Lanvin Madison Avenue Opens Today!

> If you follow me on Twitter, then you know I've been stalking the progress of Lanvin store on Madison Avenue. Yesterday I noticed mannequins in the window and asked the nice French girl out front when they were going to open. I was rewarded with the words I was longing to hear, "tomorrow afternoon." Well, tomorrow is today and if anyone needs me, I will be at Lanvin shopping until I drop! While I am away, you can enjoy this sneak peak from WWD. A tout à l'heure!

Lanvin

815 Madison Avenue

between 68th and 69th Streets

New York, NY 10065

www.lanvin.com

Photos fromn WWD.com

Ralph Lauren for the Ladies

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The biggest buzz this weekend was about the new Ralph Lauren boutique that opened on Madison Avenue.  Located across the street from his already famous Rhinelander mansion for men, this one is devoted to women and home.  Unlike most retailers who hire the "it architect" of the moment to create a modern store, Ralph Lauren chose to look to the past and to complement the Rhinelander mansion. 

The Beaux Arts style limestone beauty was a collaboration between Weddle Gilmore and architect Thomas Hut of HS2 Architecture with a nod to McKim, Mead & White. It harkens back to the age of Edith Wharton and looks rather grand.

According to The New York Times, Ruth Brown, a widow, hired McKim, Mead & White in 1893 to design a house at the southwest corner of Madison Avenue at 72nd Street (above).  She never moved into the mansion and in 1895 it was sold to Alva Vanderbilt. Work on Gertrude Rhinelander Waldo's "fanciful chateau" on the southeast corner was completed in 1897.  It was bought by Ralph Lauren for his store in 1986. 

As you can see, there was nothing chic about the building that replaced the original McKim, Mead & White mansion in the 1950's.  It later became another Ralph Lauren boutique which was torn down to make way for this chic boutique.

Even though the building is dedicated to Ralph Lauren, there is something about the black and white central staircase with its mirrored walls that reminds me of Coco Chanel.  I think she too would have also enjoyed this space.

The whole building is absolutely gorgeous and I highly recommend a visit.  Right now, the Ralph Lauren Home boutique occupies the fourth floor but I hear it will be moved to the adjacent brownstone under construction.  I'll be sure to keep you posted.  Happy Shopping!

Ralph Lauren

888 Madison Avenue

at 72nd Street

New York, NY 10021

212-606-2100

Photos from New York magazine, Vogue, Luxist and The New York Times

I Heart Hamish!

> I have been stalking the newsstand for weeks trying to find the latest issue of Australian Vogue Living and was excited to finally find it Saturday. I was even more excited to open up and find a profile of Hamish Bowles' New York apartment! I think I might have actually squealed! It's just as spectacular as his Paris flat and is seriously making me consider painting my apartment pink. I actually know where Hamish lives and after seeing these photos, I am tempted to camp out in front of his building until he lets me see it in person. But I'm too afraid of being banned from Vogue forever though so I won't actually do it. What I like best is that although it's chock full of furniture and accessories, it doesn't actually look cluttered. It has a wonderfully collected look because it was all lovingly collected during Hamish's travels.

The entrance table by Karl Springer is topped with lots of pink books and Fez hats. I love how Hamish has propped up art against the mirror and tucked in postcards and photos into the frame.

Hamish visits Tangier, Morocco every summer which is the reason behind the bedazzled Fez hats from eBay.

The living mixes lots of colors with antiques with two plastic ghost chairs to prefection. The sofa is from Sister Parish Design and the Louis XV chair is upholstered in purple tweed. I don't remember if they have this shade purple but Holland & Sherry is my favorite place to find soft tweeds.

At first I thought this was the entry table restyled but turns out that Hamish owns two Karl Springer tables and two plaster cornucopia lamps. He's also hung a mirror above both and a drawing over both mirrors. This drawing happens to be Truman Capote by René Bouché and was the drawing from the original dust jacket of Breakfast at Tiffany's.

Everything in Hamish's apartment has a back story or a fabulous provenance.

This 1940's French bowl was found at the Paris flea market. Looks like a Jeremiah Goodman watercolor interior is framed behind it too.

I thought this view of the living room from Australian Vogue Living looked a little different from the photo of it from The World of Interiors below until I realized it must be another fireplace in the apartment since it's not flanked by bookcases.

But I am still wondering if the apartment was previously painted lavender or just looks like it in this older photo. Either way, I like both the pink and purple!

I feel like getting out my magnafying glass to check out Hamish's vast book collection! I already spot a few David Hicks books!

You can notice better in this photo that the shelves are metal which Hamish calls "a butch slightly ironic solution to my massive book collection." Hamish also collects vintage clothing which is kept in a warehouse in Queens. I can only imagine how fabulous that must be!

The guest bedroom houses more books and a Chippendale secretary that was given to Hamish from Eleanor Lambert. It's amazing how all the different patterns look perfectly at home together in this room too!

I had to include this photo of Hamish in the room so you can see that the wallcovering looks more pale aqua or robin's egg than it does in the previous photo.

The master bedroom combines a darker plum colored rice paper wallpaper with a bright green lamp and chair cushion. The fabric on it looks like the Tony Duquette malachite print.

Even Hamish's closet is full of color in the form of ribbon belts and ties. I really love this apartment and it definitely made the March/April 2010 issue of Australian Vogue Living worth the wait!

Chic in New York: Cire Trudon

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After I mentioned that Cire Trudon was opening in New York, I was invited to tour the space and learn more about the historic candle company. The inspiration for the first boutique outside of France was the Galerie des Glaces of Versailles.  Of course, this is a bit of toned down version of Versailles with natural reclaimed wood floors and cabinets made by an Amish carpenter in Pennsylvania. The paint colors and details are just as gorgeous as their signature candles.  It was interesting to learn how eco-friendly the candles are as well.  They are paraffin free and all natural which means the glasses, made by artisans from Vinci in Italy, won't become black like other candles.  The colored tapers are scent free and won't drip which makes them perfect for dinner parties.  Cire Trudon has also just introduced room sprays that look like vintage perfume bottles that are pretty enough to be left out in the open.  The attention detail and craftsmanship of their store and products is unparalleled.  They will soon also open a second shop in Paris at the site of the original store as well as in Versailles and London.  Happy Shopping!

Cire Trudon

54 Bond Street at Bowery

New York, NY 10012

212-677-1200

12:00-8:00pm 7 days week

www.ciretrudon.com

Owner Ramdane Touhami

Photos by Heather Clawson for Habitually Chic