Habit-Forming Fun

Habits of the good, the bad and the cavity-inducing varieties were worth pondering at the launch of Amazon’s swank shopping site, MYHABIT.com, co-hosted by the CFDA at Skylight West Studios last evening. As rain pelted the transparent tent, a buzzy flock including Vanessa Hudgens, Brooklyn Decker, Paper’s Mickey Boardman, Julie Gilhart, and MYHABIT.com style ambassador Mary Alice Stephenson lounged on cabanas, nibbling on the likes of sesame-kissed tuna tartare in conical crisps and a mysterious delectable resembling a hybrid dumpling-ravioli. Shots of vodka and caviar heaped on edible spoon-shaped crackers were a rather naughty addition to the rotation of edibles. Jenny and Johnny provided the musical accompaniment – Jenny as in Jenny Lewis, Rilo Kiley leading lady, avec Jonathan Rice, and a wash of designers including Bibhu Mohapatra, Christian Cota,  Rebecca Minkoff and Nanette Lepore.

While the habit worth celebrating concerned online shopping, there were myriad habits to be discussed. What knacks should be broken, and which tendencies would one like to pick up on? “I would like to be more ritual and disciplined about my exercising,” said Diane von Furstenberg, arriving in sunglasses with her CFDA compatriot Steven Kolb. While DvF is seeking some endorphin-producing quality time with herself, Prabal Gurung is pining for some catch-up with the far-flung fam. “I’d love to have more time to call my family back in Nepal,” Gurung said with nary a moment’s hesitation. Sometimes the worst habits are also the sweetest. “I eat loads of low-rent chocolate, like Snickers. My husband eats highbrow chocolate, like Green & Black’s almond bars, and there I am with my Twix,” said Plum Sykes. “But I make up for it by eating Museli with fruit for breakfast every morning.”

Habits and ritual chatter brought out a wise (and witty) side of Waris Ahluwalia, who waxed philosophical about the cyclical nature of things. “The best way to get rid of a bad habit is to replace it with a good habit, you can read all about it in my self-help books –except that I don’t have any self-help books,” Ahluwalia snarked with a smile. “But seriously, since November I’ve been getting up at 7 a.m. and it’s just great; I go running, I have more quiet time, it’s changed my life.”

While early risers seem inherently a bit virtuous (at least to the night owls of the world), gossips tend to get an ill rep. Just ask Alice Ritter, whose hubby and Elle creative director Paul does indeed dish about the latest designs and celebs in his line of work—not that Alice is hearing and sharing. “I get scoops on photo shoots and what’s going in the upcoming issues, but I’m not really big on gossip,” explained Alice Ritter. “I keep it professional and I leave that to the Perez Hiltons of the world.”
ALEXANDRA ILYASHOV

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