In Chinese astrology, 2012 is the Year of the Dragon — a very special event. The theme of a Dragon year is fast change & exciting challenges. The Year of the Dragon invites us to show how well we can roll with the punches — & rewards us for doing so!
It’s a rare occasion that two of your favourites come together so wonderfully — & when it happens, it’s worth celebrating.
Wheels & Doll Baby was founded in Perth, Australia, in 1987. The label, with its quirky yet upscale retro vibe, quickly became a celebrity favourite, being seen on the backs (& fronts!) of the likes of Dita Von Teese, Christina Aguilera, Kylie Minogue & Elle Macpherson. It’s utterly unlike anything else in Australia — or, for that matter, the rest of the world. Wheels & Doll Baby do sex-kitten vintage like no other.
So it makes perfect sense, then, that the illustrious label teamed up with famed fashion photographer, Ellen Von Unwerth, on their latest campaign. Von Unwerth started as a model, working the other side of the lens for 10 years before making the switch. Her provocative photographs celebrate the power & mystery of femininity, as well as the potential of the perfect pout!
Cast your eyeballs over the video & pictures below if you don’t believe me! I absolutely love this collaboration: it makes me want to wear red lipstick every day for the rest of my life!
Utah: land of Mormons, fresh powder &… great vintage?! Yes, it’s true! Next time you’re in Salt Lake City, be sure to get a good lunch, & then hit up the vintage clothing & furniture stores in the area. It’s worth it. Here are a few of my favourite places (& happiest scores!).
Designer leggings. Is that an oxymoron?!
James Lillis of Black Milk would say no. Based in Australia, this designer — who had no formal training – was first inspired by the fashion atrocities he saw committed on the street! Australia is awash with leggings: every girl owns several pairs, & many of them prefer leggings over pants. Now, there’s nothing wrong with that — we are all entitled to our preferred aesthetic. But what really upset James was the poor quality of the leggings he saw girls wearing. If you use cheap cotton to make leggings, the sad outcome will eventually include saggy knees & bottoms, which don’t flatter anyone.
He decided that he couldn’t take it any more! Why couldn’t anyone make good quality leggings?! Maybe he was the right man for the job. After many, many hours at a sewing machine, breaking needles & making messes, he created his Black Wetlook leggings & hasn’t looked back since.
Exploring an outdoor market on a Sunday is a time-honored New York tradition. From single girls searching for the perfect vintage dress to old couples bickering lovingly over a pair of lampshades, they attract all types. On a good day at a market, you can find almost anything. Old photographs, back issues of your once-favorite magazine, almost unworn vintage boots & a pink rotary telephone? It’s yours for the taking!
Miss Schnabel of Bloodmilk is not your average jeweler. You won’t see diamond engagement rings, mass-produced pendants or hoop earrings in her collection. Instead, she believes that jewelry provides “psychic armour.” Her work is thoughtful, & exquisitely strange.
If the love of your life is more a fan of the Brothers Grimm than Jon & Kate Plus 8, maybe a Bloodmilk bear tooth engagement ring is what she’s always dreamed of. Perhaps a sterling silver ouija planchette necklace is more her cup of tea. This is jewelery worn by unusual girls, the type who read tarot cards & prefer absinthe & wouldn’t be caught dead in Urban Outfitters. From two-finger owl skull rings to sparrow claw lariat necklaces, Bloodmilk pieces are dark but delicate, beautiful & obscene.
No other hotel has as much rock ‘n’ roll history. So, it’s not perfect — or particularly opulent. There is no room service, some of the rooms are more “grunge” than chic, & there is a bullet hole in the door in the 5th floor corridor. But it’s absolutely worth a visit to soak up some atmosphere.
On Wednesday afternoon, I went & did something I have been meaning to do for a long time: I went to an auction at the storage center in my neighborhood. It is an enormous space, 7 floors full of lockers where New Yorkers, who are typically low on closet space, can stash away their valuables or things they haven’t used in years. (Snowboarding gear, anyone?)
If you’re in Manhattan, there’s no better place to go for a sugar hit on a balmy, sticky night. From caramel marshmallow sundaes to chocolate peanut butter malted shakes, Lula’s Sweet Apothecary beckons you in with a saccharine finger. There are all your childhood favorites & flavors: hot fudge sauce, tantalizing maraschino cherries, & chocolate or rainbow sprinkles, but the best thing? Lula’s fare is completely vegan. The entire joint is animal-free, right down to their non-gelatin gummy bears & coconut whipped cream.
(Yes, that’s Bjork!)
Does anyone remember Michael Alig? Oh, come on, you must: legendary club promoter? Leader of the infamous “Club Kids”? Inspiration for the movie Party Monster? Currently imprisoned due to murdering, injecting with Drano, & dismembering Andre “Angel” Melendez, resident drug dealer at The Limelight?