Less Is (Most Definitely) More...

photos via Anne-Claire Rohe via the NYT

I loved this piece in T Magazine about designer Elizabeth Suzann's small collection of clean-lined, sculptural basics... I'm especially smitten with this quote from the article:

“Our brand isn’t about minimalism, although I do love minimal aesthetics,” she says. “It’s about not cluttering your life with things you won’t use.”

Truth be told, I'm a little smitten with the whole Elizabeth Suzann situation: the gorgeous, moody lookbook; the small studio in Nashville where each item is sewn by hand; the 20th-century artist muses (Eva Hesse and Louise Bourgeois) that inspire her designs; the desire to create lasting things so women will be compelled to buy fewer (but better) things -- all of it.

Well played Elizabeth. Well played.

Girl Crush: Clare Waight Keller

photo via Harpers Bazaar

photo via how to spend it


Whattya say we go into the weekend with a little "girl crush" action courtesy of the lovely, immensely talented and inspiring Clare Waight Keller?

Mom of three (twins, Amelia and Charlotte, 11, and Harrison, three) and creative director of beloved French fashion house Chloé, Clare is crush-worthy for her seemingly expert juggling powers alone (twins + a three-year old + a totally bad ass career...sigh). But what put her over the top for me was her work style and commitment to women. (See the following via the NYT.)

In the year since Ms. Waight Keller, formerly the designer of Pringle of Scotland, became the creative director at Chloé, many visitors have noted the remarkable calmness that radiates from her studio. That, and the fact that roughly 80 percent of the hundreds of employees at the company are women, which is a point of pride at a house that has projected an aura of femininity for 60 years.

I am so lucky to have an amazing, supportive, inspiring husband and father. The men in my life are beyond stellar. But I only have sisters; I only have daughters; I rely on my own mother and my tribe of soul sisters like I rely on air. I am a woman's woman through and through.

And, friends, as I get, ahem, older, I'm all about the calm. My 20s (and sadly a good chunk of my 30s) were tinged with a bit more intensity than I'd like to admit -- let's just say I had a hard time letting things go. So this current decade is about attempting to bring the calm (albeit a passionate calm, but a calm nonetheless).

Thanks Clare for the reminder.

Here's to all the calm (and not so calm) beautiful, amazing, awe-inspiring, supportive, inspiring women in my life. You know who you are.

xoxoox

Calder...

I'm smitten with Calder,  Amanda Blake's line of artist-inspired (think: Nakashima and Arp) understated, made-to-last cotton basics.

But I'm especially loving her look books. The art direction and styling is perfection... No surprise given that Collection 2 was shot by Blakes's cousin-in-law Sophia Coppola in her elegant, minimal (totally. freaking. perfect.) New York apartment.

And then there's collection 3 shot by Patrick Fraser in Jason Schwartzman and Brady Cunningham's killer mid-century abode. I'm not gonna lie friends, this situation is inducing some serious house envy... it makes me want to rip everything out of my house and totally start over.

Thinking it make more sense to just by the black dress in that second image below.

Thanks Amanda...

Girl Crush(es): Claudia Dey & Heidi Sopinka

image via boots and pine

photo by Kristin Sjaarda for Flare


There really is nothing more magical, more inspiring and rewarding than getting to work alongside one of my best friends. Even on the craziest days, knowing that she's got my back just sort of diffuses the insanity. So Claudia Dey and Heidi Sopinka, the best friends (and immensely creative, totally bad ass, effortlessly cool ladies) behind fashion line Horses are a collective girl crush especially near and dear to my heart.

The mothers/writers/designers count Patti Smith, David Bowie, Bianca Jagger, Francoise Hardy, and Blondie among their icons; have collectively worked has a helicopter pilot, playwright, and cook in lumber camps; and have been described (by Flare writer Miranda Purves) as having "impeccable, decisive taste, self-styling genius, can-do fingers, and the work ethic of 16th-century Calvinists."

Somehow "the work ethic of  16th-century Calvinists" is what really sealed the deal for me.

Totally crush-worthy, yes?

Girl Crush: Amy Mellen

details from Amy's office via One King's Lane

via Calvin Klein Home

Truth be told, I'm don't think it's possible for me to not have a crush on Amy Mellen. The wickedly talented creative director of Calvin Klein Home (not to mention lover of neutrals/pottery thrower/rock scavenger/obsessive vignette maker) is officially a bad ass. Serious girl crush situation friends.

But here's the thing. In marveling over all the cool, interesting, and admirable things about Mellen, I realized that my cadre of real-life kindred spirits/soul sisters (you know who you are) are just as inspiring and utterly girl crush worth.

So, in addition to making me want to create more/edit more/explore more/unplug more/collect more damn rocks (hey I'll take any excuse), without even realizing it, Mellen also made me realize how lucky I am.

And that one's the best of all, yes?