Misstropolis | Style

Father’s Day Gift Guide 2009

2009-06-16T20:01:52-05:00

Hers is a chef and a vintner, with a pantry and bottling shop in the basement, and an unapologetic do-it-yourselfer. His was a super handy man with a tricked out work bench in the garage, and a fan of handmade things. The Dads of Alisa Neely and John Ross are part of the inspiration behind their combined Gift Guide for Father’s Day. Top five picks from both stylists include something for the handyman, the dapper don and everyone in between. June 21st will be here before you can say “tee time” so be sure to check out Alisa and John’s picks, and show the dads in your life how much they mean to you.As professional stylists, Alisa Neely and John Ross see so many things in so many stores and on so many websites that they can definitively say what’s worthy of your loved ones and what’s (definitively) not. This week Alisa and John lay out their top five gifts for dads just in time for the big day on June 21st.

Cynthia Rowley Comes to Boston

2009-06-10T16:26:30-05:00

The Boston shopping scene has a new jewel in its crown with the opening of the Cynthia Rowley boutique on Newbury Street. Alisa Neely sat down with the acclaimed designer to talk about Boston style, the Rowley customer and the beauty of bicycles.Cynthia Rowley was in town last Thursday for the opening of her first ever Boston boutique. Misstropolis sat down with the down to earth, approachable designer to get the 411 on her vision for the store and how she ended up in our fair city.

Beauty in Store

2009-06-03T03:56:36-05:00

Upcoming shows at Stil and Hudson promise to tear you out of the same old, same old rut. Poleci, an up and coming line beloved by the likes of Jessica Alba and Liv Tyler is quietly opening stores all over the U.S., Europe and Asia. Stil hosts a trunk show in their Prudential store. PATCH NYC reveals new looks from their jewelry and housewares lines, sure to generate a lot of buzz when on display in their Pop Up Shop in Hudson’s South End store later this month.Two upcoming shopping events blur the line between art and commerce. PATCH NYC’s seemingly effortless chic and vintage inspired aesthetic permeates their jewelry, pillows, tote bags and fine art. Poleci’s architecture-influenced approach to fashion uses innovative shapes and textures for exciting new spring silhouettes. Don’t Miss these special opportunities to see the brands’ spring designs in live, uniquely staged settings.

Five Easy Pieces, for Summer

2009-05-27T15:48:58-05:00

This is probably not the year to go out and buy an entirely new summer wardrobe. Carefully selected, quality pieces can transform sundresses, t-shirts and cover-ups from years past and make you feel like an entirely new person this season. Style Editor Alisa Neely shares five of her top summer picks. All flattering and non-trendy, we dare you to choose just one! The grill is hot again, the blender is spitting frozen cocktails out at a rapid pace and Newbury street patios are busting with diners. Spring has sprung, and summer isn’t far off. Here are five of our favorite pieces of the summer season to get your closet and mindset ready for the restorative, romantic days of summer.

Milan Design Week

2009-05-13T02:17:47-05:00

A kid in a candy shop has nothing on John Ross during Design Week in Milan. From Prosecco fueled gallery jaunts to visits to Carla Sozzani’s 10 Corso Como, the week provided no end of inspiration and delight. Art, furniture, interior design, lighting, plush piggy-shaped foot stools! One week is not nearly enough to see all the fair and fringe festivals hold. John reports from the strada.Imagine a very large pizza (thin crust of course) covered with every possible topping. Picture ingredients scanning the gastronomic alphabet from anchovies to zucchini. Envision sweet co-mingling with savory under a dusting of the freshest parmesan. This is the culinary equivalent of Milan during the annual celebration known as Design Week. For six days each April, the city is transformed by exhibitions, installations and events highlighting the latest and greatest designs in furniture, objects and lighting as well as anything else one can imagine.

Mother’s Day Gift Guide 2009

2009-05-06T03:41:42-05:00

SHOW THIS TO DAD, HUBBY, BOYFRIEND, CRUSH, GRANDPA, UNCLE or LITTLE BRO. Why? Because Mothers of the world, you DESERVE the BEST in life. And don’t ever be afraid to ask for it!Dads, take note: the mother of your children, maternal goddess that she is, spends her days making your kids happy and her nights - well you know who she’s making happy at night. Now is your chance to return the love by embracing Mother’s Day and lavishing her with kindness. Pronouncing it a commercialized sham and a Hallmark holiday will not make anyone happy. Misstropolis is here to help you make sure your message doesn’t get lost in translation by helping you choose a great gift for M-O-M.

Beyond Temptation at Matsu

2009-05-05T00:52:19-05:00

Celebrate the arrival of the long awaited season at MATSU tonight! Champagne, strawberries, Teuscher chocolates and a very seductive surprise await you at a Spring Fling party at one of Newbury Street’s most unique boutiques. Hope to see you there!MATSU Spring Fling Beyond Temptation Celebrate the arrival of the long awaited season Tuesday, May 5, 2009 6-8pm

Transition Accessories

2009-04-13T17:50:05-05:00

The calendar may say it’s Spring, but the thermometer keeps insisting we keep the winter coats and cashmere scarves at the ready. To brighten up your winter-spring look and make the tweener time more fun, Style Editor Alisa Neely says it’s all about accessories. Alisa picks the best jewelry, bags and shoes from some of her favorite websites and notes the opening of a suburban outpost of a hot Boston accessory boutique.Cold weather getting to you? Need a little pick me up? Believe me, you are not alone. But as it’s clearly not time yet to bust out the open-toed sandals and linen boyfriend jackets, transitioning to a spring look (and feel) can be a challenge.

Special Spring Boudoir Photography Shoot

2009-04-08T18:49:17-05:00

In honor of two special spring sessions photographer Sarah Sun has opened to Misstropolis readers, we’re re-publishing this piece on her Boudoir Photography. April 26th and May 17th - get all Kim Bassinger in 9 1/2 Weeks at a special boudoir photo shoot. We’ve tried it and we know - Sara does the impossible by making it fun to be sexy and seductive in front of the camera. The pictures will surely be the best birthday, Father’s Day or just-because gift you’ve ever given him. And for you - what an ego boost to have a professional photographer make you look AMAZING in your undies!There’s nothing fun about playing it safe. The best rewards follow great risk - only mediocrity follows a life shying away from danger. Now there’s nothing dangerous about having one’s picture taken, but in a swanky hotel room with very few clothes involved, a photo session could be perceived as out of the question if not dangerous. But this is exactly why Sara Sun’s private boudoir photo session at the Hotel Marlowe is something all Misstropolites should consider. The risk and the adventure will yield incredible rewards - maybe the most beautiful and gratifying pictures you’ll ever have of yourself.

Stripper Heels & Jelly Flats: Simon Doonan on Shoes of the Season

2009-04-01T14:46:30-05:00

“I never thought shoe design would be so exciting,” declared Simon Doonan, Barney’s legendary Creative Director, from under the branches of a shoe tree in full bloom with Louboutin, Prada, Pierre Hardy, YSL, Lanvin, Miu Miu and more last Friday morning. Well neither Simon, did I. A trip to the shoe department is so much more fun when Simon Doonan comes to town.Last summer at a family member’s rehearsal dinner, my husband’s aunt looked me up and down and clucked her tongue loud enough for the waiter to think she wanted another drink. “Not you” she told him, “her.” I gripped my glass and faced her, ready for the attack. It was a family wedding and it was in – ok I’ll admit it I was overdressed – Maine, and the family has never shied away from deriding my wardrobe choices. Then she declared so both my husband and mother in law could hear “You look like a hooker in those shoes.“ Luckily it was early and not too chilly; I neither dropped my glass nor threw it in her face. This season I have new appreciation for her comment. Little did Aunt Judy know, she was spotting a major trend in shoe design.