Sinners and Saints

On my recent trip down to L.A. I was excited to discover the UK clothing store Allsaints which has an outpost on Robertson Blvd with lines for men, women and children. The esthetic is very post-apocolyptic--muted tones of grey, plum and black which I am loving right now. Graphic t-shirts like the one at left mix with suiting.

Combat boots, leather bags, flannel shirts and vests all figure prominently with a vibe that's part vintage, part modern, part hippy, part rockstar. I love the flannel shirts with cutoff sleeves ($120).

The military boots ($250) already have that vintage patina. and are available in chocolate brown or black.

There are more refined pieces too. Tailored jackets, skirts and pants all have a slight edge like the Cameo jacket ($305) with ruffled neckline and nipped in waist with subtle pleating.

Dresses range from the complex draped and asymetrical looks, to the more simple silhouettes. I love the Vallerma dress ($320) which a corseted bodice and a flattering twisted silhouette in black cotton fabric.

In fact there are so many pieces I love that I can't even begin to list them all here and I haven't even talked about the men's line! Check out the online store for yourself at: www.us.allsaints.com.

Cuckoo for Kuko Bites

These new gluten-free, dairy free cookies from Full Bloom called Kuko Bites are outstanding! Chock-full of goji berries and cacao nibs they have a great flavor and, more importantly, excellent texture. I really feel like I'm treating myself to a regular chocolate chip cookie.

I found them at Whole Foods Market in the North Bay, but I am sure they will start showing up at other speciality markets soon.

Fire it Up!

I've been wanting a firepit for our patio for those cool northern california evenings for some time now. I've seen some really expensive ones that I love, but I think I've finally found a good balance between design and cost.

The Design Within Reach cast iron bowl ($375) is shaped like a cone so that the lower bowl collects ash and elevates the flames off the ground to better dissipate heat. The cone grate in the upper bowl creates an air pocket and also f0cuses the fire in the center for a more efficient burn.

There is an optional grill that you can buy for those beach bonfire/BBQ's as well!

DIY Rustic Bench

Although I love DIY projects, I'm rarely that satisfied with the results. However, in the Feb/March 2010 issue of ReadyMade magazine there is a DIY project that I think is pretty foolproof and it looks incredible.

The project takes a thick piece of floor joist and attaches metal legs to it to form a bench. The wood can be found in a salvage yard and the legs can either be found or can be ordered from hairpinlegs.com ($14-$30 per leg)

I love the combination of rustic with modern. This bench would look great by our front door for putting on shoes and boots or around a low table on the patio.

I will post my results after I try this one!

Bahama Collection from Red Sofa

I absolutely love the lastest collection from Montreal-based jewelry company Red Sofa. I am a huge fan of jewelry inspired by nature anyway. My problem now is narrowing down which piece I like the best!

The crab claw necklace ($85) is cast from a real crab claw found on a trip to the Caribbean. In sterling silver with a 22" chain. There are also crab claw cufflinks ($95) which would make a great Valentine's gift for that special guy.

The crab shell necklace ($90) is another great piece also cast from a real crab shell. What I like is that this piece has been oxidized for a half shiny, half matte look. This one comes on an 18” long chain. The crab shell is 1¾” across.

Finally, I love the new snake ring ($98) which is oxidized to really bring out the texture of the snake's body. I love the detail and the edginess of this ring. This may need to be a Valentine's treat for myself!

Check out all the designs at shop.gotoredsofa.com or on Etsy.com.

Gladiator Wedges

I wanted a pair of Cynthia Vincent gladiator heels ($400) last season, but the steep price tag held me back. This style is available again for Spring, but unfortunately the price tag hasn't changed.

So, I was really happy to discover the Jessica Simpson gladiator wedge ($88) which is almost identical and only a fraction of the price. These are available in black, dark brown and tan.

Both of these styles are avaiable from Piperlime.com.

Om from India

In the February/March 2010 edition of ReadyMade magazine there is a feature story about El Cosmico which is a luxury hotel where you stay in these super hip airstream trailers.


The design of these trailers is amazing and is the subject for a whole separate blog post, but I was really taken with a vintage painting of the Garuda on the wall of one of the trailers.


That lead me on a search for these vintage Hindu god posters and I discovered Om from India your "friendly neighborhood god print dealer".


They have an amazing collection of vintage prints that you can browse through online. Unfortunately they are not available for sale online. However, if I am ever in New York I am definitely going to look them up.

5 Preview

I need one of these "underground" t-shirts ($87) by Italian brand 5Preview. I love the reference to classic fashion brands and icons and the general irreverant nature of their designs.

Unfortunately my favorite design with the chanel logo appears to be out of production. Hopefully a version will be available again.

Besides t-shirts they also make tote bags and big chunky necklaces. You can check out all their wares at the 5Preview webshop on bigcartel.com.

You can also find some of the 5Preview designs on the I don't like Mondays webshop.