SPOTTED: Ever-present double-old-fashioned glasses on Boston Legal.
WHAT CAUGHT OUR EYE: The way our favorite uber-confident, mad-cow-suffering, salty attorneys habitually cap off the day with a toddy in elegant tumblers. That's the life.
GET IT: $15 here.
SPOTTED: The real-deal lab coat made by Barco Uniforms, sported by anyone who's not an underling on Seattle Grace Hospital.
WHAT CAUGHT OUR EYE: The curious way it's advertised: Whatever the purpose may be this lab coat is a must-have hot item!
GET IT: Find this poly-cotton blend women's cut for $39, with embroidered name, here.
SPOTTED: An Ellipse three-drawer bachelor chest on Dress My Nest.
WHAT CAUGHT OUR EYE: Who can resist deco geometries?
GET IT: For $500-$600 from Z Gallerie.
SPOTTED: A fractured Christopher Guy mirror full of geometries and mysteries -- together, all the squares tell a whole story. Alone? Just a clue in a puzzle. The 7-foot mirror is carved from a solid piece of wood with each mirror set in to a mahogany field.
WHERE WE SAW IT: On the Brit-thriller “Sleuth,” in Michael Caine’s blue-lit modern museum of a home. (It’s full of high-style furnishings, smooth concrete and seriously straight lines.) Here, Caine proposes a terribly deadly game of wits with out-of-work actor Jude Law to see which man gets Caine’s estranged wife.
HOW DID IT GET THERE? The mirror is as a metaphor in this movie directed by Kenneth Branagh. “The fragmented images that the mirror gives seemed to me to be perfectly in synch with the relationship between the two main characters,” said production designer Tim Harvey.
GET IT: From such Christopher Guy dealers as CAI Designs in Chicago (222 Merchandise Mart Plaza; 312-755-9163, caidesigns.net) and Arlington Heights (3441 Northridge Ave., 847-398-4785). Ask for product No. 52-2026.
COST: $3,140
Originally published in the Chicago Tribune
SPOTTED: A busy, chocolatey cake on Nigella Feasts, hosted by Nigella Lawson.
WHAT CAUGHT OUR EYE: A little bzzz of summertime in the dead of winter.
GET IT: Here's the recipe. Enjoy ...
SPOTTED: The posh-dressed foursome on Cashmere Mafia dolling up their already uptown garb with extended gloves. Take that, Cruella de Vil.
WHAT CAUGHT OUR EYE: There's something confident about this little trend. Maybe a little air of mystery. Maybe a little Holly Golightly.
GET IT: The rust-colored, eight-button, patent-leather, elbow-length gloves shown here are $198 from Saks Fifth Avenue. But check around vintage shops for more affordable Breakfast at Tiffany's gloves.
SPOTTED: A list of the ten top-rated celeb-supported charities.
WHAT CAUGHT OUR EYE: What else? It's good to give of thine own self. Here's the list:
1. The Children's Health Fund /Paul Simon, Jennifer Lopez, Marc AnthonyGET IT: Visit the Charity Navigator.
2. Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International / Mary Tyler Moore
3. USA for UNHCR / Angelina Jolie
4. Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research / Michael J. Fox
5. The Hole in the Wall Gang Fund / Paul Newman, Julia Roberts
6. Lance Armstrong Foundation / Lance Armstrong
7. New York Restoration Project / Bette Midler
8. Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation / Christopher Reeve
9. The Larry King Cardiac Foundation / Larry King
10. Operation Lookout / Dyan Cannon
SPOTTED: A wintery Bon Appetit pop-up supper club in NYC, which also popped up at Robert Redford's Sundance Film Festival to host glittery celebs.
WHAT CAUGHT OUR EYE: The way they've managed to capture twilight in winter: snowflakes, random geometries, blue and white, shiny lights shimmering.
GET IT: Target sells a $15 mirrored candle sconce that mimics the spirit of reflection. Get it here.
SPOTTED: A pink-and-green mod cotton apron sported by Gabrielle Solis (Eva Longoria) on Desperate Housewives.
WHAT CAUGHT OUR EYE: The way it unabashedly, joyfully embraces the concept of hostess.
GET IT: $78, here.
Our very own film reviewer extraordinaire, Jane Boursaw, is giving away two copies of the new Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour (rated G and green-lighted by Jane for ages 7 and up) over at her Film Gecko blog. To be in the running, click here and add a comment. Good luck!
SPOTTED: A a gold concentric clover cuff bracelet on Project Runway host Heidi Klum.
WHAT CAUGHT OUR EYE: The sheer superpower-ness of it all. Shazam!
GET IT: $210 in sterling silver here.
WHAT GRABBED OUR EYE: A swanky Jetsons-esque day bed in cool, crisp, wily white. Ludwig Mies van der Rohe—a modern architecture pioneer—designed his Barcelona couch in 1930.
WHERE WE SAW IT: On ABC’s “Ugly Betty,” in the office of lady’s man Daniel Meade (Eric Mabius), at the high-glam fashion mag Mode. It also appears outdoors in the in the Jake Paltrow movie, The Good Night, above, starring sister Gwyneth, Penelope Cruz and Danny DeVito.
HOW DID IT GET THERE? Ugly Betty's production designer, Mark Worthington, says it may seem odd to have what is, essentially, a bed in the office of a fashion magazine editor, "but since the character of Daniel is notorious Lothario we thought it would be fun to make reference to this in the decor of the room."
"Mies van der Rohe's classic daybed design works beautifully for this sight gag," he says, "and is also perfectly suited to Mode's overall minimal, modern style."
GET IT: Around $9,454 and up, depending on the grade of leather. The Barcelona Couch is still made to its original specifications by Knoll. Find it at such official dealers as Luminaire (301 W. Superior, Chicago; 312-664-9582; luminaire.com); Home Office Solutions (1498 Waukegan, Glenview; 1-888-677-1600; homeofficesolutions.com); and Design Within Reach online at dwr.com.
SPOTTED: Z Gallerie's Sonali embroidered wool-on-cotton pillow in the chichi apartment of the X's in The Nanny Diaries.
WHAT CAUGHT OUR EYE: The bold geometries were a refreshing break from the X's obsessive-compulsive focus on tiny things.
GET IT: $65-$130 from Z Gallerie.
SPOTTED: The Singing Machine Karaoke System With iPod Dock.
WHAT CAUGHT OUR EYE: Just think. You can be the rock star of any party, and you don't have to deal with Simon.
GET IT: RadioShack.com, $150.
SPOTTED: A classic fire-engine-red pedal car in the bedroom of the much-nannied, little-mothered boy in The Nanny Diaries.
WHAT CAUGHT OUR EYE: We have boys, and we know what they like: Zoom, zoom, zoom.
GET IT: Air Flow Collectibles' hot rodder pedal car is available from Amazon.
SPOTTED: Luichiny Susanne tall boots, on Elizabeth Hurley who, I'm sure, has plenty of practice walking with the extra inch-age.
WHAT CAUGHT OUR EYE: You know, sometimes you just need some spikey boots. Some sleek, sexy boots fashioned in gleaming patent leather with an instep zipper, mod pointed heel, fur lining, and adjustable straps. Yep, sometimes you do.
GET IT: At Amazon.com, $95.
SPOTTED: Mesh bags in Hillary Clinton's purse. Ok, I didn't really look in her purse. She mentioned them in a recent People magazine article as one of her favorite things, since she's on the road all the time. While I couldn't find any specific mesh bags for purses, I think this purse organizer from BagMate looks pretty darn cool.
WHAT CAUGHT OUR EYE: It's like an insert for your purse, so if you changes purses, you just pull the thing out and stick it in another purse. They're available in medium and small sizes, for different sized purses. Anyone have one and care to comment? Because I totally need something like this.
GET IT: Bagmate.com, $30.
SPOTTED: A sleek, crystalline interpretation of a classic Louis XVI armchair on Style TV's Dress My Nest.
WHAT CAUGHT OUR EYE: Not only does designer Philippe Starck play with history here, he also helps ushers in one of this year's expected trends: mod elegance.
GET IT: $410 from Design Within Reach.
WHAT CAUGHT OUR EYE: The shiny tufts and upscale backbone of the high-society, chocolate brown Simone loveseat (below) by Henredon Furniture.
WHERE WE SAW IT: In the cream-of-the-crop, top-of-the-heap living room of Mr. and Mrs. X, busy New Yorkers who pass their childrearing duties on to Scarlett Johansson in “The Nanny Diaries.”
HOW DID IT GET THERE? Set decorator Andrew Basemen spotted the silky loveseat while flipping through catalogs from Hendredon, which donated set pieces. The room’s look-but-don’t-touch spirit reflects the X’s distant (shall we say nonexistent?) relationship with their young son. “I wanted all the fabrics to be shiny,” Basemen said. “It’s a beautiful fabric, but you don’t usually upholster your sofas in silk when you have small children.”
WHERE YOU CAN GET IT: $3,375 from fine-furnishing retailers nationwide that sell Henredon, including E. Smith Furniture stores in the Chicago area (including 2009 N. Clybourn, Chicago, 1- 773-528-7787); Avanti Fine Furniture in Naperville, Ill. (1508 Naper Blvd., 1-630-505-2800); and Britt Carter & Co. in Lake Forest, Ill. (1350 S. Skokie Highway, 1-847-735-1180).
SPOTTED: Julia Roberts, shopping for holiday gifts at the Me&Ro store in Chicago. Among the presents she bought: silver Chakra Crescent hoops and a sterling silver and gold Buddha Necklace.
WHAT CAUGHT OUR EYE: Hey, you don't have to be Julia's friend to get cool stuff. You can be your own A-List friend and buy them for yourself. So there.
GET IT: Chakra Crescent Hoops, $400; Buddha Necklace, $485; MeAndRoJewelry.com.
Winner: Geek Chic
This bright-hearted paranormal sitcom is a total romp of clashing checks, stripes and plaids, along with resurrected kitsch that somehow, magically and dependably, works out in the end.
Successor to: The Betty side of Ugly Betty
GET IT: $45 from Target, in black or yellow (and maybe red -- I have a red one from Target in my kitchen at this very moment, and can vouch for its appeal to 6-year-olds who like to climb).
Winner: Upmarket Living
Eat your heart out, Paris Hilton. The new travails-of-the-filthy-rich soap, Dirty Sexy Money, takes "aspirational" to a new level (the family got their portrait taken with lions). Love the striped couches, strategic use of silk, orange leather journal, and old-money vacation-home villa -- not to mention the sarcastic priest and inconsolable tripping out over someone stealing your 'fringe.'
Runner up: Devil Wears Prada
SPOTTED: Queen Elizabeth's triple-strand pearl choker during Her Royal Highness's YouTube Christmas-greeting debut.
WHAT CAUGHT OUR EYE: The sheer queenly, classic, everlasting glory of it all.
GET IT: Here's a modern take on triple-strand freshwater pearls featuring a sterling pendant etched with "mom" -- $120 from Red Envelope.
Visit the Royal Channel on YouTube here, and view her 1957 holiday address below, her first televised greeting:
Finally, in the holiday spirit, here's some of what Her Majesty said on Christmas, noting the story of Jesus was one of a family that had been "shut out" of society:
The Christmas story also draws attention to all those people who are on the edge of society -- people who feel cut off and disadvantaged; people who, for one reason or another, are not able to enjoy the full benefits of living in a civilized and law-abiding community.
For these people the modern world can seem a distant and hostile place. It is all too easy to turn a blind eye, to pass by on the other side, and leave it to experts and professionals.
All the great religious teachings of the world press home the message that everyone has a responsibility to care for the vulnerable. Each one of us can also help by offering a little time, a talent or a possession, and taking a share in the responsibility for the well-being of those who feel excluded.
SPOTTED: The Moebius table with walnut-stained beechwood base in the office of Ugly Betty's treacherous Wilhelmina.
WHAT CAUGHT OUR EYE: Is it zigging? Or zagging? Will it ever stop zigzagging? It's tricky in an optical-illusion way, yet gets the job done in style -- very much like our beloved femme fatale.
GET IT: $600 from Design Within Reach.
OVERHEARD: Feist's bubbly "1-2-3-4" on Apple's iPod nano ad.
WHAT CAUGHT OUR EAR: The sprightly, slightly ethereal mood of this tune, kind of reminiscent of a marriage between (a non-Twin Peaks) Julee Cruise and Ben Folds Five's bright pop.
GET IT: From retailers everywhere, including Amazon. Or take a peek at the music video below.
SPOTTED: Brad Pitt, rallying forces to build New Orleans' Lower 9th Ward, one of the most devastated areas hit by Katrina. The Make It Right Project is building affordable green housing that can be easily replicated.
WHAT CAUGHT OUR EYE: You can sponsor a whole house for $150,000 or just throw in $5 for a doorknob. Everyone can get involved.
GET IT: Make It Right Project
SPOTTED: Tree Shirts, designed by Scarlett Johansson for Brazilian designer Carlos Miele.
WHAT CAUGHT OUR EYE: 20% of proceeds will benefit the Rainforest Foundation. Wear a tree. Save a tree. It's so simple.
GET IT: Rainforest Foundation, $40.
SPOTTED: CSI Fantasy Camp
WHAT CAUGHT OUR EYE: Forget the rust-colored sweater or Santa socks. This Christmas, give the gift that says "I care." A trip to Ashtabula, Ohio, where loved ones can do their best impression of David Caruso on "CSI: Miami." A badge and crime-scene equipment are included. If that doesn't float your airboat, perhaps a ride in a Nascar racer or flight in a Russian MiG over Moscow.
GET IT: Cloud 9 Living, $3K for a 2.5-day CSI camp. Prices vary for other fantasies.
SPOTTED: "Evolution by Waterford," on a recent episode of "Divine Design" on HGTV.
WHAT CAUGHT OUR EYE: Sure, you can stuff your daffodils into a Ball jar dragged out of the basement, but wouldn't they be happier in a classy vase with some history? Hand-crafted from mouth-blown glass, this 24-inch red-and-amber stem vase is both warm and vibrant, gentle and bold, like a dolphin gently breaking the ocean waves at twilight. Aaahh ...
GET IT: At Macy's, $275.
SPOTTED: Band From TV's upcoming CD/DVD package, “Hoggin’ All the Covers,” featuring “Mustang Sally,” “Feelin’ Alright,” “Pink Cadillac,” “Lean on Me” and other popular favorites. Shot in front of a live audience at Center Staging in Los Angeles in July of 2007, the DVD includes behind-the scenes footage, band interviews, info on the charities and, of course, wacky pranks amongst band members.
WHAT CAUGHT OUR EYE: It’s cool seeing your favorite TV stars out of their element, especially if they're playing in a rock band. "Band From TV" features Heroes' Greg Grunberg (drums), Desperate Housewives' James Denton (guitar), House: M.D.'s Hugh Laurie (keyboards), The Bachelor's Bob Guiney (vocals), and Cashmere Mafia's Bonnie Somerville (vocals).
It all started when Grunberg was asked to play a gig at House of Blues. The audience response was overwhelming, so he decided to form a celebrity band that would also help raise money for charitable causes. Denton works with the National Resources Defense Council, Laurie supports Save the Children, and Grunberg’s charity hits close to home. “My oldest son has epilepsy, and I saw this band as a wonderful vehicle to help raise money for the National Epilepsy Foundation," he says.
Other band members include Chris Kelley, Rich Winer, Barry Sarna and Brad Savage, a child star who appeared in many Disney movies, including “The Apple Dumpling Gang” and “No Deposit, No Return.”
GET IT: Look for “Hoggin’ All the Covers” ($30) at Virgin Megastores, Trans World, F.Y.E., Sam Goody, Warehouse, Target, Kmart, Best Buy, Circuit City, Sam's Club, Walmart and other retail outlets.
