lifestyle mirror.
February 23rd, 2012 § Leave a Comment
during a recent laptop feng shui frenzy, I got rid of all the fashion news sites I had bookmarked. it was too much of the same concepts reworked just at different urls. then, on February 13th, Lifestyle Mirror went live. and who could be better than daphne guinness as the inaugural cover. thank you.
alexander plokhov a/w12.
February 22nd, 2012 § Leave a Comment
when I come across the work of minimalist designers (or maximalist, depending on your point of view), I vow that I will only wear black, white and grey. it usually lasts a week because it would be so restrictive like only eating chocolate ice cream. one of the best menswear a/w12 collections came from alexander plokhov. I first discovered his line cloak in the 2005 fashion documentary seamless (I still think he should have won over proenza schouler). cloak closed its doors not long after the film and plokhov went to versace for a three-year stint. returning to his namesake, his menswear is unrivaled. I shudder when it is labeled “gothic.” it isn’t gothic. it is well-tailored clothing that is modern and futuristic concurrently.
the box social.
February 19th, 2012 § Leave a Comment
Having lived in their North Portland neighborhood for five years, wife and husband, Shannon and Eric McQuilkin, saw a need…. a need for a “drinking parlour.” In fact, I am in favor of anything involving fabulous cocktails and the use of the word parlour. “The Box Social is an intimate, candle lit, creative space that appeals to those who want a well-built cocktail, a nice glass of wine and perhaps a light snack. It is a neighborhood joint for those who want to get out of the house, but don’t want to commit to ‘going out to dinner’” states Shannon.
From the street, Box Social has a modern glass and metal façade, but once inside, you are enveloped in the richness of the space (I suggest going after dark to feel the full ambience). Greeted by 16’ ceilings covered in fir wood, a mahogany wood bar, a massive trompe l’oeil mural of the downtown skyline, and even a taxidermy peacock keeping close watch. The staff was just the right amount of pretty with beautiful smiles and their service was attentive and welcoming. My cocktail of choice was Pink Bullets, which consisted of Sailor Jerry rum, raspberry shrub, ginger, and lemon brut. Real ingredients. While the focus of Box Social is the libations, I couldn’t resist the grilled cheese and tomato soup. May I have a standing order delivered each day, please? Delicious.
Bringing 20 years of restaurant experience to the table, Box Social is the second venture for Shannon as she is also the co-owner of Hawthorne fixture The Sapphire Hotel. It was hard to believe she has been in the business for two decades with her youthful glow and terrific personal style. “We want to be available to the neighborhood as an escape from home” says Shannon. I may live in the NW/Pearl, but I will surely return for an escape from my neighborhood at Box Social.
Photos by Jaycob DesRosiers.
bengal cat realness
February 18th, 2012 § Leave a Comment
I have a passion for bengal cats. they are an ideal mix of an exotic & domestic cat all in one. I am the delighted owner of one named maybeline odessa, or maybe for short.
olio russo by rodin.
February 16th, 2012 § Leave a Comment
Traditionally, French skin care centers around botanicals infusing aromatics into potions. Giving it the old American try is former model and stylist Linda Rodin. Seeking a clutter free, simple regime, in 2007, Rodin blended 11 essential oils to create the cult Olio Lusso ($140, 1oz). The emollient, oil-based concoction contains essences of jasmine, neroli, sweet almond, and apricot to name a few. I applied 2-3 drops to my skin after showering which left my skin glowing all day. Though it is oil-based, it quickly absorbs into the skin without leaving you greasy (only the slightest amount). Rodin makes no wild claims about her product line, which includes lip balm, hair serum, and body oil, other than to make “skin look alive.” After a week, there was visible improvement to the texture and hue of my skin. I am tempted to keep up the regimen, but the price places it into the luxury category; ironically the name Olio Lusso translates to “luxury oil” in Italian.
addicted to… marvis toothpaste.
February 15th, 2012 § Leave a Comment
i have a fastidious obsession with dental hygiene. even my dentist says i should have become a dentist. he recently turned me onto marvis toothpaste, which you can get at here from barneys. the silver packaging goes perfectly with my electric pink betsey johnson toothbrush.
jason wu a/w12 on nordstrom.com
February 13th, 2012 § Leave a Comment
last friday, the lovely people at Nordstrom invited me to watch Jason Wu’s A/W12 live from New York Fashion Week. one of his best collections to date referencing everything china. watch the show here: jason-wu-nyfw-live along with an interview with the designer. woo for wu!
the man in the iron mask.
February 9th, 2012 § Leave a Comment
Lady Gaga has undoubtedly paved the way for facial embellishments & accessories. I adore the anodized aluminum & calf leather face bling from Austrian designer Andreas Eberharter under the label AND-I. His work more as sculpture than accessory.
interview: alina alamorean, jewelry designer.
February 1st, 2012 § Leave a Comment
In creating jewelry that is equally provocative, pure, extravagant and startling, Alina Alamorean, believes in nothing more than freedom; particularly from conventionality, “I hate decoration,” she affirms. Alamorean’s work is a dichotomous celebration of light and dark, the beautiful and the erotic, open and heavy. The Romanian-born designer – who is based in Paris – fled her native country’s dictatorship to find a new life in France where she studied jewelry design and launched a thriving company. Since 2007, Alamorean has won several industry awards including one for a decadent piece titled “The Invincible Cape,” made entirely of iron, black velvet, and 984 carats worth of diamonds. I caught with the designer in the City of Lights… For more of Alamorean’s work, visit galerie bsl.
Qualities you most admire in design : Sincerity.
Qualities you least admire in design: Strategy.
Currently reading: Explicit Erotic and Sex Collection – Chat Soleil Edition .
Favorite virtue: Love.
Favorite vice: Love and sex.
What inspires you? My lover and the desert, the beauty that surrounds me, Bill Tong, Constantin Brancusi and Richard Serra.
Favorite fashion era : The Thirties.
Where is your favorite destination? My bed and the ocean.
If you could travel in time backward or forward, where would you go? The Queen Margot era.
What is your most marked characteristic? Sexual energy.
If you could come back as an object, what would it be? A sexual object.
What is your favorite drink? Water.
What can’t you travel without? My Visa card.
What trend would you like to see disappear? All trends.
Favorite look of all time: Black top with black jeans and black heels.
What is your current obsession or addiction? My lover.
If you could wake up tomorrow anywhere, where? On the beach in front of the ocean.
What is your most treasured possession? The love I feel.
Who is your favorite superhero? My fucking damned lover!
one day i will find the pieces of my mosaic.
January 31st, 2012 § Leave a Comment
it’s seldom that a wall can be interesting, or even charming. I think this is the most beautiful wall in portland. the mosaic tiles captures western light radiantly. it’s like being inside a genie’s bottle.
pas de deux.
January 30th, 2012 § Leave a Comment
yves st laurent a/w12 brilliance as shot by nat urazmetova.
lady in the jaguar.
January 29th, 2012 § Leave a Comment
the most beautiful car emblem ever. the classic jumping jaguar. meow.
no regrets, coyote.
January 26th, 2012 § Leave a Comment
nothing keeps me warmer, and happier, than my fur coats in winter. this week, i was attacked by the elements like random on the spot snow storms & torrential rain, but my piazza sempione fur vest kept me smiling & chic. my cat, maybeline still has reservations about my fur collection.
right there with you in your glass house.
January 25th, 2012 § Leave a Comment
i’ve always dreamed of living in a glass house. i don’t have anything to hide.
the kekkila prefab garden shed… what finnish marvel.
drive into springtime.
January 24th, 2012 § Leave a Comment
spring seems like months away, especially after having snow, rain storms, and floods this week. it hasn’t crushed my spirits completely as i found myself this pop top by issey miyake. it will be an eye-catching addition to s/s12 blue hues.
patron saint: Talitha Getty
January 21st, 2012 § Leave a Comment
the ethereal & eternally beautiful Talitha Getty.
new obsession: mac makeup classes.
January 19th, 2012 § Leave a Comment
every few months, the M.A.C. store offers private makeup classes to a small group of enthusiasts. the cost is insignificant, which can be redeemed in product, compared to all the insider tips & tricks you learn from pros. i am anxious for spring & from the s/s12 collection: pure show liquid gold eyeliner, style driven eye shadow, fresh flare eye shadow, palladium cream eyeshadow, and melon pigment.
but it’s just a shop window.
January 18th, 2012 § Leave a Comment
my mother taught me to always look up, not down toward the gutters, when walking down the street. my roving, street level eye spotted two windows that caught my fancy. above, film slides en masse at anthropologie. below, a stack of what i assume to be amplifiers at a guitar shop. the orange orange boxes stacked & popped.
get NUDE.
January 17th, 2012 § Leave a Comment
MAC makeup is wonderful because it lasts for hours and doesn’t require re-application; however it takes a great force to thoroughly cleanse skin when using their products. Often, the strongest cleansers rely on detergents and oil that strip your makeup, and your skin along the way. This was until I discovered NUDE Skincare Facial Cleansing Wash (3.4oz, $24). NUDE is a high performance, British skin care line that is 98% natural and free of many toxins. The cleanser is an orange gel with aloe vera, botanical moringae extract and probiotics to repair skin at the cellular level. I washed my face at night using only two pumps of product and it gently lathered and cleansed my skin without stripping it dry. My skin felt hydrated, soft, and clean. I particularly liked that NUDE Skincare is oil fee and totally worth its value compared to the amount of product you need. In my quest for a thorough makeup remover and cleanser, this is the top cleanser I have found to date and highly applaud it.
21 year old fire.
January 12th, 2012 § Leave a Comment
incredible image by steve mccurry. 1991 kuwait.
julius.
January 11th, 2012 § Leave a Comment
enso part II
January 10th, 2012 § Leave a Comment
I have featured the enso building before, but I just can’t get enough. architecturally, it is one of the most unusual buildings in my neighborhood. however, my favorite part is that the building faces west & captures lightly beautifully.
diet butcher slim skin.
January 8th, 2012 § Leave a Comment
fashion is something that constantly needs to excite me & i seek things that are extraordinary. I am discovering the style of japanese cult labels like diet butcher slim skin. these two looks may be from s/s11, but they are timeless. diet butcher has punk influences yet wearable with clean lines for the modern man.
