I ♥ Your Style: Muriel Brandolini

I'm not sure if anyone has more style than Muriel Brandolini. She's stylish in the way she looks and in the way she lives. She has chic clothes, the most amazing jewelry, incredible homes and she's a fantastic cook. The quality I admire in her most is the confidence she has in doing things differently, in breaking the rules. Case in point: the other day I was sitting in her kitchen watching her make a salad nicoise. She cut all the incredients with scissors instead of a knife (she said it's easier that way), and then she put on rubber surgical gloves and tossed the salad with her hands. She said, "Food always tastes better when you touch it." She was right. It was delicious. 

I ♥ Your Style: Diane Kruger's bow tie look

Back when I was researching my book I noticed that Diane Kruger loved Chanel, especially a black and white bow tie look. Since then I've seen her riff on that same look again and again. By now it's safe to say it has become somewhat of a signature for her. I love almost any girl who develops a signature. It shows discipline and confidence, two crucial ingredients in creating your own style. It would be too much if she wore this look all the time, but I love how she returns to it every now and then.

My favorite looks for Spring: Carven

Recently someone mentioned to the revival of Carven and so I went on their website to check it out. The clothes are SO GREAT! Why isn't anyone talking about them? Did I miss it? Am I the last person to hear about them?? The clothes are very sexy - kind of French ingenue mixed with a little Alexa Chung-ish schoolgirl vibe, AND they're a contemporary (sub designer) price point! I haven't seen the clothes in person yet, but I am very excited by the photos. For now, they're exclusively sold at Barney's CO-OP in America.

I ♥ Your Style: Cher in the 70's (Option 3)

I ♥ Your Style: Cher in the 70's (Option 2)

I've been sitting here trying to find a gentle way to describe the way Cher looks these days, and I'm not finding the words. In contrast though, I only have good things to say about her look in the 70's. She was a hippie but with a little extra dose of glamour and polish that made her stand out from the other groovsters of that era.

I ♥ Your Style: Cher in the 70's (Option 1)

I've been sitting here trying to find a gentle way to describe the way Cher looks these days, and I'm not finding the words. In contrast though, I only have good things to say about her look in the 70's. She was a hippie but with a little extra dose of glamour and polish that made her stand out from the other groovsters of that era.

Top to Bottom Cher in 1975, Between 1965 & 1970, at home in the 70's, 1968, with Tina Sinatra in 1967, 1977, with Gregg Allman in 1977, 1974, wearing Sonny Bono's glasses in 1967.

My favorite looks for Spring: Diane Von Furstenberg

I was giddy at the end of DVF's Spring show. I knew she was working with a new designer and, having spoken with her a few days before, that she was very excited but nervous about the new direction her collection was taking. Even before her legendary runway walk at the end of the show, I knew everyone would love it. It was exactly how DVF would be dressing today if she were her own best client. It was the spirit of DVF as she dressed in the 70's but pared down and simplified to address how we all want to dress today. The sophisticated colors and easy shapes especially drew my attention. 

I ♥ Your Style: Alexa Chung in leopard

People always talk about leopard like it's a trend, but I consider it a classic. There is never a season when I am not in the mood to wear a bit of leopard. I used to look at Kate Moss for leopard inspiration, and she does rock a leopard coat like no one else, but recently Alexa Chung has been almost non-stop in her love of leopard on almost any item you can out on your body. I'm surprised we haven't seen her in leopard sunglasses yet! And she always gets it just right. To wear leopard in a chic way you almost have to think your outfit is a little too subdued, verging even on boring, and then you put the bit of leopard into the mix - a belt, pair of shoes, bag or hat - and suddenly poof! your whole outfit makes sense. The other way to approach leopard is to wear a big swath of it - a dress, coat or tunic - and then understate everything else - simple black pumps, shades and bag will do the trick. Like the rest of the fashion world, I'm really in awe of all of Alexa Chung's style statements but it's her love of leopard and how she wears it that really stands out for me.

My favorite looks for Spring: Phillip Lim

I'm on a clothes shopping hiatus at the moment (saving money to redecorate my house) so in order to have some sort of vicarious retail pleasure I'm going to share my most coveted spring looks with you. Today's favorite is Phillip Lim. I probably wear more of his clothes than any other designer. Reason being? They're simple enough that you don't get sick of them after a few months, the price is (relatively) right compared to other designers and he makes clothes for every aspect of my life - sleeping, work, the gym, the weekend, cocktails, evening. He even custom-made my outfit for the Met Ball last year. For Spring he ditched (most of) the decoration and just made beautifully designed, wearable clothes. I'm not a fashion critic, magazine editor or a retailer, so when I sit at a fashion show the only thing going through my head is, "What do I want to wear?" From Phillip, it's these three looks.

Snapshot: Muriel Brandolini

I'm not sure if anyone has more style than Muriel Brandolini. She's stylish in the way she looks and in the way she lives. She has chic clothes, the most amazing jewelry, incredible homes and she's a fantastic cook. The quality I admire in her most is the confidence she has in doing things differently, in breaking the rules. Case in point: the other day I was sitting in her kitchen watching her make a salad niçoise. She cut all the ingredients with scissors instead of a knife (she said it's easier that way), and then she put on rubber surgical gloves and tossed the salad with her hands. She said, "Food always tastes better when you touch it." She was right. It was delicious.

I Love Your Wedding Style: Audrey Hepburn

Two of my favorite wedding dresses ever were worn by the same woman: Audrey Hepburn. At her first wedding to Mel Ferrer in 1954 she wore a tea length Balmain dress with a stunning crown of roses around her head (I would copy the rose crown years later for the Met Ball). Her look was young, romantic and feminine - a true first time bride. Fifteen years later when she married Andrea Dotti, she was equally as chic in a 60's minidress and matching headscarf - but more grown up and subdued this time. I love looking at women in their wedding dresses - it's the ultimate expression of personal style. In fact, I'd like to write a book about wedding style. Stay tuned.....

Left to right Audrey Hepburn with Mel Ferrer (1954) and Andrea Dotti (1969)

My favorite looks for Spring: Calvin Klein

In a season where most designers did their best attempt at minimalism, Francisco Costa schooled them all with his confident and accomplished collection of precise and chic clothes at Calvin Klein. That said, I'm very specific about minimalism - I am not a conceptual dresser. I do better with classic clothes designed very, very simply than the more rigorous designs that minimalists - Francisco included - sometimes offer up. Francisco and I often serve as each other's date at fashion events and you can bet I'll bet showing up in one of these looks next time we step out together.