Mayle Fall 2007

The mood board for this collection, I thought was quite nice. Here are some of my favorites looks from the collection:

Enter this

Uniqlo is having its annual Unilqo T Grand Prix, where one winner gets a lot of yen for thes best design of a t-shirt that shows "freedom of expression" so pretty much anything goes, anyone can enter, as long as your submission is in by September 20th.
Last year 30 entries were put into production, out of 15,000 entries, so do a good job.

better than fodor's.

There was time when if I had a trip coming up I would head out to the bookstore and buy the city guide that I thought would have the best shopping information (nerd alert). My mother is a big fan of the "Born to Shop" Series...but that's for an older crowd, even though she's pretty inclusive of all areas. But I'm not really always on the lookout for linens or collectibles, so now when time is short I go to the American Apparel Website and find out all the areas where they have stores, and usually I'm good to go. The three areas I visited in Chi-town...all had one...and they were pretty on point. The good thing about this method, as cheesy as it may sound, is that sometimes they stick stores is really random areas, so you get to see some neighborhoods that are a little more local...

Back!

I got home last night from Chicago and Northbend, Indiana and must say I had a fun time with the fam, even though when all of get together things tend to get chaotic, luckily my patient father and grandfather are very good at pleasing 4 Cuban women with many a shopping request. We woke up bright at early Wednesday to hit up Michigan Avenue, aka, the Magnificent Mile. Here you can find big flagships like Neiman Marcus, Saks, Bloomingdales, Macy's, and some upscale designers. Then there's FIlene's Basement and H&M, where you're more likely to run into me, hence I picked up quite a few goodies for fall...Some dresses and a pair of black boots at H&M, two cozy ponchos and leather gloves at Filene's.

Just around the corner near Oak street is Barneys New York, and down from there is Intermix, Urban Outfittters, and American Apparel. We had dinner at a great French Vietnamese place called El Colonial.

Hejfina

Jade

Then I made my dad drive me to the "trendy" area, Wicker Park/Bucktown , which my mother refused to get off the car. I wish I could have spent more time here, N. Milwaukee Ave has some interesting shops, including Jade and Hejfina for new designers, and then a boatload of second hand shops, and American Apparel, an Urban, a sneakershop, and a bunch of bars and club venues, if you're looking to furnish a place with second hand furniture, this is definitely a street to visit....My mom did get off the car when hunger struck, and we had some good sandwiches at Milk & Honey. Then back in the car....

Then we headed over to N. Halstead/ Armitage. Here you'll find a Barneys' Coop where I scored a great dress. There's Club Monaco across the street and a few other things, on Armitage, you'll find Cynthia Rowley, Intermix, American Apparel, Benefit, and other indepedent boutiques. I walked into this cosignment shop and found a gold and black evening bag, and a vintage black LV epi "Noe", which is great for travelling.

That night was the dinner at Le Colonial, and the next day we drove off to Northbend, so I only really had one day in Chicago. I'd definitely go back, hopefully with more time.

Leaving town

I'm heading out today to Chicago. Hopefully I'll have some computer access there, but if not I'll be back with Chicago goodness and a little secret when I get back. For now looking forward to seeing my family and celebrating turning 25 early. For the rest of us, my real b-day is coming up this Sunday. I have a few resolutions. 1) More heels 2) More salad and 3) stick to a budget.
We'll see how well I do with those. I hear the shopping is great in Chi-town, so hopefully I'll find some good stuff...

The Sartorialist in Stockholm...

The Sartorialist has been in Sweden for Stockholm Fashion Week, it has me feeling a bit nostalgic.


Hanging out in my old neighborhood, Sodermalm.


This girl looks like she's dying for summer to be over. Literally. She even has her fur on.

At home with Jane Mayle

This month's Domino has two great features, first a look into the homes of Libertine's designers, Cindy Greene (in NYC) and Johnson Hartig (in L.A.) The two have some pretty interesting spaces, very different, but they really know how to mix up colorful pieces well. They gave a good piece of advice for decorating: Invest one good antique (or I guess it could be a comtemporary piece) "to anchor each room." This does make sense, one amazing piece takes the quality of the whole room to another level, and makes it much less cookie cutter Ikea/West Elm. Greene has the Fiddleleaf Fig I'd like to get for my apartment as well as a Brussels Griffon, the ugliest dog, that I've kind of taken a liking to lately. They look like people. Ironically, another piece of advice is "Don't buy purebreed dogs, adopt," yet hers in as pure as they come. Anyway, they also have quite a few artworks by Damien Hirst which I guess is never a bad investment (unless you bought the rotting shark, but that's getting fixed) Anyway, another interesting piece, is a look at a few creatives' favorite rooms. Above Jane Mayle in her East Village walk up. Love the dining room table and the color coordinated bookshelf.

The Health Chair

I found this Ironrite chair on craigs list last night, but I haven't had time to pick it up. I don't know how well the blue is going to fit into my apartment, but I love the design and I love that its called the "Health Chair". Maybe I'll just line all my walls with chairs since I can't seem to find a decent set of drawers. Actually I did today, below my office there is Mid Century dreamland called Gueridon, filled with some of the more beautiful pieces of furniture I've ever seen. Let's just say the cost about 10 times what I was willing to pay. Good thing my Ironrite will be just as good to my wallet as it'll be to my spine.

Poppy King, Lipstick Queen

The other day my mom and sisters were walking around the Meatpacking District, and stopped into the very whimsical Wonderland Beauty Parlor. Not only did they carry the lipstick line I've been wanting to try, the founder, Poppy King, was getting her roots done there. I had read about her on Refinery29, and spotted her at Cafe Gitane the day before, but I didn't put two and two together until I saw the lipstick in the same room. They had sold out of the Red Sinner, but I picked up the Saint Rose, which looks awesome with a tan (I don't have one yet, but my sister did.) I asked her what liner she recommended and she said just to skip it. Anway, they sell it at Barneys and Lyell, but you always just go to Lipstick Queen.

ACNE is lovely.

I stumbled upon OAK in Park Slope this past Saturday, and picked up the latest issue of ACNE paper. This is one of my all time favorite publications. I picked up the first issue in Stockholm, at the ACNE store (for free) and have been hooked ever sense. The stories/articles are short and sweet, but clever and humorous. The art direction is phenomenol, even the advertisements are beautifully executed (except for one heinous american car brand i don't even want to mention). I thought this month's theme of PLAY is relevant to my current state. The editor points out the tendency towards drawing a line between work and play, and that one whose work is equally as playful, is easily criticized or not taken seriously. Its a shame that this is the mentality, but on the other hand, let those who think this way to live their lives as so. Its funny how many times when explaining to friends who don't really get what I do, what exactly I do, I speak about working late nights and decent pay, they roll their eyes or act surprised, as if the term "creative" just means i finger paint from 11 am to 4 pm and get paid minimum wage. No complaints, my work is quite the contrary, its just funny, the way other industries percieve creative fields. Its a good time, most of the time, and play is (or should be) a large part of my day, but for me, the best part is simply getting to dress however I please...

Viaje: Chicago

I will be meeting up with my family in Chicago on the 21st for a couple of days and I actually have never been. So, if you have any places you recommend, please pass it along. Usually I plan ahead, but this trip kind of snuck up on me and I haven't done my research...

ebay crush: beetlejuice beetlejuice beetlejuice

The other day I saw a girl in a really cute black and white striped dress, so she inspired me to look up stripes on ebay, and this is what I found (and won) I know its a little crazy, but with a hint of brown it should become more wearable. I think it just looks weird on the mannequin. Speaking of which, I dont even know its going to fit, after I bid I realized it was a size 2. Oh well.

At your nearest Kiosk

So my first issue of New York Magazine came in yesterday (maybe last week, I just hadn't checked my mail), and this particular issue contains a list of "maps" for all the classic New Yorker types, "Rebel Youth", "The Cheapskate", "The Dog Freak", and "The Lit Guy" were among the few. Under "The Design Maven" the first shop posted was Kiosk, which happens to be down the street. I can't believe I've never been here! Makes sense that I've never seen it because it is located on the second floor of 95 Spring. Its like a dream concept: The owner sells her littel global finds. Its like an international MOMA store meets the dollar store. Anyway, they have a site if you aren't planning a visit anytime soon. They are a little low on merchandise at the moment, but you can see the previous merchandise to check out the type of stuf they sell. I love this stuff.

Dust off your boxing gloves...

...the Barney's Warehouse Sale starts Thursday August 16th...

Oldie but Goodie

No, not face that embraces the cover, the fact that I bought an issue of Purple from 2006. She's the reason I bought it though, this is one of my all time favorite covers. I love how she mixes a Givenchy belt with a t-shirt her kid made for her in school, I think its adorable, and the rest of the issue is pretty spectacular. Also included are images of Chloe Sevigny sans her KSUbi jeans. There's the entire YSL ad campaign that absolutely loved, shot by Juergen Teller. A lot of Terry Richardson,( who I've spotted twice in the neighborhood this week walking his dog.) The magazine also came with a lovely supplement called Ed in Japan, which is a photo essay of Juergen Teller in Japan with his baby and his wife. The intro is adorable. If you come visit me, you can see what I'm talking about hehe....

Nice hooters!

Say hello to my new salt and pepper shakers. For those of you who don't know, owls are my favorite animal. I saw these at anthropologie, but found them at Pearl River Market, which is like all the Chinese goods you could ever need under one roof, and its right on Broadway. Anyway, I bought the matching mugs, a little kitchy, I know, but at least they are earth tones right?
I picked up some shades there as well, which Carlo installed for my last night, the place is coming together. I spent Saturday at IKEA and picked up a rug for the living room and a mirror for over the mantle. Still no luck with furniture. We did see a bed at West Elm that might be a last resort, but I'm giving it one more day. Oh! and I think i just may pick up that bookshelf from Targets Thomas O'brien collection, I think we have a wall for it. Now I just need like a thousand books....take note.

Public Access

Last night we had dinner at Public, on Elizabeth street. I had been wanting to go there, but didn't have the right occasion, so last night we went, my sister Erica my mom, Carlo, and my good friend Whitney. The restaurant is owned and designed by a group of architects known as AVRO/KO, and the interior reflects it. The whole theme is subtle, but present, and that is a recollection of public instiutions. The most obvious being a library, the business card is actually a No.2 pencil with the information engraved on its side. There's old books, and even one of those dewey decimal card indexes with the little drawers where you'd go to look up a book. The menus are on clipboards like when you fill out papers at the DMV, and while all this might sound a little campy, its absolutely stunning. The food is aussie, which is like a mix of American, with some Asian influence, and things like kangaroo and new zealand venison. Highly recommend it, but be sure to make reservations before you show up.

Lookie here

Archive Vintage has a pretty decent selection of clothes, if you're cool with paying a premium for designer vintage. If you are looking for a splurge and well-edited gathering of goods then head on over. The owner Kerry Bonnell worked at Resurecction Vintage (just around the corner from here) for years, then moved to Texas and found there was quite the selection of designer vintage in that neck of the woods. So here at Archive she has it all, and the stuff is flying, about a third of the goods have a red SOLD label, including these great Chloe shoes (in my size) Dammit.


This Alaia belt is pretty cool, but I have a thing for hearts, and yes that is an attached magnifying glass. Perfect for Inspector Gadget's mistress or something.


This Courreges never been used, Minolta camera with case is pretty awesome. From 1986. Hasn't been sold yet!

Postcard from...

...the trip to Harbour Island I missed. Not a real postcard, just a pic from my sister Monica. Speaking of which my other sister and mother have arrived. I had to work all day (today too) but we had dinner at what turned out to be a bit of a disappointment. 5 9th, is this really cute restaurant/bar right next to Pastis in the Meatpacking district. The ambience gets a 9, the food and service a 6. I'm hoping today I can get out kind of early (and a paycheck?)

New Finds...

Here's a look at my fireplace mantle, its where I keep a few of my favorite things. My Shiseido book, anatomical toys from Giant Robot (carla, how is your anatomy?) my jewelry, Laduree and Votivo candles, perfume, postcards, loose change, a carlo sculpture, my wood vase and yellow flower. I haven't been able to get too many things for the apartment as of late, but have found a few fun bargains here and there....


The other night on my way home from work, I stopped into Strand Books on 12th Street and Broadway. I always want to walk away with about 100 design books, but I can only pick one. This time right as I was leaving I found this book Creative Works of Shiseido, in like the bargain area. It is amazing, (that is if you have a thing for vintage Japanese advertising, which if you don't you should, because there's nothing like it) Ron, the Ad School founder told us a few stories of the Japanese coming to the States back in the day and bringing their graphic design, and everyone just not getting in. They just said, "You never will." Good answer my friends. Anyway, not only does it cover its advertising from the 20s to about the 80s, but the store windows, the packaging, and just about anything else design related to the make up company. I went to look it up online to see if I could find similar books, and found this going for over a hundred dollars!


That same night I passed by the sale section at Anthropologie and picked up this vase/candle holder thing for less than 10 dollars. Right now its serving as storage for my belts.


I also picked up one of these at Anthropoligie in the sale section. I have a thing for this carved wood stuff, but right now I think this is my last piece, I have few already, I don't want to look like a forest nymph.


And finally my latest furnishing, a slate bench from the Chelsea Flea Market Garage on 25th between 6 & 7th avenues. It needs a little refinishing, but for now it does the job. You can sit, place a mirror, books, or even the TV, I haven't quite decided its purpose, but I do love my little bench. Perhaps tomorrow my mother can help me make good sense of my quirky space...