Elementary, my dear Watson

Sherlock Holmes

by Alberto Makali

Lo quiero

Saw this at Scope, one of the satellite fairs for Art Basel. Very soothing. If I had a rooftop garden, I'd get my own Riot Temple to put on it.

Now This is My Kind of Party

The (Other) Donald

Donald J. Pliner gave a talk on the UM campus last month during the same entrepreneurship event that Red Carter was at. He wore the same outfit he's wearing in his most recent catalog cover (above), accompanied by a rock-star-designer aura. It sounded like he lived through some pretty boss times in the fashion world, although he was definitely not without his ups and downs.

Pliner seems like a genuinely cool guy. His wife, Lisa, was there with him, and it is apparent they have a wonderful marriage. The way they interacted with each other was extremely refreshing. Their daughter is adopted, and Donald is truly passionate about his charity that builds playground for underprivileged kids; he even got choked up talking about it.

Like an idiot, I forgot my camera. However, I somehow managed to remember to bring the catalog and a Sharpie. When I went up to have Donald autograph my favorite page in the catalog, I got really self conscious about the fact that I was wearing Michael Kors shoes - I felt like a traitor

Who Knew?

A lot of people, when they get settled on a plane, will go straight for the Sky Mall magazine. Personally, I always reach for the American Way magazine (or its equivalent if I happen to be using a different airline.) There's usually some surprisingly good stuff in there- like this article.

Just got back from seeing Nelo at the House of Blues. They performed at Austin City Limits earlier this year and my 18th birthday two years ago.

Ain't No Fairy Tale

Gotta love Dina Goldstein's Fallen Princesses photos. The 11 piece series depicts fairy tale princesses in depressingly real settings. The bizarre juxtaposition is enough to distract viewers from feeling too bummed out by the grim scenarios

Whatever bird had to bite the dust for these shoes to be made did not die in vain. They're epic.

Mirco Giovannini

Mirco Giovannini is an Italian (duh) knitwear designer based in Rome. His inspiration is Talitha Getty in the 1960's (see below), and his designs are available at En Avance in Miami.

So Caucasian

Stuff White People Like always hits the nail on the head when it comes to hipsters/wannabe intellectuals/me (to an extent). Read the article and you'll see why. But no matter what C. Lander says, Ray-Bans in general ARE timeless.

This photo was taken in Seaside, FL as we roadtripped from Dallas to Miami at the start of school. We'd been driving for 6 hours that day, so I'm looking a little rumpled. Seaside is a nice little town. A little sterile and overpriced maybe, but we ate a rejuvenating late lunch on the second level of a place called Bud and Alley's overlooking the pristine beach. I think my friends and I will stop back by there when we drive back to Texas in May. It's a little bit out of the way, but it's worth it.

Say Hello to My Little Friend

Many a Miami girl could use a " little friend." (In case you didn't catch that, I was making a Scarface reference there.) But since you have to be 21 to get a concealed handgun license, many will have to settle for James Piatt's Pursuader bag.

City on a Circle

Little Rooms cityscape bangle by Ester Delug.

Boot Bling

These boot baubles are made by a woman out of Dallas who was a veterinarian before she deemed a career change was necessary and started designing jewelry. These items would be best with solid-colored boots, preferably black. Available at Turtletique in Dallas.

Chain Chain Chain

Saw this Clover bracelet ring thing and decided to make my own instead of spending $50+. Coincidentally, it ended up being the same shape as the Leviticus version I just stumbled upon, except I used thinner chain. Sometimes great minds do think alike.

Gimme Samar

Went to Stephen Pyles' new place on Ross Ave, Samar, for my mom's birthday dinner. Food is served tapas style and is a mix of Spanish, Indian, and Eastern Mediterranean. Literally every single thing was delicious. Like, so good people were moaning after every few bites. Mr. Pyles graciously came to check on our little party. We had a nice quick little chat about our individual experiences in Morocco, and he recommended that we try the rose flavored hookah. We ended up going with apple-mint, which we enjoyed by the fire pit out front.

Men of Style

Kindly explain to your brother/guy friend that if he wants to attract some positive female attention, it would serve him well to forego Hollister t-shirts and anything that reeks of Ed Hardy, in favor of emulating the masculine yet sophisticated styles of Neal Caffrey (fictional art thief in USA's White Collar) and Robert Pattinson. Appeal to his sense of logic: he'll be getting action right and left if he reminds the ladies of their favorite blood-sucker.

In the Red

In honor of the marine science final I have tomorrow, I thought I'd make a shout-out to Miami based swimwear designer Red Carter. I was introduced to his label when he participated in an entrepreneurship panel I attended on my college campus. His designs range from relatively basic w/ a twist to ultra glam. Affable guy, sassy line. Next time you hit the beach or the hotel pool, keep an eye out for the signature red button that dons all his suits.

The Norm(an)

Goofin' off with my friend by the pool at The Setai in South Beach. Had my favorite Rebecca Norman clutch with me

This is the next one I'd like to get...Same great shape,but a whole new vibe!

Washed Out

Saw Washed Out last weekend at the Terri and Donna Gallery in Wynwood. I went at the recommendation of my friend who's a music editor for the University of Miami radio station. It's good late-night-driving music.

Stylish fellow concert goers.

Blurry Lines Between Art and Fashion

I see this AJ Fosik piece as a patch on a fitted blazer

How chic would these look as buttons on a peacoat?!

I Said Brrr...

As a general rule, I don't do cold. This may be one of the few places I'd be willing to make an exception for.

Be Cagey

I covet this cage dress.

Abi Ferrin: Fairest of Them All

Funkshion Fashion Week Miami Beach was two months ago, but I still can't stop thinking about Dallas designer, Abi Ferrin, who showed off her Spring 2010 line at the Bass Museum of Art. (I apologize for the less-than-stellar quality of my pics.)She may not have been the biggest label at the show, but she certainly made the biggest impression on me. Not only is the collection fabulously hippie chic, but Ferrin also utilizes her company to empower impoverished women and help save the rainforest. You go girl!

My friend Shay and I at the show. (No, she's not model. Everybody assumed she was. She won't even consider it- too busy working working on her Environmental Science degree.)

Art Basel Miami Beach

Love this photo by Ryan McGinley. Reminds me of the time I jumped off a cliff at Rick's Cafe in Jamaica. Don't raise your eyebrows at me, I had a swimsuit on.

Photomontage 8, Mickalene Thomas

Who doesn't have a bunch of random frames lying around? We all do. I'm def going to make an arrangement like this on a wall in my room.

Lee Bul

Jacob Hashimoto

My dress is Patrick Robinson (for Target. Shhh)

The Queen of Hearts, Anne Leibovitz

I Waited For You Even in the Darkest of Days, Sara Rahbar

Neon Shadows, Gordon Cheung

Of course these don't cover even a fraction of all the awesomeness I witnessed at Art Basel. I didn't even get pictures of my favorite works, thinking I could find better quality shots online. I was wrong. Other artists whose work I fell in love with include Philip Taaffe, Frank Stella, Steven Charles, Juan Genoves, Roxy Paine, and Fred Tomaselli. I saw Val Kilmer hangin' out by Fred Tomaselli's work, Big Eye. He was workin' a bizarre chubby Crocodile Dundee look- long hair, a safari vest, and an Indiana Jones hat. I was trying to subtly stare at him to confirm his identity. We made eye contact. Awkward.