under the sea @ west elm.
April 8th, 2012 § Leave a Comment
if you look at fashion trends carefully, you can also get a sense of what is happening in the world around you. for the S/S12 collections, designers sought escape, and they took the sea. the theme at Versace for S/S12 was the little mermaid (per their press release), at Chanel and Armani it was crashing waves and even Givenchy channeled surfers and mermaids. furniture collections followed suit casting their inspiration nets into the ocean blue. last week, I was invited to preview West Elm’s Summer collection which had motifs of coral, multicolored fish, tropical birds and pink flamingos. there isn’t a single piece or corner that has a story behind how it to fruition. I was particularly fond of the ever-so smooth mango wood table that folds out into butler trays and hidden storage, the silk flamingo pillows, and anything with the letter A monogram, which is the best letter of the alphabet. the design experts at West Elm have endless ideas that are sensible, easy, and affordable.
on the desk.
April 5th, 2012 § Leave a Comment
i am going wild over these acrylic desks by alexandra von furstenberg! the daughter in law of designer DVF has been producing acrylic, lucite and plexiglass realness since 2007 with her eponymous, contemporary furniture company.
mox botanicals.
April 3rd, 2012 § Leave a Comment
If craftsmanship and lip treatment could be used in the same sentence, then you also want to include Mox Botanicals in the same breath. Based out of Portland, Oregon, Mox Botanicals specializes in luxurious lip butters and solid perfumes from 100% natural ingredients including shea, avocado, jojoba, and meadow foam. I tried the Black Plum and Fig lip butter ($16, .2 oz.) which comes in a chic, sturdy glass pot. Every jar is hand poured to supple perfection. The lip butter is non-greasy and hydrates your lips without looking like lip gloss. Due to the non-greasy formulation, I noticed that you need to more generous with application compared to similar products. Mox Botanicals has no advertising and no assembly line production. They also offer a generous recycling program where you mail back your empty pot only to be refilled at half price! If you are looking for a solid lip treatment or perfume that combines craftsmanship, quality and is eco-conscience, then Mox Botanicals is the way to go.
cold hearted snake.
April 1st, 2012 § Leave a Comment
my statement piece for spring is a python trench coat. It couldn’t be more climate perfect because it is april and it is still raining and the heat is still on. snake skin is the rock and roll cousin to glamorous fur and we saw lots of python in lanvin’s s/s12 collection. it makes you feel stealth and assertive from power lunch to power yoga.
photo by jaycob.
i set all the zippers free.
March 30th, 2012 § Leave a Comment
the perfect leather pant. by balmain. the gold hardware + zippers offset the black during this season’s gold rush.
fabulous nobodies.
March 28th, 2012 § Leave a Comment
it’s hard to envision a fictional fashion world in nyc prior to sex & the city. before carrie bradshaw, there was reality nirvana tuttle – the star of one of my favorite books fabulous nobodies. author Lee Tulloch – former editor at vogue australia & harpers bazaar australia – takes us to the glitzy, club scene of late 80’s ny. pure haute campe fun.
skinceuticals retexturizing activator.
March 27th, 2012 § Leave a Comment
One steady trend in the cosmetic industry is the commercialization of spa treatments at home. This movement makes higher level skin care more accessible and affordable. Skinceuticals – a subsidiary of L’Oreal – is a comparatively new skin care line established in 1997. Skinceuticals has three goals: to prevent future damage, protect skin, and to correct prior damage. I tried the Retexturizing Activator (1 oz, $70), which was as good as a 20% glycolic treatment. The Retexturizing Activator has two functions to exfoliate and to hydrate the skin. Since it is a serum, the exfoliation process is gentle and smooth upon application. The primary ingredients include a patented 25% formulation of hydroxyethyl urea/aminosulfonic acid compound, kombuchka, and hyaluronic acid. I applied the serum twice a day (4-6 drops) on a clean face. In young, healthy skin, skin regeneration takes 28 days, however in aging or dry skin, or acne prone skin, that process can take up to 45 days. Retexturizing Activator works to restore texture, brilliance, clarity, and hydration in an oil free serum. After two weeks, I noted no abrasive side effects and a more radiant complexion. Skinceuticals Retexturizing Activator is a straightforward product ideal for spa quality exfoliation, dehydrated skin, aging skin, acneic skin, and as an alternative to laser, microdermabrasion or peels.
throwing copper.
March 26th, 2012 § Leave a Comment
trending this season’s metallics, i ventured into the copper mine. i started with coppering eyeshadow +layered with copper pigment + completed with a layer of campfire crushed metallic pigment. all by MAC, of course.
photo by jaycob.
fashion nirvana.
March 25th, 2012 § Leave a Comment
fashion nirvana… when you are in complete harmony with the contents of your closet & the contents of your closet are in perfect harmony with you.
photo by jaycob.
style icon: a single man by tom ford.
March 22nd, 2012 § Leave a Comment
tom ford is the king midas of the fashion world; everything he does is flawless & beautiful. i have watched his film “a single man” many times over & there is something newly inspiring each time i watch. the film is set in my favorite era… early 1960s california. very mad men. the tom ford suiting + beautiful textiles in charley’s home + the voluminous hair styles + clean men + smoking in the classroom + gin + modish glamour… simply flawless.
golden boy.
March 20th, 2012 § Leave a Comment
gold is one of the elements that I am trending this season. I don’t particularly care for gold jewelry, but anything else like makeup or accessories, I’ll buy every ounce. you can work gold into your wardrobe against black monochromatic dressing; channeling some cleopatra realness. Or, fast forward a few centuries to ancient greece for a helen of troy inspired look. remember an entire war was fought over her. fresh, unprocessed looking blonde like spun gold with natural makeup to make your complexion look radiant with a hint of lip gloss. for that precise blonde, no one does it like the national beauty salon. just make sure you tred lightly on the gold, so you don’t end up looking like a monochromatic c3-p0.
my top gold pieces are a louis vuitton black magazine tote with spiked metal embellishments + vintage gold leaf tank + MAC gold spike eyeshadow + MAC pure show eyeliner + borghese versailles nail polish
i’ll tumble for ya.
March 18th, 2012 § Leave a Comment
graphic tumblers from ikea make for eye-catching storage. west elm also has an array of graphic porcelain tumblers. now, i’m just waiting for one of these to break, so i can get the west elm set which i spotted after the fact.
just a Moment.
March 14th, 2012 § Leave a Comment
in school, I struggled with the desk-chair-all-in-one-combo because I am left-handed & often had to create my own workspace. not only do they traditionally look institutional, but also lack design elements. not any longer as designer khodi feiz created the molded foam Moment chair for offects with an aluminum table.
happy birthday, monsieur elbaz @ lanvin.
March 13th, 2012 § Leave a Comment
Lanvin’s a/w12 collection marked the 10th anniversary of alber elbaz at the once sleepy house. I’ve always had a fondness for elbaz in the same vain as dries van noten – both intellectual and academic in their approach to fashion. lanvin s/s12 was a departure from elbaz’s dresses to focus on separates and silhouettes. for a/w12, he returned to dresses with incredible graphic prints like python as I recently saw at nordstrom designer spring preview 2012. last season, I acquired my first lanvin piece; a pair of black silk hakama pants channeling aikido realness.
time management.
March 11th, 2012 § Leave a Comment
I hope to bring back the wrist watch. functionally, watches have been replaced by the mobile phones that have become our new appendages. a watch is so much more… an accessory, a piece of jewelry, a marvel of mechanical craftsmanship in miniature. i own two of them myself; a swiss army watch for those casual, masculine looks & a classic gucci heritage watch that I received for high school graduation. it is more graceful to glance down at your wrist when someone asks you the time rather than fumbling around in your pocket or bag to find your mobile phone for a digital read out of time.
march pages.
March 8th, 2012 § Leave a Comment
a gripping ex-pat story about a man married to a woman & finds himself with another man who…
another ex-pat tale. this time set in buenos aires. when you move away, can you also become someone else?
a suspenseful murder & kidnapping at a prestigious boarding school. this isn’t gossip girl.
pharmacopia.
March 7th, 2012 § Leave a Comment
As consumers are becoming more purchase-conscious and “green,” this is a boom time for natural and organic cosmetic companies. Their motives are less capitalistic but more about creating a new generation of skin and earth friendly products. Pharmacopia is just one of these companies with a pledge to be completely transparent. The company was founded in 1999 by a woman with fibromyalgia who sought alternative healing methods. Pharmacopia has since become a full range body care line divided into two lines: an aromatherapy line and an everyday line. The products are restorative and toxin-free with nostalgic, 19th century packaging similar to Kiehl’s or L’Occitane. The Everyday products have two soft infused scents of lemon verbena and green tea, and jasmine clary sage. The Bath Grains ($11, 11 oz.) are a blend of sea and Epsom salts to soothe muscles, hydrate the skin, and ease general tension. A Pharmacopia bath at the end of the day was such a treat for the body! The bar soap ($5.20, 4 oz.) contains rice bran, palm oil, and shea butter which leaves your skin squeaky clean and hydrated. The soap also provides gentle exfoliation. The hand cream ($4.90, 1.7 oz.) has shea butter, oat straw, and aloe vera. The application was thick but not greasy like many hand lotions to relieve wintery hands. Organic products, of any sort have, yet to cater to the budget-minded, but the higher price goes toward the cost of pure, quality ingredients. Pharmacopia doesn’t rely on packaging or clever advertising; it’s about as straight forward as you can get and they stand behind that commitment. Pharmacopia has also dotted their I’s and crossed their T’s, so to speak, with approval from PETA, the use of recycled packaging, the products are vegan and organic, and remains a woman-owned company.
Nordstrom Designer Preview 2012.
March 4th, 2012 § Leave a Comment
As I sit down to reflect on the spring collections, I recognize I am fashion codependent on Nordstrom. Not only can I count on my favorite retailer to lift my spirits any time I walk into their stores operating to perfection with the best merchandise, but they have me at the annual Nordstrom Designer Preview. Each spring, Nordstrom brings an all-inclusive New York Fashion Week to Portland featuring the S/S12 collections while raising money for OHSU Center for Women’s Health. This year’s high fashion experience was nothing less than the flawlessness I have come to depend on with Nordstrom; mostly thanks to the direction and execution of the cheerful and charming Ashley Boero – Nordstrom’s Fashion Public Relations Specialist. 
The event started with a free-flowing cocktail reception set against a pop-up shop featuring all the runway collections. I died a little death when I spotted the Rick Owens rack. Rick and Nordstrom? Two of my favorite things in the world in one place at the same time; it was too much! After feeling abuzz among other fashion denizens making mental shopping lists, then came the highlight of the evening: the fashion show. The runway presentation is as one-off as the event itself and this year was no exception with the dramatic interplay of light box installations as a back drop.
The show opened with none other than Chanel. Spring at Chanel was filled with airy, lightweight textures such as organza and crepe, pale suiting and short jackets. Never one to skimp on detailing, pearl accents were everywhere from buttons to pockets to belts. Burberry Prorsum followed with its characteristic military influences as seen in leaf green parkas. There were also tribal influences among their woven leathers and bags. Marni’s S/S12 collection was complex and beautiful. There were horizontal blocks, tiered hemlines, paillettes and fringed beading. Scene Four featured the very essence of Italy, Dolce & Gabanna. Once again, the duo went back to their Sicilian roots for a 1950’s inspired. There were colorful, fitted dresses for day and black lace for evening with classic D&G leopard prints. Oscar de la Renta’s spring collection featured sweeping, bright silk taffeta ball gowns with couture lace tees. His collection started with more mature looks, but quickly transitioned into youthful, airy dresses like the rose gossamer organza dress which floated down the runway. de la Renta continued with the younger appeal with white lace and white crochet eyelets. Dries Van Noten presented a narrative collection based on European silhouettes of bolero jackets and flamenco skirts. There were also botanical prints and prints inspired by photographer James Reeve to round out the academic and seductive spring collection. Granted, there was nothing out of the ordinary for Missoni with their short knits and color blasts. It was dark hues, cinched waists, slashed seams and pythons that Alber Elbaz created for Lanvin S/S12. Like his counterpart, Van Noten, Elbaz is equally intellectual in his designs. It isn’t just about the clothes; there is a story within the garment. Marc Jacobs opted for pretty, pretty for spring. He showed drop waist chemises, tinsel, taffeta, tiers of cellophane and organza with indefinite shape, but still looking feminine and fresh. The finale collection was Gucci, who reached into their archives for inspiration. There was a bit of Art Deco mixed with tiger head clasps, gold chains, equine imagery and metallics set against a Kelly green and black color palette. 
As the fashion show ended with the Gucci black sheer caftan, I had an epiphany in my fashion codependent relationship; Nordstrom is a relentless giver. I was left no choice but to return to the dessert reception in the pop-up shop for more, and more. Stopping at each rack to view the exquisite pieces up close, I asked “Dear Chanel, what can you do for me?”
For complete fashion show pictures by Jaycob DesRosiers, click here.
Special thanks to Ashley Boero of Nordstrom.
fade to light fashion show.
March 3rd, 2012 § Leave a Comment
Fade to Light – a multidimensional fashion show produced by event extraordinaire Elizabeth Mollo. Continually progressing and growing from Doom Town to Sweet F.A. to Fade to Light, Mollo knows events. The group show featured five familiar Portland designers including the likes of Bryce Black, Joshua Buck and Alyson Clair of Clair Vintage. For extensive fashion show photos by Jaycob DesRosiers, click.
Where: The Crystal Ballroom in all its springiness.
When: February 29th on a stormy, wintry mix night.
Who: Eden Dawn of Portland Monthly, Marjorie Skinner of Portland Mercury, Ifyani Bell of OPB, photographer Rhys Balmer, and Portland nightlife fixture Will Smith.
Overheard: Seated behind me, a trio of women speaking a flurry of lyrical Spanish.
Seen: A passing glance of Elizabeth Mollo with beautifully bobbed blonde hair.
What: “Fade to Light aims not to be just a fashion show, but to be an experience that leaves the viewer with a solid understanding of each designer and the collections being shown.”
Who: The sophisticated line of Project Runway alum Bryce Black for Studio SKB. The new collection was shown in knit hues of navy, sage, and black. The knockout Studio SKB piece was the floor length striped sheer skirt; designed by none other than the venerable Sharon Blair herself. Do-it-all Ms. Wood (ready to wear, shoes, jewelry, bags) focused another season on kimonos and fringe detailing. The husband and wife design duo’s knockout piece was a floor length, off the shoulder sequins dress realness. Claire Vintage – who never, ever disappoints – was the only designer showing bright spring, colors with her retro-inspired dresses. Her knockout piece was a white tank dress with black lace overlay . Very Chanel S/S12. Chicago Harper was “tradition updated, engineered for fit, and detailed fearlessly” states the unrivaled designer Joshua Buck. There are no words to articulate how perfect and modern his menswear is in today’s world. Buck’s knockout piece (there were many!) was a long sleeve black shirt with understated, diagonally slashed seams to reveal just enough skin.
Irony of the night: Solestruck’s motto “to rid the world of ugly shoes.”
going to magic mountain with rick owens.
February 29th, 2012 § Leave a Comment
true, i would rather be somewhere warm & tropical to put an end to this winter. however, i wouldn’t mind swinging by switzerland for rick owens’ furniture exhibition titled “magic mountain.” the Master, as i like to refer to him, applies the same artisanal/gothic/luxury sensibility of his clothing to home decor. the standout piece is the black plywood daybed + cowhide mattress.
kenzo a/w12.
February 27th, 2012 § Leave a Comment
pre-show with kenzo men’s a/w12 as photographed by nat urazmetova. kenzo’s fall line, as designed by antonio marras, channeled retro 50′s + a hint of mad men + gentlemanly accessories. the show itself took place outdoors stopping parisian traffic for 30 minutes.
one more cup of coffee.
February 26th, 2012 § Leave a Comment
I found this shiny, vintage coffee pitcher.
chrome + red makes me smile.
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.
