Style Files
Made in the South
I’ve gotta say, I think the South is experiencing a major renaissance of coolness, and it’s not just because I’m on sweet on my hometown of Atlanta, Jawjuh. I don’t know how else to put it, but everywhere I look, I feel like I read about cool stores, companies, restaurants, hotels, you name it, cropping up in the South.
Not that there hasn’t always been cool stuff in the South, but I feel like lately, with the help of publications like Garden & Gun, there’s more awareness and support being drawn to these companies, and it’s helping re-brand the South as a place for artisinal food and quality craftsmanship, not to mention cool design, and not just sleepy provincial towns with lots of heat and humidity.
This year, Garden & Gun, a magazine focused on all things Southern (don’t be put off by the name, just check it out), is having a contest to find the best things made in the South, from the expected cheese straws, barbecue sauce, and fly rods to the less expected selvedge denim, duffle bags, watches, farm tables, pottery, and more.
I can’t wait for the results! Will be sure to share them here.
Also, I’m just going to throw this out there, has anyone else noticed how many of the well-known design bloggers are from the South?? It seems like a disproportionate percentage!
Awards website here.
Garden & Gun main here.
[Design*Sponge]
Style Files
Vending Machines at the Standard Hotel
The Standard Hotels (New York, Miami, and LA), are bringing back their Quiksilver vending machines for another summer, so if you forget your sunglasses or retro board shorts and are hoping to find some 70′s/80′s inspired special editions made especially for The Standard, they’ve got you covered.
Pretty clever idea, no??
Style Files
LustList >> Deborah Lippmann Nail Polish
I’m sure anyone who is a regular reader of this blog has noticed that I’m a pretty particular person, and those of you who know me outside of the internets probably know that this particularity extends to nail polish colors.
After growing up in a place where a French manicure seems like the only kind of manicure anyone ever gets (other than really bright toe colors for spring break/summer), I was convinced I hated painted finger nails. French manicures are a major pet peeve. I just can’t relate. I could go on about this, but I don’t want to offend anyone, and I do realize this is a personal peeve.
But then, I discovered the bright red, short-nailed look, and fell hard and never looked back. Red on the fingers, light light pink on the toes (occasionally on the fingers), but never anything else. For some reason I think these are the only colors that suit me. Other people can rock the purples and neon pinks, but I just can’t pull it off.
So of course, I am obsessive about the exact shade of red and light pink. Blue-undertoned straight-up red, slightly darker in winter, and pink so pale it’s almost neutral. No opalescense or pearliness. Straight pigment.
I can spend outrageous amounts of time in the store testing and picking the shade, and then I keep them in my purse so I always have them on my when I go to get my nails done. I simply can’t risk the nail place not having the right shade. (Do I sound high maintenance here or what? I prefer to call it “particular.” I swear there’s a difference.)
All this to say, I fell in love when I discovered the Deborah Lippmann line of polishes sold at Barney’s. She has multiple great reds and light pinks (including great orange undertone reds I wouldn’t usually go for), as well as other shades that despite my red-or-light pink-only rule, I am seriously tempted by.
So there’s gauranteed to be a color to suit everyone’s fancy, not just red/light pink people like me. The colors are so great that I found myself wondering if I could branch out to aubergine without having an identity crisis. I’m even tempted by the glittery gold… one time I wrapped gold foil around the tips of my fingers, loved the unabashed glam of it, and decided if I ever found a super gilt-y gold I’d have to try it. Somehow I think it’s a reasonable addition to my narrow repertoire.
Plus, they have great names like “My Old Flame,” “Prelude to a Kiss,” “Call Me Irresponsible,” and “Whatever Lola Wants.”
[Above, Giovanna Battaglia, former house model of Dolce & Gabbana, who I happen to have a major girl crush on, sporting red nails.]
[At top, sketch by Garance.]
Available here. (Expensive, yes, but seriously it takes forever to use up a bottle of nail polish.)
And in case you’re wondering, favorite reds are Sally Hansen Salon Lacquer “Hollywood Scarlet” for winter and Essie “Pepperoni” for summer (although horrible name, I know).
Style Files
Girl Crush >> Emmanuelle Alt >> Who knew she had an absurdly cute daughter??
I posted this pic above of Emmanuelle Alt a while ago, and ever since I’ve noticed that in every single picture I see of her, she looks unbearably cool. This really isn’t any surprise given that she’s head of Vogue Paris, but I like that she isn’t super-trendy or all dressed up all the time. Usually just a tshirt or sweater with jeans and a great jacket… just casual, a little rough/tough around the edges, but still very chic, with an effortlessness about the whole thing.
Anyway, then I saw these pics of her daughter, and I almost died.
I want one just like her.
Cuffed jeans, trench, striped tee, and flats? Seriously? Does Emmanuelle dress her or is that just genetically inherited style right there? Either way, I don’t care, I want to steal her. She couldn’t get ANY cuter.
Style Files
Summer Lovin >> Aubin & Willis
Loving the styling and photography for Aubin & Willis’s summer lookbook.
Also, I love their logo/typography/packaging details! …
Images from Aubin & Willis website,
collage of A&W products from Black Eiffel.
Style Files
LustList >> Clare Vivier bags
As my dear friend Kristin put it perfectly, it’s really difficult to find a bag in a gorgeous leather that’s not barraged by logos. I would add to that, and also doesn’t have obnoxious hardware everywhere or other details you’ll be sick of in approx. 3 months. I’m after bags that’ll last and that I’ll still like ten years from now and will ideally only get better as they age.
Clare Vivier bags get it just right, especially the perfectly simple one above in that amazing leather. Immediately on the LustList.
Clare Vivier bags here.
Style Files
Vanity Fair: “The Top Ten Most Stunning French Actresses”
Not in their same order, as I’ve moved Audrey Tautou, star of my favorite movie (Amelie), to the top of the list, but here they are. Don’t French women just have a different quality than American women? Something more naturally, effortlessly enchanting?
Above, Audrey Tautou, according to VF, at her sexiest in in Coco Avant Chanel (2009), so good.
Brigitte Bardot, “” in God Created Women (1956).
Eva Green, “” The Dreamers (2003)
Emanuelle Beart, “” Manon des Sources (1986)
Marion Cotillard, “” La Vie en Rose (2007).
Jeanne Moreau, Elevator to the Gallows (1958).
Sophie Marceau, “” La Fille de d’Artignan tied with Beyond the Clouds
Catherine Deneuve, “”, Belle du Jour (1967).
Aissa Maiga, “” Bamako (2006).
Isabelle Adjani, “” Queen Margot
VF slideshow here.
Style Files
Head Scarf, Red Stripes
Style Files
Didn't see this one coming >> The new look of Timberland
Timberland has debuted a new collection that goes in a drastically different direction from what they’ve come to be associated with in the past decade or so… (ie the chunky standard tan suede men’s boot and baby pink suede high-top, high-heeled, thick-soled boots with faux-shearling around the ankle for girls…yikes).
Inspired by New England and Northern England between 1900 and 1945, they’ve nailed some excellent details like the leather and suede stain colors and grain levels, the skinny laces, the wood and leather soles that look as though they’ve already spent years walking the docks…
And I’m liking it. At least the men’s collection. Rolled up jeans with a plaid button-up and one of the pairs below would look just about perfect for gent spending summer in the city.
Style Files
For when you need to strap a growler to your bike…
Or really, when you need to strap anything to your bike, but the growler adds to the overall effect…
A great product by Walnut Studiolo out of Portland, the leather “Strap Down” is a both functional and attractive addition to your bike… but then again I pretty much love anything that combines leather and buckles and/or stitching, and when it involves a bike, it becomes even more charming.
They also make aweseom handlebar wraps, available in two different color ways…
I personally like this one:
…and you might as well get a clever “can cage” for your pbr, or what-have-you, while you’re at it.
I’m pretty sure if you have a cool bike and you trick it out with these accessories, you’re automatically accepted in Portland…
Walnut Studiolo here.
