Monday Design: Wallpaper Inspiration

I used to have the same bias about wallpaper that I think most people do - it's tacky, it's ugly, it's a pain in the butt - but after seeing the resurgence of wallpaper in all different design styles I've developed a deep appreciation of what it can add to a room. The right design can add a touch of whimsey, a level of comfort, or even transport you to a different world within your own home. Sounds amazing doesn't it? If you love design (and I'm assuming if you're reading this you do or you're one of my irl friends [hi!]) you should know exactly what I'm talking about. Painting walls is out and wallpapering is in! Check out these awesome examples I found of how wallpapering a room can totally set the mood for your space. All images via Pinterest. (sorry, I wanted to find the original sources, but it proved to be harder than I thought)

Photo Friday: The Kids

This photo series by Theo Gosselin really stopped me in my tracks and it took me a while to figure out why but I think I finally got it - every single photo reminds me of high school. This photography series does a fantastic job of capturing that youthful carelessness that accompanied all of us in high school and through college for some. There's that whimsical I-don't-give-a attitude that some days I forget I had.

These pictures make me want to go on a road trip, go to concerts every night in crappy basements, and hang out in someone's backyard until 5 in the morning for lack of anywhere else to go. There are a zillion more, I just picked out my favorite photos to share with you.

In a way this post is coming with some perfect timing. Today I found out that someone I knew in college is now gone and in spending the day remembering those times I find these photos incredibly comforting. There are always reminders of how fleeting time is, but it doesn't always make us stop and appreciate. Maybe today is the day to say hello to someone you haven't talked to in a long time. That's what Facebook is supposed to be all about right? 

Have a great weekend.

What I Wore Wednesday: The Return of the Galaxy Legging

As you can probably infer from the title, I've done a outfit post with these super awesome galaxy leggings before. BUT after I posted it, I realized that I kind of hated that outfit and I would never really wear it again, so I guess this is my re-do. I actually wore this shirt in my very first outfit post ever too. I like this much better. Besides I needed another excuse to wear these galaxy leggings since I obsessed over them for months and only wore them that one time (that only rarely happens of course ;) and this was the perfect excuse.

Tuesday Trendspotting: Rose Gold

Rose gold has been popping up all over the place lately and I have to say that I am a big fan. I used to be a strictly silver girl and just started wearing gold in the past couple years, but if rose gold had been this popular a few years back I would have warmed up to it a lot sooner. I just love the warm tone that hint of pink gives to the gold. The color is very flirty and feminine and goes well with a lot of different shades. I love the mix of it with lilac and teals.

I've also been finding this metal used to creating some hard and edgy pieces like the skull wrap ring below and buckle-like bracelets. It's a fantastic mix for a metal that's very soft and feminine.

I love the metallic jeans below too - another way to add some edge to an otherwise soft and girly pallet.

Rose Gold by blacknblue featuring oversized handbags

What do you think? Love it or hate it?

Monday Design: A Rosebud for Your Butt

This house is a lesson in How to Add Color to your Space without Paint. Seriously. This Parisian apartment adds color and warmth with pops of colorful furniture, bright kitchen appliances, and large vibrant pieces of art. The balance that lives within the space is something to be admired. Even the rooms that are wallpapered are balanced out with simple furniture design. In sum, Joséphine Gintzburger's Paris apartment combines a unique and intimate design that's youthful and dripping with personality.

I have to admit that what first drew me to this apartment was the bright pink rosebud chair. Although there are several interesting design points in this room, your eye is drawn to those bright pink petals. Oh the orange alligator skin rug might be worth mentioning too.

This kitchen is to die for! Vintage appliances in fun bubble gum colors? I'm sold! I love the mix of vintage and modern. Very chic and fun.

I have to admit the photographs in the bedroom, although interesting, are a little terrifying.

The pops of color are apparent in every room and the kitsch-y touches of art make the space wonderfully individual. It's refreshing to see an apartment design that is dripping with chic yet does not feel staged or forceful. Two thumbs up from me.  

How do you add color to your space?

Photo Friday: Pretty Floral X-Rays

Are you telling me you've never wondered what the inside of a flower looks like? I have to admit that those diagrams in high school biology class were not as pretty as these x-rayed flower images by Brendan Fitzpatrick. I love the soft pastel colors in these photographs. Apparently, these floral x-rays were the result of several radiology experiments. Who knew that x-rays could make such beautiful photographs? I wonder what the failed x-ray photographs looked like. Anyway, these are perfect for spring. If I wasn't dead broke, I would totally order a print for my bedroom. It would look so good against my pink walls. First seen on Colossal.

Have a great weekend!

Disaster of Paris Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2012

Yes, this year's Paris Fashion Week was all about boxy shapes and over-sized coats in the Fall/Winter collections. This is true, but at some point you have to say to yourself "Maybe this need just a little shape." This brings me to what I think was the disaster of Paris Fashion Week Fall 2012:

Comme Des Garçons

all images via Style.com

As much as I love this line's name, I have never actually been able to get behind the collections. So in full disclosure: No, I have never really been a fan of Comme Des Garçons, but the Fall/Winter 2012 collection at Paris Fashion Week really struck a chord with me as atrocious.

I suppose there is something to be said about artistry in a fashion show - something that I do believe has been lost over the years - but isn't the artistry, craftsmanship, and fine detailing where the couture shows come in? The ready-to-wear runways is where we expect to find just that; clothes that are street style ready and easily mimicked by those of us unable to wield a $1,000 handbag. Of course, I'm just an uneducated noob when it comes to the world of fashion, so please correct me if I'm wrong. 

Either way, I just can't grapple with this collection. Everything about it hides the feminine, at some points entirely with fabric masks. Tim Blanks of Style.com discusses the collection as a statement about living in the flat one dimensional world of fashion since runway show photos are so easily accessible on the internet nowadays. Considering video is just as common, I find this observation to be a kind attempt at salvaging some artistic beauty from an otherwise heinous collection. If it is a statement on anything it is fashion itself. Making a mockery of styles, fits, and the fashion obsessed who would wear floral masks if they were trending. Is it an interesting display of art? Yes. Most definitely. Is it a fashion collection. No.

Would you wear anything from this fall/winter collection (excepting maybe the shoes)?

 

That said, here are some good very, very good things that came out of Paris Fashion Week. These are all more boxy and masculine collections that seemed to take over the runways in Paris, but done very, very well. I always think that boxy and menswear for women should still highlight the parts that make you feel sexy and like a women in the first place. Isn't that the whole point of wearing fantastic clothes - to feel good in them?

1.) The Chloé Fall/Winter 2012 collection mixes boxy with fitted and menswear with drape-y all in a wonderfully light pastel pallet with pops of deep red. All of these combined give the whole collection a feel of femininity even though some of the shapes are less than form flattering.

2.) Giambattista Valli Fall/Winter 2012 speaks to that 60s Madmen trend that we can't seem to shake. Deep reds and blues and rich tweeds give even some of the more plain shapes a hint of sophistication.

3.) Soaked in Yves Klein blue the Stella McCartney Fall/Winter 2012 collection is absolutely elegant, feminine, and comfortable. McCartney created a collection that feels comfortable even with it's boxy shapes. It's a collection that women would want to wear to work, on a date, or out with friends everyday.

As you can clearly see, there are plenty of ways to do big, bold, and ill-fitting that still would make you feel comfortable wearing it down the street.

So what do you say kiddos? Comme des Garçons: take it or leave it?