Happy Friday!

Here's a modern, rock 'n' roll take on the Upper East Side headband, recently made famous by she named Blair Waldorf.

Tommy Ton snapped Euro-socialite Eugenie Niarchos looking badass in gold hardware.

Happy Friday!

xo
Haute Hippie






I'm Lovin' it: A cozy Friday night dinner in with the fella before he leaves on a jet plane to Mexico tomorrow night. My girls Albs sent me the recipe for a delicious prosciutto-wrapped chicken stuffed with brie and asparagus -- paired with homemade applesauce and mashed cauliflower seasoned with parmesan and garlic -- that she made for me earlier this week. The girl can COOK.




I'm Over it: Sad Saturday.

Track of the Day: "Sinnerman (Felix da Housecat Heavenly House remix)" by Nina Simone. You'll recognize the piano riff as the theme from The Thomas Crown Affair, the Brosnan version.





* Photo property of Tommy Ton, Haute Hippie and are used solely for commentary purposes

Roberto Cavalli. Martha Stewart. Seth Meyers.

Roberto Cavalli appeared as a guest on Martha Stewart this week, Stewart miraculously pairing in one segment Cavalli and SNL's Seth Meyers (whom I will admit to having a wee bit of a crush on).

What ensued? Hilariousness, obviously on the part of Seth Meyers.

It's hard to take Cavalli seriously. Italian designers seem to live in an entirely different world, far removed from reality and drowning in extravagant excess -- I mean, have you seen Valentino: The Last Emperor or read anything about Donatella Versace's life??

Watch a clip of the exchange. Have a good laugh.

Happy Thursday!

Versace Pre-Fall 2010.

All the Pre-Fall 2010 collections are making appearances on everyone's favorite fashion blogs, getting cut down or praised by the likes of fashion scribes-slash-critics Cathy Horyn, Romney Leader and Nicole Phelps.

I don't claim to be a fashion critic, though I will provide criticism from a personal standpoint if a collection seems off, not unified in theme, messy with references or just plain homely.

When fall comes around, it's fairly typical that color schemes are either dark, neutral or rich in tone. This can get b-o-r-i-n-g and predictable season after season, so I'm finding myself really enjoying the Versace Pre-Fall 2010 collection for its bright colors, sassiness and propensity for tight -- it's very Donatella.

Fashion is pain, so it's my suggestion that if you want to fit in this collection, repeated crunches and constant cardio should be your fitness mantra for the new year.












I'm Lovin' it: Honestly, I've got to curb this shoe fetish of mine. Just kidding! These Pelle Moda Shantel Ope Toe Platform Booties are worthy of my love.




I'm Over it: The waiting game! I need to know now! More details to come if news is positive.

Track of the Day: "Your Rolling Hills (original mix)" by Move D, from Germany.




* Photos property of style.com, shopbop.com, resonenceghent.be and are used solely for commentary purposes

Have Another (Daphne) Guinness.

No words.

Just Daphne.





* Photo property of FWD and used solely for commentary purposes

Wooden Tops.

In response to Alexa Lixfield's concrete top fragrance collection I blogged about a few weeks ago comes a set of wooden top fragrances and colognes from the Nasomatto Project, blended by famed perfumer Alessandro Gualtieri.

There's Duro, Narcotic Venus, Absinth, Silver Musk, Hindu Grass, China White and Black Afgano, each with their own purpose, like bringing out superhuman magnetism (Silver Musk), eliciting universal peace and love (Hindu Grass) and -- my favorite! -- causing irresponsible behaviour (Absinth).

Now only if there was one to stave off sugar cravings.

I've been a beast with the chocolate lately.





I'm Lovin' it: My fella has a rather nice, heavy slate chessboard at his place with carved marble pieces in rose and dark moss. It's really nice (and, holy, heavy!), but I'm kinda thinking this limited-edition, Alexander Gelman-designed lacquer, silver plating and gold leaf one is even better. Hold your wallet, though. This baby is up to $55K. And Bobby Fischer I ain't.





I'm Over it: Hmmmm. The sunny, cold, crisp weather we've been happily enjoying is slowly getting weeded out by cloud cover. Here comes the SAD again.


Track of the Day: Lykke Li's very melancholy cover of The Shirelles' "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?". Girly voice + sad, sad piano = heartbreaking.






* Photos property of Josh Spear, Nasomotto Project and are used solely for commentary purposes

Emily Photo.

I remember when my old Santa Monica roommate (and friend!) Emily Engle used to talk about photography and turning her passion for it into full-time work.

Now look how far she's come!

Em has an amazing talent, and I'm so happy she gets to do exactly what she loves every single day.

This shot is just awesome.





* Photo property of Emily Engle and is used solely for commentary purposes

Happy Friday!

There's a reason Marc Jacobs has a tattoo of SpongeBob SquarePants on his arm: the yellow, goofy and dim-witted ocean-dweller is hilarious.

And Mr. SquarePants has found himself another designer admirer lately, someone by the very important name of Karl Lagerfeld.

Lagerfeld customized a SpongeBob figurine in his own iconic image for a WWF auction in Paris recently, which ended up getting sold for $1,500.

But, what, no Patrick?!

Happy Friday!

xo
Haute Hippie





I'm Lovin' it: My girl Candy S. wore her grey Maison Martin Margiela tape sweatshirt yesterday night. SO AWESOME.




I'm Over it: Only 21 days till Christmas. What the heck.


Track of the Day: "Norway" by Beach House. This is a little more chillwave than most of the tracks on their last self-titled debut album.





* Photos property of totokaelo.com, WWD and are used solely for commentary purposes

Rhythm and Blues.

Betty Autier gives me the blues.

In a good way!

Bright blue booties can come closely to walking the cheesy line, but Autier does well by pairing it with a navy military jacket, dark tights, lots of gold and her requisite denim cut-offs.

Sacre bleu.





* Photo property of Le Blog de Betty and is used solely for commentary purposes

H&M Spring 2010.

In general, I find H&M a hit or miss spot for myself.

I'm not quite sure if it's because all the really interesting, fashion-y pieces are meant for taller, more flat-chested gals, but something tells me the really interesting, fashion-y pieces don't actually make it up to the location in my city.

The Spring 2010 collection is one that I hope makes it here. There's something quite Balenciaga-ish about it, with the floral prints and pant silhouettes -- and who knew it would convince me black satin overalls were a piece that needed to be in my attire.

H&M, pretty please let me be more fashion-y next season.










I'm Lovin' it: Chanel Iman's super-spiked diamante ring at the 2009 CFDA Fashion Fund dinner.





I'm Over it: Nicole Richie is apparently working with ABC on a sitcom, starring herself, of course. As much as I heart the girl for how far she's come, I'd really like her to stick to designing pretty jewellery and having pretty babies.


Track of the Day: Yesterday night, the DJ span "Until We Bleed" by Kleerup ft. Lykke Li at a photo exhibit-slash-charity event my girl Malania DLC helped organize. I like the muted trumpets and sad strings.





* Photos property of H&M, FWD and are used solely for commentary purposes

One Thousand.

I just noticed that the last post here was my 1,000th one!

Thank you thank you to all my readers who have been following me for the last four and a half years.

It really means so much to me, more than you know!

xo
Haute Hippie





* Photo property of api.ning.com and is used solely for commentary purposes

Who Wants To Be An Illionaire?

This label is from Australia.

This label is pretty damn cool.

This label has a pretty damn cool-looking site.

This label has crazy lookbook shots for Winter '09.

I think one of the main reasons I like this label is because it's called Illionaire.

Yeah. It's ill.










* Photos property of Illionaire and are used solely for commentary purposes

Happy (American) Thanksgiving!

This goes out to my family (who are all celebrating in sunny Southern California right now), friends and readers who call the US of A home!

Happy, happy, happy Thanksgiving, y'all!

My NorCal buddy Simon wrote a heartful thanks on his Facebook today that I'm going to share with you:

Simon is: "Thankful for physical and emotional freedom, friends, family, house, techno, bass music, vibing parties and the crews that put them on, art, art cars, medicine, my job, communication with one another directly and through technology, the endless pursuit of knowledge and things of intrinsic value, and for continuing to meet and magnetize compassionate people."



I feel the same! (Well, despite me not being a DJ like Simon)

xo
Haute Hippie


* Photo property of Simon McNeil and is used solely for commentary purposes

Earley Afternoon.

I got the chance to check out the new Lululemon Lab that opened up in town a few months ago, where the designers working there don't just stick to sketching typical yogawear silhouettes.

Instead, they take inspiration from runways, magazines, art and design to come up with fashion-forward pieces that are just as suited for going to drinks as for going to Bikram's.

When I checked out their latest inspiration board, I was deftly introduced to Lori Earley, a New York born-and-raised artist who creates stunning oil paintings and portraitures of surrealist, slightly alien-like female figures.

Now this is what I call an Earley start to my day.










I'm Lovin' it: This metal microcassette collaboration between Michael Stipe and Maison Martin Margiela. You can pretty much make it whatever accessory you want it to be. No, I don't think there's any R.E.M. on there, though.




I'm Over it: Please be 9pm so I can see The xx and Friendly Fires tonight already!!!


Track of the Day: How about a feel-good song today? "Chocolate High" by India Arie ft. Musiq Soulchild. This is what love is supposed to feel like!





* Photos property of Lori Earley, refinery29.com and are used solely for commentary purposes

Dace Spring 2010.

Labels have been getting really creative lately when showing their latest collections, many opting to shoot short videos with models frolicking in their wares.

Victoria Beckham had her models on swings in Notting Hill, Halston had Hemingway (as in Dree) running across town in long yellow dress and now local line Dace shot a 30-second short in the bohemian spirit of a chic Parisian girl.

Video didn't kill these fashion stars.

PS. Check out the images from the Spring 2010 presentation below.

DACE Spring 2010 from Arcade Original on Vimeo.

I'm Lovin' it: Thank you thank you thank to Miz Malania of DelacruzPR for coming through and scoring me two tickets to long sold-out Friendly Fires and The XX show tomorrow!!!!





I'm Over it: Can't. Stand. This. Rainy. Weather.


Music of the Day: This mixtape by Tyler Fedchuck for the soon-to-be-opened Keefer Bar is sick.





* Photos property of Dace, David Lang and are used solely for commentary purposes

The End of Music.

This article pretty much recaps a recent conversation I had with the fella on the current state of music.

An interesting NY Times Op-Ed read by musician, Glenn Branca.

Giddy-up.

Remember a few posts back, when I was drooling over a shot of Dree Hemingway in thigh-high, stir-up socks?

Turns out that Mara Hoffman does a great colored pair and River's Edge Dancewear does an amazing black pair.

Now to figure out how to get Dree's visage...






* Photos property of Bonadrag and River's Edge Dancewear and are used solely for commentary purposes

My Space (Ring).

Ever since being green became the new black, the number of established brands and upstart ones touting their eco-friendliness by way of textiles, production and practice continues to rise.

Of course, it's fantastic that these clothing brands are down for prolonging our planet's life -- and then there's Alex and Ani, a stateside jewellery line from Carolyn Rafaelian that uses recycled material to create exquisite baubles.

As you already know, I'm a huge fan of piling on the bracelets, so you can imagine my delight playing around with the Bangle Bar on the Alex and Ani site, where you can choose between metals, types and colors up to 12 bangles.

As you also know, I'm an even bigger fan of huge statement rings, so you can imagine my utter delight in discovering the Space Ring, made of recycled metal plated in gold with a black gem inflected with gold sparkles.

Out of this world, I tell ya.






I'm Lovin' it: Ever since I lost my fringe bag to the Great Purse Rack in the Sky (well, actually, to a cabbie that never returned it), I've been hunting for a replacement. Two months later, Rebecca Minkoff comes through with the Love Letter Satchel. I'd take it in either purple or black. Or both.





I'm Over it: Saw Twilight: New Moon at a Saturday matinee with Albs. Was highly entertained, but slightly disturbed by the fact that I think 17-year-old Taylor Lautner is really kind of cute. YIKES.




Track of the Day: "Crown on the Ground" by Sleigh Bells. The group is an electro duo from New York. The track is in-your-face. Their music makes you think you need to adust your bass levels. But it's all deliberate distortion, so leave it that way and bounce to it.






* Photos property of Sleigh Bells, shopbop.com, Twilight and are used solely for commentary purposes