the curation

KNOW || WATCH: Diane Horner's Country Hip Hop

noreply@blogger.com (The Curation) — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 15:26:00 +0000

This is the funniest video ever! Fashion-wise, it's a nod to 80s country style. Need tips for how to do the running man? This video has it.

KNOW || LINKS: Funniest web site ever

noreply@blogger.com (The Curation) — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 04:33:00 +0000

The letters that David, author of this site, writes are hilarious. It's the crazy person behind the sane veneer. Many different situations some of which may seem familiar to all of us. Read through --- too funny.

KNOW || LINKS: Dear Blank Please Blank

noreply@blogger.com (The Curation) — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 04:31:00 +0000

Pretty cool idea. I definitely have many letters I'd like to write!
http://www.dearblankpleaseblank.com/

BUY || WEAR: I love leather skirts

noreply@blogger.com (The Curation) — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 20:43:00 +0000

Today's post is definitely more relevant for the fall season. Or at least when temperatures are not hovering between the high 80s and mid-90s! However, just have to share that I am in love with leather skirts that have exquisite draping! Check out Australia's Kirrily Johnston. Her designs make me swoon for the fall --- although the lengthier styles do not seem to be available.

INSPIRED || STYLE: Elle Magazine does Sia

noreply@blogger.com (The Curation) — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 15:08:00 +0000

I love Sia. Her newest album is out - you can stream 6 of the album's tracks here (my favorite so far is I'm in Here). And, if you want to move to one of her classics, Breathe Me is one of the most gorgeous songs out there.

Kudos to Elle Magazine which just did its online Wardrobe Chic feature on this Australian songstress (side note: this is why Elle and its parent company are way more advanced than the other magazine dot-coms; Elle is not afraid to put content online that does not first live in the magazine - gives them so much more flexibility and room for innovation!). Given Sia's music, it is no wonder her taste is so unique, complex, and individuated.

(All photos from Elle.com)

INSPIRED || LISTEN: Alicia Keys' Unthinkable

noreply@blogger.com (The Curation) — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 02:55:00 +0000

I am in love with this song. Download here (featuring Drake).

Lyrics:

Moment of honesty
Someone's gotta take the lead tonight
Whose it gonna be?
I'm gonna sit right here
And tell you all that comes to me
If you have something to say
You should say it right now
(Drake: You should say it right now)

You ready?

Bridge:

You give me a feeling that I never felt before
And I deserve it, I think I deserve it
(Drake: I deserve it, I think it deserve it..Let it go)
It's becoming something that's impossible to ignore
And I can't take it
(Drake: I can't take it)

Chorus-Alicia & Drake:

I was wondering maybe
Could I make you my baby
If we do the unthinkable would it make us look crazy
If you ask me I'm ready
(Echo: I'm ready, I'm ready)
If you ask me I'm ready
(Echo: I'm ready, I'm ready)

Verse 2:
I know you once said to me
"This is exactly how it should feel when it's meant to be"
Time is only wasting so why wait for eventually?
If we gon' do something 'bout it
We should do it right now
(Drake: We should do it right now)

Bay, uh

Bridge:

You give me a feeling that I never felt before
And I deserve it, I know I deserve it
(Drake: I deserve it, I know I deserve it. Let it go)
Its becoming something that's impossible to ignore
It's what we make it
(Drake: It's what we make it)

Chorus-Alicia & Drake:

I was wondering maybe
Could I make you my baby
If we do the unthinkable would it make us look crazy
Or would it be so beautiful either way I'm sayin'
If you ask me I'm ready
(Echo: I'm ready I'm ready)
If you ask me I'm ready
(Echo: I'm ready)

Yeah, sing...

Hook:

Why give up before we try
Feel the lows before the highs
Clip our wings before we fly away
I can't say I came prepared
I'm suspended in the air
Won't you come be in the sky with me

Chorus-Alicia & Drake:

I was wondering maybe
Could I make you my baby
If we do the unthinkable would it make us look crazy
Or would it be so beautiful either way I'm sayin'
If you ask me I'm ready
(Echo: I'm ready, I'm ready)
If you ask me I'm ready
(Echo: I'm ready, I'm ready)

KNOW || LINKS OF THE WEEK: What I found interesting

noreply@blogger.com (The Curation) — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 22:01:00 +0000

~ Luxury porta-potties @ Cannes. [via Luxist]

~ Some "...guys get like a Fu Manchu on their backs..." - the new quest for the hairless torso. [via NYT]

~ From Deadwood to Mad Men, stylist Janie Bryant is the true storyteller...no clothes, no story.[via WSJ Magazine]

~ A piece of Steinbeck 's Eden [via Art Daily]

~ Goop to Naag, where do these names come from? [via Fader]

~ The real Pamela Love [via Stylelikeu]

~ If the Assembly team is behind it, then you've gotta believe that Everybody's Going To Heaven [via Racked]

~ I just love Jeffrey Eugenides [via New Yorker]

~ Lonny Magazine's new issue is out [via Lonny]

~ Can Moleskine please make a cover for the iPad? [via Moleskine]

BUY || MULTIPURPOSE: Buy a 1982 Volvo station wagon from Vena Cava

noreply@blogger.com (The Curation) — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 18:18:00 +0000

The girls at Vena Cava are so creative. Their pop-up garage sale is so well done, I wish more people sold stuff like this. Buy a 1982 Volvo station wagon if you like (belongs to Sophie), or any one of the diverse items from the designers' private collection ranging from an African triangle bead belt, to a Pakistani sword, to an archival dress from Vena Cava. Some of my favorites below.

INSPIRED || TRAVEL: What was in my travel bag on Memorial Day weekend

noreply@blogger.com (The Curation) — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 21:45:00 +0000

Memorial Day 2010 --- came and went like most holidays. Although only 2 weeks ago, already feels like a lifetime. I've been meaning to make this post not only because I want to talk holiday (my favorite topic) but also give some love to Saranac Lake, NY. A five hour drive from Manhattan, the Adirondacks, of which Saranac Lake is a part, are just AMAZING (six million acres of parkland!). You are surrounded by nature - you can hear the rustle of the leaves, the chirp of a bird, and the soft hum of a nearby motorist. I really felt at peace - the drive was amazing. Sometimes you felt like you were driving through a mountain. I highly recommend it.

The best place to stay is the Mirror Lake Inn which is located in Lake Placid, NY proper. Lake Placid has been home to two of the Winter Olympics and still has training facilities. Mirror Lake Inn (which sits on Mirror Lake, not Lake Placid) is probably most beautiful in the winter especially around the holidays but pretty wonderful in the spring/summer as well.

What you must do if you go up there is rent a boat -- a little fishing boat is just fine although there are more fancy boats to rent as well. Go to Ampersand Bay and take the boat out onto Lower Saranac Lake. Stop at any one of the dozens of islands on the lake --- pick a private spot --- lay down your picnic blanket and your spread. You won't regret it! When we went, we dove into the waters, lay on the rocks for the sun to dry us off and had a yummy lunch of sandwiches from a local deli. Definitely worth the trip.

Oh, so back to the title of this post! Here are some of the main items in my travel bag for the boat ride:

1. Steven Alan beach blanket
2. Helmut Lang cardigan
3. Necklaces: Arielle de Pinto long chain & Manu foil
4. Panama Jack straw hat
5. Lightweight cotton scarf
6. Miu Miu leather sandals

INSPIRED || READ: Holland Cotter, Pulitzer Prize winner and New York Times art critic

noreply@blogger.com (The Curation) — Mon, 17 May 2010 21:01:00 +0000

Over this past weekend, I spent some quality time with my new 3G iPad, doing what I love best: cruising the web. I started off this weekend cruise going to my most favorite sites for news and fashion but then quickly rerouted to a suite of apps that I downloaded with glee from the iPad app store. One of the best free iPad apps is the NYT Editors' Choice app which aggregates the best of the best from the paper, organized by category (features, technology, etc.) as selected by the editors. In the Features section of the app, I came across Holland Cotter's essay on poet, Emily Dickinson (for those in NYC, the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx has re-imagined Dickinson's world into a gorgeous exhibit that runs through May 31).

I have never been an avid reader of poetry and subsequently my interaction with Dickinson's work has been limited to high school honors English classes many years ago when the Norton Anthology books made it from my locker into my bookbag almost nightly. After reading Cotter's essay, I feel like the human form of Dickinson has re-entered my reader consciousness and I can't wait to be re-introduced to Miss Emily. Cotter's essay was written with such fluidity, I felt like the words were rolling off the page into a stream of water. He makes you **feel** how empowering and vigorous the impact of words can be.

A few of my favorite excerpts:

"I know exactly what she meant, because her poetry has that effect. Ambush is its strategy. It knocks the breath out of you and leaves you giddy, like a nanosecond-long roller coaster ride. If you visit the Dickinson show at the New York Botanical Garden, which I recommend, and watch people’s faces as they read the poems posted around the grounds, you may see that power in action."

"It’s a power she acquired in part by being, in some essential way, an outsider, but also from seeing that identity, not as a disability, but as a saving grace, and one that carries responsibilities:

The Province of the Saved

Should be the Art — to save

I love to think of kids, especially contrarian, odd-fit kids, coming across Dickinson’s Twitter-size poems for the first time, then learning about her life, a life that years ago, for at least one other kid, made being different not just O.K., but something to want to be.
And maybe those kids will decide to pay a call on her. The Homestead was a private residence in 1963 when I was there.

Two years later Amherst College bought it; now it’s a museum, with thousands of people visiting every year. In my mind, I visit too; a lot. Dickinson means as much to me now as she ever did, maybe more. I keep coming back to knock on that front door."

For those who are interested, read up on Mr. Cotter. He's a Pulitzer Prize winning author as well as an art critic for the NYT. A bit about his work here. I'm going to read just about anything Mr. Cotter writes!

BUY || WEAR: Sandro comes to town

noreply@blogger.com (The Curation) — Thu, 13 May 2010 14:21:00 +0000

...well, technically, to the internet at Net-a-Porter. I am a big fan of Sandro and whenever I make it to Paris and laze my days away in the Marais district, Sandro is always my go-to place for easy, feminine pieces that are so easy to wear. My last trip exactly one year ago came away with jersey harem pants, fitted denim shirt with glass buttons, ruffled cotton dress with studs, and a whimsical scarf. I say thank you to Evelyne and Didier for their wonderful work! I've wishlisted a couple of pieces:

Riva striped jersey dress

Rayonnante devore mini dress

BUY || WEAR: Zimmerman one-piece swimsuits

noreply@blogger.com (The Curation) — Thu, 06 May 2010 16:39:00 +0000

I am a new fan of Australian brand, Zimmerman. Known for beautifully printed swimwear, the brand recently forayed into sheer dresses, sandals, and gorgeous blouses. Their first retail outpost in the U.S. is in NYC. I started wearing one-piece swimsuits last year not only for swimming but also as tops, especially when you need something form fitting. It's been a lovely solution that I am re-employing this year. I stopped in Zimmerman a few weeks ago before heading to Miami, had a wonderful chat with their beautiful and thoughtful salesgirls, and walked out with a palm print one-piece. Checkout the collection on Shopbop.

KNOW || READ: Don't let the PowerPoint frame your thoughts

noreply@blogger.com (The Curation) — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 13:58:00 +0000

This NYT article, We Have Met the Enemy and He Is PowerPoint, that appeared yesterday is worth a read. Not only are there some very humorous elements, but the critique of one of the most popular Microsoft Office programs, PowerPoint, is also very on point. Apparently the U.S. military goes crazy with PowerPoint use, spending untold amounts of time on communicating complex military strategy abroad on a couple of slides. I've been there and done that and know how frustrating it can be. It's a reminder to never let the tools we use for communication to limit our thoughts...

INSPIRED || ART: Jen Bekman Gallery

noreply@blogger.com (The Curation) — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 02:21:00 +0000

Living in the LES neighborhood of NYC, I walk to the adjacent neighborhoods of Nolita and Soho all the time. In my travels to Nolita, crossing Bowery onto Spring, I've walked past the Jen Bekman Gallery tons of times. It wasn't until perusing a recent issue of Lonny Magazine that I realized how unique the gallery is! Bekman's gallery runs a site called 20x200 where you can purchase a variety of art pieces ranging from mixed media, photographs, to paintings at great prices. You can buy pieces of art for as little as $20. What I love about this creation is that it underscores the fundamental meaning of art: it's not about how much it is or how famous it is; it's about what it means to you personally. My browsing on this site has revealed so many pieces that I'd love have. Take a look and get lost!

Here are some of my favorites:

Praia Piquinia

Agoraphobia

Untitled, Swamp #1

Pay a visit to the gallery at 6 Spring St. [map]

INSPIRED || STYLE: The ladies of Sass & Bide

noreply@blogger.com (The Curation) — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 21:10:00 +0000

Fashionair just did a great video piece on the ladies behind Sass & Bide. Check it out. I loved how they described their design aesthetic as strength in beauty...it's very true if you look at their latest collection from London Fashion Week - "Tomorrow The Great".

See Heidi Middleton and Sarah Jane Clarke speak about their design philosophy.

BUY || ADORN: Darcy Miro for Unholy Matrimony

noreply@blogger.com (The Curation) — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 02:18:00 +0000

I have been an avid browser of FarFetch since it launched last year; its aggregation of European and American boutiques onto one site is a pretty fantastic idea. One brand that recently caught my eye is Darcy Miro's collection for Unholy Matrimony. Miro's design style, in of itself, is something to be savored. When you see her pieces, you feel like you've taken a slab of nature (a rock, a fossil, something that's been forming for millions and millions of years) and adorned yourself with it. Her designs are real, earthy, and unpredictable. I am not only enamored with the texture of her jewelry but also the non-linear outlines. FarFetch has an incredible collection --- prices are not cheap but when you're buying one-of-a-kind pieces that bring a piece of the earth home, what can you expect? Here are some of my favorites:

Oxidized Ring with Hole, $900

Two Tone Cuff, $9,800

Who is Darcy Miro? Take a look at a great video from StyleLikeU where Darcy explains her personal style philosophy and the thinking behind her designs (side note: I love these videos --- it's pretty informative to read an interview or see a photo of someone, but you attain a whole new level of understanding when you can hear an artist speak, see their body language.)

Darcy Miro from Stylelikeu.com from Stylelikeu on Vimeo.

KNOW || WATCH: On the job with Patrick McMullan

noreply@blogger.com (The Curation) — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 02:50:00 +0000

I just came across a NYT article and video that stories the man behind the name of Patrick McMullan, society's party photographer (he's been out and about since the 80s!). If you ever Google for someone's name, it is highly probable that one of the search results will link to PM's site, chronicling countless evening events from the well-known to the layman. McMullan explains why he likes what he does and why he's good at --- check it out.

Patrick McMullan

Source: New York Times

INSPIRED || STYLE: Vogue Italy showcases its spotlight content on Shala Monroque, Nicola Vassel, Genevieve Jones, Ovo Drenth, &Tolula Adeyemi

noreply@blogger.com (The Curation) — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 20:37:00 +0000

I love visiting the websites of the international counterparts to U.S. fashion titles to get a better sense of what is happening in other fashion geographies. In most cases, while there is a different voice, the actual site layout and topical content have significant overlap. Vogue's Italian counterpart, though, seems to chart its own path with a completely different look and feel and contributes some very interesting fashion coverage. Case in point: Vogue Italy has a "Vogue Black" section of its website that celebrates artistic talents in the black community from all over the world. In their "Spotlight" section, five beautiful women are featured: Shala Monroque, Nicola Vassell, Genevieve Jones, Ovo Drenth, and Tolula Adeyemi. While brief, the video interviews gives the viewer a pretty good sense of each woman's personality and approach to their lives. I find Shala's interview to be refreshing --- despite her ascendancy into the socialite spotlight and high-end fashion and art circles she talks about the time that she was working at the Thompson Hotel as a hostess.

Links to 3 of the 5 interviews below:

Shala's interview here

Nicola's interview here

Genevieve's interview here

INSPIRED || STYLE: Isabel Marant store opening ANY day now

noreply@blogger.com (The Curation) — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 20:32:00 +0000

Racked reports that the Isabel Marant store will be opening imminently. On opening day: long lines? Very possible. A sighting of Ms. Marant and her other half, Jerome Dreyfuss? We can all hope!

French designer couple extraordinaire, Marant & Dreyfuss

Source: Jalouse

The new Isabel Marant store in Soho

Source: Racked

I just bought these spring Isabel Marant printed pants from Maryam Nassir Zadeh!!

Source: Maryam Nassir Zadeh

INSPIRED || ART: The 798 Space in Beijing

noreply@blogger.com (The Curation) — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 15:23:00 +0000

One of the highlights of my trip to Beijing was my day-long visit to the 798 Space in the northeast area of the Chaoyang district. What used to be an old manufacturing center comprised of countless alleys and warehouse structures, has transformed into Beijing's center for contemporary art. Intermingled with the galleries are little teahouses, coffee shops, bookshops, and clothing stores. I was just so amazed by the energy of the scene and the devotion to artistic expression. Each gallery celebrated something different and had its own vibe. I could have probably spent a 2nd and 3rd day there because there were so many exhibits to see.

BUY || WEAR: Claire Vivier leather bags

noreply@blogger.com (The Curation) — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 03:32:00 +0000

I'm a big fan of these leather bags by Claire Vivier. She has combined the simplicity of design (and practicality of everyday use) with what looks to be soft, supple material and rich hues. I've been looking for a new bag that I can wear on my wrist and then swing over my shoulder when I need to multi-task. At $345 for the messenger tote, this is probably the best deal out there! Also love the mini-sac ($169). For a similar bag, check out my post on J. Crew's Bisbee Satchel.

EXPERIENCE || KNOW: Beijing, where it's at!

noreply@blogger.com (The Curation) — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 22:25:00 +0000

Just back from Beijing - which explains my lackluster record of posts for the past week and a half. All I can say is AMAZING, WONDERFUL, and all around AMAZING AGAIN! So much going on in the city from a business perspective, lifestyle perspective. I will post more but here are some shots of the airport --- may seem trivial, but this is the first entry that all arrivals see. The Beijing Capital Airport is literally one of the best world airports I've been to. Blows JFK and LaGuardia out of the water. Modern, architecturally interesting, and beautiful.

BUY || ADORN: Marni's jewelry

noreply@blogger.com (The Curation) — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:25:00 +0000

I always loved Marni for the easy design mixed with sophisticated presentation. But lately, I realized that the jewelry collection is pretty amazing too! Check out these items on Net-a-Porter.

BUY || HOME: Brook Farm General Store

noreply@blogger.com (The Curation) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:40:00 +0000

If you were a little girl growing up in the 80s in the U.S., then you probably loved The Little House on the Prairie television series as much as I did. One of the best parts of the show was the General Store run by the Olesons family. I always loved seeing the inside of the store located in the center of the town – always neatly merchandised and it felt like whatever you needed to live (especially in that time period) could be found. I got this same feeling when I came across the Brooklyn-based Brook Farm General Store. I love the design of the site; clean, welcoming, and easy to navigate. It is stocked full of goodies that have an anachronistic touch, bringing you back to a time when life was certainly more simple and livable. Here are some of my favorite picks:

Vintage Creamware Pitcher

Aigle Malouine Boot

Lampe Gras No. 205

BUY || WEAR: Floral dress picks from eBay

noreply@blogger.com (The Curation) — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 21:22:00 +0000

Spring is in the air (finally)! It is time to bring those dresses back from storage. Here are a few picks that I love from eBay.

Diane Von Furstenberg floral print wrap dress - opening bid $125

Temperley silk print dress - opening bid $125