Beauty
Patterns in Marketing: Beauty Meets Beverage
Patterns through romance, fashion and rock & roll- acquaint yourself with the latest product collaboration from Benefit and Diet Coke (by way of PSFK). In an effort to reach a fashion customer base, these limited edition cans have “gotten glam” using basic textures and silhouettes.
If tasked with this project, I know I’d be more experimental, like this campaign. What patterns would you suggest?
Holiday Gift Guide for Co-Workers
Before you pack your bags, dust off that keyboard and eat the leftover chocolate on the conference room table, consider getting something thoughtful for your in-office family. Your co-workers see you at your best and worst, through the break-ups, hang-overs and 70 hour pitch weeks. Let them know you care.
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1. Honest Boy Sharpener | 2. Mani-Pedimergency Kit | 3. Raunchy Wrapping Paper | 4. Tattly You’re Late Watch Tattoo | 5. City Line Poster | 6. La Liberacion Dance Mix | 7. Holstee Upcycle Wallet
Repetition Elsewhere: Hosiery Hues
The Color Association‘s started sending a newsletter, entitled Cause for Thought. Monday’s topic covered hosiery from the 1920′s and the history behind the palette. I found it fascinating. When hemlines rose, so did the desire to wear stockings. The colors reflected society’s optimism for a brighter future following World War I.
“The Standard Hosiery Color Card of America was issued in 1927 in co-operation with the National Association of Hosiery and Underwear Manufacturers. This report consists of 88 hues that include: 12 pastel shades such as Sky Blue, Turquoise and Apple Green, 12 brights such as Yale Blue, Golf Green adn Mandarin, countless beige; Grain, Aloma and Alesan along with taupes ranging from Gravel and Piping Rock.”
Tribal Packaging with L’Occitane
L’Occitane’s recently released a limited edition line of beautifully marked shea butters inspired by the scents of Africa. The markings are reminiscent of Aboriginal design, though specifically reference West African traditional Bogolan fabric. I snapped this shot in the Marais yesterday. The collection’s vibrant and a beautiful interpretation of these mud markings.
Trend: Confining Soft Geometrics
Anyone who knows me will attest to the fact that I’m very passionate about technology in the print, pattern and color departments. As much as I love documenting the internet’s future unfold from a visual point of view, I also love finding organic solutions to daily design dilemmas.
This leads me to today’s feature on soft geometrics. Rough-cut collages have been popping up all over ffffound and Pinterest filling mood boards and music posters for over a year now- it was but a matter of time before artists and designers started applying a commercial hand, reinterpreting their voice through this jagged aesthetic.
Cynthia Rowley’s current Fall collection reminds me of a God’s eye craft project, it also looks like a texturized version of my old portfolio site, Pixel Rumor. Ana Montiel‘s most [...]
Retail: Displaying Terracotta
When everyday items turn up in unexpected places, the results can be really fun. Even a terracotta pot can tell a story when displayed as a pattern on a wall. Taking a page out of Anthropologie’s playbook of presenting small things in mass, Pylos, a Greek restaurant in the east village of Manhattan has had their ceiling covered with curvy jugs since the day they opened.
On the other side of town in the meatpacking district, L’occitane‘s latest retail venture utilizes a similar concept. Terracotta pots line the entrance and ceiling. The impact is strong, the concept creative and budget, most definitely affordable.
Beauty: Nail Commitments
Inverted manicures, leopard prints and African inspired patterns are all a part of the photo reel on Hey Nice Nails. We’ve been watching several of these trends blossom over the past year, particularly the inverted manicure trend. For the allotted real estate, the textured results are impressive.
For more committed beauty enthusiasts, tattooing has returned as a high maintenance option, as noted by StyleSight‘s latest facebook report, referencing Jacci’s beauty experience on her blog, Being Perfect is Hard.
While the designs last as long as the nails do, the feeling of permanence (and rebellion) is still present, making for a nice semi-commitment that packs a punch.
Beauty: Chanel’s Digital Dance
Chanel’s gone and outdone themselves! With the help of Peter Philips and his brilliant animation eye, this monolithic brand has jumped into the animation pool head first, proving they’re not second fiddle behind Burberry in the pool of digital relevance. This Chanel beauty kit comes to life as a robot, interestingly giving us a masculine take on a brand that’s so extremely feminine…love the mix up. Click here to watch this Trontastic video.
Trend: Deteriorated Renewal
Whenever I’m traversing a new city, it’s always interesting to see what’s been left behind on the street and what’s coveted indoors. While in London a few months ago, I wandered into the Pure Evil Gallery in Shoreditch. The space is well curated and reeks of urban art. The surrendering robot is the work of Presto and reveals layers of loose splatters aside thick color strokes. Mimicking this use of delicate color splashes, the packaging on this Pacifica triple milled soap from New Zealand evokes similar environmentalist sentiments. Reminding us that the discarded items in our lives can inspire new creation, this burnt foam mattress in Darlinghurst was so captivating, it distracted me from my bedbug phobia long enough to snap a quick shot.
Color, Texture & Yellow
Optics, contrasts and color are always on the tip of our tongue and today we’re focusing on black, white and yellow. Weaving in movement and fluid lines, this floor cushion from Expose aux arts Decoratifs reminds us how French designers are often playful with their details, blurring the line between youth and adult. Keeping with the bold palettes he’s known for, Angelo Marani‘s fluid textiles use cut and material to simulate movement. Rounding out the grouping, this Vera scarf has timeless appeal and parallels quite closely to L’Oréal’s latest covergirl campaign starring Drew Barrymore.
Smokey Moods & Horizontal Textures
It’s always interesting when paralleling textures can be compared in different markets. Today we’re comparing the beauty and makeup design from Gaultier’s most recent runway show to Ma Maison Textile‘s home accessories line. The makeup is smokey and graphic, emitting dark mysterious moods. Interpreting this horizontal style for vivid bedding and pillows, these poppies offer a lighter alternative.
Color: Neutral Palettes
Color inspiration can come from anywhere and today’s palette is inspired by basic nudes and shiny textures. From shells to jewelry to makeup, each surface is outstanding, and configured in interesting ways to inspire. Dana Rebecca’s jewelry reminds us of the beautiful formations found in nature, just as Target’s new Pixi makeup line softens our pixelated skin tones. This shell clutch from Louis Vuitton ties the package together, combining both concepts, color blocking, texture and shine.


















