the world according to sherimaven

Happy Monday y'all. Have loads to report from my trip but I will simply say
there is nothing I love more than New York City in the morning. For those of
you who know me, you know I am an extreme morning person. Positively chirpy
at that time of day, much to my husband's dismay- it's my absolute favorite-
the quiet hours of the morn when I am waking up and opening up to the
possibilities of a new day- before the phone starts ringing, the email
starts firing, and the mind starts racing. Below is why the morning in
Manhattan matters.

I think after all of those years of living in New York, one develops some
rituals. Things that we do in the city to make our heart sing. Or at least
feel at ease. Mine is walking the streets in the early am, iced latte in
hand, IPod on shuffle. I adore the city en reveille- the trucks lining the
streets of Soho, unloading a day's worth of provisions, the grates of the
storefronts groaning and rising from their slumber to greet legions of
shoppers in search of that special something. I love to see people walking
their dogs, jogging, and the working folk drinking deli coffee light and
sweet (still love an old school deli coffee), sleepy eyed but getting to
that heightened state of New Yorkness, as shown in this photo. It's like
magic.

This past weekend I went to my beloved Soul Cycle for some spin therapy and
walked from Elizabeth Street down to Warren in Tribeca. It's a fantastic
downtown walk and at 8 in the am, it's simply the best time to enjoy Soho in
repose before she is invaded by the designer shoe seeking throngs. My last
New York apartment was in that neighborhood, and we treasured having our
nabe all to ourselves for a blessed few hours. New York is so amazing in
that morning state- it has always made me feel beyond alive and the city is
at its most peaceful and pristine just post daybreak. I try to take that
feeling with me wherever I go, yet it's never quite the same as in the 212.
Still, I feel fortunate to experience it whenever I go and look forward to
it each and every time. And I simply love the morning wherever I go, New
York or not. But if you have a good New York ritual, enjoy it. And if you
are a New Yorker reading this post, think of me as you sip your first cup of
coffee or tea this am. And I will think of you in return. In fact, I already
am.

And that's what's up this muggy Monday morning in the MIA. XO

Once in a while, you get thrown a curve ball of a project that makes you
remember why the bloody hell you got into whatever game you're in in the
first place.

Case in point- yesterday found me in Brooklyn till the wee hours shooting a
fashion story with some friends for a magazine. It was beyond fun- the crew
was up for anything, the hair was over the top, and the models were
beautiful. Not to mention a huge wink to the 80s and Michael Jackson which
was just awesome. And not a single person complained as the clock ticked
away the hours of a very long way. We all dug in, ate pizza, and made
something beautiful.

Sometimes when we do what we love for "work", the passion gets diluted by
bureaucracy, monotony, and insanity. We forget what we love about the
process, whatever that may be. I have always loved photography and adore the
camaraderie that takes place on a set when people love what they do.

We shot the most insane fashion story and nobody made a dime- from the
incredible photographer to tbe beautiful models to the insanely talented
wardrobe stylist. Everybody was there for the love of it- to support the
photographer who is a super cool guy and make something artful and wild and
playful. To connect with this part of myself was inspiring and energized me
in a way that was beyond needed. That's why shooting editorial is so much
fun.

Where am I going with all of this you may ask? I'm saying the following: do
something for free once in a while. Whatever your passion is and you are
fortunate enough to be working in a field that indulges said passion, still
do something for free and have some FUN. When you are doing something for
the love of it, the rules change. It's incredibly liberating. And even if
you are an investment banker but would secretly like to be a trapeze artist,
go do that once in a while. It's very important to reach out to what makes
you tick or else you kinda stop ticking. As children we love to play, and as
adults we need to play too. Was definitely a day I won't soon forget- it
spoke to that part of me that knows a thing or two about how great it is to
do something not for money but for the sake of creating something great. I'm
not suggesting you quit your career and work for free, I'm saying just play
once in a while. It'll make you breathe again. And we all need to breathe,
right?

And that's what's up this soupy, breathy Friday morning in Manhattan- off to
Core Fusion for a real whoopin'. XO

Hi, everybody. It's been a bit of a frenzy this week- in NYC for some photo
things and a shoot and I've barely come up for air. I'm feeling off as I
have not done much in the way of exercise or sleeping- this city wears me
out, but I love every minute.

One thing I have a real love/hate with is the NY Sample Sale. I'm going on
record that New York females will cut a woman for a good bargain. It's no
joke. Shopping in this city is a blood sport, and a good sample sale is like
the Olympics. Now that I think about it, the sample sale is more like the
female version of "Fight Club". It's brutal but also a huge, empowering
rush if you make it through. Thus the pic of Tyler Durden to accompany this
post. (Stay with me on this).

I stood in line for the Calypso sale because there was no way in hell I
would ever miss such a thing. You all know I heart Calypso whose flowy,
pretty dresses and such are perfect for Miami days and nights. And I am a
super fan of their perfumes. Mimosa is my go to summer scent.

So the sale begins at 10 am- runs through this Sunday I believe. I was there
at 9:30 on the first day. There was already an army of aviator sunglass
wearing, designer bag carrying, summer frock in full effect dressing women.
And they all looked serious and focused and extraordinarily Type A. They
would be tough to defeat. Particularly murderous was a pregnant woman in
Tory flats whose eyes were bugging out of her Fekkai-tressed head at the
sheer thought of how a forgiving summer dress would complement her ever
growing belly. I started to get some anxiety as the line began to snake around the block. I
would say I was in the first group- about 15 of us diehards. I eyeballed my
competition and knew who I had to take down. The woman in the Alexander Wang
would probably be after some of the same stuff as me, so I had to make sure
I got in before her. This would not be easy.

When the doors opened, there was an immediate frenzy as a cacophony of
sample sale addicts began to feed. I took a deep, cleansing breath and dove
right in, to much success- I bought a zillion things and was quite pleased
with myself for not having a panic attack.

Here's the key and the basic rules of the female Fight Club:

1. Grab as much as you think you can hold- and if you really love something,
grab it in two sizes to make sure it fits.

2. Wear something that slips right over your head for easy trying on.

3. Get the lay of the land quickly- scan the room for stuff that you think
you will love. And then get the hell out.

4. Elbows will be your weapon of choice. They will come in handy when some
Upper East Side type grabs something you had your eye on.

5. Always remember to watch out for the pregnant ones as they are your
greatest foe- they are so starved for cheap fashion to get them through
their newfound girth, they will simply do anything for it. (Unless of course
you are at more of a body con sample sale- then I would assume you would
compete with the anorexics and gym rats).

6. Edit wisely. You probably don't need ten of the same shirt just because
its cheap.

7. Go on a full stomach and some caffeine. You will need your strength.

And don't even attempt a sample sale if you're not up for a little bit of a
fight, or if you have a horrible anxiety situation. It's not for the faint
of heart or the easily wound up, but it is immensely satisfying to buy so
many of your favorite things, all at rock bottom prices. The city may change
but the sample sale phenom never will. Oh, and to end I will state the 8th
rule of the Fight Club of Palahniuk fame: if this is your first time at
Fight Club, you have to fight.

And that's what's up this bargain basement Thursday in the 212. XO

Dur. Dur. Dur. Sorry 'bout that.

Still, the event I posted about (Mister Market flea market for men) had an
amazing vendor selling cool wallets. You should get one for yer dude or
dudes you should buy yourself a present. Love these pieces by Maxx and
Unicorn- good for that huge wad of cash you've been meaning to shelter. Go
get one. See link below.

And that's what's up in this been there, done that (as in a post about a
past event) edition of the Maven file. XO

http://www.supermarkethq.com/search/products/maxx+and+unicorn

Happy Monday, luvs. I am stuck at Tampa airport waiting for a connection to
Kennedy- trying not to stress and just be one with it all...I got an upgrade
to first so all is ducks as I am getting over a seismic sore throat and need
the rest.

On another note, remember last week I mentioned the lovely and gorgeous
Marie Seznec and her wedding dress? I was not able to find any photos online
so I tracked her down and simply asked if she had any photos of that blessed
gown. She was kind enough to respond and sent me photos straight away, taken
by none other than the very fabulous Roxane Lowit. (I can only imagine how
great that party was).

On Seznec, now Marie Seznec Martinez (still blissfully married to her lucky
groom I am happy to report), she remains a fashion icon- model, muse to
Lacroix, that beautiful gray hair which occurred by nature in her 20s.I have
never forgotten her amazing pink weddding dress and the lovely roses in her
fabulous hair. The year was 1990- amazing that I can still remember this
gorgeous creation, but who wouldn't really? Just feast your pretty peepers
at this dessert of a dress and you won't forget it either.

In any event, I am so grateful for her assistance in sharing photos of her
gorgeous gown with all of you- it is possibly my favorite of all time. That
pink sends me. So amazing- how do the French do it? The mind puzzles at
their ability to be both non-traditional yet classic at the same time. Mon
Dieu. J'adore Marie.

And if you are ever on the hunt for something you adore, go to the source,
kittens. And simply ask. You won't believe how far it can get you...never
hurts to ask and such.

And that's what's up this pink cotton candy Monday en route to the 212. XO

Hi, Friday. The World Cup has begun and my office is abuzz with excitement
for what is arguably the biggest sporting event in all the world...pretty
heady stuff. Very exciting living in Miami for the whole thing.

But back to my thoughts on weddings- I close my week of all things betrothal
by saying this- however you decide to wear your hair, whatever length your
dress is and with whatever neckline, whatever wine you decide to serve with
dinner- keep this in mind: After the dress is packed away in a vacuum packed
bag, after the last dance is danced and the cake is cut, it will be just the
two of you- you and your beloved. Maybe some little babes will enter the
picture at some point, or maybe not. But know this, at the end of the
wedding- after all the stress, starvation, and excitement- it's all about
you and your amour. And that's what's going to get you through life- your
love for each other and the desire to be true.

So go for it or not with the dress, with the fancy cake, and the best damn
wedding band in town. But what really matters is why you are there in the
first place- because you are in love and thrilled and want to spend your
life with the mate of your dreams. Celebrate THAT- because that's what this
whole marriage thing is really about. Sure- go ahead and splurge on the hot
pink Jimmy Choos- it's your day. But keep in mind the most important thing
about the wedding- your togetherness and the life you will build with one
another. When you strip away all the festivities, that is what will
hopefully outshine all the sparkle of a great party or an amazing dress.
Yes, I am a romantic, and maybe that all sounds like too much of a fantasy.
But the whole wedding concept is a cliched fantasy in itself really, so
let's not lose sight of just you two, a la Carrie and Big, if you want.
Hopefully you have that "thank G-d you're here" feeling when you go to bed
at night like I do. Your love together is worth more than any dress or
private Pilates trainer or imported peony. If you are getting married, think
about that. And if you are already long since hitched, think about that on
the way to Target or some other mundane errand this weekend. And that, my
kitties, is what's up this LOVE filled Friday in the MIA. Be good to each
other. XO

Hi, peeps. Thursday. One more day till CHILLIN. Stone cold style.

So check it- I see a lot of this swiss dot veil scenario happening of late
in opposition to the traditional veil and I gotta say- not in love with it.
Need to be a certain type. Does not work on everyone, but appreciate the
effort to spin something new.

On that note, please please consider the wondrous art of millinery,
perfected by Mr. Phillip Treacy, the genius of all things hat. British,
eccentric, and oh so freaking fabulous. I will say you are taking a huge
risk here- I'm going out on a limb and saying most men don't appreciate
eccentric hats. They don't really get it unless they are as into fashion as
your are. I'm not saying you'll have a runaway groom, but your headpiece may
raise an eyebrow or two. But then of course he'll remember how very YOU this
little show of flair really is. And because of that, feast your peepers on
these brilliant confections from Treacy, as originally posted on
www.fashionbride.wordpress.com. These are from last year's Spring/Summer
ready to wear, and boy are they really, really ready to wear. Genius.

You all know I love a hat. It's the chicest thing ever. If you don't like
the full look, I say the first pic on the second row and the first pic on
the third row (going across in both instances) are just beyond. Absolutely
gorgeous in an Evita Peron kind of fantastic way. I'm thinking about
renewing my vows just so I can feature one of those in a big way. So if you
are thinking about toiling away with your monster veil or plucking swiss
lace from your face, I beg you to think about something like a Treacy
creation. It will only enhance your bridal glow.

And that's what's up this bonneted Thursday in the MIA. XO

Hey, there Wednesday. Halfway there...phew.

To continue this wedding thing, let's look at some major rock and roll babes
as brides. My all time fav, who I've featured on these pages before, is Ms.
Bianca Jagger in the YSL pantsuit. There is nothing to say really, but holy
chic. Holy holy chic.

Then we've got Yoko, Gwen Stefani in the Galliano (this is what I was
talking about yesterday, girls. Gwen went for it big time and it worked),
Patty Boyd marrying George H. in a fur (love), Patti Hansen marrying my
hero, Priscilla marrying the King, and Pete Townsend's old lady (ex old
lady), Karen Astley (she's so cute, right?).

Ladies, ladies- these girls all married big time rock stars (except for Gwen
who's star is bigger than her husband's). The dress, in many ways, was
secondary to the sheer event of it all. Still, the sort of unfussiness and
effortless chic (oh this old thing?) of most of these dresses is beyond
fabulous- wherein the party the night BEFORE the wedding was probably a
major event in itself. Thus the need for an easy to wear dress that one can
throw on in the nick of time, while nursing a hangover remedy from said rock
star's personal doctor. (B12 shot in the arse, anyone?)

Some of these marriages didn't stand the test of time, some resulted in some
rather hipstery children, and some burnt out before they faded away (it's
better that way, at least it is according to Neil Young).

In any event, kudos to the rock and roll bride. Perhaps you should rethink
the big party at the Botanical Garden and jet off to Mustique in YSL and get
hitched, rock and roll style. Just a thought...

And that's what's up this rockin' Wednesday in the MIA. XO

As the weather turns more and more surly in Miami, I give pause to think
about weddings, this being June and such. A chic friend of mine asked me to
post some wedding musings- although I am not nearly qualified to do such a
thing. Reason being- I got married in Vegas a deux (me and the man, c'est
tout) in off the rack Catherine Malandrino, which I bought around the corner
from my house a week away from the wedding, to the knee. With a Marc Jacobs
cream patent drum majorette type pump. Hmm. Maybe I am qualified after
all...

As a girl, I never fantasized about being Cinderella. Talitha Getty perhaps,
Blondie maybe, but not Cinderella. I am not prone toward poufy white
dresses, or white dresses in general. I don't like all eyes on me, and being
the intense commitment phobe I used to be I couldn't have fathomed getting
married with a crowd of people watching and wondering what kind of hors
d'oeuvres would be served after the ceremony. It was for the best, and I
have never doubted my decision to share that moment with my one and only,
only. So instead of being a traditional bride, I simply perfected the art of
being a quintessential wedding guest- I got very good at this as did my
husband- we gave nice gifts, we danced, we ate. We dressed to the nines. It
was always fun being a wedding guest, but the thought of being the bride
never really sat right with me, at least not in the traditional sense.

In the feverish wedding era that was my late 20s-early 30s, Vera Wang was
the end all be all of wedding fashion. The strapless Vera Wang became the
little black dress of the wedding set. Could be A line, but most of the
time, it was a sheath, perhaps it had a long glove, perhaps it had a choker
of pearls. But it was the same darn dress. Over and over again. It was
stunning and beautiful and elegant, but it was not terribly exciting. I am
aware that most of my friends did indeed have the Cinderella fantasy as
girls, and I suppose this dress fit the bill, albeit Cinderella playing it
super safe. It was all about light makeup, hair barely styled, and little in
the way of real FUN. Therein lies my issue.

I am not sure where it's written that you must look most like "yourself" on
your wedding day. That you don't want to look back on pictures and wonder
who that smoky eyed vixen was on the most important day of your life when
your tastes run to a more neutral thing in everyday life. But ladies- this
is not everyday life. This is your MOMENT, damn it. I wonder where the drama
is, the style, the over the top thing. Had I gotten married in a BIG way,
you can bet your sweet bride butt that I would bring it. And bring it hard.
I am not sure why you want to wear the same makeup you wear to your office
job to your wedding day. This is your wedding for goodness sakes. Obviously,
you will need to experiment pre-nuptials to perfect the best look for you,
I'm not suggesting embracing purple eyeshadow if you've never had it on your
eye before. But I say, just go for it. Make an impact. When will you ever be
in a wedding gown again (hopefully never ever)?

This week, I will show some wedding dresses as inspiration. Obviously most
of us can't afford an haute couture gown, but we can be inspired by them. I
can't think of someone who brings the wedding drama more than Lacroix.
Lacroix, sweetie, Lacroix. Look at the attached examples. His dress for the
first "SATC" movie was beyond my favorite look. Yards of pearls, drama, and
over the top chicy uniqueness. It's too much to bear. Amazing.

I'm simply saying- GO FOR IT. Just go for it. We have all seen the strapless
Vera Wang. We've seen it at weddings in the park. We've seen it at weddings
at the Pierre. We've even seen it at weddings on the beach. Yes, I think you
should wear a dress that makes you feel your most beautiful- and high drama
may not be your Birkin bag. But I say go out on a limb and have a REAL
moment. Look back and think about how you worked that dress and how in love
you were. If there is one dress that did it for me, it was Marie Seznec's
(Lacroix's muse) wedding gown of ages ago- it was pink and outrageous, and
I'm hoping I can find a photo of it as it has always stuck with me. If
anything, start assembling some images as inspiration- and go over the top
with those- take Kirsten Dunst's Marie Antoinette as an example- you can
always scale back, but I challenge you brides not to play it so safe- create
a fashion moment while you take those vows- after all, isn't marriage a bit
of a risk? And that's true romance, if you ask me- it's all about taking
risks, albeit calculated ones. And that's what's up this dramatic and
romantic Tuesday in the MIA. XO.

Hiya, Monday. I saw "SATC" this weekend. Not here to review the movie, but
wanted to share my fav accessories from it.

Don't you love how Patty Field always gives us one or two pieces in the show
or in the film that are must haves and will be knocked off so all of us can
channel La Bradshaw? Ms. Field has a great sense for what can become mass.
In this film I was loving Carrie's sunglasses in the first scene, but what
really caught my eye were the two necklaces shown here- the clover and the
crescent moon. I would rock either one of those suckers. Here they are as
knockoffs, the clover from Patricia Field's website
(http://patriciafield.com/) and the crescent moon (the original was found in
Turkey by Patricia Field) being reproduced by a designer on Etsy called
Bouvier Jewelry. (http://www.etsy.com/listing/48436148/carries-crescent-moon)

I really like both pieces and the clover is pricing in at under $100 (not
sure on the Etsy piece as it sold out quickly and is being redone).

But what of that honking black diamond ring in the film, though? You're on
your own to beg for that one...so amazing. I think I will have to settle for
a crescent moon or a clover, though- maybe the clover will bring me luck so
I can get my mitts on a black diamond one day. Sigh.

And that's what's up this Sexy Monday in Miami. XO