Go-See: Marlene Dumas at MoMA

My Mama at the MoMA with the Dumas faces.

Marlene Dumas is an artist whose work runs the gamut between gorgeous and grotesque. Her figure-centric paintings and drawings are controversial in their tone and subject matter, often provocatively (even disturbingly) exploring those primal themes of birth, sex, and death. Some of her work is hard to stomach, but some of it is an incredible treat for the eyes. I just went to see her show Measuring Your Own Grave at the MoMA yesterday and her piece 100 Models was like heaven. A grid of faces, mostly female and all rendered in watery-looking chalk, stare out at you from three walls of a room. Each face could be it's own novel, they are so expressive and yet so simple. Some of them smile, some avert their gaze, some stare intently with colored eyes. All are engaging. Go see the show!

Details of Dumas' piece 100 Models.

Gift It: Kiss Me. Now.

A friend's red pout caught my eye last night. She confirmed that a swipe of red lipstick and a simple coat of mascara are all of the things a makeup look should be: fun, glam, flattering, and gorgeous. She said her red was a shade that works on her and all of her friends, regardless of their coloring. A red for all? I like it.

Her scarlet weapon is Nars Lipstick in Manhunt and at $24 it is slightly over the Gift It limit, but you'll get that $4 back in smooch karma when Manhunt does its job and the kisses start coming. Get yourself some by clicking the image above.

Gift It: Pic in a Box.

Pinhole cameras are magical. They are so lo-fi that little kids routinely make them out of oatmeal canisters in third grade, yet they can take incredible photos worthy of gallery space. The basic idea behind them is simple. You prick a hole in a light-tight structure that has some film inside. Then you place the structure in a light-filled space and expose it to something you want a lasting image of. Then you safely wind up your film in a dark closet and drop it in a developer's box. In short order you go and pick up your pics and marvel at your product.

Now you could just make one out of an old Quaker Oats container, but there are actually some super-cool pinhole camera templates available on the Corbis website.

The downloadable templates get adhered to an opened, flattened cereal box and then cut and folded and reassembled according to the directions. I'm not saying this will be easy, but provided you have an empty cereal box and some film laying around, it has the potential to be free. Also, how friggin' cool do those look? If you get through the directions, I'm sure the right friend, family member, or even stranger would be superbly impressed and grateful. Plus, they could possibly create images like the ones below which were made using these pinhole cameras and come courtesy of the Corbis site:

You'll notice that the pinhole pics have quirks and fuzziness and odd coloring, but that is the biggest part of their charm. Just be sure to acquaint your gifted ones with the finished pinhole products so that they don't have unrealistic expectations. Happy snapping.

One/One-Thousand: David Slijper

David Slijper is new on my fashion photographer radar so I don't know too much about him, but his richly colored images pretty much speak for themselves. His work has been featured in W, Jane, GQ, The New York Times Magazine, and many more publications. His command of lighting is incredible and lets him produce such sharp images. Take a look:











You can see all of these images and more of David Slijper's work on his official site.

International Laundry Day

As I've posted before, I quite enjoy the sights and smells of laundry day. That combined with my ridiculously unending curiosity led me to ask this question: What is laundry day like in other countries? To find out I did some Sunday investigating. Here's a peak into the laundry rooms of some of the far corners of the world:

In Mumbai the hand washing operation is staggering:

They really beat the dirt out of those clothes.

Here's a drive by view of laundry time on the street in China:



Boys in Africa do some bucket washing near a watering hole:



In Iceland, white laundry blows in the wind.



Apparently, in Japan you hang your laundry on your roof with your children on your head.


Sun drying saves energy in Spain:

Such gorgeous colors in this video.

Finally, if you are Uncle Buck you do laundry in the microwave.

I'm pretty sure he would do that in any country.

Independent On One Another: Links a la Mode

All my independent fashion bloggers, throw your hands up at me! Here's a round up of the Links a la Mode from super-site Independent Fashion Bloggers. I want to wear it. is a new member!

Links à la Mode : December 18th

• 39thandbroadway.com - What really happens to Project Runway alumni and why we are sick of hearing, “You should go on Project Runway”!
• A Few Goody GumDrops - A Few Goody Gumdrops gets Bright for the Holidays with her new Orange Louis Vuitton Tote!
• All Chic - Christmas Jewels
• AlysiaMarie - This Month’s Celebrity Hair Trend; Ponytails!
• Being High Maintenance, not Bitchy - How to wear scarves without looking like an emo kid.
• Caged Lilies - Pretty and CHEAP gifts for friends. everything under .
• Capitola Girl Jewelry Blog - Chasing the winter blues away by shopping handmade…
• Clutch 22 - Stylish gift giving on a budget - there’s still time to do your holiday shopping!
• Couture Allure Vintage Fashion - Couture Allure shows how to dress up your shoes for a touch of evening glamour.
• Debutante Clothing - A Tribute to Bettie Page: 5 Reasons We Loved Bettie Page
• Decline Designs - Petticoat tutorial - so your vintage skirts can have the look they deserve!
• Dirty Laundry - How-To: Boyfriend Jeans
• dramatis personae - Alternative Uses For Fur
• Dress Me Up Dollie - A little DIY chases the winter doldrums away.
• Fashion Birdcage - Of Cabbages & Kings Spring/Summer 09 Collection
• fashion fille - Fashion Fille spreads the cheer around through boosting fashionistas to enter the weardrobe contest.
• fashion in my eyes - Beauty&The Beast with Drew Barrymore
• Fashion Pulse Daily - Fashion Pulse Daily gives tips on how to get the biker chic look without having to jump on a Harley.
• Fashion Therapist - Where to find the perfect ugly sweaters for all your holiday themed parties:
• Fasshonaburu - A shopping gift guide for the self-proclaimed “hipster” on your list this holiday season!
• Going to Hell in a Handbag - Consumed by Coats
• greystrawberrys - whats in your make up box?
• Hot Beauty Health - The Smurfs enters beauty world with a Smurfette Collection
• In Life and In Fashion - Easy Holiday Dressing Tips
• Independent Fashion Bloggers - We Really Like Your Style
• Iole in fashion - Red (dress) fashion tree
• Iwanttowearit - Manicurist Yuna Park puts fashion in the fingers of the hottest models for the freshest magazines.
• Logical Harmony - How To Find Deals at Thrift Stores : Beyond The Basics
• Mademoiselle Robot - Interview with fashion photographer and club promoter Pavla Kopecna.
• Nico Assatly - Hot Holiday/Silver bells! cute look for the holidays!
• noiretro // style deficit disorder - Limi Yamamoto Spring 2009 collection & DIY Martin Margiela Sandal Booties
• Or False Glitter - Going grunge with Sonic Youth
• PONY RYDER - exclusive interview with TOPMODEL Iris Strubegger!
• Retro Chick - Comfy Christmas Glamour
• Shopping and Info - Shopping and Info loves what Jennifer Aniston wore to the Marley & Me Premiere.
• Style Amor - Alice In Wonderland Fashion + Movie Frenzy for 2010, Johnny Depp and Mad Hatter Fashion. Yes be ready
  
• Style Discovery - Confession of a jewellery addict and brining an order and clarity to a pile of necklaces.
• Style Symmetry - Eyeliah finds inspiration in the Wardrobe Remix Pool!
• Summershoes - 11 steps to a perfect homemade manicure
• Sweety P Style Files - The Wardrobe Recession Diaries: Stalkin Clerks in the Mall and a Houndstooth Dress
• The Bare Skinny - The Bare Skinny gives you the scoop on the unmentionables: Undergarments
• THE COVETED - Last-Minute Gifts that Pamper and Relax

Nudie Needlework

Artist Tim Moore's subjects are of that lovely sector of the population that subjects you to seeing more of them than you may want to. Nudists have always slightly fascinated me. I mean I love the freedom of a little clotheslessness in the right (warm, dark, private) setting as much as the next person, but I've never craved doing the dishes disrobed, or playing bingo in the buff. I would never make my birthday suit my daily uniform for life's little tasks. I love clothing. I love when the strangers I encounter at the supermarket wear clothing. Nudists? Not so much. They love nudity and Tim Moore loves them.


Inspired by images from The Austrailian Naturist Magazine (NSFW, unless you work at a nudist colony), Moore does some traditional needlepoint embroidery of some very non-traditional scenes. Nakey basketball? Nakey rock climbing? Nakey kite flying? Yep. He covers it all. Call me prude, but i actually prefer Moore's work when you put his things down, flip 'em and reverse 'em. Backwards they are a bit less explicit and a bit more crazy-colorful.



I like how the strings show a little more clearly than the things. This is not your Gramma's embroidery, huh?

All images of Tim Moore's work are from Helen Gory Galerie.

Bowie Sings in the Blues

Looking at Music, MoMA's show about the cross pollination of art, music, and tech in the decade following 1965, is in it's last days of display. It will close on January 5th, so have a look and listen before it's gone.

These great posters were plastered around the city earlier in December when the exhibit hosted a special screening of David Bowie videos presented by Thurston Moore. I love Bowie's blue suit and matching eye makeup in the photo. I love it even more in the full "Life on Mars?" video.

In perfect Bowie fashion, the video is slightly creepy and surprisingly gorgeous. So great.

Gift It: Button Up!

Mark Pawson makes buttons, or badges as the kids say in London. I'm a big fan of badges. They are a transitory accessory that can be used to perk up your more permanent fashion statements, like your winter coat, your nicer leather bag, or your boots. Can you stick a pin through it? Then you can badge it. Pawson makes makes his buttons out of many things: old price tags, photos of homes, airmail envelopes.

My favorite group of buttons is a series that Pawson made out of his own favorite shirts. When his Westwood and Paul Smiths were worn too thin, he made mini-badges out of the fabrics and packaged them in sets of four. Pawson tells his shoppers the shirt stories on his site. Order a batch of badges and then click below to read their life story.

If you don't mind a pin prick in your items, you can stick it to your wardrobe as much as you want with Pawson's clever little badges. Scoop them up for friends and family or yourself. They are coming from London so a package will run you about $8.

Pawson makes all kinds of art. Earlier this year he showed a sampling at the kooky cool Tatty Devine store. I quite enjoyed this virtual float through the store's preview of Mark's work.

Cliches abound (art gallery babies, asymmetrical hair cuts, handlebar mustaches) but it looks like fun.

All images from Pawson's web page.

Closet Case: Blaire Walsh

Blaire emerges from her own Narnia.

I met Blaire Walsh a few years back as a fellow Art History student on the sunset soaked streets of Paris, and I new instantly that she was also a fellow fashion lover. I think the first conversation we ever had was about Longchamp bags, which she was determined to snag and take home for lower-than-American Parisian prices.

Blaire's beautiful scarf collection: (l to r) a black and white silk floral from Galleries Lafayette in Paris; vintage Puccis; a wild Hermes.

Blaire has always been my sophisticated shopper friend. She has a closet full of fancy at bargain basement prices. Her pieces are pretty, detail-oriented, and versatile with an emphasis on quality. She has impeccable taste and buys with the long-term in mind, eschewing trends for classic wears.

A sweet Marc Jacobs sweater.

Blaire's interest in art and design definitely shows in her wardrobe, as well as in her career. To put bread on the table and shoes in the closet, Blaire works at The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission where she oversees the restoration of historic landmarks in the big city. I think it sounds very dream job (even though she routinely lets me in on the behind the scenes grit work). This means that she is one hell of a block walking/shopping partner. Did you know the Baby's R Us on Union Square is housed in three original row houses from the 1800's? Neither did I until I went for a walk with Ms. Walsh.

Blaire always wins the discount margin game we play. This Marc Jacobs dress was originally over $400, Ms. Walsh scored it for about $70 at a super Saks sale.

Blaire's a smart cookie. And, those smarts carry over into her closet. She is an informed consumer. She always knows about where the good sales are, sample and otherwise. She keeps up-to-date via daily inbox drops from Racked and Daily Candy. At sales Blaire routinely scores great pieces, like a smokey sapphire Marc Jacobs party dress, for way below retail ($70-something instead of $400-something).

In warm weather Blaire prefers skirts. I love the floral one at left. The one on the right was purchased for $1.99 on the clearance rack!

Blaire was raised in Jersey and has a roster of go-to vintage and thrift shops outside of the city, mostly in Asbury Park and Red Bank. Closer to home, which is now Williamsburg, she actually makes good use of the L Train and rails it over to Manhattan to raid the racks of Leohmanns, The Gap, Banana Republic, J.Crew, and Anthropologie. Even though the stores are common, Blaire's mix of quality Jersey thrift and big names keeps her looking polished and fresh.

The girl knows how to shoe shop! At top is a great pair of tangerine, wooden-heeled pumps from J.Crew; (bottom, l to r) a coral pair of strappy Nine West heels scored at Marshall's; a wicked pair of yellow, satin spikes from Forever 21; a much-loved pair of burgundy and black heels from BCBG.

Another thing to know about Blaire is that she gives and gets great gifts (so get on her good side!). With her eye for quality and her thriftiness, Blaire always seems to find the perfect little luxury to bestow upon her nearest and dearest. Her gift giving skills do not go unrewarded. From vintage jewelry to Marc Jacobs sweaters, some of Blaire's favorite pieces have been gifts. She and her friends scoop up vintage Pucci scarves whenever they spot them to have on hand for the next gift giving occasion.

When it comes to jewelry, Blaire prefers the real deal. Top is the ivory and gold flower charm her mother gave as a gift to her wedding party; below left is a 100" string of pearls draped over a vintage Vogue cover; below right is a c.1925 silver and diamond pin purchased as a graduation gift at an estate sale.

One of Blaire's keys to sartorial success is her process of deliberation. She will take items home to decide if they make the closet cut or not. She's fastidious about holding onto receipts (I swear I've never seen such neatly kept paperwork. I think she must iron them!) and takes full advantage of return policies; if she gets something home and just isn't feeling it anymore, back to the store it goes!

Blaire's box-o-receipts. So crisp!

Blaire actually let me in on the the decision making process, trying on a few items that she had recently purchased but wasn't sure of. Once she gets the items home, she can give them an audition with what she's got and see if a pair of shoes or the right belt might save a dress from the doldrums.

Blaire adds the perfect finishing touch to an okay gray dress, cinching it with her mother's turquoise belt from the '80s, which Blaire rescued from a family garage sale.

Blaire reviews a recent Banana Republic purchase.

Blaire's closet is well thought-out and edited. She doesn't have too many items that she doesn't love. The details are important and her strong preferences keep her collection distinct. She has a system, and it works. She knows where the goods are, and what's good for her. She said many people come to her for fashion advice, and you can certainly count me among the many. I trust her to tell me the scoop and the truth. That's invaluable and makes her more than stylish, it makes her a quality find!

A few more of Blaire's hits: A Milly top; one of her super-cute dry cleaning bags; a Velvet dress.

Thanks for the tour, Blaire!