Tis the Season for a Soul Style Surrender with the Dame . . .
It was Spring 2011, Fashion Week in New York City and the entire month was packed with the beauty, the bang and the brilliance of doing something NEW while shaking summer sand out of my ears and sharing my signature solvent to Adore & Adorn around town. (for a contest to join me for a special designer showroom visit…see below!)
I swear it literally took my breath away (I actually had an asthma attack!) with plenty of good gasps, giggles, leaps of joy, shameless flirts, time transports, sensual situations, and the eternal love of a Mama. I dedicate all these moments to my new beautiful friend, Claude Serieux, the hottest Parisian DJ, NYC will ever see and one with whom I shared the breath-giving diffusion of the essential oils Thieves & Peppermint when his allergies were activated after sleeping with a pussycat. Herewith, I humbly offer you my view of My Favorite Top Turn Ons in my Town this month . . .
Tziporah & her beloved wheels at Lincoln Center
This Soul Stylist’s Secret Stylist: I captured my muse, Tziporah Salamon, right before the High Holidays, Fashion Week and her new course, “The Art of Dressing with Tziporah” and put her in my closets where she decreed me to dress with simple elegant chic, Grace Kelly Style. I took it and ran with a new, slightly foggy, Rear Window Treatment to display on my Fashion’s Night Out event at Worth & Worth, NYC’s oldest hat shop!
I love my tiny topper!
The Haberdashery Was a Topper: Beause I am so good at swooning, I was invited by the amazing team at Worth & Worth to be hostess of their Fashion Night’s Out event. What a scene; next door to Bergdorf Goodman, on W. 57 St., the mood was super sexy speakeasy with flattened fedora felt hat vests, plaid suits, DJ and artist Pasha and Jelly Jewels, a rappin’, soulful, hi-jumpin’ crooner.
Dame Lori, Worth & Worth's Orlando Palacios and Cathy Petignant
With live music all night, the joint was vibin’ big with a “Design Your Own Hat” station (stay tuned for their Soho pop shop opening in December) and Portraits With Hats photo shoot. Check out these amazing shots by Roger Dong . . . absolute proof that the power of owning your beauty is contained under one’s lid.
The Lion Purrs: A spontaneous, luscious birthday dinner at The Lion, hosted by my agents, Jade Dressler & Kristen Paladino of PLANT. to celebrate the September birthdays of Claude and myself. After dinner, John DeLucie, the chef and co-owner of this spot and The Waverly Inn, who was recently cast by Kristen for a Sesame Street spot through Paladino Casting, invited us for a sneak peek into his very discreet, ultra private upstairs Courtesan Salon (for dinner parties up to 30). Electrifying sensual elegance, as if designed by La Belle Otero herself, where only the most cheeky are permitted. I love a personal invitation to doors unexplored, don’t you?
Reggie- A Back Row Dream Come True: I am a longtime fan of Cynthia Rowley…she is such the image of grace and fun, I co-chaired an event with her and frequently saw her for my surfing seasons out in Ditch Plains, Long Island, so I will follow her forever. Which brought me to the back row, standing room only site where my slow burning indignance was complemented by a fine gent in front of me. Through my quick seductive charms (I call it “The Bitch Must Switch Move”), I decided to have fun with him and the next thing you know Reggie Wells is sharing that he came to town to do Naomi Campbell’s make-up for Dolce & Gabbana’s Fashion’s Night Out event and has been doing Oprah’s make-up for the past TWENTY ONE YEARS. I met a KING and I bow to Reggie!
Now that’s why you act like you live your gracious life in Front Row, even when you get blinded in the back. Yet that did not stop me from seeing the mature, modern and very wise collection that Cynthia created this Spring, ever riding the waves for the peaks of high pleasure with dots and spots in all the right places. I loved her full swingin’ skirts, an evolved Soul Sister, mother and surfer whose collection glowed with the best of downtown and summer sand colors and fun.
Sara Galindo, Elle Mexican Leather Goddess
The Leather Coat Dress that Required an Inhalant: I swear this is the cause of my asthma attack. I was hanging with Jade and Claude at the best rest station at Cafe 65 at Alice Tully Hall and from across the room floated in the best leather piece I have ever seen in my life. It was as if Bonnie Cashin got sexy and decided to swing. I casually sprinted to this beauty (of course, it was Sara Galindo, Editor in Chief, Elle Mexico) and I gratefully gushed that I had to know where it came from…. MEXICO! And she gave me her email so that I can coordinate my very own buy in military green. She had just finished hanging out with Placido Domingo and was thrilled that another King, King Karl had just agreed to come bless Mexican designers & their collections.
A Humanitarian Serves It Up: I love a he-man with a heart…and I send mine to the designer Manuel de la Cruz. This man not only designed a great collection, filled with simple, ultra chic pieces inspired by his Quatemalan roots and the Semana Santa celebration, where Catholics celebrate and show their devotion to The Passion, he advocated for his own spiritual cause, The Leslie Munzer Neurological Institute. It is the best when one so savvy shares another enraptured inspiration with captive others. The gorgeous symbolic colors of purple and black were so sensually conveyed in fabrications of chiffon, silk cotton, double face duchess satin, silk georgette and French lace. Devotional Passion describes the state of my mind when I think of wearing fabulous cocktail dresses of purple and black lace!
A Mama’s Rise to Her Son’s Stardom:
Timo Weiland designers, Timo and Alan Eckstein are so fresh and original and beautiful boys, full of life and wonder amongst fans, cherished friends and family surrounding them with love. I met Alan’s mother, Barbara Frankel, who was swept away in pride and joy over her blessed fortune. Perfect testimony to the true life slogan that “When Mama’s Happy, Everybody’s Happy!” I love the playfulness that was communicated in still form, as models were arranged in a still life tableau, inspired by Swedish Fjordlands and the seaside colors of Ingmar Bergman’s life-saving, famous film, “Persona.” I was so swept away by the vivid composition of colors, silhouettes, outstanding eyewear and endless charm, that I wanted to jump up myself and pose in my Rag & Bone and Ray-Bans. Has any designer ever pulled up guests and styled them in the middle of their show before? Or will the Dame have to be the first?
When the Shoe Falls off, Applaud: Front Row at the Eva Minge show, a silent demonstration of what happens when one uncomfortable shoe starts to drop off . .the other one easily comes off, too, with a little help! With true grace and dignity, a brazen bareheeled model strolled in her long sensual nude silk jersey gown casually dangling the pair the rest of the walk to a solid round of applause from the audience. It was a beautiful Buster Keaton moment of comic relief inspired from a collection whose ultra-cool theme was “Freedom and Solidarity in Fashion.” The huge hobo feedbags and clutches were fabulous and offered the spirit of the show into the hands for all of us to share. I will stand in line to buy one, please!
Thuy (pronouncd “Twee”) is a Buy Me: I get first class attention when I witness any Company Agenda fashion show or event. This beautiful, sweet, original, hot, sexy, glamour goddess collection was genius and as gorgeous as its designer, Thuy Diep. The details are divine with so much spot-on soul style…I am still lusting over her fox tailed tote bag that I want to buy online! It is so obvious that she designs for a super confident woman who owns her life force AND wants to confide that she is creating a legendary life cause Thuy is all that and more.
Sigh, inhale, release, love, let go and breathe…Oh, man, is this Fall going to be one hell of a Humdinger! The Dame Knights New York City for being the gracious and generous hostess to all who leap at the chance to pursuit beauty, love and service with pleasure!
photos: style.com, Jade Dressler, Dame Lori
Dame Lori & Claude Leaving Lincoln Center
What is your favorite Soul Styled Possession that you are TURNED ON about for this Fall?
Write me on why, and what and how it inspires your desires, your style, your personality, your being, your life. In other words, why does this PIECE demonstrate your self adoration and what happens to you when you are adorned in it? I’ll announce the winners soon so Hurrrrrry!
The Dame Game 
