note to navy: quilt being so awesome please!

hey hey hey! i hope you arent getting bored with me. *tear* maybe you've noticed...i have a peculiar eye when it comes to design. color, tone, texture, and scale whether fashion or furnishing, tend to change with the seasons BUT are always amazing... as they should be ;) but anyhow, today i am pairing a bit o furniture and fashion. i came across this WONDERFUL sofa while perusing the web. drum roll please -- "always a beautiful neutral that brings great depth and elegance to almost anything... its NAVY!"  and for those faint of heart about color (...ahem ME!) navy is a must. quilt sofa (ronan & erwan bouroullec, 12200u$s) is a testament to the aforementioned. the comfy, over-plush waffles constructed from hi-tech stretch fabric filled with foam give the sofa a laid back urban feel that compliments the texturally rich urbane color. this sofa is the epitome of chicness...but when accompanied by maarten baas' smoke dining chair(2939u$s) the pair scores off the chart. and to top it off... the chair is FINISHED WITH FIRE! yes, the smoke chair is burned to a crisp then epoxied to seal in that delicious smoked flavor ;) the smoke dining chair's scale to the sofa is a bit off and should maintain a more visual proximity rather than physical.  locating the smoke dining ensemble in an adjacent room...i.e open loft living/dining would be the ideal( i mean really is there any other way to live???). now just to show you how far navy goes for me... picture your self taking tea at your charred  table in the striped navy wool double-breasted jacket by comme des garçon (1600u$s, barney's)... i know i am. 

oui, tout va bien!

granted... this cabinet is a couple of years old (2009) but i still love it! its just plain awesome. tout va bien cabinet (antoine + manuel) though fabricated from humble materials: lacquered mdf, polyurethane,  melamine, and lacquered alder wood feet,  remains an amazing exploration in form, texture and story telling. the monochromatic  shell directs one to take notice in the peculiar excavations that occur on each surface. this chalky geometric landscape insights the mind to conjure far far far away lands filled with cacti, volcanoes, and umm hexagonal pyramid clouds? who could ask for more!? tout va bien is well all by itself and probably should be paired in a less flamboyant setting. this cabinet is more than a piece of furniture, it is an evocative piece of art that exudes great poise and style in any....well almost any space. ;)

shaker, not stirred

yeah yeah yeah, i know it has been a few days since last i have posted. but with the beginning of fashion week, work, visitors, i have been a wee bit ocupado. nevertheless...NO EXCUSES so check check check it out! i stumbled across these amazing chairs designed by Jamie Gray. the shaker chair x gives the traditional american shaker style an updated contemporary feel. Clean, simple lines are contrasted with geometrically patterned, woven cotton seats and backs. available in solid colors and other patterns, i lean toward a mixture of the muted geometric and solid black backs in the ebonized ash wood frame as they lend the chair a sophisticated air. akin to fashion pairing, when styling a space look for unique pieces that may stand alone but also work well within a melange of textures, sheens and finishes. to shake up these shakers id pair them with the resin and marble banana bowl by harry allen. cast from a real bunch of bananas, this bowl would be placed askew from table centre.  

access your life

accessories are vital for life! well maybe that is a bit extreme. im sure you will not physically die without them, but caught with the wrong ones i might just off you myself! chuckle chuckle just kidding...well only a little. But seriously, muted tones allow one to take stock in the details. and lets face it, when spending the equivalent of some people's rent on a bag you definitely want the detailing to be evident. take Bottega Veneta's marco polo tote (950u$s, barney's a/w 11). it appears to be a quite common tote but constructed of raised leather with rolled leather handles and subtle BV intrecciato weave the details are a picture of simple elegance. now i admire simple elegance, but i am sucker for tone and texture and yes if not already established... a bit-o-tackiness. i love the mishmash of textural items but please note a little tack goes a long way ;). so with this piece id pair Givenchy's snake embossed leather wallet(280u$s, ssense.com a/w 11) for a little extra flash when you whip it out to pay for that soy latte from one of the million coffee shops in manhattan. Casely-Hayford for John Moore Men's brogued 7 hole boot (753u$s, oki-ni.com a/w 11) is definitely the foot armor id don to turn up the volume another notch for this collection of accessories. i mean really, who doesnt love an 80s punk inspired british work boot? i know i do. and if you missed it.... HINT: i suggest you rock all three in simultaneity and just maybe you'll have a few spared moments of joyous life.

Gareth Pugh Metallic Gold Wallet

yes yes yes, it is true greys are my thing, but every now and then something special comes along. for me that something special is usually metallic (psst...and i have the gold sandals to prove it).metallic objects whether fashion or furniture address the need for a bit of tackiness. just a little something to catch the eye. gareth pugh's metallic gold wallet does just that. the wallet boasts pugh's signature geometric tessellation in plush gold, soft leather interior and striped blue lining. just think of the conversations you'll have when you pull this beast out of the pocket of your charcoal dilano suit (895u$ theory).

Alexander McQueen Rubber-Toe Cap Chelsea Shoe

ok ok ok (so just to start, apparently i always exclaim in 3s. maybe im mental, eh idk)... I started this blog almost a year ago. Yes a bit late on the blog scene but as you can see i made ONE post (last seasons military inspired MMJ bag). Im going to do better -- I think. not the with the bag...but with the posts:) Nevertheless I love design. All design, especially fashion. so yes i am jumping on the already over-filled bandwagon of 'fashion/lifestyle' blogs. I just hope i can keep up. (note: please excuse the grammatical errors. i am TRULY opposed to caps other than those used for graphic emphasis). anyhow, i am starting with ZERO yes count them... ZERO followers. im not even following it myself but here's to hoping... oh oh oh before i dig in just know i LOVE grey and can never have enough. yes, boring to some but for me shades of grey ooze depth and sophistication. who cares? idk maybe no one, but I DO, so lets start.

a/w 2011 alexander mcqueen chelsea rubber-toe quarter brogue is one of my favorite shoes for the season and not because i work in chelsea. well maybe a little ;) but the shoe is available for purchase at www.ssense.com and of course alexandermcqueen.com. at 745u$s, the hand-crafted Italian brogue, though subdued, is expressive of the mcqueen edge. Sarah Burton seems to be getting her footing with this second collection. The highly polished leather is contrasted with a matte-rubber geometric toe. The material and sheen juxtaposition allow the shoe to transition from über formal to urban chic. devoid of color, this brogue forces you to take notice of the detailing; an elegant cream and red tab at the heel and substantial sole are the icing on the cake.