eye principle

Remembering

2011-09-19T23:29:00.000-07:00

Lately, I've been floating through life very retrospectively, incapable of experiencing things without reflecting on some bookmarked moment from the past. Example: I was at McNally's Bookshop reading cookbooks and had a flashback to the first time I ever cooked anything out of a book--pumpkin ravioli from scratch, a feat that I tackled without a hitch. Soon after came lasagna, tofu patties, and even olive bread--those kitchen smells are the last intangible relics of my college days.

And then there's the tough stuff that I wish I could forget, but as life would have it, I can't.

I still remember when I found out he was leaving. We cried, a lot. I cried alone and sometimes I'd just revert to self pity. Typical daddy-issue subtext that seems written into my life forever. Then he had to go. We tried but my foolishness took hold, and all the hand-holding and adventures and inside jokes and shared meals just sort of evaporated. Anger made room for recklessness. And the calls stopped. I stopped picking up. Things fell apart and I thought I could save myself by neglecting his hurt. He was then, the love of my life, and I dug a deep dark hole and buried him a little mercilessly.

And to my point about remembering things far too often--I think of him fondly and often Usually thoughts are associated with some kind of foodstuff: Chocolate cake, tacos, crumpets, and even arugula salad--all of which means nothing to most people (perhaps even to him) but are reminders of a really beautiful friendship I was lucky to have with someone. And even though we've both moved on to new lives, new loves, new culinary adventures, there will always be those moments I'll never forget which I'm sure he'll always remember, because they are his memories too.

FYI!

2009-04-13T18:00:00.001-07:00

FYI.

I moved.
LINK HERE.

or copy & paste this in browser!
http://www.eyeprinciple.wordpress.com

William Hundley

2008-12-23T12:36:00.000-08:00

Austin photographer William Hundley

These images are from his 2007 repository of floating "amorphous figures". A bit outdated, sure, but still visually stunning.

It's not even Christmas yet

2008-12-22T15:35:00.000-08:00

I probably shouldn't have opened my Christmas gifts already, but my childlike curiosity could not be suppressed. And I'm really impressed with what I got-but-did-not-ask-for. I really know how to pick my friends!

Here are some of my favz:

APC gray pima dress

Muji color pencil set

Mociun "bauhaus" print tee

for the have and the have nots: holiday edition

2008-12-17T10:18:00.000-08:00

I’m gearing up for a holiday gift exchange among friends that’s become an annual tradition since its inception circa 9th grade. Usually, it’s easy for me to list off all the things I want, well tangible things at least; yet this year, I’m racking my brain for ideas. Given our waning economic stability, I suddenly don’t want as much as I did before. The occasional Henrik Vibskov dress and Geren Ford shirt aside, I’ve simplified my life by “notwanting”. And if the feeling-of-want starts to bubble inside, I indulge myself with some online window-shopping aka “retail bulimia”. Add what you want to your shopping cart but instead of checking out, close the page. Sick, right?

Anyway, I’m stuck trying to come up with a few things to add to my Elfster list because I have to (see line 32A in our gift exchange rule book). And as much as I’d like my gift in a cash value, I can’t– that just takes the fun out of opening presents, no? Why am I such a stickler for tradition?

Papier Labo

Rosemieke de Hair

porcelain goblets

Facing China at Vreeman Publishers

Porter “Hello My Name Is” bag

Whimsey & Spice

One Year of White Pages

nl

2008-12-11T10:06:00.000-08:00

Humanoid

“.nl” always makes me happy. I love the Netherlands, I love Dutch design. This brings back fond memories of my short visit to Amsterdam a few years ago. I am still on the Stedelijk mailing list and frequently salivate when I get their event updates. Le sigh!

And in case this I wasn’t clear enough- Humanoid is awesome.

Pixel part 2

2008-12-01T17:31:00.000-08:00

Icelandic illustrator/London inhabitant Siggi Eggertsson is my hero! I first spotted his work accompanying an article on the NYT website. After some web-stalking, I found his website . Of course, I was entranced. I love pixelated anything but its his choice of color and vector shapes that I find unique and visually stimulating.

Read his interview via Computer Arts UK.

Pool/Shark

2008-11-25T17:20:00.000-08:00

In case you aren't sick of all this talk about skating in empty pools, this weekend will mark the last weekend Taro Hirano's landscape-style photos of skate-appropriate pools will be exhibited at Tortoise on Abbot Kinney. Go check it out (and buy some stuff, to stimulate the economy of course). And when you're done drooling, check out another one of my favorite Taro works.

tortoise general store (former tortoise)
1208 Abbot Kinney Blvd.
Venice, CA 90291
tel/fax: 310-314-8448

tortoise (new location)
1342 1/2 Abbot Kinney Blvd.
Venice, CA 90291
tel/fax: 310-396-7335

and one more for the road.

2008-11-23T13:17:00.000-08:00

I like all kinds of jam. In fact, nearing the peak of stone-fruit season this year, I made delicious peach jam from free bruised peaches I picked up at the farmer's market. But this Jam, I also love.

And how can we forget...

Buy the cd here.

guilty pleasure

2008-11-23T12:52:00.000-08:00

I just can't help it. I really try to avoid them, but everything goes back to Bowie.

I will heart Roxy Music forever. and ever.

2008-11-23T12:45:00.001-08:00

This changed my life. Now I'm revisiting.

vanity shot

2008-11-18T01:45:00.000-08:00

I quite like what I wore today.

I haven't washed the scarf in a while!

how to say

2008-11-17T00:08:00.001-08:00

Photos photos photos

Me you and me and you and our us we

Happier times. Unknowing smiles. Those heady conversations that encompass the unforeseeable. Mainly because we were dreamy or maybe because it was easy.

Harder times. Emphatic soliloquies. Strained discourse. Fleeting moments. Our hand-holding replacing the eye-opening; I plaster my face with tears like garish makeup in vain. You said. I blink doubts away.

And then the photos photos photos

#4 of my favorite 10 Radiohead songs

2008-11-16T19:19:00.000-08:00

True Love Waits

I'll drown my beliefs
To have you be in peace
I'll dress like your niece
To wash your swollen feet

Just don't leave
Don't leave

I'm not living
I'm just killing time
Your tiny hands
Your crazy kitten smile

Just don't leave
Don't leave

And true love waits
In haunted attics
And true love lives
On lollipops and crisps

Just don't leave
Don't leave

Just don't leave
Don't leave

andy WOAH hol

2008-11-14T19:18:00.000-08:00

There's a possibility my winter plans will include a trip to London. Fingers crossed. I know, I know. With the economic slump, how could I even consider battling the ever-so-terrifying dollar to GBP exchange? The good news is, my cousin lives there, and saving on room and board seems more than enough reason for me to return to the city I fell in love with many Shakespearean acts ago (referring to my brief summer study abroad experience, ahem). There are millions of things I want to do there. I want spotted dick from Sainsbury, retail therapy from Top Shop, really cheap wine and really luxurious cheese, Indian food, the Tate and you know, all the other cliched London-esque things to do, people to see, food to eat.

But I also really want to see this.

Since October 2nd, the Hayward Gallery has been hosting the Other Voices, Other Rooms: Andy Warhol exhibit. Archived Warhol art and paraphernalia will be on display. In unveiling Warhol's "personal" repository of goodies, curators hope to answer longstanding questions about Warhol's life beneath the surface of...well, our understanding, I guess (redundant much?) In a Ponystep review, Rachel Newsome asks:

"How little or much we value Warhol’s contribution to art and culture comes down to the question of his sincerity. Was he being ironic when he said: “If you want to know all about Andy Warhol, just look at the surface of my paintings and my films and me, and there I am. There is nothing behind it.” Or did he really mean it? In which case, is the joke ultimately on us? "

In Rachel's review, it seems as though the exhibit was an implosive failure of sorts. Even with all the collected text/visuals/soundbytes etc., Warhol's inner Warhol will never be justified (much less understood) by empirical data. But can any human mind or motive really ever be? I'll believe it when I can hold it and swallow it. And come on, do you think Dorothy really wanted to find out that the Wizard was a creepy short guy?

If I happen to be in London before the exhibit closes in January 2009, I'll be there. Mainly to see all the great stuff Warhol's produced. And the polaroids. Gotta love the polaroids!

photos courtesy of The Guardian

via Ponystep

hair around the world

2008-11-14T19:01:00.000-08:00

This appears to be a salon in Japan. Not sure if I love it. I think I kind of do. Very DIY.

via Nakajima

NYT = artsy

2008-11-14T18:36:00.000-08:00

When I browse through New York Times' online doppelganger (newyorktimes.com), I always see little bits of art and graphics that I kind of fall in love with. A few days ago, Christopher Silas Neal's work was featured in an article that I don't even remember reading. If you check out his website, you'll see some of his past editorial work that remind me of vintage 1960s children's book-graphics. Here's what I "clipped" from the page.

And here's a link to his website. Neal is a former Texan and current Brooklynite-illustrator/designer whose clients range from reputable newszines like The New Yorker and Texas Monthly (har har) to Sub Pop Records and some of my favorite reads, Seattle's The Stranger and Paper Magazine. I had a feeling I was onto something when I screen captured his artwork.

feast your eyes

2008-11-14T18:15:00.000-08:00

So ironic.

I've been really feeling Toga, a brand founded by Yasuko Furuta back in '97 and wanted to dissect her S/S 09 ware. In googling Toga, I randomly came across a piece written in Nylon by my friend from the other coast, Jinnie Lee, reintroducing (or introducing, if I may) the brand's new vintage shop, Toga XTC, to Nylon.com readers. So. Weird.

With that being said- here's a little visual aid for those who are interested but have no idea!

color me badd

2008-11-13T19:09:00.001-08:00

I am a huge fan of Daughters by Obedient Sons. Every season, I salivate a little bit when I see all the wonderful, unique designs they are contributing to the garment game. The cuts are precise and clean- and their spring/summer 09 season emphasizes on the linear color gradient that so many people seem to poo poo on. To all the folks who snub "one colla" head-to-toe... nyah nyah! (PS. Does someone want to buy me those beautiful teal platforms?)

it's the shit!

2008-11-13T18:54:00.000-08:00

From the website:

"£22.00 GBP
THE RAREST COFFEE IN EXISTENCE
UNIQUE DELICATE FLAVOUR AFTER FERMENTATION IN THE CIVET'S DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
ONLY 500 KG'S OF THIS COFFEE ARE FOUND EACH YEAR

This is the rarest and definately most extraordinary coffee in the world! This coffee has been selected for us by Paradoxurus Hermaphroditis. Better know as the Common Palm Civet Cat. It prowls the Sumatran coffee plantations at night, choosing to eat only the finest, ripest cherries. The stones (which eventually form coffee beans) are then collected by cleaning through the droppings by the natives who collect it.

Kopi Luwak as it is known, is considered to be the world's finest coffee by Native Sumatrans. This coffee has an Intense but delicate flavour and no aftertaste, which is unique in coffee. This flavour is due to the fact that the coffee has been partially fermented by passing through the system of the Civet. Only about 500 KG's of this coffee are found each year."

Another interesting Civet Cat Factoid

shoe porn

2008-11-13T18:31:00.001-08:00

Not that I need new shoes or anything (trust me, I don't). But recently, my friend Alice showed me three enticing pairs of DRU New York wedges that I kind of can't stop thinking about. Dru New York is the brainchild of designer Tiffany Chantra, who is talented to the nth degree and also extremely nice, EXTREMELY.

Anyway, in an effort to stimulate the economy, I plan on purchasing some past season's hits. She's offering me a sample sale price since they are soon to expire. Here's a glimpse.

What do you think?

this makes me want to start a band

2008-11-13T13:17:00.000-08:00

Finnish illustrator and designer Inka Jarvinen is blowing my mind. I want to start a band and record an album just so she can design the identity.

via Lost At E Minor

nails on chalkboard

2008-11-13T12:34:00.000-08:00

Chalkboards remind me of my pre-school through third grade years, before dry-erase boards replaced those dusty matte-black (or green) slabs. Inspired by the lost art of chalkboarding, this deck is an homage. $65

Those were the days

Hüsker Dü-in it.

2008-11-12T21:54:00.001-08:00

awesome.

And the most embarrassing cover ever.

Therapy?, apparently an Irish metal band?

world's smallest

2008-11-11T12:32:00.000-08:00

My best friend Diana just sent me the world's smallest birthday card. And in honor of all things small and precious- the world's smallest fast food meal.

via Daily Cognition

chartreuse is my favorite color.

2008-11-10T22:47:00.000-08:00

Again, behind with my updates.

Recently I made a very wise purchase at the Creatures of Comfort sample sale. I bought a beautiful chartreuse Zero + Maria Cornejo sleeveless blouse. My friend Alice spotted it amid the volcanic-eruption-of-clothes and luckily, there was another one for me. Of course I lunged at the last one, staking my claim. After all, the Brit-born Chilean designer is one of my favorites. She embraces subtlety but her designs definitely showcase her neurotic obsession with detail.

My shirt:

It's no wonder I'm obsessed with her Spring/Summer 2009 collection-

ha ha ha.

2008-11-10T17:45:00.000-08:00

Here's a funny story:

Sometimes I want just lean over and kiss you and eradicate the weirdness planted there, that abysmal performance of sometimes-friendship. I used to scorn impossible relationships. Now I'm trapped in one, one eye shut and the other looking away. How you do that to me. You're hand is still on the wheel and I'm racking my brain for the words that used to count.

"How did we get here?" Oh wait. How did I? (cue in the strangely autobiographical reverb of my roommate's guitar-playing). How how how how how... Did did did did... I I i i i?

Let's pretend this is my story, and the author decided I needed a foil and then the task befell upon you. Like one of those one-act plays and the strange, contiguous events that borderline "scripted" and uncomfortably real. Our worlds collided like clockwork. There was that one song.

"No way!"

And that gut feeling leading the blind astray. "No way!" Why did it feel like magic? We should have stopped with the high school shit but "no" turned out to be "yes", "yes" turned out to be "more" and it was Opposite Day. We looked forward but each with one foot out the door. Vans, high tops. Chucks, low tops. And now you're staring blankly ahead, hand on steering wheel, barefoot. I'm trying to mentally make out with you, but it's like I forgot how to kiss.

Life is funny that way. (muttering under my breath "love" in size 5.6 font) is funny too. You're really funny. In hindsight, I was funnier when I thought it was a comedy or maybe a joke. But then I realized my heart was the punchline.

NY ART BOOK FAIR

2008-10-21T07:40:00.000-07:00

Just got an email from Nieves Books about the NY Art Book Fair happening this Friday October 24 through Sunday October 26. Taking place at Phillips de Pury & Co., this one looks like a surefire visual-gasm of sorts. Over 140 international publishers, booksellers, and "antiquarian dealers" (straight quote from the website, guys) will be showing off their wares. This means, art magazines, 'zines, catalogues, books, you name it.

Just looking at the website, I'm already feeling a bit overly excited. The NY ART BOOK FAIR Committee includes Philip Aarons, AA Bronson, Skuta Helgason, Carolina Nitsch, Richard Prince, Dieter von Graffenreid, John Waters, Matthew Zucker- a who's who of the contemporary art world (which means, borderline annoying and pretentious but awesome at the same time). Just had to name drop (which means I'm borderline annoying and pretentious but ...)

Exhibitors include a few of my personal favez: Ooga Booga, Butt Magazine, D.A.P., Arkitip, Nieves, Pin-Up mag, RAM, Printed Matter, etc. etc. etc.

IF YOU'RE IN NY...

2008-10-19T20:44:00.000-07:00

New York tomorrow am.

I won't be here but....

2008-10-17T12:22:00.001-07:00

++++++++++++SLOW AND STEADY WINS THE RACE!++++++++++++++
Please join designer Mary Ping this Friday, 7-10pm at our shop to
celebrate her two-week Slow and Steady Wins the Race special installation,
inspired by a Kiki Smith quote! Then, visit our neighboring shops' events
that night too (see flyer below)!
Slow and Steady Wins the Race is a clothing label by NY designer Mary Ping,
cataloguing ideas that are focused on a specific and fundamental characteristic
of clothing design.
+Friday evening 7-10pm in Ooga Booga courtyard! Tunes by DJ Anh Do!
For more info:
www.oogaboogastore.com/news
www.slowandsteadywinstherace.com
www.maryping.com

2008-10-01T17:25:00.000-07:00

FYI...

Come out and buy lots of drinks- let's help Obama's crew get paid!

ps. no drinking and driving folks. only drinking and dancing.

brand or unbrand

2008-10-01T16:54:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow night, artist Hank Willis Thomas will be speaking at the Hammer on the subject of his monograph, Pitch Blackness, as well as his much-praised B®anded series. An excerpt from his website:

“The B®anded series is a result of an exploration, and subsequent appropriation of the language of advertising. By employing the ubiquitous language of advertising in my work, I am able to talk explicitly about race, class and history in a medium that the almost everyone can decode.”

I really like his “Unbranded” series, appropriated advertisements from the 60’s to present day, related to black people/culture from which he’s stripped away logos and emblems. It’s scary how the media-fostered portrayal of American black culture hasn’t really changed much in the last 40 some years. It has me visualizing Sambo, I mean, what’s so different? (see some of my own appropriated pics from his website below)

Hammer Museum website: Calendar

7 PM

don't leave without a cuddle.

2008-09-24T14:26:00.001-07:00

We went to bed kind of fighting. Kind of, meaning, I let my mouth run off, spewing the most offensive dangling modifiers and other grammatical errors. Your face was tucked into sweaty forearms (your own), back against me and my unapologetic face.

You might have been sleeping.

We didn't cuddle that night, in fact, far from cuddling we were magnetically pulled apart. You were drawn towards the wall and I was half falling off the bed's edge. Usually, we like to do this weird "couple-ly" thing: We spoon, legs entangled, your arm probably cramping from the weight of my head. This practice is especially fervent right before your flights back to Seattle. I was also wearing this incredibly unflattering and unsexy potato-sack of a t-shirt to bed. But you're not shallow like that anyway ("it's what's underneath that counts"). Haha.

As usual, the alarm goes off at 4 am and your uncomplicated process of leaving me begins. I wake up this time, and with one eye open, watch your dark figure move unfettered by emotional exhaustion, morning breath, and regret. Lump in throat forms and I want to wait until you leave before lump snowballs into tears.

"I'm leaving, babe." Silence and low-octave mumbling ensues.

Crawling under the covers one last time, you wrap your leather-jacketed arm around me because you know that I'm praying so hard for this and that I'm biting my tongue for all the mean-spirited comments and childish follies of yesterday. And despite my brattiness, you risk missing the early flight for one more cuddle because our next is two weeks away.

This is why I'm in love with you.

Anthem Magazine, c'est la vie

2008-09-24T12:08:00.000-07:00

The dark days of print-publishing awaits us magazine fanatics at the gates of digital hell and all we can do is pray that our favorites don't succumb. Luckily, only a handful of mine has (weep-sob-Punk Planet RIP).

I recently received an email from ANTHEM magazine, advertising their latest "fashion" issue, with a short but sweet announcement that the magazine is going quarterly. And in these words:

"It seems like we can't spend a full day without stumbling on someone's premature obituary of print media. Anthem wants to prove that what seems impossible can be answered with what's least expected: bigger, bolder, brasher. We'd like to think we're running full throttle into the future with oversized ambition—critics and so-called common sense be damned."

So basically, I'm thinking Anthem is the west coast's answer to V Magazine. Might be too early to speculate, but we'll see. If that's the direction it's heading in, Anthem's got some work ahead of itself. And while I was never a huge fan of the writing, I respect the magazine's design work. Anthem also threw some pretty dope parties at Coachella.

Click to subscribe

what's my dosha

2008-09-24T11:13:00.001-07:00

No visuals today folks, unless you're where I am, positioned at a 45˚ angle on my bed (back arched), propped up on a stack of pillows, and staring out of my window wishing my flu would pass. My visuals: A green bush and occasionally, a couple of flies looking for a crack in the window, a pathway to my disheveled bedroom.

In the last two years since I started working full-time, I've been sick more than I had been in four years of college. If you don't count that one month when I had that weird stomach thing, college was pretty unexciting for me at the health ward. I guess I was more "experimental" then- I cooked all the time, tested the limits of my physical aptitude (does trying out for the hip hop dance team count?), and wasted time on the internet learning about raw/macrobiotic/vegan lifestyles. The outcome? Good skin, enviable metabolism with a diet that consisted of mostly fresh veggies, and a kick-ass immune system.

A 9 to 5 does weird shit to your mental/physical health. Your day is spent in an unfriendly chair, in front of a really bright screen. You rely on stimulants like coffee or cocaine-er-just kidding to get you going in the morning (seriously kidding). And after work, an exhausted robot-copy of your former self wants to do nothing but veg in front of another bright screen and eat really really bad food. This was my life the first year out of school and while the situation has improved since then, I still don't feel 100%.

Fast forward to this very moment, my laughable immune system trying to battle the flu. PSSH. It's like watching Bush's press conferences- pathetic. The good news is, I'm inspired to get back on track- eat better, sleep more, drink more water, blah blah. Chill out on the coffee and bad sugars. This is also why I've taken an interest in ayurvedic eating...

find out what your dosha is.

and find out what that means.

the end.

2008-09-18T21:59:00.000-07:00

NY TIMES OBITUARY

I meant to post this earlier, but we truly lost a literary genius.

A true poet.

Sigh.

obama-rama

2008-09-16T16:35:00.000-07:00

While I’ve been conveniently finding ways to distract myself from being engrossed in dinner table/water-cooler/insufferable DMV-waiting-line discussions about the elections, I really can’t help but be (engrossed). I already know who I’m going to vote for– but with all the recent press coverage of Palin and her disgusting neocon ideologies, I can’t help but stew. I also can’t help but go on these anti-McCain/Pain message boards and stew some more. But then I realized that simply reading political commentary and getting pissed off is pretty ineffectual in the grand scheme of things, especially with only a month and a half left before knowing the outcome.

Now’s the time to mobilize. Whether you are a Democrat, an Independent, or a Republican-for-Obama, now’s the time to encourage discussion and education about the current state of affairs and America’s opportunity to heal. Even if you’ve been zoning out for the last year and a half, now’s the time to go read those candidate platforms and decide whether or not you can handle four more years of hell with a guy who has voted over 90% of the time with Bush and his potna-in-crime who doesn’t believe dinosaurs walked the earth.

Most importantly- you must register to vote, especially if you’re an Obama supporter. I’m hearing a lot of “but we know California’s in the bag” or “it’s too complicated”, but you must vote because you CAN. Because if you don’t, you are squandering a right and a privilege that that some other people in this world would die for. Because frankly, at the state we’re in, we just can’t afford to hand in our rights on silver platters.

Anyway- along with a few friends, I’ll be throwing an Obama/Biden fundraiser early October here in Los Angeles probably at the Mountain Bar. Please keep your eyes/ears out for more info. Let’s send those Republicans packing!

Image VIA System of Operations

last life in the universe

2008-09-14T14:26:00.000-07:00

A long while ago, my friend Miguel shared one of his favorite movies with me for my birthday and I recently had a desire to watch the dvd again. Last Life In The Universe directed by Pen-Ek Ratanaruang still ranks as one of my favorite movies of all time. I'm not so much a movie buff, but I know what I like and this film weaves together mesmerizing visuals, a beautiful storyline, superb acting, and even a little cameo from Takeshi Miike himself. If you like the Wong Kar Wai type of film-making, you're in for a treat- thanks Mig.

In seeking out an enticing trailer, I came across a US version and a Japanese version. The former appears darker, more melancholic whereas the latter highlights the romance, and dreaminess of the movie. Not to mention the voice over narration that sort of bogs down the US trailer. I much prefer the fluidity of the Japanese trailer, but I guess it IS a whole extra minute longer...

US VERSION

JAPAN VERSION

I xoxo PJ

2008-09-14T13:51:00.000-07:00

I have matters of the heart to discuss.

I secretly love Peter Jensen.

As much as I try to remove myself from the Alice In Wonderland aesthetic of brands like Tsumori Chisato and Eley Kishimoto, I can't help but fall in love with Peter Jensen time and time again. His collection is never really complete- I always feel a bit uneasy but intrigued, kind of like the "Matthew Barney-effect". Not always sure where he's going, but always, always, sure that he has wild dreams that rival a speed-freak on LSD. I guess in a way, he's really representative of British fashion design. Colorful, experimental, and almost like poo-pooing on whatever is in mode everywhere else. Peter's A/W 2008 collection was precisely that- a little bit of the moody blues mixed with "grandma's sewing room". And now that it's officially Autumn- enjoy!

sk8

2008-09-07T23:18:00.000-07:00

Be there or be square- Tomorrow night at the DGA theatre, gotta RSVP.

I don't know much about skating, but I do know about Andy Kessler-

via Deathbowl to Downtown blog

I went to New York City and all I got was this fake Polaroid

2008-09-02T13:52:00.000-07:00

I stumbled upon Henrietta Swift’s portfolio and really love all of her past and current projects. Her bio tells me she is an illustration student at Brighton University (UK) and will be graduating next year. I see a bright future for this young designer.

Below is my favorite of her work- her “I LOVE NY” series in which she faked a trip to New York by altering Polaroids using the old-school, cut and paste, method.

ethnomusicology

2008-08-31T03:15:00.001-07:00

Many people have come in and out of my life and I’ve gotten a lot of music out of these passing “moments”. As brief as the interpersonal relationships may be, my relationship with their music is forever. Funny that my Ipod and cd cases have become audio-photo albums, maybe even more profound than that, they’ve become autobiographical. I’m trying hard not to channel John Cusak’s character from High Fidelity right now- it after all, is one of my favorite movies of all time. Top five for sure. There I go, channeling.

1. Mariah Carey’s “Someday”, first best friend in the 1st grade. We used to hum this while playing on Astroturf. Actually, she would hum, I would do the Roger Rabbit.

2. Kris Kross “Jump”, heavy influence from the older cousins who going through their gangster days of junior high were rocking big hooped earrings, matte brown lipstick, flannel, and backwards pants.

3. 4 Non Blondes “What’s Going On”, when my dad’s friend hooked up the black box aka illegal cable for us, I had my first glimpse of MTV and my first visual of a dykey singer. Yes, and I mean Linda Perry. I swear I thought it was Val Kilmer in drag.

4. Aerosmith “Crazy”, shortly thereafter, my dad and I caught this video on TV and he immediately said “isn’t that Mick Jagger? What’s wrong with his hair?” in Mandarin of course…

5. Simon and Garfunkel “Bridge Over Troubled Water”, piano lesson with the mum- she has great taste in music, very surprising for a fobby Chinese lady with big curly hair.

6. Green Day “When I Come Around”, a cute boy in my class liked this song and instead of saying “earth” he said “uth”.

7. Proclaimers “I Would Walk 500 Miles”, same boy. Benny & Joon was big back then. Even though I caught him picking his nose, I still liked him. I wrote his name on my shoe.

8. Pink Floyd “The Wall”, Beatles “Hide Your Love Away”, Procol Harum “Whiter Shade of Pale”, Ben E. King “Stand By Me”, Eagles “Hotel California”…(list goes on), thanks Jeff, my guitar instructor from 6th grade – 8th grade who I totally did not appreciate at the time, who played with the Stones, who was anemic, who opened my world to classic rock and soul that I would have never even known, who I’ve lost touch with and who I miss dearly.

9. Mary J. Blige “Not Gon’ Cry”, a boy who hurt my feelings by asking out my friend at the fair. This song was on repeat for weeks.

10. Nsync “Tearin’ Up My Heart”, four very special ladies, two of who are still in my life. I didn’t want to bring this one up but we’ve all had our moments, don’t we?

11. Tupac “I Get Around”, a boy who I thought I loved. He was a little bit of thug, a little bit of a Romeo.

12. Random trance songs that I don’t remember and that all sound the same to me, same boy. He started raving and I was in student council and the stars weren’t aligned.

13. The Gossip “Swing Low”, not so much a person or even a living, breathing organism. But Napster was more than a friend; Napster was the gatekeeper to music that a former suburbanite like me would never know. Remember The Hives’ “Black Mask”? Definitely didn’t make sense with the whole Applebee’s strip mall thing. Remember waiting a day to download one song?

14. Dr. Dre “Next Episode”, A boy. His friends. The “Up In Smoke Tour” dvd. Coronas. C-walking. Wow- was this really my first year of college?

15. Death Cab for Cutie “Photobooth”, while suffering through a breakup with said boy, I realized that my Mary J. Blige cd was scratched so I had to find a substitution.

16. Craig David/Linkin Park JAMS, this is an all-time low. While the two bands definitely did not end up on my Winamp (remember Winamp, kids?), the boy (a new one) whom I had nothing in common with loved them. So I suffered through the cacophony. I call it “finding myself” or my “blue” period.

17. Wutang Clan “Killer Bees”, my dear friend Drew who I’ve shared many fun times with especially SAT prep class, would RAP to the instrumental of this song. Sorry to call you out Drew- but it’s way more acceptable than your now defunct electric scooter.

18. MIA’s “Arular”-Diplo remix, the beginning of the “Paul”-years, some of the happiest years I have had (still have), and to think it all began with a bootlegged remix.

19 through 451, a continuum of life before and life after Paul.

452. The Gossip remix of “Are You That Somebody”, if you can sing this on your car out loud with a gal pal, you know you guys are thicker than thighs that touch. Especially if she’s singing with you.

453. Jodeci “Talk to Me”, if you’re reading- thanks for reinstating 90’s R/B in my life again. If that’s all our friendship comes down to, then I’m glad we’re friends.

454. Yeah Yeah Yeahs “Maps”, I always thought I was just good at playing this song on Rock Band, but who knew I could sing too? Even if only in my mind…

455. Neil Young “Don’t Let It Bring You Down”, a song that that’s sort of been there for you through both euphoric and traumatic moments. And when you can share it with people you trust, the music and melody are amplified and you feel like you’re hearing it for the first time. I love that- the feeling that a song that’s been played to death gets a chance to live again. But importantly, if we’re friends and you don’t like this song, consider yourself one friend less.

Magic Cloth

2008-08-29T12:22:00.000-07:00

“Ikat, or Ikkat, is a style of weaving that uses a resist dyeing process similar to tie-dye on either the warp or weft before the threads are woven to create a pattern or design. A Double Ikat is when both the warp and the weft are tie-dyed before weaving.”

“Like any craft or art form, ikats vary widely from country to country and region to region. Designs may have symbolic of ritual meaning or have been developed for export trade. Ikats are often symbols of status, wealth, power and prestige. Perhaps because of the difficulty and time required to make ikats, some cultures believe the cloth is imbued with magical powers.”

Thanks Wikipedia!

whatta man

2008-08-29T11:23:00.001-07:00

My affinity for menswear is a result of-

1. My mum, whose OG-unisex-preference definitely had an affect on me. While other girls were donning their frilly Quinceanera dresses in 3rd grade, I was on a tomboy tip that had me in Osh Kosh overalls and plaid shirts. Of course I was super jealous of other girls at the time because you know, frilly-dress-girls always got put in the front of class pictures. Like I said- OG.

2. My boyfriend, who has the best taste in everything of any guy I know. He’s got a good eye for design and is still always putting me on to new brands/designers that end up being “blog-worthy” months later. Because of him, I’ve been secretly wishing I could pull off Nom de Guerre head to toe without looking butch.

3. HUGE magazine. ‘Nuff said.

Here are some of my favorites for the fast-approaching fall/winter season- Is it jacket time already?

Nom de Guerre

Henrik Vibskov

Lanvin

And last but not least...Comme des Garcons wallet in ANOTHER new design

H.Lang Frame of Mind

2008-08-27T18:50:00.001-07:00

Black has been "the new black" for the last few seasons it seems. In the publishing world, black is always in. It's kind of an initiation you succumb to when you become an editor- how many black pieces can your closet handle? Usually the answer is "infinite", at least it's been that way for me in the last year, strangely, because I live my life in technicolor. And when I think of designers who inspire my dour aesthetic, I think of Helmut Lang, who despite the occasional misses (ahem-women's resort 08), is always a hit in my book. I love the brand for its minimalist designs and even through all the early tug-of-wars between the it's founder and former proprietor Prada, a temporary production hiatus, and a relaunch in 2006, the brand still retains the look it was born into. Sure, sometimes designs appear like elevated Calvin Klein stock but when I actually get a piece in my hands, I'm always reassured that it's not by the thick, lush fabric and the strong and clean lines. Plus- Helmut Lang is the original chic goth and no one can ever take that away from him. Not even you, Phillip Lim.

Women/Men Fall/Winter 2008, Spring/Summer 2009

2008-08-23T13:17:00.001-07:00

I can't even lie. I am obsessed with "stuff" right now. Pretty things, obscene things, grotesque things even. Many of these coveted things aren't necessarily tangible but I'd like to report on a current obsession that is tangible (in theory) but only if my wallet allows for small miracles to happen.

Feast your eyes on the Kanazu Sen-i Corporation's eco-friendly bags. Made from plant-based poly-lactic acid fabrics, the bags are bio-degradable and are meant to be crumpled up and stuffed away when not in use. With all the farmer's market shopping I've been doing, this is a much cuter way to lug peaches and fresh ricotta back home. And as much as I hate pleated things (see ISSEY MIYAKE's PLEATS PLEASE collection), I actually really these pleated bags.

Here is my dilemma- only available in the US through the Smithsonian store, I can't seem to track it down in the webshop. I also fear international shipping costs. What to do!?

wall to wall

2008-08-22T16:36:00.000-07:00

Kowloon Walled City was a partitioned piece of Hong Kong that historically straddled both the British and Chinese mandates but never formally operated under either. It was the size of “a single building covering only 0.026 km² and at its peak apparently having a population as high as 50,000 people”, according to Ministry of Type . That’s not a lot of space for a whole lot of city dwellers! I’m almost humbled by the images of the former city within and it’s narrow corridors and frighteningly stale infrastructure. This whole time, I’ve been complaining about how small my room is. It’s palatial compared to the Walled City. And according to Wikipedia, it was “notorious for its excess of brothels, casinos, opium dens, cocaine parlours, food courts serving dog meat, and secret factories”. Sounds friggin shady if you ask me–pun intended!

Photograph

Illustration

via Ministry of Type

1, 2, 3... pixelate!

2008-08-22T15:01:00.000-07:00

While doing some online sleuthing (for work of course), I stumbled upon a new post from one of our illustrators Christoph Niemann, whose work appears every month in our magazine, in the New York Times blog . And I am floored!

Backstory: Christoph and his wife decided to revamp the bathroom of their Berlin home. I his words, “ I took this opportunity to realize one of my artistic dreams: Designing the bathrooms with pixel drawings made of classic 4-by-4 inch colored tiles.” The article takes you through the seemingly laborious (but fun) process of picking the perfect artwork, pixelating it, and then deciding whether or not it’d be compatible with soapsuds. And this is what the Niemanns came up with.

Genius!

Another-

The result...

via NYT

do you BELIEVE?

2008-08-08T09:14:00.000-07:00

The July/August 08 edition of Believer Magazine (also known as their "Music Issue")

PROS: I kind of love that hipster-worship-worthy Haruki Murakami breaks down some of his Jazz favz in the only way he knows how- by drawing out surreal visuals and metaphors in the music and (briefly) the lives of artists Billie Holiday, Stan Getz, and Theloniuous Monk. At one point, Murakami says, "Getz's life may have been, the sweet magic that filled his music like the beating of angel wings never wavered." Woah.

CONS: The "Bite Me: A Brief History of Dentistry and Music" article = YAWN. And the interview with Ian Mackaye from which I expected fireworks, was lackluster and contrived. The whole thing felt like a boring documentary about no-name bands that might have been good if it wasn't transcribed into 5-pages worth of text. But that also leads me to...

PROS: Within the interview, there's a pretty awesome list titled "Songs About Gender Confusion". While the immediate response to certain listed bands/songs is "duh, I knew that", I was also in denial that one of my favorite Beatles' tracks,"Get Back", was a discussion on transgenderism. Then I read the lyrics. Got it.

CONS: Annoying write-up called the "Grizzind" in which author Davy Rothbart praises street-peddled rap cds. I initially found it amusing and then found myself irritated that another hipster music geek thinks that badly produced hip hop is genius because it's ironic to think this way.

FINALLY, PROS: A free CD! Well, it's not free because the cost is covered in the steep price of this issue.

TRACKLISTING
CD enclosed with the July/August 2008 print issue

1. Tartit, “Ansari”
2. Animal Collective, “Winters Love”
3. Sholi, “Hejrat”
4. Googoosh, “Makhloogh”
5. Gang Gang Dance, “Nicoman”
6. Beat Konducta, “Dancing Girls Theme”
7. Think Of One, “Antwaarpse Shaâbi”
8. Aceyalone, “Sound Gun”
9. Busy Signal, “Knocking At Your Door”
10. Dirty Projectors, “Finches’ Song At Oceanic Parking Lot”
11. Ensemble Pirin, “Di-Li-Do”
12. Skeletons and the Kings of All Cities, “What They Said (Barnburner Mix)”
13. Mahmoud Ahmed, “Abbay Mado”
14. High Places, “Golden”
15. Ya Bounma, “Jing Riang Me Lun”
16. Lucky Dragons, “Complement Song”

Overall, this magazine was good, somewhat ho-hum, but good.

it's too intricate

2008-08-06T13:50:00.001-07:00

Recently, I wrote a blurb about Intricate Machines (my new favorite band) for the Nylon Website . The best part is, two of the five talented band members are my roommates.

Peep the write-up and if you dare, check out their myspace for some goodies for your ears!

tiger food

2008-08-06T12:12:00.000-07:00

I’m a total sucker for sweets (har har, nevermind) and can never seem to pass up dessert as long as it is available and dripping with icing. As a tot, I’d frequently pass on dinners just so I could conserve stomach space for post-meal sugary indulgences.

Sweet Tooth of the Tiger , a “renegade bake sale project” out in New York, peddles sweets and treats at different events, setting up shop with a spread that includes cupcake assortments, lemon sandwich cookies, rice krispy treats, and more. They’ll hop from one event to another and if you’re curious about their stops, simply access the “where we are” page and an itinerary will be available. The best part is, if Sweet Tooth comes to your event, the team will bring its own table sand supplies. All you have to do is pay and eat.

Check out information about their new online zine for which they are currently accepting submissions of food-related recipes/stories/images.

if I had $3,000 to spare

2008-08-05T00:22:00.001-07:00

I'd spend it on something silly.

Here's my $3,000 outfit that I'm sure I can easily obtain for $30. God, I hate that I love clothes!

yesterday's sandwich would be an awesome band name

2008-08-04T11:04:00.000-07:00

Available at Phaidon

Phaidon is releasing a compilation of Ukrainian artist/photographer Boris Mikhailov’s “Yesterday’s Sandwich” collection. And I cannot wait for the shopping cart access on website.

(from the “Yesterday’s Sandwich” collection courtesy of Shugo Arts )

(courtesy of the Saatchi Gallery

(images courtesy of the Bereznitsky Gallery

Many moons ago when I was a wide-eyed art slut exploring Amsterdam’s visual offerings, I stumbled upon Mr. Mikhailov’s work at the Stedelijk museum. From then on, I became kind of a groupie, stalking him online, attempting to track down exhibitions that I could physically get to. Considering his last solo show was in Berlin at the Bereznitsky Gallery in 06, I haven’t been very lucky.

His photographs are thoughtful. The subject matter doesn’t change much; marginalized social sectors of former Soviet states are studied through different extremes from being laughable to cringe-worthy. Then there’s that whimsical quality about all the people he photographs. It’s almost unnerving how the subjects he chooses to shoot–despite their circumstances–bear expressions that I find relatable.

my po-po always smells like szechuan peppercorns

2008-07-31T15:57:00.000-07:00

For the last few months, I’ve been working on a manuscript for a book I hope will be finished by the end of this year. While I can’t get into specifics, what I can say is, the book will be a little collaboration between my grandmother and me. With the first phase almost complete comes the second phase which is much more difficult and requires plenty of time in the kitchen. Care to guess what kind of book it is we’re working on?

While doing research online, I came across two relevant sites that I HAVE to share with you- especially with those of you who have cute (and sometimes NOT-SO-CUTE) Asian grandmothers.

Lau Lau’s Recipes
Excerpt from the About page:
“Our grandmother passed away on June 11, 2006. She was an amazing cook. These are her recipes as we have done our best to reconstruct them.”

The Asian Grandmother’s Cookbook
Excerpt from the About page:
“The Asian Grandmothers Cookbook will be a compilation of family and homecooking recipes from across the Asian smorgasbord, the idea being that grandmothers are the closest link we have to our cultures and traditions. It’ll also contain anecdotes and stories about family, food traditions, grandmothers, mothers and aunts. I envision it as a way to preserve traditional recipes for future generations.”

Bowled Over

2008-07-28T17:16:00.000-07:00

When he told me he was leaving which meant not coming back, I was floored. I thought I was reason enough for frequent visits, drop-ins, and I would just go catatonic on purpose to exaggerate my shock and surprise that he was around. But at that moment, I felt only a tingle in my toes from kicking the carpet barefooted and an incessant blinking to precede the incessant sobbing.

He never did come home much. In my mind, he was always lurking in the darkness somewhere. To my friends, he was a businessman abroad or member of a traveling circus. He used to answer the phone a lot, they’d mention, but why not so much anymore? Queue in the blinking.

When I found out he had taken someone else bowling, I threw up. Maybe on purpose. He never took me bowling. In fact, I never knew he bowled. I thought that all this time, he was performing with his traveling circus somewhere in the Appalachians. Did I kick him or scream at him or throw things around my room? No. I should have because maybe he would have stayed longer because he owed me that much. I should have because he deserved it. Why didn’t you teach me how to bowl because I really suck at bowling?

Recently, I saw my dad and he’s still standing upright (thank God) and his skin’s sagging prematurely in all the right places. He’s visibly missing a tooth. He’s a lot shorter than the businessman in my memories, but still handsome in his own right. He must hate looking at old photographs because he was really handsome then. Mom, I know why you did it! I am young and foolish sometimes too!

Father-daughter-speak between us is often contrived. You want me to be 10 again, don’t you? And I indulge him. We pretend that no time has lapsed, that he was at my first dance, at my graduation, my birthday parties. You’ve always been a horrible driver. It’s like he’s been in my car more than a handful of times. I heard about your tattoo and I’m going to get over it. Like he actually was upset. It felt so much more non-fiction when my mom said it.

We parted ways with hugs and idealistic aspirations to hang out more. I think I really wanted to at the time. I really believed that we would.

It's 2008?

2008-07-22T04:02:00.001-07:00

“Do you want to have kids?”

“Not really, not with you, I don’t think?”

“Then with who?”

“No one really. Wait, let’s backspace that. I don’t think I want kids ever.”

“Really—“

“Yeah, I know. Weird right?”

“Not really.”

“Well, I don’t want my life to end. I want to travel, you know, see the world.”

“You don’t want stretch marks. That’s the real reason.”

”Well, yeah.—

But you’d make a really good dad though.”

“I know. I would. I will.”

“But if it’s a girl, she better not have your skin but she should definitely get metabolized like you.”

“Yeah your skin is better.”

4 am Superhuman Prowess

2008-07-22T03:21:00.000-07:00

I want to be this extra-fertile, empowered female slash superhuman. Not just a superhuman half-assing it but an iconic figure with a Statue of Liberty-aura, a Meryl Streep sex appeal, and a Sandra Day O’Connor type of shrewdness. I want my cackle to be alluring, my brow-raises to veto bills, and my applause to be worth a million euros.

And as I lay in my bed, the words “I want” seem to drift in and out of mental view. Because yesterday, I wanted really great hair and today, I want to change the world.

Last week while sitting at my potter’s wheel, I threw for the first time. My hands are small, sure, but my “clay-coach” tells me that it’s not the size of the ship but the motion of the ocean. I guess the motion of my ocean made me a little seasick that day. All my bowls (if those deformed, gray blobs even count as bowls) remained indistinguishable gray blobs. Onward ho!

A year and a half ago, I found a knitter’s heaven in San Francisco. That day I decided I’d become an advance scarf-maker, a yarn-blower, and so I bought luxurious skeins of yarn and bamboo needles. Then I made quite possibly the most mathematically disturbing scarf ever that started from being 5-inches wide to about 15. Boyfriend, are you deliberately trying to taunt me by avoiding frosty winters in Seattle, thus not having to wear my scarf?

I’m the worst judge of people. Sometimes I thought you were real, and other times I found out you weren’t. And then I let the lies pull me in like wafts of waffle smell and realize that A. waffles are way too carb heavy for me right now and B. I really only like the syrup anyway.

And then the future seems more promising each day I dream and want. Because something about writing this episode of my life at 4 am in the morning already seems pretty darn superhuman of me.

A night in Montenegro, but not really

2008-06-26T16:45:00.000-07:00

It was a night like any other, and so it starts. We cross the street, all of us with our hands deep in our jacket pockets (and some in back pockets of old denims) and we skip run across the midnight street. Wild, free, and young like privileged Kerouacians. The bar straight ahead looks deserted or maybe we just kind of hope it’ll be?

This is not what I want the rest of my life to be–empty. I’ve fought hard to overcome adolescence. I’m so responsible. I’m like, so aware.

I’m like so unsure of what the hell I’m doing sometimes.

Of course we grab the booth deep in the bar. The one with the slightly torn leather seats that are vintage chic, glamorous, but still a bit depressing. I’m imagining some drunken schmuck sprawled out on it the night before, wasted out of his mind, picking out the girls in the bar he wanted to slobber all over. Anyway, I’m sitting on his slobber!

My friend grabs me a cold, wet beer. It’s got some wet, disgusting napkin stuck to it. I didn’t want the extra calories so I asked something extra light, so light that my little old allergic self can have the whole bottle sans slurring speech and tabletop dancing. Like I’d ever be that reckless. Ok, fine, maybe just once.

We sit around, blah blah blah, and we talk about the worse things. Like politics, rising gas prices, shopping, and I’ve been known to apologize for slurring (even though I hardly ever do, remember?) and I’m saying “sorry” repeatedly.

Am I really sorry about slurring? Or stepping on toes? Or pretending like I’m involved in the dialogue? Or am I apologizing for letting myself spiral into this compulsive apologizer.

Or am I just worried that when I wake up tomorrow, I’m going to feel like absolute shit? Sorry, mom.

"Back in the Day"

2008-06-20T02:50:00.000-07:00

circa when P's hair was long.

Sometimes you have to fly hundreds of miles away to remember why you’re doing it and whom you’re doing it for. Because, well, you’re never quite sure. You seem to feel like you think you are but are you really?

I’ve been playing this game of “how many airline miles can you accrue” with my long-distance but same-time zone boyfriend. The good thing is (as good things should always be mentioned first), we are always taking vacations. So what if his allergies give him the stabbing migraines on planes or if the airport parking fee ends up being 5 hours of my office-work? So what if he lives out of his duffel bag? So what? So, I’ve probably only scratched the surface of the problems that end up stewing in the cavernous underpinnings of my mind (and my heart). I’m a little fucked up over it.

Our phone conversations fluctuate from “hello how are you”s to “hey”s to “gotta go”s. I used to flash him on the web-cam for laughs (am I really admitting this?) and he still calls me to tell me he loves me. We used to do these things in person, back in the day.

I remember when we worked in the same building on Wilshire. I’d wake up on his queen-size an hour before he even started twitching, jealous that his day always began an hour after mine. We never carpooled (see previous note) and hardly took lunches together. But come 6 pm, we’d meet in the lobby, hands eagerly wanting to be held, and then like ride off into the sunset (Sunset Blvd., perhaps). We would cuddle/watch tv/eat/speak our own language all night. Productivity!

It’s easy to reminisce and yearn for everything that’s passed. It’s harder to accept that we must limit our once excessive hand-holding and butterfly kisses to a minimum of two times a month (at least). It’s so hard that sometimes I shout and think unspeakable thoughts and do absolutely nothing to calm myself. And then I drive feverishly to the airport where he is waiting with his duffel bag, and he’s wanting to be held and loved, wanting to believe that it’s worth it.

And as I pop open the trunk, I want it all too.

my bike, my butt, my cap.

2008-06-16T15:42:00.000-07:00

I picked up my formerly dilapidated (the kids call them “vintage” these days) bike from a bike shop on Melrose today. It needed some new fixins.

I took Fairfax, racing disgruntled drivers flying back to work from expensive lunches. I’ve had many of those. Not too long ago, I ordered a sub-par sandwich from [restaurant name withheld]. My equally sub-par bill read “$15.34”. I don’t remember biting into a Kobe beef burger. Oh wait–I didn’t. I had a grilled veggie sandwich smudged with a pea-sized serving of goat cheese. Right.

Kind of wishing I had a better bike, I swerved in and out of foot traffic on the sidewalk. I unintentionally bunny hopped over bumps because my bike is that old. Wearing an old unflattering T-shirt and an even older, more unflattering shiny baseball cap, I felt like such a dork on my sorry excuse for an eco-friendly ride. Did I mention it was sweltering hot?

Only half the way left, I decided to cool off with a soft chicken taco from Frank’s. Food always makes everything better. Getting off, I heard a whistle, or more like a “whoop” than anything.

“Sweet ride”, said the scruffy-bearded man in a blue-grayish-oldish cap.

I’m leaned over now, trying to lock my bike to a meter. It was as if he was commenting on my butt, a worthy cause no doubt.

“Thanks. It’s been through a lot.” Was I still talking about my bike?

The man disappeared into Franks. I leaned against the meter, catching my breath, suddenly more introspective, and loving my bike, my butt, my cap (the T-shirt still sucks). And the best part is, an hour later when I finally ate my buck-fiddy taco, it tasted better than the best Kobe beef burger I’ve ever had.

death is a vacancy.

2008-06-16T08:35:00.000-07:00

Death never loses its efficacy, I guess unless you are devoid of emotion. It kind of grabs you from behind, always when you’re unprepared; I guess you never can be any other way.

I saw a dead crow on my way to work today. I was still revving from my cheap, early morning caffeinated thrill; and of course, hot to cold is a terrible way to transition. The bird was motionless, lying on its side. It took me about half a minute of examining to understand. It was possibly still alive, but clearly in a moribund state. It was quite possibly dead, though.

This is not the first time I’ve seen a dead animal, or seen “death” for that matter. I saw a dead raccoon once–roadkill–that had elicited a punch in the stomach, vomit-inducing feeling. Then there was my deceased grandfather, whose open casket I couldn’t process as death, but a departure to a new home. Or vacation, a long, nondescript one. Despite all the stories and two or three dead/decaying birds later, this one still hurts. But maybe I never want it to not hurt. Because that would mean that in some ways, I’m dying too.

In the minute following my sighting, a rainbow of emotions flooded me. There was genuine sadness, curiosity (is that a feeling?), concern (is someone going to clean this up?), and more sadness (what the fuck happened?). Birds are endothermic; maybe I should check if it’s still alive? Then I shuddered. My mind went to a dark place and suddenly the wounded leg, the severed beak, and the grotesque deformities sprang out to remind me that death is jarring at any and every degree.

The night of my birthday last year, I was driving up La Cienega around 1 am and saw a man who’d just been hit by a car lying dead on the street–feet bare, face forward. Seeing this bird was no different. It should be different right?

Yes, it's true.

2008-05-14T16:25:00.000-07:00

I'm still around. Eyeprinciple will always be the mothership. But I've been busy with:

http://www.nylonmag.com/?section=blog

My column's called "straight westcoastin". Check it out!

man enough

2008-04-30T12:40:00.000-07:00

via URB BLOG

No words are really necessary. See www.hendrixsextape.com for the back story. All I have to say is, this tape was made in the Sixties so don't be grossed out by the hairy armpits (among other things).

palm springs was hot this weekend, and I just ate too much chocolate

2008-04-29T18:19:00.000-07:00

I took a sabbatical from blogging to work on a few personal projects. And during my break, I caught an annoying cold which has now morphed into allergies. I also just returned from Coachella weekend unscathed (not much of a feat considering I saw like 1 1/2 acts the whole weekend). But more on that later- here's a little update on my top 10 favorite things right now (mostly tangible but hey this is better than actually spending money!)

Counting down:
10.
Mateo Ilasco limited edition "Plant" journal ($32 but out of stock- SORRY)

9.
BAGGU nylon reusable bags

8.
Mastihashop, a one stop shop for eco-friendly Meditteranean-centric products, via Cool Hunting

7.
Made Her Think "Pyramid Totem" cuffs (pricey, but beautiful)

6.
I know Band of Outsiders released a Top Sider collaboration (for men) this year, but what about the ladies? Pssh. Regardless of the hype and the hipster-redundancy, I still love these classic Sperry Top Sider boating shoes. So perfect for summer- (caveat- I would be all about the Wallabees if it were winter/fall)

5.
DHC Deep Cleansing Oil. This Japan export takes off your layers of impurities and make-up. So if you're a sloppy drunk and wind up crashing after a boozy night, you might want this for the wake-up-clean-up. OR, if you're like me and are a skincare freak, this is nice.

4.
Limited Edition G-Shocks ($12), Yes I know they're all the rage right now. But look at it! Perfect!

3.
PARK restaurant (Echo Park, menu via Yelp.Com)
A little back-story about this: Friends Stacey and Carol invited me to dinner at this new East Side establishment and having heard about this restaurant through a colleague, I was more than happy to try it! The prices are more than reasonable, the venue is cozy (though they could use better ventilation) and brace yourselves: It's BYOB. Which means your 2-buck-chuck from Trader Joes or Fresh & Easy will be totally appropriate for the setting. I think I had the best veggie burger ever. I washed it down with some butterscotch pudding tart of course.

2.
Not a fan of sunglasses but I'd definitely pay the $60 for these Alexandra Cassaniti "Face it Sunglasses" courtesy of Ooga Booga. The frame changes color in the sun!

1. NEON NEON "Stainless Steel". Granted Boom Bip is a terribly nice person, but his amiable nature has no bearing on how good this cd is. It's just so upbeat and digital. Trust me- I'm no Super Furry Animals fan but Gruff Rhys did a good thing.

I Lykke

2008-04-10T18:11:00.000-07:00

Two posts in one day.
But a worthwhile cause!

Lykke Li has been on my radar for a while now. Since I read about her on a Swedish music blog maybe 11/2 years ago, I knew that she was going to be rolling out hits in no time. I myspaced her of course and thought nothing of her until a year later, her name was mentioned all over the blogosphere. More sleuthing ensued and soon I came across this video:

This is a pretty awesome music video. It's pretty low-budget; I can only imagine how many of these back up dancers actually got paid. All you've got is an unfurnished living room and well, the sun, or as my friend Nina calls it, "nature's disco ball". But Lykke sure knows how to shoulder-dance (shout out to Vanessa). But that's what good editing is all about-

Thanks to MINIROBOT for Lykke Li photos- and for reminding me to post this mv.

pierre HOTTIE

2008-04-10T17:45:00.000-07:00

Just a day ago, my friend Alice showed me her Pierre Hardy x Gap shoes. Of course I was very excited because I am a huge Pierre Hardy fan. Although I'm not quite financially stable enough to buy a pair of his shoes, I still enjoy browsing through the luscious photos up on the Pierre Hardy website. But with the advent of high design/mainstream-design collaborations, PH had to get involved and with none other than retail giant GAP. Here's a little side by side comparison of PH's more affordable gear with the (cough cough) not so affordable desirables-

Gap x Pierre Hardy

Ok, cool. But check this out:
Pierre Hardy SP/SU 2008

I rest my case. I've never been one to salivate over shoe porn, but I realized recently I'm quite the sucker for shoe designs that replicate art pieces.

the "low"down

2008-03-30T21:51:00.000-07:00

There are few blogs I read frequently. As you can see, I rarely update my own (that is going to change I promise). The blogosphere is littered with so many design-centric blogs that I get dizzy just trying to keep up with them. One exception I make is for designer Abby Clawson Low's brilliant Hi + Low, where she relays her creative musings to loyal readers. Here's the best part: Abby is a successful design director who's designed for Kate Spade & Jack Spade, West Elm, and Chronicle Books. Recently, I was lucky enough to get to know Abby a little better through a casual email-interview. For all you future designers out there, here is definitely someone whose career is worth emulating.

THE HUN SCHOOL OF PRINCETON BOOK

1. Aside from hosting one of the best design blogs on the net, what do you do on your downtime when you're not designing?
Once a week, I teach a senior portfolio design class at the Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan. And about twice a week I spend time with a Latino youth group (teenage girls) in Midwood, Brooklyn doing various activities -- all of which is a lot of fun. And other than that I hang with the husband (he's great).

2. When and what was your first interaction with design?
I would say in my childhood. I was surrounded by all kinds of interesting and thoughtful design at home. My mother is an artist/designer/teacher and my father, though a doctor, has always had an eye for graphically compelling objects (he even has incredibly beautiful handwriting). His record collection alone (several hundred albums) was inspiration enough for me -- with the many incredible album cover designs and amazing music. My mother's taste in fashion and design has always been inspiring, as well. I remember several incredibly graphic and unique wallpapers from our first home that I am still trying to get her to remember the make! And throughout my childhood, I observed my mother reupholster, sew, paint, and refurbish almost every piece of furniture in our home. There was always a project.

3. And now, which current designers/artists (other than yourself) are "on your jock", doing incomparable work?
There are several -- many I have worked with in the 9 or so years I've been in New York City. JP & Allison Williams, Yael Eisele, Ludovic Drouineaud, Alan Dye, Paulina Reyes, , Cheree Berry, Gillian Schwartz, Katie Hatch, Mordechai Rubinstein, and Anisa Suthayalai. There are, of course, others.

4. I know you've done work for Kate Spade & Jack Spade, what do you like and dislike about fashion-related design?
Fashion is a tough one. I love the interconnectedness it has with art and design. There is always a strong corrolation with one or the other in each developing fashion season. And being able to rethink/reinterpret a brand along the lines of each new season is always exciting and challenging. Things never get boring in fashion.

On the flip-side, fashion can often times be a very shallow and catty world. Hopefully, in those instances you are surrounded by amazingly thoughtful and wonderful people (as was my experience at Kate/Jack Spade).

5. Typeface that best describes your personality is…?
Courier. It is a generic, modern, traditional all-in-one font. And I trust the look of it.

KATE SPADE 2007 AGENDA

6. Design motif that inspires you…?
Good question. Just about everything inspires me.

7. Ice cream vs. gelato, why? (I work at a food magazine and this is something I always am curious about)
Ice cream (although who doesn't also like gelato?). My Grandpa Barlow made the best homemade strawberry ice cream EVER (with strawberries from his backyard). I became hooked at a very young age.

8. Is there such thing as bad design? If so, what is it?
I know bad design exists, but I believe that to be a very subjective call to make. Which brings to mind the advertisements in the NYC subway cars -- I spend way too much time thinking about who the designer was behind each ad and what inspired them, what their background is, why they took that particular job and why they chose to solve it the way they did. You never know where they may have been coming from and if it was at all successful with the target audience.

9. Top 3 albums of all time…(Sorry, was watching High Fidelity last night.)
Arthur Russell, Calling Out of Context
Beatles, Rubber Soul
Henryk Górecki, Symphony No. 3

10. You're the bomb. Thanks for putting up with my overuse of the word "design".
No problem. This was fun.

(all images courtesy of http://abbyclawsonlow.com)

the gist of it

2008-03-27T00:49:00.000-07:00

My trip to Taipei in not so many words-

asian Maxwell

2008-03-26T22:29:00.001-07:00

Back in the States. Refreshing, yes, but it was definitely a bittersweet homecoming. I truly miss Taiwan this time. I've been there a million times now but this trip was certainly the most memorable. The presidential election fervor has inspired me to involve myself more deeply in the upcoming November situation. But before all the pictures get put up, here's a little sumpin sumpin I picked up while I was there: 方大同, or who I refer to as the Asian Maxwell. If you ignore the obvious differences like skin color, hair style, uhh..like everything, you can kind of hear where Asian Maxwell gets his inspiration. Take a look:

Asian Maxwell:

Non Asian, Actual Maxwell:

More on Taipei, Taiwan in a second.

making the mos of it (not a typo, sorry)

2008-03-13T17:31:00.000-07:00

I've been meticulously planning my vacation to Taiwan, nailing down every restaurant I plan to try but of course there are so many others I can't plan for (street. food. baby). I leave tomorrow evening (YAY!) and can only think about the delightful treats to be had. One thing for sure, I will head on over to MOS BURGER, which I have been reading about on all the Taiwanese-food-centric blogs. A few snippets from the website.

This is what you get when you click on an item off the photo-menu. With an enlarged version of your favorite snack food, you also get a detailed chart of nutritional info. And check this out: The Mos burger bun is made of rice mixed with barley and millet. If our own fast food restaurants had clever websites like this one, I think I'd actually be enjoy the food more.

MOS BURGER

call out

2008-03-04T14:31:00.000-08:00

One day, someone brilliant decided to make high fashion affordable and thus, way more attainable. When Target decided to run with the idea, it reached critical mass, and the trend blossomed, spilling over into different arenas. Beyond fashion, you see these collaborations in the tabletop, cookware, and homeware markets.
But fashion-wise, the lines between low and high culture design have become totally blurred. And while everyone is still talking about Proenza Schouler x Target, many important marriages between x brand and y designer have flown under the radar. It’s also not really about affordability anymore. These days, designers focus on balancing function and form by giving a functional object/accessory unexpected flair. And naturally, a product–once totally ignorable–becomes runway ready.

LOW BROW FASHIONS HIGH BROW MAKEOVER

via Cool Hunting
Yohji Yamamoto + Adidas =Y-3
In its fifth year, the brand just keeps getting hotter. Remember when Y-3 first launched Spring ’03? No? Me neither. Regardless or its “humble” beginnings (I’m being sarcastic here), it has since become a relevant brand for all the young hip kids with disposable incomes. And now with its New York storefront (see this NYT article), it’s official. This streetwear/high-fashion hybrid has become it’s own genre and style, shedding the former identities.

Raf Simons + EastPak = 08 S/S ‘Material World’ collection
Raf Simons is a fan of working with other brands, but this is one of those more unexpected fusions. EASTPAK? Really? If I had this in the 5th grade, I would have never dumped the ‘Pak for a Jansport. With Raf leading the way, Eastpak’s road to conquering form over function has been paved. Just socking it to all the 12 years old and under Jansport fans.

Comme des Garçons + Speedo = Fastskin LZR Racer
Woah… Rei has been posting up on her throne drawing out next victims out of a hat labeled "total world domination". Chrome Hearts, Lacoste, Fred Perry–the list goes on. Rei has paused the high brow crossbreeding for an off the beaten path production. I mean, Speedos are the epitome of low brow. It gets such a bad rap at the public pool and beach. On the other hand, it’s worn by professional athletes. Anyway, Rei has given it a mini-makeover. It’s still functional (apparently more so, supposedly it feels like you’re not wearing anything at all). But it’s also updated and for what it is (SPEEDO), stylish.

Longchamp + Jeremy Scott = Le Pilage Stomp
Released last month, another “fun” take on the travel bag. Ok, I get it now. Longchamp wanted to revise its business plan and has been targeting a new audience with Jeremy’s designs. I think it worked. But it’s not couture and definitely travel-friendly. It’s actually got a lot of room for edible contraband and illegal dvds. Just kidding.

Cat Power, Girl Power, Star Power

2008-03-03T17:03:00.001-08:00

I had the pleasure of catching Cat Power perform at the Wiltern thanks to my AWESOME AWESOME friend Alice (which subsequently led to a splitting headache/gum-ache unrelated to the show). And fyi¬– Alice is SO cool that Cat, Chan Marshall, sent her a text message before stepping on stage. Alice is SO cool, that she inherited Ellen Pompeo’s Blackberry.

*Just a side note, since I’m on the topic of celebrities. I used to live in the same apartment complex as Benicio Del Toro. In fact, my parking space was adjacent to his. We talked once. He also hit Paul’s car once and then decided not to leave a note.

While I was already familiar with much of Cat Power’s earlier works, I hadn’t heard anything off her newest album, Jukebox . She performed newer material but surprised us with a few unreleased songs. I can’t remember every song that was sung, but I loved each one. The songs she selected really highlighted the ethereal quality of her voice and her signature, unabashed delivery. She wasn’t that wild though- apparently she’s toned down since her alchie days. But she was poifect. Absolutely poifect.

GET HER NEW ALBUM HERE

a month late

2008-02-27T00:30:00.000-08:00

Here's an awesome interview featured on Fecal Face that I forgot to share with you all! Ryan Christian interviews Black Dice member, visual artist Bjorn Copeland and uncovers interesting factoids about the visionary's influences, which I'm happy to report include Devo album art and crappy television.

via FECAL FACE

Obama saavy

2008-02-26T22:42:00.000-08:00

via Yosi Sergant of Evolutionary Media

Upper Playground and Shepard Fairey of Obey Giant fame have collaborated on a one-of-a-kind shirt based on campaign posters Shepard has designed for presidential hopeful Barack Obama. The street artist/designer who has been voicing his support for Obama since '04, is confident that Obama is "more a statesman than a politician". A play on Obama's campaign theme, the words "hope" and "progress" are printed on the two available t-shirt editions. Take your pick, Obama supporters! T-shirts are $25 each; upperplayground.com.

don't nap on napa

2008-02-21T19:02:00.001-08:00

Let's pretend I'm not on blogger-steroids and posting yet another entry.

Napa was intense, beautiful, amazing, etc. If you can't "git down" with the 'NAP, then I don't think we can be friends. It's the perfect getaway for city folk, especially if you're like me, a suburbanite-turned-city slicker. Where I'm from (Arc-ASIA), the only kind of nature's wonders to be seen is the green kind- grass. And setting foot in St. Helena, among the golden yellow mustard plants, was unreal. Yes, yes, call me a country bumpkin (or in this case, a city-bumpkin) but the scenery was definitely breathtaking. So much so that Paul and I took a million pictures during the drive to and from, and even crossed a dangerous street for photo ops.

Pre-Napa Festivities

2008-02-21T17:50:00.000-08:00

For our little romantic getaway, Paul and I decided to meet in SF and drive over to the Napa Valley for one of those food porn-chocolate covered strawberries-infused weekends (AKA CHEESY). The morning of our trip, we thought we'd offset the expected expenses we'd incur in Napa by doing breakfast at the Ferry Building. We didn't save much money of course but the Saturday Farmer's Market was totally worth the detour. It's jaw-dropping how many great vendors sell there. Kiosks of fresh, locally grown produce was lined around the Building entrance. And on an opposite side, hot breakfast plates, sandwiches, and even Fatted Calf salumi sticks were being purchased and then devoured by the minute. Our menu that morning:

- Fatted Calf salumi stick (we did save some for the ride, I promise!)
- Scrambled eggs, Hobb's bacon, tomatoes on a baguette
- Blood orange and grapefruit agua fresca
- Pecan tartlette
- Almond Croissant
- Acme Bread fresh baguette (for the ride, I swear!)
- Cowgirl Creamery Mt. Tam cheese (read above)
- small bags of dried, sulfur-free raisins and cherries from Bella Viva Farms

Pretty gluttonous of us, huh? Well, considering we were planning on brunching at Canteen, we did save money and room in our stomachs for the rest of the Napa Valley bounty. But more on that some other time...

EEK! Get out of my way!

amerykah

2008-02-17T22:54:00.000-08:00

Style icon of the day: Erykah Badu.

Erykah is undeniably sexy. Love her. I've got to stop youtubing her skinny butt but her old music videos are just too classic! I even spotted my boy Andre 3000 in her "Other side of the game" video.

darnit

2008-02-14T10:48:00.000-08:00

Daily Candy beat me to it. I knew I should have followed up last night.

Comme des Garçons Guerilla Store
What: Find iconic pieces from previous collections as well as current goods at the new temporary CDG shop.
Why: Go ape shit.
When: Opens Sat.
Where: 125 W. Fourth St., at S. Main St., ste. 106, Downtown (213-626-6606).

Coutdown Pt. 2

2008-02-12T09:28:00.000-08:00

As we inch closer towards the opening of L.A.'s Comme De Garcons guerilla store, here is some more intel:

This Saturday, 2/16/08.

M.R. + Roosevelt = sooooo L.A.

2008-02-11T16:12:00.000-08:00

Friday night was out of control.

A publicist invited a colleague and me to dinner at the Roosevelt Hotel. And with that invitation came another to Mark Ronson’s pre-grammy festivities (also at the same place). Of course, this was a no-brainer YES PLEASE situation. I’d been dying to try Dakota, which has earned some decent reviews, but unfortunately not of recent.

Fast forward to the party. I think most of LA came out that night. Though the event was not celebrity driven, there were a few familiar faces about (C-List DJs/actors). The highlight was Mark Ronson, who donned a pallid complexion (he’s a Brit, remember?) and a copper wedding-singer suit. Nevertheless, he was looking as fashion-forward and musically gifted as ever. Blu Jemz was excellent on the tables and Santogold’s performance, while short-lived, made me a believer. I’ll admit that seeing her on Fader’s Feb. cover was a bit shocking; after all, she hasn’t quite achieved cover status yet. She’s been an internet sensation since the last year but her music doesn’t “move” me. But she used her stage time wisely. Her energy was infectious and I even stopped comparing her to MIA.

THUMBS DOWN: One of the C-list celebrities in attendance was Simon Rex, former MTV VJ and now a deadbeat actor. He performed with Mickey Avalon, another C-lister. Their song of choice was offensive, like how music should never be. I was depressed throughout.

THUMBS UP: Mark Ronson. (Paul, I promise I’ll stop talking about him!)

THUMBS WAY DOWN: Like with anything steeped in Hollywood hype, there is a ton of serious cheese. This includes annoying scenesters to catty agents to overzealous valley girls. But nothing beats the inflated-egos of street wear freaks and fashionista-wannabes. Life’s not a catwalk, folks. No need to strut so hard.

my other lady

2008-02-05T18:33:00.000-08:00

Check out my latest post on the Nylon Blog.

And if you're still bored, check out my boo on another Nylon Blog,
http://www.nylonmag.com/?section=blog&blog=according_mrkim. He's the cutie photographed with a Tecate in hand.

NY Fall Fashion Week 2008

2008-02-05T17:49:00.000-08:00

Well of course I have to express my thoughts.

Thanks to the dependable and frequently updated style.com, I am able to see visuals from the many shows that I don't have the privilege to attend. But regardless, let's look at some of my favorites.

1.

Here's the thing about Y-3. Yohji has taken a brand that could have potentially fallen victim to post-80's-hip hop fashion-hokiness. But instead, he has launched Adidas into a new solar system. Subtle. Chic. Clean lines.

2.

Textures. Colors. Thakoon welds the magic paintbrush to do up clothes (and shoes) to utter perfection. I just can't get over the SHOES! I know I should be over grandfatherly patterns and cuts but there's something about the way a pipe would look with that skirt just kills me.

3.

um, more Thakoon. Sorry.

4.

And the "off the beaten path" award goes to Chris Benz. I really appreciate his aesthetic. While everyone is still stuck in the somber, grunge movement, he's pretty convinced that the 40's flare will take off. I must say, he's convinced me!

5.

Ok, this one is a total shot in the dark. Now that I am a working woman, I prefer appropriate over shocking. And this is totally suitable for a 9 to 5, but still a little unpredictable. Asymmetry is so office-friendly!

Anyway, more updates to come. I can't wait for next Fall already!!

it's coming

2008-02-05T16:41:00.000-08:00

I worship Comme de Garcons at almost a cultish level. And while there are definitely many unwearable pieces that have evolved from the line, I really admire the ingenuity and unconventionality of the designs. Every article of clothing, every bag and wallet, every fragrance bottle is an art piece, a collectible. And while everything I'm mulling over is so redundant and trite (yes yes, who isn't a Comme de Garcons fan these days), this is really a lead into even juicier intel. A little birdie told me about a certain opening of a certain guerilla store (see Guerilla Store this month. I'll do a little sneak-preview/countdown of the opening over the next few weeks until the dawning of the best deadstock surplus to ever hit LA. And if you already know, keep it under wraps. It's more fun that way.

them jewels

2008-02-04T19:40:00.001-08:00

I've been swamped lately. But I'll always find time to poke my nose around the web (and stores) for aspirational pieces (be it realistically tangible or not).

I'm a devoted fan of gold- real, fake, ostentatious, tacky, sophisticated, I will wear gold jewelry to work, to the gym, to the bars, and even to my family gatherings. Silver's great too, it's a little less coveted but definitely not any less dramatic than it's ochre twin. But if you want the best of both worlds, here's a little something from iosselliani worth cashing in your savings for.

Or something a little more subtle -

Key Clasp Bracelet, from REBORN

benediction

2008-01-25T14:43:00.000-08:00

Dear God,

Today while logging into Facebook (is a trademark sign needed for this kind of mention?), I noticed that I was sent a new message. Upon digitally opening my cyberspace "mailbox", I noticed that Jason Stern from UCLA Radio sent me a congratulatory message. Apparently, the contest I had entered closed. And by the will of the good Lord, I had won a pair of tickets to the Mirah/the Blow show tonight.

And now, I'm sitting at work, flashing my toothy smile at the computer screen as I count my blessings. These two artists are some of my favs! And gee golly, I just love winning things. Diana, my bff, and I will drive over to the Fonda and think of you, Lord. And like superstars, we will park in a spacious lot where we'll charm the parking attendants into giving us the Chinese discount (50% off, baby!). And you know what, just because I'm in a good mood, I'll even buy Diana a bacon-wrapped hot dog for kicks after the show.

Much love, G.

Di xoxo

candyman

2008-01-23T00:00:00.000-08:00

I just got back from the Northwest. Beautiful, beautiful weekend, from complex sceneries to just falling in love all over again, that's also complex, no? But besides all that, I finally hit the slopes after a 3-year hiatus. And of course, after thinking I was ill, I eat it, hard. So now, while recovering, I'm you-tubeing favorite videos of all time.

On our drive back to Seattle, we hear this on the only station not stuck in 2006. Paul impressively recited all the lyrics, perfectly.

What's not to love- overalls, synchronized dancing, cheezy backdrops, flat tops, and the sideways caps....Oh, a little shout out by the eponymous Tone Loc...

Holla if you know what I'm talking about.

Patent is the new black

2008-01-18T16:19:00.000-08:00

There's nothing better than patent leather in the Spring time. So stock up on your p.l. We've all got to throw on a bit of shine sometimes...

Pierre Hardy side buckle tote

Roberto Cavalli patent leather horse belt

Repetto for men

3.1 Phillip Lim patent leather tote bag via

Marni elasticated strap ballet flat

add this to every meal

2008-01-16T17:15:00.001-08:00

I'm really lucky because I have a cool job. It's not always cool because I occasionally file, lift heavy boxes, pick up the phone in my monotonous "It's Diane, can I help you?", and know the mailroom pretty well. But for the most part, it's friggin cool. The last three days, a colleague and I spent our time in SD attending the Fancy Food Show. (we also had really good meals, and chilled out in our own luxurious hotel rooms!) I can't even begin to describe what this show is like- it's a gathering of all things food-related. It's like MAGIC or POOL for edible goods. Vendors from around the country come, display their ware, and sell- sell- sell. And you know, as press, we were treated pretty decently. I can't even begin to list all the bbq sauces/mustards/honey/salts/syrups/chocolate/cheeses I tasted. The best part is: Two days of grazing, and not a pound heavier. I think from now on, I will subsist only on condiments. Anyway, I'll stop bragging now but I'll leave you with the most bizarre (but perhaps most genius) product I had a chance to try at the show:

Pretty self explanatory no?

See- baconsalt.com

color me badd

2008-01-14T02:37:00.000-08:00

Nothing wrong with color, especially not here!

shopaholic

2008-01-12T13:04:00.000-08:00

To get or not to get: Turntables. That is the question.

i miss Taiwan

2008-01-10T01:26:00.000-08:00

Inspired by Diana's post from Taiwan, I'm reminded of my last trip there (almost 2 years ago)! Though I was caught the traveling bug and was sick for most of the trip, I had some adventures there. I went up to Yang Ming Mountain for some indigenous chinese food, cooked mountainside in dilapidated kitchens. I saw Mt. Eerie (of the Microphones) perform at this underground bomb-shelter of a music venue. And went chinese-indie-music crazy at the adjoining music store. It's weird how at the time, that was the only one of its kind. But I'm sure that now, with the whole indie/hipster-craze, that stuff is all over the place. Can you confirm this Di?

the illest mag

2008-01-10T01:07:00.000-08:00

his is why I love Japanese magazines- the following spreads (from REINA magazine) are perfect examples of why Japanese fashion publications "reinabove" ours (see- reign above). Concise, but not streamlined. An entire page dedicated to essential pieces for the closet. Following the initial catalogue of stuff are spreads of the model actually putting the pieces to work. What's amazing is, Japanese mags (some) always have the most experimental stylists.

A concept fashion spread/shoot that I also love (from REINA magazine as well)

T

Disney Concert Hall? really?

2008-01-08T17:52:00.000-08:00

On Thursday, January 17, Man-Machine in the Digital City is a visual and sonic experience featuring The Cornelius Group - Synchronized Sensuous Show - a rare, live performance by Tokyo's Cornelius. Dubbed the "Japanese Beck" and the "21st century Brian Wilson," Cornelius brings to Walt Disney Concert Hall this legendary live show, known all over the world for its spectacular visuals, perfectly synchronized to the performance. Cornelius (the name is an homage to the Planet of the Apes) is the brainchild of Japanese multi-instrumentalist Keigo Oyamada, one of the most sought after producer/remixers in the world. From the most populous metropolitan area in the world (Tokyo), Keigo's dynamic music is a soundtrack to city life, having evolved within an intensely urban scene. With his 2007 release, Sensuous, Cornelius explores dazzling atmospherics, bursting with electronic ?pulse waves, wood-grain acoustics, minimalist interludes and raw guitar freak-outs. This disciplined, but wildly experimental sound is at the core of the Synchronized Sensuous Show. He dissects layers of technology, sound, and visual stimuli to form a kaleidoscopic landscape of electronic psychedelia.

lowriding

2008-01-07T02:19:00.000-08:00

I know I know, 3 posts in one night (not to mention it's 2 am) is a bit excessive, but I'm maximizing my one opportunity to get some thoughts in. Not sure if you've noticed, I post like once every 2 months.

Having spent the morning inside today (oh- the rain, the RAIN!), I channel surfed and found myself completely engulfed in Sunday Driver , a documentary about Compton's Majestics, LA's oldest lowrider club (yes, a club). When I was younger, I lived in Montebello in a predominantly Hispanic neighborhood. And even at the age of 6, I was aware that there were giant cars that bounced up and down to loud music. Since then I've learned that there is a whole culture around hydraulics, and like the whole fixed gear/bmx/harley/vintage car craze, the lowrider one is just as intense, if not more socio-economically driven.

The documentary focuses on several members of the Majestics, many former gangbangers, and their association with one another, the car culture, and even the LAPD. (In the end, you find out that club president Gangster is arrested for drug possession). Throughout the 80's, the lowrider trend existed as an extension of gang life. With crime rampant in south LA, lowriders picked up flack for being vehicles for deaths and destruction. But now, the scene has evolved into a simple obsession for Compton-dwellers (and strangely the Japanese, but more on that later). Throughout the doc, you see people competing jumps on their cars and people going all out on the customizations.

The lowrider scene in Japan is bizarre. I'm sure we've all seen Japanese lowrider zines out and about featuring immaculately designed cars and Japanese car afficionados decked out in Compton fashion. Big tees, locs, dickies, the whole lot. This is mentioned in the documentary very briefly. Just when you thought the Japanese reggae culture was intense...

a wing and a horn

2008-01-07T01:50:00.000-08:00

I was going to write a piece about Wings + Horns for the Nylon blog, but thought I'd gussy up my blog with a sneak of this amazing amazing Canadian menswear brand, and the store that sells this brand exclusively.

My boyfriend, whose fashion sensibility is enviable, is a big W+H fan. We stumbled upon Roden Gray while ransacking Gastown for good shopping. The store was doing some major winter-cleaning because the sale was off the HOOK, so to speak.

Rack of Japanese stock

That wooden display block was created by the store's owner, Rob, who actually had to carve at the wood, and then torch it to create the beaten, charred look. The photo doesn't quite capture the artistry that went into his woodwork. Not only are these huge, they are chic and seem $$$. Rob was so nonchalant about it, I just stood there agape, wishing I was that creative.

Anyway, it's not worth posting up pics of any W+H pieces from the previous lines since the stuff to come is probably 10 x's more rad. But here's a peak, courtesy of the Roden Gray blog.

Wings + Horns & Dayton collaboration

my journey to Vancouver

2008-01-07T00:47:00.000-08:00

With Seattle being only a measly 2 hour-drive away, Paul and I thought it'd be worthwhile to take a trip up to good ole Vancouvie for some colder weather and better Chinese food. Having never been to the big V, I wasn't sure what to expect. The drive north was beautiful and vegetation was visibly in abundance. There were several lonely farmhouses dotting the greenery and by lonely, I mean deserted. Both Paul and I agreed to stop by for a few beauty shots in the future when the skies aren't so dark and wide open.

It was an amazing drive and filled with snacks, hand-holding, and nervous fumbling for our passports at the border.

2007-12-21T10:53:00.000-08:00

This whimsical piece is on my jock right now. I'm considering trying to make my own, but for now, I'll just drool over the jpeg on my desktop.

"Tape Dispenser"

book/blog/book/blog

2007-10-29T17:12:00.000-07:00

Yo.

My first ever post on the Nylon Blog is up! Please check out-
NYLON BLOG
(it's under= " It is what it is")

I promise I'm not cheating on you guys. I just need a new place to rant and rave about all things superficial and intensely LA.

In the meantime, before I blog about "real" things. I want this book so bad!

Bizarre Books: A Compendium of Classic Oddities by Russel Ash and Brian Lake

via notcot.org

geo

2007-10-23T11:49:00.000-07:00

These days, I’m all about geometry. I’m visually picking out lines and parabolas, as if someone has replaced my contacts with grids. Someone should actually- it might be kind of trippy and fun. Or I might just vomit. In any case, geometric figures and shapes are jumping out at me at all angles (no pun intended). Or maybe my eyesight has been giving out.

Henrik Vibskov scarf via Shop Fatal

Botryka exhibition via via Mediumism

From a very cool ETSY store this store

Any other cool pics out there for me to drool over?

Eventful: Weekends

2007-10-21T16:26:00.000-07:00

The last weekend and this recent one have been memorable. I channeled my inner music-loving epicurean and neither the music nor the food disappointed. In fact, I may have caught the best show- ever-at Chop Suey in Seattle.

First came the eponymous Boris (in SEATTLE), the band that will always have a place in my heart, despite how many times they've come close to blowing out my eardrums. Lucky for me, I was able to jumpstart my SEATTLE experience by heading to their show straight from the airport. Though the general mood at the venue was a little dour at first, Boris killed it the minute they stepped on stage. The crowd refrained from showing signs of emotion at first, which was best depicted by a woman gripping her coffee (yes, I said COFFEE) mug with trembling fingers. Midway through the performance, people started to loosen up, throwing up the universal sign of rock n' roll (the devil's horns) and vigorously beating the air with their fists. However, no crowdsurfers that night. Much to my delight, the band played most tracks off PINK. The music was amplified by the lead singer's slightly phallic dual bass/guitar piece and the female guitarist's intense playing. The drummer's perfect, blank stares into the audience was a little creepy, but I'm sure we looked like a mass of light from where he was.

Here's a little peak of what I saw that night.

So the next best thing to that was the Black Lips' Echoplex performance last night which was really exciting for the first 20 minutes they played. Mind you, they were only on stage for 20 minutes. The show was cut short after some jerk in the audience threw a beer bottle on stage. But before the Black Lips chewed us out for being rude, they were amazing! Their Chuck Berry-esque rhythm is paired harmoniously with psych-y guitar work, which reminded me of Marty McFly's " Johnny Be Good" performance at his parent's high school dance, one of my favorite scenes from Back to the Future. Ok, maybe that was a terrible comparison, but I can't help it that I associate that movie with everything in my life-

What was (but without the irritating 15 year old's moshing and spitting at the band)

Try playing both at once. Just kidding.