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.

Dear Stylist: Jennifer Lopez Edition

Dear Stylist,

A sartorial timeline for Jennifer Lopez would make for a wild and crazy ride. There were the Fly Girl years (striped leggings and way too HUGE blazers), the Janet Jackson years (featuring a bared midriff in the That's the Way Love Goes video), and the Diddy years where we all thought she should have stayed (we would definitely be investors in the double stick tape industry if so). Then along came the "triple threat years" where she tried to have a career in vocals, acting and dancing and only succeeded in demonstrating lack of talent in all three. And who could forget the Bennifer years read: overexposure. Now, Ms. Lopez has settled comfortably into the Marc (Mr. Death) Anthony years and this, dear stylist, is not becoming her and we only have you to blame.

Stylist, has no one ever taught you that hog tying a star into an garment is not a good idea? Our poor Jennifer resembles a sausage in this dress that not only cinches her in all the wrong places but pours on an extra dose sparkle and fringe to add insult to injury.

We admit that we love this steely shade of gray and those are some extremely hot shoes but not since Janet Jackson's All For You video have we seen the half shirt attempt in action. This has all the makings of an amazing outfit if we just decided to dial up the symmetry. A shoutout to whomever has taken control of the hair and makeup situation though, way to localize the problem to the right shoulder.

We think Ms. Lopez has a phenomenal body and we love the high octane wind machine look, we're just not sure why you've decided to dress her in a tea cozy.

We realize times are hard stylist, but please, get Jennifer's wardrobe together. El Cantante is a cry for help people. If you can't manage JLo's transition into obscurity, eventual fierce comeback and finally, lifetime original movie, we will have to advise Ms. Lopez to seek alternate counsel.

Very Truly Yours,
The Aesthetes

We Love Wall Decals

We're sort of fascinated with the idea of wallpaper. It easily adds a definitive statement to a room. It's also the ultimate in decorating chutzpah is it not? I will permanently adhere this design on my walls such that the process of removing it will involve a heavy duty steamer and a LOT of my time. That sounds just about as appealing as sitting through back to back marathons of Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader. So what if we're commitment-phobes, we can blame it on the fact that we rent our spaces. Imagine our delight when we heard of wall decals. Perfect for the person who can't make up his or her mind on design or who doesn't want to affect their walls in a permanent manner, wall decals are self adhesive and completely removable.

One of the most popular options on the market, and a major innovator in the product, is Blik. Blik offers the largest and most varied options such as the playful shadow of a phantom chandelier or the more graphic choices which oftentimes people mistake for actual paint:


More intricate options include a flock of birds and paisley. We've also been dying to order some custom letters to put up a favorite quote.

ferm LIVING is a second brand of wall decal that tends to offer slightly more sophisticated options. Ferm is great for those feeling the very popular nature motif trend right now. Here's a great modern way to bring in a branch element.

We also love this one called hydrangea:

Finally the most whimsical choices come from a Swedish website called Form and Function. We'd probably go crazy with these options:

if it weren't for the fact that the website is a tad difficult to navigate and the translation feature malfunctions to the extent that we're not entirely certain if they're actually for sale.

Middle Age Looks Great On Cameron Diaz

We find it hard to believe that a full 10 years have passed since the release of the brilliant "My Best Friend's Wedding," (Foreva and eva you'll stay in my heart lalalala...ahem...sorry) and with that, its scene stealer Cameron Diaz has just turned 35. Surely 35 isn't old in the real world and especially the Aesthetes who live by the motto "never peak in high school" commend those who age gracefully. In Hollywood however, 35 is uncomfortably close to over the hill. Luckily though, Cameron Diaz has never looked better.

She's such a fabulous example of jeans and t-shirt elegance. Ms. Diaz seems to be settling into a wardrobe of classics that fit and flatter both on and off screen.


And homegirl can really rock herself some yellow.


We're happy Mr. Sexyback is no longer in the picture. We hated when Cameron went brunette as well as the crazed paparazzi beating behavior that went along with it. We'll even go so far as wantonly blaming Timberlake for the the horrible "The Holiday."

No one can predict what the future may hold and we admit we are a little concerned based on the star's penchant for sun exposure, but for now Cameron, stay far away from the botox, those mini wrinkles around the eyes should be welcomed and applauded because middle age looks great on you.

The plural for "Man Purse" is "Men Purse."

We have stuff. In fact, we love our stuff. We wouldn’t even have this little medium and venue of judgment and recreation if we didn’t love stuff, in general. What women have learned is that they need a constantly accessible location to keep said stuff. The guys, while wary and a little bit concerned, are on their way.

Enter the man purse.

Now, I am not the phenom at bags that Bets may be (she is, of course, in charge of handbags worldwide), but I am a connoisseur of the masculine alternative. Be it a messenger bag, camera bag, or backpack, it is clearly socially acceptable for men to carry an everyday bag. It’s even smart, considering how many tools of necessity we have nowadays (phone, wallet, keys, blackberry, iPhone, camera, iPod, headphones, books, Airborne, keycards, etc.) that won’t comfortably fit into our pockets without looking fools (no, you’re not the exception. You stuff your pockets with all this crap, you look like a moron, sorry…).

Guys, you can rock these bags, no question. You can even look good doing it. Okay, don’t worry, we’re not asking that you go out and do something like this:


(Who knows if mustard is back, but we don't feel like indulging those who think it is...)

But we are asking that you take into account a few reasonable thoughts before making snap purchasing decisions. Let’s review:

An everyday bag must not get in the way of…well… your life. Therefore, we suggest that any bag that will be accompanying you basically everywhere should fit the look that you’re going for, and the lifestyle that you lead.

For the messenger bag type of guy, the guy that means business and has the accessories to make sure he succeeds, we love the clean lines and variety of neutral tones that Jack Spade seems to churn out every season. It's timeless without being boring, it’s upscale without being oppressive, and it doesn't take that much thought to choose a tone that will compliment your outfit. These bags basically look good on everyone.

If you’re more of the perpetually active type, regardless of whether you are of the ranch-hand or urban cowboy variety, we suggest a standard backpack. Now don't be hasty, not all backpacks are created equal. In fact, most of them pretty much (to quote the vernacular) suck. They not only are bad to look at, but they are also comparatively uncomfortable (so, please, step away from the L.L. Bean catalog...). Surprisingly (and not that common in fashion), the more ergonomically-correct bags are the ones that have a sleeker, more structured look. And while, on the subway seat next to you, they look the same as any other backpack, on your back they actually fit your back well, and succeed in making you look more active and less bulky. They also hold a surprisingly large amount of cargo, all the while refusing to make you look top-heavy. Don't hate us in this suggestion, but North Face carries a surprisingly varied number of options. Loving this bag, in particular.

We are by no means against a large bag, as long as function necessitates form. When traveling, it's absolutely essential you have a pack that won't destroy the bliss that perfectly aligned vertebrae can bring. Here, we see an everyday backpack on the larger side, but one that doesn't bring a man down.


All in all, a tasteful man purse is a bag that a guy can wear, helping him look good, feel good, and find comfort in knowing he's always prepared. Semper paratus and whatnot... that's all we're saying.

Candles and Sense

In a perfect world, our homes would alternate between the smells of fresh cut flowers and homemade chocolate chip cookies. We know as well as anyone else that once in a while, everyone could use a little shortcut. Since we live in the days of the $100+ scented candle and we’ve witnessed some fairly hideous scents, we thought it might be helpful to provide a guide of sorts to home fragrance options.

Room Sprays – Think of room sprays as perfume for your home. A few quick pumps of the atomizer and a lovely, if short-lived scent fills the air. We're loving West Elm's Seagrass. This is a perfect scent for anyone who is a sucker for the smell of fresh cut grass. We're also a bit sad that the Wasabi Green-Tea Room Freshener from Williams-Sonoma seems to no longer be available, as that was also a welcome addition to any room. The scent, while unexpected, was definitely a nice surprise. Finally, we’re dying to try this Verbena scent from L’Occitane. Granted, room sprays don’t last as long as some of the other options but we often view that as a positive.


Reed Diffusers – We’ve been in the company of this type of home fragrance without incident but we’ve never had the courage to try them ourselves. They remind us way too much of incense. Incense makes us think of superficially spiritual yoga classes, natural clothing boutiques and that god-awful smell outside the Union Square Whole Foods. Who buys that stuff? Anyway, we think this orchid scent might be ok but we're still frightened of the potential spillage of that weird liquid goo so instead, we're going to recommend...

Candles - The simplest and most common form of home fragrance is the scented candle. We have some strong favorites in this category. Diptyque makes some incredibly luxurious bougies (francais for candles) and we can't get enough of the Jasmine variety. We also love this incredible brand called Burn. Yes, they are expensive but these candles give off their fragrance even before they're lit, thus providing a lot of so-called "bang for the buck." Lest you think the Aesthetes are high end snobs (well, we sort of are) we'll let you in on a little secret. The savvy consumer can fulfill their home fragrance needs with very affordable products. Dare we say the words Yankee Candle Company? Well friends, here are the rules:

1. We’re sticklers for this one, no fruity scents, ever. For men or women, we don’t care, there’s just no excuse for this. It reminds us of the scent of our (well, Betsy's) My Little Ponies and its gross. Fruity scented candles are to actual fruit scents as Jolly Ranchers are to actual fruit tastes.

2. No Vanilla. Who doesn’t love the scent of fresh baked cookies? However, we think most vanilla candles come off as sickly sweet so in this case, you’re actually going to have to bake something. (Phat Tony: "Well, sure, you could be reminded of cookies. You could also be reminded of Playdoh.") Trust us, your party guests and/or neighbors will thank you.

3. If you like florals, no problem, just stay away from the roses. We're not saying a nice Diptyque Rose candle is out of the question, we're just saying the inexpensive kind will smell like old ladies. We promise.

4. We think the secret to a nice inexpensive candle is to explore the woody scents and the linen scents. As we move into the fall/winter season, we love a nice pine scent. Yankee Candle offers Balsam and Cedar, Mistletoe, and Christmas Wreath. On the lighter side we have the fragrances meant to approximate fresh laundry drying in the midday sun such as Clean Cotton, Sunwashed Linen, Country Linen.

5. No home fragrance option is a substitute for a clean environment. This probably goes without saying but any sort of attempts to mask bad odors is futile one must begin the process with a blank slate.

We Love Crostini

We, the aesthetes, fancy ourselves a bit social, the life of the party, perhaps even, the party itself. We love playing host. From coming up with an inspired theme and carefully crafting the perfect invitation to sweeping up the last bits of confetti, we love every minute of it. As with many matters, we’re particular about certain things some may consider small details but we find if executed correctly, may become the perfect touch. Lighting, menu, music, density, these are all paramount. Please refer to Apartment Therapy’s party architecture series for excellent and more detailed counsel. Today, we’ve chosen to share with you our favorite party snack, crostini.

Crostini, or “little toasts,” are quite simply thin slices of bread (usually baguette) brushed with olive oil and then toasted or grilled. Bruschetta distinguishes itself merely by the fact that it is usually cut quite a bit thicker while both may be topped with other things. We find crostini an excellent party food as it is bite sized and easy to eat due to the thinner cut of the bread. Having experimented with several versions with different toppings, we use our modification of Giada De Laurentiis’ cheese crostini recipe as a party staple. Flavorful and crunchy, the topping is baked right into the crostini itself so nothing spills off.

Please note that the original recipe called for anchovies and since neither of the aesthetes loved that idea, Phat Tony brilliantly suggested the sun dried tomato paste substitution.

AQOT Crostini (as adapted from Giada De Laurentiis)

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
2 tablespoons sun dried tomato paste (or finely chopped sun dried tomatoes packed in oil)
1 to 2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon minced lemon zest
1/4 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper flakes
12 (1/3-inch thick) slices baguette
1 cup grated Provolone

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Melt the butter in a heavy small skillet over medium heat. Add the sun dried tomato and stir until it dissolves, about 2 minutes. Stir in the herbs, garlic, lemon zest, and crushed red pepper.

Arrange the bread slices on a large baking sheet. Brush with the sun dried tomato mixture. Sprinkle with the cheese. Bake until the cheese melts and the bread is golden, about 10 minutes.

Cheers.