For the Library: Kate Spade’s Things We Love

The new Kate Spade book, Things We Love.  If you’ve ever checked out their company website by the same name, you know this is probably going to be a book you could browse for a while!

So visually rich!  For an interesting interview with Deborah Lloyd, Kate Spade Creative Director, and Ed Miller, the man who headed up the project for Graytor Printing, about the production of the book itself, head over to Felt & Wire.

Levi’s Photo Workshop

This is such a fun (and smart) idea by Levi’s.  They’ve created a pop-up “shop,” in New York, but instead of being an actual Levi’s store, it’s a photography center– with computers and equipment for digital photo processing, a photobooth, and an area where you can rent out vintage film cameras.  And should you need any help, there are sharply dressed Levi’s reps there to assist.

And this pop-up is on the heels of a successful printmaking workshop space in San Francisco a few months ago.  Pretty clever move for a denim brand that as of a couple years ago was a rather unexciting, tired brand rapidly losing market share to the the dozens of expensive niche denim purveyors out there.

Here’s what CoolHunting had to say about the thinking behind the project after their conversation with the brand’s head of collaborations, Joshua Katz:

“The payoff of course is “if you make that extra effort, people can believe in it.” Or in other words, their success comes from embracing hard work and community as core values from the top down. “There are fundamental philosophies that don’t change,” says Katz. “The [brands] that stick around are people who recognize that they are part of a community.” In addition to opening its doors to artists, community groups and non-profits, all proceeds from sales of Levi’s goods (including the exclusive Trucker Jacket, pictured) and camera-related items will go to NYC-based charitable organizations Harvey Milk High School, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council and Edible Schoolyard New York.”

I personally think that the rationale presented may be a little overwrought, but who cares, because it’s fun and cool and its getting them tons of attention, press, and renewed brand awareness and perception.  Well done, Levi’s.

More images and info on coolhunting.

Chevron Floors, Moulding, Fireplaces, (Paris)

On my lifelong lustlist are chevron wood floors.  These make me swoon every.single.time.  You could probably show me a photo of a really horribly decorated Parisian apartment, and if it had the trademark chevron floors, I would still be like “oooooh, how lovelyyyy,” because I would just be honed in on those floors.

This apartment, however, has a lot more going for it: marble fireplaces, French doors, lovely archways, paneled walls, original moldings, and this palette that I seem to be quite stuck on at the moment: wood, black, and white.  Here, I love that the rather masculine palette balances out the feminine-leaning architectural details.

Ill Studio

That right there was ON POINT y’all.
By Ill Studio out of Paris.

Kanye’s Rosewood Movement

According to Luxist, as part of Kanye’s “Rosewood Movement,” which he started in July, all employees of his G.O.O.D. label now have to wear the same suit.  I don’t know what I think about making them all literally wear the same suit, that seems a little extreme, but they sure do look sharp, and apparently the movement is not just about clothes, but about the entire image and direction of the rap and hip-hop communities.

“It stems from the Rosewood Civil Rights Movement, but in this case is meant to raise the level of sophistication within the rap and hip hop worlds.

… West has explained in interviews that the Rosewood Movement is much more than just a fashion statement. It also includes good manners, no profanity in public, “calling your grandmother” and “taking care of your kids.”"

Apparently, he no longer wants to be the “jackass” (as he was called by Obama) and wants to bring back an era when men were “un-apologetically gentlemen.”  All this as a part of his growing up and changing after his egregious outburst at the VMAs last year…

I know Kanye gets a lot of flak, but I’m still rooting for him…
Luxist article here.
More at Sound on Mars.

Wintry Mix

I am a huge fan of seasons (except spring, it bores me, but at least it has Valentine’s day), and even though the weather doesn’t change that drastically in California from season to season, I like to bring on the spirit as best I can, living up each one.  For winter, this means fires in the fireplace, hot chocolate and cider, cozy layers… here, a little seasonal inspiration…

Clockwise from top left: vintage winter; Streets and YOs; L.L. Bean duck boots; classic Hudson Bay blanket (interesting fact: these blankets were traded by the Hudson Bay company with the native Americans for beaver pelts); Stanley thermos; sled pic; Hunting & Fishing; Balsam incense; cabin; buffalo check trapper hat.

Listening To: Adele

This stopped me in my tracks.  And made my heart pound.  Or maybe it was just my foot stomping.  The first single, “Rolling in the Deep,” off Adele’s new album, to be released in January.

The seductively hazy, moody, leaves-you-wanting-more docu-style video was put together from studio footage from the recording sessions in Malibu, and the authentic style is perfectly suited to the soulful song, which she describes as “a dark, bluesy, gospel disco tune.” I almost don’t want there to be an official music video, I like this one!

For her second album, she paired up with big-time producers like Rick Rubin and Paul Epworth (Florence and the Machine, Cee-Lo, Phoenix), but don’t let that fool you into thinking that maybe her personal style gets eclipsed by the visions of producers.  If this single is any indication, it is actually quite the opposite– Rubin and Epworth brilliantly capture the power of her voice and pair it with instrumentals just as dynamic and bold as her vocals.

This is not the Adele you know from her previous radio hits. Check it out.

Les Ailes Pourpres

I haven’t seen this film, The Crimson Wing: Mystery of the Flamingos, but I was entranced by this trailer, with its stunning imagery and Coldplay-esque music by The Cinematic Orchestra.  Produced by Disney Nature, the documentary was filmed in northern Tanzania in a region never before shown on film.

If you liked Planet Earth or the LIFE series narrated by Oprah, I think you’ll like this.  It’s an awe-inspiring reminder of what an amazing creation our planet is.

Music by Cinematic Orchestra

Kings County Distillery

Love the utter simplicity of the labeling for New York’s oldest whiskey distillery.  Check them out.

Shiny Faceted Things

You know when you notice an idea, and file it away, and then it seems to keep popping up?  That’s what happened with this idea.  I saw these fun pinatas (third image from left) in Martha Stewart Magazine about three months ago, and I thought it would be kind of fun to just have one hanging in your apartment in a corner– all that shininess would kick off a lot of light and just look permanently festive (I like when apartments look ever-ready for a party) and just rather interesting when the rest of your apartment looks normal.

Then I came across the image with the disco ball propped against the console and thought, well that’s a fun styling idea, to use a disco ball just as a propped piece, rather than hanging one.  It makes it feel like you saved a relic from the days when you used to hang out at discos.

And then, I found these pendants from Design Within Reach, and it made me think DWR was thinking along these lines of shiny faceted things too.  But I actually prefer the diy (and temporary) ideas of either having a disco ball or pinata taken totally out of context sitting in your apartment.  So anyway, just an idea for you.  Add some shine and fun to your apartment for the holidays!