The City Sage

Get Dressed: Pattern Play

I've posted my outfits here on The City Sage from time to time, and one of my goals for this new year is to share my wardrobe with you on a more regular basis. I have a closet full of clothes that I love, but because I work from home they almost never see the light of day! So I'm thrilled to have spent time with photographer Kelly Stonelake to capture some of the looks I'm especially fond of lately.

I'm detail-oriented in everything I do, and my personal style is no exception. It's the little things that get me: a notch-back collar on a blazer, the laser-cut flap of a cross-body bag, a pair of suede boots with subtly embellished fringe. Plus I love to play with the unexpected; who knew the black and white polka dots of my new Kelly Wearstler scarf would mix so well with these patterned Rag & Bone jeans?  

Of course, it's not all an intellectual excercise. A general rule of thumb? If you happen across a tree swing and your outfit prevents you from hopping on and having a go, you shouldn't be wearing it in the first place! (How cool is this? Someone has installed these swings all around San Francisco and they're pure, epic fun!) Tell me: what are your rules for dressing?

Photos: Kelly Stonelake. Shopping Guide: Scarf courtesy of Kelly Wearstler. Blazer, Theyskens Theory. Jeans, Rag & Bone. Bag, 3.1 Phillip Lim at Feature Boutique. Boots, Joie. 

Chock Full of Ideas: Martha Stewart Living January 2012

Have you picked up the latest issue of Martha Stewart Living? If the answer is no, then you need to run--don't walk--to the newstand and snap this baby up. I know I say it every time I blog about this magazine, but it keeps getting better and better! The January offering is jam-packed with interiors eye-candy, DIY's I actually want to do, recipes I can't wait to try...it's so YUM!

Maybe it's that I've caught the resolution bug, but as I flip through the pages I am caught by how many of these ideas I'd like to implement to make my daily life more smooth and enjoyable. The restaurant ticket bar as a desk catch-all? Genius! And the feature on kitchens is not to be missed--that first photo is one of several that will have you drooling and rushing to sort your glassware collection.

Plus the whole issue has such a lovely 'fresh start' vibe to it, just like any January publication should. The colors are bright and energetic; the textures are just right for the winter season--cozy, homey. I want to knit a blanket, and build a yurt, and milk a goat. (I think I'll scale those to-do's back a bit and perhaps just organize my bathroom closet, but hey, it's the thought that counts!)

Do you have household goals for this month? Mine include: Getting the living room in order (it's a war zone!) and tossing old cosmetics that have expired. Share them with me and let's keep each other accountable! Twitter is a great place to do that. Follow me at www.twitter.com/citysage and tell me all about what your January intentions are--we'll check in on each other!

Images: Martha Stewart Living, January 2012

Welcome, 2012!

Happy New Year! How did you ring in 2012? I was asleep when the clock struck midnight. I've never been one to party the night away, much preferring to rest up and spring from bed on New Year's Day feeling refreshed, bright-eyed, and ready to set the tone for how I want to live the coming weeks and months. But I was delighted when several texts from friends and family awoke me at 12:05 am!

After a flurry of back-and-forth best wishes, I slept 'til 7 am, then spent a wonderful day yesterday in peaceful yet productive meditation. I organized the kitchen cupboards, went for a long run, took a nap with the kitties, and thought a lot about my 2012 intentions. Because there's nothing like the start of another year to get us reflecting on what we'd like to do differently...

For me, 2011 was a huge time of upheaval, and I know that it was for many of you as well. Here's to a 2012 that feels more settled. Here's to creating stability, to taking care of ourselves and of each other, to finding the things big and small that make life easier and more enjoyable for us all. I'll be thinking and sharing more on this topic here, so stay tuned. Cheers to new beginnings!

Images: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 

Hot and Cold Interiors Inspiration

I've just arrived back in San Francisco after a five days' holiday jaunt to Canada. And while it's lovely to be home--can't wait to snuggle my cats!--I was struck by the cold, stark beauty of the north as my cab made its way through the icy streets to the airport. There's something to be said for the Nordic landscape, for shades of midnight and marble that alternately absorb and reflect the winter sun.

So I'm especially intrigued right now by interiors that capture this same sensibility of chilly surfaces like concrete and glass, and then counter it with layered textiles, rugs and throws. The effect is an intriguing one, and it leaves me wondering: how would I feel in a space like this? Would I want to hibernate? Crank the thermostat and shiver 'til spring?

Or would those floor-to-ceiling windows act like a greenhouse, with me the unsuspecting orchid? Maybe I would flourish in the bright and dynamic light of these spaces and unexpectedly find the winter months my most productive of all? How lovely that would be, and if so, maybe we should all decamp to a house like this until April…Thoughts, anyone?

Images: Elle Decor Special Edition, January February 2012.

Just Wed: Jose Villa and Joel Serrato by Elizabeth Messina

Are you sitting down for this? Because it won't be long until you'll need to leap from your seat and hop around the room in sweet, sweet ecstasy over the beauty of these images. When wedding industry professionals get married you know it's going to be good, and when the tops of the top tie the knot, it really takes the cake! So I present to you the wedding of Jose and Joel as shot by Elizabeth Messina.

You can imagine my sheer delight at the airport last week when I purchased the just-released issue of Martha Stewart Weddings, opened it up to the features section, and saw these stunning nuptials highlighted in all their California mountain glory! Every detail in the ceremony and reception was so thoughtfully considered, from the soft peach and green palette to the handsome gents' attire.

As you might expect from a couple that makes a living--and feeds their souls--from photography and filmmaking, reminders of that craft were everywhere. Joel gave Jose a lamp made from antique camera parts; the couple's Polaroid collection was incorporated into the programs; and the sweeping vistas of the wedding location at Figueroa Mountain made for picture-perfect views throughout.

The most important part of any wedding is the love between the couple and those who gather to celebrate with them, and that love is so apparent in this film made by Joe Simon. I've had the honor of working both with Jose and Elizabeth, and these two artists approach everything they do with the utmost passion and joy. You must pick up the latest Martha Stewart Weddings for the complete story!

Complete Resources: Wedding Photography: Elizabeth Messina Wedding Filmmaker: Joe Simon Wedding Films Event Design & Production: Oh, How Charming! Event Design & Flowers: Mindy Rice Floral and Event Design Catering: New West Special Occasion Catering Cake: Sweet and Saucy Shop Location: Figueroa Mountain Farmhouse Stationery: Papel Paper & Press Calligraphy: Anne Jones  Lighting: Bella Vista Designs 

Oh Right. That Thing Called Winter.

One thing I conveniently "forget" as a result of living in San Francisco? Even though the Bay Area can be foggy, windy, and chilly, our weather is mild compared to what much of North America experiences. I've been brutally reminded of Old Man Winter's cruel reality during my annual holiday visit to my parents' house in Toronto. Mercy me, it is coooooold here: I'm bundled under three layers as I type this!

The one good thing about frigid weather? Why, it's shopping for winter clothing, of course! And right now it's all discounted in a big way. The coat shapes this year are all really unusual, and the accessories seem extra spunky and playful as well. It's not enough to make me wish I lived in Toronto year-round, but it is enough to make me excited to hit those Boxing Day sales in 3...2...1...GO!

Image Credits: 1. 2. 3. 4. Shopping Guide: Coats 1. 2. 3. Boots 1. 2. 3. Hats 1. 2. Mittens. Scarf.

Merry Mistletoe Kisses!

Never before has Christmas snuck up on me with such stealth as it has this year. Usually I can smell it coming with its whiff of gingerbread in the air; but with the many balls I've been keeping in the air lately, it sprung upon me like a tinsel bedecked elf and caught me totally unawares. I even had to Fedex my grandpa his yearly batch of cookies to ensure he received them in time!

And here we find ourselves on Christmas Eve. Are you prepared? Have you wrapped all your gifts (or in my case, have I even bought all my gifts? No...) Do you feel you've engaged in a sufficient quantity of holiday hullabaloo? I'm only now listening to The Nutracker Suite for the first time this year--terrible I know! Tell me: How did you get your glee on this season! Let me celebrate vicariously through you!

Images: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 

Thursday Tunes: 8th Grader

There's a new kid in class. His name is 8th Grader. And he's pumping out moody, spine-shivery jams that make me want to stock up on Ring Pops and lock myself in the bathroom with a stack of Tiger Beats. The first track off his upcoming album is called Heavy Without You--it's the ultimate dance around the house in your bootie sweats song (which is exactly what I just did for the umpteenth time...)

8th Grader cites one of his main inspirations as those tumultuous middle school years spent falling in and out of love at the drop of a hat. 'Cause we all remember what it was like to be thirteen, right? I can recall no fewer than five crushes in as many months, complete with many long hours of moping and staring out the window while the radio indulged my adolescent sorrows. And NO ONE UNDERSTOOD.

I'm smitten by the 'Heavy Without You' video; there's just enough poncho action to satisfy my tongue-in-cheek sense of humor. But don't be fooled by the smoke machines and dramatic backlighting, because there are some serious musical chops at work here too. Download 8th Grader's latest track The Sweetness free until Christmas, and let his solo piano chords and honeyed voice melt your angst away.

P.S. 8th Grader records at Different Furs Studios in San Francisco. They're the bomb-dot-com. Images: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

Studio Tour: Nikki Garcia of First Rite on Refinery29

Okay. This one is totally dedicated to my inner voyeur. That part of me that walks down the streets of my neighborhood every day and can't help but wonder, 'Who lives in that house? The one with the pink door? And the blue shutters?' Refinery29 indulged that sneaky bit of me today with the amazing studio tour of Nikki Garcia, the San Francisco designer behind the fashion label First Rite.

The tour was shot by photographer Molly DeCoudreaux, and I can't get enough! Nikki's home is just as lovely as her designs--relaxed and approachable yet utterly forward-thinking and sophisticated too. Found objects like feathers and antlers mingle with the tools she uses in her work--bolts of cloth, her sewing machine--with all of it coming together to create a warm and welcoming workspace.

And then there's Nikki herself. Instant BFF status. I loved reading the interview that accompanied these dreamy photos, hearing all about Nikki's favorite places in town, her design approach, and her thoughts on the city I call home: "I love the sense of a community I feel here, and am really inspired by a lot of the people I have met who are making things happen for themselves." My feelings exactly.

Photos: Molly DeCoudreaux for Refinery29.

Florals to Fashion with Dolce Designs Studio

One of my favorite holiday memories from growing up is going with my mom to the flower market to buy pine boughs and white roses every year on Christmas Eve. She'd fill the whole house with simple arrangements of those two things--and now no festivity is the same for me without some type of florals. So I'm loving these stunning offerings from Dolce Designs Studio!

Based in Southern California, Dolce Designs is an amazing event design firm that specializes in flowers but does so much more. I've worked with them for Rue (see our May/June cover story!) and they're such a blast to collaborate with. When they shared with me these photos of the special holiday creations they put together, I immediately thought of the glamorous winter finery I'd love to slip into...

I mean come on! Visions of swaying paperwhites inspiring yards upon yards of romantic white tulle? Tightly bunched red peonies translated into a tea-length dress with short black gloves? Edgy Calla lillies in blue crystal reimagined as a micropleated silk halter mini? I couldn't resist--and if I lived in Dolce Designs' delivery zone, I'd definitely not be able to resist ordering their holiday arrangments either!

More info here on these gorgeous florals from Dolce Designs Studio, y'all! (Florals Photos: Color Me Rad.)