The City Sage

Office Daydreams with Interior Connector

My office is my couch. Or my kitchen table. Or a coffee shop. (Right now it's a Starbucks on Montana Ave. in Santa Monica.) But that doesn't stop me from fantasizing about the hopefully-not-too-distant future in which I have a real office, and thinking wistfully about how I would decorate the space. Lately I'm picturing midcentury glam: a strong yet still feminine statement.

I poked around the Interior Connector website and came up with a few must-have pieces for my dream workspace. Signature touches include plenty of right angles and clean lines; warm tones like brass and walnut; textiles in shades of mink, merlot, and midnight. A mid-afternoon break for chocolate-covered digestive biscuits would have to become de rigeur, wouldn't you agree?

Shopping Guide: Horse Drawing, Pewter Rhino, Missoni Pillows, Walnut Table, Walnut Midcentury Chair, Brass Table Lamp, Trellis Coffee Table. Images: 1, 2, 3, 4.

Outfit to Room: Stylist Jen Pinkston

I do so love a study in contrasts, don't you? Take, for example, these two images from the portfolio of fashion stylist Jen Pinkston (who we recently had the honor of working with at Rue. She's phenomenal.) Same model, similar pose, but each photo conveys such a different feeling--and I want to dive into both! Warm blushes and golds, rustic woods, I'd happily laze the weekend away up there...  

But down here, it's all about the action, about getting things done. Stark black and white, a punch of red. Rather than the restful, breezy atmosphere of the home, there's an air of controlled chaos. Tell me: Do you have your 'action' colors and your 'restful' colors? Or other visual cues you turn to when you want to create a specific mood for yourself? This is such subtle yet powerful stuff, isn't it?

Images: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

The Rundown: Alt Summit 2012

Firstly, let me apologize for being an absent blogger last Thursday and Friday. I was at Alt Summit, and the irony of a blogging conference is that the last thing anyone has time to do there is blog! But I promise to make up for those two missed days and then some--for as usual, the experience of Alt has injected me with an ever-greater vigor and passion for this community we have created!

First: the fun, frivolous stuff. Because for every serious moment at Alt, there was an equally lighthearted one. Take the Winter Wonderland bash on the first night. These photos from Moss + Isaac capture its sparkling effervescence so brilliantly. Ask five hundred stylish women to dress only in white? Give them silver cups of sorbet and mashed potatos in martini glasses? You've got yourself a party! 

But even had there been no parties, no sorbet 'n' 'taters, every second of Alt would have been priceless. To see old friends and colleagues in person--and to meet new ones--is a precious opportunity that leaves my heart pounding and my mind racing. The respect, admiration, and awe that I have for everyone who spoke, listened, and engaged at Alt? Let's just say I'm counting the days 'til next year!

P.S. Special mention goes to my fellow 'Kickstarting Your Next Move' panelists Lisa Congdon, Rena Tom, and Liz Stanley. As soon as there's video of that panel available, I'll be sure to share the link.

Get Dressed: Flare Out

I resisted the most recent iteration of flared pants for a long time. 'They'll pass,' I told myself. 'Remember wearing them in high school? Regretsville!' But my firm resolve slipped away like oil off a duckling's back when I tried on the Ali fit from J Brand. When worn with a sturdy pair of heels and an appropriately proprotioned top, their leg-legthening power is astronomical! 

I'm especially fond of the color on these babies. If pressed I'd call it cinnamon, and its 70's charm makes me feel like Mary Tyler Moore and Rhoda are going to come strolling around the corner to invite me out for fondu and macrame lessons. To avoid retro overkill, I add modern accessories with a bit of edge: a mens watch, a zipper bracelet that straight-up nods to punk influence.

As far as that 'appropriately proprotioned top', I go for a cropped silhouette with a bit of swing--this Mason by Michelle Mason trench does just fine thank you very much, and it fosters the intrepid girl reporter fantasies I like to entertain about myself. I'm curious to know, now: Have you jumped on the flared pants bandwagon? If yes, how do you wear 'em? Tell me!

Shopping guide: Pants, J Brand. Jacket, Mason by Michelle Mason. Bag, Coach. Necklace, Gorjana. Watch, Michael Kors. Bracelet, Jewelmint. Photos: Kelly Stonelake.    

The Rue Magazine January Issue Is Live!

It's heeeere! It feels like we barely pushed the last one out the door, and already another issue of Rue Magazine has arrived. (Actually, if it seems like a shorter length of time, that's because it is; we're now publishing every six weeks instead of every eight!) I'm beyond thrilled with this latest offering. We tried our hardest on so many levels, and I think we really nailed it.

One of the things that's important to us is showcasing fabulous interiors from all over the country--so we scouted homes not just in the usual urban centers (hello, NYC!) but also in Chicago, Charlotte and Seattle. We've got a DC shopping tour and a beautiful workspace in Minneapolis. Plus we couldn't resist toying with our focus on small spaces and doing a dollhouse photo shoot for the cover!   

Then there's the fashion piece, about which I'm especially excited. San Francisco-based photographer Chelsea Millunchick and stylist Lisa Moir put it together, with a behind-the-scenes video by Kara Brodgesell. This is my kind of winter wardrobe: textured, luxe, sultry, a bit deconstructed but still refined. It's the sartorial equivalent of cozy interior design. Now what are you waiting for? Go dive in!