Dennis Hopper: 1936-2010

Dennis Hopper died yesterday after a long battle with prostate cancer. It's really sad especially given the personal drama that he was dealing with in his last living months. I had the pleasure of working with him on my very first G-Star Raw show in 2008 and got to spend a few days with him drinking tea at the Gramercy Park Hotel and dressing him in what he called, "those fancy jeans." He was extremely interesting to talk to, very nice, and an absolute icon.

Instead of waxing on poetically, here are some badass pictures that lay tribute to a very badass life. RIP Dennis - you will be missed.

Rebel Without a Cause

Easy Rider

Apocalypse Now

Apocalypse Now

Hoosiers

Blue Velvet

Black Market Badass

One of my absolute favorite things about living in NYC is that if you spend an evening wandering around long enough, chances are you will stumble upon something amazing.

Last night, David and I were roaming around Williamsburg looking for cocktails and a rooftop bar when we saw people having drinks on what looked to be a private roof deck. Insane real estate envy had already started bubbling to the surface. Seriously. I was almost knee deep in a sulk something along the lines of "why-the-french-do-they-have-such-a-sick-apartment-maybe-they-are-looking-for-two-new-roommates..." When I hear Dave say, "Um. That's a restaurant you loser." And my love affair with Mercat Negre began....

It's the tapas version of the bat signal.

Mercat Negre is a spin off of the tapas restaurant Mercat on Bond Street. The executive chef is Oriol Sala Colomer (dreadlocked and looking very comfortable in the 'Burg) who used to work under Ferran Adria at El Bulli. I guess with El Bulli on your resume, you would expect some real culinary acrobatics, but in this instance the food was just really good. Nothing crazy or foamy - just delish. We had Musclos (mussels sauteed in sofrito topped with crispy, shoestring potatoes), Pollastre (chicken croquettes PERFECTLY cooked), and white sangria (white wine, cognac, strawberries, and mint). Yum.

The restaurant is beautiful inside: dark wood floors, exposed brick, high ceilings complete with wood beams, and the cutest private party lair (seats 20) that overlooks the entire restaurant. It's very medieval. If you think I'm not having my birthday dinner there you are sadly mistaken.

The aforementioned private room. Love decrepit-chic.

Mercat Negre's dining room

But the bright shining star of this whole place is the rooftop. It's very mellow, airy, and big enough to allow some real shenanigans to go down. I almost don't want to tell people how great it is in effort to keep it my little secret.

Heaven.

David + Sangria

Last night everyone sitting around us was from Spain, talking LOUDLY, chain smoking, and drinking Estrella Damm. If you closed your eyes you could have been sitting on Las Ramblas. If that's not a sign of approval - I don't know what is.

Mercat Negre: 65 Grand Street (at Wythe), Brooklyn, NY.

Restaurant interior photos courtesy of Grub Street.

For the Grown and Sexy

Do you hear that sound? Don't worry - it's just my head exploding....

Christian Audigier has released a line of condoms. Sigh. Actually, let me re-phrase that - Christian Audigier has released an ENTIRE line of sex products called (conveniently enough) Sexline. Condoms, lubricant, and sex toys, oh my! Perfection would be if the condoms had tattoo graphics on them.

I have a feeling that if you're having sex and a guy whips one of these out, one of two things are happening here: a) his name is The Situation and b) you are so drunk that you are past the point of no return. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200. You have poor taste in men and allowed yourself to be aroused by a guy walking around with this in his pocket. You have only yourself to blame.

In all fairness, God Bless Audigier for at least putting up hurdles to try and keep his douchebag army from procreating....

Exhibit A - Jon Gosselin.

Exhibit B - JWoww

Exhibit C - Brit Brit

It's a jungle out there.

http://audigiercondoms.com

Oh, This Old Thing?

I'm a total t-shirt girl. I LOVE glamming it up, but to be honest - there is nothing hotter (or more comfy) than a great worn in tee, skinnies, and huge heels.

So in the middle of my morning's fashion-blog-crawl, I found a new LA brand called Unknown Soldier. It was love at first sight. Truly. DJ Mathieu Schreyer is switching careers from spinning at Bar Marmont to indie fashion designer. Unknown Soldier is his unisex collection of super-soft, gritty tees are perfect for the humid NYC summer.

Each season, the soft washed, screen-printed tees pay homage to good ideas and those who have them. This summer Schreyer's theme is international and eclectic music: re-worked archive visuals, vintage concert graphics, and old-school NYC posters. Check out the fierceness below:

Stolen directly from the website, "In life there are three kinds of people: people who make things happen, people who see things happen, and people who wonder what the f*** just happened." Don't wonder why the f*** you don't own one - Unknown Soldier is on sale at Opening Ceremony and Nom de Guerre.

Galliano Does Shanghai

John Galliano's debut of Dior's Cruise 2011 Collection in Shanghai was amazing. Galliano was inspired by French cinema's Nouvelle Vague (aka the French New Wave of the '50's and '60's) and the collection was full of gorgeous colors and touches of masculinity.

I love the pops of sailor stripes, the murder-mystery trench coats, and the Barbarella hair - but the real highlight were the couture gowns that closed the show. They are gorgeous. Somewhere in LA right now, Rachel Zoe is clamoring to get them on the red carpet.

Love this entire look.

Cruise Barbie. The styling is perfection.

The show coincides with the opening of Dior's Shanghai flagship and you KNOW the show drew a massive crowd of Chinese fashionistas. I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall - those girls are super fashion forward.

Disco Intern

Word on the street (and by the street, I mean Vogue UK) is that Lady Gaga has applied for an internship at Philip Treacy. Apparently, after they worked together on several headdresses to accompany her elaborate stage outfits, she was inspired and wanted to work with the company.

The Lobster Headpiece a la Philip Treacy

Suuuure. Let's be honest here - there is no way that the Gags has time for an internship and or has a desire to join the un-paid masses. Besides, there are about 2000 design students who would KILL for the chance to intern with such a well-known milliner AND they probably have a lot more to contribute. I mean, wearing outlandish outfits (thanks in part to her stylist, Nicola Formachetti) doesn't necessarily mean a legit fashion career is her next move.

When I first moved to NYC, I was an intern at People's Revolution and worked with Kelly Cutrone. Interning is NOT glamorous. At all. You receive samples, label endless envelopes, stuff invitations, and organize showrooms. Call me crazy, but I don't see Gagaloo organizing hat samples and preparing editor pulls in between selling out arena shows and touring the world. Who knows? Maybe I am naive regarding her fierce abilities.

Channeling Isabella Blow in another Treacy creation.

On the other hand, I understand the desire (from both sides) for a collaboration. Philip Treacy makes crazy, avant-garde hats and Gaga only wears crazy, avante-garde head pieces. So then call it a capsule collection, because calling it an internship doesn't make it sound any less press-whorish. Doesn't everyone remember Sean Avery interning at Vogue? Exactly.

Sorry for calling you out Gaga. You know I love you girl, hot like Mexico.

Carrie On

There was a flurry of excitement in certain groups - shoe lovers, hopeless romantics, very well groomed men with a deep seated love of Liza - when the first Sex and the City 2 trailer was first released. And, unfortunately, there is also a new topic for the homely masses to pick apart. I am so over the whining, hating, bitching, and moaning surrounding SATC 2. All of these hags are complaining that the movie won't be sexy enough, relevant enough, that it's too opulent for a city drudged in a recession, they're ruining the happily ever after from the first movie, etc.

Loving them in Abu Dhabi.

Relax. It's a MOVIE, you jerks, an escape from the banality of day to day life. I don't know what it is, but there is something about SATC 2 that either makes people very happy or very angry. It's interesting. The movie isn't changing society - it's a reflection of it. And it's not propaganda: girls drink cocktails, talk (endlessly) about their relationships, and are into fierce clothes. This is not headline news here folks. And speaking of clothes, WHO CARES how much was spent on the wardrobe? First of all, I know for a fact that a lot of the looks were loans. Second of all, the fashion aspect is so intertwined into the storyline that it is absolutely necessary. You don't see people complaining about the cost of the Iron Man armor do you? Exactly.

J'Adore Carrie Bradshaw.

Do you all take yourself sooo seriously that you are really in no need of a SATC fix? I mean, have you forgotten how fun it is to see what Carrie wears? And who doesn't want to see how flaming and fabulous Anthony and Stanford's wedding is going to be? Or find out how this Aidan storyline is going to play out? I, for one, am very excited to see the sequel. It's been two years since the last movie and I can't wait for two hours of fashion porn. Especially Patricia Field's take on Mid-Eastern chic. Can't wait.

Something I CAN do without? The Miley Cyrus cameo. Will this girl just fade away into obscurity already?

Sex and the City 2 is released on May 27th. I'm excited. I don't want the story line of these four girls to fade into the sunset just yet....

Lipstick Jungle

If you love Tom Ford like I love Tom Ford - this might have you jumping for joy. For only $45, you (yes, you) can have Tom Ford all over your lips. Literally.

Tom Ford (with the help of his beauty backer, Estee Lauder) has created a lipstick wardrobe composed of 12 colors. They run the color gamut starting with a barely nude hue and ending with a bold, juicy blackberry. Granted the cost is a bit prohibitive but it sounds like they might be worth every penny. The ingredient list includes soja seed extract, Brazilian muru muru butter, and chamomila flower oil to make the lipstick creamy and kissable.

And don't even get me started on the lipstick case. It is ivory, gold, and oozing with luxury. I have a feeling that case is going to become the lipstick equivalent of red soled Louboutin's. Either way I am RUNNING to Bergdorf's when they become available on June 1st.

I Mean....Betty? What?

As so many of you know, I have an absolute Golden Girls obsession. Betty White is one of the last girls standing and I LOVE HER. All it took was my first St. Olaf story and she had my heart. Blanche was too skanky, Dorothy looked like a tranny, and Sophia was like 1008 years old. Anyway...

You know my thoughts on Betty's SNL performance the other night (BEYOND) and it looks like Facebook might be about to flex its muscles again with the help of IMeanWhat.com. Monday morning the I Mean...What?!? gossip girls - Abe and Ryan - started the Facebook group Betty White Must Host 2010 Emmys and it's quickly building momentum. Getting 2,700 people to jump on your bandwagon in a week is no small feat. Jimmy Fallon is already slated to host but you can't tell me that Betty the Bombshell wouldn't be the perfect sidekick. It's genius.

Dreaming of Rose Nylund.

Let's be honest - the Emmys are the red headed step-child of all televised award shows. As much as I love Doogie, I fell asleep during last year's Emmys. They are long, boring, and always hosted by a predictable celebrity telling predictable jokes. It's time to shake things up a bit.

Facebook. Betty White Must Host 2010 Emmys. You know you want to.

Braise the Lord

Is it just me or does everything seem really food-crazed lately? I'm not sure if it's because we've recently started working on the Wine & Food Fest or maybe living with David always has things feeling kinda food-ish...I'm not sure. Either way, everywhere I turn lately people are talking about something dinner related. I mean, I'm NOT complaining. Half of the reason I have a gym membership is because I love really good food. Loves it.

One of the very best things about dating an adorable chef is that I can unapologetically admit that I am awful cook. I'm not being modest here - I'm a terrible cook with no real desire to get any better. Cooking is just not fun. It's a total process and unfortunately my end result usually ends up in the trash. I'm a great stirrer, chopper, and grocery shopper. That's it.

Basically.

But oddly (or decadently) I have a total thing for cookbooks. One of my move-outside-of-Manhattan fantasies is this dream of having a gorgeous kitchen with built-in bookshelves devoted entirely to an amazing cookbook collection. And don't even get me started on vintage aprons!! Ahhhh. They are so fabulous and June Cleaver chic. Here are some of my faves:

I'll be the first to admit that it's odd having the normally food-averse fashion industry crank out a cookbook. But regardless, I think it's fabulous. And where else are you going to find Derek Lam's yellowtail crudo recipe?

Thomas Keller's cookbooks are known for being beautiful but the Ad Hoc cookbook is BEYOND. Who knew that a flaky biscuit could photograph so well? All 368 pages of this thing are so stunning that you almost don't want to cook out of it - you just want it to sit somewhere and have it look pretty. It is the trophy wife of all cookbooks.

After looking through this cookbook a few times, it is definitely not for the faint of heart. Some of the recipes are very daunting and the Ramen broth recipe is long and shockingly complicated. BUT the photos are hipster fabulous and I'm kind of obsessed with the faux-wood cover.

These vintage-inspired aprons are from Anthropologie - I ADORE them.

The Lady's Apron - $32

Spanish Omelet Apron - $32

Bon Appetit kiddos.

mom.com

My mom is fabulous - she is literally 1000 times cooler than your mom. There's nothing you can do about it, it is just a fact of life.

The Mother Ship is ALWAYS there for me - she listens to me prattle on about nonsense, she makes the best banana bread in the history of America, and has become one of my closest friends. I actually love hanging out with her - something hilarious always happens.

She also is the first one to tell me when I'm being a pain in the ass (which I am happy to say is not nearly as often as it used to be). High school was a bit dicey as I had a need to...assert myself. By any means necessary. Back then, I would have thrown rocks at me if I were her.

Basically she is amazing. I really can never say thank you often enough, because it just wouldn't cut it. She is shockingly selfless, beautiful, and has shown our entire family what it means to be strong. I love her to bits and am really glad that I lucked out in landing her ovaries and NOT Dina Lohan's.

Honestly. Thanks Mom.

Thank You For Being A Friend

Rose Nylund NAILED Saturday Night Live last night. What. A. Show. Betty White's ratings on last night's SNL were the highest the show has received in 18 months. The NY Times said that "all the 35 year old show needed for a little facelift was an 88 year old woman," and it's totally true.

I know everyone plays the "SNL was so much better a few years ago" game - but last night was on par with old school Chevy Chase/Chris Farley/Will Ferrell episodes. I think that all SNL hosts should be decided via Facebook petitions from now on. I don't often watch SNL, but when I do, I'd like to be spared the lame nights of Jessica Alba and Zach Braff. Yuck.

The one thing I was disappointed in was that there wasn't a Golden Girls skit or at the VERY LEAST a St. Olaf story... It would have been genius. Either way listening to her talk about her muffin on Delicious Dish and the return of Sally O'Malley's kicks and shimmies had me doubled over laughing.

Wizard of ASS.

I hope that Betty White has an open invitation to host anytime she wants.

Who The F*** Approved This?

Please let me preface this by saying that I love LA. LOVE!! I love it so much that David and I are actually planning on moving to LA at the end of the year. But then this LA Times Magazine/Kobe Bryant photo shoot happened...and now I am concerned about living in a city where styling like this is allowed, approved, and printed to a mass audience. Yikes.

From a stylist's perspective, James Valeri in this case, dressing Kobe can't be too hard. He's sexy and in great shape - you just need to ensure you have long enough pants on set. And apparently...a big enough pilgrim hat?

In all seriousness, I am sure that the ideas fueling this disaster came from an interesting place. "Let's show off Kobe in an unconventional manner." "Let's see how fashion forward we can go and push the boundaries of Kobe's masculinity." "Let's toss him in a deep v-neck Rick Owens tee, wrap a gauzy scarf around his head, and add black makeup to his already dark skin just to make sure he looks good and embalmed."

LA, my love, stick with what you're good at - plastic surgery, shitty traffic, porn, and Double-Doubles with cheese. I don't think styling is in the cards.

All photos courtesy of LA Times Magazine