My blog has moved!

You will be automatically redirected in 5 seconds, or just click http://alexandrastylist.com/blog/ .
Please update your bookmarks.

Achieving Holiday Zen Zone

4 years ago I reclaimed Christmas as my own. No longer would I look to another to create my holiday joy. I decided to be in charge of my joy from then on. This year attending my yearly yoga retreat I noticed the cumulative effects of visiting such a place. I found less of a difference between the outside world and the inside retreat world. My diet is similar, my mental state overall zen, and I still enjoy a quick jaunt to the mall. Back in the city I was able to stay really focused on the task at hand-holiday cookie baking and last minute gifts. I found myself enjoying the tasks because I didn't feel scattered or overwhelmed. Now to keep this zen zone forever.....

R&R

I will be taking my yearly unplug for retreat and renewal.
I do not plan on blogging but hey you never know.
Back in a week to report back. :)
Namaste

Brooklyn Bowl the badass superstah



Hit the Brooklyn Bowl for a bday party the other cold and windy night. despite frigid temperatures the place was hopping and wait time was 4 hours. Luckily our birthday girl did some magic with the twins to expedite the experience. The trick with large parties there is to share bowling shoes. Yes, they limit the shoes they give out. It's $40 an hour per lane-this aint your laid back california bowling I grew up with. But seriously it seemed like our group was more into the idea of bowling than actually playing. It reminded me of when Remote Lounge opened up. A lot of people drinking, partying, eating, hanging just for the novelty of the experience. Blue Ribbon is doing the food and it's not on my current program but I'm sure they're making a killing. Fries with gravy and cheese???
And there's plenty or room and pockets to do everything but bowl-eat, drink at the bar, dance to the live band, or pose. It's a totally entertaining.
Just to be clear this is full on hipster land so expect to see all those cool kids doing what they do best-hanging with their crew....don't expect to make new friends it's BYO.
Brooklyn Bowl

Best new mini cupcake source in nyc

At a bowling birthday party in Brooklyn I brought mini cupcakes from Kumquat. They were such a hit I decided to blog about them. I got so many inquiries about them due to their unique flavors. I bought the assortment box and one of the cupcakes was topped with bacon. My top pick was the chocolate peppermint. I figure they are so small they've removed the guilt for the eating experience. So they bake in brooklyn and sell at the cool fleas in nyc. Right now during the holidays they are stationed at Gifted (check their site for days and times) on lafayette and 4th street.
If you want more info on this company you can visit their website or follow them on twitter.

Home Decor Style File




Agatha Helena
is very talented hair and makeup artist but also creative with the style in her home. Inspiring!
Here are some shots of some vignettes she created. The plants were to cover up an unattractive water heater and improve air quality. She's mastered the art of chic/cheap.
www.agatahelena.com

Donna Sonkin's Power Look for her Holiday Event


I've been working with Donna Sonkin and helped her determine her power colors and shapes. Here she talks about what she selected for her "Get Thin for the Holidays" Event December 8, 2009. Notice she wore one color head to toe to elongate the line and added color touches to show some personal flair. The orange red lipstick is a winner on her. The cut of the dress adds a touch of volume as pleats in the perfect spot. Enjoy! This version will play on mobile phones.

My top picks at Rubell Collection

david noonan
aneta grzeszykowska
cindy sherman
rachel harrison
rashid johnson
takashi murakami

'Beg Borrow Steal' show was a highlight of my Art Basel trip. What a difference between an art show and a well curated private collection. The Rubell's have done well for themselves and each purchase seems to be smart choice.
I was facinated by the photographs by Aneta Grzeszykowska more info: www.raster.art.pl/gallery/artists/grzeszsamga/grzeszsmaga.htm

Art Basel Miami the show



mathew monahan


luis gispert
david altmeid sold for 130k


"Like anything so far?
Too overwhelming to tell"

More like underwhelming.
Yes Basel is blue chip art and it is a huge show-impressive really. But I was left with the feeling of continuity. As if all of the artists were of the same sensibility, the same style, and almost interchangable. I didn't see a huge different between each booth. Galleries shoot me now...well Sylvester Stalone's booth which was crammed all the time was different no I re-frase UGLY. I'm just saying.
With the high price to show at this show blue chip art is derigeur to make money but I'm wondering if it's worth for galleries to avoid risk? Who suffers?
Some highlights which I enjoyed:
"SILENCE IS GOLDEN

DUCK TAPE IS SILVER"
The people watching on the VIP/Press preview during the day was phenomenal. The quality of the collectors were so high. Very well dressed in designer garb, jewels, leboutins, jimmy choos, ,limited edition louis vuitton bags, kelly bags, and much more. Women were better turned out than at fashion week. These women have the time, cash, and the style to dress. I know we are in a recession but in the first hour or probably even before the show started a bizarro piece by david atmejd sold for 120K-just pocket change for the Aby Rosen's of the world. There are sales being made.
I was anticipating the night time vernissage but it was the poor sister event-lots of flash but fake bling. Just goes to show you in the art world the REAL and VERY first view is the best.

Nina Loren Head Bling


Last night at GenArt's event I spotted this amazing head bling/hair art and met the artist. Nina Loren is based in Miami but she has a website of hand crafted jewelry. Check it out and order away. With the whole obsession with headbands, feathers, mini hats, this look is one to take off.
www.ninaloren.com
305-270-7747

GenArt-Stylish shakers







Still enjoying the BK (brooklyn) flavor of Genart's party at Aqua Art. Fashions were in full force. Performances by Overthrow and DJ's Ray Milian Off The Radar were off the hook. Art was so intoxicating they had a hard time kicking the art lovers out at the end of the night. Leave it to Ian Gerard to curate another great fete in foreign territory.Very stylish men at this party. My good friend Fritz who lives in Miami filled me in on his last 4 years as publisher of 'The greatest erotic art of today' a coffee table books which he's on version #3. He introduced me to a very interesting artist named Perego artofperego. He paints in this jacket and uses his hair as a paint brush.
This musician whose music can be downloaded at www.darkjet.com has unique style and flair for jewelry. He was filling me on the fact that his heart isn't even metal and I told him some style secrets are left unsaid.

WTF at the W



I thought I got on a plane and left New York!! Wait I did. So why am I hanging out at the bursting at the seams uber hot new W in South beach watching all of New York walk by? Art Basel week has not only brought collectors from all over the globe but the cool cats of new york who can afford to get away. Today at Pulse I saw a tall guy who I've eyed (but never met) at least 4 New York/Hamptons parties. So back to the W where my girlfriend and I are flies on the wall ie one with the the sofa-people watching through the night. There's a lot of coming and going and the killer high heels and BOOTS are astonishing. Art Nexus is having a party out by the pool and in the front bar it looks like cougar central-too much botox in that lighting for our taste. We awarded this young girl in sailors hat as top pick. Other notables were those in suped up legging versions-bedazzled and glittery, one in pink silk strapless pantsuit probably from the 70's.-belted and billowy, Naomi Campbell in a nurses hat type head piece, Farrell Williams of NERD in white t-shirt and jeans (what is it about famous people wearing clothes that look like nothing but cost a fortune???-like prada)

Fashion at Moca Miami Party









Overheard at Vanity Fair/Moca fete, 'F*% the art!' Apparently no dress code either.
Fashion wise this party is a mixed bag of art nuts. You've got the ladies who lunch and buy art all decked in designer cocktail dresses dripping in jewels and their token napping husbands, you've got the drag queen couple, woman in a Mohave desert print ensemble with tennis shoes and white socks, artists too cool to dress in white t-shirt (def not Hanes) and jeans, cute straight guys (although I don't have the pics to prove it) young hipsters doing the American apparel look, orange head trying way too hard with a sequin dress waaaaay too short, a woman wearing her dress inside out (not sure if on purpose), guy with panda bear head piece and very very small people. Very good bedroom lucite sex kitten heels.
It must be a good party..Shaggy the famous NYC party crasher is here.

Viceroy Decor Miami








You may have remember my posting about the Viceroy in Palm Spring. If you don't and you're just tuning into OFG you can access it HERE. Miami's version also designed by Kelly Wearstler is in downtown area. Uber fabulous but just doesn't have the bursting clientele. Like most condos/hotels in miami, new real estate projects are hurting. But when it catched up this place should be fierce.

MOCA ART at Vanity Fair Party

While waiting for my friends to arrive at the Vanity Fair party I had a chance to check out some of the art. Here's my favorites.


a party as paradise? what a new concept sponsor artby grolsch
cartoon fashionista-shoes in her eyes
moving collage of empire state building post cards