Friday, April 30, 2010

Laugh Out Loud

Hell yeah! This weekend is going to be a good one. My love and I are heading off on an adventure and will relive the days we were sans bambino. I already know we'll have an amazing time and that he'll make me laugh every minute we're together.

In the spirit of a hilarity filled weekend, here are a few things that made me smile...and do that embarrassing snort-out-loud-to-myself-thing:

Image: Vice

Do's and Dont's from Vice is an oldie but definitely a goodie that never fails to deliver...even if it makes me feel a little bit envious of the person who can write such brilliantly witty copy!

Image: POPFi

New York Senator, Eric Adams has launched an initiative to stop the boys from Brooklyn baring their arses to the breeze. And no, I'm not making this up!

Image: Keggers of Yore

Start happy hour early with ye olde party pictures courtesy of Keggers of Yore.

Image: Gawker

Have a good one.
x

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Truth Serum

Geoffrey Edelston and Brynne Gordon.

Go Try It On

On a recent night out, one of my best buddies proclaimed, 'I prefer your hair long and curly. I think it looks much better!' Unfortunately for me, my hair was short and straight at the time. We both continue to laugh about this moment and blame it on too much truth serum.

Maybe in the future though, she could direct her frank opinions to Go Try it On, a new site where you can get an honest opinion on whether your outfit is grouse or shouse . Recent brace souls who have posted their outfits online include Cami who is wondering if she can get away with matching her cardie to her gumboots, Karan who wants to rock a popped collar and Blair who needs convincing that her pretty frock is perfect for a country wedding.

The spirit of Go Try it On is helpful, rather than harmful. So helpful in fact, that when it comes to the likes of Brynne Gordon it can almost be considered a community service!

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Jump To It

Dali

Professor J. Robert Oppenheimer

Eva Marie Saint

Audrey Hepburn

Dick Clark

Grace Kelly

Richard Nixon

Duke & Duchess of Windsor

Jumpology by Philippe Halsman

Jump for joy! It's hump-day which means I don't have to do my mad dash to work and instead I can slip back into bed with Alfie and plan a day of special projects...our whole house smells of the heady scent of hyacinth...and joy of all joys, I just came across photographer and jumping genius, Philippe Halsman.

Halsman was a photographer during the 50's who ended all his portrait sessions by asking the sitter to jump. Thankfully everyone from Richard Nixon to Dali and Audrey Hepburn said 'How high?' because the resulting series is one of mischief and glee. It is also a disarming look at some of the most famous names of Halsman's time.

What are you jumping for joy about today?

Found via.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Take Me Away


Video: YouTube

Oh, the come down after a top-notch, A1, ten-out-of-ten long weekend! If you're like me and finding it hard to gear up for the week ahead, take a moment to watch this video of every painting on display at MoMA on 10 April 2010. It only takes two minutes, but after watching something this beautiful it feels like my day has been reset...

Friday, April 23, 2010

Bombs Away


Seed Bombs

I know. I know. How politically incorrect can you get writing about Seed Bombs on the eve of the Anzac Day long weekend? But I couldn't resist sharing this random act of gardening with you. Just toss a gumball-sized Seed Bomb into your garden and watch wildflowers spring up.

If only it was this easy to bombard the world with peace and love...

US $7; available online from VisuaLingual on Etsy.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Getting to Know You: Minna

I love nothing more than hearing about creative people who are doing things that make you look twice. So, I decided to start Getting to Know You, a series of interviews with the talent behind some of the most exciting and inspirational brands, ideas and initiatives out there.

First up is Finish designer, Minna Hepburn who started standout eco-fashion label, Minna. Handmade in the UK from organic, fair trade and recycled materials, Minna also has a zero waste policy which sees all fabric remnants upcycled into embellishments, accessories and a kid's range. Not only does Minna have serious ethical cred, each ethereal design is ridiculously lust-worthy.


Images from Minna's S/S 10 Collection

Let's get to know Minna...

C: Why have you decided to take an ethical fashion stance?

M: I used to supply a high street company, witnessed the short shelf life of fashion, 6 seasons a year and the never-ending rush to produce something new and exciting. I did not feel passionate about what I was doing and decided to take some time off and research the ethical fashion sector. After all, the designers have the power to decide what fabrics they are using. Why not using organic or fair trade fabrics?

My brand has a story to tell and most pieces are one-of-a-kind the way they are embellished. I think each piece should have a story to tell and I think I have succeeded based on the customer feedback. I am constantly pushing the boundaries and my next collection will utilise some very high tech fabrics showing that being green is not boring.

C: So, what is inspiring you at the moment?

M: I do not know where to start. From the beginning I open my eyes in the morning, I am inspired. My worse enemy is time. I have 2 young children that take a lot of my time. I love being a mommy but sometimes it is frustrating when you have ideas and you do not have time to make it happen. At the moment, I am thinking about my next collection and I am so full of ideas. I love Summer and always find easier to design my Summer collection. That must come from my Finnish roots as Summers in Finland are magical!

C: And what trends are captivating your attention?

M: I never stop working. Even when I am in the playground with my children, I am always looking for starting to inspire me. I draw inspiration from my travels, interior designs, blogs, magazines and people around me. It is never ending and exhausting as I have so many idea but I tend to forget them if I do not write them down....

C: Us Melbournians are known for our fashion love affair with black. But why did you decide that all pieces in your A/W11 collection should be black, black, black?

M: I always wear dark colours when it is winter. Maybe it is my Finnish background, but Scandinavians are minimalists and love pieces that are wardrobe stables. Or maybe it is that I am getting older and wanted to wear black and dresses only, which would really suit my busy lifestyle. After all, black goes with everything. I also watched a lot of black and white films and was inspired how the women always wore dresses and looked so effortlessly dressed up and chic.

C: Running a thriving business and being a hands-on mum sometimes leads to a divided heart. How do you keep both balls in the air?

M: Running a business and a family means constant multitasking and I am often seen cooking, sorting out the laundry and the kids, while ordering fabrics. It is exhausting and you can only do it if you are passionate and love what you are doing. My son Hayden is an expert with fabrics as I often have to drag him with me to sourcing trips. The key is to have help and I have amazing babysitters and au pairs at hand. Without them I could not do this as family comes first!

C: And finally, what’s next for Minna

M: At the moment, I am so busy with orders. We have new stockists opening every week and I think next season will be exciting. We are moving into new offices and will start working with a local charity that supports young people who have had some tough time in their lives. I am so excited about this project and will see that growing very quickly. I am hoping to show in Paris next season so we are currently doing a thorough market analysis of all the cool shops in France who to contact. Not that I need any more projects but we are keeping our pop-up shop schedule busy, one taking place in Helsinki 7 - 8 May and one planned for London with other cool green labels, and possibly one in North America in Autumn.

Minna is available from Harrods and Anthropologie in the UK, and exclusively at Eco Fashionista in Australia.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Genius


Video: YouTube

Clever Little Bag from Puma

In my day job we've been thinking about how we can change the way we do business so that we tread more lightly on the earth. Our intentions are pure and honest, but what I've come to realise is that you need more than that. You need a bucket load of creativity so that you can reimagine everything you do. Even the things you've been doing the same way, year in, year out.

Puma's collaboration with Yves Behar is living proof of this. After 2,000 ideas and 40-plus packaging prototypes they found that by switching from their iconic red shoebox to the Clever Little Bag, they could reduce their cardboard use by 65%, create a packaging option that takes up less shipping space and weight and say Sayonara to plastic retail bags.

All puns aside, sometimes it pays to think outside the box!

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Seek and Ye Shall Find

Image: Broadsheet

OAK off Chapel

Do you want in on a Melbourne fashion secret? Then click on over here and check out my article for Broadsheet on OAK off Chapel. Afterall, what fun is a secret if you can't share it?!

OAK off Chapel
33 Simmons Street South Yarra
Open Thursday - Sunday; 12pm 'till late.

Monday, April 19, 2010

Pretty Little Things







Nobody at the Wheel

Who would have thought that random things written on dirty paper could be so achingly beautiful...
Take a few moments and lose yourself in Nobody at the Wheel.

Friday, April 16, 2010

George Costanza Moments


Images: Scrapbook

Chewed by Tuesday

My boy is always having George Costanza moments. Take the time he stood on a toothpick and needed a general anesthetic to remove it from his big toe. Or the occasion he ended up in hospital because because he had the end of a pen stuck in his ear - don't ask what it was doing there in the first place!

If my boy was inclined to a bit of jewellery, Chewed by Tuesday would be perfect for him. Founded in Melbourne by designer Vivienne Gibson, Chewed by Tuesday is based on random items that people chew, but aren't mean to! Her first collection pays homage to the forgotten favourite, the BIC penlid.

I can't wait to see what her follow up collection will be. If Gibson needs any ideas I have just the person for her to speak to. George Costanza moments are perfect for inspiration that verges on the ridiculous!

Available online from Chewed by Tuesday.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

The Situation

Image: Interview

Terry Richardson Shoots the Boys from Jersey Shore

I make no apologies for the fact that I'm obsessed with Jersey Shore. Despite being so wrong, on so many levels, it has become my weekly guilty pleasure
.

Someone needs to apologise though for this shot by pornographer, Terry Richardson, with the boys from the Shore. Richardson's soft porn take on fashion has always been controversial, but you have to wonder what possessed Israeli model, Bar Refaeli, to agree to playing the blow job innuendo game with a six-foot sub.

Appearing in Interview, the one redeeming aspect of this feature is the accompanying article which has many gold moments from the 'Guido' boys, including this quote from DJ Pauly D, 'I want to become a famous DJ. DJ AM passed , so I want to become that - a huge DJ'. For serious.

Told you it is so wrong, on so many levels!

More images from the Interview feature are over here.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Stuck On You




Tapeworks by Mark Khaisman

One of the things that astounds me most about motherhood, is how competitive it is. It begins with who had the closest near-death-experience during labour and continues at an exhausting and relentless race past each developmental milestone.

It's taken me awhile to stop being rocked by the comparison game. Now, Alfie and I just try and run our own race.

Take for example, his current number one project which involves sorting out the bottom kitchen drawer, with particular attention to the rolls of sticky tape that have multiplied when we weren't looking. I'm sure there are many gifted and talented 12 month-olds who can use a layers of packing tape to whip up pieces like these by Mark Khaisman, but Alfie and I are just as excited about the fact that he can now climb up and down the stair to the sunroom with said tape in hand!

Found via.

Monday, April 12, 2010

Now, Hear This...




Raphael Saadiq

Grey. Drab. The only thing making me feel better on this icy cold morning is listening to Raphael Saadiq.

About a year ago, my brother left Raphael's album, The Way I See It, by my front door. Ever since then, I find myself listening to is at least one a week....and I'm not sick of it yet!

Think Marvin Gaye meets Prince - Raphael's sound is a throwback to classic, old school Motown/soul. This triple threat singer-writer-producer, also plays every instrument on The Way I See It. And as for his vocals, well they bathe even the bleakest of days in honey!

PS: Raphael is certainly no newcomer. In fact, he was part of 80's group Toni! Tony! Tone! Now, that's a blast from the past...

Friday, April 9, 2010

Up To No Good*





Images: TrustoCorp

TrustoCorp Rebranding NYC

I love an upstart prankster. Someone who is up for a bit of mischief and has a cheeky twinkle in their eye.

That's why I can't help but take my hat of to the rebranding division of TrustoCorp Intl - a mysterious artist (or maybe artists?) dedicated to highlighting the hypocrisy and hilarity of human behavior through sarcasm and satire.

Last week, they went all out and dropped hundreds of subversively branded products on the shelves of New York's delis and supermarkets.

Not only was this their ambush sheer brilliance, it's also a timely reminder that sometimes it's easy to look but not see...

* and that's a good thing!

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Love it or Loathe It: Double Denim

When I think of double denim, this vision comes to mind:


Apparently though, the 'Texas Tuxedo' is back with avengence. Everyone from Ralph Lauren to ChloƩ, D&G and Twenty8Twelve sent this look down the runway at their S/S10 shows.

Images: Style.com

Plus, Alexa and Pixie have been spotted serving up a dose of double double denim, so surely there can be no doubt that this trend is about to be bigger than big. Right?!

Image: Style.com

I think the only way you can get away with this look is to wear two different tones or washes rather than head-to-toe matchy matchy. What do you think? Are you going to embrace the return of double denim? Or are you still too badly burned by the '80s?

Trend Spotter: Double Denim
Love it
Loathe it
Results

Update: I've just tallied the votes, and 68% of you loathe this trend. One person who is definitely loving it though, is my brother who was sporting a handsome double denim ensemble on the weekend! He'd even customised the top to make it a vest...but that's a whole other story!
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