Mi Casa es Su Casa

It might be pretty obvious that I know about as much Spanish as I know Greek or Italian - which is to say, nada mucho. But I thought I'd share a couple of pics of the house that I took yesterday. When I got home from work, the balmy weather coupled with the light inspired me to shoot a few images. I do love my humble abode.

Matthew Williamson for H&M

April cannot get here fast enough. I'm dying over this dress.

Itunes "discovers" John Cage's 4'33"

I think this song is due for a mashup. Anyone? Anyone? I mean, Scarlett Johansson could do another cover album, I'm just saying...

Framed!

We shot frames today. And ourselves. Of course.

Quotables

"But hey, nobody ever got anywhere in life without taking chances, right? I mean, sure that logic's usually best left reserved for buying lotto tickets and asking girls out, but I figured I had an ace up my sleeve: a good feeling about this."

- James recounts his latest foray into Craigslist job trolling over at Green Pea-ness dot org

Quotables

"I think your initial decision to honor the contracts was both ethical and financially astute, but it seems to have been politically unwise."

- An allegedly legit resignation letter from AIG's Jake DeSantis, as printed in the Times. DeSantis was quibbling over the bonus he received. Of course.

Mo Intensity!

On Friday, we wrapped up our long week of shooting with our Teenie Wahine girl, Avalon. She's cute as a button and we've had the privilege of working with her over the past year or so. We're all hoping she never, ever grows out of the sample sizes so we can work with her for ever and ever, amen. After the shoot wrapped, we let Avalon get behind the camera and direct us in a shoot of her own. For your enjoyment: One photographer, one assistant, one art director, and two designers. Avalon called out instructions before each photo like "Happy!" or "Mean girls!" and we obliged with our best model-esque approximations.

"Sad!"

"Mean girls!" (part one, the part wherein I took one look at Michelle's face and started giggling)

"Mean girls!" Part II

Cecilia Prado poncho at ASOS

Seriously digging this Cecilia Prado intarsia knit poncho from ASOS ($215 buy it here). It feels like the perfect thing to throw over a tank top this spring.

Surf Turkey

(Click pic to see track listing)

Though Spring has barely (officially) sprung, I'm already casting my sights on Summer and its languidly warm nights and blistering days. I made this mix recently in light of my constant daydreaming about the Summer months. It's a mix of old and new songs that collectively recall a Surf City USA!!! ideal that was over before I was born.

Lemme know if you want a copy. I might oblige.

The Business of Being Busy

Posting's been nil over the past few days. We've been shooting, shooting, shooting like crazy. I'll be back at it soon, folks! Stay tuned.

Just Glancing Over

Here's an itty-bitty screen grab from my email inbox, with just one message to share...

It's LAUREL.

LAUREL.

Thanks.

Carolyn Salas trophy

Tell me that's not the most amazing thing you've ever seen. See more of her projects here.

Raquel Allegra DIY

I posted about Raquel Allegra's delicately web-like creations a couple of months ago. Last night I found myself with a bit of free time, watching Almost Famous on the couch, so I thought I'd try it myself. This was a first pass, but I'm pretty happy with the results. Michelle and I are shooting all day today so she had me stand in to test lighting which afforded the perfect opportunity to photograph my masterpiece.

You can bet I'll be shredding more in the future - the overabundance of American Apparel knits in my wardrobe had better cower in fear.

American Apparel tanks, leggings, and hat.

Quotables

“He’s always asking: ‘Is that new? I haven’t seen that before.’ It’s like, Why don’t you mind your own business? Solve world hunger. Get out of my closet.”

- Michelle Obama to the New York Times about her response to Presidential inquiries about her wardrobe.

Chris Rudy's Political Views Are The Future

YESSS. SSS. [pause] SSSSSSSS.

Quotables

"For all the discussion Facebook has prompted — over its “25 random things about me” narcissism, its mangled syntax (“Peggy is weekend”), the tricky politics of whom to friend (actual friends? strangers? “kinda knows”?) — its most profound impact may be to alter, even obliterate, conventional notions of the past, to change the way young people become adults."

- The New York Times piece, "Growing Up on Facebook"

Swing Low: Jil Sander Spring '09

Despite my proclivities toward clothing with more of an - ahem - ornately baroque bent, I've always loved the minimalist austerity at Jil Sander. The shapes are architectural and the palettes are subdued - but nothing about these pristine garments is the least bit boring. Rather, Jil Sander has always struck me as intellectualism beautifully visualized. At the helm is designer Raf Simons, whose artful touches never overpower the silhouette of his garments. Rather, for Jil Sander, the devil is in the details.

Amidst a cadre of sleek, neutral suits for Spring 2009, Simons brilliantly let it all hang loose - in the form of fringe, be it ankle-grazing or swooping from one shoulder to the other. He allowed the sinuous strands to move freely around the otherwise structured pieces, creating a lovely juxtaposition of form and movement. And though the thought of too much fringe might cause one to recoil with the horrifying thought of something like this, at Jil Sander, it's never overdone.

Taylor Warren via Knight Cat

(Click the spreads to see the full-sized versions)

Knight Cat had a couple of great posts featuring Taylor Warren. Love that editorial business.

Turn Up The Volume: H&M Spring '09

It's the perfect trinity of volume, pastels, and neutrals.

Design*Sponge DIY booklet

This envelope booklet DIY from Design*Sponge is absolutely genius.

Unmitigated Joy!

Anyone who has ever worked in an office environment can corroborate these facts: When you work in an environment as sterile as an office (even if that office is a decidedly non-sterile photo studio, but nevertheless orders goodies from the Corporate Express catalogue), the very smallest of perks can seem like overwhelming good fortune.

I've always had a particular fascination - and particular particularity - with office supplies, especially the ones I use for my day to day 9 - 5. Pens are of special consideration, and in the past couple of years, I've really taken to the Sharpie ultra fine point. Typically these come in packs of 4 - red, blue, black, and green - and no sooner do I open a new pack do at least half of these pens disappear.

We recently filled out an office supply order and I told my coworker to get me a pack of these pens, expecting the 4-color combo. What she brought in to me today was beyond delightful.

TAKE THAT, ROY G. BIV!

Get ready for technicolor memos, guys.

Quotables

"All the pounding of toms and ecstatic chanting can leave much of Bromst feeling like the pagan rituals of some woodland filled with chubby, bespectacled Deacon-gnomes."

- Pitchfork gives Dan Deacon's newest an 8.5

My, What Lovely Packaging You Have

Lovely Package culls the best packaging design from across the web, and presents it in one cohesive blog-like website. Here are a few of my favorites:

Music CD Labeling System (see more about the designer here)

Karlsson's Vodka (read more here)

Inkwell (see more here)

Snow Aftershave (read more here)

Roxy on Nylon's First Look

I previously documented the lighting testing we did in studio for our Roxy lookbook project here and here. Well, Nylon featured RX for their First Look feature online. Check it out.

He Makes It Look Easy

This weekend, my friends Charlie and Graham welcomed the third part of their Chicago trinity to LA for the week. On Sunday afternoon, they were hanging out at the house and Tyler (said east coast friend) unfurled his traveling chess mat and played a couple rounds with Graham.*

After a couple of easy wins for Tyler (who, by the way, teaches chess to preschoolers, therefore securing the advantage), he decided to up the stakes by playing one last round. Blindfolded.

Oh, and? He totally won.

*Who only reads this blog when he knows he's on it. Hey, buddy. Nice to see you over here.

Hey, 2.0? You suck.

At the risk of sounding...er, hopelessly and unabashedly in the sack with my generation's particular brand of the cyber-zeitgeist, I have a bone to pick with all this change business. First Pitchfork unveiled a much-needed but nevertheless surprising entire-site overhaul. Then everyone's favorite cyber-bible Facebook rolled out the red carpet for their second major overhaul in the past few months. Of course it has naysayers (like me) kicking and screaming because - hello? - I'd just gotten used to the old layout. I had my methods of clicking, of tabbing, of where to go and when. And just when I'd gotten it all down to an art, wha-bam! The webmasters that be went and changed it all around and now it's like the power went out in my little cyber-house and I'm bumbling around, knocking my shins against furniture, cursing under my breath, trying to find a flashlight. Or some liquor.

So pass the scotch, Internet. Because I have a feeling these 'changes' are going to be a permanent mainstay in my little corner of the cyber-world.

(say 'cyber' again.)

CYBER.

Ok. Done now.

Quotables

"I know that, when Laverne and Shirley moved to Hollywood and their address was '113 1/2' this was not some kind of Vaudevillian joke but a real phenomenon common to Los Angeles."

- Tremble.com's Todd Levine prepares to move to Los Angeles

Dear Andrew,

A conversation via text between my sister (who interns for Band of Outsiders) and myself:

Jody: I'm packaging up clothes for Andrew Bird. Shall I slip a love note in the pocket for you?

Me: Yes.

Jody: Dear Andrew, whistle me away. I love you. Love, Laurel

Me: Dear Andrew, I'll be your sparrow. Like, Laurel

Jody: I could just slip in your picture so he recognizes you at the next 8 shows.

Me: DO IT NOW. This might be my only chance. And Jody? Don't let this be like the time I told you to kiss Tim Gunn's shoes AND YOU DIDN'T.

Lova Spring 2009

Lova's Spring 2009 lookbook was shot by Nabil Elderkin in the Elysian Park area of L.A. Imbuing the garments with a noirish sense of nostalgia, the photos recall a bygone era. Lova describes their influences as the "palette of David Hockney paintings, the clean lines and natural hues of Frank Lloyd Wright and John Lautner homes, and the enduring designs of Charles and Ray Eames." See Lova's official site for more images.