JonathanAdler

At the recent Moth Ball this week the fabulous men-about-town Jonathan Adler and Simon Doonan were on hand to present the annual $5000 MothShop scholarship. The recipient, New York City high school student Terrence Buckner, told a wise beyond his years story on his struggles with coming out in his rough Brooklyn neighborhood. Doonan shared his own story of pretending to be straight in front of an immigration officer in the 70s, for the purposes of obtaining a work visa.

The master designer and Barneys Creative Director have been longtime supporters of the Moth, a nonprofit dedicated to the art of storytelling. We caught up with the couple at the event to find out why they love the organization so much. Read on in our exclusive interview to find out their advice for having an unforgettable holiday, just how recession-proof is Barneys, and just what they'll never be caught dead leaving home without.

Ariston Anderson: Why are you such big supporters of the Moth?

Jonathan Adler: I love, love the organization. It is so creative and fun and interesting. I go to fancy-schmancy events and sort of like they all are just boring. And the Moth is quite the opposite. It's fascinating and fun. I love them. It's the only thing on my calendar that I'm not dreading. It's the one sort of shining star on my Blackberry.

Simon Doonan: I love the Moth because I guess I'm just a Chatty Cathy and I love the idea of telling stories. It's just so well organized. It's always entertaining. Like when you go out in New York to a lot of events there's no content. But when you come to a Moth event you actually come away with a lot of thought provoking ideas and stories. And of course a lot of humor as well as serious stuff. So yeah, it puts some content into the New York scene, so I love that.

AA: How important is storytelling in design work?

JA: That's actually a great question. I am really focused on narrative in my work. Definitely in decorating I always try to start a creative narrative. The narrative usually involves trying to make my clients seem a little more eccentric, and a little more glamorous than they might actually be.

AA: Simon, have you had to alter any of window displays at Barneys because of the recession?

SD: At Barneys, I always made stuff out of found objects and I always recycle things. The windows at Barneys are always very crafty, and they were always about paper-mâché and finding things in the street. At Barneys, paradoxically, we have a very recession-proof point-of-view because it was never about sort of opulence or bling. It was always kind of subtle and sort of crafty.

AA: Last year, you were advocating the cape here. Are capes still in?

SD: Capes? Everything is in. That's the thing, nothing ever goes out of style anymore. All trends concurrently exist. In this room somebody is probably rocking every trend known to mankind.

AA: What tips do you have for having a fabulous holiday party this season?

SD: For an amazing holiday party, I think there's no such thing as being overdressed. You know, if you feel like wearing a full-length ballgown, just wear it. People worry too much about being event-appropriate. It's much better to be overdressed. As Andy Warhol said, it's much better to be the right thing in the wrong place. You always have fun if you do the right thing in the wrong place.

JA: I think that everyone should have Lee Press On Nails for every guest. It could turn a business meeting into a party.

AA: Have you ever worn them yourself?

JA: I have. (Laughs) But only in the context of a party. It's not an everyday thing.

SD: I think if you want to have a fabulous holiday this season, buy a feather boa. Nothing makes you feel bubbly and vivacious like a feather boa. It's very glam rock.

AA: What are some luxuries you can't live without?

SD: Well Johnny and I have a condo, down in Palm Beach. So we love to go down there and run on the beach and frolic during cold winter weekends. So that's a real self-indulgent luxury. Other than that, no drugs. You know, I'm on a natural high. I don't have an expensive drug habit. And I'm so small I would love to buy clothes all the time, but I can't find things that fit me because I'm a midget.

JA: You know what I can't live without is my pill keychain. My enamel pill keychain. It's in the shape of a pill, and it also functions as a little pillbox. So it holds three pills, just an emergency supply, so that's my most essential item.

AA: What's in your pillbox?

JA: Xanax, xanax, and xanax.

Popular designer and potter has always had a risque side. Two years ago, we covered his condom caddy decorated with squiggly spermatozoa. Now check out his Hashish candle. The candle is scented with black currant, green apple, wormwood, patchouli and moss. It combines in a porcelain container emblazoned with marijuana leaves. The listing at Unicahome promises that "when the candle burns out the porcelain vessel makes the perfect stash box." Perfect, maybe. Discreet? Not so much. It sells for $68.

Jonathan Adler has apparently got quite a thing for the sculptures of C. Jeré, and so he's collaborated with the C. Jeré studio to reissue some of the most popular designs of old. Previously I posted on the Raindrops sculpture, and now one of my other favorites: Sunburst. Like the Raindrop, this sculpture is also made of antiqued brass. It's a bright addition to any space and captures the essence of the sun in a unique and very vibrant way. This sculpture needs a large space, though, or I'm sure it will easily overpower the room. $1,100

At first glance, if I didn't know the name of this sculpture, I don't think "raindrops" would come to mind. But knowing that was the inspiration suddenly I totally see it, and it seems very alive with depth and color. Plus it almost appears to be in motion. The result of a partnership between Jonathan Adler and C. Jeré studio, this newly reissued Raindrops Sculpture is made of antiqued brass, is signed and dated (of course), and measures about 66"x34"x10". $1500

What better for a summer table than a pair of chubby little birds that won't make a mess? Although they are cute and a little chubby, these bird salt and pepper shakers from Jonathan Adler are also modern and classy. Simplified down to their purest form and then accented with bold geometrical patterns, they have a surprising air of life and I almost expect them to bob their little heads in agreement. Created of high fired stoneware and available in either chartreuse or white, the taller one stands 3" high. $48.

Depending on the particular piece, I usually find myself drawn to a strange mix of both surprisingly simple designs and completely over-the-top and unique ones. This Giant Belly Vase, by Jonathan Adler, would of course be the former. I just love how they describe it on the site: as a "ceramic skin stretched over an invisible armature like a Japanese paper lantern," and I think it's simple, classic, and beautiful. Made of high-fired stoneware it's available in either a matte white glaze or "ultra chic" platinum, and it stands 21" high. $425.

In celebration of the Chinese New Year, why not give a gift that commemorates the year of the pig and helps a friend achieve a goal? I think there is nothing more appropriate to give this year than a old fashioned piggy bank. Mind you, it's not just any piggy bank. No, it's a porcelain pig coated in fabulous gold from design guru Jonathan Adler. It's the perfect piece of bling that can help you save money for fantastic vacations or a new pair of shoes.