minirobot

(Mischa Lampert Nana hat)

I recall a Seinfeld episode where George gets Elaine to buy him a Russian sable fur hat on the J. Peterman expense account, and discovers said hat contains great powers for sustaining warmth in the dead of winter that eventually lead George to renounce all winter outerwear in favour of this one mega hat. When trying on winter toques and winter headwear, I must sheepishly admit to using this reference as a barometer of whether or not a hat will hold its own against the harsh (but increasingly less so) winter climate.

A friend recently turned me onto Mischa Lampert, whose beautifully nubby and sculptural knit hats were described by him as “individually perfect,” with thick luxe cashmere and amazing craftsmanship and construction. The designer splits her time between New York, London and Holland -a Dutch sensibility definitely shines through her pieces. I’m particularly fond of her Nana and Fisher XL styles. These hats are enough to make me wish for a brisk winter, and if that’s what it turns out to be, I’m almost convinced this would be all I need to keep warm.

Also a post otherwise known as Convergence of interests III, as they truly come together here. What does a clotheshorse do with a closet overwhelmed with clothing, a messy bedroom strewn with clothes from ceiling to floor? How do I keep my necklaces from getting tangled and knotted, and keep my prized garments at their very best? Traditional storage avenues just don’t cut it; creative and functional design is desperately needed in the attempt at keeping my room clean.

mi-workshop, a san diego based architecture and design operation, has some truly beautiful and strikingly simple pieces that would definitely address my messy room issues. I am terrible at hanging clothing at the end of a long day, and am wont to accumulate clothes on chairs, on the floor, hanging of doorknobs, etc. The Phil ladder is an ingenius and obvious solution to this problem as its rungs would be a much better substitute than the floor. If you have a penchant for prints and colours in clothing, it would make an amazing display for one’s wares.

Similarly, the run-of-the-mill jewelry box don’t cut it either. Again there is a clever solution: the Ray shelf with its multiple knobs for hanging chains and necklaces prevents tangles, and there’s a handy mirror for a last once-over before leaving the boudoir. All the mi-workshop pieces are so precise and intuitive; the details convey the designer’s acute sensitivity to and understanding of the everyday lives of ordinary people (and in particular, those who appreciate good design).

This past spring, I saw a documentary film entitled Danish Design that profiled 18 Danish designers, craftsmen, and architects in an attempt to answer “What is Danish Design?” One statement made in the film that struck a great resonance with me was something architect Dorte Mandrup Poulsen said: that the purpose of design is “finding poetry in everyday life.” So perfectly articulated, nothing more need be said -only that mi-workshop exemplifies this statement.

So I saw this “Kate, the only moss in our woods” necklace and got really excited about Los Angeles based jewelry label, Alex & Chloe’s “From My Neck of the Woods” collection.

Upon further research, I discovered Alex & Chloe uses many of the objects and motifs I find interesting and random. A bird claw, a wisdom tooth, a shark jaw, Kate Moss. Slightly macabre and unusual. I think a perfectly prim and simple shift dress would be offset nicely by their oxidized silver talon necklace or tooth pendant. The trouble is choosing a favourite.

(Photo from the Sartorialist)

My tried and true means of transport, my bicycle, is in dire need of an upgrade. Style has never been a big concern in the past, just as long as it gets me from point a to b, is fast and dependable. The bicycle I’ve had for the past five years has been good to me, and I to it (I had rescued it from abandonment and repaired it into good working order), but as much as we’ve had some good times together, I think I am ready to move up the ladder. Logging almost 1500km per year, I really should be riding something better suited to the distance and commuter wear -and perhaps a bit more stylish.

What gets me around now is a frame very well suited to my size -but kind of a rustbucket- is blue with red paint underneath, and I’ve added a front basket to accomodate my handbags and change of footwear I bring to the office. Yes, she may be an eyesore, but I really love her so!

I’ve been intending to purchase a better bike for years and have long been eyeing Biomega. They’re very design-beautiful, streamlined and extremely functional. Biomega bikes are intelligently designed; all the fundamentals of a good bike are encorporated in every model. While I love the sportiness of the Copenhagen, I think the upright posture and mustache handlebars of the Amsterdam (in cocoa) are more suitable for me (description from Biomega):

A quintessential piece of Biomega integration - Amsterdam spins of from its Dutch heritage and morphs from classic into a new style city bike. Larger, Softer rounded shapes makes pleasing to the eye and qualitatively durable.

Doesn’t that sound lovely? Plus it is chainless, and thus greaseless and no worry of rusty chains winter after winter. But in my bike research, I came across a more traditional Dutch bicycle from Jorg & Olif of Vancouver.

These bicycles are equipped with a sweet saddle, dynamo powered front and rear lights, and a “traditional Dutch bell.” Jorg & Olif even offer accessories ranging from a very cute Jorg&Olif cap, equestrian-style bike helmets and even a scarf to look convincingly Dutch.Tough beans, but I guess the decision comes down to functionality and whether I want to go old-school or modern. I somehow feel a great deal of allegiance to my rough and tumble blue bike, however scrappy she looks. Some people have the luxury of owning two cars -a practical one and perhaps a more stylish ride- and many people I met in Copenhagen had two bikes (just in case), I don’t see why I can’t have both. Afterall, the bicycle is quite an awesome thing indeed.