Happy Potter

Can I tell you…about Jonathan Adler. If you live in New York City, watch design shows like Top Design, buy your share of Interior Design magazines and appreciate a sense of color, whimsy and humor in your environment then you would have undoubtedly have heard of my friend and the Guru of “Happy Chic”. Ever since his first order for pottery from Barneys New York fifteen years ago, Jonathan’s brand has grown by leaps and bounds starting from one store in Soho and now totaling twelve in the country; offering furniture, rugs, bedding, bath accessories, pillows, lighting and interior design services.

Jonathan’s upbeat and witty personality comes through in everything he touches. Going into his stores can put a serious dent in your cash flow. Everything is eye candy and you want them all! I dropped in on Jonathan for a little tete-a-tete while he was busy working on his next collection to get to the bottom of what makes him so happy and …chic!

RT: You have so many stores in the US, are you planning more? Did you ever imagine you would have so many stores?

JA: When I first started my pottery business my idea of success would have been selling my wares at a rain-soaked craft fair as long as I found an audience for my work. I had no plan and very modest goals. So I never imagined I would have the business I have today.

RT: Are you considering the international market? And if you had your pick, which country would you priority.

JA: I'm pretty busy with America. But I am a huge Anglophile and am considering opening a store in London. I'm always looking for an excuse to zip over.

RT: What was that “Eureka” moment that made you realize that you were going to be fabulously rich and famous?

JA: I'll let you know when I have it.

RT: You've come a long way from pottery to now being a TV celebrity and interior designer, was this always part of your big picture or a happy turn of events?

JA: Surreal, unexpected and really fun! Before I became a potter I tried to work in the movie business and I got fired from every job that I ever had. I was unemployable! So I realized that I had to make my pottery business work or I would be homeless.

RT: You've designed hotels, retail stores, private residences and even Barbie's Malibu Dream House. Is there another venue that you'd like to give the Adler makeover?

JA: I want to design an airline!

RT: It seems like every time I go to one of your stores you have something new to offer, from tabletop accessories, pet products and even lighting. What motivates you to dive into a new category?

JA: The great thing about having my own stores is that I don't have to ask anybody's permission to make something. I just make it and put it in my stores and, hopefully, it will sell. I design the stuff that I need or want to have. And I find that the more quirky and personal something is and the less commercial it seems the more successful it is.

RT: Dream destination? My weekend house on Shelter Island. I go there all the time and I still dream of it.

Favorite Hotel? La Scalinatella Hotel in Capri. It is HEAVEN!

Weekend Escape? Shelter Island.

5 things you can't live without and why?

1. My husband Simon. He is perfection.

2. My dog Liberace. He is also perfection.

3. 4 cups of English Breakfast Tea in the morning.

4. My Ping Pong table. Simon and I have a ping pong table-2 Saarinen bases with a custom top covered in paisley wallpaper--in the middle of our living room and we play ping pong for an hour each night.

5. Apple pie. Yum!

Brunch? Sant Ambroeus downtown.

Dinner? Il Cantinori.

Favorite spot in NY? My home in front of my TV.

Gallery? Deitch Projects

RT: What are your absolute style dos and don'ts? List 3 for each and why?

JA: Dos:

1. Overdressed or underdressed always!

2. Tight ,tight, tight!

3. Embrace color.

JA: Don'ts:

1. Don't be too trendy.

2. This applies only to me, but I never wear black. It makes me sad.

3. Don't be cheap when buying clothes.

RT: What and who influences your aesthetics?

JA: So many people it's hard to list! But my design heroes are Bonnie Cashin, Alexander Girard, and Bjorn Wiinblad. Their work isn't just beautiful--it's about the joy of creativity. I strive to channel their playful spirits in my own work.

RT: What gets you up in the morning?

JA: First Liberace licks me and makes me take him out to poop. Then I drink a lot of English Breakfast Tea.

RT: What you love about living in New York City?

JA: Everything! It's the only place I could ever live. It keeps me young and happy.

RT: Best advice that you've ever received?

JA: Best advice I ever received was from my college pottery professor who told me that I had no talent and that I couldn't be a potter. Nothing is more inspiring that somebody telling you that you can't do something.

RT: How do you remain true to your creativity and still be a commercial success? Sometimes the two don't necessarily go together.

JA: I've been at it a long time and made a lot of mistakes along the way. I suppose the key is to be very analytical and cheap, cheap, cheap! I started with nothing and I'm not extravagant.

RT: What advice would you give budding designers?

JT: Work really ,really, really, really, really hard and don't be impatient.

RT: If a man is decorating his apartment for the first time, what would you tell him are the most important things to pay attention to?

JA: Make sure you have a comfy place to watch TV.

RT: What's next for Jonathan Adler? Lifestyle world domination?

JA: More, more, and more!

Let Frank Tell You!

Can I tell you…about Frank Tell. Over the summer we met through friends at Ippudo, my favorite Ramen spot in the city. We immediately hit it off. We both shared a lot in common; coming to New York with a dream, working in the fashion industry and having the time of our lives doing it. Designers have a natural curiousity for other designers work. So when I received the invite for his show I couldn’t wait to see how he would manifest his visions unto the runway.

Like most designers, Frank had been working non-stop over this collection right up to the very end. He was at Milk Studios at the crack of dawn, going over everything and making sure no detail was overlooked. He was so focused he almost forgot to get ready himself. Fortunately, as soon as the models started getting their hair and make-up done Frank realized that he needed to get all cleaned up so he dashed back to his apartment just in the nick of time. That's one of the pluses of living in New York, everything is a quick cab ride away.

Frank cited the Padaung ‘giraffe women’ from Burma, Penelope Tree’s mod 60’s style and the original Star Trek series as his inspirations for his Fall 2010 collection. Disparate much? Believe me, I scratched my head too when I read his programme notes about his Barbarian Barbarella.

Sometimes diverse references like these turn out very bizarre costumey looks when styled for the runway. My fears were quickly dissipated as soon as the first look came out. Frank managed to blend, twist, drape and shred all these elements together harmoniously in a clear concise 22 look collection.

He smartly focused on a few colors; ash grey, nude, camel, baby blue, black and white as well as his choice of materials. Alligator stamped leather, wool crepe, hand knits, cashmere and suede were all worked into Marocain harem pants, front pleated mini skirts, trim fitted jackets and draped cocktail dresses.

The hand knits were stellar. Thick yarns looping haphazerdly into random patterns evoking 70’s wall hangings with bits of lurex woven in. In a word, fierce! Okay, so maybe not every woman fantasizes to be a warrior bombshell but with these clothes, not only will you turn heads but no one will want to mess with you.

Peter Som's Master Mix

Can I tell you…about Peter Som’s Fall 2010 Runway Show. For as long as I’ve known Peter he’s always loved the process of putting together a collection and styling it for the runway because it involves completing his vision, from the music, casting the models, hair and make-up and even choosing the accessories. So after doing a presentation last season, he decided to return to the runway this time around. Presentations are fine but nothing beats the adrenaline and excitement of the catwalk.

Backstage was a flurry of activity with Tom Pecheux working his magic with make up and Laurent Philippon ironing the girls’ tresses. There were photographers and film crews everywhere. Teen Vogue’s Andrew Bevan and Vogue’s Entertainment editor Jillian Demling brought in Australian actress Teresa Palmer backstage to wish Peter good luck. She was wearing one of Peter’s spring dresses…obvi!

For this collection he was inspired by Ang Lee’s “Taking Woodstock” and the sense of optimism the film conveyed. “It’s time to have fun again and make happy clothes”, he said when he began designing Fall 2010 months ago. He was dead serious about it! You could tell he was having fun designing this season.

Peter, who never wears prints or colors is a genius at it. This was Peter's Master Mix! Everything was printed, textured, layered and eclectic. Unexpected elements like tie-dye mink, fatigue tulle, Mongolian lamb in candy colors, micro-paillettes on T shirts, Swarovski crystals, marled knits and a Shinique Smith print on chiffon were all thrown into the mix. Finishing touches included Peter’s own collection of costume jewelry, oversized felt cloche hats by milliner Albertus Swanepoel and color blocked platform granny boots by English label Charlotte Olympia.

Judging from the smiles of usually jaded journalists and buyers on the front row, Peter achieved his mission. Everybody rushed backstage to tell him how much they loved the collection. Beth Blake from Kirna Zabete was gushing, Ana Maria Pimentel from Harpers Bazaar put the jewelry on hold for an upcoming shoot, stylist and TV host Mary Alice Stephenson couldn’t wait to wear the dresses and Roopal Patel from Neiman Marcus couldn’t stop raving. It was great to see people walking out with big smiles on their faces. That made Peter very happy.

For Art's Sake

Can I tell you…about Miami Art Basel. Ever since it’s launch in 2002, this four day convergence has gained quite a reputation for being the most important art fair in the country and one that throws the best parties! This past December, I took the plunge and joined hundreds of New Yorkers on their pilgrimage to South Beach. This year MAB’s organizers pulled out all the stops with art on the beach, over the top parties, lavish dinners and live performances by emerging artists. There was so much to see and do that it was overwhelming, but that’s part of the fun. At the airport taxi line, I bumped into my girlfriend Teresa Herrera who, like me, also came to take it all in for the first time. We were Basel Virgins!

I stayed with my BFF Peter Som who was conveniently booked at the Shoreclub, a hop and skip away from the Convention Center. Location is everything especially for a huge fair like this.

Walking through the Convention Center was daunting with over 250 prestigious galleries from 33 countries and over 2,000 artists showing everything from paintings, fine art photography, sculpture, drawings, installations and videos. Even Sylvester Stallone exhibited his work. Who knew he was an ‘artist’?!

I enjoyed the other satellite fairs like Pulse, Art Asia and Scope over at the Wynwood district, where you could find new artists and perhaps some affordable pieces.

We did our share of shin-digging too. There was the Francois Nars’ party at the Standard where we bumped into Lorenzo Martone showing off his tattoos to his friends. As we were leaving, Francois and Naomi Campbell were just arriving fashionably very late for their own event. We rushed over to Nadia Swarovski’s rooftop cocktail at the W then downstairs for another party by the pool where I bumped into Teresa Herrera with Filipino Art Collector Marcel Krespo and the boys from Cool Hunting Josh Rubin and Evan Orenstein. We caught a live performance by Santigold at the Raleigh right after David Zwirner Gallery’s intimate dinner.

We tagged along with LACMA curator and our girlfriend Christine Y. Kim and her associates to see some of the leading private collections in Miami - among them the Margulies Collection, the Rubell Family Collection, the de la Cruz Collection, the Mora Collection, the Scholl Collection, and the Dacra Collection. During the fair, they open their homes and warehouses to guests of the show. I especially love seeing art in homes, especially art of this caliber. There’s an aspirational aspect to it that I’m sure you can relate to.

After four days we had art coming out of our ears and had had enough of the big extravaganzas. We were aching for something low key. Fortunately, our dear friend and super talented Interior Designer D.B. Kim was celebrating his birthday party in South Beach.

The party was held in stylist Ron Laxamana's quaint apartment compound that faintly evokes the set of 90's TV hit Melrose Place. It was a fun intimate affair  and a perfect way to end a rather hectic and art-filled week. I'll be back...same time next year!

Naughty and Nice

Can I tell you …about my favorite Christmas party? Every year I get inundated with invites to celebrate the holidays.  Which one to go to and can I go to all of them? Such a dilemma! It had been such a dour year (recession hello!) that I was looking forward to lifting my spirits and ending the year with some yuletide cheer. Unfortunately, I can’t make it to every party but there are a few on the top of my list. One of them is Chandelier Creative’s Holiday Bash. Their first party last year was so much fun. I met a lot of new people, almost bid on some art and had copious amounts of champagne.  So when I got their grandiose invite this year I put it in my outlook calendar marked urgent.

Richard Christiansen, Chandelier’s creative director and Anthony Keegan, Commonwealth Utilities’ designer (dressed as Rudolph) certainly know how to throw an extravaganza with flowing drinks (served up by studly Santa’s helpers), a full gospel choir (singing disco and R&B classics) and a silent art auction to benefit the New Museum on the Bowery. They were determined to up the ante for their second annual event and that’s exactly what they did.

The Noho loft where their offices are was filled with balloons, a towering Christmas tree, a hot dog and popcorn stand as well as the requisite open bar. The crowd was equally fabulous as one might expect from this boutique design firm. Designers Francisco Costa and Peter Som, Gossip Girl’s Amanda Setton, fashion editors Stefano Tonchi and Marcus Teo, models Jessica White and Julie Henderson sipped champagne, nibbled on hot dogs and got their photos taken with a hunky Santa (a trainer in Richard’s gym).

Last year I missed out on the art and there were some amazing pieces. So this year I was hoping to get something from the auction. Limited edition prints and original artwork from contemporary artists, fashion and art photographers like Stewart Shining, Ian Wright, Lorenzo Martone, Douglas Friedman and Shun Kawakami filled the wall. As soon as we perused the silent auction, Peter and I made our choices. Peter eyed an Arthur Elgort portrait of 70’s model Lisa Taylor while a couple of pieces caught my attention; a print by Lorenzo Martone and another by Ian Wright. 

We hovered by the wall monitoring our bids while mingling with friends. Hunky Santa provided a welcome distraction and a great photo op. Fashion photographer Chiun-Kai Shih (we call him Chunky) was so besotted that he kept snapping away at Santa. And who could blame him? Santa claimed someone stole most of his costume…yeah, right! Fortunately, Chunky takes his camera with him wherever he goes and was happy to share these delicious photos with me.

As the hour drew near the bidding got a little heated as people kept upping their bids on their favorite pieces. I was determined to win this time but Lorenzo’s print was getting dangerously close to slipping out of my hands. At the very last minute, as my competitor walked away I penciled my last offer and won! Phew, that was a close call. Peter got his Elgort print as well. In life, timing is everything! The auction raised almost $15K for the museum.

Lorenzo was thrilled I won his piece and told me that he only made one print of this image so I have a one of one! I also won the Ian Wright print. That’s what I call a win-win situation and a great way to end 2009. I just love a happy ending!