A very sad day.

Better Late Than Never

Snoop Dogg on the cover of the Vogue L'Huomo back in 2007. Below: the jacket is Giorgio Armani, the pants are Hedi Slimane for Dior Homme, and the shoes are Valentino. Altogether: perfection.

An interesting piece today in the New York Times on sex and consumption... or what your iPhone says about you:

"In a series of experiments, Dr. Miller and other researchers found that people were more likely to expend money and effort on products and activities if they were first primed with photographs of the opposite sex or stories about dating.

After this priming, men were more willing to splurge on designer sunglasses, expensive watches and European vacations. Women became more willing to do volunteer work and perform other acts of conspicuous charity — a signal of high conscientiousness and agreeableness, like demonstrating your concern for third world farmers by spending extra for Starbucks’s “fair trade” coffee."

But, in the end...

"A Harvard diploma might help get you a date or a job interview, but what you say during the date or conversation will make the difference. An elegantly thin Skagen watch might send a signal to a stranger at a cocktail party or in an airport lounge, but even if it were noticed, anyone who talked to you for just a few minutes would get a much better gauge of your intelligence and personality."

Phenomenal

Meet 17-year-old Julia Dales: winner of the Wildcard at the Beatbox Battle World Championships.

[via NPR]

Sigor Ros & Ryan McGinley: Gobbledigook

Brooklyn-based Marais, maker of very cute, affordable monochromatic shoes named after Manhattan streets (from $52 for thong sandals to $72 for suede wedges), launched its online shop this morning.

More Obama News...

The White House has its own Flickr account! A sampling (all photos courtesy of White House photographer Pete Souza)...

Great piece by The Cut on what Angelina Jolie and Michelle Obama have in common.

Michelle Obama in Rodarte

...with fellow fashion icon Queen Rania at the White House last week.

Inside The Box

Coke Wisdom O'Neal's "The Box: Texas" opened last night at Mixed Greens Gallery in Chelsea. From Design Arts Daily:
"Inspired by Richard Avedon's portraits from In the American West, New York photographer Coke Wisdom O'Neal took the idea of a neutral backdrop and traveling photo studio to extremes. O'Neal conceived the backdrop for his portraits as a huge wooden box... he arranged to produce the project in the south Texas town of San Isidro, population 270. He got in touch with a local rancher, who agreed to build the 24 by 18 foot structure."

For a look at the making of, see below:

Happy Birthday Charles

I can haz?

Master of minimalism Martin Margiela is branching out into furniture and home design. The Belgian designer infamous for having remained incognito while building his beloved brand is expanding his repertoire to include “black-and-white trompe l’oeil wallpaper and wool rugs reproducing ceilings, floors, doors or mirrors.” Also included in the mix: “black or dark green recycled bottles [that] become lamps; a chair [that] is turned into a swing, and a calendar... made of crisp white cotton sheets, which can be recycled as napkins,” says Women’s Wear Daily.