Uncategorized

...now browsing by category

I’m Back!

Thursday, September 3rd, 2009

So you probably noticed that I’ve been quite the MIA penguin this week – and if you didn’t notice I was gone then you just don’t care, and we are now fighting. I was in Las Vegas for the trade shows, showing my new Spring 2010 line and checking out all the new collections by my favorite designers. You guys have 6 months to wait, but when Spring comes around you’ll be looking good in some of what I saw.

Dear Creatures

If you don’t know the brand ‘Dear Creatures’, you should. It is the brainchild of one of my favorite sleeper designers, Rob Sinclair, who I first discovered through his last company – Brown Sound. Dear Creatures has been around for a few years selling only Womens apparel, but what I saw this week was Rob’s first stab at a Mens collection for DC. The whole brand has a retro, 1950s and 1960s feel, with piping details on fitted pea coats and belted jackets and dresses for girls.

More Dear Creatures

There is also an almost wartime aspect to the Spring ‘10 collection that shows military fits and Navy stripes and cuts for both guys and gals. I love this look and think the line should do really well. Check it out.

Posted in Mens Style, Uncategorized, Womens Style | 1 Response »
Tags: Brown Sound, Dear Creatures

COLOR • COLOR • COLOR

Friday, August 28th, 2009

My good friend Drake just sent me this… and since I trust her judgment and her ability to spot things that she knows I will love implicitly, I had to post it immediately. [Forewarning style sidenote on Drake: She is a West coast East Coaster. She pops the collar of her polos, loves Ralph Lauren more than she loves her own family, and would sell her soul to the devil himself for a palatial spread in the Hamptons, New England, or anywhere on the Eastern Seaboard. So keep that in mind whenever I show you her picks.]

The summer sand is quickly draining from all of our hourglasses. Summer is full of life and freshness, bright vibrant colors, crisp clean lines, and airy light fabrics and feels. But that’s just it… as summer winds down in the coming weeks, don’t let go of it! If you play your cards right, you can keep a summer feel year-round in your home.

image - remodelista.com

Ok ok ok… I know that yellow might not be for everyone, and maybe this is a little TOO much of a statement for some of you, but I think you get the point. DON’T BE AFRAID OF COLOR!!! If I walk into one more of my friends igloos to see beige walls with darker floors, maybe a gray accent wall, and all dark wood furniture… I am just going to snap. Color is our friend. It makes things more interesting, more eye catching, and most importantly… more fun! Don’t be stupid with it though. When my parents next door neighbors moved in to their house, the wife had the interior of the house painted top to bottom. She did every room in a different color – and there are probably 10 rooms!!! Walking through their home feels like you’re on a guided tour of the Crayola factory. You want to do accent colors that catch the eye and change the whole tone of the house, like the yellow doors seen above which were done throughout the entire craftsman style home. Maybe you can start slow with pillows, rugs, or drapery?

Posted in Art & Design, Interior Design, Uncategorized | No Responses »
Tags: color, Interior Design

Stop Buying Fashion Magazines

Friday, August 28th, 2009

… and go to your public library! We’ve all seen trends come and go in a few months span – but one that we just can’t seem to shake (nor should we) is reinvention of “cool”. It’s clear that our current generation of designers is somewhat apathetic – designing with the notion that everything has been done already, so there is nothing they can try that is truly original, just reinvention of past looks. But think about this… in 1899 (yes, almost 20 years before the Ford Model T and 14 years before the Wright Brothers airplane) the Commisioner of the U.S. Patent Office made the claim that “Everything that can be invented, has been invented”. Ha! This leads me back to “cool”. It’s not a trend – its an aspirational way of living that will never go out of style.

Classic Rock Cool

A note to all you designers (and fashion savvies), stop looking at the monthly trends in your fashion magazines and go check out a few books at your local library. The collage of images here is ‘classic rock cool’ and it typifies a 1960s and 70s era in the flashy world of popular music, butyou takeaway should be… this is what “cool” was at that time. Its much looser than the cuts and colors of the clothes – it’s the feel and the energy of the look and the time that we, as designers, should be looking to reinvent… and you, as clothing aficionados, should be looking to wear. Maybe this is all too ethereal for a penguin on a Friday morning, but I’ve been beak-deep in designing my new spring line (hence my 2 day absence) and this is what I’ve been thinking about.

So, before you rely on the minute-to-minute trends for your next fashion buy… see if what you’re getting/wearing fits in to your personal, modern, today version of “cool”. Forget the hot colors of the summer for a moment and decide if those skinny jeans you’re looking at have the right energy, ON YOU… an energy you feel good about and connected to. That’s all fashion really is or should be.

Posted in General Fashion Sense, Mens Style, Uncategorized, Womens Style | 3 Responses »
Tags: trends

Lots O’ Necklace For Fall

Tuesday, August 25th, 2009

Like it or not, big chunky jewelry (namely necklaces and chokers) are IN for Fall.

Chunky Necklaces And Chokers for Fall

Mrs. T

Personally, I tend to feel like these chokers are about to come alive, grow limbs, and start swatting the pretty girl in the face. That’s honestly what I think about when I see a woman walking down the street with a necklace on that looks as though she needed the assistance of a man… with a forklift… to put it on and clasp it. But that’s just me. I’ll accept the trend like a good little penguin and keep my mouth somewhat shut to any designer friends who may be jumping on the chunka-chunka choochoo train with their accessories this season, as long as they stay away from too much gold. Girls, realize that you can stay on trend here without “icing” out your collarbone until your friends feel the need to give you a rapper name and you join the likes of ‘Lil Romeo’ or ‘Weezy’. Or until you’re forced to buy a cargo van and start the next A-Team, Mr. T. Go easy at first and see what’s comfortable for you… and start with browns, earth tones, and soft colors – not metallics. Also, keep your size and shape in mind. We don’t want any of you 5′1″, 98 pound, tiny tots developing back problems because of a Fall 2009 fashion trend. If that should happen – send your chiropractor bills to Sandra Bullock, she wore just under 1 ton of necklace to the premiere of ‘The Proposal’ and got people buzzing early on.

Posted in Celebrities, Fashion Accessories, Uncategorized, Womens Style | No Responses »
Tags: necklaces, Sandra Bullock

Chevignon Clothing

Monday, August 24th, 2009

Maybe I should be embarrassed to admit it, but I’ve just now stumbled onto Chevingon Clothing.

Chevignon Clothing - French Take on the US 1950's

The French company has been around since 1979, and in the United States for about 19 of those 30 years. Best known for their unique interpretations of American retro style, the brand was started with a take on the the “fights”, the bomber jacket worn by US Air Force pilots in the 1950s. The inspiration of the entire brand is “The American Dream”, and you can clearly see how it’s communicated in every collection they’ve put out.

The look is something right off the backs of Josh Hartnett and Ben Affleck from the movie “Pearl Harbor”. I love the current line, and wish it was more readily available here in the US. The short cut of the outerwear pieces looks great on top of their neutral sweaters – and their merchandising with the hats really gives the line a fashion-forward street feel.

Posted in Mens Style, Uncategorized | 2 Responses »
Tags: Chevignon

The Gucci Family Slogan

Thursday, August 20th, 2009

“Quality will be remembered long after price is forgotten.”

Founder Guccio Gucci

This is the long running Gucci Family Slogan, and I love it. It’s true I can look at some items out there in the marketplace and, because I know how they were made and what the materials cost, I can say that they are grossly overpriced… but what Gucci said about quality is undeniable. A well made, original, unique, classic piece of clothing is worth any price as long as you can pay it.

Posted in General Fashion Sense, Uncategorized | No Responses »
Tags: Gucci

‘The September Issue’ Premiere

Thursday, August 20th, 2009

Last night was the New York premiere of ‘The September Issue’, the new documentary about fashion mogul, Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, and the entrance doors to the screening may as well have been a catwalk.

Sienna Always Looks Great

Imagine you’re walking into the premiere for a film about the most opinionated and judgmental person in fashion… and whose opinion may just carry the most weight in the industry. You had to know Sienna was gonna stun ‘em, especially after a little tension between her and Wintour over a scene in the movie (and the trailer) in which Anna calls Sienna “toothy” and talks about her “unruly hair” in a photo for the cover of the issue. Apparently they felt Miller needed quite a lot of photoshop work for the cover shot – I think using technology to make her look any better is just rubbing life in the faces of all the other women out there. Rude.

Anyway, she looks hot.

Posted in Celebrities, Film & Video, Uncategorized | 1 Response »
Tags: Anna Wintour, Sienna Miller

Vilebrequin Trunks are Expensive

Wednesday, August 19th, 2009

Can someone sit me down and explain why I would pay $240.00 for a pair of all-over-print, elastic waistband, drawstring swim trunks?

Vilebrequin Trunks only $240.00!

If you don’t know it, Vilebrequin is a beach apparel company out of Saint-Tropez that’s been around since the early 70s. They are an authority in mens swim trunks, and have kept an original and classic fit around while others strayed longer, bigger, elastic-less, and otherwise. I’m aware that their trunks are made from Spinnaker Canvas (the material used in sailboat sails) which is novel and kitschy, but the price tag still strikes me as laughable. I actually really like some of their artwork in the prints, but there’s no denying that the patterns they use walk a tightrope line between eccentric, and tacky as hell. This is one of those boutiquey novelty brands that finds a niche to claim, jacks the price, and runs with it like O.J. in the Bronco. I suppose I should be no more surprised by Vilebrequin now than I am when Louis V drops a two panel beach bag for damn near a grand… but these are trunks, hardly a daily wear. Perhaps I’m just jealous. “But daddy, I want a 90% markup item in my line too!”

I’m not a thrifty penguin – if something is unique and well made, I will throw down for it. But these I cannot justify. If you can, get them at Gilt.com for $80 today. [again, email me if you need an invitation for membership.]

Posted in Mens Style, Sales & Discounts, Uncategorized | 1 Response »
Tags: swim trunks, Vilebrequin

Diane Kruger Makes Things Work

Tuesday, August 18th, 2009

Where did this girl come from? I just looked her up on on imdb and discovered that she has racked up 22 speaking roles as an actress in the past 7 years (though many of these are films/shows you couldn’t be less familiar with) so maybe I’m just blind. I might have noticed her in ‘Troy’, but I stayed away from the ‘National Treasure’s because… well… Nick Cage as an adventurous hero? However I stumbled onto her – I’m glad I’ve found Diane Kruger now.

This Inglorious Basterd is GLORIOUS!

This pic is from the recent New York premier of the new Quentin Tarantino film ‘Inglorious Basterds’, the cast of which includes Brad Pitt, Mike Myers, and B.J. Novak. The dress she chose is just great for her – with a retro styling fit for a silver-screen starlet, and the simple but bright hair and makeup supporting the era statement. Transforming into an updated 1940s-esque sex symbol works in perfect conjunction with the plot line and period of the movie she is promoting. The sequins and reflective detailing contribute to the antique feel, but the cut of the dress brings it into modern times just enough. I love that her hair is nearly undone, and her eyes have only noticeable mascara – the lack of color all around the rest of her face makes her lips and eyes pop. She’s hot, in a classic way, which is pretty rare and really hard to do.

Posted in Celebrities, Uncategorized, Womens Style | No Responses »
Tags: Diane Kruger, premier, sequins

Office Pod

Monday, August 17th, 2009

Office Pod

This is The Office Pod – - The Next Generation of Workplace. An eco-friendly working environment for one that is built in the UK and being peddled to individuals and companies around the world as the next step in workstations. Here’s their pitch:

To Businesses - The nature of the workplace is changing as the majority of office roles no longer require dedicated space in a central office 5 days a week. OfficePOD enables a company to provide a more efficient working environment with significant cost, employee, environmental and productivity benefits. For home use – A chance to cut down on commuting, to be more productive, to spend more time at home but at the same time keep your work separate. A major way to getting a better balance into your life

One thing is for sure, the Office Pod wipes the floor with any cubical I’ve ever seen. I love the mid-century modern design aesthetic, though I’m sure it will be a bit of an elephant in the backyard/boardroom if trying to match the home or office decor of today’s American worker. For office use, I think the Pod just kind of “eehhh” but for anyone who works from home, especially with a family in the house, I think this is a Godsend.

Can you see this Office Pod in your backyard?

The company has put a ton of effort into the “greening” of the Office Pod, making the entire thing from recycled and recyclable products wherever possible. Furthermore, the pod can obviously make it possible for more people to work from home as opposed to commuting to an office. An independent study showed that moving the average commuting worker from an office to a pod would reduce CO2 emmisons by between 46% & 67%.

It’s this kind of simple creation that will continually take small steps for us on the way to living like The Jetsons.

Posted in Architecture, Art & Design, Uncategorized | 1 Response »
Tags: home office, work