style cravings

my dream studio

If only I could have a live-in studio such as this one spotted by The Coolhunter in the "trendy backstreets of Jingumae in Tokyo."

An excerpt:

"This small live in studio and salon has been decked in black paint with a beautifully elegant mural, depicted from the salon’s own brand to engulf its two exposed walls.  The hand-painted pattern is reminiscent of an inverted Rorschach inkblot drawing. Yet the symmetrical display blends perfectly with the centre piece - a woman overwhelmed by the surrounding plumage. And while the windows are large and severe, they don’t distort the image. Instead, they perforate the design with different levels of intensity, revealing larger and smaller details of what lies beneath."

via The Coolhunter

reverie

Reverie (designed by Alison Woodward)

I'm ecstatic over my recent discovery of Reverie, a jewelry line designed by Alison Woodward. Her exquisite pieces, each so unique and charming, are "inspired by discarded and unappreciated antique items."  Check out her gallery to see all of her designs and be prepared to be heartbroken to discover your newfound love has been sold. Details for purchasing a piece is given on her contact link.

In addition, Design*Sponge offers a sneak peak into Alison's lovely home.

Update:  New Reverie designs can be regularly found on Smashing Darling.

via Reverie

trailer blues

Photographed by Steven Klein.
Styled by Alex White.
W, Septemeber 2007 issue

Generally, I abhor the ubiquitous celebrity fashion shoot, but Steven Klein succeeded here by deglamorizing Gwynth Paltrow's yuppie girl-next-door looks. The incongruity of luxurious clothes in a dilapidated domestic setting invites interesting narrative questions.

via Style.com

grow your daisy

So I joined Marc Jacob's interactive site for his new perfume, Daisy, and it's definitely cute. However, I'm annoyed that I have to play all the 'Grow Your Daisy' games just to get points to download goodies such as Daisy screensavers and AIM icons. I was pretty good at pollinating my daisy, but I got too lazy to figure out how to get the rain to work.

If you want a code to join, Hintmag is sending emails to its members. Here's an exerpt from the email:

To access www.daisymarcjacobs.com, you need a unique code - simply send an email to the gatekeeper, and she will send one to you right away (make sure to mention Hintmag in your email).

As soon as you join, you are automatically entered in to a contest to win one of five stunning Marc Jacobs handbags from his fall collection, 20 bottles of Daisy and a plethora of Marc Jacobs goodies. Once signed up, you can also invite up to 5 of your friends too.

The cut-off date for this opportunity is Friday, August 10 at 10 AM EST!

Good luck!

xo

kitty shame

BANGKOK, Aug. 7 — It is the pink armband of shame for wayward police officers, as cute as can be with a Hello Kitty face and a pair of linked hearts.

No matter how many ribbons for valor a Thai officer may wear, if he parks in the wrong place, or shows up late for work, or is seen dropping a bit of litter on the sidewalk, he can be ordered to wear the insignia.

“Simple warnings no longer work,” said Pongpat Chayaphan, acting chief of the Crime Suppression Division in Bangkok, who instituted the new humiliation this week.

“This new twist is expected to make them feel guilt and shame and prevent them from repeating the offense, no matter how minor,” he said. “Kitty is a cute icon for young girls. It’s not something macho police officers want covering their biceps.”

Ten of the armbands have been prepared, but so far none have actually been issued, according to an officer who declined to give his name while discussing this sensitive topic.

“After this policy came out, the police are scared,” the officer said. “It will be very embarrassing to walk around with Hello Kitty on your arm.” It is a step down from the Crime Suppression Division’s official motto: “When you have no one to turn to, come to us.”

photo: Yasushi Ukigaya/Kyodo News, via Associated Press

excerpted from New York Times
 

Oh dear, what next? NYPD issued Barbie armbands? Having grown up in Thailand, I find this news quite funny!

iris van herpen's lacerated gothic tale

Welcome to the moonless world of Iris van Herpen, who showed her extraordinary collection at Amsterdam Fashion Week. Having studied at the Fashion Academy in Arnhem and interned under Alexander McQueen (one of my ultimate favorite designers), she has now landed on earth to mesmerize us with her otherworldly dream.

via Stylebubble

hussein chalayan's dark beauty

Hussein Chalayan  A/W 2007
all photos via style.com

Reinvigorate yourself by watching the Paris runway video of Chalayan's stunning (as usual) Fall 07 collection.

via Hussein Chalayan

seiko taki paris

Paris-based Japanese designer, Seiko Taki, gives androgyny a femme touch. Check out his lookbook on his site.

via bored&beautiful

mama's boy: 61 years and counting...

Haha, this Yahoo article made me laugh:

"A Sicilian mother took away her 61-year-old son's house keys, cut off his allowance and hauled him to the police station because he stayed out late.                                                 

Tired of her son's misbehavior, the retiree in the central Sicilian city of Caltagirone turned to the police to "convince this blockhead" to behave properly, La Sicilia, one of Sicily's leading newspapers, reported on Thursday.

The son responded by saying his mother did not give him a big enough weekly allowance and did not know how to cook.

"My son does not respect me, he doesn't tell me where he's going in the evenings and returns home late," the woman was quoted as saying. "He is never happy with the food I make and always complains. This can't go on.""

She should've hired someone long ago!

Via Yahoo News

japan does it again: sexy rock climbing

Illoiha fitness club, Tokyo  (designed by Nendo) 

Photos:  Daici Ano

It's no surprise to me that Tokyo would have the coolest gym on the planet. Personally, I consider the Japanese to be some of the most stylish and creative people trotting this globe.  Where else would you find such a stunningly designed rock climbing wall luring you to hurl your inhibitions or your lazy "I'm too tired to go to the gym" thoughts away? If New York had a gym like this, I'd never leave. Maybe we should file a petition to Nendo and beg them to come design an Illoiha paradise for Manhattan.

via dezeen