Bookshelf Porn

For the bibliophile-cum-design junkie, Bookshelf Porn is pretty much the best photo blog around. The site posts submitted images of gorgeously arranged books, providing a wealth of design inspiration. Even though some of them will be impossible to recreate--you probably will never be able to make a brook made out of books (see above), for instance--your mind can still roll around in the visual eye candy, making this website truly the most satisfying kind of pornography for the book geek in all of us.

Photos from Bookshelf Porn

Hey Cappy...

How about a Vassar clothing line?

Fashionista posted today about one of Harvard's new measures to staunch their bleeding endowment (OK, graphic, but losing 18 mil is pretty serious). What are they doing? Launching a clothing line! It's called Harvard Yard, and it will obviously capitalize on the preppy/collegiate craze vaunted by trust-funders and hip hoppers alike. Here's a peek of what they'll offer:



Considering the name-brand cred Vassar carries, especially for girls, and the daring style we see on campus daily, you have to wonder what a Vassar line would look like. MadsVassar recently linked to a GQ photoshoot with some Vassar apparel, so clearly some people (at Conde, no less) think our name is worth throwing on an editorial page. Realistically, we probably don't have the funds to launch this on the scale Harvard is doing, but at the very least, it would be great to see design-oriented students working on a smaller-scale project, fusing Vassar old-school and new-school, and selling some items online.

Plus, we could do so much better than that boxy jacket.

Creating Constructs

Fashion magazine's undeniably follow a pattern for their cover. Closeup of a pretty actress/model, hair blowing, face photoshopped to eerie perfection, typically blond (especially for teen magazines) and caucasian (although Vogue has actually had three african american women this year on the cover!). To exemplify this point, here is Vogue's January cover:
Anne Hathaway is beautiful, I want to become a redhead, and have a stylish New Year. This sounds great. Unfortunately though, this formula for a magazine cover has become so uninteresting that almost none of them are eyecatching anymore. The beautiful woment that they choose for the cover appear as unhuman clones of this vision for uniform, ideal beauty. The Moment, New York Times Style Blog, recently posted a picture of the cover of Vogue from January, 1950. In looking at this image, it seems like in the past 59 years, has the magazine industry has become less progressive and less artistic.

Erwin Blumenthal’s photograph on Vogue’s cover in January 1950.

This cover includes Jean Patchett’s beauty mark, mouth, eye, brow and nose. This reduction is artistic, alluring, and unique- something many covers today are missing.

It's Here!

"The spring design issue of T Magazine will put you ahead of the curve — in more ways than one. Our cover star is Greg Lynn, champion of “blob” architecture, whose first house was photographed by Raymond Meier. We also take a tour of an artful Manhattan townhouse that looks as contemporary now as it did the day the owner — who also designed it — first moved in back in 1973. William Shaw profile Richard Woods, whose faux wood facades have the art world floored. Ambra Medda, the founder of Design Miami Basel shows why she’s the fairest of them all, Frank Gehry takes us out on his sailboat, Foggy, and Alice Rawsthorn explains how a quirky, seaweed-like room divider became a runaway design hit. And there’s a lot more where that came from. Dive in!"
-By Alix Browne for New York Times Style Magazine

Icelandic Fasion

Birkiland´s goal is to introduce, sell and support Icelandic design and assist in its future development in Iceland and around the world.

Their manifesto reads:

• We believe that Iceland is unique
• We believe that there is an increased need for understanding our past, our identity and our history
• We love all the colors of the rainbow
• We believe in the intense power of nature
• We believe in quality
• We believe that design will help create competitive advantage of the nation
• We believe in love and respect for all things
• We believe in learning from the past, look to the future and still enjoy today
• We believe that our home should nourish both body and soul

These principles are certainly evident in their products. They feature five icelandic designers whose products are related to these principles. They are innovative in terms of design and they are truly Icelandic products.

The Seapelt, featured below, reflects the belief present in icelandic myths that describe seals as being condemned by humans. The Birkiland website includes the tale that inspired the designer. These cozy body blankets also come in baby sizes.

Speaking of Tom Ford...

Here's a recent interview with the designer: wearer of impeccable suits, procurer of excellent Botox, part-time role model, full time BAMF. He's got opinions on men's jewelry, tuxedos, sex of all kinds, and obviously, the nature of sexy.

From Pants to Portraits

Most of us know Hedi Slimane for his minimalist design sense, but lately he's also become quite the shutterbug, shooting several ad campaigns in New York, L.A., London and Paris. He also maintains a personal photoblog of black & white shots. Favorite subjects include: cigarettes, skinny punk boys, suburban sprawl and celebrities. Clearly, Hedi has been reading my FB profile.

Want to procrastinate some more? Here's some culture.

Click on the title for a multi-faceted look into the world of art/design/culture. Enjoy.

A breath of fresh air from within the Vassar Bubble!