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Monday, May 2, 2011

The Costume Institute Gala

The East Coast equivalent to the Oscars is the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala hosted by Vogue. While you have to be pretty well connected in the fashion world to be invited to the glamorous event, I was able to attend the morning preview. This year's Costume Institute exhibition is dedicated to Alexander McQueen and entitled Savage Beauty. It was one of the more breathtaking shows I've been to in a long time and I can't wait to post my photos tomorrow.

Until then, here's a peek inside the museum decorations for the evening gala. I was blown away by the giant tree sitting a top the information desk in addition to many other trees and an abundance of flowers. It takes almost a year to plan and an army to set up for this day so it was amazing that the event honoring Alexander McQueen would look so similar to the Royal Wedding at which Catherine Middleton wore an Alexander McQueen dress by Sarah Burton. I hope Lee was smiling down on both.

Selma Hayek and Karl Lagerfeld

Sarah Burton

Alexander McQueen clutch

Robert Duffy and Marc Jacobs

Hamish Bowles

Zac Posen and Christina Ricci

Mick Jagger, L'Wren Scott and Demi Moore

Jennifer Lopez

Aimee Mullins and Olivier Theyskens

Taylor Swift

Angela Lindvall and Shalom Harlow

Elettra Wiedemann

Janelle Monae

Renee Zellwegger

Stella McCartney and Alasdhair Willis

Sarah Jessica Parker

Florence and the Machine perform

Best dressed Giselle Budchen and Tom Brady

Photos 1, 3-8, 34 by Heather Clawson for Habitually Chic

Photos 2, 9-33 Courtesy of Vogue.com

Kips Bay Decorator Show House 2011: Wayne Nathan

One of the most fun rooms in the 2011 Kips Bay Decorator Show House is the foyer and staircase and landing designed by Wayne Nathan. The pops of color and wall art created with electrical tape by Brooklyn street artist Aakash Nihalani create a contemporary art gallery feeling. The designre said, "It's about curating a room rather than decorating it." I know this look won't be for everyone but would look great translated into a kid's room. It was definitely a cheerful place to be on the rainy day that I visted the house and sometimes that's the best part of design.

Photos byHeather Clawson for Habitually Chic

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Kips Bay Decorator Show House 2011: Kemble Interiors

One of my favorite rooms in the 2011 Kips Bay Decorator Show House was designed by Celerie Kemble and her team at Kemble Interiors. Due to the historic significance of the home, many of the designers were required to work around certain features and that included the wood paneling in the library. With a little magic and lots of light colors, the dark and masculine room was transformed into a woman's library, "a sanctum for a siren." The shelves are filled with books on fashion, poetry and contemporary literature and there are plenty of places to sit and read or chat with friends. Since the walls could not be touched, the team focused on adorning "the ceiling, floors, windows, furniture, and bookcases with every trick of their craft to add glimmer and put a little switch in its skirts." Artist Miriam Ellner created the amazing ceiling of gold leaf and other metals on the reverse side of glass, verre eglomise, to create a "Chinoiserie inspired skyscape fantasy." A room this size filled with so many special pieces could have look cluttered but instead your eye is drawn around the room as it slowly unveils itself. I could have spent all day in this room which in my mind makes it a huge success.