CURRENT OBSESSION

'TIS THE SEASON

Last minute gift ideas are always appreciated, so I submit to you the newest tees from Peter vs. Toby - a sexy little line from down under that has quickly become a personal fave. While T-shirts may seem like a no-brainer, finding the perfect graphic shirt is always a pain in the A+. These are so fun...AND while the prints are universal, they wont be omnipresent.

AU NATURALE

KNITTA PLEASE

Undone -- The Sweater Song (Al...

It is getting BLUSTERY out there! It only took a few months for winter to catch up with me (I guess global warming is good for some things), and now that we are mid-holidays, the chill + the invites to Ugly Sweater Parties = me rethinking the "Holiday Sweater."

I'm a fan of bold. I love color, and I'm feeling big/chunky knits right now. The flip side is that a bold sweater can say a lot or even a little too much, think Bill Cosby. So, how do you manage to stay bold yet not step on anyones eyes?

I found some inspiration in what is called "Urban Knitting" or "Yarn Bombing!" This amazing little graffiti trend is popping up all over the glob and knocking my F* socks off! The daring, bold and deliberate nature of this knitting is so awe inspiring; not only for what it brings to the streets, but also for its ability to really have fun and play with urban icons.

clockwise: Les Hommes, Gianfranco Ferre, Missoni, Robert Geller, Thom Browne, Miharayasuhiro

Now, getting back to the sweaters...or seasonal icons...I'm taking a lesson from these urban knitters and going bold and brave and knitted this fall! Here are some amazing feats done with just two sticks, some yarn, and a lot of imagination...oh, and the yarn-bombing isn't half bad either...

Alexander McQueen

Etro

Vivienne Westwood

Missoni

ARTSY FARTSY

FIGURINES

I am a sucker for a good figurine. I like the kitch, I like the chotch, and I like how looking at cute little things can spark up memories a lot better than a picture on a desk or table or shelf could. Above is "Duckie." Inspired by my ex who pointed out that this smug little expression was just the look I always make, he is one of my very favorites.

I'm not the only one on Team Figurine. While my argument for them is based on the meaning you put into them, Barnaby Bradford makes a great argument for the inherent meaning they can seemingly possess and the exquisite irony that can manifest from them. Below are two pieces from his collection The Good, The Bad, The Belle.

Do It Again, I Didn't Press Record

According to the 31-year-old, the works in his collection were developed to represent today's youth and how it is usually seen by the older generation.

The artists said: "It's been interesting to see different people's reactions to the models. Some people think they're horrific and others think they're funny. I think people are shocked because the models catch them off guard - they're seeing these usually traditional, pretty porcelain models in a totally new context."

He acquires the original porcelain models from car-boot sales as well as from charity shops. Then Mr. Barford dismantles them and starts transforming the "naive" image of childhood into more humorous and contemporary image of today's kids, equipping his figures with modern attributes like mobile phones and fast-food meals, which he thoroughly makes. SOURCE

Happy Meal

CUTE.

CURRENT OBSESSION

PETE RANDY

Photo: Justino Esteves

I am loving on this artist right now. Not only is he super stylish (check out the interview/shoot on homotography), but he has a song called Merman! This former frontman of Belgian band Dandy Boy is right on point. Next stop for me? Antwerp!

PR-ESS

VMAN Magazine issue #16 on newsstands November 17th

Milan Vukmirovic, creative director of Trussardi 1911 styles and photographs a collection of his own. Starring model Simone Bredariol of D’Men, we get another look at the colorful spring range that takes into account a lighter, more vibrant mood – illustrating a willingness to explore and be playful within the realms of menswear.

Don't you just love feathers? www.vman.com

STYLEPHILE - ATO s/s 2010

ATO-MIC

Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844-1889)

Spring and Fall:

to a Young Child

Margaret, are you grieving

Over Goldengrove unleaving?

Leaves, like the things of man, you

With your fresh thoughts care for, can you?

Ah! as the heart grows older

It will come to such sights colder

By and by, nor spare a sigh

Though worlds of wanwood leafmeal lie;

And yet you will weep and know why.

Now no matter, child, the name:

Sorrow's springs are the same.

Nor mouth had, no nor mind, expressed

What héart héard of, ghóst guéssed:

It is the blight man was born for,

It is Margaret you mourn for.

p.s. how cute is ethan james?!

CURRENT OBSESSION

WICKED GOOD

I like when you find good things in ironic places. It has been hard for me to find perfect obsessions recently since I seem to always be looking in the same places and it all starts to look the same...

Enter the L.L. Bean catalog. I was mindlessly flipping through it while waiting in a friend's parent's living room (I mean, I had already exhausted the Pottery Barn Kids) and these popped out at me!

They are kind of an extension of these leggings from forever ago (ok, less than a year) and I can totally imagine myself stalking prey in them. They are a little yuppy, a little white trash, a little Where the Wild Things Are, and a little bit Guns N Ammo...and they are actually called the Wicked Good Moccasins!!! ...Does the prez of L.L. know what the interns are getting up to over there in Maine? I LOVES.

KUDOS

SIGN IN THE TIMES

The Fall 2009 Mens Fassion issue of T magazine caused a few deja vu moments for me. I can only think that my blog must be doing something right! I am a huge fan of T and always read it over a few times. In fact, the inspiration for my leggings fetish sprouted from their very pages.

Below are a few coincidences I found between Tmag and BR...enjoy...I know I did...

The reference to Yves Klein is reminds me of THIS POST I made when I was in LA and working on Rodeo...I had to hide what I was doing from my boss who had camera's everywhere and remote access to my computer...ugh...that really made me blue.

I am a huge fan of geometric graphic prints too! I really like the Pierre Hardy shoes featured on page 52. I was floored when they were compared to Victor Vasarely - much like I did HERE when I was inspired by the Givenchy S/S 2010 show.

Now, I love the emails and the comments everyone leaves for me, but to know that what I'm doing here on my little blog sometimes touches on wider, more refined opinion really makes me feel good about what I'm doing. Now, excuse me...I have to go to the hospital...I seem to have broken my arm...

TECH SUPPORT

I WANNA DO BAD THINGS WITH YOU

The summer has ended and Fall has begun. Most of us are excited that the new season of shows has cropped up, but I for one am totally bummed that TrueBlood has come to an end! As Monday begins, I feel a little less okay about the impending week. More than anything, I miss the sexy, dirty, gritty, sweet opening credits the show offered: quite possibly the most artistic credits on TV. I suppose this YouTube video will be my TrueBlood brand of refreshment until I can sink my teeth into the next season...

LOOKIE-LIEU

TRUE COLORS

Move This (Shake That Body) - ...

When I can, I love catching up on what my friends are doing. So many people have so many wonderful projects going on right now! In the forefront is Mr. Seth Pratt. I am LOVING on the long johns! Kindareminda me of THIS.

Take a gander at his upbeat primary colored collection of must have romper-wear then, if you are lucky enough to be in LA, check out his stuff at the New High Mart's Cosmic Collision.

STYLEPHILE - BURBERRY

WELCOME HOME

London Calling - The Clash

After a far-too-long stint showing in Milan, Christopher Bailey has brought the brand home...and...the collection couldn't be better!

As Sarah Bower says on www.style.com : ‘A shining, silver paillette-encrusted trenchcoat sparkling on the runway as metallic confetti rained down: This is the memory London fashion week will have of its 25th anniversary—and the Burberry show that ended it.….‘The message was Burberry gone short, draped, deluxe, and glamorous, and aimed at the very young.’

I am loving the draped (almost woven) tops, and the whole modern edge the iconic British Dandy is adopting. It's a little bit high tea, a little bit Punk, and a little bit Calvin Klein...when Calvin was at the helm...and a whole lotta London.

If you can't wait to get your hot little hands on the new goods, check out my-wardrobe for the best deals on the gotta have plaid right now! A classic is a classic, and it is BACK in a BIG way.

COLOR MY WORLD

I was curious...going into fall what color trends would pop up...I am not in LA as much and am fearful that I may slip into an AllBlackEastCoastForMonths mentality. While I won't hold myself ridged to these statistics, and they are only from one spot on the Fashion Map, it is a nice little go to get color theraped...

The Pantone Color Institute published a report on the top colors for fall 2009 as described by designers showing at New York fashion week. Pantone’s executive director says that the colors chosen are “a direct outcome of what’s happening in the world around us.”

1. Iron (Pantone 18-1306): Percentage of designers who used this color, 16.5
2. Purple Heart (Pantone 18-3520): 15.6
3. Majolica Blue (Pantone 19-4125): 12.8
4. American Beauty (Pantone 19-1759): 11.9
5. Honey Yellow (Pantone 16-1143): 10.1
6. Rapture Rose (Pantone 17-1929): 9.2
7. Burnt Sienna (Pantone 17-1544): 8.2
8. Warm Olive (Pantone 15-0646): 7.3
9. Nomad (Pantone 16-1212): 5.6
10. Creme Brulee (Pantone 13-1006): 2.8

SOURCE

CURRENT OBSESSION

HAPPY FEET

I know, I know...I love the Vans, I love the "sheer" and I love customizing things. This adorable pair was spotted @ Trader Joes, and I had to take a pic! The wearer/art student must have channeled a little Monty Python when she made these. I'm digging them!

MOVIE

DYAD is an exclusive collaboration with Topman LENS previewing their Autumn/Winter 09 collection. Directed by Alex Johns, this short film questions time, place and what is reality. The two men – the dyad – appear in a wasteland, seemingly from nowhere. We don’t know where they have come from or what their connection is; they are together but somehow apart. Topman is launching the LENS collection in a new permanent space in their Oxford Circus branch as part of a large expansion of the store. We wish them the best of luck! 0source: buckstyle

DYAD

Directed by Alex Johns

Photography by Holly Falconer

Styling by Elliott James Sainsbury

Original Score by Laurence Matthew

Hair & Make-up: Suki Miles

Photographer’s assistant: Lewis Smith

Models: Thomas Keyes and Wesley at mandp models

TREND

FOLLOW THE LIGHT

I'm not a raver, I'm not a tweaker, I'm not nine years old, but I do love me some glow sticks. Maybe it is the influence of electro becoming more and more ingratiated into pop music, or maybe it is a result of the nineties becoming retro-cool, but I think they are amzing and am drawn to them like a fly to a bright blue bug zapper!

Things have advanced since the days of simple glow stick - Look at this pirates booty of wonderful things that you can get to glow in the dark! - But, I am a purist. I appreciate the time and place for ticky-tacky accoutrement, but you gotta chill the F* out if you wanna play it cool with the GS. Don't think of it as a party gag. Think of it as a work of wonderful art.

Think of Dan Flavin, the remarkable sculptor/artist who did amazing works with the same neon lights available at most stores. "Dan Flavin's light sculptures illuminate everything around them," Susan Stamberg reported. "His fluorescent lights don't just hang there. They inhabit space. They wash the walls with color, they mix colors so the white walls seem painted. They bathe space -- and visitors -- in a warm and completely artificial glow." Isn't this how you want to feel?

I love his installations. The magical-helio-color therapy that happens in the presence of his work is totally insane and intense. Now, I don't expect anyone to cary around huge neon tubes, but here are a few ways I tricked out my bag Tokyo Drift style. Not only can I always find it in a dark bar, but if i get desperate, I can throw the glow inside the bag and find my Sh*.

One last (and more utilitarian) idea...my friends and I have begun to cary just the sticks (un-activated) in our pockets to unfamiliar bars. When one of us is over it and ready to go, we simply crack the thing on. This way the others know that it is time to wrap things up and make towards the door without depending on the blackberry.

Go get some and see how handy, if not chique you can make them...having trouble finding them? Check the back of your mom's freezer. I bet you left one there long ago to keep the glow alive...

CURRENT OBSESSION

WORK PANTS

I had to get a pair of black pants for work. More than my shock of not having a sufficient pair, was my amazement when what I thought would be a throw-away pair of jeans became my new favorite pair of pants! It make zero sense that I own them, but they fit so well that I never want to take them off! Call me difficult...

Here are the bazaar facts on these odd little pants...

is the brand. It is a juniors brand that I have since found available at Kohls.

I got them at A glorified Goodwill that sells...stuff I guess. Mine are a size 11 (Whatever the hell that is) and they were $13. If you find any, try them on! If you don't want them, LET ME KNOW!