A GAMBIT PUBLICATION | D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 1
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5525 MAGAZINE STREET ( B E T W E E N S P R I N G A N D P R I O R I T I E S • C A D DY C O R N E R F R O M W H O L E F O O D S )
OPEN MON–FRI, 10 AM –6 PM • SAT, 10 AM –5 PM | 504.456.5993 W W W. PE R F EC TF IT S H O E S . N E T 04 CUE
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contents
DeceMBeR 2011
FASHION
39
17 27 Men of style
what guys want Chic scarves for chilly days
19
Presenting the Rubensteins Men’s Style Awards winners
35
cue KIDs
11 12
Festive frocks for holiday fetes
PERSPECTIVES
09 fRoM the eDItoR 24 cue the InteRvIew The Red Stick
33
Designers Mary McDonald and Tara Shaw talk shop.
shoP Dogs
Pepper at Estate Treasures
HOME
cue In
The designing women of Agora
SHOPPING
new&cool
Buzzworthy trinkets
BuIlt In style
Keep the (ventless) home fires burning.
BEAUTY
lusteRPhIle
Two new, locally made skincare lines
Bernardo • Big Buddha • Born • Chocolat Blu • Corso Como • Dr. Scholl’s • Feelgoodz • Fit Flop • Havaianas • Ivanka Trump Jack Rogers • Lane Boots • Me Too • NAOT • Nicole • Nina • NOLA Couture • Noyo • Poetic Licence • Saints for Sinners Sam Edelman • Sanita • Sesto Meucci • Sofft • SPANX • Thriv • Two Sprouts • Van Eli • Volatile
for 34 years.
UPTOWN 4119 Magazine Street 504.899.6800 • FRENCH QUARTER 526 Royal Street 504.569.0005 Monda – Saturday 10–6 • Sunday 12:30–5 • FEETFIRSTSTORES.COM
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The Slim Cut Suit For a Man of Style $495
RUBENSTEINS
Canal Street Corner St. Charles Avenue
504.581.6666 | Free valet parking on Canal St.
www.rubensteinsneworleans.com
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I
’m about to commit a cardinal sin and mention two words that rarely grace Gambit’s staunchly pro-New Orleans pages. They’re as close to a taboo subject as you can get around here. Ready? Here we go: Baton Rouge. Why am I bringing up the Capitol City? Well, at the recent Men of Style party at Rubensteins, the most common icebreaker was “Where are you from?” For people from New Orleans, the follow-up question was “What high school did you go to?” People from out of state got, “What brought you here?” But if you’re from Red Stick, like me, the questioning stops dead in its tracks. I don’t know why the prevailing local opinion is that Baton Rouge is a cultural vacuum, like Kenner without the endearing brahs. Maybe John Kennedy Toole’s description of it as “the heart of darkness” where “the true wasteland begins” is partly responsible. New Orleans and Baton Rouge are sisters with a serious case of sibling rivalry. They’re both working really hard to cultivate unique personas: Baton Rouge is the athletic overachiever, and New Orleans is the scruffy misfit drinking behind the plasma center. But when you get down to it, they’re only separated by 70
oN CUE m i S SY W i L K i N S o N |
PHOTO By QUe DUONG aND THe MaKeUP L aB aRTISTRy
from the editor
924 ROYAL 525-6211 BATON ROUGE
711 JEFFERSON HWY.
or so miles of the Mississippi River, subject to many of the same struggles and triumphs. Baton Rouge can throw a bangin’ Mardi Gras ball (and it’s where our lenient drinking laws were passed), and Saints tailgaters can cook a jambalaya as mean as any LSU Tiger’s. So, embrace the Stick. Love the Stick. This shouldn’t be hard. If you live in south Louisiana, you’re already halfway there.
mArGo dUBoS | editor
NEW ORLEANS
3115 MAGAZINE 899-9555
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K A N dAc e p o W e r G r Av eS m anaging editor
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735 octavia stREEt UPTOWN NeW OrleaNs • (504) 891-5121 1 block from Magazine St. Whole Foods
www.onetoonepersonaltraining.com DEC E M B E R.2 0 1 1 <<<
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c ol l e c t i on de s i g n ed b y gi a da f o rt e
A NEW COLLECTION
BY
3801 MAGAZINE STREET 504.891.2005 CANAL PLACE 504.524.2973 LAKESIDE 504.835.2244 BATON ROUGE TOWNE CENTER 225.932.9783 WWW.MIGNONFAGET.COM
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Photography: Glade Bilby II
HIVE
4011 MAGAZINE STREET 895.6278 weinsteinsinc@bellsouth.net
PLAN
BEE
NEW + COOL
SHOPPING
ACCESSORIES INSPIRED BY THE APIARY ARE SWARMING INTO VOGUE. BY ALEX PENCE AND MISSY WILKINSON
AGATE BEAD BRACELET BY JESS LEIGH, $30 AT LOLA BOUTIQUE (622 S. CARROLLTON AVE., 301-9410).
CUSTOM SAVE-THE-DATE CARDS, $6-$12 PER CARD; BAMBOO LATTICE PACK OF SIX NOTECARDS BY ELUM, $16 AT WEDDING BELLES AND THE STATIONER (3632 MAGAZINE ST., 891-1005; WEDDINGBELLESSTATIONER.COM).
BEE RING WITH STRETCH BAND, $25 AT ABEILLE NOLA (8438 OAK ST., 324-3488; WWW.ABEILLENOLA.COM).
“HONEY & THE MOON” 10-OZ. PARFUM BY TOKYO MILK, $28 AT LOLA BOUTIQUE (622 S. CARROLLTON AVE., 301-9410).
HAND-PRINTED ITALIAN MARBLE HIVE COASTERS BY MIGNON FAGET, $55 FOR A SET OF FOUR AT MIGNON FAGET (THE SHOPS AT CANAL PLACE, 333 CANAL ST., 524-2973; LAKESIDE SHOPPING CENTER, 3301 VETERANS MEMORIAL BLVD., METAIRIE, 835-2244; 3801 MAGAZINE ST., 891-2005; WWW.MIGNONFAGET.COM).
BEE CHOCOLATES, $1 EACH AT BLUE FROG CHOCOLATES (5707 MAGAZINE ST., 269-5707; WWW.BLUEFROGCHOCOLATES.COM).
HONEY BEE BATH BOMB CONTAINING HONEY, RHASSOUL MUD AND ALOE VERA EXTRACT, $6.40 AT LUSH COSMETICS (407 DECATUR ST., 525-0730; LAKESIDE SHOPPING CENTER, 3301 VETERANS MEMORIAL BLVD., METAIRIE, 841-0640; WWW.LUSH.COM) DEC E M B E R.2 0 1 1 <<<
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11
HomE
BUILT IN STYLE
Burning for YoU PORtAblE, VENtlESS FIRE FEAtuRES ARE
Lola n
EcO-FRIENdlY WAYS tO FIRE uP YOuR hOME dEcOR.
I
By A l e x Pen ce
n New Orleans, autumn is one of the most eagerly anticipated times of the year: there’s Saints football, good hair days (thanks to the absence of frizz-inducing humidity) and a euphorically crisp feeling to the air. Yet another perk is fall’s invitation to take a load off with family and friends in front of a crackling fireplace. A slew of ventless fire products makes this idyllic scene an option even for apartment dwellers or homeowners with old, nonfunctional chimneys. With designs ranging from simple burners that can be set in a hearth to a sculptural designer fire pit made from tubular stainless steel, they require no gas lines or
venting and are lit with denatured alcohol (also known as bioethanol), a renewable, clean-burning fuel made from products like sugar, potatoes, beetroot and corn. “(Ventless fire products) give the feeling of a proper, robust fire,” says Nomita JoshiGupta, co-owner of Spruce Eco-Studio (2043 Magazine St., 265-0946; www.sprucenola. com), which stocks EcoSmartFire products. In addition to visually enhancing a setting, the use of ventless fire products can trim electric bills. “I have friends with ventless fireplaces that don’t even use their heater until it is 30 or 40 degrees outside,” says Rebecca Penton, director of operations at
VENtlESS FIREPlAcES, lIkE thIS AVANI MOdEl bY bRASAFIRE, $425, REquIRE NO chIMNEYS ANd cAN REStORE hEAt ANd FlAMES tO OthERWISE dEFuNct hEARthS.
CLOTHING JEWELRY ACCESSORIES GIFTS 622 S. CARROLLTON · NEW ORLEANS, LA 70118 504.301.9410 · MON-SAT 10AM-6PM · SUN 10AM-3PM
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BUILT IN STYLE BrasaFire (307 Tchoupitoulas St., 596-6960; www.brasafire. com). Most BrasaFire burners consume between five and 10 ounces of alcohol per hour and raise the temperature of a room seven to 12 degrees. Denatured alcohol costs four to six dollars per quart and can be purchased in most hardware stores. To start the fires, simply pour the fuel into the fire feature’s opening and light it, Joshi-Gupta says. With the simplicity of operation and flexibility of design options they afford, ventless fire products allow creative homeowners to think outside the fireplace when decorating their abodes. “One client used an EcoSmartFire burner to create a fire within her own stone mantle, and another employed one to develop a double-sided fireplace within the wall separating her den and living room,” Joshi-Gupta says. “There is a breadth of customizable options available with the use of this product.” EcoSmartFire prices range from $895 to $9,000, says Spruce Eco-Studio co-owner Cheryl Nix Murphy. BrasaFire offers several nontraditional fireplace makes and models in different sizes and shapes. Fire lamps are ideal for tables, entryways and hallways, and the basic insert can be used for do-it-yourself designing. BrasaFire products range in price from $175 for a tabletop fire lamp to the $785 Hudson model and are available at BrasaFire or at Modern Market (3138 Magazine St., Suite C, 896-2206; www.modernmarketlifestyle.com). Unlike traditional fires, ventless fireplaces can be turned off and restarted later, which comes in handy if a homeowner needs to leave unexpectedly, as it’s never a good idea to leave a fire unattended. The design of the fireplaces prevents spilled fluid from becoming a hazard. “BrasaFire burners have an absorbent filter that keeps them from dripping or spilling,” Penton says. “If one is knocked over, nothing will happen.”
HOME
THIS STIx FIrEPlaCE By ECOSMarTFIrE HaS WON SEvEral DESIGN aWarDS aND FUNCTIONS INDOOrS Or OUTDOOrS.
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k ids
5519 magazine street 504.899.8992 14 CUE
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bou tique
7725 maple street 504.866.1092
shoe
5421 magazine street 504.891.8992
TWO GREAT STORES, ONE GREAT LOCATION
Jewelry Priced $19.95 to $34.95
GIFTS JEWELRY HOME DECOR Mon - Sat 10-5:30 504-891-6141
Activewear that goes anywhere
GO EASY on the
stuямГng! 504-899-2212
5523 MAGAZINE
(between Octavia & Joseph) DEC E M B E R.2 0 1 1 <<<
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8110 HAMPSON STREET IN THE RIVERBEND
OPEN HOUSE
DECEMBER 7TH 路 7PM-9PM 10% OFF GIFT CERTIFICATES & ALL BOUTIQUE ITEMS
504.265.8018 MO N - SAT O PE N E ARLY - O PE N LATE B Y A P P O I N T M E N T & WA L K I N S
20% OFF & FREE GIFT FOR THE 1ST 24 GUESTS TO PURCHASE OUR 5 STEP SKIN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
F AC I A L S | M A S S AG E S | M I C R O D E R M A B R A S I O N |
B O DY T R E AT M E N T S | WA X I N G
M A N I C U R E S | P E D I C U R E S | M A K E - U P | M A K E - U P A P P L I C AT I O N & L E S S O N S T H R E A D I N G | O R G A N I C S P R AY TA N N I N G | L A S H T I N T I N G
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SCARF
W H AT G U Y S W A N T
FA S H I O N
Orange and purple scarf, $15 at Buffalo Exchange (3312 Magazine St., 8917443; www.buffaloexchange.com).
IT DOWN KEEP OUT THE CHILL WITH STYLISH NECKWEAR.
BY CARRIE MARKS AND ALEX PENCE
Moose print lamb’s wool scarf, $98 at Brooks Brothers (The Shops at Canal Place, 333 Canal St., 522-4200; www.brooksbrothers.com).
Blue plaid scarf by Lobo by Pendleton, $25 at On the Other Hand (8204 Oak St., 861-0159; www.ontheotherhandconsignment.com).
Red cashmere scarf, $228 at Brooks Brothers.
Oversized gray cashmere scarf, $45 at On the Other Hand.
Black and gray striped scarf by Breuer for Perlis, $133 at Perlis (600 Decatur St., Suite 103, 523-6681; 1281 N. Causeway Blvd., Suite 6, Mandeville, 985-674-1711; 6070 Magazine St., 895-8661; www.perlis.com). DEC E M B E R.2 0 1 1 <<<
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Dominique
Gior Da no
jewelry DesiGn
T. 3900 Magazine Street at General Taylor open Monday - Saturday 504.891.8101
Inhabit • Graham & Spencer • Genetic Denim • Raquel Allegra • Rag & Bone • Etoile by Isabel Marant • Jerome Dreyfuss 18 CUE
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Three’s
A Charm Nora KuhlmaNN-lasKy, melaNie FischmaNN aNd suzie allaiN BriNg Triple The TaleNT To home decoraTiNg. By Lee Cutrone
|
Photos By theresa C a ssagne
W
e’re the original Picker Sisters,” Nora Kuhlmann-Lasky says over iced tea in the courtyard of a coffee shop. Kuhlmann-Lasky and her stylish cohorts Melanie Fischmann and Suzie Allain are referring to the Lifetime TV series in which two best friends and interior designers travel the country for great finds. Driven by a similar passion, KuhlmannLasky, Fischmann and Allain joined forces earlier this year to open Caravan inside Agora on Magazine Street. “We were hanging out and realized we all had this shared passion,” Allain says. “Each person had thought about taking that collecting passion to the next level of sales, and once we were all together, it fueled that. It’s … a lot of fun.” “It’s a great avenue for our creativity,” Fischmann adds. “It’s shopping without the guilt.” All three friends describe their love for art and design as an addiction with a hereditary component that’s been fine-tuned by their surroundings, education and experiences. A part-time nurse and Minnesota native, Kuhlmann-Lasky was raised in homes renovated by her father, who had an affinity for architecture, and her mother, an interior designer. Thibodaux native Fischmann, whose father is a master carpenter and whose mother had an interiors shop, honed her visual instincts as a classically trained dancer, a fine arts student and later as an art dealer. New Orleans native
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VintAgE cOstumE jEwElry FischmAnn cOllEcts tO sEll At AgOrA.
Allain has worked as a designer for 20 years, holds a degree in interior design, has shown her paintings in local galleries and studies at the Academy of Fine Arts. All three women have children attending Isidore Newman School, where Kuhlmann-Lasky and Fischmann are now in their second year chairing Garage-a-Rama, the school’s garage sale fundraiser. But the friends’ differences are just as crucial to their business’s success as their commonalities. Though all relish the challenge of reworking vintage treasures, each has a unique approach. Kuhlmann-Lasky favors strong colors with a hip, urban sensibility and a hint of humor. Fischmann leans toward time-honored antiques juxtaposed with glamorous 20th century design ranging from Hollywood Regency to ’70s Moderne. Allain interprets traditional ideas and bold colors with a bohemian twist. “I allow myself that freedom, but my clients are a different story,” Allain says. “I strive to cultivate their own individual style.” When buying for Caravan, the friends have one rule of thumb: Each looks for unusual things she would put in her own home. It’s proved to be a winning formula: Designers, locals, tourists and big-budget movies and videos have snapped up merchandise. “There have been some things that have caused one or more of us to raise an eyebrow,” Fischmann
ABOVE: FischmAnn FOund hEr hEAdBOArd At A gArAgE sAlE And hAd it pAintEd And rEuphOlstErEd. hEr FAthEr mAdE thE End tABlEs; shE thEn hAd thEm wrAppEd in silVEr-tOnEd grAss clOth. A mid-cEntury mEtAl wAll hAnging is ABOVE thE BEd. thE lAmps wErE OriginAlly in thE windsOr cOurt hOtEl. FischmAnn FOund thE chEst OF drAwErs At An EstAtE sAlE And FrEshEnEd it with pAint; thE mirrOr ABOVE cAmE FrOm A cOnsignmEnt shOp; thE lightOliEr chAndEliEr is A VintAgE mOdEl FrOm thE 1970s, And thE curtAins ArE FrOm pEyrOux’s. “wOrking with A BudgEt FOrcEs yOu tO BE mOrE dAring And crEAtiVE,” FischmAnn sAys.
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left: Melanie fischMann in the foyer of her lake terrace hoMe. the Mirror and console were in the house when the fischManns purchased it. fischMann added the crystal laMps and Mid-century barware.
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page 21
ABOVE: SuziE AllAin guttEd thE cOttAgE’S fOrmEr pOrch And dESignEd A Sunny kitchEn. thE VictOriAn-StylE chAndEliErS (thrOugh SuziE AllAin intEriOrS), cArrErA mArBlE cOuntErtOpS And clASSic cABinEtS ArE A nOd tO thE cOttAgE’S 1903 ErA. BEntwOOd cOuntEr StOOlS frOm crAtE & BArrEl. lEft: AllAin wAllpApErEd thE intEriOr Of hEr kitchEn cABinEtS with A chArcOAl-And-whitE chinOiSEriE pAttErn. thE VintAgE cOOkiE jAr, which ShE purchASEd At A flEA mArkEt, hAS SincE BEEn rEiSSuEd By AnthrOpOlOgiE.
“Working with a budget forces you to be more daring and creative,” Fischmann says.
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says. “But it always sells,” all three say in spontaneous unison. “I bought this goat,” Kuhlmann-Lasky says. “It must have been part of a nativity scene. I just couldn’t walk away from it. It sold after just a few days.” The goods are displayed in a way that simulates an inviting living space. Agora customers browsing through the eclectic mix of furniture, art and other decorative wares frequently sit and relax in the Caravan booth. For a time, one businessman with a nearby office visited daily to enjoy the ambience. “We’re always bringing things back and forth with the mandate of keeping it fresh,” Allain says. “We like to show people how they can use the pieces.” Customers have responded by buying more than one piece at a time so they can repeat the effect for themselves. To keep Caravan stocked with unique items, the business partners attend auctions, estate sales, flea markets, tag sales and design centers in and out of state and cultivate a closely guarded list of vendors. When auction bidding gets hot and an anonymous phone caller scoops a purchase coveted by the designing trifecta, they share a joke: “We always say the phone bidder is Kelly Wearstler,” Kuhlmann-Lasky says, referencing the world-famous designer. “We’re sad when something gets away,” Fischmann adds. “But not for long. We know something spectacular is out there waiting for us to claim it.”
LEFT: Nora KuhLmaNN-LasKy wEars a viNTagE drEss iN hEr diNiNg room, which is FurNishEd ENTirELy wiTh viNTagE piEcEs. shE picKEd up ThE diNiNg TabLE aT aucTioN For $75 aNd purchasEd ThE chairs oN magaziNE sTrEET 18 yEars ago. shE FouNd ThE chaNdELiEr aT a paris FLEa marKET aNd ThE ELEphaNTs — oNE oF hEr TradEmarK whimsicaL TouchEs — oN craigsLisT. ThE 1970s oraNgE dragoNFLy wiNgbacK chairs camE From a LocaL FLEa marKET. bELow: KuhLmaNN-LasKy’s 15-yEar-oLd daughTEr’s room was iNspirEd by ThE FamiLy’s FourmoNTh sabbaTicaL iN ENgLaNd. KuhLmaNN-LasKy FouNd ThE chEsT oN ThE sidE oF ThE road aNd paiNTEd iT wiTh a uNioN JacK. shE addEd NEw shadEs wiTh ribboN To ThE crysTaL Lamps, which wErE origiNaLLy iN ThE wiNdsor courT hoTEL. ThE chair camE From garagE-a-rama — LasKy paiNTEd iT aNd had iT rEuphoLsTErEd. cENTury oLd haNd-paiNTEd ENgLish priNTs From dop aNTiquEs haNg abovE ThE chEsT aNd arE pairEd wiTh sTaFFordshirE dogs FouNd aT aucTioN. rug aNd pENdaNT FixTurE From iKEa.
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PERSPECTIVES
CUE THE INTERVIEW
oN design By lee cutrone
designer tara shaw and mary mcdonald of million dollar decorators talk shop.
photo of tara shaw by linda hall
N
ew Orleans-based antiques dealer and designer Tara Shaw specializes in French, Italian and Swedish antiques and designs her own line of reproductions, Tara Shaw Maison. Mary McDonald is a Los Angeles-based interior designer whose work has been featured in national and international magazines including House Beautiful, Veranda and Vogue. She became a household name this year when she was featured in the Bravo reality series Million Dollar Decorators. On Friday, Nov. 18, McDonald will spend an evening at Tara Shaw antiques (1240 Camp St., 525-1131; www.tarashaw.com) signing her book, Mary McDonald Interiors: The Allure of Style (Rizzoli New York). Here, the two discuss McDonald’s book, her work, her love of design and her take on New Orleans. 24 CUE
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photo of Mary Mcdonald courtesy of rizzoli new york
Tara Shaw: Tell us about your book. Mary McDonalD: It’s a compilation of carefully edited design work spanning the last decade. I subtitled the book The Allure of Style because for me, design really is about style, and true style is seductive and alluring. Style is not necessarily any one look or period, but a marriage of vision and balance. TS: You’ve had a stellar career. What it is about your style that makes so many want to emulate it?
People are responding to my complete artistic commitment to style, whether it’s the mood of my dress or a dining room. If I’m working a ’70s look, I MM:
commit to a metallic wall graphic, or I get the jewelry and hair right. I go the extra step. I take time to collect items that appear personal to the room or outfit. Sometimes it doesn’t even make financial sense to do so, but quite often, that’s what makes the difference between my work and someone else’s. TS: You began your career as a milliner. I also went from fashion to design. Did coming from the fashion world help you as an interior designer? MM: Yes and no. Yes, because all design is interrelated — you’re still working with form, color, texture and balance. No, because interior design has such a different infrastructure business-wise that you
CUE THE INTERVIEW
PERSPECTIVES
really just learn from exposure and experience. The scale is so different in fashion that it really is a big learning curve technically to make that jump. TS:
What are some of the themes in your work?
MM: The base of my work is truly classicism, although sometimes it’s not that blatant. I’m a real lover of pairs in the most classic sense. If I create a base of balance in my furniture placement, I’m much more free to layer with asymmetrical, one-of-a-kind pieces. I often do this through flanking pairs of chairs, brackets and vases off one major piece of furniture. I also make sure my color schemes are weighted evenly throughout a room. TS:
What do you think antiques do for a room?
MM: I love antiques and the visual and emotional texture they give a room. Even the most modern interior benefits from Greek klismos chairs or an antique bust on a pedestal. Antiques add human warmth. TS:
Do you have any favorite resources in New Orleans?
MM: M.S. rau Antiques has great antique estate jewelry and some silver. of course, Tara Shaw Antiques, and then there is also Piranesi Classic Antiques & Decoration, Kevin Stone Antiques, Disegno Karina Gentinetta and Mac Maison, ltd. for some mid-century glamour. TS: What’s your top design tip for someone wants to recreate the kinds of interiors featured in your book? MM: Short of hiring me, keep it simple and balance your furniture plan with your color scheme. I keep it to five colors and no more than five different patterns and solids. Make sure your most saturated colors are evenly placed, or have an equally saturated counterpart in another part of the room. Then, pop it up a bit and throw in something of contrast, be it white or a lighter shade. rely on a pair or two of something to give a sense of classicism. A pair of urns on pedestals is a bit of a trademark for me. one odd personal collection goes a long way, be it half a dozen old hat blocks or collector-quality shells. There’s no way to give one explanation for the multitude of room possibilities, but a few of these themes always seem to be present in my interiors.
Decorating aDvice
FroM MAry MCDonAlD
1
Don’t try to do every style all at once. I love every type of interior, but not all together.
2
Good design is really about balance. Don’t fight a small, dark room with a light color. It will never be light, so utilize more saturated hues in dark rooms. Make them jewels, and you will make it special.
3
Address glamour sparingly. Pair glamour pieces (like crystal lamps, silver leaf tea paper or a vintage mirrored vanity) with something cleaner and less old-school: contemporary metal chairs or streamlined bookshelves.
4
Keep shiny elements (crystal, mirrors, metallics) to no more than three items. Cut down to two if it becomes overbearing.
5
One odd personal collection goes a long way. Don’t have little bits and pieces all over, as it does not say “collection” or show clarity. A lacer or wood tray can give meaning and importance to a set of objects.
IMAGES FROM THE AllURE OF STYlE, COURTESY OF RIZZOLI NEW YORK
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swap for kids is a consignment boutique specializing in fine children’s apparel, accessories and maternity. ages 0-12
children’s consignment
visit us to shop or consign 7722
maple street swapforkids.com
504.218.5996 +
every designer label you can think of, in one little shop clothes • bags • accessories
designer
consignment visit us to shop or consign 504.304.6025 +
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7716 maple street swapboutique.com
MEN
PH OTOS BY JA SO N KRUPPA GRO OMIN G BY DAV ID JINX F O R PA RIS PA RKER
T
OF
he Rubensteins Men’s Style Awards began with a question: Who are the most stylish men in New Orleans? We posed that query to you, our readers, and received more than 70 nominations. Our panel of judges (musician Jeremy Davenport, Allison Marshall of Rubensteins, Gambit publisher and CEO Margo DuBos, and me) narrowed it down to 10 finalists and then put the final decision in our readers’ capable hands. More than 2,000 votes poured in. Without further ado, here are the three gentlemen you voted Men of Style. I tip my hat to these individuals — and to those who voted for them — for their unerring taste. — Missy Wilkinson
STYLE
BRENNAN MANUEL
FASHION DESIGNER, CAMRICH MANN “My style is what I call relaxed elegance; you don’t want to be uncomfortable in an effort to be stylish. The essence of style is a three-headed Hydra: knowing what looks good on your body, confidence and wearing clothes appropriate for the weather. Being a designer used to inform my style, as I would try to interpret certain looks I saw on the runway. However, now I’m more influenced by my own ideas and stylish people I see on the street. New Orleans’ style can go from quirky to bohemian to affluent Uptown and everything in between. There’s a lot of potential here.” ON BRENNAN: PAUL SMITH GRAY FIVE-POCKET PANTS, $265, FORSYTH PLAID SHIRT, $105, PAUL SMITH HENLEY, $265, HUGO BOSS SLIM CASHMERE TOP COAT, $875, J SHOES WINGTIP BOOTS (ON THE COVER), $235, ALL FROM RUBENSTEINS.
“
New Orleans’ style can go from quirky to bohemian to affluent Uptown and everything in between. DEC E M B E R.2 0 1 1 <<<
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“
page 27
John StephenS InterIor DesIgner at John stephens DesIgn (www.Johnmstephens.com) “I consider the essence of style to be appropriateness in every occasion while still representing yourself in the best possible light. I don’t follow fashion but am enamored with classic style: Cary Grant and Gary Cooper are two men I consider style icons. I shop at a variety of places and have found pieces integral to my wardrobe at places ranging from Target to Rubensteins. I describe my style as classic with an edge — much like the city I now call home.” On JOhn: ErmEnEgildO ZEgna FrEnch cuFF drEss shirt, $285, tracEy mayEr antiquE chinEsE cOin cuFFlinks, $500, bOth at Rubensteins (102 st. charlEs avE., 581-6666; www.rubEnstEinsnEwOrlEans.cOm). JOhn’s Own gray cashmErE trOusErs by ralph laurEn, Jack victOr blaZEr and gOld silk brOOks brOthErs tiE. On the cOver: JOhn’s Own navy vElvEt smOking JackEt FrOm brOOks brOthErs, impErial bluE vElvEt slippErs by prada and navy paislEy sOcks by pOlO ralph laurEn. ballin Flat-FrOnt drEss slack, $195, ErmEnEgildO ZEgna FrEnch cuFF drEss shirt, $285, bOth at rubEnstEins.
“
I don’t follow fashion but am enamored with classic style: Cary Grant and Gary Cooper are two men I consider style icons.
“ 28 CUE
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“
By working in a luxury department store, I get to see the current trends, and I have access to the key pieces, because they’re all around me.
“
Michael May Jewelry specialist at saks FiFth avenue “My style has a European influence. I’m not afraid to mix pieces and patterns. Once those pieces are combined, tailoring is key. Most of my days are spent in a suit, and a well-tailored suit goes a long way. By working in a luxury department store, I get to see the current trends, and I have access to the key pieces, because they’re all around me. Being original and being able to coordinate pieces from everywhere into one cohesive look is the essence of style, and health and fitness are a huge part of personal style. Looking great and feeling great go hand in hand.” On Michael: Paul SMith SliM-cut herringbOne Suit, $1,500, ralPh lauren SliM fit white dreSS Shirt, $275, erMenegildO Zegna tie, $185, and ScarPe di biancO handMade wingtiP ShOe with PerfOratiOnS (On the cOver), $895, all at rubenSteinS. Michael’S Own nOa watch frOM SakS fifth avenue.
Special thanks to Rubensteins Men’s Style Awards sponsors Bombay Dry Gin, Earthsavers, Paris Parker Aveda, Premier Fitness, St. Charles Vision and Walk-Ons. Thanks to New Orleans Athletic Club for hosting our photo shoot.
DEC E M B E R.2 0 1 1 <<<
CUE 29
RUBENSTEINS
MEN’S STYLE AWARDS FINALIST ANNOUNCEMENT EVENT WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 28TH AT RUBENSTEINS THE TOP 10 FINALISTS; (TOP ROW) SHELDON WILLIAMS, DARREN CRUMPTON (BOTTOM ROW FROM LEFT) LUKE WINSLOW-KING, ANRI MIMS, MICHAEL MAY, JOHN STEPHENS, ADAM ALLEN, SHAUN SMITH, BRENNAN MANUEL, BARRY BOSSIER
ANDRE RUBENSTEIN WELCOMES EVENT ATTENDEES AMANDA MCFILLEN AND MARCEL MATA.
MEN’S STYLE AWARDS NOMINEE CHET POURCIAU (CENTER) CONVERSES WITH DONNA AND JOE RASPANTI.
THE RUBENSTEINS MEN’S STYLE AWARDS JUDGING PANEL(FROM LEFT): ALLISON MARSHALL, MARGO DUBOS, JEREMY DAVENPORT AND MISSY WILKINSON
30 CUE
RUBENSTEINS MENS STYLE AWARD WINNER MICHAEL MAY POSES WITH AIME’E GOWLAND (LEFT) AND CONNIE GOWLAND (RIGHT)
> > > D EC EM BER .2011
MARGO DUBOS, JEREMY DAVENPORT AND KENNY RUBENSTEIN PREPARE TO ANNOUNCE THE 10 FINALISTS.
Warm Up For Fall
SCARVES & WRAPS
DEC E M B E R.2 0 1 1 <<<
CUE 31
GET A
N
LO EN YS SA P A IR O ND A H OW O NNM O
MASSAGE
RELAX. RENEW. RECONNECT.
HAIR SALON NAIL SPA MASSAGE FACIALS facial
massage
WAXING YOGA GEL MANICURES
KERATIN TREATMENTS GIFT CARDS AVAILABLE 6312 Argonne Blvd. | 504.482.2219 Open Mon-Sat | www.myspabythepark.com twitter.com/MYSPAbythepark
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LUSTERPHILE
BEAUTY
HOME-GROWN NOURISH YOUR SKIN WITH THESE NEW SKIN-CARE LINES, BOTH FORMULATED, PRODUCED AND PACKAGED RIGHT HERE IN NEW ORLEANS. BY ALEX PENCE
BEAUTY
GREEN
EVANGELINE
I
n a chemically enhanced world, it’s not easy to find beauty and skin-care products without artificial ingredients and fragrances. Free from irritants like parabens, sulfates and petroleum byproducts, Green Evangeline’s all-natural skin-care products are completely organic and suitable for sensitive skin. Each one is formulated and made to order by 24-year-old Megan Graves, founder of Green Evangeline. (Disclosure: Megan is the daughter of Gambit managing editor Kandace Graves.) A Tulane University graduate, Graves is a certified postpartum doula who developed an interest in holistic treatments through her part-time job at Earthsavers. “I began taking herbal classes and loved how empowered they made me feel,” Graves says. With offerings like Baby Bump Pregnancy Body Oil, aloe and carrot seed whipped lotion, and san-
dalwood cold cream and moisturizer, Graves creates natural balms and salves that promote personal nurturing and healing. “I keep it simple, local and I use ingredients that the body recognizes easily,” she says. Graves collects many of the ingredients that go in to her products by biking around town and picking plants where they naturally grow. She cites elderberry as a prime example, a plant that grows bountifully Uptown, in Mid-City and in Lakeview. Green Evangeline prices range from $3 for a 1/2-oz. jar of Soothing and Healing Bee Salve to $30 for an 8-oz. container of Baby Bump Body Oil. Graves’ products are all produced in New Orleans and can be purchased at www.etsy.com/shop/GreenEvangeline. The products are gentle, appropriate for all skin types and, according to Graves, “handmade with a lot of love.”
MEGAN MAKES GREEN EVANGELINE PRODUCTS BY HAND USING PHOTO GRAVES BY CHERYL GERBER LOCAL INGREDIENTS.
MARIE SKINCARE
R
ROB OWEN AND MARY CAROL CHENET SAY THEIR LOCALLY CREATED SKIN-CARE LINE IS “BY AND FOR THE PEOPLE OF NEW ORLEANS.”
ob Owen and Mary Carol Chenet’s love affair with the Crescent City is reflected in their anti-aging skin-care line. Everything from the names of products (among them, “Rebirth” and “Soul Sister”) to the product packaging, which emulates blue-lettered street tiles, reflects New Orleans. “Marie Skincare puts the city front and center, and ultimately strives to celebrate the joy and passion of New Orleans,” Owen says. The antioxidant-rich skin-care line is based on locally made and manufactured products whose formulas Rob Owens’ father sold to several well-known international skin-care lines. The products contain ingredients his wife Mary Carol Chenet has been using for more than 14 years. However, Chenet and Owen felt the hometown appeal of the product had been lost, since many customers didn’t realize the products they’d been using for years were created locally. Owen and Chenet decided to reformulate and rebrand the skin-care line to more clearly reflect its roots. “This is truly a product line developed by and for the people of New Orleans,” Chenet says. “All product testing and focus groups have been local.” Products range from $10-$25, and each contains all-natural, high-grade ingredients to brighten and tighten the skin. Marie Skincare employs components normally found in luxury skin-care lines, such as retinols and amino acids that support collagen production. The products were made for all types of skin and can be used by people of all ages. “Marie Skincare is all about how the product feels and the results you get from it, which are are very immediate,” Owen says. Marie Skincare products are for sale at Earthsavers (Lakeside Shopping Center, 3301 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Suite 140, Metairie, 835-0225; 3414 Hwy. 190, Mandeville, 985-674-1133; 5501 Magazine St., 899-8555; www.earthsaversonline.com)and Spa Aria (Hotel Monteleone, 214 Royal St., 523-9990; www.spaaria.com). For more information or to purchase online, visit www.begoodrocks.com. DEC E M B E R.2 0 1 1 <<<
CUE 33
Bonne Fete Make your holiday shopping easy. gift cards are available
1915 Hickory Ave ( just minutes off of Earhart in River Ridge)
(504) 324-2454 • www.facebook.com/hickor ychicksboutique
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FASHION KIDS WILL HAVE A BALL IN THESE FESTIVE HOLIDAY ENSEMBLES.
CUE K I D S
FA S H I O N
FOR PINT-SIZED
PARTIERS
BY MORGAN RIBER A
RED DRESS WITH SHEER OVERLAY, $290 AT ANGELIQUE BABY (5519 MAGAZINE ST., 899-8992).
TRAIN SEATER VEST SET, $45 AT AURALUZ (4408 SHORES DRIVE, METAIRIE, 888-3313; WWW.SHOPAURALUZ.COM).
GOLD POLKA DOT DRESS, $104 AT ANGELIQUE BABY.
RED AND GREEN PLAID SHIRT, $37 AT LITTLE LAUGHTER (5530 MAGAZINE ST., 897-4880).
PAGE 36
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CUE 35
FA S H I O N
CUE K I D S
PAGE 35
CHAMPAGNE TIERED DRESS, $162 AT ANGELIQUE BABY BABY.
GREEN BISHOP DRESS, $60 AT AURALUZ.
RED AND GRAY SWEATER VEST, $44 AT LITTLE LAUGHTER.
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> > > D EC EM BER .2011
GREEN CORDUROY PANTS, $37 AT LITTLE LAUGHTER.
RED ONESIE, $96 AT ANGELIQUE BABY.
clothing, shoes & accessories
Holiday Gifts under $60
create a buzz 8438 oak street corner of joliet & oak parking lot in rear
mon - fri 10-6 sat 11-6
Party Dresses under $200
(504) 324-3488 www.abeillenola.com
DEC E M B E R.2 0 1 1 <<<
CUE 37
LOOKING & FEELING GOOD
hEad 2 TOE
10 OFF $
1 HR. MASSAGE Thru December
your body. your mind. your life. A yoga and personal training studio Attack your “holiday pounds” now! Start an exercise program today and you won’t have anything to lose! GROUP TRAINING, YOGA, AND NIA CLASSES.
8422 Oak St. • 985-640-2648
www.TransformNOLA.com
38 CUE
> > > D EC EM BER .2011
shop dogs
PePPer
pERspECTIVEs
my
favorite things ... pEopLE MARdI gRAs BEAds ChEEsE dog TREATs FRoM FRANCEs’ BAKERY TENNIs BALLs
TexT and phoTos By
nicole carroll
W
hen shoppers come to Estate Treasures (2014 Magazine St., 679-6600) in the Lower Garden District, they sometimes find it difficult to leave. “If customers go to walk out the door, (Pepper) will stand in front of them (and) put her head right on their hip, as if she’s saying, ‘Don’t leave,’” Sean Matthew says of his red Doberman pinscher, who spends her days at the store. In 2008, Estate Treasures owner Ken Harper purchased the shop, a former antiques mall. He turned it into a consignment shop offering goods ranging from furniture and household items to art and tchotchkes. It’s where 12-year-old Pepper spends her days. Pepper, or Miss Pepper as Harper likes to call her, was rescued by Matthew’s father when she was a pup. Her mother had been abandoned while pregnant. Perhaps fear of a similar fate is responsible for Pepper’s relentless drive to socialize. If left alone, Pepper will find a way to seek out company. “She can open doors,” Harper says. “If I leave her upstairs, she’ll open the door and come down herself.” She also loves to go to work and mingle with customers. “That’s all I’ve got to say early in the morning, I say, ‘Wanna go see the people?’ and she gets excited,” Matthew says. While Pepper loves people, she is also an effective guard dog. “If someone comes in and tries to get behind my counter, she’ll bark and she won’t let them,” Harper says. “She’s a protective dog.” Though hostile toward intruders, Pepper gets
along well with other animals. She has her own feline companion, Harper’s Siamese cat Westbank. “They get along real well,” Harper says. Pepper enjoys frolicking with the other dogs at Coliseum Square Park. She does not, however, care too much for the two birds Harper recently acquired that now reside in the store. “I think she’s jealous of them,” Harper says, laughing. “She’s not getting all the attention.” Pepper is both attention- and water-seeking. “If she sees water, even the Mississippi River, she’ll jump right in,” Matthew says. “I had to go into the Mississippi River one time and get her because she wouldn’t come out.” Because she likes water so much, she finds regular baths a treat rather than a nuisance. “I bathe her about once every week or so, and she gets right in the bathtub,” Harper says. “She likes to get baths.” Pepper does have one slightly odd pastime: “She likes to strip tennis balls,” Matthew says. “She’ll tear the skin right off the tennis balls, and she’ll sit there for hours until she gets that thing.” Pepper has been known to go through a bag of 50 tennis balls in about a month. Ever the lady, Pepper often can be found wearing beads or modeling a pair of sunglasses. She sometimes wears a “sold” tag on her collar — just so there’s no question about where she belongs. “People say, ‘How much is the dog?’” Harper says. “I say, ‘She’s already purchased. She’s not for sale.’” DEC E M B E R.2 0 1 1 <<<
CUE 39
YOU DO THE COOKING WE’LL DO THE DISHES
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4437 VETERANS BLVD., METAIRIE, LA 70006 • 504.888.2300 • FAX: 504.888.1911 SALES@NORDICKITCHENS.COM • NORDICKITCHENS.COM PROMOTION VALID ONLY ON SELECT THERMADOR MODELS. TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE FREE APPLIANCES OFFERED IN THIS PROMOTION, ALL OTHER APPLIANCES MUST BE PURCHASED AT THEIR REGULAR PRICE, IN ONE ORDER, AND AT THE SAME TIME. PRODUCTS MUST BE PURCHASED DURING THE PROMOTION PERIOD. NO SUBSTITUTIONS WILL BE ALLOWED. MAY NOT BE COMBINED WITH ANY OTHER OFFERS. OFFER VALID IN THE U.S. ONLY. VALID AT PARTICIPATING LOCATIONS. PRODUCT OFFER MAY VARY IN SOME STATES. PLEASE SEE SALES ASSOCIATE FOR COMPLETE DETAILS. OFFER EXPIRES DECEMBER 31, 2011. ELIGIBLE MODELS FOR “STEP UP TO SAPPHIRE” INCLUDE DWHD650GFP, DWHD650GPR, DWHD651GFP. TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE WINE LOVER’S BONUS AND THE FREE SAPPHIRE DISHWASHER, CUSTOMER MUST PURCHASE ELIGIBLE COOKING PRODUCTS PLUS ELIGIBLE MODELS INCLUDE DWHD650GFP AND DWHD650GPR) #6510-0102
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