I was walking down the street one day, and I came across a kid wearing a Neckface T, I was so friggin’ jealous. The attraction to this very well known artist is the fact that he isn’t, well at least not widely. This guy won’t let himself be seen anywhere, which only adds more and more to the fascination with him. From San Fran to Japan, his work just pops up. Just look for his art on the sides of buildings in your favorite world cities.

Celebrated, admired, and criticized….just some of the words used to describe this Tokyo icon. From space designs for BMW, Nissan, Shiseido to establishing the Tokujin Yoshioka design studio. This man is responsible for a lot of the things we see as Tokyo Pop. Just make sure to have an open mind, a dislike for the generic and you will surely find El Dorado (ok, maybe not, but at least your condo will look nice).

Everyone’s favorite French uber-boutique, Colette, just released their new Polaroid limited-edition “Panna” camera (the sequal to the limited edition Poison Dart Frog Polariod.) The camera is covered in Caperino+Peperone illustrations “complete with bones and ants galore.” A must have for design freaks for sure. Also, for those who love to cook in style there’s the new Cap & Pep aprons. And if you need to light some candles this New Years, look no further, you can now illuminate in style with the new Bic Cap+Pep lighters. Looks like they found the recipe for succes; Colette+cap+pep= healthy Lifestyle brand.

-Rob

Even though Philipe Starck has won many awards and is recognized the world over as one of the best designers, this blogger feels that some of his work has been slept on. For example, the Fossil watches he designed last year, where are they mentioned? His clothing, where is it worn? And his motor vehicles, where are they driven? Let’s give this Renaissance Man and artistic genius his just dues.

-Waleed

I’ve always found myself to be a bit of a Japanese fashion connoisseur, but even when I need help trying to see the new ‘it’, I turn to FRUiTS Magazine. Wild, inventive, original and most importanly authentic street wear, with photos of the ‘new and different’ on every page. Just grab your night light, high-lighter and glasses, you’re in for a ride!

-Waleed

Picture this….you’re young, you’re female and it’s warm out, time for capris right? But are you going to wear slingbacks like last year again? Now, Im not SJP (Sarah Jessica Parker) but I know when I see shoes women will notice. It’s not that J.Marco is doing anything cutting edge, it’s just that they make shoes women will wear, period.

-Waleed

But trust me, it’s worth it. The new Serene cell phone by B & O and Samsung is possibly the coolest cell phone to come along in 15 and a half years, ala the Saved by the Bell brick phone. There are some issues though, for one the Serene’s screen is on the bottom rather then the top, it’s touch pad is circular and its expensive but that’s the price of fashion!

-Waleed

I’m not a cartoons kind of guy but this is HUGE. Characters At War is “100+ violated copyrights and the very best in contemporary character design and art.” This amazing installation of contemporary character design curated by Pictoplasma is on tour in Germany, hope it comes to a city near me real soon. Click on the pic to see it for yourself!

-Rob

All those that had their doubts can breathe a sigh of relief, the partnership of Adidas and Yohji Yamamoto has done it. Their collaboration can be best described as an athletic Dick Tracy goes sailing or something to that effect. The Y-3 Spring/Summer line is going to be huge.

-Waleed

That is how we describe the new Etro spring 2006 line. Kean Etro has really outdone himself. He’s taken the time to make those of us on the smaller end of the muscular spectrum look manly. It’s savy, it’s hot, and it’s Tom Selleck-esque, just grow a moustache and enjoy!

-Waleed