HAND-PAINTED GEOMETRIC FURNITURE BY VOLK

Brooklyn-based company VOLK introduced some new pieces this year during New York Design Week that feature hand-painted designs full of geometry, color and pattern.

Gorgeous, hand-selected wood pieces are embellished with hand-painted patterns on linen in sun-washed colors. Brass details further adorn them, adding a bit of elegance.

These modular tables create triangular and hexagonal shapes when joined as a whole, but look great no matter how you decide to arrange them.

Source : design-milk.com

Men’s Fashion Basics – Part 5 – Chinos/Trousers

So with last week’s article on Jeans barely settling in, I was having a think about what else could be covered for our lovely lower torso. I LOVE jeans, don’t get me wrong. But what we’re aiming for here is a versatile wardrobe that will look great in any occasion and besides it’s nice to have a bit of variety from the standard jeans and t-shirt brigade. I myself have already started to make a move away from jeans and favouring chinos and trousers for my days not spent in a suit.

As I just said, the main reason to purchase them is to add some different dimensions to your outfits but don’t underestimate the fact that they are a lot more comfortable than jeans. Once you’ve finally worn jeans in, you don’t want anything else hugging your legs but for those first few months they can be a bit of a pain. Not with chinos/trousers! Comfy from the word go because they are made of lighter material, mostly cotton based and, especially in the summer months, are a far more practical and suitable option than jeans.

The fact that they are extremely stylish and versatile doesn’t hurt either…

Last year one of the biggest trends that crept up on us during the Spring/Summer season were slim trousers/chinos rolled slightly and paired with a great pair of casual loafers or deck shoes. The whole nautical theme was massive in men’s fashion but a lot of the fashion elite picked up on this sharper new look and really rocked it out by either throwing the socks out or using a really bold pair to add a splash of colour and flair to the bottom half. In essence the chino’s and relaxed trousers are very comfy but due to the more formal tailoring and cut, it means they just give your casual outfits an edge, whatever you wear on top. This look is only going to get even bigger in spring/summer 2010 so I would invest now before everyone else.

Personally I think every guy should grab himself a pair of the classic camel/beige coloured chinos.They go with pretty much everything; from a simple Chet Baker-inspired white V-neck Tee to a blue shirt and grey v-neck jumper, even with just a grey tee and a black hoody you can’t go wrong. The next step would be trying a navy or light to mid grey pair. These colours tend to go with nearly everything so again we have the versatility and when you find a great slim fitting pair, you’ll be on the right track. A black pair normally looks quite formal as they are essentially the same as trousers, but they make an amazing alternative to black jeans that will go great with your bold plaid shirts and graphic t-shirts.

For a real idea of what chinos and trouser can do check out the Chino’s Look book (Chino’s Look Book Click Here) and really start experimenting to see what works for you and how you like to wear them. But what I will say is that nothing can beat the simple paired down look of some camel coloured chinos with a crisp well fitting white oxford shirt and brown loafers for a weekend outfit. Stick to our rules on fit, buy versatile options that will go with what else is in your wardrobe; STAY AWAY FROM PLEATS and you will start seeing these as serious contenders to your favourite pair of jeans in no time.

Chino Picks

Source : www.fashionbeans.com

Love Hurts: A Kit to Survive any Heartbreak by Melanie Chernock

We’ve all had our fair share of heartbreaks throughout our lives and there’s nothing better than those tried-and-true items we take comfort in during those painful times. Melanie Chernock set out to make a first aid kit that combined all the things to help mend a broken heart and she calls it Love Hurts.

The kit definitely brings in a bit of humor because frankly, we all need to laugh through the pain, am I right? The essentials included are: dark chocolate, vodka, a candle with matches, bubble bath, candy hearts with choice words, a mix CD, and if all else fails, a pack of tissues.

 

 All the items come neatly contained in a compact kit.

 

Source : design-milk.com

Men’s Fashion Basics – Part 3 – Long Sleeved T-Shirts

Following on from our last article on T-shirts and how they are basic items for any man’s wardrobe, I thought I’d expand on the topic a little more and broaden our horizons into the world of long-sleeved T-shirts. Now there are quite a lot of them about on the high street at the moment with the coming of autumn/winter making them perfect for layering as a base for your outfit. I can’t say I’ve ever really been that much of a fan of long sleeve T-shirts in the past, other than using them for extra warmth under other items… but nonetheless I dived into all the stores in town and had a look at was on offer and what was being done with them.

Similarly to T-shirts, the long sleeved variety come in crew neck and v-neck styles and a myriad of colours to match. A big trend at the moment is the ribbed versions that are being sold in places such as Burton and Topman and seem mainly designed to be used as your first layer when dressing yourself. On the other hand, with the Henley-style (y-style neck with button opening) thick-knit jumpers and T-shirts making a big impact on most designer’s autumn and winter collections, long-sleeved varieties have appeared to become more of a focal point for outfits and can be used singularly when matched underneath some great open knitwear or statement jacket like a trench.

I have in fact purchased a black and charcoal grey striped one from H&M just the other day and think its amazing. When it comes to the Henley versions I would say you’d want to go for some kind of detailing like stripes or patterns, maybe even in bold colourings to differentiate them from your bog-standard under-layers, which should be without details and in neutral colours so they will go with most of your other clothes.

Quick Tips

As always, here are some fool-proof ways of using long-sleeve T-shirts in outfits:
The most obvious one here is the layered look and you’ve got two options. First would be a boldly coloured one in a sky blue, plum purple or a maroon over a neutral one (which hopefully you’ve remembered is either black, white, grey or navy) and just mix up the style of crew and V-neck (open cut version on top). Or go with a white or black crew neck and put a patterned Henley-style one over the top and let the top layer do the talking. Partner with dark-wash jeans, chinos, blazers, scarves, gloves, beanies, anything you can get your hands on.

Try pairing it with a T-shirt or even a Polo Shirt over the top. Kind of the same as what’s been said above but think about getting a graphic T-shirt involved giving the look more of a grungy/skater vibe to it. Go with a more relaxed jean in a lighter wash (but please not those baggy jean shorts from yester-years) and some Vans sneakers to round it off.

Swap them for the T-shirts that you use as the base layer for your casual shirts. Either keep it simple with a white or black crew neck or pick one that will highlight or co-ordinate with a colour already in the shirt. For example, with a red and black plaid shirt think about keeping it in the red family and go with a maroon long sleeve. But remember to roll up the shirt sleeves a little bit to show more of the layer underneath it.

Use a long sleeve t-shirt under a statement jacket on its own. This look can work with neautral colours with something like a mac or military coat to give a really clean and chic look. Alternatively you can use a thick statement long sleeve t-shirt under something like a gilet in order to show off the longer arms and pair with cut off gloves and a great winter scarf.

Don’t think or try too hard. Long sleeve t-shirts can essentially be used just like a normal short sleeved version worn on it’s own, under a hoody, under a check shirt or with a great piece of knitwear or statement jacket. Experiment with layering and using new items within your wardrobe.

So there you have it, something to think about as a variation to T-shirts now that the weather is getting worse and the wind is picking up. I know I’ve changed my mind on them just from walking around on a Saturday morning and checking them out. They’re great for that transition from autumn to winter when you need a little more warmth for your body. They are timeless items which can create a variety of casual or relaxed formal looks when paired with the right items. Find out which way of wearing them works for you and then go out and grab yourself a couple for the coming months and start of next year.

Example :

Source : www.fashionbeans.com

HAPPY PILLS

a candy store in Barcelona called Happy Pills. If this isn’t innovative design, then I don’t know what is. This might be my favorite design concept of the year. Enjoy!

Source : design-milk.com

Why the Sunset Looks the Same on Mars as it Does in Beijing

On the left is the sunset as seen from Mars. On the right is the same view from Beijing. Were it not for the latter's urban setting, you might not be able to tell the difference. Crazy, right? Fortunately, science can explain why.

Joe Hanson is Ph.D biologist brain behind PBS's It's Okay to be Smart. He spelled out the phenomenon to Gizmodo:

Martian dust is a risk to future human exploration there. Minerals like gypsum in Mars dust could have the same effect as the buildup that harms coalminers' lungs, COPD and things like that. Of course, we wouldn't be outside breathing it in directly, right? The dust is a risk to spacesuits and settlements, too. The Apollo missions taught us that spacesuits really love to get clogged up with dust. Because it's been rolling around in the Martian atmosphere for millions of years, that dust is buzzing with static charge, so it REALLY sticks to stuff like air filters. That could be dangerous, since breathing is kind of an Achilles' Heel for us.
The extra-small size of those Martian dust particles is actually why the sunset there appears slightly blue in that photo. On earth, our atmospheric gases scatter blue and violet light as it travels through the atmosphere (which is why our sunsets are red and our sky is blue).

Source : gizmodo.com