CasaSugar

Tom Pecheux Discusses Concepts of Taste at Home

CasaSugar — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 08:00:04 PDT

On her recent trip to Paris, BellaSugar interviewed Tom Pecheux, the creative makeup director of Estée Lauder, about his new Blue Dahlia makeup collection, which focuses on blue. While discussing the use of bold colors in the new line, Pecheux's conversation extended beyond makeup to include the use of bold colors in interior design, and the concept of "good taste."

In the interview, Pecheaux mused, "Good taste doesn’t mean anything. My personal taste compared to my parents - my mother, she loves to have a lot of flowers everywhere. Me, I’m more minimal. In the past, I made a big mistake, and I hated myself. When I was a young adult, I rushed to my mother and I said, 'We should take this out, put this away, take out the flower, throw that away.' And I bought my apartment in Paris, made it like a white cube - everything was very minimal. I love color, so the only color was a flower bouquet or a painting. It was so opposite of my mother’s world, what she likes. But she walked in and she said, 'Oh my God, your apartment is so amazing.' . . . And I thought, I am such a bitch to tell my mom I have the right taste, and she doesn’t. So, from that moment on I learned that taste doesn’t mean anything because my taste could be - and probably is for a lot of people - very bad taste."

I know that I used to make judgment calls about other people's style or taste, but now I realize that all of us might be accused of having very good or very bad taste, depending on the context. Do you think that taste is subjective, like I do, or do you think that there are some things that are simply good taste?

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Open House: How Are You Bold?

CasaSugar — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 05:30:58 PST

French country, midcentury modern, American classic, mod Italian . . . whatever your style, you've got to live a little when it comes to your décor. For one person, a pink spiral staircase may be the boldest statement in her home. Perhaps you go wild and crazy with stripes.

As for me, my playfulness is most evident in bright colors and an unorthodox arrangement of furnishings. What about you? Even if you're very traditional, how do you bring liveliness to your home? Pattern? Color? Wacky artwork? Music? Tell me by commenting below!

Photo by Morten Holtum

Inspired: Christian Dior's Fall 2010 Juicy Hues

CasaSugar — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:00:08 PDT

Flipping through photos from Christian Dior's 2010 Fall Couture show, I noticed a theme of bright, juicy hues. As FabSugar noted, innerwear (corsets, garters, etc.) also played a major role, but considering how unpopular this corset-inspired chandelier was, I don't see lingerie motifs succeeding in the interior design world. These tangerine, pop pink, and chartreuse colors, on the other hand, would be a fun addition to any home - modern or traditional.

The citrus-colored seat on this Colorful French Accent Chair ($349) from Wisteria, for instance, pops against its carved oak frame, jazzing up what I imagine is a conservative room. To see more juicy couture colors for your home,

Casa Quickie: Make It Pop

CasaSugar — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 05:30:08 PDT

The dining room is often the most formal room in our homes. But, seeing as we've thrown formality to the wind in nearly every other aspect of our culture, why stop there? Why not pair lively conversation with lively design?
I absolutely love love love this dining room in the portfolio of Francesco Lagnese, and I can't imagine any of my dinner guests disagreeing. From the pop art lips to the tall, bursting centerpiece to the cantaloupe-colored chairs, it's a breath of fresh air and a conversation starter. And the polished white floors and sleek black walls allow the personality pieces to shine. If you've got the guts, go for it!

New York Fashion Week, Spring 2008: Marc by Marc Jacobs

FabSugar — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 08:00:22 PDT

Leave it to Marc to design a collection that stands out from the gaggle of ultra-feminine New York Fashion Week pieces. You'll find no flowy and frilly here. What you will find are tailored pant suits, A-line dresses, military coats, pleats, lace, boxy blazers, high-waisted trousers, plaid and hats...lots and lots of hats.

But wait! Doesn't this all remind you of his Le Smoking Fall Marc Jacobs collection? The primary colors, military references and plethora of hats? I say yay, for those of us who loved it (present!) but could never afford it. Now, there's hope.

Commencing, there were lots of brights, mostly in the form of bold Marc red. Though it's hard to categorize the Marc by Marc Jacobs Spring girl, one thing is for certain: she's a world-traveler, ready with suitcase and class!

Be sure to check out all my New York Fashion Week coverage!

To see more from Marc by Marc Jacobs,

View 20 Photos ›

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Don't Be Afraid to Play With Scale

Elka Karl — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:00:41 PST

In a recent interview on Dering Hall, Los Angeles-based designer Peter Dunham shared his thoughts on his line Hollywood at Home and offered excellent decorating tips.

One of my favorite tips from Dunham concerns scale - and the fact that we should consider it more carefully when decorating. Scale is just as important as pattern and color when decorating a space.

Dunham says,

In a high-ceilinged room, use an oversized chandelier. De-electrify it and just use it with candles so it becomes a piece of sculpture rather than a glaring light fixture, and it anchors the space. In a small room, choose a bold, big-pattern print and cover everything in it, the French way: walls, curtains, upholstery, et cetera. It gives the room vibrancy and glamor. Also, use large, but fewer, pieces in a small room-like a sofa that may seem too big-so it feels luxurious. In a large room, use smaller-scale pieces to create several areas and bring the space more to human scale.

I love the way that Dunham plays with scale in the room above, using a bold patterned print for the walls and matching sofa. It's an important lesson to remember when redecorating a room - keep scale a playful, and important, consideration.

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Diane Kruger Debuts a Dramatic Giambattista Valli Gown at the Berlin Film Fest - See Every Angle

Hannah Weil — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:26:28 PST

For the second time today, Diane Kruger caught our attention at the Berlin Film Festival, this time wowing in a dramatic Giambattista Valli gown at the premiere of Farewell, My Queen. Thanks to a bold combination of polka dots, a ladylike tie-neckline, and a wash of sequins over the bodice, the couture confection may just be another one to add to the growing list of looks only Diane can wear. Adding to the drama, Diane sported an edgy set of cuff earrings, dark polish, and a statement clutch by Judith Leiber. We're still digesting the look, but now we're turning it to you - click through to see every angle, then be sure to tell us what you think in comments.

Would You Want to be as Successful as Sheryl Sandberg?

Emily Co — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:34:15 PST

Many of us look up to Sheryl Sandberg as a role model because she's one of the most successful female business leaders of our time. She's consistently ranked by Forbes as one of the most powerful women in the world and she's estimated to be worth a cool $1.6 billion. She's the face of women trying to crack the glass ceiling, and with so many glowing praises showered on Sandberg, I was surprised to see career blogger Penelope Trunk make the bold statement that "very few women want to be Sandberg." Trunk explains:

"Sandberg wants to be a role model for women who want big, exciting careers. But here’s the problem: women don't want to be Sandberg. It’s no coincidence that the number one woman on the list of self-made millionaires is Oprah. She has no kids and no husband. She’s fascinating, nice, and smart. But few of us would really enjoy her life.

Sandberg and Oprah represent extreme choices in life. The things they give up are not things that most women would want to give up in exchange for the wild career success they could have . . . You can't have small kids and a startup if you want to see your kids."

Everyone has a different definition of what it means to "make it." In fact, success for many women doesn't mean climbing the corporate ladder; it's having a good work-life balance, according to a More magazine survey. The Facebook executive may be one of the wealthiest women around, but her intensive job may leave her with less time to spend with her two kids. What about you - would you want to be as successful as Sheryl Sandberg?

BCBG Runway Fall 2012

Noria Morales — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:15:43 PST

An architectural aesthetic, specifically Bauhaus style, rules for BCBG's Fall 2012 collection. Structure manifested itself via colorblocking, but it was done on fluid silk chiffon shift dresses, so the effect was a pretty blend of strong forms on flowy silhouettes. The geometric shapes created by bold color combos - black and orange, merlot and blush - were intensified with textural plays like sheer insets and clever pleating that made dresses look magically fluid and sharp at the same time. To counter the collection's emphasis on lightweight materials like silk and chiffon, it also sent cozy outerwear down the runway - we have mixed emotions on the return of gorilla-armed coats, but the multicolor fur vests and canvas and leather trenches were artful choices for next season. The minimalist approach to geometric forms and bold color combinations, together with the flowy silhouettes, make for clothes that are ideal to wear to a gallery opening.

Trends: Colorblocking, fur, architectural detail, Bauhaus.
Colors: Merlot, blush, camel, cream, navy, coral, teal.
Key Piece: The canvas and leather trench coat; the super-cool pleated dresses with tulle inserts.
Accessories: Open-toe ankle-strap sandals, bags with contrasting textures like snake and suede.
Who Would Wear It: Erin Wasson was in the front row, but the structured, urbane collection seems more suited to Naomi Watts or Thandie Newton.

10 Ways to Wear One Scarf

Allison McNamara — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:21:40 PST

From the basic hang down to the gypsy bun, in this newest how-to we took one of Spring's most iconic accessories - the bright, bold scarf - and created 10 lasting looks to take a tee and jeans from plain and simple to extraordinarily chic. Watch our video to see all the fun you can have with just one scarf! Music by Dragonette.

Bardwil "Beach Brights" Placemats, Set of 4 - Sold Out	Momeni "New Wave Original NW-15 Tibet Multi" Area Rug, 2' 6" x 12' - Sold Out
Luceplan - costanza table lamp by paolo rizzatto for luceplan of italy - $4.00	Kartell la boheme 2 - $198.00
Vitra panton amoebe chair - $1,670.00	Pony By Eero Aarnio - $3,329.00
Vitra .06 lounge chair - $1,230.00	Driade - samiko vases by julia dozsa for driade - Sold Out
TrueModern Spot On Sheets And Case Set - In Orange - Twin Size - Sold Out	Nautical Signal Flag Accent Pillow - Teal/Orange - Sold Out
Pin It Crypton Doodle Dog Pillow Persimmon - $40.00	Pin It Crypton Doodle Dog Pillow Gipsy - $40.00
Pin It Crypton Doodle Dog Pillow Kermit - $40.00