a month late

Here's an awesome interview featured on Fecal Face that I forgot to share with you all! Ryan Christian interviews Black Dice member, visual artist Bjorn Copeland and uncovers interesting factoids about the visionary's influences, which I'm happy to report include Devo album art and crappy television.

via FECAL FACE

Obama saavy

via Yosi Sergant of Evolutionary Media



Upper Playground and Shepard Fairey of Obey Giant fame have collaborated on a one-of-a-kind shirt based on campaign posters Shepard has designed for presidential hopeful Barack Obama. The street artist/designer who has been voicing his support for Obama since '04, is confident that Obama is "more a statesman than a politician". A play on Obama's campaign theme, the words "hope" and "progress" are printed on the two available t-shirt editions. Take your pick, Obama supporters! T-shirts are $25 each; upperplayground.com.

don't nap on napa

Let's pretend I'm not on blogger-steroids and posting yet another entry.

Napa was intense, beautiful, amazing, etc. If you can't "git down" with the 'NAP, then I don't think we can be friends. It's the perfect getaway for city folk, especially if you're like me, a suburbanite-turned-city slicker. Where I'm from (Arc-ASIA), the only kind of nature's wonders to be seen is the green kind- grass. And setting foot in St. Helena, among the golden yellow mustard plants, was unreal. Yes, yes, call me a country bumpkin (or in this case, a city-bumpkin) but the scenery was definitely breathtaking. So much so that Paul and I took a million pictures during the drive to and from, and even crossed a dangerous street for photo ops.

Pre-Napa Festivities

For our little romantic getaway, Paul and I decided to meet in SF and drive over to the Napa Valley for one of those food porn-chocolate covered strawberries-infused weekends (AKA CHEESY). The morning of our trip, we thought we'd offset the expected expenses we'd incur in Napa by doing breakfast at the Ferry Building. We didn't save much money of course but the Saturday Farmer's Market was totally worth the detour. It's jaw-dropping how many great vendors sell there. Kiosks of fresh, locally grown produce was lined around the Building entrance. And on an opposite side, hot breakfast plates, sandwiches, and even Fatted Calf salumi sticks were being purchased and then devoured by the minute. Our menu that morning:

- Fatted Calf salumi stick (we did save some for the ride, I promise!)
- Scrambled eggs, Hobb's bacon, tomatoes on a baguette
- Blood orange and grapefruit agua fresca
- Pecan tartlette
- Almond Croissant
- Acme Bread fresh baguette (for the ride, I swear!)
- Cowgirl Creamery Mt. Tam cheese (read above)
- small bags of dried, sulfur-free raisins and cherries from Bella Viva Farms

Pretty gluttonous of us, huh? Well, considering we were planning on brunching at Canteen, we did save money and room in our stomachs for the rest of the Napa Valley bounty. But more on that some other time...


EEK! Get out of my way!

amerykah

Style icon of the day: Erykah Badu.





Erykah is undeniably sexy. Love her. I've got to stop youtubing her skinny butt but her old music videos are just too classic! I even spotted my boy Andre 3000 in her "Other side of the game" video.

darnit

Daily Candy beat me to it. I knew I should have followed up last night.

Comme des Garçons Guerilla Store
What: Find iconic pieces from previous collections as well as current goods at the new temporary CDG shop.
Why: Go ape shit.
When: Opens Sat.
Where: 125 W. Fourth St., at S. Main St., ste. 106, Downtown (213-626-6606).

Coutdown Pt. 2

As we inch closer towards the opening of L.A.'s Comme De Garcons guerilla store, here is some more intel:

This Saturday, 2/16/08.

M.R. + Roosevelt = sooooo L.A.

Friday night was out of control.

A publicist invited a colleague and me to dinner at the Roosevelt Hotel. And with that invitation came another to Mark Ronson’s pre-grammy festivities (also at the same place). Of course, this was a no-brainer YES PLEASE situation. I’d been dying to try Dakota, which has earned some decent reviews, but unfortunately not of recent.

Fast forward to the party. I think most of LA came out that night. Though the event was not celebrity driven, there were a few familiar faces about (C-List DJs/actors). The highlight was Mark Ronson, who donned a pallid complexion (he’s a Brit, remember?) and a copper wedding-singer suit. Nevertheless, he was looking as fashion-forward and musically gifted as ever. Blu Jemz was excellent on the tables and Santogold’s performance, while short-lived, made me a believer. I’ll admit that seeing her on Fader’s Feb. cover was a bit shocking; after all, she hasn’t quite achieved cover status yet. She’s been an internet sensation since the last year but her music doesn’t “move” me. But she used her stage time wisely. Her energy was infectious and I even stopped comparing her to MIA.

THUMBS DOWN: One of the C-list celebrities in attendance was Simon Rex, former MTV VJ and now a deadbeat actor. He performed with Mickey Avalon, another C-lister. Their song of choice was offensive, like how music should never be. I was depressed throughout.

THUMBS UP: Mark Ronson. (Paul, I promise I’ll stop talking about him!)

THUMBS WAY DOWN: Like with anything steeped in Hollywood hype, there is a ton of serious cheese. This includes annoying scenesters to catty agents to overzealous valley girls. But nothing beats the inflated-egos of street wear freaks and fashionista-wannabes. Life’s not a catwalk, folks. No need to strut so hard.

my other lady

Check out my latest post on the Nylon Blog.

And if you're still bored, check out my boo on another Nylon Blog,
http://www.nylonmag.com/?section=blog&blog=according_mrkim. He's the cutie photographed with a Tecate in hand.

NY Fall Fashion Week 2008

Well of course I have to express my thoughts.

Thanks to the dependable and frequently updated style.com, I am able to see visuals from the many shows that I don't have the privilege to attend. But regardless, let's look at some of my favorites.

1.

Here's the thing about Y-3. Yohji has taken a brand that could have potentially fallen victim to post-80's-hip hop fashion-hokiness. But instead, he has launched Adidas into a new solar system. Subtle. Chic. Clean lines.

2.

Textures. Colors. Thakoon welds the magic paintbrush to do up clothes (and shoes) to utter perfection. I just can't get over the SHOES! I know I should be over grandfatherly patterns and cuts but there's something about the way a pipe would look with that skirt just kills me.

3.


um, more Thakoon. Sorry.

4.


And the "off the beaten path" award goes to Chris Benz. I really appreciate his aesthetic. While everyone is still stuck in the somber, grunge movement, he's pretty convinced that the 40's flare will take off. I must say, he's convinced me!

5.


Ok, this one is a total shot in the dark. Now that I am a working woman, I prefer appropriate over shocking. And this is totally suitable for a 9 to 5, but still a little unpredictable. Asymmetry is so office-friendly!


Anyway, more updates to come. I can't wait for next Fall already!!

it's coming

I worship Comme de Garcons at almost a cultish level. And while there are definitely many unwearable pieces that have evolved from the line, I really admire the ingenuity and unconventionality of the designs. Every article of clothing, every bag and wallet, every fragrance bottle is an art piece, a collectible. And while everything I'm mulling over is so redundant and trite (yes yes, who isn't a Comme de Garcons fan these days), this is really a lead into even juicier intel. A little birdie told me about a certain opening of a certain guerilla store (see Guerilla Store this month. I'll do a little sneak-preview/countdown of the opening over the next few weeks until the dawning of the best deadstock surplus to ever hit LA. And if you already know, keep it under wraps. It's more fun that way.

them jewels

I've been swamped lately. But I'll always find time to poke my nose around the web (and stores) for aspirational pieces (be it realistically tangible or not).

I'm a devoted fan of gold- real, fake, ostentatious, tacky, sophisticated, I will wear gold jewelry to work, to the gym, to the bars, and even to my family gatherings. Silver's great too, it's a little less coveted but definitely not any less dramatic than it's ochre twin. But if you want the best of both worlds, here's a little something from iosselliani worth cashing in your savings for.



Or something a little more subtle -


Key Clasp Bracelet, from REBORN