The big day has arrived.  That’s right, ladies, it’s Fashion’s Night Out.  Still looking for something fabulous to do?  Lucky for you- I have just the thing.  StyleList and Saks have teamed up to give “window shopping” a whole new meaning. StyleList has taken over Saks Fifth Avenue’s corner window showcasing Fashion Week coverage brought to you exclusively by StyleList.  From backstage at the shows to all the hottest parties, you’ll see everything!  A live Twitter feed will also keep you up to date with all of Fashion Week’s breaking news.

Tonight (September 8th) from 6pm-11pm you can go check out the windows and also grab yourself a StyleList scratch off card with a chance to win $250 to start your fall shopping at Saks.   While perusing the racks at Saks you may have your photo snapped and featured on StyleList’s interactive window display!  So, be sure to dress to impress and don’t forget to use hashtag #StylelistATSaks while tweeting all your FNO commentary and your photo will be uploaded to the windows as well. While your at it- be sure to enter for a chance to win a 10,000 Fall Shopping Spree from Saks (stylelist.com/saks).  Happy holidays!

xx,
WhyDid

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I think I don’t mind moving so much (I’ve done it three times this year alone) because I get to redecorate each time and every space brings new inspiration. In the last apartment I lived in with my fiance in Los Angeles, we had a lot of room to work with. We moved into a 1300+ square foot newly constructed loft space. This place was an artist’s dream.

A funny thing happens when two very creative people merge their belongings. My fiance has very, very simple modern taste. I, on the other hand, love anything that is shiny. I would live in a disco ball if I could. Luckily, mixing simple clean lines with more ornate accessories makes for a very “man meets woman” aesthetic. Our two incredibly different styles balanced each other to create one especially cool space (and one especially cool couple).

Anyone who knows me knows there are two things you will always find in my home: a chandelier (multiple when applicable) and some type of wallpaper. Because I inherited a flaming orange couch in this merger, it was imperative to keep the rest of the decor simple. I opted for black and white and allowed said couch to be the focal point. Some of our favorite pieces in the house were the vintage porcelain cat and dog statues that we found, authentic tractor gears, and “surgery table.” We also swapped out standard bulbs for filament bulbs to give more ambience.

Before we moved out about a month and a half ago, we were sure to capture our first home together on film. (Yes, you probably saw our apartment on Khloe and Lamar. Yes, Lamar Odom was our neighbor).

Want to create this look in your own home? Of course you do! Start with a clean simple palette. Pick one bold piece and use neutral (and quirky) accessories. The most important part of decorating is making the space look like “you.” And yes, it is possible for both parts of a couple to get their way.

1. Jonathan Adler Menagerie Collection Cat (Tall), $120, 2. Modern Orange Leather Couch, $1,859, 3. West Elm Totem Pillow Cover, $29, 4. Restoration Hardware Tractor Wheel Gear, $189, 5. Restoration Hardware Venetian Beaded Leaner Mirror, $449-750, 6. Theresa Rialto Black and Clear Chandelier, $648

xx,

WhyDid

***Note: It didn’t occur to me that the mannequin in those photos is a bit strange because I got so used to him being there.  You may remember him from this little video.  He moved in and never left.

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If someone had told me a year ago what my life would be like today, I would have laughed in his face.

My Wednesday nights a year ago consisted of me sashaying out of my West Village apartment (navigating those cobblestones in heels) over to SL or Avenue or the likes to meet my friends.

While I do miss shimmying to loud music while sipping on firelit bottles of champagne, staying in, making dinner, and working on the couch with my fiance also isn’t bad.  Unfortunately, there’s no need for five inch heels or sequin minis, but they remain in my closet as memories, if nothing else.

When we found out we’d be moving out of a busy “city” to the suburbs, we were a bit hesitant.  Neither of us had lived outside of a major city for years.  Now, my dad (the civil engineer) will point out that I don’t actually live in the suburbs, but rather an “urban sprawl.”  Either way, it’s a definite change of pace.  Rather than streets lined with boutiques and restaurants, our streets are stretches of strip malls as far as the eye can see.

It’s not all bad though.  Rather than being bored out of my mind like I’d imagined, I’ve actually found that I spend far less time watching TV and surfing the web.  Some of that can be accredited to a new job and my desire to create the perfect “nest.”  The other part is in thanks to my newfound hobby.  That’s right. I got a hobby.  Gardening.

When we looked at our house, I knew I wanted to live there because it is A). awesome and B). surrounded by amazing gardens.  Every single room in the house opens up to flowers and greens.  It’s my own little “Secret Garden.”  So, I quickly found that I enjoyed being outside and gardening.  It sounds absolutely ridiculous, even to me.  I thought it had to do with watching too many re-runs of Golden Girls, but my mom attributes it to my English blood.  The only “secret garden” I had known until now was the Soho House rooftop.

But alas, this is a great and very therapeutic hobby.  If I feel like picking at something or letting off a little steam, rather than bother my fiance or the dog, I just head outside and rip out some weeds.  Now, before you get all gung-ho and head out to the yard, here’s a few things you should know:

1. Here’s rule number one.  If you don’t like bugs (like abhor them) you will not like gardening.  There’s a lot of dirt and a lot of bugs (and worms).  No getting around that.  Sorry.
2. Your nails and gardening do not really go together.  If you value your fingernails more than your flowerbeds, quit now.  Even with those gloves, the earth will wreak havoc on your perfectly polished fingers.
3. Do a little research.  Figure out what grows in your climate.  Either ask someone at the flower/plant store or just read the handy little tags on the plants.  They will tell you everything you need to know.
4. Your significant other will support your hobby more if you plant things that produce useful bi-products, ie., fruit, vegetables, mint (for mojitos, obviously).
5. Wear sunscreen.  You might not realize it, but you are getting beaten down on by UV rays.  I can speak from experience.  I have a sweet tank top tan/burn line. So hot.

Now let’s take a gander at one of the flower beds I’ve been working on:

Okay, yes, I understand you were expecting an HGTV Yard Crashers type of reveal, but let’s talk again in a couple of months and after a few gallons of Miracle Grow.  I have planted my mom’s favorite flowers (Impatients), some African Daises, Heather, two species of bluberry plants (apparently they must be cross pollinated), a mini tangerine tree, and a cherry tree. Impressed? I can’t take all the credit though.

My faithful assistant had a paw (or four) in this.

xx,

WhyDid

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Oh, why hello there.  Sorry, suburbia has sucked me in like a black hole and as much as I’m sure you’ve enjoyed staring at my mug for the last two days, I’m back.  With lots of content and lots to say.  Speaking of faces- what the heck has Lady Gaga done to hers?

It appears Ms. Gaga has had some “body modification” done.  While this is concerning to many (it’s actually hard for me to look at), she insists that it’s totally normal.  In an interview with Harpers Bazaar, she explains that her “horns” have always been there and claims she was- you guessed it – born this way.  It just so happens these puppies are just sprouting out now.

Also in the interview, Lady Gaga proclaimed she has never, nor would she ever, get plastic surgery, insisting that it promotes insecurity.  Um?  I don’t even know how to respond to that.  While I appreciate Lady’s encouragement to young people who are trying to find themselves, I think it is hypocritical for almost anyone in Hollywood or show business to start pointing fingers or talking morals.  When have you ever seen a photo of Gaga in a pair of sweats with a bare face and a ponytail?  I get it.  Her costumes, makeup, and theatrics are all a part of her “marketing” but isn’t hiding behind a facade kind of insecure?  She is constantly playing a character.  She is well spoken, but her answers are calculated.  I hardly call that “being yourself.”  She’s incredibly devoted to her fans, but wouldn’t showing them the “real” Gaga help them connect to her even more?

In regards to plastic surgery, I tend to agree.  Too much snipping, tweaking, and tucking is never a good thing.  However, this all goes back to the impossibly high beauty standards of the “celebrity.”  Young girls everywhere see photos of perfectly retouched models, movies with women who make a living off of their looks, and pop stars who are manufactured to be practically perfect.  How in the world could they ever live up to that?  No one bothers to show them the behind the scenes footage or the raw photos.

Are any of us really “born this way” or are we all hiding behind some type of facade?

xx,

WhyDid

photo via Vancouver Sun

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About a five hour drive north of Los Angeles is a magical place called Monterey.  A laid back beach town complete with its very own (small scale) Fishmerman’s Wharf.  You may not have any good reason to go there, but luckily, I do.  My father has lived there for the past ten years and even when I lived clear across the country in New York, I still managed to get there to visit.  Being there always feels like a vacation.  Not the type of vacation that calls for tropical cocktails with umbrellas on the beach and a teeny bikini, but you always leave feeling relaxed and rejuvenated.  The sheer beauty of Monterey is enough to leave you speechless.

This past weekend, we once again made the trek and here are some snapshots of our journey.

xx,

WhyDid

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