Castle Street Review has moved! 

Please visit my new blog, Magellen by Ellen Scanlon, 

on the site for my business: 

www.magellenventures.com.

Watch: Togetherness + Transparent

While I'm a fan of House of Cards and Downton Abbey, I really love a thirty minute TV show. Two of my favorites are Togetherness on HBO and Transparent on Amazon. 

Togetherness, a new comedy from the talented Duplass brothers, introduces four characters in their mid-30s living in LA. I love the way the characters are written - just enough to push beyond what you are ready to expect of them. The new show is only a few weeks old and HBO has already confirmed its second season. 

 

Transparent, which garnered well-earned press when its star, Jeffrey Tambor, won a Golden Globe for his performance, is the story of another LA family. Complicated parents, sibling dynamics and secrets abound in this deeply moving yet still surprisingly funny show. 

Enjoy! 

A New York Minute

Fall 2015 fashion week is in full swing in New York. I'm usually jealous to miss it, but the sub-zero temperatures make it easier to be a west coast bystander. Among my many favorite New York designers, I always look carefully through the show photos from Alexander Wang, Altuzarra and The Row.  

The longer my time away from New York, the more I find myself swapping black for neutral colors like white and camel. This outfit from The Row caught my eye.

Mustard yellow is a color I've been trying to incorporate into my wardrobe. Tailored pants like these from Joseph Altuzarra could be a versatile choice. 

 

I have a pair of plaid wool pants that could be updated with a light, lacy blouse like this look from Altuzarra.

Alexander Wang's mostly black Fall collection speaks to the New Yorker in me. I love the rocker chic details with a wearable edge.

All photos from style.com.

Catching up to the Grammys

Until I turned the Grammy Awards on last night, I didn't even realize that Beck, U2, The Black Keys and Ryan Adams all have new albums - and apparently good ones too, since they were all nominated for Best Rock Album. 

I'm not familiar with artists nominated in way too many of the categories this year. I have a lot of research to catch up on and look forward to sharing a new playlist soon. 

Read: California Design

"California design influenced the material culture of the entire country, in everything from architecture to fashion."

California Design 1930-1965: Living in a Modern Way, edited by Wendy Kaplan, is the book that accompanied a major exhibition at LACMA, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art held in 2011-2012. I loved learning about all the creative talent in California, who influenced design across the nation and the world. 

A beautiful coffee table book - and a great read.

See: FOG Design + Art

I'm looking forward to the Fog Design + Art show in San Francisco this week. With the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art closed for renovation, it's a great opportunity to see contemporary art. Proceeds from the show will support SF MOMA's California-wide exhibits. The Fort Mason setting overlooks the San Francisco Bay - a great way to spend a Saturday. 

Getting to 10,000

Making time for a walk isn't always easy.

Now that I work from home, I have to try a little harder to get outside for a walk. The app Pacer, is a big help. There is no wearable device - anytime your phone is with you, even in a purse, it tracks the steps. Just download the app to your phone for free in the iTunes store. The benefits of walking 10,000 steps each day have been widely documented. I've found that Pacer taps into my inner competitor and is easy and fun to track.

Pacer app, from iTunes

Stylish sneakers are having a major comeback, and there are lots of options to aid in the quest for 10,000 steps. While Vans deserves credit for always making cool slip-ons, it was Celine that kick-started the recent trend. I like leather and calf hair sneakers for daytime. Common Projects and Joie both have a good selection of styles.

My long-time favorite lace-up sneaker is by Superga, and that love goes back to my summer abroad in college. All the cool European kids wore them then, and I still think they look great. Right now mine are navy blue, and I might be in the market for another pair.

Fashion writer Alessandra Codinha 's cool red Supergas.

Nike Free lightweight sneakers are great for sporty support on longer walks (and runs) and are a lot of fun to customize.

My dark gray, light gray and yellow custom Nike Free sneakers

So find some cool shoes and start walking! Maybe you'll find that like Kentucky poet Wendell Berry, “There comes . . . a longing never to travel again except on foot.”

the mountains are calling

Alta, Utah, March 2013

Ready for ski season? 

The beauty of the mountains, warm winter outfits and films with winter themes all help to inspire my excitement for the sport, which happens to be my husband's all-time favorite activity.

Sweden's official selection for the best foreign language film category, Force Majeure, tells the story of a beautiful family on a ski vacation in the French Alps. Written and directed by Ruben Ostlund, the film examines the couple's relationship in the face of a natural disaster. Thought provoking and beautifully filmed, it has kept me thinking long after the movie ended. Great music, too.



While I like to ski, I don't like to be cold. The past few weeks, I've been digging through my winter clothes and sprucing up my sweaters by washing them with my favorite Wool and Cashmere Shampoo by The Laundress. My sweaters are softer and smell better than when I used to dry clean them. I'm also a fan of The Laundress Sweater Stone to get rid of any pilling. 

In anticipation of San Francisco's cold summer, this year I gave myself a pair of cashmere socks for my June birthday. I love them and think winter's arrival is a great excuse for another pair. My wish list includes this decadent pair from LA-based luxury lifestyle brand The Elder Statesman or a two-tone version from Maria La Rosa. 

The Elder Statesman cashmere socks

California has not had a good ski season in a few years, so fingers crossed we get some snow in the next few weeks. How else can I justify a new ski outfit?  :)

Squaw Valley, California

Ruben Östlund

Ruben Östlund