Opening Ceremony Fall 2016 Menswear

These days, there's a fine line between activewear and sportswear. Opening Ceremony have taken that notion and run with it for Fall 2016 menswear. This collection features the best of both by showcasing velour track pants, for instance, paired with knit jackets and dress shows, or a trench coat with combat boots. Opening Ceremony played with looks, garments and textile choices to create and produce a collection that is not only fun, but multi-purposeful. The bomber jackets are reversible and sweaters zip away to create a different silhouette. Smart, colorful and I'm ready to sport some Opening Ceremony!

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Viktor & Rolf Couture Spring 2016

“Fashion artists,” Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren created a collection to make Picasso proud. And Matisse. And possibly maybe Modigliani. This may be Viktor & Rolf's most artistically literal and referential collection to date. The all-white couture assemblages embraced the cubist art movement in the form of wearable art. Once again, Viktor & Rolf got a chance to showoff their ridiculous sculptural skills. It's really mind-blowing. (And mesmerizing!) Towards the end of the collection, the models were consumed by the clothing, covering the faces and towering over their head. Moda Operandi will be carrying a capsule collection of these pieces, though I am pretty sure they'll be modified but nonetheless fabulous.

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2016 SAG Awards Best Red Carpet

ALICIA VIKANDER

In Louis Vuitton.

QUEEN LATIFAH

In a Michael Costello dress and Fred Leighton jewelry.

BRIE LARSON

In a Versace dress and Roger Vivier shoes.

NAOMI WATTS

In Burberry.

RACHEL MCADAMS

In an Elie Saab dress, Brian Atwood shoes and Lorraine Schwartz jewelry.

CLAIRE DANES

In a Stella McCartney dress and Tiffany & Co. jewelry.

JULIANNA MARGULIES

In Antonio Berardi.

KATE MARA

In Valentino.

LAVERNE COX

 In a Prabal Gurung dress, Stuart Weitzman shoes and Lorraine Schwartz jewelry.

KATHRYN HAHN

In a Giorgio Armani dress and Paul Andrew shoes.

ANNA FARIS

In a Naeem Khan dress and Stuart Weitzman shoes.

CHRISTINA RICCI

In a Christopher Kane dress with Fred Leighton jewelry.

LAURA PREPON

In Carmen Marc Valvo Couture.

HANNAH BAGSHAWE & EDDIE REDMAYNE

Redmayne in Dior.

EVA LONGORIA

In Julien Macdonald.

CHRISTINA HENDRICKS

In Christian Siriano.

SARAH SILVERMAN

In Vivienne Westwood.

VIOLA DAVIS

In a Zac Posen dress and Buccellati jewelry.

SARAH PAULSON

In an Armani Privé dress and Brian Atwood shoes.

MARISA TOMEI

In Zuhair Murad.

KATE WINSLET

In a custom Giorgio Armani dress, Jimmy Choo shoes and Neil Lane jewelry.

NICOLE KIDMAN

In a Gucci dress and Fred Leighton jewelry.

HELEN MIRREN

In Jenny Packham.

KRISTEN WIIG

In a Roland Mouret jumpsuit with a Jimmy Choo clutch and Miu Miu shoes.

TINA FEY

In Prabal Gurung.

ROONEY MARA

In Valentino.

JANUARY JONES

In a Schiaparelli couture dress, Jimmy Choo shoes and Aurelie Bidermann jewelry. 

JULIANNE MOORE

In a Givenchy Couture dress and Chopard jewelry.

SOFIA VERGARA

In custom Vera Wang.

It's one of the chicest red carpets... the Screen Actors Guild Awards always bring out the elegant, sophisticated and best-dressed couture and last night was no exception. View some of my best picks in the slideshow above. Well done ladies.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS:

Data curated by PrettyFamous

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Maison Margiela Couture Spring 2016

I would like to crawl into the head of John Galliano, for at least a day, and observe his creative thought process, ideas and dreams. (I may need more than a day!) Many might be terrified at the prospect. I'd be fascinated. Intrigued. Inspired. 

Clearly, this couture  collection for Margiela is about thoughts, concepts, experimentation and exploration. Galliano uses the runway as a stage, canvas and playground to showcase his art. And while at first glance, it often seems ridiculous, after careful observation it becomes apparent that everything he does has purpose and intention. (May sound like a cliche), but the runway is a window into John Galliano's mind. This collection reveals and poses questions about innovation, trends, de/re-construction and the relevancy of haute couture in today's current market.

One footnote, pardon the pun, those boots are too die for...!

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Dining at The Cockentrice

Bourbon and Pork Belly Poppers

Cheese & Charcuterie Plate

Lamb & Potato

Crispy Pommes Macaire, Crème Fresh, Parmesan, Lamb, Carrot, Onion, Parsley Salad

Meg & I

... notice the pork belly poppers are G.O.N.E.

GM Clayton Morey & Chef Kevin Ouzts

This photo is from a tv appearance on CBS Atlanta Unplugged.

Last night, I had the pleasure of dining at The Cockentrice, located at one of Atlanta's newest hotspots, Krog Market. The Cockentrice, owned by Chef Kevin Ouzts of The Spotted Trotter - the best meat/butcher shop in town btw- is more than just a restaurant. We often hear of how chefs are like artists and cooking is their medium, well, let me tell you, that statement has never been more accurate when it comes to Chef Kevin and the fine cuisine at The Cockentrice.

A true dining experience is one that seduces all the senses. My out-of-town friend, Meg and I were seduced with cheeses, charcuterie and lamb. She had a vodka, I had a bourbon and soon after that, heaven in your mouth arrived to the table, a.ka. pork belly jalepeno poppers. They were sweet and melted at first bite. The Cockentrice is known for their charcuterie so that was an absolute must. The cheeses, meats, candied nuts, honey and oxtail pate, something new Chef Kevin brought out for us, were to die for. And finally, the main course of lamb and potato, which I am a little embarrassed to admit was eaten in under five minutes because it was just that delicious and so flavorful.

The Cockentrice, has now officially become one of my favorite restaurants in the city. The food is spectacular. Culinary masterpieces from an extremely talented artist. The space and ambiance is very welcoming - chic but not pretentious and the wait staff, first class. I highly recommend a dining experience at The Cockentrice. You will not be disappointed.

"The Cockentrice is Chef Kevin Ouzts’ celebration of charcuterie and long-awaited execution of meat cookery — melding traditional and modern cooking techniques plucked from the rich heritage of the Southern United States and beyond."

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Modern Elegance: When Experts DIY

What happens when the experts DIY? You won't find it on Pinterest, that's for sure! When designer/artist Taylor Jarson of Taylor Jarson Designs created these custom tables, not only did he flex his creative muscles but made his client extremely happy. TJD was designing a swanky yet comfy outdoor space for a client and rather than shopping at West Elm or Crate & Barrel for tables, they recycled a pine tree on the property that needed to come down. How's that for repurposing the environment?! Brilliant.

Taylor Jarson explores all possibilities of design and he pushes the envelope to create originality for his clients... so with that said, how were these tables made? I asked, he told... Taylor was very generous to share his step-by-step creation of these beautiful tables. See slideshow below:

Step 1: The Design

I drew a few renderings to send to the client to make sure we were on the same page as far as overall design. The idea was to have one shorter table and a fatter table, and one taller and skinnier (you’ll find out in the next step why that didn’t end up happening). Both on castor wheels to make moving and changing the area’s dynamic easier.

Step 2:

The tree had been cut down. I supervised the cutting to make sure to get pick of the litter. I had them cut the logs to the exact size needed. Unfortunately, the biggest log in the picture was too big and heavy to use and the thin one  had a significant amount of rot in it. The two pieces left were in perfect condition, but were the same height. There went our idea of having height variation. With any sort of natural material (dead trees that are cut down being high on the list) these sort of problems will arise.

Step 3:

Use a wire brush to knock off all of the moss and mold build up. The paint will adhere to the wood itself, not to the stuff that will end up flaking and falling off.  

Step 4:

(Photo: Before & After wire brushing) After brushing the outsides and cleaning them, I sanded down the tops and bottoms with a stripping grit sand paper to get rid of any larger imperfections from the chainsaws. Finish sanding with a fine grit to get a smooth table-top finish.

After sanding, I bored out holes in the bottom of the stumps to flush mount the castor wheels. These castor wheels were 1 ¾ inch and can support up to 50lbs each. I used a 3¼ inch hole cutting drill bit to get my outer diameter, then used a series of different sized wood bits to get rid of the insides. Once I had a flush surface on the inside of the holes, I cut different thicknesses of plywood with the same 3 ¼ bit to get the tops of the tables level with the floor (logs cut with chainsaws will never be completely clean and level, so I had to do the leveling with the wheels).

After prep & construction:

Outsides are brushed, tops and bottoms sanded, wheels installed, and there’s a nice level surface to the tables themselves. I sealed before painting to ensure that any accidental painting of the tops or bottoms could be removed with ease. For sealing, use a clear waterproofing sealant. Also, seal the inside of the holes for the wheels, to prevent moisture, mildew, and mold from penetrating the wood and rotting it from the inside. Plus, the sealant on the tops will block UV rays and keep them looking good for years to come.

Step 5:

Before painting, make sure the sealer is completely dry and absorbed into the wood. Use an outdoor paint and primer-in-one, in a matte finish. It’s safe for all climates, so it won’t crack and peel in cold or hot temps (which means they can be left outdoors at all times). It also provides another sealant-type barrier to prevent mold and mildew build up, and to keep moisture out.

Step 6:

After the paint was completely dry, I did one final sanding to the tops to get rid of any stray paint strokes. One last coat of sealer and they were completely finished.

Taylor Jarson

The end result of this DIY project is modern and elegant. A stylish product that can't be found anywhere because they're one (two) of a kind! They are truly statement pieces. Thank you Taylor Jarson Designs for sharing your creativity, talent and skills with us all.  

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Alberta Ferretti Limited Edition Couture Spring 2016

Erte would be proud with Alberta Ferretti's Couture collection. But this limited edition haute couture goes beyond the French artist and pays homage to femme fatale beauty, Marchesa Luisa Casati. The eccentric Marchesa, an Italian heiress, died in 1957 and has served as a muse for designers like John Galliano, Alexander McQueen and now, Alberta Ferretti. Casati's lavish lifestyle and love of exotic animals are symbolized in this gorgeous collection through animal prints and exquisite abundance. It's dramatic and elegant, like its muse.

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