fantastic eco-plastic

I'm always on the hunt for cool gift ideas for birthdays, christmas, etc. and as we are fast approaching the inevitable (for me anyway) last minute gift purchasing relay I'm doing my best to be ahead of my usual self this year.

Enter eco-plastic jewelry from Paris.

"huh?" you may ask to which I say: jewelry that is cool, unique, sustainable and shower-proof? sign me up.

I'm actually more into the bracelets than the necklaces...

interesting, non?

be right back

on my way to visit the fam for thanksgiving so I may take a short leave of absence but will try my best to post a couple times while I'm there!

meanwhile, here's an old jenny lewis video to brighten your day...check out those dresses! yehaw!

mono

Mono by heather martin.

her clothing is wistful and incredibly feminine.   I would love to own any of her pieces...

more from this splendid canadian designer here...

more flowers in her hair

I hope everyone is having a lovely weekend. It seems to be the time of year when everyone starts traveling. I honestly think I am one of two people I know who are not out of town this weekend. In other words, I had plenty of time on my hands the past two days which leads me to the following post...

I've been in the middle of making a bunch of 1920s inspired hair accessories with feathers, beads, lace, you name it (which, incidentally, I will try to post pictures of if I ever do finish them). I decided to go the DIY route because a) I could never find anything in stores until recently and b) once I did start seeing things like feathered headbands and beaded head-wraps they were all quite pricey and not exactly what I wanted anyway. And so, when I came across this rather fitting post on the cherry blossom girl last week I was further inspired. As you may know from similar posts, I am already a strong believer in the hair + flower combination and so it was logical for me to go a step further with my current obsession... a fabulous flower crown

more pictures on my chictopia shortly. cheerio!

m + e = coolness

I stumbled across a very eye catching gig poster the other day and upon further inspection discovered that it came from M+E by artistic duo Michael Fusco and Emma Straub. I love the bright colors and unorthodox layouts...

Better still, they list their influences as the following: the Floridian winter, Cindy Sherman, rhinestones, Bruce Springsteen, and the Friday the 13th franchise. How could that ridiculous combination not rock your socks off?

And while I don't normally use concert/event posters in my home decor, I have scores of friends who do. Translation...lovely gift idea, non?

space15Twenty

For those of you in or around Hollywoodland and/or prospective visitors to this strange place I am pleased to announce the opening of a retail mecca for those of the urban outfitters-style persuasion...

"A new retail experiment in Hollywood, CA, Space 15 Twenty creates an opportunity for Urban Outfitters to collaborate with creative brands we find inspiring and interesting. A courtyard leads from each store to an outdoor performance space and adjoining gallery. Both of which encourage designers and artists to become part of a curated environment. Working with neighboring music, film and art establishments, both courtyard and adjoining gallery will present a rotating cast of local musicians and artists. The Urban Outfitters store will feature one-off installations by a new designer every few months. Alongside the 11,000 square foot Urban Outfitters store, Space 15 Twenty will host a selection of vendors. The revolving brands utilizing these spaces will reflect and compliment Urban Outfitters and present our customers with an overarching view of people and brands which are excited to be aligned with."

Don't worry kids, I'll be checking it out and promise report back!

click image for more↑

then and now: chanel

You have to love youtube. I mean, really, where else can you find video of Chanel collections from 1959 AND 2009?

Classic Coco...


Fifty years on...


Oh, Karl...you're a genius. I forget sometimes.

"nix" turner

Admittedly, it's been a while since my last art related post so I thought i'd kick off this, the third week of november (gasp...can you believe!), with a little something special.

Nicomi “Nix” Turner is better know for being senior illustrator for Emily the Strange but I find her solo work (especially these pieces below from the In Vein Art Show earlier this year) simply mesmerizing. Equal parts beauty and dementia...

more about Nix here and here. Happy Monday!

la première tag

There was a general tag on la smaggle today and seeing as though I have yet to post a single tag on this blog I thought I would give it a try and give you some insight into DJRD's soul (sensing some exaggeration? clever reader...)

1. Were you named after anyone? Not that I am aware of. We do have a family friend with the same name, so who knows? Oh and my middle name, Elizabeth, is also my mother's middle name.

2. Do you still have your tonsils? Yes and I know this to be an absolute fact because I had tonsillitis (for about the one trillionth time) a few months back. no bueno.

3. Would you bungee jump? not. on. your. life.

4. What is your favorite cereal? hmm...there are so many but if I have to choose I'd probably say either special K or KIX with rice milk.

5. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off? Listen, why waste precious time if they come off w/out untying?

6. What is your favourite ice cream? Oh dear...I love ice cream, it's my dessert of choice. My favorite is Hagen dazs Belgian chocolate which I used to get when I lived in London. Sadly, you rarely find it in the US.

7. What is the first thing you notice about people? now that I think about it, probably hair, then eyes and then clothing but to be honest the order varies from encounter to encounter. I am a gemini after all!

8. What is your least favorite thing about yourself? I use way to many of these "..." in my writing. it's a really bad habit. sometimes i even think "..." while speaking to people. bad. bad. bad...

9. What was the last thing you ate? does a grande iced latte count? I'm ridiculously hungry at the moment!

10. What are you listening to right now? pandora.com which is set on Queen (the band) at the moment but I have had to skip quite a few really bad classic rock tracks (a la Journey) and I think I'm going to have to switch to something else in a minute.

11. Last movie you watched? Last night I watched most of Jail House Rock starring Elvis on VH1 Classic. The plot was a lot darker than I remembered it being but it's a classic.

12. What did you dream about last night? Sadly my dream wasn't nearly as cool as Lady Smaggle's which included a bender with bill murray and heath ledger - I think I was traveling on a tour bus. All I really remember was the incredible burberry-esque trench coat that I had on. ah...dare to dream.

13. What book are you reading? I really need to finish about 3 books that I am more than half way through. The first is Sophie's World this is my second time reading it but the first was when i was around 13 years old so I don't remember much. I am on the very last of JD Salinger's Nine Stories but I've misplaced the book and will either have to go get a new copy or read it while standing in the isles of barnes and noble. Lastly, I got a book on Nordic Mythology from a friend on my birthday and I still haven't finished it!

14. Summer or winter? I like the winter because, as I always say, I'd rather have to put more layers on then be practically naked and melting away. you can be so much more creative with clothing when its chilly outside - coats, scarves, hats, gloves. think of the endless choices!

15. Do you have any special talents? hmm...I sing/write but that's boring. let's see...oh, I know, I can do a handstand (I have Yoga to thank for that one). To be honest, I haven't tried for a while so I could be telling you a lie.


I tag anyone who feels like being tagged today!
have a splendid weekend, loves!

Dahlia

It's easy to tell that Dahlia is an English label by their incredible coats but their dresses aren't bad either.

Oh, what I wouldn't give for a bottomless wallet full of cash. I especially love the Beefeater* inspired dress and coat. très adorable!
for more: dahlia fashion dot co dot uk
avail @ Asos.com

*beefeaters↓

I promise no more political post...er...after this one

This is really too good to be true.

"real" style related post to follow

yes, please (and other stories...)

I don't know who this Eva* person is but she's fabulous.
I love her style and I especially want that amazing blue/gray coat right now!!

well done, eva.

*photos from Sartorialist

PS: I nearly died of cute overload when I found this picture of a tiny Fred Astaire and his sister, Adele who where in a Vaudevillian act ridiculously titled: Juvenile Artists Presenting an Electric Musical Toe-Dancing Novelty in 1906...

MOSSenger - eco graffiti

I love the idea of vegetation/plant life talking to us in such a way. Saying "listen people, we don't appreciate how you're handling things. Perhaps your should rethink everything you've been up to...or else things might really get nasty"

this is project is a collaboration between two artists - the duo goes by El&Abe.

Perhaps if M. Night Shyamalan had used this technique in his film, the Happening, people would have bought into the plot a little more?

this last one is probably my favorite. graffiti-moss mimics the real thing.

hello lover...

Lover is an adorable austrailian label by creative couple susien chong & nic briand that has graced the backs of many lovely ladies from kirsten dunst to singer, joanna newsom.

I have offically fallen in love with lover.

more here...
www.loverthelabel.com

head start on a multi-colored spring

I like kate moss - I know many people feel otherwise to which I exclaim que Sera, Sera! That doesn't mean I can't relish in the fact that kate has been brit vogue cover star twice in a mere 3 months. But it's actually two of the eds in the issue that caught my eye because of their outrageous splashes of color and kooky styling.

Is it wrong to long for spring when fall hasn't really had a chance to kick into high gear? We think not...

Unbelievable Fashion Models: Jourdan Dunn + Lily Donaldson Photog: Nick Knight

Where The Wild Things Are Model: Anja Rubik Photographer: Patrick Demarchelier

Tales of the Unexpected is also cool

feeling good

enough said, I think.

nina simone: feeling good

come on little gamma ray

I'm a little confused because I thought there already was a video for this song but I'm not going to complain if the new one involves chloë sevigny dancing around in a fringe dress and face paint! wooo hooo...I'm dancing in my seat.

don't forget to vote my US kiddies

find out where to vote here