Elliott Walker

Words to live by, elegantly and dramatically designed by Elliott Walker.

Eliot Lee Hazel

I'm completely mesmerized by Eliot Lee Hazel's photography work. At once romantic and cinematic, it could just as easily be found in the pages of a fashion magazine as it could hung on the walls of a museum.

Pinterest + Inspiration

A few months ago, I joined Pinterest. Some people say they can't make the jump from paper to screen with art and design inspiration, but I'm hooked. It's not the same as print, and it can be a bit overwhelming at times. But I love the easy functionality of Pinterest, and the boundless inspiration I find on it. I should probably spend more time on this blog than on Pinterest, but for now I will share some of my favorite pins as of late.

Linda Evangelista, shot by Peter Lindbergh I'm assuming. Painting by Leanne Shapton. Street style shot by The Sartorialist. Painting by Ellsworth Kelly. Cocktail photo from Vogue Paris.

Mario Hugo

I stumbled on Mario Hugo's website and can't stop admiring his range of work. I'm always impressed when a designer/illustrator/artist can display a high level of versatility in a body of work that has such a defined style. There is something about the textural quality, muted color palettes and subtle use of refined typography that always make each piece unmistakably Mario.

Grace Coddington

Looking forward to curling up on the couch to read this in November.

Probama

A moment we will remember forever, with an amazing illustration to immortalize it.

Summer sunnies

These must be the most impractical pair of sunglasses I've ever lusted after, and I think that's what makes them so fun. As the New York Times said, they hit the pastel trend that is so ubiquitous right now and simultaneously rock a strong vintage vibe.

Olympia le Tan Notebooks

If I was in Paris right now I'd stop by Colette to pick up these fun little Olympia le Tan notebooks. I love the range of colors and the delicate drawing. Olympia le Tan is a relatively young brand (maybe less than five years old?) yet she has great branding that looks so elegant and established. Now if only I could buy one of her book clutches...

Glass Slippers

Every now and then Marc Jacobs does something truly clever that catches my eye. Usually it's his clothes, but this time it's his shoes. There's a sort of timeless quality to them, they are simple enough that it could be hard to place who the designer is, could just as easily be Jil Sander, Maison Martin Margiela or someone else. Not sure what it would be like to actually wear these, but there is a sort of romantic notion about the glass slipper that's intriguing and sort of magical.

via La Garconne

Top 5 +1 - No. 1

Swept up in a wave of excitement over the first week of spring, a week full of warm air, sun and blooming flowers, I was inspired to kick of the first of a new series – my Top 5 links of the week, though I couldn't whittle it down, so here are 6 of my favorite things; ombre glass tumblers, new-ish music from Grimes, Mad Men (finally!), shiny new shoes, magnolias in bloom and the sharp geometry of Eddie Borgo's jewelry.

Wildwood Cover Design

Every now and then, it can be easy to look at great design work, or art work, and think it's so good that it looks almost effortless. That the designer, illustrator or artist just woke up that day and drew some sketches on a piece of paper and voila, a masterpiece. That couldn't be farther from the truth. True, sometimes in a moment of intense inspiration things can come together quickly, but most of the time good work comes from several rounds of trial and error. Carson Ellis gave a great look at this process in this blog post. Above are a selected few from that long, sometimes grueling process. It paid off though, because the final design is truly a masterpiece.

SOFIA by Anagrama

Here are some selected pieces from Anagrama's new work for SOFIA building in Mexico. They developed this brand identity to entice buyers, and every last detail is so thoroughly considered, the result feels elegant and established, yet fresh and modern. The rich navy and gold leaf is complimented so well by the bright pops of pink. I've been a fan of Anagrama's work for a long time, especially the La Fabrica Del Taco branding, but the SOFIA project is my new favorite.

Jil Sander

Hitchcock, Slim Aarons, Modernism, Minimalism, Romance..all of these words came to mind when I saw this collection. What a different take on Romanticism than Gucci, it's so exciting to see how many visionary creative minds there are in fashion. I picture this woman walking through a Modernist landscape–maybe Louis Kahn's architectural masterpiece at the Salk Institute.

Raf Simons hit all the trends too, metallics, pastels, minimal clean lines– it was an unforgettable exit from Jil Sander.

Jil Sander FW12 via Style.com, Salk Institute photos by me.

Downton Abbey

As of last night, I'm all caught up on Downton Abbey, so perhaps my obsession with the show will die down for a bit. It's definitely the best show I've come across since Mad Men, and I like it for some of the same reasons, as it's very well-acted with stunning costumes and set design, it's set in a time period on the cusp of huge cultural and societal changes, while dealing with the different roles people play in society. It plays out like a soap opera at times with some over-the-top story lines, but it works well, and is so entertaining.

Image via this article.

Dark Romanticism - Gucci FW12

My favorite show so far, Gucci mastered the aesthetic of Dark Romanticism with it's rich textures and deep moody hues, that paired well with the looser silhouettes and darkly tinted sunglasses of 1970's style.