This year is an extra special time to celebrate Hanukkah. For the first time since the 1800’s, the first day falls on Thanksgiving. We can also consider ourselves lucky because scholars estimate this won’t happen again for another 69,000 years. Another reason this Hanukkah is special is the release of Dark & Somber Greetings’ new holiday card, “Transylvanian Hanukkah”. Finally you have an appropriate card for the Jewish metal head/occultist/satanist/hasidic in your life.
Get more info here.
It’s been quite some time since we a) have been told by so many friends that we need to check out a new store in L.A. and b) we’ve been excited about actually checking it out. Both of these were the case when we discovered Curio, a new boutique located on 5th Street in the ever- burgeoning Historic Core of Downtown L.A.
We recently stopped by the shop and met with Lora Myers, owner/curator, and instantly liked the space and Lora’s vision for the store. The minimalist decor and white walls open up the space nicely and let the merchandise (mostly black) do the talking. The ceilings are high and there’s an upstairs loft area which is currently being used as a gallery but will eventually host the rapidly growing menswear section.
Lora described her ideal customer as an urbanite with a dark, bohemian aesthetic. With lines like Ovate, Sisters of the Black Moon and Grey City Shoes, she definitely hits the mark. We really liked the new collection of hats by Brooklyn’s Shade and Slouch and we’re looking forward to picking up denim and jackets from Kill City very soon. There’s also a nice variety of lifestyle items like apothecary from Life Aromatherapy and Black Metal greeting cards by Dark and Somber Greetings.
New items are constantly coming in and the goal is to continue to grow and maybe even add a second location in the future. An online shop is also in the works so non-L.A. residents can purchase items from the well curated stock. The shop is a breath of fresh air to what can sometimes feel like a homogeneous L.A. retail scene and if you’re on this site, then you definitely need to check out the store.
Click here for more information on Curio Los Angeles.
Curio
125 W 5th St
Los Angeles, CA 90013
Out of the plethora of notable photographers that have captured women, beauty and elegance in the last 50 years, you would be hard pressed to find one more skilled than Richard Avedon. His images range from classic portraiture to non-conventional depictions but each have the trademark Avedon look. This month, Gagosian Gallery in Beverly Hills celebrates the master’s work with a stunning 100+ image show which pulls from nearly every era of the artist’s portfolio. Avedon began shooting in the 1940’s and when he passed in 2004 he left behind a staggering body of work which must be seen to be believed.
For more information please visit Gagosian Gallery.
Dress for a cause with the new collaboration by Liberty United and Pamela Love. Aimed at ending gun violence, Liberty tapped seminal jewelry favorite Pamela Love to create a line made out of melted gun steel. The results are sure to be winners and below you can see a sneak peek.
For more information of the collaboration click here.
In 1996, the fashion world was stunned when the president of fashion conglomerate LVMH appointed Alexander McQueen as the creative head of French fashion house Givenchy. McQueen proceeded to call his boss “irrelevant” and for the next few years created collections that were best categorized as rebellious, over-dramatic and sometimes even “crap”.
Whatever you want to call them, his Ready to Wear line in the Fall of 1998 was inspired by one of our favorite films and cultural touchstones, Blade Runner. Today, we look back on the brilliance of the collection:
In the 1930s, an ornithologist named James Bond wrote what would become the most definitive anthology of birds of the Caribbean region. While maybe not a best seller at the time, one person who did take notice was budding author Ian Fleming.
Fleming would later name his iconic spy character after the field scientist and the rest is history. Fast forward to 2013 and we have a new version of the book, this one created by New York artist Taryn Simon. Ms. Simon has painstakingly photographed every single Bond girl and even threw in some of the most memorable gadgets and weapons of Mr. Bond and has released a stunning anthology of her own.
In true homage, Ms. Simon has named the book Birds of the West Indies, and we are thrilled to get our hands on a copy.
More information on the book and Taryn Simon here and here.
Be safe tonight!
Happy Halloween!
'BLACK MOODS' RESURRECTED // Live vinyl Halloween mix from Camella Lobo/Tropic Of Cancer (2010)
The new Surface to Air eyewear collection launched today and we are loving these “Black Arrow” frames in matte and gunmetal.
Pick them up here.
Dutch designer, Iris Van Herpen has been awarded the Dutch Design Award for Fashion. The up and coming designer collaborated with everyone from an architect to an MIT researcher to produce these beautiful garments. The best part? They were all created on a 3-D printer.
