Belstaff on the Runway

One of the most exciting shows I attended during fashion week was Belstaff.  The Spring 2013 show was their first runway presentation since Martin Cooper has taken over as designer and it didn't disappoint.  The muted tones were a welcome respite after all the color elsewhere that week. There were definitely hints to the motorcycle jackets the company is known for but they were reinterpreted into buttery soft perforated leathers and smaller hardware details. If you can't wear the short shorts, you can always pick up one of the new bags or the platform sandals that I know many already have their eye on for spring.  It was a sophisticated and sexy show without being in your face and I am anxious to see the line evolve.  I actually sat next to new owner Harry Slatkin who was standing at his own show.  He was very excited to dust off this old brand and give it new life.  He also let me know that the new Madison Avenue Belstaff store had quietly opened that same day.  It was designed by Bill Sofield who also designs stores for Tom Ford.  Needless to say, the store is as chic as the clothes.  Happy Shopping. 

Belstaff

814 Madison Avenue

New York, NY 10065

The front row at Belstaff included Tommy and Dee Hilfiger, John Demsey of Estee Lauder and Hamish Boweles of Vogue. 

Photos by Heather Clawson for Habitually Chic

Vogue Weddings

I'm not one of those girls who has a folder full of wedding inspiration.  Perhaps that's why I'm not married.  Instead of making a folder, I think I'll just buy Vogue Weddings: Brides, Dresses, Designers when it's released this autumn. Not sure if these weddings will be included but here's hoping. 

Miranda Brooks, Bianca and Mick Jagger, Gwen Stefani and Plum Sykes

Kate Moss

Dylan Lauren

Caroline Trentini

Lauren Bush and David Lauren 

Kate Moss

Plum Sykes

I Heart Hamish!

I have been stalking the newsstand for weeks trying to find the latest issue of Australian Vogue Living and was excited to finally find it Saturday. I was even more excited to open up and find a profile of Hamish Bowles' New York apartment! I think I might have actually squealed! It's just as spectacular as his Paris flat and is seriously making me consider painting my apartment pink. I actually know where Hamish lives and after seeing these photos, I am tempted to camp out in front of his building until he lets me see it in person. But I'm too afraid of being banned from Vogue forever though so I won't actually do it. What I like best is that although it's chock full of furniture and accessories, it doesn't actually look cluttered. It has a wonderfully collected look because it was all lovingly collected during Hamish's travels.

The entrance table by Karl Springer is topped with lots of pink books and Fez hats. I love how Hamish has propped up art against the mirror and tucked in postcards and photos into the frame.

Hamish visits Tangier, Morocco every summer which is the reason behind the bedazzled Fez hats from eBay.

The living mixes lots of colors with antiques with two plastic ghost chairs to prefection. The sofa is from Sister Parish Design and the Louis XV chair is upholstered in purple tweed. I don't remember if they have this shade purple but Holland & Sherry is my favorite place to find soft tweeds.

At first I thought this was the entry table restyled but turns out that Hamish owns two Karl Springer tables and two plaster cornucopia lamps. He's also hung a mirror above both and a drawing over both mirrors. This drawing happens to be Truman Capote by René Bouché and was the drawing from the original dust jacket of Breakfast at Tiffany's.

Everything in Hamish's apartment has a back story or a fabulous provenance.

This 1940's French bowl was found at the Paris flea market. Looks like a Jeremiah Goodman watercolor interior is framed behind it too.

I thought this view of the living room from Australian Vogue Living looked a little different from the photo of it from The World of Interiors below until I realized it must be another fireplace in the apartment since it's not flanked by bookcases.

But I am still wondering if the apartment was previously painted lavender or just looks like it in this older photo. Either way, I like both the pink and purple!

I feel like getting out my magnafying glass to check out Hamish's vast book collection! I already spot a few David Hicks books!

You can notice better in this photo that the shelves are metal which Hamish calls "a butch slightly ironic solution to my massive book collection." Hamish also collects vintage clothing which is kept in a warehouse in Queens. I can only imagine how fabulous that must be!

The guest bedroom houses more books and a Chippendale secretary that was given to Hamish from Eleanor Lambert. It's amazing how all the different patterns look perfectly at home together in this room too!

I had to include this photo of Hamish in the room so you can see that the wallcovering looks more pale aqua or robin's egg than it does in the previous photo.

The master bedroom combines a darker plum colored rice paper wallpaper with a bright green lamp and chair cushion. The fabric on it looks like the Tony Duquette malachite print.

Even Hamish's closet is full of color in the form of ribbon belts and ties. I really love this apartment and it definitely made the March/April 2010 issue of Australian Vogue Living worth the wait!