Made In Detroit

The Sunday NY Times Style section featured an article about Shinola, a new Detroit design company opening a flagship store in the TriBeCa area of New York City this week.  The name Shinola comes from a American shoe polish company but the current designs from Shinola are watches, bicycles, leather goods and journals.

I didn't have to travel to NY City to visit Shinola.  Saturday, hubby and I drove into Detroit (about 30 minutes away) and visited the Shinola showroom there.

The collection was artfully displayed.

The back wall of the showroom has a display of bike parts in various colors.  Bikes are custom made in the shop.

The watches have achieved a cult status and the demand has made supply very limited.

The watches are assembled in Detroit.

Our day in Detroit included a visit to the Corktown section of the city and lunch at Slows Bar BQ.  

I've heard about Slows many times and the accolades it receives are well deserved.  The smoked meats were tender, flavorful and smokey good.  Generous portions and great side dishes.

The meats are smoked with dry rubs and you have your choice of sauces, ranging from sweet to hot.  My favorite was the pulled pork with the NC sauce, a vinegary sauce favored in North Carolina bar bq.  The seasonal flavor was pineapple-habanero.  

Just a few doors away from Slows is Astro Coffee.  A great cup of coffee in an eclectic, fun, neighborhood coffee shop.  They have a small selection of baked goods and lunch menu. The cafe features a great communal table for eating, surfing the web or hanging out with friends.

With all the bad news about Detroit last week, it is nice to know that there are a few bright spots in such a troubled city.  Best wishes Detroit!

Who Doesn't Need a Tote?

Metallic flecked cork tote $98 cwonder

Kittery tote  $98 Cole Haan

Lucca city tote $475 Tumi

Les Toiles Du Soleil beach bag $89 available for a limited time One King's Lane

Woven parrish tote $398 Coach

Chevron tote $29 limited time One King's Lane

Market basket $49 The Market Basket Co.

Tote handbag - coral $24.99 Target

Ikat Domino tote $29 limited time One King's Lane

Boat and tote $39.95 for large LLBean

Aalto Stool: The Icon turns 80

Aalto 60 stool

Alvar Aalto designed this stool in 1933.  It is just as fresh today as it was 80 years ago.  To celebrate the anniversary, an anniversary edition is now available in the five colors you see above.  

At over $250, the Aalto 60 stool is pricey.  

How about this Ikea knockoff for $11.90?  Now you're talkin'!!!

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And why not paint these stools for some added panache.  

This is the stool I painted for my studio.

Don't think of the stools just as extra seating.  They work as plant stands, side tables, nightstands too.

Black & White with Yellow

I stopped into Old Navy today looking for a denim jacket.  I came away with three dresses.  A $10 reward card, 20% discount card and dress sale for a grand total of just under $30 (for all three dresses!!)

Old Navy

Black and white is such a big trend for spring I knew I could have some fun with this 3/4 sleeve striped dress... & it has side seam pockets.

Kate Spade Saturday features lots of black, white with "on trend" yellow.

This is how I'm thinking of wearing the dress and the trend.

Black & White with Yellow by spiralstyle

Dress / Orla Kiely leather handbag, $280 / Kate Spade jewelry / Kate Spade stud earrings / Printed scarve, $68 / Neon yellow shoes

Have a sunny day

Kate Spade Saturday

Kate Spade Saturday has finally arrived and just in time for the weekend.  Saturday.com is the little sister and lower priced version of Kate Spade New York.

Kate Spade Saturday by spiralstyle 

Top / T shirt / Jeans / Shoes / Necklace / Jewelry / The Small Weekender Bag in Signature Zig Zag

Shipping and returns are free in all 50 states!

Saturday.com by spiralstyle

T shirt / Pants / Shoes / Jewelry / Sunglasses / Oh, Snap! Shell / Extras

Earn points to redeem for free stuff.  Check it out here.

Kate Spade Home by spiralstyle 

Slim Notebook in Signature Zig Zag / Home / Home / Saturday Morning Mug in Signature Zig Zag / Slim Notebook in Signature Zig Zag

Lots of fun stuff...

...like design a weekender bag.  This is my design.

Check out Kate Spade Saturday and have a wonderful weekend.

Styling a Fireplace Mantle

I've been searching Pinterest and blogs for ideas to style our fireplace mantle.

Source: designsponge.com via Deborah on Pinterest

I am totally enamored by fireplaces in French apartments.  The high ceilings, parquet floors and beautiful trim add to the allure.

Source: elledecor.com via Deborah on Pinterest

I seem to be drawn to mantles that feature a mirror.  

January / February 2013 - Lonny Magazine - Lonny

And then the decor is layered in front of the mirror, lavishly, 

Source: habituallychic.blogspot.com via Deborah on Pinterest

or as in this case, dramatically austere.

I was inspired by this mantle in the Parisan apartment we rented over the Christmas holidays.

I've never been quite satisfied with the look of our fireplace mantle.  The condo builder just built a box around the gas insert.  We added a granite top but I never really knew how to style the mantle.  The French poster was something I owned and it fit so it rested on the mantle for several years.  I would change the other decor seasonally.

What I really wanted was a mirror...just like the French mantles I admired.  I finally found the right size mirror, with a style that made me happy.  I added an antique urn with a plant, a tall, brushed metal vase for flowering branches and several pieces of raku pottery that I collected.

I love the way the mirror makes the space feel brighter and bigger and reflects the loft.  It certainly is a work in progress but I think I'm on the right path.  

I'd love your input.

Pistachio Picks

A little pistachio color for spring.

Pistachio accessories by spiralstyle

Kate Spade handbag / Armani Collezioni long scarve / Ted Baker , $89 / Chanel , $110 / Coach Purse - Color Crash Course: Pistachio - What to Wear Now! -... / Coach Purse - Color Crash Course: Pistachio - What to Wear Now! -... / Coach Purse - Color Crash Course: Pistachio - What to Wear Now! -...

Pistachio by spiralstyle 

J.Crew cotton dress / Moschino , $2,020 / Rochas polka dot skirt / Carven crepe pants / Topshop Daisy Bead Tee | Nordstrom / Lucca Couture Polka Dot Sweater Sea Breeze X-Small

Uniqlo for Spring

A few items from Uniqlo for transition into spring.

Uniqlo Tops by spiralstyle 

Uniqlo knit top / Uniqlo printed blouse / Uniqlo turtleneck sweater / Uniqlo / Uniqlo / Uniqlo short sleeve t shirt

Uniqlo Bottoms by spiralstyle 

Uniqlo colorful skinny jeans / Uniqlo colorful skinny jeans / Uniqlo / Uniqlo ponte pencil skirt

Uniqlo Accessories by spiralstyle 

Uniqlo braided leather belt / Uniqlo trilby hat / Uniqlo leather belt / Uniqlo striped scarve / Uniqlo linen scarve

Spring Color

I was shopping for a trench coat this past weekend.  It was exhilarating to see pretty spring colors everywhere I looked.

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According to the Pantone color people, these are the fashion colors for spring 2013.   I'm especially partial to poppy, violet and jade.

These bangles at Nordstrom are perfectly on trend.

Colorful jeans by spiralstyle 

7 For All Mankind skinny jeans / AG Adriano Goldschmied ag adriano goldschmied / 7 For All Mankind skinny jeans / AG Adriano Goldschmied super skinny jeans / Current/Elliott skinny jeans / Current/Elliott cropped jeans / CYCLE skinny fit jeans, $110 / Uniqlo skinny fit jeans / Mango slim fit jeans / COLOUR JEAN

It won't be hard to find colorful jeans.

I picked up this trench

and these khakis...but I would never wear those shoes.

What's your color for spring?

Monday Musings

Welcome back from what I hope was a peaceful weekend.  

Did you see T, the NY Times Style magazine on Sunday?  This issue heralds the redesigned magazine and features women's spring fashion.  I had great fun reading the articles and looking at ads.  Here are a few highlights. 

Style icon, Lee Radziwill, photographed here in her Paris apartment, is the centerpiece of the magazine.  Read the article here and then watch her video interview with Sofia Coppola here where she talks about Andy Warhol, Mick Jagger and Truman Capote among other things.

Tweaked versions of classics.

Print on Print 

Choose a pattern and stick with it.  NY Times T magazine

How divine?  From an article about Mérida, Mexico.

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I've begun to gather the paperwork for my 2012 taxes.  That got me to examine some of my statements, plans and contracts.  You may want to:

• Check bank statement to see if you being charged fees that could be eliminated.  
• Are you using all of your minutes on your phone plan or could you reduce the plan and save money.  
• How about your internet and cable service?  Have you bundled these services (maybe with a land line?) to save money.
• Review your insurance policies to make sure you have enough coverage but also not too much. (I had a friend who forgot to tell her insurance company that she sold one of her cars.  She had paid unnecessary insurance for 2 years!)

I called my cable provider to discuss downgrading my plan because I watch so little TV and never HBO or Starz.  Turns out I will save $20 a month and keep my same plan. The customer service person eliminated some charges, such as the DVR rental.  A simple phone call was all it took to save $240/year.

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I think my email account was hacked so I changed the passwords for all of my accounts and changed the privacy setting on Facebook and other social media sites.  I entered the new passwords in my LockBox app because I'll never remember them.  

So, I was feeling safe and secure when I went to bed, knowing that my important information was safe again.  BUT I woke up and realized that hubby forgot to put the car in the garage the night before and the car was not locked.  When he opened the car door that morning, it was obvious someone had been in the car.  Luckily there was nothing of great importance and all that was missing were a few dollars stored in the console.  So much for feeling safe.