Easy Puffy Pancakes

When this dish came out of my oven I literally squealed with delight.  I tried "German Skillet-Baked  Pancakes" because (1) it had good pedigree, coming from the brunch cookbook of New York's wildly popular Bubby's restaurant, and (2) it seemed a promising candidate for the easy brunch recipe I'm always searching for.  Simply mix three ingredients in a blender, pour in a hot buttered cast iron skillet, and bake.  I had no idea it would emerge with such souffle-like drama.  The pic above, snapped with my iPhone, has not been altered or retouched in any way.  It really did have that painterly golden glow.  Alas, the savory dish also had a very short life. Minutes later my husband and I slathered it with syrup and promptly devoured it.

Bubby's Brunch Cookbook offers wonderfully clear and detailed instructions for German-Skillet Baked Pancakes.  Here's my abbreviated version, which I halved to serve 2 and topped with syrup rather than the recommended Confectioners' sugar and lemon:  Combine 4 eggs, 1/2 cup flour, 1/2 cup half-and-half in a blender until smooth. Pour into a heated cast iron skillet swimming with 4 Tablespoons melted butter. Bake at 425 degrees F for 25 minutes.  Oooh and ahhh.  Eat.

Photo by Doreen Creede / Style Maniac.  Recipe from Bubby's Brunch Cookbook by Ron Silver with Rosemary Black.

Crazy. Colorful. Fun.

So many times I've read this advice in a decorating magazine: "Choose what you love, it will all work together."  I disagree.  There's lots of things I love that decidedly do not look good together.  Then there are some very different styles that unexpectedly do.  A great example of a bold mix that does work: the colorful riot of patterns, hues and styles in the photo above.  Toile and geometric, sleek and ornate, orange, pink, black, turquoise:  each plays off each other to make the other look better.  The only way to find out if a mixture will achieve this kind of magic:  just try it.  Mix, mingle, add, rearrange -- and then edit until it feels right. The results can be oh so fresh and fun.

Photo by James Merrell for Living Etc. As spied on Decorista Daydreams.

Life, Love and a Lilly Winner

A happy message to start off your week. And a happy day for Lauralady, winner of our Lilly Pulitzer "Glam It Up" clutch giveaway.  Congratulations, Laura, entry #63! (Please email me with your contact info.)  Thank you to all who entered and a warm welcome to all the new followers on the blog, Facebook and Twitter.


Image via Riches For Rags. Spotted on Jessica McSweeney's Pinterest.  Giveaway winner chosen by True Random Number Generator.

Easy. Fresh. Fun.

Fresh looks, fun surprises, easy recipes.  Plus a lot of pretty colorful things to brighten our days until Spring.  This month, on Style Maniac.

Flowers by Ella Bella Floral & Wedding Design.  Photo by Cascio Photography.

p.s. Today's the last day to enter Style Maniac's Lilly Pulitzer "Glam It Up" clutch giveaway. Make sure you enter on the correct post, and include comments for following, subscribing and liking Style Maniac and Lilly Pulitzer.

Women Know Everything

Best title for a book, ever.  

Backed up with 3,241 examples from women on topics ranging from A to Y.

Hmm, that sounds familiar ....  Part 7 of "Let's Hear It For The Girls ... celebrating women from A to Z" concludes our month highlighting women in all their witty, smart, creative, caring glory.  But really such a celebration goes on all year here at Style Maniac.  If you scroll to the footer of this blog you'll find labels highlighting blog topics from Accessories to Zebra, and all the women in between. Please explore further and keep coming back for more.  Also, check out the new Style Maniac Pinterest board, Her Majesty, The Queen, celebrating women who rule their worlds, from Tina Turner to the Queen Elizabeths.  If I could add pics of each of you I would.  Because we all deserve to be Queen of our own realm.

W is for ... Women Know Everything.  By Karen Weekes, published by Quirk Books.

p.s. Don't forget to enter our Lilly Pulitzer "Glam It Up" clutch giveaway (ends Friday). 

CAST YOUR VOTES: Most Glamorous Movie Star Ever

Last year for the Academy Awards we voted on Sexiest Male Movie Star ever (Paul Newman edged out Johnny Depp in a hot race). This year Let's Hear It For The Girls. Who get's your vote for Most Glamorous Movie Star Ever? Some of my nominees: Grace Kelly, Angelina Jolie, Charlize Theron, Sohpia Loren, Diana Ross, Cate Blanchett, Lauren Bacall, Nicole Kidman, Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor. Write-ins  encouraged. Ladies (and gentlemen), cast your votes.

Source: flickr.com

GIVEAWAY: Win a Lilly Pulitzer Clutch

Possibly the only thing more legendary than Lilly Pulitzer is the Lilly Pulitzer Warehouse Sale, a pilgrimage for generations of Lilly lovers.  At the last sale Lindsay Lebresco, the company's Social Media Manager, snagged a real treat for one Style Maniac reader to win. (Don't we just love her!)

"Glam It Up" is a chic clutch in pebbly textured black with a subtle sheen, gorgeous gold coral brooch-like detail. and hot pink "Lilly" script lining. Inside zip pocket, snap closure and enough room for your phone, lipstick, and a few other essentials.  Retail price $128.  Very versatile style -- this clutch could pair with everything in your closet. (Darn it, wish I could enter!)


To enter the Giveaway:

• Leave a comment below telling us Why You Love Lilly.
• Enter by Friday, March 2, 2012.  

For extra entries:

• Subscribe to Style Maniac via email or RSS
• Follow Style Maniac on Google Friend Connect (click "Join This Site" button in right sidebar)
• Follow @thestylemaniac on Twitter
• Like Style Maniac on Facebook
• Like Lilly Pulitzer on Facebook

For each of the above, leave an extra comment to let me know you have followed / subscribed / liked.  Current fans may also add extra entries for any of the above that apply.  Good luck!

Details: Giveaway valid in the U.S. only.  Entries accepted through midnight EST on 3/2/12. Winner will be chosen at random and announced on this blog 3/5/12.  If your online profile does not link to an email address, be sure to include it in the entry.   Clutch will be shipped anywhere in the United States.   

Photos by Doreen Creede

Peek Inside Lilly Pulitzer's Pink Palace

How do you keep a classic and beloved brand fresh and relevant in the mercurial world of fashion? Recently I went inside Lilly Pulitzer Headquarters, aka The Pink Palace, to find out. Come join me as we take a ride into the colorful world of Lilly.  (Above: Peeking into the Print Studio.)

THE LILLY SPIRIT.  One rainy gray winter day I wound past nondescript structures in a suburban office park until I rounded a corner and there in front of me glowed a pastel pink building, hot pink Lilly logo splashed across the front and a lime, fuchsia and lemon flowered Jeep parked outside.  Inside, candy striped awnings decorated an airy central gathering space.  There was even a juice stand, an homage to the company's beginnings.  Yes, I'd arrived at The Pink Palace, aka Lilly Pulitzer Headquarters.  It's located in King of Prussia, about 20 miles outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania -- not Palm Beach, Florida as you might expect -- because in the 1990s a trio of Main Line businessmen (whose mothers and sisters were avid Lilly fans) approached the retired founder and asked to revive the brand.  Now 80, Lilly Pulitzer (the woman) acts as an informal creative consultant to Lilly Pulitzer (the company) and its enduring heart and soul. Her mark is everywhere: Lilly quotes scribbled across the walls, photo montages in the hall, a gallery of bold and quirky prints on display.  Most importantly her carefree barefoot chic aesthetic imbues every single design.  (Above: scenes outside and inside The Pink Palace.  Background: Kappa Delta print from the wildly popular new sorority collection.)

THE PRINTS.  At Lilly Pulitzer, everything begins with the print.  In an impossibly small studio, an equally small team of artists conjures up and hand paints every print (and hides the "Lilly" name somewhere inside).  Final designs are then transferred to a computer for production. Once retired a print is never re-used. Check out the "Shop Prints" section of the company's website, to discover each print's inspiration, plus view a closeup that often reveals incredible detail. As Lilly aptly said:  "There will be a moment of silence while our prints do the talking." (Clockwise, above: color palettes, an inspiration board, pan of paints, from art to technology. Background: watercolor blooms.)

A FRESH CUT.  The Lilly Pulitzer line stays fresh by cutting in a modern way -- perhaps narrower on the body or lower on the hip -- yet still stays true to the brand.  How do you find this balance?  Abraham Cruz, Senior Dress Designer / Knits told me that when creating silhouettes he gives free rein to his ideas, but then "filters everything through the Resort Chic lens." Or to put it another way:  "Lilly-ify it." (Clockwise above: an original Lilly dress, Lilly Pulitzer in her first shop, current looks.  Background: lace inspirations in the Design Studio.)

LISTENING TO CUSTOMERS. After hearing so many tales about customers refashioning old "Lillys" into pillows, the company recently debuted a home fabric collection for Lee Jofa.  The line captures all the colorful originality and humor of the fashions.  (Background, above: "Happy Plaid" from that collection.)

A GREAT TEAM.  No matter how strong a legacy, if the current team doesn't deliver, there's not much future for a company.  Not to fret, Lilly fans.  From the infectious enthusiasm of Design Director Janie Schoenborn, to the talented artists and designers, to the fun and interactive social media program, the future looks pink indeed.  (Inset, above: An artist's rendering of the Print Studio--which I think would make a charming print.)

NEXT POST:  Get a little Lilly for yourself--enter to win a lovely giveaway.

All photos and collages by Doreen Creede / Style Maniac except home collection print via Lee Jofa;  Kappa Delta print, original shop photo and current dress pics via Lilly Pulitzer.  Special thank you to Janie Schoenborn for making my visit possible and to Lindsay Lebresco, Social Media Manager, for making it so informative and fun.

LILLY LINKS: 
A Colorful Blog
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
Pinterest

Lilly Pulitzer's Barefoot Chic

When a brand becomes a classic and the woman behind it a style icon, it's easy to forget that it all began with a bold idea hatched by a gal who was a bit of a rebel.  Not content to stay home and live the life of a wealthy pampered housewife, newly married 21-year-old Lilly Pulitzer opened a juice stand.  Then, to cover up the citrus splashes she had some simple shifts fashioned out of bright patterned fabric.  Soon customer demand for the dresses far outran any interest in the juice and Lilly opened a shop in Palm Beach, Florida.  When LIFE photographed Jackie Kennedy in a Lilly shift the comfortable, uncomplicated look -- so different from the nipped and girdled standard of the times -- took off.

Decades later women still turn to Lilly Pulitzer when they need a dose of carefree barefoot chic.  Credit the fabrics, which just make you smile.  Credit the cuts, which reflect a modern sensibility.  Mostly credit the brand's originality, from the inspiration of Lilly herself (dubbed "The Barefoot Tycoon" by TIME Magazine, she often did wear her creations barefoot, not to mention slightly unzipped and sans undergarments) to the current designers who conjure up and hand draw every print, carrying on the Lilly legacy with their own joie de vivre.

Honoring tradition while staying fresh is a tricky balance to achieve.  Recently I got to see how it's done firsthand when I stepped inside The Pink Palace (aka Lilly Pulitzer headquarters).  While there I picked up a lovely Lilly treat for one of you to win.  Stop back next week for the tour, the giveaway and a peek at how a Pulitzer print comes to life.

E is for ENTREPRENEUR ... Z is for ZEST: Know a business woman who achieved success her own unique way?  Share here. ((Part 5 of our series "Let's Hear It For The Girls ... celebrating women from A to Z." )

NEXT WEEK:  Join me on a tour of  The Pink Palace plus enter to win a fabulous Lilly Pulitzer giveaway.




PHOTOS via  Lilly Pulitzer and Glamour. From top: Lilly and her unique delivery system / the Lilly look now / Bling My Chimes print from the current offering (look for the "Lilly," it's in every one) / The Barefoot Tycoon.

Sweet Valentine

Wishing you a Valentine's Day sprinkled with sweet surprises.

Photo via iPhone Backgrounds app

Lovely Buzz

Being your own PR person is strange.  It's so much easier, I think, to promote someone else than yourself.  So while putting together some marketing materials for Style Maniac I decided to let you do the talking.  Highlighted here and in the Buzz section of the new Style Maniac Press Page are some of the thousands of lovely messages you have posted or emailed about Style Maniac.  Each comment is a gift, truly, and a big part of what makes blogging so very satisfying. I thank all of you who have taken the time to give me your feedback and add your thoughts to our conversations about fashion, food, decorating, entertaining, books, art, music, style, love, laughter ... life.  Click on the >>>> read more >>> tag below for sources to the above quotes (in bold), plus more Buzz.  I'll be updating the list regularly, so please continue to share your thoughts!

C is for CHEERLEADER: Women supporting other women ... what could be better?  Here's a chance to thank a woman who has made your life lovelier.  Add a note to the Comments section here. (Part 4 of our series "Let's Hear It For The Girls ... celebrating women from A to Z." )

Graphic by Doreen Creede

ORANGE CRUSH: Flyers Wives Fashion Show featuring Nicole Miller, Lagos and a good cause

It's not often a hockey jersey inspires a fashion show.  Or team colors --especially orange -- pop up as cocktail dresses.  Or the boss's wife walks the runway.  It all happened last month at the first ever Flyers Wives Fashion Show, where wives of the Philadelphia Flyer's players and management modeled Nicole Miller's new Artelier Spring 2012 line paired with Lagos jewelry, all to benefit Comcast Spectacor Charities.

In the ballroom orange glowed from the chandeliers to the shoes.  By the bar creamsicle edged with silver sequins sparkled.  And on the runway the women rocked the house.

I give those women so much credit.  Strutting down a catwalk makes me wobbly just thinking about it.  How did they do it?  Mary K. Dougherty, owner of the Nicole Miller Philadelphia store that sponsored the event, along with Lagos, Fox29 and Philadelphia Style Magazine; gave the volunteer models this advice:  First, Nicole Miller designs her clothes to flatter women of all ages and body types, so you'll look good.  Second, think of a specific person who will benefit, such as an ill child who will now get help, so you'll feel good.  Finally, have fun.  The event is a celebration of women and all for a good cause.

SCENES FROM THE SHOW:

1. On the runway.
2. Before the show in the offices of MKDA (Mary K. Dougherty & Associates) and the Nicole Miller Philadelphia store.
3. Spring looks from Nicole Miller Artelier flank Lagos Flyers pendants.  A portion of the proceeds from the Lagos pendants benefit Flyers Charities year-round.
4. My favorite model:  Doreen Holmgren, wife of Flyers GM Paul Holmgren.
5. Nicole Miller's Artelier Spring 2012 line; the Philadelphia Flyers line.
6. Finale, featuring the volunteer models and singer Lauren Hart.

All photos by Doreen Creede / Style Maniac except #4 via Randall Scott/ CBS Philly. For more pics of the event, the Artelier line and the fun pre-show promo window by Lagos, visit Style Maniac's Tumblr site, Maniac Finds.

V is for VOLUNTEER: So many women donate their time for a good cause.  Have one of your own?  Share it here. (Part 3 of our series "Let's Hear It For The Girls ... celebrating women from A to Z." )