The public is more familiar with bad design than good design.

It is, in effect, conditioned to prefer bad design, because that is what it lives with.

The new becomes threatening, the old reassuring.

-
Paul Rand
May 16, 2010 9:11 AM  (go back to main view)
Social Studies with Derek Blasberg
Lisa Eisner and China Chow bookend "Classy" author Derek Blasberg
Having class isn't about kicking up a pair of Louboutins or lunching at the Ivy. It's about the basics: Giving respect, being gracious, even not taking yourself so seriously.
Man-About-Town Derek Blasberg exemplifies all this and more in his freshman effort, Classy: Exceptional Advice for the Extremely Modern Lady, a collection of insight, anecdotes, tips and tsk-tsks culled from his adventures as intrepid editor-at-large for Style.com and senior fashion news and special projects editor for V. He's also my neighbor in this month's Harper's Bazaar: My feature on a nude Kim Kardashian, Joy Bryant and Amanda deCadanet precedes his on the life transforming brain tumor endured by actress-designer Tara Subkoff.
Darling Derek swooped into L.A. recently for a launch party hosted by Style.com's Dirk Standen along with starlets Kate Bosworth, Nicole Richie and Margherita Missoni at her family's new flagship on Rodeo Drive.

La Vie En Rose
: You've written an entire book on what it is to be classy, but for the ADD friends out there, how do you define the term in a sound bite?
Derek Blasberg: The book is a collection of humorous essays and illustrations aimed at telling the difference between a lady and a tramp. Judging by the women we're putting on a pedestal lately, determining this might be harder thank you think. In the book, I cover everything in a young woman's life--from what to wear, how to sit, how to host a party, how to travel...even dating tips. I also explain how to tell the difference between a lady and a tramp. But what I think is most important is the entirely modern obstacles facing
a young woman--namely, how technology means girls are becoming trampier, easier, be it by sexting, attending to a Blackberry instead of to dinner companions, sending nude pics to the cute boy online...It's dangerous out there!

LVER: Unlike previous etiquette gurus, you seem to be serving up your wisdom with a bit of tongue in chic.
DB: I like to think I have an insider perspective on all sorts of ladies and tramps. I grew up in Missouri with a core set of Midwestern values and then moved to New York, where I quickly found myself in a much faster scene. I've worked in fashion and entertainment for a decade now, and I'd like think I have a good sense of humor. So the book hopefully comes off as the sound advice a good friend would give you.

LVER: I find those who can't let go of their texting devices at dinner very unclassy. Which one among the social sins do you most tsk-tsk?
DB: That's a long list! But being on the phone through dinner definitely tops the list. Essential dinner manners are too rare. A few tips: The dinner fork is on the left and keep those elbows off the table, for heaven's sake! Common mistakes include divulging too much about yourself online; posting photographs that will come back to haunt; confusing sexy and slutty in your wardrobe...Honey, there are a lot of missteps out there!

LVER: Indeed. What do you find is among the classiest of qualities?
DB: Common sense, sense of awareness and a sense of humor. All the senses, in fact!

LVER: You've now been promoting the book with a swirl of parties in several cities. Is there something you've come across you would put in the next edition of this guide?
DB: Luckily, I haven't found anything I've left out...yet.

Classy is available at Amazon and bookstores near you.

Photos Courtesy of Starworks
Blog Comments (0):
snapshot of the moment
Spotted this in the back of a friend's shop. Priceless.
la vie en rose on le town
now reading

Rose

Foale and Tuffin: The Sixties. A Decade in Fashion by Iain R. Webb

Andy

The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell

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