The Glamour of New York, Part 2

And so ends another week of work in Manhattan... Memorable photo shoots, sublime new hotels, glamorous West Village boutiques, gorgeous Bowery stores, and still-scented late summer gardens... New York is always kind to me, and I'm always grateful in return. I still long for the day when we can have a teeny crash pad near Gramercy Park, but until then it's the 20-hour commute from Australia...

We're off to Charleston and Savannah this week for a little break after the madness of Fashion Week. (I was in NY to shoot a book about style rather than attend the fashion shows, so I only saw fragments of the mayhem – and did it in flat shoes, Grace Coddington-style black workhorse clothes and inferior hair – but it was still an eye-opener.) 

Next stop: The South. And then to London for a little while. Posts may be sporadic, but will try to do an Insider's Guide to London – beautiful, grand, dignified, refined old London. Who can complain about travelling when the upsides are so wonderful? As my intrepid globe-hopping grandmother used to say: Seeing the world is surely one of life's greatest privileges...

PS I'm heading to Instagram soon with everyone else, but will still try to post here too. As always, thank you for reading. I hope you find things to be grateful for in your life as much as I do in mine.

Jx

Ovando in the West Village

Possibly Manhattan's most beautiful florist.

Bond St Perfumery

Scented heaven.

(I loved 'Bryant Park' and 'Central Park South', but I did wonder if they'd considered making a perfume called 'Late Night In The Meatpacking District'?))

Madeleine Weinrib's beautiful atelier at ABC Carpet & Home.

Shop chic on the Upper East Side.

Gramercy Park Hotel's Do Not Disturb signs, which are the last word in Do Not Disturb style.

Ovando's floristry wonders again.

Kate Spade's new flagship store on the Upper East Side.

Rizzoli bookstore, a mecca for lovers of design titles.

Henri Bendel department store's ornate balconies.

Colour co-ordination to the nth degree in front of Bergdorf Goodman.

A perfect outfit during Fashion Week: taxi-cab yellow and zebra crossing-style stripes.

More lovely lemon in the West Village.

More from Kate Spade's new flagship store. 

(The pale pink silk sofa was as covetable as the chaise.)

The shoes of Kate Spade's senior strategist, whom I met when we were comparing shoes in the uptown Kate Spade store. 

(Her were far superior.)

An exquisite window display of antique silver hand mirrors in the West Village – classic Fashion Week chic.

My new shoes. J'adore.

A store that designs paper bags for New York boutiques.

Just fabulous.

The Lion restaurant

Still a favourite.

Dior at Saks.

Sublime merchandising, in true Dior style.

Adieu from the always-gorgeous New York.

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A Fashionable Guide to New York

New York never fails to show its glamourous side this time of year. 

Flying into Manhattan this week to shoot a new book, I was overwhelmed to see a city glowing in the Indian summer sunshine, wearing its best Fashion Week frocks and promenading the grand avenues and secret fashion haunts in classic New York style. 

The city's windows may have changed their wardrobes to dark, dramatic winter outfits but on Madison Ave, and Prince Street, and Bryant Park, and the always-beautiful West Village, locals were wringing the last out of the summer season with easy, flowing, bare-shoulded, open-toed elegance, swinging 1960s-inspired bags and pouting plum-toned lips. (Clearly, the colour du jour in 2014.)

[Image of Juan Carlos Obando's show via Habitually Chic, who always covers the shows well.]

Fortuitously (since I'm writing a book about New York fashion and style), the in-flight entertainment on the Qantas flight from Sydney included the extraordinary doco The Editor's Eye; an ode to Vogue fashion editors, past and present. Ms Coddington and Ms Wintour were magnificent as always, but it was the former editors – including the legendary Polly Mellen and Babs Simpson – who were really enthralling.  (Tip: Watch it for a glimpse into the fashion editors' homes as much as their aesthetics.)

New York's Fashion Week has now wrapped up, but here's an insight into places where you can still find a very Manhattanesque glamour.

Ralph Lauren's Madison Avenue store

A refined world of black and white sophistication, where I spotted exquisite leopard-print dinnerware alongside glamorous design books. Always a great source of home and fashion inspiration.

867 Madison Avenue, New York.

More from Ralph Lauren and the latest Spring 2014 homewares collection. The plum and black was very Hollywood.

Kate Spade's new flagship store on Fifth Avenue

An ode to colour and joy. 

(As with RL, Schiaparelli pink and black was a significant part of Kate Spade's new collection.)

The always-gorgeous NoMad Hotel in the NoMad District

Had a business lunch here today with a New York editor, sitting amid the pink-and-gold salon-style interior, listening to the chatter of fashion, finance, real estate and plans for weekends at Hamptons idylls. Far from pretentious, it was an experience in pure fantasy. If only we could all live in this kind of interior, and this kind of life.

1170 Broadway, New York.

The amazing rooftop terrace of the NoMad. (Sneak up here for a great view of the Empire State.)

The irresistible fabric stores of the Garment District

My newest discovery in this neighbourhood is Rosen & Chaddick, a more upmarket version of Mood Fabrics. This is the place where many up-and-coming fashion designers, stylists and interior designers source their fabrics. Rows are filled with high-end fabrics, including many in this season’s color and print trends. I spotted lots of bolts marked 'Armani' that had clearly come from Mr Armani's atelier. (The store is a great source of designer fabrics.) There are 125 linen colors alone, so be prepared to spend a while. The staff are lovely, and prices are surprisingly reasonable.

561 Seventh Ave, New York. rosenandchaddickfrabrics.com

Another new discovery is the New York Botanic Gardens, and the Peggy Guggenheim Rose Garden within it. 

The roses were on their last petals in the Indian Summer heat, but it was still a superb display of colour, form and horticultural glamour. 

(Speaking of roses, my latest favourite is the Paris de Yves Saint Laurent hybrid tea rose, above, which has the most enchanting form.)

The window merchandising of Bergdorf Goodman, which is always spectacular. 

No wonder they produced a book detailing the history of the store's window displays.

Fifth Avenue at 58th Street, New York.

The new Harlow restaurant

Truly splendid. 

As W magazine commented: "With its Dorothy Draper-esque decor and ornate boiserie, the venue fittingly evokes a sense of true Old Hollywood glamour..."

111 E 56th Street, New York.

Maison Kitsune

A favourite Parisian-inspired store, tucked away on the NoMad Hotel's ground floor. Always lovely things to be had here.

The whimsical windows of Saks Fifth Avenue, with their tributes to Dior during Fashion Week.

The new High Line Hotel

This hotel, housed in a 19th Century Gothic landmark building, is set to be hugely popular, especially with the demographic who frequent the Ace Hotel up the road. Just opened, it's still experiencing teething problems but the rooms – designed by my favourite New York architects Roman and Williams – are handsome (and huge), and the Refectory Hall is like nothing else in the city.

180 10th Avenue, New York.

The City Club Hotel

Another glamorous bolthole for fashion lovers, this hotel was decorated by one of Anna Wintour's favourite design names, Jeffrey Bilhubr. Opt for the duplex suite (above), which was created out of a former ballroom and features its own library.

55 W 44th Street, New York.

Henri Bendel

I spotted these two gorgeous models (one of them in a grey pinstripe dress: so chic) being introduced to Henri Bendel's best products by one of the store's personal shoppers. Surely the most civilised way to shop?

712 Fifth Avenue, New York.

Oscar de la Renta

Still one of the city's most sublime design talents. His Spring 2014 collection (above), which was unveiled at New York Fashion Week this week, were pretty, flirtatious and delightfully feminine.

722 Madison Avenue, New York.

And lastly, Bryant Park, a beautiful place to pause and catch your breath after the glamorous madness of Manhattan...

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Lit Chic: Library-Themed Hotels, Bars & Other Bits

Have you noticed how the onslaught of iPhones, iPads, Kindles and other electronic readers is causing a huge wave of sentimentality for old-fashioned books? It started with the trend of 'library hotels', whereby high-end boutique hotels began refashioning themselves as 'literary retreats'. Some of the most successful, including The Library in New York, The Pavillion de la Reine in Paris, and The Library in Thailand, became so popular, people booked them especially for their literary loveliness. Others, such as The Nomad in New York introduced grand bars based on dignified gentlemen's libraries, which were just as well received. And yet other bookish entrepreneurs, such as boutique and bar owners, began redesigning their spaces around the themes of reading. Even fashion designers are now starting to produce collections based on wordplay whimsy.

Here are a few of my favourite literary spaces. Oh – I'd love one of the Kate Spade Dictionary clutches, too (below). But I'd probably have to write another book to be able to afford it! {Top image from The Library Bar in Alberquerque}

Pre-Scripted

Have you ever dealt with Carolyn Quartermaine's office in France. Her staff are some of the loveliest people I've ever dealt with. I'd buy fabric from them simply because their manners are so beautiful. Carolyn has been creating sublime, script-enhanced fabrics for years, however she's now returning to her roots as an artist, so perhaps snap up some bolts while you can. These beautiful prints may not be around for many more years. {carolynquartermaine.com}

The Writing on the Wall (Or The Mirror)

I've always loved this image of a period Parisian apartment dressed in B&B Italia Lazy Chairs and a Lens Table, all reflected in a gilt mirror embellished with lines of typewriter-font. A curious juxtaposition of the classic, the modern, the witty and the whimsical. So beautiful. Via the book Design in Black and White. {Image via B&B Italia}

All Booked Up

Tucked away behind a hidden garden off the Place des Vosges, the Pavillion de la Reine hotel is one of the true secrets of Paris. Beloved by VIPs, it's a grand hotel with an intimate feel, but its most endearing trait is its literary-themed rooms. The suites feature quotes from famous authors while the library is full of great titles to take to bed with you. Should you not have anyone else in Paris to share the romance with. {Images via pavillon-de-la-reine.com}

The Reine's sister hotel, The Pavillion des Lettres, is also themed around books, and features rooms that have iPads stocked with international bestsellers and daily newspapers and music. Futhermore, each guest room is devoted to a letter of the alphabet and  writer who corresponds to that letter. Among the authors featured are Baudelaire and Rousseau, whose quotes are handwritten on the walls en Français.

LA Confidential

The Library Bar in LA is fast becoming a haunt for screenwriters I know. It's not surprising, really. It's a surprising – and rather inspiring – space to chill out from the craziness of LA. They've even got the colour of the website exactly right. It's the same shade as the borrowing cards and pockets in front of old library books. Too witty for words. {librarybarla.com}

How Do You Spell That Again?

Kate Spade's creative team has gone all out on the literary theme this year. I love this 'Dictionary' clutch, and the Cha Cha stockings are cute too. {katespade.com}

Stirred, Shaken, And Then Read From Front To Back

The Library Bar at The Lanesborough in London is a true gentleman's retreat, which also happily accepts ladies. Designed in the style of a Regency library with bookcases lined with leather-bound titles and deep leather wing chairs to read them in, the bar's most eye-catching features are the handsome display cabinets full of elegant alcohol bottles. There's a fire in winter, and plenty of ice in summer. The Lanesborough, Hyde Park Corner, London. Hours 11am - 1am.

The Romance Suite, Please

New York’s Library Hotel is a truly decadent hideaway for Dewey lovers. (Pun intended.) The intellectual inspiration for this innovative place comes from the nearby New York Public Library and the architecture is just as stunning. Each room has its own themed libraries (I love the Architecture Suite, okay, and the Romance One too), so you can choose your reading pleasures. And when you’re done seducing your other half with volumes of modern design (as I did – although he fell asleep before we reached the Contents Page), then you can retreat upstairs to the bookshelf-lined lounge and rooftop terrace for a late-night coffee and a chance to write your own bestseller. {libraryhotel.com}

Raising A Toast To Hemingway 

(And All The Other Literary Nomads)

The Nomad Hotel in New York is one of the most beautiful hotels in the world. It could even be my favourite. For my previous post on this glamour puss, click here.  {thenomadhotel.com}

Retreating Into Books

Many of you will have already heard of The White House, Lyn Gardner's gorgeous weekender in Daylesford. We were lucky enough stay there for a night two years ago, in order to shoot it for the book Design In Black and White. It was so lovely, we could have stayed all week. The most beautiful room was the tiny library, which comes with a wall full of Penguin classics, a fireplace full of wood and two comfy leather club chairs to sink into. Literary bliss. Even her branding and website are beautiful. {thewhitehousedaylesford.com.au}

A Page Turner

Former Ralph Lauren executive Ellen O'Neill's Gramercy Park studio apartment in New York. Decorated in graphic shades of ink black and white, its highlight is Ingo Maurer's Zettelz 5 chandelier, a light-as-paper artwork that Ellen has decorated with her own favourite pages and personal pieces. I was going to stay in this apartment for a week earlier this year, but the logistics proved too difficult. Pity. Isn't it pretty? {Image via House Beautiful}

Wall Flower

I've seen Ms Deborah Bowman's wallpaper in many homes now, but it never gets tiring. Well I mean, who could tire of books? Even the name – 'Genuine Fake Books' – is memorable. The latest space to feature it is Stephen Schubel's fisherman's cottage in Sausalito, which was in the July/August issue of House Beautiful. Have you seen this magazine yet? It's a beautiful issue.

Literary Chic

My favourite ad of all time. Can't imagine how the J Crew gang styled this up? But isn't it fabulous?

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