Monthly Archives: January 2010

A.F. Vandevorst Silver Shoes

January 31, 2010

I first found out about A.F. Vandevorst back in 2000 when I bought a book featuring Belgian fashion designers. I was immediately captivated by his constant use of red cross imagery as a signature throughout his fashion line. When I came across these silver beauties on the sale rack at Halo, I knew they had to come home with me. And, any shoe box emblazoned with F E T I S H completely seals the deal.

Regarding the back story of how A.F. Vandevorst got its start, Interview Magazine says:

A.F. Vandevorst is really among the last of the Mohicans when it comes to independent European design. An Vandevorst and Filip Arickx were on their first day as fashion students at Antwerp’s Royal Academy when they met in 1987, fell in love, and eventually became husband and wife. 10 years later they opened their own company and have been showing seasonally in Paris ever since. Their style is sleek but somehow countrified, with lots of silk, fur and vintage lingerie bits. The shoes under the Fetish label are particularly great; An Vandevorst cut her creative teeth early on as shoe and accessories designer for fellow Antwerpian Dries Van Noten.

I’ll never tire of the architectural details or medical references ingrained into the A.F. Vandevorst aesthetic.

The Week in Pictures: 1.29.10

January 29, 2010

Details make a house a home. I am totally loving these serigraphs from House Industries which I finally got around to slipping into IKEA frames and setting against my matte black walls. All I can say is…I want more, more, more.

More jewels. I am still on a bit of a jewelry kick and Forever 21 always delivers. For maybe fifteen dollars total, I scored these studded bracelets and the LOVE ring. I used to hate gold with a passion but don’t mind it any longer as long as it’s faux and over-the-top.

The Boiler Room. Portlanders, you HAVE to check out the Boiler Room at the Kennedy School! My photos do it no justice. The site accurately describes it as, “Behind an unassuming, seemingly ordinary hallway door hides a wonderful space, a huge, multi-level spot (formerly the school’s boiler room) that has been turned into Kennedy School’s latest bar!” Winding railings, vintage signs and tons of dangling lights all mesh perfectly.

You know your life is good when….everything is perfectly color coordinated without any effort.

Handwritten. There’s still something very magical about receiving tiny, typed letters in your mailbox. I totally adore Miss Mary Bee and can’t wait for our next multi-state adventure.

Until Next Week,

nubby signature

What I Wore: 1.28.10 // Sequins

January 28, 2010

what i wore nubby twiglet fashion style outfit

Sequins at 9 AM? Yes, please! I am in love with these new A.F. Vandevorst shoes. Details Monday!

Sequin shirt, Forever 21
Zipper cardigan, By Corpus
Studded belt, Forever 21
Zipper jeans, TRIPP NYC
Helvetica necklace, Star
Bag, Miu Miu
Heels, A.F. Vandevorst
Watch, Nixon

nubby twiglet signature

Link Love: 1.28.10

January 28, 2010

a typography nubbytwiglet.com nubby twiglet

• I could definitely use some Helvetica cookie cutters, how about you? (thanks, kirsten!)

• 7 tips for negotiating a freelance contract.

• Have I mentioned how much I love Smashing Magazine? Color Theory For Designers, Part 1: The Meaning of Color is another must-read article.

• The best revenge…is massive success. I couldn’t agree more.

• Old school meets new school with these hardcover book Macbook laptop covers.

• The often proclaimed best restaurant in the entire world is closing for two years (by choice).

• Apparently, I am not the only one who has a major love for photobooths.

• Grain Edit has pulled together an amazing collection of vintage calendars.

• At least someone in the audience is willing to take chances at the couture shows. Tavi’s hat apparently caused an uproar. People need to lighten up…it’s fashion! If I was 13, I would totally wear a monster bow hat!

• Photographer Lina Scheynius gives us a magical and alluring peek inside of Chanel in Paris.

• What, exactly is couture? Here’s a quick lesson.

• My brother craftily created a D.I.Y. Jeremy Scott-inspired Mickey Mouse army helmet in his bedroom one night and it just popped up in this photo shoot. We did some lighting tests last week and I’ll be wearing it very soon as well.

#257 Continued // Final Outcome

January 26, 2010

One of my agency friends recently contacted me and asked if I would design a ’257′ for his five year old son who races go-karts. Last week, I posted the first round but still had many more ideas to explore. In the end, I felt that a simpler option was better for legibility and created a design that had a more racing-inspired feel. I decided to create a design with multiple lines so that they could easily be extended down the side of the car and/or color blocked. This final version will be die-cut from vinyl. Ready, set, go!

The Typofiles #49: Lettering for Reproduction by David Gates

January 26, 2010

I am a big fan of vintage typography books and one of my favorites is Lettering for Reproduction by David Gates which was originally published in 1969. The basics of type are always important to learn and this has many visuals. You can view all of The Typofiles on Flickr here.

What I Wore: 1.23.10 // Distressed Glamour

January 24, 2010

Jacket, Wilson’s (circa 2002)
Bow headband, scarf, jeans, studded bracelelets, ring, Forever 21
Boots, Sam Edelman

nubby twiglet signature

The Week in Pictures: 1.22.10

January 22, 2010

Welcome to another installment of The Week in Pictures! I started off another week with no solid plans and in the end, it turned out completely magical. Weekend breakfasts, morning coffee in new neighborhoods, a surprise call from a makeup artist, a nonstop rotation of Kanye tunes, evenings in dive bars with red walls, new shoes (wait till Monday!), getting called in to work at my favorite agency, matching key necklaces, sequins during the day, special deliveries of vegan delicacies and long walks through town in massive platforms. I am happier and more content than I’ve been in ages and it feels great. 2010 continues to impress and inspire me to the max.

Wake-up, Make-up: I got the best wake-up call on Tuesday morning from M•A•C make-up artist Amy Callahan. She needed a model to demonstrate some new products on for Spring 2010 on and I gladly agreed. The location on N.W. 23rd has state-of-the-art lighting and I love the black walls. She taught me a ton of tips and tricks and I finally realized that it’s time to invest in some new brushes. Amy works at the Lloyd Center Nordstrom M•A•C counter here in Portland and you can reach her at 503.287.2444, ext. 1066 for consultations. Isn’t she adorable?

Type Obsessed: A never-ending battle. I just got these vintage numbers and a roll of tape at an art store called Collage in N.E. Portland. The Helvetica necklace is of course by Star.

Chipped Walls & Cheap Drinks: There’s nothing like a good ol’ dive bar. Multiple nights this week were spent at The Know which is the best bar around because they have a painting of N.W.A. on the wall. For the record, that isn’t my PBR. After being surrounded by the stuff for six weeks on the road in late 2004, I’ve never been able to finish another can.

Thrifting Magic: What can I say? My brother always returns from epic thrifting voyages with the best gifts ever.

Trending: One of my favorite things of all time is to track down images based on themes and compile them for trend forecasting. I could do it all day, every day. Also, the Moleskine Colour a Month notebooks are working out quite nicely.

Drunken Dance-Off. On Wednesday night, I was laying in my black room, feeling sick and miserable while a full-on Mexican fiesta complete with burritos and Tecate ensued downstairs. At some point, tequila and bear claw slippers entered the mix and the rest is history. My brother and his friends continue to party like it’s 1999. I’m not worthy!

Until Next Week,

nubby signature