I Want, I need...

I've decided that a two-boot minimum is required for the segue from fall into winter...I know it's a long way off, but this heat wave has me pining for jeans and long layers. These are a definite must-have. I'm saving immediately.

Ann Demeulemeester, 1,105 bones.

YES.

Things I Have Done from NeverWood High on Vimeo.

style crush: MJ

He may have been known for a lot of things: the music, the creativity, the moonwalk, The Wiz....and perhaps he became known most for his eccentric lifestyle and, ahem, child-rearing decisions...but one thing about Michael Jackson is undeniable (aside from his talent, of course). The fashion.


Oh, the fashion.







In the past year, Michael had become besotted with Balmain and it's no wonder. The creative geniuses behind the fashion house were clearly inspired by MJ's military-infused style choices. It was as if the clothes were made for him. And, like hanging with young boys or having elephants as pets, he carried it off like no other.

He was my childhood favorite and I grew up singing and dancing to all his tunes. He will be missed. RIP.

sharper than a serpent's tooth

After a quick day-trip to Winter Park, Florida (just outside of Orlando), I got to thinking about the merits of snake jewelry. I have long adored snakes for their beautiful yet stealthy appearance, as well as the powerful, and often evil, themes with which they are so commonly associated. While in Winter Park, I visited a lovely, matchstick-size, but incredibly well-edited boutique - The Pure Hart. Ownd by Lisa Squires Deering, this shop is the ultimate for vintage jewelry hounds like myself. In addition to the dozens of glass cases stocked with vintage Bakelite jewelry, Deering handpicks other antiques and objets d'art, like kitcshy old photos and Native American keepsake boxes. I highly recommend making a special trip to her shop if you are in or around the Orlando area.

This Bakelite snake bracelet is very similar to those on display at The Pure Hart:




I couldn't resist posting a photo of this outstanding snake piece, from Morning Glory Antiques (check out their website, it's fabulous & very informational):

Koons

I have always adored Jeff Koons for his irreverent, cheeky take on modern art, so when I heard about TASCHEN's (the ultimate in coffee-table books) latest publication, aptly titled "Koons," I knew that my living room wouldn't be complete without it. I saw several of his pieces at the Guggenheim in Bilbao, Spain last year and, though I was a fan before, I fell head over heels for The Puppy the moment I was dwarfed by it's gigantic shadow. I think of Koons as a moder-day Warhol, taking everyday objects and transforming them into larger-than-life, extraordinary pieces of art. The sheer size of the pieces, along with their vivid colors and unusal materials, make them incredibly unique and incredibly attractive. According to TASCHEN's website, their limited-edition version (1,500 copies-all signed by Koons) is already sold out so I will have to settle for the, ahem, less pricey version - $44 on Amazon.

A couple of his more prominent pieces:

"The Puppy" is possibly Koon's most well-known piece, and is made up of sstainless steel and over 25 tons of soil (which is watered by an internal irrigation system)...though it currently lives in front of the Spanish Guggenheim, it has been exhibited at Rockefeller Center, and in Sydney, Austrailia. That's one well-traveled pooch!



and lastly, how could I not include this timely piece, which was exhibited last year in Chicago's Museum of Contemporary Art.

OBSESSION

I seriously, seriously need these Loubs.


Pronto.

wish-list

Maybe it's the sweltering, 100 degree heat that gets less and less enjoyable as the days wear on, but I can't stop thinking about winter-wear. And the inevitable boot purchase that it will entail. Oddly enough, both pairs I'm lusting after come courtesy of Stella McCartney, so they're not only chic, but animal-friendly. I can always rationalize a future purchase as some form of charity.....