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"Names to Know"
If life has been feeling a little lackluster recently, step things up a notch with this Zero + Maria Conejo Eve Long Foil Dress.
Cleverly cut, this smoke blue dress cascades as if the garment was imbued with the energy and grace of a waterfall. Time to look seductively seraphic, I’d say.
Editor’s note: the boot here is a bit heavy. Best worn with a flat sandal or sky-high bootie.
GET IT HERE.
Catalina de La Torre is a Boston-based jewelry designer who is perhaps best known for her refined interpretations of rough-hewn stones, namely a series of geode rings which were as exquisite as they were ubiquitous. The Colombian-born de La Torre has aways exhibited an appreciation of natural forms, but what continues to set her work apart from the Elementary-School-Art-Teacher set is the modern way in which she renders these motifs.
Montmartre, the current collection, is a stunning addition to the designer’s repertoire. Yes,there is her love of clean, simple geometries, but she is clearly exploring new territory. Unimpeachably elegant territory, at that.
This pair is the perfect example, Lapis Lazuli and White Quartz? Parallel and perpendicular forms? That inky blue, which is Fall 2011′s major winner in the color category? It’s rare I appreciate such a simple harmony of materials and form, but these are just so damn perfect.
I would tell you where and how to wear them, but it’s unnecessary. Wear them everywhere, with everything. Inspire envy.
GET ‘EM HERE.
Have you ever worked for a company who can’t seem to get their business strategy down pat? Like they are moving in a million different directions and the pathway to success seems long and harried at best?
Perhaps they should have taken tips from the Stockholm law offices of Hannes Snellman. A place where clarity and, at the same time, aggression, screams at you from every angle. In a lovely contemporary way of course. Hey, if you’re going to defend someone, you might as well be clear about it, right?
Artist Ulf Rollof teamed up with Swedish rug manufacturer, Kashtall, to weave together a hand-tufted wool and linen billboard, stating their main objective: fight with passion, strategy, and audacious commitment. And they did it in three pieces measuring 30.5 feet x 48 feet.
I wonder if these honchos have any specific reading requirements?
A sale in August, in and of itself, is hardly news– with everything in sight at between 50-75% off, attainability has surpassed visual novelty as the shopper’s siren song. Even the mannequins begin to look a bit bored-to-tears around this time, their shiny, plaster eyes longing for the fall collections.
That said, we would be as useful as mannequins ourselves if we didn’t alert you that the Stel’s Bag Sale is happening, i.e. you can fill a shopping bag with merchandise for $25 (small), $50 (medium) or $75 (large) in the store today through Sunday. You saw that correctly; with tons of men’s and women’s coming in for fall, it’s time to make some room for what’s new on those racks.
Believe us, we plan to tell owners Jon, Tina and Dave that they are daft too, right after we’re done filling this bag…
Get the hell out of my way, Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm. brrrrring…..brrrringgggg!
I am not doubting your abilities to perhaps outdo me in the household duties department, but I will, in fact, run you down with my very own Missoni for Target Bike that I will be purchasing on the eve of September 14 when the entire collection comes out.
Your buddy Anne of Green Gables better watch her tail as well.
And if you are all wondering why I’m posting about a damn bike, as opposed to the household items Missoni will be designing for Target, then surely you’ve mistaken me for a decorator. Said bike will be pulling double duty as art, as I’ll be hanging it 12 feet up on my Living Room wall.
Monsieur Louboutin is losing his battle against French-power-house Yves Saint Laurent over a pair of red-soled Palais pumps. You may recall when we (and everyone in the fashion industry) mentioned this petty scandal a few weeks back. While we have, to date, admired Christian for his insistence, there are few in the community, or otherwise, who believed he had much of a case, or, frankly, much of a reason to pursue one.
To begin with, his is a fairly new brand. Yes, his soles are, for most women, a distinct mark of his brand, but that’s hardly cause for excluding other, much more established, houses from using what is, after all, a primary color.
The latest blow to his cause is a ruling from Manhattan Federal Judge Victor Marrero, whose ruling stated, ”Because in the fashion industry color serves ornamental and aesthetic functions vital to robust competition, the court finds that Louboutin is unlikely to be able to prove that its red outsole brand is entitled to trademark protection, even if it has gained enough public recognition in the market to have acquired secondary meaning,” Judge Victor Marrero wrote in his opinion. This comes after Louboutin filed an injunction against Yves Saint Laurent to prevent the distribution of the Palais pump in question as the trial continues in France.
Harvey Lewin, an attorney for Camp Christian, said, “We think the judge missed it… The court essentially indicated that it does not believe that a single color can be a trademark in the fashion industry. We’re disheartened.”
Missed what, exactly, Mr. Lewin? That what was originally a flight of designer fancy and later became his sole brand identity (pun intended) is hardly able to be defended in an industry where colors are not the right of any given designer, but merely one tool in a designer’s box? Can you imagine the uproar if someone, anyone, attempted to trademark black? Or even, as we saw last season, the awful uprising of Salmon?
There is now a motion to cancel Louboutin’s earlier-granted trademark on the red sole, and representatives for both Monsieur Louboutin and Yves Saint Laurent will appear later this month to provide arguments.
I’m willing to wager the motion will be upheld. Either way, the entire debate has overshadowed the real point: perhaps it’s time for Monsieur Louboutin to get back to designing shoes which stand out from his competitors in ways other than the color of their sole.
No more resting on your red-lacquered laurels, my friend.
Does the word tuft make you nervous? For example, is that a tuft in your pocket or are you just…?
Imagining your Grandmother’s little tufted tuffet sitting by its lonesome in the dark corner of her faded, floral-wallpaper covered living room while you wait patiently in your Sunday best for some of those cookies she promised you?
It’s time you reacquaint yourself with tufting, my friends. Here are a few of my favorite tufted numbers. Some will make you want to get your drink on. Some will make you want to get your… other things … on. Either way, tufting has never seen such a sleek silhouette.
Let’s face it, the friendship bracelets you made during arts and crafts at sleep-away camp never came out looking this good. This summer, relive your youth by sporting an armful of these Shaka Lanyard Bracelets. Sold in an array of fluorescent color and equipped with gold plated clasp closures, there are as many possibilities for pairing these hand woven creations by nOir as there are animal crackers in the camp’s snack jar.
GET IT HERE.
Boston Recessionistas, rejoice! DailyCandy Deals is coming to the city to rescue our little piggy banks and help us best stretch out our hard-earned dollahs to: get out and shop, eat, see, and experience all the nooks and crannies in town!
Starting from TODAY, August 8, DailyCandy Deals will have its local Boston site for us all to dive in (way to make our Monday, we are already loving you, DailyCandy)!
To start off the launch with a bang, the website is offering all kinds of über-cool deals, including:
- A romantic tasting menu for two at the fancy Haru;
- First-come, first-serve bargain deals from Fandango for the movie Change Up, featuring none other than Mr. Ryan Reynolds and Jason Bateman!;
- 40% off of Wembe, an organic skincare line, as well as
- a 50% off deal on a manicure prep set from Julep!
These deals won’t last long (give yourselves a strict 24-hour deadline and >>bookmark<< the website)! So become a DailyCandy Deals Boston MEMBER today, and be sure to keep your eyes peeled for the line-up change of exclusive deals and offerings!
I admit I was once a Bravo TV junkie (circa Project Runway). For the record, I did not and have not (yet) given in to any of the supposedly-scintillating Real Housewives franchises.
Instead, I was hooked to one show in particular: The Rachel Zoe Project. From her omnipresent L.A.-fied bug-eye sunglasses and hangbags that probably weighed more than she does (even pregnant) to her billions of baubles, the series always doled out more than a healthy portion of guilty pleasure.
Brad Goreski, the once-sweet-and-adorable-charming, aww-inducing Canadian-New-Yorker transplant who started off as Zoe’s third, then second-in-command, rather famously ditched the all-mighty Ms. Zoe and ventured out on his own. He started by snatching a handful of key clients of Zoe’s, including Demi Moore and Jessica Alba. Now, the charming gent has a memoir, penned by a former GQ editor, scheduled for release in 2012. Little surprise that the release date coincides with his reality spin-off TV show debut, but I’m not complaining. The more Goreski, the better.
I have to hand it to the kid, what with his tear-jerking stories of childhood bullies and an unyielding dream to become a part of the glamorous high fashion world. He made it as an intern at Vogue (a test of resolve, indeed), and then in Zoe’s camp, so he’s clearly got what it takes to weather fashion’s fickle winds. But seriously, a memoir?
For budding stylist, a rising star if you will, Goreski seems to be yet another victim of that variety of undeserved and unearned self-importance which reality TV is particularly skilled at begetting. A memoir deserves more than a yougster’s two-cents, behind-the-scenes stories, and, frankly, gossip from an industry that has been well-documented as awfully catty. Clichés abound, I guess.
Though if you ask me again in a year’s time, Born to Be Brad: Life and Style Lessons from the Front Lines of Fashion may just make it to my guilty-pleasure-reading-list. Probably with my channel dialed to Bravo again, maybe even with a celebratory viewing party with a bunch of girlfriends… Just sayin’.
Recently dubbed the “Lady Gaga” of architecture by New York Times writer Paul Goldberger, Zaha Hadid designed this Established & Sons Aqua table with the undulating motion of water in mind. Available in either black or white, this gorgeous three-legged table perfectly balances a Mod aesthetic with an undulating, organic quality.
Fin like legs register as dimples on the upper surface of the table, giving texture and movement to a utilitarian object that many would typically think of as flat and rigid. The outré form implores interaction, needing naught to legitimize its existence (not even a fancy coffee table book).
Interested in purchasing? Make sales enquiries HERE.
It’s always exciting when one of our favorite designers comes out with a more affordable collection. And while these less expensive works can often range from lines for Target, Macy’s and H&M, I often feel a bit disappointed at the cheap version of what was once a luxurious piece of art. And please, does adding the word “Target” to our label really make us feel luxurious? (yes, I’m speaking to you, Mulberry for Target).
The B Atwood for Saks debut is to me exactly what these collections are all about. The price points aren’t so low that the quality will suffer, but you’ll definitely feel you can justify that classic Atwood pump you were once on the fence about.
Even better? Often times these “budge- friendly” compilations result in a much less creative version of what was loved about the designer in the first place. Not in (ahem, smart and handsome) Mr. Atwood’s case, though, much to our relief! He’s taken the opportunity to be even more innovative with a cohesive variety of textures, prints and embellishments (think leopard, calf hair and fringe), but while still throwing in some traditional platform pumps to stay true to his aesthetic. I honestly cannot even begin to tell you which shoe is my favorite as the collection as a whole is anything but monotonous. In fact, I think you’ll find there’s a little something for everyone in this high-heeled line-up.
Start pre-ordering HERE (link: http://www.saksfifthavenue.com/editorial/brianatwood072611.jsp)
And check them out at Saks this Fall.
I am your proverbial health buff… yes, the yoga-practicing, Kombucha-drinking, tincture-dropping,
tofu-munching kind. It’s annoying at best, especially since one can so easily stay svelte on a regimen of
espresso and nicotine. But then I just look at a picture of than Janice Dickinson and I’m right back to OM-ing.
Truth is, the only qualm I have about the natural lifestyle (aside from the Birkenstocks) is the damper it puts on my nightlife. Every time I approach a bar, it’s like an epic battle between my inner-health-buff and my inner-working-professional-who-just-wants-a-stiff-drink. The healthy Me is all, “Liver damage, enamel corrosion, hypertension, excessive sugar, empty calories …” and there’s my other side who can’t say anything because she’s drooling over the thought of a pomegranate mojito.
And thus, my greatest challenge has been to establish some semblance of accord between that which is good for my health and that which is good for my sanity. So imagine my thrill when the alcohol industry began to see a lucrative target market in granola-crunchers like myself. The bait: an innovative line of vitamin- and nutrient-infused liquors. Nutritious alcohol? The Holy Grail of health-conscious boozers! (Cue: angelic choir.)
Among the most compelling options, is Blue Ice Organic Wheat Vodka, certified by the USDA and distilled in the heartland of Idaho. It goes through a rigorous filtration process to remove impurities, resulting in a smooth taste without common additives like citric acid or glycerides. If you prefer a more flavorful spirit, you can opt for Fragoli Strawberry Liqueur, chockful of hand-picked antioxidant-rich strawberries. Stir in some of the Colorado-born iX Mixer for an extra splash of electrolytes, vitamins and minerals to combat dehydration and preclude that impending hangover.
Be wary of a concoction of a particular kind called Devotion, the industry’s first 80 proof triple-distilled protein-infused vodka.
Whenever you throw protein into something, you run the risk of intersecting the muscle-head demographic. This was my skepticism with Devotion… until they picked up the Jersey Shore’s Situation as their spokesman. Needless to say, skip this packy purchase.
If you want to stick to the typical bar lineup, opt for red wine with its heart-healthy polyphenols; or whiskey, which incidentally has the same antioxidant content as your daily dose of Vitamin C and contains the same cancer-fighting ellagic acid that you’ll find in fruit.
With these innovative options, I am no longer between on-the-rocks and a hard place when it comes to my recreational sipping. I’ll drink to that, hold the guilt.
Peek-a-boo sunglasses, anyone? This rare, quirky find is from none other than the unpredictable fashion cat, Jeremy Scott. Personally, I’d go for the cherry-red confection without hesitation (why not go mega-bold when you’re already going for the showstopper?), but these also come in these über-cool shades as well: opaque black, black/white, clear, and the Midas-touched gold.
Don’t even begin to ask me for what to pair with these hotnese cuz i won’t know where to begin! Truly, this one’s got a life (and a mind) of its own. So just let it be, and appreciate!
Get it HEREhttp://www.openingceremony.us/products.asp?menuid=2&catid=14&subcatid=73&productid=33732.
Belgium based label SWASH gets creative with the idea of animal print, combining the ever-iconic Zebra stripe pattern with edgier greyhound illustrations on the side. The best part? These funky shorts have the ideal stretchy fit, making them totally summer bicycle ride approved. Buy at Beklina.
Images via Raphael Young
There is something for everyone in footwear prodigy Raphael Young’s fall collection. Or, at least, something for everyone who knows how to S-T-R-U-T. Tricky motocross-inspired boots and pointy pin-heeled stilettos are there for the taking, each style complete with Young’s signature geometry play.
And while fashion’s past two seasons have been rife with nineties references, I must applaud Young for taking the road less traveled: this collection isn’t so much Nirvana as it is Kelly Bundy. There’s a humor to the collection that is both welcomed and à propos.
And though I don’t expect EVERYONE to want to wear these with high-waisted acid wash Versace jeans and Benetton crop tops (as I do, obviously), I request that those still sadly hanging on to long-gone eighties references move, quickly, in this direction.
Better start running in those heels if you want to catch up!
The world of Architecture and Interior Design may not have many rockstars, but what it lacks in quantity it makes up for in quality. Peter Marino, for example. A few reasons why Mr. Marino is cooler than the rest of us:
1. His firm is called Peter Marino Architect. Just in case you don’t know what he does. Being this direct requires chutzpah. He’s got it.
2. He looks like a cross between Karl Lagerfeld, a cleaner shaven Dennis Hopper in Easy Rider, and my all-time flavor fave George “I Want Your Sex” Michael.
3. He designs like a mofo.
Not only has he created breathtakingly sophisticated spaces for the likes of Ermenegildo Zegna, Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Christian Dior, but he’s also the man behind my two all-time favorites: the Zwinger Royal Porcelain Collection at the Oriental & Meissein Animal Galleries in Dresden, Germany, and the whimsical retrospective on the work of Claude & Francois-Xavier Lalanne at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, France.
Sophistication is paramount, but it’s also clear he has a well-developed sense of humour. There’s a playfulness to his work that is unparalleled.
Little surprise that he made the famed Architectural Digest Top 100 List in 2010. Needless to say, if there’s anyone to bow down to, it’s Mr. Marino. Just watch out for his spiked boots.
Not as familiar as you ought to be? Get to know his work via the gallery below.
Boston Magazine dubbed Arlington-based demicouturier Nirva the Best of Boston Womenswear this month. Hardly a shock. What’s shocking, however, is her sample sale. HAPPENING NOW.
Make an appointment with the inexhaustibly charming Ms. Derbekyan sooner than later. I have a feeling her stunning collection won’t last long on the shelves…
Brooke Kanani is a New-England-based jewelry designer whose work is an artful study in tension: raw, natural elements set against refined, Old World handiwork. The results are, for lack of a better word, thrilling. Organic motifs rendered in a spirit of modernity.
Hardly surprising considering Kanani apprenticed for four years with a Polish master. Her pieces are one of a kind, and made entirely by hand in her studio.
This sterling silver necklace, in particular, has become my raison d’être. The talon-like pieces, the organic, withered elements, the horseshoe-crab toggle? Brilliant, in a word. Perfect with a plain t-shirt, of course, but even better as a complement to an insanely-low cut tuxedo jacket à la Tom Ford’s recent return to womenswear. Or, for the menfolk, over a stiffly-starched, leather-collared dress shirt.
C’est parfait, non?
