Saturday, June 20, 2009

I love being high in demand at work.

It's makes my job easier and it stimulates my creativity. So this couple wanted me to help them with a botanical arrangement. Now, I could've gone all out and told them to go diarrheic with the design, but I tried to keep it clean because I realize that most people don't share my taste, which is fine. They decided to go with a basic clear glass vase with a blend of mulberry sticks. The waviness of the sticks keep the arrangement from being stiff and boring. The ceramic rocks gave it a pop of color.

Mulberry Sticks Coffee $9.95
Mulberry Sticks White $9.95
Cylinder Vase 19.5" $24.95
Glazed Ceramic Rocks Turquoise $7.95

They spent about $57.82, which isn't exactly a bargain. I'm sure they could've saved more money if they had their own vase or colorful objects, but I'm just glad I was able to help. Ironically, I sometimes surpise myself with the things I come up with.

Courtesy of CB2

When I learned about shadow art, I was like "why didn't I think of that?"

Ellis Gallagher (Ellis G.) is famous for his shadow art, which are common objects on the street outlined with chalk. It's a very simple concept with so much meaning that's really hard to describe. Perhaps it's because we all could've done it; we just did not have the eyes to appreciate everyday objects in the same way.

Because of Ellis G., I now look at shopping carts differently. They are so much more interesting than they seem to be. I think he got the outline right on, but I'm not sure he did such a great job on the nooks. But can you blame him? That would take forever to finish. Also, chalk is not the easiest medium to use because there's no real precision to it.

This picture reminds me of coloring that gets out of the lines. There's a style for that, but I'm not sure there's a name for it. Anyway, I like the effect and in a way, it sort of acts as a sundial.

I'm sure many bike enthusiasts are going crazy after this piece. It shows the timeless elegance of the frame and silhouette of the bike. I bet a newer, more modern bike wouldn't have such a impact.

This has got to be my favorite piece. It's pretty much art imitating life because the rails on the brick walls almost look functional. It looks great even without the shadow filling it in.

Looking at the drawing, it seems like it would've been the easiest to do, but because flowers are so unstable, I bet it was the most challenging. This proves that notion that simplicity is more difficult than complex.


Courtesy of Ellis G.'s Myspace

Sunday, June 14, 2009

How would fine art work well on a polo?

Now, I've played around with fabric paint before, but I never thought of using them to create beautiful paintings on polos. P.S. by Paul Smith attempted this way before anyone else, which is always admirable. Apparently, the print on the polo drew inspiration from a 19th century still life French painter and Lithographer.

P.S. by Paul Smith Floral Printed Polo Top $157.11
I would totally forget about this little D.I.Y. project if I had the money to buy the polo, but since I'm poor, I have to come up with more affordable ways to do "fine art." I would suggest using a cheap polo shirt because if you splurge on a Ralph Lauren or Lacoste, you're bound to make expensive mistakes. I'm actually a bit nervous thinking about it because I have absolutely no background in painting, so all of this is going to be improvisation. I would imagine that piqué cotton is a very difficult fabric to work with because of the pores, but I haven't tried it yet, so I don't exactly know. Oh, and here are some paintings I might be using.

Courtesy of Paul Smith, PVR Consulting

Thursday, June 11, 2009

I returned the flakey Raf Simons bag, but now I'm looking for a crazy accessory to replace it with.

Considering the insane design aesthetic in these accessories, they are incredibly versatile. I could see myself using these things everyday. It would definitely give me the edge I've been looking for lately.

Raf Simons Embroidered Derby Shoe $1,190.73 $719.401
These shoes amaze me in the best way possible. I love the illusional ombre effect. They're so intricately embroidered that from a distance, they look like something else. For about $1,000+, I'm assuming it's a couture piece. I could always mimic this by using a plaid canvas shoe.

Martin Margiela Mix Chain Bracelet $156.00
I like Martin Margiela's accessories more than his clothes because you can go crazy and not go overboard with them. This bracelet literally combines modern and antique pieces to make a beautiful fusion. Also the juxtaposition of the two sizes gives the bracelet some depth.

Alexander McQueen Zip Wallet $314.00
My Birthday is coming up, and this wallet would be the perfect present. The neon orange is so eye-catching and I've been looking for a zip wallet because things aren't exactly secure inside a traditional billfold. It's by my favorite designer and it's the perfect size and color. Where can you possibly go wrong? Well, I wouldn't pay 300 bucks for it.

Bernhard Willhelm Black Mask Sunglasses $165.00
Unlike most people, I don't wear sunglasses to look "cool." I wear them to hide from the world when I don't want to be seen. Unfortunately, I've still been recognized because my nose shows, which ruins the purpose of being anonymous. These sunglasses have the coverage and quirkiness needed to keep a low profile in this vanity and status obsessed world.

Alex & Chloe Mix Tape Brooch $58.00
Who wears brooches nowadays? I would if I could, but I haven't found anything I liked. This, however, makes the best statement. One of my favorite past times as a kid was making mix tapes from the radio. It was a crafty and creative time before the iPod generation. This brooch pays homage to that.

Courtesy of Oak NYC, Browns Fashion, Oki-ni, Alex & Chloe

Sunday, June 7, 2009

At work, this guy let me design his living room for him.

This is the end result. It's very neoplastic, almost like an old-school video game. I love the intricate silhouette and texture lines. The guy already knew he wanted the Track sofa because it's a good basic living room essential. The challenge really was working around it. He was a bit iffy about color overload, so we toned it down with neutral grays and browns. Oh, and he also wanted to do the carpet in blue and orange, which I thought was a terrible idea. I envisioned it and thought his living room was going to look like a 76 gas station, so I suggested he mix in the gray with the blue instead. I think he could've done without the coffee table because it's better as a piece by itself. But looking at it as a whole, I think I did a pretty good job.

2 Grid Lobster Pillows $24.95 $9.95
Track Sofa $999.00
6
FLOR Fedora Charcoal Tiles $7.95
6
FLOR Straight and Narrow Blue Tiles $11.95 $7.95
Midway Coffee Table-Bench $299.00

The gentleman spent about $1,546.58 total, which is an incredible deal for all this to furnish a living room. I had fun helping him, especially because work can be torturously boring when I'm just standing there watching people walk by. It's kind of an outlet for my creativity.

Courtesy of CB2

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Rodarte throws what I know about fashion out the window.

Sisters Kate and Laura Mulleavy in the past few years have created a fashion empire. What surprises me most is that they did not study fashion (English and Art History). But actually, that's much more interesting than someone who has studied it so much that there's not much room for creativity. You look at their designs and can tell it comes from a place much deeper than fashion. I wouldn't say their designs are very wearable, but on a conceptual level, they're genius. The S/S 2009 collection is a mix of leather, metal, tie-dye; it's very New Wave punk.

I find this very ethereal and there is beauty in the neutrality of the look. I love the sheer sleeves, but I don't necessarily like the 3-parter; one would've been enough. Those leather leggings are mind-blowing, but I don't think they're that functional or wearable.

This is my favorite look from the collection because it's visually the most interesting. I love that splash of blue and the asymmetrical strap balanced out with a chain. Unlike the nude look, the stark white is very refreshing.

I am mesmerized by the intricate details put into making that top. Who knew crocheting could be so high fashion? Oh, and that lamé skirt gives the shine that this look needs. A simpler top would do the skirt justice for sure.

This is probably the most clean-line look from the collection. That skeletal rib cage top is absolutely beautiful. If you're skin shy, you could wear something underneath, but the effect would not be the same. But if you're not skin shy, make sure there's no nipple exposure when you're wearing it (unless you want it).

Although I don't think the color palette is quite right with this dress, I love the flow of the color into another one. It's almost like visible air. And the paint-like strokes make this dress more than just a dress; it's an art piece.

Courtesy of Style

Monday, May 25, 2009

For Neil Barrett, it's all about the subtle details.

Every piece Barrett designs has an element of humor and spontaneity to it. The details he puts into design are subtle, but you don't have to look closely to see them, which is always good. One thing's for sure, you'll stand out. He is also one of the more "colorful" designers out there. For his S/S 2009 collection, he has made sportswear a lot more sporty by using bright colors and materials not usually made for athletic use.

I love randomness of the black sleeve. Even though it is a very contrasting color, it does not disconnect from the shirt. You can also normalize it by wearing some kind of blazer or jacket.

Lapel suspenders! Where do I go to get a pair? It would be cool to jazz up a casual look. Those shoes are so Chanel 2006, yet I'm still very nostalgic about them.

I'm not sure if the tie is attached to the shirt, but if it is, that'd be pretty cool. I could never get myself to wear neon shoes, but they look great on the model.

This could be a reason to wear a tracksuit. The cut and color adds some sophistication to otherwise ordinary jogging clothes.

The elbow detail on the sweater is subtle enough that it doesn't look like a "Trekkie's" uniform. Even though the orange shorts look a bit doubty, I can see myself wearing them because I'm whacky like that.


Courtesy of Style