NYFW. Even the acronym somehow felt intimidating to me. The premise of being surrounded by pin thin models, tastemakers who wear socks with open toed shoes, and designers – the fortunate few whose work would be paraded down runways – who likely said words like “fierce” just because. I imagined they even fancied their morning espresso and apple to be fierce.
You see these distinctive clutches on every red carpet. The acrylic objet-d’arts in throwback shapes and designs echoing those carried by starlets of the ’50s and ’60s. Brett Heyman, the LA born designer, who ran PR for Gucci until 2010 when she launched her adored line, Edie Parker, coveted the bags she would find at local second hand stores and flea markets.
Over a perfect dinner at Whitehall in NYC, I meet Elettra Wiedemann for the first time. We are with stylist extraordinnaire, Chloe Hartstein, and my beauty guru, Daniel Martin. And while ordering mushy pea fritters, a plate of oysters, a few branzini, and frites for days, I look over at Elettra and think — “My lord, she is so beautiful.
Perhaps it’s the girly girl in me. Maybe it’s the fact that if given the choice between punk and pretty, I will always vote for pretty. For women looking like ladies. For the opportunity to wow with class and grace and fairytale level ball gown beauty.
I have to be honest when I say that I don’t really remember playing dress up as a little girl. No vivid memories of twirling in front of the mirror or sliding into my mom’s heels. The irony of this is noteworthy given my job on Suits, where, yes, we act, and yes, we emote, but we also play some serious dress up.
Pondering the best job in the world? Have you considered being a spice sommelier? If not, then I highly suggest you add it to your list. Lior Lev Sercarz reigns supreme in this category, traveling the world, and carefully curating spice blends for Michelin star chefs, such as Eric Ripert of Le Bernardin.
I always try a few new restaurants when I’m in town, and then there are my usual suspects – the gems that are pit stops for me and my voracious appetite, whether I have 5 days in the city or just 32 hours. Here are a few of those places, both old and new, that I enjoyed on my last New York Food Crawl.