What made the Renaissance such a revolution in the History of Art was the emergence of sensuality and form as a metaphor for beauty and life. I remember the first time I wandered through the Uffizi Gallery in Florence and saw Botticelli’s depiction of the Birth of Venus and thought how the perception of the feminine ideal has morphed through the centuries. Drenched in a pure white light, this painting … Read More
This week’s Intimate Discovery: Retro-Saucy underthings hand tailored to fit your curves
I love visiting Journelle in NYC. It’s a virtual gallery of elegant 
lingerie by Indie as well as established designers and visiting the boutique often satisfies my perpetual search for new talent. Last time I was there I found Fortnight Lingerie, launched in 2010 by Toronto based designer Christina Remenyi. Artfully tailored to respect a woman’s natural … Read More
Lately, I have been on a classic reading binge: Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, and Frankenstein to name a few. I am sure I read these tomes in school, but somehow, any memory of the virtues these books possess that have allowed them to remain relevant and even gain in popularity through the generations had escaped me. Thus, my motivation to delve beneath the antique writing style to understand … Read More
When I was first introduced to the work of contemporary painter Dana Schutz, I was overwhelmed by the impact of bright fantastical color on her canvases. I was stunned by the juxtaposition of seemingly discordant hues on a surface that seemed almost free of structure. Immediately, I thought of the early 20th century Fauves and the shift they ignited in the art world as they liberated color from form. … Read More
Several years ago, on a family vacation in France, I took my history obsessed son on an excursion to Omaha Beach in Normandy. His passion at the time was everything he could learn about World War II and the parent in me felt compelled to give him this opportunity. Little did I realize the impact this memorial would have on my own familial vision. Both my mother and my … Read More
They say that indulgence is the original sin. I don’t agree. When I was married, child of the 60’s that I was, I shunned the whole elaborate wedding thing. I thought it “beneath” my bohemian lifestyle. Of course, I was in my 20’s and I was absolutely positive that I was right. I got married in City Hall. I could not rationalize the point of all the material seduction that … Read More
This Week’s Intimate Discovery: Leg Dressing, Leg Art
When I was a hosiery buyer (in a past life), it was all about pantyhose: Stockings were a business to accommodate my grandmother’s generation. Not anymore. That’s why I was really pleased when, recently, I had a chance to review the StockinGirl line, a quality leg-wear brand so diverse, that the assortment can accommodate any occasion, year round. But it was … Read More