Vintage Mint

{Update: The Merona autumn line at Target features a black, and white metal-link watch! I do like the 3-mini dials, and the affordable $15 price-point. My sweet Husband already bought me the Timex watch, below, so why do I want this one, too? Maybe it’s because of my shopping addiction and severe weakness for all things Target, black, and Chanel-esque.} 

/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /

Black, link wrist watches have resurfaced on my radar again. I originally coveted them several years ago when Chanel launched their J12 line. I’ve had a penchant for all-black clothes since high school and that affinity still carries true today — so me coveting a black colored timepiece is just a natural progression towards becoming a 30 year-old goth. Fortunately, now there are other, less pricey, options out there — ones that won’t cost you $5-grand just to know the time. These black watches are unexpectedly sophisticated and definitely exude a sleek, masculine style.

{inspiration: Chanel J12}

{the holy grail: Chanel J12; $out of my league}

{runner up: MK acrylic; $180}

{runner up: Fossil Stella; $85}

{the winner/aka: fits my budget: Timex T2M519; $75}

{First image via jak + jil}

I am absolutely enamored by this poster, and it’s not just because of my affinity for JP. Aesthetically, the composition, font, coloring, and feigned nonplus photo are moody and perfect . Side note: JP almost looks like a celebrity doppelganger of my husband {to his chagrin}, that is, if my husband vanquished his disdain for sunglasses — then they’d be identical {much like their rap skills}. That being said, I’m such an empathetic wimp I don’t think I could handle the formidable candidness of this film.

I can’t believe it either: two movie/film references on this blog, all within the same year.

{Photo via Magnolia Pictures}

It’s great to see classic American brands like LL Bean, Lands End, and Talbots go from dowdy and bland to surprisingly chic and wearable. J Crew accomplished this a few years back with Jen Lyons, and Ann Taylor {and LOFT} seem to have followed those footsteps…and now, so has Talbots. I’m a sucker for autumnal clothing/marketing, and these pieces from the “new” Talbots Fall line are no exception.

{Images via Talbots Lookbook}

It’s not often I get excited to go see a movie {Husband, on the other hand, is a movie/film.o.phile}, but wow, Christopher Nolan’s work reels me in every time. And Inception doesn’t disappoint:  it’s complex, ambiguous, smart, with mesmerizing visuals, and a captivating storyline. And let’s be real here, how often does something intellectually original like this come about these days? {Movie critics: there are plenty of other movies (Sam Mendes) to get pretentiously snobby about.}

{Photos by Stephen Vaughn and/or courtesy of Warner Bros.}

{Update: I just got these in the mail and they are everything I could possibly want in a green plant leaf rip-tie. I’m thinking about getting another pack, maybe in the olive green…}

These are probably the cutest “how-do-I-organize-all-my-computer-wires-and-cables” ties I’ve seen! Very clever and more aesthetically appealing than say a normal rip-stop cord {or those weird according tubes}. Lufdesign, the Korea-based company that makes these leaf ties, just got more in stock so grab them up quick! {They come in six colors: emerald green, olive, espresso brown, scarlet, white reindeer, and kingfisher blue.}

{Photos via Lufdesign and Min.Song}

I’m not an outdoor-sy person, let alone a “summer/sunny” person, but these stylish, city denizens make me want to quit my indoor-cubicle-desk job, buy understated-chic summer clothes and wander around the open streets of some European city {I’ll even take NYC, once their heatwave simmers down}.  Who’s with me?

{apparently the summer temp in Florence allows for gorgeous, rich,
brown, linen suits — super lux style, super non-California weather style.
bummer.}

{Photos via The Sartorialist, Stylesightings}

I stumbled upon these black + white oil paintings by Howard Pyle {more known for his Americana genre illustrations; akin to Norman Rockwell’s style} the other day. Who knew a Realism painting of a cargo ship could be so surreal {awesome!}? and somewhat Impression-istic? {My art history/critiquing skills at its finest, yes}.  Seeing this image reminded me of one of my favorite painters, James Whistler {part of the Tonalism movement}.

Ships Loading on Albemarle Sound

There is such a resonating brevity to his paintings…the atmospheres he creates are luminous and ephemeral; drifting from reality into subconsciousness….

Nocturne: Blue and Gold - St Mark’s, Venice

Nocturne: Blue and Silver - Cremorne Lights

Nocturne in Blue and Gold - Old Battersea Bridge

Nocturne: Black and Gold - The Falling Rocket

{Note: Although I admire his work, from what I remember reading about him, he was kind of a douche. Sorry, it had to be said.}

{Image via Antiquarian Society}
{Images via WebMuseum}

Not that my piles of dirty clothes mulling in my super-plain laundry hamper {great mental image} aren’t enough to make me do the laundry, but wow, this gray ruffle laundry bag would at least make it slightly more enjoyable.

It can be bought here, for a very dirty-laundry price of $36. {But lets be real: I don’t think I could muster the energy to actually shop for cotton voile, let alone sit down and realize how crappy I am at basting ruffles for 2-3 hours, only to churn out a mediocre replica…}

{ Add a Comment }Crafts + Ideas, Finds, Home + Garden

Hello! The next time I get flowers, they are going to be parsed into small glass bottles and placed on window sills around my house. {This spread could even spruce up my dull office desk if only the architects of our newly constructed building believed us office-worker minions deserved windows in our rooms}.

{If you haven’t checked out Ginny’s blog, my favorite color is shiny, go there now! She has great sense of Southern charm + style, and all things nostalgic. Photos above are from her blog.}

I don’t watch a whole lot of TV, but when I do, I am absolutely glued to the screen every Sunday MM is on. {Geek sidenote: I also love to read about and analyze each episode. My Husband definitely gets an ear-full of my theories and wtf? questions. I am probably the worst person to watch anything with because of my Mystery Science Theater 3000 like tendencies to  provide running commentary}.

Can’t wait until Season 4! Just two more months {July 25th} of sub-standard television…

{Photos by Annie Leibovitz for Vanity Fair, Sept 2009}