Undertow

please help me with this...who did the original? I'm drawing a HUGE BLANK

Warpaint "Undertow" from Shannyn Sossamon /\/\ Maudegone on Vimeo.

Warpaint - Undertow

fantastic

if you have three minutes and are interested in clothing please watch this. How fine Italian fabric is made.

JCrew is doing things right. HERITAGE. STORY. PRODUCT.

Cotton Club Party Poster-fo' shizzle

Last year I had the privilege of working on a project with a Cotton Club Theme. I designed a poster to look like the front page of a newspaper, each invitation was shipped in a kraft tube to guests with a matching label.

I'm not permitted to post the invite online [you'll understand why at the end of the video clip] but you can get a glimpse of it as there was one blown up into an over sized poster for the event. Look for the "extra extra headline"

Cotton Club Party: Intro from Isabel Gonzalez on Vimeo.

It was a pleasure working on the project with Andrinique for her clients. The event looks like it was so much fun.

Event Design: Andrinique Events
Event video: Isabel Gonzalez Videotique
Sweets: Candee by Sandee
Location: The Kress Hotel
Invitations: Richie Letterpress & Design
Dessert: Christopher Garren's Let Them Eat Cake

do you think...

that your bum would hurt if you sat on spikes? I think it would. Especially if you have a skinny one like that.


I am convinced you can tell a lot about the type of leather someone carries.



I just like that she's wearing lime green.

what is this you say? It's London Fashion Week darlings...

Tommy Ton's street photos are amazing

Two Words

Tom Ford

ok just a couple more...
sexy
fantastic
expensive
love

that it all.

Pantone Hotel

Pantone, if you're not familiar, is a universal way to call out color for designers. Chips each have their own special color like PMS 877 which I can tell you is the precise silver that Mercedes uses for print or 187 red which is a certain motorcycle company I use to work with.



Pantone has sort of a cult following. They have become their own designer brand and now hotel in Brussels no-less. I'm not sure how I feel about the hotel, but these chairs? LOVE.

see it all here
image via NY Times

right now...

this morning I'm very intrigued by some things:

this Cole Haan ad series which uses pieces of the magazine Dossier as background. I wanted someone to move the bag so I could see the type better - yes, I'm a type geek.

the kate spade line that Brad Goreski styled. I adore Brad but I think Kate does a fine job on their own. I'm not sure he added much to their situation.

how much mac & cheese was consumed Saturday night for my guys birthday. I made three flavors and Sunday I had a food hangover that lasted all day.

The LA Times story on Tom Ford yesterday that describes in detail where his office is here in LA. I want to hang outside just to see him live and in person.

and lastly this quote:
" A lie will go round the world, while truth is pulling it's boots on" 19th century preacher Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Happy Friday

Happy Friday all. guess what?


I'm dreaming of paper flowers again....


I'm suppose to redo my friend's store window and I really want to take it to a crazy level. would you expect anything else from moi?


I wonder how long it took them to do this stage presentation?

images from Chanel runway show

Cool Hunting Video

these guys just do simply a damn great job at videos.

Jill Platner from Cool Hunting on Vimeo.

I feel like she does except my obsession is paper.

New music Thursday - Adele

I'm most excited about this CD coming out next week. Adele is the best broken-hearted singer.

Plus? isn't she lovely?



Adele - single
Someone Like You

CD drops on the 22nd [next week]

still a little shocked

Kelly Wearstler interior design goddess has been making news lately. First with a new blog [that's really lovely] and I just learned this morning she has a new fashion line that debuted at NYFW.



my own review on the line? a little wacky and disjointed but a couple of cute pieces. I'm liking this Oreo cookie coat myself. The black bubble skirt is also sweet - I might pair it with a white tank and some chunky necklaces.



I think jewelry is her next endeavor per her blog stay tuned.

more new tunes

this week might be new music week kiddies...there's SO MUCH good stuff coming out.



FOSTER THE PEOPLE
Pumped up Kicks

I double dog dare you

not to tap your toes to this diddy.


Yes, it's the mister from Oasis.
Yes, he's by himself now - he and that brother of his couldn't stop fighting long enough to do what they do.
Yes, I also think he's been listening to old Beatles
still quite fun if you ask me.

she beat the Biebs

I had to check out the woman who stole the show last night and kicked little Bieber's Teeny-bobber-arse. Hello Ms. Esperanza Spalding and your grown up music!

girls got some smoky tones - apparently she's also a professor at Berklee College of Music [at 26 or something]
I love when the underdog wins the show.

Major Tom To Ground Control

I'm a big fan of Valentine's Day. You could verify this with my ex-bfriend who learned the hard way after he dismissed the holiday and I ended up in a puddle of tears.

I'm a fan of gifts {and a good card of course} getting gifts is great but I love buying them mostly, planning something sweet for my sweetie. This year though I told Chris not to get me one - just a card. We're still broke if I haven't told you lately. That whole "I'm starting a business" he's "waiting for his big surgery job to be approved" by the damn hospital [another time for that one] So I said, honey, just get me a card. He's brilliant at the card part - finds the perfect one, writes me a tear jerker letter EVERY SINGLE HOLIDAY I swear that man had a former life as a speech writer.

Friday he came home with a non-present though. It involves an REI gift card and him wandering around in an outdoor store. He said he was going to buy me fleece but decided it wasn't chic enough so instead he bought us these which make me laugh.


we've been using them on our two levels [me up stairs watching GIRL tv] him downstairs watching The Channel of Death [hunting and fishing channel] I holler down a "10-4 good buddie" command and he switches the laundry for me. it's a WIN-WIN if you ask me.

if it were a normal year? I would have asked for this:



Jimmy Choo has a new fragrance. I keep getting those strips of smells in my magazines and opening them to wipe them all over my body and that NEVER happens. Me and smells usually don't get along so well if I haven't said before. I'm art damaged in that way too I guess. Maybe next year...

Apparently. I'm not the only one who likes it...Saks has a disclaimer that because DUE TO HIGH DEMAND, A CUSTOMER MAY ORDER NO MORE THAN 6 UNITS OF THIS ITEM EVERY THIRTY DAYS. umm WOW -ok. Not available till March. You can pre-order it on Saks' website or walk into the JC store if you must

happy friday all. Have a sweet weekend

image originally posted on my site this day

Can a Crocodile Rock?

Do you ever have a flashback of something you did and get a little cringe? I think I have one of these at least 3 times a week. Something stupid I said as a young adult, sometimes about someone I dated that I knew was bad for me, or perhaps a wacky outfit that I wouldn't even want a photo evidence of now to laugh at [there seems to be a lot of these]



This morning Elton John was on Regis and Kelly. I don't watch the show but I know that because there were commercials on during the news that said so. He was playing Crocodile Rock and I got a little cringe.



It was either in 1st or 2nd grade and I convinced my best buddy to enter the talent contest at school. There weren't any winners per se but if you auditioned they let you on stage. We made up a little dance, one that involved a lot of arm flaying and our feet going side-to-side {I was a little dancing queen as a kid} Our moms made us matching JUMPSUITS. Yes, all caps are required to tell you that. JUMPSUITS TO CROCODILE ROCK. I think they were pink. I would not lie about this.

Well we did it. Got into the show and the little cafeteria was filled with parents who agreed to sit through it. And then what I didn't realize was that I would have to be IN FRONT OF PEOPLE. LOTS OF PEOPLE. We got up on stage and did our little deal - I suspect with less arm flays but wow. didn't. like. it. at. all. that was my first case of stage fright and not my last I tell ya. Talking to more than 3 people? same feeling. {a little cringe here}

So to tell you...I'm pretty sure the crocodile did not rock that evening.

but these totally rock! aren't these school things cute? they're via this Etsy shop. Thanks to Design Love Fest for the tip

yes, please

the best dresser I've EVER seen - made by Rupert Blanchard
available only at Elemental UK
£4200

Bill Cunningham New York

can't wait to see this documentary. Bill is The Original Sartoralist



talk about living and breathing what you do. He lives it fully.

Urban Outfitters is getting into the wedding game. Yes, you heard me right Urban Outfitters. WWD reports today [along with some good images] Bhldn will launch via an e-commerce site, appropriately, on Valentine’s Day.

The site will launch with apparel, accessories, lingerie, jewelry and shoes. Tabletop, cake pedestals, place cards and everything for decorating a venue will bow on the site in May. Invitations arriving next year.

The only part that bummed me out? "Our customer skews slightly older, but she’s still under 30" I think that means the dresses will be cut for 20-somethings {sigh}

this gray dress pictured? totally love - I think I could do gray for sure.

prices will be from $1,000 - $4,000 with event dresses $200-$600

image and information via WWD

just a laugh

thought I'd start the day out with a giggle
via>a note on design

I'm a sucker for a good flower pop. It's probably my sea of black, grey, white and denim screaming out for something more.



have I ever told you that pretty much everything I wear is a combo of three items I just listed? today I have on black pants with a white tank and white long sleeve tee. I happen to have a red scarf on because I'm wacky like that. Tomorrow I'll probably have the same setup except a different colored tank top - WOO Dream Big

{I'm boring} with clothes - it's just so much easier to have everything MATCH.


but I'm thinking something jazzy from Ban.do might be something the spring time calls for.



though I can't be sure that a giant bow on a woman of {my} certain age is called for. This I might still have to ponder. Still these girls have some pretty darn cute stuff if you ask me.

and the winner goes to...

best ad - best tag line. nice work Chrysler.

ok last one for today I promise

I'm thinking about making a video about my letterpress work, so I've been watching a lot of fun stuff the past few days. Sharkpig has some good stuff going on here!

Piano Phone: Alison Sudol & Rue Magazine from Shark Pig on Vimeo.

this is the behind the scenes of Rue Magazine photoshoot {which is awesome on it's own}

new Angela Adams

I keep walking past the stinky [why are they so gassy?], cheaply made polyester rugs at Target wishing that they were Angela Adams rugs.




I'm not normally a fan of patterns. Hardly any in my wardrobe and even in my house everything is a stripe, something simple and visually organized if you will. But the thing about AA is that most everything she has is right up my {shall we say... retentive?] Alley.



the real wish? one of her super thick and chunky wool rugs.
this one pictured 8x10 $1800

Do What You Love

a video series done for Gap by Pacing The Panic Room
{which is such an awesome name}

Do What You Love- Jess from The Panic Room Videos on Vimeo.

the question of the week is...what if you're doing what you love but it's making you no money? {ugh}

TAIL OF THE YAK

I've been thinking a lot about this store lately. Tail of the Yak in Berkeley. I've only been there a couple of times and not for about 10 years or so, so it seems odd that it would come into mind so frequently lately.



estate jewelry, vintage ribbons, French soaps and odd curiosities are in every nook and cranny from what I remember. I found these images today to remind me of what it really looks like. In my mind, it was much smaller and darker. Much more mysterious than these images.


I've been thinking about the Bay Area lately. Maybe because every time I think about running away from my life The East Bay and San Fran seem the perfect place to change everything.



you might say I'm having a mini mid-life crisis. I call it that because I don't know what else to call it when you're 40+ and don't have a plan. What am I suppose to be doing when I grow up? because I'm not sure about anything these days. It feels like I'm starting over but I'm not quite sure where I'm going to just yet.



but I tell you what. If I made a hat with all of these crazy fun flowers and wore it every day, I think by virtue, the creativity would enter my brain on it's own. {nod your head in agreement} because that's the best answer I have for today.

TAIL OF THE YAK
2632 ASHBY AVE
BERKELEY, CA 94705


Tail of the Yak 1. store image via Colleen Bapitsta the rest of the images found here on ladolfina

The Stronghold

I adore this place. The Stronghold an Abbot Kinney [Venice] store for men & women. A little step back in time for well made goods.



Best known for their vintage selvage denim recreated from the 1895 first denim brand in Los Angeles, they have stock items and made to measure services as well. Even their off-the-rack stuff is tailored, all of their jeans are hemmed per spec.

Currently the store is carrying a very limited edition Red Wing Boot. They are they only store outside of Japan with any stock [I'd jump on that fast if I were you] I was also very smitten with their Alden Shoe collection [you know how I'm a sucker for a wing tip]

Women's gear isn't as prevalent as the men's but I would love to get a pair of made to measure jeans for certain.

All Hail The Queen

photographer Henry Wolf who apparently shot many of Oscar de la Renta's designs for Elizabeth Arden in the early 60's
>via ODLR's facebook page

The Best Part?

I'm usually not a fan of messy. I'm usually a tailored-suit -loving kinda girl



but that teeny tiny bow tie pinned to the lapel is making me smile today.
via>The Sartoralist of course