head decor.

pearlyku — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 03:21:26 +0000

Hair clips, bobbles, ribbons and assorted doo-dads—even though I have certainly outgrown the age where excessive hair adornments are en vogue—I have a soft spot for a blinged-out barrette or satiny headband. Not having bright, light hair, I always felt I needed a little something to draw attention to my ‘do. Most of my favorite were barrettes—plastics molded into geometric forms in black and aqua or clear lucite with flowers suspended in it à la Bill Murray’s bowling ball in King Pin. The most garish the better. I so appreciate the hair accessories of late—tongue and cheek satin Minnie Mouse bow headbands, color feathers tacked to a band, and at the top of hair decadence, essentially a $3 hair tie souped up: the Louis Vuitton Hair Cubes for a mere $295.

the modern day girl's tiara

http://www.franceluxe.com/pc/3088C/franceluxebarrettes/index.html

http://www.louisvuitton.com/us/flash/index.jsp;jsessionid=OVVSWXWUK0FR0CRBXUDVAFYKEG4RAUPU?skuId=M65789

http://www.colettemalouf.com/current_collections/current_collection/sunburst_feather_headband/

a tote that starts trends.

pearlyku — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 23:59:15 +0000

Now I’m no fashion expert but I’m going out on a limb and proclaiming that a tote bag has the power to influence runways and retailers. Take for example the Vanessa Bruno tote…I’m going to guess it came into popularity 2003-ish. I think the most successful designs, whether they be graphic design, furniture design or fashion design, find the perfect balance of being simple and complete but not boring. I think it’s one of the hardest things to do in design. But these totes by French designer, Vanessa Bruno do it…she took an utilitarian tote bag and glammed it up with some sequins but didn’t do it in a garish way—just a touch of sparkle on top and bottom. And choose sophisticated shades and kept the sequins in the same color family. Now fast forward to Balmain’s Fall 2009 Ready-to-Wear collection and you find a simple, utilitarian Breton or French Sailor shirt glammed up with shoulder pads and sequins. Which brings us to the tween version of the classic tank with striped sequins from American Eagle—with fabric and sequins in a monochromatic color scheme….I think I may be on to something here.

under the influence

as beautiful on the outside as it is on the inside.

pearlyku — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 04:36:00 +0000

i’m sure the aim of every fragrance company is to create a gorgeous looking bottle to entice folks to buy the beautiful scent on the inside; something that will look lovely on one’s vanity. many of the designs are over-the-top faceted glass overdone with rhinestones and metal. i really enjoy the elegant simplicity of the Jovoy bottle. It reflects the gorgeous sophisticated and vintage scents. Each scent in the line has an identical modernist faberge egg bottle that sits within a chic cylinder—each with a different colored columned paper. The type on the label is fun without being goofy. a homerun in packaging.

my purple passion

http://en.jovoyparis.com/

a sack for sinners.

pearlyku — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 00:06:37 +0000

a tote that takes a poke at our current obsession with the evils of sugar and fat. while i don’t advocate over-consumption, there is nothing that lifts the spirits like a little something sweet.

http://www.cafepress.com/biscuweeandme.432328788

a tempting tote

instant iq booster: smarties vs. m&ms

pearlyku — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:45:02 +0000

smarties: created in 1937 these candies have everything over their american counterpart, the m&m. same concept, a hard outer shell with chocolate in the center only the chocolate has a sweeter, milkier taste than an m&m and a way better color palette. where m&m’s color palette looks like a 1970s rec room, the smarties is a classic breath of fresh air…mixing blue based pink with kelly green, a medium cherry red, robin’s egg blue, orangey-yellow, eggplant and lavender. unlike the m&m, the smartie doesn’t need its name stamped all over it. i like typography as much as the next gal, but I don’t want to eat it.

http://www.smarties.co.uk/home/

the smarter choice

time keeps on ticking into the future.

pearlyku — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 04:51:30 +0000

since every tech-y device we own tells time, there really isn’t a need for a watch..is there? well, until they can design me a computer or a phone that is white leather and has multi-colored diamanté, i say watches are here to stay! These all say crazy circus fun…I really like it.

http://www.bonbonwatch.co.jp/

twinkle, twinkle, twinkle

carry your message.

pearlyku — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 21:26:05 +0000

we’ve all got baggage + we all need to schlep stuff. it’s an arduous task so why not do it with a little personal pizzazz. a typical tote can say it all. I particular like these ones:

PEMBELALAY: The Type of Girl Who Dots her I’s with Hearts tote
what it says: femininity is fun
*limited tote bag design from NYC based graphic designer

http://www.pembelalay.com/tote.html

MAPTOTE: Philadelphia wine tote
what it says: this is where i’m from
*choose totes with illustrated map from various states and cities

http://www.maptote.com/shop/philadelphia-wine-tote/

LANVIN: LOVE 120th birthday tote
what it says: i love albert + i love lanvin
*illustrated by creative director, albert elbaz for lanvin’s 120th anniversary
http://www.netaporter.com/product/61165

Too Hot to Handle

oh to be adorned.

pearlyku — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 21:06:22 +0000

so one may make the argument that such accessories should be reserved to those younger than their shoe size—i say to hell with what is age appropriate. these brooches, earrings, necklaces are so full of whimsy and joy… i love ‘em. i’d love to see them paired with something really classic and on the boring side—it would be such a silly twist.

http://www.lesnereides.com/en/c-nouveautes-paris-carte-postale.php

people wearing people: the paris, carte postale collection from Les Néréides

i have beer glasses.

pearlyku — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 20:36:56 +0000

no, not the type that inexplicable connects two people in polar opposite ends of the physical beauty spectrum ( a la the leads in the hit, Knocked Up) but these way cool glasses that have two layers of glass so your hot body doesn’t warm your cool blue moon. genius!

http://www.bodumusa.com/shop/line.asp?MD=1&GID=30&LID=489&CHK=&SLT=&mscssid=QB73KLUC0QLL8M494DTARE1C08D1BB09

cooler beer is proven to increase consumption

the nose knows.

pearlyku — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 20:04:09 +0000

cheapest trip to europe ever: a $35 candle

i’m always so amazed how smells can trigger memories. i can be walking down the street, turn a corner, get a whiff and suddenly i’m thinking about a trip i took to howe caverns and how my friend got sick after eating a corn dog, and i was wearing a striped pink/blue shirt…etc, etc. which i guess if i wasn’t a great memory can be quite annoying. well there is a way to harness that power for your mental well being…this freakin candle can take you to places you’ve been or maybe will go some day? i find it transports me…not in a fakey calgon way but i think it takes me to a chic european city riding a bike on a sunny day…you try it….

http://www.tocca.com/store/catalog/tocca-beauty/candles/large-candles/marcello-candle-sweet-milk-scented-106oz