Kinfolk

KINFOLK

This is the most interesting thing to happen in 

the world of online magazines

since LONNY first published

 

There have been many debates in the blogosphere about 

online magazines

This NY Times article 

sparked a flurry of debate

LONNY

whether you like it or not,

was groundbreaking

There are many more that followed some worthy of a mention some 

.....well lacking 

BUT

as the debate was raging 

I was thinking how quick we are to dismiss

In this culture of online fast fixes 

something is hardly given a chance

A chance to find it's feet 

find it's voice 

it's place 

Because there is room for everyone 

and everyone should be given the space to explore and learn 

and discover

If only the things that were most popular survived,

 what a boring and 

dull world THAT

would be!

That is like only having network television

or only being able to shop

at H&M or TOPSHOP 

 

One of the things that I enjoy about working in HOME 

as opposed to Fashion 

is that the pace is a little more civilized

Things can be developed and nurtured without the fear of doing 8 collections a year 

and the constant pressure to move on

drop what you have been working on because it belongs to last season.

 

It has struck me living in New York 

One of the fastest paced cities 

That what is new and cool 

what is peaking interest and trending

is to slow down

simplify

look back.

drink from a mason jar

make bread

 

It's like the Internet has given a big voice to a smalltown 

and

KINFOLK

are right on the button

Coral, Red, Orange?

Guess what colors I am loving at the moment

I am drawn to

This on Vogue.com

The new Ikram store in Chicago

How incredibly Chic and Bold

This Nail polish

Summer Toes

This Proenza Schouler Bag

A classic shape with a fresh palette

This image on

The Sartorialist

Simplicity lifted from mundanity by a pop of intense color

and worn with such insouciance

Jil Sander Spring 2011

The influence of this collection was overwhelming!

Merci Paris, Egg London and shopping

installation at Merci by Li Edelkoort

I don't need to tell you about

MERCI

The inspirational retail experience founded by

Marie-France and Bernard Cohen

The people behind childrens label

BONPONT

Tapping in to the belief that the customer who goes to a store wants an experience.

This is a place you can buy clothes for yourself, your kids

flowers
 and items for your home
 a second hand book and you can eat!

In this day when everything you could desire is a click away

Sit curled on your own sofa steaming mug of tea in hand and purchase a book,

a nail polish, a dress, a meal

So why would you bother to go to an actual store

Why would you jump on a plane and FLY to Paris ?

Because this store like a handful of others in the world

Is not just offering product

They have delved into something deeper

They have delved into your emotions

EGG,
 London

images from Accessorator

When I visited EGG in london for the first time I had such an overpowering feeling

I did not want to leave

I wanted to sleep there

There, it seemed everything would be perfect

 in a pale chalk and indigo blue wash of inspiration

Maureen Doherty has also, through a curated focus and impeccable eye

managed to create a shop that offers more than just a quick fix of retail therapy. 

Retail giants in an attempt

(some more successful than others )

 to capture a little of this magic are collaborating with smaller

and more exclusive brands

A recent example is the

Missoni for Target

launching Sept 13th in the US

An ambitious project of 400 items from suitcases to bicycles

It's fun and true to the brand

The reality is most of America is unaware of Missoni

But I am sure there will be a rush on these items

personally I have my eye on the bike



A pause

It is hot in NY at the moment

Not too hot

Yesterday our electricity went out

No Air conditioners

No Fans

No lights

within 10 mins NY became too hot

But in that moment

The light coming in through the window was so beautiful

and it gave me pause

The color of the light hitting the greenery near the window

Inspiring

ALL PHOTOGRAPHY BY HELEN JAMES
CONTENT BY HELEN JAMES
PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU WISH TO RE-PRODUCE

Ai Weiwei

Tiny handmade porcelain sunflower seeds

Installation at The Turbine Hall

in London

by

Ai Weiwei

These hanpainted porcelain seeds cover the floor

and people walk on them .....

such a beautiful and thought provoking concept

Seen via mindmaded

Cy Twombly

R.I.P

Cy Twombly



stars and stripes

Star Star 

by the Frames

image from Lonny

I want to paint my tiny NYC bathroom like this

Happy 4th of July