So excited to announce this fun little easter egg hunt of sorts launching on NOTCOT.org and NotCouture today! We’ve teamed up with our friends at Bonobos to hide some of their models in their signature pants around the sites throughout the week… and if you find them, click them! The first 50 people to find the pants every day, get the $25 Bonobos credit plus free shipping both ways (min $50 purchase)! So happy hunting and shopping! Also, keep an eye out for the special little guy in paisley pants… he’ll give you a little something extra…

As for Bonobos, they are the online menswear store named after the endangered promiscuous great ape species that is a close relation of the chimpanzee… the one’s that started off a few years ago with the goal of giving men a pant option (the secret is in the curved waistline) that vowed to put an end to the saggy rear end that one-cut-fits-all options provide, and over the years it has evolved into a full fledged men’s store with everything from pants to suits and shirts to sweaters and shoes and even accessories. So whether you’re in need of a wardrobe update, or looking to get in on that holiday shopping early… go find the Bonobos models hiding on NOTCOT.org and NotCouture all week for the shopping codes!

Tags: fashion - notcot - notcouture - shopping

I just discovered japanese publisher, BNN, Inc.'s Pattern series today, and splurged on the $49 Grain... and it was completely worth it. For any designers who love having high res royalty free stock that comes in gorgeous books (there is something about the 8.5" shape, nice matte cover, high quality color pages) with cd slot in the back... (aka fellow Pepin Press collectors)... you will LOVE this Pattern Series.

One of the things that impressed me most about this series is that the jpgs are more navigable than the Pepin Press series (which go by page numbers) ~ there is an .htm file on the disc that gives you a nice way to browse thumbnails of all of the files (images below). A bit pricey at 49$ for 100 royalty free jpeg files compared to the Pepin books... the books truly are gorgeous. And the Grain volume in particular caught my eye, although i'm not yet sure what i will make from these 1600x1600 wood grains... Other titles in the pattern series in clude butterflies, soviet style, animal prints, plaids, camouflage, and more.

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Tags: books - gifts - shopping

Here’s the fifth post in our Inspiration series! Sponsored by Veer.com ~ we get to have some fun and go image researching across the internet around random themes inspiring us at the moment.. and share what we find! Well this time ~ going through so many scotland pictures, i found these mushrooms on a beautifully dark tree stump, growing amongst some moss… and they were so fascinating, i dropped to the ground to take pics of them while walking back to the house! So, inspired by these, i’ve dug up lots of mushrooms growing in grass/forests/etc on the next page that i found over at Veer.com! And you have to check out the closeup of these crazy scottish ones!

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Tags: sponsored - veer

This CES content is sponsored by BestBuyOn.com. Thanks, Best Buy!!!

Bluelounge launched their new Nest for iPads. Continuing along their motto of “Simple solutions to daily problems, transforming the most everyday item into objects of desire,” they have designed a simple little tray with a grippy edge and a little slide out lip to hold your iPad any which way. And being a functional tray, it ca hold your tchotchkes as well! In their usual fashion, there is a happy color palette to pick from! See how it works on the next page…

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Tags: accessories - CES - gifts - ipad - shopping - technology

This is the first of three gift guides for those on the GO! This content series is brought to you by Intel AppUp℠. Find free and paid apps for your lifestyle. Get started.

Traveling constantly and for different reasons result in SO many different packing techniques and needs… well this time we’re looking at Business Travelers. Non stop, constantly hopping on and off phone calls, netbooking on the go, in and out of airport lounges and cars/taxis and hotels… never even knowing what city you’re flying to or departing from… it’s a stressful, fast paced life of madness to say the least! So what would you gift them (or yourself if you are one?) to help ease that crazy? See some of my picks on the next page!

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Tags: gift guide - gifts - shopping - travel

Here’s the fourth post in our Inspiration series! Sponsored by Veer.com ~ we get to have some fun and go image researching across the internet around random themes inspiring us at the moment.. and share what we find! This time i got lost exploring the Totems and Tikis i found in Veer.com! There’s something so inspiring and calming about these icons and creatures ~ Check it out on the next page!

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Tags: inspiration - veer

This CES content is sponsored by BestBuyOn.com. Thanks, Best Buy!!!

Walking the show floor with Acquire Mag ~ he started describing how there’s this square thing over at Sony and it has shapes show up on it, and its on a bunch of slate… and of course i’m making fun of his vagueness as we wander towards it. Until we get there. Then there’s that moment of… oh. I see. Square mirrored thing… on a bunch of slate shards… and, oh, wait! Shapes. It’s a screen. Oh, it stopped… basically, only to realize his descriptions were pretty good, considering! Honestly, this monolithic mirrored screen object was begging to intrigue curiosity and frustration from all who stood there confused and mesmerized. I was half expecting someone to throw a piece of the slate into it, or knock it over. Instead, everyone just stood and stared and circled.

So, i’ve been stuck in CES land the last few days with minimal web… have YOU heard anything more? Sounds like the Gizmodo guys were confused too… i mean it IS next to a row of stunning TVs… the ones that sit so elegantly like a painting on a stand… is THIS the next TV? Is a pile of slate with no cables showing the stand? Is it an art piece? What do you think? See more pics on the next page…

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Tags: CES - mirrors - television

This CES content is sponsored by BestBuyOn.com. Thanks, Best Buy!!!

Syfy at CES! Giant sphere. Moving panels. So. Much,. Purple. And you can go inside! How could i resist? And then instead of staring at the barely clad girl dressed like a video game character i probably should know… i was staring at how the tracks worked to keep the sphere panels shifting… Also, the pictures don’t do it justice without seeing it in motion, so made you a little video on the next page too…

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Tags: CES - syfy - technology

Brio Network Collection ~ first time seeing it in person, i just noticed it in a tiny kids play cubby hole in Magasin 3 in Stockholm! Between the lovely space and works i totally got sucked into photographing these very well played with and possibly chewed on little woody guys reenacting how computers work... from emails to viruses and search and more! If you recall, i've written about Series 1 here and here in the past... but this is the first look at them up close, now i'm so tempted to try to track down the full set!

p.s.
for americans, i found a few at Amazon: Brio Network Toys!

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Tags: gifts - kids - museum - shopping - stockholm - technology - toys

This is the second of three gift guides for those on the GO! This content series is brought to you by Intel AppUp℠. Find free and paid apps for your lifestyle. Get started.

Gift Guide time! This time ideas for the Jetsetter On The Go ~ unlike the Business Traveler on the Go list, this list is more for that person on an escape! a vacation! a luxurious relaxing getaway… ok fine, this is secretly a wishlist of sorts as well… may 2011 hold the kind of vacations that need the goodies on the next page ;)

Go see the list!

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Tags: gift guide - sponsored - technology

This CES content is sponsored by BestBuyOn.com. Thanks, Best Buy!!!

AR.Drones have come a long way since they mesmerized us at CES with their amazing iPhone controlled flying machine last year… that was in a huge net on the show floor… well this year, they have a great space outside! And it’s definitely had me watching, mesmerized, wondering how i’ve managed not to give in to one of them yet. Or TWO… you can even played augmented reality shooter games with them now… (see the video on the next page to make sense of it)… see more pics on the next page of them in action. It’s hard not to want an iPhone/iPad controlled wifi AR qudricopter!

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Tags: CES - gifts - ipad - iphone - ipod - kids - shopping - technology - toys

This CES content is sponsored by BestBuyOn.com. Thanks, Best Buy!!!

There’s an iLounge at CES… it’s exactly what you’d imagine, mac fanboy overload. And a lot of eames chairs. And retro-modern furnishings… like this HOUSE that Griffin Technology built! So fun to look at, yet totally embarrassing to encounter. It’s pretty and fun like a doll house, but the UX of it practically wasn’t so good. Like i’ve known and loved Griffin for years… yet i got up to the house, and up close embarrassingly asked who the booth was for. At which point i got a very matter of fact and standoffish “Griffin” as the response. Oops. My bad. As i looked around trying to figure out how i missed that… the house was so hard to enter, and the products so hard to see/access… that it wasn’t even until i backed up fully i could properly see their sign that said Griffin high above the house! But from a design perspective, the booth was an inspiringly adorable change to the usual layouts… i just wish it wasn’t at the expense of showing off the products. There were even a few i was dying to see from the press releases in person, but they made it so difficult, i’m sad to admit i gave up, and decided it was more fun to enjoy their architecture! See more pics of the house on the next page…

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Tags: apple - CES - technology

This CES content is sponsored by BestBuyOn.com. Thanks, Best Buy!!!

There’s something irresistible about a matte black wall covering glowing cubby holes… with ears in them… and gorgeously colorful headphones/earbuds… Such a visual and tactile wall of goodies at the Urbanears booth at CES! You can see their Tanto and Plattan over heads, their Medis that you twist to lock into your ear, and a peek at the new Bagis! They are also behind the much circulated Marshall headphones and earbuds, and had a fun amp display as well… A close up look at the smart packaging and products here… but first, check out the booth on the next page!

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Tags: CES - gifts - headphones - shopping

This CES content is sponsored by BestBuyOn.com. Thanks, Best Buy!!!

Polaroid’s booth had some lovely design details this year. Just to get it out of the way first, let’s acknowledge and move on from the whole Lady Gaga creative director and the grey label products press event. Ugh. Anyhow, what i liked over at their booth are the weird geometric mirrored tessellation growth protruding from within, their use of what looked like black painted raw wood which was a great contrast to the techy textures, and fun graphic design! Oh, and their huge polaroid framed screens really made me want one in my office flipping through NOTCOT.org posts! Take a peek at the details on the next page…

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Tags: camera - CES - mirrors

Here’s the latest post in our Inspiration series! Sponsored by Veer.com ~ we get to have some fun and go image researching across the internet around random themes inspiring us at the moment.. and share what we find! This time i’m all about the red stripey goodness of the season.

I’ve seriously been on a peppermint/candy cane kick since it started getting chilly. On pattern’s that scream HOLIDAYS! to me ~ red and white stripes definitely do it. That and the super delicious limited edition Peppermint Mocha Kahlua that is just divine in hot chocolate on these brisk wintry days (ok fine, so it’s a bit wet and chilly here in LA ~ not snowing or anything)… So when hunting for some visual inspiration, my stomach took me to flickr where i promptly obsessed on smashed candy canes turning into sweet temptations… like peppermint bark! First one to grab me? That awesome pic up there by Erin and Ben… see more tempting inspirations i found on the next page… and even more as i moved on to Veer to see what visual red and white striped goodness i could find (housed in my album here!).

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Tags: inspiration - veer

So, for the last week, we’ve had Bonobos models hidden across NOTCOT.org and NotCouture ~ well it’s been SO much fun (thanks to everyone who has tweeted and emailed in their love of our fun easter egg campaign!), that Bonobos has offered us a bonus today! Today only ~ there is a special little PAISLEY pant wearing model that will appear amongst the others ~ and the first five people to find him on NOTCOT.org or NotCouture and use the special code will get 100$ off their order!!!

To find out more about the history of Bonobos ~ take a look at this 2009 NYTs article…. and for now ~ go try your luck finding the PAISLEYS!!!

Tags: fashion - notcot

This post is a sponsored series that takes a fun peek at the gorgeous details of modern life. The irresistible design details that enhance our lives… Gillette is the sponsor… but, as always, the post and ideas are 100% NOTCOT.

Dyson Pedestal Fan (Air Multiplier) ~ Freshly arrived from the land of Dyson ~ my first impression ~ AMAZING. While the first of the line was the desk fan (remember how awesome the launch was?), the pedestal is my favorite right now! Far quieter than the desk fan on low modes, but it feels like quite a bit more air circulating. But the best part? The design details you have to play with in person! The curved remote ~ that magnetically attaches to the top of the fan! The robotic feeling hinge to til the fan ring…. and to adjust the height? Simply lift! Or push down! And of course it swivels too… (Side note: Ok, don’t laugh, but i’ve named mine Watson. Every time see it, it makes me think of a magnifying glass, which makes me think of Sherlock Holmes, and somehow that lead me to Watson. It’s just what pops into my head when i see it!) Also, it’s so sculptural yet minimalist, it blends into a room, while still being a bizarrely intriguing object to everyone that has come by! Also, with both fans, anytime someone comes over and either is on… they still stand in front of it mesmerized and stick their hand inside it… have you tried it? You only feel the air coming out from the edges of the ring! Anyhow, go check out pics of the fun details up close on the next page!

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Tags: gifts - gillette - home - shopping - technology

This post is a sponsored series that takes a fun peek at the gorgeous details of modern life. The irresistible design details that enhance our lives… Gillette is the sponsor (Thanks, Gillette!)… but, as always, the post and ideas are 100% NOTCOT!

I had no idea a printer could be such a lustworthy design object ~ inside and out! HP sent over one of the new HP Envy100 e-All-in-One, and it’s kind of magical. Firstly, it looks like a sleek black box with some mirrored details, like the dots on the top… but really, it looks like a box, it doesn’t scream printer/scanner/networked object. In fact, at first glance, i didn’t even understand where the paper went IN or came out. Secondly, it comes wrapped in minimal packaging! The final layer being a reusable bag - that is subtly patterned, a pretty nice tote shape, and perfect for groceries. It’s even the world’s first PVC free printer. Thirdly, it is not only wirelessly networked, it can be printed to from ANYWHERE. Via email! Yes, emailing to print… is like faxing minus the phone line?

So those are the three things that blew my mind first. It’s surprisingly stylish and un-printer like… unexpectedly green from unboxing to materials… and they’ve made great use of the wireless connection! Now the last thing i expected to find useful… the APPS. With its 3.45” highres capacitive touchscreen (basically, its like a smart phone built into it)… you can browse and download apps… without touching a computer, someone who’s lost and needs directions home can browse google maps, and print out two sided page of directions. Surprisingly easily. Coloring pages - paper toy designs - recipes… just like that! Even movie tickets… though it does feel weird feeding my credit card number into my PRINTER. You can even play Sudoku on it… i guess good for office while you’re waiting for it to print/scan? But you have to see the pics on the next page… and what’s inside it… as well as FINLEY! My CubeeCraft i couldn’t help making after printing him out to get some action pics for this post. A printer that distracts me with toys to build… devious!

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Tags: gifts - gillette - print - shopping - technology - unboxing

This post is a sponsored series that takes a fun peek at the gorgeous details of modern life. The irresistible design details that enhance our lives… Gillette is the sponsor (Thanks, Gillette!)… but, as always, the post and ideas are 100% NOTCOT!

When we look at retro modern scenes ~ the future as imagined back in the 60s ~ the jetson’s styled stuff… i keep wondering where our gorgeous image of the future we’ll look back on in 50 years is, and will still wish we had (if we don’t already have it by then!)… then i saw this EVO-mobil design by Ora-Ito for Citroën… or even more impressive, i was won over by the photoshoot of it with actress Mylène Jampanoï for the stunningly artistic automotive mag, Intersection… and i wish i lived in that reality! Its so beautiful! “Af­ter more than 3 years of col­lab­o­ra­tion with Cit­roën on the de­vel­op­ment of ar­chi­tec­tu­ral pro­jects, Ora-ïto turned to the man­u­fac­tur­er to de­vel­op his first artis­tic pro­ject. The icon­o­clas­tic artist wasn’t dream­ing about another con­cept car but a ge­net­ic trans­for­ma­tion. An unu­su­al cre­a­tion re­u­nit­ing more than 400 years of his­to­ry, a re­flec­tion on the evo­lu­tion of the mo­bil­i­ty and the le­g­endary know-how of Cit­roën. On the edge of the hy­poth­e­sis and the con­tem­po­rary art, this hy­brid ob­ject is based on the ful­fill­ment of child’s dream with an ob­vi­ous com­mit­ment for the ecol­o­gy. ” See more images of the beautiful futuristic concept shot in front of the architectural work designed by Oscar Niemeyer ~ as well as the making of video on the next page!

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Tags: cars - concept - gillette - photography - technology

This post is sponsored by Nordstrom. Shop the Anniversary Sale: Next Season on Sale Now. Prices go up August 1.

When picking products that were tempting us at the Nordstrom sale ~ Marcia and I couldn’t help going for all the black. Iconic little black dresses ~ little black trenches and coats ~ black tuxes ~ you know the drill! Take a peek at what we’re loving on the next page!

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Tags: nordstrom - sponsored

This series/post is brought to you by Gillette. Learn more about Gillette and its products at Gillette.com. As usual, thoughts and ideas are all NOTCOT, Gillette is sponsoring us to do our thing!

Buying and owning is really only half the battle… responsibility… whatever you want to call it when you are talking about all the clothes and other accouterments we adorn ourselves with. For this post, Leo and Marcia delved into the world of laundering and objects that help us care for the clothes we love that are worth showing off like a gorgeous piece of furniture. From laundry baskets to ironing boards that look like works of art ~ to unusually dressing/hanging stations and convertible furniture! Take a peek at it all on the next page!

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Tags: fashion - gifts - gillette - home - roundup - shopping - sponsored

This CES content is sponsored by BestBuyOn.com. Thanks, Best Buy!!!

I have no idea what type of data i’d have that would need to be kept this securely. Or if i did, i probably shouldn’t tell you! But somehow, everyone’s inner bond must secretly have something worth protecting, or just love the look of a hard drive that just screams “top secret information”… When i saw the Rocstor booth, there was a gravitational packaging/soft touch/designy hard drive pull i instantly succumbed to. Then i saw keypads and pass keys and usb keys, and i was hooked. And the RocSecure line is filled with encrypted portable hard drives! My favorite is definitely the new RocSafe MX, with real time hardware encryption, and the need to authenticate via a pin number (and a card!) on the hard drive itself before the computer can even see it. Others look sleek and have usb key tokens that are required to boot the drives… Regardless of whether you are hiding secrets, or just your family photos and music, doesn’t it just seem more fun? Take a peek on the next page at the booth, packaging, gorgeous hardrives, and more details on these super secure devices!

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Tags: accessories - CES - gifts - security - shopping - technology - USB

Candela was acquired by Oxo, and seeing these new Flare lights as rechargeable ambient lighting to replace/accompany candles, i couldn't resist. While i've always loved Candela's playful kids slug looking lights and the taller lights, i never knew what i'd really do with them. But in the new products since Candela met Oxo, you can immediately see the more mature, versatile, hyperfunctional designs which have emerged around the same technology. The Flare, DemiGlow, and Luau (how fun would it be to run around in the woods with that lantern?) are a gorgeous addition to their family of products, and the Flare look so perfect for everywhere from dinner on the patio to lining around your pool... i finally ordered some... so on the next page see a full unboxing, including an upclose look at what's in the box, how the lights are put together, and how they light a hallway.

One thing that blew me away on the user experience of the design... these lights run on rechargeable Ni-Cd batteries (which are replaceable), and they are charged by simply playing them on their base, which also doubles as a carrying tray. The lights also have adorable on and off buttons on the base. What i love is that - regardless of whether the light is on, when you place it on the base it goes off... as soon as you lift it from the base it lights up. And silly as it sounds, there is something magical about that interaction. Likewise, if there is a power outage, or you unplug the base to carry the tray, they will all light up. View the unboxing on the next page, and view the full selection of Oxo Candela Lights!

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Tags: candles - gifts - green - home - lighting - shopping - technology

Here’s the forth post in our Inspiration series! Sponsored by Veer.com ~ we get to have some fun and go image researching across the internet around random themes inspiring us at the moment.. and share what we find! This time fascination with food textures close up has lead to this album being made on Veer!!! And leo helped round up some amazing close up looks at food close up that’s been inspiring us across the web ~ perhaps its Tasteologie that has food on the mind lately ~ but the intersection of food and design is so beautifully inspiring! See it all on the next page!

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Tags: food - veer

We’re excited to announce being part of a new Wordpress project, PopPressed, featuring daily arts and style coverage from around the web (including NOTCOT!). The collaboration between the blogging platform and our ad folks, Federated Media, promises “the freshest in culture” across photos and features. It’s presented and supported by Lexus’ new CT Hybrid. You can follow PopPressed on Twitter and Facebook and send along your own concepts for coverage.

Tags: sponsored