
The Bruce Museum in Greenwich has once again fashioned an unusual fundraiser for fall. It’s the return of Dimensions in Dining, which brings museum supporters and celebrities together over intimate dinners at private homes in Greenwich. The nine dinners – each of which will feature from 12 to 30 guests – will take place Nov. 4, 6 and 8. Among the guests of honor – one per dinner – are New York Yankees’ first baseman Mark Teixeira, former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer and Neil deGrasse Tyson, the Frederick P. Rose director of the Hayden Planetarium at the Rose Center for Earth and Space, American Museum of Natural History in Manhattan. The Bruce Museum – well-known for interdisciplinary exhibits and hands-on programs that have taken patrons from the Dutch Old Masters to dinosaurs – is no stranger to fundraising, of course. Its Renaissance Ball is a key event in the annual social scene. But Dimensions is designed to offer food for thought as well, says Jen Bernstein, the museum’s special events manager. “This is the second time we’ve done it,” she says. “We wanted to do something… where people can take a little more from it, not just dancing and eating great food.” Modeled on The New York Public Library dinners of yore, the first Dimensions was held in 2010 and quickly sold out, raising approximately $200,000 for the museum’s exhibits and education programs. Guests of honor included architect Robert A.M. Stern, artist Kiki Smith and Oscar-winning director Ron Howard. They were hosted by the likes of Jennifer and David Stockman – he was Reagan’s budget chief – and Irene and Carl Zelinsky (she’s Peter Brant’s sister). Given the success of the first Dimensions, why hasn’t it become more frequent? “It takes so much planning,” Bernstein says. So Dimensions has to be a periodic event. “And that,” says Troy Ellen Dixon, the Bruce’s director of marketing and communications, “is what makes it special.”
John La Gatta ‘s “Beacon Hill, Boston – The Great Gatsby Roaring Twenties Party Scene” (circa 1930), illustration for The Saturday Evening Post, watercolor on board.
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Single tickets are $850, which guarantees you one of your three choices; or $1,500, if you want to ensure your top pick. For more, visit brucemuseum.org/ site/events_detail/benefits. n
• Eco-friendly Vendors & Exhibits • Live Birds of Prey Shows: 1 & 3 pm • Pond Searches • Guided Hikes • Games • Great Food On-Site • Nature Gift Shop • Wild Hawk Counting More Details & Event Schedule on Website
613 Riversville Road, Greenwich, CT greenwich.audubon.org 203-869-5272 • Vendors & Sponsors: Call Jeff at x239
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Audubon Greenwich Arts Fest PPENHEIMER
Arts Fest Schedule of Events
Audubon Greenwich will open a new art exhibition and host an art restoration and conservation fair to celebrate the legacy of John James Audubon. Sponsoring the event is the Oppenheimer Gallery at Audubon Greenwich and The Coughlin Group.
Opening Reception: Audubon’s Birds of Prey Thursday, September 19th from 6 to 8 pm
GALLERY Greenwich To mark the tenth anniversary at of theAudubon Kimberlin Nature Education Center,
EXHIBITION: AUDUBON’S BIRDS OF PREY: In homage to the river of raptors that pass over the Audubon Center in Greenwich as they migrate south for winter, the Oppenheimer Gallery at Audubon Greenwich presents a new exhibition featuring raptors painted by John J. Audubon. PRESENTATION AND BOOK SIGNING: Joel Oppenheimer, Audubon historian and president of his namesake natural history art galleries will be signing copies of his book, The Birds of America: The Bien Chromolithographic Edition, just released by publisher W. W. Norton. The first complete reproduction of Bien chromolithographs, this beautifully produced book is available for purchase. To reserve your copy, please call 312-642-5300. During the weekend-long arts fest an original Audubon Bien folio will be on view. Please join us for remarks by Joel Oppenheimer about this rare American edition of Audubon’s Birds of America. ART CONSERVATION FAIR: Joel Oppenheimer, Inc. conservators will offer free evaluations of fine art, paintings, photographs, works on paper or family heirlooms. A certified art appraiser will also be available on Saturday to provide appraisals. Guests can bring their piece for assessment and receive a condition report with recommendations for repairs. Regarded as one of the most respected private art restoration and conservation laboratories in the world, Oppenheimer has restored works from Toulouse Lautrec to Warhol to treasured family documents, Asian scrolls and photographs. Their twelve full-time conservators, apprentices and preparators have restored, repaired and conserved thousands of valuable and priceless works, many of which are in the permanent collections of museums worldwide. Please visit www. joigallery.com to learn more. (on the cover) Plate 56, Red-shouldered Hawk Audubon’s Watercolors: The Complete Work New-York Historical society edition, 351�8 x 251�8 inches…$3,200 Price range $450–$13,500; 30% of all proceeds benefit Audubon
www.audubonart.com/greenwich.asp
Presentation and Book Signing Remarks by Joel Oppenheimer about the Audubon Bien Chromolithographic Edition Thursday, September 19th at 7 pm Art Conservation Fair Saturday and Sunday, September 20th – 21st 10 to 5 pm Appraisals available Saturday, September 20th from 10 to 5
The Oppenheimer Gallery in Kiernan Hall Audubon Greenwich 613 Riversville Road Greenwich, Connecticut RSVP requested to greenwichcenter@audubon.org or 203-869-5272 X239
Private showings available by appointment. Exhibit details at our website: greenwich.audubon.org/oppenheimer-gallery
wonderful dining
Couture cuisine By Andrea Kennedy
French cuisine is the Chanel collection of the food world. Classic. Timeless. At least it should be if done right, and it is at Pelham’s Bistro Rollin. “The standard has been set,” says Executive Chef Manny Lozano. “How you meet that standard is our everyday goal.” Model standouts are his steak frites pan-crusted to perfection – no grills in his kitchen, thank you very much – and the steamed melt-in-your-mouth mussels that leave an eye-rollingly buttery broth behind. Lozano works wonders with veal cheeks, truffles and sweetbreads. And if his menu reads like a Chanel walk-in, the French onion soup is a bouclé jacket. Plush-textured with a crisp edge, it envelops you in luxurious warmth. “When The New York Times says it is as good, if not better, than the one they’ve had in Paris, you kind of can’t take it off the menu,” Lozano says. Though the bistro identifies as American – they do offer items outside of the French tradition and, obviously, they aren’t located in France – roll up to its sidewalk patio and you’ll swear you’re bike-riding with a baguette in your basket sporting a raspberry beret. It’s a trellised snapshot of Paris down to the royal blue Rue Rollin street sign that transports you to its namesake Parisian lane, widely known as the city’s oldest, where philosophers René Descartes and Blaise Pascal once lived. Lozano’s French offerings are equally rooted. “We don’t reinvent the wheel on certain things,” he says. “Chicken liver mousse is a recipe I wouldn’t dare touch. Alain Ducasse uses that recipe and he won’t touch it. And if he’s not going to touch it, who am I to touch it?” It’s rich, velvety and impeccably smooth. It’s also house-made, just one of more than a dozen pãtés in Lozano’s repertoire. Can’t think of any Westchester eateries that offer house-made pãtés? “That makes two of us,” he says. He’s old school like that. And though he honors those before him who perfected the cuisine – there’s a reason why culinary schools train in French technique – he humbly considers himself an eternal student who pleads the fifth in naming his “best” works. “Whatever I think now is my best dish may get replaced by something else,” Lozano explains. “It’s really just one great journey. It’s this craft I’m trying to perfect every day, and it’s a fun ride.” 72
Chef Manny Lozano. All images courtesy of Bistro Rollin.
Duck breast.
Mussels.
French onion soup.
The ride has included stops at topechelon Manhattan spots like March, and Aureole, and six years as sous chef at L’Absinthe. He and another vet of the lat-
Streetside seating at Bistro Rollin.
ter teamed to open the Relais & Châteaux inn Winvian in Morris, Conn. before Lozano joined longtime Pelham family the Bratones to launch Bistro Rollin in 2009.
If you know of the Bratones – and with their decades-long history in Westchester, most locals do – it’s no wonder that the sophisticated business family made Lozano their chef selection. Barbara, former executive director of La Napoule Art Foundation on the Côte d’Azur, and Arthur, managing partner of a private company based in the Middle East and a longtime trustee of The American University of Paris, are like local ambassadors of crossthe-pond culture. Even interior artworks are by celebrated Austrian painter Alexander Rutsch (who also called Pelham home) from the Bratones’ own collection. But while refined, the bistro is far from stuffy. It’s instead the ideal union of casual warmth and elegance. The French have their own term for it. (And no, it’s not “je ne sais quoi.”) A recent trip to Paris with the Bratones introduced Lozano to the concept of “bistronomique” – innovative haute cuisine in a laid-back atmosphere. “I think people think it’s cool to be casual and have a really nice meal at the same time,” he says. The French are, of course, harbingers of cool. And how did Rollin measure up to its Parisian counterparts? “We’re doing OK,” Lozano says with a smile. “And I say that modestly.” If the food doesn’t speak for itself, rave reviews do, including those by chefs hailing from a five-year-voted best restaurant on the planet. “We had some chefs from Spain come for dinner from elBulli (which closed in 2011) … We got a beautiful letter from them saying that they were very impressed. It was a very flattering letter.” On a more regular basis, folks will trek from the city or Long Island for Lozano’s fare, while others nearby will frequent several times a week. His 10-year-old son, though, gets Dad’s dishes regularly – from lasagna (a favorite) to occasional fancy French plates like pommes de terre duchesse – that they enjoy once they’ve worked up an appetite on the ball field. Whether sporting a baseball mitt or kitchen mitt, Lozano keeps his own style more low-key casual. What exits his kitchen may be worthy of Chanel, but he’s satisfied in chef whites and trademark bandanna. “That’s my fashion statement,” he says with a grin. Bistro Rollin is at 142 Fifth Ave. in Pelham. For more, call (914) 633-0780 or visit bistrorollin.com. n
wanders
Tuscan sun
Under the fashionable By Georgette Gouveia
Arno River and Ponte Vecchio, Florence. Photograph by Gary Ashley.
73
The west front of the Prato Cathedral, the main Roman Catholic church of Prato, Tuscany.
Palazzo Vecchio, Florence.
hen you think of Tuscany, you don’t necessarily think of fashion. That’s partly because books and movies have done too good a job of selling the cinematography of those rolling hills. (Think “Under the Tuscan Sun” and “Where Angels Fear to Tread.”) But it’s also because when it comes to culture and Tuscany, fashion has to get on the end of a very long line. First, there’s the art. The Italian Renaissance was, after all, born in Tuscany’s regional capital, Florence. Donatello, Michelangelo, Fra Angelico and Botticelli, anyone? The school of painting in Siena – one of 10 provinces that make up Tuscany – was considered more sedate than the Florentine School, but it is no less glorious. These schools of art were made possible by the Medicis, men with colorful names like Lorenzo the Magnificent, Piero the Gouty and Piero the Unfortunate (although Piero the Gouty sounds pretty unfortunate as well). The Medicis were in turn served by the diplomat Niccolò Machiavelli, the quintessential political pragmatist, who in works like “The Prince” promulgated the notion that it’s better to be feared than loved. According to Philip Bobbitt’s new book “The Garments of Court and Palace: Machiavelli And the World That He Made” (Grove Press), Machiavelli was less of a Machiavelli than we’ve been led to believe. Still, he’s a drolly ruthless character on Showtime’s “The Borgias.” Tuscany also boasted poets like Dante and Petrarch, composers like Mascagni and Puccini. And the vintages, well, how about a nice glass of Chianti? Then there is the architecture that crowns the undulating landscape, as in the small, walled medieval town of San Gimignano in Siena. The Palazzo Comunale, the Collegiate Church and the Church of Sant’Agostino – which contain fresco cycles dating from the 14th and 15th centuries – have earned San Gimignano the nickname the “town of fine towers.”
If you go, you’ll want to hit the Via de’ Tornabuoni, the Fifth Avenue of Florence, where the major fashion houses and jewelers have their stylish shops. Via del Parione and Via Roma are also good bets for fashionistos and fashionistas. But after clothing and bejeweling yourself you might just want to take an art break with someone who’s as naked as God – or rather, Michelangelo – made him. You’ll find the artist’s David in the Galleria dell’Accademia, although he once hung out in the Palazzo della Signoria. (Guess he got too cold.) A replica now stands there. Inside or out, Michelangelo’s 1504 Carrara marble creation is a stunner. n
74
A view of Florence at sunset.
No wonder its historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. And small wonder, too, that fashion has had to vie for its place in the Tuscan sun. But some experts credit Florence – where luxury textiles have been the economic spine since the 15th century – as the birthplace of not only the Italian Renaissance but of modern (post-World War II) Italian fashion. It’s been the home of Salvatore Ferragamo since 1928. And in the early 1950s, Giovanni Battista Giorgini held soirées in Florence for up-and-coming designers. Roberto Cavalli, Gucci and Emilio Pucci are based in Florence, while Prada and Chanel maintain a sizable presence there.
Tuscan landscape west of Siena.
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wagging
puttin’ on the dog By Sarah Hodgson
M
y daughter has discovered a website that allows you to be the designer of your own clothes. You can design baby clothes, a wrap for granny and a dress for every size and occasion. It’s quite impressive. So I suppose it wasn’t too much of a hop for her to design a sweater for her bunny for the upcoming season or a matching set of Harry Potter Halloween costumes for our four dogs. My daughter – such an imagination. Of course, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Before I gave birth to human kids, my dogs were my children. I doted on them like babies. Sure I trained them – I am a dog trainer after all – and more important, I socialized them to all of life’s nuances, but still being über maternal by nature, I was guilty of anthropomorphizing them in the best way possible. I worried over the salt in their paws during
the winter and provided water in various formats during the summer heat. I sprinkled. I hosed. I filled kiddy pools – all to
The only question then becomes do dogs enjoy wearing booties, headwear and motion-restricting coverage? And if they
If you’re hoping to weasel your dog into a pirate costume for this coming Halloween – fully equipped with silken breeches, motley silks and a sword – start with one item at a time. enhance my pets’ comfort. And they did repay me with loyalty, tolerance and devotion. I cherish each and every one of them. These days, I have little time to plan my own dogs’ fashions, although I still enjoy serving as a judge for parades, community events and festivals. People thrill at the opportunity to bring their dogs out and most pets truly enjoy adventures with their family. If having to be dressed in a festive frock or fedora is the ticket, most will oblige.
don’t, can you condition them to play along? Is there an ideal time in a dog’s life to socialize them to apparel? Puppyhood is the ideal time to condition your dog to being handled and outfitted. Treats can be used to cajole them and teach them how to maneuver within the restriction of, say, booties or bonnets. Stay positive, treat often and begin with short outings that end in play or fun. If you’re hoping to weasel your dog into
a pirate costume for this coming Halloween – fully equipped with silken breeches, motley silks and a sword – start with one item at a time. Center the presentation of each article around mealtime or a highly coveted food treat. Let your dog sniff the clothing before attempting to dress him. Keep the sessions short and fun and plan on conditioning your dog to the costume for a few weeks before taking him public. Promise me just one thing: Do not join in the pet meme Internet craze circling the globe. While others may think it painfully funny to see a dog’s image tattooed with an often-embarrassing phrase, I can’t help thinking that people have finally crossed a line with their devoted canine companions. Dogs, like young kids, can’t articulate their discomfort or humiliation. But as adults we can respect their innocence and enjoy the fun of spending our lives with them at our side. n
Pet of the Month They say every dog has its day and we certainly hope that’s so for Natalie, a 7-year-old long-haired Chihuahua/Papillon mix who was rescued from an illegal puppy mill that was shut down in South Carolina. Natalie is a very sweet girl, just shy around new people as she was unfortunately not given all the TLC and socialization she needed as a puppy. However, in a few short weeks she has really blossomed so we know she has lots of potential. She has now begun trusting the staff and volunteers at the SPCA and wagging her little tail when she sees a familiar face. We know she will be the perfect companion for someone with a quiet house who is looking for a lap dog. To meet Natalie, visit the SPCA of Westchester at 590 N. State Road in Briarcliff Manor. Please note: The SPCA does not accept deposits, make appointments or reserve animals for adoption even if it has spoken about a particular dog or cat with you. It’s always firstcome, first-served among applicants, pending approval. The SPCA is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 1 to 4 p.m. Sundays. To learn more, call (914) 941-2896 or visit spca914.org.
Natalie stays stylishly warm in a teal alpaca scarf from Peru.
76
2, 3 and 4 Westchester Park Drive in
WESTCHESTER PARK CEN WESTCHESTER PARK CENTER TER
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Recently Completed Capital Improvements:
Renovated lobbies in 2 and 4 Westchester Park Drive New state‐of‐the‐art cafeteria with sea�ng and serving area New conference center equipped with latest video conferencing technology Fully automated HVAS Digital Carrier BMS System Upcoming Capital Improvement Projects:
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Heritage Realty Services LLC | 67 Irving Place, New York, NY 10003 T 212.674.2556 F: 212.674.2558 www.heritagerealtyservices.com
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! SAVE THE DATE / DONATE / PARTICIPATE SUPPORT CONNECTION’S
19TH ANNUAL SUPPORT-A-WALK FOR BREAST & OVARIAN CANCER
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2013
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w’reel deal
Movies to fall for By Sam Barron
One of the most exciting times of the year is mid-August, for one reason – Entertainment Weekly’s Fall Movie Preview issue is released. It tells you every movie playing between September and the end of the year. It is my bible. I still remember my mom bringing home my first copy, the 1997 Fall Movie Preview issue with the cast of “Jackie Brown” on the cover. I read it from cover to cover. If summer is for mindless popcorn flicks, fall is for costume dramas, weepy biopics and Oscar bait after Oscar bait. Here’s what’s playing:
SEPTEMBER
“Don Jon” – Joseph Gordon-Levitt has been on a tear since he starred in “(500) Days of Summer,” “Inception,” “50/50,” “The Dark Knight Rises,” “Premium Rush,” “Looper” and “Lincoln.” The guy can do no wrong at the moment. This time he steps into the director’s and writer’s chairs for a film in which he plays a modern-day Don Juan. I was hoping this would be a biopic of Don Johnson. Who would play Philip Michael Thomas? The trailer looks good, the cast includes Tony Danza and Scarlett Johansson and I am interested to see what Gordon-Levitt can bring to the table behind the scenes. “Rush” – Connecticut’s Ron Howard is a mixed bag. For every “Apollo 13” or “A Beautiful Mind,” he makes crap like “EDtv” or “The Dilemma.” He made two Robert Langdon movies (ewww) but he also made “Cinderella Man,” one of the best films of the last 10 years. “Rush” is about the 1976 Formula One season and the rivalry between James Hunt and Niki Lauda. The trailer looks cool even if it gives away too much, and Universal is positioning this as a prestige pic. I’m intrigued, but I just hope we get good Ron Howard, not “The Paper” Ron Howard.
OCTOBER
“Gravity” – This is number one for 2013. It’s been seven years since Alfonso Cuarón last made a movie and that’s just criminal. I’ve been waiting forever for this film, which sees George Clooney and Sandra Bullock getting trapped in space. Cuarón is a true visionary “Children of Men” is one of the best action movies I’ve ever seen. I still remember sitting in the theater freaking out over the cinematography and how he made the climax look like 78
it was shot in one take. I will be midnighting this and probably be sitting there flipping out. Before “Children of Men,” Cuarón made “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.” Don’t laugh at me, he made one of the scariest films I’ve ever seen, completely doing a 180 from the kidfriendly tone of the previous two. He finally made a Harry Potter film that felt like J.K. Rowling’s vision come to life, capturing the darkness that emanates from Hogwarts. The Dementors? Watch “Azkaban” again. It’s incredible. “Captain Phillips” – Number one, oh, I already gave that spot to “Gravity.” Paul Greengrass, another fantastic filmmaker, directed “Captain Phillips” which is based on the true-life story of a U.S.flagged vessel hijacked by Somali pirates. Greengrass, who made “The Bourne Supremacy” and “The Bourne Ultimatum,” has shown he has a knack for realistic action scenes. He declined “The Bourne Legacy,” showing he has a knack for knowing when to quit. Everything is coming together for “Captain Phillips.” I could see this movie being amazingly shot, with tons of thrills to boot. I didn’t even mention it stars Tom Hanks. “Escape Plan” – I have a weakness for dopey action films and this one stars Stallone and Ahnold. Yes, we saw this twice in “The Expendables.” Yes, they both had bombs this year with “Bullet to the Head” and “The Last Stand.” No, this movie probably won’t be very good. But I’ll be there on a Sunday afternoon in Greenburgh in spite of myself, laughing right along to their corny one-liners. “The Counselor” – Cormac McCarthy’s first screenplay in a film directed by Ridley Scott. Has everyone forgiven him for “Prometheus”? With that pedigree and a cast that includes Brad Pitt, Michael Fassbender and Javier Bardem, the Oscar nominations are
virtually lined up. I don’t even know what this film is about (a lawyer caught up in drug trafficking), and I’m kind of pumped to see it.
NOVEMBER
“The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” – You might as well see the first one, because you’re going to get dragged to this over the Thanksgiving holiday. Unlike the “Twilight” series, “The Hunger Games” movie was actually good, as Jennifer Lawrence can do no wrong and it had a killer cast with Woody Harrelson, Stanley Tucci and Donald Sutherland. This one adds Philip Seymour Hoffman and Jena Malone to the mix, which I approve of and I’m looking forward to see if the odds remain in Katniss’ favor. How come no one ever brings up the awful names in this movie? “Nebraska” – A black-and-white film starring Will Forte (as the son accompanying sweepstakes-hopeful daddy Bruce Dern to the title state) sounds like a train-wreck, but Alexander Payne is as dependable as it gets. “Sideways,” “About Schmidt,” “The Descendants” – he gets it done. Also, it’s great seeing black and white make a comeback. I am saying that purely as a pretentious d-bag. “Oldboy” – “Oldboy” is a famous South Korean film that got remade by Spike Lee starring Josh Brolin. The kicker with “Oldboy” is that it has one of the most famous twists of all time, but at this point everyone knows it. So I’m intrigued to see if they keep the twist (which won’t be much of a twist anymore) or change it and piss everyone off. This could be worth a look and you can’t go wrong with Elizabeth Olsen and Samuel L. Jackson in supporting roles.
DECEMBER
“Inside Llewyn Davis” – The Coen brothers are it again, with a look at the 1960s
folk scene. This one won rave reviews at Cannes and features Carey Mulligan, Justin Timberlake and John Goodman. I look forward to the sudden and ambiguous ending that will leave me confused. “American Hustle” – David O. Russell had the greatest idea for his true-life crime drama. Bring back Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence and Robert De Niro from “Silver Linings Playbook.” Add Christian Bale and Amy Adams. Minimum eight Oscar nominations. “The Monuments Men” – George Clooney is back in the director’s chair. The last film he made, “The Ides of March,” is one of my favorite films ever. He knows how to do political intrigue and build tension so I am looking forward to this, even if I know nothing about it. Matt Damon, Bill Murray, John Goodman and Jean Dujardin are along for this story of art historians pitted against Hitler in a battle to save masterpieces. “Lone Survivor” – And we save the best for last. Peter Berg is basically my hero and my favorite director. I love almost anything he does, and will defend “Battleship” to the death. Watch “Friday Night Lights,” “The Kingdom” or “Hancock,” and you will see a guy who can make the ordinary seem extraordinary and who can shoot an action sequence like no other. He became a punching bag for “Battleship,” which was a fun summer popcorn flick that everyone wrote off because of its source material. But he only made “Battleship” to able to helm this movie, a true-life story about a failed mission in Afghanistan. Peter Berg filming a war movie? Oh My God, this will be the one of the biggest thrills of the year. Also, the cast – Mark Wahlberg, Eric Bana, Emile Hirsch and Ben Foster. This is a dream team, and yet he got them all in the same movie. O.J.’s attorneys weren’t this impressive. I will be first in line for the midnight show. You need to see this, and you will not regret it. (If this film comes out and sucks, egg on my face.) Remember, there are tons of films I didn’t list here that are well-worth going out of your way to see. Be sure to check the listings at your local arts theaters so you don’t miss anything, and I look forward to seeing you at the movies. n
2013
FAMILY-OWNED
BUSINESS AWARDS SALUTING THE HARDWORKING FAMILY ENTREPRENEURS WHO HAVE BUILT SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSES IN FAIRFIELD AND WESTCHESTER COUNTIES. Now’s your chance to nominate that special family-owned business you’ve watched grow and give back to the community. A distinguished panel of judges will choose three winners: one from a business with 1 to 50 employees, another from a company with 51 to 100 employees and the third from a business with more than 101 employees.
AWARDS CELEBRATION
NOMINATIONS
FAIRFIELD COUNTY
Nominations are open from now through Sept. 9. To nominate, please visit westfaironline.com for instructions and nomination forms or call Holly DeBartolo at (914) 358-0743.
OCTOBER 10 | 5:30 P.M. ARTHUR MURRAY GRANDE BALLROOM OF GREENWICH 6 LEWIS STREET, GREENWICH WESTCHESTER COUNTY
NOVEMBER 7 | 5:30 P.M. MAPLETON AT GOOD COUNSEL 52 N. BROADWAY, WHITE PLAINS
A CALL FOR NOMINATIONS
where are they now?
O
ver the last 18 months since WAG profiled her, petite powerhouse Josie Natori has rarely sat still. She’s traversed the globe two ways – in the flesh and over network television – began a new brand of youthful casualwear and sleepwear, further expanded lines in her lifestyle offerings and continued to wow with her Chinoiserie-inspired ready-towear collections. Considering the success of her entrepreneurial vision over the past 35 years, it’s no surprise she also received a lifetime achievement award. Let’s start there. Back in February at the Femmy Gala 2013, the most prestigious annual awards event in the intimate apparel industry, Saks President and Chief Merchandising Officer Ron Frasch, also a dear friend of Josie and the Natori family, presented the designer with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Hosted by the Underfashion Club, which supports education in the lingerie industry through scholarships, internships and events, the accolade recognized Josie for her entrepreneurship and innovation in the field that launched her lifestyle brand as well as her strength of character and inspiration to rising designers. Her outreach to fashion-savvy youth has never been so apparent. Earlier in the year, she also launched Josie, a fun line for modern, confident girls that features chemises, pajama sets, wraps and underwear in the brand’s characteristic East-meetsWest flavor. Think Upper East Side slumber parties that forgo popcorn and soda for sushi and mocktails. The foray into a younger demographic couldn’t come at a better time. In July, Josie appeared as keynote speaker at the Her Campus Conference in New York, a gathering of more than 600 college-aged, media-minded women, of which Josie (the brand) was also a sponsor. In April, she was keynote speaker at Boston’s Simmons Leadership Conference for entrepreneurial women. Josie has been in the international public eye as well when in March she appeared on CNN’s “Talk Asia” with interviewer Monita Rajpal. What aired was a glimpse into the company’s inception – how Josie, then a “bored” Wall Street VP, cold-called her way into Saks buyers’ hearts – plus a
80
Forging ahead Josie Natori expands brand, public presence By Andrea Kennedy
Josie Natori.
Looks from the Natori Fall 2013 collection. Photographs courtesy The Natori Co.
behind-the-scenes look at her factory in the Philippines, her creative motivations and dedication to her Filipino roots. She flew to Manila where TV crews captured views of her at her overseas workshop, and then – like a cooking show host mixing dough one minute and pulling a picture-perfect tray of tarts from her oven the next – toured them among racks of the fine, full-color finished product at her Filipino flagship. Back in the States, things didn’t slow down. Josie continued to charm buyers with her seasonal ready-to-wear collections and expand her lifestyle offerings particu-
larly for Natori Home with accents and bed linens. Her Fall 2013 bedding collection, she says on her Natori blog, “captures the joie de vivre of Chinoiserie glamour that really inspired me this season.” The gold lacquer screens that were backdrops at her ready-to-wear show are the same that frame her beds in store this fall. Her vision translated from the boudoir to the runway, where her fall creations of rich hues and luscious textures mingled with metallics to achieve the look and feel of opulence. This season’s collection contrasts color and fabric on sleek, sophisti-
cated silhouettes with feminine overtones – silky sheath dresses with cropped jackets, skinny pants with enveloping coats, embroidered cut-out cummerbunds and evening gloves, dragon prints and fur toppers. Her runway models donned undereye blush and bright painted lips of Far East elegance with glossy Marcel waves and big earrings. The collection exudes all the glamour, high style and power of Josie herself. And for the woman to whom the term was at one time a four-letter word, it’s quite “sexy” indeed. n
well Skin: the ultimate fashion complement By Joseph J. Sozio, MD
Style or Accessory tank top
Body Part
Issue
Solution
What it does
Chest
Sun damage, age spots
IPL Light Technology
Diminishes hyperpigmentation, evens and brightens skin
Shoulders, back
Acne
Acne Laser Treatment
Shrinks the sebaceous glands and reveals a clear complexion
Neck
Sagging skin
RF Tightening
Tightens skin and stimulates collagen production
Arms
Flabby skin
Thermage
Tightens skin and stimulates collagen production
miniskirt
Thighs and calves
Cosmetic spider veins Sclerotherapy and Laser Treatment
Minimizes the redness and appearance of veins
swimsuit
Bikini line
Unwanted hair
Reduces unsightly hair
Tummy Laxity of skin RO Caterer Ad-WAG_Layout 1 8/15/13 purse “Fresh Face”
B
eautiful skin is the perfect fashion accessory. While the average fashionista may not even think much about it, having clear, radiant, youthful skin will enhance the look of anything you wear. My patients tell me they don’t want to wear short skirts if they have spider veins on their legs, and they feel uncomfortable in a short-sleeve top with extra underarm flab. Silly as it may sound, there is an inherent link between fashion and skin care. It’s no surprise, then, that the fashionconscious are flocking to places like our SkinCenter in Hartsdale to enhance their appearance. Wearing an outfit is one thing, but wearing it with confidence is another thing entirely. The SkinCenter team is comprised of medical doctors, licensed registered nurses and licensed aestheticians who strive to help people improve their looks and in turn their confidence every day. Specializing in aesthetics for the face and body, SkinCenter offers services such as Botox and Dysport, wrinkle fillers such as Restylane, Juvederm and Belotero, laser treatments for the face and body, advanced skin tightening, plastic surgery and so much more. Depending on the season’s fashions, related skin treatments trend as well. Before summer, services such as liposuction, tummy tuck, breast augmentation and skin tightening experience an uptick as women (and men) prepare for the upcoming season’s
Hands
Sun damage, age spots
Laser Hair Removal
Advanced Thermage, Tightens skin, stimulates collagen production, Tummy Tuck or Liposuction removal of fat pocket (lipo)
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IPL Light Technology
Diminishes hyperpigmentation, evens and brightens skin
Smile
Lack of volume in lips Filler
Adds fullness to your natural lip
Bright eyes
Frown lines, crow’s feet
Smoothes out wrinkles to give you a more refreshed and youthful look
Even skin tone
Redness, sun damage, Photofacial, Chemical brown spots Peels, Microdermabrasion
skimpy clothing and swimwear. Consultations for leg veins rise in spring as people become more aware of spider and varicose veins in shorts season. Even laser treatments for past sun damage on the chest, back, arms and hands as well as the face increase significantly in preparation for those bare-all summer trends. For each concern, SkinCenter offers effective solutions. But procrastinators be warned: The best time for certain treatments and laser technologies is in the fall and winter when we are out of the sun’s harsh rays. Other procedures may require more than one session for best results. Never wait until you are ready to don that swimsuit to get your skin looking great. Besides the traditional plastic surgery options, minimally invasive techniques like Thermalift for sagging skin on the underarms, thighs, tummy and buttocks will tighten skin, for example. Even procedures such as Botox, lip augmentation and acne treatments are on the rise before holidays or vacations in preparation for the extra socializing that takes place during these busy times. And chemical peels become extra popular as a way to brighten up the complexion in preparation for special occasions. So next time you’re considering a new pair of shoes or a handbag to accent a dress, consider adding a favorite aesthetic treatment to your to-do list and wear that great outfit with style. For more information, visit bestskincenter.com. n
Botox, Dysport, Xeomin
Diminishes hyperpigmentation, evens and brightens skin
An affair to remember deserves the very best.
Including how your guests get there. You’ve created a lovely affair. You’ve chosen the best, from caterer to florist. Now be certain your limousine service reflects that taste. Red Oak Transportation has become Westchester’s premier limousine service by offering a standard of service beyond what others offer. All our professional chauffeurs are on staff. We own our impeccably conditioned vehicles. They range from plush limousines to elegant transports that comfortably carry a large group of people. So your guests arrive safely, relaxed and on-time. Red Oak Transportation. An expression of your style. Call The Professionals: 914.694.2222 or 800.477.LIMO (5466) or www.redoaktrans.com WCTLC #01-00131
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Style – a prescription for wellness By Erika Schwartz, MD
“Dress for success. The clothes make the man. You are what you wear. Dress like a slob, work like a slob. Be clean in person, welldressed.” – Hippocrates (loosely translated)
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t seems ironic that the “Father of Medicine” would address how physicians dress. However, it is a necessary consideration and unfortunately, all too often overlooked in my profession. Too many doctors are still stuck in the old days when wearing the white coat with the stethoscope around your neck determined who you are. Today, outside the hospital and surgical suite, people in doctors’ offices and academic institutions react to a physician’s looks and dress more than you think. My long experience in medicine has taught me that properly attired doctors – in good physical shape, with a clean and neat presentation – command more respect than slobs. Patients in fact do better in the offices of a well-dressed, trim and good-looking
doctor, listening to his or her advice more. Working in New York City has taught me the importance of practicing what you preach. I specialize in prevention and wellness, helping my patients to stay forever young and healthy. My knowledge of hormones, diet, exercise, lifestyle, sleep and stress management may well be part of why my patients do so well. But I’m willing to wager they also do well because out of respect for them, I dress well and make sure I walk the walk. When I was working in Irvington, my old mentor – Dr. Mario Dolan, may he rest in peace – used to tell me about my “propensity to dress too well, or even look too well for a doctor. “Don’t dress so well,” he cautioned. “Patients will think they are paying for your clothes or your rent or your car, so keep yourself looking modest.” While I did take many of the other little snippets he taught me to heart, I didn’t take this one. I never dressed to show off. I dressed nicely to make my patients feel good, out of respect and love for my pa-
tients and self-respect and the desire to be a role model. (Also, I am a clotheshorse.) I do believe that if you dress nicely, you feel better, your attitude is better and the energy around you is better. I also believe that my patients appreciate my dressing for them. The relationship between my female patients and myself in particular is strengthened by our often lively and exciting conversation about our clothes, and I do believe without a doubt the confidence levels between me and my patients do run higher, because we can talk about clothes along with very personal issues. To us, women’s clothes are very important and if our doctor can share in that particular space with us, she can probably become even closer than the average doctor. She may even become a friend. In medical school, no one teaches you how to dress. In fact, pretty much everyone dresses down and in the clinics where we take care of the needy and underprivileged, wearing a Chanel suit could be inappropriate and insensitive. But that is not what I am talking about.
I am talking about self-care. One more thought: With the development of reality TV and doctor-filled media, how you dress as a physician definitely determines if a show’s producer brings you
To us, women’s clothes are very important and if our doctor can share in that particular space with us, she can probably become even closer than the average doctor. She may even become a friend. back or not. It may be superficial, but it’s a fact and we should all know this. We’re in 2013, after all. So there: Fashion fits in perfectly with being healthy, developing a rapport with your doctor – and enjoying a trip to the mall. For more information, email Dr. Erika at Erika@drerika.com. n
PRINCE WILLIAM HAS PRINCE HARRY, SNOOPY HAS SPIKE – YOU KNOW, THE BAD-BOY BABY BRO WHO’S A CHUNK OF CHARM AND A TON OF TROUBLE. That’s what WAG Weekly is to WAG. In our e-newsletter, we let down our hair (and occasionally, our grammar) to take you behind behind-the-scenes of the hottest parties and events, offer our thoughts on the most controversial issues of the day, share what couldn’t be contained in our glossy pages and tell you what to do and where to go this weekend – all while whetting your appetite for the next issue. If you can’t get enough of WAG — or you just want to get WAG unplugged — then you won’t want to miss WAG Weekly, coming to your tablet each Friday a.m.
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when&where Sunday
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September 2013
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ART ON VIEW
Two Chilean artists make their U.S. debut at The Lionheart Gallery in Pound Ridge. Thelionheartgallery.com.
JUDY CARMICHAEL & STEVEN ROSS
A performance at Stamford’s Palace Theatre. Scalive.org.
Art from the Cold Spring Arts Annual Open Studio.
TRADITIONAL CHRISTIAN EGG ART
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Greenwich Chamber of Commerce hosts its 2013 golf outing at Griffith E. Harris Golf Course. Greenwichchamber.com.
A lecture at the Bruce Museum in Greenwich on the formal and folk art traditions of the Eastern Christian Church. Brucemuseum.org.
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GOLF OUTING
“Inka Iko”, a sculpture by Soledad Leonicio of recycled iron and clay. Photograph by Andre Martinez
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ONE-NIGHT ONLY PERFORMANCE
Westport Country Playhouse’s annual fundraising gala features Broadway talent and surprise guests. Westportplayhouse.org.
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8TH ANNUAL WOMEN ON THE MOVE LUNCHEON
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CRAFTS AT LYNDHURST
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A festival of fine craft, art, food and entertainment at Lyndhurst in Tarrytown. Artrider.com. (Runs through September 22).
A benefit for the New York City-Southern New York chapter of the National MS Society at the Trump National Golf Club in Briarcliff Manor. Msnyc.com.
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CAUSE-WORTHY TUNES
Grammy Award-winning bassist John Patitucci performs at The First Reformed Church in Hastings-on-Hudson to raise funds for local nonprofits. Brownpapertickets. com.
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‘MYSTIC INDIA: THE WORLD TOUR’
A presentation of Indian dance and music at the Academic Arts Theatre, Westchester Community College, Valhalla. Sunywcc.edu/smartarts.
VILLAGE OF OSSINING BICENTENNIAL HARBORFEST
Explore Ossining’s waterfront with a daylong festival at Harbor Square. Celebrateossining.com.
A DAY OF ART AND MUSIC
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Celebrate the art of collage with activities for all ages at Community ReMIX Day at the Katonah Museum of Art. Katonahmuseum.org.
19TH ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT
The Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester hosts its annual golf fundraiser at the Glen Arbor Golf Club. (914) 6668069, ext. 111.
SOUTHERN WESTCHESTER FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL
SWINGING FOR ART
A golf outing to benefit the White Plains Performing Arts Center at Knollwood Country Club. Wppac.com.
Celebrity chef demonstrations, book-signings and the participation of hundreds of restaurants, caterers, wine merchants and more in Scarsdale. Sowefwf.com.
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28TH ANNUAL GREAT SPORTS LEGEND DINNER
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‘TRACY MORGAN: EXCUSE MY FRENCH’
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KICK-OFF PARTY
Celebrate the opening of the 2013 Cold Spring Annual Open Studio Actor, author and come- Arts (Sept. 27 through dian Tracy Morgan takes tour 29) at 69 Main St., the stage at Stamford’s Sept. Spring. ColdspringPalace Theatre. Scalive. Cold arts.com. org.
OKTOBERFEST
‘BALLETX’
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A company of world-class dancers performs in the Academic Arts Theatre, Westchester Community College, Valhalla. Sunywdd.edu/smartarts.
‘CLOSER: THE GRAPHIC ART OF CHUCK CLOSE’
Greenwich United Way hosts a fundraiser at Stamford’s Loading Dock with dinner, dancing and A new exhibit (continumore. Unitedway-green- ing through Jan. 26) at the Bruce Museum that is wich.org. composed almost entirely of portraits. Brucemuseum.org.
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Dine and mingle with sports legends and celebrities to benefit The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis held at the Waldorf Astoria. Thebuonicontifund.com.
Crafts at Lyndhurst
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Private Schools: Get to know FRIDAY, SEPT. 27 GREEN MEADOW WALDORF SCHOOL, introductory session (and every month); 307 Hungry Hollow Road, Chestnut Ridge. Gmws.org/events. SUNDAY, OCT. 6 SOUNDVIEW PREP, 1 to 3 p.m.; 370 Underhill Ave., Yorktown Heights. Soundviewprep.org.
THURSDAY, OCT. 17 SOUNDVIEW PREP, 9 to 11 a.m.; 370 Underhill Ave., Yorktown Heights. Soundviewprep.org.
IONA PREP, open house for upper school (grades 9 to 12), noon to 3 p.m.; 255 Wilmot Road, New Rochelle. Ionaprep.org.
THE STANWICH SCHOOL, 9 a.m.; 257 Stanwich Road, Greenwich. Stanwichschool.org.
THE MEAD SCHOOL, noon; 1095 Riverbank Road, Stamford. Meadschool.org.
WHITBY SCHOOL, 9:30 and 10:30 a.m.; 969 Lake Ave., Greenwich. Whitbyschool.org.
RYE COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL, open house for middle and upper schools (grades 5 through 12), 1 p.m.; 3 Grandview Ave., Rye. Ryecountryday.org.
SATURDAY, OCT. 12 THE GUNNERY, 9:30 a.m.; 99 SATURDAY, OCT. 19 Green Hill Road, Washington, RIDGEFIELD ACADEMY, 11 Conn. Gunnery.org. a.m. to 1 p.m.; 223 W. Mountain Road, Ridgefield. RidgefieldacadMONDAY, OCT. 14 emy.org. DARROW SCHOOL, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; 110 Darrow Road, THE WOOSTER SCHOOL, New Lebanon, N.Y. Dar91 Miry Brook Road, Danbury. rowschool.org. 9 a.m.; woosterschool.org. TUESDAY, OCT. 15 GREENWICH CATHOLIC, 9 a.m.; 471 North St., Greenwich. Gcsct.org.
SUNDAY, OCT. 20 GREENWICH ACADEMY, 1, 2:30 and 3:30 p.m.; 200 N. Maple Ave., Greenwich. Greenwichacademy.org.
TUESDAY, OCT. 22 GREENWICH COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL, 7 p.m.; 401 Old Church Road, Greenwich. Gcds.net. THE MASTERS SCHOOL, middle school open house, 7 p.m.; 49 Clinton Ave., Dobbs Ferry. (914) 479-6400. WEDNESDAY, OCT. 23 CONVENT OF THE SACRED HEART, upper school open house, 1177 King St., Greenwich. Cshgreenwich.org.
THURSDAY, OCT. 24 THE MASTERS SCHOOL, upper school open house, 7 p.m.; 49 Clinton Ave., Dobbs Ferry. (914) 479-6400. SATURDAY, OCT. 26 HACKLEY SCHOOL, 9 a.m. to noon; 293 Benedict Ave., Tarrytown. Hackleyschool.org/openhouse. THE HARVEY SCHOOL, 9 a.m.; 260 Jay St., Katonah. Harveyschool.org. SUNDAY, OCT. 27 IONA PREP, open house for lower school (grades K to 8), 10 a.m. to noon; 255 Wilmot Road, New Rochelle. Ionaprep.org. RYE COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL, open house for lower school (pre-K through 4th grade), 1 p.m.; 3 Grandview Ave., Rye. Ryecountryday.org.
GRADES 5–12 DAY AND BOARDING
There’s more to a
mind
The Masters School develops complex skills for a complex world.
ADMISSION EVENTS
To learn more about our renowned Harkness teaching methodology and why Masters is Westchester and Fairfield Counties’ premier day and boarding school, please contact 914-479-6420 or admission@mastersny.org.
UPPER SCHOOL
Masters_Wag_1.indd 1
MIDDLE SCHOOL Tuesday, October 22 at 7:00 PM
Saturday, November 9 at 1:00 PM Thursday, October 24 at 7:00 PM Saturday, November 9 at 3:00 PM
49 Clinton Avenue, Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522
www.mastersny.org
8/19/13 3:22 PM
Character, Resilience, Discipline and Courage
For 163 years, The Gunnery has been committed to cultivating academic excellence and social responsibility, providing students with first-rate preparation for college. Please RSVP for our Open House October 12th, or contact The Gunnery Admission Office to arrange a campus visit. www.gunnery.org ~ 860-868-7334 ~ admissions@gunnery.org
For 163 years, The Gunnery committed to cultivating 99 Green Hill has Road, been Washington, CT 06793 academic excellence and social responsibility, providing students with first-rate preparation for college. Please RSVP for our Open House October 12th, or contact The Gunnery PLEASE CALL TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT Admissions Office to arrange a campusFORvisit. A CAMPUS TOUR. For more information www. gunnery.org ~ 860-868-7334 ~ admissions@gunnery.org 845-462-4200 99 Green Hill Road, Washington, CT 06793
22 Spackenkill Road, Poughkeepsie, NY www.oakwoodfriends.org
Founded in 1796 and guided by Quaker principles, Oakwood Friends School emphasizes the importance of intellectual pursuits, individuality and one’s responsibility to the community at large. Oakwood Friends School educates and strengthens young people for lives of conscience, compassion and accomplishment. COLLEGE PREPARATORY PROGRAM • QUAKER VALUES • GRADES 6 - 12 • BOARDING & DAY • COEDUCATIONAL FINANCIAL AID AVAILABLE
Private Schools: Get to know SOLOMON SCHECHTER SCHOOL OF WESTCHESTER, high school open house, 9:30 a.m.; 555 W. Hartsdale Ave., Hartsdale. Solomon-schechter. com.
SUNDAY, NOV. 3 KING LOW HEYWOOD THOMAS, Pre-K through 5th grade at 1 p.m., grades 6 through 12 at 2:30 p.m.; 1450 Newfield Ave., Stamford. Klht.org.
SOUNDVIEW PREP, 1 to 3 p.m.; 370 Underhill Ave., Yorktown Heights. Soundviewprep.org.
NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL, 1 to 3 p.m.; 635 Frogtown Road, New Canaan. Countryschool.net.
ST. LUKE’S SCHOOL, noon to 4:30 p.m.; 377 N. Wilton Road, New Canaan. Stlukesct.org/admissions. WATERSIDE SCHOOL, 770 Pacific St., Stamford. Watersideschool.org. SATURDAY, NOV. 2 CONVENT OF THE SACRED HEART, all-school open house, 1177 King St., Greenwich. Cshgreenwich.org. THE URSULINE SCHOOL, 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., 1354 North Ave., New Rochelle. (914) 6363950.
WHITBY SCHOOL, open house, 1 p.m.; 969 Lake Ave., Greenwich. Whitbyschool.org. SATURDAY, NOV. 9 DARROW SCHOOL, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; 110 Darrow Road, New Lebanon. Darrowschool. org. THE MASTERS SCHOOL, middle school open house, 1 p.m., upper school open house, 3 p.m.; 49 Clinton Ave., Dobbs Ferry. (914) 479-6400.
SUNDAY, NOV. 10 CHRISTIAN HERITAGE SCHOOL, 2 p.m.; 575 White Plains Road, Trumbull. (203) 261-6230. MONDAY, NOV. 11 SOUNDVIEW PREP, open house, 9 to 11 a.m.; 370 Underhill Ave., Yorktown Heights. Soundviewprep.org. SATURDAY, NOV. 16 HACKLEY SCHOOL, athletics information session, 10 a.m. to noon; 293 Benedict Ave., Tarrytown. Hackleyschool.org/openhouse.
Sat., Oct. 26 at 9 a.m.
TUESDAY, DEC. 3 NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL, 9 a.m., 635 Frogtown Road, New Canaan. Countryschool.net. THURSDAY, DEC. 5 SOLOMON SCHECHTER SCHOOL OF WESTCHESTER, middle school open house, 9:30 a.m.; 555 W. Hartsdale Ave., Hartsdale. Solomon-schechter. com.
SUNDAY, NOV. 17 DATE TBA SOLOMON SCHECHTER BRUNSWICK SCHOOL, call SCHOOL OF WESTCHESTER, for information, (203) 542-0024. lower school open house, 9:30 a.m.; 30 Dellwood Road, White OAKWOOD FRIENDS Plains. Solomon-schechter.com. SCHOOL, call to make an appointment. (845) 462-4200. SUNDAY, NOV. 24 MAPLEBROOK SCHOOL, information session, Yale Club, 50 Vanderbilt Ave., New York City. Jscully@maplebrookschool.org.
A remarkable, diverse community where the whole student
us! t i s i v Come OPEN HOUSE
SOUNDVIEW PREP, 1 to 3 p.m.; 370 Underhill Ave., Yorktown Heights. Soundviewprep. org.
thrives
260 Jay Street • Katonah, NY 10536 • 914.232.3161 admissions@harveyschool.org • www.harveyschool.org Harvey is a coeducational college preparatory school enrolling students in grades 6–12 for day and in grades 9–12 for five-day boarding.
The Soundview Prep Open House… …could be a life changer.
Christian Heritage School K-12 Open House
Sunday, Nov. 10 at 2:00 p.m. “Attending Christian Heritage has been an invaluable experience as I graduate and move on to Boston College.” - Hailey Wills, ‘13
I treasure every second I was able to spend with all these amazing teachers, students, and parents at CHS. - Kibom “Nick” Park, ‘13
October Open Houses Sunday, October 6 1 pm - 3 pm Thursday, October 17 9 am - 11 am Sunday, October 27 1 pm - 3 pm
Join us for an Open House to learn about our rigorous college preparatory program and uniquely personalized learning community (grades 6-12) that fosters self-confidence and individuality. To register, call (914) 962-2780, ext. 112 or just stop by our campus.
Soundview Preparatory School 370 Underhill Avenue, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598 (914) 962-2780 • soundviewprep.org
www. kingsmen .org
575 White Plains Road, Trumbull, CT • 203-261-6230
creech
cueva
davis
Dioguardi
georgopulo
koven
schietinger
Wynohradnyk
wit wonders: What do your clothes say about you? “Funky, creative, not a follower. An individual.” – Carla Creech, director of healthy living, YMCA of Greenwich, West Haven resident “I wear classics with a contemporary twist.”
– Joann Cueva, coordinator, Women’s Business Council, Greater Danbury Chamber of Commerce, Danbury resident
“I like to be relaxed but with a statement.”
– Kellye Davis, lifestyle expert and author, Pelham resident
“I like to be professional but add a funky flair to my outfits.” – Gaby Dioguardi, intern with Thompson & Bender, Armonk resident “I spend way too much.”
– Christine Georgopulo, owner, Arthur Murray Grande Ballroom, Greenwich resident
“Oh, honey, I’m wild.”
– Helen Koven, Helen Koven L.L.C., Stamford resident
“I have a bag of workout clothes in my car at all times and three pairs of shoes. My clothes say that I’m versatile.” – Erica Schietinger, vice president of corporate communications, Chelsea Piers, Stamford resident “I am professional but still casual and easygoing.” – Juliana Wynohradnyk, senior account executive, Thompson & Bender, Stony Point resident
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watch Serving up health
Wellness was on the menu as the Business Journals, WAG’s sister publications, hosted a roundtable lunch at the Bruce Museum in Greenwich. The “Healthy Living Inside Out” event drew 115 attendees, who heard presentations by Kylie Cappelli, owner of the Lilli Pilli Health Bar in White Plains; Kellye Davis, author and lifestyle expert; Giovanni Roselli, a trainer at Equinox; and Thomas Varian and Kelly Butler, dancers at Arthur Murray Grande Ballroom of Greenwich. WAG’s own Dr. Erika Schwartz and Elizabeth BrackenThompson, a partner in the public relations firm Thompson & Bender Inc., were the moderators. Photographs by Bill Fallon and Bob Rozycki.
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1. Dr. Erika Schwartz 2. Kylie Cappelli and Elizabeth Bracken-Thompson 3 Giovanni Roselli 4. Kellye Davis 5. Harvey Harlem 6. Carla Creech 7. Phebe Ong 8. Kelly Butler, Christine Georgopulo and Thomas Varian 9. Sara James and Alison Calvert 10. Peter Marengo and Katie Attubato 11. Theresa Ferraro and Ed Hardesty
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watch We love them
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Caramoor marked the opening night of its 68th season with a festive gala featuring the golden jubilee production of the award-winning and rarely performed musical “She Loves Me.” The evening celebrated the creators of the show, Joe Masteroff (book) and Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick (music and lyrics), as well as the director of the original Broadway production, Hal Prince (director). Based on a work that inspired two memorable movies, “The Shop Around the Corner” and “You’ve Got Mail,” the semi-staged production was directed by Tony Award-winner Ted Sperling. Photographs by Gabe Palacio.
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1. Daniel Nelson, Zita Rosenthal and Jim Attwood 2. Martha Stewart, Katie and Jeff Haydon 3. Stephen and Nita Lowey 4. Samantha Sherman, Lea Brumage, Marcy Blum, Gabrielle Jaworskyj and Amanda Myers-Walls 5. Amy Peckham 6. Judy Evnin 7. Ned Kelly and Christine Bosco 8. Paul Rosenblum, Alexandra Silber 9. John Cullum 10. David and Sandra Joys, Donald Kendall 11. Anne and George Litchblau 12. Sandra and Bill Cordiano 13. Effie and Bob Fribourg, Susie and John Freund 14. Sylvia Smolensky and Steven Silberstang 15. Sarah Billinghurst and Howard Solomon 16. Joe Masteroff and Sheldon Harnick
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watch Earthly delights
More than 80 guests attended the “Shaken & Stirred” cocktail party hosted by the Open Door Foundation at Trump National in Briarcliff Manor. Guests sipped signature cocktails based on fresh herbs, fruits and vegetables found in summer gardens. The theme reflected the Garden Project that Open Door Family Medical Centers oversees through its school-based health center programs in Port Chester. Photographs by Ana Cabreira. 1. Jill Hudsic, Jan Fischer, Laura Maglietta and Maureen Fraietta 2. Susan and Steven Seltzer and Teresa Duguet 3. Roni Wolff, Carol Neuman, Pascale Sgroe, Lindsey Farrell and Debbie Yoken 4. Paul and Cathy Jirak, Geri O’Flaherty 5. Evette Guerzon, Roberta Socolof, Phyllis Neider and Anne Kasdin 6. Catherine Borgia, Laura Mogil and Elsa Rubenstein 7. Beth Lactman, Susan Loctel, Jennifer Kamen and Julie Plank 8. Jennifer Klar and Courtney Goldstein
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Loving Lyle
Singer/songwriter/actor Lyle Lovett and his Acoustic Group headlined the annual summer gala at the Ridgefield Playhouse. The evening featured dinner-bythe-bite, an open bar, music and a silent auction under a tent before Lovett’s performance in the playhouse theater to a packed crowd. Photographs by Prairie Glen Productions. 9. Keith Sewell and Lyle Lovett 10. Artist Drew Klotz with the sculpture he donated for the live auction.
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A ‘King’ and a president
Bill and Hillary Clinton enjoyed a performance of “King Lear” at the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival (HVSF) on July 20. After leading a standing ovation at the end of the show, the president and former secretary of state took time to meet the entire HVSF company and pose for pictures. Photographs by Rhiannon Marino. 1. The Clintons and company 2. Bill and Hillary Clinton
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Teeing off against Parkinson’s
More than 300 supporters of The Bachmann-Strauss Dystonia and Parkinson Foundation gathered at the Century Country Club in Purchase for the organization’s 21st annual Dystonia and Parkinson’s Golf Invitational, which raised more than $1.3 million to help find better treatments and cures for dystonia and Parkinson’s disease. Willie Geist, co-host of NBC’s “Today” and MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” served as emcee of the event, which honored his father Bill Geist, a longtime CBS News correspondent who announced last year that he has Parkinson’s disease. Photographs by Ben Asen Photography.
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Westchester royalty
Four new titleholders were selected by the judges at the 2014 Miss Westchester and Miss Hudson Valley competition, which took place at the White Plains Performing Arts Center. The young women will represent Westchester County and the Hudson Valley region at the Miss New York USA and Miss New York Teen USA pageants at Purchase College Performing Arts Center in January. The winners were Brittany Drahos, Miss Hudson Valley 2014; Mayra Avila, Miss Westchester 2014; Stephanie Bavolar, Miss Westchester Teen 2014; and Kayla Lonergan, Miss Hudson Valley Teen 2014. Photographs by Peter Giannone. 8
8. Brittany Drahos, Mayra Avila, Christina DeLeon, Chris Saltalamacchio, Stephanie Bavolar and Kayla Lonergan
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watch Mountain send-off
Kurt Kannemeyer, the director of development for St. Christopher’s, a residential treatment and special education program for troubled youth in Dobbs Ferry, was the guest of honor at an alfresco supper at a Waccabuc home Aug. 16. The evening began with an African steel drummer regaling more than 40 supper guests during the social hour. They had gathered to cheer Kannemeyer on as he left for Tanzania to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in his quest to raise $50,000 for St. Christopher’s. “Mr. Kurt,” as the students call him, hopes that his climb to the summit, some 19,500 feet above sea level, will also serve to inspire St. Christopher’s young people. In most cases, they overcome what seem to be insurmountable odds not only to finish high school but in many cases to go on to college as they become responsible, independent and productive citizens. Photographs by Frank Nardozzi. 1. Steve Friedman and Kurt Kannemeyer 2. Audrey Topping, Seymour Topping, Fredi Friedman and Steve Friedman (back) 3. Erica Feynman 4. John Volpicella and Janet Giris 5. Sylvan Dove, Judge Anthony Scarpino and Jane Dove 6. Judith Economos and Mariann Casarella 7. Wanda Alston and Cristina Alston 8. Dr. Richard Klein, Sharon Malanaphy and Melina Adornetto 9. Warren and Barbara Schloat and Dr. John Connolly 10. David, the African drummer 11. Gavin and Valia Anderson and Andrew Economos 12. Arthur Foote and Dawn Kirby 13. David Hochberg, Kurt Kannemeyer and Geoff Thompson 14. Alex and Gabbie DelBello
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Preparing future farmers
The third annual Hudson Valley Food Lovers’ Festival held two events benefiting the Farm On! Foundation, a nonprofit that offers Hudson Valley students interested in pursuing agricultural careers an opportunity to learn about the business models and entrepreneurial spirit needed to make a local farm into a viable, profitable business. Photographs by Leopold Duke. 1. John Varvatos 2. Chef Zak Pelaccio and guests 3. Tessa Edick and Joyce Varvatos 4. Lukas Nelson and his band P.O.T.R.
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Women united
Professional Women of Westchester hosted “Entrepreneurs & Success – It’s an Evolution” at the DoubleTree in Tarrytown. 10. Jamie Imperati, Wendy Kaufman, Lisa Kaslyn, Rose Colonna, Jenifer Rosso and Susan Kleiman
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Serving cancer research
More than 30 tennis players, coordinated by coach Akash Lamba, participated in Lakeside Field Club’s round robin tournament in North Salem to raise money and awareness for cancer research, prevention and treatment. The event, which took in more than $17,000, was enhanced by the presence of Callari Auto Group’s Gucci Fiat 500, the Italian car designed by the fashion house. 5. Valerie D’Alexander 6. Courtney Robin and Amy Serra 7. Natalia Bartels and Lisa Pass 8. Akash Lamba and Amy Serra 9. Karen Wilson, Kristin McNamara and Ellen Pressburg
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One for the kids
More than 100 employees from regional offices of Morgan Stanley, joined by about 100 other volunteers and residents, completed the construction of a colorful playground with state-ofthe-art equipment at the Rochambeau Center in White Plains. 11. Annmarie D’Amico and Dawn Jennings
Want to be in Watch? Send event photos, captions (identifying subjects from left to right) and a paragraph describing the event to hdebartolo@westfairinc.com. 95
class&sass Skylar, tell me your honest opinion of my fashion choices. Because I have vivid memories of being horrified by my mother’s wild and mod ’60s’ outfits – bouffant hairdos (styled on various wigs perched on Styrofoam heads around our bathroom) and huge neon-colored hoop earrings – and I wonder if you’ve had similar reactions to some of my “looks?” Other than the few pair of kitten S heels I recently insisted you toss, I like your style – obviously, since I spend a lot of time browsing in your closet. You change your hairstyle and look with what’s trending. But a lot of women your age and older either don’t seem to care about their looks or they’re stuck in another time period. It’s not about trying to look younger, it’s about looking the best you can with what you have. A quick makeover would go a long way. I advise getting rid of the gray, updating your haircut and getting out of the granny pants. You don’t have to spend a fortune to be current. Just go to Century 21, Supercuts and CVS for some hair dye. styles that your generation are M The sporting that I have a problem with are exposed bra straps (my mom told me they were slutty and that has stuck with me); those awful harem pants (Justin Bieber, what are you thinking?); or worse yet, those pants that hang halfway off a guy’s butt and give you no hint at what might be underneath (I’m talking backside not front side); and prepsters that wear their collars up – although I can’t put this on your generation as it’s been going on for quite a few decades but seems to have made a resurgence among the new boy bands. I seem to be having the opposite A problem with my mom lately, since we have become about the same size. I can’t keep her out of my closet. Every time I’m missing something, I know right where to look. But I guess that’s what I get for having “borrowed” her stuff for years. My big beef with my mom’s generation is that they aren’t funky enough. I love it when women look cool and elegant. I don’t feel that you have to choose between the two. Miss Adrianna, I am glad to see J Well that you are using the word “borrow” loosely. Because I don’t remember ever getting anything that you “borrowed” back. And I am enjoying the fact that I can now “borrow” from you, too. But I never really minded when you raided my closet. Most of my things look better on you anyway.
By Martha Handler and Jennifer Pappas
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Martha and Jennifer talk fashion with their respective teenage daughters,Skylar and Adrianna.
The only request that I have is that you stop taking my razor. It seems that every time I get in the shower and go to shave my legs, it’s missing in action. At the end of the day, it won’t matter what I wear if my legs look like the hair there could be braided. Yikes. As far as your generation goes, I think that if young girls want to wear 6-inch heels, they should know how to walk in them gracefully. If you are tripping all over the place, it kind of ruins the whole effect that you are trying to achieve. I’m just saying. When I walk into my closet and M find that the outfit I’d planned to wear has been abducted by Skylar, I think about the wisdom I gleaned from one of my favorite books. (There’s a segue here – just stick with me.) The book is called “Mutant Message Down Under” and it’s about a doctor who rather mysteriously finds herself on a walk-
about with aborigines in the Australian outback. On her first day out she’s literally covered in mosquito bites and beyond distraught. Her aboriginal guide explains that the mosquitos are taking miniscule amounts of blood from her and that later those same mosquitos will be eaten by birds that with any luck they will be feasting on that evening. It’s the cycle of life: Sometimes you have to give to get. As they say, imitation is the most sincere form of flattery and there’s no doubt that Skylar looks way hotter than I do in anything she chooses from my closet. Oh, speaking of imitation: Enough J with the checker-shirted, tight jeaned “Hipster/Seattle” indie grunge look. Nirvana hasn’t been around for decades. Let’s move on people. When some of those guys (who have put on a few extra pounds)
try to squeeze into those skinny pants, they look like an F3 twister touching down. (Think funnel.) Wag Up Afros. They are back and better M than ever. Rompers and jumpsuits. I hate havJ ing to match up an outfit. I don’t even take the time to coordinate my undergarments. It’s all just too exhausting and time-consuming. Or maybe I’ve just been married a really long time. Sorry, honey. Wag Down Any ensemble Lady Gaga puts toM gether. Girls who wear their dresses too J short or their jeans too low. I don’t want to see their thongs or buttocks sticking out in either direction.
Email Class&Sass at marthaandjen@wagmag.com. You may also follow Martha and Jen on Facebook at Wag Classandsass or access all of their conversations online at wagmag.com.
The Ridgefield Playhouse 80 East Ridge, Ridgefield, CT • (203) 438-5795 /ridgefieldplayhouse
www.ridgefieldplayhouse.org
@ RPlayhouse
Two funny ladies coming to The Ridgefield Playhouse! Sarah Silverman
Paula Poundstone
Saturday, September 14
Friday, September 27
With Special Guest Kyle Dunnigan Straight from her hit show on Comedy Central - Don’t miss an great night of fearless and original comedy with her ever-deceptive innocent-girl-next-door image!
COMEDY SERIES
Richard Thompson
An Evening with Graham Nash
Wednesday, October 2
Wednesday, September 11
w/Special Guest Teddy Thompson
Partially Underwritten by Nature’s Temptations
The first stop of his solo tour! ROCK SERIES
Best known for his hits “Teach Your Children,” “Our House,” “On A Carousel,” and “Bus Stop.”
American Idol’s Crystal Bowersox
ROCK SERIES
Friday, October 4
With Special Guest Emily Elbert
ROCK SERIES
Bringing classic Zeppelin albums to life! From the bombastic and epic, to the folky and mystical, Get The Led Out have captured the essence of the recorded music of Led Zeppelin and brought it to the big stage. ROCK SERIES
Preservation Hall Jazz Band
Colin Quinn “Unconstitutional”
Thursday, September 19 With Special Guest Union Rail
AN EVENING OF ART, WINE & JAZZ
Named by Rolling Stone magazine as one of the Top 20 Guitarists of all-time, recipient of the Orville Gibson Guitar Award, the Ivor Novello Award for songwriting, the 2010 Mojo Les Paul Guitar Award, A BBC Life ime Achievement Award, and Grammy-nominated for Dream Attic.
Get The Led Out
Sunday, September 15
Crystal Bowersox has an uncompromising vision of herself and her music that is refreshing and rare.
Get ready to laugh with one of the funniest comedians around! Buy your tickets early....this show always sells out!
Join us in the lobby at 7:15pm for free wine and cheese tastings and reception with New Orleans' Artist Ken Kenan Don’t miss the amazing sounds of New Orleans funk & Jazz! With their new album “That’s It” produced with Jim James of My Morning Jacket!
Saturday, October 5 COMEDY SERIES
From predator drones to the Kardashians, he pulls no punches in asking if this is what the founding fathers planned!
Leo Kottke
Travis Tritt
Underwritten by: AcousticalMusic.org
A Special Intimate Performance!
Friday, September 20 This legendary acoustic guitar virtuoso blends folk, jazz, and blues influences into a signature finger-picked style of syncopated, polyphonic music.
Sunday, October 6
DOYLE COFFIN ARCHITECTURE SINGER SONGWRITER SERIES
With hits "Help Me Hold On," "Anymore," "Can I Trust You With My Heart," " Foolish Pride" and "Best of Intentions." Also performing songs from his new album The Calm After….
An Evening of Insights and Live Readings
Lisa Marie Presley
Sylvia Browne
Friday, October 11
Sunday, September 22
The Memphis-born Presley reclaims those roots on her new album Storm & Grace — an Americana-inspired showcase for her songwriting talent and smoldering alto voice.
Underwritten by Adam Broderick Salon & Spa Partially Underwritten by Touch of Sedona
Browne has helped tens of thousands of people gain control of their lives, live A Whole New You Series
Jimmy Cliff
more happily and better understand the meaning of life.
ROCK SERIES
Patrizio Buanne
Tuesday, September 24
Saturday, October 12
With Special Guest Ethan Tucker
The Italian Michael Buble!
2013 Many Rivers Crossed Tour
Playing his classic hits – I Can See Clearly Now, The Harder They Come and more and telling the stories behind the songs!
DOYLE COFFIN ARCHITECTURE SINGER SONGWRITER SERIES
ROCK SERIES
Join us in the lobby at 7:15pm for free wine and cheese tastings and artist reception International singing sensation and Italian heart throb with traditional Italian songs and American standards!
AN EVENING OF ART, WINE & JAZZ