The Quest

Here we all are, going about our lives, when all of a sudden, we wake up one day and the game seems to have suddenly changed!  Are we the last to find out?

Welcome to the New Age, where all things are possible and anything goes - twenty-four hours a day!!

There are two questions that still need to be answered, however, in the midst of this radical shift, the first being: What am I going to wear today? In actuality, the REAL question is:  Who am I going to BE today and how will my clothing communicate that in an accurate way, without my having to say a word?

The second question would be: How are my surroundings going to continue to reflect ME?

In an atmosphere where anything goes and everything is ok, it is a relief to know that standards still exist as benchmarks against which something can be profitably compared. These standards can provide stability and calm in a seemingly chaotic and perpetually changing scene.

If your image and decor are at all important to you, then you have a kindred spirit here, who believes in the power of personal presentation and its ability to send an unmistakable message about taste, style and standards, both in personal adornment and in the objects and interiors that surround you.

Finding great examples of items that mirror or uphold those standards in the areas of fashion, interior decoration and the decorative arts is the mission of this blog. In an atmosphere as laissez faire as the one we find ourselves in today, it is comforting to know that there are still standards that have stood the test of time, styles of fashion and decor that will ALWAYS be stylish, timeless and exciting,

Never has there been more access to so many ideas simultaneously and instantaneously. With literally billions of users on the Internet and more being born every day, the images and ideas available to us approach infinity. Permutations are legion.

Some things will never change, however, no matter the format in which they may appear.

In the past, the most available images in fashion, interiors and the arts were in magazines and books on specific subjects and periods. Furthermore, due to the technology of the time, the actual items themselves were not necessarily readily accessible because of  their rarity or limited production, as well as their expense. Times have changed in this regard as well.  While expense is still a factor, availability and access to absolutely anything, including items previously exclusively available to only the fortunate few, have opened up in the form of the many websites devoted to their acquisition.

My interest in all of this is to provide a viewpoint on what moves me in the areas of fashion, interiors and decorative arts, in whatever form they may take, with special attention to amazing examples of the standards that have held the line since time immemorial.

What are the latest incarnations of these standards? Who in these fields is taking his or her artistry and imagination in a new direction or to a new level - or keeping something alive in spite of all reasons not to do so - in their service to that rare wavelength that brings such efforts to the level of art?

This search of mine has been going on for my entire life from an early age, but now it's time to report from the front lines of that search, pausing along the way to chronicle what I've found, and learning from other searchers as well - and keeping my feet on solid ground while all around me are being rocked by change and disruption of old patterns and outdated viewpoints.

Here are some topics to explore:

• not everything is equal to everything
• black is beautiful for a reason
• accessories matter
• a bracelet is a thing of beauty
• fit tells the whole story - tailoring is a must
• a monochromatic outfit always - no exception - looks expensive IF certain rules are followed
• authentic always works
• the beauty of a uniform - our no-brainer go-to looks - we all have them
• the importance of quality
• conceptual design
• collections of objects tell a story
• adventures in wall color

And on and on..............

Let's discover together!

Happy hunting!!