terry graziano

{ how I wear my hat } birthday edition

Thank you so much to everyone who placed orders during my weekend sale!  It was so nice to see some new names and so gratifying to have the ongoing support of my most loyal fans.  I am so grateful to be able to continue to do the work that I do, and at the same time have it received so warmly.
Mille Grazie!  

This past weekend was not only a holiday, but I also celebrated a birthday!  To be honest, I was not looking forward to this one, because the number is getting pretty high (46!) and I just didn't feel "ready".  But ready or not, it happened and I guess when you think about the alternative, it's still a good thing!  I'm looking at my apprehension as a guide to make some much-needed adjustments to my routines and plans and now I'm actually feeling excited about the year to come.

A trip to NYC a couple of weeks ago was my big present, so we kept the actual day relatively low-key.  Though it was dark and very stormy, I had a lovely time with my favorite guy.  Here's a quick recap:

We went here,
ate here,
strolled through this,
he gave me this,
we bought these,
and took a class with this couple
here.  

Fun fun fun!!

Here's what I wore:

Sweetheart hat in chocolate cotton, vintage earrings & bracelet, Fossil tank watch, vintage lace scarf, vintage Nan Duskin raincoat, vintage Schiaparelli purse, Hue tights, Diana Broussard shoes (grosgrain ribbon laces added by me), (unseen Richard Chai dress - you'll surely be seeing it soon!)

(sorry for the dark & grainy photo!  it was raining & Bruce snapped it with his iPhone)

The shoes and the dress were birthday presents to myself from Century 21.  I love shopping there when we go back to NYC because I always discover "new-to-me" designers and both Diana Broussard & Richard Chai are small independents based in NYC. Normally I couldn't afford theses pieces at full price and they were still a bit of a splurge - even at 80% off - but well worth it for the quality and beauty of their designs.  

And I've finally figured out the secret to a low-stress experience at Century 21 (eureka!)  The Manhattan location opens at 7:45am and as long as you're in and out by 10:30am it is positively blissful!  After that, the tourist groups and early lunchers show up and it's complete bedlam!!  I've gotten so used to shopping online that a crowded store can now be pretty overwhelming - I lasted until noon and then I had to retreat.

And now that I re-read all of that, geez, how do I celebrate when I AM looking forward to it??

By the wow - I see on Century 21's website that they have a "Lincoln Square location coming soon" but they don't say what city - please let that be LS in Chicago!

Do you have any favorite independent designers?  
Any places you especially like to shop and make discoveries?

xo,

Terry

fashion wherever you are

image from my vintage vogue

New York Fashion Week begins today!
One of the industry trends I love is that every season, more and more designers are showing their collections online via live stream.  
New York Magazine's fashion blog The Cut, posted a handy guide to all the online action.


image Ruth Fremson/The New York Times

Also, The New York Times has a terrific article and accompanying video today on Joseph Altuzarra and his design process.  Very inspirational.

What do you think about designers showing their collections live online?  Is anything lost by the immediate consumption?  Which designers' collections do you look forward to seeing?  Are there any trends from Fall that you hope to see continue? or hope to never see again? 

xo,

Terry 

I like New York in January - how about you?

I love how NYC looks dressed in snow!  Bruce & I went out to an early breakfast and then I walked him to work, snapping photos along the way.  His office is in the World Financial Center.  It's such a lovely part of the city, and it's fun to see it all cloaked in white. 


the promenade, with the Statue of Liberty and Staten Island off in the distance



rows of trees in the plaza



the Winter Garden, in winter



three magical snow people, framed by Lady Liberty & Ellis Island

I chatted with a Park Ranger while he waited for me to snap my photos, so he could take some of his own.  We couldn't figure out where the snow came from to make the snow family, because they were set high atop a wall, in and amongst the drifts as if they grew there of their own accord.  Our best guess was that someone made them after the morning's snowfall, and then the evening's deluge covered up the source.  

But I'd rather believe it was pure magic.

xo,

Terry