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Showing posts with label American. Show all posts
Showing posts with label American. Show all posts
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Disney's Real World: Perched above a faux storefront American...
× Like us and you'll find top breaking news in your Facebook newsfeed. Sign up for our daily email newsletter and get top stories and breaking news delivered to your inbox. Tuesday, February 7, 2012, by Sarah Firshein
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Style Icon: Diana Vreeland American Style
Americans have always been drawn to big personalities — we just love adventurers and iconoclasts who embody the American spirit. And for much of the 20th century, Diana Vreeland was one of the biggest personalities in the country. From her endless bon mots to her signature lacquered hair to her famous request that her living room look “like a garden, but a garden in hell,” she was an original whose presence still looms in American style.
She once said that “You gotta have style. It helps you get up in the morning. It's a way of life. . . . And I'm not talking about a lot of clothes." And indeed, her life was suffused with style. When she lived in London, she painted her front door red. When she wrote her autobiography, she embellished the truth, invented stories, and then called her entertaining blend of fact and fiction “fraction.” While working at Vogue, she invented the word pizzazz. She discovered Lauren Bacall in 1940s and helped launch Twiggy's career in America. When Manolo Blahnik showed her his fashion sketches, she advised him to focus on shoes. She gave style advice to her good friend Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and shopped for Katherine Graham. And throughout the decades, she doled out one quotable opinion after another, including “Too much good taste can be boring” and "I'm terrible on facts. But I always have an idea. If you have an idea, you're well ahead"
Vreeland, who was born in Paris to an American mother and British father, spent the majority of her life in New York City. In a 1980 interview with Henry Geldzahler, New York Commissioner of Cultural Affairs, she noted that "It's a working man's town. There's no leisure. We don't look for it. It doesn't exist . . . how lucky you are to be here!" Her fashion career began after Harper's Bazaar editor Carmel Snow saw her dancing at the St. Regis in a Chanel lace dress and bolero with roses tucked in her hair. Although Vreeland had no editorial experience, Snow realized her potential and offered her a job. At Harper's Bazaar, Vreeland created the legendary "Why Don’t You?” column in which she proposed fun, whimsical, and often outlandish ideas. Suggestions ranged from "Why don't you wear violet velvet mittens with everything?" to “Why don’t you paint a map of the world on all four walls of your boys’ nursery so they won’t grow up with a provincial point of view?" The column reflected the carefree individuality that was coming to be cherished in America.
Vreeland spent 25 years at Harper’s and was known for championing American design and working closely with photographers and models. She left Harper's Bazaar for Vogue in 1962, where her creative input led to photo shoots — like the July 1968 collaboration between Veruschka and Franco Rubartelli — that are still famous. At Vogue, Vreeland encouraged photographers and models to travel to far-flung locales like Japan and Bali for shoots, an idea that was groundbreaking at the time. Eventually, the price of these shoots became too much for Vogue, who let her go in 1971. Despite that, she had set a new precedent for fashion editorials and photography — Richard Avedon credited her with creating "a totally new profession" out of fashion editing, which had previously been done by and largely for society women. She went on to become special consultant to the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Her exhibits, including 1973's "The World of Balenciaga" and 1976's "The Glory of Russian Costume" drew enormous crowds and the annual Costume Institute Gala became the party of the year. After her death in 1989, the New York Times noted that she'd had "an innate understanding of the extraordinary pace of change in 20th-century life."
Of course, her Park Avenue apartment also became iconic and its red living room is one of the most recognizable rooms in design history. Decorated by American designer Billy Baldwin in 1955, the home she shared with her husband Reed and their two sons was a riot of color and pattern. There was no minimalism or subdued décor. Bold stripes ran down the sides of the dining room and adorned the matching cushions and bench, creating a look akin to a chic, preppy tent. Her bedroom was an English garden, with blue chintz covering the walls and a bed designed by British designer Syrie Maugham. In person, the effect of these rooms was said to be spectacular – especially the red living room at night. Her taste, while not for everyone, was definitely her own and she embraced it. Over the years, she did many interviews in her own living room.
Throughout her life, Vreeland was known for her theatricality and irreverence. From inventing a childhood spent in Cairo, to her exuberant writing ("Vreeland!—with a V!" I say whenever I have to give my name over the telephone. "V as in 'victory'! V as in 'violent'!"), to her opinions ("Whatever age you are, you're older than you ought to be."), she was never dull. New York Magazine noted that stories about her have "have one denominator: None of them has anything to do with modern life as it is commonly lived." She was a true icon who lived with grace, style, and aplomb.
Additional Resources and Information:
Other American Style Icons:
Video Credit: Diana Vreeland Tribute Via VogueSpirit at YouTube
Image Credits 1. Diana Vreeland, Park Avenue Jonathan Becker 1979 via 1stDibs 2. Horst P. Horst/©Art+Commerce via On This Day in Fashion 3. Harper's Bazaar Oct. 1955 issue via Lua Jewelry 4. Harper's Bazaar 5. Franco Rubartelli for Vogue/Conde Nast via On This Day in Fashion 6.1947 Arthur Rothstein photograph for Look magazine via Media Bistro 7. Still from Paramount Picture's 1957 film Funny Face via The Medestrian 8. Richard Avedon, 1966. 9. Architectural Digest Celebrity Homes via The Peak of Chic. 10. Chronicle Books 11. Martin Munkacsi, Greta Garbo on vacation, 1932 via Flavorwire 12. Architectural Digest Celebrity Homes via The Peak of Chic 13. Priscilla Rattazzi for New York Magazine. 14. Visionaire Magazine via Amazon. 15. Peter Lindberg for Harper's Bazaar
Sunday, April 17, 2011
City Scapes: Sixty Years On, Revisiting the First True American Suburb
× Like us and you'll find top breaking news in your Facebook newsfeed. Sign up for our daily email newsletter and get top stories and breaking news delivered to your inbox. Monday, April 11, 2011, by Rob Bear
Welcome to CityScapes, a column in which we explore some of the nation's oft-overlooked cities and towns: their local history and real estate offerings. Have a suggestion? Do let us know.
From 1947 to 1951, the development firm of Levitt & Sons constructed the massive development of similar Cape Cod-style homes that would become known as Levittown, N.Y. While not America's first suburb—that honor is usually bestowed on the NYC neighborhood of Brooklyn Heights—Levittown was among the first in the wave of homogeneous developments that swept the nation following the Second World War. Built to meet demand from servicemen returning from the war flush with "G.I. loans," the first batch of 2,000 homes sold out before construction had even commenced, which compelled Levitt to build an additional 4,000, all arranged around serpentine streets to maximize buildable acreage. For efficiency, an abandoned rail line was reopened to ship in lumber and zoning regulations were altered to allow for concrete slab construction. By July 1948, Levitt & Sons were turning out an astounding 30 houses per day. Though marketed as the "new form of American living," Levittown wasn't fit for all its future residents.
? So this is what a typical Levittown block looked like back in the '50s, a row of identically sloped roofs interrupted only by the occasional dormer. That homogeneity carried over to the tenants, too, as a discriminatory lease clause forbade non-whites from renting in the community. Contemporary critics honed in on the racist lease policy and uninspiring, sterile architecture, but people still poured into the newly minted community. In 1949, the developer transitioned to selling rather than renting, and sold off these new "ranches" for $7,990 a piece.
? Despite the homogeneous origins, the Levitt houses have evolved since their construction. Thanks to additions from the subsequent owners, the town now boasts a surprisingly wide range of architectural styles, most based on the original structure. Maureen Hare (above) told the New York Times that she and her husband had expanded their house into a Victorian-style spread almost twice as large as the original "ranch." This sort of rampant remodeling has led to wildly variable pricing for the formerly set-priced homes.
WHAT'S ON THE MARKET NOW:
? Of the more than 17,000 houses constructed by Levitt & Sons in the '40s and '50s, this 1948 four bedroom is one of the least significantly altered. Though it could use some help with the staging, the Mets-loving owner is asking $299K.
? On the next rung up on the alteration ladder, this $490K "ranch" has had a garage tacked on to the main structure. A swimming pool has been added, too, but are these improvements worth an almost $200K price jump?
? How does $7,990 become $925K? Just ask the owners of this overgrown Levitt. It has been revamped with new—though not necessarily stylish—fittings, but doesn't have a swimming pool. Still, the idea that the diminutive original framing is hiding somewhere inside this imposing facade is intriguing.
· Levittown Historical Society | History [official site]
· Levittown Through the Years [NYT]
· 49 Balsam Lane [Trulia]
· 179 Swan Lane [Realty Connect USA]
· Levittown [Elliman]
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
[Contest] Congrats to our 2nd “My American Dream” Contest Winner!
During week #2 of our “My American Dream” Twitter contest, @dropastich won a $50 Crate and Barrel gift card from Trulia for her entry:
@trulia=>My American dream=>a safe loving home for my grandson to grow up in #Crate&Barrel #giftcards #myamericandream #contest #giveaway
Don’t forget to share your American Dream with us for a chance to win - we’re picking our last Twitter contest winner on Monday!
Here’s how to enter - it’s as easy as 1, 2, 3
Step 1: Be a registered user of Twitter.com. (If you are not a registered user of Twitter, simply visit https://twitter.com/signup to register for free.)Step 2: Follow Sponsor on Twitter at @trulia.Step 3: Tweet (1) the hashtag #myamericandream and (2) a brief response to the following question: What is your American dream? Do not include personal information in your answers, including, without limitation, your name, e-mail address, or contact information.Judging
Beginning on or about the final day of each Submission Period, a panel of Trulia Judges will evaluate eligible tweets and select one (1) winner for the prior Period based on which tweet is the most apt, original, and interesting.Winners Announced
Each potential prize winner will be notified by direct message via Twitter within 48 hours after the then-applicable Period ends. Once the winners have been confirmed, we’ll announce them on our blog http://www.truliablog.com/.Click here for the full the official rules.
Popularity: 3% [?]Saturday, March 26, 2011
[Contest] Congrats to our 3rd “My American Dream” Twitter Contest Winner!
During the 3rd and final week of our “My American Dream” Twitter contest, @LizRevillaS won a $50 Crate and Barrel gift card from Trulia for her entry:
#myamericandream-healthy kids&hubby, enough $ to take yearly vacation, a nice home w/Large kitchen to enjoy friends, family, wine & Food
Congrats and thank you to everyone who participated! We loved hearing about your American Dreams and hope you all achieve them! Next week, we’ll be announcing the grand prize winner of our “My American Dream” Facebook contest, so stay tuned.
Popularity: 2% [?]Wednesday, March 16, 2011
2.7 Percent of American Homes are Vacant: "The typical data point used to...
× Like us and you'll find top breaking news in your Facebook newsfeed. Sign up for our daily email newsletter and get top stories and breaking news delivered to your inbox. Wednesday, February 2, 2011, by Sarah
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Sunday, February 13, 2011
Celebrity Real Estate: American Idol: Homes of Some of the Show's Major Players
× Like us and you'll find top breaking news in your Facebook newsfeed. Sign up for our daily email newsletter and get top stories and breaking news delivered to your inbox. Tuesday, January 18, 2011, by Sarah
American Idol premieres tomorrow. OMFG, are you ready? Those first few weeks of try-outs—the screaming fans, the dreams made, the hopes shattered, the back to Wal-Mart we go—is always something special. To celebrate this cultural touchstone, we're peeking at what the main faces of the show—judges and crooners alike—have called home.
? Saucy music ex Simon Cowell founded the American version American Idol from the British original in 2002, and quickly made a name for himself with a razor-sharp tongue and a no-holds-barred approach to criticism. His house-fixing methodology hasn't been so quick-hitting, however: Cowell purchased a Beverly Hills, Calif. plot for $8M in 2004, broke ground in 2006, and finally finished his $6.23M dream home in Sept. 2008. Bloody hell, Sim, speed it up a bit!
? In February 2007, Randy "Yo Dawgs" Jackson put his 5,900-square-foot Tarzana, Calif., mansion on the market for $2.99M. Apparently he was super-confident that his first-ever studio album Randy Jackson's Music Club, Vol. 1, would make the magic happen.
? Perennial house-flipper Ellen DeGeneres purchased this Beverly Hills, Calif., megamansion for $40M in 2008, only to marry Portia de Rossi at the estate later that year. In November, the couple purchased a condo in the area, continuing to beef up their real estate portfolio. It's a good thing DeGeneres has a side hobby now that her judging days are over.
? This is where the oft-inarticulate ex-judge Paula Abdul lived until late 2008, when she put the place on the market just a month after a crazy Idol-obsessed fan committed suicide outside her home. She was later spotted house hunting in Tarzana, Calif.
? Marshfield boasts all the things one might expect from Massachusetts's South Shore: a median family income hovering the six-figure mark, about 25,000 people, and so on. One thing that really throws a wrench in the New Englandy-ness? Why, Aerosmith front man Steven Tyler, of course! Tyler will join the show this year.
? We've been through this one already—Jennifer Lopez's plush pad outside L.A. 'Twas pretty enough to be featured in the most recent issue of Veranda, what with Michelle Workman-designed interiors and touches of '40s glam. JLo and crooner hubby Marc Anthony purchased the $10M pad early last year.
? Season Four winner (and Grammy Award winner, Grand Ole Opry inductee, Golden Globe nominee, CMA winner, and so on) Carrie Underwood will certainly not be in Checotah—or outside Nashville, where she's lived for the past few years (above)—when she and new husband Mike Fisher finish their dream home near Ottowa. The duo anticipated moving in by September; no word yet as to whether the home—reportedly brick and stone and about 5,000 square feet—is actually finished yet.
? The original Idol, a one Miss multi-platinun Kelly Clarkson, put her Nashville, Tenn., home in the market for $1.449M back in October. She purchased the home for $1.49M in 2007, but something tells us she can weather the $41K loss.
· American Idol [official site]
· A mansion fit for a TV king: Simon Cowell's £4m dream home is finally ready... FOUR YEARS after he bought it [Daily Mail]
· Yo Dawgs, It's the Randy Jackson Crib [The Real Estalker]
· It's Official! Ellen DeGeneres Marries Portia de Rossi [E! Online]
· Ellen Adds Beverly Hills Condo to Property Portfolio [The Real Estalker]
· Paula Abdul Selling House After Suicide [HuffPo]
· Thursday Morning Mish Mash [The Real Estalker]
· Steven Tyler's House [Virtual Globetrotting]
· Jennifer Lopez Proves, Yet Again, She's No Jenny From the Block [Curbed National]
· Carrie Underwood, Mike Fisher, Build House Near Ottowa [Vancouver Sun]
· Carrie Underwood, Mike Fisher Building Dream Home in Canada [US Weekly]
· Kelly Clarkson Lists Nashville Manse [Curbed National]
· American Idol Kelly Clarkson Lists at a Loss [The Real Estalker]
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Elle Decor One Step Closer to Sharing a Lunchroom With House Beautiful: French publishing giant Lagardere and American...
× Like us and you'll find top breaking news in your Facebook newsfeed. Sign up for our daily email newsletter and get top stories and breaking news delivered to your inbox. Friday, January 7, 2011, by Sarah
? Previous: Surprise! SoCal's "White Stallion" Lacks Authentic Italian Flavor
Sunday, January 2, 2011
AMERICAN DAD VOL 1 - DVD Movie
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