A Rare and Irreverent Bird.

I have always been amused by the concept of 'Muse'.  Something about being a muse seems enchanted, adventurous and very fun.   I love finding new muses, they offer new insight and help you discover new parts of yourself.  My newest muse is a self-confessed geriatric starlet, Iris Apfel.  I love Iris, she is a much needed breath of fresh air. Lets inhale, shall we. 

Iris Apfel, has been taking the museum circuit by storm, with her recherché sense of style.   Like so many respectable style muses Apfel believes that having great personal style is based on finding and knowing yourself.  A good sense of self, is essential to discovering what you love, what you hate, and not giving a damn about what anyone thinks of your pink leopard pancho.

Apfel started out as an interior decorator, she and her husband later established Old World Weavers;  a well respected textile reproduction company.  In her pursuit for exquisite textiles she travelled through Europe, the Mediterranean and North Africa, she says, "I did fall madly in love with the Middle East because my taste go to the exotic." Her big bold pieces have distinguished her aesthetic, and made her an authentocrat.  Her postmodernist perspective is just a delicious hodgepodge.  

What I love about Apfel is she doesn't abuse fashion.  She isn't trying to show everyone how much money she has or show people how important she is.  According to her, "I just mix and put things together the way the spirit moves me."  For her it's about self-expression and freedom, and I think that those elements get lost today.  Lots of people just buy the label, they don't buy because of "I can't live without these shoes" love.  Too preoccupied with "luxury" and "status" to tap into their own sensibilities and be their themselves.  

Furthermore, Lady Apfel is having fun! People take fashion way too seriously.    I completely agree with Apfel when she says, "There's a sad lack of glamour in the world today," Apfel mourns. "And there's absolutely no fantasy," well said, Iris.  Where is the imagination?  Where is the excitement for the eyes? Too afraid to make a mistake?  Part of the excitement in getting dressed, is taking a risk, being a maverick!  What makes Apfel most muse worthy is she's fearless.  Be a maverick and one day if you're lucky, you'll be a muse. 

Iris is one of the OGs of real style, I love her--you will too! 

Go Grand or Go Home.

The Oscars get a yawn but my favorite dresses don't. Here they are:

          #4  Carey is very sharp and very bold. The earrings were a very smart choice.

  

#3  Jennifer channels the 3D of Avatar. Fan-friggin-tastic!

 #2 And Venus-like Vera emerges out of a mollusk. Botticelli is dead, but now he's gone to heaven.

 

#1    And the winner is Zoe Saldana! Grand and gorgeois!

 

Abre los ojos!

I don't think real beauty is obvious.  I always think being interesting is beautiful.  The obvious Balmain and Lanvin and Dior are great; no really Elbaz and Galliano are nothing short of design luminaries.  But living in New York fabulous wears are everywhere, you really can see a homeless man with a wicked piece on--the juxtaposition is just delicious.  So it's no surprise that I am completely obsessed with the turbans of India; that typically New York City cab drives wear.  I love turbans, headdresses, hats, all sorts of head embellishments tickle my fancy.  The Sunnis & Shiites turban in particular always reminds me of royalty -- a very chic crown.  But it's not only Sunnis and Shiites that wear fabulous religious/cultural garments.   The fellas at the Vatican are very stylish, did you know the Pope wears red Prada shoes?  Gorgeous for God, sounds fantastic! Furthermore pastors & priests' robes, which are made of silks and satins in royal blues and deep purples are quite grand.  But the monks of Tibet take the cake.  Their garbs ruby reds and sensational citrines that make the eyes dance. 
My eyes attract to things (and people) that are bold and fearless, ethnic prints and lavish embellishments.  Fashion is used and abused by those who want to prove how important, rich, and fabulous they are.  But what those people fail to realize is real style is conceived, in the everydayness of real life.  Art imitates life.