We Love Gelaskins

As many "skins", cases and covers there are in the market for one's ipod(s), we think we have stumbled upon the most aesthetically pleasing. We love Gelaskins, the super thin vinyl adhesives that come in a range of sizes for all the Apple products. Aside from the enormous selection, the best feature of these products is their removability. The covers are self adhesive and while we are not convinced that they are reusable, we know that they do come off the product without leaving behind any damage or stray residue. By now, you've probably realized we're commitment-phobes in most things aesthetic. We just think what's great now, might look a little, well, tired in the future. As for functionality, will gelaskins provide full protection for the droppers among us? Probably not, but they do prevent scratches, especially on the vulnerable screens. Some favorites:

Get It Together: Footwear

A recent trip to the shoe department at Bloomingdale's struck fear into the hearts of the Aesthetes. There are a few things going horribly wrong these days. This year, Marc by Marc Jacobs has decided that providing the public with a normal fashionable boot is not enough. Apparently there was some sort of outcry for a boot that looked like a shoe with a phantom knee sock coming out of it? And more breaking news in the world of the unnecessary, can anyone tell us when rain boots became the new status item?


We thought the $200 rubber rain boot was the most ridiculous thing we'd ever seen until we met his cousin.


The $300 rain boot.

And finally, Nanette Lepore has teamed up with Ked's.
Thank god. Because we weren't sure where we were going to purchase our Avril Lavigne meets Anna Nicole Smith sequined high tops. Whew.

Throw Pillow Throwdown

There aren't very many small, relatively inexpensive changes to make to one's space that can pack a lot of power. We've already covered wall decals, one of our favorites, and now we must discuss the rather more obvious, throw pillows.

As common as this decorating tool is, we find it often a frustratingly complex and agonizing choice. We tend to change throw pillows an average of once a year. Before reading on to some of our favorite resources, be sure to check out Design*Sponge's ugliest pillow contest finalists where much hilarity and many pony motifs ensue.

Color/Texture

After dabbling with a few unsuccessful prints, we recently found solace in an unassuming gray linen from West Elm. It's impossible to discuss solid colors without delving into texture because these two elements work in tandem. Bold or neutral, we feel texture is essential. We're picturing a bold color in a shiny smooth fabric and it's reminding us of the wardrobe room of Honeymoon in Vegas. For solid colors in appealing textures (read: comfortable to kick back on for an America's Next Top Model marathon) we like both West Elm and CB2. We stick to solids here because we've tried prints from these merchants and while they appeal at first, when lived with, they always end up feeling a bit pedestrian.

The one caution we offer has to do with something we like to call "ethno-texture," which usually involves some combination of sequins, mini-mirrors and/or cowrie shells. As well intentioned as they may be, they always end up feeling like a post-collegiate Urban Outfitters mess.


Prints

The panoply of prints can be overwhelming but one can find just the vibe for their space with a little effort. Even though as a design trend there's talk of "played out" we still enjoy a good nature motif and a hands down favorite resource is inhabit living.



If custom is more your speed, Repro Depot has an amazing selection of reasonably priced fabrics and it can be surprisingly cheap to have custom pillow covers made. In NYC, we have an amazing super-secret resource that we'll divulge if you email us. Check out a few examples of the changing selection below.

Jodhpurs: Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em

You are likely aware of the extent to which we loved the Fall 07 Balenciaga collection. Deconstructed preppy is theme we extracted from the offerings but since neither of our names are Ghesquiere, we wouldn't dream of taking a runway look and translating it into any literal way into our realities. To make a long story short, we're not wearing Jodhpurs this season or, possibly, ever. In fact, we are a bit bothered by the recent attention this trend has received.


Welcome back to the world of unflattering pants. If fashion editors have any say in the matter, this might happen faster than one can say Z Cavaricci. When is the bad fashion of our childhood going to go away? This is a code red situation, these pants are already on the market at GAP Europe. Is there any chance they might just skip the US Market entirely? We fear not. We fear it will be up to the masses to "just say no." (And I think we all know how well that works).

I think you know where we stand. Lest your express purpose in life is to channel this guy:


Can't touch this.

Anorexia Speculation Looks Great on Keira Knightley

Is Keira Knightley eating? We happen to be good friends with eating and we know what it looks like. We're fairly certain this is not it.


We wouldn't want you to think we would do something like advocate anorexia. However, the star has never looked better since rumors started swirling around Keira's possible eating disorder. We love the smoky eye and the gold highlights. We don't even mind the edgy toga look as popularized by Preen's recent haute pajamas collection.


Though we fear chocolate is no longer in her culinary vocabulary, we love this deep brown color in Keira's wardrobe.
Has anyone else noticed how she's looking more and more like vintage Winona Ryder every day?


Knightley has recently bumped off Kate Moss as the new face for Chanel's Coco Mademoiselle perfume. Her fame solidified by the Pirates trilogy, the logical next step is major endorsement deals. Kudos Keira, no one in their right mind will be accusing you of being a big fat fatty and all this anorexia speculation looks great on you.

Phat Tony Disclaimer
Please be advised: No judgment or warranty is being made with respect to the accuracy, reliability or other evidentiary relevance of any scientific or medical analysis, layman observation, or any other source with respect to the content of this site and to the sites to which this page links, whether in regards to the post immediately preceding this disclaimer or otherwise. Furthermore, the pseudonymed collective of Betsy and Phat Tony (hereafter, the "Aesthetes") take no responsibility thereof. Ever. Oh, and res judicata. Habeus Corpus. Stare decisis.

Weighing in: Ruffles

A recent photo of Kate Bosworth got us thinking.


You know how we feel about high waisted pants but what of the ruffle?

On the face of it, Ruffles appear fairly harmless.


We're seeing versions of the above at all the standard chains. Kept at a minimum, the embellishments don't scream frilly, girly, or Nana's apron. They don't scream but they do whisper and this, dear friends, is a problem.

Ruffles run counter to our aesthetic of clean, modern, simple and never overtly feminine. It's a quick hop skip and a jump from "this is such a fun cute girly top" to "I am a former homecoming queen from Central Ohio." This danger abounds in all facets of life. A ruffled bed skirt?


Indefensible. This is straight out of our Laura Ashley is coming to get us and she's really p*ssed off nightmares (yes, we have those). Ruffles are messy, extraneous, and unnecessary.

We admit, this trend may fall in the realm of borderline viable on none but the savviest among us, but when you wake up realizing you're outfitted as a tiered layer cake.

Don't say we didn't warn you.

We Love Waffle

We admit, we have a lot of opinions. We may even be a little quirky when we get obsessed with things. We repeat, quirky, yes... but inconsistent? Never. Our latest fetish addresses several themes; texture, comfort, and general yumminess. We've conveniently realized that this particular idea crosses into all three of our interests. Food, Fashion and Interior Design.

Let's start with the obvious. The classic waffle. While Phat Tony skews more towards the breakfast burrito, I have always been a carbs at breakfast kind of girl. Not that I don't enjoy eggs but they are usually reserved for those times when I'm being "good." Restaurant waffles perplex me though. I find they are usually a little thick and doughy for my taste (we warned you about the opinionated thing) and I prefer the homemade style. One does require a waffle maker and in counter space challenged NYC apartments, a homemade waffle becomes a definite luxury thus heightening the obsessive-compulsive nature by which I devour them (drowned in syrup and accompanied by veggie bacon, clearly) when given the opportunity. (Phat Tony: "I'm loving the Bets has approached this topic, if only because it's true, waffles, in their multitude of forms, tends to inspire. Along the lines of the breakfast waffle, I've recently been inspired by reruns of Top Chef, when Elia created her beachside breakfast waffle stacker. Sweet and savory, I'd be down for anyone to create a version for me to sample.)


This particular September has brought with it the perfect New York weather. We love fall, especially in the city as the stench of the trash subsides and the nights get crisp. Even now, years later, fall still reminds us of the beginning of school. There are also certain fabrics that one tends to associate with the fall season. I feel Phat Tony has a lot to say about flannel this year and I am obsessed with waffle-textured shirts. I'm not sure what it is about the funny texture that says comfort to me but perhaps part of the draw lies in the fact that these shirts are strictly weekend-wear and non work appropriate (never underestimate the power of the Pavlovian response mechanism). We're also strongly associating this fabric with altogether good things such as football, apple picking, pumpkins and sundays in general. (PH: "I'd also like to touch on the increasing value of layering. I know we're all pretty well versed on the wonders of layering, especially in the fall, but it's generally a failsafe tactic to layer a waffle-knit long sleeve along with other pieces of clothing... it adds an interesting texture, as well as fantastic comfort. A good move, either way.")

Finally, in the realm of home decor, I am obsessed with my new waffle-weave shower curtain. I tend to like the very plain in bathrooms. Super white with maybe a little washed out color here or there. Texture is paramount and the soft texture of this is so great. There's also sort of a chunkiness about it that makes it feel substantial and somehow also, comforting. I love the clean white but there are plenty of other colors here. (PH: "On a related, but non-waffle-oriented topic... I trust Bets's judgment because, well, it tends to be impeccable. I also like the idea of being simple in bathrooms. I just warn people who may not have Bets's eye for accents. When using a simple shower curtain, such as this one, or when using such large areas of pure whites in design, it's incredibly important to add a contrasting element in order to prevent the look from traversing from 'clean and simple' to 'oppressively sterile.' This can come in a variety of forms, from a simple use of a bold color, to adding an element that brings out the texture and/or graphic elements embedded in the pure white piece. Since white is a solid base for anything, the potential for accenting your space is virtually endless. Good luck!")

DEFCON Threat Level 3: Please Step Away From the Crocs

The term "fashion police" exists for a reason. Things can go horribly wrong and often. Take crocs for example.


Not since Beanie Babies have we seen an opiate of the masses mall-trend sweep the nation so thoroughly and completely. We have been appalled since the inception of this phenomenon. We're from the Midwest so we tend to be somewhat familiar with things such as ugly comfort shoes but crocs? Really? Rubber clogs, with holes, in technicolor? Methinks this matter of taste is not so much a question after all.

(Phat Tony: "This sh*t is disgusting. Especially when pale lavender and worn by a man who has no idea. I've never felt as helpless as I did when that travesty clomped past me.")

Ok fine, perhaps we've spotted an endearing child or two sporting the footwear:


But children notwithstanding, we've seen people old enough to know better sporting these monstrosities in Manhattan of all places. Does no one have a good sneaker in their wardrobe? Get it together we beg of you.

It turns out it's not only the fashion police after this particular faux pas. Apparently crocs have just been banned by hospitals in Sweden due to a rather strange possibility that they are contributing to static electricity in the operating rooms and causing equipment to malfunction. More realistically, officials worry that unwanted fluids could seep through the holes and needles could puncture the resin.

In addition to the hospital incident, Washington DC malls are reporting a spate of children catching their toes in escalators. Is there anyone out there who didn't share the irrational childhood fear of getting sucked into the end of the escalator? Turns out, we have the crocs people to thank for bringing that nightmare to life. This issue may or may not have contributed to another recent ban on crocs in a Massachusets elementary school.

I think these incidents just add fuel to the fire for our long held belief that bad fashion and bad decisions go hand in hand.

I'm sorry... You out. AQOT's Top Ten Project Runway Losers

Oh, the joy that is Project Runway. From the first designers' intro to the last "Auf Weidersehen" and every "make it work" in between, there hasn't been a television show in a long time that so captivates the Aesthetes. Top Chef was sort of addicting but has become a bore season three (not to mention the moment Trey got booted, it wasn't much of a game anymore). Top Design was fairly pathetic and we quickly defected to HGTV's Design Star instead (and you know how we love David Bromstad). We've heard promising things about Flipping Out but have yet to set the Tivo's. What we're really most excited about is Project Runway's imminent return. Before we delve into yet another round of talent, drama, and crazy/silly challenges (we hear Project Runway is coming back in mid-November), we bring you the official A Question of Taste countdown of former Project Runway contestants who were robbed. Join us as we take a trip down memory lane... pick a buddy, hold hands, and don't get lost... Things could get ugly:

#10 Keith Michael... really, two first names? Here's a hint: the ones that matter seem to make do with one. Maybe that's where you lost it. Or maybe it was the fact that you thought the rules didn't apply to you. That was dumb. Reality competition television is nothing if not crystal clear in their rules. You hit someone, you get kicked off. You lie, cheat and steal, you make for great drama. You look at pattern books, you pack your bags. What we don't understand is that you were talented. You got onto the show by telling it how it was: your past is in men's design, but you honestly think that the same methods can be applied to women's fashion, and you intended to prove it. You tailored a sheet, for god's sake, adding red buttons from a duvet cover for effect, and everyone noticed. Your design for Miss USA, while not the winner, was arguably the one that would be most flattering on everyone. Your design on the episode on which you got kicked off, was finished without you, but was one of the top two designs. You were dumb, but you were gifted... at least you made it onto a top ten list. Hopefully that says something.

Almost-finalist Laura Bennett is an example of a designer with a strong point of view. The judges may or may not have appreciated that she was designing for the 55-85 age group but none could claim that she didn't know who she was. Admittedly, her PR career may have begun with some rocky forays into the world of the fur collar but she pulled herself out of that and subsequently doled out some measured, smart looks. We're not claiming it was necessarily groundbreaking but aside from her propensity to create black feathered swan numbers (which we just heard Laura Bennett is still doing for some unknown reason) we feel she truly found her voice by the end of the competition. We definitely found her final runway show much more palatable than Michael's messy urban jungle nightmare and for this reason, season 3's Laura Bennett comes in at #9 on our countdown.

#8 Alexandra. You're cute, maybe the most adorable of any Project Runway contestant in the history of the show... what's annoying is that your designs were almost as adorable. You had such a clear point of view, and considering you were only, what, 23, that's saying something. Your designs were girly and delicate, but never excessively so. They always made your models look sexy, but not trashy. We can't help but remember the bikini that the judges hated, but we feel like we've seen don the hottest bodies on South Beach. We're hoping that you've gotten a second chance, because your time on Project Runway clearly did not display what you were capable of.

What ever happened to sweet, lovable, cries at the drop of a hat Andrae? Season 2's Andrae may have been the butt of a seriously funny Santino impression of Tim Gunn but he also ranks #7 on our list. Aside from one horrible orange spherical object incident that took place during the Barbie episode, we loved Andrae's use of subtle blue gray tones and the way his fabrics often draped and moved in a highly pleasant way. We were sad when he was sent home over that cute little Hepburnesque dress made out of astroturf in the make clothing out of plants episode (seriously, where do they come up with this stuff?). We liked his garment in this episode better than Santino's and we definitely think he would've put on a better fourth runway show than Kara Janx. We don't know what he's up to now but back then Andrae Gonzolo, was definitely robbed.

Stoic Emmett McCarthy comes in at #6 on our countdown. Having entered the competition with little experience in Women's clothing, we forgave Mr. McCarthy for his opening mistake involving pink. (Don't tell anyone but most girls don't actually like pink anyway). After noting several great choices in future episodes, we truly lamented the fact that he was kicked off for fashioning a pants-less skating costume. Who needs pants anyway? Emmett could have wound up with a shining career as Britney Spears' chief costume designer. While it did irk us that Emmett continually reminded both judges and viewers that he was a Menswear designer by training and had never attempted Women's wear, we think he was robbed in Season 2 and we commend him on his strong, saleable collection recently featured at his NYC boutique EMC2.

#5 Uli...Ulrike... whatever... you got to the final round, and you were SO close to winning. I almost don't really understand why you didn't win, given the consistency of your work, the clarity of your point of view, and the lovely German-ness we thought only Heidi Klum could provide. Most relevant to our interests, however, is the idea that Uli was able to work with prints and not against them. She never made us feel as though she were a fashion school dropout, sewing together arbitrary mismatched pieces of fabric and calling it haute couture, or throwing a leopard-print our way that screamed "Remember me? A few weeks ago when you got lost and wondered into a J.C. Penney? Plus-sized lingerie section? No? Well, let me remind you!" She, instead, created a bit of an edge, and not just a little bit of glamour in piece after piece. Never was her work better displayed than in her finale runway collection, where she hit us with killer piece after piece after piece. She peaked at the right time, but being 2nd can't be enough shine for her... (not to mention her mom. Remember her? How German and adorable was she?!)

We love pretty people, we really do. We love staring at their pretty little faces and basking in the shine of their gleaming hair. We especially love pretty and talented people (seriously, check out our friends) and at that, Season 3's Alison qualifies. Her six episode stint on PR was woefully short and we found all of her garments both whimsical and wearable. We think it supremely unfair that she got eliminated on a challenge to make clothing out of garbage. Who thought that was a good idea? Note to Tim Gunn: Alison's dress did not come close to making her model look fat. It was unflattering because it was made out of trash! Okay, so what if she asked the stylist to fashion a bow made out of HAIR to place atop her models head in her losing challenge, that does not change the fact that Angela "Fleurshon" Kesslar and Vincent "Turns Me On" Libretti survived longer. Alison Kelly ranks #4 in Project Runway ex-contestants who were robbed.

Our pick for #3 is Nick Verreos. Oh Nick. Nick Nick Nick. How you so briefly graced us with your presence, from your tailored muslin madness to your tearful farewell, offending the judges via some "feminine" fabrics on Daniel V., while you successfully modeled Chloe's pink-satin backed vest... Your only win was arguably your tackiest. You had an eye for design and style, which apparently can only be appreciated by the west coast aesthetes. Who could forget your party dress, designed for Nicki Hilton, which could've won if elegance was the name of the game. Tara rocked the crap out of that outfit, and probably would've made a paper bag look stunning. We still hate Zulema for taking Tara away from you, arguably messing up your concentration, (although major points go to you for dragging that model out of gumby-legged limbo with your "Mykonos" piece) but we know you're destined for fashion-greatness... maybe just not on Bravo TV.

(Oh, and Nick, if it's any consolation, we actually went to Zulema's Spring 2007 show. All the time in the world couldn't have helped with her unfinished seams and messy tailoring... I mean, not even the crappy resolution on my camera phone could hide what a mess her work was. So whatev, you win.)

Nora Caliguri from Season 1, dismissed after only 5 short episodes, was most definitely robbed. Her clothes were just punk rock enough while still amazingly well constructed. We find it incredibly painful that she was eliminated on the wedding dress episode. First of all, it wasn't that bad and second, she was truly following her clients wishes. She was between a rock and a hard place. Design a dress more towards Nora's rock n' roll design sensibility and face criticism for not listening to client wishes on the most important day of her life or give the woman the poufy skirt she's always dreamed of and call it a day. I think we all know what the right decision is here. Nora Caliguri is number #2 on our list.


#1 Okay, being from the midwest gives one (in this case, us) a bit of perspective... High fashion isn't for everyone; by that, I mean that some people understand high fashion even less than they can afford it. However, looking fantastic in what appears to be an expensive outfit is something that can be translated to absolutely everyone, and I think Kayne did his part in helping a special niche: beauty queens who naively think they know how to look good and the mothers who are living vicariously through them. As you may or may not know, Kayne owns a dress shop, for which he designs and makes dresses that are prom n' pageant appropriate. He designs for his market, but his market does not design for him. Let's respect that in Oklahoma, he's not exactly a kick-step-do-si-do away from the leading industry centers, but he has worked very hard and effectively, for lack of a better phrase, to make it work.

Case in point: check out this little number... Disregarding what the judges may have said (while, of course, relaying all appropriate respect to the Kors-Garcia-Klum triumverate), this answer to the Paris couture challenge was everything it was supposed to be: detailed, precise, handworked, and a piece of art. The way the fabric moved made the bottom of the dress almost shimmer, emulating the exceptionally flattering bodice piece, was nothing if not dreamlike, and the back of the dress, with the satin ribbon tie, allowed the fitting of the dress to be easily matched perfectly to the model's specifications.

Kayne shows us that even the most unexpected individual may have great talent, if only given the proper venue via which to express themselves without restraint... and this, with no hesitation, inspires us to name Kayne our #1 PR Loser. (Of course, this all being said... Kayne, babe, pumpkin, can we talk about that blingy-name-belt? You work it with confidence, but the sh*t is tacky. Work it out. Thanks.)

So... to all you Season 4 Project Runway contestants: Auf Wiedersehen. We'll be watching.

I'm Only Happy When it Rains

First of all, we have a major pet peeve to unveil. We hate when people say "blank" is the new black, such as, pink is the new black, chartreuse is the new black, whatever, there is no new black. Black is what it is and while there is surely room for more than one color in one's wardrobe, no one is going to stop wearing black. However, it seems like every season there's a neutral that magazine editors are pushing like crack cocaine. This season, enter gray.

We love gray. We love it in the same way that we secretly love rainy weather. There's something introspective about a cloudy day and in the feeling that one need not be happy all the time. We like melancholy sometimes and we especially like it in clothing. There's a time and a place for a yellow polka dot dress in a girl's life or a bright graphic tee in a guy's but oftentimes we prefer the fashion equivalent of staying in and listening to Sufjan Stevens.

We love this example from Dries Van Noten. Unsurprisingly the Antwerp native nailed this feeling.

We love this slightly unstructured structure. We love gray with ivory and also the deepest chocolate brown. However, for those not feeling the unstructured thing, see below from Doo.ri




We're going to be embracing gray this season and pretty much whenever we feel like it. Bring on the storm.

Overexposure Looks Great on Gwen Stefani

It has become impossible to turn on the television these days without coming across Gwen Stefani. We're not talking about MTV where she belongs (hollaback) but she's everywhere lately. Granted her fashion line has been out since 2003 and sure its great she's capitalizing on it but this new L perfume just feels so Glo by JLo. The hawking of one's own products notwithstanding, Gwen is also now a spokesperson for HP products. Commercials for perfume, commercials for printers, this is confusing. Thank you HP but we surely don't need to be printing a paper doll entourage designed by Ms. Stefani herself, we're quite certain that falls squarely in the realm of unnecessary. In addition to the aforementioned, Ms. Stefani has also brought the baby as accessory to a high art form that Brangelina could barely dream of. In the midst of it all, has anyone noticed how amazing she looks lately?

Gwen, having always been quite attractive if perhaps in a slightly kooky way, is lately giving Cameron Diaz a run for her money in the aging gracefully club. Gwen has a firm grasp on her personal style and we haven't confirmed this yet but we think this is the look Amy Winehouse is trying and failing at.


Ms. Stefani's quirky, rock n' roll style is sometimes costumey but suits her platinum blonde hair and the fact that she is, in fact, a rock star. With her recent LAMB collection at fashion week, the tabloids have sunk their teeth into photographing the star ad nauseum. Sure, no one is perfect and she's also been known to send things like this down the runway,

but we say rock on Gwen Stefani, launch another line or three and beat that endorsement horse to death, because overexposure looks great on you.

Wizard Chic: It's time for Harry to call it a day...

I love Harry Potter.

I do. I've read all the books, multiple times, and I think that every moment spent devouring page by miraculous page was time well spent. From the point Hagrid knocked through the door of that dirty seaside cottage to when Mrs. Weasley bitch-slapped Bellatrix (well, you know what I mean), I couldn't get enough. Even after most of the movie versions have tried to tear down the wondrous fantasy J.K. worked tirelessly to create, I have stayed by Harry's side. He's my boy, we're peoples.

But there are lines to this fantasy world that we should really try not to cross.

What? Okay, so we are not the first to jump on this bandwagon, but regardless, we can't do anything but speak out. We've discussed a great many topics, and can't deny that there are some good things that are happening in this look... but the issue can be boiled down to one point...

Not since Gandhi has anyone been able to rock glasses with a perfect circle frame (and before you ask, no, not even you)... It took someone fictional to actually get people even thinking about this look again, and we beg of you Marc... keep it fiction. And to those who are enjoying this look... if it's children's fantasy fiction that really speaks to you this season, might I just say this: If McGonagall saw you like that, she would be so pissed. She'd turn into a cat, scratch your face off, and laugh. True story.

There's another ad making the rounds in this month's magazines that could drive this point home (and Bets, any help in finding said ad would be amazing)... picture those glasses on an androgenous human being, rocking an oversized sweater, wool 3/4 length pants with a hint of elastic in the hem, and, as a cherry on the proverbial sundae, army boots. Surprisingly, the boots were the only thing that screamed "fashion" to me. Everything else seemed a bit... well, editorial. And for those of you who don't know, "editorial" is fashion-speak from "Kind of a big mess, but, like a car-accident, you can't help but stare."

I might be off on my translation, but my fashion-to-English dictionary is SO five minutes ago. Please forgive.

A Note to Hipsters

Trends come and go but it has been a long time since a group of people claiming counterculture have latched onto such a definitive look.

That means you hipster in the skinny jeans, vintage tees, funny hats, suspenders and wayfarers. You all look the same and unless, like the girl* in front of me in the coffee shop, you are actually doing something groundbreaking like the Daniel Boone coonskin cap she's sporting (seriously) then you've lost the moral high ground and we're going to have to resort to making fun of you just as much as we made fun of the sorority girl standard issue black pant, slutty top, North Face back in college.

Thank you.

*Editor's note: that "girl" actually turned out to be a guy. We have nothing to say except that a haircut and a cheeseburger are in order.

Phat Tony Addendum: I have far too many opinions when it comes to the hipster look, whether in re: pseudo-hipsters or all-the-way-and-maybe-way-too-far hipsters. However, I will narrow my opinion down to two post-specific comments:
a) I know I have a tendency to allude to Harry Potter a bit too much (which is an entirely other taste-specific topic), but does this girl/boy person look a bit too much like a hungry Daniel Radcliffe, or is is just me?
b) a designer friend of mine (I understate his credentials by simply saying "designer," for in his field, he is arguably the best at what he does... I think so, at least. And so does Martha Stewart. Seriously.) told me recently that he really appreciates when a designer brings a sense of humor into his or her work. This can sometimes come in a form of a crazy lamp in a previously monochromatic room, or a sugar dinosaur on an impeccably constructed dessert. I definitely appreciate this girl/boy/man/woman/child's sense of humor and irony in working that hat the way that he/she/it is. Kudos, and thanks Bets, for pointing it out.

Affordable Art

Who can afford huge impressive pieces of art these days? Even just properly framing a piece can eat up a surprising amount of one's budget and especially considering the current trend of clustering MANY pieces together:

we thought we'd share a few of our favorite resources for more affordable art.

Binth -

We were tipped off to this website by Design*Sponge for their amazing one-of-a-kind prints (for $45) which we love.



In addition to the one-off's which sell out and refresh often, Binth offers limited edition prints, greeting cards, and one of the most adorable baby books we've ever seen.

pretty:darn:swell -

This company that grew from a brother/sister team features a constantly rotating collection of artists. The beauty of this website is that when you buy a print (for $20) a full $5 is donated to a charity of the artist's choosing. A quick peek at the gallery confirms that this month's selection is as original as ever.Aesthetic Apparatus -

In addition to art prints, this site also has some great, grown-up concert posters for the hipster inside us all.