Online-only decorating magazine Lonny launched today, helmed by former Domino market editor Michelle Adams, who incorporates a lot of the dearly-departed publication’s magical aesthetic. Flip through the onscreen mag and you’ll find similar fonts, styling, mix of high/low, and fashion, not to mention the presence of at least five former Domino staffers.
Another thing we noticed when clicking through the first issue’s seven — count ’em, seven — home tours was a certain proclivity for photographing homeowners with no shoes on. With thinking caps on, we realized this has gotten to be a common occurrence among design publications marketed towards that certain niche of quirky yet modern yuppies who still buy magazines. Pictorial evidence of the barefoot trend after the jump.
Two shots from the first issue of Lonny. Nary a shoe, boot, or sandal in sight.
In Dwell‘s case, we suppose being barefoot evokes an earthy, down-home lifestyle.
Though apparently “being at home in the modern world” does not include footwear.
J. Crew creative director Jenna Lyons, profiled in Domino in the November 2008, was photographed barefoot all over her gorgeous Brooklyn home. Jenna, we know J. Crew makes shoes. Pretty ones!
In fact, we’d bet Domino was the original perpetrator of the no-shoes look. The magazine featured bare feet on the covers, even.
InStyle is also guilty of styling sans chaussures. In this case, it comes off as a transparent attempt to humanize celebrities. Also: Heidi, Seal, we know you’re smokin’, but please.
All socklessness aside, Lonny is worth a peek. At 195 pages, it offers substantial interior design content: Deborah Needleman’s Connecticut garden, favorite stores and styling tricks from decorating guru Rita Konig, the country home of designers and boyfriends Eddie Ross (recently on Top Design) and Jaithan Kochar, and home tours with visual merchandiser Ron Marvin (Williams Sonoma, Pottery Barn), textile designer Carolina Irving, and Design*Sponge blogstress Grace Bonney. Plus, a fashion spread with eco-chic line Doucette Duvall and a compendium of “blogger style”* with Etsy designer Christina DeSmet.
*It’s true. We never blog in sweatpants and only write thank-you cards on letterpress stationery.