Spring Into Action for Pastels: Kenzo tableware collection

Lilac, pale pink, powder blue, lemon and mint green are sweeping into stores like a haze
of wild flowers across a spring meadow. And while this color story will reach full bloom
come spring, it’s not to early to start thinking about the pastel palette and how it can be
used best when setting a spring table.



If you think that Easter egg colors are too fussy or old- fashioned for a tablesetting, you
only have to look at the current shades - - - pinks, purples, greens and all kinds of
pastels are in vogue. But it's not a bright pink or a lime green. It's a refined pink, or a
sherbet green. It’s soothing. Any will add punch to a variety of tablesetings and design
styles.



Pastels work well in combination with other pastels. Blend goldenrod with deep blue,
bottle green with pale pink, or turquoise with terra cotta. Black acts as a terrific neutral
with pastel colors, just as it works wonders in your wardrobe. Metallic accents mix well
with soft pastels.



Pastels can be soothing and cool on any type of table and more versatile than you might
expect. A more contemporary table can get a new edgy look with pastels because you can
select stronger, solid shades and add some with prints in retro patterns. A great example
of this look is evident in the Kenzo tableware collection. This unique and diverse collection
of Kenzo china illustrates the artistry and vision of the designer. He has chosen ateliers in
France and Italy to create this unique collection of Kenzo plates and dinnerware.



Sources:
Images - The Knot, Brides, Martha Stewart and Better, Homes and Gardens
Tableware - Kenzo, available at Michael C. Fina

Dining by Designer: Monique Lhuillier's new tableware collection

Monique Lhuillier will walk down the aisle next year - - - the Bloomingdale's
aisle that is. Lhuillier's designs will soon be moving from the runway into
home. With tableware, stemware, barware and giftware inspired by Monique's
best selling bridal gowns and fabrics from her evening gowns, believe me
this collection will appeal to the sophisticated woman!


(above: Atelier Blanc crystal giftware)

Monique Lhuillier will be introduced in a exclusive Bloomingdale's launch in
January 2008. I've seen the collection and it is a combination of luxury and glamour
with traditional values. I especially like the Atelier Blanc crystal barware with
its allover cut thumbprint designs, the wine glasses feel great to the touch.


(above: Tableware shown is Femme Fatale - features a raised natural
pattern in warm pearlescent gray)

Look for the national ad to roll-out in Martha Stewart's wedding magazine. The tag
line is "Life is short. Use the good china". I couldn't agree more, these pieces are
elegant for the most dressed up occasions and perfectly suited for everyday living.

Dining by Designer: Marc Jacobs is pushing petals

Move over, sunflowers. Daisies are the cheerful new floral motif
appearing on all sorts of tableware accessories, from dinner plates
to tea pots. Flower power these days has more to do with the
current interest in nature and gardening and the daisies all-natural
air of innocence has a very modern appeal.



(above: teacup, $32.50; mini jug, $100.00; saucer, $15.00; covered
sugar, $130.00; coffee cup and saucer; beverage pot, $250.00; all Marc
Jacobs, Daisy Blanc)

The daisy's flat simplicity makes it a popular contemporary
graphic motif and who better than Marc Jacobs to make this
beloved country flower (used in his new dinnerware pattern -
Daisy Blanc), sweet and funky at the same time! His crystal flower
pots are fabulous and would look great filled with daisies. Of all
the flowers daisy flowers are the flowers, which can be used for
decorating any part of the house. Daisy flower arrangements can
be used for decorating your dining tables or your coffee tables.


(above: Glass flowers, $165.00; Flower pot vase, small, medium, large,
$150.00, $275.00, $350.00, Clare Collection by Marc Jacobs)

The elegance and simplicity of Marc Jacobs new china dinnerware,
Daisy Blanc, is sure to add a touch of high fashion to your tabletop.
This pattern is a variation of this past seasons, hot color
trend, yellow. It is a color that looks good on the table any season.
Clear, buttery shades make it perfect for a spring or summer table.
Mustard, gold and saffron can warm up your table in the fall.


(above: Fall 2007 images, New York Magazine)

Let Marc Jacob's Fall 2007 collection inspire your table's color
combination! Personally, I'm loving yellow and gray. Look
for a post soon on how to incorporate both colors on the table.

No Bones about it: tableware items with skulls are hot during Halloween and after

Halloween today means more than handing out candy and taking children trick-or- treating, carving a pumpkin, dressing up in costumes and visits to haunted houses. It also means decorating. More than any other holiday, Halloween brings out our whimsical side. With these skull and cross bone accessories you’ll be able to indulge your creativity – while keeping your table looking chic and beautiful.


(above: skull cross bone dinnerware, set of 4, from $39.80, Z Gallerie; 9oz bowl ghost skull, $20.00 Circa Ceramics; The Skull Little Porcelain plates, $175.00, Barneys; skull coaster, iomoi)

Skulls have symbolized many things over the centuries, from Halloween, of course, to Mexico’s Day of the Dead. But skulls have since become a year-round look, moving from Alexander McQueen’s skull scarf (which was introduced back in Spring 2003) to home furnishings and tabletop.


(l to r: Skull and Bones appetizer plates, $35.00 Horchow; Skull and Crossbone plate, Sarah Cihat, Clio Home)

I know my "truly trendy" friends have been over this trend for more than a year now and I’m beginning to wonder if the trend will ever end! Not everyone is a fan of the skull and cross bones trend in everything from dresses to shoes; but I think an unexpected skull on the table can add a bit of humor.


(above: skull teacup and saucer, skull teapot and skull flatware, all Murval, Aldea Home; skull and crossbones DOF set, $295.00, Ralph Lauren Home; skull candle, $8.00, Pottery Barn).

Even after Halloween, one of two of these skull accessories give a fun rocker chic vibe on the table, as long as you don’t go overboard. Yes, the symbol will forever be associated with a tough-girl, punk vibe; but who doesn't want a dash of that every once in a while? For great ideas and inspiration on how to use skulls on your table, make sure to stop by Hostess with the Mostess and check out her new Halloween party themes; they are fantastic - - - my personal favorite is "Ghoul's Night"!


(above: "new" candle collection, Joya + Sarah Cihat; "Ghoul's Night" theme, Hostess with Mostess).

Brides: You're a shoe in!

If you're a soon-to-be bride like myself, I'm sure you're on the search for shoes that will offer comfort and style on your wedding day. I've got just the solution... In honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, during the 14th Annual Shoes on Sale® event, QVC will offer more than 100,000 pairs of designer and brand-name shoes — all at half the suggested retail price. Shoes in the previous "Designer Salon" have included brands like Jimmy Choo, Christian Louboutin, Michael Kors, Cole Haan, Lulu Guinness, Stuart Weitzman and Marc Jacobs.

It started as a simple shoe sale.

Twelve years later, Shoes on Sale has become a critical part of the massive fight against breast cancer. This years events promises to be the biggest and best Shoes on Sale to date. When this year's event ends, it is expected that the total contribution from Shoes on Sale to the fight against breast cancer will top $25 million. As large as that figure is, it is impossible to put a value on the amount of awareness raised or guess the number of people that have become more informed about the disease because of Shoes on Sale.

Tune in to QVC on Wednesday, October 17, 2007.

Neiman Marcus steps up to the fashion plate

"The cake's on Neiman Marcus" or it will be when you serve on these fashionable dessert plates.

In 1907, Herbert Marcus, his sister, Carrie Marcus Neiman, and her husband, A.L. Neiman, all under the age of 30, started Neiman Marcus with one simple but ambitious idea: to bring the luxury, ready-to-wear fashions of New York and Paris to Dallas.

Neiman Marcus is celebrating 100 years and in true NM fashion they will be providing its customers with only the best high-end fashion by releasing exclusive designs from some of the world’s most celebrated fashion houses - - - handbags by Judith Leiber, shoes by Giuseppe Zanotti and clothes by Monique Lhuillier.

For those not concerned about fitting into a designer label, you can at least eat on one. To me, food is like fashion anyway, with the right accessories, it can look pretty chic. This isn't to say that a luscious dessert can't make a statement on its own. But serving up fare on these gorgeous plates takes it to another level. Exclusively for Neiman Marcus, French designer, Gien, has created these fashionable dessert plates that can give your dessert even more appeal. When they're not showing off your newest recipe, they can make a fashion statement in your kitchen niche.

(above: Fashion Plates, set of 4, Gien, $100.00, Neiman Marcus).

Home Sweet Atticus Home

There's no place like home and there's nothing like Atticus Home. With a desire to build a socially responsible business around their shared love for good design and entertaining, Atticus Lyon and Marcela Sheridan have developed a line of distinctively designed tabletop accessories.

(l to r): Bamboo bowl, $135.00, Vivre; Large modern bowl, $110.00, Bloomingdale's

Fusing sleek, modern design with traditonal craftsmanship and techniques honed to perfection over centuries, Atticus trays and vessels easily complement any decor, from classical to contemporary. In the picture above, East meets West: The bamboo bowl is steeped in tradition yet touched with the modern element of black lacquered. The ebonized wood bowl is sculptural and functional, it would bring sophistication and contemporary style to any table.

(above): White lacquer and sand-cast aluminum rectangle tray, $250.00, Vivre

The rectangle tray and the large bowl below are from the Palm Beach collection. It's 60's inspired and the luxury is in the clean lines and sculptural shape.

(l to r): Palm beach large bowl, $300.00, Vivre; shimmer bud vase, $35.00, Bloomingdales

The Atticus line is designed to stimulate the senses with surprising combinations of texture and form. Cool metals find harmony with warm, exotic woods and supple. Each piece is handmade using plantation-harvested wood and other luxurious materials.

(l to r): Bamboo bowls, $95.00 - $120.00; Bamboo salad servers, $57.00 - $65.00; Bloomingdales

My favorite collection is the Bamboo collection. Serene and traditonal, the rich grain of plantation-raised wood just gleams with a deep rosewood finish. I love the way the wood is complemented by the sand-cast aluminum handles.


(l to r): Shimmer round stand, $190.00 ; The Bamboo tray is $100.00; Bloomingdales

(l to r): Shimmer Tray, $98.00; Shimmer Wine Chiller by Atticus, $215.00; Bloomingdale's

(l to r): Shimmer diamond vases, $35.00; Bloomingdale's; Wave dinnerware, $125.00, Vivre

The simplicity of the pieces creates the perfect backdrop for entertaining. There's no place like Atticus Home.

MacBeth Collection is a bucket of fun!

Though her métier is designing and producing containers, Margaret Mary Josephs and her creations are anything but contained. With an infectious sense of fashion and need to steer the lackluster home accessories category in a new direction, Margaret Josephs launched The MacBeth Collection with an opening mantra of Decorate your life.I loved visiting this booth during the Gift Fair - - - it was loaded with color and overflowing with energy. Margaret Josephs designs each season with a fashion eye in terms of what colors and patterns are going to help make a room's decor stand out. And stand out is what they do.

The Macbeth Collection is full of beautiful vases, wastebaskets, tissue box covers, buckets and odds and ends – in short, gifts and whatever else is under the sun. Margaret has put her individual stamp on these galvanized metal items, via the whimsical designs she decoupages on the metal. It is this uniqueness that has made The MacBeth Collection a must-have item.


This March, Margaret Mary Joseph flew to Chicago to accept one of Country Living magazine’s Entrepreneur of the Year awards. And, how this for a coup? Margaret’s yellow and white polka-dot flower pitcher is featured on the spring cover of Martha Stewart’s Blueprint Magazine.

After triple-digit growth and distribution in more than 3,500 stores nation-wide, what’s next for MacBeth? Disposable plates, napkins, placemats and other pieces for entertaining. Can't wait!

Pillow Talk: Ankasa is more than fluff

Ankasa created embroidery for fashion’s top houses; they are known for their exquisite embellishments for Oscar de la Renta, Escada and Vera Wang, to name a few.

It comes at no surprise that they have been able to implement the same precision to detail from the world of fashion, into a luxurious home décor collection.


While at the gift fair I was able to view first hand their elegant pillows and bedding. Ankasa showcases elaborately executed handiwork that ornaments in uncommon style. The collection debuting next season is all about glamour. Honing in on their obvious fashion roots, the collection features crystal-encrusted pillows and the hot color combination of pink and black, which serves as a stylized counterpoint to the more masculine-influenced look of the croc-stamped leather pillow.

Rethink Pink: Can these rooms be turned into a tablesetting?

Forget little girls' rooms: Pink is a color for any area of the house.
Hot pink, soft pink and every shade in between are in vogue. Pink is showing up in accent pillows, wall paper, dishes and even bathroom doors. (above images: Oprah Magazine)


The pop behind pink:
In addition to carnations, prom dresses and lingerie, it harkens to the personal downside of the tough economy (pink slip), a classic cartoon ("The Pink Panther"), a pop star (Pink), a movie title (Pretty in Pink) or a television character (Pinky Tuscadero). (above images: Jean-Louis Coquet, Paris Noir, 5pc place setting, $325.00, Michael C. Fina; powder room at Provence Soho Restaurant).



The color’s strength:
Two words of advance for fashion mavens this season: Think pink.
Apparently, designers put on rose-colored glasses to design their current spring and summer lines, since that's what we're now seeing in stores. (above image l to r: Oprah magazine;Philippe Starck Baccarat black gobblets, Neiman Marcus).

Part of the color's strength seems to lie in its malleability. While it's often perceived as soft and girlie, it can take on a sexy slant when paired with black.


On the table:
Adding a bit of unexpected color can be a nice surprise for your guests. I recommend that people who are thinking about adding pink to their table shouldn't overdo it initially. A safe bet is to introduce it as an accent color. Pink can be a great color for a table napkin placed next to a black and white tableware. A dining table could include pink roses in a black vase or mix and match and add a pink charger or a pink salad/dessert plate with your table setting.
(images above row 1: Oprah Magazine, Ombrages dinner plate, Raynaud, $75.00, Bloomingdale's); row 2: Domino magazine, Uliveto Serving Bowl, $275.00, Nambe, Bloomingdale's).


The perfect touch:
Use pink however you feel comfortable. Hot pink and soft pink send very different messages. Hot pink, like red, conveys flirtiness or sensual passion. The hotter pinks are more high-energy colors, and are best used on tables where people congregate for a lively party.
Conversely, soft pinks are associated with innocence and relaxation; they are better used during quieter occasions like a small intimate dinner. (images above row 1: Zvizz by Orrefors vase, $105.00, Bloomingdale's; row 2: Marimekko Ruusupuu coffee mug, $9.50, Rosewood tea towel, $10.50, finnstyle).


No matter what shade you choose, pink is flattering to any tableware and will casts a warm glow on almost any table. (images above row 1: Fitz and Floyd tea set; row 2: Ladies Who Lunch, $40.00, Rosanna).

Beyond that, pink is just fun!