We’ve all gone graffiti-happy at least once in our lives. Jeans from high school, casts from unexpected falls, even the intentional chalkboard wall you painted to jazz up your kitchen. Personal customization holds a lot of weight in consumer culture and one by one, brands are continuing to get this. One of the coolest collaborations this season comes from Converse and Utrecht Art Supplies. All-white converse high-tops are being sold alongside markers, paints and colorful laces. When you’re doing your back to school shopping, what could be better than a personalized pair of kicks? Show off your illustrative prowess and get a pair today.

Clever graphics are simply the best. So are artist-generated businesses. Glyph Que and Pattern and Shape are two brands that have carefully (and successfully) navigated the art meets retail space. The above collection is the result of a collaborative project from The Strange Attractor, a blog dedicated to sharing strange and exceptional art from around the globe. The objective of this particular line is to marry geometric shapes with unconventional patterns. The winning tees are now being sold on Pattern and Shape at $23 a pop. What’s your favorite?

Here’s a snapshot of Glyph Cue’s Summer 2010 collection. Each shirt is handmade in Portland, Maine by Matt W. Moore and sells for $33.

Graphic designers get really excited when the art world a.) beautifies and b.) acknowledges their daily design tools. Today we present you with Julien David and his most recent collaboration with Pringle of Scotland, Colette and DC Comics. Using bold illustrations, vivid colors and rich fabrics, David single handedly creates a playful dialogue for the luxury market to wrap it’s head around. The symbolism behind the keyboard and Superman logo remind us of the importance and influence both images hold on a global scale. By enlarging and repeating, we see how easy it can be to force an audience to heed a message. Whether you’re wearing a twinset or a scarf, all of David’s pieces are conversation starters, not to mention, exciting interpretations of pop culture.

We couldn’t help but get excited when we saw this censor scarf by Allsaints Spitalfields because it reminds us so much of the imagery from the Art of Conversation show in Berlin as well as our recent Spin it: Webcam Style post. Even more interesting, is that within this scarf, the details are censored. The faces are nothing but a blur when looked at in quick succession, though the design’s political spin adds an interesting and rather timely twist.

The Jack scarf is lovely too, in its moody swashes of color, looking almost like an abstracted appropriation of topography – a trend that’s been moving steadily through the ranks. We love these for their wearability, and for the fact that they’re not your everyday run of the mill hankies. [...]

Father’s Day is quickly approaching and Gilt Groupe’s pulling out all the stops. While most of the fathers wearing Alexander Olch are likely younger than the baby boomer set, it’s great to see Olch, a Pattern Pulp favorite, on sale today. Check out the Men’s sale for a wide selection of neckwear in gingham, seersucker and plaid.

Skulls are everywhere. From J.Crew ties to baby carriage canopies to Stubbs and Wootton slippers, it’s clear that the punk iconography of the 80′s rock band era has earned a place in mainstream fashion today. As artists continue to reinterpret skull and bones every which way, it appears as though the trend continues to plow forward. Alexander McQueen’s most recent advertising campaign blends a slick skull into a floral background to sell women’s accessories. Sporting a similar (but more masculine) look, Pete Tong’s recent feature in Billboard Magazine proves any pattern can be applied, so long as the focal shape is acknowledged.

Contradictions are commonplace for everyone. It doesn’t matter if you work in politics, law or are on year 10 of a loving relationship, every topic is debatable. Interestingly, the fashion and design worlds have started reinterpreting these ambiguities with their own form of graphic messaging. The results are crisp, blocky, handwritten and an exploration of popular symbolism, true vs. false and clever witticisms. Here’s a collection of some of our favorite images portraying luck, fear and hope for the future.

1. 1. vs Rogan Tee, $67
2. 2. Dieter Rams Tee, Someday Shop
3. 3. Night Break Rogan Tee, $67
4. 4. Sir Drake, Achieve the Impossible Tee, Blue & Cream, $50
5. 5. Mochino Cheap & Chic, FW 2010
6. 6. Mochino Cheap & Chic, FW 2010
7. 7. Colette Tee
8. 8. TV on the Radio Album Art by Morning Breath
9. 9.