A classic in the bedroom

Chances are, you've seen a USM piece or two in your life but may not have paid too much attention to them. That's not because they're unremarkable, but instead because their design is so classic and discreet. It's only when you get closer to one and really look at the details that you realize what a versatile and highly functional piece it is. I've personally admired the pieces from afar but only recently received my first – a storage unit in the beautiful 'anthracite gray.' Ever since I moved into this apartment, I bemoaned my lack of hidden storage. I have plenty of great open shelving, but what about all the junk I don't want to put on display? And it turns out these drop down doors are completely removable and I can keep adding and building more layers if I wanted to in the future.

For a truly custom piece, there is a configurator that allows you to build the piece of your dreams basically. The colors and possibilities feel endless.



Beautiful and functional – music to my ears. This is surely a piece to last the ages.

Thank you to USM Modular Furniture for this most functional gift.

Summer mood

We've had a fairly mild summer so far, but who knows what August will bring. Though I have no immediate plans to get my ass to a beach, I've been dreaming about it (and by beach, I really mean the Italian Riviera with a vintage Fiat). One of these days...

But let's talk about some of my summer essentials in the meantime. A big straw tote with a cheery lemon embroidered on? Check. An easy beach read? Check. An acceptable way to wear pompoms on your feet? Got that too.

This lightweight dress from lemlem ticks off all the things you'd want in the summer – it's 100% cotton, bares the shoulders, and has a fun graphic print. And I love the tassel detail on this little suede pouch from Loeffler Randall. If you want a little more height from your summer sandals, this pair of espadrilles from Sézane is just easy, and comfortable.



And for the skin, I have to rave about a product that's fairly new to me. I was staring at a colleague's skin while in Veneto a few months ago and immediately needed to know her secrets. Despite having just gotten off a red eye earlier that day, she was glowing and looked unbelievably fresh. How?? This magical tinted moisturizer from Le Metier de Beaute was how. I tried it on in her room one night and realized I had to get my hands on it. No doubt it's a hefty price tag, but I try to only use it when I really need to impress (there's also a 2oz version that gets you slightly more bang for your buck). I love the dewy no-makeup look I get from it. The brand also makes these cream cheek/lip pots and I'm always a sucker for cream blushes for their easy application.



That was a mouthful so I'll try to keep the rest of this short. My legs rarely see the light of day, so I've been using this tinted leg cream whenever I do have to bare them. It adds a subtle shimmer to them as well. I really do try to avoid tanning at all, so a little bronzer action from NARS never hurts. The 'Beach Walk' fragrance by Margiela could not be more perfect for the summer. And if you did spend a little too much time in the sun, some 'After Sun' spritz should cool you down (definitely plan on keeping this bottle in the fridge for extra cooling!).

I'm a huge target of mosquitos so I've been using this travel-friendly spray from Aromaflage whenever I'm in mosquito territory. So far so good. Oh, and these mirrored sunglasses are from Shauns and have a funky feminine shape to them.

Ahh now back to figuring out how to make this Italian Riviera trip a reality.

P.S. You can hover over the first main image to get to the item links easily.

Bottega Veneta's Parco Palladiano

In April I had the chance to visit the Veneto region of Italy (a region I kept mispronouncing until certain friends set me straight). It’s where Bottega Veneta was founded fifty years ago and is home to the great visionary, Andrea Palladio, who inspired much of the architecture and gardens in the region today. These are the gardens and villas that inspired Parco Palladiano, the newest fragrance collection from Bottega Veneta. Creative director, Tomas Maier’s goal was to bottle up the quintessential Italian experience and capture the beauty and heritage of the land in these fragrances.

Each of the six fragrances tells a story and there is meaning behind each. I got to hear firsthand from the perfumers about these stories and inspirations. But let’s backtrack a tiny bit – my only real experience with Italy thus far had been two trips to Milan (which some will say is not the “real” Italy). I always imagined the countryside of Italy to be filled with rolling hills and golden light. That isn’t so far from the truth, and bonus: there are bucket loads of beautiful wisteria too. I spent a grand total of barely 36 waking hours in Veneto, but the feeling of the region was palpable.

That one whirlwind day began with a visit to the Bottega Veneta atelier where we witnessed first-hand the “intrecciato” (the signature weave of the house) being woven by hand. Photos weren’t allowed but it was truly amazing to see the craftsmanship and time that goes into these bags. On a side note, my very first luxury handbag ever was actually a Bottega Veneta Campana, and though I’ve cycled through and sold many of my other bags, I can’t let go of this one for both its sentimental value and classic design.

From there, we headed to Villa Fracanzan Piovene, a villa inspired by Palladian architecture, where we enjoyed a lunch and tour of the property. The afternoon went by in a flash, with visits to the Basilica Palladiana and the Teatro Olimpico (the first roofed seated theater in the world) in Vicenza.

Then, the exciting and highly anticipated part of the day began. We sat down with the perfumers and smelled each of the new perfumes, which are named by Roman numerals to reflect the classical heritage of the Palladian villas. They represent different moments throughout the day, from morning to evening, taking us on an imaginary journey through a Palladian garden.

So we begin with the scent of magnolia in the morning. This fragrance (I) by Michel Almairac captures the experience of sitting under the magnolia tree before the sun has had a chance to alter its scent. Then morning fades, and the light is very bright (II). This fragrance by Alexis Dadier is about the cypress tree. Notes of salt and pepper express freshness and the two-fold personality of the tree. We are meant to feel the elegance of this tree. For Daniela Andrier, another Parco Palladiano perfumer, a visit to the Palladian villas 25 years ago profoundly evoked things for her. On her process, she says, “It’s a matter of memories… universal memories that we can all relate to.” This fragrance (III) turns a bit melancholy, with the overripe pear that signals a change in seasons, from summer to autumn.

For Dadier’s second fragrance in the collection (IV), the azalea is at the forefront. It is the end of the afternoon and there is a cloud of smell from the flowers that have been warmed by the sun all day. It is a comfortable feeling. There is creaminess and woody chestnut to balance. We move on to Andrier’s second creation, an herb/spice garden that has been in the shadows (V) in a cool place away from the sun, a “majestic place” she calls it.

We end the journey with a rose that has been outside in the garden all day (VI). Mylene Arlan and Michel Almairac’s rose is not your typical rose. It’s more delicate and soft from soaking in the sun’s golden light, yet spicy from cinnamon, sandalwood, and cedar.

Later that evening, we visited Villa Rotonda for the culmination of our olfactory journey. Here we got to walk through the proverbial Palladian garden and experience artful installations interpreting each of the fragrances. If I absolutely had to choose a favorite, it'd likely be a toss-up between II and VI. They really all are beautiful.

Parco Palladiano is available at Bergdorf Goodman and Bottega Veneta at $295 a bottle.

In collaboration with Bottega Veneta

A paperclip for giants

Today's Friday's Detail features a brass paperclip from the studio of Carl Auböck. I've been eying this guy forever and finally bought one at The Line as a pick-me-up. It gleams so beautifully in the light; though, I've learned the hard way that it can cause scratches or leave black marks if you actually use it as a paperclip! So I'll just rest it on the page as more of a paperweight instead.



I've also included this in my swoon worthy list for the lovely Athena's site, Eye Swoon. There's a little fun q+a with me in there too!

Wake up wright

No, that's not a typo up there – it's all my bedding dreams come true. I was recently introduced to Wright, a design-focused mattress label that also sells quality bedding products. I never really thought about how the mattress industry needed a little disrupting, but all the recent mattress companies that have entered the market seem to prove otherwise. I've tried a number of them out, including Leesa and Casper, but I prefer a really firm and hard mattress (I would sleep on a wood platform if I could) and neither of those offerings were firm enough for me. My current mattress was a generous hand-me-down from a good friend to tide me over when I moved into my new place last year. But I thought it was time to get a bit more serious about what I was spending nearly 1/3 of my life lying on.



Enter the Wright mattress. After two weeks or so of testing it out, I've been very happy with the amount of support it gives. It's firm but also feels like a cloud, the best of both worlds really. On the downside, getting out of bed in the morning is just a bit harder now. I won't bore you with the technical specs, as I'm not exactly an expert on mattress materials, but you can read all about the nitty gritty on the product specs page.



What I love about the Wright pillows is they fluff up nicely for show, but sink down for just-right neck support. I've had my fair share of struggles with trying out various pillows because I almost feel like I don't need a real one – I just want a log-shaped thing that fits right under my neck so my head can be aligned with my spine. The one I had half-considered and loved was from ABC Home and, like, $300 each (yikes). The comforter has been a dream so far too, but I'll have a better idea of how it holds up once I use it for longer. I've had to toss so many old cheap comforters because they either clump up or become as thin as bed sheets.

All of the Wright products, including the comforter and pillows, are made in the USA with carefully sourced materials. If you happen to be in NY, you can check out their showroom at 188 Lafayette and really feel their products in person.



In these photos: Stella McCartney cami (15% off with code JETAIME) and shorts (on sale!) // Also love this friendly-on-the-wallet silk sleep set

Disclosure: Lingered Upon received gifted products from Wright, but this is not a sponsored post.

Light and shadow

When you get a super last-minute, rare chance to borrow a Cartier diamond bracelet from the Étourdissant collection to photograph, you call up your favorite hand model and try your best to capture the magic and allure of it. Of course, nothing beats seeing and touching the beauty in person. I think I'm still a bit mesmerized by that piece.

Lace-up

Well, I finally caved into the lace-up flat trend. I had been resisting forever and though I'm usually all about buying the "original" starter of a trend (which I think in this case were the Aquazzura Christy flats), I didn't love the how high the back part of that particular flat went. Also, the price point made me shy away. I was, however, fond of the price point and lower back heel of The Brezza flat by M. Gemi. I remember seeing the style pop up a while back and sell out like hotcakes. When I saw recently that the style had come back, I didn't hesitate this time around. When I unboxed them, the first thing I noticed was the quality – which made it feel like a more expensive shoe; and the shape of the toe (another thing I'm terribly picky about) – which was just the right amount of pointy. Plus they fit true to size.



Another fun option if black is too boring for you.

Wrist candy and a cheerful planner

The purchase of this 2016 planner was probably the most effortless way to add some color in my life recently. The cheery yellow really does make me a little happier, as silly as it sounds. But I love all of Smythson's products and it's hard to choose just one color for a planner. (If you're looking for a 2016 planner still, this slightly bigger desk version is on sale in the always amazing cobalt blue.) Yes, they're a bit splurge-y but if you actually use it for the full year, your cost per use is, like, less than $1 a day. ;) But in addition to its practical use, it's just a really beautiful desk object, and I'm a sucker who's always willing to pay a premium for that.



I rarely wear anything with my Love bracelet since it's elegant on its own (oh, and I'm lazy), but I've been having fun with this little trio recently. I get a lot of questions about where this clover bracelet is from, and for the longest time I couldn't find it online anymore. It looks like it's back though! I think of it like a little good luck charm. The Celine knot bracelet isn't usually purchasable online, but you can find a pretty killer deal on one here (I mean, damn I wish I had seen that). For a similar alternative, Kate Spade makes a great one for under $100. Also on my paws is the classic "Scarlet" by RGB.

On an unrelated note, I'm heading to Seoul in the upcoming weeks and would love to hear any recommendations if you have any. Shops, eats, coffee, museums – all of that would be great!

Nicole Patel

When I first came across Nicole Patel's beautiful grid work (via Rosa of Cereal), I immediately felt a sense of calm. I wanted more. I exclaimed to anyone who might care and showed them her pieces, "I love this artist's work!" I was drawn to photos of her home in Nyack as well, which gave me a similar calm feeling. Clearly she knew a thing or two about interiors as well. We eventually started chatting and connected in real life. When Nicole came over one day to talk about doing a piece for me, I gave her the "grand tour" of my apartment and basically begged for organizing advice (if you saw the insides of my closets, you'd understand why). I recently had the chance to visit her home and studio, and I left feeling incredibly inspired by Nicole's thoughtfulness about her work, approach, and intentions. I hope you'll also enjoy this conversation with her.



How did you get started in your current series of work?

My current series is a collection of Bridges. It originated many months ago when I saw the documentary about the architect Sir Norman Foster. The Millau Viaduct in France was featured and the first sight of it inspired me immensely. It is a mastery of structure, sweeping and expansive, made up of a simple shift of equal line weights. I was simultaneously seeking to simulate what I love about blueprints within my work, and I began working with a Sky Blue Japanese Merino thread for its color and heathered line quality. Eventually after enough time, the Bridge manifested, and it held a space for that undulating grace that I longed to emulate.

Who/what are your biggest inspirations?

When I think about what my biggest inspiration is on a daily basis, my intention is to help people in some way. When I was studying fine art at University I had an inkling to be an art therapist. Later in life I developed my own company called Homework. I worked as a holistic interior designer. It was essentially home organizing and interior design, with an aim to optimize people’s quality of life by clarifying their home. Eventually I grew into working as a fine artist doing the work I am known for now, but my objective remains the same – helping people feel a sense of peace and clarity in their home by holding a space for simplicity.



What are your favorite materials to work with?

I tend to gravitate towards materials that are in some way pure. That largely becomes natural materials such as cotton, wool and marble, but it also includes plaster. So more than natural materials, I enjoy working with materials that are the foundation for other art forms. The muslin, for example, is the blank canvas of fashion, marble the bedrock of classical sculpture, plaster used in casting clay, etc. Someone likened my work to the experience of perusing a stationery store and selecting a notebook, holding so much possibility in those blank pages, and that is indeed what I want to offer – that unadulterated potential that a given material holds.

What influences your interior aesthetic? And what were you trying to achieve when putting together your workspace?

I am always working to turn down visual noise, and the furnishing is simple enough to be a platform for the daily activities. I continually transition from working on my art to being a mom, to housekeeping, and to administrative tasks throughout the day. They are all in the same space, so there is no boundary between my work and the rest of my life and I think that's how I'm most productive.



What kind of state of mind are you in when you're actively creating and putting together your grids?

Seeking – if it's a new piece or style I am seeking something, a fine line between what I feel appeals to both the intellect and the spirit. I always try several iterations and let them percolate. I live with them to understand their presence. They need to be understated and attractive, and also have enduring appeal.

Do some of the grids happen spontaneously or do you pre-plan all of them?

I have decide to produce my work in limited editions of twelve. So sometimes I have to stick to the plan and recreate a formula, which is possible but challenging for me. As an artist, once I have the foundation laid out, I set out on a journey but always want to take a new scenic route! So often times when I am intending to repeat myself I follow my intuition instead and new piece is born. It reminds me of one winter I was making a chicken soup for some friends who were visiting. I had the classic ingredients and then some, and my mind thought to make numerous alternative versions. I began to say to myself, “Just make the soup, just make the soup." I followed through with a most classic version and when my guest tasted it he remarked that it reminded him of his Jewish grandmother’s chicken soup. It was one of the best compliments I've had on my cooking, and I was so happy I stayed on task!



Can you share some of your favorite books for inspiration?

John Pawson by Deyan Sudjic and Bruce Chatwin, Belgian Architects and Their Houses by Diane Hendrix and Muriel Verbist, The Mountain Poems of Stonehouse by Red Pine

A few places you can find or purchase Nicole's work: Nalata Nalata (in the physical store), Cereal's online shop, and C'H'C'M. And of course you can contact Nicole directly via her website for pieces.

Everlane Room Service

Has anyone else been having shoe sizing issues recently, or is it just me? It seems that sizing between brands has become less and less consistent and suddenly I can wear a 35 in one brand and a 37 in another, and still everything in between (what gives??). If I could, of course, try every shoe that I want on in person, that would be ideal. Now I rarely order shoes online without having tried on the shoe first (because I still find exchanging/returning to be a pain in the ass). 

On that note, I’m excited to help one of my favorite brands (Everlane, that is – if the title of this post didn't give it away) announce their new initiative titled “Room Service.” They’re about to set up in hotel suites in four cities over the next few weeks and allow you to try on their four fall shoe styles in person. You can reserve a 30-minute appointment here for Manhattan and here for Brooklyn. (These are early access links by the way! ;)) They'll be setting up shop in SF and LA hotels as well. If you do purchase in person, you’ll receive a gift bag, free 1-hour delivery in Manhattan and free expedited shipping for Brooklyn. And knowing my friends at Everlane, it’ll be the most enjoyable try-on experience you’ll have in a while. I mean, there will be cocktails! Try on shoes, mingle, and have drinks — that sounds like my kind of fun. And no more guessing what shoe size you'd be.

Shown here is the Modern Point. (If you don’t happen to live in or plan on visiting those four cities, and are interested in this style, I’d recommend going up half a size!)

Photographed at Hotel Covell.

Absolut x Hella Bitters

Vodka and bitters, hello. Sounds like a good start to a week, right? I was recently commissioned by Absolut for their Absolut Crafted with Love campaign, in which I had the pleasure of highlighting a local quality maker in the beverage/cocktail industry. Personally, I’m particularly drawn to any cocktails that have a healthy amount of bitters, so getting to feature Hella Bitters in this campaign was the perfect pairing.

Over the past few years, I’ve placed greater importance on the quality of everything I bring into my life, and ingredients are a big part of that. Most people probably don’t realize that Absolut sources all their ingredients within 75 miles of their distillery in Sweden. And of course, as a local small business, Hella Bitters cares a great deal about the quality of their craft and their end products, which are made in small batches with the finest ingredients available.



During a visit to the Hella Bitters production facility in Long Island City, we learned all about the process of bitter making, and it’s surprisingly simple (in the sense that you can easily make your own bitters at home with a bit of patience!). We started by looking at some of the ingredients that go into their Aromatic Bitters, and then we made a small test batch featuring chilies, cassia, cloves, and a custom spice mix.



The basic idea is to add any mixture of spices, orange peels – whatever you want really – to a high proof alcohol (the Hella Bitters guys use a 160 Proof Grain Neutral Spirit) and let it sit for ‘x’ amount of time (the time really varies depending on what you have in there too). Then, they manually tend to their production batches by shaking up the satchels of spices or stirring the mixture vigorously with a paddle.

You can also test your small batch during the process by using a dropper to get a few drips into your palms, rubbing your hands, and taking a deep breath. Of course you can taste as you go too. When your bitters are ready, just strain the liquid into a bottle and now you have a little extra something to strengthen your favorite cocktail recipe.



After we were all versed in bitters (at some base level at least), we made a few Moscow Mules featuring Absolut and Hella Bitters. Shown here is a take on the Absolut Spicy Pear Mule, which contains 1 part Paddy Devil’s Apple, 1 part Absolut Pears, lime juice, ginger beer, and Hella Bitters Ginger Lemon bitters. As cheesy as it may sound, bitters really are like the spices of cooking in the cocktail world. A little goes a long way, and adding just a few dashes can completely transform the cocktail (but still in a nuanced way).



I admit I’ve always been a bit skeptical about flavored liquors but I was surprised to find that Absolut Pears is made from natural ingredients and doesn’t contain added sugar. So the pear flavor actually tastes like a fresh pear. This particular cocktail hits a lot of my preferred elements in cocktails – it’s got a good amount of booze, no added sugar, a ginger element, and bitters.



The perfect Autumn drink.



Disclosure: This post was created in partnership with Absolut. Thank you to Hella Bitters for being awesome on this shoot and Pamela Duncan Silver for styling!

LSD for More Magazine

A bit late on this, but earlier this year, I photographed Lauren Santo Domingo (co-founder of e-tailer Moda Operandi) for MORE Magazine's "In Her Closet" feature (it was out in the September issue). If I could somehow raid anyone's closet, hers would be veryyyy high up on my list. She has this terribly effortless way about things too. She makes the clothes look good, instead of the other way around. It's enviable, to say the least!

Below are some outtakes and selects for the final layout.

Details on all the dreamy items: Rodarte Poppy Dress // Marni Clutch (no longer available, but similar on-sale version here) // Dolce & Gabbana Pumps (how beautiful are these??) // Crazy Boots (cannot remember who makes these!) // ALC Top (on sale here and here) + Tibi Culottes // Marni Top

Makeup & Hair by Min Min Ma
Prop Styling by Jo Jo Li