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Claude and Francois-Xavier Lalanne's Sculptures to Graze on Park Avenue

CasaSugar — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 05:30:19 -0700

In conjunction with the Paul Kasmin Gallery, the New York City Parks Public Art Program will debut the first ever, large-scale outdoor exhibition in the US of Claude & François-Xavier
Lalanne’s sculptures along Park Avenue from Sept. 13 to Nov. 20.

The exhibit, on multiple sites along Park, will include more than eight monumental works by the influential couple, including François-Xavier’s famed "Moutons," which I've featured on CasaSugar before. The epoxy and bronze woolly animals will be featured in a life-size flock of 12 sheep and lambs.

Hear about other works in the exhibit when you read more.

Some of the exhibit's other best-known works will be featured, including Claude's "Pomme de New York," a large-scale bronze sculpture of an apple, epitomizing the city’s iconic image; François-Xavier’s "Singe Avisé," a pensive, cross-legged monkey; and Claude's "Choupatte," an anthropomorphized cabbage with bird’s feet.

If you happen to be in Manhattan during the exhibition, you simply must stop by. Not only is it the first major outdoor show of the Lalannes’ work, but it's also a very rare treat to see the pieces in person. That is, unless you are Marc Jacobs, who owns his very own Lalanne sheep.

Photo courtesy of Paul Kasmin Gallery

Casa Shops: Taigan

CasaSugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:00:41 -0800

As the list of online designer sample sales grows, a new web shop has opened with a slightly different business plan. Taigan is a community of over 30 (and growing) specialty shops, boutiques, and galleries nationwide for members only. The site offers access to small, upscale shops in cities as far and wide as Chattanooga, TN and Aspen, CO, which may not otherwise have an ecommerce site.

Taigan gets its name from a rare hunting dog which is said to have "a discerning eye and keen sense of awareness," an analogy for the company, which hunt for all things little-known and beautiful around the country. Purveyor of art, antiques, home décor, fashion, and jewelry you'd be hard-pressed to find elsewhere online, Taigan does seem to have a card up its sleeve. But, after your 14-day trial is complete, membership costs $15 a month or $165 per year. For the average shopper, I'm not sure the cost is justifiable, but it certainly might be worth it for an interior designer.

FabSugar Exclusive! Taylor Jacobson, A Lady Who Lunches . . . With an Edge

FabSugar — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:45:22 -0800

All good things must come to an end. And that includes Rachel Zoe's work relationship with her platinum-blond style associate, Taylor Jacobson. You either loved her or hated her - but you have to admit you loved her wardrobe. I couldn't shut up about her awesome jackets; Chanel, Dries van Noten, Balenciaga, sigh. You may recall I spoke with Rachel at the beginning of this last season of The Rachel Zoe Project and she shared that Taylor has a heart of gold. I'm sure Taylor's leaving Rachel Zoe was melancholy for all parties involved - the two have worked together since January 2005. I know I will miss drooling over her jackets and watching her and Brad's banter.

We caught up with Taylor this week, and though she didn't divulge details about her departure, she has a positive outlook on life - something we seldom see from the show's supposed villain. And, can I just add, Taylor gives Fab favorite Diane Kruger props for having stellar style - great minds . . . Listen up.

What should we expect to see from you in the next year?

I look forward to exploring styling on my own and the new opportunities and experiences it is going to bring.

Who are your go-to designers right now?

Chris Benz, Alexander Wang, and Prabal Gurung.

Whose style do you admire?

I think Diane Kruger has great style and even more impressive is that she does it herself.

To read the rest of the interview and to see a gallery of Taylor on TRZP, read more.

How would you describe your style?

Ladies who lunch with an edge.

Has being on TV changed your style at all?

No. I think I have always been true to my sense of style.

What was your last big splurge?

I’m trying to be recession savvy at the moment.

What are the most ridiculous trends right now?

I don’t think that anything is ridiculous, you can always make something work with the right styling.

I will never be caught dead in . . .

There is nothing I won’t try.

Most overrated designer? Most underrated?

I respect the art form of design, and I think they should all be respected for sharing their art with us.

Have you ever considered designing your own line of clothing or accessories?

At this point I’m entertaining all ideas. I am walking into this new chapter with an open mind.

View 11 Photos ›

Photos courtesy of Bravo

Kylie and Julianne Get Arty, While Dannii Dishes to Piers

PopSugarUK — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 04:07:46 -0700

Kylie Minogue was glowing at an Art Awards event in New York City yesterday, wearing a shimmering nude dress and sparkly shoes. Earlier she'd looked casual wearing some large geek chic black rimmed glasses and a checked shirt as she arrived in the city at JFK airport, but she glammed up for the event which she attended alongside Julianne Moore. Accompanied by her hubby Bart Freundlich, Julianne looked fab in her slate grey dress.

Kylie's sister Dannii Minogue will appear on Piers Morgan's Life Stories this weekend to talk about some tough times in her life including doing her nude shoot in Playboy to get out of debt, and also talking about Kylie's battle with cancer. She revealed that the family are still cautious regarding the illness, particularly as her sister hasn't reached the five year all clear mark yet. Will you watch tomorrow night?

To see more photos of Kylie and Julianne, just read more.

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Ask Casa: Framing Fine Photography

CasaSugar — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:00:13 -0800

Hi Casa,

I am adding, for the first time ever, fine photography to my apartment. However I am at a loss when it comes to framing styles and arrangement.

One set of four photographs is horizontally-oriented and black-and-white. I'd like this set in my bedroom but don't know how to arrange them so they look more interesting seeing that they're all horizontal. Tips? Regarding framing them, I'd like to know which types of frames (color, matting, etc.) you recommend for my room seeing that the walls are white but most of the accessory pieces in my room are either antique brown wood or a few wood pieces I've painted bright coral and Yves Klein blue. Are white frames my best bet? Can you frame b&w photographs in brown wood?

The other set of photographs are two color photographs, also horizontally-oriented, that will be nearly facing each other on opposite walls. Tips on framing, matting, and color? They need not match, do they?

I appreciate any tips you might be able to offer me!

Best,
Daniela

To see my suggestions for Daniela, read more.

Hi Daniela,

How exciting! First of all, I wouldn't worry too much about making them "look more interesting" - adding fine art to your home will instantly give it a face-lift regardless of how it's arranged! But, I'll give you a few tips.

As for color, I do think white frames are your best bet. They won't compete with the artwork, and they go with everything. But, you can also go with silver or stainless steel for a more contemporary look. And yes, you can definitely frame black and white photography in brown wood. Another option is to use frameless glass clip frames, which have a more contemporary, minimal look.

I'd say for the set of four photographs, keep the frames cohesive. If you want to choose two different mat colors for the set, you can do that to give it a little edge. But don't get too crazy, maybe go with a gray mat.

For the set of two color photographs, go with a white or off-white mat. For the frames themselves, you can do two different colors or finishes if you like seeing as they'll be on different walls. Select colors that will make the images pop. But make sure the two colors don't clash.

As for arrangements, one option is to use picture ledges. This style allows you to easily move around your photography when it's feeling stale. You can also add a smaller piece of artwork, or even a knickknack, to play with scale. A layering effect (setting one frame slightly in front of the other) is nice, too.

You can't go wrong with a box-shaped arrangement. Just make sure you keep them evenly spaced.

You can also hang two rows of frames a bit off-kilter from one another. It should be enough that the arrangement doesn't look like a mistake, but not too much that the bottom frame is hung between the top two. If you choose an off-kilter arrangement, make sure the distance between the top two frames and between the bottom two frames is the same.

Or, if you happen to have a really long wall, you can hang the four of them side by side. This will give you more of an art gallery effect.

Hope that helps!
Cheers, Casa

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Lily and Gwyneth Go For Bare Faced Chic at Art Fair

PopSugarUK — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 08:19:00 -0700

Lily Allen went for the natural look at the Frieze Art Fair in London yesterday, showing off her glowing skin without any makeup on as she took in the art on display. Also attending - and possibly looking to add a few pieces to her collection - was Gwyneth Paltrow, who similarly shunned the foundation and was beautifully bare faced. Gwyneth's buddy Stella McCartney accompanied her to the art show, wearing some huge shades that she kept on indoors, as did Razorlight's Johnny Borrell. Looks like the natural look is back!

To see more photos of Lily, Gwyneth and others, including Eva Herzigova, at the art fair, just read more.

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11 Female Photographers Who Rock My World

TresSugar — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 15:37:56 -0700

Photography is one of my favorite mediums, and unlike many other art forms dominated by men, female photographers have played a crucial role in shaping and helping photography to develop. From the photojournalism of Margaret Bourke-White to the movie stills of nonexistent films by Cindy Sherman, female photographers continue to seize life as it's lived in the world and in the mind.

View Slideshow ›

Without Baby Bronx, They Are Just Pete and Ashlee

PopSugar — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 10:00:46 -0800

Ashlee Simpson made her first post-baby debut Monday night and was out again yesterday for Pete Wentz's "Without You I'm Just Me" art gallery opening in LA. Ashlee's whole family joined in on the fun, including Jessica matching her sister in stripes. Nicole Richie seems to travel with both Madden boys these days, and hopefully she and Joel can pass on some tips to their friends Ashlee and Pete on being a new parent. Pete must be proud of his original artwork with Travis McCoy but especially happy to have all of his friends and family come to support him.

To see more photos of the stars supporting Pete, just read more.

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Images include: Ashlee Simpson, Joel Madden, Nicole Richie, Pete Wentz, Jessica Simpson, Joe Simpson, Benji Madden, Travis McCoy

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Come Fab Finding With Me: Art Gallery Attire

FabSugar — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 12:14:55 -0700

I'm headed to a friend's art opening tomorrow at a hip downtown gallery, and I want to wear something that's bold and edgy but won't take away too much from the art. I just stumbled on this highly versatile Karen Zambos Vintage Couture Cap Sleeve Tunic, available for $297 here. This top presents all sorts of possibilities-tall black boots? skinny jeans? enormous earrings?-for creating a mod, artsy look. So let's all go Fab Finding to complete the outfit, and feel free to be creative. To learn what a Fab Find is and how to make one, click here. Be sure to come back and tell us all what you found. To see some of my favorite online stores to try, read more

Here are some of my favorite online stores to try:

Active Endeavors
Banana Republic
Bluefly
eLuxury
Girlshop
Jildor Shoes
Neiman Marcus
Net-a-Porter
Nordstrom
Scoop NYC
Shop Intuition
Shopbop
Styledrops
Target
Zappos

Also, we've added some all-new features to Fab Finds, which you can read all about here. As always, let us know if you have any problems!

Memories of Sophie and Gracie: Controversial Artist Dedicates Sculpture to Oprah's Deceased Dogs

PetSugar — Thu, 15 May 2008 12:45:42 -0700

When I first saw this, it took a couple minutes before I could even say anything. You're looking at a life-size monument depicting deceased pups, Gracie and Sophie, atop the head of Oprah Winfrey. Called "Memories of Sophie and Gracie: A Puppies' Memorial," the sculpture was designed by Daniel Edwards. Now his name sounded familiar to me, but I couldn't quite place it, so I googled him up – lo and behold, he's the same controversial sculptor who created that statue of Britney Spears giving birth on the bearskin rug. If you're interested in checking it out up close, it will be displayed at NYC's Leo Kesting Gallery from May 22 - June 8. Learn a little more about the reasoning behind this sculpture when you read more.

"To represent Sophie and Gracie together, joined in Oprah’s memory as they were in life and in Oprah’s heart, the artist depicted them as conjoined at the hip and sharing a common tail,” says co-director John Leo. The dogs are shown standing on the flowing-maned golden likeness of Oprah’s head, in reference to how the dogs’ deaths may be weighing heavily on Winfrey’s mind. “Losing two beloved pets within a year is likely to take its toll on anybody.”

While the artist says his intentions were to draw attention to the overlooked threat of accidental pet fatality from not pet proofing a home (Gracie choked on a ball), it's still a tad too morbid for my tastes – what do you think?

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