The Sketch Book — Oscar de la Renta

(illustration property of Shannon Ables, Simply Luxurious Life. Dress design, Oscar de la Renta)   I feel unqualified to write about the loss of Oscar de la Renta, like an unwelcome intruder in his family’s grief, but at the same time I want to remember him and celebrate a wonderful career and life.  I was no part of his life. But like so many others he unknowingly had a profound influence on my life. The party line about my decision to move to the city in the summer of 2011 was that it was time to grow my company in the...

 How cute is this little munchkin wearing Oscar de la Renta?So... with my wedding mere weeks away I keep getting asked "are you going to stay in NYC after you're married?" and "are you going to have children in NYC?" And I find myself continually bewildered by this discussion. Right now, I just hope I can walk all the way down the aisle without fainting/tripping. I really have no idea what our future will look like once I get to the end of the aisle.But, these questions have made me more aware and observant of my life here in the city....

have I really never posted this sketch??? I painted this two years ago, how did I forget to share it!? It's a look from the Oscar de la Renta runway archives that are always strutting through my imagination.I thought it was kind of perfect to post seeing as it's a sultry black gown and exactly one year from today I'll be dressed in the opposite - my wedding gown. Yes, today is my negative one year anniversary! It is the black swan sister of the whitest day of my life.How should I celebrate this occasion? I'm taking suggestions... Champagne? skydiving? yoga...

 Here's an illustration that the Moda Nextel team commissioned for their Gala Moda Nextel, celebrating the newest collection from Oscar de la Renta. This gala is the first of a series of fabulous events that Nextel de Mexico puts on to celebrate designer collections each year. From what I understand, it is sort of like a roaming, spectacular circus of fashion week glamor that circulates around Mexico all year long - and I am going to help them with illustrations this year, how cool is that?If you want to see more of the amazing productions that Moda Nextel has to offer, watch...

When it comes to thinking about buying four hundred dollar costume jewelry earrings, you have to ask yourself two questions:1. who do you think you are?and 2. which color is most practical?These are the types of things I am working through in my new sketch book. But really, what color would you get if you had an unlimited tassel budget? Not that either of us do, but a sketchbook is a place for dreaming right?Speaking of, last night I dreamed my plane went down in an emergency landing into the ocean, but it was also distinctly taking place in Paris...