On the Street....Cotton, Cashmere & Nylon, NYC

Being stylish doesn't always mean being dressed-up.

Real life is walking the dog at 7 am, or the morning coffee run, or taking your kids to the school bus (or sometimes all three at once).

For me, I find a mix of sweat pants, nylon coat and a cashmere scarf, hat and gloves the perfect mix. Apparently so does my friend Robert who I ran into the other morning in the West Village.

So here is the question.

Except for going to/from the gym, does a Sartorialist ever wear sweats after 10 a.m.?

Before 10 a.m. sweats seem like a perfect solution, after 10 a.m. they just seem lazy.

One Of My All-Time Favorite Shots

This is one of my all-time favorite shots simply because I almost didn't get it.

When I am walking on the street I am constantly,constantly, constantly adjusting and readjusting the setting on my camera so I don't have to be messing with them when I stop someone to take their photo. On this morning I knew I walking into the sun for a little while so I did a few adjustments to my setting.

It was pretty quiet that morning so I was a little relaxed and not expecting to see much then all of a sudden I see this young lady on her bike.
I had no time to do anything but raise the camera and shoot. Eight out of ten times I would miss this shot because the focus would be off, or the shot is too blurry or the exposure is overly bright or dark, or I just didn't see the outfit well enough before it was too late.

This time it all worked perfectly and I didn't even see the white leather boots she was wearing (to ride her bike!) until I looked at the shot in camera.

I love her posture, the bike itself, her hat pulled low, the studious glasses, she just seems so elegant and yet completely sporty. I hate over-preciousness and she seems like the kind of girl that would ride in a convertible with the top and not worry about her hair because she knows she has a great cut.

I know I am completely projecting here about what who she is or what she may be like but that is what inspiration is all about. I don't need to know the facts- this unknown woman will live forever in my memory just like this. Perfect

Style Profile...Maria Kerner, Moscow

Maria Kerner

Job?
Accessories Buyer

Describe your personal style?
My personal style is all about femininity, elegance, and tenderness while still being very professional.

I build my daily look around?
My feelings; it really depends on my own perception of myself before I get dressed in the morning.

Personal style quirk?
Monochromatic outfits. You can wear one color range, but find beautiful combinations of the same tone. Colors are like a mirror for me, they correspond exactly to my inside feelings. Beige and pastel colors give me an incredible feeling of soft, light emotions. I had a violet period as well, that gave me a feeling of something mysterious - I would mix it with grey to make it more wearable. Any more than three colors and the outfit is just not me.

Style icon?
Sophia Loren

Favorite brands?
Bottega Veneta, Lanvin, YSL, Giambattista Valli

Favorite designers?
Cristobal Balenciaga, old Dior

I feel best wearing?
Silk dresses, fur and diamonds.

Never caught wearing?
The color red. I try to never say never, but I really don't wear red. I don't have a single piece in my wardrobe in red, well maybe just the soles of my Louboutins (but even that sometimes bothers me).  The color is just too strong for me, it's a quite obvious and provocative color and I just prefer to dress in a more discrete and delicate way. But, on the other hand red is one of my favorite lipstick colors, I always have fun wearing it!

Flats or heels?
Heels after Flats, and flats after heels. I can't leave without both. There is a time for each.

Your next "must have" purchase?
An emerald ring

Most stylish city?
Venice, because it has its own, very particular, style. It gives unbelievable and unforgettable emotions: that is the combinations of colors, architecture and even smells. For me style is something that should be unique, and Venice is definitely one of the most unique places in the world. It captures my thoughts, and changes them to go along with the rhythm of the town. 

When I was high school I wore?
Everything in black.

Sports?
Yoga. I really love to do yoga very early in the morning, when everyone is sleeping - particularly the fashion world. So I have to get up when it is still dark. The atmosphere is so beautiful, it's quiet and intimate, it's the best time to be only with yourself. 

Favorite cocktail?
I mix fresh juices; apple, beetroot, carrot and banana or just green apple and celery.
...No alcohol?
No. Some people get crazy about alcohol, but I'm crazy about fruit! Fresh squeezed juice is all I need to be happy and healthy - and I'm able to drink more than a really good professional alcoholic drinker could! 

Favorite vacation spot?
The islands near Thailand, it is gorgeous there! For me they have a great combination of the beauty of nature, spas, fruits, yoga and as much isolation as you want. 

Currently reading?
Romain Gary’s The Life Before Us

Favorite movies?
“8 1/2,” “Bonnie and Clyde” and “La Dolce Vita”

Favorite fashion magazine?
Distill. It showcases the best content of many great fashion and style magazines. Most of the time I agree with the selection. I also appreciate how it is presented in a clear and sophisticated way. 

Favorite place to search for inspiration?
Le Marche aux Puces. All of the old objects there with such long lives behind them are very intriguing for me. I am a buyer, so I am always looking for something different and I love the combination of old and modern. 

I spend my weekends?
Dreaming...

On The Street..The Slow Transition To Fall, Soho

In New York the temperature can vary 15 to 20 degrees from morning to midday and back to evening. If you add to that to walking in and out of the direct sunlight and the shadow of buildings, dressing in New York City during the early Fall can be a many layered dilemma.

By the same token one of my pet peeves each Fall are those people that just can't wait to breakout their new coat or chunky sweater at the first chance it may drop to 72.

The other morning at around 8 am I saw a young lady at Starbucks with a sweater, puffer vest, and scarf - I think it was around 68 at that moment and going up to 75, bet all those layers were gone by 10 am.

Problem Loading Photos This Morning

I'm having a problem loading photos this morning but it should be corrected by tonight.

In the meantime, I would love to hear which collections you are most excited about for the upcoming Spring 2007 round of shows.

Monday Morning

Jil, Prada, Burberry and 3 hours sleep last night. McQueen this morning and shooting "on the street". No taking photos of Miuccia or Raf backstage! Apparently no sleep makes me write in sentence fragments - oh wait I always write in sentence fragments - I think I just wrote a run-on. I will stop now

The Hamptons, Italian Vogue Pelle

I shot this story for Italian Vogue Pelle last August. As you know, magazine editorial budgets are extremely low, especially in this economy. Instead of packing up for an exotic location, I shot this at the hotel where I spent Summer vacation with my kids.

We didn't officially ask permission to shoot there, so we quietly ran around the grounds with a hair stylist, makeup person, fashion stylist, tech person and four or five assistants.... you know, a typical vacation day.

The fishing poles, boogie boards and bag of charcoal belonged to my neighbors. I shot this very early in the morning and kept telling the stylist, "Hurry! Get the bag and bikinis in place, so I can shoot this before they wake up".

On the Street.... Sheila Scotter, Melbourne

This lovely lady is Sheila Scotter, one of the first editors of Australian Vogue. I shot her when I was in Melbourne last time for a Saba ad campaign. I've become accustomed to posting photos pretty quickly after I shoot them, so sitting on this shot until its campaign release date has been murder. I didn't get to spend much time with Ms. Scotter, but she is definitely a person I would love to see again when I go back to Melbourne for the book tour. I will say that in the brief time it took to shoot her she oozed intimidating old school charm and a sense of formal elegance. Her mentor was Diana Vreeland - so imagine her with an Australian/English accent.

Apparently the world is rediscovering Sheila, and I am happy to have had a small part in making that happen.

Australian Vogue


Sydney Morning Herald

On The Street.......Morning on 14th St, New York

This Will Be A Great Week On The Sartorialist

I think this week will be one of my best ever on The Sartorialist!

I already have a weeks worth of posts ready to go and they cover a great range of styles, ages, and price levels.

I should be able to do two posts each morning and two in the evening.

The Salone del Mobile was great and provided some great shots that i will post here and on Wallpaper*.com.

I can't wait to share the photos with you.

Now for my "The Sartorialist Tour Of Germany" for German Vanity Fair.

I will update a few photos from Germany this week and next.

Scott

INTRODUCING - The SartoriaList Women's

I am happy to begin The SartoriaList Women's
Same concept as the Men's SartoriaList plus two additional services.
As with the men's list I will try to get a good mix of ladies from varied income levels.
I am currently efforting responses from women in New York, Milan, Paris, London and Stockholm (Berlin?).
I will be updating the SartoriaList as I receive answers but quite a few will be going up in the next two weeks.

Of course, I had to start with a few of the coolest women I know.


CARINE ROITFELD

Hair salon
Romain Color - 37 rue Rousselet paris 7eme

tailor:
Styl'up - 5 rue pasquier paris 8eme

Dry cleaner:
Delaporte Teinturerie - 62 rue Francois I paris 8eme

Shoe repair
Pulin bottier - 5 rue chauveau Lagarde paris 8eme

Nail Salon
Sothys institut de beaute - 128 rue du faubourg saint honore paris 8eme

Body Treatment
L appartement 217 - 217 rue saint honore paris 1er



EMMANUELLE ALT

Hair Salon:
Leonor Greyl - 15 rue Tronchet paris 8eme

tailor:
Styl'up - 5 rue pasquier paris 8eme

Dry cleaner:
Delaporte Teinturerie - 62 rue Francois I paris 8eme

Shoe repair
Cordonnerie Vaneau - 44 rue vaneau paris 7eme

Nail salon and body treatment
Institut Revlon - 19 rue Bassano paris 16eme



TARA HENTHORN

Hair Salon: ALAIN COIFFURE 184 rue de grenelle 7emer
cute little place, where the clientele are like your grandparents, and walking in the door is like stepping back into the 1950's. the ladies have regular appointments to get themselves coiffured and to catch up on the quartier gossip. i go there not really for the haircut (as my hair is never in more need than a trim), but so soak up a little of the old life...

Tailor or Alterations: Being a designer i do it myself.

Dry Cleaner: PRESSING MALAR 27 rue malar 7eme

Shoe Repair: CHAUSSURE ROLAND 12 rue malar 7eme
Gorgeous little old man, owns and runs the place all by himself, and every morning i pass him on the street on the way back from the boulangerie, smile and say "bonjour".

Nail Salon: NOCIBÉ 96-98 rue st Dominique 7eme
A quiet little old place that also gives the most fantastic relaxing body massgaes.

Body treatment: CORPORO SANO 15 bis rue Amelie 7eme
Great eyelash tints.

How I Look At This Photo

I have often written about "abstract Inspiration" or the fact that I rarely shoot a look in which I like the entire look but only certain elements of the look.

I think if you look at this blog and only say "yes" or "no" to the looks then you are really missing out.

This look is a great example of this idea.

The individual items don't really matter to me but I love the harmony of the colors and how beautifully they work together. Some readers have said that I haven't posted as many mens images lately but to me this look is just as inspiring to my wardrobe as a lot of other gentlemen I have shot.

Are the colors groundbreaking? no
Is the mix "fashion forward"? no

Could I imagine looking at this photo and reminding myself in the morning to wear those green cords with my camel cashmere sweater and grey scarf? Absolutely!

On a typical day I don't want to look trendy or shocking or fashion forward or even draw much attention to myself but i do want to look nice and feel like I look nice - an image like this reminds me of just another simple way to use items that already exist in my (and probably your) wardrobe.

So today this is my men's post

The Sartorialist in Boston and Philadelphia

I think it's time to add a few cities to my "rotation" and will be traveling to Boston and Philadelphia in the coming weeks.

I'm not very familiar with either city and wanted to ask your input on where to go to find great style, architecture, etc. I'm looking for neighborhoods, places, streets...the more specific you are, the better.

If something comes to mind, please email cities@thesartorialist.com. I'm really looking forward to seeing what everyone has to say.


Also - thanks to everyone who responded to my tweet earlier this morning. It's been a lot of fun checking out the suggestions that have been coming in.

On the Street.....Morning in Nolita, New York

Pitti Uomo Tomorrow

Tomorrow Pitti Uomo starts, then on to Milan and Paris for mens collections.
The last two days have been the quiet before the storm so if everything goes well I should have my first post up tomorrow by 4pm and will start posting twice a day (morning & evening) until early July.

I read that Gianfranco Ferre died.
He was one of the designers I always wanted to shoot because he had such great personal style.
I hope his company is able to keep his name and work alive for a long time to come.

Snowy Morning for Mr. Bastian

So are you actually, really interested in the royal wedding?

I understand the historical significance of this event, and how important it is to the UK. It's also a great story for the media.

But are you actually, really interested in the royal wedding? How many of you are going to be watching at 6 AM tomorrow morning?

On the Street....One More Time, Milano

About two years ago on a very misty, lazy Sunday morning in Milan I ran across this gentleman as he prepared for his Sunday bike ride. He was dressed so elegantly for a Sunday ride, but I guess I should expect that from Milanese by now. Our conversation was very brief and I forgot to get any of his contact information. I was very happy with the shot, but thought I would never run across him again.

Well, as I was shooting around the Versace show I see just the floating head of this gentleman glide by (his body and bike were hidden by a car). Traffic was heavy so as he slowed to navigate the cars and fashionistas I caught up to him and asked to take his photo. I was surprised when he instantly recognized me, "Yeah, you are The Sartorialist!, Cunningham!"
That Bill casts a long shadow.

This time I got his info, so hopefully we will be seeing more of Mr. Alborghetti on future Milan trips.

On the Street....Sara, One Year Later, New York

I ran into Sara this morning in Soho; she's back in the city interning at a PR company.

I hadn't seen her since almost this exact time last year (below) and almost didn't recognize her!

Victoria Beckham Fall 2011

Garance dragged me to the Victoria Beckham show at 9:15 Sunday morning :(

However, I have to admit she was right.

I spoke to a few editors afterwards and they all mentioned that each season Ms. Beckham's work gets stronger.