BIJOU LIVING

Jun 29, 2009

Trends - Terrariums

Ace Hotel Portland
stacy reynaud

... and miniature gardens.

Landscaping on a Lilliputian scale provides a unique method for indoor gardening in smaller bijou living spaces. Made popular in the Victorian times (then known as Wardian Cases after an accidental discovery by the surgeon Dr. Nathaniel Ward), the terrarium garden offers an inexpensive way for both the beginner and expert gardener to express their green thumb while evoking curiosity and conversation from viewers. Try the style in your small living space.

Quote of the Week - Oscar Wilde

We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.
Oscar Wilde

Quote of the Week - Albert Einstein

5 Best Ways To Make a Good First Impression

A dark colored, well tailored blazer
You can spend $200 or $2000 on a blazer but if it doesn't fit properly you'll look like a buck fifty.
The man 5'9" and under should go for the short. Your blazer shouldn't look like a tunic.
Although sized according to chest, the blazer should fit properly in the shoulders. If you can see your deltoids it's too small.
The old adage is, if a man wants one jacket in his lifetime make it a dark blue blazer.

A good haircut
Find a stylist that knows you and your style. My husband pays more for a haircut than I do. His justification is that if he went to another stylist, he'd look like a cheap used car salesman with a comb-over. Seeing as your partner should complement you when you're out together I'm willing to hold off on a pedi to keep him looking and feeling sexy. You may not notice it but glances go straight from your face right to your shoes. Which brings us to our next point:

The finest quality shoes
Your shoes should be the most expensive, highly crafted piece you're wearing. Good shoes can make an inexpensive outfit look like a million bucks. Black wing tips like those by Salvatore Ferragamo, Tom Ford or Ermenegildo Zegna are safe and timeless.

A classic watch
The wrist is an area for chic understatement. Don't be too aggressive or too skimpy. Some recommend building your watch collection to mix with your wardrobe. To start, go for a classic in steel, silver or white gold like a vintage Rolex Oyster Perpetual, Van Cleef & Arpels Latérale or a classic Timex Mercury.

Proper pants (including denim)
By 'proper' I mean those that suit your body type. Not everyone can wear skinny jeans or drain pipe trousers. If you're tall, stay away from pinstripes. If you're short, choose pants in dark fabrics. Most importantly make sure your pants are hemmed properly: Pant Hems - What You Need to Know

Related Posts:
10 Fashion Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Pant Hems: What You Need to Know
How to Tie a Skinny Tie

Jun 28, 2009

Glass Plates Reborn: Digichromatography

Ural Owls - 1910
Sergei Mikhailovich Prokudin-Gorskii

from the author's personal collection

Russian photographer to Tsar Nicholas II, Sergei Mikhailovich Prokudin-Gorskii, captured black and white images on glass plate negatives using red, green and blue filters. He then presented the images in color using a light projection system and the same three filters. Thanks to digital technology and a process called digichromatography we are now able to view Prokudin-Gorskii's glass slides in brilliant color, the way he intended them to be. In layman's terms digichromatography involves scanning the glass negative then editing it with image editing software. Grayscale becomes RGB, layering and cropping are tackled and finally any retouching of the image is completed. That is a very brief primary explanation. Please see the full details here.

Jun 25, 2009

Style Inspiration: François Truffaut

French filmmaker François Truffaut

1932 - 1984

Jun 24, 2009

Vintage Gianni Versace

Gianni Versace

1980

Jun 23, 2009

Design Lover: Hamilton Beach Juice Extractor 932

For 69 years, the Hamilton Beach Juice Extractor Model 932 has been the main squeeze on the countertops of discerning chefs, bartenders, and juice devotees.

It refuses to be squeezed out by the competition.

Patented a year after the disbandment of Bauhaus in 1933, the influence of the school is reflected in the 932's streamlined design and superior craftsmanship - it's known to last a lifetime.

The extractor's rack-and-pinion gearing can exert up to 2000 lbs of pressure, ensuring fresh juice without the pulp.

A classic appliance that's easy to use, good-looking and durable.

Jun 22, 2009

Quote of the Week - Le Corbusier

Talent is not enough if it cannot be backed by strong character.
Le Corbusier

Jun 18, 2009

6 Summer Low Tops - Simple Clean Style

A pair of lo tops should be in every man's closet. Effortlessly simple, classic, and more fashionably functional than your average sneaker, the canvas or light suede lo top trainer can be worn with slim fitting jeans, tapered shorts or drain pipe trousers. Pair a well kept leather low top with your light summer linen suit for that Duran Duran Rio feel.

1. Asics Coolidge Lo
online at Barneys

2. Chuck Taylor All Stars low tops
online at Converse

3. Keds Green
online at Keds

4. Topman Canvas Plimsolls
online at Topman

5. Vans Classic Low Top
online at Vans

6. Rachel Comey Canvas Lo Top
online at oaknyc

Jun 17, 2009

Design Lover: Mariano Fortuny Desk Lamp

Designed in 1903 by the Italian textiles and dress designer Mariano Fortuny, the sweepingly curved desk lamp is made of chrome with a solid brass and black lacquered arm. Height: 24.5 inches. Width: 22.5 inches. By Ecart International.

Jun 16, 2009

10 Things You Should Know About Oscar Niemeyer

Niterói Contemporary Art Museum, Brazil

Niemeyer, with Lucio Costa, designed the Brazilian Pavilion for the New York World's Fair.
His first executed work was a maternity clinic.
He worked with Le Corbusier on the preliminary plans for the Ministry of Education Building in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Niemeyer began his career in architecture before he graduated from university.
He was a member of the United Nations Headquarters Design Committee
He considered the Modern Art Museum in Caracás, Venezuela, as marking an essential shift to minimalism in his designs
Niemeyer was head of the design group responsible for creating the first public building in the world to be expressed in the modernist architectural medium (Ministry of Education Building, Rio de Janiero)
Mayor Fiorella LaGuardia made him an honorary citizen of New York City in 1939
With the assistance of 60 architects, Niemeyer conceived, developed, and produced final drawings for all the critical federal buildings for Brasilia in less than two years
Niemeyer will celebrate his 102nd birthday on December 17, 2009.