India Hicks Island Living at HSN

I had the pleasure of attending an intimate little lunch last week to celebrate the launch of India Hicks Island Living for HSN.  It was a fun group of editors and Brooke Shields.  You know, no biggie.  (I love my life!) 

As many of you know, I'm very particular about what I post, especially when it comes to products.  I would never want to recommend anything that I don't stand behind or isn't great quality.  After seeing many pieces of the new collection in person, I can say run, don't walk to HSN.  I was really impressed with the quality and feel of everything and the prices are amazing. I was telling my friend with the Miami condo that he might like a lot of the items for his place and of course he scoffed when I mentioned HSN.  Shopping networks get a bad rap but HSN has worked hard to create beautiful home collections with great designers.  I'm actually stopping by to see Alexa Hampton and her new collection for HSN next week.

If you have a beach house to buy for or even want to bring a little "island life" into your New York apartment, this collection is for you. You can buy everything on HSN.com or watch India Hicks live on the HSN network on Monday, April 8th at 6:00am, 10:00am, 6:00pm or 11:00pm. India is one of the funniest people I've ever met so it might be worth tuning in. Happy Shopping!

India's inspiration board.

I saw and felt many of the pillows in person including this Harbour Island Decorative Pillow Pair. They look and feel more expensive than the $49.95 price tag. 

The Harbour Island Cotton 4-Piece Quilt Set would be perfect in a summer guest room. 

The Trade Winds Euro Shams were my favorites and are only $34.95 for the pair. 

The Paradise Set of Euro Shams would look great on a bed or outside.

The lunch was held in a private room in the Lambs Club and they placed some of the model boats from the collection on top of the bookshelves. They looked so great that I thought they were part of the regular decor of the room. The "Our Treasure" Model Sailboat above retails for only $59.95.

I have been looking for a new bedskirt and just ordered this Tradewinds Bedskirt.  I've learned my lesson about blogging about an item before buying myself. 

How great would these Seashell Decorative Pillows and Marine Life Decorative Pillows look in a summer rental?!

After the luncheon, we were all gifted with one of India's Oleander Woven Throw blankets.  It feels very soft and at only $24.95, you could use it in a beach house and not worry if your guests or kids destroy it over the summer. 

N.B. I can assure you that I was not paid in any way for this post.  All opinions are my own. But if India wants to invite me down to Harbour Island as a thank you, I would be totally amenable to that idea.

A Good Day

Many of my days are spent working at home alone. That's why I enjoy getting out and about for appointments and meetings.  Tuesday was especially fun filled so I thought I'd give you a glimpse into a good day.  

It started with a 10:0am press appointment for India Hicks Jewelry at The Mark Hotel. In a stroke of lucky timing, her partner David Flint Wood was exiting the elevator as I was about to enter.  David is a wonderful interior designer as you may have seen from his client Brook Shield's beautiful apartment in Architectural Digest. He's at work on another project in the city which was where he was headed. He's also an avid HC blog reader.  Woo hoo! 

India is also wonderfully talented as you can see from her jewelry designs.  The Love Letters are based on her father David Hicks' alphabet designs. 

Other pieces are inspired by her Island Life in the Bahamas. 

The hexagon pattern was a favorite of her father and is the basis for the Hicks on Hicks collection. 

My appointment coincided with that of Amanda Ross.  Here you can see her bracelet-ed arm pointing to India's wonderful mix of gold and silver charms. 

Beautiful bangles. 

I loved the feathers. 

A few more pieces. 

The Mark Hotel is not only chic outside but they offer guests these snazzy bikes.  I think they are reason alone to book a stay. 

I then walked down Madison Avenue where I popped into the J.Crew Collection and Bridal boutique at the corner of 66th Street.  They always have pieces not available online and it's my favorite place to shop. I picked up a pink dress for a party in the Hamptons this weekend but forgot to take a pic. Just two blocks down were a gaggle of girls and paparazzi watching Gossip Girl filming.

Blake Lively and Chace Crawford braved the hot temperatures to film a scene for Season 6 of Gossip Girl which premiers on October 8th. 

Then it was off to Barneys to see the new shoe mecca on the fifth floor.  The men's and women's sides are now connected which is nice when you're shopping with your significant other or friends. 

This is a not so great iPhone pic so please excuse the quality.  I didn't buy shoes but I did buy a fabulous Fendi dress that was so on sale it was practically free.  I jest of course but it was a great deal and the saleswoman was kind enough to call the Chicago store to have my size sent to me.  I forgot to take a pic of the dress but some of you will see it during fashion week and my book tour.

Then it was off to the beauty floor to replenish my stock of Santal 26 by Le Labo.  I just can't quit it and since it's become my signature scent, I figured I might as well stick with it.  I also love the personalized labels. Thanks Frank!

After an air conditioned can ride downtown, I arrived at Cafe Cluny for lunch with Julia Leach of Chance Co.  

I arrived early which gave me time for a pink lemonade at the bar. 

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Julia Leach is one of the most inspiring people I've ever met.  She's also one of the most gracious and came bearing a gift so perfectly wrapped, I hated to open it.  I really can't wait until the day she has her own Chance boutiques and that hotel she is designing in her head.  

She had to run to a meeting but I took my time enjoying the chic bikes and architecture in the West Village. 

My biggest dream is to own a townhouse, preferably in the West Village.  Please buy lots of copies of my book so I can make it a reality!  Thanks!

A lovely door. 

It was so hot that Bleecker Street was a bit of a ghost town but that was fine by me. 

When the temperature rises to over 90 degrees, that calls for gelato.  I stopped into L'Arte del Gelato but Kelly Ripa was just raving about La Cremeria on Mulberry Street. She said it tastes the closest to gelato in Italy.  I look forward to trying it on the next 90+ day. 

New magazines don't hit the newsstands uptown until Wednesday but I found the new August Vogue available on Tuesday.  Another reason to move downtown.  I also picked up some cheeky "Shit I'll Never Get Done" notepads by Terrapin Stationers at BookMarc.  

When I got home and declared on twitter that I had the best day, I received an email inviting me to tag along on a photo shoot in the Hamptons Thursday for one of the hottest men alive. I get to take my own photos and will be posting them soon. Certainly makes up for those other days working at home alone! 

All photos by moi.

A Royal Bridesmaid

The coverage of the Royal Wedding is starting to become a bit much but I am enjoying the coverage by India Hicks.  For those of you who don't know, not only is India the daughter of the late interior design legend David Hicks but also the goddaughter and second cousin of Prince Charles.  It was Charles who asked the young India to be a bridesmaid at his wedding to Diana Spencer in 1981.  It's definitely more fun to hear stories from someone who was actually there instead of an American talk show host.  I especially love when India and her mother Lady Pamela Hicks compare bridesmaid stories and dresses.  The Hon. Pamela Mountbatten was one of Queen Elizabeth's bridesmaids when the Queen married Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten in 1947. Both India and her mother were not only royal bridesmaids but both still have their dresses as they discussed on The Untold Stories of a Royal Bridesmaid on TLC.  To be a part of history as they have is pretty special.

But that certainly isn't the end of the story.  India Hicks has led a full and interesting life.  She spent much of her life modeling before creating a series of gorgeous homes on Harbour Island in the Bahamas with her partner David Flint Wood, as well as writing books and developing products for Crabtree & Evelyn.  I was lucky enough to meet India and David in New York last month and can tell you that they are both as nice as they are talented.  India was in town to unveil her new India Hicks Jewelry collection.  The Initial collection is based on designs by David Hicks and the Island Life pieces are inspired by the sea.  It's so lovely that both India and her brother Ashley carry on their father's design legacy but this post wouldn't be complete without a look at some actual  David Hicks designs. The Grove in Oxfordshire, England was the last home he lived in and the one that Lady Pamela Hicks resides in to this day.  India was photographed in it for Hello magazine and for a Tods campaign and it still looks as good today as it did when it was designed.  Kind of like those bridesmaid dresses.

India Hicks, second from the left with Princess Diana and Queen Elizabeth in blue at the Royal Wedding in 1981.

Lady Pamela Hicks

The Royal Wedding of Queen Elizabeth II and Philip Mountbatten in 1947 in which Lady Pamela Mountbatten was a bridesmaid.

David Hicks and Lady Pamela Hicks

The wedding of the Lady Pamela Mountbatten to David Nightingale Hicks in 1960.

The Grove Living Room with the fireplace that I think has since been replaced.

The Grove Living Room

India Hicks being photographed by photographer Elliott Erwitt for Tods.

India in the Living Room in Hello magazine.

The Grove Living Room with view of the Gardens.

India Hicks in Hello magazine.

The Grove in 1980.

India Hicks in Hello magazine on the stairs.

The Grove Dining Room with panels that were painted by Rex Whistler for Edwina Mountbatten in 1937.  They were moved to Lady Pamela's study at their house Britwell before being moved to The Grove.

India Hicks in the dining room in Hello magazine.

The dining room at The Grove.

David Hicks bedroom at The Grove in 1980.

While this looks like a library, it's actually David Hicks bathroom.

David Hicks was an avid gardener at The Grove.

India Hicks and her sons by the pool in the Tods campign.

Another photo by Elliott Erwitt for Tods.

Statues in the garden at The Grove.

David Hicks died in 1998 but his design legacy lives on not only in his gardens but also his brilliant children.