When Sally Met Sandy

I was at one of my favorite stores in LA on Friday, J. Robert Scott, when the building transformer exploded and someone ran inside and told us all to get out of the building in case it exploded!  A bit of drama, but that is how I met the fabulous Sally Sirkin Lewis, who like myself, was hurrying to exit the store.

Sally Sirkin Lewis is a legend in interior design and has had one of the most impressive careers.  She is an icon of design and has received more awards than I could mention.  She started out in Miami as an interior designer and progressed to also owning and being the creator of the fabulous J. Robert Scott Showroom and factory in Los Angeles. She designes every piece and she manages the manufacturing and production of it all. Her designs are contemporary with a soft edge and she is best know for the incredible exotic finishes on her furniture.

Since I was in design school I have been familiar with her work and admired her success. But not until Friday's showroom transformer explosion had I ever met her.  A wonderful and energetic person with a aura of sophistication and elegance- loved her.

My design idol for sure!

http://www.jrobertscott.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aumoSyzdTAk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6w6MgBw4WY

Desmond Mason

The guy is cool!

Desmond Mason played basketball for Oklahoma State University before spending 10 years in the NBA playing for Seattle, Milwaukee, New Orleans, Oklahoma City and Sacramento.  But that part of his life is not what I am interested in. I am more interested in his second career. Now that Desmond has retired, he has once again started painting - very successfully.

I first met Desmond a few years ago when he did a charity event and auctioned off some of his work. I instantly became a fan and have been following his work. Now I am happy to be working with him on a commission piece for an interior design client.  His work is modern, abstract, colorful and vivid. And he uses lots of texture and thickness in his paints to make the canvas look touchable.

Can't wait to see his work in my project! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGJXv39Fkc8

Brigitte Bardot

Brigitte Bardot.  The French Marylin Monroe.

So gorgeous and sexy, she not only mesmerized men, women , but she also inspired artist like Andy Warhal to paint her images and Spanish artist/designer Jaime Hayon to design a sofa and chair produced by Bernhardt Design.  The blond bomshell's allure and fame extended to all kinds of creations and her eyes inspired many.

Today, the 78 year old gray godess,  lives in France but has applied for Russian citizenship and plans to move there due to an aminal rights dispute with the French government. But no matter where she lives, or what kinds of crazy political stance she takes she will always be remembered as the sexiest woman of the 60's.   And can we talk about the fantastic hairstyles?

Have you inspired anyone today?

www.bernhardtdesign.com

DIANE VON FURSTENBERG

And if I could pick a life to live...without a doubt Diane Von Furstenberg's would be on my list.

Diane met and married a German prince at 18 and became a princess and led a charmed, glamorous life. They moved to New York and became socialites and she was photographed and painted by numerous artists including Helmut Newton and Andy Warhol. In 1970 Princess Von Furstenberg launched a clothing line, from which the infamous wrap dress was born.  Today her company DVF is global and world renown. And during all of this she had time to have and raise 4 children (2 ofwhich are royalty).

Diane is currently married to long time friend, Barry Dillard and they travel the world on their yacht and hike together every morning.  She is an inspiration and dream to any woman who knows her story.  A true legend and fashion icon.

http://www.dvf.com/

 

 

Jane Birkin

An Hermes Birking bag?  Great casual style.  But do you know the history?

Hermes designed and named the infamous handbag after the iconic English born model, singer and actresss Jane Birkin who's personal style has long been inspiration to fashion lovers the world over. The story goes that in 1981 on a flight from London to Paris, Jane's straw handbag burst open and all of the contents fell on the floor next to a fellow passenger who happened to be the director of Hermes. The situation left them  laughing and talking and he later designed the most famous and coveted handbag in the world.

No doubt one of the most beautiful women in the world, Jane's face and lifestyle inspired many. Today, the 65 year old,  lives with her bulldog and still performs and writes music and is a human rights advocate.

Love her and love my bag too.

www.janebirkin.net

Dorothy Draper

Who is Dorothy Draper?   Unless you are in the design industry you may not have heard of her.

Dorothy Draper is given credit for being one of the first professional interior designers in America back in 1930's.    She lived a glamorous lifestyle and decorated her home in such exquisite decor that all of her friends wanted her help.  She was then given the task of decorating the Carlyle Hotel in New York and her business took off.  Her firm also did the Greenbriar Hotel in West Virginia and the Packard Motor Car offices. She wrote several decorating books in which she explained in simple words how to use decor and make it fun. 

In a nut shell. Dorothy Draper was a pretty cool lady leading the way for all of us to follow.  She died in 1969 but her company and legacy still live one.

Love her!

 http://www.dorothydraper.com

Tom Ford Stores

If Tom Ford were straight I would marry him! Not only is he gorgeous and one of the world's most talented fashion designers, but he has also become one of the most stylish retail designers.  I day dream-- we could drink champagne and talk about clothes and furniture all day.

But seriously, have you set foot in to any of his stores?  They ooze first- rate sensuality and fabulosity. You know when you walk in the door that you are about to spend some serious cash and you can't wait and it doesn't matter. The man knows luxury and he understands the endless budget market.  Everything is truly the best, including the glass cabinets that house the clothing.

Thank you Tom for constantly giving the world more eye candy and beauty.

http://www.tomford.com

Jason Wu

Today is the Jason Wu fashion show at NY Fashion Week.  Jason is a young Taiwanese fashion designer who launched his line in 2006.  He quickly gained notoriety when Vogue Editor Anna Wintour called him "a promising new talent".

Jason became a household name when First Lady Michelle Obama made the surprise choice of wearing one of his designs, the now famous white chiffon dress, to the Presidential Inauguration Ball. And since then, the flurry of success has not stopped.  He has dressed Natalie Portman, Diane Krueger, Michelle Williams, Zoe Saldana and many other Holywood celebs.

Such a young talent and so accomplished; Jason is a true inspiration to anyone who doubts the American Dream!   I'm off to see his show !

http://www.jasonwustudio.com

Michelle's Nails

Michelle Obama's nail color last night during the Democratic Convetion speech?  Fantastic!

I love it that for the first time in history our First Lady is so cool, current and real.  I love the fact that she stands for real American women and does not wear suits and instead chose a pink dress that any of us would love to wear.  I love that she does not try to be an old woman and that she is not afraid to use gray/blue nail polish.

And the best part?  Her speech was amazing!   Love her.

 

 

The London Design Festival

Each September, London hosts the inspiring "London Design Festival"  in which art comes alive and is celebrated. 

Ceramics, glass, lighting, fabrics, furniture, architecture, and of course .... interior design are among the arts promoted and displayed during the 10 day event. Designers, manufacturers and creators all come together to show the world British design and art.  There are events throught town and it is all supported by the Arts Council of England.   

If you are an art enthusiast and love creativity, don't miss this event September 14th to the 23rd.

http://londondesignfestival.com/

AD's best 2012

Every year Architectural Digest names the AD100, a list of the best interior designers and architects in the US.   And although I'm not in it this year, I love admiring the work of some of these design giants.   

These are my favorite interior designers on the list.  

Madeline Stuart  ( www.madelinestuart.com )

Jennifer Post ( www.jenniferpostdesign.com )

Michael Smith ( www.michaelsmithinc.com )

Juan Montoya ( www.juanmontoyadesign.com )

They are all amazing designers with fabulous careers and they inspire me to try even harder and be the best I can.  My dream is to one day also be listed on the AD 100.

 

2012 OSCARS GREEN ROOM

Every year I look forward to seeing the Oscar's Greenroom.  For the last 10 years, Architectural Digest has produced this swanky backstage lounge where celebs hang out and relax in between their time on stage.  

This year, AD interior designer Waldo Fernandez was the chosen to create the perfect haven just to the right of the Oscar stage.  Inspired by 1930's and 40's Hollywood, comfy couches were combined with antiques. To generate soft and flattering light he used a variety of grey tones.  For the first time ever champagne was served in the Greenroom, complimenting the old Hollywood vibe.

Were you a fan of this year's Greenroom?  

NEW YORK FASHION WEEK 2012

Off to to New York City for fashion week!

It is still chilly in the city, but the buzz of style and new fashions, chic runway shows  warms my heart. Its all so so exciting and inspiring.  The continual movement of fashion and the amazing shows designers put on twice a year create color trends for the future.   One of my favorite new designers is Kaelen and I will be seeing her spring show at the Lincoln Center.

Anyone else going?  Wha shows will you be attending?

http://www.kaelennyc.com/welcome

 

A Beautiful Sunrise

One of the most luxurious ways I start my day is by waking up early and watching the sunrise over the ocean.  

Coffee in hand and puppies by my side, there is nothing more relaxing, more soothing and more inspiring than the simple beauty of the sunrise.  The colors, the peace and the pure majesty of nature are the perfect way to start off a day.

Have a great day!

Donna Karan's Urban Zen

I briefly met Donna Karan several years ago at a fundraiser event.  She was lovely, kind and generous. I was a bit taken back by her simplicity and cool.  As a world renowned luxury fashion designer I assumed she would have been unapproachable, which she was not.  I loved her.  

But now that I have discovered her new retail stores, "Urban Zen" I love her even more!  Urban Zen is her new line of clothing and jewelry sold exclusively through her foundation stores.  All proceeds go to help raise awareness and preserve hand made clothing, jewelry and furniture from poor cultures like Tibet, Senegal and Haiti.  She is not just donating money to these countries, she is empowering people by giving them jobs and raising awareness of their situation via their art.  This project is her passion and the priority of her heart.

And the best part?  The clothes and jewelry are fabulous! So shop, be stylish and help save the world all at once - thanks to the amazing Donna Karan!

http://www.urbanzen.com

I will miss Steve Jobs

I will miss Steve Jobs!

The tech visionary and genius who created Apple has tragically died. 

I feel honored to have lived at the same time as Steve Jobs. Even thought I never met Steve, his precence is all around me all day long.  I run with an Ipod, I talk on an Iphone, I work on an Air, I read on an Ipad and I outfitted my entire design firm with Macs. My days have not been Apple free since the 80's.   What he created, what he left behind and his effect on the world will be felt and remebered forever.

One of the most intelligent  people of our time, Steve Jobs will be missed. I considered him one of the best designers and most creative people to have lived and was truly inspired by his products.

R.I.P.

Richard Branson

I'm always fascinated by stories of Richard Branson. He makes me laugh, think and dream.

He epitomises my theory on how to live life.  Large and incharge!  He is not afraid of living and has done all of the silly and fun things we all aspire to do. Not only has been extremely successful in his work and creation of all things Virgin, but he also been wildly succesful in touching the lives of others.  Richard is a huge humanitarian and is involved in many world organizations.  He does not sit back and let life happen.  He makes life happen.

Richard Branson proves that being intelligent, making money and being famous can be cool.  It's not about having 20 staff members, living in a billion dollar home or wearing couture.  As a matter of fact he alsways looks a bit underdressed and casual.  He proves that having massive amounts of money isn't about alienating yourself from  people, but about embracing life, being free to live it and experiencing all of the beauty the planet has to offer.  He is a great example of the new way luxury living has changed and how today the meaning of luxury means freedom - not the showy ostentation of the past.

Go Richard!  Keep inspiring us.

http://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/blog

I'm feeling Mint Green

It's the middle of summer and I'm feeling mint green today!

I'm in the mood for an island get away holiday.  I feel like doing nothing.  Mint green is so relaxing and summery and it perpetuates my mood.  A lazy kind of outside day. 

A few inspiration photos of how I'm feeling today.

50's STYLE

Ahhh...the romance of the fabulous 50's! Life was easier, moms stayed home and America was #1.

Life has changed a lot since then and so has interior design over the decades.  Not only has our color appreciation and palette changed, we no longer use tea tables, we don't love wall to wall carpeting, our kitchens are bigger and more open, our bathrooms are much more decadent, and most important - electronics have taken over our home and created the era of smart homes.

Do I want to go back to life in the 50's? No way! I can't imagine life without my iphone. But I  do love the inspiration that images from those good old days bring.  

LIVE LIKE A ROCK STAR WITH LENNY KRAVITZ

Lenny Kravitz?  The gorgeous man with fab music.

But did you know he is an interior designer too?   It all started when fashion designer Roberto Cavalli  proclaimed Lenny's NY home to be the "the sexiest house ever".  So then Lenny proceeded to hire some designers and he opened his namesake design firm.   Their projects include work in several Miami hotels and numerous private homes across the world.  Kravitz Designs is currently returning to Miami to design the spa, gym, pool and sales models for a huge waterfront condo building.  They expect to generate sales based on his "designer" name alone. His taste is retro, modern,  edgy, detail oriented with tons of contrast and sophistication topped off with fun things like shag carpet and statement art will certainly attract a young affluent crowd in Miami.

Lenny has also created custom furniture for Swarovski  and has a line of wallpaper called "flavor paper."  With music always in the mix, his new Black and White European tour kicks off this October in France.

His interiors have a very specific taste and style.  Kind of like high end rocker / man cave / night club. But I personally think his team has done a good job with keeping the designs in tune to his brand. But someone needs to tell Lenny that he can make a lot more money in music than in design!

Go ahead. Live like a rock star!

http://www.kravitzdesign.com/

 

Anouska Hempel

Does anyone else love Anouska Hempel?

In the 80's I remember arriving in London and being wowed by her "Blake's Hotel".  It was such a happening spot and had such sophistication.  It was a luxurious feast for the eyes with luxurious fabrics, and furnishings. Each room was decorated differently and all rooms were over the top.  I slept in the swan room and couldn't get enough of the decor.  In the 90's I returned to stay at the Hempel Hotel, her new masterpiece and again was completely blown away by the ultra modern, clean, simple design.  There was nothing like it in London at the time.  My room was all cream, platform bed, sky lights and had a garden view.  I didn't want to leave.

There are certain designers who have a style all of their own and who do not follow but lead with their creativity.  Anouska is one of them and I have enjoyed her visions.  

I can't wait to see where she resurfaces again.

http://anouskahempeldesign.com

Royal Wedding Crazy -

Yes, like the entire planet, I'm Royal Wedding crazy! I am up waiting to see it and it's all so exciting.

There are so many negative and horrible things currently going on in the world;  Afghanistan, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Syria, Egypt, Libya, the economic crisis to name a few.  This glamorous, fairy tale wedding event seems so positive, like a ray of light and hope for the future.  I'm all excited about it and can't wait to see the dress, tiara and of course, the kiss.

Get some British flag throw pillows, order up some royal wedding cookies or cup cakes,  a bottle of Dom and turn on the tv.  Four hours left on the countdown...

 

 

DAVID STARK- EVENT PLANNER EXTRAORDINAIRE

Im obsessed with the work of NY event planner David Stark!

Known for creating the extraordinary, David is one of the most sought after event planners in NY. He has  high profile clients and specializes in large scale events.  His events are stunning and larger than life.  I saw photos of the  Robin Hood Foundation and they were mind blowing.  Every element of the décor was made out of something that could be donated, from towels and sheets to first aid kits.  He created a giant cloud sculpture out of shoes and suspended it in mid air and a mammoth chair made out of water bottles.   4,000 people attended and 100% of the proceeds of the evening went to help fight poverty in Manhattan. 

David has published 3 books and recently launched his own home products in collaboration with West Elm.   

Love him!  He is one to watch.

 http://www.davidstarkdesign.com/

 

Boston Tree Pods

Tree Pods? 

A new green project is happening in downtown Boston.  It's an environmentally friendly creation which will be made from recycled materials and are synthetic trees that are capable of removing carbon dioxide from the air and releasing oxygen by using solar panels on its branches that would also create enough energy to light up at night. These artificial trees would  mimic what real trees do and scrub CO2 from the atmosphere and emit O2!

 Mr. brains - Dr. Klaus Lackner, Director of the Lenfest Center for Sustainable Energy at ColumbiaUniversity, came up with the innovative idea.  He designed a machine that would pull CO2 from the air by using a fish tank pump and a battery.  Inspired by Dr. Lackner’s idea, the Boston Treepod Initiative, and Influx_Studio from Paris France, and ShiftBoston are proposing to use this environmental friendly technology to help curb CO2 gases in the city. Is this wild?

 I can't find any information about when these pods will be available, but oh my! Crazy! Starship Enterprise lifestyle is closer than you think.

Liz Taylor

The recent death on March 23rd, of film super star Liz Taylor has me going down memory lane and looking through her old photographs.  She was such an icon of her time and known all over the world. She left behind some beautiful images for us all to be inspired by.  These are some of my favorites. 

 

 

 

The amazing Jan Showers

Jan Showers is one of the most sophisticated and classic designers of our time.  The Dallas designer has been married for over 38 years, has 2 daughters, 3 grandchildren and yet still  found time for herself to develop a successful career in interior design.  I admire her passion and devotion to create beauty year after year.

The Jan Showers Collection  of furniture, reflects her femininity and incorporates an updated elegance with a 30's and 40's glamor.   I have personally used many of her pieces in my design jobs and some of my favorite include the mineral lamps with gold tones on the inside of the lamp shades. She has created a unique style all of her own.

Her book Glamorous Rooms shows some of the rooms she has designed in the past 25 years which all have the same perfection, softness and livable detail in them.  Her modern and timeless interiors, are never overdone.

Love her work, love her furniture, love her book! 

http://www.janshowers.com

 

Margaret Russell

The  former editor of Elle Décor and judge of Bravo’s reality show  “Top Design” is now the queen bee of editing and sits on the helm of Conde Naste’s Architectural Digest.  She replaced the legendary Paige Rense who had the job for 40 years, and who was considered the Anna Wintour of shelter magazines.

I briefly met l Margaret in San Francisco last year.  I was there to receive the California Home & Design's  “Designer of the Year award” and she was there for the signing of her  “Style & Substance” book.  As I stood in line to get my copy autographed I watched her closely.  She is extremely feminine yet tough as nails.  She is organized and knows exactly what she likes. She is a no nonsense, direct and perfectly eloquent person. She is beautiful and always looks impeccable. There is a kind of Jackie O. sense of style about her.   I just loved her.

 Is Margaret a diva?  Of course!  And I love that about her.  I simply can’t wait to see what she has in store for my favorite magazine A.D.  

So far I have loved her 2 new editions.  What do you think?

Philippe Starck's legacy

The colorful Philippe Starck has  been married 4 times and has 4 children.  But it's his oldest daughter, from his first wife of 22 years Brigitte, that  the world is looking at closely as his legacy. 

33 year old Ara Starck was born in Paris in 1978.  After studying in London and living in New York, she returned to Paris to live and work as an artist. She is very stylish very French and seems to have the guts  to follow the giant shoes of her father.  She collaborated with her famous dad and painted the ceiling in the Le Maurice Hotel restaurant in Paris which he designed.  The centerpiece of the room is her  gigantic canvas measuring 145 sqm with  hues of gold and ochre.  

I am very exited to see what the future holds for Ara because Im sure she will do great things.  

http://www.nytimes.com/indexes/2008/03/16/style/t/index.html#pageName=16style

Philippe Starck on TED

Have you ever heard Philippe Starck speak?  He is hilarious!  His charm and wit are so entertaining. He is full of funny, crazy and mind provoking ideas and concepts.  Some even make sense!   He recently had an epiphany and said during an interview that after all these years, "everything I have designed is absolutely unnecessary".   

Take a few minutes and enjoy  this great clip from TED:

http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/philippe_starck_thinks_deep_on_design.html

Philippe Starck week

I'm dedicating this entire week to one of my favorite designers of all time:  Philippe Starck.

No other designer has inspired me, made me laugh or made me think as much as the legendary Philippe Starck.  He is a wacky, outside of the box, modern thinker best known for his hospitality interiors and his mass produced unique products.  The kind of person I would love to hang out with in a hot, ugly, dirty bar in Myanmar.

It was the 1980’s.   I was in my early 20’s in Paris.  I had diner at Café Coste.  It was the first time I had heard of Philippe Starck.   His design was contagious and I became a fan of his creativity and have been  following his amazing career ever since. Sometimes I don't like his work and I find it gimmicky and flashy.  Some of it is too quirky and I tire of it quickly.  But you can not deny, like it or not,  that his work is artistic, philosophical, and makes people talk.  He brings fun to adult environments and does not take design so seriously. 

I hope you enjoy my self-proclaimed: National Philippe Starck week in which I will celebrate the mind of this crazy creature.

http://www.philippestarck.com

Bob Boyle

I studied production design and attended the American Film Institute  and was lucky enough to have the legendary Bob Boyle as one of my teachers and mentors.   Bob was a four-time Oscar-nominated production designer best known for his work on Alfred Hitchcock's "North by Northwest" and "The Birds" and Norman Jewison's "Fiddler on the Roof".  He worked with every major director in the film industry.  I will never forget the incredible field trips he took us on such the visit to Sony Studios backlot, the set of Men in Black and the  Dreamworks animation studios.   He helped me get my first internship as an assistant set decorator.

As I watched the Academy Awards last night I was very sad to see his photo and name on the obituary list and to learn that at 100 years old, Bob Boyle had died.    He may be gone, but he will never be forgotten!

Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel

Like most women, I love the Coco Chanel story and brand.   A French fashion designer who created timeless beauty that is still revered and popular today, she was best known for her collarless jackets, the famous little black dress and Chanel No. 5 Perfume.

Her dramatic, unglamorous early years are an inspiration to me because it shows that anyone with a dream can succeed.  She grew up in orphanages after her mother's death and was raised by nuns who taught her how to sew. Her ambition and skill took her to great heights and her creativity and style kept her there.

What are your dreams? Will you go after them?

Queen Noor

J'adore Queen Noor!

The beautiful and poised Queen Noor of Jordan left a big impression on me after I read her memoirs in the book "Leap of Faith".   Except for the fact that she always has perfect hair and wears the most incredible clothes, I didn't know much about her and her family. But after reading the book I have become a huge fan and supporter of her causes. 

Since the death of her husband her handsome son, the king Abdullah, has taken the throne and he rules along side his supermodel, gorgeous wife, the new Queen Rania.   There is no better looking royal family in the world and in these difficult times, they have managed to keep Jordan at peace and out of the middle eastern conflicts.  

I hope travel to Jordan soon.  Petra is high on my bucket list.

                       

The Egypt Conflict

This is not a Huffington Post political commentary.  But to celebrate the removal of the Egyptian dictator Mubarak and the 18 days of conflict and protest by the people of Egypt, I am posting a few photos of my last trip there, where I traveled to shop for my store and tour the countries antiquities. Their efforts should be  inspiration to us all and proof that change can come, even when the US military doesn't butt in.

Cairo is the largest city in Africa with close to 17 million people, mostly poor inhabitants.  It is not a luxury destination, and it is not a visually beautiful city.  My fantasies of a beautiful River Nile faded when I saw the dirty brown water and garbage floating in it.  But the redeeming factors were the incredible pyramids of Giza and the colorful city market Khan el-Khalili.

Did I enjoy my trip? Absolutely.  Would I go back?   Hmmm...

Ian Schrager's Edition

Have you heard of the new Edition Hotels? 

http://www.editionhotels.com/en-us/

Bill Marriott and Ian Schrager have partnered up and come up with a cool boutique hotel concept to add to the Marriott brands.   The first one just opened in Waikiki and they are about to start launching Edition's world wide.  As all other Ian Schrager hotels, Edition's impact of design is the first guest experience.   This is not your mom & dad's Marriott.  This is fun!  

I admire Ian Schrager's continual creativity as well as his business savvy.    He is always a source of inspiration in the hospitality industry.  This is a guy I would love to have dinner with and shop talk with all night.

 

The Mondrian

 I love this video on the design of the iconic Mondrian Hotel in LA.   I remember going to the Mondrian when it  first opened in the 90's and I had many great evenings at the Sky Bar.  It's an L.A. classic.

http://www.morganshotelgroup.com

Have you ever been to the Mondrian?

Florence Knoll

Since college I have been obsessed with the life and design of  Florence Knoll.  Not only was she a pioneer  interior designer and furniture designer, she was also one of the most influential female designers of the 20th century.   She is a design icon that I look up to and will always admire for her style, design ability and business savvy.

Nancy Corzine

It's impossible not to find the beautiful and elegant Nancy Corzine an inspiration.   She started out as an interior designer and over the past 30 years has designed furniture and opened 14 wholesale showrooms through the country.  A female powerhouse, she is a design leader and entrepreneur. Everything she does is stylish and glamourous, including her new coffee table book.   I love all things Nancy Corzine.

The words exquisite and luxurious were made to describe her style.  

Aline Bernstein Saarinen

Aline was not famous, yet she made her husband Eeros Saarinen one of the most important and well known architects of the 20th century.   She was an architectural critic and writer in the 1950's and after they married she became his in house publicist.  She singlehandedly created the myth of Eeros and wrote all of the "big claim" articles about his work and image.  A true love story.

" a man is as great as the woman behind him".