*ShadeElaine - 12.08.08 , 10:30 -

Gift Guide: Stylish Gifts

gg_revolveClothing_small.jpgsponsored by Seagate

NOTCOT Note: Here’s a special collaborative gift guide between NotCouture and Revolve Clothing ~ aka i put Linhchi (NotCouture Editor) and Michael (Revolve Founder) together and let them go to town with their gift guide inspiration and collage away some fun ideas!

This guide’s for the stylish folks in your life. It can be tough to shop for them, so here are some ideas to get you started! (And yes, many of these things I want for myself… even some of the guys’ stuff!) Check out the full guide on the next page, as well as a Revolve coupon for 25% off!

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*notcot - , 00:04 -

The Standard Hotels Limited Edition Shirts

balmain.jpg Finally! An artist’s twist on the usual city tourist t-shirt ~ a much classier more exciting gift for those who didn’t get to go… Starting today, 3 limited edition t-shirts will be available at The Standard Hotels in LA, NYC, and Miami… Andre Balazs has commissioned three contemporary legends, Natas Kaupas, Eric Haze, and Jose Parla to design these t-shirts for their respective cities, and only 1500 of each design have been produced! When first described to me, i wasn’t sure what to make of it, but upon seeing images, it is gorgeous black and white typography bringing out the feeling and culture of the cities ~ and especially when seen together you can really feel how different the vibe is of each… not surprising my favorite is really the LA one, NYC next… and for designs which are so blatantly screaming out the name of a city, they feel more like artwork than branding. Also adorable? The red pouches sporting the artists signatures that the t-shirts come in!

So check out the shirts and more about the artists and this collaboration on the next page!

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*notcot - 12.05.08 , 12:45 -

NotCouture Holiday Roundup

bestbuy1.jpg notcouture #3397 notcouture #3435 notcouture #3408 notcouture #3404 notcouture #3442 notcouture #3418 notcouture #3403 notcouture #3446 notcouture #3356 notcouture #3417 notcouture #3380 notcouture #3358 notcouture #3455 notcouture #3419 notcouture #3374 notcouture #3464 notcouture #3368 notcouture #3461 notcouture #3364 notcouture #3400 notcouture #3462 notcouture #3405 notcouture #3390 notcouture #3379 Best Buy Sponsorship Ready for more shopping ideas? Well Best Buy is sponsoring our roundups for the next few weeks ~ you know the drill, our picks, they’re just supporting us to make it happen! So here’s a roundup of potential gifts we’d love to give or receive as found over at NotCouture! Click the images to find out more!

*notcot - 12.03.08 , 15:10 -

Pangea Organics = Spruce Tree + 50% off!

pangea1.jpg Pangea Organics always had the fun eco packaging that is plantable and turns into Basil… but for the holiday gift packs, they grow into a Spruce Tree!!!

Also, they have reached out to us to offer you 50% off!!! It’s for friends & family, which apparently we all are! Instructions on how that works, and check out the gift sets on the next page… I’m still giddy over the idea of growing a spruce tree in my yard from the packaging… and the coconut soap dish!

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*notcot - , 14:12 -

Baxter of California’s Air Strike

Air-Strike.jpg I couldn’t resist posting these after opening the email made me giggle… sure it was filled with potty humor and bad puns, but it was also a cute idea and some cleanly designed matchbooks from the always beautifully packaged men’s grooming line, Baxter of California

“BAXTER LAUNCHES AN AIR-STRIKE: 12.03.08

Baxter of California, the first men’s grooming brand, is notorious for gifting mini Haribo Gummi Bears with each online purchase. Starting today, Baxter is giving web customers a free box of custom Air-Strike matches. The matchbooks are a satirical play on on the idea of lighting up after using the bathroom. Get ‘em while you “can”!”

Also check out some of the gorgeous holiday gifts they have this year!

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*notcot - 11.26.08 , 02:50 -

Bumble and Bumble Holiday Bandball

bumble1.jpgFirstly, i’m a total Bumble and Bumble junkie ~ it started in high school some time, and even when i was living in Milan, i used to have to go hunt the stuff down at 10 Corso Como (not that i needed another excuse to go there!)… i’m a commitmentphobe when it comes to products usually, but i’ve used the gentle shampoo so long i have the salon sized pump in my shower… and its not just the products, their packaging is probably what first sucked me in as a teenager, and as its evolved, and i’ve grown up, their designs have never ceased to amaze and amuse me…

Now, its 3am, i’ve been a little gift guide, giveaway, and FM overly occupied lately… but i’m so giddy about this Bandball ~ the crazier things got the last few months, the less i’ve cut my hair, and i have hair elastics everywhere! Sometimes i swear they grow legs and launch themselves into every purse, cup holder, laptop sleeve around… Now i’ve made my share of rubber band balls of all shapes and sizes, but one with hairthings… that’s just far too tempting now, and a nice sized ball core? With ridges for them to naturally fit into to get it starter? And not stretch them out too much? GENIUS! But one question… can it bounce?

Oh, and along with Piet Houtenbos ~ they have also created some very cool gift sets and Pinwheels and Bandwheels… adorable, and awesome ~ but really… Bandball! Now, how do i get my hands on one? Apparently it’s only 20$ for the ball of 100 hair things…

UPDATE! Now purchasable on the Bumble and Bumble online store! (i just bought two!)

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*notcot - 11.07.08 , 12:00 -

Threadless Select + RISD

select.jpgHard not to be intrigued when you get an email saying “RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL OF DESIGN PARTNERS WITH THE THREADLESS SELECT SERIES TO LAUNCH FIRST-EVER GUEST CURATED SERIES Collection Curated by RISD President John Maeda to Launch on November 6 Featuring Theme of Newness, with Exclusive Designs by Faculty Members”

Art school president and art world superstar team up with ugc t-shirt company…. that would sound pretty incredible already, but the idea of Threadless Select reaching out and working with John Maeda and RISD staff to create 4 t-shirts just blew my mind a little. So take a look at all 4 designs on the next page, as well as the press release!

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*notcot - 11.05.08 , 15:13 -

Jurlique Biodynamic Beauty Boxes

jurl1.jpgLast week i showed you the packaging from Jurlique’s Beauty from Beauty Tester Kit of minis that came in the egg carton like packaging with adorable little scaled down frosted glass bottles! Well Jurlique was kind of enough to contact me, and sent some samples from the new line, and the packaging and opening experience of the new Jurlique Biodynamic Beauty Serum is awesome! I got so giddy i opened and closed it a few times before photographing the whole process for you and then scanning the full piece. Why is it so amazing? I love that they used a single piece for the packaging, which utilizes origami folding genius and a single tab that goes into a slit to hold it all together, and as you open it, it feels as if it presents the bottle to you in a surprisingly colorful interior, as well as putting more information about the product around the bottle… basically as soon as you pull out the tab, the box unfolds like a flower, really creating a a beautiful unboxing experience. Awesome box design!

Beyond that excitement, you also have to take a look at the branding and packaging on the other products as well, they’ve managed to keep things looking natural and eco friendly, while still luxurious in their simplicity and use of recycled materials, clean fonts, and matte medicinal tubes (where you have to puncture it with the cap to open it), as well as my favorite slightly rounded - squarish - indented on the sides - frosted glass bottles which feel so great in your hand. They also scaled these glass bottles really nicely, so you can see a pic with the large Rosewater Balancing Mist, with the medium Biodynamic Beauty Serum, and then one of the minis from last time.

Ok, so i’m totally in a packaging gushing mood with Jurlique ~ and i’ve had a chance to try out the minis from the kit for a little while now, and i must say i’m impressed - it has all been extremely natural and effective, and awesomely calming in this stressful holiday season so far! (Favorites so far - Soothing Herbal Recovery Gel and my old favorite that i have in the not so fancy new packaging is their Rose Body Lotion) I’ll keep you posted as i try out more of their products ~ but for now, check out how sweet the packaging is through the pics on the next page ~ and if you’re feeling crafty, this box design could make for some gorgeous gift wrapping!

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*notcot - 10.28.08 , 12:14 -

4 Occhi ~ Aspesi 1910

crazyglasses.jpg Yay! Back in LA, after a quick drive to Tuscon via the 10 (ick) for the weekend, but came back along the 8 through the blisteringly hot, dry desert and into foggy, freezing La Jolla for incredibly delicious carne asada fries and meeting up with people before popping back up to LA. Nothing clears my head like a random road trip!

Anyhow, much catching up in the email realm, and some really goodies in there i’ve been dying to share… like these fascinating 4 Occhi ~ Aspesi 1910 glasses design by Giulio Iacchetti - “A pair of glasses with four lenses that could be customized according to one’s desires. 4occhi can be both glasses and sun glasses, glasses for near-sighted and far-sighted people. All the possibilities your imagination suggests you are possible. 4occhi allows you to have two pairs of glasses always with without the need to remember them or search for them!” While they definitely look a bit silly, but for those who always lose their second pair of glasses, it’s an interesting idea… and you can put any lenses in either one ~ so they don’t even have to be sunglasses and bifocals, etc… Check out the many pics on the next page, the photographer clearly had a good time shooting these!

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*notcot - 10.22.08 , 02:21 -

Jurlique Biodynamic Packaging

jurlique0.jpg Oooh, on things i’m slightly kicking myself for now… i was just in Sephora today and gave in to one of those packaging influenced spontaneous splurges… Jurlique’s new Biodynamic line is GORGEOUS! The packaging is just beautiful ~ in that high quality bottles, beautiful curves, unique yet functional, frosted glass kind of way… and all of their inserts and boxes are 100% post-consumer recycled paper… the sampler kit of the new lines come in what appear to be egg cartons at first - which are also 100% recyclable…. not to mention their products are all natural, made from plants and flowers from their South Australian farms.

The part i’m kicking myself over? I knew it sounded familiar! A quick search through email reminded me that this is the exact line i missed a bbq launch event for in Hollywood at the infamous Hillhaven Lodge, which is the kind of place filled with hollywood legends - originally home to Ingrid Bergman - and currently home to Brett Ratner - who had the photography book Hilhaven Lodge: The Photo Booth Pictures showing pages of fun hollywood types in photo booth pics… (my excuse is that i got caught up in san diego!) Basically, i hate to admit that sometimes PR folks know exactly what types of products fit perfectly with my tastes before i do, because when i wandered through Sephora i couldn’t resist playing with every product in the Jurlique Biodynamic line, and ended up picking the sampler with all the adorable scaled down minis and the fabulous egg carton-esque packaging to photograph and share with you.

Also… while i’ve only just started trying it out, the all natural line feels incredibly refreshing and light, and i guess i’ll find out by morning how my skin responds to it! Take a look at the many pics on the next page, there’s something so nice about the shape of the glass bottles they’ve designed.

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*notcot - 10.06.08 , 13:17 -

Swims City Slippers (Upcoming)

newswimmers1.jpg So in the post where we showed you all the new Swims City Slippers for heels ~ there was much talk about why they didn’t have some that covered the shoe fully, protecting your feet from splashing instead of just giving you more traction… well when reading our friends at Frizzi Frizzi, i noticed a post from a milan fair showing just that! So poking and prodding their PR for more information i’ve found out that those are actually only prototypes ~ and unfortunately they are not manufactured or available! I must say these remind me of dive booties in heel form ~ Perhaps with enough positive feedback we can help convince Swims to actually produce these!

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*notcot - 10.02.08 , 14:57 -

Swims City Slippers

newswims0.jpgSwims gives us a first look at their latest innovation in the galoshes space to protect you (and your gorgeous shoes) from the rain and other messy, muddy places you wander through. Here’s a peek at the new Swims City Slippers ~ the best detail is definitely the maps of NY, Paris, and Tokyo on the soles ~ although i do wonder if it means with every step in dirt, you can leave maps for the lost? It’s flexible design is ready for heels of any thickness (but your wedges will have to wait for now), and its low cut so no bows or buckles get caught. The price is $95, they will be available on the site any day now and in stores within two weeks. They will be available in burgundy, black, pearl, red, purple and olive. I must say, i feel silly writing about rain products while i’m sitting in this LA heatwave, a nice cool rain and breeze would be quite nice right about now!

We’re big fans of the classic mens and women’s swims - as well as their push button open/close umbrellas after they saved both dan and i when running around NY for ICFF and into the woods of VT when only armed with dress shoes… so i can’t wait to try these out! See our past reviews/posts about swims here - and see more images of the new Swims City Slippers on the next page!

UPDATE: check out Frizzi Frizzi’s post with a hands on look at a few other new Swims designs!

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*ShadeElaine - 09.21.08 , 18:05 -

NotCouture Black Roundup

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There was a bit of time where I avoided wearing too much black because I thought maybe it was a little boring. Well, now I’m fully embracing it, so here are some black (and almost black) items that have popped up on NotCouture. First row is jackets & coats, second row is a mix of things for the ladies, including a cool motorcycle jacket, and the bottom row is accessories. That handsome weekender in the bottom right corner is for the guys!

If you love black as well, or want to inject a bit of color into NotCouture, feel free to share your finds with us!

*ShadeElaine - 09.14.08 , 17:20 -

NotCouture 2 Week Roundup

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Here’s a NotCouture roundup covering the past couple of weeks. We’ve got more than usual for the guys (a row and a half!) including another pair of great looking shoes from my current favorite guy’s sneaker maker, Gram. And now that summer playtime is over, I guess the ladies have been feeling more feminine as there have been quite a few dresses popping up on NotCouture. As usual, we’d love for you to share your style with us! (I’m on the hunt for a great everyday black bag, and I could really use some help finding one!)

*notcot - , 10:21 -

Penhaligon’s Artemisia

penhaligons.jpgPenhaligon’s ~ i tried to tell myself i’d stick to French brands and stores while wandering around in my few days in Paris ~ but i couldn’t help myself when i wandered into Penhaligon’s, the legendary british perfumerie that dates back to the 1800s. I’ve been drawn to their fragrances at Fred Segal most recently, and vaguely remember loving a lavender body wash of theirs an ex had… but the store, packaging (love their tissue paper), layouts, and product designs were so gorgeous i was smitten - and had to share a few pics. So take a peek on the next page… even their tiles had me mesmerized…

I still have SO many things i want to share with you from the Paris trip, but strangely enough the jetlag has left me in a bit of a haze the last few days here in LA… so more catching up to come soon!

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