Remember my post a few weeks back about subscribing to free catalogs for inspiration? Well, this is one of the issues I’ve received since then. Honestly, you can’t really ignore a catalog that shows up in your mailbox with a blazing deep tangerine cover proclaiming, “NICE TO MEET YOU.” I was smitten from that alone!

J. Crew has a knack for curating the basics into lust-worthy objects of desire and, well, they know what they’re good at. In this latest issue, J. Crew says, “Today, we’re so much more than a catalog — in fact, we hear it from you every day…so really, we’re just catching up with you by calling this book what you’ve been calling it for some time: a style guide.”

The type treatments, photography and layouts feel worthy of a glossy fashion magazine moreso than a catalog so I can see why they’ve elevated it to a ‘style guide.’ Designers, if you’re ever working on any look books, this is a great starting point for inspiration. I especially love the spread featuring a grid of swimwear options (above). They keep it simple with their layouts. Nothing more, nothing less.

J. Crew knows its audience and has fun with the basics without feeling overly trendy. The tone of their style guide matches this aesthetic perfectly and needless to say, though I don’t own much in the way of J. Crew, I’m a big fan of their design aesthetic. Get your copy of the catalog here (because there are a ton more pages that are just as awesome lurking inside).

Yesterday morning, I got quite the surprise when I was digging through my sock drawer and came across this amazing scarf. Long forgotten, I have no idea where it came from or how long I’ve had it! But wow, what a score. The scarf is vintage but reminds me very much of one of my all-time favorite collections. Now, I just need to figure out some new and creative ways to tie a scarf because this one is surely going to get a ton of wear.

Readers: Are there any scarf-tying tutorials out there that you swear by?

I first locked eyes on the Avedon Fashion 1944-2000 book earlier this year because it featured my favorite Avedon photo of all time, Jean Shrimpton from the cover of the April 1965 issue of Bazaar. But beyond that, I couldn’t put this book down. Avedon is considered one of the top fashion photographers of all time but I was curious to know more about the stories behind his most iconic images and how he got his start. I learned that Avedon was a merchant marine in World War II, where he was assigned with taking identity photographs of fellow sailors. This book does a meticulous job of showcasing some of his more rare, early work from the 1940s mixed in alongside his most famous photos and ad campaigns.

Avedon was at Harper’s Bazaar (1944 – 1965), then Vogue (1966 – 1990) and finally, at The New Yorker (1992 – 2004) and this book covers all those stints as well as work he produced for other clients including some of his most memorable Versace campaigns, which he shot for two decades. At over 350 pages long, I had a hard time choosing just a handful of images to share. If you get the chance, check this book out, winking holographic eye cover and all.

Every year, I like to dream up a new style direction as a goal to work towards. Late 2010 and most of 2011 was dedicated to a direction I dubbed Parisian Cyborg and that was super fun. A few months after that post debuted, I did go to Paris and wore a nearly identical look (I was definitely overdressed and the sleek, understated Parisians probably thought I was nuts).

So, what exactly does Ladylike Urban Warrior mean? Even though I love to feel feminine and adore makeup, dresses and sequins, I’m still drawn to the extreme and avant garde when it comes to fashion. The dress I’m wearing above (recently found on sale at Asos) in particular sums up my new direction because it’s a fairly classic silhouette but the neoprene material, laser-cut details and built-in harness add a modern twist.

Images: 1. Vogue, 2. Jessica Stam, 3. Givenchy Fall 2009 Couture, 4. L’Officiel Ukraine, 5. Unknown, 6. Unknown, 7. Vogue.

I find the idea of dreaming up a style direction really motivating and as a way to push ourselves into new sartorial territory. For most of December and January, I was working 10 to 12 hours every single day on an ad campaign and out of exhaustion, defaulted to a uniform of black jeans and sweaters. Mentally, I was completely drained and just couldn’t think beyond the basics in my wardrobe. I’ve since set a few goals, namely to wear more color, to accessorize with jewelry more often and finally, to add in some more color to my makeup routine (a current favorite is the MAC Double Feature 1 palette). To me, clothing is the equivalent of wearable art. It’s one of the most accessible forms of self-expression and occasionally modifying your personal style can be hugely inspiring.

Readers: Have you made any modifications to your look this year? How would you sum up your personal style?

I’m starting out the new year working on my third editorial design project in as many months so magazines are on my mind big time. I’m constantly on the lookout for inspiring covers and these are some of my favorites as of late. Enjoy!

I recently designed a set of landing pages for Solestruck featuring All Caps, a line of shoes that are handmade in Portugal — I love this brand because their styles are fresh and the quality surpasses that of even many of the designer brands out there.

The ads showcase the Dahlia in all three colors . I wanted to do something different this time around; 60s-inspired with a bright, retro pop-inspired feel.

I always say that bright colored shoes are the equivalent of an exclamation point at the end of any outfit. I got to keep the red pair and when I wore them around town the next day, they proved to be incredibly walkable considering the soaring height. The secret is the substantial front platform which keeps the incline from being ridiculously steep.

All Caps: Fall into color. Photos by Joey Maas. Concept, design and copy by Nubbytwiglet.com.

Last week, I wrapped up my biggest editorial design job to date. Needless to say, magazine covers have been on my mind a lot lately. This is a compilation of some of my recent favorites. Want even more? Take a look back at my previous batch of favorites.

Custom made Clothing? These days? Who can afford such luxury? I think I’ve had one item custom made in my entire life. Usually, my clothing is strictly off the rack or it’s a no-go. It’s true that you’ll most commonly find me alongside a pack of 16 years olds in Forever 21 or placing a late night order on the Urban Outfitters site. Or, perhaps scoring something really unique on Ebay. But custom sized? No way. First of all, where do you go for such a thing? Secondly, I hate trying on clothes (U.S. sizing is a mess). Usually, I check out what the mannequin in the store display is wearing and grab the same thing.

Pieced together just so-so with great accessories, off-the-rack clothes are great. On an average of three days a week, when I’m in a hurry, you’ll probably find me wearing one of five pairs of the perfect black skinny jeans I picked up at Urban Outfitters on sale for $20.00 a piece. But sometimes, all those basics need to be taken up a notch. And that’s where my friend Zoetica Ebb’s collaboration with Plastik Wrap comes in. Hello, GHST RDR jacket!

I placed my order with three simple measurements (comically measured early one morning with a standard tape measure by Joey) and less than two weeks later, this beauty showed up on my doorstep. I threw it on, zipped it up and…it fit to a tee. No bunching, no gaps. Perfectly form fitting.

This jacket looks fairly basic when dressed down with jeans but gives you major curves in all the right places. I love the knife pleats, the built-in thumbholes and the two-way zipper. I have a few other lightweight black jackets but I wanted something a little more fitted and dressy. Done and done. This fits the bill perfectly. Now, if only I could afford an entire closet of custom made clothing…ooh GHST RDR, look what you’ve started!

Ah, Parisian fashion. Admired from afar, constantly imitated in American Fashion magazines and revered for its understated elegance. How do they do it?

My Paris Fashion Inspiration: Wolford Bondage tights, Loewe campaign complete with chunky gray knits, sexy sheer black plus leather via Reed Krakoff, Dolce & Gabbana Miss Rose satchel, bold basics, ModCloth jacket & dress finally, adding an element of surprise to a basic outfit.

Parisians strike me as being quite sensible.

Their wardrobes are much more edited than their American counterparts with color schemes mostly limited to black and gray. Every day basics are of very high quality. If you want to fit in while in Paris, basic clothing that can be easily layered in dark colors, a great coat and nice quality, walkable shoes will serve you well. The French mastered the art of the basic long ago. When thinking of Paris-appropriate clothing, an equation should come to mind: well-styled + sensible = smart. And, a bright colored scarf in a fun pattern or solid color like red will add some visual interest to any dark ensemble.

What I admire most about the French is that they are very well put together but never overdone. Americans have a tendency feel that more is more when it comes to getting dressed and pile on a little too much of everything — I am sure they come across as gaudy to the sleek and refined Parisians.

Since it was my first time visiting Paris, I had arrived with the preconceived notion that people would be swathed in very avant garde, futuristic fashions straight off the Rick Owens runway. I had visions of my Fall / Winter Style Direction, Parisian Cyborg coming to life right before my eyes. Once I’d spent a full day in the city though, it became quite apparent that the reality was much different — I think I’d been absorbed in too many French fashion editorials, wrapped up in a big ol’ fantasy world. You see, most of the French are much too practical for such nonsense — they don’t sashay down the street in the equivalent of a costume!

I, on the other hand, ended up walking around town in what might have been more appropriate for Parisian daily wear in perhaps 2050. Though I got some stares, everyone was still polite. Even though the French tend to dress to blend in, I think they still secretly appreciate the element of surprise.

This outfit may have been better suited for an 80s movie set in Paris. I’d become an instant caricature of Parisian fashion, thinking that a black dress + patterned legwear + a beret would equal the perfect daily outfit. I’d over-romanticized everything in my head, thanks once again to chic fashion magazines. At least I had a good time in the process! I was wearing an H&M dress, Zana Bayne 4-strap belt, red beret from Juliane, Wolford Bondage tights and Camilla Skovgaard wedges.

If you are on the hunt for cutting edge, avant garde fashion, Colette has some pretty stunning (and expensive) pieces. It feels more like a perfectly curated museum of modern gadgets and attire than a department store, though. The place was brimming with tourists and who could blame them? I fell in love with a selection of white dresses displayed in the front window, reminiscent of the 60s space age fashion of Courreges and Pierre Cardin.

One of my favorite discoveries in Paris was that women appreciate a nice, short skirt paired with patterned leg wear. While strolling around town, I stumbled upon a huge number of shops specializing in just socks and tights. Much to my delight, Wolford boutiques were plentiful, dotted throughout the city.

Though French men and women do wear denim, it’s clean, hole-free and fits well. Baggy and wrinkle-laden jeans can stay bunched up in America’s closets, thank you. I also appreciated the fact that when we went out to dinner, there wasn’t t-shirt in sight. Men tend to wear button-ups or sweaters instead. What I realized is that it doesn’t take a lot of effort to look good!

When you look around the streets of Paris, what you quickly gather is that not every single person is wearing something amazing; nor are they wearing the latest ‘it’ item. Simply put, they just know how to get dressed and pull a look together from head-to-toe. They skip the fussiness, invest in the best quality possible and dress timelessly.

Nearly every boutique window throughout the city was beautifully curated. If I really was off to Paris to get married on a whim, this dress would have fit the bill. It was so nice and refreshing to not see chain store garbage cluttering every street corner!

What is more chic, French and timeless than Chanel? When I think of Chanel, a black and white palette comes to mind along with classic cuts featuring a modern twist.

Gala and I pretty much play dress-up wherever we go and Paris was our playground. Our vision of what we’d felt was Parisian-worthy attire left us looking more like a girl pop duo from the 60s than anything else. The concierge at our hotel cracked bemused grins every time we walked out the door. They probably thought that we were nuts…just another influx of crazy Americans!

Parisian chic strikes me as fashionable yet understated. Both classic and timeless. They never look dated — their look is always in style. And isn’t that what makes the Parisian sense of style so alluring?

For more Paris posts:

Paris in Polaroids
A Look Inside Le Marais, Paris
A Beginner’s Guide to Paris
Magic in Le Marais: Hotel du Petit Moulin
Hello From Paris Part 01: The First Time Experience
Hello From Paris Part 02: Architecture and Grandeur
Bonjour From Paris!

How could something so basic and practical transform into something so sinister? It all started out innocently enough.

A few months back, Osborn offered to send me a pair of plain canvas lace-up shoes to D.I.Y. in any way I wanted. I fully admit to not being very hands-on with these types of projects but Joey had an idea. Soon after, on his recommendation, I ordered a bag of spikes and he got to work, painting and studding these standard-issues.

Armor for my feet? Why not! Over the last year, I’d eyed studded Miu Miu flats in New York and tiny spiked Louboutin lace-ups in Vegas but they were still very prim and polished. I wanted these to look like they were ready for battle.

What better to wear with mega studs than mega sequins? What can I say, it’s the Michael Jackson in me. Tough & feminine, my favorite fashion combination. Speaking of the King of Pop, he always loved wearing things that reflected light when he danced. These would have been perfect for that purpose…or for his leisurely tree climbing.

Practicing my moves. You never know when you’ll be challenged to a dance-off.

Take a walk on the wild side.

Sometimes you just need a pair of casual lace-ups for laid back evenings of television watching. Something unassuming and cozy.

A huge thanks goes out to Joey for coming up with the concept and then studding these baby armadillos for two days. His thumb is still sore, but my feet are happy. Needless to say, these are fairly heavy and not super comfortable. I love them, though. Thanks to Osborn as well. It’s been fun. Okay, I’m off to sashay through the streets of Portland!