Had lunch last weekend at Hunky's in the Bishop Arts District (Dallas) with one of my favorite people. Epiphany and Make are my favorite stores down in that area. I showed immense restraint and just bought this one bitchin' satchel from Epiphany. I carried it with me all over The City this week; it's the perfect size for phone+camera+cash+cards.

Off to NYC tomorrow for market. Unfortunately, we will be gone by Friday when these slammin' shindigs take place.

The Daslu website is a gold mine. I hope to make it to the physical store next year when my Semester at Sea ship stops in Brazil.

Up Helly Aa

Maybe the Vikings get a bad rap. Maybe instead of pillaging and terrorizing, they just wanted to have fun. That’s certainly the impression everyone visiting the remote Shetland Islands in Britain would get if their trip coincided with the yearly Up Helly Aa festival in January. The Shetlands were invaded and ruled by the Vikings for hundreds of years, but residents must either have short memories or not think their Norse rulers were too harsh, because the festival today involves getting dressed up in Viking garb and partying like it is 899. Some say that although it has murky origins, Up Helly Aa was begun to curb boisterous holiday celebrations. Well, if that’s done by encouraging a raucous day-and-night party with dress-up Vikings wielding axes that culminates with a torchlight parade through town and the ceremonial immolation of a Viking longship, then mission accomplished.

-Chris Warren

Happy New Year

Went to Dish with friends for a New Years Eve dessert. Sat out in the lounge which was kept an extremely comfortable temperature, despite the cold, with the help of heaters.

The people-watching was MAGNIFICENT - unlike anything I have ever witnessed.

Rang in the new year later that night at a party that was way too high school for my liking.

Eliza J Ombre Party Dress

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.