It's Friday...

I'm totally feeling what this reworked 1930s wedding dress is putting down. I'd wear it every day, too.

via Altamira

this stuff ain't bad

both images via they all hate us

stuck in the middle

I've recently been obsessed with these envelope clutches I've been seeing out on the street. I'm not much of a handbag girl, so this is a grown up version of the simple, minimalist tote bag I usually carry around. Now I just can't make up my mind between these two beauties. What's your vote?

left: VellePurse, right: Patkas

Weekend Roundup

By far the highlight of the weekend was a hike I took with friends (both human and canine) at the Devil's Punchbowl. Just an hour outside of LA on Pearblossom Highway, this afternoon escape felt like being worlds away. I got a dose of desert landscape to soothe my soul, and we also saw some amazing rock formations as a result of multiple earthquakes on this fault line over the years.

rustic style

I love taking clean and modern design elements and adding a rustic touch. These items would do nicely to create a lived in, worn feel.

1. Vintage 1939 WPA poster, Vintagraph

2. Porcelain Kerr Jar Planter, Pigeon Toe Ceramics

3. Porch Swing Rock Collection, CoriKindred

4. Cowhide Rug, West Elm

5. Scavenger Pouch, Scout and Catalogue

post vacation blues

I just returned today from an eight day vacation in Montana, followed by a three day road trip home through Wyoming, Utah and Nevada. You'll have to excuse me while I take some time to acclimate to the daily grind...

photo: source unknown

Portland Cello Project

I'm gonna be honest here, when Britney Spears' Toxic came out years ago, it was my favorite song to dance to, whether in the club or in my living room. So glad The Portland Cello Project revived it for me.

a little color for your Monday

I am well-known by my friends to shy away from any sort of color in my wardrobe. It's hard to go wrong with a classic neutral like black or brown. But as the weather warms up, I can't help but crave a little burst of color in my wardrobe, whether it's a literal floral print or just a floral-inspired color like bright poppy. These ladies know how to do it right.

clockwise from top right: Hanneli, Mr. Newton, dsquared2 resort collection, lookbook.nu

let's hear it for the girls

This weekend a blessed thing happened...my roommate and I both had our boyfriends out of town at the same time! It feels like it's been ages since we just spent a whole day doing lady things, and it was so much fun. We rode our bikes up to our favorite Mexican Restaurant, El Coyote, for lunch and margaritas, then braved the Saturday crowds at The Grove to shop for shorts and summer dresses and finally wound up at The Village Idiot where we partook in some Ginger Tops, a brilliant elixir of 1903 Prohibition Lager topped off with ginger beer (highly recommended).

I'm already thinking about next weekend, not a good way to start the week!

top: The Sartorialist, bottom: Jordan Sondler

small things

I'm going to be moving in a couple of months and am already tucking away little treasures for the new home. Here are a couple of things that will be making their way into my new kitchen. Looking at them just makes me happy!

top: LA CUCINA print. This old Italian saying translates to "A little kitchen makes a large home."

bottom: Christopher Stiles spinning salt and pepper shakers

green thumb

There's nothing more satisfying than a few hours out in the sunshine, getting your hands dirty in the soil and seeing the fruits of your labor (sometimes literally!) sprout up. It's that time of year again when I want to do nothing but putz around in the backyard (or kitchen for city dwellers) potting an assortment of herbs and veggies.

However, I was not blessed with the greenest of thumbs, so I'm always on the lookout for low-maintenance ways to give my home a little burst of green. Here are a few new ideas I can't wait to try out.

1. Kokedama (Japanese moss balls) are so unique and would add an original touch to any room. Check out the Design*Sponge tutorial for instructions for making your own.

2. Dried Billy Buttons brighten up a room the same way a pot of flowers do, but are zero maintenance, which means they're safe for those of us without green thumbs.

3. Air plants (Tillasandria) are my new favorite household companions. They are so easy to care for. No soil, indirect sunlight and they only need a good soak once a week. Get this adorable air plant/sea urchin combo right over here.

this made me stop in my tracks

Occasionally, I'll see the work of another graphic designer and just think "Damn, I wish I had made that." Like, for instance, these vintage-style soccer posters by Zoran Ludic.

footloose

My heart will always belong in the desert. Especially when spring and summer roll around, I get an itching for those open spaces and starry skies. For now I'll have to settle for infusing a little southwestern style into my wardrobe. These three babies are going to be landing in my closet real soon.

top to bottom: Vintage Darling, Santoki Vintage, Bygone Mister

cats on the internet

I'm a dog person to the core, but one area where cats win, hands down, is on the internet. Nothing makes me happier than cats on the internet. Like this Tumblr, Dreamcats.

Beet Cake

If all recipes came in the form of gorgeous videos like this, I would probably cook a lot more often.

on my wish list...

Last night the boy and I had a lively debate about exploitation of indigenous cultures for the purpose of fashion. This is a tough issue for me. I took enough ethnic studies courses in college to be self-aware when it comes to issues of cultural appropriation, but as a designer and collector of beautiful things, I also find myself drawn to relics from many cultures and religions other than my own. I like to think that there is a way of adopting elements of other cultures without being exploitative, but rather honoring and celebrating them. What do you think?

Anyway, this whole debate was spurred on because I told him I wanted one of these beauties to hang on my wall.

dreamcatcher with three feathers available on Etsy

one more for the blog roll...

When I first started riding my bike and was scouring the internet for examples of other design-minded, bike-obsessed ladies like myself, Erin of Calivintage was a breath of fresh air. In a world dominated by competitive roadies and hardcore fixie riders, there's not much of a space for ladies who like to ride in style. Erin is not only stylish, but she's also earned her chops as a cyclist, touring the California coast with her boyfriend last summer.

Now we can get a daily dose of stylish ladies on two wheels thanks to Erin's new Tumblr project, Bikes & Babes. And yours truly is proud to be featured right here!

clockwise from top left: Calivintage, autumnfingers, Ali Bosworth, Pop Africana, Fleabags

summa time

I normally try to keep my work life separate from my personal blog...except when I get to make things at work that I'm just so excited to share. Like when I got to make this video lookbook shot by my main squeeze and starring the delightful Katie Horwitch. And soundtrack by White Sea? It doesn't get any better than this, right? Bring it on, summer!

DIY CHIC

I found this photo in my archives and it just made me happy. This was the result of a laugh fest at the office when my co-worker and I got this cheap bag as a free gift for our Teen Vogue subscription. Well, a little sharpie can make anything oh so chic. And now I have the Chanel handbag I've always wanted. Voila!

blog crush

Can't get enough of this tumblr Rides A Bike, featuring movie stars and their "self-propelled vehicles."

clockwise from top left: Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller, Gene Tierney, Geneviève Bujold, Audrey Hepburn, Anna Karina

I will never love you more than this.

This video just makes me so happy. The song (which reminds me of Kimya Dawson, who is it?) the soft, dreamy light, the great prop styling (I really want that pink chair), and of course the incredibly stylish Kate Spade clothes and accessories. I wish every day was Valentine's Day at Kate Spade.

Fred + Ginger

Inez Van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin have long been my favorite fashion photographers. Nobody can compare to their unique and original vision. This shoot for Vogue Nippon, starring model Raquel Zimmerman and choreographer Stephen Galloway, and inspired by Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire, is no exception. Wowza.

location scouting: Montana

Wow. I had such a great time in Montana over the holidays that I just can't get back into the swing of city life. No doubt these lovely picks will remind me of the beautiful Treasure State even when I'm battling the hustle and bustle of metropolitan living.

1. Pendleton Glacier National Park Blanket

2. Truly Madly Deeply Montana Tee

3. Montana sapphire

4. Filson wool tote bag

5. Sea of Bees Woodland Fantasy wolf ring

6. vintage Yellowstone National Park souvenir postcard book

contrast/texture

1: Burberry Prorsum via Vogue

2: Feather Mountain, Lena Wolff & Jaime C. Knight.

swoon

I feel so lucky to spend most of my days in near proximity to an unbelievably talented dude. My boyfriend is a constant source of creative inspiration. It was quite a sight to see our makeshift office in the spare bedroom of his parent's house in Montana, both huddled over our laptops, oblivious to the beautiful snow that was falling outside. All his hard work paid off, because this music video for friend's band Broken Remotes turned out to be a real stunner.