My uber stylish friend Linda has been raving about how beautiful the Finn Jewelry showroom is for quite some time and recently I finally had a chance to check it out and as promised, the space is stunning! Here’s a little sneak peek and be sure to check back later for the full tour!

Diane von Furstenberg has just launched a new collection of bedding and tabletop designs for the home and last week I made a special trip to Bloomingdale’s to join her as she unveiled the line to the press. I always love to see the synergy between fashion and home come to life and since Diane is truly one of my personal style icons, I was beyond excited to see what she had in store. To me Diane represents the epitome of a beautiful confident woman. She is glamorous, feminine, forever chic and her new Diane von Furstenberg Home collection is the perfect extension of her personal style and her brand. The products are bold, colorful and drop dead gorgeous! At the event Diane walked everyone through her inspiration and descripbed how the collection came about. She believes one’s home should be a key element in “designing your life” and wanted to create a line of products that were vibrant and eclectic that would appeal to her young, fashion forward customer base but also stand the test of time as pieces they can keep forever. She took her inspiration from nature, contemporary art and of course some of her most iconic fashion prints that we’ve seen in her apparel collections over the years. Have a look at some of the photos I snapped and you can check out the Diane von Furstenberg Home collection at Bloomingdales.com and DVF.com.

Here are a few limited edition pillows made of vintage fabrics that I just loved!

This animal printed duvet is called Urban Jungle and is full of sex appeal. According to Diane, an animal print “turns an every day bed into a wild adventure!”

I thought the array of colors available in the sheeting range was fantastic! Diane designed the entire bedding collection to be mixed and matched so you can create unique combinations that match your personal style.

Here are some of the bold and colorful duvets that are part of the collection. So much thought was put into every detail…even down to how the products were merchandised. Diane believes duvets have the ability to change your room completely and designed hers to look and feel like dresses for the bed which is why she chose to have them displayed on hangers just as you would a dress! Throughout her short talk Diane definitely reveal a bit of her saucy side. She remarked that she thinks one should have as many duvet covers as you would like to have lovers! Someone also asked what the secret to making a sexy bed was and she replied “turn off the lights!”

Here are more of her ready-to-wear inspired duvets along with a colorful assemblage of pillows.

DVF’s chic tabletop pieces are equally as vibrant and colorful as her bedding. You’ll find everything from glazed dinnerware and lacquered trays to chic glassware, flatware, serving pieces and even bakeware.

Many of the pieces like this dinnerware seen here feature the same prints and patterns as her bedding collection. Her assortment of flatware is modern and chic. I especially loved this gold set.

An unique element element of DVF’s dinnerware is the incorporation of abstract geometric shapes like the “Funky Zebra” plate shown here. It provides a lovely contrast to the more traditional round shaped plates. Like her bedding, the DVF dinnerware is also designed to be mixed and matched.

Pops of metallic and gold detail add an element of glamour to her tabletop pieces as seen on these fabulous gold leaf and mango wood napkin rings.

These boldly hued resin serving utensils were another favorite of mine. DVF says that “a memorable evening is all about the setting. Set the table, set the stage and the evening takes care of itself.” Perfect entertaining advice!

“Your home reflects who you are, and how you want to live.”

-Diane Von Furstenberg

Hope your day is filled with lots of love!

xoxo

Nicole

Malin Ackerman Shot by Matthew Rolston

Liz von Hoene

Jason Hindley

Vincent La Foret

Photos: Stockland Martel

Today marks the start of New York Fashion Week for the Fall 2011 season and I can’t think of a name more synonymous with fashion in this vibrant city than The New York Times’ Bill Cunningham. Before the term “street style” was even invented and before names like The Sartorialist and Garance Dore ever surfaced, Bill Cunningham was trolling the streets of New York on his Schwinn documenting the latest trends and the enviable style of high society and fashion industry fixtures for his popular column in The New York Times Styles section. Next month, a documentary that chronicles Cunningham’s storied career will hit theatres across the country in limited release. Filmmaker Richard Press spent nearly 10 years working on this film which also provides a rare glimpse into Cunningham’s daily. (He’s generally very publicity shy.) At 81 and brimming with energy, Bill Cunninham is an icon and is still snapping pictures and chronicling style on the setreets of New York City. As he puts it, “the best fashion show is definitely on the street. Always has been. Always will be.” Check out the film’s trailer below and click here to find out where Bill Cunningham New York is playing near you. Showings begin on March 16th.

Bill Cunningham New York from So Haute on Vimeo.

_{Pink Flame bedding from Jonathan Adler.}

The twice yearly New York International Gift Fair is often a launching platform for many new home decor brands while for more established brands, it’s an opportunity to showcase their latest and greatest wares. My eyes were certainly peeled for all things new and cool at the this season’s Gift Fair and here’s my roundup of the new product introductions that I thought were exceptional:

JONATHAN ADLER

A perennial favorite, Jonathan Adler’s collections never disappoint. Among his wide array of products on display, I was particularly drawn to his new bedding introductions. A favorite is the bright and psychedelic Pink Flame bedding shown in the top photo. It was paired with his ever popular needlepoint pillows and an array of shiny glam vases and lamps. Above – the Grey Hollywood duvet & sheet set features a mod 60s inspired print. I’m so glad Jonathan Adler has brought his bedding back! It’s full of style and loaded with fun prints and colors!

LAMSHOP

Lamshop is a classic and slightly preppy collection of furniture and accessories run by interior designer Lindsey Coral Harper and Maggie Currey and they’re probably best known for their chic, Asian inspired lacquered tables. Three new side tables in a malachite, shagreen and tortoise finish which I thought were so chic. They have a rich textural depth to them that would make these tables really pop in a room.

JILL ROSENWALD STUDIO

I loved every single piece shown in the booth of Boston based Jill Rosenwald Studio. She makes the most lovely pottery and ceramic lamps, that are handmade with exceptional quality. Her products feature a whimsical take on classic prints like chevrons, moorish inspired trellis and suzani patterns and the colors are fresh and cheery. I predict that we’ll be seeing Jill’s work everywhere soon enough! You can shop Jill Rosenwald Studio products here on Etsy.

COCOCOZY

I was super excited to come across the booth of blogger Coco of Cococozy! I’d been following her blog for a while and am so happy see a fellow design blogger following her passion! Coco just launched a line of soft goods which includes linen pillows, fabrics by-the-yard, shams, drapery and cotton knit blankets. Her prints are graphic and modern and her color palette is cool and vibrant. You can visit the Cococozy shop here and the Cococozy blog here.

PATCH NYC

I’ve long been a fan of artist Don Carney’s vintage inspired ink drawings which he sells through Patch NYC – the company he runs with his partner John Ross. At the Patch NYC booth, plenty of Carney’s quirky ink drawings were showcased gallery style in vintage gilded frames set against a bright turquoise wall. Having the opportunity to see such a large grouping of his drawing up close made me really appreciate the level of detail and artistry that goes into each piece. I’m now coveting one of his drawings for myself! Another new introduction I loved from Patch NYC is their new line of stylish linen scarves trimmed in colorful African Batik fabrics. Don is modeling one in the photo above! The company also recently launched a line of scented candles with moody, eccentric scents like the Pipe candle which which features notes of tobacco, patchouli and vanilla. You can shop the full Patch NYC collection here.

JOE CARATI GLASS

Another standout were the hand blown glass decanters from LA based Joe Carati. I loved the elegant, graceful shapes and perfectly chosen jewel toned colors. His collection is really well done.

HAMMOCKS & HIGH TEA

I couldn’t have visited NYIGF without checking in to see the latest from Hammocks & High Tea. Founder Karen Young was there looking radiant in a bright pink scarf that perfectly matched her colorful, ethnic printed spring line! The collection is already already getting noticed as her new spring totes are prominently featured in the current March issue of House Beautiful!

CHRISTEN MAXWELL

Young product designer Christen Maxwell showed her eponymous collection of pillows and accessories at NYIGF for the first time this season. I had seen her products online so when I passed by her booth I was eager to check everything out up close and in person. 27 year old Maxwell describes her products as “timeless, well-made objects that turn houses into homes.” I especially love her chic laminated linen trays. They’re perfect for the desk, bedside or for entertaining!

MR. BROWN

Last but not least, I had the opportunity to meet the fantastic Mr. Brown – a slightly modern and more accessible diffusion line from the forever chic Julian Chichester. The line has a bit of a masculine feel with a hint of traditional English sensibility. You can see more from Mr. Brown at MrBrownHome.com!

If you’re interested in seeing more of my photos from the Gift Fair, I uploaded an album with loads more photos on Facebook which you can view here!