Jules + Nicho

Space-Age Siren Slash Barbarella Slash Stewardess of the Future?

2011-10-25T12:45:00.000-07:00

A somewhat broad collection of ideas for a very last-minute Halloween costume. I'm really going for something with a very mod, 2001: A Space Odyssey clean and structured and textured sort of thing, but still kind of sexy, but not too sexy. What would you call that?

Postesque Picturing

2011-10-18T22:26:00.000-07:00

A brief collection of house inspiration. Check out the glorious Eames chair in the second picture. I point it out it because I got the opportunity to see an actual real life Eames chair last weekend and it was super exciting. I will add sources tomorrow, I'm too exhausted to go track all of that down at this second but these ought to keep your eyes busy for a minute.

AnOther #21

2011-10-16T19:42:00.000-07:00

High fashion's favorite plus-size vixen is completely stunning in Lina Scheynius' spread for AnOther Magazine. I hate even acknowledging Crystal's size because making a big deal of it only exacerbates the fact that it isn't 'normal' for her line of work, which I would like to see change, but since it so conveniently brings up an opportunity to address the topic, I will. The following is not to say that I think that skinny models are stupid/ugly/unnatural/anorexic/poor role models or any of the things that they are often regarded as. I have always been very thin naturally, and I can't help it any more than a size-ten woman can help her weight. If I were to gain enough to be considered average, it would only be possible through a very unhealthy diet and a completely stagnant lifestyle. Seeing so much criticism of thin models in the media is just as irritating as people picking on bigger women. Thin girls are real, too, and deserve to be represented as much as anybody else. But unfortunately, they are represented far more than anybody else. Certainly, the industry's justification for the current preference is valid: garments consistently drape well over a girl without a chest or hips; a runway show looks nice and cohesive when the models' bodies are nearly identical; 18-year-old twigs like Barbara Palvin look absolutely adorable no matter what you put them in. But you can't look at the following spread and argue that Crystal's body type doesn't work in a high-fashion setting. Or that Lara Stone's chest gets in the way of an amazing photograph, or that Hilary Rhoda's normal shape waters down an edgy look. It doesn't. I'm not wishing for less Caroline or Freja, but I could handle a little more Crystal-like allure. Just look:

I can't get over the colors and that amazing herringbone wood floor in the backbend shot. Not to speak of the velvet curtains, Crystal's splits pose and that lingerie-ish chest harness whatchamacallit that she's wearing on the stage. Bravo!

I'd Walk a Mile for a Camel

2011-10-16T17:08:00.000-07:00

Some Fall inspiration in the seasons richest, cognac-caramel-cinnamon-camel-ey hues:

From top, left to right: Barbara Palvin for W; 3.1 Philip Lim at Shopbop.com; Vintage Vogue

Elle Russia; Lara Flynn-Boyle, Sherilyn Fenn and Madchen Amick for Rolling Stone

Scan from 1601 Decorating Ideas for Modern Living; Veruschka for Vogue Paris, 1969

Vogue Italia

Vogue Italia; Backstage at Giles; Rodarte FW11; Celine FW11

Jenni Kayne Coat at Shopbop.com; 1970s Media Room; American Apparel Nail Lacquer in Lopez Canyon

Living Room by Pierre Guariche; Hailee Steinfeld for Miu Miu FW11

Crystal Renn for AnOther; NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Belle du Jour at Sephora.com; William Eggleston Photograph

William Eggleston Photograph; Still from The Stepford Wives (1975); Giuseppe Zanotti Pumps at Shopbop.com

Ashley Smith for W; Lindsey Wixson for W

Haus Play

2011-10-03T22:02:00.000-07:00

After finally investing in a functional tripod, my everyday priorities have become second to taking self-portraits for hours at a time. Unfortunately I don't photograph remarkably well, so for every fifty shots fired, two, maybe three are acceptable. But I like these two quite a bit, so that's okay. Also, I'd like to introduce my brand new house! The remodel was my single creative outlet for at least nine months, and I put more energy into the project than probably anything else in my entire life, so I have to show off a little. Now that it's all finished I don't know what to do with myself; this is what I imagine postpartum depression probably feels like.

A.L.C. sweater, Urban Outfitters skirt, Nylon Sky necklace

Vintage Pace Collection coffee table; Harp Galleries, Appleton WI

Double-Bucket loveseat, Mid-Century floor lamp; Funtiques, Springfield MO

Antique Navajo rugs; eBay

A Mid-Century Affair

2011-09-19T10:16:00.000-07:00

Honestly, I'm intimidated by the idea of reviewing this collection because it is just so perfect. Any composure or finesse that I might normally instill into a review is likely going to be melted into giggly fangirl-ish-ness and my inevitably natural excited-valley-girl dialect will, like, totally make its way through. I missed the live streaming of the show, forgetting before leaving my house that the iPhone doesn't support Flash. While trying to load the mobile page from a restaurant, I received the error: "Flash player not available for your device". No. You mean that I have to wait to see the images for twenty minutes? I lived, but only by my will to indulge in what became my favorite collection of all time. For about the past year, the majority of my time has been spent gathering inspiration and ideas for my house remodel. Googling my favorite mid-century big name architects and stocking up on decorating books from the 50s - 70s took over all of my free time. I fell in love with the kitschy vibe of roadside architecture and the kooky shapes of Googie signage. I'd watch and re-watch The Big Lebowski just to see The Dude pass out in John Lautner's Chemosphere over and over.

When I finally made it home to my MacBook and impatiently navigated through a high-traffic Style.com, I was unexplainably excited to see Proenza Schouler's Spring collection, inspired thickly by Googie architecture, tacky plastic and rubber materials, and a mid-century southern California. One look after another, Jack and Lazaro took the vibe I've been craving for months and nailed it into the shag carpet with a rubber-topped, wooden-soled shoe. They took such a broad, quirky, and two-bit group of references and pulled them together into a sharply tailored, sophisticated silhouette. Accessories aside, there's not a trace of the kooky shaping that makes Googie what it is, but the mood still comes through so strongly. Maybe it's the beautifully beaded, modified hawaiian prints or the glossy, elbow-length gloves or the 50s-countertop color palette. The craftsmanship that makes Jack and Lazaro the coolest duo in New York is excitingly apparent here, by way of knit plastics and eel-skin detailing throughout. In reference to their inspiration for the collection, Lazaro tells Nicole Phelps of Style.com, "It was once cutting-edge, but now it's decrepit. Lost optimism." Looking at what was then futuristic and where it has ended up makes me look at today's innovation in a different light, although I'm somehow confident that the optimism the Proenza boys are injecting into the fashion world won't soon be lost.

Proenza Schouler, Spring 2012

Photos from Style.com

Noir Practice

2011-09-18T13:38:00.000-07:00

First entry! After keeping a microblog since 2009, I've developed the urge to expand the boundaries a little. At the moment, my plan is to use this page as an outlet for my own projects and inspiration, but I'd prefer to not outline my expectations for fear of limiting myself whatsoever. But to start out, a few self-portraits!

J.Crew tee, Elizabeth and James skirt

Vintage Pace Collection coffee table; Harp Galleries, Appleton WI

Danish "Hollywood Sofa"; TFA, St. Louis MO

Folding Screen; St. Louis MO