Spring 13 Color Way

spring 13 color way

Manhattan Vintage Spring Show - "Exposed" Lace, Crochet, Macrame

Victorian 

1980s

1960s

Macrame Clutch

1950s

Fashion Report - Fall/Winter 13 Collection by HARBISON X Jewelry By Heath Wagöner NY

Thursday, April 4, 2013 at the C24 Gallery in Chelsea marked the debut presentation of The HARBISON COLLECTION, by Charles Harbison. 

Guided by the principle that dressing is an opportunity to present your most intimate and intricate self to the world, Charles Elliott Harbison has created HARBISON, a collection of clothing as layered as you are.

With an education in the arts and the sciences (North Carolina State University, Parsons The New School for Design), and a career that spans illustration, textile design, accessories, menswear, and luxury womenswear (Jack Spade, Michael Kors, Luca Luca, Billy Reid), Charles has diffused the duality and complexity he loves into a collection of luxury womenswear.

HARBISON is designed for the woman who embraces her femininity…and her masculinity. It speaks to sexual vulnerability and strength, to the hard and the soft within each of us—a balance of contradictions. The peony is the definitive icon of the collection, a blossom at once fragile and substantial, historically representative of everything from love and compassion to the nobility of a warrior. HARBISON seeks to serve the woman—and man—who sees beauty through the lens of androgyny, modernity, and luxury…

CHARLES HARBISON

SPORT·BAUHAUS·SMITH·MAPPLETHORPE

"FW13 was birthed from the complexity of my interests: from the intimate connection and trans gender beauty exhibited by Patti Smith and Robert Mapplethorpe to the modernist signatures of the Bauhaus and my love of American sport and sportswear," says the designer on his collection's inspiration.

"We were as Hansel and Gretel and we ventured out into the black forest of the world… No one could speak for these two young people nor tell with any truth their days and nights together." – Just Kids by Patti Smith

A wonderful addition to last Thursday's presentation was the inclusion of jewelry by my good friend Heath, creator of Heath Wagöner NY. Heath's jewelry is a melange of bespoke tailoring and urban street style and complements the "hard and soft" that Charles Harbison was reaching towards with this collection. 

Here are some of my snapshots (courtesy of my Android) from the evening:

The designer himself

Check out the bracelet 

Heath Wagöner

My Dating Tips in Steve Madden's New Spring LOVE Issue Mag

Cover of Steve Madden Magazine LOVE Issue, Spring 2013

Shame Has No Place in the Bedroom x TED Talks

JILL DI DONATO on TED TALKS ... For the whole piece, click here as I discuss slut-shaming, having orgasms from slutty sexual fantasies, and trying to figure out why the media is hell-bent on insisting women need an emotional connection to climax.

Babeland's Tour of Sex Toys With Sexpert Jill Di Donato

Pleasure Principle: Real Men Shop for Sex Toys

Rising Star, Jewelry Designer, Yvette Cortez of sal miel

sal miel

 When I meet the pint-sized diva, Yvette Cortez, founder and creator of the jewelry brand sal miel, which means "salt and honey" in Spanish, I'm blown away by the designer's delicate power. In five-inch wedges, lycra leggings only the tinniest of gals can get away with, waves of thick, long, black hair, she navigates the south Williamsburg cafe with ease. As a child, Cortez loved to collect gems, rocks, minerals, and other earthly treasures, so "it makes sense that I moved to New York to do this."

By doing this, the talent and brains behind the brand that's taking off, Cortez means designing jewelry and running a business on her own -- "of course it helps to have friends in the industry," she says. As a woman in my 30s, I've found my style to be grounded in a basic uniform of  jeans, cigarette pants, tees, and cardigans with killer accessories. A self-proclaimed jewelry addict, my new fav brand is sal miel for its dark, edgy, yet classic aesthetic.

This season, sal miel is doing tons of rings, which Cortez calls "little sculptures." Indeed, her process is akin to a sculptor's, as she starts with a wax mold and carves away until she gets the right shape, curves, and angles. Stacking rings are hot right now, though Cortez says she  likes to "avoid the editorial trends and be more of a trendsetter. Besides, living in New York, you see all the trends on the street -- the good, the bad, the ugly -- you can't help but to be informed by them. I let them inspire me."

My favorite of the sal miel collection is the "Two-Spike" ring, which proves to be a most deadly accessory. The designer looks at me deadpan and says, "Sometimes you're out alone at night and you don't have any mace, but you have your 'Two-Spike.' Better than brass knuckles."

Cortez works in custom media, but to keep a lower price point, uses mostly silver, bronze, brass, and even petrified wood. Up next, she's working on cufflinks (inspired by Don draper, but a fabulous unisex accessory) and men's rings, which according to Cortez, who in addition to running her brand, works a full-time job in fashion, is "an untapped market." When it comes to mixing gold, silver, brass, and bronze, Cortez is all for it, as long as you keep your wardrobe sleek and minimal, and only wear clothes that work for your body. 

Though she spends time in the Meatpacking District and the Lower East Side, Cortez's home and studio are in Williamsburg. The designer loves the pace of Brooklyn, and, you guessed it, finding "hidden gems." Some of her favorite places to shop are Catbird, A Thousand Picnics, and Love Adorned. 

As for storing her jewelry, Cortez favors a vintage cigar box (lined with fur to protect the jewels) or an old Tiffany wine glass box. And like many jewelers I know, she advises you to "stack it wherever it can go," so you can always see your adornments. 

For purchase information visit sal miel online, Facebook and instagram @salmiel

I just adore this brand for being a gem in the rough, so thanks, Yvette!
xx BG

Jill Meets Perez Hilton: Blogger to Blogger

The other night, at La Maison Cointreau, I met the Queen of all media, Mr. Perez Hilton. When I asked him the secret to his success, he said, "Sleep your way to the top!" But he was kidding, of course. "Be unique," was his for real answer. Uh huh. xo

Jill Di Donato and Perez Hilton

Rising Star, Semi-Charmed Life Novelist, Nora Zelevansky

On my way into S'nice, a vegan bakery in Park Slope to meet ELLE writer, novelist and super chic city chick, Nora Zelevansky, Debi Mazar is exiting with her kids. I think what a perf star sighting -- this quintessential New York-turned LA babe-- to kick off my interview with Nora Zelevansky, New York native and author of Semi-Charmed Life, who's fresh off her LA book tour. First off, I love the title of Zelevansky's debut novel, as it speaks to something I think I lead, and something most New York/Los Angeles women in their teens, 20s (and even 30s can relate to). To me, the term connotes a lifestyle that is marked by a series of glamorous disasters. It also speaks to a kind of self-importance or entitlement that marks our generation. Even if we don't have evil or narcissistic intentions, it's hard not to be self-obsessed in this "cult of celebrity," that defines our society these days. With the constant status updates, the notion of having "followers," and collecting "likes," not to mention the easy infiltration into the privacy of celebrities' lives, it's no wonder the "everyday" person can feel an illusory sense of social relevance. This, essentially, is the satire that marks Zelevansky's novel. The author agrees with me. "These days, everybody's a celebrity -- you're in the minority if you're not." Semi- Charmed Life, which has been lauded as a comedic satire and cultural critique by critics in both the upmarket literary fiction and the super popular YA genre.

When I ask Zelevanksy if her novel is a YA book, she says it could be, "But really, it fits into a lot of categories. It is a coming-of-age book, so in that way, yes. It's also literary fiction, comedic satire, a mystery and a love story." In the novel, Beatrice Bernstein, an Upper West Side ingenue takes on the job of ghostwriting a socialite's blog. Beatrice, who, like Zelevansky, grew up in an artsy family on the Upper West Side -- here, Zelevansky pauses to add that unlike the Upper East Side, the Upper West Side has "more soul" -- is a bit of a naif. Beatrice is swept up into the seductive world of parties, romance, and glitz that comes along with her new job, and social circle. Goodreads praises Zelevansky's artful depiction of Beatrice's identity crisis in the city that's too hopped up on ego to ever sleep." With her own magical touch, Zelevansky deftly explores the world of rarified Manhattan in this sparkling modern fairy tale of first love, finding one’s voice and growing up." In this way, Semi-Charmed Life also fits the "New Adult" genre -- one that categorizes books that appeal to both teens and adults. Zelevansky explains, "Someone having a hard time in the world is something that comes into play majorly in your 20s, but also resurfaces over and over again throughout your life. The book raises a lot of questions like family dynamics, morality, female friendships, and finding oneself." So, although Semi-Charmed Life may have similar glamorous and dark undertones as Gossip Girl, don't expect Blake Lively to be starring in a TV adaptation of the novel any time soon.

"The novel is perfect for book clubs," says Zelevanksy, "Especially because it brings up Girl Code and makes a statement on the value of friendship. You can take your friendships for granted when you're younger, but they're so important to your happiness."

As for enjoying her own success as a debut novelist, Zelevanksy couldn't be happier. "I walked into BookCourt two days before I was to read there, and the people who work there ushered me over to my book. Although this is something every writer dreams of seeing one day, I told myself I wasn't going to react. But when I saw the books on the shelf, I started crying, then quickly excused myself. It's not that often in life when you feel proud of yourself. In that moment, I was profoundly proud."

And deservedly so! The book is fabulous -- characters intriguing and quirky; the writing  witty, fresh, and taut. But don't take my word for it; come to Zelevansky's final Manhattan reading this Tuesday, October 2, at 6 PM at the Lexicon Lounge. For more info on this event check out the Facebook invite. 

@Hyatt48LexNYC #semicharmedlife

Be sure to visit The Pocket Lint, Nora Zelavansky's blog on "unexpected gems for quirky food, beauty, travel, and style-obsessed explorers."

Here at Beautiful Garbage, we love coming-of-age New York novels about quirky, artsy chicks! Thanks for sharing yours, Nora! xo

Summer 2012 Scrapbook