Art Corner: AAFNYC Part 1

I realize this post is slightly overdue, since it was a couple of weeks ago that I finally was able to attend the Affordable Art Fair in NYC. I have been wanting to visit the biannual event ever since I was in grad school at Sotheby's, but for some reason it always seemed that I was out of town when the fair was in town. The fair, whose mission is "to serve every kind of art enthusiast," breaks open the art world for people who love and want to own art, but may not be highly educated in the art market or don't have millions of dollars to spend on one piece or to start a collection. All works at the fair range between $100 and $10,000, so while I wouldn't consider the higher end of that scale "affordable" for the average person, there are certainly plenty of less expensive, aesthetically pleasing, thought-provoking original works available. I've always said that one of the first things I want to do once I've "made it" is start an art collection, and the AAFNYC was absolutely inspiring to me. Some of my favorite artists...

(Corinne Dalle Ore, Lost in the jungle)

 (Marc Harrold, beach series)

 (Marc Harrold, beach series)

 (Marc Harrold, beach series)

 (Julio Valdez, In the Same Path as the Sun)

(Julio Valdez, In the Same Path as the Sun II)

(Julio Valdez, To the Sea, Mirror of My Heart)

 (Stiliana Alexieva, Spring Showers)

 (Stiliana Alexieva, Ecstatic)

 (Stiliana Alexieva, A Sense of Peace)

***these works were so cool looking, as they were mixed media on aluminum 

that gave them a metallic sheen***

 (Richard Heeps, Wendy - Flamin eyeball I)

 (Richard Heeps, Bobby - 'neckin')

(Richard Heeps, Belles of Shoreditch)

(Becky Buchanan, Wild Poppy)

(Becky Buchanan, Polka Dot Dress)

(Becky Buchanan, Flower)

 (James Sparshatt, El Ultimo Tango)

(James Sparshatt, Espiritus)

(James Sparshatt, Bestia)

(James Sparshatt, Swan Lake)

While I wasn't in the market to buy, I wanted to get in the spirit of the action so I purchased a small print that I can't wait to add to. Hey, you've gotta start somewhere, right?

I'm back!

So sorry for the lack of posts in the past 2 weeks. I've been up and down the East Coast and all over the place! DC...Richmond...North Carolina. But things are calming down a little this week and I'm working on a new Art Corner post for tomorrow, so for now enjoy this interview with everyone's favorite Creative Director, Jenna Lyons, from yesterday's Today Show. Check out her awesome inspiration wall!

"Shoot for your dream, don't be afraid, go for it...

even if your dreams are covered in sequins."

Pick Your Poison

Do you live by the mantra "the bolder the better?" Do you revel in unexpected and electric color combinations? Are you turned on by tonal fusions and crazy color contrasts? Are you diving head first into one of this season's biggest trends, color blocking?

Or are you comforted by a color palette of calming neutrals and soothing pastels? Are you refreshed by the light and airy sensation of soft beige linens? Are white cotton sundresses your summer wardrobe staple?

***Sorry for the short hiatus. It's been a hectic past few days and I'm ready for a little R&R! 

Images via House Beautiful, Club Monaco, InStyle, Coco + Kelley, Elle Decor, Miles Redd, J.Crew, Style.com, DVF, Elements of Style and Plush Palate.

Dress Form Decor

I've always loved the idea of using a dress form or vintage mannequin as decor in a bedroom. It provides a feminine and vintage touch and is also ultra practical - you can use it to creatively drape necklace, hat or scarf collections or obviously to practice outfits and to get the full effect of a look before leaving the house. My favorite uses of the dress forms below are in the office, as a place to hold notes, and as a tie rack in the bathroom - so smart! 

Little Bits of Lovely

Dransfield and Ross via Elle Decor

Apartment Therapy

home of Cynthia Steffe via Country Living

Apartment Therapy

Country Living

unknown

Country Living

If you're in the market for dress form decor, I found this lovely vintage style wire mannequin.

Best of the Met Gala 2011

Sarah Burton has certainly had a big week. First was the royal wedding, in which she stunned onlookers with her gorgeous bridal creation for Kate Middleton. Next up was last night's Metropolitan Museum of Art's Annual Costume Institute Gala, which celebrated the life and work of Alexander McQueen through the opening of the new exhibition, "Savage Beauty." The images from the exhibition look extremely beautiful and I'm dying to pay a visit to the Met for it. In the meantime, here are my picks for best dressed from last night's gala...

 Nicole Richie in vintage

 Jessica Stam in Tommy Hilfiger (love the dress, the hair is a little Whatever Happened to Baby Jane)

Kerry Washington in Escada

 J.Lo in Gucci (the Met Gala is the one place where over-the-top fits perfectly...when done right of course, which J.Lo does here with this floral bolero)

Dianna Agron in Michael Kors

 Emma Roberts in Michael Kors

 Gisele in McQueen Fall 2005. STUNNNNING

 Karen Elson in McQueen (paying homage as she wore this actual gown on the McQueen runway)

Brooklyn Decker in Michael Kors

Claire Danes in Calvin Klein

 Diane Kruger in Jason Wu

Naomi Watts in Stella McCartney

Hailee Steinfeld in Stella McCartney (she always looks wonderfully age appropriate)

Eva Mendes, also in Stella McCartney

Tory Burch in Jean Patou

My favorite of the night...Zoe Saldana in Calvin Klein. Totally loving those brightly colored minimalist Calvin Klein gowns this year!

While the gowns on the red carpet outside were show stopping, the decor on the inside of the Met was romantic and enchanting. Inspired by McQueen's Fall 2008 collection, called "The Girl Who Lived in the Tree," the museum's classic entranceway was transformed into a magical forrest with trees, green hydrangeas, cherry blossoms and white roses...

"You've got to know the rules to break them.

That's what I'm here for, to demolish the rules but to keep the tradition."

-Alexander McQueen

Images via StyleCaster, Vogue and People.