Hello Kitty Black Wonder is a collaboration between Hello Kitty & Hong Kong retailers D-mop and J-01.  This collection of apparel, totes, caps and dolls brings a darker edge to Hello Kitty.

These items are cool enough and definitely accomplish the design objective, if I’m reading it right.  Regardless, I’m not into the infantilization of women – squeaky voices, childhood icons, and gelatinous spines.

But I do love the flat props in these photos.

Via Nitrolicious

• 8 episodes is not a season, mad men. It is cruelty.
• Trying to get out of bed but can’t put together an exit strategy

From twitter.com/thebandfrom

I’m working on my first album, Fair Isle.  All I listened to when I wrote the songs was Magical Mystery Tour.  Specifically, “I am the Walrus” and the intro to “Hello Goodbye.”

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Perhaps my best post title so far.

This excerpt comes from Glamour, and it features statistics to make people feel smart by reading the caption.  I like how they freshen up the subject by adding Perez Hilton-inspired white illustrations.

The same piece would be much more classy without the whiteout & silly caption:

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• From the first party: “don’t waste your outfit.”
• “I see your dad! Tell your dad to come, too!”

From twitter.com/thebandfrom

• i got spammed by both Elizabeth Taylor and Norman Mcdonald. Are spammers losing their creativity?

From twitter.com/thebandfrom

Is there a Beatles fan who doesn’t have the catalog on CD and MP3s?  Does that person need a new iPod engraved front and back with Beatles related insignia?  Bloomingdale’s thinks there are easily 2,500 such people.  If you know one and want to give that person an $800 gift, 2008 is your year:

Bloomingdale’s Beatles + iPod set

• 120GB engraved iPod classic
• 13 Beatles CDs
• 2 masters
• Love CD
• engraved guitar pick
• packaged in a box designed by Psycho Bunny
• $795
• Limited edition of 2,500

Get it here.

Suppose you live in a red state and have a super fancy BBQ.  You made your fortune in bottling.  Your first job made a paper run look like a stroll with a popsicle.  Surely, you remember the music that accompanied the building of an empire, but you can’t bother with another iPod [TIP: don't give manufacturing titans iPods as presents].  Neiman Marcus has a compelling package in its grand Christmas book:

Neiman Marcus: 35 year collection of top 100 45s

• All — each and every — 45 RPM vinyl record that was listed on the Billboard Top 100® Rock and Pop charts from Jan. 1, 1955, through Dec. 31, 1990.
• About 18,400 records total.
• Some are autographed.
• $275,000

Highlights:

• The Beatles’ 1964  “Ain’t She Sweet” with picture sleeve (NM estimates it’s worth $500)
• Beach Boys’ 1961  “Surfin’ Luau” (estimated at $200)
• “The collection in its entirety is priceless.”

In other words, vinyl that’s not for indie kids.

Get it here.

Toblerone: Elke Krause, Janine Mompour, Kristina Möckel

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Is it even a font?  It’s being sold as a poster at Burlesque Design.

Reminds me of the Mr. Men series:

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Do I really wanna watch a whole movie about a bunch of hotels?  I loved the Dubs, but they’re everywhere now.  A new W hotel is set to open in Washington, D.C. this summer:

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