The Luxury Game

I've never been a good game-player. My whole life has been a celebration of non-team activities: reading, biking, writing, reading.... But this holiday season, I'm rethinking my "game plan" (ouch). Of course, since this is Sanity Fair, not Goodwill Fair, I gambled with some choices that aren't cheap... but if the prices make you say "no dice!" or you're scared to overplay your hand, enjoy the checkered splendor below, and then remember that cards are a wonderful hostess gift!

A backgammon board, beautifully detailed in lavender leather. To be honest, I'm not really sure what backgammon is (dice meets a Navajo weave, judging by the picture) but I could pretend if I owned this. Backgammon set, $425.

Lipstick case? No dice baby! It's a dice box, in white alligator no less. The dice are studded with Swarovski crystals (not exactly penny stakes, huh?). Dice set with case, $95.

For the rich, verbose nerd who has everything. You can spell out "bankrupt" (66 points!) in the silver lined squares. Pink Scrabble in leather and enamel, $3,995.

A chrome and leather inlaid rubix cube - not for the niece and nephew - no matter how naughty or nice. Maybe the boss instead? $155.

Green and white! I don't play chess, but I enjoy watching movies about people who do. They appear to lead very exciting lives, probably because no game ever lasts more than 30 seconds, and there's always a reliable band of misfit sidekicks to cheer them on. If you want to feel like a champion too, try this set of chess pieces. They're pretty enough to just sit around - which is all they do anyway. Chess piece set, $150.

Finally, here it is: the caviar-leer-jet-saudi-prince of the game world: the $500,000 chess set. Crafted in white gold and and white and black diamonds, I have to say that I think this is a TRAVESTY. It is absolutely absurd in this economy to be waisting such extravagances on something so mundane. Fools! This clearly should have been made into jewelry instead!

Images, www.zontikgames.com.

Henri Bendel Bangles

WHAT would you say if you could buy fabulous, darling bangles - the sort of gorgeous Hermes-style lovelies you covet, for a fifth of the price? Gorgeous bracelets, in metallics, and enamel, and patterns, and solids... . Here they are - fabulous designs from Henri Bendel. I'll take several dozen, please.

Gold Vermeil, $298.

Centennial Stripe, $88.

Rivet Print, $88.

Landmark Printed, $148.

Disturbed Stripe Crystal, $128.

Images, henribendel.com.

Carlos Falchi for Target

This fashion season makes me feel more like a safari guide than a fashonista. Imagine being sent around Saks with a zookeeper - Carlos Falchi would be first stop on the tour: "and now, ladies and gentlemen, to your left, a group of ostrich." Ostrich bags. Like this one.

Or perhaps snake. Carlos designs extravagant bags in exotic skins.

But what would cheap, FAUX, snake look like? Cheap, faux, snake, unfortunately. Carlos collaborated with Target this season to release a line of of his own for the big box, big style store. But I can't say I like the results. Kind of reminds me of... every other cheap faux snake bag I've ever seen. Not a fan of the crazy quilt look with skins. And would a little color have killed anyone (other than snakes)?

Very average. I've seen this bag at Target before, but not with a big designer name on it.

Images Nordstrom.com, Target.com.

Kate Spade Kristmas

A stunning gift display by gifted "wrapper" Sande, of a Gift Wrapped Life.

Here's the skinny (low-fat, sugar-free) on my view of Christmas this year. It goes something like this: every November, I have a psychotic breakdown when I visit the mall three weeks prior to Thanksgiving and see columns trussed up like candy canes. I shout insults at Christmas commercials featuring shiny wrapping and sprinkled snow scenes, while outside the trees are golden. I picket local radio stations who dare to broadcast carols while the Target is still clearing out its Halloween candy sale.

But not this year. I pretty much missed the last two Christmases (crazy job) and this year I find myself feeling... nostalgic. Craving egg nogg. Humming jingle bells. Wanting to soak it all in, every minute. And so I'm going too. Gift giving guides? Hostess gifts? Holiday soiree outfits? It starts NOW! So if you're me last year - relax. Pour yourself a cup of hot coco, shake on some cinnamon, and take a breath, because it's OK to get yourself a gift too! :)

My favorite so far: Kate Spade's $50 and under gift guide.

Bow hair pin, $45.

Red Letter Day candle, $48.

Lady Marmelade Studs, $42.

Perry Scott Clock, $40.

Grammery Park Coin Purse, $50.

All images, Katespade.com

Chanel, Texas Style

Everyone has their favorite room - bedroom, living room, even patio. But my deep, dark, secret love is for closets (pantries run a close second, even though I have groceriophobia). Why? Elementary, Ms. Watson. Type A, first born, detail obsessive types LOVE order and organization. Add style to the mix, and you get someone who loves organized CLOTHES. Me. I can (and have) dedicated hours to color coordinating sweaters. MY shoes don't get thrown into old boxes. I've been known to consider elfa shelving as a request for Santa. But it never occured to me to go further. To dream of a closet/dressing room that looked, not just like a store, but like THE store. The Chanel store in Paris. But someone greater (and way richer) than I thought of just that plan. Behold:

This closet is located in a palace in rural Texas called Champ d'Or. It is inspired by the original Chanel Rue Cambon showroom, and is in many ways a replica of it. Note the fabulous chandelier, black lacquered cabinets, and glassed in cases for handbags (of the non-Target variety).

Here's a look at the current Chanel showroom, modernized - but still black and white. Courtesy fabulous international shopping blog Haute World.

More views of the glassed in shelving at Champ d'Or, and the staircase leading to the second floor of the closet. What? You thought closets were just one floor? The stair is inspired by the famous Chanel mirrored staircase (sans mirrors, oddly).

The original mirrored stair: note the similar railings. Here, Chanel is watching her show, hidden from the eyes of guests below.

Nearby (relatively), at Champ d'Or, the Shampoo Room, not to be confused with the bathroom.

The grand exterior of Champ d'Or.

The entrance hall. Like a very, very beautiful... hotel. Very Monte Carlo, actually.

Care to buy? Frankly, despite the Chanel closet, the style of the house to me is more "we have a lot of money" than "we have a lot of taste." Champ d'Or is currently on the market for $27,500,000. Which is a steal actually, compared to its original $72,000,000 price tag (it has been been for sale since 2003). That's less, according to one realtor, than an actual French chateau would cost. The owners (who built it) only lived in the house a short while before deciding, according to one news story, that it was "too much house for them." Really? Gee. That must have been a shock. I can't imagine designing and building a 48,000 square foot home, complete with a 78 foot central dome, ballroom, 3 kitchens, 2-story theater, a "gift-wrap room," conservatory, wine cellar, indoor racquetball court, and a cedar-lined 15 car garage, and then moving in and realizing it's TOO BIG. I have an idea: one thing many American people do is combine room functions, which lessens the amount of space they have to build. For instance, you can make your food in one part of the house and CARRY it into another part of the house, which saves building multiple kitchens. Even more amazing (I know - I'm just a great one for ground-breaking ideas), you can wrap your gifts in a room intended for ANOTHER purpose. A living room, bedroom, or even the special room you designed for tying your shoes, or the other special room you built just for making wreaths. Actually, you can wrap gifts anywhere, come to think of it. Even outside. On your tennis court.

For a video of the interior, click here.

Images:

http://www.obeo.com/Public/Viewer/Default.aspxrefurl=ebby.com&resize=true&ID=285569,http://media.photobucket.com/image/chanel%20paris%20mirrored%20stair/schukina1/VINTAGE/r3-01-13.jpg, http://www.briggs-freeman.com/propertyphotos/12220_4pg.pdf.

Beauty Bazaar

This Kate Spade necklace was a feature in the November Bazaar. Isn't it stunning? Great for a party, but personally, I'd love it with a fabulous tee and jeans for drinks with the girls. Or maybe a wedding necklace? You'd be wonderful in white.

Image, katespade.com.

The Chartreuse Tipped Jacket

It's a great week to be a J. Crew fan. If you're in New York, don't miss the fabulous SAMPLE SALE, and for the rest of Crewnation, there's 30 percent off of coats purchased online! As for me, I've gone and given my heart to a blazer. Typical Wednesday.

What does this remind me of? Oddly enough, Project Runway. Specifically: Laura Bennett, finalist, season 3. When this gray and chartreuse gown came out the gate, you could hear the nearly comatose Bryant Park audience perk up, collectively gasp, and then applaud. I still think it's a fantastic (and completely unexpected) color combination.

Images, J.Crew, nymag.com.