Marni-Love

Gilt Groupe is having a sale on Marni today, yum. It's still well beyond my budget but that doesn't stop me from admiring these fab garments and punchy accessories. Wouldn't that green chain link necklace take a simple outfit to a whole new level? Yes, it would. Hmmm, the calf-length sock with heels look is a bit tricky to pull off, no?

A Shout-out

I was just so thrilled and excited to see my sweet friend Mika's clothing line featured on Daily Candy today! It could not happen to a more deserving individual.

If you're not familiar with Mika Organic, read my earlier post here.

Hair Fantasy vs. Reality

I'm in need of a bit of loveliness on this dreary rainy day; these fanciful flowery updos from J.Crew and Anthropologie will do the trick. They are truly gorgeous, in a magical fairie-land kind of way. But this is definitely hair fantasy land. For realsies - I am lucky if my hair even gets a good brush-through, let alone any kind of complicated styling on a regular basis. Thank goodness for things like Ban-Do, below, where you can get a luxe special-occasion-worthy 'do in about 3.2 seconds.

Drape-y Spring Looks

Loving these Spring/Summer looks from Salvor. Pretty and unusual draped tops in amazing prints and colors. My mom is sporting a snazzy new cast post-wrist surgery, and these sleeveless numbers would be easy for her to get into. Also digging the totally fierce tiger scarf.

Innovative, to a T

How cool is this? A monthly magazine you can wear... T-post, a completely ad-free artistic collaboration, produces a new t-shirt each month, working with different designers. Printed on the inside is the magazine text. Each tee is intended to inspire, provoke, and engage. Read it..then wear it! The ultimate re-cycle, re-use, re-purpose.

The current issue (above) deals with the hyper-reality of new 3-D film technology (for example, Avatar) and how this affects the perception of our own reality in comparison. Past issues have dealt with everything from politics in Nepal to the recent resurgence of the cassette tape. T-post only produces the exact number of t-shirts as there are subscribers so each issue is completely limited-edition.

Mystical, Magical

As soon as I finished leafing through the latest Anthropologie catalog (which was pretty much the moment it came out of the mailbox, as usual; I love my catalog eye candy), I had to stop and do a little digging to find out where they did these fantasic shots. My first guess was Bali; turns out it's much closer to home - at least on the same continent.

Ranging over 60 mountainside acres near the village of Xilitla, Mexico, Las Pozas is the fantastical surrealist garden created by Scottish ex-pat artist Edward James in the 1960s. Sure would love to see this crazy place in person. Hmmmm... road trip!

A Fall, and Fall Fashion

Silly me, thought I could get away with not wearing my snowboots last night for once. Traded them in for cute little ankle boots, and what did it get me? A nasty spill on the subway steps and a bruise roughly the size and color of a large ripe avocado. What to cheer me up? A quick jaunt through the Fashion Week pages - Here are a few faves from Peter Som, above.

Also loving this Marchesa skirt that reminds me of a jellyfish, below left, in the most beautiful ethereal way, and the bright orangey-red lips at Tory Burch. Images via Style.com.

ooh, pretty...

Love all the pleat-y details in these short, frothy, flirty dresses by J. Mendel.

Thinking of Spring/Summer

I know, we're in the middle of a snowstorm (at least those of us in the northeast). But that doesn't stop me from lusting after these summer-inspired necklaces by Lizzie Fortunato Jewels, designed by sisters Elizabeth and Kathryn Fortunato, from their Spring/Summer 09 collection, above. Conjures up visions of bare feet and bonfires on the beach...

I also am blown away by the colors and sculptural quality of the creations for VPL Victoria Bartlett, below, also from Spring/Summer 09. The origami cranes, just stunning.

Loving...

...these gorgeous patchwork quilts from Sally Campbell home textiles; the Australian designer works closely with many different artisans in India, who specialize in natural dye block printing or intricate hand embroidery, to create these amazing handcrafted textiles, and a percentage of the profit goes to support rural communities.

Stina So Fine

Today's inspiration comes from incredibly talented Stockholm-based illustrator Stina Persson. I have been enamored with her watercolor work for a while, but am totally loving these super graphic cut-paper illustrations, bringing some much-needed color on a gray and rainy Monday morning!

Photo-Ephemera

My sister-in-law generously bequeathed to us much of her late father's photography equipment collection, which includes a late 60's Polaroid Land camera, a Kodak Brownie box camera from the early 1900's, and a few Super 8-type video cameras. Included in the huge box we received in the mail recently (like Christmas morning all over again!) were a few of the original brochures that accompanied the cameras as well as some early 60s photography magazines.

I love seeing this kind of vintage print material so I thought I would share a few of my favorite spreads with you here. Wouldn't you just love to wear this excellent striped bikini/shorts/jacket combo to your next archery lesson? There's also an excellent demo showing how to make a groovy projected background from a doily. And included with one of the projectors are some great sticky letters for titling your slides and films.

It's clear these products were geared towards men, because besides the borderline-racy patterned figure study below, there were a lot of chicks in bikinis. I guess photography was really a male-dominated field back then. Times have changed!

Feeling Very Violet

I'm into purple for spring - how about you?

Top image, from left: Trey Speegle wallpaper from Anthropologie, fuschia-tinged looks from sunshine and shadow

Bottom, clockwise from top left: Bikini by J.Crew, spattered purple man-tee and fuschia clutch from Urban Outfitters, Hand-crafted hair comb by L'ape zoppa

Etsy Faves for Friday

Rosie Music's "I think I'm in Love" print was a featured Etsy Find recently and it led me to her shop where I fell hard for the very dapper Mr. Elegant Cat, top. He is just awesome. I'm pretty sure if he was here in my studio we would have stimulating imaginary conversations about the state of the world and such.
The Elegant Cat by Rosie Music

Other Friday faves: Tangerine cosmetic bag by quiltish, 70's Sheer Striped Dress by Ainslie Wood Co., Screenprinted poster by honey & bloom

We're All Made of Stars

Designer Shabd Simon-Alexander's line of hand-dyed t-shirts, leggings, scarves and bags is inspired by Hubble telescope photos of stars and galaxies. I got to see her work in person recently and everything is super luxurious, taking tie-dye to a whole new level. Perfectly-cut tees and super soft leggings.