TheFoodinista.com

When my friend Heather told me she started a blog last month, The Foodinista, I got very very very very very excited. Her extensive knowledge of food and wine coupled with her years in the fashion world and her chic chic chic taste could only make for a great blog—one which I read every day and am slightly obsessed with. Her concept: "Although stereotypes would suggest that fashionistas aren’t all that into food, and the images on the Food Network would indicate that foodies aren’t all that into fashion—in real life I’ve found that isn’t always the case." Every Friday she opens up the blog to guest bloggers for posts about fashion and food in film. This Friday that guest blogger is me, with a post about The Talented Mr. Ripley, check it out! Have a great weekend!

Jesus lamp

Mexican designer and architect Ricardo Garza Marcos emailed me with his new design project, The Jesus Lamp. I think it's hilarious and would be great for a prank, especially in a conference room setting.

Wishful thinking

I just got the best gift ever, a pair of Tom Ford Maxime sunglasses ($440) in yellow. They're so Havana circa 1960. If only I could wear them!

RIP Domino Magazine 2005-2009

The rumors were true, Domino is no longer. :(

Shepard Fairey's 20 year retrospective

Speaking of Shepard Fairey, my friend Anne (who's mom is friend's with Fairey's mom--how awesome is that?) is going to his first museum survey opening in February at the ICA Boston. I had no idea the Obey Giant campaign has been going on for two decades; I definitely remember seeing those stickers and posters on street signs and buildings in Boston when I was in high school, but I had no idea it's been in the works since '89. The ICA show, "Shepard Fairey: Supply & Demand", will feature over 80 works from the Obey Giant stencil to screen prints of political revolutionaries. In complement to the exhibition, Fairey will be creating public art works at sites around Boston like the photo above and below. There's a pretty cool Obey Giant coaster set ($12) and a special edition print publication ($60) already on sale at the museum store for those crazy Sherpard Fairey collectors out there.

Obamaicon.Me

My brother and his fiancée, who's last name is Kamvar, walked into an engagement party their friends threw them in New York last weekend and saw the above customized Obamicon poster as part of the decoration! The site allows you to create your own Shepard Fairey-inspired campaign poster and put it on posters, coffee cups, t-shirts, stamps, mousepads and all that. It definitely makes a great party favor or gag.

Love, Jenna

Matt and I worked over the weekend on nailing down a date for our wedding (well, he worked and made multiple spreadsheets with my mom while I quietly browsed the internet). For some reason I don't have the bride gene, and this is going to be a long process if I don't snap to it—and fast. Ha, anyway, I think I really like this Brooklyn calligrapher Love, Jenna, especially the way she writes zip codes. So cool.

new Chucks

Well I don't know about you guys, but I spent my day today in the E.R. with a case of Salmonella. Seriously. My advice to you is to not eat peanut butter Clif Bars, espcially when you've already had food poisioning this week. I thought since the nurse took about six gallons of my blood (not to mention other things...yikes!), I deserved some new Chuck Taylors. I'm really loving some of their new seasonal colors. I snached up the above pair ($45) with the green and black trim, because the color scheme reminded me of my old high school tennis uniform. On a serious note, I'm feeling a lot better and hopefully am on my way out of this bacteria cloud for good.

Men's wedding accessories

Watches and links and shoes, oh my!
By Amy Fox, DESIGNwatcher's fashion correspondent

One of my favorite things to shop for, talk about, pair up with, save money for and spend money on, is undoubtedly the accoutrements! I've said it before and I'll say it again—it's all about the accessories. A beautiful watch, a classic pair of shoes, chic man jewels (cufflinks!) can take a more moderately priced suit (think J. Crew or H&M) and turn it into a real shining star. If you buy a classic iconic piece, you will always have a place to sport it: the office, a dinner party, the beach, or a wedding. They will never go out of style and will end up being a good investment and something to hand down to your children and grandchildren as well.

Here are some pieces I covet:

Vintage Rolexes. You can find a great selection online here or Steven Alan has a beautiful selection at their Venice shop. These watches can be dressed up or down. Wear it with your Tom Ford tux on the big day or with your beat up 501's from college. Although, maybe the gold one should be saved for special occasions only, it's a 9CT imperial Oyster from 1940's. The stainless steel is an Oyster Date Perpetual from 1950's, such pristine pieces.

Lizzie chiming in here for one sec: I am obsessed with these custom dial Rolexes from the 50s-80s. OBSESSED. So if anyone wants to get me one, I'll be your best friend for life. OK that's it. Back to Amy...


Cufflinks
Santos-Dumont cufflinks by Cartier. This style comes in many varieties—but I especially love them in in yellow gold and onyx (bottom pic). Alberto Santos-Dumont was a Brazilian aviation pioneer that proved controlled flight was possible in 1901 by circling the Eiffel Tower; he was one of the most famous men of his generation. I don't think his name-sake cufflinks will never go out of style.

Shoes
Women's shoes, Men's shoes, it's all the same. SHOES, I just adore. Here's the low down for a men's tux: Top left: Alexander McQueen's metallic Venetian green loafers ($1,085). What a beautiful pair of slip-on shoes. Perfect for the guy that's sporting the edgier look. This is for sure the shoe you wear with that custom-fitted tux—a gorgeous green that's not garish at all. Top right: John Lobb ($1500, avail. at Bergdorf Goodman). A word about John Lobb: English boot maker, started up his cobble work around the 1840's. Fans included Kings, Maharajahs, politicians, business moguls, and, this says it all, Frank and Dean. The detail on his signature oxford makes it a must-have. Bottom right: Church Alastair lace-ups (approx. $500). This patent dress shoe is a proper gent's lace up. Absolutely perfect to accompany a black tie dress code. Bottom left: Paul Smith Stan shoe (approx. $400). This formal shoe with a chisel toe front is also great for the rock and roll tux, but will also be good for a night out at the bars.

Non-recession flatware

Could this flatware set be more wrong? First of all, the handles are made from buffalo horn, which besides the obvious un-PCness, it also means you can't stick 'em in the dishwasher. Then there's the price: $75 for a five piece place setting. But God, I love them so. Click here if you're still interested.

***Update
Walter Lowry, the owner of Los Angeles' Table Art chimed in with a welcome correction: "Buffalo horn handles are very PC! The animal is not killed for its horn (animal is way too valuable). It is considered respectful of the dead animal to use all of its parts (at least in the cultures where water buffalo are prevalent)."

Great! Thanks Walter!

"Fedoras are back!"

I don't know if that's true, but while watching the Inauguration I think Chris Matthews shouted that at least three times because Ted Kennedy was wearing one (probably because of his recent brain surgery?). President Obama could have told Mr. No Brain Filter the same thing in 1980. You all have probably seen these TIME pics when they came out a month ago, but they're still really cool to me. Happy Inauguration Day!

Moss tablecloth

Sorry about going AWOL from the blog without a trace. I snuck out of town to L.A. to attend a surprise birthday party and ended up coming home late due to a full 24 hrs of food poisoning. There is nothing more tortuous than looking outside at 80 degree sunny weather and not being able to pry yourself out of bed. Anyway, I'm back to work. To start the week is a fun event idea that came from my friend Anne in Boston. She saw this moss tablecloth at a Deb party in Charleston and sent it along. I think it's a great way to add some texture and earthiness—perfect for a place card table or something that doesn't need to be entirely flat. Thanks Anne!

Men's wedding suiting

The first in a wedding series from DESIGNwatcher fashion correspondent Amy Fox!

Well Suited
By Amy Fox

I'm kicking it off with the gents first as I'm a big lover of men's suiting, furnishings and good ol' haberdashery. Maybe it all started when I was a window dresser at J. Crew? Anyway, I truly believe a man can buy a beautifully cut suit, tweak it out with the correct formal accoutrements and call it a day for his wedding ensemble—especially if the nuptials are more on the casual side—and why not save a buck when you can? For inspiration I always start with the above photo. Mr. Mick Jagger kills it in the style department today with the help of his current lady love, L'wren Scott as his stylist and of course in the photo with his first wife, Ms. Bianca Perez Morena De Macias. Such a perfect moment captured in such a casual way. Not staged and probably not even styled.

In regards to a modern wedding look with a vintage/British vibe, I'm a big fan of the following looks:

1. The Burberry slim fit suit which usually runs in the neighborhood of $1600. What I really think is smart about this suit isn't just the color and fabric, which is a beautiful light grey in a light-weight wool, but also that it's perfect for almost any time of year—and clearly can be worn more than just for the wedding. My favorite detail in any suit is the double vent in back, which this one has.

2. Paul Smith waistcoat made from hounds tooth check wool with a notch lapel (approx. $400). My advice when it comes to Paul Smith is to not buy online. You should really go to one of his shops, have a look around, chat up a sales gent and get properly fitted. He does men's suiting with such flair and love for detail, you really can't go wrong. Always timeless and tasteful.

3. The Banana Republic khaki suit (approx $500). This suit is so chic and simple, it's practically a blank canvas. Jazz this up with a Brioni or Prada tux shirt with pleats, a vintage waistcoat, a dark toned neck or bow tie (maybe in midnight navy, dark steel gray or hunter green silk satin), throw on some patent leather lace-up's and you've got a really smart look with that rocker edge. Plus you can take this suit on your honeymoon, pair it with a worn-in tee, some slip-on Vans and head on over to your first brunch as married sweeties! Have a bloody or two for me!

Well Groomed

DW fashion correspondent Amy Fox is contributing tomorrow with a piece about bridegroom couture, so to precede that, some of my favorite groom looks. I think the key is knowing who you are. Elvis' paisley tux for example, would look horrendous on most men, but it was perfect for his 1967 Vegas wedding.

Elvis and Priscilla at the Aladdin Hotel.

I really like crooked bow ties, and those orchid strings in the background (via New York Magazine).

Everyone loves the Mick wedding get up.

A wedding in the Adirondacks shouldn't be without Madras. At first I didn't like it, but then I got into it (via New York Magazine).

I especially admire Robert Downey Jr.'s matching two-toned Vans with no socks.

My brother's fiance's brother, Sep, looked great in a Prada tux (love those peaked lapels) and a Distilled tux shirt last September.

Eric Clapton looks great in "cream" with his new wife Patty Boyd, the former Mrs. George Harrison, a.k.a. Layla.

At the time of their wedding, 2000, the skinny tie was not as ubiquitous as it is now. Hedi Slimane of Dior designed Pitt's dinner jacket and tie.

John McEnroe and Tatum O'Neal in 1986. He's wearing a red Pee-Wee Herman sized (clip-on?) bow tie. Adds a lot of character to a guy who isn't short any.

Sir Paul and Linda Eastman in 1969. I love this look.

Pierce Brosnan looking great in a waistcoat.

Royals always look so good when they wed, that light blue sash adds great color and the medals are great for accessorizing. Just kidding (sorta).

Bona Drag

I'm really liking this store Bona Drag, a very heavily-edited selection of women's rock-inspired "flair and general trinkets". Word! Above and below is Bad Dreamcatcher t-shirt ($40); stud bracelets ($102); pink wrap belt ($170).

NYT weekend

This winter is shaping up to be more brutal than last year's. If it keeps up this whole snowing EVERY SINGLE DAY and being BONE COLD, I'm going to lose it (as if I haven't already). Besides a fab dinner party, this weekend Matt and I mostly stayed in. The New York Times saved me; I kept busy by reading through the Modern Love archives, browsed T Magazine and the wedding announcements, and got about 70% done with the Sunday crossword, oh and this was my favorite: a sideshow of Allen B. Schwartz's 1979 bachelor pad makeover. To show my NYT love here are two awesome t-shirts (that come in men's sizes as well) from the company Sophomore ($60 each, yes I know, $60 for a t-shirt, but I'd be lying if I wasn't thinking about it). Click here to buy online or check your local store.

Snow Day

Hope you're having a great weekend. We're having a snowy one in Chicago.

Town & Country horoscopes

Loving the zodiac illustrations on Town&Country's horoscope site.

Zap Props

Woah. I was just incredibly overstimulated by the most awesomely-bizarre antique warehouse I've ever seen. Tate of the Gr8 blog Strange Closets picked me up this afternoon with the idea of heading south to Zap Props, a rental and buying warehouse of props from the 1920s-1970s. It was crazy and I'm still trying to digest everything I saw today. Mostly these items are used by set designers for movies, theater and commercials; it was like looking at the prop closet for all three Back To The Future movies. Most of it was dusty, some of it too creepy to take photos of—like IVs and stretchers from the 50s and scary clowns. I'm just going to dump the photos right here, if you're a serious about antiques, it's definitely worth checking it out. They literally have everything you can think of. Call to make an appointment: Zap Props: 3611 S. Loomis, Chicago. 773-376-2278.

The entrance.

Old hilarious pharmacy sign.

Love that Whisky dispenser.

Oh hello.








My favorite pic.

Old mic.







T8 taking some snaps.