Chatham & Short Hills, NJ September 2023

Style and Hottest Trends

September 2023, Style and Hottest Trends

Dear Reader,

I hope this letter finds you in high spirits and full of creative energy.

Today, I want to take a moment to celebrate and explore the fascinating world of style. Style is not limited to the clothes we wear or the way we adorn ourselves; it encompasses every aspect of our lives. From the way we decorate our homes to the music we listen to, from the books we read to the way we carry ourselves in conversations, style permeates every facet of our existence. It is the thread that weaves together the tapestry of our lives.

Style is deeply personal, and it evolves as we celebrating our quirks, our passions, and our desires. Style is a form of self-expression that communicates who we are, how we perceive the world, and what we value. In this way, style becomes a powerful tool for connection, as it enables us to find common ground with others who share our aesthetic sensibilities.

As individuals, we have the freedom to embrace established styles, blend them together, or forge entirely new paths, becoming trendsetters ourselves. We hope this issue inspires you to forge new paths or perhaps explore familiar ones. There is so much here in our local neighborhoods to uplift our spirits, boost your productivity and ignite your creativity.

What I’ve found is that the best style is an authentic expression of who you really are. And that’s something no one on earth can duplicate.

We hope you enjoy our featured stories. May they inspire your sense of creativity and style!

Here’s to being uniquely you!

If you have interesting, fun, and meaningful stories to share, or are a business looking to grow within our community and the surrounding area, we would love to hear from you. Contact John.Meyer@citylifestyle.com for advertising opportunities and Ana.Meyer@citylifestyle.com for editorials, or call us at 973-944-1440.

We look forward to seeing you around town!

September 2023

PUBLISHERS

Ana Meyer | ana.meyer@citylifestyle.com

John Meyer | john.meyer@citylifestyle.com

MANAGING EDITOR

Ana Meyer | ana.meyer@citylifestyle.com

PUBLISHER ASSISTANT

Kaitlyn Keane

SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR

Courtney Franks

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Sue Baldani, Kaitlyn Keane

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Chris Jorda Photography, Carol Fisher Photography, Venture Studios

Corporate Team

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Matthew Perry

VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES Tiffany Slowinski

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HR Janeane Thompson

DIRECTOR OF FIRST IMPRESSIONS Jennifer Robinson

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR Josh Klein

CONTROLLER Gary Johnson

AD DESIGNER Mary Albers

LAYOUT DESIGNER Emily Lisenbee

Proverbs 3:5-6

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Where neighbors can see and be seen.

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A round-up of exciting news from local businesses.

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Endeavors

Telling stories through art

ARTICLE BY SUE BALDANI | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

Art is truly subjective. Some people will love your work, and some won’t. For international top-selling artist Michael Godard, that’s okay.

“Being an artist, or being any type of creator, you have people who don’t understand what you’re doing or don’t like what you’re doing, and that might be a good sign that you’re really onto something,” he says. “I think it was Picasso who said, ‘If you’re not getting criticism, you’re playing it way too safe.’ When you’re passionate, genuine, transparent and honest about what you’re doing, you have to stick to that as your mantra because that’s at your very core.”

His method is working, and working well. Godard’s paintings are now selling for half a million dollars each and rising all the time. He’s on television shows like Bar Rescue, Mind Freak and Counting Cars, and good friends with Ozzy Osbourne and many other well-known people.

“When I started to create different types of art, I was only thinking about how

I was going to paint, draw, and doodle all day and still be able to pay my rent,” he says. “That was my only goal.”

He’s obviously well exceeded that goal. “When I started painting my silly little olives, it was more about me and expressing my life and my perspective. With my art, I’m just a storyteller.”

His paintings are thought provoking and full of enigmatic illusion. They show pain, love, conflict, and success; making people smile, laugh, reminisce and exclaim, “Oh My God..ard!”

Olives entered the picture when Godard was struggling through his daughter Paige’s illness, spending long hours in the hospital when she was in a coma. Desperate for some cheerful element to keep him afloat emotionally, he started a new series of paintings, bringing olives to life in humorous scenarios, rendering them in bright colors against a dramatic black background.

Godard’s latest series is the Safari Series. This specially created Safari Series is a

collection of 7 unique Godard images that celebrate their visit to Africa.  Each character enjoys a cocktail in a tavern off the beaten path.  The collection includes:

• 2 Hyenas Walk into a Bar – These two hyenas are enjoying some laughs after outwitting the lions earlier – I even gave one a silly straw.

• Rhino Wine – What could be nicer than enjoying his favorite cocktail and cigar? This rhinoceros often thinks about skin care products, but he enjoys his tough look.

• Don’t Drink the Water – How many times are we warned not to drink the water when visiting foreign lands?  Well, as one elephant explains to the other, “Look what happened to me?  Don’t do it!”

• King of Beers – Two lions relax in a tavern off the beaten path discussing their successful day of hunting over a few beers.

• Long Tall Drink – The giraffe enjoys a cocktail while awaiting his blind date.

He wears his nicest African scarf that he ordered on Amazon.

• The Tourist – The tiger, not a native to Africa, enjoys a nice martini while on holiday.  He’s the only one in the series that is not a permanent resident, though he is contemplating a condo.

• Zebra-tini – This blue-eyed zebra enjoys a martini while reflecting on life in the wild after a long day of grazing.

One of Godard’s favorite paintings is called “Love My Heals.” “When LeeAnn [his wife] and I were dating, I said I wanted to paint something fun, and was looking to paint a sexy pair of shoes.” He found the perfect pair - black and glossy with solid red bottoms. He told her he was going to buy her a pair. “She said, ‘You’re going to buy me Christian Louboutin’s?!’ And I thought, uh oh, what the hell is a Christian Louboutin?

“Wow, were they expensive! So in the painting, my wife is a strawberry hugging the heel and there are hearts emanating up above her, and there’s me as an olive standing next to her pulling out my pockets because I’m broke. Once I explain these depictions to fans, they start looking for those stories, and then they find one that resonates with their life.”

Not long ago, he also became the art curator for Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, where he resides. “I gathered 100 or so artists from the community and their works are now hanging inside the new $2 million stadium,” he says. “It’s the talk of the NFL -  I call it the Las Vegas Louvre.”

His path to success hasn’t always been easy. He grew up poor, had many highs and lows in his various careers, but the darkest time in his life was in 2006, when he lost his 16-year-old daughter Paige to brain cancer. What helped

him get through it was turning his grief into philanthropy. He started the Paige Godard Foundation and works closely with St. Jude Children’s Hospital, Make a Wish, and other cancer organizations.

“At 3:00 in the morning, when I’m thinking about the things I’ve done and things that I still want to do, it’s what I’ve done as a human being to make the world a better place that really matters, not selling a painting for a million dollars. I’ve done a lot of philanthropy and those are the things I’m going to remember when I’m 92 and on my deathbed.”

Godard says he’s just an ordinary guy who happens to draw and paint. “I might have just sold a painting for some astronomical amount the day before, but when I get home, my wife still wants me to pick up my dirty socks.”

He credits LeeAnn for not only keeping him grounded, but also for keeping him on schedule. “After I met her, I started showing up to art shows on time. The first time I arrived at the scheduled time, no one was there. I thought my career was over! But my fans were used to me arriving late, so in they came about an hour later.”

The things he says make him happy right now are his wife, his dog, date nights, becoming a grandfather, and spending time with his children. “At the end of the day, I’m just doing my doodles and trying to stay out of trouble with my wife.”

Godard will be appearing in person with his full collection of art at Wentworth Gallery in Short Hills on Saturday, September 23rd, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

Contact the gallery to preview and to RSVP for the show.  Shorthills@wentworthgallery.com 973-564-9776 CONTINUED >

"I THINK IT WAS PICASSO WHO SAID, ‘IF YOU’RE NOT GETTING CRITICISM, YOU’RE PLAYING IT WAY TOO SAFE.'"

Create a Home That’s Smart

Old school family values meet modern technological advancements

There are many reasons why the fourth generation family-owned-and-operated General Plumbing Supply (GPS) is still going strong and opening new stores after being in business for over 110 years. With its 20 stores in New Jersey (including Bayonne, which opened in 1910, Morris Plains, and Green Brook), and two in New York, consumers, contractors, builders and developers all over the area take advantage of what it has to offer.

“We do kitchen and baths, including cabinetry and vanities, plumbing fixtures, and lighting,” says Brian Maffia, its director of showrooms. “I like to say that we provide the jewelry of the home.”

The high-quality products and personalized customer service is something you can’t get at your average big box store, or find on the internet, where some of the products shipped from other countries may not even meet code in NJ.

“People want to see and touch the items and feel the weight of the products,” he says. “That’s where our showrooms really stand out. People can come in and have knowledgeable salespeople help select the right product for themselves, their families, or whoever it might be.”

The number of brands and products available can be overwhelming for a consumer when trying to make

the best choice. “We do weekly trainings and in-depth monthly trainings because new products come out all the time,” says Brian. “We try to be ahead of it so when these products do hit the street, our employees are already experts on them.”

Especially with the advent of Smart technology, trainings are even more critical. “This generation is more wired and connected than we have ever been, and  kitchen and bath automation is huge,” he says. “An example would be a steam shower. Normally you would go to a spa for this, but now people want to do it in their own homes. When it’s ready for use, it lets you know. And, when you go in there, it knows that you requested this experience and your music starts playing.”

Some of the most basic fixtures, such as faucets, are also going high tech. “The Kohler touch faucets connect through the Kohler Connect app to Google, Alexa, or whatever platform you might be using. You can actually say, ‘dispense a cup of water,’ and then just put the pot in the sink and it dispenses one cup of water. There’s no need for a measuring cup. You can also have it turn the water on and off and ask for warm, cold, or hot water, or more pressure or less pressure.”

Something else that is trending now as far as color is more natural wood tones in kitchens and bathrooms. “For the longest time, it’s been white and gray, but now that’s changing,” says Brian. “As far as

fixtures, black as well as brushed gold are very popular.”

In addition to Kohler, other brands offered include Delta®, Moen®, ROHL®, and Wellborn Cabinet®.  “We really scrutinize our vendors and I like to say we only play with the NIKE’s® and Adidases® of the world.”

To ensure there is a vast inventory on hand, GPS has a 300,000 square foot warehouse. “We really need to have a lot of product at our fingertips either for next day delivery or within a couple of days,” he says. “We make sure we have every size needed so that when the contractor is coming to your house, it’s ready.”

If you have a project in mind or already underway, visit one of General Plumbing Supply locations and be confident that you’ll get exactly what you need at a fair price.

“Some manufacturers make lower quality products and use less costly materials, but just like anything else, you get what you pay for and it’s going to break down quicker,” says Brian. “We want our products to last. In kitchens, for example, we want to make sure a faucet has all brass fittings and ceramic disc cartridges. In bathrooms we require solid wood vanities - we don’t want particle board or press board. We want our clients to love their bathrooms for many years to come. These things matter.”

ShopGPS.com

“We do weekly trainings and in-depth monthly trainings because new products come out all the time,” says Brian. “We try to be ahead of it so when these products do hit the street, our employees are already experts on them.”

style cause FOR A

“Fashion is a great communicator,” says Leslie Patrizio, a fashion event planner and owner of Style Matters with Leslie Patrizio. “It’s a wonderful vehicle to bring people together and to raise money for organizations.”

One of these organizations is Family and Children’s Services, Inc. (FACS), a non-profit in Elizabeth that provides critical services such as mental health counseling, parenting classes, life skills and more. In May, FACS held its Annual Red Carpet Party fundraiser at the Canoe Brook Country Club in Short Hills and raised $125,000, which will allow FACS to provide services to a wider range of people in need.

“I created this event 11 years ago,” she says. “It was right around the time of the Oscars, and I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be fun to have a red carpet party?’”

The first year, she held the party at a boutique in Millburn and invited 50 of her friends. “We did this small event in the store, and we served champagne and had friends and high school girls as models. We also did a little auction.”

The party was such a hit that Leslie decided to do it every year. “The following year, the event was held at the Short Hills Hilton, and then it outgrew that space. It was then held at the Park Avenue Club in Florham Park, but we soon outgrew that space as well.” Since then, it’s been held at either Canoe Brook or Brooklake Country Club in Florham Park.

“We sold out last year,” says Leslie. “We sold out this year two to three weeks prior to the event, which was fantastic, and hosted over 240 people. I bring in designers from New York, but also work with local boutiques. I still have local high-school girls as well as professional models volunteer to walk the runway.”

Gowns from well-known bridal and eveningwear designer, Sareh Nouri, have appeared in the fashion show numerous times. Nouri’s dress, Blue Hydrangea, was the finale and a real showstopper. A true ballgown, it’s perfect for the fanciest summer party.

The Red Carpet Party is also well-known for is its handbag raffles. “When we started, we had one handbag and I realized how excited every woman was about winning that handbag.”

This year, they had about 32 donated handbags. Over the years, they’ve auctioned handbags from Louis Vuitton, Versace, Michael Kors and Kate Spade. There is also one extra-special handbag offered. This year it was a gorgeous Yves Saint Laurent bag; other years it’s been Chanel. Participants put tickets in the bag they want to win.

Leslie adds, “We also do a silent auction and have had everything from an Eli Manning signed football jersey to jewelry, shoes, restaurant gift certificates and golf outings.”

What really brings in the most money though are the sponsors. “The one thing to take away from this event is that people are generous, kind and thoughtful,” she says. “The success of this event is the giving back from the community.”

Mark Manigan, CEO and president of RWJBarnabas Health, was the honorary chair this year, and RWJBarnabas Health was the runway sponsor.

Leslie also hosts fundraisers for other non-profits such as the Diabetes Foundation, and produced the Red Dress Fashion Show for American Heart Month in February (all the models were heart attack or stroke survivors) as well as the Hunterdon Health Care Fashion Show.

If you want to join in the fun, go to LesliePatrizio.com

Vertical Gardens Are Moving Indoors

The Stylish Home Design Trend That Will Have You Saying, “Oh, Grow Up!”

Humans have always had a penchant for propagation. Since king Nebuchadnezzar II built The Hanging Gardens of Babylon (one of the original Seven Wonders of the World) in the sixth century BC, artful gardening has fascinated folks. Today, there is a growing trend (pun intended) in home design that echoes that need to nurture, albeit on a much smaller scale. It goes by many names. Environmentalists refer to them as “green walls” or “ecowalls”. Gardeners may prefer “garden wall” or “edible wall”. Designers have dubbed them “statement walls”. But for our purposes here, we will refer to them as the architects do - as “vertical gardens”.

A vertical garden is essentially a wall, or part of a wall, that is covered with plants growing in soil or another type of medium. Though they began as outdoor architectural attractions, these wonderful wallscapes are popping up indoors, and their benefits go beyond a fancy facade.

The most obvious benefit of a vertical garden is the visual beauty it brings to the room. Its unexpected presence adds surprise and drama, while its living tenants, with their varied textures and individual personalities, add energy and a bit of charm as well.

Beyond the aesthetic advantages, living walls have health benefits. They improve the air quality by adding humidity, trapping dust particles, and absorbing many harmful gasses, replacing them with oxygen. They can help with cardiovascular issues like blood pressure as well as breathing problems associated with allergies and asthma. Because they lend a sense of calm and well being, they can even improve concentration, elevate mood, and reduce stress.

Because these living walls are becoming more popular, demand is driving the price down making them more affordable for the average homeowner. Kits are available and most feature an integrated water delivery system which makes them low maintenance as well.

As for which types of plants to grow, succulents, mosses, grasses, and ferns are all good choices. Tropical vines work well also as they can trail down or climb up. Pothos and philodendrons have great climbing capabilities, are fast growing, and low maintenance. The design possibilities are as endless as the plant combinations. So bring the outside in! Simply choose a location with bright, indirect light, and turn your wall into a living piece of artwork with a vertical garden.

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THE little BLACK DRESS

Most of us can say we have that one staple black dress that can be worn at any occasion, and the classic look is not only popular but is elegant and timeless. It is the dress in our closet that can be accessorized to fit the event and often is the dress we go back to time and again. It is one of the most versatile items we own, never goes out of style and looks good on anyone. But how did this classic look originate?

Prior to the 1920’s, black was reserved for funeral wear, but when Coco Channel made the bold move to print a short, black dress on the cover of Vogue in 1926, all of that changed. The popularity of the black dress skyrocketed, and it became one of the most influential pieces of clothing. Chanel transported fashion from tight corsets and bustles to straightlined silhouettes. Because of its affordability, black remained a popular choice during The Great Depression. The black dress had another boom in popularity when “Breakfast at Tiffany’s’’ debuted, and Audrey Hepburn showcased her iconic black dress with long, black gloves. Today, people accessorize the black dress to fit any occasion.

We enlisted the help of stylist, Amani Skalacki, to show us how versatile the little black dress can be.

THE POPULARITY OF THE BLACK DRESS SKYROCKETED and IT BECAME ONE

OF THE MOST influential PIECES OF CLOTHING.

ALTHOUGH BLACK IS A timeless, classic LOOK, THAT DOESN’T MEAN IT GOES WITHOUT personality . YOU CAN MAKE IT YOUR OWN STYLE BY accessorizing TO INFUSE NEW LIFE INTO A DRESS THAT YOU ALREADY OWN.

“We usually think of the little black dress as a piece you wear to an event. However, because black is so flattering on all body types and skin tones, women have multiple black dresses from casual to evening,” Amani says. “I selected this collection of dresses to show the versatility of the black dress and to give women some new ideas of how to wear the evening gown with a train on a night out with her girlfriends or the traditional summer strappy maxi dress while running errands in cooler temperatures.”

Although black is a timeless, classic look, that doesn’t mean it goes without personality. You can make it your own style by accessorizing to infuse new life into a dress that you already own.

“A sequin dress can be dressed up with heels, or that same dress can be transformed into a casual outfit with the addition of tennis shoes and an oversized blazer or a denim jacket. Transform that strappy dress you have been wearing all summer into an outfit that is perfect for chilly fall temperatures. Add a narrow scarf, a leather jacket and sandals or a tall pointy boot, and you have a whole new look for an evening out,” Amani adds.

If you have a dress in the back of your closet that you haven’t worn in years, don’t be afraid to dust it off and give it new life. “Take that evening gown you wore years ago to a tailor for a little transformation. Turn it into a high low dress-top that can be worn out with girlfriends or on a date night. Pair the top with leather leggings, ankle boots, a chunky belt and some statement jewelry, and now you have a piece that pushes the boundaries of the little black dress.”

Are you looking for the best cut or style of dress that works best for your body type? Amani provided this simple guide:

HOURGLASS FIGURE:

• V-necklines

• Cinched-in waistlines

• Tailored/fitted dresses

PEAR OR TRIANGLE FIGURE:

• Tailored dresses

• Off the shoulder

ATHLETIC FIGURE:

• Embellished

• Ruffles

• Empire waist

• Volume is your friend

APPLE FIGURE:

• Drop waist

• A-line

The dress that all body types can’t go wrong with is a wrap dress of any length.