The Urban Market

I am very excited about the Urban Market this weekend! I had to miss the last one in November because I was working on a photo shoot for High Gloss, so I haven’t gotten my Urban Market fix since last May. This year, the market has moved to a new location downtown. It looks like the weather is going to warm up just in time, thankfully. I was also super excited to hear that three of my favorite Houston ladies: Meg Lonergan, Annsley Popov, and Sally Wheat, whose project was featured in the first issue of High Gloss, will be sharing a booth. I’m sure it will be filled with some fabulous finds. See you there!

Runway Recap: Rachel Zoe Fall 2011

Fashion Week is such an exciting time! I always love drawing inspiration from the latest looks the designers share at their shows and presentations. I would have loved to have been able to attend the shows that I was invited to this season, but after just getting back from New York last week, it wasn’t feasible. I am crossing my fingers to be able to make it in September, though! Rachel Zoe, celebrity stylist and pop culture phenom, debuted a new collection this season. I didn’t love her original collection for QVC and am so pleased to see how polished her new collection is. There were several recurring themes throughout the collection that I am loving.

 

 

 

What are your thoughts? Do you like Rachel’s new collection? Would you wear any of these looks?

{Image Source: Style.com courtesy of Rachel Zoe}

Do Tell: What is your signature fragrance?

I love getting to know you all and have been thinking it would be fun to have some super-interactive posts. A couple of weeks ago, I began a new series called “Do Tell” in which I pose one question in hopes that you’ll share your own personal answers. This week’s question: What is your signature fragrance?

Can you tell what these are?

When an email announcing Kyle Bunting’s new collection first landed in my inbox yesterday, I wasn’t quite sure what I was looking at right away. I did, however, immediately recognize that I loved the pattern and rich, shiny colors in the image above. It turns out, these are cowhide rugs. The patterns are absolutely gorgeous!

I eat meat and wear leather, but I’m not positive that I would put a hide in my home. How do you feel about that issue? Could you envision one of these beauties in your home? I’d love to see them available in silk as an alternative.

In Case You Were Wondering…

We’ve been featuring a “Meet the Editors” series on our High Gloss Happenings page for a few weeks now to give everyone a little more insight into who the High Gloss team is composed of, how we all came together, and the little things that make our hearts skip a beat. Hop over to the Happenings page to read a little about how High Gloss came to be, what I am most inspired by, and what I am currently obsessed with. While you’re there, you can read up on what makes the rest of the team tick as well.

Dream Home: The Neo-Traditionalist

Katie Armour is not only a fellow blogger (The Neo-Traditionalist), but a fellow digital magazine editor (Matchbook). She is probably best known for her love of a vintage sensibility with a preppy twist and that aesthetic is definitely reflected in her lovely dream home.

Hello! Katie Armour here from The Neo-Traditionalist. I am so honored to have been asked to share my dream home. While I've enjoyed my fair share of city living, my dream spot would include a bit of land. I'd love to have a big, unruly garden and sprawling lawn on which to chase my pugs about. This home belonging to Aerin Lauder makes me weak in the knees. I love the tall, handsome columns and the sense of history they evoke. When I was little, my grandfather had a 1960's black Mercedes convertible just like this one. I hope to invest in a similar vintage convertible of my own someday! My dream Living Room would be one part Hamish Bowles and two parts Kate and Andy Spade. I love the whimsical, artistic touches in both spaces. They've used such timeless, classics yet with a bit of sarcasm that I just adore. Decorators shouldn't take themselves too seriously---after all, homes are meant to be lived in. My husband and I never have enough room for our books. This black lacquered library (also Aerin Lauder's) is the epitome of chic. I think we'd spend many cozy evenings here reading. All my dream bathrooms have fanciful wallpaper. I love these patterns in the homes of Kate Townsend and Lizzie Bailey. Lizzie took the idea from Albert Hadley---the man was, and still is, so ahead of his time. I can't cook to save my life, but I still appreciate a good looking kitchen. My dream kitchen and breakfast nook belongs to Kate and Andy Spade. I can't get enough of the floor, window treatments, bold textiles, and taxidermy butterflies. Just because it's a kitchen doesn't mean it has to be boring. I love to keep dining fun and casual. This tablescape by Kate Spade New York's current creative director, Deborah Lloyd, is positively scrumptious! Deborah is a lovely lady and this setting speaks volumes of her approachable, yet chic aesthetic. My dream bedroom would be a variation of Rita Konig's complete with D. Porthault linens and a handsome plaid blanket. I'd probably have to go with Porthault's more masculine clovers to appease Mr. Armour. Oh and fresh ranunculus, always fresh blooms! In my dream world I will have a settee full of pugs at the foot of my bed, just like the Duchess of Windsor. Last but not least my dream backyard will be lush and bursting with hydrangea much like this scene of Susan Train's home in Paris. I someday hope to be half as chic! Thank you, Paloma!

Photos: 1, 5, & 12 from Vogue, 2 from The World of Interiors, 3, 4 & 8 from The Selby, 6, 7 & 9 from Lonny, 10 from T Magazine, 11 from The Windsor Style by Suzy Menkes.

Currently Loving…

I have often asked myself why we, as Americans have generally let style fall by the wayside in our day to day lives. I usually ask myself this question while watching Mad Men or traveling within Europe. I’m not saying that all Americans lack style nor am I saying that I am the epitome of it…far from it. However, I do wish that our culture would go back to days when people actually dressed for dinner, church, and other events. This Chrysler commercial hit the nail on the head.