Daniel Gabbay shoots Marlena Szoka in editorial Black Summer for Marie Claire Italia. The dichotomy of the intense, edgy styling with the serene, relaxing background is genius.

…if angels wore Alexander Wang lambskin stiletto open toe booties.

Lizard embossed lambskin on the front is lovingly married to grey suede on the back with a curved extended tab at the back ankle. Architectural stiletto heel. Alexander Wang is a GENIUS!

Available at La Garconne.

Sigh.

In celebration of the relaunch of their web site, Geren Ford is offering a 25% discount valid now until June 4th.  Just enter MAY25 at checkout.  Happy Shopping!

I love this très chic double wrap triple row mixed studs cuff (try saying that three times) from Linea Pelle Collection for three reasons:

1. You don’t have to pile on multiple bracelets, just one since (if you do the math) double wrap + triple row= six rows.

2. Leather accessories look FAB when contrasted with a feminine floral dress.

3. If you don’t like studs and leather, well, there’s just something wrong with you.

Photo: Francois Dischinger

Bijules ain’t your momma’s jewelry, unless your momma wears diamond fingernail rings and jeweled face veils. With pieces such as earrings made out of real human hair, necklaces with gun pendants worn as slings and lapel pins made from feathers, NYC based Jules Kim’s pieces have garnered attention from all over the world–including Dubai, Copenhagen and Moscow. We got a chance to chat with Kim, the founder of Bijules and of what some would call a subversive jewelry line with a cult-to-mainstream following (M.I.A., Katy Perry and Beyonce wear her highly-covetable wares) about bird skulls, jewelry meaning and her upcoming line for Urban Outfitters.

FMMH: Your pieces remind me of beautiful armor with some sharp edges. How do they protect and accentuate the wearer’s personality?

JK: The definition of armor was firstly to protect; therefore, if my pieces remind you of armor then you must feel safe. If there is safety then there must be no fear or risk, so hopefully the wearer is empowered to wear whatever bijules she/he sees fit. Comfort breeds tradition and I am honored that my work might be considered so for many people.

FMMH: What type of customer wears your ear tips?

JK: These wearers are those defy the comfort and the fashion standards current today. The gelfling ear tips are rebellious pieces!

FMMH: Where do you come up with the names of your various collections, such as “Scream and Spirit” and “Disarming Weaponry”?

JK: I came up with “Scream & Spirit” after a much needed Rolling Hill sojourn in Cali. I was with my good friend and fellow jewelry designer, Bliss Lau, at a spoken word performance and the collection’s name spoke to me… It is derived from the loudness and direct implication of the word “scream” and the subtle ephemeral meaning of “spirit”. The “Disarming Weaponry” collection’s name was inspired by the spirit of antiwar propaganda and the voice of intelligence and communication as a weapon.

FMMH: You use elements in your jewelry that are generally looked at as violent or dark, such as snakes, guns, and bird skulls. How do you find beauty in them and turn them into objects of beauty?

JK: The fact that they exist already is a standard practice for my work because I seek to push the accepted relevance of the icon’s repeated presence. How many times do we need to see a snake charm or bracelet or ring versus how many time will we see it as a “single finger fit, multi-finger look” ring?

FMMH: Your Shattered Dreams necklace from your “Childhood Nostalgia” collection has a story behind it. Why do you think it’s important to wear jewelry with meaning or significance?

JK: What we choose to wear is a direct reflection of who we are and what we have each lived through. I apply honesty to each piece and hopefully being this open will include others and their life experiences. We are all not so different.

Photo: Ruvan

FMMH: Tell us about your upcoming projects with Urban Outfitters. What can we expect to see?

JK: Le Bij, eco-friendly recycled plastic bar rings will launch in store worldwide with Urban Outfitters August 1st. BJ by Jules Kim will be also launched in early July online!

FMMH: Which celebrity were you most excited to see wear something from Bijules?

JK: I am proud to have Beyonce wear and support Bijules!

FMMH: What is your current favorite piece?

JK: I love my bar ring but I am also extremely partial to the original nail ring. The new Bijules “Haute” collection has six pieces that each will ultimately become fast favorites!! Watch for high concept and cheeky fashion!

FMMH: Where do you pick up inspiration on a daily basis?

JK: From everywhere and every word and every view…my eyes are unabashedly naïve to ownership of anything conceptual. I put things together with a little bit of this and a little bit of that…

Photo: Francois Dischinger

Kate Moss looks fabulous in this sunkissed spread shot by Mario Sorrenti for the Vogue Paris June/July 2010 issue. It reminds me of Palm Springs in the 60s.

[via The Fashion Spot]

Debuting last Thursday in most H&M shops nationwide, H&M’s Fashion Against AIDS 2010 Collection proves to be full of tribal elements, animal prints and more fringe than a cowboy can shake his boot at. Yee Haw!

Not only is the collection full of apparel for both men and women, but also features festival accessories (including portable tents, lawn/beach chairs and colorful headphones) for men and women. In case you couldn’t make it to Coachella (or want to re-enact it on your front lawn), these beach chairs, toiletry sets, tents and headphones will take you back to the desert in style (if the hallucinogenics don’t work).  A quarter of the proceeds from the sale of these items will benefit youth HIV/AIDS awareness programs.

A word of caution: DO NOT mix more than two elements, otherwise you’ll look a sad sartorial version of Cowboys and Indians. Your best bet is to keep everything else simple when wearing one of these bold items.

Here are some of our favorites from the 60-piece collection:

Animal Print Flutter Sleeve Dress, $24.95

Rope Necklace with Zebra Print Plate, $17.95

Sleeveless Black Blouse with Fringe Detail, $29.95

Stretch Belt with Embroidery, $17.95

Men's Distressed Black Leather Jacket, $69.95

Bangles, $14.95

Black and White Zig-Zag Print Sandals, $24.95

Gold Sequin Blazer, $49.95

This unique Stardust Lounger Swimsuit from local San Diego designer Jennafer Grace is a little bit fairy tale and a little bit provocative. Featuring a bandeau tie top and an adjustable side tie bottom, the real attraction is the elaborate flowers and leaves that trail down the torso.

It’s a mermaid suit without the fishtail! 

Available at Bcat Threads.

The Kardashians and Camilla Alves are fans of these two-in-one blotting papers from Mai Couture. They’re no geniuses, but at least they’re bronzed and matte. These blotting/bronzing papers eliminate oil and shine while leaving a hint of bronzy shimmer.

$33 for 100 sheets.

Our uber-cool friends at creative studio Holiday Matinee–along with their uber-cool friends at Furni–came up with this nifty notebook to jot down your jolts of inspiration. Featuring the Holiday Matinee motto, Love Your Work, Work Your Love printed on 100% recycled paper using soy ink, it comes in packs of three for easy peasy genius planning.

Buy here.

I’ve always loved wifebeater tank tops. In fact, I once counted how many I had and the count came to 42! Yes, 42 wifebeater tank tops in various colors and incarnations, but I haven’t been blown away by one til now.

Check out Kiki de Montparnasse’s garter tank top–a simple ribbed (ha) tank top with amazingly seductive silk ribbon garter details that are FULLY FUNCTIONAL! Meow!