Milan came and went. I’m not blown away – I think the New York shows were stronger. Here’s WWD’s playlist with song streams added, listed from my fav to least fav, at least today. (Paris started off nicely, though! Balmain’s so cool.)

“What’s a Girl to Do?” by Bat for Lashes (Salvatore Ferragamo)

“I Feel Love” by Donna Summer (Gucci)

Kanye West – Love Lockdown (Dolce & Gabbana)

Soft Cell – Tainted Love (Fendi)

“Metti Una Sera A Cena” theme from the movie by Ennio Morricone (Blumarine)

“Camille Theme” by Georges Delerue from the film “Le Mépris” (Jil Sander)

“La Vie En Rose” by Grace Jones (Bottega Veneta, D&G)

“I’m Bad” by LL Cool J (Dsquared2)

“Lost in Music” by Sister Sledge, mixed by Michel Gaubert (Gucci)

“I’m Kissing You” by Des’ree (Burberry Prorsum)

“Here Comes the Sun” by Nina Simone (Alberta Ferretti)

Can’t get enough Swedish design – this time, authentically from Sweden:

This door, called Ajar, is for outer installation (a building entrance/exit).  It looks slightly open (or ajar) but keeps you and your secrets safe.

More on Wis Design here.

Prius owners rate themselves as less attractive than the rest of the population, according to a study.

This study apparently gives some scientific basis to my observation that Prius owners think their personal decisions have a global impact.   But then it hits me back by showing that Mac owners generally see themselves the same way.  Prius and Mac owners are also similar in their concern for the environment, support for Barack Obama, and belief that humans can stop global warming.

There is another bit of evidence that Priuses come standard with a smugness package: “Prius owners felt they were significantly more successful in life than both Mac owners and non-Prius owners.”

Maybe buying a Prius is itself that bit of extra success-in-life that its owners are talking about?  Maybe success in life is measured by how much people are able to inflate their senses of self?  Just looking for reasons that would make you say, “yes, Prius owners are more successful in life.”

It wouldn’t bother me as much if the Prius purchases would go along with more relevant declarations.  For example, if you’re an 80s yuppie with a so-called Beamer, then it’d be fine to use that car to communicate a certain level of income, simply based on the car’s price tag.  If you’re a vegan, then your avoidance of animal products shows your way of life.

But if your thing is “I am making the planet better” & “I am a bigger success in life,” then getting a Prius does not sell that stance.  Yeah, a hybrid beats a gas-guzzling poluter.  But it’s not that big a deal.  Battery disposal is an issue; people can make more of an effort to live close to work/drive less; frequent new car purchases are often less efficient than keeping older cars in better shape & consuming fewer cars over time.  Also, people making the planet better can surely lose the whole superiority bit, no?

Wanna make the planet better?  Make a business out of it.  Run for office.  Work for an activist organization.

Wanna get a trendy car to tote your canvas shopping bags?  Great.  But don’t tell me you’re better than anyone else.

Regardless, please show your love for From on Rock Sellout’s Smash or Trash — comment here!

Y’alls, and I do mean that with a Z, I’m so happy & grateful for the mentions of my new music!

Local Vertical says, “Happy and catchy orchestral sounds that are reminiscent of the Long Blondes (to me, anyway). Roni grew up in Tel Aviv, Israel, attended high school in Beverly Hills, and graduated Harvard University with a major in economics; I can’t say I’ve ever known anyone else that can say that. She is a self-taught musician who writes, performs, and produces all the tracks for From. She’s got an addictive sound, I think you’ll like this!”

mp3hugger reports about Maple Drive, “This music is the sound of upheaval, of instruments shoved into uncompromising positions…  I am utterly entranced…  It’s all a bit daft, from the unconventional execution to the strange reactions I am feeling in my approving toes.”

And Rock Sellout includes From in their Smash or Trash feature, so please stop by & leave a comment about your love of From.  You know, the love that keeps your heart warm and your smile shiny.  Speaking your mind is really really “”"in”"” this fall.  Do it here, please!  “She reminds me of Claudia Gonson from the Magnetic Fields but sharing a stage with Freezpop whilst singing Sesame Street songs.”

He played his Friendship First concert with the message of peace, not to mention some of the best music around. I grew up in Israel and always thought it was goofy that my country banned the Beatles from playing there in 1964 in fear that they would corrupt the youth.  Music is hugely important in Israel.  The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra was founded in 1936, during times of food rations, and of course 8 years before the UN declared the modern state of Israel.

As a kid, my first impression of the English language came from Beatles albums.  Never mind my first impression of good music.  I really wish I were there for this amazing amazing moment.  But I’m here in LA, reading the news, and feeling incredibly sad that there are people who can’t just enjoy the music and instead have protested his visit — and even issued a death threat.

If you can’t enjoy a Paul McCartney show, what does that say about your view of happiness?  What are you protesting about if your world view cannot accommodate a fun concert?  Yes, it’s a big coup for Israel to host the world treasure that is Sir Paul.  (He did also visit a Palestinian music school on his visit).  Shouldn’t we all be winners?  That’s how I see peace.  Otherwise, you’re protesting for defeat, not agreement.  Which is a point, fine, but please refrain from threatening Macca and dressing your cause up in a dove-feather suit!

No worries; he had 5,000 security personnel to keep him safe.  We do safety pretty well.  Hope everyone calms down when he gets back home.

These photos make me really emotional.

One more reason to love my neighborhood – the streets are paved in sugar.  Yet another dessertery is opening up.

Coming soon to 9401 Brighton Way.

This one’s called Yogen Früz, and I guess they’re kinda channeling Frusen Glädjé, but maybe going for a faux Swiss take rather than the wannabe Swedish branding of F-Gläd.

Love those pint containers!  F-Gläd was based in New Jersey, and Swedish food does not come in anything quite so mass manufactured-looking lush packaging.  More like Epcot Center’s Sweden, I suppose.  I BTW much much prefer mass manufactured-looking packaging to the dainty Whole Foods fauxrganic soy ink crap.

Here’s a Frusen Glädjé commercial – pretty edgy, actually:

WWD’s London playlist for SS09:

“We Tigers” by Animal Collective (Cooperative Designs)

“L’amour et la Violence” by Sébastian Tellier (Roksanda Ilincic)

“I Wanna Be Like You” From Disney’s Jungle Book soundtrack (Christopher Kane)

Read more »

Just had lunch at Culver City’s ROYAL/T, an art space and café.  The cafe is inspired by the maid cafés of Tokyo’s electronic district, Akihabara.  There, they’re known as meido kissa, and they tend to the underground otaku (geek) culture that celebrates cosplay (costume play).  ROYAL/T’s waitresses are dressed like Lolita maids but are not at all cheesy.  The place looks more like a freer, younger museum cafetria, complete with a brilliant gift shop.  I enjoyed the food and will certainly come back for high tea.

Read more »

My fall look is covered in Sweden’s super amazing Bon magazine:

You’ll need some grasp of Swedish to read about all the fake boobs the author saw at my gym.  I can tell you that the F/A 08 we discussed involves that goth/ballet idea you kinda see in the photo.  Some ppl see an old Hollywood element as well – bonus, maybe?

More great things by the very chic Caroline Hainer on her blog and on the Bon beauty blog.

For me, it’s the photo for The Eagles’ Hotel California:

Find out here on Word Magazine.  Their readers have been building a Google map showing where album cover pics were taken.  You can also add your own entries.

Question: is it creepy to tell your crush you know what album cover was shot near him/her?  Never mind. Yes, yes it’s creepy.

Regardless, cool site to check out.

Via NYTimes’ Ideas blog.