Another Wedding in Another Hall

I must be in a romantic mood!  This wedding came to mind after my last posting on Friday.  I created this reception for 700 guests at the Four Seasons, outside, along the Bosporus during a late summer evening.  The challenge for this affair was keeping the enormous outdoor area from feeling flat.  I solved the problem by lightly tenting numerous tables and keeping the theme in black and white: I actually covered the entire floor with 4m squares of black and white carpet rolls and filled the tables with long white orchids and clear Belgian hurricanes.

Love is in the Air

Most people believe Spring to be the most magical time for romance, and while maybe this is true I always find autumn to be full of romantic possibilities.  Perhaps it's that time of year when people begin gearing up for the cold winter months ahead, of staying indoors with that special someone.  As the air is getting crisper, I thought of this wedding that took place at Esma Sultan.  The couple seemed to be so in love and I found the atmosphere I created to be both ethereal and sexy, all contained inside a fairy tale setting.

The palace was built in the late nineteenth century.  Its namesake Esma Sultan was married at the age of fourteen to Mehmed Pasha, a leading statement.  He died when she was twenty six and she never remarried.  According to legends, she became a maneater, touring up and down the Bosporus in a golden gondola, picking young boys and bringing them back to the palace.  After one night with them, she had her staff dispose of the bodies to destroy any evidence of her sexual escapades.  There goes the romantic setting I composed.  Enjoy these photos and all the best to the fall season!

God is in the Detail: Grand Entrance

While there are definitely grand pieces of architecture and cityscape throughout Istanbul, I love stumbling across details that might normally go unrecognized if simply using a tourist guidebook.  Recently, on one of my walks through the city I noticed this amazing door on an unassuming Ottoman ministry building.  It reminded me a bit of Andre Arbus and those other French designs from the 1930s and 40s employing metal and star bursts.  Sometimes a little detail or accessory can make up for what might pass as ordinary.

Being with You

Earlier I posted some images of Karaköy, where the welcome dinner for Istancool took place.  My hope was to share some photos from that night, but because of lack of time that day, I was unable to photograph anything decent to post.  Instead, you can visit the Billy Farrell Agency website and see some pics from the dinner, which was super relaxed.  We wanted to keep it simple and low key for all the celebrities who would be participating in the weekend's exhilarating activities.  It was a perfect spot to eat and relax after a buzzing art opening for the charming and serene Sandro Kopp, who my friend, photographer Daniela Federici, and I had the opportunity to meet.  I look forward to seeing more from this very talented man.

I Heart Istanbul

I wanted to share some daytime photos from my new store.

Located in one of the most trendy areas in Istanbul, this quaint boutique is an extension of my New York brand. While you'll find some similar products in both stores, I try to accommodate specific needs akin to each market.

As you'll see from the opening photo, we've come a long way from that empty white space. And although it's a bit smaller than I'm used to, I've grown to love the cozy yet succulent feel of the environment I've created.

Many people have asked why I've established a sister store in Istanbul. Not only is it one of the most beautiful, fashionable, stylish, historical places in the world but also . . . well, I think those are enough reasons for now. Stay tuned and I hope to share a few secrets about this most exciting, romantic city.