Across The Pond

Cargo's Runway Kit

I came across Uniqlo while I was studying in London. The Japanese retailer wasn’t on this side of the pond at that point, and I thought that I had come across buried treasure. There’s a store in NYC’s SoHo neighborhood now, but it’s still not as common as it is in the UK, France, Japan, Korea, China, Hong Kong or Singapore. However, thanks to the magic of the Internet you can order any of their products online, including their awesome HEATTECH Line. HEATTECH does magical things – generates heat, and controls odor (that’s always a concern when we’re trying to stay toasty — but not too toasty) while remaining soft and static free. You can also check out Uniqlo’s winter collection HEATTECH and otherwise.

Also inspired by across the pond designs – this cute skirt that Rachel Zoe also loves from Topshop. Rachel discusses it in her blog in the Parallel Universe section.

This morning Marie Claire points the way to Bright Bags, the NY Times discusses the cultural phenomenon that is Blake Lively’s hair — and to think, it was under a hat in Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. In addition to having Ellen on the cover, O Magazine discusses Cargo’s Runway Kit available at Sephora – blush and eyeshadow styled to look like chunky sweater knits and buttons respectively.

Red Carpets and Runways

Red Carpet pictures from the Emmy Awards are all over news and fashion websites this morning.  E! News, which had the red carpet live has pictures of Heidi Klum with her baby bump, as well as many pictures and video of interviews. ABC 6 has a slide-show up, as well as Philly.com and NYTimes.com. NBC10 has a bunch of slide-shows up including ladies in red on the red carpet, and what NBC considered Faux Paus. Some dresses like are a bit over the top like this one but the NBC slide-show’s reviews are a little mean. Taking a jab at someone’s stretch marks on the red carpet? Ouch.

Marie Claire seems to be in love with Whitney Port’s new line, while we stand by our question of whether or not it has staying power.

Glamour revisits 80’s trends and those that made them popular. Glamour also takes a last look at New York’s fashion week, by highlighting 20 outfit ideas, while Net A Porter highlights 25 reasons to love London’s Fashion week.

What the Helvetica? IKEA changes typefaces.

When I think of Ikea, I think of efficient, clean, simple and functional items and design. When I think of the typeface Verdana, I think of making my US History papers look longer in APA Format. This is why my head hurts a little, as a designer, when I think about the fact that Ikea has changed– for the first time in 50 years– the design for their international branding. 

I took a look at the new catalog with my roomie (also a designer) and we both sighed a little bit. We wondered out loud,Verdana?! It’s not clean looking! Verdana was made for computer screens, why the heck is it being used for a print catalog? … It doesn’t look right. It’s ugly. 

Ikea used a modified version of the typeface Futura called Ikea Sans. It was used on EVERYTHING in the store in different colors and weights. Futura is severely overused by amateur designers, but it’s very sharp and particular, and is visually associated to Ikea. It’s also the only typeface to make it into space.

After a few minutes of seeing if it would grow on us, we came to a final verdict: Verdana is clunky and generic looking. Ikea is cheap, but the design and presentation never looks cheap.  It would seem that the author of this NYtimes article had similar feelings. I’m over it, and –as an analytical artist, I’ve moved onto other rationale for a switch (functionality).

Either way, I don’t think it deserves a petition. Yes, someone made a petition.  The Short Form Blog got pretty sassy about it, too. Um, I say that we save petitions for something other than typefaces. What do you think?

After reading a few more articles while writing this, I’ve decided I agree with Ikea for the switch and not with the thousands red-faced designers across the land. Designers out there are probably raising their T-squares in protest at me, but Ikea has sold me with their rationale:

“….abandoning its own version of the Futura font because it wanted one that would be effective in many different languages and on the Web, and that Verdana was designed for just that purpose.”

I agree. But this still feels like the argument you have when your Mom wants you to get a pair of butt ugly– excuse me– ’sensible’ shoes for school.