Pink Rock Candy – Top fashion trends, news and shopping of 2010

In an effort to keep my nose clean and out of the shitstorm that is the fashion blogger/editor face-off— a battle that will only be solved by torn hems, bloodshed, and someone being hit over the head with a folding chair— I present to you positivity in the form of Sugarluxe, a website of wonders created by artist, Chandra Michaels.

I happened across Ms. Michaels’ art after she left a commented on last week’s post about celebrities being paid to sit front row.

As soon as the door to the Sugarluxe wonderland opened, I was hooked. The bright colors, the graphic backgrounds, and the saucy divas all come together wonderfully to create a dessert platter for the eyes.

I can’t get over the Inspire Print, and I desperately want the canvas version for my walls. Last night, during my pre-slumber brainstorm— I always come up with the best ideas while trying to fall asleep— I designed an entire room around this print, complete with super-light, distressed hardwood floors, white walls and whimsical ebony-colored furniture. I guess it truly did inspire, but it also left me counting the days until the next holiday I can ask for presents.

Ms. Michaels’ art can not only be purchase in print or canvas form, but you can also carry the positivity with you in the form of key rings, business card cases, mirrored compacts, and even cuff links.

Shop Sugarluxe
Read the Sugarluxe blog

On Saturday, I went, with a friend, to the D*Face opening at the Jonathan LeVine Gallery in Chelsea. D*Face is an awesome street artist and sculptor from London, whom I knew nothing about until I went to the opening.

According to the press release I received, “the show title Ludovico Aversion Therapy references a futuristic human behavior reconditioning treatment from A Clockwork Orange, in which the patient’s eyelids are forced open to watch disturbing footage containing subliminal messages.”

I’m a complete art novice, especially when it comes to pop art/street art/modern art/what-have-you. However, I’m obsessed with the impressionist movement. D*Face’s subversive mix of popular brands and images with comic-style typography may not have been Monet, Degas or Seurat, but it was really interesting and fun to look at. The entire exhibit was made better by the fact that I got free pop corn.

If you’re in NYC I suggest stopping NYC the Jonathan LeVine Gallery (529 West 20th Street). The D*Face exhibit will be there until October 10th, 2009 and the gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday, 11am to 6pm.

The other day, I saw a fantastic documentary about Peter Beard on the Sundance Channel. The documentary, Peter Beard: Scrapbooks from Africa and Beyond, contained everything from Azzedine Alaïa campaign shoots in Africa to home footage containing the aftermath of Beard’s run-in with a not so happy elephant— broken ribs and internal bleeding don’t seem too fun when you’re two hours from a hospital. The documentary also captured a great exhibit he did in Paris using double exposure and a giant Polaroid.

Though all of Beard’s art is utterly original and interesting— they’re bound to when layered with original african paintings and his own blood— the double exposure prints were my favorite. The over-lapping pictures give the pieces a very spectral quality and make even the simplest photos infinitely more interesting.

Now, double exposure can be created very easily using photoshop and other photo-editting tools, making the results slightly less captivating than something created by Beard— though, that goes for most art and photography compared to Beard’s— but, searching the net does provide a couple cool photographers whose multiple exposures, if stumbled upon while surfing the net, will definitely make your day a bit more inspired.

Two such young photographers, Ren Rox and Cecilia a.k.a. *ailicec*, I found on while sifting through the infinite abyss that is Flickr.com. Both primarily create multiple exposures the old fashion way but also prove there’s nothing wrong with tinkering around the shop. Check out all their Flickr collections by clicking the photos below. (more…)

When I was little, I was absolutely addicted to puzzles. Part of it had to do with being plopped in front of a 1,000 piece puzzle at my grandmother’s house to keep me busy, but I’m sure to some extent, my love of puzzles came from the early symptoms of what I now qualify as a slight case of OCD. Though my love of puzzles may have wanned over the years, receiving an email about a special edition Steven Meisel Jigsaw puzzle has reinvigorated my passion.

The Meisel photo on the 1,000 piece puzzle, that happens to be going for $750 at art+commerce, is of tatted up Meghan Collison and was initially taken for an issue of Italian Vogue of which Meisel shoots every cover. Not only is the photograph visually stimulating and absolutely gorgeous— what can be expected from a genius like him— and, each box is signed and numbered by Meisel.

For $750 dollars, I’m not sure I would toss this jigsaw puzzle to the kids and tell them to have at, but if you happen to be completely obsessed with Steven Meisel photography or like collecting art on unconventional mediums, this is right up your alley.

Follow the jump for a larger view of the puzzle. (more…)

Everyday hundreds of fashion bloggers get the same press releases. These press releases either get the green light and end up on their individual blogs or the get trashed. Yesterday, I received a press release concerning the über-talented Nigel Barker and a photo exhibit he is having called ‘A Sealed Fate?’. Obviously, since everyone love Nigel, he’s probably the only reason I’ve watched every episode of ANTM, everyone’s talking about the exhibit. So, In case you’ve missed it, here are the details.

Mr. Barker traveled to eastern Canada with The Humane Society of The United States, and took pictures and filmed baby harp seals— now do you get ‘A SEALed Fate’? Not only are harp seals ultra cute and probably really cuddly and adorable making them prime objects to photograph, but people kill them, using clubs or guns, for their fur and leave the rest of the carcass, making those people violent, inconsiderate, and wasteful (and technically murders, but I eat meat so I can’t really talk).

The exhibit will run from Friday, July 25th, 2008, to Sunday, July 27th, 2008, and Nigel will be hosting one-hour tours at 2PM, 3PM, and 4PM each day at 401 West Street in NYC. The exhibit is open to the public, but make sure to RSVP with the date and time you intend on coming.

I think my sister, my mom and I are going to try to make it to the 2 PM or 3 PM tour on Sunday, July 27th, so if you’re in NYC make sure to join us!

p.s HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!