Bahamas - Bande de Moment

Afie Jurvanen toured with Feist,  he wrote this little number, "Caught Me Thinking" under the name Bahamas. Playing alongside a pair of girls that harmonize each tune, his voice sounds a bit like M. Ward and his album Barchords is as mellow as a summer sunrise.

Then this:

And this:

Dear Diary: Trader Joes

Dear Diary,

Today I asked to use a step stool in Trader Joes. I took such precautions because of the time I knocked over several apple pyramids at the same location. Also, shelves in Trader Joes are only about 5' 6" in height. Have I gotten shorter or arm my arms shrinking?

Paris Collective

French fashion, along with the messieurs and mesdames who so gracefully sport them, is about as iconic and well-known as the Eiffel tower itself.  The scarves, those ballet flats, and that air of "je ne sais quoi" that surrounds each French-native are at the core of why the rest of the world looks to France to set the trends.

While in Paris last week for five lovely days, I was determined to study what styles are currently dominating the boulevards in hopes of revamping my own closet, as well as to share my knowledge with my fellow French Fashion Obsessed.  

What I observed was a twist on the classic style : a mixing and matching of unquestionably masculine pieces with dainty feminine additions such as, ultra-preppy chic worn with ankle military booties.  My biggest observation was how easy the trends are to not only recreate, but actually wear.  Instead of overly complicated or obnoxiously designer pieces, each look can be definitely be copied anywhere else in the world without damaging the piggy bank. 

Trend #1:  Jean or formal shorts worn over black tights.  If there is one way to feign Parisian citizenship right now, it's by wearing this combination.  It's everywhere, regardless of weather or occasion.

Trend #2:  Ankle booties.  I suffered from serious shoe-envy all of last week while lusting after all the ankle booties walking around.  I cannot stress how often I saw a women wearing some type of ankle booties.  Heeled, flat, military, cloth...they all stomped their way down the Champs Élysées.  Worn with either skinny jeans, leggings, or tights,

my favorite look was when the flaps around the ankle were bent down, giving it a winged look. 

Trend #3:  Colored jeans.  This one isn't so foreign since it's also quite popular in the states right now.  This is really where prep met masculine as I often saw red jeans (complete with a polo or some type of crisp blouse) worn with heavy-duty ankle booties.  Different hues of red were definitely the most popular but blue seemed to be gaining popularity, as well.  Yellow and green were quite rare, but the color most notably absent?  Mint.  It seems mint is having more of a moment stateside than Seine-side.  My favorite colored jean was definitely the maroon though, especially paired with a black top of some kind, gold accessories, and of course some booties.  It should be noted that these jeans are not just reserved for women; plenty of men also wore them, with red being their color of choice.

Trend #4:  Oversized ponchos.  And no, I don't mean those oversized parkas you wear to watch football games in the rain (though I wish I did since ten of them currently live in the back of my closet).  This kind of parka is more structured and normally in military colors like hunter green or beige.  These staple jackets are not new to French style; this past fall, it was impossible to walk down a rue without seeing at least five women adorned.  The important thing to remember whilst wearing said poncho is that it cannot fit you. Its oversized fit is part of it's charm.  Most women wear one that looks at least two sizes too large so as to achieve that coveted slouchy look, but thanks to the elastic band around the waist, it's never sloppy.

The staple piece that's here to stay? A scarf.  No matter how hard I try, there is something about the French and their scarves that I find impossible to imitate.  While it could be just me, something tells me it's not.  It's a certain attitude they have, this air of confidence that surrounds them, that somehow translates into a perfectly tied scarf...even when it isn't perfectly tied.  

Technique aside, Paris has yet again confirmed that an outfit is not really an outfit until adorned with a scarf. 

I did the best I could imitating their art to incorporate into my life, but I'm not too confident that I've pulled it off. However, hopefully after reading my observations (or better yet, going to Paris yourself!), you have better success than I.

By our Paris Correspondent Alex Russo 

190 Bowery

Photo by: Leigh Davis

Three people live in this building. It was bought in 1966 for $102,000. Now real-estate brokers estimate it’s worth at least $30 million.

The Master Bedroom

Above are the Maisels who live at 190 Bowery in Manhattan, New York, since purchasing it. The Maisels have no plans to move but are considering renting out the first floor. 

The Fifth FloorThe Elevator from 1898

The KitchenFor more on 190 Bowery see NY MAG

Under Covers + Between Sheets

This is a journal I found last year.

Beth Hoeckel is an artist that does brilliant collages, but she also finds things in books and post them! I keep all sorts of things in books, its such a good place to hide clutter and dicey personal memontos (as seen below somewhat decent for trash storage as well). Here are some of the best from Beth's site Under Covers + Between Sheets (a few are blown up for extra amusement):

PSA of the Day

Ikat Fever

Sunday Reading, Droll as Ever

 

You're on foot strolling by that newsstand glancing at the tabloids. You cannot believe Jennifer Aniston is still relevant and still single. You pause on a beautiful cover  (this is how you've found all your reading material since middle school) "THE PARIS REVIEW" in turquoise lettering on a pink background. That'll do, but what's better is the writing is comical in a dry, witty, sad cause it's all true, and brilliant because it isn't way.

"Finally he ran off with a stewardess with whom he hit with his car and with whom he fell in love with while they were filling out the accident report. My grandmother threw herself out the window of the apartment."

"One Sunday evening, my father brought us back from a weekend at his house, during which we had gone to a family party. He said, "Valerie is the prettiest of all her cousins." My mother replied, "In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king."

"No one has heard anyone metion the name of Uncle Bernard or his wife since the day of my mother's funeral."

KO KO - Music So New It's Hard Find on The Internet

Someone with a Calvin Harris voice broke into a church and is playing the organ with a 6-piece band and you actually want to hear how it sounds. The production is clean and the lyrics are better. The band is called KO KO and hails from Northern California, but you've got to be careful because the name KO KO is already a popular band and primate name, googling them can be tricky.

They are playing April 9 at the Echoplex in Los Angeles, CA. For a complete list of shows click here.

Sound a bit like: Miike Snow, The future of church music?

Attractive People Doing Attractive Things in Attractive Places

Yes, someone else already thought of this idea.

His name, Slim Aarons, his niche, photography of the rich and famous. His specialty was preppy socialites, and in turn, he illustrated everything that preppy socialites do. He became an expert at capturing the well-tanned and wealthy drinking pina coladas pool side and laughing at puns. Aarons wrote several books, in which he details his findings with glossy colored images that span from cover to cover, they are as follows: A Wonderful Time: An Intimate Portrait of The Good Life, Slim Aarons: Once Upon A Time, Slim Aarons: A Place In The Sun, and Pool side with Slim Aarons. If one didn't know any better they'd assume Slim Aarons a bluebood, his roots in debutante parties. In actuality Aarons started as a combat photographer during WWII, earning a purple heart and realizing that landing on a beach full of girls tanning would be the ideal.

Times Magazine described Aarons photos as having a "strangely bewitching narcissism".

Aarons used only natural light and little make up. 

''They would invite me to one of their parties because they knew I wouldn't hurt them. I was one of them.''

Francesca DiMattio: Modern Art

Based in NYC artist Francesca Dimattio, wears two braids that she weaves with scarves and ties at the back of her head. Similar to her work where she weaves together different inspirations: architecture, history, design, and culture. Her modern chaotic paintings a product of the university, Cooper Union, she attended in the East Village of Manhattan. A school that is coveted for it's talented alumni as well as it's ability to offer all accepted students full scholarship. 

With fewer than 1,000 students, Alumni of the Cooper Union win a vastly disproportionate share of the nation's most prestigious awards. Recent awards include one Nobel Prize, ten Rome Prizes, 18 Guggenheim fellowships, three MacArthur fellowships, nine Chrysler Design awards, and three American Institute of Architects Thomas Jefferson Awards for Public Architecture.

DiMattio shops mostly thrift stores and likes items that have lived a bit before her. In terms of wardrobe, nothing is off limits besides polyester - even maternity wear is fair game. DiMattio keeps an impressive collection of belts and has been known to hand paint shoe boxes.

Favorite New Band

They played at SXSW and make a pretty mean wall of sound. VACATIONER released their first full length album this week now available on iTunes.

Sound like: Vampire Weekend, Dream-Like

Taste like: Strawberry-Banana 

Vactioner Website

Freak Out Flow Chart, & Other Art That Makes Sense

Never did I imagine someone could visually capture the terrified mind with such ease and depth. Calling out key components like "Not Again", "Kicking", and "Camp" as a part of the vital flow. This is the art and design of Brian Rea.
"Snacks" would be at the very bottom of a Freak Out Flow Chart, right after "Order Restored". 

Rea also created a Valentine's card for Kate Spade, charming, forward, assuming.

Staying on the topic of love, he did some pieces under the title "Heartache Mountain".

Brian Rea, Heartache MountainHis editorial work speaks volumes.

To delve deeper into the soul and art of Brian Rea click here. He teaches at the Art Center in Los Angeles and has done a spectrum of design work.

The Trouble With Being Young

Groovy Song for Your Day At Hand

The band Rhye has some laid down smooth vocals for this ultra hip song 'Open'. This song is good for any season, any time of day, and any mood. Triple Threat.