Monthly Archives: November 2011

Demarchelier and Baldani: beautiful photographs

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This week I’ve been a little delinquent on the posting. I’m a jerk, I know. I travelled to Tenessee last week to visit family for Thanksgiving, which was relaxing and glutonous, which is how that holiday is supposed to go right? No exercise and copious food and drink? I don’t partake of the turkey but man, I can eat me some vegetable sides. They didn’t know what hit them. I’m back in SF now, though, and I’m pretty sure I’ve been cleaning since we landed. It escapes me how two (usually adult) human beings can be so messy, yet we are. But now that the clutter is starting to clear I’ve gone in search of some lovely photographic inspiration to kickstart my (artistic) productivity in to gear and wash away the dust and mashed potatoes.

Luckily I’ve stumbled on to some great images by Patrick Demarchelier from the new Dior Couturebook. And some images by a photographer, Baldovino Baldani, whose creativity ceases to amaze me

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Holiday Gifts and great photography

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I’ve decided this year to be proactive in my Holiday gift buying, and buy them all before the very last minute which is my usual MO. The tricky part is figuring out what said gifts are going to be. One year I got my dad a scuba mask with a built in camera, while creative, not overly practical. I’m shooting for useful and ingenious.  I found this cool gift guide on NYmag.com that has some interesting suggestions, just in case I’m not the only one suffering from gift giving dumbness:

Here are a few of my favorites from the group:

And by far the coolest thing in the guide; a make your own super hero cape kit… I’m pretty sure it’s for kids but that’s not going to stop me.

And I can’t have a post without a little photo love, it’s just beyond my abilities of restraint… so here are some amazing photos by photographer Tim Walker, whose ethereal images have always inspired me. They are so oneiric and romantic, sometimes bordering on saccharine, but these below I love.

NYC Sample Sales in November

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I miss NYC for a lot of reasons, incredible and unparalleled shopping is one of them. Sample sales especially you just can’t find with the same regularity any where else I’ve lived. This month there are a bunch of them and just because I can’t go to them (impromptu nyc trip may be in order) doesn’t mean you all can’t! Here are some I found on DailyCandy.com:

What: Giuseppe Zanotti
Why: Up to 80 percent off heels, flats, handbags, bridal shoes, and a limited selection of Giuseppe for Balmain.
When: Nov. 15 & 16. Tues. & Wed., 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m.
Where: 381 Fifth Ave., b/t 35th & 36th Sts., 2nd flr., ste. 3.

What: Max Mara
Why: Fall and winter coats, sportswear, and accessories at up to 70 percent off.
When: Nov. 15 & 16. Tues. & Wed., 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Where: 381 Fifth Ave., b/t 35th & 36th Sts., 2nd flr., ste. 2a.

What: Lauren Moffatt
Why: The indie darling’s fall goods are 70 percent off, with silk print skirts for $90, wool hooded coats for $160, and silk dresses for $120.
When: Nov. 15 & 16. Tues., 8 a.m.-7 p.m.; Wed., 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
Where: 214 W. 29th St., b/t Seventh & Eighth Aves., ste. 1503. Cash only for purchases under $250.

What: Thread Social
Why: Party and work dresses start at $50, plus skirts of all lengths, knit tops, and coat dresses at up to 70 percent off.
When: Nov. 15 & 16. Tues. & Wed., 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
Where: 26 W. 17th St., b/t Fifth & Sixth Aves., ste. 301.

What: White + Warren
Why: Cashmere wraps and basics for days at up to 65 percent off.
When: Nov. 15 & 16. Tues. & Wed., 8 a.m.-7 p.m.
Where: 80 W. 40th St., b/t Fifth & Sixth Aves., 3rd flr.

What: Inhabit
When: Women’s and men’s cashmere pieces start at $80; cotton basics at $50.
When: Nov. 16 & 17. Wed. & Thurs., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Where: 320 W. 37th St., b/t Eighth & Ninth Aves., 14th flr.

What: Vivienne Tam
Why: Original vintage samples and fall collection pieces are up to 75 percent off.
When: Nov. 16-18. Wed., 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Thurs., 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Fri., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Where: 260 W. 39th St., b/t Seventh & Eighth Aves., 11th flr.

What: Ali Ro
Why: Up to 65 percent off jackets and dresses for flirts.
When: Nov. 16-18. Wed., noon-5:30 p.m.; Thurs., 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Fri., 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Where: 530 Seventh Ave., b/t 38th & 39th Sts., 14th flr. Cash only.

What: Rebecca Minkoff
Why: Cross-body bags ($178, reg. $295), quilted satchels ($272, reg. $495), silk bustier dresses ($190, reg. $350), cutout wedges ($200, reg. $375), and cheetah-print pouches ($40, reg. $75).
When: Nov. 16-20. Wed.-Sat., 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Where: 14 W. 14th St., b/t Fifth & Sixth Aves.

What: M.Patmos and Leroy & Perry
Why: Up to 70 percent off cashmere, luxe knits, and accessories from M.Patmos. Leroy & Perry ecofriendly cardigans ($150, reg. $450), tops ($85, reg. $350), and ponchos ($65, reg. $300).
When: Nov. 17-19. Thurs. & Fri., 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Where: 425 W. 13th St., b/t Ninth Ave. & Washington St., ste. 406.

What: Steven Alan
Why: Sweaters ($99, reg. $248), dresses ($129, reg. $325), tops ($68, reg. $168), and men’s button-downs ($78, reg. $178).
When: Nov. 17-20. Thurs. & Fri., 8:30 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sat., 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Where: 87 Franklin St., b/t Broadway & Church St.

What: Frette
Why: Top-of-the-line bed and duvet sets ($399, reg. $1,995), hotel collection linens ($299, reg. $1,450), and bath goods starting at $15.
When: Nov. 27-Dec. 1. Sun.-Wed., 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m.; Thurs., 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Where: Soiffer Haskin, 317 W. 33rd St., b/t Eighth & Ninth Aves.

What: Be&D
Why: Current-season bags, shoes, and accessories are up to 80 percent off.
When: Nov. 29-Dec. 1. Tues.-Thurs., 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
Where: 260 W. 36th St., b/t Seventh & Eighth Aves., 8th fl

Winter Accessories and Spring Attire

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Here in weather-disoriented San Francisco, our Indian summer is ending and making way for pseudo winter. Our winter usually consists of 40 degrees at the coldest and I think last year we even saw one snow flake (the first in a decade). That being said, there is always reason to bundle up in some cozy winter accessories. I especially love a good scarf. Here are some fun ones for the rest of the world where winter really exists:

French Connection Polka Pom Pom Scarf, $98.84, available at ASOS; Odita Knitted Scarf, $46.10, available at Friis Company; Fair+True Zig Zag Scarf, $28.63, available at Fashion-Conscience.

Michael Michael Kors Texting Gloves, $55, available at Michael Kors; Juicy Couture Text Me Leather Gloves, $98, available at Juicy Couture; 2fer Texting Glove, $12.50, available at Delia’s.

Forever21 Snowflake Zigzag Beanie, $7.80, available at Forever21; Warehouse Knitted Leopard Beanie, $28, available at Warehouse; Free People Pearl Beaded Beanie, $48, available at Free People

And in anticipation of warmer climes, here are some springy styles from Club Monaco. I want to own them all, especially this whimsical first look:

 

And how bout some Vogue? Here are some beautiful images of Charlize Theron shot by Annie Liebovitz from Vogue:

 

 

Art, Fashion and being home sick

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Today I’ve got a little of all of the above.  I’ve been home sick, which usually leads to boredom, which usually leads to terrible things…like this photoshopping I did of a Vermeer. I couldn’t help myself. I thought what would make all famous art better? Me! So that happened. Hopefully I won’t be sick long because there are endless numbers of famous paintings with women in them.

Hahahahah. Hope this was funny to some one other than myself. And to try to redeem myself I present something that’s definitively awesome:

A teapot with a gun handle.

And next up the schizophrenic editorial for Vogue Japan Dec 2011, which I like…and I don’t.

Here she’s saying ‘I’m naughty’

‘Oh no wait, I’m happy! And want to adjust by garter’

‘Oh, now I’m naughty’

And I have a headache

And…. I’m happy again

But I like to ride invisible horses…while being naughty

Oh and now I’m nice again. Whew that was tiring.

The Wedge

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I’m a sucker for a good wedge, especially wedge booties or boots. They make me seem less short but aren’t nearly as uncomfortable to clomp around in all day so here are some of my picks for wedges this season:

If you don’t like my picks, shopstyle.com has a huge aggregate feature that you can search for wedges (among other awesome things)

 

Time machine art

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Ok so there are no actual time machines in this post, but since I completely blanked out on my usual Art Wednesday post I’m going to pretend it’s yesterday (which is back in time) and post my Art post today. I do sincerely wish I had a time machine though, because then I’d go back in time and I would have created the iPhone and I’d be a gazillionaire…except it’d be called the ashPhone because I’m like that. But since no such reality exists I’m going to just post about some awesome art instead.

Here are three completely different but equally as significant artists; in chronological order. First is Heironymus Bosch who was an artist in the late 1400′s and early 1500′s, most people know the Garden of Earthly Delights (the first one) and here are two others. I adore his work, brimming with chaos and dark humor. A whale of a painting for sure, every time I look at it I see something new. His others, to me, are equally as marvelous

These next photographs are by Sally Mann, quite controversial at one time for her portraits of her children (some of which were nude). Her striking black and white portraits were such an inspiration to me when I was just discovering photography. Simply gorgeous.

This next artist, Martin Boyce, I must admit, is not my favorite but is one of the Turner prize finalists…and hey just because I don’t like it doesn’t mean it’s not important….what do you guys think of it?

 

ok fine, here’s a time machine too

November Fashion Editorials

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These are three of my favorite fashion editorials from the November mags….

Ana Beatriz Barros by Karay Birand for Harper’s Bazaar Turkey November 2011:

Even if she wasn’t as breathtakingly beautiful as she is (can I have her legs?), these images would still have a stunning tonality and feel to them…but it helps that she is.

Carmelita Mendes and Barbara di Creddo by Manuel Nogueira for Elle Brazil November 2011

These images actually make me laugh a little. I think they’re intended to be a little sarcastic (Not that it’s unusual for my to flip my hair around while playing with a gas pump, or to play with a gas pump period, but..)…or so I hope. Either way amazing color palette.

Arizona Muse by David Sims for US Vogue November 2011

I love all things dark and brooding, and these images definitely fit that criteria. The vintage theme is great as well.