Birds of a feather...

I love feathers.  Those tickly, light remnants from air bound creatures soaring above us.  I love feathers that are found, laying supple against gritty sand on the beaches of the world.  Feathers, from exotic birds with silvery iridescent blues, greens and purples.

Who could resist a peacock?  With its sensuous presence and alluring spirit as it flashes its plume for all to see?  Gracious, sublime, pure and vibrant looking for its special one.  Birds of a feather. Yes they go together just swell!

Photos from The Gifts of Life, Sienna Miller by Vogue Magazine and Tumblr

Billie Magazine by Stylist and Editor, Lili Diallo

The contractions have begun - for the debut issue of Billie Magazine!  Created and founded by the illustrious haute stylist Lili Diallo, and Monika Biegler-Eyers formerly of Domino Magazine.  Once again, for those of us (and there are many) who have long been hemorrhaging tears from Domino going by the wayside, THIS is verrrrrrrrry good news!  Though online, I hope hard copies will be available as well because I have carved out some prime space on the shelves!

Everything Lili touches turns PLATINUM, so Billie is bound to be a page-turning, full-screen image, zoom-in, print page left and right crowd pleaser! I've already subscribed to it 'sight unseen'.  My mailbox is poised to get the party started.  Stories will cover the worlds of Travel, Decoration, Photography and Home market trends specializing in both Home and Lifestyle.

I corresponded with Lili a few week ago, and know the team are feverishly working on the debut issue.  So much love, hard work and passion goes into all of Lilli's projects.  I just cannot wait for her baby 'Billie' to enter the world.  Silver spoon, oh-so-cleverly placed and picture perfect!  You better believe!

When it appears in my mailbox, my first words will be "Hey Billie! Welcome to the world!"

Hurricane #Sandy a New York Story...

Hurricane Sandy blew in like Hurricane Katrinas' BFF with a verrrry bad attitude, and wrecked untold havoc on towns and cities both outlining the Atlantic Ocean and farther inland.  New Jersey and Brooklyn seem to have suffered the worst!

Never in my life have I seen such devastation, so up close and personal.  Thankfully, my immediate family and friends have done well.  If you can say "doing well" does not include fatalities.  Loss of property has been catastrophic.  Sailboats were in parking lots close to my home.  My mothers home was hit by a tree the size of Kansas and she is one of the lucky ones!  Many towns, nearby and afar remain in utter darkness, without fresh water and food spoiling on market shelves. Subways, commuter lines and bridges were closed and are reopening in bits and pieces.  Gasoline is being rationed to ten gallons per vehicle.  Seaside homes have been uprooted and claimed by the Atlantic Ocean.  It is a dire situation. 

Luckily, I regained power after one day.  Cable and Internet access reappeared last evening, apparently for sure this time after multiple earlier failings.  The stories and images are ghastly.  So much credit needs to go to local organizations, FEMA, local government and President Obama for the upmost in presidential posture for doing what is possible (insisting politics are put aside during the last days of an election) to get things 'back to normal'.  

Something which I can confidently say, with dropping temperatures, homes in seven feet of water and significant loss of life is far in the distance "back-to-normal" seems very far away.

Surely, you have seen images of New York City in darkness.  They are beyond eerie,  yet if you cross another street entire grids (neighborhoods) are beaming with light and daily necessary essentials.  One particular neighborhood, Breezy Point lost a total of one hundred eleven homes with one fire!

Hurricane Sandy is OUR Katrina!  This is our September 11th. all over again.  But like 9-11-01 New Yorkers will survive.  We will regain our composure and we do look after one another.

There are countless other towns and cities affected by Sandy. I hope they fare well.  This experience belongs to all of us.  Tomorrow evening NBCUniversal Television will air a telethon supporting victims of the hurricane.  It will be televised on sister networks of NBCUniversal (Bravo, MSNBC, E Network and Syfy) beginning at 8pm.

Performances by Sting, Bono and Christina Aguilera to name a few will perform.  Please lend your support to the American Red Cross relief fund, if you can to bring cities and those profoundly affected by this devastating event - find their way "back to normal'.

THANK YOU for your support and prayers.

xoxo,

Joy

Note: Images courtesy Boston Globe and New York Daily News

Breast Cancer Awareness Month - Courage Is...

It's Breast Cancer Awareness Month!    

Please see my video supporting Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Estee Lauder Foundation and Journelle Lingerie.  If you're on Twitter, enter the bra giveaway from  super sexy Journelle lingerie bra stating 'Courage Is.... " to you.  Contest ends Friday! Make sure you mention @shopjournelle and hashtag #BCA20 in the tweet!

 Thank you and wishing you the very ‘breast’ of health!

Once again I ask... 

"Have you had your mammogram"?

Ralph Lauren Pink Pony - Breast Cancer Awareness Month

We are quickly coming upon the autumnal month of October.  Also known as 'Breast Cancer Awareness Month'.  This is such a near and dear area of concern and topic for me.  Unfortunately, I have lost several friends and family members to breast cancer.  So much so, that I didn't want to wait until the official commencement of October, to ask... 

"Have you had your mammogram yet"???????

Happily, I was going through some files last week and fell upon a Pink Pony photo shoot a bunch of us did years ago.  Yes, YEARS ago.  If you look closely, you'll see Carson Kressley (formerly from 'Queer Eye for the Straight Guy') in the second row (on the left) in the first collage.  

In the second collage you'll find me on the bottom row (second left), with my friend Donald Nowicki who is 'Uncle Ralphs' art curator for all the stores and his personal collections. 

Pink Pony is Ralph Lauren’s worldwide initiative in the fight against cancer. Our mission is to reduce disparities in cancer care in medically underserved communities and ensure that treatment is available at an earlier, more curable stage. In the United States, 10 percent of the purchase price of Pink Pony products benefits the Pink Pony Fund of the Polo Ralph Lauren Foundation to support programs for screening, early diagnosis, treatment, research and patient navigation. Internationally, a network of local charities benefits from the sales of Pink Pony products.

Ralph Lauren created the Polo Ralph Lauren Foundation, as a worldwide initiative to fight cancer. 

Visit www.RalphLauren.com/PinkPony

to make a donation today!

The Pink Pony Fund is Polo Ralph Lauren Foundation's worldwide initiative in the fight against cancer. Pink Pony supports programs for early diagnosis, education, treatment and research and is dedicated to bringing quality cancer care to medically underserved communities. 

Your tax deductible gift amount will be shown on your receipt at check-out and can be printed and used for tax purposes.

Wherever you are in this world, wherever you live - "Have you had your mammogram yet"??????? I hope the answer is YES!

And if not, please schedule one today.  We need you!

A Day in the Life... Joy Moyler, Behind Hautezone

At least four, maybe five times a week I am asked exactly what an interior designer does.  Generally from people who don't watch HGTV, Bravo, LXTV or subscribe to various shelter magazines - online nor publications you actually can hold, and dog-ear the pages of.  More specifically, the question is - "what the heck is it you do in a day?".  In addition, many of my readers only know me as the 'face behind Hautezone'.  Not for the design work I do.

With that question, the following video came to life.  If you are also a reader of PinkEggshell, you may have seen it published there, on September 19th.  There are so many other aspects and details which could have been shown (or were edited out, like the heated vendor call for the delayed mirror).  Vendor visits, client meetings, shipping materials etc.  All of which would have created a three hour video, which would have been faaaaaaar too long for anyones viewing pleasure.   Especially mine!  Perhaps, we will show some of that on the next video.

Visiting the Ralph Lauren Home showroom, which I designed over five years ago is always fun.   My lunch spot was Todd English at the Plaza Hotel.  I go at least twice a week, as it offers some of everything and I love the decor.  And who doesn't want to have lunch at the Plaza?  It's proximity to Bergdorf Goodman, right across the street is a bonus, as you may note from a previous post 'Scatter my Ashes at Bergdorf Goodman'.  I always stop in to see what's new.

I wish I'd stopped at some point to freshen my makeup, but I totally got wrapped up in the work I was doing and forgot. It's funny when you look at yourself you see things you'd done differently.  Big THANKS to Nick Carter Weddings for filming and producing the video.

Anyway, I hope you like it!

Diversity in Design

I am pleased to say, on Wednesday, September 26th. I will part of a symposium at the New York School of Interior design.  The topic is 'Diversity in Design'.  If you are in the area, it would be a pleasure to have you in attendance.

The advertisement is incorrect, as I am no longer with Giorgio Armani.  Nonethless, it will be alot of fun. Also participating are Anishka Clarke, Anaele Owunanne and Robin Wilson - all whom I admire greatly.  This event has been long planned by Tameka Pierre-Louis of Le Rapport Minoritaire Magazine.  The event will begin at 7pm, in observance of Yom Kippur.

New York School of Interior Design

170 East 70th. Street

New York, N.Y.
(212) 472-1500

Hope to see you there!

Bergdorf Goodman...Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorfs!

Fashion Week is upon us, effectively in full swing!  To celebrate the adventure along with the 111th. Anniversary of the famed duchess of Fifth Avenue - enjoy Sara James Mnoonkins book 'Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf Goodman' with foreword by Holly Brubach.

"When my So80's book came out, Bergdorf wanted to throw a party.  But I said, "It's got to be a big party.  Like a party from the eighties.  And I want it on the Main floor.  Which they never do, but they made an exception for me.  People were dancing.  A couple of people were smoking things they should'nt have been smoking. And I do remember, there were a two people actually...making love, for want of a better word behind the counters.  Somebody said, "this is a first, even for us".  I consider that party a success". -- Patrick McMulln, Photographer

It is full of info, hysterical celebrity anecdotes and quips.  Did you know... 'Bergie's (which I call it), is where Grace Kelly ordered her wedding invitations? Where Halston, Michael Kors and Isaac Mizrahi started in the biz?

"Sometimes people make fun of the lady who lunches, but, frankly, that's our customer.  That's the girl I like.  She's dressed.  She looks great.  She's got on her heels.  She's out ordering a teeny little salad.  There are definitely a lot of ladies who go to Bergdorf, but it doesn't mean that it's such a rarified place to eat.  It's just a place to go where you feel like you're going to see some high fashion.  I so appreciate that over someone who is always in sweats or jeans, who doesn't feel like they need to make an effort and put on something fun for the day".  --- Lela Rose, Designer

Where else can you find the very, very best of Oscar de la Renta, Michael Kors, Peter Som, Chado Ralph Rucci, Marchesa, J.Mendel - and hundreds more all under one roof! THAT close to Central Park?

Happy Birthday Bergdorfs! Thank you for the memories, and for being the best retail therapy ever and your most incredible windows.  You are better than therapy! 

"It's so much more fun being on heels with a friend, than laying on a strangers couch!" -- Hautezone

Excerpts and images from 'Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf Goodman'

by Sara James Mnookin

Harper Design

Michelle Obama Nail Color inspirations

First Lady Michelle Obama truly 'nailed' her speech at last night's Democratic National Convention last night.  All the while, I kept staring at her nails.  What color are they really? Blue? Grey?  

Looks like the White House's new best secret.  I expect a custom Michelle Obama color.  I'll call it the 'New Navy Seal'.  

Men...Afternoon delight...

Okay, isn't it about time we see something other than shoes, lipstick and beautiful rooms? I cannot believe I just said that!  

Wipe your mouth ladies.....

And yet, more Toby of Storm Models...

Images from The Fashionisto Tumblr and Storm Models

Marchesa in the Studio.

I will forever and a day be about craftsmanship.  It's something I feel to my core.  A lingering sense of respect and admiration for those who envision a dream and make it so - stitch by stitch.  Details, profound.  

The power of creation, the elements that come together to make something truly special - and divine.  It may come from seeing my grandmother make exquisitely tailored clothing by hand.  Influenced by Dior and Balenciaga.  From my grandfather taking me to Barneys' as a child.  My killing time time thumbing the textiles and smelling the handcrafted leather mens shoes that laid in the fitting rooms.  Very early on, I discovered a real respect for fine cashmere, Irish linen (the best of it always wrinkles) inherent in the fibers.  Long part of its allure.

So when I see the utterly magical creations, soon to be legends - craftsmanship of the likes of Georgina Chapman and her partner Karen Craig of Marchesa, simply my heart flutters. The images here are from Vogue.com - but the sentiment of all they create are mine.  Long lasting and pure.

 The inspiration boards are swoon-worthy...

 Details are pure magic... Just imagine how long it took to create a square inch of this embroidery...

 Influences to be proud of...

All images courtesy of vogue.com