Newbark

I'm actually sort of shocked these haven't really hit the blogging world yet. My former (as of my September SF/grad school move) boss, stylist Marjan Malakpour, and her sister, stylist Maryam, have launched the new uuber flat; Newbark- on sale exclusively at Net-a-Porter. Maryam described them to Vogue as “an English men’s slipper meets a Moroccan babouche meets something you might find at a Japanese spa. Except these are all-terrain—indoor, outdoor, in rain, on sand, and on city sidewalks; I tested them everywhere.” And having witnessed a good deal of Newbark's inception, I can attest to their amazing craftsmanship (handmade in California with no detail left unattended).
I myself have the two-tone gunmetal and black patent pair (a MAJOR job perk), and they're basically the best thing ever. They're perfect as slippers but they work outside just as nicely. I wouldn't walk around a city for a whole day in them, but definitely as a regular weekend shoe they can't be beat- not to mention the fact that they're compact enough to stuff in your purse and switch out with your heels at the end of a long night. Compliments galore, too.
Have a look.

--Dara

Blogging from the Airport/Scarf <3

I'm heading back to LA for another reunifying weekend. Can't wait to see the boy and the ladies and put the finishing touches on the Enchanted Royals video!


When I saw these great Need Supply Co. scarves on Camp Comfort, I became overly excited to have finally found the pumpkin-hued scarf I'd been looking for. So I ordered the custard color and eagerly awaited its arrival, which happened today. As I'm sure you can imagine, being far more color-savvy than myself, custard was not referring to my beloved pumpkin, but to the creamy off-white. When I opened it, I was blown away by its softness and how much better it looks in person; and have a look at that color- it's so versatile...so I kept it. And now, being a poor student, I suppose I'll just gaze longingly at my pumpkin from afar and hope it's still around at Christmastime.

-D

Words To Live By

Photo by Toni Frissell, Harper's Bazaar, 1947

"The thing that is really hard, and really amazing, is giving up on being perfect, and beginning the work of becoming yourself."

~Anna Quindlen

The Last Days of Gourmet

Kevin DeMaria's photos of Gourmet Magazine during its last days before shutting down are so evocative of what I can only imagine it must have felt like around the office. Yet another periodical casualty of the recession to mourn....






More here.

(via The Indigo Bunting)

--Dara

The Sophie

Back in May, when Haley and I were invited to the Vans girls catalog photo shoot in Echo Park, we were most blown away by their saddle shoe-style sneak, the Sophie. It's so sleek and full of oxford appeal, you'd never know it's a sneaker. But you KNOW they'll be super comfortable to walk in. Haley and I both covet, greatly. I received an email from Vans yesterday announcing Sophie's impending availability for Spring....can't wait!



--Dara

Dia de los Muertos

I'm sort of nonplussed by my Halloween photos this year, but rest assured it was a boozy good time in San Francisco (I ditched the Utz potato chip girl costume in favor of the yellow Gummi Bear from the 80's cartoon of the same name; see below if you need a refresher).

Tonight, however, was the Dia de los Muertos parade in my neighborhood, and that was pretty amazing.






Just, you know. 8 PM on a Monday night.
I'm consistently amazed by this crazy new city of mine.

--Dara

Regretsy

Yesterday during a shamelessly derivative crafting day (I pretty much don't even want to get into what we made since it was a direct copy of something on Etsy that we loved and couldn't afford), my friend Laura told me about Regretsy. I'm sure you know ALL about it, being purveyors of the crafting and humorous internet worlds, but it was news to me. Pretty much hilarious through and through, though lord knows I hope to never be on this list! Case in point:

Fraggle dress.
Definitely worth a quick look if you're bored at work (or between classes)....