Seen in Chelsea

There two are cute but I especially love his curly red hair and his Doc Martens. I think I really need a pair for fall...

Designer Profile: Norisol Ferrari

Norisol Ferrari and the back of one of her hooded coats

In the middle of a massive heat wave in New York I sat with Norisol Ferrari in her un-airconditioned studio and talked about –and even tried on– heavy leather coats. Each one a custom creation, they were also so exquisite that I quickly forgot the heat and was utterly intrigued. I want need a Norisol coat!  I also want to share with you more about both the designer and her collection.

Like all great American originals, Norisol Ferrari is a master of re-invention in the best sense of the word. She has gone from a childhood in group homes and orphanages to teen years in NYC nightlife to emerging as an elegant, articulate and sharply intelligent designer of one-of-a-kind coats that debuted in 2009. Read my interview with her below.

How did you get into fashion?
The truth is I had no education and it was the only thing that I could do. I really loved couture and I lied about my age and had the opportunity to be a showroom slave and did a series of internships at button companies on Seventh Avenue – that sort of thing – and just sort of was an office slave. And this was at a time, 1987, when there were no stylists. When Elektra Records would call and say we need an outfit for Anita Baker’s new album cover no one cared!

That’s crazy!
It is crazy, but it wasn’t a store order so they didn’t care. Give them a store order they’d care…so it fell to the office assistant and me, the office slave, to put it together. A lot of the stuff that is fun and has titles now is how I began.

What was your inspiration for your current collection? It looks old fashioned and timeless at the same time…

This is exactly what I wanted. I fought for this timeless quality in myself, with the seamstresses, by the material I’ve chosen…I’ve never agreed with the fashion cycle of delivery six times a year and something new every season. I strive to create heirlooms. I want people to say “This is my winter coat and I don’t need another coat. It’s not about what’s in or out of fashion but what will become part of my style. The idea is that I don’t want you to know it’s Norisol 2010. More that it’s an amazing piece –so of course it’s a Norisol! (laughter)

I am betting that in 5 years or 10 years your work won’t even look dated. And I am insane about knowing what year’s things are from to the point that I can look at a period movie set in 1925 and be able to tell you if it was made in 1976 or 86 from the styling and make up–
Yes, I’m the same way! Doesn’t it drive you crazy? I find it distracting –I’ll look and think why are there zippers? There weren’t zippers back then!

Exactly! Which brings me to what’s so intriguing about your collection: while it clearly references the past it doesn’t feel costume-y or like a period piece yet there is nothing trendy about it either.
I mix 17th, 18th 19th and 20th century. And I reference English, French Italian and even a little Japanese kimono sleeve…I try to take the best of everything and create something you won’t get sick of.

Inspiration and Materials at her workspace

How does your experience of New York and it's history inform your work? 
New York City and all it’s older buildings, and how it gives you a time machine into the last few centuries is something I have romanticized and fantasized about as long as I can remember. When I was young in Grand Central Station? You couldn’t get me to walk in a straight line I was so busy looking up and around at everything. The Post Office? That era is so alive in my collection, in my aesthetic, in my home…and New York educated me on that. I asked questions and learned the history…that it was a major port and built so long ago has given me a healthy respect and a desire to learn more about the past.

I know you’ve been in NYC for a long time and I know there is a tendency for those of us who have been around for awhile to get cynical about changes in the city, so I want to ask you what you think are positive changes that you’ve seen recently?
That’s a tricky question for me! This is my hometown and someone messed with my main street (Broadway – specifically at Times Square) and I don’t like it! I am nostalgic for my youth! But…I think art is coming back. I think there is more street art and murals happening again and I really like it.

So you feel like street life/art is coming back? Because there has been an attitude that it got really commercialized…
I think it did. Definitely…but there is always a pendulum and I think it’s slowly swinging back…

I hope you're right! Okay, let's get back to your work. What do you like most about what you do?
With every single new skin, meaning the same skin new delivery of it…my passion for it and understanding of it grows. Each skin is different and how you have to work with it is different and I find this exciting. I use skins because they are biodegradable and natural. I will never use synthetic material. The idea of producing something that will sit in a landfill and never go away disturbs me to no end. Even if it’s the easier choice, to use a synthetic material, I absolutely will not do it.

And what do you find most challenging in your process?
The most challenging thing is to find organic materials that are beautiful and workable. Also finding people who really care and take pride in the work they’re doing is really hard. –this is universal– it doesn’t matter the culture or place, there are too many people just working for money and not caring about what they do.

Current inspiration?
Sade’s new album. Is the best ever. I’m working on a fashion film and I call myself Your Armor. When you have that piece that you put on and it’s like it protects you, it’s your armor and her music plays into that.


And finally, what’s the best advice you’ve ever given or received?
The best advice I’ve ever given –I put on a piece of one of my accessories, and if you Google it you’ll get various attributions– so I think it’s just an old bit of wisdom which is “Go within or go without”. When people ask me for an answer to something they are questioning about themselves I generally tell them "I don’t have your answer, you do and you have to figure that out. To listen, to hear it. And if you can’t hear it you need to spend more time listening because it is within you."

And the best advice I’ve ever received was that my scars would never go away. They would simply stop hurting. And be easier to live with. And it was the realest thing that was ever said to me as a child and made me able to move forward and be a good human being.
Norisol Ferrari's collection can be found at Maxfield in LA and by appointment in NYC

Norisol and Jones
large version of coat photo

Smells like teen spirit

There is something about her look that seems like she came straight from Central Casting for a John Hughes film...which would make him the requisite alterna-boy?

Brooklyn Girl

I like the layering of the jacket that looks like a tuxedo jacket converted into a cape and the tiny hat/large hairpiece. I even like the tights that matched the sky when the picture was taken, but i'm not convinced by the stirrups...maybe cut at the ankle would have been better...but i have never been a fan of stirrup tights or pants...

chanel hobo

If I said I was posting a photo of a girl in a white tee and black shorts you'd probably think I'd lost it...but if you saw it: the sheerness of the tee, the short hair and quirky hat, the tattoo on the leg and the Chanel flats you'd know why...so now you know.

Guys looking... all "guy like"

When it comes to Style Defined, mostly I am fond of beautiful androgynous boys or boys with girls. So I wanted to post these fellows who fall squarely into the "guy" category and quite possibly the "straight guy" category because far too many of them don't know how to be casual and stylish. I think these two do a pretty good job: skinny jeans but they don't look anorexic, a little color, some Doc's and a summer blazer are all nice touches. I have a somewhat disconcerting urge to get the bangs out of the eyes of the one on the left –or trim his hair altogether– but otherwise I'm liking their looks.

lost boy in the big city...

I love the insanity of wearing a tatty fur coat in the middle of a heat wave in Manhattan. And paired with shorts and skinned knees the whole ensemble is a bit "little boy blue". Geoffrey you are too adorable...

A glimmer of gold in a sea of dots

I was asked today what makes good "street style", and I found that it was a difficult question to answer. The only thing I could think of was 'a bit of the unexpected'. This girl achieves this in a few ways: the knee highs with the dress, and then the bits of gold –from her unnatural hair color, to the brooch which provides a gathering effect to the dress to the shoes that Dorothy might have worn in Oz if she wasn't wearing red– together add an intriguing bit of visual interest.

In Suspense Too

I don't know what's with me as of late that I feel compelled to show 2 examples in a row. Maybe because when I'm sorting through photos I start to see the trends after first pointing them out. At any rate this is the second of two photos showing the suspender trend. (and I have a third, but don't worry –I'm moving on) They have a totally different look than the girls in the other photo: kinda Germanic. kinda butch dyke. kinda looking at the camera like "we're being polite but don't consider ourselves fashionistas". But their attention to details says otherwise: the great old shoes that look like they could have been bought at a thrift store or at Atelier, the shirt deliberately buttoned to the top on a ferociously hot day and the insouciance of no makeup except bright red lipstick all say we do give a damn about how we look–just in our own way...and that is the essence of style...

Jennifer Lopez

The Actor Jennifer Lopez

Birth name: Jennifer Lynn Lopez Also known as J.Lo

Born: July 24, 1969 (age 40)

Origin: The Bronx, New York, U.S.

Genres: Pop, R&B, hip hop, dance-pop, Latin pop

Occupations: Actress, singer-songwriter, record producer, dancer, fashion designer, television producer, model, choreographer, entrepreneur,

Miami Dolphins: part-owner

Years active: 1986–present (acting) 1997–present (singing)

Labels: Epic (1999–2010) Def Jam (2010–present)

Website www.JenniferLopez.com

Biography

The one of the famous celebrities Jennifer Lynn Lopez frequently nickname J.Lo, is an American actress, fashion designer and television producer, singer, record producer, dancer,. She is the richest one of Latin American dive in Hollywood according to Forbes, and the majority powerful Hispanic artiste in the U.S. according to People en Español's list of "100 Most powerful Hispanics". She parlayed her media fame into a fashion line and various perfumes with her celebrity endorsement. Exterior of her work in the activity industry, Lopez advocates human rights, vaccinations and is a follower of Childrens Hospital Los Angeles.

Awards

ALMA Awards (Nominated:1,Year: 2001,2002 & Won:4, Year:1998,1999,2000,2001)
Year	Result	Award	Category/Recipient(s)
2001	Won	Special Achievement Award	Female Entertainer of the Year
2000	Won	Special Achievement Award	Female Entertainer of the Year
1999	Won	ALMA Award	Outstanding Actress in a Feature Film in a Crossover Role for: Out of Sight (1998)
1998	Won	ALMA Award	Outstanding Actress in a Feature Film for: Selena (1997) Also for Anaconda (1997).
Blockbuster Entertainment Awards (Nominated:1,Year:1988 & Won:1, Year:2001)
2001	Won	Blockbuster Entertainment Award	Favorite Actress - Science Fiction for: The Cell (2000)

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Derek Jeter

The Baseball Player Derek Jeter

No. 2 Shortstop
Born: June 26, 1974 (age 36) Pequannock, New Jersey

Bats: Right

Throws: Right

MLB debut
May 29, 1995 for the New York Yankees

Career Statistics (Through July 19, 2010)
Batting average .315

Hits 2,850

Runs 1,636

Home runs 232

Runs batted in 1,112

On-base plus slugging .842

Teams
New York Yankees (1995–present)

Biography

The one of the famous celebrities Derek Sanderson Jeter is an American specialized baseball player. He is a Major League Baseball (MLB) shortstop who has played his whole career for the New York Yankees. Derek Sanderson Jeter has serve up as the Yankees' team captain since 2003. Jeter's attendance in the Yankees' lineup, highlighted by his hitting prowess, played an instrumental role in the team's late 1990s dynasty.

Derek Jeter Awards

Year	Awards
1994	Minor League Player of the Year Award
1996	Players Choice: Outstanding Rookie of the Year Award
1996	Rookie of the Year Award
1996	Sporting News Rookie Player of the Year Award
1998	Player of the Month Award
2000	All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award
2000	Babe Ruth Award (World Series MVP)
2000	World Series Most Valuable Player Award
2004	Gold Glove Award for Shortstops
2005	Gold Glove Award for Shortstops
2006	Baseball Digest Player of the Year Award
2006	Gold Glove Award for Shortstops
2006	Hank Aaron Award
2006	Silver Slugger Award (American League)
2006	TYIB: Hitter of the Year Award
2007	Silver Slugger Award (American League)
2008	Silver Slugger Award (American League)
2009	Gold Glove Award for Shortstops
2009	Hank Aaron Award
2009	Roberto Clemente Man of the Year Award
2009	Silver Slugger Award (American League)
2009	Sportsman of the Year Award

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In Suspense

These girls are kind of working a '90s grunge vibe which isn't necessarily a bad thing. What I'm looking at here though is the suspenders. When I was in Madrid recently I saw an amazing pair of acid green cotton pants with suspenders. I tried them on in the store and while they were very "Y-3" they weren't enough "me" to justify buying them. If I had though, I know I'd keep at least one - if not both - of the suspenders down...but these aren't the only times I've seen suspenders so, like the overalls, I wonder if these are just blips on the screen or retro revivals?

jackie chan

The Actor Jackie Chan

Name: Jackie Chan

Born: 7 April 1954 (Age: 56)

Where: Hong Kong, China

Height: 5' 8"

Awards: No major awards

Biography

The one of the famous celebrities Jackie Chan, is a Hong Kong actor, action choreographer, director, comedian, filmmaker, producer, and stunt performer. Inside his movies, he is recognized for his gymnastic warfare style, comic timing, use of off the cuff weapons, and ground-breaking stunts. He has been acting since the 1970s and has come into view in over 100 films. He has customary stars on the Hong Kong Avenue of Stars and the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Because a cultural icon, Chan has been referenced in various pop songs, cartoons, and video games. He is also a Cantopop and Mandopop star, having released a number of albums and sung many of the theme songs for the films in which he has starred.

Awards and Nominations

Daytime Emmy Awards (Nominated:1 , Year:2002 & Won:0)
Hong Kong Film Awards (Nominated:13 , Year:1983,1985,1986,1990,1993,1994,1996,1997,1999200,2005,2006 & Won:3 , Year:1989,1996,1999)
Year	Result	Award	Category/Recipient(s)
1989	Won	Hong Kong	Film Award Best Picture for: Yin ji kau (1988)
1996	Won	Hong Kong	Film Award Best Action Choreography for: Rumble in the Bronx (1995) Shared with: Stanley Tong
1999	Won	Hong Kong	Film Award Best Action Choreography for: Wo shi shei (1998)

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Regis Philbin

American Media Personality Regis Philbin

Full Name: Regis Francis Xavier Philbin

Born: August 25, 1931 (age 78) New York City, New York, U.S.

Occupation: TV presenter, Talk show host, Game show host

Years active: 1961–present

Spouse(s): Kay Faylan (1955–1968), Joy Philbin (1970–present)

Official website

Biography

The one of the famous celebrities Regis Francis Xavier Philbin is an American media personality and infrequent actor and singer, known for facing various talk and game shows. Come into view on television since the late 1950s, Philbin is often called “the hardest working man in show business" and holds the Guinness World Record for the most time spent in front of a TV camera. With each TV appearance, he adds to his record for most hours logged (15,662, as certified by Guinness World Records in 2006). Regis brands include his excited manner, his New York Bronx accent, his wit, and disrespectful ad-libs. Regis is most extensively recognized for Live with Regis and Kelly, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, Million Dollar Password, and for hosting the first season of America's Got Talent.

Awards and Nominations

Daytime Emmy Awards (Nomination:15 , Year: 1989,1996 to 2009& Won:2 , Year:2001,2006)
Year	Result	Award	Category/Recipient(s)
2006	Won	Daytime Emmy	Outstanding Special Class Special for: Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade (2005) (TV) Shared with: Andy Perrott (executive producer) Jeff Palmer (supervising producer) John M. Best (coordinating producer) Philip W. Hack (line producer) Darlene Papalini (producer) Kevin Young (producer) Gina Jones (producer) Rhonda Parker (producer) Kelly Ripa (co-host) Ryan Seacrest (co-host)
2001	Won	Daytime Emmy	Outstanding Game Show Host for: "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" (1999/I)
			Outstanding Talk Show Host for: "Live with Regis" (1989) Tied with Rosie O'Donnell for "The Rosie O'Donnell Show" (1996).

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Ladylike too

More on my quest to show "ladylike" that isn't saccharine. I love how she looks in this emerald dress – the girlishness is balanced by her hairstyle and how she kept it simple with no jewelry.

Diane Sawyer

Television journalist Diane Sawyer

Full Name: Lila Diane Sawyer

Born: December 22, 1945 (age 64) Glasgow, Kentucky, United States

Education: Wellesley College, B.A., 1967

Occupation: Television journalist

Spouse(s): Mike Nichols (1988-present)

Years active: 1962–present

Biography

The one of the famous celebrities Lila Diane Sawyer is an American television reporter for the ABC News partition of the ABC network. On top of December 21, 2009, she began fastening World News with Diane Sawyer, the network's flagship news program. Beforehand, Sawyer had been co-anchor of ABC News's morning news program, Good Morning America (GMA).

Awards and Nominations

Daytime Emmy Awards (Nomination: 0 & Won:1 , Year:2007)
Year	Result	Award	Category/Recipient(s)
2007.	Won	Daytime Emmy	Excellence in Morning Programming for: "Good Morning America" (1975) Shared with: Jim Murphy (senior executive producer) Tom Cibrowski (executive producer) Jessica Stedman Guff (senior broadcast producer) Stuart Schwartz (senior broadcast producer) Chris Vlasto (senior producer) Margo Baumgart (senior producer) Dennis O'Brien (senior producer) James Bogdanoff (senior producer) Robin Gradison (senior producer) Anna Robertson (senior producer) Santina Leuci (editorial producer) Colleen Curtis (supervising editor) Michelle Hord (supervising producer) Michael Corn (supervising producer) Janice Johnston (supervising producer) Alexa Miranda (Deputy Editorial Producer) Sheila Sitomer (executive producer - program development) Diane Masciale (executive editor - special coverage) Gitika Ahuja (producer) Sandra Aiken (producer) Margaret Aro (producer) Bill Barrett (producer) Clark Bentson (producer) Max Culhane (producer) Seth Fenton (producer) Jessica Hoffman (producer) Cole Kazdin (producer) Karen Leo (producer) Allen Levine (producer) Maria Licari-Cohen (producer) Michelle Major (producer) Rich McHugh (producer) Kevin McMillen (producer) Brian O'Keefe (producer) Alberto Orso (producer) Linda Owens (producer) Andrew Paparella (producer) Chad Parks (producer) Mary Pflum (producer) Jennifer Pereira (producer) Ashley Phillips (producer) Karen Rhee (producer) Ia Robinson (producer) Liz Sintay (producer) Cindy Smith (producer) Ben Stevenson (producer) Cari Strassberg (producer) Chris Strathmann (producer) Thea Trachtenberg (producer) Anna Wild (producer) Gary Wynn (producer) Lana Zak (producer) Jerry McNiff (meterologist producer) Yoni Mintz (operations producer) Edmund Levin (producer/newswriter) Cathy Becker (coordinating producer) Bill Cunningham (coordinating producer) Carolyn Durand (coordinating producer) Patricia Neger (coordinating producer) Kristin Sebastian (coordinating producer) Morgan Zalkin (coordinating producer) John D'Incecco (director) Bob Morrissey (head writer/coordinating producer) Lisa Ferri (writer) Roger Fortuna (writer) Mitchell Gallob (writer) William Piersol (writer) Laura Zaccaro (writer) Darcy Bonfils (producer) Robin Roberts (anchor) Sam Champion (weather anchor) Chris Cuomo (news anchor) Claire Shipman (correspondent) Elisabeth Leamy (correspondent) Tied with "Today" (1952)

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Emeril Lagasse

The Cook Emeril Lagasse

Full Name: Emeril John Lagasse

Born: October 15, 1959 (age 50) Fall River, Massachusetts, United States

Cooking style: Cajun, Portuguese, Creole, and French

Education: Johnson & Wales University

Spouse: Elizabeth Kief (m. 1978–1986) 2

children Tari Hohn (m. 1989–1996)

Aldeh Lovelace (m. 2000–present) 2 children

Biography

The one of the famous celebrities Emeril John Lagasse is an American famous person chef, restaurateur, television personality, and cookbook author. A provincial James Beard Award winner, he is possibly most notable for his Food Network demonstrate Emeril Live and Essence of Emeril as well as catchphrases such as “Kick it up a notch!” and “BAM!” He is a 1978 graduate of Johnson & Wales University's College of Culinary Arts. The "Emeril Empire" of media, products and restaurants generates an estimated US$150 million annually in revenue.

Awards and Nominations

Daytime Emmy Awards (Nominations :7 , Year :2001,2002,2003,2004,2005,2006,2007 & Won :0 )

TV Guide Awards (Nominations: 1, Year: 2001 & Won: 0 )

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