StyleWhipped

Health Coach Stacy Crawford: Organic Wine...Right Here on Long Island!

“Wine is sunlight, held together by water." - Galileo Galilei, 1564-1642

I have lived on Long Island for most of my life, and I love it.  I have true Long Island pride.  I love being less than an hour drive from New York City, ten minutes from the beaches, and half an hour from the famous Hamptons.  One of my favorite parts of Long Island is one of the least talked about- the North Fork.  Everyone thinks that all of eastern Long Island is just like the trendy Hamptons, but the North Fork is rich in farm-land, mom and pop joints, and- my personal favorite- wineries.

Even though I am a Health Coach, I definitely enjoy having a good glass of wine every once in a while! I love going out to eastern Long Island to visit some local wineries.  It’s hard to believe that farmland so abundant is so close to NYC- it feels like a world away when you are out on the North Fork.  And once you get out there- you realize you are in wine country- it feels like you are on vacation, and it is there that you get to indulge in a little liquid sunshine.

I like to support organic and biodynamic growing- two very important forms of agriculture that are close to my own personal values. Most people are familiar with the term ‘organic’.   Growing organically means thatfood is grown and processed using no synthetic fertilizers or pesticides, with no antibiotics or growth hormones.   Biodynamic growing is a little different- it embodies all of the same characteristics of organic growing but it takes on a more holistic approach.  Biodynamic agriculture incorporates everything around the area- animals, crops, and soil in every aspect of the growing process.  Most uniquely, biodynamic agriculture uses the astronomical planting calendar, which revolves around the phases of the moon.  Pretty amazing, if you ask me.

So what does this mean for the wine?  It means that when you drink an organic or biodynamic wine you are drinking a product that is grown in the most natural way possible!  I came across a winery on the North Fork of Long Island in Mattituck called Shinn Estates that uses biodynamic farming techniques to grow their grapes.  The owners have even installed a solar and wind powered system that produces all of the energy used for the winery, cellar, vineyard bed and breakfast.

The owners of Shinn Estates created a fantastic estate.  It is quaint, laid back and refined all together on one piece of land.  It is a must-see if you plan on taking a ride to the farms, or on a winery tour.  Try the light and crisp “First Fruit” Sauvignon Blanc, or the smooth “Nine Barrels” Merlot- both wines are excellent and will please any white or red wine drinker!  Now that the warmer weather is here, it’s definitely worth a drive out to eastern Long Island and enjoy some time out in the fresh air with a healthy glass of amazing wine.  It’s the healthier way to have a drink and support local agriculture.

To hear more about making healthier choices in your life, or to schedule a FREE Health History Assessment, please email me at: stacycrawfordhealthcoach@gmail.com. Also visit my website  www.stacycrawfordhealthcoach.com or visit my facebook page www.facebook.com/stacycrawfordhealthcoach.

- Stacy

Danielle Aspromatis: All About the View

When it comes to restaurants and event spaces, a good view is worth its weight in gold....and a city panoramic view is just priceless! Enter The Waterside...a restaurant and catering event space in NJ on the Hudson River with the best views I have seen of Manhattan in all of New Jersey!

Nestled in North Bergen, the Waterside is a tasty restaurant, a chic spot for drinks, and an experienced wedding and special event venue all wrapped into one! The restaurant's menu features everything from a raw bar to steak and everything in between....and the same goes for their extensive and flexible catering menus! Whether you are hosting a shower, birthday party, wedding or corporate event from 20 to 220 guests, you will be stunned by the granite ballroom floors, elegant chiavari chairs, and choice of dozens of linen colors! The colors are neutral and all the spaces are light and bright...modern but with an elegant, tasteful appeal. Check out a few of my favorite pictures that showcase their spacious and stylish event spaces..

If you are not planning an event, take advantage of the restaurant and their extensive a la carte menus. And as soon as this cold weather finally leaves us, this is the perfect spot for outdoor dining!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And the night continues for drinks and music!

 

 

 

 

 

 

To stay connected to The Waterside for updates on events and what's going on at the restaurant and bar, "like" them on Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/watersiderestaurantandcatering

-Danielle

Letter From the Editor: Custom Menswear from Clifton Charles

Last year, I had the pleasure of meeting Clifton Berry, who along with Wayne Taitt, is one half of Clifton Charles, an amazing custom suit & shirt destination. According to Clifton, who I finally had a chance to sit down and chat with (there we are in the photo below), they are "selling confidence." And there is nothing more of a confidence-booster to a man than a perfectly fitted suit and shirt combo. And here in NYC, Clifton Charles is THE place to go to buy some confidence...

In 2008, Clifton and Wayne, who were college friends that both ended up working in finance for 12 years, realized there was a major missing piece of American menswear, quit their jobs, and launched Clifton Charles. Not only were off-the-rack shirts not fitting them the way they really wanted, but while on his honeymoon in Shanghai in 2005, Wayne had discovered how quickly you could get custom suits made. But being the business-savvy guys they were, both Clifton and Wayne also knew that they had to somehow straddle both the luxury and value markets (we all remember what happened to our economy in 2008...). 

So they did their research and talked to endless potential clients. And they came up with a way to provide all made-in-the-USA suits and dress shirts from fabrics sourced from the UK and Italy (all of their shirts are made from sumptuous full Peruvian pima cotton) that can be made in a shockingly short amount of time (10-15 business days for shirts; 4-6 weeks for suits). There is no minimum of how many pieces you have to buy, and those shirts? 100% custom for $100-$150 (Seriously!) Wait, it gets better...their suits will run you anywhere from $895 to $1295. And in terms of quality, attention to detail and fabrication, a Clifton Charles suit at $895 is comparable to a $3,000 designer suit you'd find in a department store. Oh, and don't forget...theirs is custom...which means it is made from scratch according to your measurements...with your choice of fabrics, finishes, and free-of-charge extra perks like fabulous linings, monograms on your shirt cuffs, and more. The guys will even act as personal stylists, helping you to make your choices (wider leg or narrow? what kind of lapels? single-breasted or double?) with your lifestyle and preferences in mind. 

I know you are wondering if you fit into the average Clifton Charles customer. And while some of their clients are in fact CEO's of major banks, professional althetes, and the like, their clients are also lawyers, bankers (who aren't the CEO...) and every other type of suit-wearing executive. They come from all over the world (from as far as Australia) and flock to trunk shows the company hosts in other cities like Chicago, Washington DC, and Los Angeles. And because once your measurements and preferences are in their system, you can order new suits and shirts anytime online. No need to be in NYC...you just need to be aware that you need more of these beautiful pieces in your wardrobe! And just how beautiful are they? Well, I was personally excited enough to want to share the company with our readers here. The fabrics feel like the finest air. The details are perfectly tailored and finished. The cheeky extras (like purple iridescent silk linings...) will make you feel like a rockstar in a suit. 

My suggestion? Pay Clifton Charles a visit online or at their Manhattan showroom at 30 West 18th Street. Because that confidence? Yeah, you will have just bought it.

~ Alison.

(Check out our model starting the process of ordering a custom suit with Clifton's help...I have a feeling he is going to be very happy with the result!) Model: Kaolin Bass / All photos: Andrew Werner Photography

Letter From the Editor: Hair. Or with Temur Dzidziguri...HAIR.

Last week, I had what I can only call a religious experience. I went to the Sally Hershberger Downtown Salon and had my hair blown-out by Temur Dzidziguri. You can call him Temur...or you can be like me and happily call him my hair hero...                                                                                                                                 

Now, I have to backtrack a little before I tell anymore of this story. My hair is my "thing." I was a hair model for a local business as a kid, and while I started out life as a light brunette/slightly auburn-haired child, as I got older my hair ended up being a rich dark brown with tons of natural ringlet curl in it. Which, in theory, sounds great, right? Unfortunately, I always wanted to have big, bouncy, bed-head-y BLONDE hair. So starting around the age of 25, I started getting more and more highlights until I hit my current super-light shade of blonde hair. I make no secret about my monthly trips to the colorist where you can find me begging "blonder, blonder!" and my love (LOVE) of being a blonde. I did take things a bit far at one point though, and ended up having that wretched long-term Japanese straighening done to rid myself of the ringlets. While it did permanently change the texture of my hair and my ringlets are now a lot looser and free-er, it also did a lot of damage when combined with the heavy-duty bleaching, and I ended up with a ton of breakage (which translates to unintentional, unwanted, uneven "layers"). But I was finally happy with my beachy curls and my hair finally felt very "me." Until I met Temur, of course...

    

A tall, strikingly handsome guy with intense blue-green eyes and perfect hair (natch), Temur is originally from Georgia (the one near Russia, not the one near Florida...) and came to the U.S. when he was 18 to go to beauty school (after being the kid who was cutting all the barbie dolls' hair, he knew early on that being a stylist was what he was meant to do). Hired immediately afterward as the personal assistant to the famed Sally Hershberger (originator of her eponymous salons, the mutiple-hundreds-of-dollars haircut, and Meg Ryan's famous shag 'do), and was lucky enough to train under her as well. And 10 years later, Temur is an in-demand, well-respected stylist at the Sally Hershberger Downtown Salon in NYC's always-fabulous Meatpacking neighborhood. Now Temur caters to NYC's pretty people, celebrities like Lindsay and Ali Lohan...and the occasional editor-in-chief (ahem...) who really wants to do something new with her hair.

  

I asked Temur what he considers his 'specialty' and he enthusiastically said "I die for short haircuts...I feel like you can [just] get very creative with it...but basically it's all about what hairstyle feeds a woman's personality, face shape [and] lifestyle." Sounds like someone who actually listens (and how many of us have gone to stylists who just simply don't listen?!), but also someone who really looks at styling as his craft and as an artform. Because he will also "always try to change it up with clients...otherwise they get bored - and so do I!"

    

And here's what happened. Temur blew out my oh-my-god-do-you-have-a-LOT-of-it hair. He did some fancy little flick at the end of each swoop, creating a slight curl along the bottom (I told him I often have my hair blown-out pin-straight and really don't like it...I crave volume and was probably Texan in a former life). He then moved my part back to make it look like my damaged "bangs" were so much longer. Lastly, there was some simple curling iron action on just the bottom 1/3 of my hair, which created loose, sexy waves. Which of course perfectly complimented the feathery layers above that were somehow both straight, wavy and voluminous all at the same time (I wasn't kidding, this man is a genius...).                        

                       

So, the end result...well, just look at the pictures of the whole process. I have never felt more modern, more chic, or more like a rockstar in my life. I have spent the past 5 days attempting to recreate what I watched Temur do. I am about 85% there. But that last 15%...yeah, that I will never find. Until the next time I sit in Temur's stylist chair again, that is.                                                                                       

Now if any of you read that and aren't immediately picking up the phone to make an appointment with Temur, well...well, there might possibly be something wrong with you ;) So hurry up and call Sally Hershberger Downtown for Temur's rates, schedule and availability. Because believe me, your hair will thank you.

              

~ Alison.

Oh Etro, How I Love Thee...

During the hurricane, I was evacuated from my right-near-the-water lower Manhattan apartment, so we stayed in a midtown hotel for three nights. (We actually stayed in two different hotels because the first one lost power, but that's a whole other story...) Both hotels were part of the Kimpton hotel chain because we had our dog with us and all Kimptons are so incredibly pet friendly (dogs! cats! even birds!) that they will even give you a goldfish for your room if you don't have your own pet with you. How adorable, right?! But I digress...the point here is that Kimpton Hotels also stock each room with amazing, delicious-smelling, high-quality Etro beauty products. As a long-time lover of anything Etro (the Italian design house known for its beautiful, sumptuous silk prints), I didn't even know they were making beauty products. So, um, clearly I took a lifetime supply with me from the hotel. (Don't tell anyone.)

The bigger point here? I've been on an Etro kick ever since. The brand has been popping up in all my online browsing searches and I have been noticing their super gorgeous ad campaigns in my magazines. So while I know their pieces are incredibly expensive, I wanted to feature at least one here. This top, in the richest salmon, white, black, yellow and periwinkle print, can be worn all year long. On it's own in the summer, under a fur vest in the fall, and over a paper-thin long-sleeved cashmere sweater in the winter. Pair it with white jeans, dark indigo jeans, a black pencil skirt...this one can be styled so many different ways (even the top itself can be worn tied, untied, etc) that it will (eventually...) pay for itself. 

You never know where inspiration will come from. I mean, all I needed was some unexpected shampoo.

~ Alison.

Letter From the Editor: "Gritty Gold" Editorial

Recently, I had the pleasure to style an extraordinary editorial that exclusively featured pieces and accessories from Diesel Black Gold. Conceptualized by the always-amazing photographer Andrew Werner, we wanted to highlight certain key pieces from Diesel Black Gold's current collection, but in a new light. Not a direct replication of their runway show and not a typical, expected editorial. So, gathered together was a team who could make Andrew's vision come to life. Avant-garde make-up artist Daniel K, the most incredible assistants (photographer assistant David Pereira Oliveira, who I've had the pleasure of working with before, and the uber-helpful styling assistant Lucio Abruzzi), Andrew behind the lens, myself as the stylist, and our gorgeous, somehow-ok-with-being-barefoot-on-the-streets-of-New-York model Keenan Brill, now with Major Models. 

Shot in a gritty alleyway (hence the "gritty" in our title) in the heart of Tribeca on a beautifully sunny day (not sure who to thank for that...), we made a mad-dash to shoot all the looks in a matter of three hours. We used only Diesel Black Gold pieces, including all the jewelry, watches, shoes...even the scarf! In sumptuous fabrics, saturated colors and unsual silhouettes, Diesel did not disappoint this season. Even the accessories are perfectly edgy with just enough of a twist to make you look twice. This is a tale of a hot young guy, living an exciting life in NYC...who leaves us at the end in his emerald green satin tuxedo. Minus a shirt, but in shoes he could easily run down the street in. Makes you wonder where he's off to, huh?

So, to tease you no longer, here are the photos (click on each to enlarge). And I have a feeling any guy would be willing to be barefoot on a Manhattan sidewalk to wear those perfect pants, too.

~ Alison

Letter From the Editor: Golden Door Film Festival

Last week, I told everyone to buy tickets to see the fantastic independent film "Bomber Jackets" premiere at the 2nd Annual Golden Door Film Festival of Jersey City. Well, not only did I get to see that this past Saturday (it was even better on the big screen than it was when I got to see an advance copy in my living room!), but because my brother-in-law, Dino Matis, is one of the stars of "Bomber Jackets," I also got to go to the Friday night red carpet premiere of the headlining "Union Square" starring Mira Sorvino (her father, the great Paul Sorvino, was even there to support the film).

Friday's festivities were held at the incredible Loews Landmark Theater, and the venue was simply spectacular. What I like to think of as "going to the theater" (even if it is a movie), this now-used-as-a-not-for-profit-arts-&-entertainment destination was opulent and ornate and really quite a retro experience. We saw Mira Sorvino's film "Union Square" there that evening (which originally premiered at the Toronto Film Festival last year and was beyond good...), walked the red carpet, and had a great time meeting so many actors and directors involved with the festival's films. And then on Saturday, Art House Productions hosted the "Bomber Jackets" official premiere, shown to a packed house and starring some amazing, should-be-really-proud new actors. 

Check out the photos of Dino and I on the red carpet, as well as some of the stunning Loews Landmark Theater (I think it's a general consensus that we'd all like to just move in there!). And don't forget to look for the next year's 3rd Annual Golden Door Film Festival...you definitely don't want to miss being a part of such a fantastic event!

~ Alison.

Letter From the Editor: "Bomber Jackets"

No, I'm not suggesting we go back to the popular style of the late '80's (but oh man, did I love my dark green suede bomber jacket in 8th grade...). Instead, I am referring to an Official Selection at the Golden Door International Film Festival of Jersey City, called "Bomber Jackets." The festival itself runs this week from October 11th - 14th, and "Bomber Jackets" is premiering on Saturday the 13th at 4pm. I will be there to see it again, even after having the fabulous opportunity to privately pre-screen the film this weekend. Why will I be there? Well, to start, the movie is gritty and gripping, with break-out performances by talented new actors. It also brings a powerful message about acceptance and the fatally damaging effects of hatred...and someone especially close to me is one of the afore-mentioned talented new actors (I'll keep you in suspense and let you guess who it is...). 

A true independent film, "Bomber Jackets" was produced and directed by Rob Santana on a shoe-string budget of a mere $8,000. Filmed 100% on location in urban Jersey City, NJ (right across the river from where I'm sitting now), "Bomber Jackets" was originally an off-Broadway play produced by Miriam Colon in 1996, and brings its audience a disturbing but important lesson in the importance of ending homophobia and violence towards the LBGT community. I don't want to give away the ending, but this is basically the story of an organized group of hatred-filled, homophobic young men in modern-day Jersey City, recognizable by their matching bomber jackets. When a small number of gays start moving into their old-school neighborhood, they become angrier and more violent in their sentiments. That violence escalates into physical attacks when the group's leader can't stand the idea of a cross-dressing gay man living right in their same building. Unbeknownst to him, though, one of his own buddies has fallen for the transvestite and will do anything -- anything -- to come to "her" rescue. To follow is the story of how all of their lives are changed forever.

With especially strong performances from the main character 'Patrick,' played by Robert James Ramirez, 'Tommy,' played by Dino Matis, and 'Patrick's Mom,' played by Kathryn Neville Browne, the ensemble cast has great chemistry and I look forward to seeing many of them in many films to come. Robert James Ramirez and Dino Matis both managed to convey a perfect juxtaposition of anger, frustration, and a secret, introspective softer side that separates them from their peers. And Kathryn Neville Browne brings a character to life you really aren't sure what to make of...in a good way. At only 83 minutes long, I was left wanting to know more about each character's individual story...which I think is a sure sign of an engaging film, especially one that still manages to touch on additional topics like domestic violence, dead-end jobs and infidelity. Which is exactly why you should buy tickets to the official premiere of "Bomber Jackets" at the Golden Door Film Festival. You can purchase them simply by clicking on this link - and at only $10 each, you can spread the word to anyone interested in being moved by the movie's important message...or buy tickets for more than just one of the festival's diverse feature films.

See you at the movies!

~ Alison.

Black & White

I admit that my own look has a lot "going on." I have long blonde hair that is a mass of big curls. I wear bright colors, intricate prints, "statement" shoes at 10am, and a lot of gold jewelry. And I basically have all that going on all the time. So when it comes to my make-up, I have made the conscious decision to focus on one thing. One. And that one thing has always, always been my eyes. Some women look amazing with just a swipe of mascara and a red lip. Me, not so much. Instead, I have a rather intense eye make-up ritual, and actually don't wear any face make-up besides bronzer. And instead of actual lipstick, I use something that is part gloss/part stain and relatively the same color as my lips.

So, besides my black liquid liner, multiple layers of black mascara, and the occasional set of fake lashes, I depend the most on my beloved Sephora eyeshadow. Yes, you read that correctly! The shadow I had been using a few years ago ran out and was discontinued by the company. It was a duo that had a shimmery white and a (very slightly shimmery) charcoal grey. So I popped into a Sephora and hunted around for something similar. And the closest I came was a double duo from Chanel...that cost $50! Um, no. Not for something that was going to quickly run out (like I said, I do some intense eye make-up!). So I wandered over to the in-house Sephora brand area...and bingo! Individual colors for $12 each. And the "individual" is really important...I don't want a 4-color palette when I'm only going to use two of them...it's just a waste. 

As pictured here, I found my shimmery white (Sephora calls it "Wedding Day No. 24") and my very slightly shimmery, super dark charcoal grey (Sephora's "Black Flame No. 5"). They go on incredibly smoothly, their saturated color lasts all day and into an evening, their shimmer doesn't get all over the place (you don't wind up with that dreaded face full of glitter), and are big...as in, they take a really long time to use up. (Woo-hoo!). And if you want to use the dark one (or any other color in the extensive collection) to create a smokey eye, just swipe it under your lower lash line...because miraculously, it even stays put there.

~ Alison.

A Great Vintage: Flashlight Photography by Amy Rottmund

Part of being an editor is spotting and cultivating talent. Not just looking at trends or designers...but models, make-up artists, and photographers. So when I met Amy Rottmund and started seeing some of her work (under the moniker "Flashlight Photography by Amy Rottmund"), I suggested we feature some of her shots of vintage fashion here on Stylewhipped. Amy takes broody, sexy, 1940's and '50's inspired pictures...showcasing her love of vintage dresses, "real" women with real bodies, and eye for interesting details. Based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Amy specializes in capturing important events like engagements, beautiful moments like a new mother and child, and offers portrait sittings that give off an intimate, womanly vibe.  

I had a chance to ask Amy about her craft and get some insight into how she sees the world through a camera. With no formal training but a life-long love of photography, Amy's passion "really grew deeper once I had my children...I was and am constantly photographing them to capture those ever-so-precious moments!" When pushed to tell me what truly inspires her as an artist, Amy interesting said "emotion...nothing brings me more joy than capturing emotion on someone's face when they are unaware that I am taking their picture." Amy's #1 thing to photograph? Not surprisingly, it's people...because for her, "every face, expression, and mood differs from the next." So when I asked her if there is any single person she'd like to have the chance to shoot with, she said no...that she prefers to photograph strangers she comes across in her daily life...the "unique and beautiful faces" that she is just now finding the courage to approach unsolicited! 

Below you will find the incredibly gorgeous images Amy took exclusively for Stylewhipped.com. Model Katherine Dearolf (in her own vintage clothing) appears in the first three, shot on location in Belmar, New Jersey. And keep scrolling to see Amy's three unexpected self-portraits (which I think are some of the hardest to pull off for any photographer...), in a vintage-inspired dress from ModCloth.com and shot in her hometown of Lancaster. Live in the central-PA area and want to book time with Amy for your own amazing photo session? You can find more of her work and all contact information on her Facebook page or through her ZenFolio profile!

~ Alison

(click to enlarge photos)