Eugenio Recuenco

Awhile back I did a post about fashion photographer, Tim Walker. Thanks to a fellow blogger who pointed out that I inadvertently included some photos by Eugenio Recuenco. Oops.

Recuenco is famous photographer from Madrid, Spain. His works includes film, advertising, and print media. In Spain he shoots exclusively for Vogue. His amazing work captures your imagination and every single picture tells a story.

Recuenco's personal style is known to be called ”cinematographic” and “pictorial"

These photos above could be right out of the 1920's. He captures the Art Deco era beautifully.

Note the photo on the left imitating Tamara de Limpicka's famous painting, Girl in a Green Dress. What brilliant work.

Eugenio Recuenco's work is decadent, don't you agree? You can check out his extensive portfolio here.

photos from eugeniorecuenco.com

Happy 4th!

photo from vintageantiqueclassics.com

Happy Birthday USA!

Wishing you all a happy and safe 4th of July!


Celebrate!

Cocktails Anyone?

Doing some entertaining this summer? What about using some snazzy vintage glass swizzle sticks to give your drinks "a swanky punch of style"?

above: vintage glass swizzle sticks from the famous El Morocco in Manhattan, available here

Special thanks to Lizzie Garrett at Design Watcher for including Paris Hotel Boutique in her recent article in Bon Appetit magazine! Pick up the August issue on newsstands now or check out the story here.

photos courtesy of Bon Appetit magazine

Balustrade & Bitters is Here!

Today is the official launch of the "much anticipated" site, Balustrade & Bitters. Friends Coleen Rider from Coleen & Co., Megan Arquette from Beach Bungalow 8, and other talents have collaborated on this amazing site. This online symposium features stories of new & vintage finds, the hottest new places, interviews, events, interior design and more!

I'm thrilled to see the finished product. You gals are amazing! Check out Balustrade & Bitters here...

Divine Chocolat!

I don't know what I love more about Maison-Bouche chocolat, the packaging or the flavors. I discovered this Bay Area company over a year ago in a local shop. What struck me first was the French-looking colorful packaging.

Maison-Bouche was the name given to the kitchen services of the 18th Century French Court. It included the kitchen services for the king, his family and the selected aristocracy accorded the privilege of dining with the royal family. The Maison-Bouche was supplied by the extensive gardens at Versailles, in addition to other royal gardens and those growers sanctioned by the Court.

These tasty chocolates are as good as they look. In flavors such as Fleur de Sel (crunchy sea salt from Brittany), Pamplemousse Rose, Basilic au Poivre, Fleur d'Oranger, and more. These flavorful bars come in Noir and Lait.

They also carry yummy Fleur de Sel (salted) caramels...

...and Langues de Chats, "cat tongue" chocolat!

You can find Maison Bouche at these retail locations or on their website, here.

photos from maisonbouche.com

My Latest Obsession: MOSCOT Eyewear

We all know what a challenge it is to find the perfect eyeglasses. For those of us that have to wear prescriptions, it gets tricky and expensive; sometimes overwhelming to find something that tickles your fancy.

Was I excited to discover the amazing, MOSCOT. Their eyewear and eyecare has been a New York City institution for nearly 100 years.

Great grandfather, patriarch, Hyman Moscot (above), arrived from Eastern Europe via Ellis Island in 1899 and began selling ready-made eyeglasses from a pushcart on Orchard Street on Manhattan’s famed Lower East Side. He eventually opened up his first retail space in 1915.

Nearly 100 years later, the company still continues to be run by Hyman's great grandchildren.

The newly-made frames are based on styles from the MOSCOT archives from the 1930's-1970's, retaining all of the authenticity of the original frame style right down to real glass lenses in their sunglasses, traditional hardware, and lens colors that precisely duplicate the true old school colors first fabricated by the company in the 1940's. Wow.

(left to right): Woody Allen, John Lennon, Henry Kissinger, Buddy Holly, Andy Warhol & Sigmund Freud

It's amazing how glasses have been signatures for such famous people. The vintage-inspired MOSCOT Originals collection is a nod to the classic looks of decades past.

Take for instance, the "Nebb"(above), a chunky, rectangular Henry Kissinger-esque frame

Or the "Miltzen" (above), named after a family uncle. First introduced in the 1930's, this is the frame with the longest lineage. Think Andy Warhol, John Lennon, Harry Truman and Gandhi, to name a few...

The "Lemtosh" (above) is a rounder, nerdier frame that served as the calling card for generations of creative, thoughtful, free-spirited intellectuals and artistés — from Buddy Holly to Truman Capote to Johnny Depp.

MOSCOT doesn't only carry "geek chic" eyewear. There are 1,000's of styles to choose from, such as these "Lynnie" glasses (above), for women only.

Son of Hyman, Sol Moscot and his son, Joel. Love that this is still family run.

These are the frames I'm purchasing (above). They are called "Vilda", from the MOSCOT original collection. I'm getting tortoise frames with brown lenses. I think they will look great as sunglasses. Pure FDR style, which is kind of fun on a woman.

The other great thing about MOSCOT is even if you aren't able to visit one of their New York shops in person, you can actually try on their glasses by picking a face on their web site that compliments your face shape and hair color. You select the frame style and color, and walla!, see what it would look like on you.

MOSCOT'S website is chock-filled with goodies. They have a "Moscot Furnishings" department with items such as vintage postcards, photos, t-shirts and more...

MOSCOT postcard book. Nine postcards per package depict street scenes from Manhattan’s historic Lower East Side, and the MOSCOT family, during the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s.

Grandma Sylvia's eco-friendly tote bag...

And of course, I'm buying some of these chamois (above) with photos of whole MOSCOT clan including, Great Grandpa Hyman, Grandpa Sol, Grandma Sylvia and Kenny and Harvey’s Mom and Dad, Teddy and Joel – even Kenny and Dr. Harvey. Love these!

They also have a music and pharmacy department, as well as a section of helpful tips on purchasing eyewear.

MOSCAT'S nod to the past is reflected in their fourth generation family members still providing the quality and integrity of eyewear & service, just like their great grandfather Hyman did so many years ago. AND, these are made in the USA!

So, don't walk...run over to MOSCOT and check out their fabulous website! In addition to Moscot's New York locations, they have specialty stores across the US, Europe, Asia and Canada.

MOSCOT New York

118 Orchard Street
New York, NY 10002
212.477.3796

69 West 14th Street
New York, NY 10011
212.647.1550

all photos except the celebrity collage from moscot.com

R.I.P.

A stunning week of losses. As children in the 1970's, Farrah Fawcett and Ed McMahon were on our television sets...

Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5's albums played on our record players. The Jackson 5 Greatest Hits (above) released in 1971 was my first album. Michael filled so many of our lives with amazing music.

We will all remember these icons and what they've contributed to each of us, and wish their families our deepest sympathy. A week of sadness for sure.