Sweater Chic

Hi good friends!  With December temperatures dropping,  all we want to do is keep warm.  Wrapping  yourself in pretty sweaters  and still feeling chic and stylish makes me think" college days"   Younger days we looked so cool wearing anything knit or bulky.   With the incredible selections in shops we can go off in many directions.  Classic works best in most cases but be your own judge to your style!   Here are photos for inspiration

Keep warm and enjoy the holiday shopping!

New York City Window Fashion

 Hello Loves!  December magic is in the air in NYC!  A day out and about with good friends on Madison and Fifth Ave. I managed to  capture  charming holidays windows, walked with the crowds, wandered in out of shops and made a visit to the Frick! We tried to have lunch at Bergdorf's and were met with a long wait list, however while on the the 5th floor  we met up with Ormond Gigli   a brilliant photographer ,at his book signing !

His  famous photograph of "Girls in the Window" was on the cover of his beautiful book!  We  managed to have  a lovely chat with Ormond and acquired a  signed copy of his book with hundreds of pages of exquisite photography!  See Story Here (click)

"Girl in the Window"

Ormond Gigli and Son  

In 1960, while a construction crew dismantled a row of brownstones right across from my own brownstone studio on East 58th street,  I was inspired to, somehow immortalize those buildings.  I had the vision of 43 women in formal dress adorning the windows of the sketetal facade. 

We had to work quickly to secure City permissions, arrange for models which included celebraties, the demolition supervisor's  wife (third floor, third from left_, my own wife (second floor, far right), and also secure the Rolls Royce to be parked on the sidewalk.  Careful planning was a necessity as the photography had to be accomplished during the workers' lunch time! 

The day before the buildings were razed, the 43 women appeared in their finest attire, went into the buildings, climbed the old stairs, and took their places in the windows.  I was set up on my fire escape across the street, directing the scene, with bullhorn in hand.  Of course I was concerned for the Models' safety, as some were daring enough to pose out on the crumbling sills.

The photography came off as planned.  What had seemed to some as too dangerous or difficult to accomplish, became my 
fantasy fulfilled, and my most memorable self-assigned photograph.  It has been an internation award winner ever since.

Most professional photographers dream of having one signature picture they are known for.  " GIRLS IN THE WINDOWS" is mine.

Ormond Gigli   see:  ormondgigli.com 

Read more about Ormond Gigli (click here)


In a career that spanned more than 40 years American photographer Ormond Gigli  shot thousands of images and was widely published in magazines such as Life, Paris Match, Collier’s, The Saturday Evening Post and Time. But the photograph for which he is remembered is “Girls in the Windows” an extraordinary image that has stood the test of time to become an iconic image of New York in the 1960s. 

Gigli began his career in 1941 working as a photographic assistant in New York. He was 17 years old. When America entered the Second World War Gigli joined the Navy as a photographer. By the time 1950 rolled around “I was living the life of a starving artist in Paris…and it was a beautiful place to be,” he said. But it wasn’t long before he was shooting for Life magazine and from then his career took off. 

Recounting his first meeting with Life in Paris Gigli said the editor asked him, “If I give you an assignment, will you give me what I ask for? I said yes, as long as I could inject my own thoughts into the picture”. “Girls in the Windows and Other Stories” is proof that Gigli never compromised on his unique visual signature.

 “Girls in the Windows and Other Stories” is as much a tribute to Gigli as it is a walk through history. Louis Armstrong, Marlene Dietrich, Jayne Mansfield, Liza Minnelli and Barbra Streisand grace the pages. As does a youthful Sophia Loren in the now famous photograph shot in 1955 where she is pictured in a fountain in Rome, holding oranges. The book also features photographs that, like the image of the title, were shot as personal projects by Gigli. 

Of his most enduring image Gigli said in an interview earlier this year, “I have a big print of it up on my wall. I still smile whenever I look at it, even after all these years”.

Winter Skin Care

Hey Madison friends! Hope your week is going well!

With the cold weather coming on, you need to take action now to breathe life into your looks. Here's what the experts suggest.

Winter weather affects your skin in several ways. Dry skin is the most common result of seasonal weathering. Cold winter air lacks humidity and dries up natural oils in your skin, causing it to lose its moisture [source: Casey]. Bitter winter winds also cause chapping and windburn. This leads to rough, cracked skin that can feel tight and uncomfortable. The obvious solution might seem to be to getting in out of the cold, but during the winter months, indoor heating systems dry inside air, too. Instead of finding relief indoors, you're likely to suffer an extra dose of the drying effect.

1)  Try not to take too many hot baths in the winter. 

When cold weather reigns outside, you might be tempted to soak in a hot bath, but this will cause irritated skin more harm than good. Hot water strips the oils from your skin, and if you have dry skin, you want to add as much moisture as possible. You don't need to eliminate bath time altogether, but to help your dry skin heal, you should keep your showers and baths short and use lukewarm instead of hot water.

2)  When washing your face, let water dry naturally on your skin  instead of rubbing , try patting and pressing cream onto your face.

3)  Continue to drink lots of water

4)  Use eye moisturizer during the day.  

5)  Steam showers are wonderful for your skin. Keep door closed
let skin absorb the steam as long as possible! 

6)  Eat healthy foods and plenty of salads to feed your skin

7) Don't forget to  especially moisturize your hands, neck and decollete.  

Pay close attention to your eyes

Give eyes a wake-up call by placing a tiny bit of satin white or ivory eye shadow under your brow bone and another very small dab just above your lash line in the middle of your lid.

"This will catch the light and give the illusion of brightness," says Brigitte Reiss-Andersen, a New York–based makeup artist.

Camouflage dark circles with concealer.

Winter Wear

It's th e work week!  Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving,

with a restful few days to recover from the holiday! 

I've been vacillating  between winter jackets, long , short , ski wear,  leather, wool and hints of fur!   Warmth becomes priority, however it's great to look chic at the same time. What's your

favorite? Just in case you have old coats you may not wear again.  Think about donating!  For local friends click here in NY and NJ

Happy November!  Stay warm and have fun in the cold weather!