the idea is the machine

It's Friday...

2011-08-05T15:54:00.001-07:00

I'm totally feeling what this reworked 1930s wedding dress is putting down. I'd wear it every day, too.

via Altamira

this stuff ain't bad

2011-08-04T11:53:00.000-07:00

both images via they all hate us

stuck in the middle

2011-08-03T13:26:00.000-07:00

I've recently been obsessed with these envelope clutches I've been seeing out on the street. I'm not much of a handbag girl, so this is a grown up version of the simple, minimalist tote bag I usually carry around. Now I just can't make up my mind between these two beauties. What's your vote?

left: VellePurse, right: Patkas

Weekend Roundup

2011-08-01T11:23:00.000-07:00

By far the highlight of the weekend was a hike I took with friends (both human and canine) at the Devil's Punchbowl. Just an hour outside of LA on Pearblossom Highway, this afternoon escape felt like being worlds away. I got a dose of desert landscape to soothe my soul, and we also saw some amazing rock formations as a result of multiple earthquakes on this fault line over the years.

rustic style

2011-07-28T22:52:00.001-07:00

I love taking clean and modern design elements and adding a rustic touch. These items would do nicely to create a lived in, worn feel.

1. Vintage 1939 WPA poster, Vintagraph

2. Porcelain Kerr Jar Planter, Pigeon Toe Ceramics

3. Porch Swing Rock Collection, CoriKindred

4. Cowhide Rug, West Elm

5. Scavenger Pouch, Scout and Catalogue

post vacation blues

2011-07-27T21:36:00.000-07:00

I just returned today from an eight day vacation in Montana, followed by a three day road trip home through Wyoming, Utah and Nevada. You'll have to excuse me while I take some time to acclimate to the daily grind...

photo: source unknown

Portland Cello Project

2011-07-12T09:39:00.000-07:00

I'm gonna be honest here, when Britney Spears' Toxic came out years ago, it was my favorite song to dance to, whether in the club or in my living room. So glad The Portland Cello Project revived it for me.

a little color for your Monday

2011-07-11T14:34:00.000-07:00

I am well-known by my friends to shy away from any sort of color in my wardrobe. It's hard to go wrong with a classic neutral like black or brown. But as the weather warms up, I can't help but crave a little burst of color in my wardrobe, whether it's a literal floral print or just a floral-inspired color like bright poppy. These ladies know how to do it right.

clockwise from top right: Hanneli, Mr. Newton, dsquared2 resort collection, lookbook.nu

let's hear it for the girls

2011-07-10T20:28:00.000-07:00

This weekend a blessed thing happened...my roommate and I both had our boyfriends out of town at the same time! It feels like it's been ages since we just spent a whole day doing lady things, and it was so much fun. We rode our bikes up to our favorite Mexican Restaurant, El Coyote, for lunch and margaritas, then braved the Saturday crowds at The Grove to shop for shorts and summer dresses and finally wound up at The Village Idiot where we partook in some Ginger Tops, a brilliant elixir of 1903 Prohibition Lager topped off with ginger beer (highly recommended).

I'm already thinking about next weekend, not a good way to start the week!

top: The Sartorialist, bottom: Jordan Sondler

small things

2011-07-08T15:02:00.001-07:00

I'm going to be moving in a couple of months and am already tucking away little treasures for the new home. Here are a couple of things that will be making their way into my new kitchen. Looking at them just makes me happy!

top: LA CUCINA print. This old Italian saying translates to "A little kitchen makes a large home."

bottom: Christopher Stiles spinning salt and pepper shakers

green thumb

2011-07-06T15:12:00.000-07:00

There's nothing more satisfying than a few hours out in the sunshine, getting your hands dirty in the soil and seeing the fruits of your labor (sometimes literally!) sprout up. It's that time of year again when I want to do nothing but putz around in the backyard (or kitchen for city dwellers) potting an assortment of herbs and veggies.

However, I was not blessed with the greenest of thumbs, so I'm always on the lookout for low-maintenance ways to give my home a little burst of green. Here are a few new ideas I can't wait to try out.

1. Kokedama (Japanese moss balls) are so unique and would add an original touch to any room. Check out the Design*Sponge tutorial for instructions for making your own.

2. Dried Billy Buttons brighten up a room the same way a pot of flowers do, but are zero maintenance, which means they're safe for those of us without green thumbs.

3. Air plants (Tillasandria) are my new favorite household companions. They are so easy to care for. No soil, indirect sunlight and they only need a good soak once a week. Get this adorable air plant/sea urchin combo right over here.

this made me stop in my tracks

2011-07-06T08:25:00.000-07:00

Occasionally, I'll see the work of another graphic designer and just think "Damn, I wish I had made that." Like, for instance, these vintage-style soccer posters by Zoran Ludic.

footloose

2011-07-03T12:40:00.000-07:00

My heart will always belong in the desert. Especially when spring and summer roll around, I get an itching for those open spaces and starry skies. For now I'll have to settle for infusing a little southwestern style into my wardrobe. These three babies are going to be landing in my closet real soon.

top to bottom: Vintage Darling, Santoki Vintage, Bygone Mister

cats on the internet

2011-07-01T08:09:00.001-07:00

I'm a dog person to the core, but one area where cats win, hands down, is on the internet. Nothing makes me happier than cats on the internet. Like this Tumblr, Dreamcats.

Beet Cake

2011-06-30T12:00:00.000-07:00

If all recipes came in the form of gorgeous videos like this, I would probably cook a lot more often.

on my wish list...

2011-06-29T22:23:00.000-07:00

Last night the boy and I had a lively debate about exploitation of indigenous cultures for the purpose of fashion. This is a tough issue for me. I took enough ethnic studies courses in college to be self-aware when it comes to issues of cultural appropriation, but as a designer and collector of beautiful things, I also find myself drawn to relics from many cultures and religions other than my own. I like to think that there is a way of adopting elements of other cultures without being exploitative, but rather honoring and celebrating them. What do you think?

Anyway, this whole debate was spurred on because I told him I wanted one of these beauties to hang on my wall.

dreamcatcher with three feathers available on Etsy

one more for the blog roll...

2011-06-29T14:59:00.001-07:00

When I first started riding my bike and was scouring the internet for examples of other design-minded, bike-obsessed ladies like myself, Erin of Calivintage was a breath of fresh air. In a world dominated by competitive roadies and hardcore fixie riders, there's not much of a space for ladies who like to ride in style. Erin is not only stylish, but she's also earned her chops as a cyclist, touring the California coast with her boyfriend last summer.

Now we can get a daily dose of stylish ladies on two wheels thanks to Erin's new Tumblr project, Bikes & Babes. And yours truly is proud to be featured right here!

clockwise from top left: Calivintage, autumnfingers, Ali Bosworth, Pop Africana, Fleabags

summa time

2011-06-29T13:04:00.000-07:00

I normally try to keep my work life separate from my personal blog...except when I get to make things at work that I'm just so excited to share. Like when I got to make this video lookbook shot by my main squeeze and starring the delightful Katie Horwitch. And soundtrack by White Sea? It doesn't get any better than this, right? Bring it on, summer!

DIY CHIC

2011-02-08T08:44:00.000-08:00

I found this photo in my archives and it just made me happy. This was the result of a laugh fest at the office when my co-worker and I got this cheap bag as a free gift for our Teen Vogue subscription. Well, a little sharpie can make anything oh so chic. And now I have the Chanel handbag I've always wanted. Voila!

blog crush

2011-02-07T20:21:00.000-08:00

Can't get enough of this tumblr Rides A Bike, featuring movie stars and their "self-propelled vehicles."

clockwise from top left: Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller, Gene Tierney, Geneviève Bujold, Audrey Hepburn, Anna Karina

I will never love you more than this.

2011-02-03T21:56:00.000-08:00

This video just makes me so happy. The song (which reminds me of Kimya Dawson, who is it?) the soft, dreamy light, the great prop styling (I really want that pink chair), and of course the incredibly stylish Kate Spade clothes and accessories. I wish every day was Valentine's Day at Kate Spade.

Fred + Ginger

2011-02-03T21:44:00.000-08:00

Inez Van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin have long been my favorite fashion photographers. Nobody can compare to their unique and original vision. This shoot for Vogue Nippon, starring model Raquel Zimmerman and choreographer Stephen Galloway, and inspired by Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire, is no exception. Wowza.

location scouting: Montana

2011-01-06T21:00:00.000-08:00

Wow. I had such a great time in Montana over the holidays that I just can't get back into the swing of city life. No doubt these lovely picks will remind me of the beautiful Treasure State even when I'm battling the hustle and bustle of metropolitan living.

1. Pendleton Glacier National Park Blanket

2. Truly Madly Deeply Montana Tee

3. Montana sapphire

4. Filson wool tote bag

5. Sea of Bees Woodland Fantasy wolf ring

6. vintage Yellowstone National Park souvenir postcard book

contrast/texture

2011-01-05T16:39:00.000-08:00

1: Burberry Prorsum via Vogue

2: Feather Mountain, Lena Wolff & Jaime C. Knight.

swoon

2011-01-05T11:53:00.000-08:00

I feel so lucky to spend most of my days in near proximity to an unbelievably talented dude. My boyfriend is a constant source of creative inspiration. It was quite a sight to see our makeshift office in the spare bedroom of his parent's house in Montana, both huddled over our laptops, oblivious to the beautiful snow that was falling outside. All his hard work paid off, because this music video for friend's band Broken Remotes turned out to be a real stunner.

a bande apart

2010-12-16T17:13:00.001-08:00

It's probably pretty obvious that I just can't really ever get enough of French New Wave inspired anything. I think I was definitely born in the wrong era, but at least now I can get close enough to experiencing the real thing by wearing these clothes from myPetsQuare's 'Cine Collection, inspired by the simple silhouettes and off-the-cuff sex appeal of Anna Karina, Jean Seberg and Jean Paul Belmondo.

what a cute couple

2010-12-16T15:01:00.001-08:00

Currently wearing (and obsessing over) Butter London's nail lacquer in Rosie Lee. Would love to pair it with this sequin-fringe mini from J. Crew. to die for.

dream landscapes

2010-12-15T09:56:00.001-08:00

I'm buried in work and trying to prepare for the holidays. If you're stressed and spread thin, too, this stunning video shot by Anthony Crook with a soundtrack by Mogwai is the perfect thing to soothe your frazzled mind. The Norwegian landscapes are almost as unbelievable as the feat of cyclist James Bowthorpe, the round-the world champion cyclist who broke the previous record by twenty days.

west > east

2010-12-08T22:50:00.000-08:00

Leaving for NYC tomorrow and won't be back 'til Monday. Have a lovely rest of the week! Loving these photos American photographer James Jowers took of New York City in the 60s. The shadows and lines are remarkable.

P O P

2010-12-08T16:24:00.000-08:00

Mary Quant / THE NEWEST NEON, SPUR fashion magazine / BOOK in BOOK

April / 2008 裝苑 SO-EN fashion magazine

we still miss you.

2010-12-08T14:03:00.000-08:00

blue stars

2010-12-07T21:56:00.000-08:00

Listening to Patti Smith Horses on the record player tonight. Recently read Just Kids, Smith's memoir of her relationship with Robert Mapplethorpe in the late 60s and early 70s. The most honest and tender ode to love and friendship.

bike nerd + art nerd = true love

2010-11-30T15:21:00.000-08:00

Isn't it great when things you love collide? Kinda like this mixed media installation by Melbourne based artist Joseph L. Griffiths.

wishing for long hair...

2010-11-30T14:45:00.000-08:00

I just chopped mine again, but these gorgeous photos by photographer Dawn DiCarlo have me wishing for long hair so I could experiment with yarn braids...

via oh joy!

design envy

2010-11-24T13:43:00.000-08:00

Love all the handmade elements and process that went into creating the branding for Oak Park Stage theater, by Blake Fili Suàrez.

let's have a toast.

2010-11-24T10:31:00.000-08:00

Are you stuck working on Thanksgiving Eve? Yeah, me too...

But maybe this will cheer you up. Love the color palette and textures in Kanye's Runaway video. (Sometime I'll have the attention span to watch the full-length version.)

new music you should know about

2010-11-23T13:49:00.000-08:00

I'm so pleased to count Morgan Kibby as a recent addition to my friend network. There is nothing better than finding yourself surrounded by creative and inspiring folks, and Morgan's music, under the moniker White Sea, has definitely been inspiring me. Morgan recorded and toured with M83 for their last album Saturdays=Youth, and she recently released her very own EP, This Frontier.

White Sea is characterized by peculiar, haunting vocals, irresistible disco dance beats and moody tones inspired by the American Southwest. These seemingly disjointed elements come together to create something pretty amazing.

Listen to the EP here, then go buy it here. You won't be sorry.

I just can't get enough of...

2010-11-22T16:01:00.000-08:00

This image of designer Nikole Herriot's beautiful rustic modern home sent me on an immediate hunt for some antlers to adorn my own walls. After a slight crisis about how to justify this aesthetic choice with my cruelty-free beliefs, I was pleased to learn that many of the loose antlers available are actually salvaged from nature, as deer naturally shed their antlers each year. And as for the antlers that are still attached to the skull, well, let's just hope that deer fed an entire family through the winter.

1. petite set of antlers from We Have It Vintage

2. vintage white stag deer antler from Lackluster Co.

3. deer antler rack no. 2 from AM Vintage

4. vintage six point deer antler by Vintage Obscura

did I mention that I love photo doodling?

2010-11-17T15:28:00.000-08:00

Nikki Furquharson for Missbehave magazine

stop making sense

2010-11-17T12:21:00.000-08:00

Martin Margiela Spring/Summer 11 reminds me of David Byrne in Stop Making Sense. (and that's a good thing)

nothing looks cooler than doodling on photos

2010-11-11T14:43:00.000-08:00

photographer Arkan Zakharov and fashion editor Juliana Schiavinatto for PULP magazine

Megan Whitmarsh's Radiant Artifacts

2010-11-11T13:58:00.000-08:00

I always take note when I see Megan Whitmarsh's work. She blends art and craft so well, and her work is both interesting and playful. Particularly loving these new pieces at Michael Rosenthal Gallery in San Francisco.

Interview with Megan Whitmarsh here.

cultivating heritage in a "what's next" culture

2010-11-11T13:42:00.001-08:00

Animated short by Christian Borstlap demonstrates the translation of heritage and history in a fast-fashion, digital age obsessed with the here and now. In the words of Goethe, "Make a better future by developing elements from the past."

hair envy

2010-11-11T13:06:00.000-08:00

Little known secret: I've always coveted afros and short ringlet curls. At one point I considered getting a perm in an attempt to achieve the look, but I'm afraid I'd look more like Shirley Temple and less like Pam Grier.

For now I'll just have to admire the look on others, like Julie Sarr-Jamois, Fashion Editor at Wonderland magazine

via Hanneli

bike style: helmets

2010-11-04T21:56:00.000-07:00

riding safely doesn't mean you can't ride in style

photo by The Sartorialist in University Place, NYC

Nutcase street helmet in Vanilla Sky, Bern Berkeley helmet in Matte Blue

dream home

2010-10-27T15:45:00.000-07:00

Newly appointed head of the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art Jeffrey Deitch gives a tour of his new home and talks about why LA is magical.

what a cute couple

2010-10-26T21:41:00.000-07:00

striped Tokyo tote from Rib and Hull + Cleo ring from Queens Metal

why I love long weekends in the desert...

2010-10-26T20:53:00.001-07:00

quiet. open spaces. desert sunrises. desert sunsets. my boys. BBQ. red wine. hammock naps in the late afternoon. solace. home cooked breakfast. climbing rocks. clear skies. star gazing. need I say more?

I want to hang this on my wall

2010-10-26T11:38:00.000-07:00

Framework Poster

(via Swissmiss)

is the weekend over already?

2010-10-26T11:24:00.001-07:00

Spent a long weekend in my favorite place, Joshua Tree National Park. Had a great time with the boy and the pup. Photos are on their way but in the meantime here are some Hipstamatic shots Warren took of me and Fidel running into some trouble with the law in Pioneertown.

nan goldin + erin wasson = heaven on earth

2010-10-20T17:27:00.000-07:00

I discovered Nan Goldin my freshman year of college. Her raw, honest, sometimes shocking and painful photos immediately took hold of me. Most recently, she collaborated with model, muse and designer Erin Wasson to create the stunning images for Melbourne based brand Scanlan & Theodore. The label's creative director, Gary Theodore, is known for his work with unusual and controversial artists, and Goldin is no exception. What a refreshing voice to add to the fashion world.

oasis

2010-10-18T23:07:00.000-07:00

Tonight I pulled the winter blankets out of the closet and put them on the bed...a sign that winter is officially here. But I'm already thinking about next spring and a week long escape to one of these amazing houses in Joshua Tree. Nowhere feels more at home to me than the desert.

nerd alert!

2010-10-15T13:10:00.000-07:00

I am hopelessly addicted to my iPhone. People with short attentions spans should not, under any circumstances, own an iPhone4. Yet I do, and I love it, perhaps too much, much to the chagrin of my friends and loved ones who are attempting to have human interactions with me while I'm texting, checking my email, online shopping...all at the same time.

Anyway, protecting my perfect little companion is crucial, since when I'm on the go I throw it in my giant handbag where it gets scratched by keys and pens. I recently lost my phone case, so I'm on the hunt for a new one. I have found so many lovely, stylish and unique designs that I'm having a terrible time choosing just one. Which is your favorite?

clockwise from top left: Pocketdogs cell phone case, wood engraved case from Grove Made,

Yellena James for Uncommon, leather Scandinavian case, gray wool herringbone case by Stash, Le Faust leather iphone cases in assorted colors

women then...

2010-10-14T15:49:00.000-07:00

Jerry Schatzberg was in all the right places during the 1950s and 1960s, mingling with Aretha Franklin, Catherine Deneuve, Faye Dunaway, Francis Ford Coppola and Andy Warhol's Factory crowd at all the NYC hangouts. As a photographer, he created some of the most iconic images from the era, including the blurred photo on the cover of Bob Dylan's Blonde On Blonde album. His recently released book, Women Then: Photographs 1954-1969, celebrates the moody, glamorous and elegant women he photographed. In the words of Schatzberg himself: "Everybody looks back to the 60s and says, ‘Oh, those were the days.’ And they probably were the days. There was a different kind of elegance then, a different spirit of life.”

boys' club: bike style

2010-10-14T14:47:00.000-07:00

As a companion piece to last week's bike style post, I decided to devote this one to the guys. Here are some bicycle related items I'm totally smitten with. There's nothing better than cute boys on bikes (except maybe cute boys with dogs, but I'll save that for another post).

clockwise from top left: Outlier clothing 4 Season OG Pant, Bicycle Diaries by David Byrne, Fjallraven Kanken Backpack, Knife & Saw Bike Shelf

just us three

2010-10-13T21:35:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was Warren's birthday, and I asked my amazingly talented friend Alice to create a custom card to mark the occasion. Needless to say, he loved her representation of us. She put such loving detail into it, right down to the color and design of our bikes. Between custom built bikes and personalized illustrations, we are setting the bar pretty high for gift giving. I told him for Christmas he can expect a Starbucks gift card.

Heidi Ross Picture Show

2010-10-12T19:15:00.000-07:00

Heidi Ross is one half of the beautiful, talented and charming Ross Sisters. (The other half being my darling friend and roommate Jennifer June Ross.) Heidi is a super talented photographer based in Nashville, Tennessee who has shot the likes of The Dead Weather, Sara Bareilles and Lissie. Every few months she'll have a shoot booked in LA and we will be graced with her presence (and sense of humor). Last time she was here she did a photoshoot with actor Ben Huber and the one and only Jennifer June. Of course my dog Fidel worked his way into as many shots as he could, and exhibited his raw natural talent in front of the camera.

homemade is best

2010-10-11T22:43:00.000-07:00

As part of an advertising campaign focusing on their kitchen appliance selection, IKEA published a 140 coffee table book focusing on one of the best things you can do in a kitchen: baking. Inspired by high fashion photography and Japanese minimalism, the folks at IKEA took a different approach to food photography by focusing on the ingredients themselves, creating graphic still-life photographs that are good enough to eat...literally.

bike style in los angeles

2010-10-08T22:52:00.000-07:00

One of my least favorite aspects of Los Angeles is the lack of public spaces. Well, this Sunday, following the example of cities like New York and San Francisco, Los Angeles will shut down 7 miles of city streets in an effort to challenge the notion that automobiles rule the road. From 10 am to 3 pm, routes from East Hollywood into Boyle Heights will be closed to traffic, encouraging the community to reclaim these public spaces for anything from cycling to yoga to games of pick-up soccer. The event, known as CicLAvia, was inspired by the concept of the ciclovia, which is Spanish for bicycle path. Bogota, Colombia was the first city to host such an event three decades ago. Now each Sunday in Bogota, hundreds of thousands of people take to the temporarily car-free streets. Check out the CicLAvia map for the full route.

In anticipation of a day full of cycling without the threat of road rage fueled SUVs, I've been browsing my all time favorite cycling shop Adeline Adeline. Located in the Tribeca neighborhood of NYC, this shop eschews the high performance and fixed gear bike culture, instead focusing on "comfortable, relaxed riding for pleasure with an emphasis on the beautiful European city bikes that women ride in Copenhagen and other bike-centric cities." Before opening the doors to Adeline Adeline, owner Julie Hirschfeld was a successful graphic designer, and clearly she's translated her design expertise to the artfully curated selection of bicycles and accessories in the shop.

Whether you're a cyclist or not, it's impossible not to be enamored with these beautifully designed items.

from top to bottom: Pigeonco backpack, Brooks Hoxton wire basket, Linus Roadster Sport, Bicycle by David Herlihy, Bensimon canvas sneakers

oh you fancy huh?

2010-10-07T22:37:00.000-07:00

Intelligent too ooh you're my sweetheart

I've always liked my women book and street smart
long as they got a little class like half days
and the confidence to overlook my past ways
time heals all, and heels hurt to walk in
but they go with the clutch that you carry your lip gloss in
and look I really think that nobody does it better
I love the way you put it together

Nail done, hair done, everything done

Nails done, hair done, everything done

Oh you fancy huh

(Drake)

hat's off

2010-10-02T14:05:00.000-07:00

Someone once told me "I never trust a woman in a hat, chances are she's hiding something." While I can't attest to whether or not there's any truth to that statement, I can tell you that a good hat can make a woman utterly charming and irresistible, and a little mysterious. A recent trip to Oakland to visit my longtime BFF, and a quick glimpse of her growing vintage hat collection, and I was officially obsessed. Now I'm patiently waiting for the fall weather to arrive so I can bring out my favorite wide-brimmed felt hats.

from top to bottom: Diane Keaton in Annie Hall, Elizabeth Weinberg editorial shoot, Pierre Cardin Spring 2011 Collection, Jean Seberg in Breathless, musician Diane Birch, Alexa Chung, Urban Outfitters fedora, Jessica Simpson hat on Fashiontoast

kool thing

2010-10-01T10:53:00.000-07:00

Last night I was fortunate to experience the double-threat that was Sonic Youth and Pavement at the Hollywood Bowl. Once again, Kim Gordon blew my mind with how utterly and unbelievably cool she is. Musician, visual artist, fashion designer, furniture designer & carpenter, wife, mother...it is overwhelming and inspiring all at once. This one goes out to the queen of all rock and roll...or queen of all things in the universe, actually.

back to purity, back to simplicity

2010-09-28T13:41:00.000-07:00

Dieter Rams will never cease to inspire me. His influence can clearly be felt decades after he created some of the most most beautiful and interesting industrial design for Braun and Vitsœ, most notably in the work of Jonathan Ive at Apple. Dieter Rams' Ten Principles for Good Design was written when he was concerned about the state of the world around him, which had become "an impenetrable confusion of forms, colours and noises." This fear, and these ideas, are so pertinent today.

1. Good design is innovative

2. Good design makes a product useful

3. Good design is aesthetic

4. Good design makes a product understandable

5. Good design is unobtrusive

6. Good design is honest

7. Good design is long-lasting

8. Good design is thorough, down to the last detail

9. Good design is environmentally-friendly

10. Good design is as little design as possible

for more on these ten principles go here

images clockwise from top left: Braun radio 1961, Dieter Rams, Vitsœ Shelving System 1960, Braun radio/phono combo 1959, Braun speaker 1958

on & ever onward

2010-09-28T10:13:00.000-07:00

This time last year I stood third row from the stage as Dirty Projectors played in a small rec center in Echo Park. Last Thursday I saw them play to a crowded house at the Wiltern Theater. If you aren't going to see Dirty Projectors on their current tour you have no idea what you're missing. David Longstreth is like the David Byrne of our generation, such a musical innovator, and the sounds Amber, Angel and Haley create with their voices is just unbelievable. They are by far my favorite contemporary band.

Alas, Björk did not make an appearance to perform the songs from Mount Wittenberg Orca, so I'll have to settle for these videos for now.

loving: scotch & soda

2010-09-23T14:13:00.000-07:00

I'm more than a little in love with Dutch clothing line Scotch & Soda. Simple designs and quality constructions that they best describe as a blend of vintage and varsity. I'm totally into the sophisticated tomboy look right now and want to give myself a complete preppie makeover.

Plus, their video lookbooks are so gorgeous I want to live in them.

on my nightstand...

2010-09-15T16:54:00.000-07:00

The Selby is one of my favorite blogs eveerrrrrr. Love love love interiors. I can't wait for the day when I settle down in one place and can really transform a space to make it completely mine. In the meantime, I'll just have to flip through the pages of The Selby Is In Your Place and lust after the incredible living spaces of Erin Wasson, Lou Doillon and Karl Lagerfeld, just to name a few.

(special thanks to my fantastic brother and his lovely wife for this perfect birthday gift)

teenagers in love

2010-09-15T14:40:00.000-07:00

Now I wanna do an underwater photoshoot. *sigh* But instead I'm working on the computer all.day.long. Teenagers In Love lookbook shot by Travis Deuel

art crush: lizzy janssen

2010-09-13T11:13:00.001-07:00

What better way to start the week than with kittens, horses and crystals. Surefire path to my heart. Totally loving the drawings, collages and tee shirt designs of Lizzy Janssen.

via my love for you is a stampede of horses

um, I was wondering...

2010-09-10T11:09:00.000-07:00

via friends of type

Here's hoping this weekend brings us what's left of our dwindling summer.

from the desk of...

2010-09-09T15:19:00.000-07:00

What happened to the good old days when people actually wrote letters to each other? And had impossibly stylish stationery to write those letters on? I've had enough of this texting and Facebook, this archive of interesting letterhead designs at Letterheady makes me want to design myself some fancy personal letterhead. Here are my favorites.

from top to bottom: Art Kane, date unknown; Muhammad Ali, 1975; Marlene Dietrich, date unknown; Michael Cooper, 1967

bizarre love triangle

2010-09-09T14:43:00.001-07:00

I've found myself in the middle of a love triangle of sorts: I've completely fallen for these two bicycle panniers...how is a girl supposed to choose?!

The Linus Market Bag has all the practical requirements. It's large enough to hold all my stuff, it rolls up when not in use, and it easily comes off the bike so it can do double-duty as my everyday tote bag. The Swiss Army panniers, on the other hand, just look soooo good, and they have so much character (I'm a sucker for anything vintage).

So...what's your vote?

art crush: tom hines

2010-09-09T10:17:00.000-07:00

Tom Hines has shot some of my favorite campaigns for collections from Lorick and Rebecca Turbow. His photos make me swoon. The framing, perspective, the muted color palettes, the gorgeous boys and girls styled in impeccable vintage looks...*sigh*

comic sans has it's day

2010-09-08T11:39:00.000-07:00

It's no secret that Comic Sans is strongly detested within the design community. It has even spawned a grassroots movement calling for it's abolition.

Well, now the font everyone loves to hate is finally getting it's retribution, thanks to Mike Lacher's short imagined monologue over at McSweeney's. An excerpt follows, but for a good laugh head over and read the full version here.

"People love me. Why? Because I'm fun. I'm the life of the party. I bring levity to any situation. Need to soften the blow of a harsh message about restroom etiquette? SLAM. There I am. Need to spice up the directions to your graduation party? WHAM. There again. Need to convey your fun-loving, approachable nature on your business' website? SMACK. Like daffodils in motherfucking spring.
When people need to kick back, have fun, and party, I will be there, unlike your pathetic fonts. While Gotham is at the science fair, I'm banging the prom queen behind the woodshop. While Avenir is practicing the clarinet, I'm shredding "Reign In Blood" on my double-necked Stratocaster. While Univers is refilling his allergy prescriptions, I'm racing my tricked-out, nitrous-laden Honda Civic against Tokyo gangsters who'll kill me if I don't cross the finish line first. I am a sans serif Superman and my only kryptonite is pretentious buzzkills like you."

(shirt pictured above available from Veer)

bike love

2010-09-06T19:10:00.000-07:00

Warren made this video of my first ride on the new bike. It was shot and edited entirely using the iPhone 4, can you believe it? We edited it from the comfort of my bed. That iPhone4 is a brilliant little device. Steve Jobs was really onto something. Check it out for yourself.

I suggested Best Coast for the soundtrack because they are one of my favorite bands right now and they just completely embody California summers.

Here are some detail shots of my bike. There are still some little adjustments and additions I want to make so you can expect more bike nerd posts to come.

vintage Nishiki frame repainted in "almond," Brooks B67s saddle, Linus handlebars, Cardiff cork grips

my love is strong, and my heart is weak...

2010-09-02T21:08:00.000-07:00

My roommate and dear friend Jennifer June gave me a copy of Delta Spirit's History From Below on vinyl. She was so certain I was going to love it, she said it's the kind of album that can bring you to tears, and she was right. I've been listening to it over and over again, wanting to hold onto that feeling of perfect melancholy. This live version of "Bushwick Blues" is almost too much...

because each day should be full of them...

2010-09-01T16:21:00.000-07:00

This flag will soon be the newest accessory on my bike, to remind myself that every day should be full of tiny adventures. If you want yours, hurry. This is a limited edition run of 100 by artist Nigel Peake and sold through Tiny Showcase. Each flag is handprinted in Rhode Island and a portion of the proceeds go to benefit Kopernik, a non-profit that brings progressive technologies to people in developing countries.

via my love for you is a stampede of horses

four-eyes

2010-09-01T15:50:00.000-07:00

When I first read about Warby Parker I thought it was too good to be true. I've been wanting a new pair of eyeglasses for so long, but just couldn't bring myself to shell out $500 for the pair of Oliver Peoples I had been lusting after. Warby Parker to the rescue! Now I can get stylish, affordable glasses and help out someone in need. Thanks to their innovative business model that eliminates the overhead of a brick and mortar retailer, Warby Parker offers quality frames and lenses in boutique styles for a mere $95. Plus, through their partnership with non-profit Restoring Vision, for every pair of glasses sold, Warby Parker donates a pair to someone in need.

me wearing my new Warby Parker Miles frames in Amber

arctic adventures

2010-09-01T08:29:00.000-07:00

For three weeks in July and August, Warren was up in Alaska shooting. Of course I was insanely jealous because I have had an unrequited love for Alaska for years, which was mostly sparked by seeing the incredible photographs taken by Cory Arnold. Warren decided that I should come up for a long weekend when he had some time off, so I did. The trip was very bittersweet because my time was limited. It was like a taste test of Alaska, and I will definitely be heading back for a longer adventure in the future.

clockwise from top left: exploring Exit Glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park, conquering my fear of heights while hiking outside of Anchorage, my man, elk at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, Exit Glacier, Warren and me reminiscing about the night we met, Seychelles Gallium (my "hiking boots"), hiking with friends outside Anchorage

channeling Godard

2010-08-31T14:53:00.001-07:00

For anyone who knows me it's no secret that I'm more than slightly obsessed with Jean Luc Godard or anything reminiscent of Paris in the 60s. Totally love this spread for Marie Claire France, September 2010 (starring Cintia Dicker and shot by Anne Menke)

via Sarah Klassen

virtual nostalgia

2010-08-31T10:37:00.000-07:00

this will blow your mind,

I guarantee it.

interactive film by Chris Milk for Arcade Fire

(google images of the neighborhood I grew up in)

not quite there yet...

2010-08-30T14:44:00.000-07:00

Considering it finally feels like summer in Los Angeles, I am definitely not ready to even think about fall. These images from the Wilfred FW10 collection at least make the transition a little easier to bear. I can't get enough of the soft watercolor backgrounds and neutral color palette.

Summer, please stick around just a little bit longer, though. thank you.

belated birthday weekend

2010-08-30T10:55:00.001-07:00

For my 29th birthday I wanted to get all of my nearest and dearest friends out of LA. Being a desert girl who loves nothing more than swimming pools, sunshine and 110 degree weather, what better place than Palm Springs? We had a fantastic time, stayed at the Ace Hotel, drank summer cocktails and thoroughly enjoyed being in the company of good friends. (I also took my first ride on the new bike!)

More photos to come...

girls on bikes

2010-08-26T12:34:00.000-07:00

For my birthday a couple of weeks ago my boyfriend surprised me with a vintage bicycle (with the intent that we would fix it up together.) This is quite possibly the nicest thing a boy has done for me pretty much ever. Once it was time to get down to business and make some design decisions, of course the first place I turned was to my beloved style blogs (I'm a form over function girl through and through). Warren is doing his best to convince me that my new hobby will require me to trade in my heels in favor of sneakers, but he is sorely mistaken. Here are some of my favorite examples of stylish girls on stylish bikes.

clockwise from top left: outlier clothing, urban weeds, cherry blossom girl, facehunter, audrey hepburn on about.com

poketo + target

2010-08-25T14:08:00.000-07:00

While running my usual errands last night, I stumbled upon the Poketo for Target collaboration. How did I not hear about this earlier??? My favorite artists like Lisa Congdon and Mike Perry have put their stamp on affordable and stylish items such as phone cases, umbrellas, tote bags and wallets. If I wasn't pinching pennies to offset a summer full of adventures, I would have swooped up the whole collection.

cornershop tees photoshoot with nate rosser

2010-06-08T13:40:00.000-07:00

My friend Nate is the head designer for an adorable tee shirt line called Cornershop. He had some ideas for stepping up their branding and marketing so he came to me for help. I must say, I'm comfortable wearing a lot of different hats on the job, but spending time in front of the camera is definitely out of my comfort zone. I had so much fun, with Nate cracking jokes and serving all of us ladies mimosas, and it was great to get to work with one of my very favorite models, Carré, and the fabulous photographer Amy Tierney of f8f11 IMAGES.

bc's los angeles showroom featured on design*sponge!

2010-05-28T13:34:00.000-07:00

I've been an avid reader of Design*Sponge since the blog first started way back in 2004 or so. I am so delighted and flattered that they showcased my work on the BC Los Angeles showroom design in their "before and after" feature. So many people worked really hard on that room and I'm so proud to show off the finished product! See the full feature here.

"good design is as little design as possible" -dieter rams

2010-05-17T13:22:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend I watched Objectified, the industrial design documentary from the brilliant filmmakers behind Helvetica. Whenever I watch films like this I get newly inspired and excited about being a designer. Here's one of the excerpts from the film that really resonated with me, but I highly recommend that you go out and watch it yourself!

"A big definition of who you are as a designer, it's the way that you look at the world. It's one of the curses of what you do, is that you're constantly looking at something and thinking 'Why is it like that and not like this?' and so in that sense, you're constantly designing." -Jonathan Ive, Sr. VP Industrial Design, Apple

wedding design: elaine & phal

2010-05-14T13:13:00.000-07:00

After 14 years, Elaine and her fiancé Phal tied the knot in our friend Alice's lovely backyard in the Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. Alice and I took this opportunity to indulge our inner romantics by making garlands out of floral print fabric, tissue paper and fake flowers, and stringing them all from the trees. Alice also drew the most adorable cake toppers and I did the wedding photography. Plus, our wardrobe stylist friend Adria was on hand to make sure everyone looked fabulous at all times. Elaine is a smart bride for counting an art director, illustrator and wardrobe stylist among her closest friends!