FASHION IS A RELIGION. THIS IS THE BIBLE.

The September Issue finally hits screens on August 28th in New York and September 11th in Los Angeles and select cities. I am so excited to see this film.  I just received my copy of the September issue featuring Charlize Theron on the cover and cant wait to get a behind the scenes look at how it was put together.  I hear the real story is the tug of war between Wintour and creative force Grace Coddington.   Counting down the days...

I HEART ILARIA

I am so excited to feature fabulous stylist and friend Ilaria Urbanati. In addition to dressing some of Hollywood's most fashion forward, Ilaria recently opened the Los Angeles shopper's paradise Confederacy.  Below she opens up to Intersection on some of the tricks to her trade:

NAME: ilaria urbinati

WHERE WERE YOU BORN: rome, italy

OCCUPATION: fashion stylist/store owner

BIGGEST PERK OF YOUR JOB: shopping for a living

WORDS TO LIVE BY:  i can never shut up until somebody asks me a question. then i blank. in other words, i cant think of any at the moment.

WHO HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST INFLUENCE:   my mom by being a workaholic and a power house and giving me all my favorite romantic epics to read. my dad by being a vagabond artist and the sheer opposite of my mom, introducing me to the Hemingways & Salingers of the world, and seeing the irony in everything. my aunt by teaching me who people like Steven Meisel and Martin Margiela were by the time I was 12. my big sister by being a genius and doing exactly what she wants with her life all of the time. my little sister by being as spazztic & obsessive as i was at her age but making it look cute. my entire crazy artsy family by teaching me how to be an artist with a whole lot of work ethic. my grandparents for putting family first.

NECESSARY INDULGENCE: first class on Virgin America

SIGNATURE STYLE: i dress in themes. with a lot of tomboy thrown in.

5 CLASSIC WARDROBE STAPLES: 

white Keds for summer

Rag & Bone blue a-line skirt (in general, rarely met a skirt i could refuse)

Kettle Black motorcycle jacket

knit thigh highs to get me through the winter with a little sex appeal

button-ups tucked into anything

SECRET TALENT: i have the memory of an elephant

SIGNATURE SCENT: uh, deodorant? not into perfume. except my boyfriend's Tom Ford black orchid

DREAM VACATION: cross country road trip through the south and up the coast with my boyfriend and my imaginary dog Waffles (named after Diane Keaton's dog in Manhattan)

PRIZED POSSESION: i collect books i read all growing up but didnt keep. everyone has these crazy libraries of books they've never read. i liked the idea of having a library of all books i have read. 

GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT:  i have the best friends on the planet. it took me years to pluck out the bad seeds.

WORDS OF ADVICE TO THOSE LOOKING TO FOLLOW IN YOUR FOOTSTEPS PROFESSIONALLY: work your ass off. as with most jobs 8000 other girls would kill to do, you gotta always stay on your toes, you can never get lazy and you always gotta stay excited, inspired, and in love with your job. that said, you know, in the end - its just clothes. you can't lose perspective.

www.shopconfederacy.com

Sophie Dahl-ing!

This is one of my all time favorite British Vogue Covers. I love the colors and the lighting. Its just perfect. This is a few years old but I still think American Vogue could stand to take note. The UK book always steals the show.

Wingate Paine

I love this picture from Wingate Paine. Gorgeous.

Habitat for Humanity

This week I participated in my first Habitat for Humanity build.  We worked on a three bedroom house in Downey for a family that previously lived in a two room apartment.  Habitat is a non profit organization dedicated to eliminating homelessness and to improving the lives of families across the world.  

I am so impressed by this organization.  They don't simply deposit families into homes and move on.  They devote time and energy into giving families the tools and resources to take responsibility for the homes and their upkeep on their own.   Through affordable mortgage payments and "sweat equity," these homes are earned and not just given away.   Currently they have built over 300,000 houses around the world and provided shelter for nearly 1.5 million people.

It was very rewarding to be a part of this effort.  For the most part, my involvement was limited to shoveling and patting dirt for the area which will eventually become the front lawn. As much as I hoped to do more, my power tool skills are questionable at best.    Its so easy to forget how blessed we are and this was a great way to pay it forward and have a great time in the process.  I highly recommend volunteering.  For more information, check out www.habitat.org

Eye Masks-Nighttime Indulgence

Nothing is as restorative to the mind, body and soul like some good old fashioned beauty rest. A silk eye mask is like having someone pull the wool over your eyes...literally.   It is a transcendent experience likened only to sleeping in a wonderfully warm and dark cocoon. Word to the wise, once you are hooked...there's no turning back. 

My all time faves are by Cris Notti.  100% Hypoallergenic, these masks are specifically designed for the delicate skin around your eyes ensuring you wake up looking rested and ready to seize the day.

Available for purchase at www.crisnotti.com

Liya Kebede-Model Citizen

Ethiopian born Liya Kebede is not only disarmingly beautiful, she is making a difference in the lives of mothers and children the world over. As a goodwill ambassador for the World Health Organization, she is diligent about improving the health conditions of impoverished women and children. "Every day we hear about the dangers of cancer, heart disease and AIDS. But how many of us realize that, in much of the world, the act of giving life to a child is still the biggest killer of women of child-bearing age? That over half a million die every year? Or that 3 million babies are stillborn? Or that another 4 million die during the first days and weeks of life?"

Recently, Kebede founded the children's clothing line, Lemlem to inspire economic independence in her country as well as to preserve the art of hand weaving. Lemlem, which means "to bloom" in Amharic is manufactured in Ethiopia and exposes local weavers to western markets. Most recently, J Crew announced that they would carry selected Lemlem pieces at their stores.

This model, actress, activist and mother of two young children knows a thing or two about multitasking. "Whether it's the foundation's needs or a speech I have to give or modeling, things get done according to priority. Sometimes I feel I should get more organized, but then I think, Why fight it? This is my system: Just do what needs to be done next."

Elsa Peretti-Designing Dynamo

I love this photo taken of Elsa Peretti in New York by Helmut Newton in 1975.  Elsa had always wanted to be photographed by Newton and he wasn't interested until she cut her hair.  After the shoot, she was desperate for a copy of this photograph.  Apparently, Newton wouldn't budge.  She had to pay him $400 for the image.  Last year an artist's print of the same shot sold at Christie's for $79,000.  

Elsa Peretti grew up in Italy and in 1966 she scandalized her family and Italian society by leaving to Barcelona just two weeks before she was set to marry a publisher from Milan to pursue more creative endeavors.  She took up with artistic circles and modelled for Dali before arriving in New York in 1968....just in time to hit Studio 54.  

Peretti was a natural muse hanging with the likes of Halston and Andy Warhol, before being commissioned by Tiffany & Co to shake things up. Using sensuous materials and understated design, Peretti enjoyed enormous success reportedly selling two miles of diamonds by the yard necklaces in her first year alone.  Her affordable pieces were coveted by the sexually liberated 1970's woman who wanted to adorn herself and buy her own jewelry.  She created an accessible line of jewelry that echoed the sentiment of the times and her designs continue to be top sellers today.

Peretti once said "I'm a Taurus.  We want to be comfortable.  If you are comfortable, you are ahead of everything."