SPOILER ALERT: Come back after you’ve watched the episode…it’s a good one!

For the second episode of Season 5, our Project Runwayers were challenged to create a green cocktail dress for their clients — the models. Not only did they get creative input, but the models were sent off to Mood to purchase the eco-friendly fabric. Argh! Unfortunately a lot of the designers were forced to create super skimpy eco-fied dresses in terrible colors but luckily there were a few winners in the bunch.

BLUEFLY.com, please stock Terri’s dress now. I’ll buy it. To use the most common phrase in fashion according to Michael Kors, it’s chic, it has a ruffled collar, and it’s navy (well, pretty close to it). If Terri designed that dress for me then I would be kissing her on the runway. Now why wasn’t she in the Top 3? Did anyone else like it?

Instead Bluefly will be stocking Suede’s dress. I thought it was going to be a disaster but it actually looked cute walking down the runway with its weaved pattern and tulle underskirt. Not a dress I would wear but I can see why Natalie Portman (isn’t she tiny?) loved his innovative approach. Watch out, Carrie Bradshaw might be walking around your neighborhood very soon.

Kenley made me proud. We (group of friends who share the PR obsession) worried the puffy collar was a little too reminiscent of Christian’s style from last season but it sure was striking. The butter yellow and black combination was a clear winner.

So I guess I put my foot in my mouth last week when I announced Wesley as “the one to watch.” Poor Wesley, what happened? His dress was hideous, tight and crinkled for a fabric that probably shouldn’t fall that way. Perhaps if he had anything but chocolate silk to work with then we’d see more of his John Varvatos red suede shoes. Unfortunately Wesley deserved to be the eco-fy loser.

Before we finish up, how adorable is Natalie Portman? Her commentary was accurate in my opinion and she’s like a little jewel. I loved her green sweetheart neck dress just as much as Heidi’s this week. Bravo hasn’t listened to me yet about posting the source of her dresses. Perhaps if we make enough noise here we’ll get their attention.

UPDATE: You can pre-order Suede’s dress for $280 by sending an e-mail to nana.brewhammond@bluefly.com. Nana will get your measurements and size info. Looks like they are only making 150 dresses. Read about it here.

So my fellow Project Runway fans, who were your favorites? Would you prefer to see another dress on Bluefly? Did you like Kelli’s dress? Are you just as annoyed with Suede as I am or is Blayne still getting under your skin? I would love to hear your opinion!

Image credits: Bravotv.com

While window shopping over the weekend, I noticed a lot of navy. And I’m talking about the true dark blue NOT the borderline navy — the color that makes you guess whether it’s black or blue. It actually drives me a little nuts. But Nino Bauti’s color instinct is spot on in his spring summer 2008 collection, don’t you think?

I would love to get my hands on the cropped jacket, pulled together with a few accessories in shades of gold and cream. Just creating these looks today make me want to go on vacation. I did try on a little navy silk corset top over the weekend at Lot 8 (owned by Project Runway winner, Chloe Dao…yes, I’m quite obsessed). Still waiting to hear if they’ll get it in my size but if they do then this is probably the way I would accessorize it.

Image credits: Nino Bauti via NotCouture, Piperlime (Francesco Biasia Butterfly Glam Two bag and Nine West Roussy shoes), Bandelle (Marietta earrings in Regency — coming in the Fall), Banana Republic (wide striped cuff).

A big THANK YOU to you, my lovely readers, and to Erin for featuring my Double Take series over at Design For Mankind. I never realized that I would receive so many wonderful e-mails and comments from all of you who find so much inspiration in set design. It has been a great way to connect with many of you whether you have questions about certain pieces or just like to chat about the shows and films. For more daily inspiration, check out Erin’s blog that’s updated 5-6 times a day. Hugs to all of you!

I was going to wait until the Fall for this Double Take, but it turns out that ABC canceled Cashmere Mafia after only one season. Mia’s (Lucy Liu) apartment is just too good to waste so we’ll bid farewell to the show with our inspired furniture and decor finds. Strap on those heels one last time…

The ultra chic style of Mia’s Manhattan apartment won me over, just as Caitlin’s office did from our earlier Double Take. Production designer, Stephen Hendrickson, pulled out all the stops with this sophisticated color palette and a sprinkling of pieces with mid century modern lines. The Schelly chair from BoConcept is reminiscent of the black leather swivel chair in the living room and the Reese sofa is a fairly good match for Mia’s version. Hendrickson grouped the seating around a veneer coffee table very similar to this piece (thanks CasaSugar and readers for sourcing this table — while you’re over there, check out CasaSugar’s fantastic post on Mia’s office for more inspired finds).

For decorative touches in the living room, try adding a couple of hayward pillows (we have these raw silk pillows in light green), tatum lamp with its butter opal glaze (secretly want this), mariposa pillar holders for your mantle, and a fretwork mirror. But that’s not all.

Mia’s living room serves another purpose — a small home office that is situated by the window. Since the desk is out for all to see, we might as well go with the liege desk at Design Within Reach. Tuck in a miles chair, upholstered in the neutral diplomat fawn fabric to soften up the stainless steel legs. Now change out the hardware on your built-in cabinets with diamond gal or nest knobs from Anthropologie. And finish your home office with the vong vase and fresh flowers from your local florist, such as cranberry pink calla lilies.

Just for fun, I played around with Mia’s sophisticated color palette by using the picture palette inspiration tool on COLOURlovers. Have you tried it yet? All you have to do is type in the URL of your image and COLOURlovers will generate a sampling for you. Great tool for your inspiration binders! And another way to hold onto the memory of the fantastic sets on Cashmere Mafia

Interested in more set design inspired rooms? Here are the latest posts from my Double Take series:

Image credit: ABC 2008 (Back East Pictures), BoConcept, Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, Crate & Barrel, Z Gallerie, Neiman Marcus, Pacific Callas, Anthropologie, Design Within Reach, & COLOURlovers.

I perused the surprisingly up-to-date magazines at the doctor’s office this morning (just a check-up, nothing serious) and noticed the long banquette seating in a kitchen featured in this month’s Metropolitan Home. This magazine doesn’t usually make it to my nightstand because it’s geared toward an audience with a much larger budget. But I did enjoy this particular house tour. I’ve always had a fondness for banquettes, whether in kitchens or restaurants. They instantly bring a sense of coziness to the space, just like they have here…

Whether you have a built-in like the Metropolitan Home kitchen or one of Sarah Richardson’s free-standing banquettes, they create a more casual, loungy atmosphere. You can usually fit a few more people because you’ll find that we all willingly squeeze together just for a spot on the cushy chair. How many people do not “call” the booth at a restaurant? Another advantage of the banquette is that it usually frees up more room in your kitchen because you can tuck it in against the wall. Add a table, whether it be a round, rectangular, or square, with a couple of upholstered chairs on the other side and immediately you’ve created a restaurant feel.

Banquette Ideas:
1. Puritan bench from Harris Marcus
2. Church pew from eBay — this is becoming a popular idea for residential dining rooms. Love the black finish and the bargain price.
3. If you want the real thing, try 1stDibs for antique banquettes like this Louis XVI style banquette.
4. Sarah Richardson uses many banquettes in her dining rooms, including the Jude bench from her own collection.

And if you want to explore the casual dining experience further, take some cues from Carlos Suarez’s restaurant called Bobo in New York (I’m dying to go there!). Not only does his restaurant feature tufted blue velvet banquettes along the walls, but also a collection of mismatched chairs. His interior designer scored various french country chairs at local antique stores for between $50 - $75 each, gave them a coat of black paint, and upholstered the seat cushion in a coral and white floral print (via New York Magazine).

Enjoy your weekend!

Image credits: Firmdale Hotels, Metropolitan Home, eBay, New York Magazine, 1stDibs, Domino, & HGTV Canada.

SPOILER ALERT: If you haven’t watched the season premiere yet, please program your TiVo now.

And so Season 5 of Project Runway begins…

As I mentioned several times, Project Runway is definitely my number one show. My husband painlessly surrenders the remote to me since he is equally impressed by what these designers can create out of nothing. And for the first episode of Season 5, that “nothing” was whatever the designers chose at Gristedes, a grocery store chain in Manhattan. Most opted for tablecloths and a few ventured out with their creativity. So who am I keeping a close eye on during this season?

Wesley. Kenley. Daniel. Any guy who can get away with wearing tailored shorts and loafers probably has some style and Wesley seemed to bring a little of his Marc Jacobs background into his yellow fly swat dress. Kenley’s self-proclaimed “loud view” definitely intrigues me, especially the way she combined colors and patterns. Her coral and turquoise combination scored double points in my book. Finally, Daniel’s innovative approach to this challenge makes me wonder if he will be the next Jillian Lewis from season 4. Plastic cups instead of red licorice?

Kelli was the winner of this challenge but I’m not sure if I agree 100%. The judges claimed the dress was innovative and they could imagine girls wearing it. I’ll give her credit for staining vacuum cleaner bags but I know I wouldn’t be comfortable with two circle patches on my chest. Jerry was the loser this week and I think we all saw that one coming with his tent-like raincoat, neon gloves, and chunky white boots. The pattern on Project Runway shows that anyone who talks a big game up front seems to lose early.

Since I enjoyed discussing the episodes with you all last season (Alia included!), I have decided to keep this a regular feature on Bandelle.

• Who are your favorites?
• What challenges would you like to see this season?
• Who would make the ultimate guest judge?

And Bravo, can you please post the source of Heidi’s dresses each week? You know we love them.

Image credits: Bravotv.com

In preparation for the season premiere of Project Runway tonight, my all-time favorite show, I decided to check-in with some of my favorite designers from past seasons. At the top of my list with Christian Siriano, Michael Knight, Chloe Dao, and Jillian Lewis, is the gorgeous Alison Kelly whose time was cut too short on season 3. But she has certainly made up for it by launching her Parisian vintage-inspired clothing label called Dahl.

What I love most about Alison Kelly’s collection is the delicate crochet detailing on almost all of pieces. If you look closely, you’ll notice two birds — somewhat of a signature for Dahl. Her pieces are feminine and timeless. I could definitely imagine wearing several of her garments, especially because she seems to really understand the female form by paying attention to a few pretty details and using fabrics that fall in just the right places. If you’re in Brooklyn, perhaps you could stop by Alter to try on the Bisou dress. I would love to slip it on.

And if you have a moment, read all about the Mia dress Alison designed for her sister’s wedding. It seems that creative talent runs in the family. Don’t forget to tune into Bravo tonight for Project Runway!

Image credits: Dahl

I genuinely enjoy cooking but haven’t quite got the natural instinct to throw things together on my own. People have told me this skill develops over time. But for now, I rely on my trusty cookbooks to get me through dinners and get-togethers. So this post is not intended for gourmet cooks. It’s for those of you who need to add a few more basics to your repertoire, but kicked up a notch.

My favorite cookbooks have all been gifts from friends and family. They started appearing around the time I discovered the Martha Stewart Show two years ago and announced to everyone I know that I would like to be just like her. Martha makes it look especially easy and I do wish I had kitchen helpers to chop up all of my ingredients first. So here is my list, in no particular order, of the best and ‘Kylie the novice’-approved cookbooks.

Martha Stewart Living Cookbook: New Classics (by the guru herself) — 1,200 recipes that have never, ever gone wrong in our household. Her recipes are full-proof (at least the ones we’ve tried)! The index is out of sync in my version though, which makes finding the correct page numbers a little difficult but they are so delicious when you figure it out.

Instant Entertaining (by Donna Hay) — I’ve mentioned this book before but I love the menus, from weeknight meals to Sunday brunch, and place setting ideas in the book. Plus Con Polous’s photography is stunning (above). In fact, the graphic designer in me loves this book just as much for the layout, font selection, and photography as for the recipes. Wish we could get a subscription to her magazine over here.

The Bride & Groom First and Forever Cookbook (by Mary Corpening Barker & Sara Corpening Whiteford) — a perfect shower gift and the recipes are so appropriate for young love, including “chicken soup for your soul mate” and “cooking side-by-side” meal suggestions. It’s definitely my go-to cookbook for dinners for two at home, whether for weeknight meals or when you feel like spoiling your loved one.

Fresh From The Farmers’ Market (by Janet Fletcher) — If you enjoy visiting farmers’ markets, then you will like this book because it explains what is in season, how to pick fruits and vegetables, and recipes for that season. My friend, Courtney, gave this book to me for Christmas one year and it is now my reference book for Saturday morning visits to the local farmers’ market.

The New York Times Dessert Cookbook (by Florence Fabricant) — Now this book inspired the entire post because it was given to me by my lovely friend Fiona over the weekend. It is filled with over 400 dessert recipes — how can you beat that. I actually haven’t tried any so I’ll have to report back to you on this book but it made the favorites just by reading the recipes alone.

For a novice, I do own a fair number of cookbooks but the list above includes the books that I revisit time and time again. I’m anxious to try one of Nigella Lawson’s books. Do you have one? Are there any other cookbooks you would add to this list? I recently purchased an early edition of Julia Child’s Mastering The Art of French Cooking, but let’s just say that I’m still trying to master it. Now I’m hungry!

Image credits: Amazon.com & Con Poulos

We see so many shows and articles about editing your wardrobe down to 10 essential items (can you hear Tim Gunn’s voice?). If there were a home decor equivalent then I think EDIT would be the perfect source. Located in the Sydney suburb of Paddington, this gallery is filled with reupholstered pieces in the most unusual fabrics, depression glass, 1970s lamps with EDIT hemp shades, and even framed bloomers. I wouldn’t fill my entire house with these pieces; instead I would accent my modern, clean-lined style with selective treasures that delightfully force my eyes to rest on them for a moment.

Just for fun, here are “accents” that I would add to my essential items list if, and only if, I had the budget for it:

EDIT is now on my To Do list when I go back to Sydney for a visit in November. If any of you Sydney-siders visit the store beforehand, please let us know what you think. I cannot imagine it would be anything less than amazing.

Image credits: EDIT

If there is a new baby in the family, do you then suddenly start noticing all of the diaper ads on tv? Or if you decide that fuchsia is your favorite color this month, does everything around you seem to be fuchsia? Dress forms have been on my mind recently after discussing pretty jewelry display techniques with a dear friend. Now they are popping up everywhere.

As I browsed through the exquisite rooms of the Firmdale Hotels (”chain” of boutique hotels in London) via Anna’s top notch blog, Absolutely Beautiful Things, all I kept noticing were the upholstered dress forms. They’re not only functional for guests (you know those women who seem to be so “put together” — I bet they take advantage of these as outfit planners), but they really add to the decor of the room. It seems that these dress forms are a signature of the Firmdale Hotels. Let’s take a peek, shall we?

If fuchsia is on your mind, the Convent Garden Hotel has you covered. The rooms feel like a home away from home. All of the special touches, like the gorgeous upholstered pieces and the placement of the dress forms, really enhance that feeling.

This suite in the Soho Hotel is one of my favorites, mainly due to the soothing color palette. The chartreuse dress form in the corner complements the grey and white scheme.

Kudos to the interior designers as they even found a way to incorporate mini dress forms in tighter spaces. Do you see the mini version perched on the mantle?

Now the big question is, where do you find these beauties? Holly over at decor8 gave us a fantastic source over in London called Malinki. But these french inspired mannequins come with a high price tag. I’ll continue my search and let you know of any discoveries. But I hope you find some inspiration from the Firmdale Hotels — do these images make you want to go to London too?

Image credits: Firmdale Hotels & Malinki

I’m not quite glamorous enough to carry one of these, but I do think John Di Cesare’s parasols are adorable. We could play the romantic life of a classic movie star while actually shielding our skin from the harsh summer sun. The canopies of these Parashells are made out of 100% cotton with a UV protective coating, so if there is a sudden downpour then you’ll have to rely on one of his umbrellas to block out the rain. We would be alternating between the two in Houston, as this summer has turned out to be full of sunshine one day then rain the next.

Image credits: Di Cesare Designs Inc. via NotCoture