REFINERY 29

I'm loving Refinery 29's "Street Seen" section. It's like a Vice Do's and Don'ts (with mostly Do's.) Some of the styles are teetering on the edge of trying-too-hard hipsterdom, but most of it is pretty fresh. The shopping counterpart is awesome too.

BUILT BY WENDY

I love this sweet throwback graphic from Built by Wendy. It brings me back to the days when Mom always had to have doilies on every table, their intricate crochet details protecting the poished wood and marble. The graphic fits nicely with the brand's handmade roots and aesthetic. The designer in me also loves that they retained legibility with their logo and information. And of course Wendy's clothes are super sweet.

SHOUT OUT LOUDS

This is the latest album cover design from the Shout Out Louds, a new fav of mine from Stockholm. At some point, I remember the nautical call flags being assigned to a typeface, but I can't seem to find it in my library. (I may have lost it in the great first iMac crash of '99). Either way, I hope to decode the message. {UPDATE: BF says the flags just represent each letter. Who knew it was so simple?}

Also, check out their new video for "Tonight I Have to Leave It" and their website. Both are sewn up and make sense with the nautical theme, without hitting you over the head with mermaids and seaweed.

LULA

When Jane magazine was abruptly squashed by what only can be seen as a media corporation not giving a damn about actual taste in music and culture for the masses, I was slightly blue. (The fold of Sassy magazine really ruined my life for a while, but that is another post.)


Now, from the UK, we have Lula, a gorgeously conceptual magazine. I subscribed as soon as I purchased their second issue. Is it even better than Jane? A modern Sassy? I would like to tell you more about this visual girly romp, but I feel like I can't form a REAL opinion until I see/read another issue. I art-directed a few issues of start up magazines, and I know from experience that things can change universally over the first four or so issues of a launch. Lula, please get your American subscribers in the loop. We hope to love you!

DAVID LYNCH FOR GUCCI BY GUCCI BY THE GUCCI GROUP LLC

This new "film" (what they call commercials in some parts of Europe) by David Lynch just makes me laugh. Loving the use of "Heart of Glass." He obviously sees the irony in directing a perfume commercial for Gucci. I wonder if their target audience will? Or, if sales are actually good, then who cares? Certainly not Gucci's creative team.

PARK LIFE

Such a gem in the Inner Richmond!
After a breezy breakfast outside Q, we stumbled upon a store that with some real treasures: design books, magazines, soft cotton tshirts, house stuff and more. They carry "Piece by Piece" (shout out to Nic and Mike T!), and we picked up the Heavy Metal Parking Lot DVD!

HANNAH STOUFFER

I am finishing up a project at work with Hannah. She's a fantastic illustrator and amazing to work with. This is a fancy illo from her website... I will post our collaboration when it launches in Spring 2008.

THE GUM THIEF

Absolutely engaging book marketing. Who knew?

WHY START NOW?

There are so many amazing things to see.
In an effort to organize my life, I wanted to start my own record. It could be style, music, fashion; I just call it awesomeness.

I hope you enjoy.