China Tales

Entertaining
May 30, 2013

Good morning everyone! Sorry for the lack of posts for the last two days, I was organizing a little garden party (pictures to come soon!) and I was running around a bit crazed. Throwing this little party got me thinking about china, and china patterns … The picture above, which most of you saw last year after my first attempt at hosting Thanksgiving dinner, features a Spode Heritage dinner plate set over a larger, more casual dinner plate from Fishs Eddy in NYC. This photo gives you an idea of how much American appetites have changed, dinner plates today are considerably larger than older plates!

This photo allows you to see the full print of the Spode Heritage dinner plate. Founded in the UK in 1776, Spode continues to manufacture China to this day. The Heritage pattern above, was in production for a short ten years, from 1962-1972. Somehow my husband ended up with twelve of these dinner plates. No other pieces, just twelve dinner plates, so I like to mix and match them with other things.

This is Herend Chinese Bouquet in rust. This is my mother’s wedding china. I absolutely adore the rust color, and was tempted to register for something in rust, but as my mother pointed out, these will be mine some day. This pattern has been extremely popular with friends of mine, but blue and green have been the popular choices. So far, my mother remains unique and chic in her choice of color/pattern combination (no surprise there mom).

This is Herend’s Fish Scale pattern in Green, which makes up a piece of my wedding china. I decided to mix and match china, because I wanted to have the ability to execute a variety of different looks with my china. I believe that green is applicable in more seasons than any other color. Christmas dinner, spring luncheon, summer party – you name it, it works. I chose Fish Scale because I liked its exotic simplicity. The scales are so unique, but the plate is still simple, and acts as the perfect canvas for whatever plate you might stack on top …

This is Meissen Ming Dragon II in green, which makes up the second piece of my wedding china. To me, it was as if the Herend Fish Scale and the Meissen Ming Dragon II were meant for each other. The Ming Dragon II has both a vintage feel and a modern edge to it. When stacked atop the Fish Scale dinner plate, the Fish Scale border coordinates wonderfully with the scales on the dragon. The placement of the dragon on the Ming Dragon II dessert plate is key, he curves along with the plate so that when there is food on the plate, it is possible to still see the dragon.

This is Herend Golden Edge. Unfortunately, the Fish Scale pattern does not come in serving pieces, and as I said I like to mix and match I thought I would add two golden edge serving pieces to the mix. So while I have a Ming Dragon gravy boat and a couple larger platters, I decided to add a couple of golden edge serving bowls. What’s wonderful about Golden Edge, especially the serving pieces, is that they coordinate nicely with more casual white china. This way you can sneak in a little sparkle at the dinner table without changing the overall casual experience of the party.

So whatever china pattern you choose, or your mother chose, or that you inherit, have fun with it! Mix and match, do something different. And use it as much as you can. There is no occasion where breaking out your best stuff is not appropriate – it’s your party!

Images courtesy of Scully & Scully, Lacquered Life, Replacements Ltd.

Out East Down South

Designers
May 23, 2013

Over the past 10 summers I have spent a great deal of time out East. And over the past 10 summers I watched as the local stores closed and larger, more expensive retail chains took over. Goodbye local store, hello Gucci. And the thing was, I probably wouldn’t have complained as much had the new retail stores been anything that I was interested in shopping. (This obviously does not go for JCrew). Of course, now that I have left NYC, and my frequent visits to Long Island, a store that I would love to peruse on summer weekends has opened in Wainscott. To toast Serena & Lily’s opening, here are some of my current favorites.

Despite the fact that these Fouta Towels are in fact bath towels, I might be inclined to bring one on the beach. Although I will miss summers on the East End, and won’t get to see the Serena & Lily store until later in the summer, it is already full on beach weather here in Charleston – and I have a tan. Good trade, don’t you think?

Photos courtesy of Serena & Lily

Empty Seats at the Oscars

Entertaining
February 25, 2013

Ok, so regardless of what the general theme of one’s blog is, I believe that today all blogs will be devoted to the Oscars, and Oscar fashion. Personally, I felt that the whole show was extraordinarily disappointing. Not only Seth McFarlane (no surprises there) but acceptance speeches, the fact that the orchestra was working remotely, fashion, and oh yes, attendance. Where was everybody? Was I the only one who watched the red carpet pre-shows, and scanned the crowd during the telecast wondering where everybody was? What happened to the days when actors, actresses, directors, producers came to the Oscars to support their friends and fellow filmmakers? Last night it seemed that the audience was filled with presenters, performers, and nominees – not even full casts of movies that had been heavily nominated were in attendance … ahem, Leonardo. So where was everybody?

Man of them were at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party. One of the most coveted invitations around. After scanning the photos of the red carpet, I realized that many of the faces that I had missed during the ceremony were at this party.

There are some of the people I missed! Why the lack of attendance at the ceremony? Too boring perhaps? Some of the dresses that were worn to the VF Party were even better than some of the things I saw on the Oscar red carpet – how beautiful does Leslie Mann look? Isn’t that dress divine? Well I gather fashion is equally important at the VF party as it is on the red carpet because some of the night’s winners and nominees made an outfit change before the VF party … some for the better.

I thought that Amy Adams and Jennifer Lawrence both going from flowy and fluffy to slinky were great choices. I think they both look absolutely stunning. Despite the turnout at the VF party, I am still a little disappointed in Oscar attendance this year, and there were a few people (especially men) that stood out as missing to me. Leonardo DiCaprio (obviously), Tom Cruise, Matt Damon (why wasn’t he there to support his bestie?), Brad & Angelina, Kate Winslet, Scarlett Johannsen, Sean Penn, Susan Sarandon, Cameron Diaz, Ewan MacGregor, Glenn Close, Michelle Williams, Jeff Bridges, Colin Firth, Annette Bening, Christian Bale, Morgan Freeman, Carey Mulligan, Anna Kendrick, Penelope Cruz, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis … the list goes on. Where were all these people? Why doesn’t all of Hollywood want to come out to support each other like they used to?

Photos courtesy of Just Jared and Elle UK