It’s the 20th Anniversary of D&G men’s line, and boy do those two know how to throw a party on the runway (and off the runway I’m sure). Linens, sheer whites and khakis abound in this special Spring 2011 show featuring the lovely Annie Lennox tickling the ivories.
Watch video 1 and 2, and celebrate that the clothes are only one year away to legally have a drink.

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Whether you think she’s a copy cat or a devilishly inspired vixen, Lady Gaga is giving the fashion industry a helping hand by showcasing the hot and haute in her music videos. Collaborations between music artists and fashion houses is not a new thing, they have helped each other’s awareness since the beginning of MTV in the early 80s.

In her recent video Alejandro, she works with stylist Nicola Formichetti and fab photographer Steven Klein to create her –much too long– but beautifully rendered video.

Now lets break it down as if it were a pictorial in Vogue shall we. Designers that are featured below are, Nasir Mazhar, Atsuko Kudo, Calvin Klein, Christian Louboutin, David Samuel Menkes and Emporio Armani. These are only a handful, as garments from the houses of  Kerin Rose, and Philip Treacy are also in the video.

Binocular headpiece by Nasir Mazhar. Cape by Alexander McQueen

Nun dress designed by Atsuko Kudo.

Lingerie by Calvin Klein

Stilettos by Christian Louboutin. Boy shorts: Haus of Gaga

Machine gun bustier by David Samuel Menkes. Military suits by Emporio Armani

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Why don’t we talk about  fall/winter collections on this horribly hot day? Fashionistas will tell you that it is better to stock up early on the latest trends, and nothing screams more “latest” than a new line with a vintage twist.

AELEIS F/W 2010

AELEIS New York, the new menswear line by designer Philippe Trinh is sure to make you go, “I want that!” So while you stand in line to get yourself another version of the same phone (yes I’m talking to you, dude with the glasses standing in line for your new iphone 4), I’ll be checking out AELEIS’ 1900s inspired collection for when the leaves start turning that perfect shade of rose.

Make sure to swing by the website to check out the look book.

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By all accounts the Come Out and Play festival was a huge success.  And we’re pleased to say that The Paper Plane Derby (featured earlier on THM) was winner of the Best Family Game!  CONGRATULATIONS!

Our very own Stephen Tortora-Lee was an eager participant in the derby and wound up bringing home “Most Innovative Design”; his lovely award now hangs proudly in our home for all to see.  (You can see a picture of him lined up and ready to compete after the jump.)

We caught up with Rachel Schutt and Linda Perkins again to see how they felt the day went and asked them to tell us about some of their favorite moments.

Linda Perkins: The most exciting thing for me was to see that our idea for a competition with a level playing field really worked. Kids competed against adults, boys against girls, beauty vs. function and a mix of all of these advanced in each round. The overall champions and award winners show the success of our theory. And to see that the adults were just as excited as the kids to win a trophy or a medal was very gratifying.

#1 Carlos with "Travieso", #2 Roman with "The Blue Screen of Death", #3 Vadim with "Challenger", #4 Isobel with "ISSY", #5 Peter with "Flying Piglet"

I was excited when, right after the derby, Carlos (competitor #1) asked if we would be back next year because he had so much more fun than he expected and he definitely wanted to play our game again.

Rachel Schutt: People were *really* into it. Looking around the room and seeing people, little girls and grown men, furiously working on their planes, test flying them, and checking out the competition made me happy. One thing I was excited about ahead of time were the contests for “most innovative design” and “most beautiful plane”. I hoped that people would embrace these contests, as much as the classic contest for the longest distance. We provided lots of art supplies: stickers, feathers, glitter pens, scissors, construction paper, paper clips, markers. I was happy to see people diving in and using them. I like the idea that we, as game designers, designed an experience that allowed our participants to themselves be designers. For me, this was a personally fulfilling experience and I hope Linda and I can come up with future collaborations that are at the intersection of games and art.

Thanks, ladies!

#6 Tae with "Omlette", #7 Az with "The Terminator", #8 Thomas with "Rexey", #9 Stephen with "The Creative Explosion", #10 Greg with "Smudgy Tailspin"

On behalf of everyone here at The Happiest Medium, we’d like to congratulate ALL the fabulous participants because as far as we’re concerned – you’re all winners!  For more great photos of the competitors be sure to check out The Red Baron.  And don’t forget to Come Out And Play again next year!

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“Through the magic of Leprechauns, Papa Smurf, Michael J. Fox, and all other things small, we make wee-sized, delightful stuffed animal versions of you.”

That’s how the masterminds over at “I Am A Stuffed Animal” describe their ingenious service. The reason why it is ingenious is because they are bringing custom made stuffed humans to the average consumer, with an average budget. You don’t need to star in High School Musical 9 or pray to the gods that your sex tape makes an impact to have a doll of yourself anymore.

Does it get better? It does! It’s as simple as  submitting a couple of photos of yourself, they design it and voila! You’re a doll, or as they would call it a Buddy (lets butch it up for the burly men).

Price: $69

Visit: I Am A Stuffed Animal

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More Retro Cards @ Fenderskirts Vintage

Before heading off for a long winter’s nap, I thought it would only be fitting to send you into the holidays with visions of sugarplums and such. So, here is my Christmas wish for you all, and if you don’t celebrate Christmas, here’s hoping the Internet waves simultaneously translate my wishes and retrofit them to the holiday of your choice, whatever your faith or creed.  Whatever holiday language you speak: May these days be merry and bright.  And if it’s a little bit of fun you’re wanting, keep reading for some ideas on holiday Theatre, Film, TV, Books, Art and Music.  You may find a few surprises …

THEATRE

The White Christmas Cast Dancing Up A (Snow) Storm

There’s always the show that tourists flock to year after year, the one that made Radio Street into Radio City (well … maybe not) … the one that takes a dazzling line of chorus gals, snaps some antlers on their heads, shoots them with a cannon, then makes them do a tap routine 50 times before the season is up.  Yes, I’m talking about the Radio City Christmas Spectacular which I reviewed right around this time last year, with about the same amount of cheekiness.  However, truth is, I actually do get a bit of a lump in my throat every time I go, so if schmaltz is your thing, this is the way to go.

Speaking of schmaltz, what could be more Christmassy than a song written by Mr. Irving Berlin, Jewish composer extraordinaire and the man who brought us White Christmas?  If it’s a schmaltzy time you want, it’s a schmaltzy time you’ll get at White Christmas running now until January 3rd.

If that’s not Jewish enough for you, why not check out The Klezmer Nutcracker … “Sara is miserable at the family Chanukah party. But when mysterious Tante Miriam arrives with the gift of a Golden Dreydl, everything changes.” Sounds good to me!

But maybe all this sounds a little too traditional for a jaded New Yorker like you?  Well, then check out Christine Pedi’s Holly Jolly Christmas Folly playing for 9 performances at the Laurie Beechman Theatre.  You can catch her during those down days between the bookend holidays (Saturday December 26 through Wednesday December 30) as she sings “yuletide hits with a twist”.

But what if tradition is your bag?  Then by all means, check out the old Dickens classic A Christmas Carol being done at the 13th Street Repertory Company till January 10th.  Plenty of time to go get your Scrooge on.

FILM

I am not even going to act like I don’t have a bias here.   Yes, there’s It’s a Wonderful Life.  Yawn.  Zuzu’s petals … I get it.  We ALL get it.  And we’ve all been getting it for mumble mumble years. And Miracle on 34th Street?  Yes, yes.   Lovely.  Santa, mailbags … darling Natalie Wood as a child.  Meet Me In St. Louis?  Well … it’s just got the one song, really.  And even my absolute favorite, A Christmas Story, is starting to wear on me a bit.  (JUST A BIT!).  So, for your consideration, I submit some newer thoughts on the subject (no … not The Santa Clause … don’t worry) that actually get me most in the holiday mood:

I came late to Elf.  I didn’t see it in the movie theatre where (I suspect) I would have had the best time with it.  Instead, I stumbled upon it one Saturday afternoon and within minutes fell in love.  It’s not like I’m the biggest Will Farrell fan … but director  Jon Favreau just did everything right to put me in a true Christmas mood. Plus, Zooey Deschanel singing Baby It’s Cold Outside in the shower while Farrell wistfully sings along is as heartwarming a scene as Jimmy Stewart hugging his family.  With terrific candy coated nuggets like Edward Asner as Santa and some of the funniest lines you’ll hear in a Christmas movie, I vote that this become the new go-to holiday flick.

Not every Christmas movie has to have Christmas in the whole thing, by the way … which is why my other nomination is Edward Scissorhands. Check out the scene below to see why sharp knives, gothy black hair and ice sculptures will always mean “Christmas” to me.

TV

Of all the media which has evolved through the years, I’m happiest with how TV has grown.  (Good job, TV!)  I love that I started watching LOST on iTunes, then switched to watching it on ABC.com.  I have Netflixed entire shows from first to last episode, never having seen one single moment of it on conventional TV.  And thanks to hulu.com you can get your fix of holiday episodes RIGHT NOW if you’re near a computer of any type (and if you’re reading this, you probably are).  Say you’d like your Charlie Brown dose (either I Want A Dog For Christmas, Charlie Brown or the classic Charlie Brown Christmas).  Done!  Maybe you’re sitting there staring at the Secret Santa present you received and you’d like to see what TV has to say about that … then check in with the crew of The Office or 30 Rock to see their take on it.  In a Seth MacFarlane mood?  (I know I am!)  Then you’ll want to watch American Dad’s Most Adequate Christmas Ever or A Cleveland Brown Christmas.  And if none of that appeals to you, try the non-traditionally titled A Very Gilly Christmas from SNL or The Goop On The Girl from Bones.  Put your feet up, grab a cup of cocoa (extra marshmallows … tis the season!), and settle in for some good ole TV viewing.

BOOKS

The great thing about a book is that it can help you express your inner snark privately.  To others (on the subway, let’s say, or that long flight home) you just look like you’re reading a normal book, but what you’re really doing is inwardly chuckling your way through Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris – a collection of essays all based on Christmas.  The 1997 version contains The SantaLand Diaries which details Sedaris’ time spent as a Macy’s elf,

Season’s Greetings to Our Friends and Family!!! which, I swear, was not that far off from some of those way-too-chatty holiday newsletters I’ve received in Christmas Cards Past, Dinah, the Christmas Whore (just what it sounds like), Front Row Center with Thaddeus Bristol – grade school pageant at its best, and rounding off with Based on a True Story and Christmas Means Giving.  If you spring for the new version you get six additional stories, or opt for the audio version and here every nuanced word come right out of David Sedaris’ mouth (follow this link for a hilarious snippet).  You may also want to pick up a copy of “The SantaLand Diaries & Seasons Greetings: 2 Plays” so that you can act it all out with your friends who’ve come home for the winter break.

ART

Not everything is about Santa or his Elves.   Did you know that there is a nasty little critter known as a Krampus who is said to accompany good ole St. Nick … punishing the children who have been bad, like a Christmas good cop/bad cop scenario?   Actually, he does more than punish them, he carries them away and then throws them into the fiery pits of hell.  THAT should teach you to be naughty!

Some Krampus fellows appear to be a little less brutal, like this chap below, rendered by artist Travis Louie.  For some more amiable Krampuses (Krampii?) check out his website.

Hypno Krampus - one of many Krampus Monsters who will getcha

MUSIC

I could try and do what this guy has already done, but frankly I could never do it as thoroughly, with as much charm, as much joy, and as much panache as The King of Jing-a-ling who put together a site called Falalalala.com that has totally cool links to every type of Christmas album you can imagine and then  some … not to mention links to other fun things like Antique Christmas Lights, The Yule Log and topics I didn’t cover here because he did a much better job than I ever could.  So if you want a one-stop-shopping Christmas site, you’ll be happy you checked it out.

and finally …

LIGHTS, CAMERA … SANTA!

This Brooklyn tradition of covering every square inch of your home in lights is a bombardment of every type of media, so I’m giving it it’s own category … as well as  sending it to you as my final thought.  Having grown up in Brooklyn this sight is nothing new to me, however every year that I take a drive over to Bensonhurst and Dyker Heights (as I did earlier this month) I never cease to delight in the glow of lights, the smiles on the people’s faces as they see the giant displays, and the wonderfully festive mood it puts me in.  If you’re up for a drive, get yourself here:

View Larger Map

Ho Ho Ho and Happiest Holidays from Everyone at

The Happiest Medium!

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We have a special The Wo(Man) In The Window this week. Some of you might have already seen this video, read the New York Post article or have strolled down to XOXO to experience their “Window Theater”, not your average live model display.

This story was prepared by Justin Rocket Silverman for The New York Post, you can read the full article here.

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Foot protection was one of the first things created by our ancestors, even before the fur wrap skirt (not to be confused with Carolina Herrera‘s wrap blouse or Diane Von Furstenberg‘s signature wrap dress).  Shoes have been a part of our lives since the making of the wheel and since then have been adorned to be more than just protective gear.  Shoes have become the modern woman’s ID card.

This season the runway was not exempt from highly opulent shoes: studs (the houses of Prada, Zanotti, Givenchy), elastic and leather bands (Narciso Rodriguez, Derek Lam, Jason Wu, Dior) and bejeweled wonders (McQueen, Christopher Kane, Nina Ricci, Blumarine). All fit for a queen, all ranging from $1,000 and up.  So if you aren’t a trust fund baby, Ivanka Trump, or embezzling money for shoes, how can you afford all these styles?

Sure we all love Louboutins enough to write a song dedicated to them,  like J.Lo did, but that won’t get Christian to custom-design a pair for us.  But the ladies from BLUFF NY might … and will.

BLUFF is a newly launched  accessory line that has created inter-changeable pieces to spice up any shoe. Utterly affordable, and in tune with today’s trends. They describe their first line as an organic compilation of playfully dark yet feminine looks, and I asked creators Jess, Cara and Anna to elaborate a little bit more about how BLUFF came about.

Jess, Cara and Anna are BLUFFing Manhattan

AM: How did Bluff get started?

Cara: Anna called me to say we should start a business with myself as designer and Anna on the business end. I didn’t really see it happening until she called me and said, “I’ve got a great idea… shoe accessories.”  I said, “come over, we can start selling this weekend.”  Of course, it took a little longer than that to get things up and running, and as I realized this was going to be a huge undertaking I called Jess, whom I had gone to Parsons with, and asked her to help.

Anna: The idea really came to me from my closet full of boring shoes (from working on Wall Street) and the desire to jazz them up, without breaking the bank. I went to the garment district and began playing with materials, but realized I’d get nowhere without Cara.

AM: Any celebrity customers that you know of? Has Bluff graced the tabloids yet?

Cara: Not that we know of.  We did give a pair to Allessandra Ambrosio and a bunch of top stylists have them.

AM: As a young company, what has been your biggest achievement?

Cara: Walking down the street and seeing someone we don’t know wearing one of our pieces.

Anna: Several magazines and some major television shows have asked for Bluff. We hope to make an appearance on a National show in January so we will keep you posted!

Cara: I see Bluff expanding into a full accessory company.  We will probably have some clothing too.

Anna: I’d love to do a line of shoes and boots.

Cara: There have been some inquiries and we are making custom pieces for a few guys in Brooklyn-based bands right now so we are definitely heading in that direction. The simpler the better when it comes to men. Do you want something?

Jess: We are more then happy to make it for you!

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An interesting social interactivity experiment is happening in the Bronx right now.

Don’t it always seem to go, that you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone? Well, thanks to the folks behind this Tree Museum, we don’t have to pave paradise, we can discover it in the Bronx where it’s free (they don’t even charge people a dollar and a half just to see ‘em).

Events of the last 100 years have been distilled in stories by people in the community and connected through interweaving matrices of local ecology, the internet, social commentary and interactive mobile technology. It winds through the first divided lane highway system in the US and highlights green technology past and present.

What is the common theme and focus that would lead you to spend an hour or two walking through the Bronx listening to your cell phone to find the significance of where you are and what you’re looking at?

The answer to that lies near the center of the walk in around marker number 42 in the Joyce Kilmer Park, dedicated to that great American poet, in an enscription of his most famous poem:

I think that I shall never see

Tree in Joyce Kilmer Park

A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest

Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,

And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in summer wear

A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;

Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,

But only God can make a tree.

Welcome to the Tree museum, a somewhat temporary exhibit by Katie Holten, and a wonderful walk through the Bronx – or maybe two or three since it took me 5 hours just to cover about half its distance since the Tree museum is spread out throughout the entirety of the Grand Concourse, reaching from 138th Street to 209th Street. Since the B, D, and 4 lines are all interwoven into the Grand Concourse, it is easy to jump into the exhibits throughout. And though all the markers are keyed to specific trees planted along the route, the commentary from the speakers pertains to everything from ecological nices of trees, to great people of the past, to the neighborhoods where it was cool to “be seen” in the 20′s to commentary on the Yankees (since the old and new Yankee stadiums are within a couple blocks of the route and an important fixture in the Bronx). You can see pictures and the route of all the “exhibits” here and find out the story of a few trees here or via the phone number ( 718-408-2501 or find out more about how the stories were collected and official guides and press reviews here).

There is much more to the tree museum besides a common ground of people in the Bronx appreciating trees in their city, and the Grand Concourse, a beautiful parkway built to efficiently move traffic all while being elegant and beautiful. The fact that it was taken from so many people’s personal reflections about each stop along the route truely engrains the spirit of a neighborhood in cyberspace. I hope they are able to continue this exhibit beyond the October deadline. If not, it’s all the more motivation for you to see it while it lasts.

Since much of the exhibit is virtual I would definitely suggest picking up a guide to the tree museum from the Bronx Museum of Art or Wave Hill Public Gardens since the pamphlets along the way had run out when I was walking the route Saturday afternoon. Here are some highlights from my journey through the Tree Museum:

Many thanks to Katie Holten, The Bronx Museum of Arts, Wave Hill Public Gardens and Cultural Center, and also the many many people in the Bronx and the rest of New York who helped put this beautiful project together.

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