This stingray skeleton bracelet by Lauren Wolf is severe.
Severely testing my will and wallet.
my.typa.bling
February 8, 2010 · Leave a Comment
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deeez.heels
February 8, 2010 · Leave a Comment
Casadei’s patent sculptural sandals fit for …
1. Annette Atkins
2. Deee-Lite
3. Jenny Mac
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big.pun
February 7, 2010 · Leave a Comment
Tribute: “It’s So Hard” – Big Pun (Feat. Donell Jones)
It was ten years ago today that rap superstar/family man/street prophecy/fashion icon, Christopher “Big Pun” Rios (a.k.a. Big Punisher), lost his battle against McDonald’s. He may have been the cat that just happened to pass away once B.I.G. and ‘Pac made it trendy, but alas, he did have some primo product of his own during TRL’s peak relevance (see: “Still Not A Player” and “How We Roll“). It was after his death, though, that his work helped put a face on South Bronx’s hip-hop scene (see: Terror Squad, Fat Joe, & Remy Ma) and ultimately helped it thrive into the mid-00’s (see: “What’s Love?” and “Lean Back“). His tribute video for “It’s So Hard” pretty much revolutionized the votive-holding vigil platform for the rest of hip-hop’s fallen to follow. I hope to have my own street mural in the Bronx when I die (only mine will be with a Swedish flag motif) solely because of Pun. Rest in peace, papi.
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garbage.hag
February 4, 2010 · 2 Comments
Mentioned how ridic these were awhile back.
But now, they’ve garnered an entirely different inner meaning altogether
thanks to Angelina and the Jersey Shore!
photo (bottom) courtesy of the cut
→ 2 CommentsCategories: fashion
potato.head
February 4, 2010 · 1 Comment
Remember in pre-school when we’d make paintings with vegetables? So did Alexander McQueen when he teamed up with Liberty of London to recreate-slash-remix his infamous skull print scarf. It’s made using potatoes. I’d like to buy one just to grace it with some marble-paint for the ultimate in Pre-K fashion!
photos (top) courtesy of liberty
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we.wont.stop
February 4, 2010 · Leave a Comment
Song of the Day: “All Night Long” – Faith Evans (Feat. Diddy)
I remember around ‘97 it was Prodigy (and their brand of tech) that was prophesized to take over music forever. However, it was Sean Combs who would officially tune the mainstream ear after B.I.G. left the earth without a hip-hop hero. His crew over-realized the extent to which consumers look to music for status, fantasy, and showmanship. Through this, they unearthed a street music genre with an admittedly lux approach: “what sounds good – looks good – is good.” Bad Boy’s first lady, Faith Evans, was essential to bringing the franchise a safer more feminine perspective. On the Puff-produced “All Night Long,” she imposed a state of R&B relief to hip-hop that’s been tough to reproduce sincerely thereafter. It’s a track that over its twelve year lifetime has been played on everything from mini-discs to walkmans, iPod’s to Pandora, yet still offers the perfect sense of Diddy-bopping solace. It has a bassline that instantly transports you back to the shiny suit heyday of champagne sipping, club shoot-outs, and chinchilla skins.
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heel.chairs
February 3, 2010 · 1 Comment
You’ve heard of high chairs…
well, these are heel chairs.
→ 1 CommentCategories: fashion · ish
skeet.skeet
February 2, 2010 · Leave a Comment
Be glad.
Betony Vernon’s sperm rings go on your fingers.
Not your face.
photos courtesy of paradise found
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photo (top) courtesy of tfsartist spotlite: b.o.b
February 1, 2010 · 1 Comment
“I Am The Man” – B.o.B (Feat. OJ Da Juiceman & Bun B)
Atlanta native, Bobby Ray, has been generating buzz since signing with T.I.’s Grand Hustle Entertainment (of Warner Music Group) and releasing numerous mixtapes under the name ‘B.o.B.‘ in 2008. Now, he’s on the heels of wrapping up sessions for his debut album, B.o.B. presents The Adventures of Bobby Ray, due out May 25, 2010, and is getting the streets ready by leaking countless underground gems worth a listen… or ten. Especially “I Am The Man,” which samples Clooney’s twang wail from O Brother, Where Art Thou? and verses by OJ Da Juiceman and Bun B. With mentions of Tonka trucks and jumbo sized gumbos, it’s like a country boy’s dream come true (minus Taylor Swift).
→ 1 CommentCategories: artist spotlite · musicology
givenchy.gangstar
January 31, 2010 · Leave a Comment
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MH.edits : jan.10
January 30, 2010 · Leave a Comment
1 Comme des Garcons bustle coat
2 Stella McCartney wooden wedges
3 3.1 Phillip Lim grey alpaca scarf
4 Viktor & Rolf navy wool cardigan
5 Jackson small hunter green calfskin L-zip clutch
6 Jean-Michel Cazabat buckle boots
7 Eight Below Zero by Dave Ulrich round frame tortoise shell sunglasses
8 Alex B long sleeve tee
9 Docksta “Gunilla” clogs
10 Vintage Shofar bag
11 Ann Demeulemeester black open weave wool sweater
12 Bottega Veneta tan braided bracelet
13 Vintage Ann Klein lion necklace
14 Alaia black wool-blend leggings
15 Vintage rabbit fur coat
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wonder.woman
January 30, 2010 · Leave a Comment
Miss Jackson in Francesco Scognamiglio
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face.tat
January 30, 2010 · 1 Comment
The ever-popular prison tat goes high brow (literally) for Rihanna.
Luckily hers has a pull-away tab for when she realizes she looks foolish before 10pm. Wish the same could be said for Weezy’s.
→ 1 CommentCategories: fashion · ish · musicology
kale.couture
January 29, 2010 · 2 Comments
photo (top) courtesy of style.com
via givenchy couture / spring 2010 / paris
→ 2 CommentsCategories: fashion
mimi.saves
January 27, 2010 · 2 Comments
World Premiere: “Up Out My Face (Remix)” -
Mariah Carey & Nicki Minaj
One of the best songs of last year (#18 to be exact) finally gets its remix and video treatment. With fellow Barbie girl (Nicki Minaj) in tow, Mariah lets all her skeptics know she’s smarter than them. The use of cascading words may be broke and campy, but she’s smart enough to use humor instead of cash in this recession. I guess you could say Mariah ultimately wins here, especially since she skimped on paying a director (she just asked her hubby) and, in turn, probably saved a bundle. Only question: about the color scheme…did Target sponsor?
→ 2 CommentsCategories: musicology
givenchy.girl
January 27, 2010 · 4 Comments
I love that Riccardo Tisci’s new get-it-girl is Ciara. I mean, how Smoke & Mirrors is that?? Tisci debuted his spanking new Givenchy muse last night at a private cocktail party for the R&B star celebrating Couture Week in Paris. It’s just one of the many reasons I keep the line so close to my heart. WORK!
photos courtesy of wwd & yb&f
→ 4 CommentsCategories: fashion · musicology
aqua.vit
January 27, 2010 · Leave a Comment
Celebrating Swedish pride/Restaurant Week NYC at Aquavit
Join in on the celebration here.
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break.a.leg
January 26, 2010 · 1 Comment
Gwendolyn Huskens‘ ‘medic aesthetic’ footwear makes injury look good.
photos courtesy of design boom &Â l’instant magic
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wu.tles
January 26, 2010 · Leave a Comment
World Premiere: Enter The Magical Mystery Chambers –
Tom Caruana presents… Wu-Tang Clan vs. The Beatles
The Grey Album was so 00’s. DJ/Producer, Tom Caruana, took gritty 90’s Wu-capellas and macerated them skankily (or rather unrecognizably) with Liverpool’s own interviews, samples, and back-tracks to create a Blakroc-sounding 27 song mixtape. (Highlights include: “Run” and “Got Your Money”) The finished product is a start-to-finish listen that’ll rob your innocent eardrums of anything you’ve heard in the last month or so. Do you like it raw? Download the full mixtape or stream individual tracks here.
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inter.vention
January 26, 2010 · 2 Comments
From this…
to this…
Song of the Day: “What Would You Do?” – City High
→ 2 CommentsCategories: song of the day
commercial.confusion
January 25, 2010 · 1 Comment
This is scary – I can’t tell if this new AXE product is real or fake.
(‘Cause real men don’t use loofahs?)
Just like that Taco Bell “Drive-Thru Diet” commercial. Gets me every time.
→ 1 CommentCategories: ish
wild.wood
January 25, 2010 · Leave a Comment
Last Wednesday I went to The Box for Sophomore’s lookbook film (by Cass Bird) unveiling. Unexpectedly, the short film ended up being a one-off carbon copy of the funniest, rarest doc around; Wildwood, New Jersey. Big ups to Mel Ottenberg who styled the mini-vid. Take a trip back to the early 90’s and compare the two below…
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twist.tie
January 25, 2010 · Leave a Comment
Henrik Vibskov’s sweater knit waist-tie pants are LIFE.
They remind me a great deal of a pair of sweats (below) I acquired at the amazing Zipper boutique in Amsterdam. They’re made entirely of reconstructed vintage hoodie pieces. How eco…
photos (top) courtesy of assembly new york
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oops.oh.my
January 24, 2010 · Leave a Comment
Oops! (Oh my…) there goes my dignity down the drain.
Smoke & Mirrors enters the twittersphere today.
Follow me @ smokeMHmirrors
→ Leave a CommentCategories: ish
done.up
January 24, 2010 · Leave a Comment
World Premiere: “As We Enter” – Nas & Damian Marley
Da word is out… Dementia.
Distant Relatives drops April 20, 2010.
Either move on or move on it.
→ Leave a CommentCategories: musicology
chill.ette
January 23, 2010 · Leave a Comment
The blade I shave with:
close shave
every time.
photo courtesy of jennifer kobrin vintage
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hot.steppa
January 23, 2010 · Leave a Comment
Song of the Day: “Here Comes The Hotsteppa” – Ini Kamoze
People still weary of the connection between hip-hop and high fashion: listen no further – “Here Comes The Hotsteppa” by Ini Kamoze was the first to be adopted by the fashion community successfully. So successfully, in fact, it went to #1 on Billboard in 1994 after being featured on the soundtrack to Robert Altman’s Ready to Wear (Pret-a-Porter). The Salaam Remi-produced dancehall track was also featured on Jock Jams in ‘95, but it was Altman’s initial nod that blew Kamoze up instantly.
→ Leave a CommentCategories: fashion · song of the day
mc.knight
January 22, 2010 · 1 Comment
21st century visionary, Nick Knight, takes Alexander McQueen’s latest season to the wild side. As if it weren’t wild already, McQueen’s works get the full-on “Knight” treatment with a tangled and slightly camouflaged Raquel Zimmerman, slithering serpents, and those infamous snakeskin platform hooves. Look for Lee’s new ad in next month’s glossies.
photo courtesy of tfs
→ 1 CommentCategories: fashion
flashing.lights
January 22, 2010 · Leave a Comment
I would trade half my wardrobe for this vintage Issey Miyake jacket.
It looks so much like Vegas’ flashing neon lights.
photo (top) courtesy of resurrection
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look.out
January 22, 2010 · 1 Comment
Look out for this month’s Dazed & Confused where stylist Katie Shillingford and photographer Josh Olins get together with Viktor & Rolf’s chainsaw-ed Cinderella gowns for some vintage-inspired beauty shots. Lush.
photos courtesy of tfs
→ 1 CommentCategories: fashion
track anatomy: stargaze
January 22, 2010 · 1 Comment
“Your Love” – Nicki Minaj
“No More I Love You’s” – Annie Lennox
“Starz” – Jaylib
“The Stars Are Out Tonight” – Starcastle
(Dedicated to my girl, Lea, who brought this track back to my attention. Keep bangin.)
→ 1 CommentCategories: track anatomy
albert.watson
January 22, 2010 · 1 Comment
One of my all-time favorite rock’n'roll/fashion photographers, Albert Watson, has finally launched his website. After working on over 40 Rolling Stone covers, countless Chanel campaigns, and his “Las Vegas” series (above), he’s opened his e-folio for the world to see. He’s known for snapping notable shots of his era’s most legendary; from Alfred Hitchcock to Michael Jackson, Mick Jagger to Snoop Dogg. His work has somehow always felt deeper than that of his peers, consistently bleeding the lines between the commercial image and high art. He’s undoubtedly one whose shaped how we see and understand photography today.
photos courtesy of albert watson photography
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artist spotlite: pogo
January 18, 2010 · Leave a Comment
We all knew music sampling was big business, but this artist takes it to a new medium entirely. Pogo (a.k.a. “Faggottron”) is YouTube’s answer to Prefuse 73. The Australian audio-video artist takes bits and pieces of his favorite Hollywood blockbusters to create equally fantastic musical compositions. As ambient as Stephane Pompougnac’s Hotel Costes, he’s known for seamlessly blending chopped cinematic samples and mid-word blips to compose symphonies from a single scene’s sounds. Even his basslines are recycled, borrowing acoustic backdrops from the silver screen’s often-missed scores. Hear it here first.
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googly.giles
January 16, 2010 · Leave a Comment
I love Giles‘ humor. He can’t help but not take fashion too seriously. His latest pre-fall presentation shown yesterday at a fine china factory in Florence boasted fluoro-wigs, wacky headpieces, and googly eyes aplenty. Styled by Katie Grand (of LOVE magazine), this year’s International ANDAM award recipient continued his winning streak with performance-art-ready works. Here are some behind-the-scenes shots of the insanity.
photos courtesy of LOVE blog
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best.albums.09
January 13, 2010 · 1 Comment
SMOKE & MIRRORS’
best albums of 2009
→ 1 CommentCategories: musicology
line.0
January 13, 2010 · Leave a Comment
Martin Margiela may no longer be manning his Maison (established in 1989), but his Artisanal archive and mentality are still very much alive. Exclusive e-tailer, YOOX, has purchased his most inimitable pieces from the elusive couture division and are selling them (all for four digits or more) to the public for the first time in history to support the Rosa Spier House in Holland (a residence created for retired musicians, artists, and academics). Take a peek at some of my favorite repurposed pieces by clicking here.
photos courtesy of (top) ASVOF, (bottom) YOOX & Alvaro Villarubia
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no.panty.lines
January 10, 2010 · Leave a Comment
Protect your fingers from panty lines with Delfina Delettrez’s new “Saffo” ring. Where’s Sisqo when you need him?
photo courtesy of lvr
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meet.garrett
January 10, 2010 · 2 Comments
I went to college with illustrator Garrett Pruter but had never met him in person. I discovered his work on the web’s whim and was instantly drawn to his “Asylum” series’ sketched-on collages (similar to Holly Fulton’s window-lined deco-city prints). In his own words: “Using found photographs of 19th and 20th century insane asylums, I expanded them through detailed mark-making. Varying from crude to obsessive, I’ve mapped connections between mental and physical space, authority and anti-authority, nostalgia and imagination.” I’m considering commissioning him to wallpaper my apartment in doodled windows.
photos courtesy of garrett pruter portfolio
→ 2 CommentsCategories: ish
best.tracks.09
January 10, 2010 · 5 Comments
SMOKE & MIRRORS’
best tracks of 2009
→ 5 CommentsCategories: musicology
rock.salt
January 8, 2010 · Leave a Comment
Irina Shaposhnikova’s ‘09 Antwerp Royal Academy of Fine Arts graduate collection showcases humans as crystals. The kaleidoscope-like presentation video by Pierre Debuscherre brings nature’s great symmetry to life.
photo (bottom) courtesy of sonny photos
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guilty.polow.pleasures
January 7, 2010 · 1 Comment
Song of the Day: “I Love You” – Chris Brown (Feat. Ester Dean)
Don’t get mad at me… I’m posting this unreleased bonus track (produced by Smoke & Mirrors fave Polow Da Don) from Chris Breezy’s latest LP ’cause the beat’s so good it’ll have you volunteering your time to fulfill his remaining community service hours. You heard me right. (And you’re correct, ’tis an accordion in the background.)
World Premiere: “Get Ya Money Up (Remix)” – Keri Hilson
(Feat. Nicki Minaj & Keyshia Cole)
Second up is Keri Hilson’s remix to the lackluster “Get Ya Money Up” off her disappointingly dull debut album, featuring production by Polow and meager verses by Keyshia and Trina. This time around she got smart and replaced Trina with Nicki, let Polow work his magic synths, and put Keyshia on a heavy vocoder. The result: a zig-zag femme anthem even the guys can fist pump to.
let’s all hit up KARMA tonight
→ 1 CommentCategories: musicology · song of the day
interns.are.people.too
January 7, 2010 · Leave a Comment
Jonathan Horowitz x V Magazine 63
“MH is a person too.”
photo courtesy of tfs
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ss10.campaigns
January 6, 2010 · 2 Comments
Wasn’t gung-ho over these collections,
but their ads sure hit hard.
photos courtesy of tfs
→ 2 CommentsCategories: fashion
H2N2
January 3, 2010 · Leave a Comment
I just did a blog post on the Fatman …and a week later, he and DJ Class release their ‘10 version of Auld Lang Syne. I like to think it was due to this post that he decided to wish me a happy, healthy new year. Thanks Scoop!
Are you gonna lose your house this year? NO!
→ Leave a CommentCategories: musicology
the.size.issue
January 1, 2010 · 1 Comment
Having interned for V Magazine and stylist Mel Ottenberg (above), I’m especially excited to see The Size Issue. Hitting newsstands January 14th, 2010.
photos courtesy of v magazine & models.com
→ 1 CommentCategories: fashion
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