Fresh is More

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I'm not a minimalist.

As much as I would love to be, I simply cannot.

I define myself as a collector, one who is always looking for new inspiration, and as a result, surrounding myself in these things.

I'm not a hoarder, but it's safe to say, that my dwellings currently reflect a "more is more" philosophy.

Now that summer is approaching, I find myself responding to clean, minimal, yet loving, decor. There aren't very many "things." Yet, you still get the feeling that it is a home, and an opportunistic one, at that.

Who really needs all these things, when you have beautiful fresh light and soft white linens?

As far as apartments are concerned, is there anything that matters more?

Things That Are Awesome Thursday: Jackets

It's officially been Spring for two days. It's felt like Spring for two weeks.

Nothing gets you through the ups and downs of spring like a great jacket. 

 live in Jackets. I like the structure they give to flowy dresses, the slightly masculine feel, and the seemingly endless variety.

Clockwise: Mary Karantzhou/ Scotch and Soda/ Free People/ Topshop/ Madewell/ Marni for H&M/ Scotch and Soda/ Suno

This might be a bit of a dream assortment, but a little dreaming never hurts.

Things That Are Awesome Thursday : Ghostly International

Last Friday I found my way up to New York for a show at the Bowery featuring Matthew Dear and Blondes. I knew it was going to be awesome, but I had no idea it was going to be that awesome.

The venue was quaint, the musicians were super cute, the crowd was all foreign, the drinks were cheap, and most importantly, the music was stellar.

Ghostly International is a record label that puts out music that is all about having fun. 

What more could you want?

Check out some of their videos on vimeo.

Matthew Dear- Black City (live)

School of Seven Bells- Half Asleep

Gold Panda- You

Garden of Heavenly Dresses

I've always been more interested in contemporary art. But there is something about "The Garden of Earthly Delights" by Bosch that is, and always will be, unparalleled. It was my favorite painting in art history books, and after stumbling upon it at the Prado in Madrid, it will always be my favorite painting.

Enter: Carven

The Parisian powerhouse can do no wrong in my book. I've always been smitten with their perfectly tailored silhouettes, slightly feminine details, and the most incredible materials. But this dress goes above and beyond anything they have done before. 

They made my favorite painting into a dress. In a phrase, "I Die!" (and not even ironically, I'm serious about this.) I love how the colors are altered to fit the fall season and the print is warped and twisted to fit the silhouette of the dress. This dress is everything a printed dress should be.

 It's clearly out of my price range.

I can compare pieces from Carven to MONTHS of rent.

But... this dress will have me splurging.

They say you should wear what makes you happy.

Nothing makes me happier than incredible art and beautiful dresses. 

Win Win.

Things-That-Are-Awesome Thursday: Jellyfish

So I want to start a new feature:

Things-That-Are-Awesome Thursday.

Things that will be included are:

things that are awesome

things that are awesome and design related

things that are awesome and not design related

Basically, every Thursday I'll give you a little insight into what I'm really into that week.

This week is Jellyfish.

click on the images for original sources

I don't think I need to say much about this.

I'd just like to remind you that Jellyfish don't have brains or hearts, and they're still awesome.

Happy Thursday!

It's Friday tomorrow.

Paper Airplanes: With Love

I know it sounds stupid, but I've never really thought of the element of craft that comes with paper goods. I associate craft with three dimensional objects, metals, textiles, wood, and ceramics.

This video has completely changed my perspective.

Paper Planes from Glithero on Vimeo.

Who knew paper planes could be full of so much love?

Badgers Make Great Instruments

When I was a stoned teenager, my friends and I all thought that theremins were the most mind boggling thing. You could actually play the air to make music. It's a pot-head's dream.

Enter: David Cranmer

Not only did he think a theremin wasn't weird enough on it's own, he decided it was the perfect end use for a taxidermied badger.

See the "Badgermin" in action:

Life is better with a sense of humor. Via NPR

Sunny Sunday Morning

Every Sunday Morning, I wake up and this is the exact thought that goes through my head. 

Colleen Pugh has captured the essence of a sunny morning perfectly. 

Buy this print here.

You're Broke Now What Are You Going to Eat- Challenge.

I recently hit a bit of a rough patch in my finances.

By a rough patch, I mean I moved. I just can't seem to get back in my rhythm of paycheck-expenses-save-paycheck-expenses-save.

 Lately it seems like it has been just expenses-expenses-expenses.

Anyhow, I'm not one to sit back idly and complain. I'm a problem solver. My problem is... I have no money, but I love my job, so I can't change jobs, and the job I work requires me to work crazy hours, so I can't get a second job.
Well, this isn't really about money.

The lack of money was just the reasoning behind my "You're-broke-now-what-are-you-going-to-eat" Challenge. The answer to this challenge for me was as easy as not eating out. Sounds easy...

But...

This challenge includes no prepackaged meals, no a-la-carte whole foods dinners, no coffee on the way to work. Everything has to be made by me. So, it actually is a challenge, but two weeks in, and I'm feeling better (do you realize how much junk is in ready made food), more financial fit, and thinner.

As my mom always says (albeit jokingly), "you can never be too rich or too thin!"

This got me thinking. Why haven't I done this before? Why has making my lunch for work every day been such a hassle? In the past couple of weeks I've realized just how little time it actually takes to pack a lunch. I don't even eat sandwiches and it doesn't take that long.

Now that I'm on an economical food kick, the biggest purchases I'm craving are beautiful receptacles to make my meals on the go just that more enjoyable.

Enter this tea infuser from David's Tea. It is glass and has a teak top with a built in tea infuser. It eliminates the need for a tea bag. The tea will actually taste good. And...the glass doesn't have  any of the toxins plastic has. It's also only $29.95, which is a real steal considering the cost of tea-to-go daily.

Have I mentioned its absolutely stunning visually?

This lunchbox is from the MoMA store. It's weird to think an art museum store sells lunch boxes, but MoMa sells great design, no matter what it is. This is the perfect lunch box. Not only does it cater to someone that prefers a lunch that does not consist of a sandwich, potato chips and a juice box... but each component is removable. The diagonal part is removable (!) so you can heat up one part and leave one part cold. There's also a little part for sauces. I can't count on my fingers how often I've gotten salad dressing all over my entire lunch.

This is just a life saving lunch box.

Now I know not everyone is going to start cooking all their own meals, but it definitely deserves food for thought. It's cheap and healthier, and with transporting options like these, it might even be more enjoyable.

Store Design: Returning to Roots

Remember when The Gap used to be cool?

Yeah, me neither. I'm pretty sure I wasn't even alive then.

While it's always been a mainstay for affordable basics in decent materials and seasonally appropriate, colors, lately the lack luster "all-american" brand has done nothing for itself except for continuing to disappoint it's shareholders. It went from being a pioneer of specialty retail, to the example of "how-to-ruin-your-brand-without-really-trying."

Enter The Official Manufacturing Company.

True masters of identity and design, the OMFG Co. did the unimaginable and through partnering with The Gap on the store design for the Glendale, CA location, has made The Gap (at least in one location) fresh and exciting again.

The inspiration seems to follow the origins of the brand. The design highlights the foundations in which the company was founded, but also recognizes where it is today.

The minimal displays make the clothing feel special, not mass produced and available in every suburb in America. The clean and minimal clothing displays are reminiscent of A.P.C., but with clothes for the "every-man." 

Add in the punchy record sleeve covers, and the racks of conventional basics now convey a sort of rock and roll attitude that adds just that extra bit of cool.

The outfitting  and displays convey a true lifestyle. It is very accessible, yet inspiring, which appeals to the customer, which remains the same. None of the outfits are over styled, and the combined display of laid out clothing, cubbies, and hanging rails keep the shopping experience fresh.

The core of the project is highlighted in the photo above. With the new design, the clothing takes on a new higher appeal, which might be intimidating, but The Gap, still loves it's customer.

In saying "So Glad You're Here," it's as though they're really saying, "You're the best, and this is for you."

What do you think? Did they capture the spirit of The Gap? Do you think the new design alienates their core customer?

All images can be found here.