Helen Gurley Brown... Cosmopolitan Magazines Legend Passes

Grande Dame Helen Gurley Brown passed away today at the tender age of 98.  Until this afternoon, I did not know the very 'Cosmopolitan' citified lady, who was the Editor in Chief of Cosmopolitan Magazine from 1965-1997 was actually born in Arkansas.

HGB authored the following books, dispensing advise on being single, working and having it all.

Sex and the Single Girl (1962)

Sex and the Office (1965)

Outrageous Opinions of Helen Gurley Brown (1967)

Helen Gurley Brown's Single Girl's Cookbook (1969)

Sex and the New Single Girl (1970)Having It All (1982)

The Late Show: A Semi Wild but Practical Guide for Women Over 50 (1993)

The Writer's Rules: The Power of Positive Prose: How to Create It and Get It Published (1998)

Dear Pussycat (2004)

Ms. Brown was definitely on the forefront of the Women's Rights, Bra-burning and 'thinking like a man'.  Long before it was popular - or carried out.  She revolutionized the thinking 'women could have it all'!  May she and her contributions - editorially and for life be long remembered.

Some of Ms. Browns' famous quotes:

So you're single. You can still have sex. You can have a great life. And if you marry, don't just sponge off a man or be the gold-medal-winning mother. Don't use men to get what you want in life - - get it for yourself.”

“Money, if it does not bring you happiness, will at least help you be miserable in comfort.”

“Good girls go to heaven, bad girls go everywhere.”

“One of the paramount reasons for staying attractive is so you can have somebody to go to bed with”

“Cosmo is feminist in that we believe women are just as smart and capable as men and can achieve anything they want. But it also acknowledges that while work is important, men are, too. The Cosmo girl absolutely loves men!”

Brilliant... Beloved... Details...

I am inspired by so many things and surfaces around me.  Transparent, Matte and YES! YES! YES! Shiny, Brilliant, Bejeweled things.  

Cultural influences in particular which find themselves woven into fabrics, beadwork particularly catch my eye.  

With so many hours in my life spent traveling, walking through museums, digesting the cultures around me - engulfing the air and wings of cultural structures - I feel so connected to the past, just as strongly as the present.  I crave Byzantine jewelry, Aztec wovens and dusty unearthed patinas of the past.  I especially love when these crafts find their way into fashion into ... 

Brilliant...Beloved...Details...

Enjoy your weekend.  I've got some beading to start! Much love...

 All photos courtesy of Tumblr, Pinterest and Simply Fabulous

Robert Pattinsons' Retreat at Reese Witherspoons' estate

Elle Decors September 2012 issue is an incredible ode to the end of Summer.  Thespian Reese Witherspoons Ojai California dreamy hideaway, for very lucky friends and family is well represented on its pages.

This lovely approachable and relaxed home, is gaining extra notoriety for it is the present residence of dreamy broken-hearted-hearthrob fellow thespian Robert Pattinson of the insanely profitable 'Twilight' sagas and 'Water for Elephants' fame.

It appears to be a wonderful place for reflection and getting ones goals and life on track in the midst of chaos.  And yes, stealing away from crazed paparazzi. 

Some of my favorite elements are the rough-hewn beams, and metalmongery. The palette, affords enjoying the elegant simplicity of the residence.  I can image countless fireplace gatherings of tabletop games with the family.  Not to mention the endless al fresco feast on the bougainvillea laden terrace.  

Hopefully Mr. Pattinson is enjoying himself, greeting the sunrise and promise of new days in this beautiful home.  As Ms. Witherspoon awaits the arrival of her new beautiful baby.   I certainly hope so.

Photos by William Waldron Produced by Anita Sarsidi

Givenchy... Love

...Just because...Givenchy... Love...

Karl Lagerfeld is... Bazaar

Once again, Karl Lagerfeld proves his photographic majesty in Harpers Bazaar.  Inspired by 20th Century tastemakers Mona Bismarck and Millicent Rogers, Mr. Lagerfeld sought to recreate the energy and mood of their iconic fashion styles.  

Mona Bismarck was voted "Best Dressed Woman in the World" in 1933 by none other than Coco Chanel.  And was photographed by legendary fashion lensman Cecil Beaton, and painted by Salvador Dali.

With this homage, I'd say ole' Karl hit the Bismarck!

Photos courtesy of Harpers Bazaar. Photographer: Karl Lagerfeld Fashion Editor: Andrew Richardson 

Top image: Cecil Beaton

INOX New York

One of my favorite manufacturers of Steel and Bronze decorative works is INOX New York. My supreme favorite is the Lavoisier screen.  

John Lyle has been designing these extraordinary pieces and more for 26 years.  The attention to detail is phenomenal.  I beg you to find corner which are as clean or pure as his are.  The finish is beyond magic.  Flawless actually!  Absolute precision and accuracy with a medium that is highly particular.  

Do not despair of you cannot find the size you need.  John Lyle and friends will gladly do custom sizing.  It'll be worth the wait!

D&D Buidling

979 Third Avenue    Suite 700   New York 10022

212 805 9556

Pacific Design Center

8687 Melrose Avenue  Suite G196  Los Angeles 90069

310 657 6060

Luxury Home Quarterly & Joy Moyler Interiors

I was absolutely delighted when Luxury Home Quarterly, a premier interior design, architectural design and building magazine called me and my team at Joy Moyler Interiors, this past Spring - asking if we would like to be apart of their Summer 2012 Design issue.

Well of course I said "Yes"! and the issue is out.  It was such fun, and I have long appreciated and admired their work already, so I was tickled pink to be counted on their pages.  I am already working on a bunch of new projects, which hopefully will someday soon be covered as well.

If you notice I am not posting as frequently as I normally would like to, please bear with me as I am in the midst of project crunching.  Thank you all for your support and THANK YOU for reading Hautezone.

xoxoxo,

Joy

Joy Moyler Interiors in Ebony's Sexy Issue

 Joy Moyler Interiors, my design firm was one of the featured interior designers in the July 2012 'Sexy Issue, of Ebony magazine.  In it, I share quick tips on creating a sexy home environment.   Yes, bringing sexy back?  Prince was right! Sexy never left!

African American Top 20 Interior Designers

For the second year in a row, I have had the pleasure of being counted amongst the 2012 Top 20 African American Interior Designers in the US.  

Hosted, and presented by the esteemed Kimberly Ward of Pinkeggshell, the gathering took place in New York at Jay-Z's hot 40/40 Club.  It was a fun filled evening of 'meets and greets' with the opportunity to say hello and share hugs and stories with other designers whose work I admire.

It was a fun opportunity to speak before the crowd, sharing anecdotes and talking about my experiences throughout the years while working on projects for Leonardo DiCaprio, David Geffen, Adrien Brody, John Mayer and David Garrett to name a few.

I am incredibly passionate about interior design and hopefully my bits inspired an up and coming designer to continue to work hard, be diligent and put the work in.  It is indeed worth it!

Congrats to my fellow designers on the list.  You guys rock!!! And BIG THANK YOU again to Kimberly Ward for her hard work.

Me with Kimberly Ward of PinkEggshell

Me with Dwight Eubanks of Atlanta Housewives and ANTM's Eva Marcielle

My bio page from the program

www.joymoylerinteriors.com

"Something like OLIVIA"!

Perhaps this Olivia is not THE Olivia John Mayer had in mind, while composing his song "Something like Olivia", for his newly released 'Born and Raised".

But it's another, 'Olivia' I just love.  I was originally introduced to this series of books while hanging out with my god daughter Vanessa May.  Wouldn't you know, I was so taken by this 'girly-girl' and her antics, I have purchased the series for myself.  

Okay, let's just put aside the fact that the books are about a pig (full of all girl spirit!)  But isn't that what the power of reading is supposed to do? Change your view, introduce you to something new - and take you away without leaving the room or wherever else you may be?    Hey, look at the mouse Stuart Little.  So engaging you feel for him.  Or the mouse in the acclaimed film 'Ratatouille'.

Written and illustrated by the very talented Ian Falconer, it is just too precious for words.  Come on, at the end of the day couldn't we all use a moment of hanging out with our 'inner child'?

And if you'd like to see John's 'Something like Olivia' here she is...

Keith Haring... Happy Birthday! "Tag you're it"

Today would have been graffiti artist Keith Harings 58th. birthday.  That, had AIDS not taken him away from us at the age of 31.  Following his diagnosis, Haring provided funds to children's art programs and various AIDS organizations.

His work represented the city around him.   Illustrated with generally solid abstract backgrounds with thick broad black strokes.  It was easily identifiable.  I remember walking around the city seeing, little sketches of his. You just knew he'd been there.  It became an iconic signature. The phenomenon grew quickly.  His work became beloved throughout the city, though not immediately approved of when he began.  It was seen as being more of a nuisance than art.  When it started selling to Upper East Side mavens, things changed for him.  

Later his work was collected by iconic faces like Madonna, Grace Jones, Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat who all basically 'hooked him up'.

Along the East river Drive in Harlem, remains a paddleball court he 'tagged' years ago.  It has become a NYC landmark, protected by the city with fence around it for all to enjoy. I smile whenever I see it, and say a little prayer for him.  

I am going to wear my Keith Haring T-shirt today in his memory and as a THANK YOU for making the world a brighter place!  

THANK YOU KEITH!