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All posts in in memoriam

I’m happy to announce that the Kips Bay Decorator Show House is returning to New York for the first time since 2019. The address at 337 Riverside Drive at West 106th Street which is known as “The River Mansion,” sits on a corner high point beside Riverside Park with incredible views of the Hudson River. The Kips […]

I was very saddened to hear that Sir John Richardson died today at the age of 95. I just received an advance copy of his new book John Richardson: At Home last week and I was hoping to meet him at a signing or attend a speaking engagement. His loss is sad because his level of […]

I was saddened to hear of the death of legendary French fashion designer Hubert de Givenchy this past weekend at the age of 91. The world has not only lost an immense talent but I remarkable human being full of elegance and grace. I came across a wonderful interview he gave to How to Spend […]

Musician John Mayer posted this list of Principles of Adult Behavior on Instagram today. It was written by John Perry Barrow, a lyricist for the Grateful Dead, in 1977 on his 30th birthday.  He passed away yesterday but his well thought out list will live on.

I just learned the sad news that artist Jeremiah Goodman passed away at home this morning. I was lucky enough to meet Jeremiah for a profile on the blog and to photograph him for my book. Below is part of what I wrote after meeting him for the first time. It was really interesting to […]

I can’t believe it’s been 20 years since Diana, Princess of Wales, was killed in a car crash in Paris. I can remember hearing the news in Boston like it was yesterday. She was such a kind and caring person that it would be interesting to have her here today to guide us all through […]

Sam Shepard’s Style

08 . 01 . 17

American playwright, author, screenwriter, actor, and director Sam Shepard passed away last week. He grew up in the Midwest but moved to New York in the 1960’s where he hung out with Patti Smith and Robert Maplethorpe and went on tour with Bob Dylan. He wrote 44 plays including Buried Child but most people probably […]

Remembering Oscar

10 . 21 . 14

Every single person who commented on the passing of  Oscar de la Renta described him as a true gentleman. Perhaps this was due to his early training from Cristóbal Balenciaga and at Lanvin in Paris or his years heading Balmain. He was one of the last greats from a different time but he never forgot where he came from […]

“Fashion is about dressing according to what’s fashionable. Style is more about being yourself.” – Oscar de la Renta (July 22, 1932 – October 20, 2014)   

“Find me a man who’s interesting enough to have dinner with and I’ll be happy.” – Lauren Bacall (1924-2014) 

O Captain, My Captain

08 . 12 . 14

“…you must strive to find your own voice. Because the longer you wait to begin, the less likely you are to find it at all. Thoreau said, “Most men lead lives of quiet desperation.” Don’t be resigned to that. Break out!” – John Keating played by Robin Williams (1951-2014) in Dead Poets Society

The fashion world was saddened this morning to learn of the suicide of designer L’Wren Scott. Everyone agrees that she was as lovely and talented as she was tall.  She started her career as a model and then transitioned to styling before debuting her own designs. Her form hugging fashions were popular among celebrities and […]

The good thing about getting older is that everyone you know is doing something fabulous with their life.  The bad thing is that people you know and admire start passing away unexpectedly.  Today I learned of the death of one of my favorite London based interiors designers, David Collins. To say he was talented would […]

Dearest Annabel

06 . 07 . 13

We all know the saying that life is short but you are never really reminded of it until someone you know passes away suddenly.  The fashion world was devastated by the news this morning that stylist Annabel Tollman died in her sleep Wednesday night of a blood clot.  It’s easy to think that because she […]

I was saddened to hear that legendary French interior designer Andrée Putman passed away in Paris Saturday at the age of 87.  She might be best know here in New York for designing the Morgans Hotel for Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager but she also designed many spaces and products in her famous minimalist style. I posted […]

Yesterday ended on a very sad note for many people around the world.  It was announced that the writer Nora Ephron passed away. I think The Los Angeles Times described her perfectly as, “A rare author and screenwriter whose works appealed to highbrow readers and mainstream moviegoers.” I grew up watching her films Sleepless in Seattle, […]

The sad news came yesterday that interior designer Albert Hadley died at his sister’s home in Nashville, Tennessee at the age of 91. The world has lost not only one of the most important decorators in history but a lovely gentleman. Mr. Hadley worked across the street from one of the design firms that I […]