“People have laughed at me over the years, but the same people are now hanging pictures from sashes and bows, and using chintzes like there’s no tomorrow.”

Mario Buatta, Interior Designer, circa 1980’s

“All this digital is driving me crazy more into my sensual selfie!”

Jade Dressler, circa launching and laughing into 2014

I hear you Sir Futurist and The Very Floral Mario Buatta!

Like an overdone room dressed in fancy chintz, peppered with TMI of our digital life, we all carry the echoes of taunts and too many voices in our heads. For a long time I carried a taunt from grade school confirming that I “thought too much.”  While my “too many” thoughts were like psychedelic happy flowers soaring through my mind in treasured times sitting under a very old tree, Thoreau-ly enthralled, or happily creating in on-my-own-Emily bedroom, I faithfully stood by their unwashed and sometimes unwelcome multitudes…and they have served me well.

Go ahead laugh and be amused by my pink furry hats, often prophetic vetements, or ecstatic drawings… rest assured that’s why I put them on and spend hours scratching away with ball-point pens, to make both of us smile!

As I continue to meet the majestic people I have long admired, such as Mario above, in his flowery youth and below, proffering wisdom and funnies in our tete-a-tete…

I love to discover that most do indeed “think too much,” harboring deep thoughts that sometimes are before their time. In this, the Winter, the Season of Deep Thoughts, all hail! We honor those people with 10,000 fascinating thought things under their flowery, sometimes chintzy bonnets.

“Ravishing Personalities are the most Riveting Things in the World.”

Diana Vreeland, circa “timeless”

Deep Thinkers mix it up with big doses of Funny and Imperfection…(Exhibit A: Mario’s book-signing fake hand that he slaps down on his signature after signing.) It’s because they see it all as a game. Life, love, birth and death are on continuous loop and the wise ones see it all through a bigger lens of compassion and grace.

When the chill is on, it’s high time for deep dives into the slow luxury and appreciation of ravishing personalities, glorious books, witty conversations and the simplicity of holding hands, molding baked goods, good souls and New Year resolutions deeply thought.

got some deep thoughts? The good news is Happiness arises from that grasshopper! Dive in, from free nature winks…

…to very costly Couture…

Here are our top ten resolutions for 2014, ten favorite ecstatic and deeply pondered people, places and things in our world at the moment, a tradition since 2012. We promise to leave you well-shaken and stirred. 

Deep Thought ONE
Resolve to Give Ode to The Geo & The Old 

The Incongruities of Time and Ancient Matter. Peering out from the window in a friend’s antique shop, Scott & Bowne, in Kent, Connecticut during Thanksgiving, this happy Inuit family in the famous 1930’s Edward S. Curtis photo exactly mirrored the parka-clad Kentians doing early holiday shopping. Could this happy family have had deep inner imaginings, windows into the future, that their image would be seen by so many, and they might look out at passing customers? Are we captivated by their image because they so timelessly seem to smile right from the Earth itself? Methinks so.

In another little shoppe, I purchased this little piece of earth beauty, a blue celestite from Madagascar. It’s sitting on a well-etched, inch thick glass tabletop in my kitchen, which led it’s first fifty years in a bank. I love every etch of it.

Around the same time I discovered two other African treasures. South African and Smithsonian-exhibited photographer, (akin to Diane Arbus on hyper-speed) and former geologist, Roger Ballen and the cult-pop-group inspired by his art and sensibility, Die Antwoord. While the geode fits perfectly in my hand and is said to bring the angelic realm down to earth, I equally appreciate the beauty and bravery of Roger and Die Antwoord’s dark psycho images and incongruities. They evoke and power wash one’s ideas of humanity. Absurdly.

The deep inner meaning, what’s underneath or inside of the Earth and ourselves. Go there.

Here is a Roger Ballen interview, his explorations in mines and art are sourced where dreams come from, heights of heaven or deep in the heart of Earth.

Notice all the hands in this post? From Mario’s plastic hand, to the ancients and our own, we like what hands do as the wings of the heart. When our fast-track paws choose to un-connect to our mobile phones we suddenly recall what our life in Slow Luxury speed feels like.
(OK, yes, we Pawed and Pinterested about it…)

Like wise, wagging fingers of elders, old sweet crabapple trees twist tales in Winter, here. Delightfully, with their apt name, Malus Coronaria, they deliver a domed crown of sweet, pale pink and fragrant blossoms in Spring. Message!

TWO
Resolve to Open Your Dior to Creativity

Do you have a secret garden? A place that allows you to drink deeply from your soul? For me, it’s techno music, Central Park, the elegance of Paris. These tonics calm me. All of Dior’s campaigns this year, focused on Versailles and gardens, reminded me to smell the roses in my own deep thoughts. From the new book on Mark Shaw‘s photographs of the house in the 1950’s and 60’s to the Fall campaigns imaged by Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin, satisfying dips into beauty. I resolve to evoke all this luxury for 2014.

THREE
Resolve to Acquire Golden Solar Jewels 

You’ve heard the news that some of your bizarre aches and pains are due to more solar flare activities in the heaven above? I resolve to honor these warm wings of gold and light, an infusion gladly signed up for in Chill time. Find out about solar flares on your favorite New-Age ascension ranter’s site and peep Bobae Moon‘s acupuncture jewels here.  If you want to order a ring, ring Bobae directly at: bulbar {at} hotmail {dot} com. Want to squarely situate your golden wealth?

Then you must follow the incessantly globetrotting, surfing and recently hobbling about, amaze-man, Jason Campbell, EIC of The JC Report and stylist to “Vanity Fair’s Best Dressed-listers, celebrities and global elite such as like Wendi Murdoch, Ivanka Trump and Kathy Freston.” Jason held court recently in several rooms of the stately, art-filled home of Simone Levinson to launch his own collection of square-this gold finger things, Igneri. It was lovely to catch up as our paths have not recently crossed.

Here he is surrounded by UES beauties and a golden harp.

As for his hobbling about on crutches, I wasn’t sure if his bold, black shoes were exactly orthopedic or due to his surfing injury. He tisk-tisk admonished me…”Jade…Rick Owens.”

Peace Jason! I was also eyeing a double infinity-loop ring with multi-tiny black or chocolate diamonds from another jeweler exhibiting there. Yes, anonymous. This may be either due to busy holidays or intrigue. Either way, you get to contact The Jason here and get it figured out.

FOUR
Resolve to Explore Your INNER REALMS

Are there Interior designers in the inner realms too?

Sleep is the intoxicant of the Deep Thinkers. The feathery bulbs and mossy mini-world here appeared like a dream in the Campion Platt-designed haven partnered with Sleep|Studio at the yearly and magnificent Holiday House designer show house. Platt’s room was one of my most favorite in this mouth-open, mega mansion, with rooms designed by the best and proceeds benefitting charity. Please forgive if I make a fuss over two designers, especially, one of my oldest friends, Randy Kemper of Ingrao, (we were high school chums) and one of my newest, Alexa Hampton, (a deep-thoughts chum). Thank you, and plug, plug, here is Alexa’s latest book for you to buy:

Brock Forsblom of Ingrao and Alexa chose Ingrao’s sensuous and very smart parlor to languor in.  This same parlor inspired designs by the New York School of Interior Design students for a little competition, which Alexa and Thom Filicia graciously judged for a benefit evening. In attendance were design stars such as Darrin Varden, Geoffrey Bradfield, Drew McGukin, Campion Platt, Patrick Hamilton, and many more. Design supporters Jim Druckman, Ruth Lynford and Betsey Ruprecht were floating room to room.

The deep thoughts I shared with Iris Dankner, founder of Holiday House, proved her to be a genuine jewel whose own triumph over cancer birthed the showhouse and the idea for the benefit evening, given her admiration for the college.

Here are Jim Druckman, Alexa Hampton, Iris Dankner and David Sprouls, president of New York School of Interior Design, in the tea room, fashioned by one of my favorite playful and super smart designers, Guillaume Gentet.

It was Jim Druckman’s NY Design Center‘s book-signing event with 1stdibs for Mario Buatta and Ellie Cullman a few weeks earlier, where I ran into my “twin.” “We are turquoise twins, we are turquoise!,” he kept repeating, luring me in to take a photo. Hark! my twin is none other than designer, Victor de Souza, tres amusa!

Given he lures in and dresses other muses I regularly pant over, namely Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Daphne Guinness, Mary J.Blige and other originals, Michele Harper and Jean Shafiroff …I was truly honored. I guess he beguiles like this. Dear Twin Victor: You have sparked my inner realm of desire to be dressed by you for the red carpet. (hope, hope and hint, hint!) I can be very nerdy about things like this, I do hope that is o.k. with my twin.

And why the shiny, exuberant white pine leaf next Jade? Because during all this focus on interiors, let’s not forget that exteriorly the grand white pine trees of Central Park are also grand decorators, brushing the ground with their deeply smart leaves. I love their shape, witness this lone dancer. Not to mention that they can be anciently over 400 years old, are rot and water resistant, look lovely en masse as a color scheme for an interior…and…

…because the Indians utilized it for food…and that is the next topic.

Deep Thought FIVE
Yes, Resolve to EAT, PRAY, LOVE.
(plus SMILE, HUG, have a COCKTAIL PARTY)

With a Nature God named Pan, is it any wonder they are what we cook in?  Is it possible the most famous satisfied smile in all the world, Mona Lisa, has a twin? Is it possible to come out of the kitchen, strew oneself with botany and make a bestseller too? If I promise to eat more raw foods, chew slowly and thank the Earth can it help towards World Peace? Or should I just have a cocktail? All these things are on my mind and feeding me. Come…

This is a plug first for Elizabeth Gilbert‘s second book, “The Signature of All Things” after her wildly popular “Eat, Pray Love.” Though I have yet to dive into it, from the title to the premise of a woman botanist is right up my alley. The “Law of Signatures” forms the basis of all the smart wisdom I’ve gleaned from Nature, my Native American and modern herbalist teachers so this pop culture wayshower authoress once again steers us. What you see, is what heals.

This image from the NY Times book review captures that whole #woman, #gazing #earth #sad #I’m a 19th century botanist #I’m menstruating thing, doesn’t it?  For more drama, buy it here. For more health, look deeply at what you eat and cultivate your intuition. World Peace is next.

Que? Leonardo painted two of one of the most famous paintings in the world?  The ‘two-painting theory’ is the passion behind my friend Rafael Feldman‘s documentary film, based on decades of research and scientific testing of the Isleworth Mona Lisa, discovered in 1913.

Rafael’s wife, pop singer, philanthropist and entrepreneur Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin imported some Manhattan friends for the opening somewhere out east of civilization for the Gold Coast International Film Festival. Rafael and Consuelo here on the red carpet before the film. We actually found an organic restaurant for refreshments deep in the wilderness of suburbia. Thrilling!

The same group plus tons of others cavorted several weeks later at the home of The Magnetizing Mr.and Mrs. Mona Lisa 2, high above somewhere in Manhattan. I pretended to be Bill Cunningham and nerdily snapped photos of what I have come to call “The New Upper East Siders.” Tied to art, fashion and interior designers, history, media, fashion, film producers, music composers, singers, lawyers, candlestick and money-makers…the hugs of These Folks…magnetize and trump all that.

Stephanie Micci, a redheaded beauty I met in Paris (of course!) and whose style is Superb,  since she is a Designer.(I love her Pinterest!) Here she rocks the loose collegiate sweat shirt with a sexy, tight, glimmer evening skirt…a look some will recall has graced my body in past years. Hugs here with Consuelo, whom Stephanie and I met together one frosty evening last year.

Above hugs via rollicky on a big couch: Robert Christensen, The Photographer, Heather Payne, The Designer and me, The Jade Dressler (as some like to call me)…

So Swell, The Entertainers: Cole Rumbough, The Jazz Singer at Le Cirque and Consuelo…

Above you will find “The Spiritual Entrepreneur,” Shelley Lewis, in my favorite Susan Grant blouse and in hugs with The Turkish Titan, The Really Sweet, Real Estate Man, Mahir.

These three muses on the couch below, are Randy Schatz, The President of Avenue magazine, Nicole Noonan, The Entrepreneurial Lawyer and Sandy Madera, The Tourneau Exec.

Those of good hair and deep genes, funnies, furries should hug together in Winter.

While outside trees dropped their good hair fuzzy seeds on the ground, the New York School of Interior Design hosted stars of the culinary world and restauranteurs to chat and chew on the design of restaurants. I loved my conversation with Michael Anthony, chef/partner, Gramercy Tavern, his pure passion and excitement over his new book and tour were clear evidence of his success. A being grounded in seasonal and earthy deep connections does make for the Law of Signature Success.

Equally ravishing personalities that night?  Adam Farmerie, hospitality designer and co-founder AvroKO; Brian Guze, regional design director, Starbucks; and Tony May, celebrated restauranteur and owner of SD26.  Rivet your hands to Michael’s book here.

Eat. Pray. Love. That sometimes elusive Love Guru vibe. In the midst of my dailies I often desire to live as I imagine a Guru pads about, trekking the turf of the Earth. Eternally smiling and peaceful with it all. When you feel it, you know this is how you were meant to be.  For me it’s to sit in a French bistro and eat at the bar with a glass of wine or wake up at 5am, when the world is silently dreaming and brew my espresso. Either end of the day, the senses are fully awake…face is being fed…and the most delicious thoughts get brewed.

Deep Thought SIX
Resolve to Also Rise with Suns & Daughters of the East

Is getting up early a resolution for 2014?  Maybe some bright green tea might help! I was having my own morning coffee when Wendy Goodman covering for New York magazine’s Space of the Week sailed into my email box featuring my good friend, perfumer Maria Elroy. I was thrilled for her as I’ve covered her Dumbo studio where she serves up her Aroma M homemade perfume and Japanese tea, Matcha, given she loves Japan as much as I love Paris. Get the tea in her studio, get her perfumes, here.

Want to really be animated beyond tea? Inhale this, from one of my favorite bloggers, Susie Bubble and a soulful collection from Seoul that I now love called Lucky Chouette.

I loved Susie’s post on the Spring 2014 collection and comment on the above picture: “surreal-doesnt-quite-cut-it-when-i-look-at-the-random-pap-pic-someone-took-of-me-at-the-jardin-de-chouette-show-at-seoul-fash”

The point is that the energy of the collection is what you want to peep here and get caffeinated by. It captures for me my favorite mood of youthful innocence+ageless, campy smarts. I could dress 10 vastly different individuals in these pieces, mix it up with classics and vintage and make them stars!

SEVEN
Resolve to Live Large as in Silver Screen Large

Allow me to act a little Life Coach here. (This IS January resolution time!)

Are you dressing for the film of your Life? No matter where you go, you are the star of your movie, so better dress for it! Get inspired by Winter. It is always about the silver, whites and stone greys…witness the “Subway Queen” I spotted and drew above.  Her individual style is everything I believe in: couture, classics and vintage mixed to highlight personality beauty marks, in this case the muse’s silver hair, rawish,worn brown leather bag and tan-toned feet in tan-toned shoes.  Her red soles, lips and confident older woman sexuality made her Award-worthy. Want this “IT-ness” for you or your brand in 2014? See here and call me.

And another sliver screen siren called this past month.

Director Andreas von Scheele (below) called me to style a music video for David Rogue, a singer songwriter, big news and bigger still given that film industry legend, Ben Barenholtz would make a cameo! Plus Rebecca Blumhagen of HBO/Cinemax‘s “Girls’ Guide to Depravity” and actress Liz Fye would be starring in the video. Michael Souter,head of Territory Brands hovered and documented. What a thrill! More images here.

Lesson 2+…to create character begins with an intuitive color and follows with texture. For example, for Rebecca’s billiard hall babe, take-no-prisoners, seductress character, we mixed designer, Andrea Doria’s couture metal (actual metal) sequined pieces, short shorts and bra top to evoke her sharp, metal Cruella de Vil aspects…

…and we created grey leather lederhosen and clipped with vintage sugary-sweet fabric flowers to soften, seduce and personalize it. Let me get all Martha Stewart on you for a moment…yes… we madden those hosen from a pair of Plein Sud leather pants which had seen too many parties and yes! we were a crafty vixon, adding sheer-like-nylons fabric flowers to these garters. “Why Ever not?,” as Ms. Vreeland would coo.

We twinned the florals with this sweet vintage satin frock on Liz Fye, who played the assassin/wife, below. The necklace was also a studio project, we made it from vintage pearls and a kitshy red satin rose. Another so easy and crafty style project. Yes, Mario Buatta, me too. Florals! Everywhere!

EIGHT
Resolve to Honor Furry Men Things

Are men really animals? Ever deeply ponder the abundant metaphors of inanimate, furry things come to life abound during Winter Solstice and the return of the light? Ponder Frosty the Snowman; the toy soldier in Nutcracker; Osirus re-emerging; Pan re-fruiting; or men growing mustaches for Movember, the campaign to benefit prostate cancer early detection; and above, our character played by singer David Rogue in his video. This mythical human desire theme plays with ideas of conjuring a Spring re-birth of virility, power and life. Honor the furry bears.

Exhibit A: The Movember campaign we styled for our client, integrative physician, Dr. Pedre, going for a 1900’s, hipster, handsome roguish feel. Now where have you seen a doctor look like this lately? (Go see him, take your solar aches here.)

Exhibit B. Careful when plucking roses from secret gardens. Screening recently in London, La Belle et Le Bete, Cocteau’s remastered 1946 fairy tale film says “Love can turn a man into a beast. But love can also make an ugly man handsome.” Greening, flowering, molting and furring-up…the changelings of season, hair and moods are the light switches of beauty and love. Isn’t it deep to love all these roles?

Exhibit C. I loved discovering Saks Fifth Avenue’s delightful story about the abominable snowman, a large ape … a lost Russian emigre scientist named Yeti who lives on the roof and makes snow.  Riveting window conceptualist and designer, Harry Cunningham made perhaps the most stupendous window display eeeeever! See here:

Why do beings of Largese and Mystery who gaze from up high captivate?

Like parents looking from above at tinier children, we imagine the unseen, the largest beyond being able to see and hear our inner deepest.

Deeply ponder Diana Vreeland. (Yes, this is a segue.) She’s been one of my Abominable Yes-mans since a young age. Her vision and her gaze knew no boundaries of pleasure and delight. It didn’t matter that she never traveled to the places she enthused about…she imagined it even larger. She fixed her gaze on …IT.

Deep Thought NINE
Resolve to gaze deep into Crystals, get your hands on Clay and smell the Earth like there is no Tomorrow.

I woke up one morning to this icicle on my window sill. The frozen concentrate was a deep reminder of why I love working with Daum, the heritage art crystal from France. Let me clarify…

Specifically, the pieces created in the fifties. Long before I knew of Daum, I bought fluid crystal glass vases and orbs in this style, not knowing that Daum was the original. This book, therefore, had me gasping at every page.  ‘Cos there are crystals deep in the earth, in our bodies and in the computer you are staring at…is it any wonder that navel, crystal and vase gazing is so amazing?

As your coach, I recommend you get something green and luminous pronto to inspire.

Getting the green got me, one cold, freezing day in Plaza Flowers on Lexington, in the form of these “cash pots.” Now this could be “cache pot”…and who is “Jim Shack”? It is a mystery I leave for Spring. In the meanwhile, they also have intriguing candles for gazing into while these groovy, green pots could harbor herb seedlings or paperwhites.

Not into springing cash for the cash-pot? Free and very fir-ry inspirational is to walk into an evergreen and inhale deeply. Ya? Ya like…right?

While you inhale, and ponder where Deep Thought TEN might be lurking (it’s in your brain, silly grasshopper!)

…we will leave you with one last image, that from one of my favorite artists’ holiday email. The Nick Ervinck image and his response to my email is a burst of ravishing that perfectly preps us for Spring. I wish you all of it’s energy for all your dreams and endeavors for 2014!

Me:
“As always, I am thrilled by your work! Thank you for this image, I hope to include in my next blog. Genius, genius! Have a wonderful 2014, Nick! Jade”

Nick:
🙂

*********

Images as noted courtesy of Billy Farrell; NY Times; Holiday House images by Carrie Liu; David Rogue video images by Michael Souter’s team and Jade Dressler; Dr. Pedre image by Alvaro Montagna; books as credited and others by________(please fill in the blanks.) We like to always give credits so please let us know if there are additionals.