STYLE SNAPS : STYLISH SIGNAGE

Bathroom signage at Seattle's Pike Place Market (L) by Duncan Thieme of SRG Architects / (R) Entranceway, by Laura Sindell, 1987

While bathroom signs serve a practical purpose, some signify "Men" or "Women" more stylishly than others. My Easter weekend visit to the West coast uncovers chic signage at both Seattle's Pike Place Market and Vancouver's BC Place Stadium. Where have you seen some cool signs lately?  

STYLE SNAPS : THE HOLIDAYS ARE COMING!

 Bergdorf Goodman is getting ready to unveil its holiday windows Tuesday, November 19

With Thanksgiving a mere 10 days away, major retailers ramp up for the holidays with seasonal savings, special events and stunning store windows. Among the Fifth Ave. (and off Fifth) favorites, Tiffany's, Lord & Taylor and Henri Bendel are already showing off their seasonal storefronts. Tuesday (11/19), Bloomingdales and Bergdorf Goodman will each reveal their showcases. Wednesday, Barney's will steal the spotlight. Rounding out the pack, Saks Fifth Avenue will present the story of its magical Yeti with a light show on November 25th. Keep reading for a sneak peek of the progress at Bergdorf's! 

STYLE SNAPS : UPSIDE DOWN

Saks Fifth Avenue, 49th St. and Fifth Ave. 

Every so often, perspective challenges the obvious and invites constructive consideration. Last Friday, I transitioned into a new role within a different part of the same company. Different people, a different mentality, and an entirely different workstream and responsibilities turned my world (and wardrobe) upside down. For 9 months since Hurricane Sandy, I was stylin' in sweatpants and working remote from the comfort of my kitchen table, exiled from my office on Wall Street. Tomorrow I will don a pair of subtly brocade pants, a black blazer and an amateurishly ambitious attitude... and will that the grass is indeed greener on the other side of the same field.

STYLE SNAPS : SUMMER SIGHTS

Soho Street Art

NYC is a cosmos of diverse tastes and endless creativity. I love it. I hate it. I live with it. The summers are hot. Grass and trees are rare. People, people...EVERYWHERE! So what keeps me grounded in the cement jungle when clear air and endless greenery beckon? Other than the thought of an overwhelming commute from the suburbs, I enjoy the sipping, the shopping and the evolving style. Keep reading to see if you can guess the brains behind some of the sights I've snapped in passing this summer...

STYLE SNAPS : STYLE ME SILLY!

That's me, jumping on the bed, in a Dalia McPhee dress with a lampshade

This weekend warranted a break from the sights and sounds of NYC. Trading noise for Nature, I booked a yurt for one night, rented a car and grabbed my honey... Oh, and I brought along one of the "too good to pass up" sale dresses I never wore. What better occasion than a weekend in the woods (of the Catskill Mountains) to break out a fancy frock and stage a photo shoot. Have a look and let me know what you think! 

STYLE SNAPS : BARBIE'S FASHION EVOLUTION

Dolls of the World Collection Big Ben Barbie (2010) and Russia Barbie (2010)

Before the July 4th festivities, I take a lap around the store to grab last minute groceries. In passing, I do a double take of the clearance shelf--partly from the oddity of seeing a Barbie doll (unheard of, as I'm outnumbered 3 to 1 in my mostly-male household) and mainly because the outfits catch my eye. For years, Barbie was the ultimate impersonation of America with her casual clothes, blonde hair and cheery features. I grew up choosing toy cars over dolls; Bikini-clad Barbie had no chance up against a cement mixer or a '57 micro machine Bel Air reversible. To me, toy cars had more character and a distinctive style--Barbies were cookie cutter and overly dainty. Two decades later, as my tastes in clothing evolve from tomboy to trendy, seeing these "international" Barbies is somewhat exciting. It's almost as if both Barbie and I grew up (in age and in style) and experienced the world a little bit! 

Style Snaps : All in Favor, Please Stand Up!

East 17th Street and Fifth Ave.

After seeing a silly show and sitting down at Tommy Lasagna for a sumptuous meal, a leisurely stroll was in order. Walking down Fifth Ave, this store's windows made me smile and was the topper to a fantastic evening with my honey. Aside from the brilliant orange chairs--some straight and some slightly askew--the nostalgia of being part of a crowd of crazy kids playing musical chairs in a middle school classroom crossed my mind. We've all grown up a bit since then! Although the idea of standing on chairs may mean something entirely different today than it did in the innocence of the 80's and 90's, I'm glad to have fun memories to fall back on. Now, can you guess which store's windows these are? (HINT: The brand was originally known for its shoes)

Style Snaps: Casual Colors

Cole Haan, Rockefeller Center

Carefully chosen color combinations and circles with a subtle salute to NYC fill the windows at Cole Haan's Rockefeller Center boutique. The colored circles remind me of the bubble sheets used for standardized testing. Which to pick? 

Style Snaps: Something Storylike at Bergdorf's 3

Bergdorf windows depicting Franz Kafka's The Metamorposis with the help of Prada, Marc Jacobs and others 

Happy President's Day! Starting the week off with a holiday is certainly a treat. Franz Kafka's Metamorphosis reminds me of the weekly transformation Monday morning, after the remnants of the weekend fade into the work week ahead. What are you doing on your day off?

Style Snaps: Something Storylike at Bergdorf's 2

Bergdorf windows depicting Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities

It was the best of times and the worst of times.... and this time, the somber themes of Charles Dickens' classic A Tale of Two Cities comes alive in one of Bergdorf's Great Moments in Literature windows. David Hoey and team appeal to designer greats Thakoon, Reed Krakoff, Altuzarra Valentino, Dries Van Noten and Carven to represent the ill fated characters in Dickens' literary masterpiece. Both London and Paris have their own charm, romance and style--Which do you identify with more?  

Style Snaps: Something Storylike at Bergdorf

Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book (1894) themed window display at Bergdorf at 58th St. and Fifth Ave.

Ladies and Tigers and Sheep-- Oh MY! There's something storylike in the windows at Bergdorf Avenue. By fusing contermporary designers and classic works of literature, David Hoey and the design team at BG create a feisty celebration of the arts with a twist of modern feminity. Given the opportunity, I couldn't walk by without snapping a few photos. Though I have something different in mind for this week's Wednesday Windows, stay tuned for shots over the next few days from Bergdorf's Great Moments in Literature series.

Style Snaps : New York Fashion Week 2013

Crowds gather in front of Lincoln Center hoping to snap photos of celebrities or become newfound celebrities after having their photos taken

It's Fashion Week 2013, and despite the bitter cold and haphazard puddles of snow, fashion fiends and well-styled sophisticae emerge to show off their style during the presentations at Lincoln Center. Living in NYC, I make the obligatory pilgrimage uptown to have a peek at the people attending the week's festivities. Keep reading for a couple interesting and inspiring looks.

Style Snaps: Holiday Nails

Experimenting with Essie polish

I've developed a hearty appreciation for nail art lately (the manual manicure as opposed to acrylics or press-ons) and wanted to try something festive for the holidays. After trolling through tumblr and pinterest... and pages upon pages of trees, snow people and santas, I decided to go simple. Using Essie's Ballet Slipper pink as a base, I dotted on Snap Happy (red), Blanc (white) and Penny Talk (metallic copper). Voila! Though conservative, this look will get me through the holiday festivities as well as a week at the office! Do you have any cute looks to share?