HELL LOOKS

My absolute favorite street style blog, without a doubt, is the always wicked/bizarre/strangely hair-metalish Hel-Looks. The Finns never fail to bring a dose of crazy to my local internets. Anyway, I was checking it out yesterday to see if it had been updated recently, and lo and behold, this representative specimen of top-notch sequin insanity had a little shout-out to a Finnish designer previously unknown to me... Rinne Niinikowski. Of course I had to go take a look at the goods.






Maaaaaan. It's like a Grimm's fairy tale version of last-season Rodarte, right? Love those flashes of orange. I think it's actually really reminiscent of that Fever Ray video that's been making the rounds too. Except this is from 2003. Finland... once again you are two steps ahead of the game.

IS IT MY BODY?

I'm currently obsessed with snakeskin pants. The top ones (from Zara, pic from the excellent Too Many Tights) were a complete game-changer for me... I'm already well-stocked when it comes to black leather/pleather/vinyl pants and leggings, but this opens a whole new realm of animal hides for me to put on my body. I'm totally buying the second pair (from Ebay, $8.99!) immediately.

Even though it all makes me feel a little nostalgic for...

IRON ORE

Man, I can't wait for August to come so I can check out these Rachel-Rachel Roy pieces from Macy's. Read more about R.R.'s new diffusion line here, along with photos of some of the clothing options... the studded black dress is my favorite, although the whole thing is a little Target-cheap looking in my opinion. But these earrings! I'm officially psyched for them.

A COMPASSIONATE VIRGIN

I haven't posted anything in so long! Anxiety over the end of school/boys has made me lazy in regards to my poor neglected Hammer.

But I watched a truly amazing film the other day, and I found some good stills online that I wanted to share... check out Valerie and Her Week of Wonders immediately--it's so crazy and beautiful.















I love Czech cinema... somehow they seem to have made the best Surrealist movies, with some seriously killer cinematography going on.

IN THE MOON GARDEN

Jamie Bochert is absolutely tearing it up in these shots from Numero! I don't know who the stylist is, but all the looks are totally insane... that Givenchy jacket with the spiked shoulder piece is amazing. Check out more pics at Women.

OUTLAW SAMURAI

Cintra Wilson has the job I would most willingly kill for. The Critical Shopper column in the Times' Thursday Styles section always features some amazing store when she writes it, and this week is no exception. Amalga specializes in "Japanese brands that are exclusive in New York," according to their website, or...

"...exotic Goth-friendly Japanese designs by the luminous likes of L.G.B., Share Spirit and Christian Peau, redefining the old and wringing in the new... dangerously silky cashmeres and hand-woven cottons shaped into very persuasive, tentacled cardigans that practically reach into your wallet by themselves."





(pics from the New York Times)