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At my first job as a footwear designer, I snapped photos like a pro. Women on the subway, kid appliques at the market, tiger heels on fifth avenue, everything from high to low to everything in between. After leaving the company, it was hard to untrain my eye to go directly to people’s feet…something I still find myself doing on a semi-regular basis.

On my Fall scouting trip to Paris and London, the footwear gods overcame my camera. There were so many treats, I particularly loved the Sandro and Bensimon high tops. Here’s a round up of some of the more interesting (and wearable) pieces from the trip.

1. Bensimon | 2. Sandro | 3. Isabel Marant | 4. BGN Boutique | 5. Adidas | 6. Shop in the Marias | [...]

We all snap photos of our favorite things- my iPhone has a disproportionate amount of graffiti, textiles and logos in it’s library. As I was clearing my cache yesterday, I was reminded of a few favorite type designs from the past few months.

The Marni display on the left was a wall decal at Barneys earlier this year and Kaight is a fashion boutique that just opened along Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn. Both designs share an elegant particle theme, emulating movement and transition. If you go to Kaight’s website you’ll be pleasantly surprised with it’s seasonal adaptation, have a look- what do you think?

While I frequently write about color, it’s hard to find me in anything but black and white. Angela‘s the same way and she produces colorful prints on a daily basis, go figure. Today’s gift guide focuses on the lady in your life from a monochromatic angle. From kitty coasters and Lana Del Ray to Sandro sneaks and Steven Alan stripes, here’s the gift guide for the girl who makes you smile on the glummest of days.

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1.  Dupenny English Garden Pinny |  2. Anha Verdugo Kitty Coasters  |  3. Hermes Recycled Scarf Necklace  |  4. Lana Del Ray Born to Die Album  |  5. Sandro Albatorock Sneakers |  6. La Liberacion Dance Mix  |  7. Theyskens’ Theory Embellished Clutch

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Here are a few photos from last night’s Zinke Swim launch at the New Musuem’s Sky Room. Keeping in tune with the soft, sophisticated vibe we’re used to seeing from their well-known intimates line, they’ve incorporated neon stripes, pastel solids and sixties shapes for a seamless product leap. The painted driftwood was a beautiful touch and added a man-made meets organic mood to the room.

I added a few photos of the crowd, only because it was personally exciting to have so many friends convened in a single room. That rarely happens. Enjoy!

We’ve all been watching photorealism evolve over the past few years. From cat humor to 80′s wolves to political commentary, if it’s on tumblr, it’ll soon be on a one piece bathing suit, a McQueen dress or a Threadless tshirt. Lately we’ve been noticing the celebration of jewelry on other accessories. From Dannijo’s iphone case to Lanvin’s satin scarf, the Man Repeller-coined term, arm party has leaped past the wrist and onto product. Are you a fan?

Having been raised by grandparents with constant Sr/Jr clothing swaps my entire childhood, I have a real appreciation for the fashion blog, Advanced Style. Ari Seth Cohen’s been working hard, both on a book and a documentary that will be coming out soon. Watch the trailer, you might find yourself mesmerized and hitting replay.

In July, these pens were front and center, presenting a tubular cityscape for graphic enthusiasts to admire. This Fall, this lasercut skirt from Anthropologie represents a beautiful translation of 2D styles into 3D product. While waiting to get into the Rag & Bone sample sale at Chelsea Market yesterday, I perused Anthropologie’s holiday floor. I stopped in my tracks at this Leifsdottir pleated emerald skirt and some instagraming ensued.

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.”

Charlotte Taylor’s been a blogsphere favorite for a while now, circulating boards on Pinterest, SVPPLY, Tumblr, WordPress and Blogger with exceedingly positive commentary. Adding more beauty, weight and elegance to the clothing, her Spring/Summer ’12 video, directed by Ben Taylor, reveals a sophistication inspired by Japanese moods. What’s your favorite pairing? I’m enamored with her red lips and green blouse.

One of these looks a lot like the other…I was rather surprised to see Coach‘s windows last month, as it seemed like they had run out of ideas. When making product and sending ideas to the factory, you nearly always create a technical CAD drawing and send it off with high hopes of returning as beautiful merchandise. They’re essentially the blueprints for the fashion world. Interestingly, while I was in London, I crossed paths the retail chain, Warehouse and spotted a similar display. Hopefully this doesn’t become a trend. Some things should stay behind closed doors. The clutter doesn’t quite translate when selling the dream. That said, when comparing the two, Coach’s life-sized handbags are a nice compliment to the drawings.

There are some interesting hexagons in the market these days. Jonathan Saunders’ Resort 2012 collection takes on a digitized honeycomb approach while Ippolita’s chandelier earrings keep the theme (and the gems) loose and organic. Bringing shading and optics into the mix, Escada Sport’s latest round of bags applies a similar palette and optic theme.

It’s always a treat to meet the talent behind the art and today I present you with Lina Moysis. Her illustrations and paintings pepper the print, marketing and clothing at Urban Outfitters and Free People. I asked her to share her inspiration and working style and was incredibly impressed with her response. She’s one smart cookie.

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I’m inspired by history, by how it morphs our environments and how it is woven into our experiences. These layers are evident in every environment, from clamoring cities to quiet countrysides. I find those histories to be most inspiring. As a designer, this finds its way into my process, from the subject matter of my art to the significance it has in my own life…from the colors I see to the people that I meet.  As a textile design, [...]