Who Wants To Be An Illionaire?

This label is from Australia.

This label is pretty damn cool.

This label has a pretty damn cool-looking site.

This label has crazy lookbook shots for Winter '09.

I think one of the main reasons I like this label is because it's called Illionaire.

Yeah. It's ill.










* Photos property of Illionaire and are used solely for commentary purposes

Happy (American) Thanksgiving!

This goes out to my family (who are all celebrating in sunny Southern California right now), friends and readers who call the US of A home!

Happy, happy, happy Thanksgiving, y'all!

My NorCal buddy Simon wrote a heartful thanks on his Facebook today that I'm going to share with you:

Simon is: "Thankful for physical and emotional freedom, friends, family, house, techno, bass music, vibing parties and the crews that put them on, art, art cars, medicine, my job, communication with one another directly and through technology, the endless pursuit of knowledge and things of intrinsic value, and for continuing to meet and magnetize compassionate people."



I feel the same! (Well, despite me not being a DJ like Simon)

xo
Haute Hippie


* Photo property of Simon McNeil and is used solely for commentary purposes

Earley Afternoon.

I got the chance to check out the new Lululemon Lab that opened up in town a few months ago, where the designers working there don't just stick to sketching typical yogawear silhouettes.

Instead, they take inspiration from runways, magazines, art and design to come up with fashion-forward pieces that are just as suited for going to drinks as for going to Bikram's.

When I checked out their latest inspiration board, I was deftly introduced to Lori Earley, a New York born-and-raised artist who creates stunning oil paintings and portraitures of surrealist, slightly alien-like female figures.

Now this is what I call an Earley start to my day.










I'm Lovin' it: This metal microcassette collaboration between Michael Stipe and Maison Martin Margiela. You can pretty much make it whatever accessory you want it to be. No, I don't think there's any R.E.M. on there, though.




I'm Over it: Please be 9pm so I can see The xx and Friendly Fires tonight already!!!


Track of the Day: How about a feel-good song today? "Chocolate High" by India Arie ft. Musiq Soulchild. This is what love is supposed to feel like!





* Photos property of Lori Earley, refinery29.com and are used solely for commentary purposes

Dace Spring 2010.

Labels have been getting really creative lately when showing their latest collections, many opting to shoot short videos with models frolicking in their wares.

Victoria Beckham had her models on swings in Notting Hill, Halston had Hemingway (as in Dree) running across town in long yellow dress and now local line Dace shot a 30-second short in the bohemian spirit of a chic Parisian girl.

Video didn't kill these fashion stars.

PS. Check out the images from the Spring 2010 presentation below.

DACE Spring 2010 from Arcade Original on Vimeo.

I'm Lovin' it: Thank you thank you thank to Miz Malania of DelacruzPR for coming through and scoring me two tickets to long sold-out Friendly Fires and The XX show tomorrow!!!!





I'm Over it: Can't. Stand. This. Rainy. Weather.


Music of the Day: This mixtape by Tyler Fedchuck for the soon-to-be-opened Keefer Bar is sick.





* Photos property of Dace, David Lang and are used solely for commentary purposes

The End of Music.

This article pretty much recaps a recent conversation I had with the fella on the current state of music.

An interesting NY Times Op-Ed read by musician, Glenn Branca.

Giddy-up.

Remember a few posts back, when I was drooling over a shot of Dree Hemingway in thigh-high, stir-up socks?

Turns out that Mara Hoffman does a great colored pair and River's Edge Dancewear does an amazing black pair.

Now to figure out how to get Dree's visage...






* Photos property of Bonadrag and River's Edge Dancewear and are used solely for commentary purposes

My Space (Ring).

Ever since being green became the new black, the number of established brands and upstart ones touting their eco-friendliness by way of textiles, production and practice continues to rise.

Of course, it's fantastic that these clothing brands are down for prolonging our planet's life -- and then there's Alex and Ani, a stateside jewellery line from Carolyn Rafaelian that uses recycled material to create exquisite baubles.

As you already know, I'm a huge fan of piling on the bracelets, so you can imagine my delight playing around with the Bangle Bar on the Alex and Ani site, where you can choose between metals, types and colors up to 12 bangles.

As you also know, I'm an even bigger fan of huge statement rings, so you can imagine my utter delight in discovering the Space Ring, made of recycled metal plated in gold with a black gem inflected with gold sparkles.

Out of this world, I tell ya.






I'm Lovin' it: Ever since I lost my fringe bag to the Great Purse Rack in the Sky (well, actually, to a cabbie that never returned it), I've been hunting for a replacement. Two months later, Rebecca Minkoff comes through with the Love Letter Satchel. I'd take it in either purple or black. Or both.





I'm Over it: Saw Twilight: New Moon at a Saturday matinee with Albs. Was highly entertained, but slightly disturbed by the fact that I think 17-year-old Taylor Lautner is really kind of cute. YIKES.




Track of the Day: "Crown on the Ground" by Sleigh Bells. The group is an electro duo from New York. The track is in-your-face. Their music makes you think you need to adust your bass levels. But it's all deliberate distortion, so leave it that way and bounce to it.






* Photos property of Sleigh Bells, shopbop.com, Twilight and are used solely for commentary purposes

Happy Friday!

I love beautiful cinematography saturated in color within a slightly twisted film.

Hence my infatuation with

The Fall:




The Cell:



plus...

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus:




And now Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland.

Happy Friday!

xo
Haute Hippie

Rest In Peace, Daul Kim.

I write this with the heaviest of hearts and in a teary blur of sadness.

A few posts ago, I blogged about one of my favorite models: the Seoul-born Daul Kim.

This morning, my girlfriend Candy S. called to tell me that Daul had been found dead in Paris at the age of 20. Though it has yet to be confirmed, sources report she committed suicide.

Her blog I Like To Fork Myself was a regular weekly read of mine, and her modeling talent always blew me away. Daul was stunning, witty, insightful and just the kind of bright star the mannequin world needed, someone devoid of blandness, frivolity and shallowness.

A look at her New York Magazine Fashion Model Profile will tell you that she had many, many friends and supporters in the industry, including her agency Next and NY Mag's The Cut, for whom she often video-chronicled her daily shenanigans during Fashion Week.

Click here for a post The Cut has just done in honor of her.

Daul, you will be missed more than you know.

Rest in peace.

















* Photos property of RUSSH, Google Images, New York Magazine and are used solely for commentary purposes

ASOS.

I have discovered the sartorial wonders of ASOS.

Yeah yeah, perhaps I'm a tad behind on this online fashion retailer -- at least behind the Europeans -- but it's never, ever too late when it has to do with new clothes!

The prices are way affordable, and the designs are heavily nfluenced by recent runways. It's like H&M on design steroids.

So when are they opening a brick and mortar?!

Anyway, here are my top three picks from last night at around midnight (yeah, I shouldn't bring my laptop to bed anymore):


A pretty rock-chic look. I'm going to try that sock and bootie thing on myself soon.



I'm waiting to tire of the jumpsuit. It's not happened yet.


Love the puffed sleeves on this one.



I'm Lovin' it: While killing time flipping through new glossies at a bookstore last Friday, I spotted these Fall '09 Kalliste heels in a spread in Another magazine. Holy smokes.




I'm Over it: The countdown is on to someone leaving on a jet plane. Sad face.


Track of the Day: Please carry on the torch of Motown and soul by downloading DJ Muro Presents 45AREpm. It came out in celebration of Staple Design's 10th anniversary, sampling Aretha Franklin, Isaac Hayes, Black Ivory, Bloodstone and Syreeta. Muro recorded the promo using two turntable and vinyl records spun at the incorrect rpm of 45 (normally they're spun at 33rpm). Soul food stuff. Musically speaking.





* Photos property of asos.com, essence.jp and are used solely for commentary purposes

Concrete Creation.

The amount of creative and aesthetic genius bottled in the minds of designers -- and not just sartorial ones -- always leaves me speechless and immensely envious of such talent.

Check out these perfume bottles with concrete tops, by Hamburg designer Alexa Lixfield.

The three-scent collection is called Fragrance (I love the simplicity and frankness of the name, too), each one coming with a different colored concrete lid.

Now that's solid.







I'm Lovin' it: Karl Lagerfeld and Purple magazine's Olivier Zahm have come together for a new glossy publication for Chanel, aptly called 31 Rue Cambon, after the address of Chanel's first boutique. Can you imagine the amazing photography it holds?! It'll be hard to decide whose shots you like better, Karl's or Olivier's...






I'm Over it: After years of swearing to myself I'd never buy a pair, I am dangerously close to purchasing Uggs after borrowing Berry's set for one of my Halloween costumes this year. Noooooooooooooo!


Track of the Day: "We Still Got the Taste Dancing on Our Tongues" by Wild Beasts. The band hails from Kendal, England. The track is fantastical sounding indie rock. Two thumbs up.





* Photos property of Alexa Lixfield, 31 Rue Cambon, Karl Lagerfeld, Olivier Zahm and are used solely for commentary purposes

From Dree to Shining Dree.

There's just something about her.

Dree Hemingway, the modeling world's newest obsession, is not the latest it-girl because of hard-partying ways, stints in rehab, tabloid appearances or general wild behavior.

Instead, Hemingway -- the great granddaughter of Ernest and daughter of Mariel -- comes from very enviable literary and thespian pedigree and has a classically-trained background in ballet. And oh, that unconventionally lovely face helps out a little.

This shot of Miss Dree hamming it up is tres adorable -- her pose is very Coppertone Baby crossed with the American Ballet Theatre.

And those over-the-knee, stir-up socks are tres adorable, too.

Happy Friday!

Wow, wow, wow.

Lady Gaga is the first non-model I've seen wearing those out-of-this-water-world crazy Alexander McQueen, twelve-inch heels from his Spring 2010 collection.

And Gaga's video for "Bad Romance"?

Oh, the white latex. The contact lenses that make her look like a Japanese anime. The weird crowns. The silver mesh manicure. The bejewelled headpiece.The air-suspended crystals. The white Carrera sunglasses. The au naturel makeup on Gaga. The end scene.

Twisted. And stunning.

Favorite Things.

Hi kids,

It's time for another one of those posts, a visual collection of all things that have caught my eye in the past week but didn't have time to individually post about.

Voila!


Saw these lace-up boot/heel/sandal things at Forever 21 the other day. Ran around like mad trying to find them in size 6, only to discover this lone size 8 was the only pair left. But they say a picture is worth a thousand words, so here's my own personal snap (which happens to be saying "omigod" a thousand times).




Hello, Lia Kes. The Israeli-born designer -- who taught herself to sew at age 12 -- founded her eponymous line in 2003, a few years after she moved to New York. Now you can find her wares at Bloomie's, Barneys and Neiman Marcus. And her Holiday '09 dresses are absolutely sick.




It appears Karl Lagerfeld is checking out photos during an ad campaign shoot for Chanel. Sans sunglasses. This is the first time I've laid eyes on Kaiser Karl without them on. He ain't no spring chicken, but god, do I love him.




KAWS collaborated with Kiehl's on bottles for the RxArt non-profit organization. Kool.




Really digging this Mario Sorrenti shot of Scarlett Johansson for Mango. Very '80s-inspired. Great graff backdrop.




Demi Moore is killing it in Spring 2010 Balmain on the cover of W magazine.




Sam Edelman's Zoe booties are a blatantly obvious Balenciaga knock-off. That's okay for those like me, who can't support any price tags in the five to six-figure range.






Louis Vuitton has made a first aid kit. Honestly, the only thing that'll be hurting is your bank account after swiping plastic on this, but think about it: LV-monogrammed gauze?! Awesome.






Lately I've been rather hellbent on finding myself a great vest. Here's one.




I'd really like to do a DIY version of these white charm chandeliers by Winnie Lui.






I'm Lovin' it: This weekend, I was telling my fella how much I admire resourceful people. That explains my obsession with the TV show Survivorman. It also explains my constant clicking on the blog PS I Made This. The gal behind it all turned rolls of clear packing tape, ribbon and silver metal hex nuts into a statement necklace. Brilliant.




I'm Over it: Can't wear my new lace-up suede booties because it won't stop downpouring outside. Drats.


Track of the Day: I downloaded N.A.S.A.'s album The Spirit of Apollo this weekend. So good. Check out "Gifted", featuring Kanye West, Santogold and Lykke Li. It sounds like it should be on Kanye's 808s & Heartbreak album.






* Photos property of Haute Hippie, FWD, PS I Made This, Lia Kes, Winnie Lui, Mango and are used solely for commentary purposes