Porta'seyes...
INVENTORY
*Gift Guide Survey
December 2009In this month's rundown of vital life improvements I have a Ten Calendars, Happy Socks for Barney's COOP, MoMA design store's holiday products...etc and want to share a few of our favorites to get you gift guide in the day leading up to Christmas through the coming year.
For all the uses of a calendar—marking engagements, identifying days, counting down time and organizing schedules—digital might suffice but nothing beats the charm of a well-designed paper version. More than just a simple record of duties and celebrations, calendars themselves add a chic touch to environments with beautiful illustrations and images. Past years, we've highlighted calendars from MWM, Tielen, Studio On Fire and Stephen Turbeck and this year we gathered together ten more to keep 2010 festive all year round.
Artists on Their Bicycles New York Calendar
This limited edition calendar features artists such as Ryan McGinley, David Byrne with Cindy Sherman, Maurizio Cattelan and Amy Granat, all on their bikes around NYC, captured by Swiss photographer Lukas Wassmann. A run of 500, each comes numbered and sells from the Swiss Institute of Contemporary Art New York for $45.
Pentagram Typography Calendar
The typography calendar from the famed multi-disciplinary design studio Pentragram is a font nerd's delight. Each month features a different font with a brief explanation of it and the its designer. Available in a small or large size, Veer carries both for $26-44.
Crispin Finn 2010 Year Planner
The over-sized, hand-printed calendar from Crispin Finn allows a full-year view, with space to write plans (and erase them) on its 100% recycled paper composition. Ideal for offices or the immensely organized, the calendar's simple motif can make a dramatic statement spanning 40" x 28". It sells from Crispin Finn for £10.
The Moustache Calendar
The wire-bound moustache calendar features black-and-white, medium format photos of the "sex-confident" students and alumni from the Rhode Island School of Design. A limited edition, the calendar sells for $15 online or at independent bookshops in Providence, Rhode Island.
Linda & Harriett Calendar
Fastened together with a ribbon, the Linda & Harriett calendar includes 12 letterpressed cards, each with a month view on one side and a detachable postcard image on the reverse. It's available from Linda & Harriett for $30.
Caitlin Keegan Radial Calendar
Brooklyn-based illustrator Caitlin Keegan prints her radial calendar using soy-based inks on recycled paper. The engaging design allows for a year-long view and provides enough space to note important dates each month. The calendar can be purchased for $25 from her online shopLena Corwin holiday sale.—Julie Wolfson
D-Bros Joy By Day By Toy Calendar
From the creative Japanese design studio D-Bros this interactive calendar begins as a blank slate but soon gets filled with favorite activities through the use of clever stickers. Known for their quirky but sharp designs, D-Bros is the child of design agency Draft Co., Ltd., who believes that strong design plays a huge role in the future of society. Colette carries it for €40.—JW
Fornasetti 2010 Calendar Plate
A yearly tradition since 1968, the Fornasetti handmade porcelain calendar plate is a limited edition of 700, each numbered and signed by the artist who painted the piece. An Italian sculptor, painter and interior decorator, Fornasetti is still celebrated today in items like scarveswallpaper. The calendar plate sells from Unica Home for $326.Moleskine Daily Desk Calendar
The small but generous daily desk calendar from Moleskine serves as both a calendar and daily planner with ample space for jotting down notes. Boasting standard Moleskine features, the calendar comes with an expandable inner pocket and an elastic-band closure, from MoMA Store for $20.
Puzzle Calendar
A fun desk accessory that keeps life organized, the perpetual puzzle calendar includes numbers and icon blocks that denote holidays and special events, all easily rearranged month to month. It's available from Paper Source for $13.One Canoe Two Letterpress Calendar Poster
From the letterpress studio One Canoe Two, the hand-printed poster calendar reflects the objects found in everyday life with drawings of items such as hammers, scissors, cameras and kitchen utensils. Printed on sturdy paper, the limited edition poster is available from the Missouri-based studio's Etsy shop for $75.—JW
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By Evan Orensten and Bailee Wolfson
We got a sneak peak of the MoMA Design Store's Holiday 2009 products and wanted to share a few of our favorites. As always the store will have reissues, classics and lots of new designs. We were really excited that the price points for a lot of the new items are right for the times, with a lot of great products under $50. The store will also feature some additional items by Ron Arad, who has an upcoming show at the museum later this summer.
These won't hit the shelves or the online store for a few more months, and we'll let you know when they do. And just a reminder, all proceeds benefit the MoMA to help fund programs and exhibitions to further education about modern art and design.
Espresso Set by Fellina SOK-Charm.This set features a bamboo tray with individual mini-saucers and cups with stainless steel spoons that rest on top of each cup. $45
Bamboo Charcoal Deodorizer by Kiyoshi Nishio. Its cube design features a micro-honeycomb interior and works best in enclosed spaces, whether it be a refrigerator, car or closet. (Not pictured.) $25
Glass Bell Ornaments by Eva Zeisel and Olivia Barry. Eva is still delighting and surprising the senses with these multi piece glass ornaments; mouth blown in Italy. $35 and $45.
Happy Hour Glasses. Double-walled glasses are essential for hot or icy drinks. These up the ante by also being reversible. Right side up, they are perfect for a Martini. Upside down, perfect for a Tequila shot. (Not pictured.) Also very well priced at two for $20.
Almond Bowl by Harry Allen. We love Harry's work and his new bowl with reflective chrome-plated exterior doesn't disappoint. $75
Adjustable Rolling Pin by Damian Evans (not pictured). The cooks on your list will love this new rolling pin design, with measurements on the roller and adjustable rings on the sides to roll your dough to the desired thickness every time. $20
Jar Tops by Jorre van Ast (not pictured). We think the tops are a brilliant idea and very eco-friendly. Instead of tossing out old jars, put them to good and varied use with this assortment of jar toppers. $22
Pop-Up Pencil Cup by Paul Koh Inspired by the straw dispenser, this pen and pencil cup makes choosing your next writing utensil much easier. Simply lift by the red ball and the contents of the cup lift up—perfect for grabbing that favorite, shortened pencil. $30
Jardino Mortar and Pestle. What makes this traditional appliance unique is its stainless steel pestle and cast-iron mortar, perfect for heavy duty use. $165
Wooden Flashlight by Jonas Damon. It's a classic flashlight, but a beech wood body and an LED bulb kicks it up a style notch. $55
Play Tool Set by Brian Gulassa and Robert von Goeben. This tool set is made from recycled milk jugs. $26
Shooting Star Magnetic Ring by Terence Kelleman. Made of five interlocking magnetic pieces, this ring can be modified to the wearer's preference. $12
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Happy Socks for Barney's COOP Holiday Socks
Happy Socks is clearly one of the big breakout brands of the last few years. Their take on the traditional footwear staple placed against a very affordable price point has helped catapult the line in both sales and awareness. While Europe continues to embrace more colorway options in socks, the USA is starting to come around with the help of some big co-brands. For holiday 2009, Happy Socks has works with Barney’s COOP on a set of exclusive colors. Happy Socks are happily displayed in a Globe-Trotter trunk above.
Many more looks at the Happy Socks for Barney’s COOP Holiday Socks after the click.
Since I never made a formal announcement, let me take this opportunity to walk you through some of the goods in the ACL Shop. The whole idea of launching an online store came after the idea to start making these little zipper folios to use when I travel. I would actually end up using the little bags daily while ferrying my laptop and camera from home to work. Well, the bag idea was hatched in 2005, long before ACL. When I finally got my act together and decided to move forward with the production of the bags (which will be restocking early next week) I got to thinking that a shop full of zippered folios isn’t very exciting, so I pulled together a small collection of things that I wanted to wear or use. Most of the items in the ACL Shop are unique to the store, collaborations like the Cole, Rood & Haan Co. chukka and the Billykirk canvas briefcase.The shop is still coming into its own and come spring should have a more complete offering of goods. Many thanks to the original vendors and companies that took the time to collaborate with me in making the shop possible. The folks at Property Of… which collaborated on a great wool messenger bag with Pendleton, Cole Rood & Haan Co. who turned out an amazing Kudu desert boot — special for ACL, Chris and Kirk from Billykirk for always being up for any crazy idea I throw their way and lastly for Mark McNairy who has taught me much and always being up to take me to my factory!
Mark McNairy for ACL & Co.
Pendleton x Property Of...wool messenger bags.
This is the first collaboration for Property Of...
Billykirk x ACL & Co.
canvas briefcase based on a WWII design.
Some beads & trinkets coming to the shop this week...
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I recently had the chance to take a look at Folk's SS10 line.
Folk, started by Cathal McAteer back in 2001, has enjoyed a growing and intensely loyal following in the UK and in the past few seasons, is seeing the same thing happen here in the US. Available at both Hickoree's online(and presently at their pop up shop in Brooklyn. More on that later) as well as at Odin in NYC, Folk is rich in detail and bold in color and texture for SS10. As they state on their site, "Folk’s about making clean, honest understated garments with a meticulous eye for colour, fabric selection and design detail. We create simple everyday clothing with subtle, innovative and sometimes playful detailing. So take some time to get over to Odin(you know where) or my neck of the woods in Brooklyn to Hickoree's pop up(439 Metropolitan Ave. Through January 31st) to have a look at Folk's FW09 line. And be patient, SS10 will be available soon enough at the above retailers as well as Bblessing, For The Greater Good, Douglas Fir, and C'H'C'M
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ASTON MARTIN CYGNET by Doobybrain
Aston Martin is preparing for one of the boldest new cars in its lineup with the Aston Martin Cygnet, a car based off of the Toyota iQ and sporting much greener carbon footprint than the rest of the Aston Martin lineage of vehicles. [via]
The car isn’t meant for performance but rather for simple urban commuting. Aston Martin is hoping to sell about 4000 of these each year starting at the end of 2010. But if you’re hoping to get one too, you better already own a current Aston Martin vehicle model because the company is reportedly only going to sell these to current Aston Martin owners. Bummer.
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I.D. Magazine folds
Kind of sad...
New York, NY
It seems that the venerable I.D. Magazine is folding… after a run of 55 years. Pity, that…
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Creative Time Short Shorts
Supporting one of NYC's best arts organizations is easy by buying any number of Creative Time's gift-worthy artist editions and the like (which you should definitely consider), but nothing says "I care" like a message printed across the bum.
Available from Creative Time for $20.
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Filson Medium Wool Field Bag
This classic wool bag comes in a variety of colors and comes with two front pockets, a flap that secures with a snap and an adjustable leather strap.
Available from Filson for $240
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A Cool Hunting favorite, June Taylor Jams makes a great gifting idea, as she produces a wide variety of products produced in the U.S. One of her holiday specialties is her Christmas cake that takes a whole year to prepare along with other items such as Vegetarian Mincemeat, Fruit Cheese, Tomato Ketchup, Candied Citrus Peel, and more.
Available from June Taylor Jams for $12-46.
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Fusion Chrome Collection Power Shave Set
Pamper a hirsute man in your life with a kit that combines The Art of Shaving's superior products with Gilette's novel Fusion Chrome razor.
Available from The Art of Shaving for $150.
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Vannen x Christopher Bettig "Winter Holiday Exclusive" Watch
Designed by L.A.-based Christopher Bettig, this watch makes holiday-themed dressing a lot more chic with its retro-inspired graphics. Limited to an edition of 100, 10 randomly come with a snowflake pattern on the band and in the dial.
Available from Vannen for $75.
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Olympus Digital Camera Crayola Coloring Kit
Ever want to color in your own photos? Well, here's your chance. You can now turn your pictures into pages of a coloring book. The set includes six months of unlimited coloring book prints, along with a camera case, and a 64-pack of Crayola Crayons.
Available from B & H for $90.
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BluePrint Cleanse
What better way to end (or start) the holiday binge fest then with a juice cleanse? With their new gift cards you can give the gift of juice. They're offering one to five day cleanses, as well as a seasonal cleanse package which includes a consultation with a personal nutrition consultant.
Available from Blue Print Cleanse starting at $65.
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Not only does Powermat organize devices for charging into one location, but it adds wireless capabilities so you can toss your phone, iPod, camera or a slew of other gadgets onto it for no-fuss power. While the forward-thinking device does require using Powermat cases and docks, here's to encouraging manufacturers to integrate the technology into future products.
Available from Powermat starting at $99 for the basic kit and about $30 for cases.
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We just mentioned the launch of these great holiday piece last week. We’ll it just arrived at HQ today and we’re quite impressed. It’s not a cheap travel case for the price of $250 but on inspection it feels like a good deal. The bag has 3 small pouches and bags that Velcro out from the inside, and comes with an number of Baxter of California grooming products. Usually the travel-size is pretty small – thinking hotel shampoo – but the Baxter offerings are quite substantial and will definitely last you a more than few trips. The Dopp kit itself is made very well, as we’ve come to expect from Porter. Made in Japan especially for Baxter, the tag and inside branding features the US companies signature colours which look sharp on the black bag. There aren’t many stockists around the world as the bags are quite limited. We’ve excited to receive a few in time for the holiday season, so whether you need the perfect gift for somebody or have a packed travel schedule over the holidays – this piece is definitely recommended by us at Inventory.
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Available at Inventory Stockroom, $250
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Available at Inventory Stockroom, $250
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Beams Plus
Beams Plus Bandana
A bandana really could be from a number of brands, but the one I have is this one, from Beams Plus. We each received one as a small gift when we left the HQ last month and it’s surprisingly seen a lot of use. I’ve never really been one for pocket squares or bandanas, but since it was a gift and always reminds me of a good experience, I thought I might as well give it a try. I basically have just left it in the pocket of my EG Baker jacket for the last few weeks. Sometimes I forget about it when I put the jacket one, but I’m always glad it’s there. The subtle pattern and nice shade of blue seems to go well with my chambray or S.N.S. Herning NAVAL sweater and I like it even more when I’ve got a little bit of my hat coming out of the other pocket. There is definitely a thin line where having things in your pockets can look very contrived and unappealing. The key to keeping it looking natural, is actually being natural. It’s not hard to tell when it’s being forced so if it’s not feeling right, just leave it.
Beams Plus Knit Tie
Beams Plus Bandana
A bandana really could be from a number of brands, but the one I have is this one, from Beams Plus. We each received one as a small gift when we left the HQ last month and it’s surprisingly seen a lot of use. I’ve never really been one for pocket squares or bandanas, but since it was a gift and always reminds me of a good experience, I thought I might as well give it a try. I basically have just left it in the pocket of my EG Baker jacket for the last few weeks. Sometimes I forget about it when I put the jacket one, but I’m always glad it’s there. The subtle pattern and nice shade of blue seems to go well with my chambray or S.N.S. Herning NAVAL sweater and I like it even more when I’ve got a little bit of my hat coming out of the other pocket. There is definitely a thin line where having things in your pockets can look very contrived and unappealing. The key to keeping it looking natural, is actually being natural. It’s not hard to tell when it’s being forced so if it’s not feeling right, just leave it.
Beams Plus Knit Tie
The Fair Isle and Norwegian patterns were quite evident in Japan. Even though a lot of the top shops had pieces imported from northern UK and Scandinavia, some of my favorite pieces were the inspired items produced in Japan. A handful of the people we met with were sporting the colourful patterns as there seem to be endless ways to mix and match, from socks and vests to cardigans, hats and ties. I picked up this Beams Plus knit tie which features a soft wool from Tucker’s Mill. It has a more Norwegian feel to it, but it’s the nice mix of navy blue, white and a dark red that make it quite wearable. I particularly like how the colour and texture sits on a chambray shirt, so anticipate that being a favored holiday match up in the next month or two.
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Stripes work so well any time of year. The Naval theme is shown best and runs deep through the S.N.S. Herning collections as well as other classic heritage brands like Saint James. The combination of dark blues on off-white, or the other way around, is an easy way to grab my attention, especially when mixted with chambray. These caps by S.N.S. fit a little on the snug side but will stretch out and definitely keep your head warm through the next few months. I also really love this particular shade of blue on the stripes. For $85, it’s a pretty decent cost for a cap that will last you years and that has been made on the quality machinery that S.N.S. Herning use. The brand make some of our favorite knitwear so don’t be surprised to see a special delivery around the corn at the Stockroom.
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J. Crew is always good for affordable accessories come fall. While some of the cuts in pants and shirting never seems to work out, you can’t go wrong with a knit cap, wool socks and a plaid scarf. Each item could easily be considered an essential for the season and would look great with a number of items in our closet. I’m not usually one for a messenger bag, but the “Original” Postal bag is always worth a drool each season. I particularly like the grey and red pattern in the scarf and haven’t seen one so nice anywhere else this fall.
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Drakes Silk Knitted Tie
I’ve definitely taken a little while to warm up to the knitted ties with this sewn off ends, but Drakes is making me nice and warm with these. The raw silk is spun, dyed and finished in Switzerland in efforts to ensure a particular hand with the ties. The certain crunch when feeling the silk is difficult to get, as well as the perfect shape. These particular pieces are knitted on hundred-year old frames and each of the dots are individually sewn on. You can quickly understand why the price has crept up to £100 with the attention to detail and techniques used in the process. I feel like the navy and off-white colors are really perfect casual ties and would pair with an oxford shirt just right. I featured the navy one in my Monday look, but these knit ties definitely deserved a little more attention for me as it was the piece that really brought the whole ensemble together.
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Visvim Spring Items
Visvim is probably one of my favorite brands as whole. I really appreciate the care the time invested into developing the technology and the functionality of the pieces to the presentation, catalogs and retail experience they provide. There aren’t a lot of surprises this season so far. The Cambridge blazer is a pretty nice addition, as well as the loafers I am looking forward to seeing. While I’m the first to admit my development in tastes in the past few years, Visvim has been one of the staples I’ve been a fan of for a while now. The more I learn, the more I’m interested, and more I like it. However, I do wonder how it could make much money. With such a small number of stockists and probably an even smaller number of customers, it can’t be easy. I’ve heard different rumors in the last year about how the line is able to thrive financially, but either way, it is really nice. I quite like the color blocking, the blazer and the simplicity of the hoody, chinos and Foley sneakers – as usual.Available now from the Star Joyus community of shops
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Christmas
Gift Guide
In the final days leading up to Christmas we have compiled a last-minute gift
I searched for the new and noteworthy. Added a few classics. And revisited some of our favorite gift ideas from the site. Almost everything is available online to make your holiday shopping as painless as possible. Check back often as the guide will be updated daily.
*In Addition: I do realize a lot of blogs have to get traffic and actually rely on making money for their job. So personal accounts and thoughts might not have a place. There is a balance, and it can be tough.
*In Addition: I do realize a lot of blogs have to get traffic and actually rely on making money for their job. So personal accounts and thoughts might not have a place. There is a balance, and it can be tough.
IS
GOOD GIFTS
-the portastylistic
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