Product Obsession: Friendship Bracelets

July 06, 2011

Who can forget those long hot summer days making and trading bracelets in return for eternal friendship? The colorful and intricately woven bracelets are thankfully back in a very big...and chic way.     They first hit the scene back in the sizzling 70?s--their symbolism of friendship, unity and love were an obvious hit with hippies and quickly adopted by every young girl with access to cotton yarn and a...

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The Table: Community Class

June 29, 2011

After Belgian bakery chain Le Pain Quotidien got Mumbai?s hip set to break bread together ? everyone wants a chair at their community tables ? a new restaurant/bar found a way to get us to have a collective chardonnay. After Belgian bakery chain Le Pain Quotidien got Mumbai?s hip set to break bread together ? everyone wants a chair at their community tables ? a new restaurant/bar found a way...

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Behind the Label: Simone Harouche

June 29, 2011

From the start of her life, it was clear that Simone Harouche would find herself entrenched in the fashion industry. Surrounded by a family of designers, Simone learned about the inner workings of the world at a young age. She?s touched countless parts of the fashion world. Now, Simone is transferring her knowledge of fashion into the design world by creating a limited edition collection of one of a kind...

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L-atitude X John Robshaw Indian Bazaar

June 23, 2011

Last night's L-atitude event celebrating textile designer John Robshaw was a dreamy trip to Imperial New Delhi filled with luxury bedding, decorative pillows, tabletop linens and more.

Last night's L-atitude event celebrating textile designer John Robshaw was a dreamy trip to Imperial New Delhi filled with luxury bedding, decorative pillows, tabletop linens and more.  Establishing an "inner" scared space evoking the energy of sacred ceremony, John aims to spin the prayer wheels all the way into your home.  Gauging from the fine energy in his gorgeous New York showroom last night, he succeeds with aplomb.

 

 

 

Things to know about John and his master craft:

 

A fine arts graduate of Pratt, Robshaw specialized in traditional block printing in China.  Catching the Asia bug, he sourced his natural indigo dye in India, falling in love with local artisan textile traditions.

 

Working alongside artisans in villages of Gujarat and Rajasthan, India, John crafted court batiks in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, and his block printed sarongs and vegetable-dyed ikats in Thailand.

 

For his signature look he used his own ?painterly aesthetic? employing traditional methods for an updated spin on the exotic. He now works in workshops around India, travelling several months each year to oversee production and experiment hands-on.

 

John is a consultant for ?Aid to Artisans? a nonprofit community dedicated to creating economic opportunities for craftspeople in developing countries.  Most recently he travelled to Vietnam, Cambodia, Zimbabwe, and Bolivia to stay involved.  http://www.aidtoartisans.org/

 

Best of all, he has an online souk selling items he has collected including antique textiles and rare objects daring you to time travel with him.

 

http://johnrobshaw.com

L-atitude Favorite: The Dutch

June 17, 2011

Andrew Carmellini?s latest venture promises to be your new-season favorite restaurant: the kind of place you?ll want to while away warm summer evenings, seated in an open, airy space, indulging in an epicurean?s take on American comfort food. The refreshingly light wooden interior will allow sunshine in all season long, and keep spirits bright after dark. An oyster bar will make you feel like you?ve escaped to the Hamptons without having to make the traffic-ridden trip.

Carmellini has wowed diners at the likes of Locanda Verde and Caf? Boulud ? so we know he?s an expert on some of the world?s finest dishes from Italy and France. The Dutch is a departure into American food, but not the pigeonholed menu you?re thinking ? this goes beyond hamburgers and fried chicken.

 

Armed with an international culinary background, Carmellini sees American food as the melting pot America itself is. He believes the scope can include dishes like miso soup and pierogies, dishes that may have originated elsewhere but have been cooked stateside for decades. The menu, which will continue to change with new offerings and special focuses on particular international influences, promises to excite ? think of your favorite, familiar dishes reinvented with not-so-familiar but oh-so-delicious and complex flavors. Carmellini includes undeniable crowd-pleasers like smoked black cod in his rotation, but he adds his own unique vision with spices and seasonings like lemongrass and ancho chilies.

As for the space, the two airy rooms and oyster bar are perfect for any occasion, from dates to larger groups of friends. There is a reservation-only back room, as well as a private dining room for pre-booked dinners. Just as Carmellini?s menu is the perfect blend of comfort and adventure, his restaurant strikes a balance between openly welcoming and luxurious.

Global Looks: Connecticut Chic

June 10, 2011

Crisp and clean, the Connecticut prep is celebrated as an American ideal first known as a Gibson Girl - healthy, unruffled, untouchable, wielding her tennis racket with unassailable confidence. Known for their independence and vigor, East Coast ladies still have sporty allure, with a feminine twist.

Crisp and clean, the Connecticut prep is celebrated as an American ideal first known as a Gibson Girl - healthy, unruffled, untouchable, wielding her tennis racket with unassailable confidence.  Known for their independence and vigor, East Coast ladies still have sporty allure, with a feminine twist.

BEHIND THE LABEL: SOPHIA EDSTRAND OF SOPHIA 203

June 09, 2011

Named for Pantone?s Fushcia #203 to show her love of vibrant hues, Swedish designer Sophia Edstrand?s line, Sophia 203, embraces creativity, color and craftsmanship. An education in Paris and time spent working with Marie-Helene de Taillac primed Edstrand with design and production expertise, while time in Jaipur awakened the designer?s vision for her pieces that are bright and lively with color, butterflies, hearts, stars and flowers. The handcrafted aspect of...

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CITY SECRETS: MAD HATTER TEA PARTY, NEW YORK CITY

June 08, 2011

Though the psychedelic Cheshire Cat may remain in Wonderland, those with an appreciation for all things Alice related can join the in trippy fun thanks to the 2nd Annual Massive Mad Hatter Tea Party.

Though the psychedelic Cheshire Cat may remain in Wonderland, those with an appreciation for all things Alice related can join the in trippy fun thanks to the 2^nd Annual Massive Mad Hatter Tea Party. The first day of August in 2010 welcomed the first iteration of the celebration, complete with ?splendiferous? hats, over the top costumes, copious amounts of tea, and musical performances by Raya Brass Band. So successful it was, that Alice in Wonderland supporters are set to brush off their decorative toppers for a second tea party to toast to Lewis Carroll?s imagination! Seeing as New Yorkers are wont to go all out for events, it?s clear this festivity will have all the elements of last year and more. Revelers embodied all things Alice, from the hookah-smoking caterpillar to the distinguishable Queen of Hearts with her pursed lips, causing passersby to do double takes, as if they fell down the rabbit hole into another world.  Don?t be late for this year?s tea party!

Beach Bound

June 03, 2011

Ready to hit the beach? After juicing, fasting, yoga and pilates, it's time to relax and enjoy. We've rounded up my favorite beach looks to put you in the mood. A mix of sporty, sexy and rad, you'll be cool and comfy while turning heads with your fierce style.

Ready to hit the beach?  After juicing, fasting, yoga and pilates, it's time to relax and enjoy.  We've rounded up my favorite beach looks to put you in the mood.   A mix of sporty, sexy and rad, you'll be cool and comfy while turning heads with your fierce style.  

 

Shop Beach Chic Style on L-atitude here.

Turkish Beaches We Love

May 30, 2011

The temperature is heating up, my clothes are loosening up, and the sun is shining strong and long. Here is a round up of great Turkish beaches, they make for a spectacular summer destination.

HELLO SUMMER

 

The temperature is heating up, my clothes are loosening up, and the sun is shining strong and long. Here is a round up of great Turkish beaches, they make for a spectacular summer destination.

 

First up is the Butterfly Valley; it really is a valley of butterflies! There are 80 different species in the area, the most popular being the exotic ?Tiger Butterfly?.  I prefer this preserve when I want pristine tranquility; it instantly refreshes with vibrant, clean air, the sea, and lush green foliage.  Both unique and extraordinary in the Mediterranean Region, it lies in the foothills of Baba Mountain and can only be reached by sea. One of natures finest treasures with free yoga, meditation and art classes available to all.

 

My second paradise to recommend is ?l? Deniz selected ?The Most Beautiful Beach of the World? in 2006. ?l? Deniz is a picturesque resort area, especially the main hillside town of Belcek?z, which has crystal clear water, and a long shingle beach curving away from the town promenade to a calm blue lagoon.  In the same area as the Butterfly Valley (Mu?la- Fethiye) you can definitely swing  a double header.  Best of all, ?l? Deniz is the white-hot center of paragliding so while sunbathing, watch colorful parachutes in the sky or be adventurous and try parachuting your self.

 

The last retreat is my personal favorite where I go every summer, called ?e?me.  Surrounded by the waters of the Aegean Sea, it lies 45 minutes west of Izmir in Turkey. Sea, nightlife and events make ?e?me irresistible for an amazing holiday. Il?ca and Ala?at? are ?must see? places in ?e?me.   With its proximity to the city, it is a quick escape to paradise.  Aside from gorgeous turquoise sea, many chic delicious restaurants, fun nightlife, fashion events and beach clubs, it is the highlight of my summer. If you want a social and active holiday, ?e?me is the beach for you.

 

For more information and beach locations visit: http://www.turkeytourism.com