smile, it’s wednesday

what terry has for breakfast…

in the basement below oak is where you find hipster heaven, in the cafe and store the smile. the cafe was started by matt kliegman and former earnest sewn trend hunter carlos quirarte. in addition to serving up some decent coffee and sandwiches the menu also include a terry approved bowl of granola. the list of merchandise include wool products by wool and the gang and a section of candles. but I guess the real reason you’d go there is to see, be seen and feel part of the cool crowd… by sv

CATEGORIES: ny places

opera for the people


the norwegain company snøhetta prides itself on being an innovative, award-winning, and environmentally conscious architectural firm. a lot of labels to live up to… they are the firm behind the planned national september 11 memorial museum pavilion in new york and the celebrated bibliotheca alexandrina in alexandria, egypt. the oslo opera house is the only one of their works I myself have experienced. and experience is the right word. in true socialist spiri the operahouse is for the people and you can actually walk all over it, sit on it and picnic on it. the exhibition of their work is on view from february 4 to april 3, 2010 at scandinavia house in new york. by sv

CATEGORIES: ny places

the big blue: Wittelsbach-Graff blue Diamond

not a fan of jewelry in any way, especially the the overtly expensive ones, but i can see the desire of owning the rarest in any thing… it surely gives you the illusion of being special, perhaps even when you aren’t.

laurence graff paid more than $25,000,000 for this gem attaching his name to the original: “i’ve been privileged over the years to own some of the world’s most important and famous diamonds, but i would say that the wittelsbach diamond is the most valuable and the most beautiful. i had the opportunity to examine and value it in my own offices, and i came to the conclusion it was one of the rarest stones i’d ever seen. i knew it was a stone we had to have,”

initially valued at around $15,000,000, graff paid more than $25,000,000. in a controversial move he had it re-cut and polished, reducing it from 35.5 carats to little over 31 carats. critics say the act compromised the historical integrity of the stone, but mr. graff disagrees.

“every diamond that was ever mined, every diamond that was ever polished and cut, is still with us. who knows the story that this stone will tell in a thousand years time.” got a point the buddy. but 25 million dollars is a lot to make a point. by dd

CATEGORIES: musings, objects, perfect gift

daria werbowy: lovely candid photos by cass bird

like we didn’t know…

cooking like the rest of us

ok maybe not the most original

you can take the girl outta canada, but not canada out of the girl

daria is kinddofa tomboy of sorts. i remember her as being a rather tough chic or at least acting like she was, but these pictures are quite soft and beautiful, perhaps my favorite pictures of daria all together. by bh

CATEGORIES: fashion, photography

wagyu in new york


this post is for mr.uh. if you do care for meat, like mr.uh does, check out japan premium beef on great jones street in new york. the butchers are smartly dressed, the shop is very minimal, with stark white walls and a glowing glass case full of ruby-red beef, neatly and tidily presented. stylish beef for all your marbled meat needs. by kt

CATEGORIES: ny places

garance doré has had it with street photography


the french blog sensation garance doré has officially had enough of shooting random people on the street. maybe it’s a sign that the street-fashion blog phenomenon is winding down? now that brands such as burberry and DKNY have used scott schuman aka the sartorialist to shoot their campaigns, maybe the original charm is gone? the surprises have become predictable, the looks and fashion more and more the same and the endorsements too big.

as told to rebecca voigt in interview magazine’s latest issue:
“i still find people on the street, but i’ve kind of had it with street photography. at first, it was great to see fashion on someone going to work, but now there are so many pictures like that that the magic has been lost a bit. i want to take pictures that tell more of a story. there are still some very talented people who succeed in giving the sensation that each street photo is a story. but i photograph less on the street now.” -garance doré

by kl

CATEGORIES: fashion

now prada, then ysl, who’s next?

so after ryan mcginley’s film for pringle of scotland (see below, which is my fav. by far), here is the prada movie. it’s much more of a moving fashion shoot with idiotic looking male models, but it’s nice still. then there is the YSL movie by bruce weber, very bruce weber-ish, what else can i say? so who’s next? what’s the thing with fashion houses making movies this season? by pp

CATEGORIES: clips, fashion

Ryan McGinley & Tilda Swinton, who directs whom?

ryan mcginley films for pringle of scotland. is his style changing as production budgets change, or just time and evolution? either way i think it looks gorgeous; but i must admit, i am easily seduced by the colors. other credits include creative director neville wakefield, sound design by eric nagy, music by dogee mountain (interlude). the texture of the music is imperative to the full experience of these landscapes, even the clothes for that matter. but the recitations…meh. by kl

CATEGORIES: clips, fashion