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Madison’s Little Black Book of Indulgences

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Archive for the ‘inspirations’ Category

Past, Present and The House of Balenciaga

Wednesday, October 7th, 2009

 

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Balenciaga is giving me feva!!! Nicolas Ghesquiere’s S/S 2010 Ready To Wear Collection is insane, for a brief moment its as if we are warped into the future. The Look: Woman of the future…… strikingly beautiful, confident and ready for anything. She wears neon oranges, greens and pinks around her eyes. Long black streaks run from her eyes, appearing as war paint. The woman of the future is Balenciaga!  She combines leather with an assortment of materials, making a vicious statement. They remind us of female assassins! Balenciaga went to Paris Fashion Week and gave us all a glimpse into the future. I like what I see!

Sartorial Lust Part Deux….

Friday, October 2nd, 2009

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Street Fashion Photographer, Scott Schuman, has published The Sartorialist! Following his immensely successful namesake blog, Scott has published a paperback edition and the coveted Bespoke Edition. The Bespoke Edition is a beautifully bound hardback for those who would use this as a conversation piece and thing of beauty. The pictures of everyday people are simply mesmerizing. These photographs give you a feeling of reality and fabulousness all wrapped into one. People rushing from here to there, all the while looking effortlessly chic. It makes me think about who they are, and where they are going. The expressions on their faces, the way they stand, all paint a picture and convey a message. The Sartorialist has performed the magical feat of truly capturing the realistic beauty of day to day style & fashion!

We love the Sartorialist!!!

The How To’s…… How To Wear What?!?

Tuesday, September 29th, 2009

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The founders of the uber-popular fashion website WhoWhatWear.com, have teamed together to create a high fashion tricks of the trade style manual for the everyday gal. Two former editors from  Elle Magazine, Katherine Power & Hillary Kerr, are the flygirl duo behind the hugely successful site and now book. They deliver fashion Do’s and Don’ts, helping the fashion perplexed navigate their way past fashion faux-pas. Raving customer reviews of the book show that it is practical enough to be understood while delivering powerful and applicable fashion advice. Rachel Bilson, Nicole Richie, and Rachel Zoe are a delight as celebrity contributors, dishing their insider style secrets. 

The Who What Wear book is a witty & clever go to guide for everything fashion, every girl should own a copy…… I do and so should you!!

 

Photos courtesy of www.whowhatwear.com

I Am Ledgen……

Friday, June 26th, 2009

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Yesterday our world came to a screeching halt as word spread of Michael Jackson passing… Since then tributes have been pouring in for the pop icon who died yesterday following a suspected cardiac arrest in his Bel-Air home. It was a sad day for everyone, I literally shut down, it’s surreal and really hard to accept!  Myself, like many others basically grew up listening and obsessing over MJ! He is a part of our culture…. I feel like he’s a part of ME!  As I’m sitting here watching the tributes and videos, there are mixed feelings… I’m sad, but I’m also happy that he is at peace…. No more pain and watching all the videos and listening to the songs… Makes me smile, my heart is warm and I’m filled with joy to have been able to experience such an extraordinary talent …. There will never be another, he’s the best of the ledgens and I will never forget how his music makes me feel!  

We love you Michael Jackson rest in peace!!

Eye On Design

Friday, June 19th, 2009

 

Italian artist/sculptor Mauro Mori unveiled his Eye on Design exhibit last night at Minotti Los Angeles. Minotti L.A. emptied it’s showroom to host the event. The collection of 60 select pieces designed over ten years showcases Mori’s ability to compare and contrast different materials from wood & marble to aluminum & copper. His designs are unusually beautiful and artistic! 

 

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Mauro Mori

 

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57723823madisokellynyc619200960358pmI love it!! 

Photo’s courtesy of wireimage

Tokyo Drift’n…..

Tuesday, May 19th, 2009

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OMG… I’m going to Japan in August, and I’ve been thinking about how this trip will be filled with tons of inspiration!!! From the Architecture, Historic landmarks to their fashion and corky street styles. I’ve been browsing a lot of Japanese sites lately, and the other day I ran across this jewel www.style-arena.jp. This site has archives that date back to 2004 of dope ass japanese street fashion, I mean they all look like stylist or designers…. LOL Needless to say I was in heaven, It’s all eye candy for me and I’m totally excited and can’t wait! 

Super cute & funky….. Never scared, I loves it all!!


Contain Yourself

Sunday, April 5th, 2009

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The concept of using steel shipping containers as refuge is hardly new, but the industry of container architecture has completely evolved. Living in a world where we are now forced to reason with how to utilize and depose of our used material. Recycling has become very important to most Americans…. Even as a lifestyle.

America does not export as much as we import. Continued  trading with Asia & other countries leaves us with these massive 32,000 pound containers, which sit and waste space at ports around the country. So why not deconstruct and use alternate options for our housing crisis… With the help of innovative architects, we can now take recycling to the next level. These containers are affordable, fire proof, flood proof and virtually indestructible! It’s absolutely genius!  There’s this guy Adam Kalkin who is the owner and designer of Quik Homes, his Quik Home packages start out around 76k to about 160k (Not including your lot). I’m not really mad at that.. It kinda makes you wonder why more people aren’t moving on this trend. I guess it just easier to buy a home? I love this concept and would consider the option if I was building a new home form the ground up! Amsterdam, Florida and Los Angeles are just a few places where these industrial styled homes are popping up, the photo’s above give you an idea of the limitless promise of steel boxes! 

Super Cool!

Get Keri’d Away…..

Thursday, March 26th, 2009

 

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 To most Keri Hilson is a new artist. To me she is one of the most seasoned & creatively in-tuned artists I’ve met!  She’s like the girl next door that you want to get to know, and I’ve had the pleasure of getting familiar with this amazing woman. It’s definitely more than meets the eye with Keri, she’s been in this game for a minute and there’s not too much she hasn’t seen or dealt with….. The ups and downs within the industry generally come with the game, and almost always worth it if you see the bigger picture….. Keri definitely see’s the bigger picture, this is a person who  knew exactly what she wanted and never looked back learning along the way. The self proclaimed “Go-Getta” is precisely that, she’s been singing and writing since she was twelve and making hits for artist alike. There are few people in this world who I consider the “Enlightened Ones!” Keri is one of those people… Everything worth having takes sacrifices, dedication and passion. You have to love it… The good the bad and the ugly, Keri has this innate ability to understand “it is what it is”  moves forward and continues to do what she does best! I’m so excited for her & the album it’s a long time coming and well deserved! With songs like “Turning Me On,”  ”Knock you down” & ” Make Love” this is a prelude to something great! 

I’m now totally obsessed with “Turn My Swag On (remix)…. Keri performed it at her album release and I lost it! You betta work boo, I love it!!!!

“In A Perfect World” In Stores Now!!!! 

Sartorial Lust

Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009

sart Meet The Sartorialist, a photographer who shares photos of the people he thinks look great. It could be a friend or a random encounter, but he floats around the world in search of the perfect fit…. This guy has the coolest job ever and an even finer philosophy behind it. 

The Sartorialist who once owned a fashion showroom that represented designers like Peter Som and James Coviello, often thought there was a “disconnect” between what he was selling and actually seeing on the streets. He wanted to convey his thoughts through the photos of “really cool people.” So shortly after 9/11 he decided to close up shop and focus on his photography. His vision was to shoot people, looking at it as if he was a designer, getting and gathering inspiration… Not from the outfit as a whole, but from the color pallets, abstract concepts, proportion and even mixed genres. The Sartorialist has an impeccable  sense of taste, he’s shot some of the best street fashion I’ve ever seen. As a designer I’m inspired by many different things, people being my biggest inspiration. I think it takes charisma to be inspirational, as well as stylish, you also have to know what works with you…. The sartorialist captures that essence in each one of his photos! I’ve posted some of my favorites below, also visit his blog at www.thesartorialist.com

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How cool is he? How cool are all these looks? Siiicknessss!!!!

The Incredible New Age…

Wednesday, February 25th, 2009

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I’m not sure how many of you have been to a recording studio before, but usually there’s some Napoleon Dynamite looking guy controlling the boards. We’ll its a new age and a new way of life…. In saying that it’s not just about the boys anymore! Say hello to “The Incredible Ms.Lago!

Marcella Araica is the one making the music you hear, perfection. Call her the “Cleaner” bring her in, she’ll clean up the mess…. Tweaking, manipulating and sharpening sound is what she does best! Without Marcella, we couldn’t rock out! She’s responsible technically for some of our favorites which include Britney Spears, Madonna, Keri Hilson, Nelly Furtado and T.I. to name a few. There aren’t too many people, let alone females that have had the pleasure & pain of working along side these folks. She always remains humble and down to earth, she tells the story of one night meeting Quincy Jones…. She was like a kid at Christmas! It’s really cool to see that side of someone, you just don’t get that honest to goodness feeling from people in this industry…. It’s almost like nowadays people forget to pay homage.

Ms. Lago is the real deal, so fellas if you walk in the studio and see the red bottoms….  You already know!!!