'Ironing It Out'

A recent trip to my girlfriend’s New York City apartment made me realize that even the most successful professional needs help ironing.

“Do you like this dress?” my friend asked, wearing a black babydoll dress.

“Um, yeah,” I said, looking up and down at the wrinkles on her dress. “But you’re going to have to iron that.”

“Really?”

“Really,” I said. I could hear the groan escaping my friend's lips.

“Didn’t you take a class on this?”she asked, which I knew was an indicator that I was soon about to iron my girlfriend’s cotton frock.

She was alluding to my studies at the Fashion Institute of Technology and the three hours I once spent reviewing how to properly iron a men’s shirt according to my wardrobe stylist instructor.

Ironing is an art in itself and perhaps a skill that so many women outside the fashion industry, like my girlfriend, leave to their dry cleaners. As I evenly spread the underskirt of her dress on her bed and started to iron (not surprisingly, there was no ironing board in the apartment), I relayed some of my ironing tips to her.

For the busy professional or time-pressed housewife, this is some of the advice I gave:

- If you don’t have an ironing board and the fabric you need to press is especially delicate (ie. Silk), use a towel or drop cloth underneath.

- Always iron on the wrong side first, then on the right side. Use a press cloth when ironing the right side. The press cloth protects the fabric.

- Iron away from you. This prevents wrinkles.

- Always press. That’s why it’s called pressing! Do not slide the iron from place to place. It will take much longer to get rid of wrinkles.

- Allow the area you just pressed to cool. If it’s not cooled, moving the fabric could recreate unwanted wrinkles.

- Never iron over buttons, zippers, snaps and hooks. Doing so might ruin them with the heat.

- Leave seams last for ironing. Flatten them out, ironing on the wrong side. Using too much moisture may shrink the seams and cause ripples.

For more helpful tips on ironing, send an e-mail to master@besthomefashion.com.

-S. Gonzalez

*Photo courtesy of dailymail.co.uk

'Mould It Yourself'

Make a headboard (above) using metallic tape

Draw dimension to your wall space with easy-to-make molding for a fraction of the cost. To echo the ongoing metallic fashion trend, all you’ll need for this project is some metallic tape. Add a little imagination and in minutes you’ll have your own stylish wall décor.

What you’ll need:

A pencil; yardstick; metallic tape; scissor; level; miscellaneous materials (photographs, postcards, for added decoration)

Here’s how:

1. Use a pencil to mark the desired spot for the molding, a yardstick to make the measurements and a level. With this project, there are many options to choose from – create a lone metallic frame, set two frames side-by-side, or stack then vertically. Keep the boxes about 6 inches apart.

2. If you plan to paint the inside of the frame before applying the metallic molding, do so after marking the dimensions.

3. Measure and the cut strips of the metallic tape accordingly. Trim the edges at a 45-degree angle, much the way you would trim wooden molding for a wall.

4. Now for the tricky part: Start at the corner of the tape and once lined with your markings, peel the tape backing away as you stick the tape onto the wall. Take special care in lining up the right angles.

5. Erase any visible pencil markings.

Still not enough? Tacking or hanging various knickknacks from the space within the molding (see above photo) for more 3-D depth. These items might include photographs, playbills, artwork, flowers and pottery – whatever leaves your mark.

-S. Gonzalez

*Photo courtesy of apartmenttherapy.com and rosebrand.com

'What do your curtains say about you'

What do your curtains say about you? Are you neat and utilitarian like your linen curtains? Do you follow a hectic schedule, and therefore toss curtains aside for blinds instead? Or are you posh, but a bit high-maintenance – kind of like your silken curtains that hang from its valence?

Read on to match your personality with your ideal set of curtains:

Classic and Conservative

No frills. No ruffles. You tend to gravitate toward classic lines and excellent tailoring. But when you do experiment, you opt for solid colors in neutral beige, olive greens and burgundy. A solid floor-length curtain with hidden rod pockets would be your best bet: timeless, machine-washable and easy to open/close.

An All-Around Aristocrat

There is no such thing as being a little high-maintenance. You find solace in rich and luxurious fabrics with no expense spared. After all, you can’t put a price on good taste. A jacquard curtain fashioned with clipped threads is reminiscent of the jacquard looms and its popularity among French royalty in the 1800s. Intricate and delicate, jacquard is also a weighty fabric that needs little additional styling.

The Shining Luminary

You’re always leading the way, whether it be in your social or intellectual pursuits. And your actions are of constant inspiration to others. A solid curtain in any shade will not do. A heather mélange curtain shines in the light, creating drama and adding texture where it should. In rich colors like chocolate, olive and navy, this curtain is bound to impress.

A Wild Child

Fun, flirty and you have a little bit of a wild streak. Experiment is how you like to go when it comes to style. Décor is no exception. And that’s why you would most like a zebra-striped curtain with a wavy, diagonal stripe. The pattern is playful and quirky, but not overpowering where a room would look like it was on an African safari.

Whether you’re cool as a cucumber, simple or glamorous, there's a curtain that meets your every need and personality.

-S. Gonzalez

*Photos courtesy of decorinnovation.com

'High Society'

The sprawling estate of the Villa Impero required an uphill climb up a long cobblestone road – not an easy task in Stella McCartney heels. But the hike was only the beginning of what became a crowd brewing event worth much toe-pinching.

Marquis Mazzacorati commissioned the building of Villa Impero in the early 19th century as a popular spot for parties and ceremonies. Several hundred years later, the neoclassical villa is used for housing contemporary visual arts exhibitions.

The ninth annual Yoox party at Villa Impero was a celebration of fashion, art, music and design – the company is responsible for online brands Valentino, Emporio Armani, Emilio Pucci and recently launched D&G.

The lush forest behind the villa featured a photography exhibit from Yoox’s many fashion photographers. A concert stage erected to the far right, behind the canopied tables with wine and hors d’oeuvres, eventually gave way to performances by German group Chicks on Speed and DJ Spin.

Not particularly striking was the outside view of the villa itself, which I learned was due to recent renovations. A quick glance at the central back doors, which open unto a greenhouse-like patio, confirms this.

Yet the décor inside, especially the central hall where guests first mingled, is covered in frescoes by Gaetano Civoli. The paintings are lavish, mostly landscapes typical of the Bolognese school from that century. Ornate and harmonious, my eyes followed the frescoes up towards the ceiling. The second floor wrapped around the length of the central hall, with its series of connecting rooms.

Despite the humidity, the villa did hold up to a large crowd of fashionistas and executives who arrived on time for introductions and a video showing. The doors to the back opened just in time for the popping of vino blanco bottles and the serving of couscous imbedded chips.

“Oi, come stai?” fashion buyer Giorgio called out to me, wearing a cream-colored linen jacket.

“Non, c’e male,” I said. I looked over at a crowd of Italians laughing and drinking mojitos. “You know, you Italians know how to throw a party.”

Giorgio smiled. And I headed in the direction of a waving Martina, a friend and colleague who appeared taller, more elegant and bronzed than usual.

-S. Gonzalez

'Gray Matter'

The gray building known as the AC Hotel in Bologna looms over the tennis courts in front of it, casting an ominous shadow over terracotta rooftops. It may not compliment the architecture of this medieval city, but it is one of Bologna’s most modern and luxurious hotels.

I got word only a few weeks ago that I would be traveling to Bologna again, my second time in the last six months, to attend an annual party. Complete with live music, food, wine, art and fashion, the 10-hour bash would take place at the Impero Villa.

I imagined that I would spend my short stay in a hotel typical of most European cities: a small accommodation with paper thin walls, classic fixtures and a narrow staircase in place of an elevator.

But AC Hotel was different.

New, urban and cosmopolitan is at the heart of the hotel chain’s mission. With locations in Spain, Italy and Portugal, AC Hotels redefines luxury with its state of the art services and rooms designed for comfort.

I held my breath as I swiped the room door open with the key card.

Soft. Inviting. Modern. A cream curtain covered the length of a wall with windows, filtering only soft light into the room. A minimalist black chair with foot stool and a longer black stool for my luggage were the other pieces of furniture in addition to the bed. An ample-sized closet opened with the pull of a sliding door.

Eco-friendly. The lights and power in the room needed the key card to be inserted through a slot by the door in order to activate. Without the key card, all electric powered fixtures would turn off after five minutes or so. While the idea is not altogether new for most European buildings, the feature was helpful in lighting the room when entering into the bedroom at night.

Sleek. Chic. A sink made completely of glass allowed me to stare at the dark hardwood floors of the bathroom as I watched my hands. The bathroom “curtain” was a thick panel of glass that extended halfway across the tub. A directional shower, complimentary soaps and toothbrushes were thoughtful touches.

Making my way to the exercise room on the top floor and later to the ground floor restaurant, I had no idea what else was in store on this business trip.

To be continued...

-S. Gonzalez