Ladies Plaza

A few weeks ago, I had a party to go to and no new dress to wear. My friend told me to check out asos.com, which if you don’t know, is a site famous for selling clothes that are ‘in the style of x celebrity’ and also clothes from a few UK high street brands (like Oasis, French Connection and Mina).

So after spending some time on it, I didn’t know what to think about it. Because

a) ASOS has no physical store and you never know how the clothing item is like in real life until you’ve actually felt it.

b) The prices are high-street prices, meaning very affordable. This again, makes me very suspicious of how the clothes would look and fit.

c) I’ve heard mix reviews from friends. A few of my friends said the clothes were decent, and one wasn’t a fan of the quality.

d) If I wanted to return the clothes, I would have to mail them back. Talk about inconvenient and the extra cost involved!

These two black dresses are classy and stylish. The quality looks decent too. I especially like the sequinned one.

The red dress is quite cute, and the silver, sequinned dress is perfect for this party season!

Now these are examples of what I think are poor quality and design. The black dress’s material looks cheap and the gems a bit too plastic-y. OK, I know the dress doesn’t actaully cost a lot (38 pounds), but I have no desire to wear that material. As for the cream-coloured sequined dress, the design is just not very flattering.

This is the dress that has got me seriously thinking to give ASOS a go. I really like this dress. It’s stylish, pretty and very youthful.

And on a closer look, even the beads and sequins look ok in quality. So should I dive in and get this dress?

Another dress I’m liking is this waistcoat dress. It’s cute and cool. It’s made of all polyester though, so I’m not sure how it’ll look in real life.

From the Daiginjyou Sake Glass and internal organ-shaped stuffed animals to “Superbad” and Bacon and Eggs cufflinks, we’ve culled all our favorite stores offline and online for our third annual gift guide. Our picks span a range of prices and a range of recipients that we hope will make your holiday season a little easier.

We’ll be updating daily, so check back often to see what we’ve come up with.

De facto Australian fashion embassy, Elizabeth Charles always stocks an impressive roster of Aussie and Kiwi designers.

The West Village boutique also marks merchandise to a reasonable sale price- (which I cannot say for every shop) -like this delicate chocolate and emerald Silkdress from Bulb that is $119 down from the original price of $239.

Put a cardigan over it for lunch with the boss or try it out solo for any last minute holiday parties.

A person’s handwriting says a lot about his or her personality; a strong right slant suggests a fierce emotional side while small size might refer to a penchant for details. This idea wasn’t lost on Italian designer Cleto Munari, who asked famous architects and designers to come up with with a set of five beautiful pens, each inspired by a Nobel Prize-winning writer. The finished writing utensils with 18kt gold details are luxurious and inspiring to those who take the handwritten word seriously.

To start, Munari asked for handwritten letters from writers Nagib Mahfouz, Toni Morrison, Wole Soyinka, José Saramago and Saul Bellow, which he then gave to architects and designers Toyo Ito, Alessandro Mendini, Alvaro Siza Viera and Oscar Tusquetstook. The pens are very much based on the designer’s interpretation of the writer’s style and form.

Designboom has excerpts from the pens’ accompanying The Book of Five Pens that show these letters, essential elements for potential purchasers wanting to first connect with a pen before they buy it.

The pens, available in roller or fountain form, start from $550 from Art Brown. At that price, you won’t be apt to loan it out without forgetting to ask for it back.

At 32, Fahamu Pecou, a Brooklyn born artist who moved to South Carolina at five-years-old, lives close to his studio, but drives his 1997 Nissan pickup truck to work, because “Atlanta is not a walking place,” says Pecou.

Pecou’s NEOPOP project captures the vanity and folly of rap celebrity while provoking questions that Pecou struggles with himself: when people comment on Pecou’s communication skills and oral delivery, as a black man, he says, “Why wouldn’t I be articulate?” (Pecou’s painting So Clean and Articulate comments on Senator Joe Biden’s comments on Barack Obama – clean, articulate and attractive black man – and the one time a curator said, “Oh my God, I can’t believe how articulate you are!”)

In September, Pecou’s first solo New York gallery show was a success; “More than anything, I recognize that if you can do it in New York you can do it anywhere,” says Pecou.

“I think that is irresponsible on the part of society to have children lead us.”

Format: You’re educated and live in Atlanta. How has Atlanta influenced your creative process and final creations?
Fahamu Pecou: The thing that keeps me grounded in Atlanta is that the pace is slow enough that you can really enjoy quality of life and that is an attraction for me. The city is one of those places where it is not difficult for you to make a big name for yourself. There is a lot of fertile ground work and all kinds of ideas and projects to get light compared to a New York or L.A. where there are a million people thinking like you are. Being in Atlanta played a major role in how quickly this body of work has caught on. If I lived in New York doing this, it might not have caught light the way it did in Atlanta.

Format: What was your reaction to T.I.’s recent charges?
Fahamu Pecou: I was disappointed. I’m a fan. I think he’s a really great artist and he exhibits a really positive image through his marketing. This incident that happened was really stupid, for lack of a better word. I expected more.

Format: The majority of artists face humble beginnings. What are some hardships you’ve persevered through, in the early years of your career?
Fahamu Pecou: I think most of my hardships came in my childhood. By the time I got to adulthood I figured out how to stretch a dollar out. One of the biggest hardships at the start of my career was trying to navigate a career. That was something that was not taught to me in school. I learned some hard lessons and got knocked around a bit to figure it out. I won’t say that I’m a starving artist. I’ve always had a hustle, a way to make things work for me. As far as childhood, those hardships were more severe; I lost both my parents when I was four and then I was adopted. I went through finding my voice as an artist and art has been more of a salvation.

Format: In a past interview, you say, “People are really intimidated by my bodyguards and don’t know if it’s OK to talk to me or approach me, so I often catch someone staring.” Why do you need bodyguards?
Fahamu Pecou: It’s just part of the performance. I hire professional bodyguards, because I want everything to be legit. No one has ever tried to hurt me. When you think about celebrity presence, a lot of times a person does not have to act or say anything, but the presence they create moves people in a certain kind of way. The bodyguard, the models, all that is about presence – it’s about shifting people’s perception of me before they have a chance to encounter me.

Format: Before you do your performances, do you have mental preparation to put you in character?
Fahamu Pecou: Yeah, it’s really affirmation. The real me is pretty shy and laid back, so I have to hype myself up to get in the frame of mind to do the character. It’s funny, because my friends are usually the ones trying to get me hyped up. They’re more into the character than I am.

Format: Please explain how your sticker and poster campaign, “Fahamu Pecou is the shit,” materialized.
Fahamu Pecou: When I first came up with the title of the campaign, I was trying to figure out how to get people to recognize my name. I was at the point of sending materials to galleries and applying for shows and never getting feedback. I wanted a way to put my name out there so people would recognize my name and appear larger than what I was. I started by posting posters up that read ‘Fahamu Pecou is the shit’ and it didn’t say why or what it was I did, it was just my name and a graphic of me with my shirt off. People started reacting to it by saying things like, ‘Hey you’re that guy.’ I did grab people’s attentions and started to pick it up a notch with ad campaigns and T-shirts.

Format: Your canvases are six to seven feet in height. What are the challenges of working on such a large scale?
Fahamu Pecou: The challenges were far greater when I had a Honda Civic!

Format: Rap’s responsibly to cultures and communities is larger than any other music genre. Do you think there is too much responsibly placed on rap music?
Fahamu Pecou: I think it’s interesting that rap is used as a scapegoat for the ills of society. It’s reflective of our culture and society. It’s been traditional to place blame on poor black people for crime and drugs. Hip-hop is a thing people love to hate. It makes so much people so much money, but they have nothing vested in it; if it generates money for them, good, if it generates money for them when it’s doing bad, good. I think too much responsibility is placed on hip-hop artists. If you think about there are very few rappers who are over the age of 30 who are still making music and selling records. The majority of the rappers are young kids in their late teens or early 20s. Most of them have not experienced what will shape who they’ll be as men and women, and we’re expecting them to lead the masses of people. I think that is irresponsible on the part of society to have children lead us.

Format: Often, mainstream media sources like CNN project negative coverage on rap music by examining rap music through BET. In your opinion, should BET act as a gatekeeper to what kind of imagery and message rap music projects to the public?
Fahamu Pecou: It’s interesting you ask that. I do a series of hip-hop roundtable discussions and one of the issues that often comes up is that corporations and media are controlling the gates of what people are able to hear or see in hip-hop. I don’t think BET or MTV are equipped enough to be the appropriate keepers of the music or culture, partly, because they have commercial interest in it so they’re not interested in promoting an artist whose content is contradictory to what their agenda is. They’ll put their energy behind whoever is making the most money. I think a lot of times there are a lot of great artists that don’t get any kind of coverage, because of what these corporations’ agendas are. What’s reported as far as hip-hop in the media is also an issue. They don’t talk about David Banner’s community programs, he does positive stuff, but you don’t hear about that. Instead, they talk about T.I. getting busted with guns.

Format: Please explain the message in your painting Die Standing.
Fahamu Pecou: There is a Mexican revolutionary named Emiliano Zapata who is coined by saying, ‘It’s better to die standing than to live on your knees.’ It really illustrates my philosophy about life and my work. Rather than wait or beg or ask permission, just stand up and take it. Not doing what the system expects you to do.

Format: NEOPOP uses real magazine names for your faux magazine covers. Have you experienced legal action against your use of these magazine names for NEOPOP?
Fahamu Pecou: No. As a matter of fact, most magazines contact me and ask me to do a cover. I have not had issues regarding names.

Format: When creating your NEOPOP character, who are the celebrities that you tried to project through your character?
Fahamu Pecou: In the beginning it was a mockery of 50 Cent, but since then it’s all kinds of celebrities rolled into one. The character evolved a life of its own. I don’t know what a lot of what I’m doing with the creation of the character is really conscious.

Format: Please explain the message in your painting So Clean and Articulate.
Fahamu Pecou: That was a crack at Joe Biden commenting on Barack Obama being a clean, articulate and good looking black man. As a black man, it’s one of those weird compliments that people give you from time to time: you can put sentences together without cursing every word, why wouldn’t I be articulate? I did a presentation at a public art project that I did and when I finished speaking, a curator that I knew for a long time was said, ‘Oh my God, I can’t believe how articulate you are!’ It was kind of a joke back at that, too.

Format: CNN and other news sources are cover whether Barack Obama is black enough. What is your reaction to their coverage on that subject?
Fahamu Pecou: America has a really big problem in the way it deals with black people. Often, the way it deals with black people is to faction them into different groups: dark skinned blacks, light skinned blacks; ghetto blacks, educated blacks; or black men verses black women. It’s pitting people against each other. To me, it’s one of those things where as long as we’re fighting ourselves, we cannot fight the real enemy: oppression, racism, classism and everything else that affects the community. That’s how I feel about the ‘Is Barack Obama black enough?’ To me, it shouldn’t be an issue. He’s running for President of the United States so our question should be, ‘Is he a person that can lead this country?’ not ‘Is he black enough to attract a black vote?’ If you split the black vote between Obama and Clinton, while the GOP is running their one candidate while everyone aligned behind their one candidate, who wins?

Format: In September, you had your first solo New York gallery exhibition. How was the experience and is the pressure of a New York exhibition different than your past exhibitions in smaller cities?
Fahamu Pecou: I won’t front and say I wasn’t intimidated by it, but I realized that it was my audience for what I’m doing. I haven’t had a solo show in New York, but I did a couple groups shows and each time I did really well. More than anything, I recognize that if you can do it in New York you can do it anywhere. I was more nervous by that. Whatever I said, I wanted it to be my A game.

Format: Do you find the reactions to your shows are different based on geographic location?
Fahamu Pecou: No. I think, for the most part, wherever I am the idea is that I still resonate in all those places. The most interesting thing that occurs is the type of crowds that I get at the shows. Not people reacting differently, but the people who come out are different. In Dallas, a lot of people came to the opening reception and they were mostly older white people. In the closing reception it was mostly black people my age. It was kind of odd, because most of those people have not been to an art gallery before. I get that a lot, too. People come out who may not be into the day to day art gallery dealings, but they’re inspired by my work and show up.

Format: Please explain the message in your painting King Kong Ain’t Got Shit On Me.
Fahamu Pecou: That’s just bravado, that’s me talking shit. The line comes from Training Day. Part of my character is about bravado and sticking his chest out.

Format: What impact has NEOPOP’s message had on its audience?
Fahamu Pecou: To meet another one of the greatest things was to meet another young black person that is interested in art after seeing my work. That is a great feeling for me. I didn’t grow up going to galleries or museums. I just didn’t have the resources. I think in America, a lot of black people feel that art is something for white people. Most of my collectors are middle-aged white couples. I can count two or three black people that have bought my work. I think a lot of people can react to my work, because the messages I’m dealing with are universal.

More Info: http://www.fahamupecouart.com

With just two major label releases over the course of five years and one legendary unreleased album from 1997, Clipse’s career spans across a decade and a millennium. They redefined hip-hop and defined coke rap before Jeezy was moving keys, but around the same time T.I. was just starting to get his trap on. They have, up until recently, been a canvas for arguably the biggest production duo in hip-hop and with their new imprint they plan on continuing the masterpiece that is Clipse. Pusha T, one half of Clipse and one fourth of the Re Up Gang, talks deals, movies and his favorite Clipse song.

“When P gets excited about a new song, he will hit me and be like, ‘Come to the studio right now, if you don’t get here within five minutes, I’m calling Jay-Z.’”

Format: So how did this new deal with Columbia come about?
Pusha T: When we put out Hell Hath No Fury, we were already talking to Jive about letting us go. Us being there wasn’t good for both parties. As soon as they let the project go, there was flurry of offers from different labels. Hip-hop from Columbia hollered at our manager, Tony Draper. He took a flight to Houston to see us and was like, ‘Are you guys free? Is it really true?’ Rick Rubin was totally interested. They knew the history. They knew the ups and downs. They started selling us on them trying to win with us, so on and so forth. But truth be told, we were on the phone with Interscope until the last minute on some eleventh hour shit. It was us, Jimmy Iovine and Pharrell. They were trying to get it done, but when we told them what was on the table with Columbia, Jimmy and P were like, ‘Your deal is better.’ P said, ‘You need to sign that deal.’ So we are no longer with Star Trak, but the Neptunes are still going to be involved with the new project. We will always be cool and there were definitely no hard feelings.

Format: Clipse’s first album, Exclusive Audio Footage was supposed to come out in 1998 but never saw the light of day. If you look around, you can find it on the Internet. Will it ever come out? How has Clipse changed since then?
Pusha T: The content of the Clipse hasn’t really changed since 1998. Nothing has really changed. It’s still coke rap, but we didn’t call it that back then. It was just life. Now, I guess, there’s a whole genre of it. But it was Neptunes produced and it was definitely pushing the bar, musically. It was a very theatrical album. It was a little more movie-esque than our other two albums.

Format: The Clipse has always been known for its a-typical sound; from “Grindin’” to “Mr. Me Too,” you guys have never dropped a typical single?
Pusha T: It’s a product of being next to the Neptunes. We’d be in the studio with Pharrell and Chad and – insert big name artist here – and these artists are asking for something that sounded like something else. Then it would often turn into a screaming match between Pharrell and the artist. Then it would calm down a little and Pharrell would get really sarcastic, like telling Chad to ‘Throw me that snare’ or ‘Pull up that one drum kit,’ you know, really sarcastic. But you know, the music business is so like that, everything references something else. At the end of the day, Pharrell and Chad would always throw the juice on it and make it bang. The fact is, though, Pharrell and Chad are weirdos with hits. You know, like mad scientists. They have a rep for making hits, but how can you not let them create? They flooded the market with certain sounds, because artists were asking for those sounds. That’s not innovative. The stuff they will be remembered for is the really innovative stuff. When P gets excited about a new song, he will hit me and be like, ‘Come to the studio right now, if you don’t get here within five minutes, I’m calling Jay-Z.’ When you get that call, you know you got to move fast.

“Nigo has shown us a lot of love and we like to show it back.”

Format: So what are The Clipse up to right now?
Pusha T: Just winding down on the tour. Recording Re Up Gang album shit. Expect a new single in 2008. As far as features, we are going to finish the album ourselves. Personally, I don’t want to put anyone on the album. Re-Up needs to be branded. People need to understand what we do as artists. If you look at the artists outside Re-Up that we’ve shared tracks with in the past, it’s people like Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake, Jermaine Dupri. These people are legends not our peers.

Format: You guys were on the Bape, BBC, Ice Cream shit very early for obvious reasons, but never made a big deal about it.
Pusha T: We still rock BBC, Ice Cream. It’s really a support thing, first and foremost. Secondarily, as I said in a line a long time ago, ‘When you create the mold, you can break the mold.’ When we want to stop rocking it, we can, because we started it. I don’t care if people think it’s played out. Nigo has shown us a lot of love and we like to show it back.

Format: Can we expect any Clipse clothing collabos?
Pusha T: No collaborations. Those guys got it on smash.

Format: What does the Clipse mean?
Pusha T: Came from full eclipse. We wanted to cast a shadow over the industry.

“…we are talking about a quarter billion dollar black man in the `70s. This movie did not do that justice.”

Format: What’s your favorite record you’ve ever done?
Pusha T: Wow. Nobody has ever asked that before. I’d probably have to say “Momma I’m Sorry” or “Keys Open Doors.” Records like that. They got the demon in them. Certain records are big records. Certain records are reaction records. There’s nothing better than doing that raw ass record. That’s the fun record when the audience understands what you’re getting at.

Format: You saw American Gangster, what’d you think?
Pusha T: It was alright. To me, this movie should have been Scarface. I needed three hours. I needed to know more about Bumpy Johnson. All I got was that he died and that Frank was his enforcer. Also, the progression wasn’t clear. One minute Frank is dealing a half a key of heroin and then next minute he’s overseas. I didn’t see the rise to power. I didn’t get to see his enemies either. Yeah, he shot Tango on the street but I didn’t really know who Tango was. I needed nothing about Richie Robbins marriage. And we needed to expound on heroin coming on US planes and in soldiers’ coffins. I mean, come on. Drug importing on US Army planes? I want know more about that! I think this movie needed to be done like Spike Lee’s Malcolm X. That movie was detailed but also epic at the same time. And how did Nicky Barnes not play a bigger role in the movie? The movie itself, for what they did, was captivating. However, we are talking about a quarter billion dollar black man in the `70s. This movie did not do that justice.

Format: Have you seen the Nicky Barnes documentary?
Pusha T: Amazing.

“And we needed to expound on heroin coming on US planes and in soldiers’ coffins.”

Format: Are you familiar with Black Mafia Family in Atlanta? You think Meech warrants his own movie some day?
Pusha T: Familiar, of course. I mean, I didn’t know him or anything, but I definitely think it should. He’s not guilty yet and hopefully he doesn’t end up being guilty, but I can tell you the accusations alone warrant a movie!

Format: Any movie roles on the horizon?
Pusha T: Haven’t done any acting, but I am definitely interested.

Format: Who chose the first single off Hell Hath No Fury?
Pusha T: “Mr. Me Too” was our choosing. A lot of things went into Hell…so much drama, controversy, bad blood, negative energy. It was like we wanted to let the public have it. We had the outlook that nothing was going to work anyway. By this time I had burned all the bridges. I had said everything wrong, I was not a diplomat. There’s a way to handle everything. I fucked it all up. But I did it. I said it. It happened. At the end of the day, we felt like it was never going to work. Our true fans will get it. They will love it. There’s no way with this hiatus and all the talk that we could come out with a celebratory album. It would have been a lie. Let’s address the industry shit. “Wamp Wamp,” that was a second single, it was more along the lines of ‘Fuck it, we have no support, let’s cater to the fans,’ we had to keep the energy up since we got shows. It was the definition of east coast club feel, to me.

“The fact is, though, Pharrell and Chad are weirdos with hits. You know, like mad scientists.”

Format: What are you feeling right now outside of Clipse?
Pusha T: In general, I really like that show First 48. American Gangster on BET is amazing. Alicia Keys. Kanye’s “Good Morning” is my shit and I think Kanye has record of the year for “Can’t Tell Me Nothing.” To me, that is one of the most inspiring records ever made. Devin the Dude is hot. Jeezy is hot. Z-Ro from Houston. I’m very interested in what Plies’ next album looks like. I think he’s got it.

Format: Why is it so hard for hip hop artist to break out of the DC, Maryland and Virginia? The area has produced R&B acts for years, but you and Missy Elliot are the only rappers to be successful out of Virginia. And Wale is the only dude out of DC and Maryland.
Pusha T: I could be wrong about my philosophy, but here it goes. My area is sort of like a melting pot for so many things. We haven’t been able to define a sound. Every other region has a sound. I think Virginia doesn’t have a defined sound. There’s good music here, but there hasn’t been one sound that made everyone say “YO”…it’s just been individuals. As far as Maryland and DC, there’s a lot of competition with Bmore club and go-go. I go to DC and I want see the go-go shit. A lot of places, hip-hop is that energy. I think it can also be that energy for DC, but it’s competing. Ultimately, we as artists are going do what we do, as long as we are creating, we are doing our job. It’s time for the radio stations to zone in and say, ‘Oh shit, this is from hometown area.’ I go to Atlanta and I’m hearing signed and unsigned artists on the radio. It needs to be like that everywhere. The gap is steadily closing.

Format: Anything else?
Pusha T: Re Up Gang Records is the next movement.

More Info: http://www.clipseonline.com

Linda Zacks packs a mean punch. When I say that, I hardly mean to communicate that the freelance designer, illustrator, and artist would actually hit anyone (she’s terribly nice) but only that, as a female New Yorker with a enough pep to put Red Bull out of business, she sure can pull a room (ad, album cover, poem, etc.) together.

With a resume whose lengthy limbs stretch past the internet pages of VH1 and through lustable clients like Target and eBay, Linda has wisdom to impart and experience to share. Thankfully, she does this in the very way one might suspect from her: With extra-oomph.

“I have run into this time and time again. I call it ‘throwing like a girl’ syndrome.”

Format: Please Tell us about your upbringing…
Linda Zacks: I moved around a lot growing up, living in different states and overseas in England and Holland. It was always hard to be uprooted as a child and as a teenager, but the challenge of settling in different places, meeting new people, being an outsider, and drinking in new sights and sounds really makes a person grow. When people ask me where I’m from, I never know what to say, because I feel like I’m from nowhere in particular. I never had a house that became a grounded character in my life, with a room filled with memories that I could always call home base. Home became wherever my parents were at the time.

Format: Have you always been fairly in touch with your creativity?
Zacks: I think so. I’m a big believer that creativity is a way of seeing, a way of approaching anything, a unique way of solving problems, the way one communicates and approaches life. And it can wiggle its way into anybody’s life regardless of whether they consider themselves an “artist” or not. We are always taught that creativity lives in art class, but I have always believed that it can raise its whimsical head anywhere, bend the rules, inject something sparkly- a stick can be a paintbrush, and a project due for geometry or biology class can become a colorful book instead of a boring old paper.

I have always had my creativity burst out in weird places. I was never the star in art class who could render the most perfect still life scene, but I’ve always learned how to think and have worked on digging deep to find my voice.

Format: It seems like you are many things. Artist, designer, ass-kicking business- woman; is there one area that you identify most strongly with?
Zacks: Well, to do the freelance thing you have to be a jack-of-all-trades. The art side is only part of the equation, you’ve got to embrace the business side of things. As tedious and torturous as it might be, you’ve got to be a marketer, a writer, a messenger, a scheduler, a waterboy, have your shit together as much as possible otherwise you’ll get eaten alive. You’ve got to be aware of contracts, lawyers, negotiations, communication and all that fun stuff.

I’d say, at this point in my career, I identify with all three. I’ve got a design background, so that helps me design my site and market myself; the art thing I’ve always just done, like exercise, always trying to experiment and open new channels that might pop out an idea; mental exercise, thinking until your brain sweats. And for the past couple of years, I’ve been working on the business side of it all, where the reality is that someone is always trying to take advantage of you. It’s the individual vs. the corporation, and that is always intimidating.

Format: The creative side of advertising is notoriously male-dominated. What sort of gender-related challenges have you faced in the creative industry?
Zacks: It seems the world is male-dominated, not just the ad industry! Being human is a challenge, being female is an extra challenge, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world, and a lot of people have more complicated and bigger challenges than we do. I have run into this time and time again. I call it “throwing like a girl” syndrome. People assume women are not-as-good, not-as-aggressive, not-as-opinionated, not-as-likely-to-negotiate, shouldn’t be paid as much, should look a certain way, should this, should that. I say: Use the strife as ammunition. We are all warriors. You can’t change the world and everyone has their little special piece of shit to deal with.

Format: Your client list is incredible. What has the journey been like while building such a desirable resume?
Zacks: Thanks! It’s been torturous, exhausting, messy, long, bumpy, colorful, uphill, sparkly, unpredictable, juicy, complicated, bright, laborious, like-giving-birth-to-your-brain-through-your-nostril, emotional, rewarding, and there’s a lifetime of journey still left.

Format: What is the most challenging project you’ve worked on to date?
Zacks: I’d say all projects are challenging. Proving yourself, deadlines, pressure, crazy client demand, it’s always damn hard, but when the project is over you can rip off your clothes, take a yummy hot bath, eat a very large chocolate chip cookie, and feel like you’ve accomplished something special.

Format: In general, your artwork feels quite feministic. Do you see this as a sort of rebellion from any other areas in which you (professionally) use your creativity?
Zacks: I always have to look up the word “feminist” when someone mentions it. I am woman, hear me roar! Well, why the hell not!!

Format: Your artwork is also very alive, very thematic. Can you put this theme into words for us?
Zacks: Love, hate, struggle, angst, excitement, war, fear, depression, loss, the gem of conversations, the beauty (and ugliness) and sheer amazement of being human on Planet Earth, living and breathing. What we all share as two-eyed thinking creatures, despite physical or geographical differences. And of course, some of my favorites: America the Strange; New York, New York; that crazy beast called woman, family.

Format: As I study more and more of today’s designers, I’m beginning to notice that the ones who truly make a name for themselves are the ones who maintain their own distinct style. Design is as trendy as fashion, yet it is the designers that primarily stay true to themselves (so, in a sense, the ones that extend their art into design, and not vice versa) that produce the work that has the most shelf life. What do you think about this statement?
Zacks: I think the most important thing is to have a voice, and I see this as different from style. To me it’s deeper, less superficial, more timeless, more conceptual. I feel like voice can transcend style. It can also transcend labels like designer, illustrator, and writer, and can have a long shelf life. A distinct voice resonates and moves people. Some super designy, style-based-things are just that - they don’t really say anything other than “look at me, I’m cool” - there’s no depth, like a trendy person that spends so much time on their outfit but has absolutely nothing to say. Voice also has soul. I see it as the visual counterpart to good songwriting - the kind that makes an impact and lasts through the ages.

Format: What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned in your professional career?
Zacks: Art stores smell great and you can spend your life savings in them. Go after what you want. Never give up.

Format: Is there anything you wish you could change about the creative industry today?
Zacks: Slow things down so everything doesn’t always feel like a rush.
More respect for what an idea is worth.

Format: And last of all… why do you love your job?
Zacks: I’m the boss.

More Info: http://www.extra-oomph.com/

While hoards of pop-up streetwear lines play follow the leader with their established peers, Lore, a California based clothing company in its infant stages, decides to break ranks by using sometimes esoteric designs. “I guess just look at the designs a little longer and you might take something away that you wouldn’t think possible with a dime a dozen tee design,” says Aaron, one of the three designers that create for Lore. (Aaron lives in San Diego, works a nine-to-five and the other two designers, Mark and Kenny, live in San Francisco.)

Lore’s new line is available at their website and at Karmaloop Kazbah.

“The United Show was good for us, because we meet a lot of cool people and did a lot of gambling.”

Format: Please explain how Lore was created.
Aaron: Lore’s had a few stages, but the clothing aspect all started, because we wanted a canvas that would give us just that, a blank slate to create, no bias, no art direction, just what we wanted to create. Wherever we are in life we can just come to blank white and put down our interpretations of life in general.

Format: What is a Lore?
Aaron: Lore is basically just a concept. It’s really the mystery behind things, and the legends that follow them. It’s our name, we as a brand our recognized by, but the concept has been around since the caveman. Lore has a dictionary definition which fits into what we’re trying to accomplish, but Lore is basically a tale of three designers and their progress and demise in life. It’s always shifting.

Format: A lot of clothing lines are particular in their retailers. What does Lore look for in its retailers?
Aaron: When it comes to looking for retailers, it goes one way or the other. If we would shop there then we wouldn’t mind having our goods in that shop. A lot of places hit us up and we have never heard of them before, but it turns out to be a huge spot where it’s located. So a little Internet research, phone calls, and most of the time it turns out good for everyone.

Format: What unexpected challenges has Lore encountered?
Aaron: Starting a clothing brand not knowing anything about the game was a challenge the whole way, but if you’re not learning you’re not doing something right. Another challenge is we live in different areas. I live in San Diego, Mark lives in San Francisco and Kenny does to. Three different demographics and the irony is we’ve always seen eye to eye in the direction we want to take Lore. It’s difficult trying to conduct business over IM while still at a nine-to-five job or grindin’ at school. That struggle in itself builds a lot of what Lore is. It’s definitely based on passion, but you got to dig deep for it sometimes as other demands take the center stage. Also we started in this game right when everyone thought they wanted to start a clothing brand too, but only time will let us see who will rise and who will fall.

Format: Please explain the message in Lore’s T-shirt, Kill, Kill, Kill.
Aaron: The Kill Kill Kill shirt comes from an old movie from 1971 called, KILL! We found it digging in some old books and we had to use it. Put more of a live feel to it, muzzle fire and pop, a remake banger for the winter line. It’s basically about cutting out the middle man and shooting straight for the big score. It’s what this younger generation is all about.

Format: Lore is from San Diego, a city that is known more for the film Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy than its street fashion. Please share what San Diego is really like.
Aaron: We are all actually from the Pismo Beach, Central Coast area. The three of us sporadically moved down to San Diego, did the school thing, and started pushing this clothing line. But what is San Diego really like for me, I’m not one to ask, I basically stay within a four block radius from the lab, and I’m seldom away from the MacbookPro.

Format: Does Lore consider itself a streetwear brand?
Aaron: I would say we consider ourselves more so a streetwear brand then anything else, but I don’t really care what category we fall in as long as people are feeling the goods we are producing. We are going to stay creating random madness and apply it to clothing, and whether its streetwear or not, won’t make a difference. It’s hard to distinguish the market anymore. At this point we’re just trying to put out some tees people can enjoy at first glance graphically then really study it and see the deeper meaning, not trying to sound generic at all but we do put a lot of effort into the underlying messages going into the tees.

Format: A lot of Lore’s designs appear ethereal, visually. What is Lore’s attraction to celestial imagery?
Aaron: Well, recent research suggests that much of this prophetic work paraphrases collections of ancient end-of-the-world prophecies – mainly Bible-based –, supplemented with references to historical events and anthologies of omen reports, and then projects those into the future with the aid of comparative horoscopy. Isn’t it sick how Wikipedia can make you come off like you know your shit? Claiming whatever the case, I think humans are born with an innate question towards celestial existence, so you can’t help as a human, but wonder about what’s both up and down.

“It’s basically about cutting out the middle man and shooting straight for the big score. It’s what this younger generation is all about.”

Format: Trade shows are a popular outlet in the fashion industry to network and create buzz. How was Lore’s experience at United Trade Show in Las Vegas?
Aaron: The United Show was good for us, because we meet a lot of cool people and did a lot of gambling. It’s hard when you aren’t a household name and your trying to pull every buyer in convincing of ‘Look we’re Lore, we want to take you on a journey,’ but a lot of the graphics we have attract a wondering eye and that’s worked to our advantage. I’d have to say the trade shows have definitely done us good. The show featured a bunch of dope brands and in the down times we made a bunch of solid contacts.

Format: Please explain the message in Lore’s T-shirt, Ghost Ruth.
Aaron: Babe Ruth is a legend and like they say, legends never die. A ghost is a spirit that once was living but now lives among us in the afterlife. Ghost’s carry such legend amongst the living as does the greatness known to many all over the world as Babe.

Format: What are some cliches that Lore sees in its industry?
Aaron: Right now there’s big all-over prints and hoody madness, and for a minute it was bandana everything and gold foil chains. It seems like a brand will come up with something catchy and you can just watch as the masses follow suit. It’s a trip seeing the cycles that the industry goes through, but luckily there are always a few brands that keep the trends moving. In reality, you have to cater to the wants of the buyers and it’s interesting to see the brands that give them what they want, or force them to want something new.

Format: Being in its infant stages, how does Lore separate itself from its peers?
Aaron: That’s a hard question, `cause you want to say this and that, but it all gets redundant, I guess just look at the designs a little longer and you might take something away that you wouldn’t think possible with a dime a dozen tee design. We are just going to keep doing what we do and explore the freedoms we have in being a new company.

Format: Recently, communist China has attracted a lot of negative press for its exports: poisonous pet food, tainted seafood, lead paint on children’s toys and faulty baby cribs. If relations between America and China were to halt, how would your industry, the street fashion industry, recover from its severed connection to cost-effective manufacturing?
Aaron: It would definitely put a dent in the pockets of a lot brands that rely on the cheap manufacturing done overseas. I’m sure prices would shoot up since the brands using these means would have to resort to buying a pricier product in the states. But you never know the outcome, because if we did shut down the relationship overseas, I’m sure we could build some kind of legit – non-knock off – black market apparel trade and bring streetwear back to the grimy roots in which it began.

Format: Lore does designs for women and men. How is the design approach different for women in comparison to men?
Aaron: Actually we started off plotting on doing both the girl and guy stuff, but it turns out we know nothing about what girls want, or like. We decided to hold off on all the girl gear for now. It seemed that, as a fresh company, we might as well go hard after what we are familiar with, and dive into the goods that need more research later on down the line.

Format: Please explain the meaning of Lore’s Marilyn’s Baby T-shirt.
Aaron: Basically, this design comes from Lore’s love for horror flicks and conspiracies. A Rosemary’s Baby remix with a flip on the rumored twisted past of the beautiful Marilyn Monroe. This is just an excerpt from Lena Pepitone’s book about her and Marilyn’s life: ‘Marilyn Monroe was an orphan and during her infancy the Illuminati, CIA programmed her to be a monarch slave. Before becoming an actress, while she was still a stripper, she spent time with the founder of the Church of Satan Anton LaVey. Victims of LaVey have pointed him out as a mind-control programmer.’ She was said to have been brain washed and the tie that really connects the design is this quote here: ‘Marilyn loses her baby at the same place that some of her programming was done at. One can speculate that they took the baby for some perverted use.’ I didn’t make this shit up, someone might have, but it wasn’t me!

“…Lore is basically a tale of three designers and their progress and demise in life.”

Format: It appears that Lore’s winter 2008 line is taken in a different direction than its previous lines. Why the change?
Aaron: We went for a different feel this line, because we wanted to bring more colors and pop, to the more relaxed and natural feel of the previous lines. We have also been getting obsessed with illustrating things, having little individual battles between ourselves to keep progression moving. When we started, we never sat down and said, ‘This is what we are and we will never change.’ We set in design mode and what collectively comes out of that becomes the current feel of what we are doing.

Format: Why does Lore have an attraction to zombies?
Aaron: Zombies go hand in hand with the Lore mind frame. They should be dead, but the refuse to die and they will make their point by eating the brains of all that are helpless to stop them. They are timeless, lifeless inspirations. I always trip out on the scenario of lying on your death bed with your wife and kids at your side and you get asked the question ‘What did you accomplish in life,’ and most people being dumbfounded with an answer. ‘I got a house, cars, this and that…’ and not really appreciating the whole journey of life, it’s just kind of taken for granted. I know all of us are always tripping on life and how to really appreciate it. I always fall short of my true intention, but I suppose if you’re really looking at ways to improve your quality of life then its all good, but in a genuine sense.

Format: What are Lore’s future plans?
Our future plans are basically just to stay on our undetermined course and keep banging out some original designs. We have our online shop opening up in a week or so and after that we are plotting on releasing a mix-tape with some friends of ours who have been on a steady diet of beats and toxins. We have a lot in the works as of now, so we are just going to keep up the pace and continue to keep the third eye open.

More Info: http://www.lorestudio.com

Kid Robot Super Mini Key Chain Series 3
I saw these at the local collector’s shop the other day and couldn’t resist grabbing one. I was really impressed by the level of detail and range of articulation of the arms and head. I was hoping for the high contrast luciadore but ended up with the pirate who is actually a pretty dope score. You can barely tell there’s a robot under the beard, had eye-patch, and hook hand. Actually reminds me a bit of those old playmobile figures. Price wise ($3.95US) and details wise they’re a real steal of a deal.

More Info: http://www.kidrobot.com

Jamungo: Bud of the Month
Jamungo is announcing to release a new customized Bud every month for the next six months. This first edition is being released through Rotofugi and is titled: URFUKT A BOMB. It has a bit of a Kaws/chomper-meets Japanese WWII bomber vibe going on. The toys were limited to 200 and released last week so I’m pretty sure they’re all gone to some lucky bastards. I wonder what would happen if you taped down a wad of strike-anywhere match heads and whipped it at someone…could cause some serious damage, eh?

More Info: http://www.jamungo.com

Bovinyl: Moody Idols Show
In the tradition of DIY vinyl mould kits like the Gwinn comes a newer face on the block called Moody, cleverly named so after his bovine character and range of emotion. According to his creators, Moody is a “unique hybrid cow/demons” standing eight inches high, and with three points of articulation (neck and shoulders). Hailing from Calgary the Bovinyl crew has launched an major vinyl art exhibit featuring some amazing works by top international names like Marka27 (US), PhuEK (Singapore), Bunka (FR) and others. If you happen to be in that area you can check out the show at the University of Lethbridge’s Helen Christou Gallery until January 11, 2008

More Info: http://www.bovinyl.ca/index2.asp

Seamour the Sheep: Illuminative edition
I feel like I’m going soft on y’all now but I might as well keep up with this barnyard theme I’ve got going on and introduce the latest edition to the Wookieweb—the guysl that brought us the multi-award winning Treeson toy last year—roster. Can they do it again? Well, Seamore is definitely innovative for a vinyl toy, doubling as a USB night light so you can count sheep while you’re falling asleep at your desk. Who knew that vinyl was such a great light transmitter?

More Info: http://www.wookieweb.com

Back in September, I was suddenly very determined to find a casual white coat to have fun with because I was bored of my other coats, which were all black. (Also I’m guessing it was a photo of Ashley Olsen in a white coat from around four years ago that triggered this sudden ‘want’. Kind of strange right?)

When it comes to shopping under time constraint, I do target-shopping. Which meant that I headed straight to Zara, where I know would have somewhat stylish, basic and very affordable coats. Zara didn’t let me down and I ended up buying this:
OK, so I have recently seen a LOT of girls in the streets here in London wearing basic coats from Zara, either exactly this one or similar ones. But since I get cold easily, I have already started wearing this in late September, so almost no one was wearing it yet. Oh, and I know the coat looks really not-pretty like that, but it looks really cool with the collar up and the top part wide open (the lapel part.)

Oops, rambling off my point. So the white coat did prove out to be really fun. It brightened up my casual outfits and I found it especially fun to wear it with dresses. Unfortunately, the white coat got dirty really easily. I stopped wearing it to lectures after only one lecture because my sitting around in random seats was just too much dirt for my coat to take.

My point is, while I wouldn’t spend a huge amount of money on a white coat, I think it’s worth trying out a white coat from affordable shops. Think of it as a youthful, cute thing to cheer you and your outfit up on those grey days!

With Victoria Beckham and Rachel Zoe’s new style guides hitting the bookstores, we decided to test the authors’ fashion sense against that of designer Anne Fogarty’s 50-year-old gem, Wife Dressing.

Nau won us over from the beginning with their impeccably designed, eco-conscious outerwear and business concept. This behind-the-scenes video features insights into their design process, retail store design and their guiding philosophy.

Designers Mark Galbraith and Peter Kellen show us a few items from their latest collection and Ian Yolles, the VP of Marketing, walks us through the process of shopping at one of their “Webfront” boutiques.

We’ve partnered with Nau to give away an item from their collection—any item!—to one CH reader that we’ll pick at random. See the last paragraph of the post to get the details.

Here are a few of our favorite pieces from Nau’s Fall/Winter 2007 Collection:

The Merchant Coat (above left, $325) updates a classic sailor look with Nau’s own unusual blend of recycled polyester and wool. With room for layers underneath, the stand-up collar keeps necks warm, open underarm construction reduces bulk and leather trim adds a contrasting level of detail.

The go-more-pile (above center, $160) is a fleece coat that’s closely shorn on the outside but thick on the inside. The result is a thin jacket that provides a surprising amount of warmth on its own but is also comfortable to layer on the coldest days.

The most surprising aspect of the Down Shirt (above right, $175) is how slender they get a 850-fill goose down shirt to look. It could be because they strategically place more thickness where it’s needed most. The shirt bunches up into a small ball while the insulating source packs the most amount of heat per ounce on the market.

Like the name implies, the Clean Line rain jacket (above left, $220) keeps fussy details to the barest of minimums making for the ultimate modern wet weather gear. Welded seams, laser cut vents, construction that mimics the body and waterproof zippers are just a few of the features that make this one of our staples.

Made of a Japanese stretch fabric that’s eco-friendly and engineered to wick moisture and lined with soft material, the “Shroud of Purrin” series are high-functioning garments for urban wear. The trench (above center, $324) marries the timeworn shape with modern details, like a high collar with an asymmetrical design. Angled cuffs that integrate easily with gloves on the jacket (above right, $258) are another example of Nau’s commitment to perfecting what they make down to the smallest features.

Shop now for the holidays and receive free shipping on all orders.

To enter follow the contact link at the bottom of the page, select “Nau Giveaway” from the pull-down menu and make sure you enter your email by Monday, 19 November 2007, 11:59pm EST. Please note that by entering the giveaway you will be added to Nau’s Off The Grid monthly mailing list (see the current issue here).

Tucked away at 19 Commerce Street in the West Village is one of my favorite boutiques in the city, Mick Margo. It’s right off 7th Ave South, but you might not find it unless you know it’s there.

Good news though….even if you have a crap sense of direction, you can still shop there. Get that Alexander Wang Vest or Deere Colhoun Jackie Bag online.

Owner Nadine Ferber has teamed up with the former buyer at Brooklyn’s Zoe, Cary Weekes to put together an ace website. A cool touch, is the Q&A page with all of the amazingly fabulous indie designers she carries. Poke around and have a look here.
(Do make an effort to stop in and say hello to Nadine. She’s as neat as they come with great taste to match.)

If you’ve never been able to get your hands on the latest Fuct items you’ll be happy to hear they’ve finally opened their online shop. Head on over and check out the latest coppable collection.

Info.Image: Fuct

I know that the main focus of a lookbook of a fashion collection is the clothes, but upon looking at Paul & Joe’s latest lookbook, I could not help but stare in fixated horror at the model’s feet. Maybe I am just not fashion forward enough, but upon seeing these boots (almost everywhere in the lookbook) all I can think of is ugh!
Maybe in a few months (or even weeks) time, I will find them cute and want a pair. Who knows how fashion evolution works? I mean, without the slouchy thing, the shape of the pointy toe is perfectly rounded and the heels look just right. But right now ,at this moment, the slouchy thing (which I assume is the CENTER of the design) just makes models look like they have swollen ankles to me- and that is never attractive.
I tried looking at them from different angles, but still- nothing. Maybe it is also the awkward height of the boots as well, making them not quite ankle boots but not quite tall boots either. Only a model with super long legs like that can carry it off (I should know since I stupidly bought a pair of such awkward height boots last season and I am still trying to figure out how to wear them….) without looking short with their legs sectioned off like that.
So what is the verdict for these $825 Peper Suede Paper Bag booties? Fashion forward? Or should it be stuffed into a paper bag?

Image Source: Paul & Joe and Shopbop

For the Monday-night event, the Madison Avenue boutique’s sidewalk was tented off and chandeliered; cases and cases of rosé Champagne were flown in from France; and Maggie Gyllenhaal, Rachel Weisz, and Adrien Brody were draped in the Swiss jeweler’s wares.

Forget the latest Louboutin, Miu Miu or Gucci pumps. For those
seeking the most original in higher-end designer footwear Australian Tristan Blair has you covered. Sporting sharp
and cutting-edge designs with the highest quality materials, the part
Sydney, part Perth resident has become the cutting-edge Manolo for the
next generation. CH caught up with the man set to make style-starters
scream with delight.

What are you listening to as you answer this?
Belle and Sebastian

What’s your latest collection about?
It’s all about rock and roll. I listened to a lot of “Chuck Berry”
whilst in the sampling process. I also spent a lot of time researching
people and music from the era that he rose to greatness in.

Why shoes? Why not something else?
Shoes are an outlet for me. I only had eyes for shoes, I suppose,
however I am doing a clothing line as well now, which is really
exciting. I am loving it. It’s great to be able to be involved in more
than just one aspect of fashion.

Do you think the “no pain no gain” applies to all heels?
Not at all. Comfort is the main objective when manufacturing shoes for
the boutique market. If a shoe is not comfortable very few people will
buy it. Being a shoe designer is the art of mixing design, innovation
and comfort.

Do you feel naked when you see other people’s bare feet?
I think it’s good to take a barefoot walk now and then but you have to
be close to the ocean.

Do you have standards with your shoes? Would you mind if someone with
bunions wore them?
I don’t think some one with bunions could get into a pair of my shoes.
Maybe if they really wanted to they could modify a pair for
themselves.

What song has always got you toe tapping?
I go through real phases of music and am forever changing the CD’S in
my car. So there is no real one song but if I had to choose it would
have to be “Great Big Kiss” by Johnny Thunders.

What’s your biggest inspiration?
Friends, history, future.

One look in fashion you’re totally over?
I am a bit over fluoro and yardages.

Where can we buy your stuff?
The list is on the web site.

In anticipation of Ralph Lauren’s private sale, which takes effect online this Thursday 9am eastern time through to Monday 19th Nov, I decided to do a little feature on some of my top Ralph Lauren picks this season. I mean, the sales are going to be pretty good, going up to 40% off with an extra 15% off already reduced price items on Thursday by typing in “NOV15″, so better make the most of the opportunity! First thing that pops into my head that I want from RL- dress shirts. Especially blue/white stripey ones like these two. They are just classic. It would be a great addition to my building work wardrobe. I wonder if RL considers these classic enough to fall under: “Up to 30% off RL Classics: cashmere sweaters(whopee!), polo shirts, oxfords, chinos and select Create Your Own items”…….
Off to more interesting pieces, I also like these white dress shirts with an extra feminine touch. Especially the one on the left, the pleats are just right to make it look interesting, but not so much that it looks overtly girly.
Long cardigans are also just the thing this season. Paired with a printed dress shirt (left), you’d have perfected the preppy chic look. By itself, they are casual and cool (right).
And we must not forget this season’s must have: dresses. These dresses above are both simple and elegant. The key of course is the belt. The one on the left with the badge and the collar is more casual and youthful. Except I’m not sure if it would look as good on me as it does on the model…what if I look school girl like? Its a thin line.
As the holiday season approaches, we have these very holiday feel sweaters with the snowflakes, plaid and red. Personally, I’d go for the red sweater and plaid shirt combo. Least then I can also wear it separately and besides, plaid is going to be fun this season.
Something dressier, there is this adorable bronze satin dress. I don’t know why, but I have a huge affinity towards RL shoes even though they are not known for making footwear. This season is no exception. I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE these black ankle boots. They are high, but with platform, so I won’t be in pain all the time. And the heels look sturdy. The toes are perfectly rounded. The black bow is just the right of detail to make it interesting while still keeping it simple. I just LOVE it. I can wax poetry about it all night. I WANT these!
And last but certainly not least are these jackets/coats. Coats and jackets are the best investment, because they don’t change everyday so you really get good mileage out of it. They are the first thing people see you in when you walk in somewhere- so make sure you make a good statement with it. I am loving the stylish cropped jacket (left), which can be worn formally like this or casually, layering with jeans etc. And the long coat- it is just princess like with its perfect fit and flare!

So yes, don’t forget to check out the RL private sale this Thursday!

Image Source: Ralph Lauren

Streetwear heads rejoice, the Shelta webshop, formerly reserved for only those lucky enough to live in Sweden, has gone global with the just-launched Shelta.eu. Shelta shoppers are able to purchase products in a variety of currencies and the shop carries a gang of established and underhyped quality brands, making Shelta a very useful tool for one’s consumption habits, conspicious or otherwise.

Info.Image: Shelta.eu

Candy Pratts Price gives you the inside scoop on fabulous parties, how to throw your own, and what to wear. Get inspired!

The New York Chocolate Show never disappoints, and the CH crew performed its annual search for the newest and tastiest chocolates. Our top four picks from this year’s show are: Romanicos Chocolate from Miami, Oliver Kita Fine Confections from Rhinebeck, NY, Theo Chocolate from Seattle, and the Comptoir du Cacao from France.

Romanicos Chocolate is the creation of Alejandra Bijai, a Venezualian living in Miami. Her grandmother passed on the gift of truffle making, and Alejandra has evolved her skill into a force to be reckoned with. Romanicos is the most established of this group, and has made their name by not adding sugar or butter to their chocolates, which provides both a smoother, cleaner taste and also exceptionally good truffles that weigh in around 38 calories each (above). The Wild Coconut, Fresh Mint and Passion Caramel are tops. The “Chocolate Art” collection features “exotic” flavored chocolates with designs on top. We loved the Dulce de Leche for its over-the-top taste that wasn’t too sweet. Their lactose free Healthy Artisan Chocolate Bars include innovative combinations like Salted Pisatchio and Nutmeg, Wasabi and Honey, and Soy Bean and Sea Salt.

Romanicos Chocolate
181 Coral Way Suite 116
Miami, FL 33145
USA
Tel +1 305.854.9936 Fax +1 877.848.4857

Oliver Kita Fine Confections is new on the scene. Oliver Kita, a well known caterer in Hudson Valley, NY recently opened this chocolate shop, where he and his team hand make a range of traditional chocolates—pralines, marzipan, bon bons, ganaches, truffles and caramels. We loved the Mint and Lemon Balm and Shiki Matcha Crunch truffles, and these solid chocolate buddhas (left), available in dark and milk chocolate, edible gold dust optional.

Oliver Kita Fine Confections
Astor Square
6815 Route 9
Rhinebeck, NY 12572
USA
Tel + 1 845.876.2665

Theo Chocolate is notable for their ingredients, process and results. Most people don’t realize that nearly all chocolates are made from a chocolate base (known as couverture) that is made by companies such as Scharffen Berger, Valrhona, Guittard and Domori. Same stuff you see in the store. Very few independent chocolatiers go through the process of making their own couverture as it is complex, time consuming and difficult. Theo does, and they are the first to do so with Fair Trade Certified cocoa beans. They are also the only roaster of organic cocoa beans in the U.S. They produce single origin bars (the 91% Venezuela Limited Edition Dark Chocolate Bar is a rare, remarkably not bitter high percentage bar); Confections; and the quirky 3400 Phinney bars, which include the Bread and Dark Chocolate bar with toasted bread crumbs and 65% chocolate, and the Chai Milk Chocolate bar, with chai spices and black tea.

Theo Chocolate
3400 Phinney Avenue North
Seattle, WA 98103
USA
Tel +1 206.632.5100 Fax +1 206.632.0413

Not bad so far. Ami and I worked our way through the chocolate fanatics and would have left the show quite happy with our new discoveries. And then we found the Comptoir du Cacao booth. This small family run chocolate company makes their chocolate about an hour outside of Paris (where they have a shop). Maybe it was the fact that they were in the States for the first time, and only a few people had the opportunity to discover them before us. Maybe it was the traditional/chic French wood boxes they packed their chocolates in. Or maybe it was the out-of-this-world <<Chocolat et cristaux croustillants de brisures de crêpe dentelle avec croustines Gianduja caramel au beurre salé>> (above right), bite size chocolate-covered crunchy bits with caramel, salted butter and crêpe dentelle (those very fine, rolled cookies that are often served with espresso in French cafés). These little delights got our vote for best in show. The family also makes many other tasty chocolates, and has a line with fair trade cocoa, and a line of chocolates made without sugar. Though not yet available stateside at retail, you can order them from the store or by using the downloadable order form.

Comptoir du Cacao
194, avenue de Versailles
75016 Paris
France
Tel 33 (0)1 42 24 09 58

Also on CH: Chocolate Show Roundup 2005

I have never really had the desire for leather jackets before, because I have always related it to punk, rock n roll and motorcycles- none of which describes me. But lately, with the the mix and matching of rock n girly and layering, I have had a change of mind…and now I really want one! They seem to be everywhere!
There is the more classic biker chic kind like this one from Alice + Olivia (left)- I love it! And then there is the more casual looking ones like this one from Mike & Chris with a combo of material giving it a sportier edge (Mike & Chris- think Rachel Bilson last year).
To make them more layer friendly, some designers also made these cropped biker chic leather jackets like these two from Sword (left) and Clandestine for DKNY (right). I especially LOVE the soft dove grey color of the Sword leather jacket. I can totally imagine it over a flowy black dress looking very cool.
Here we play with the fit and the neckline at Madison Marcus (left) and Adam plus Eve (right). Its interesting… but I got to say, not my favourite.
Going a bit more to the extreme, we have these girly-fied leather jackets with added feminine touches from Madison Marcus. I think the brown one with the frills (left) is a bit too much but I love the grey one with the ruffled neckline (right)- its perfect!

Sigh… too bad for me that leather jackets are about one of the most expensive types of jackets out there…..

Image Source: Shopbop, Shop Intuition, Elle

Whether you’re a consummate home chef or more of the reheat-and-serve school of cooking, having an arsenal of tools makes the daunting task of cooking a Thanksgiving meal easier and maybe even more fun. We’ve gathered some of latest and some of the tried-and-true to help make your holiday a little smoother.

A place setting and dessert in-one, these chocolate favors add a decorative touch to the table. Available in both milk and dark chocolate varieties, they are all natural Belgian chocolates and made in Vermont. At approximately 2.5 inches tall, they aren’t as big as the real thing but are sure to steal some of the attention. Individually wrapped, they come in a set of three milk and three dark chocolate turkeys. Available from Lake Champlain Chocolates for $21.

The Preserve Kitchen line by Recycline makes design oriented kitchenware from 100% recycled plastics and paper. For their new line, designers Evo Design took their cues from nature for a series of products shaped like fruits and vegetables. Our favorite are the apple-inspired food storage containers, which feature a threaded lid to keep precious leftovers secure. Even dropped containers full of stuffing are safe from tops that pop off and plastic that cracks. Available exclusively at Whole Foods Market starting today, 12 November 2007 for $7 for a pack of two.

Cranberry sauce is a Thanksgiving feast staple, but we could do without the versions that are too sweet, too runny or the jelly kind that maintains the shape of the can. A new take on the jewel-colored sauce, the Cranberries in Pays d’oc Wine is not your average pre-prepared condiment. Using a homemade style of production, it’s slow cooked with cane sugar and wine from Pays d’Oc, the Mediterranean region in Southwestern France, making it pourable yet thick and delicately sweetened. Available for $12 from Amazon.

Don’t risk dropping 10 pounds of protein and arguably the most important meal of the year. Rather, securely lift the bird out of the oven with this harness. Made of silicone, it won’t affect the flavor or the cooking process. Especially useful for larger turkeys, simply place straps underneath the turkey before roasting for a no-fuss way to get the bird on to a platter that doesn’t involve spearing it with a fork and letting out hours of basting. Available for $10 from A Cook’s Companion in Brooklyn, NY or online from La Prima. via New York magazine

Winner of a Red Dot Design Award this year, these Zyliss measuring cups are easy to use and stackable when not in use. A rounded inner surface makes it easier to prepare and whisk ingredients in the cup. Being able to prepare and dispense ingredients from the same vessel saves time on clean-up and minimizes loss of ingredients from transfers. Measuring scales are marked on both the inside and outside of the cup making it easy to read. The three different sizes—one, two and four cups—all have non-skid bottoms and are available for $20 from Gracious Home.

Though not traditional, we think a fresh, crisp green salad adds a needed bit of light fare to a Thanksgiving meal. For artful salad making, leave it to the Swiss to make a sleek, high-performance salad spinner. We’ve long appreciated the efficiency of Zyliss spinners and this version kicks it up a notch with a stainless steel bowl. It also still has the built-in automatic cord retraction system, a stop button and the gentle automatically alternating spin action that made us fans in the first place. Available from PGS for €50.

With a Wireless Digital Thermometer, you no longer need to stick your head in the oven to check the Turkey’s temperature and can even hop in the shower before guests arrive. The wireless capabilities allow for monitoring the meal from nearly any other room in your home to help prevent the classically dry, overcooked bird. Insert the stainless steel probe in the thickest part of the turkey’s thigh and cook till it hits 180 degrees. There’s even a paging system to alert you when it reaches the right temperature. Get it for $50 at Crate and Barrel.

The Oxo Fat Separator works double time to help slim down gravy. First, a heat-resistant plastic filter at the top separates fat and impurities. Fat that slipped through then rises to the top, so the pour spout dispenses the more lean liquid from the bottom of the cup. It’s also got a stopper and non-slip grip for better handling. Starting at $11 for the smallest size at Sur la Table.

Brining a Turkey is the method generally agreed upon by most cooks as the best way to add huge amounts of flavor and to keep the meat from drying out. We recommend making your own brine, but if pressed for time we’ve heard good things about the Fire and Flavor Perfect Turkey Brine. Using all natural ingredients, it’s said to give the turkey more of an herb flavor and all you have to do is add water and a bit of sugar to the mix. Don’t forget the brine bag. Both are available from Fire and Flavor for $8.

Another weapon in the war against dried-out turkeys, an injection baster helps get the juices in the bird where it matters. The fact is, once a turkey starts cooking it doesn’t take juices well topically. Better to inject it with the Cuisipro dual baster/injector, which features an interchangeable shower baster and injector head so you can do both. Available at Sur la Table for $10.

If you’re prone to “blackening” the turkey or you O.D. on tryptophan and doze off with candles burning, you might have to use one of these Home Hero Fire Extinguishers. Much more chic-looking than the standard variety, this one’s modern enough to display, making it more accessible in times of need. The ergonomic design also makes it easier to pull the can’t-miss red safety pin for one-handed deployment of life-saving foam. Available at Home Depot for around $30 soon.

After three years of collaboration, DJ Funkmaster Flex is unveiling his FMF JB Getlo sneaker created in partnership with Ford Motors and JB Classics. The super-exclusive FMF JB Getlo comes in two colorways and is only available through at a few select boutiques including MOE’s Sneaker Boutique, DEEP STORE, Qubic, Overkill, and Garage and online at Pick Your Shoes.

Info. Image: Hypebeast