Cabinet of Currencies

Retailing at £195, Martin Margiela's wallets are perfect example of the designer's genious. Too bad, I don't have anough money to buy or to put inside.
More wallets can be found at Refinery29

L.A to N.Y Cabinet

From Hollywood to Manhattan to in exactly four minutes is a new video by Michel and Oliver Gondry. A cross country trip for those who have busy schedule. Happy Passover.

L.A. Cabinet

Between Earth and Heaven, the book and the show, mark not only the new interest in John Lautner, the influential American architect whose work in Southern California combined progressive engineering with humane design and dramatic space-age flair, but also the resurface of Googie, also known as populuxe or doo-wop, the futurst architecture that was most frequently used in design motels, coffee houses and bowling alleys.

I just realized that two of my favorites songs this time of year are all about seeing and not seeing.

The first, "Blind", is by Hercules and Love Affairs, a Brooklyn band that was found by an exe-boyfriend of a good friend of mine. Andy Butler (I adore that name, despite what the Guardian says about it <"Andy's releasing the whole thing under the name Hercules and Love Affair, which is a much more exciting name than Andy Butler Who You Might Know As A Disco DJ From New York Plus An Assorted Cast Of Extras Including Antony Hegarty From Antony And The Johnsons.">) just made one of the first surprises of dancemusic in 2008. "Blind" is a sad dance track. And it's so beautiful.



The Second, "Made in the Dark", is by Hot Chip, and as beautiful as it is sad, it also reminds me that the world began in the dark, just like the fucking-stupid-earth-hour-today. The album ("Made in the Dark") is a little gem too.

Cabinet of Scents

Can you imagine what "was inspired by the spices and woods that passed through the trade route, linking India to Egypt" and that a "prized Indian ebony is added to resinous guaiac hardwood at the base, while a healthy dose of spice comprises the opening."? My favorite scent by Comme des Garcons Series 3: Incense.

According to the New Yorker's review of two new books, "a taste or a smell can pass you by, unremarked or nearly so, in large part because you don’t have a word for it; then you see the thing and grasp the meaning of a word at the same time, and both your palate and your vocabulary have expanded". John Lanchester says that "to understand perfume, science is a good place to start, since it’s with the nineteenth-century discovery of synthetic fragrances that modern perfumes began." But his enthusiasm lies in the human experience and language, and it's fun to read more scent's descriptions that evoke the "beast prowling the streets, a strange molecule with the feel of a light, volatile top note and the power and tenacity of the most powerful drydown materials." (about Viktor & Rolf's Antidote). I wonder what the new scent by Margiela smells like (due Fall 2009) , especially after Women's Wear Daily reports that "Given Martin Margiela's conceptual bent, one could imagine him putting out a perfume without any scent — or even an empty bottle".

Therapy Cabinet

The New York Times explores today the interesting subject of design and therapy in its "Home and garden" section. What do therapists think about when they decorate an office? what do patients feel about their therapist's clinics? and above all, what if the chairs could talk and tell us what they think about both...

The article fails to talk about Freud and his office, but thanks to Robert Longo's The Freud Drawings, we can have a look at the place where psychoanalysis was first sitted.

Trends Cabinet

Gridskipper, my favorite travel guide blog, reports about a new trend called Tecktonik: A dance craze among French teenagers roving through the capital and engaging in public danceoffs. It all started with a teen named Jey-Jey who films himself dancing in the garage. You can tell the rest of teh story: YouTube page, millions of viewers, and the beginning of hysteria. Now they come in teams and websites full of DIY videos, battles between teams, lifestyle agenda and - as usual in our little commercial village - a registered trademark. Available everywhere: a wide range of official products, including clothing, CDs, and energy drinks.

Fashion Cabinet

Tony Ventresca from filmnoirbuff writes about the “Updated American” suit and jacket silhouette. Ventresca gives a comprehensive and insightful view on men's fashion and the history of the American suit, and uses a lot of exmaples and source material when writing about his subject. So dress up and read. It's good.

In Memoriam Cabinet

My favorite part of the Oscars is the “In Memoriam”, the montage video honoring those in the film industry who passed away between February 1, 2007 - January 31, 2008. No Brad Renfro though, but yes to Heath. Just wait till the end.

Oscar's Cabinet

It's Oscar's night, and this cartoon is dediacted for all the smokers around the world, and espeically for the ones who attend The Kodak Theatre, in LA. Good luck, PTA. I love you.

Blog's Cabinet

One of my favorite blogs out there is the Sartorialist, where Scott Schuman photographs best dressed people on the sidewalks of New York, Paris or Milan. "I thought I could shoot people on the street the way designers looked at people, and get and give inspiration to lots of people in the process. My only strategy when I began The Sartorialist was to try and shoot style in a way that I knew most designers hunted for inspiration. Rarely do they look at the whole outfit as a yes or no but they try and look for the abstract concepts of color, proportion, pattern mixing or mixed genres."

Clooney's Cabinet

Well, it's the Oscar's weekend, and it's time for more items about movies and stars I like. Time magazine runs an article about the man, who the girls on Sex and the City said about "he is like a Channel dress, he is never gonna get out of fashion". I couldn't agree more, especially after a picture like this one.

Movies Cabinet

Men’s Vogue put together a piece on movies that influenced men’s fashion. I love the list, and I love the clothes, and I really love Steve McQueen. Lights, camera rolling. Action.

Here is a sample...

The Thomas Crown Affair (1968)

2046 (2004)

To Catch a Thief (1955)

Rebel Without a Cause (1955)

Roman Holiday (1953)

Royal Tenenbaums (2001)

The Graduate (1967)

American Gigolo (1980)

The Deer Hunter (1978)

Luxury Cabinet

After hiring Mikhail Gorbachev, Andres Agassi and other famous people, Louis Vuitton is doing Philosophy! The Luxury goods brand launched its first ever television advertisement, full of questions, thoughts, and blurred images. What's next? maybe a new Meditations on First Philosophy with a LV leather binding?

Improv Cabinet

My friends know I hate "groups" and performances, but this one is the most creative players I've encountered. "Improv Everywhere" is a New York based prank collective who interferes with the public sphere. Their latest gig is an amazing comment on time, space, and - how surprisingly - on New York as well.