'Manhattan Vintage Show'

Going to be in the New York City area this weekend?

Check out the Manhattan Vintage Clothing and Antique Textile Show and Sale:

Friday, Feb. 5 and Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010
The Metropolitan Pavilion
125 West 18th Street
(between 6th and 7th)
Friday open from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturday open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Admission is $20

The complimentary tickets to the Manhattan Vintage Show this weekend that I hold in my hand are a small reward when compared to the insider secrets I received from home furnishing stylist Leigh Infield.

It’s almost guaranteed that if you purchase a comforter or tableware set, Infield was behind the styling of the beautifully executed image of product on the package design.

I met the stylist earlier last week at a seminar at the Fashion Institute of Technology where Infield was the guest speaker.

From brands like Kohl’s to Calvin Klein, Infield styling career started 20+ years ago representing a client as a public relations representative. Little did she know that when the stylist didn’t show to style the set for a magazine editorial featuring the house, that Infield would take over much of the home styling herself in order to please her client.

Unlike other stylists that work in huge production studios with little to no light, Infield sticks to her small production house in upstate New York.

Filtering natural light into her sets and fearless when it comes to styling outside or on location, Infield produces images that are more ‘real’ and ultimately more attractive to clients.

According to Infield, out of 27 design houses that once ran New York years back, only 3 are still in operation. And business for this image and PR guru has never been better.

Not that I plan on becoming a home décor stylist one day – I prefer sticking to fashion and still life editorials.

But Infield’s approach to styling could apply to my own decorating at home.

Tips:

· Open those shutters and let natural sunlight pour into the room.

· Shift the pieces of bedroom furniture around in such a way that the light falls where you want your eye to focus: the bed, desk table, or armchair.

· Don’t be afraid to let the outdoors in. Okay, so it doesn’t mean sleeping in a queen size bed on the front lawn. It means that if you want to create a canopied seating area outdoors, go for it. Or perhaps it could mean keeping potted plants by the window sill or installing more greenery elsewhere in the room.

Now, back to those Manhattan Vintage Show tickets that are burning a hole in my pockets. Up to 80 vintage clothing and textile dealers will be the Metropolitan Pavilion. Antique lovers – this is the place for you too! Look for photos later this weekend and highlights on the event itself.

-S.Gonzalez

*Photo courtesy of Manhattan Vintage