They say a picture paints a thousand words – and with last month’s news that Instagram, the ubiquitous photo-sharing platform, now has over 300 million active users (making it officially larger than Twitter) – it seems that the world agrees. For many of us, sharing the most intimate moments of our private lives with the digital universe has become as natural as, well, sharing intimate moments.

Of course, for most savvy urbanites working in the creative industries, Instagram has also become a place to showcase work, as well as to seek inspiration. Stylists, photographers, and designers present seductive glimpses into their worlds – professional, private, and everything in-between – fostering a dynamic and vibrant community of style influencers, cool-hunters, and those of us who enjoy the guilty pleasure of swiping through impossibly chic apartment interiors and cutting-edge food-porn.

To find out more about this trend, Melting Butter sat down with Anthony D’Argenzio, founder and creative director of styling house Zio & Sons, who has recently launched the lifestyle hashtag #gatheringslikethese. Founded in 2011, Zio & Sons is a New York-based creative agency whose work encompasses creative direction, branding, and editorial styling; informed by a clean, timeless aesthetic with a vintage sensibility.

Read on for Zio & Sons’ most Instagrammable hotspots in NYC”¦

BENEDIKT JOSEF: What is Zio & Sons?

ANTHONY D’ARGENZIO: Zio & Sons is a styling house, offering creative direction and styling for brands and publications, interior design consulting, and event styling.

JOSEF: How do you describe your aesthetic?

D’ARGENZIO: Our aesthetic is a blend of modern elements and vintage touches. I like to describe our aesthetic as timeless, well curated, and fun. Essentially our goal is to create a look that is as relevant in five years as it is today.

JOSEF: You’ve described some of your projects as inspired by ‘Old New York’. How does living in New York City inspire you, and where else do you look for inspiration?

D’ARGENZIO: I’m constantly inspired by New York. I’ve lived here for seven years, and my home and studio are here. Sometimes it seems to lose it’s luster, so we’ve started a travel segment on our Instagram feed where we wanderlust via the social world. I also find a lot of inspiration in tracing the origin of food, or the origin of wine, or sometimes it’s in a photo or a painting”¦ of course, it always depends on the project I’m working on!

JOSEF: You’ve recently launched the #gatheringslikethese hashtag. Of course, we all know what a hashtag is, but what does it mean to ”˜launch’ a hashtag, and how does #gatheringslikethese work?

D’ARGENZIO: We launched our new hashtag, #gatheringslikethese, in the fall of 2014. We wanted to create a hashtag that encompasses all of the areas in which we work – food, spaces, home, and travel – something that really resembles us and how we see the world. #gatheringslikethese is not just about people sitting around a table – it can also express a beautiful space you’re in by yourself, or a particular moment that feels beautifully curated.

JOSEF: Looking through the #gatheringslikethese hashtag on Instagram, I’ve seen such a range of material, from dinners and parties, food, travel pictures”¦what jumps out at you when you peruse the hashtag, and what do you think inspires people to post their pictures and experiences there?

D’ARGENZIO: I think that people want to be part of a story! Since we launched, we’ve started re-gramming other people’s posts that we feel contribute to our aesthetic. It’s a great way to build a sense of community and camaraderie.

JOSEF: What is inspiring you right now?

D’ARGENZIO: A lot of travel! I have a trip to Charleston coming up, and I’m very interested in the local culture – the food, the architecture, and the southern charm. I’m also off to London soon, which is a big source of inspiration at the moment.

 

Zio & Sons’s Most Instagrammable hotspots in NYC

Frankies Spuntino

A cozy Italian joint in Brooklyn. Perfect for brunch gatherings with friends or date night.

http://www.frankiesspuntino.com/

Frankies Spuntino NYC
457 Court St, Brooklyn, NY 11231
(718) 403-0033

Lafayette Grand Café & Bakery

A French bistro located in NoHo – perfect for oysters and an afternoon cocktail. Get lost in their dreamy interiors designed by Roman & Williams.

http://lafayetteny.com/

Lafayette NYC
380 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10003
(212) 533-3000

 

Maison Premiere

On the hunt for the perfect artisanal cocktail? Maison Premier boasts the perfect setting for an intimate gathering or a late night hangout.

http://maisonpremiere.com/

Maison Premiere NYC
298 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211
(347) 335-0446

Maman

One of our favorite breakfast hangouts. A charming cafe & bakery located in SoHo, serving an ever-evolving French-inspired menu using only highest quality and locally-sourced ingredients.

http://www.mamannyc.com/

Maman NYC
239 Centre St, New York, NY 10013
(212) 226-0770

Home!

Entertaining at home will always be our favorite place to gather with friends & family around the table.

Benedikt is Melting Butter’s NYC-based design contributor. He’s also a freelance architect, designer and writer with work that’s grounded in a strong multi-disciplinary focus, encompassing architecture, interiors, product design, curation and visual communication. Right now, Benedikt’s creative projects include an illustrated book, a site-specific art installation in the Manhattan streetscape, and several ongoing creative collaborations.Read about Benedikt’s favourite hotspots here

(All images unless otherwise stated courtesy of Zio & Sons)

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