ARTSY FARTSY

READING RAINBOW

Photos: GrainEdit.com

I love the look of graphic book covers. I do believe that you can judge a book by its cover. Fact: some are just better than others - long live Chip Kidd!, and while roaming around a bookstore recently, I realized how similar it was to roaming around a gallery. There really is some great art on the covers.

This is remarkable realization for me since I'm not really the biggest reader, and rarely make it past the periodicals in any bookstore. I'm glad a ventured out. 

I now have this great idea of collecting these amazing books with their amazing covers and starting a graphic library! I've been to houses with rooms full of books and am always in awe (assuming that they have read every one) and shame (I have no intention of ever reading that many books) and jealousy (I do love the aesthetic of a library).

Now I can visually justify having one. Suck it, nerds.

 

POTTY MOUTH

AS A MATTE OF FACT...

I have always fantasized about having matte color nails. I think a little color on the hands looks great, but the gloss is a little too much. Last summer I ran around like crazy looking all over NYC and LA for a matte navy. No luck. Now, I'm seeing all these fab colors and even a swell little product (v men) that works as a top coat over any nail color to give it a matte finish. Hooray! 

Karen O in KO

the best products around to get the look

man glaze * nubar * koknockout

AU NATURALE

GET WET

A recent trip up to El Matador really cleared my head. It is so gorgeous there. As I lounged by the sea, images of cuter bating attire I could be wearing swam through my head. Such an inspiring place calls for an inspired suit. I am a big fan of small suits. I think the smaller you go, the less colorful it should be. The last thing you want to be is that guy on a great beach. The juxtaposition is brutal. But, the perfect suit on the perfect beach?  That can be magical.    

bblessing pink semaphore @ oak

Y-3 beach runner @ oak

opening ceremony trunk

 robinson les bains @ colette

WEEKEND PROJECT

THRIFT

I just got schooled.  I thought I knew the places to go and the ways to rummage, but F* was I mistaken. I was recently taken around L.A. for an in-depth tutorial on how and when to find the best of the best in vintage clothing...and it is WAR. These people are no joke.  Lucky for me, neither was my commander and I am a quick learner. Armed with our keen eyes and quick hands, we left a notable mark on the battlefields of boxes.  

Gone are the days of $100 t-shirts and $80 blazers. I know how to get them all for a nickel! And, they are all fresh from the morgue or jail or wherever these fashionable souls lost hold of their clothes - no middle man, no racks, no hangers, no markets.  

Get it done people. Learn the ways of the thrift.  Dig?

TREND

BLONDIE

In this economy, don't you want to have more fun?

STYLEPHILE - A.P.C. SUMMER 09

EASY DOES IT

Sometimes it's just nice to wear clothes. Easy, clean, fresh, smooth, summer clothes. The kind of clothes you forget you are wearing until you come home at the end of the day smelling like a day well used for leisure and catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror and think, "Damn, I looked cute today!" Clothes that when you put them on, they feel hand made, well made, and passed down from a cool older brother. The clothes you get to wear for three months while school is out, and represent freedom and a sun tan.

So much is difficult these days. So much is F*ing going on all the time. Stop thinking about clothes and just put this collection on and eat a Popsicle outside. Ahhhhhh...   

CURRENT OBSESSION

HERE COMES THE BRIDE

And if she is smart, she will get herself some of this action. So happy to spend Sat. with my favorite bride to be at the Peninsula! lots of amazing looks. Giuseppe Zanotti courtesy of Leggsie Megsie @ Decades L.A. Amazing choice for a pool party - put my Reef's to shame! 

TECH SUPPORT

I AM A JOSE CUREVO GOLDEN GOD



RockBand2. 8 hours. I <3.

SHOPPING - DEREK LAM NYC

GRAND OPENING

Photo courtesy of Derek Lam

Last night was marked by the opening of Derek Lam's new SAANA designed boutique in SoHo. It is the first for the designer, and I must say it looked faboo!  Shiny * Flash * Pop * Drink * Sparkle * Fizz! DMurder, Thanks for the heads up. You are a darling. I really need to get to NYC more often! I can't wait to check out the store in the light of day. Sigh, escapism is always a good thing, and a good store can really do the job well...

 Derek Lam * 10 Crosby St * New York, NY‎ 

CURRENT OBSESSION

JEANEOLOGY

I just found these jeans surfing the web.  I can't get over how earthy yet modern these jeans are. Hippy and cool.  Navajo and street. They remind me of a boy I loved in LA.  I always wanted to wear his jeans.  Now that I can't steal them anymore, I suppose these are the next best thing...for now.

April 77 Collection, available in July at American Rag, L.A.; Barneys and Bergdorf Goodman, NYC; and Blackbird, Seattle

STYLEPHILE - DIRK BIKKEMBERGS

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS

As part of the "Antwerp Six," a lot may be expected of Mr. Bikkembergs, and man did he deliver for Fall! I could never decide if Posh Spice or Sporty Spice was my favorite...seems now I don't have to choose. This collection is like a Bentley doing it with a soccer ball.  I llurve it. It touches on fetish, it oozes luxe. The graphics and colors are great, and the gold trophies along the runway...fuggedaboutit. Its nice to see some sportswear in ready-to-wear.  I'm so ready to break out the track pants. Not ready for fall yet, his Spring collection was kinda hot too. 

Photos: Giovanni Giannoni

Spring

PERV-O-LICIOUS 

Photos: Daniel Guidetti

POTTY MOUTH

TIDY UP

I have been gardening a lot this Spring. This is new. I have terrible allergies so have never gotten that into it, but I must say that it is quite rewarding to see plants grow because of me.

With this fledgling joy came a big flip side. Digging around in the soil really emphasized how terrible my nails have been looking and how inadequate my toiletry situation had gotten. So, I have since found some very clever and useful new tools to aid in my gardening/do-it-yourself enjoyment. Rubis Swiss and Dovo have the best in the biz.

Now, when I've been out manicuring the garden, I can come in and treat myself to one too. This way, I don't have to wear gloves to parties, and if I bring someone home-grown flowers, instead of looking like I stole them off a grave out of which I clawed, I will look charming and savvy. Score! 

 

WEEKEND PROJECT

4000 WORDS

Photo:  Andrew Mccaul/Good Housekeeping

My grandma fell down the stairs. Subsequently, I have been spending a bit of time in doctors' waiting rooms. While the reading pickings are slim, I found a little gem in a Good Housekeeping. I'm in llurve with this idea of cutting up posters and making them a little more interesting over the sofa.  I think posters can look so dorm room, and, as I grow older, I try to avoid that look. I also adore collages, groupings, wall stories...the more the merrier.

Below are some pictures I doctored up to see if there was any anxiety in their separation.  I don't think there is. Try this with a vintage poster or photo. Maybe don't even group them directly together - make them part of a bigger collage...there are endless possibilities. 

After a great fall, it is nice to see that my grandma isn't the only thing that can be put back together again...