London treats

but not for me...Linda Farrow glasses, Billy Reid Cardigan, Watanabe X Garcons varsity jacket, and a must in th UK--Stone Island jacket (actually Stone Island anything)

Kris Van Assche

The limited edition “KVA” frames are a collaboration between European designer/Artistic Director of Dior Homme, Kris Van Assche and Oliver Peoples. They are available in two colorways, and are hard-to-the-core! Not cheap at $450.

The frame is hand-crafted in thick polished plastic and is just as sophisticated as it is sporty. Unique technology includes a coin-edge mechanism that allows for changeable lenses (two different lens colors are included), offering the wearer greater opportunity to define his personal style. Metal inlay with the KVA logo is detailed on the top of the frame front.

forte

Who said George W. Bush is not a friend to the hip hop community? The president has gone and pardoned John Forte, a rapper (who got briefly famous doing tracks with the Fugees) who's been in prison since 2000 for a cocaine smuggling conviction. $1.4 million in liquid coke through the Newark airport, to be precise.

Christiane...

Veteran CNN foreign correspondent Christiane Amanpour is getting her own nightly program on CNN International. CNNI EVP Tony Maddox tells the NYTimes' Elizebeth Jensen the show will launch in the second quarter of 2009 and will join other new CNNI shows. An edited version of the Amanpour hour is expected to air on weekends on CNN/U.S. Amanpour tells Jensen she will be taking the show on the road. "[Y]ou can't just sit back and opine about the news; you have to actually go out there and cover it and report it." Christiane is an incredible woman.

Maxim to creditors

Looks like Citigroup wasn't the only one struggling to get through the weekend. The WSJ is reporting that Alpha Media, the publisher of laddie magazines Maxim and Blender, is in "restructuring talks that are expected to turn over the company to creditors." Just to give you a sense of how closely everything is tied together, Alpha Media was purchased in 2007 by superstar deal-maker Steve Rattner's Quadrangle Capital Partners — Rattner's firm also happens to be in charge of Mayor Bloomberg's fortune.

Quadrangle's private-equity fund paid about $250 million for Alpha Media in August 2007, lauding the company as an "unrivaled" play for reaching 18-to 34-year-old males. The New York-based firm put up about $90 million of equity and borrowed the rest to purchase the titles from British publisher Felix Dennis.
Like everyone else even remotely involved with Wall St. Rattner's firm is "struggling with its private-equity portfolio and recently unwound its hedge fund amid market turmoil." That and both Blender and Maxim

dinner

with friends is always sweet...it was ladies night with 15 of my dearest friends...most of whom I've known for over 10+ years.
Insane. Just taking a lil trip. I'll be right back. Promise. Kris--My cake was such a cute surprise. thanks ladies. I know I'm not always the greatest or most available friend but I luv u guys and luv u all even more for understanding the craziness of my life.

Bamford Custom Ferrari-Inspired Rolex Daytona

Panerai to Open NYC Boutique Next Month

In December, luxury Italian watch brand Officine Panerai will open a new boutique in New York City, its second stand-alone U.S. store (the other is in Los Angeles). Panerai has been on an expansion binge of late, with recently opened shops in Florence, Portofino, Hong Kong and Shanghai. In addition to the NYC store, openings are planned for Buenos Aires, Madrid, Qatar and Dubai. The furnishings in the Panerai Boutiques are inspired by the sea, as Panerai started out supplying instruments to the Royal Italian Navy. Teak and steel are the predominant materials employed in the shops' nautical design, while furnishing details evoke diving suits and equipment, with porthole-shaped display panels recalling yacht fittings.

back from London

Just got back to NYC from London and it was amazing....
I did 5 things that I've never done in my 11th time visiting one of my favorite cities in the world

1--actually did NOT stay at a hotel, though a duplex apt in South Kennsington isn't bad at all
2--checked out the Theatre, Billy Elliot is very entertaining
3--visited the LARGEST Mall in Europe. The Westfield (just opened 2 weeks, the mall attracted more than 2 million visitors already)
4--dropped by the Hayward Gallery for the Andy Warhol exhibit
5--experienced the pound being only 1.47 to the dollar (I didn't really buy anything though)

it's D-Nice

ran around town with the one and only D-Nice and DJ Reach. it was awesome. not only is D one of the nicest guys you'll meet, he's also extremely dapper. For those that don't know Derek also has a second job as a photographer, having shot the 50 Cent ad campaign for RBK (back in the days), among others and most recently the Public School ad campaigns..

Monocle

Straight from wearethemarket.com....Monocle: not just a great magazine, it’s a lifestyle. R29 reports on the news magazine’s newest shop in London: Founder and editor-in-chief Tyler Brûlé says The Monocle Shop was inspired by readers' overwhelming response to the magazine's bespoke design, product, and lifestyle partnerships with brands like Comme des Garçons, Porter, Artek, Liberty UK, and Tretorn, to name a few. Their selection of curated, crafted products includes cozy John Smedley knitwear, stationary, candles, and the full collection of Monocle magazines.

winding down....

to my last days...even through my sickliness, it's just another day at work with the shining stars: Tony Shellman, Max Osborne, Brent Rollins, Miguelle Orvalle.
Thanks guys for all of your help!

Reebok Pop-Up Opening on Bowery

stopped by the Reebok Pop-Up shop with Aileen & Robin...nice turn out, good music, even the Gossip Girls were there...

leica C-LUX

on my christmas list...
Leica C-LUX 3 Digital Camera (Black) 10.1 Megapixel5x Wide-angle Zoom Lens (25-125mm) 2.5" LCD DisplayMEGA O.I.S. Image Stabilization High Sensitivity (ISO 1600)Face Recognition AF/AEHD Video Recording50MB Built-in MemoryStunning Ultra-slim Design3-Year Warranty USA

British Designers Sample Sale

What: British Designers Sale
Why: Jenny Packham, Vivienne Westwood and more go for up to 80 per cent off.
When: 28 & 29 Nov. Fri., 1-7 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Where: Chelsea Town Hall, Kings Rd., SW3 2EE (020 7627 2777).

Steven Alan Sample Sale

30-75% off!

Steven Alan Showroom
87 Franklin St
btwn Broadway and Church

Thursday 11/20
8:30am-8pm
Friday 11/21
8:30am-8pm
Saturday 11/22
11am-7pm
Sunday 11/23
11am-5pm

She Made It

my latest obsession is jewelry from She Made It....they're local NY talent and some of their rings are really quite lovely.
Check out my recent purchase! Ladies love diamonds and white gold/platinum :)

Reebok Pop Up shop

Celebrating 20 years since the inception of the iconic Pump model, Reebok launched their inaugural pop-up store in a 3,000 square-foot art gallery in the Bowery. Inspired by the human highlighter trends of the 80’s fashion scene, the store is completing transformed into an episode of the Fresh Prince with a flurry of colorful sneakers and apparel. Open until December 14th, the store will see a different New York themed Pump release every week of its opening with the current selection boasting the previously previewed “Bodega” model. Along with hoodies by Roland Berry, other guest designers will be enlisted including Dean of the Rhode Island School of Design, John Maeda.

Reebok Pop-Up
169 Bowery
New York, NY 10002

Polo "friends & family"

every cool guy "must have"

Ok I realized that I can never wear a plaid shirt....especially Steven Alan. Here's another cool guy "must-have" Frogskins.

Eco-Chic Luxury in DR

A new project in the Dominican Republic has been announced that will combine a resort and eco-friendly residences. Terrazas de Coson is located in the rolling hills of Samana, next to the popular beach town of Las Terrenas. European developers Valman are seeking to create an "eco-chic" resort that includes 72 "Villa Estates" spread across 370 acres of land. The villas are available in three designs and range up to 12,000 square feet. All homes will run on solar energy and will be built with natural, eco-friendly materials. As currently planned, each estate will have views of the ocean and surrounding mountains and multiple infinity pools as well as waterfalls and streams that wind throughout the residences.

The property will also include a five-star boutique hotel with 28 bungalows accessed by a tram-like railway. Each bungalow will have its own plunge pool, and the complex will host additional infinity pools and water features throughout. Planned amenities include indoor and outdoor bars, a tennis club, a private beach club and spa, and several restaurants, including a five-star eatery headed by Chef Christophe Leroy.

Prices for villas start at $1.7 million up to $3 million and completion is scheduled for 2010.

LV bespoke art

Louis Vuitton custom makes one-of-a-kind cases for special clients who can afford the service. One of our favorite examples of Vuitton's bespoke art is the iPod carrying case (above) the famed French firm made for Chanel kingpin Karl Lagerfeld. Made of black Taiga leather with brass fittings and a red microfiber interior, it contains an interior case which holds 20 iPods and a power charger. There are compartments for JBL iPod speakers and subwoofer, and Lagerfeld's initials are stamped in red near the handle. Vuitton will custom make a case for just about anything, provided that it is portable. The process of creating a bespoke case like this can take four to eight months and costs tens of thousands of dollars.