Fashionado is a fashion and lifestyle brand where readers indulge in a myriad of trending topics from the world of design, art and culinary. Via the FashionadoTV digital platform, Fashionado founder, E. Vincent Martinez, hosts interviews with celebrities, fashion designers, artists and industry professionals.
This is the eternal story of an artist who falls in love with his creation ... No one in the real life can match this perfection that he created with his own hands. The work that came out of his imagination meets all his expectations.
Read MoreIn 1995, the owner of 5-star studio rentals, Jack Studios, opened in an abandoned Chelsea building and brought in Marc Jacobs, Tommy Hilfiger, Martha Stewart, Victoria's Secret and more.
"Chelsea in Manhattan wasn't glamorous in 1995. The streets were flooded with hookers, drug dealers, people selling firearms, etc. but when I toured the Starrett-Lehigh building in 1995 and saw the gigantic windows, 360 degree views of the Hudson river, downtown, midtown and uptown Manhattan, and the influx of daylight sweeping through the space I knew we had the makings of one of the top photography and video studio spaces in the country," explains Roy Schwalbach.
Roy’s expansive career ranged from actor to photography agent, before opening his own studio, which he named after his beloved chocolate Labrador Retriever, Jack. Roy's client list reads like a who's who in fashion ranging from Victoria's Secret (who has been shooting at Jack's for 15 years) to Vogue to Saks Fifth Avenue to Dooney and Bourke and Michael Kors.
"As we brought clients into the space here and they saw the incredible light, the pristine white rooms, gorgeous windows and views of the city, they started flocking to this building and setting up shop in their own right" explains Roy.
Now the building is full of fashion tenants from Tommy Hilfiger's Corporate Campus to Marchesa's central office to Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia.
Roy’s passion for his work is evident in every detail of Jack Studios, which reflects his sleek, clean, and minimalistic taste. The studios are filled with pristine white pieces designed by Roy himself, such as makeup stations, conference tables, and Corian® couches, adding a unique modern touch to the atmosphere. A deep blue sea fish tank lights up the café with sparkling silver Lookdown fish, creating a beautiful and relaxing space.
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On your next visit to Miami, discover the splendor that is the Vizcaya Museum & Gardens. The estate, modeled after an Italian villa, took ten years to build and was home to millionaire James Deering. A bachelor with impeccable taste, Deering lavished Vizcaya with exquisite European antiques. He kept his thirty person staff busy by entertaining guests and hosting elaborate parties. The interior and exterior architecture, including the gardens are absolutely breathtaking. I am not exaggerating and I can't wait to get back to South Florida to re-visit the grandeur that is Vizcaya!
*Enjoy my photo gallery of the property and grounds...
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One of the many interesting visuals in abundance in Hong Kong is the juxtaposition of old and new architecture. Here you have this modern city with metal and glass skyscrapers developed next to older (dingy) buildings and apartments. At times it felt like walking through a movie set. For instance, as in the picture above, which is the entrance to Temple Street (near the markets).
A tram ride took us 1,811 ft. up to
Victoria Peak
. The ride itself is disorienting as the climb up to "The Peak" as its commonly known, is so incredibly steep. Steep to the point where the buildings on either side of us seemed to be leaning at a near 45 degree angle - vertigo anyone? Colby wasn't a big fan of the ride! But we loved the views. Simply breathtaking.
We were mesmerized by the mammoth amount of signage that hung and overlapped throughout the streets. At night, it was a rainbow bright spectacle of neon.
A random splash of color to accent a building here and there was interesting.
The Flower Market to be completely truthful, was disappointing. Perhaps it was my own preconceived expectations that let me down.
On the other hand, the Gold Fish Market was amazing! A brilliant display of beautifully colored fish for sale.
The Jade Market turned Colby and I like kids in a candy store. "Mrs. Chen" sold us necklaces for our moms and bracelets for us to wear. This is a huge marketplace where some serious bargaining takes place but the vendors can get quite aggressive too.
This part of Hong Kong was a little tough to stomach. I'm not really into entrails and fish heads and the sight (and smell) of all the raw meat hanging outdoors in the 100 degree weather was kinda disgusting. I am, however, glad we walked through to experience what is a normal part of the Chinese culture.
Hello SCAD Hong Kong!
Alleys like this one are everywhere in Hong Kong. Many them are set up for tourists looking for souvenirs.
More adventures to come!
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If New York is the city that never sleeps, then Hong Kong is one of its many Asian doppelgängers. After spending seven nights in the Chinese region which is populated by seven million, I have returned with too many images to feature in just on story... so I have decided to break up my Eastern experience into categories: downtown, streets, shopping, temples & Macau.
Fashionado is a fashion & lifestyle brand where readers indulge in a myriad of trending topics from the world of fashion, design, art and culinary. Via the FashionadoTV digital platform, Fashionado founder, E. Vincent Martinez, hosts interviews with celebrities, fashion designers, artists and industry professionals.
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