Steinberg’s Wallpaper: Found!

My husband has been an admirer of the work of Saul Steinberg for years and was the one to introduce me to his distinctive style (his illustration work for the New Yorker is legend). So last year when I was staying at the SoHo Grand in New York I flipped when I saw the wallpaper in my bathroom: rows and rows of little birds drawn in the unmistakable Steinberg style. Ever since I’ve been on the look out for this wallpaper called “Aviary” and I just found it today thanks to a post at Peak of Chic. Schumacher carries it (and a bunch of other sweet patterns, like Kelly Wearstler’s very fab Imperial Trellis.)

Here are a few examples of his 3-D mixed-media pieces. You can tell ol’ Steinie had a good sense of humor.

Fairytale Fabulous

Or very technically speaking, “Moroccan Girlie Style.” While these things aren’t strictly Moroccan, at the very least there’s a heavy influence of this intoxicatingly beautiful culture. All of these images I found on two wonderful, awesome blogs that I only just discovered: All Things Bright and Beautiful and This is Glamorous. Sooo bookmarked!

Travel: Kelly Style

I have found the perfect luggage set. Exactly what Edith Head would’ve picked out for Grace Kelly in To Catch a Thief if it existed in 1955. I haven’t even bothered to see how much it costs because it’s so amazing I know it has to be outrageous. T. Anthony makes this gorgeous set of cream leather with black detail. It really doesn’t get any more classic or flippin’ perfect than this.

Happy Chinese New Year

Today is Chinese New Year and 2008 is the Year of the Rat. (Honestly, it feels like it’s been year of the rat since inauguration day, January ‘01, but maybe that’s just me. Nah, probably not). Anyway, you’ll be pleased to hear Design Night can take care of all your Chinese New Year gifting needs with this very lovely little laser die-cut envelope. (I can’t help but think this would’ve been sooooo perfect 8 years ago when envelopes may have been needed for a certain someone’s campaign contributions...) Opportunity missed.

It’s Official

I’m currently addicted to flickr. I can’t stop looking right now. Soooo many beautiful and interesting visuals. Here are a few favorites from one of Martin Isaac’s sets:

Her Name is Piksi

Piksi, the impossibly well-dressed Fin. She’s like a superhero or something. Normally I’d think someone might be a little eccentric (possibly even a wee bit self-absorbed) if they posed in their favorite outfits and posted them on flickr for all the world to see. But dang, if a person looks this put-together and ridiculously stylish then I say they’re insane not to. (That skirt in the upper right is so adorable I can hardly stand it. I want to raid her closet). Via Dress of the Day.

As Far As Ads Go...

...This one is gorgeous. Flipping through CITY magazine (a pop culturish/style pub) I stopped and just gawked as it opened to this beautiful specimen of an ad. It’s nothing but a full bleed of a gorgeous old-world pattern (with a sweet looking logo in the bottom center of the page—see the detail below). In front of this page is a perf-out vintage style postcard that has a saucy burlesque Parisienne on the front and a cocktail recipe on the back. The ad is for St. Germain liqueur. I believe Sandstrom Design to be behind this phenomenal work. Very nice. Indeed.

Casino Royale

Mazzega, Venini, Murano...what have you. Sixties era Italian glass. Definitely some groundwork laid for Chihuly. The thing about it is this: it can have that aura of casino/cruise ship tackiness. OK, it does. But when done right it totally works. Pairing the excessiveness of this shameless sparkle with restraint equals amaaaaaaazing. If you’re feeling fancy and have upwards of 20K to spare there are some real beauties at 1st dibs...

Ephemeral Cruising...

On fabulous flickr. After finding those typewriter ribbons (previous) I couldn’t stay away. Here are a couple more little treasures...

Butterfly McQueen

This little bit of beautiful fashion genius is from last fall’s runway, by Alexander McQueen. I remember seeing it a few months back and not knowing who did it—and it’s a visual that has been lodged in my head this whole time. So when I happened upon it again, I had to know more about it. It’s actually McQueen’s tribute to Isabella Blow, (below), a British fashion editor and eccentric style icon, given to wearing insane (seriously certifiable, in fact) creations by milliner Philip Treacy. She passed away last spring and is credited with discovering Alexander McQueen.

Ribbons are Pretty

I had no idea how amazingly gorgeous typewriter ribbon packaging was. There’s a whole collection posted on flickr by UppercaseYYC here. It makes me think we should bring the typewriter back—if for no other reason than being able to go to soulless places like OfficeMax and see something beautiful.

Location, Location, Location

I’ve spent way too much time today drooling over and fantasizing about the locations listed at Shoot Factory. From manors in Lancashire, villas in Mallorca, lofts in London and palaces in Rajasthan, the site is flippin’ loaded with gorgeous places to rent for photoshoots. I will definitely be filing these under “home inspiration.” Note to self: buy lottery ticket.

Get Me DeMarchelier

Yeah, you may have heard Meryl Streep demanding to get him on the phone in “The Devil Wears Prada,” and with good reason. Case in point: Patrick DeMarchelier’s new photos for the Pirelli calendar (typically nothing more than an arty Eurotrash version of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition) are stunning. (via Love Made Visible). And you just know the old boys at Pirelli Tires were all hoping for women lounging around half naked with sand in their hair looking prone and disoriented and Monsieur D. was like, “screw that—I’m doing kimonos and kale!” Très chouette.

A Hole in the Market

Absolutely gaping, in fact. And I know I’ve alluded to it before, but for real, why doesn’t anyone do portraits that look and feel like this anymore? So quiet and beautiful and timeless. It wouldn't be hard to bring it into the 21st century—just have the subject show a little emotion. No wide gaping grins needed or anything. And throw in the leatherette paper frame with a foil stamped seal at the bottom and it’s a wrap.