usa phone diary #1

After spending 2 days in Boston I'm now in Amherst, Massachusetts with my stomach full of clam chowder and my fingers slowly giving themselves up to frostbite. Here are some of the things I've seen, eaten and done since arriving. 

There's Something About Sidney

Sidney Williams in 10 Magazine (Spring Summer '11).

Has anyone else noticed more and more plastic carrier bags appearing in magazine editorials as props? I like it. It's a kind of 'Hey, the Jil Sander bag is cool, but I have these ones underneath my kitchen sink too.' approach. I actually know someone who took a plastic bag to a club after her handbag broke. True story. 

Ice Cube on the Eames

"Before I did rap music I studied architectural drafting" Who knew!

via 2 or 3 things I know.

This is an old version of the Eames Lounge Chair we have at home in Bristol. It used to be my Grandpa's and I think he bought it in Habitat in the Seventies, unable to afford the original Eames design. I've always loved it so much, though we don't tend to sit on it much these days as without the ottoman footstool you feel like you're falling backwards into a black hole every time you sit down. (It takes admirable ab strength to get back up again.) But I like the idea of one day reuniting it with a footstool and sinking into it again maybe with a gin and tonic and a tall stack of magazines at my elbow.

massachusetts

After what feels like the longest wait ever, today I leave for the United States. I'll be spending a semester studying in Massachusetts and couple of months traveling around afterwards. The blog will continue as normal, there'll probably just be more pancake stack coverage. If anyone has any must-sees or tips for Boston (where can I find the best lobster roll?) please do sling them my way. See you on the other side!

crushing on holiday style

I can't stop thinking about Emma's Haitian holiday snaps over at Anywho. There is a fine art to holiday dressing and Emma's approach is completely up my street. Those sherberty Stine Goya trousers paired with these Nike Lunars are what dreams are made of! 

weekend wishlist

In an ideal world these would be my tools for the weekend: The Case for Working with Your Hands by Matthew Crawford, J.W. Anderson angora jumper, Dog State bronze ring, Phillip Lim leopard print underwear, Deena and Ozzy ponyskin boots, Arrested Development Season 2, Malin + Goetz Tobacco candle.

On a side note, I think I may be the last person in the world to have jumped on the Arrested Development bandwagon. It feels like when I was 10 and had an awful realisation that after years of turning my nose at at houmous I actually loved it. That sort of, 'man, I've been wasting time' feeling. Still, better late than never. All I want to do this weekend is guffaw at back to back episodes and then awkwardly replicate Buster's behaviour when forced to socially interact. 

mood

A few things on my mind: Taking a trip to California to visit my friends studying at Berkeley and UC Santa Cruz, a desire which has been further increased after coming across fantastic blog A Restless Transplant, written by a guy who has jacked in his design job and set off on a road trip around America in his VW. Think lots of beautiful photographs of coastal california (and the verdant landscape of the pacific northwest too..) Green bomber jackets as worn by this Susanna via Hel Looks. The Giles Spring/Summer 2012 collection which I've only just seen it and have been completely wowed by. All of those metallics and beautiful swan prints! I've never had any idea what sort of dress I'd like to wear if I ever get married but I think Giles's laser-cut silver number comes pretty close. Lately I've been wearing my puffa jacket a lot and really loving it, so particularly appreciated the puffa shot on Stevie Dance's blog. Also thinking about the 90s tortoiseshell sunglasses on the Topshop website and lobster rolls. I've never even eaten a lobster roll but I'm experiencing a ridiculous craving for seafood at the moment after reading this post by Vanessa Jackman and reading about the Lobster Roll eatery in Amagansett, New York. 

Eley Kishimoto Flash Case

Hey guys, check it out. It's me holding a shiny new Eley Kishimoto laptop case. A proper laptop case! That's like, a really grown up thing to have isn't it? When you spend money on something that's just going to look after your possessions and stop them from getting scratched or being treated without consideration. Like a babysitter just for your technological stuff. Whatever next, blow dries and mortgages?

The Faith

I've been eyeing my friend Jack's Northern Soul sweatshirt for ages and given that he's going to China for a few months and I'm off to America I figured now was the time to buy it without having to fight him for 'wearing rights' in Manchester. The inside has that 'soft as a baby's bum' fleecey quality to it, sure to disappear after a few washes but lovely to stroke for now. It's also refreshing to actually own a jumper that isn't a solidly hot commitment of wooly knitwear. Instead I can relish it's sweatshirt material and chuck it on oversized with skirts and mood dependent, hardy heels or trainers. 

Mr Touitou

Fantastic interview with APC's Jean Touitou over at Interview Magazine. But of course it's fantastic. I don't think it would be possible to read a bad interview with Touitou, he always manages to slip in a few thought-provoking gems. 

"Being rich is fine, but there should be a limit to it... For many in this business, if they can make something and multiply it by nine, it’s like having a shot of heroin in the arm, a kick. I don’t have a kick from that. I get off on running the company, making a decent profit, paying people fairly, and having more than a decent life for myself—but that’s it."

I've been thinking a lot recently about the ways in which people approach business. How to do something that works financially whilst staying true to your own values and interacting healthily with others along the way. In other words not being wooed by the big bucks when it's at odds with a healthy lifestyle philosophy. It sounds obvious but I really think it's much easier said than done. Jean Touitou appears to have it sussed. I like that he lets his employees use the A.P.C studio for band practise because he likes seeing amps and music equipment being carried through the office as a reminder of creativity.

I don't have any clear or concrete resolutions for 2012, but chilling out a little bit (tempering the internal monologue and tendency to over think things) is something I'd like to do. Working hard while remaining calm and able to switch off when necessary. So Jean Touitou is my Poster boy for 2012. Along with The Dude.