After discovering the perfect t-shirt by Damir Doma at oki-ni, I was searching around for other designs and previous collections by Doma and cyber stumbled upon Komakino -- a super chic, highend online store that carries a very select handful of menswear lines like Damir Doma, Rick Owens, Raf Simons, Ann Demeulemeester, MA+, and a designer I'd not heard of named Boris Bidjan Saberi, whose line is super hot.

Check out Komakino for a complete roster of lines. It's a tightly curated range that I'm sure you'll love.

Back to the mystery man: Barcelona-based half German, half Persian designer Boris Bidjan Saberi, whose website consists of an amazing pic, two email addresses for PR and sales, and nothing else, which explains the mystery surrounding the line and the designer.

Says online fashion magazine Scoute: Until this fall, the name Boris Bidjan Saberi might have not rung a bell even among those who keep a close eye on mens fashion. His self titled label has still stayed under the mainstream radar, but among those who've come across the brand, it has generated a lot of interest and profound appreciation.

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In the current issue of CITY, I interviewed Semi Precious Weapons frontman Justin Tranter. Check it out!

· I saw you at Chloe the other night with Ann. Your shoes were hot. A lot of guys who wear pumps wear bad ones. I always judge people on their shoes and am sure about your fashion sense after seeing those shoes. Tell me about your choice of shoes???
Why didn't you say hi?! Or did you and I didn't realize it was you? I have 2 pairs of custom Stewart Weitzmans. Some fabulous people that work for him, alerted him to my existence, and I got the honor of going into his offices and customizing 2 pair of heels. He is such a classic shoeman, and I think borderline trannies need to be very classic in their shoe choice. Hahaha. Oh, and I ony ever where boots. Ankle boot or knee high. A slip on pump is too Bank Teller Transexual, and thigh high is too Strippery.

· Name + Occupation
Justin Tranter. Frontman of Semi Precious Weapons and owner/designer of Fetty Jewelry.

· Where did you grow up?
Chicago IL

· When did you move to New York?
2002.

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Music lovers mark your calendars: the Coachella folks' East Coast indie music festival All Points West tickets go on sale at noon on Friday, 04.03.09. Click here on Friday to get your tickets.

Like Coachella this time around, the promoters are aware of the economy and have a layaway plan, which rocks. There are two options in this plan. Read all about it here.

Thank god for All Points West. It's the only really good, large scale music festival in or around New York. I went one day last year and it rocked. Liberty State Park is amazing and this year's lineup is equally as good.

I hope you're sitting down for this one: Headlining: Beastie Boys, Tool, and Cold Play headline with Vampire Weekend, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, MSTRKRFT, Q-Tip, Ra Ra Riot, Heartless Bastards, My Bloody Valentine, Gogol Bordello, Tokyo Police Club, the Ting Tings, Crystal Castles, Echo & the Bunnymen, MGMT, the Black Keys, Silversun Pickups, We Are Scientists, Lykke Li, Akron/Family, and many many more.

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Check out this interview of Amir Mogharbi by New York artist David Goodman who works at BOMB. He's doing a series of interviews of art world players that will post weekly on BOMB's blog. Up next week, downtown legend Glenn O'Brien. Keep your eyes peeled.

Amir Mogharabi created Farimani – and eleven-issue, biannual publication-cum-art project — to showcase collaborations with legendary thinkers in art, theory, and music. Farimani, an anagram created using Amir’s mother’s maiden name, presents fifteen artists including Elizabeth Grosz, Fred Frith, Slavoj Zizek, Olafur Eliasson, and Sean Raspet in its premier issue. With a simple turn of a page, a reader is brought to a heightened state of awareness.

David Goodman: I found and became interested in Farimani because I was seeking out new theory and collaborative projects. With the unsettling economic climate spilling over into the art world, I wondered what artists were theorizing about and I thought how is this unrest stimulating creativity? I read your piece States of Affairs and I loved the presentation of the poetic text and simple images.

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It takes a lot to come between me and my Comme des Garcons Series 3: Incense cologne. I've been wearing the same scent for 2+ years now and haven't even considered straying, until now.

There's a line out called Histoires de Parfums that I've been sampling scents from for the past few days and they're pretty amazing.

Since its conception in 2000, boutique fragrance house Histoires de Parfums has earned worldwide acclaim for its superior techniques and exceptional ingredients, sublime presentation built on intellectual inspiration, and creations that are classic and yet refreshingly iconoclastic.

Founded upon the belief that each sensation tells a story and that stories connect our world, Histoires de Parfums uses characters from history, literature, and myth as the foundation for their liquid library. Drawing on such figures as the Mata Hari for her air of eastern mystery, George Sand for her earthy rebellion, and Jules Verne for his adventurous mind, the central series of seven perfumes is named for the year of each individual's birth.

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Master of manipulation and art world superstar Damien Hirst has teamed up with New York skate label Supreme for the latest in the unstoppable series of artist customized skate decks. Collaborations thus far have featured the work of artists Marilyn Minter, Richard Prince, Jeff Koons, Christopher Wool, and Murakami and Mr.

During the 1990s Hirst was known as a wild child in the art world and his work embodied both everyday realism and provocative sensationalism. Known for his ironic wit and cultural commentary, Hirst often explores the theme of mortality through a variety of mediums and techniques -- from installation work, to painting and sculpture.

A series utilizing preserved dead animals suspended in formaldehyde (including a shark, a sheep and a cow) catapulted Hirst to fame amidst controversy. The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living, a 14-foot tiger shark immersed in a glassed display case of formaldehyde became the iconic work of British art in the 1990s.

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There's just something about a t-shirt that fits well and has a great neckline that gets me all excited.

You wouldn't think it'd be too hard, but you'd be surprised. It's all in the details: the fabric, the cut, the fit, the stitching, the neckline, the width of the collarband, the length...You get the idea and let's not forget, even if you the designer have it right, it doesn't mean the factory is going to get it right when they mass produce your order. You didn't hear it from me, but production people (factories, jewelers, silk screeners, etc) never seem to be able to get anything right. It's the bane of most designer's existence.

I've just found, though, what looks to be the perfect t-shirt by Croatian-born, Paris-based menswear designer Damir Doma. Doma, as you may or may not know, worked for Raf Simons before starting his own line in 2006. Once you see the line, you'll see the influence Simons had on the designer. I've read comparisons of Doma's line to that of Rick Owens and, while I agree that on the surface there are similarities, it's like apples and oranges.

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Ever heard of Hernan Bas? I hadn't until yesterday when I saw a piece on the Miami artist relating to a current retrospective of his work currently on at the Brooklyn Museum.

From the Times: The young Miami-based painter Hernan Bas is the subject of a big retrospective at the Brooklyn Museum. The museum's decision to host the show raises concerns about its relationship with the private collectors who, as owners of Mr. Bas's work, have a financial stake in the elevation of his reputation.

Now don't get me wrong, now that I've seen his work, I like it. The question remains, though, does this guy deserve such a large show? There are so many other established, better-known artists who could be showing instead. I'm not against showing up and comers, but this seems a little fishy, I must admit.

Hernan Bas: Works from the Rubell Family Collection includes thirty-eight works in various media by the young Miami-based artist that were collected over the past ten years by the Rubell family.

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I stopped by Barney's last week and checked out the 5th floor to see what new pieces from Spring/Summer collections had arrived.

While I saw a lot that I liked, I left with one thought: there are a lot of lines in the men's indie market that are really overpriced. Some of the cuts, details, and fabrics are so basic, you could easily get something similar at a more mainstream company for a fraction of the price. There were pieces from very well-respected lines, some of which look like they were made by sophmores in fashion school. I really think there's going to be a big shake down during this recession and some of these designers have to step it up or they will fall by the wayside, but I'm not here to talk about that.

What I saw that I liked: the Nike Vintage Blazer High Suede in blue, read, and green. Super hot. Check them out here on Tres Bien Shop's site.

The Blazer was first seen back in 1972 and this version comes in all original colorway, dirty sole and tattered tongue. Delivers in authentic shoe box with the original logo.

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Animal Collective fans listen up: the band is playing Friday, 0914.09 at Prospect Park Band Shell as part of the Celebrate Brooklyn summer concert series.

As far as I can tell from their site a full listing of shows for the Celebrate Brooklyn series isn't posted yet. Unless I'm missing something, the only listings so far are the Animal Collective show and an MGMT show on 07.01.09. Check out the site for more info on the series. Click here for tickets to Animal Collective and here for tickets to MGMT.

Make sure to check out Animal Collective's official site, where you can watch a sick video for the first single from their latest record Merriweather Post Pavilion, which I somehow missed when it dropped in January. There's just too much music out there nowadays. It's overwhelming. I also posted the video below from YouTube.

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In the current issue of CITY, I interviewed David Lindwall. Check it out!

When your first job is modeling for Dior Homme under the famed rule of Hedi Slimane, you'd think it'd be all downhill from there; but not so for Swedish model and survivor of boredom David Lindwall.

A model who while walking in the Dior Homme runway shows was overcome with a brief but real sensation of being a rock, Lindwall's roots are about as humble as they come; having grown up in a simple house among only 12 other houses with a road leading through the middle of the woods.

Never one to sit idle, Lindwall is currently juggling several projects at once: designing a new collection for his eponymous men's clothing line, working on a book, taking his thoughts and putting paintbrush to canvas, and starring in a Ju$t Another Rich Kid directed video entitled He's lost control again., which will drop this spring with a group of other videos produced by Cooperwind Studios in Williamsburg for the relaunch of the original 1961 K-Swiss trainer.

David took a few minutes out of his uber busy schedule to sit down and let me pepper him with questions.

· What'd you want to be when you were a kid?
I wanted to be a professor, that's when I was very young and watched "Professor Balthazar".

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Thanks to Graham (my kinda sorta intern who moved back to Calgary but is still working remotely) for hooking up this week's giveaway.

He's gotten his hands on a really hot geometric print, knit jacket (retail value $695) -- from his current boss Canadian knitwear guru Paul Hardy.

If you're not familiar with Hardy you should be: he's garnered much fashion world attention to date. He began his design career in 2002 with an opening show at Toronto Fashion Week where his first collection saw a host of rave reviews declaring, "a star is born". He's been praised by WWD, the President of CFDA, Philip Bloch, and has shown during New York Fashion Week. When you see the pic below of this week's giveaway, you'll know what all of the hype is about.

I should also mention that Hardy's got a new line of knits out called Kaille -- home-spun cloth in Gaellic -- that are produced in Ireland by Fisherman out of Ireland and made with the finest Italian yarns.

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I've just discovered a new line by CFDA award winning jewelry designer Tom Binns called Anti-Luxxx. Instead of a real jewel, you get a metal place etched with the words "large sapphire" or "big fuck off diamond". Hot hot and more hot.

The Belfast born jewelry designer isn't new to the game, but for some reason -- maybe because I don't buy expensive women's jewelry -- I'm just getting word of his work and it's clear why he's so well-respected. His stuff rocks.

Binns graduated in 1981 with a degree in jewelry design and began working immediately on his own line of custom made pieces. Influenced by the Dada movement, Binns started creating a line in his signature "Object Trouvees" style that got him the attention of the likes of Vivian Westwood and Malcolm Maclaren, both of whom he has collaborated with, in his now famed "Punk Couture" signature style.

Check out Binns' site for more info on him and for lots of pics of his collections. I promise you'll love it.

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It's not just les Americans who know how to do a good deed for the good of the world. The French are giving us a run for their money with the newly opened Parisian concept store Merci that sounds way better than anything we have here in New York now that I think of it.

Says the International Herald Tribune: Located close to the heart of the Marais, at 111 Boulevard Beaumarchais in the 11th arrondissement, Merci looks almost nondescript from the street. A flower shop filled with seasonal blooms and a used bookstore flank the opening to a cobblestone courtyard. The only hint that the two stores are connected is the word "merci" written over both doors.

The store is a light-filled industrial space of 1,500 square meters, or 16,000 square feet, spread over three stories. The open plan venue has been broken up into different areas of interest and luxury goods.

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If you haven't yet heard, there's an online high-end shop called The Corner, which was launched by YOOX. I think I may have covered it a while back, but my memory's not what it used to be. Either way, if you don't know about the site, you should. So check it out.

The Corner is a high-end online "department store" featuring the latest collections from cutting-edge international designers and a selection of hard to find Italian brands – many of them making their online debut They carry lines like Margiela, Givenchy, Raf Simons, Rick Owens, Walter Van Beirendonck, Kristin Van Assche, and more of the usual suspects that inhabit this segment of the market.

The site is currently traveling the fashion capitals of the world and collaborating with one stylist/taste maker in each city, who they're having style a shoot using clothing sold on the site.

Currently on view is their collaboration with London stylist and taste maker Nichola Formachetti, whose shoot for them is hot hot hot.

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In addition to leather jackets, I'm really into bags right now. Gone are the days of my Invicta backpack and I've never been a fan of shoulder bags. I just don't like how they feel. They're so awkward and clunky.

Enter the popularization of the sports/duffle bag. Bigger than the "book bag" I used in 7th grade and chicer than a straight up gym bag, the sports/weekend bags are spot on and look so stylish. Recently, new styles have cropped up in leather and other luxe fabrics that I just can't get enough of. The only downside: losing the use of one hand, which in the age of multitasking (walking, drinking or eating, and texting) can pose minor problems at times. And let's not talk about riding a bike with one of these guys.

I give you the Usine bag by Surface To Air. Unisex 100% grey leather bag from Italy. Weekend/ sport bag with double zippers. Small "Surface to Air" embossed on one side.

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As I mentioned a few weeks back, I stopped by the Bridge Art Fair and was surprised to see as much good work there as I did. A few nights earlier, I went to another of the bigger named art fairs and, let's just say, I was less than impressed.

Art fairs are weird: a lot of art work depends on other pieces in a show or at least on having some space on a wall to really shine. Having a bunch of disparate work crammed onto cubicle walls can make even the best work look bad. Not to mention how distracting the hustle and bustle of people, sound, and noise around you can be.

Despite it all, Japanese-born, New York-based painter Kentaro Hiramatsu's work at Susan Eley's booth managed to catch and hold my eye.

Kentaro Hiramatsu works in acrylic on canvas or wood board, applying paint with a careful deliberation. Hiramatsu sifts Japanese pop culture influences - anime and manga - through his own aesthetic prism. The results are invented landscapes that challenge the viewer to peer into a new place. Hiramatsu's recent work also features people at play against a tangled drawing of lines, signifying the web of a complex urban life.

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I'd say everyone should drop what they're doing right now and rush out to the theater to see Sin Nombre, but it's only showing in limited release in New York, LA, and San Francisco, which would be a bit difficult for some of you to easily get to. If you live in one of these places, drop what you're doing and go see Sin Nombre. It's an incredible film that debuted at Sundance to critical acclaim and is a product of Dieogo Luna and Gael Garcia Bernal's production company Canana, so you know it's gotta be good.

It's almost impossible to believe that Sin Nombre is Cary Joji Fukunaga's feature debut; its storytelling is so accomplished, its visual style so crisp, and its heightened naturalism and performances so textured. A social-political thriller in the tradition of American film noir, Sin Nombre is set on the border, where Mexico becomes the crucible and the fearsome gangs of today's Mexican countryside, the gauntlet, to freedom.

The stories of Sayra, a teenager living in Honduras and hungering for a brighter future, and teen gang members Smiley and Casper, for whom the Mara Salvatrucha is nearly their entire universe, become interlaced on the train to the border, a journey that will determine the future of their lives.

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Sometimes an idea comes along that's so simple, yet so genius you have to ask yourself a) why didn't I think of that?? and b) why didn't someone think of this until now?!

There's a new online blog translation tool called Der Mundo that's just released that rocks. The guy who developed the site -- Brian McConnell -- is a fan of this.hearts.on.fire. and emailed me a few weeks back telling me he'd like to have the site included in his new online translation tool.

Here's how it works: any blog that that's created using WordPress, Tumblr, Twitter, and/or has an RSS will work with Der Mundo. You have to go to the site and see if your favorite blog has been added yet. If it has, you can see what posts have come through. The system automatically rough translates posts into 12 different languages: Spanish, Catalan, Galician, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Japanese, Chinese, and Arabic.

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Hey Ladies: check out this hot hot black leather jacket by British designers Horace.

With studios in Bali and London, Horace has become mix of Balinese handcrafted elements and a British feeling of powerful yet unassuming cool. The unisex line features distressed, washed leather pieces, hand-knit vests and custom printed tees.

Check out their website for more info on the line, pics from collections, and a list of stockists, including Seven, Oak, Beams, Ships, American Rag Cie, Bonnie + Clyde's, Kokon To Zai, Jus, and many more.

You know I'm really into (black) leather jackets at the moment and this one is one of the hottest I've seen. The crop, the fabric, the cut and the details = sexy sexy sexy. And it's available online or in store at Oak.

Soft black leather cropped biker jacket with zip pockets. Off center front zip and two sets of zip pockets. Slim fitting sleeves with quilted patches at shoulder and elbows.

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If you love Iggy Pop and you love Mick Rock, you should check out the screening of rockumentary Raw Power Redux. It's part of The New York International Independent Film and Video Festival (NYIIFVF), which is on now through 03.26.09.

Two rock n roll icons Mick Rock and Iggy Pop come together again thirty five years later to shoot another legendary photo shoot. Mick Rock shows his legendary photos he shot in the 70's of a young Iggy and tells brief stories about the shoots and events that were going on in that time period of the early punk and Glam era.

When they come together in Sept. 2007 to create Raw Power Redux, you can see that the passage of time has in no way blemished their love and respect for each other. And once again iconic images are produced by these legends of rock n roll. Dean Holtermann's brilliant fly on the wall camera technique captures the natural unpretentiousness of the two and editor Jen Chia nicely lays out a true flow of pure photography genius.

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As cool as higher priced lines but with a price tag that fits (almost) every budget, Oak's Trashed Sleeveless Tee is hot hot hot.

In case you're not familiar, not only does New York boutique Oak carry some of the chicest lines in town, but the owners also design select pieces of men's and women's wear -- think tees, shirts, skirts, jeans, jackets, shoes...you name it -- that are sold in-house at Oak's Noho and Williamsburg shops.

My pick for today: house brand ripped and tattered dark grey tee with faint grid pattern. Slashed neck and raw edges at arm holes with contrast stitching.

You know I love me some Rick Owens, but if this tee were made by Le Owens, it would probably cost around $285, which makes the $72 price tag on this piece oh so appealing.

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Natalia Brilli has been very busy. The master mind behind the leather-wrapped jewelry and other small items has been toiling away in her Paris studio it seems making some really hot new pieces that land her 100% in the art category.

From a guitar to a drum set to headphones and an amplifier, Brilli has taken her craft to a new level and seized the moment of her stardom, which is incredible.

Born in Belgium, Natalia Brilli studied at the prestigous Cambre school in Brussels. Designer of artfully sculptural jewelry, bags, and other accessories and objects, Natalia is well known for her amazing luxury use of leather as sculpture. After three years of serving Rochas as head accessories designer with Olivier Theyskens, she decided to start her own brand in 2005.

Check out the entries I posted on Brilli in 11.2008 and 07.2008 for more info on the artist and designer.

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Ever a fan of anything Genesis P-Orridge is part of, I can't wait to see one of the 3 performances next month by recently reunited UK industrial music/art performance group Throbbing Gristle.

Throbbing Gristle's confrontational live performances and use of often disturbing imagery, including pornography and photographs of Nazi concentration camps, gave the group a notorious reputation. However the group always maintained that their mission was to challenge and explore the darker and obsessive sides of the human condition rather than to make attractive music. Throbbing Gristle pioneered the use of pre-recorded tape-based 'samples', and made extensive use of special effects to produce a distinctive, highly distorted background, usually accompanied by lyrics or spoken-word performances by Cosey Fanni Tutti or Genesis P-Orridge.

In 1977 they released their debut single United/Zyklon B Zombie, followed by an album, Second Annual Report. Although pressed in a limited initial run of 786 copies on the band's own Industrial Records label, it was later re-released due to high demand on Mute records, however this later release was reversed with all tracks playing backwards and in reverse order.

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Charles from Bonnie & Clydes (1751 W. Division Street / 773-289-7966) in Chicago recommends BillyKirk's No 165 Day Travel Bag and I couldn't agree more.

Our day bag is our best selling travel bag. It's the perfect size for light trips, the gym or use it as a briefcase. The one featured is made with an 18 ounce natural duck canvas and top quality leathers for the trim. The adjustable strap is now made with 100% leather. Two interior pockets. 6 dull silver bottom feet. Comes with hand-stitched luggage tag. 16" frame. Oiled and edged leather. Made in the USA.

If you're not familiar with the line, check out their site. It's two brothers who design leather goods that they have made by Amish in Pennsylvania, which means -- unlike certain countries half way around the world that deliver lots of cheap goods to the US -- superior quality. The Amish don't F around.

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Just in the knick of time -- while the mornings and nights are still a little nippy -- I got my hands on one of the hot cashmere scarves from the footie_first leg collection (retail value $150) by New York designer Stephen Wong.

Wong Wong is focused on showcasing the beauty and design of football beyond the pitch and profiling individuals that bring these ideas to life.

The footie_first leg cashmere scarf collection is Wong's interpretation of the classic football scarf incorporating the team colors of clubs from across Europe and UK with traditional football terminology. Think "double team", "hump and run", and "backdoor"!

The collection is designed in NYC and knit in China from the finest cashmere and was launched exclusively in NYC and Paris.

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Creative Time is back with the latest installment of the At 44 1/2 series of outdoor videos featuring a trio of work entitled Chewing Color curated by Marilyn Minter.

At 44 1/2, Creative Time's presentation of video art on MTV's outdoor, gilded screen located in the heart of New York City's Times Square. The films include Patty Chang's Fan Dance, Kate Gilmore's Star Bright, Star Might, and Marilyn Minter's Green Pink Caviar. The works will be on view hourly between April 1 and 30.

Capturing the spirit of Minter's investigation into what she calls "the pathology of glamour" and her interest in the border between photorealism and abstraction, the work in Chewing Color strikes a delicate balance between beauty and disgust.

Creative Time kicked off At 44 1/2 with the overwhelmingly successful presentation of Shallow by Malcolm McLaren, and was followed by selections from Mark Tribe's Port Huron Project, reenactments of classic New Left speeches; early work by the legendary Gilbert & George; and a presentation of work by three emerging artists including Matt Calderwood, Mika Rottenberg, and Guido van der Werve

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I know I know I'm rushing the season, but it's just so damn nice out today and all I can do is day dream about me with a tan wearing a tank top wandering around downtown or riding my bike through Central Park. I don't really want to rush ahead to summer just yet, though, because I love spring. Keeping that in mind, I'm window shopping so when the heat comes, I'll be prepared.

What do I want? The Jil Sander Panel Tank. Love the cut and colors. If you think that all tank tops are created equally, you are soooooooooo wrong. It takes a master to get the cut and fit just right. If not, they look dumb, unsexy, or just cheap.

Whoever's designing for Jil Sander these days (I don't feel like looking it up) seems to have hit just the right balance with this number and for only $236, how could you go wrong.

Check it out on my favorite site of the moment oki-ni and check out the pics below while I drool using my new age visualization skills to try to get one of these for myself.

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If you're a fan of Doug Aitken's work, you need to check out Synthetic on now through 04.19.09 at the Whitney.

I have to admit, I'm not sure the Doug Aitken piece -- electric city -- is part of the Synthetic exhibit, but it's on the same floor and I don't see it listed anywhere else on the Whitney's site. Either way, if you go to the Whitney before 04.19.09, you'll get to see it.

The video installation spans three rooms with multiple large screens on all walls. This is one of the best pieces I've seen from Aitkens, which makes sense that it was awarded the International Prize at the Venice Biennale in 1999. I've only seen 2-3 other works by the artist in person: the last was MIGRATION at the opening of 303 Gallery last spring. The imagery was good and the installation looked pretty cool, but for Aitken, it was flat and boring. Once you see electric earth, you'll understand why this guy is so famous. It's amazing.

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Ladies and gentlemen, I give you LA's latest sneaker line called Stampd.

Latest sneaker line out of LA? Super cool sneaker line Creative Recreation also hails from LaLaLand. They haven't got much, so I've gotta give em credit where credit's due!

Stampd is a line of custom designed mens and womens sneakers designed by veteran sneaker designer Chris Stamp. I can't tell much from their site, but it looks like the collections are produced in limited quantities and sold are various retailers worldwide -- you can find a list here -- and will soon be available online.

Have a look at Stampd's site. I'm really into the Numberd series. It also looks like there's a series of letters with the same black text on white body. Hot hot hot.

A friend tipped me off to a new line of mens and womenswear by LA designer Michel Berandi that I think is hot hot hot. I have to say, though, the collection looks a little like fellow LA designer Rick Owens, which isn't a bad thing, but worth noting.

"An amalgamation of gothic, biker, ninja, and punk rock aesthetics define this collection of luxurious leather and textile creations." Think black: black black black and one or two pieces of gray. And lots of gorgeous leather. Called goth by WWD and a dramatic fusion of grunge and gothic glamour by Jason Campbell, the line is sure to be a hit with the hipsters.

Check out Berandi's site to see for yourself. There are lots of pics of the collection: look book style, as well as runway shots and backstage pics from his last show. There's also a list of stockists where you can find the line, including AMALGA (New York), Isetan (Tokyo), Harvey Nichols (Hong Kong), and, of course, Maxfield (LA).

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I don't know what's come over me. Ever since I started to take a closer look at Diesel's Black Gold line and their leather jackets, I've become obsessed with leather jackets, which is so new I'm still a little in denial. Now all I can see is leather leather leather.

I'm branching out today folks and putting up a women's item for the Daily Desire. It's not that I don't love all my readers, but I usually happen to be shopping for myself and I don't look very good in women's clothes.

Up today: the Ferrara Jacket by S.W.O.R.D. in black and gray Italian leather. It says it's the perfect cold weather leather, but it looks perfect for this interim between winter and spring.

Unlike other designers who are just getting into the game, S.W.O.R.D. has got some history under its belt. Continuing a 100-year-plus family tradition of working in the leather industry, brothers Matteo and Giacomo have hewn a covetable line of leather jackets of only the finest skins.

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New York based performance artists Caden Manson/Big Art Group have a performance out called SOS that will run for 6 nights beginning 03.19.09 at The Kitchen in New York.

The company uses the language of media and blended states of performance in a unique form to build culturally transgressive and challenging new works. Since its inception, it has toured nationally and internationally and produced five new major pieces.

SOS is an action media performance exploring futureness, survivalism, revolutionary movements and contemporary rituals, the performance examines the notion of sacrifice to make space for a new beginning.

SOS began as an investigation into the nature of sacrifice within a supersaturated, hyper-acquisitive society. Set in a forest of technology the performance unwinds through overlapping abstract narratives. Animals lost in their native habitat turn on each other in a hopeless contest for survival.

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If you're a fan of Cheap Monday jeans, stop by new Nolita store IVEN.TORY tonight for the New York leg of the Cheap Monday Customized Tour.

The Cheap Monday design team have customized 50 pairs of the famous skinny jeans for the event tonight. The jeans are numbered (New York's run is #201 - 250) and will be sold while supplies last for a mere $70/pair. Customized jeans for $70? That's insanity.

How are the jeans customized? If you've seen the jeans from any of the previous 4 events in Stockholm, Copenhagen, London, and Berlin, it's not hard to figure out what you might find tonight. I did do some online searching and found images from the past events on Cheap Monday's site and the jeans look pretty hot. See below.

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Just opened at the Whitney: Jenny Holzer's latest PROTECT PROTECT. And you all know what a huge Jenny Holzer fan I am. I'm heading uptown today to check it out.

Using language as her medium, Jenny Holzer has created a critically important body of work over the past three decades. Her texts have appeared in nontraditional media such as posters and electronic signs, billboards and T-shirts, and most recently as dematerialized, luminous projections on surfaces as different as crashing ocean waves and the Louvre's large glass pyramid. Perhaps surprising for those who have followed the work of this artist for many years, her chosen texts recently have been rendered in oil paintings and in dazzling, large-scale electronic sculptures. While the political content of Holzer's latest work fits in the tradition of Goya, the ethereal color and architectural scale draw inspiration from Matisse, Malevich, Rothko, and LeWitt.

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I popped into Odin on my way back home today from shopping and saw a line that I wasn't yet familiar with: Australia label Rittenhouse.

They have a series of sweatshirts that are at the same time unassuming, but perfectly cut with low key yet cool fabrics that all comes together just right. Casual and cool with that little something extra that puts it in a class of its own.

The one that caught my eye: Twin Ink Striped Sweatshirt Grey Marle: 100% cotton brushed fleece. Rittenhouse exclusive hand printed "twin ink" striped crew neck raglan sweatshirt with gusseted armhole detail.

Check it out on Rittenhouse's site. Don't forget to look at the full series of sweatshirts, the full range of men's and women's collections, and when you've figured out what you want: find a stockist near you.

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Alright so thematically these mixes have been pretty diverse as of late, but this weeks I feel will be tighter in the sense that most of the music sounds similar. The sound of this weeks PvH playlist will be more lo-fi garage rock…meaning lots of distortion inaudible lyrics, and will pretty much sound like kicking up dirt and dust on the ground. Also as an aside, great post THOF regarding the band Salem. They are incredible and we will be hearing more from them in the future...

10. In The City Contact High (NODZZZ) Nothing too overwhelmingly good about this, but plays nicely. A clever little play on words for the worlds overpopulation problems. Seems like some nice to music to hear outside in the summer while eating BBQ.

9. Coupling (Ancient Crux) I don't really have a lot to say about this song or band, the strong is structured really well starts well and has some weird Halloween production sound that comes in the middle.

8. Mr. No (Banjo or Freakout) This song sounds like the warm sun pushing thru to your windowsill. It also makes me long for spring time in the city.

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Yes, it's getting warmer, but spring isn't here just yet. The nights are still nippy and, as I just found out on my way to the deli, the mornings are too. It made me wish I'd had one of Wong Wong's cashmere scarves to keep my neck warm.

It's rare that I see a scarf that I want. There's always something unappealing about them: they're either too dressy, too "dad for christmas", or just clunky and ugly. Stephen Wong -- Wong Wong's Creative Director -- must have sensed this when designing his line, as the balance is just right: bright, but not crazy, casual but not too casual. They are 100% cashmere after all.

Wong Wong is focused on showcasing the beauty and design of football beyond the pitch and profiling individuals that bring these ideas to life.

The footie_first leg cashmere scarf collection is my interpretation of the classic football scarf incorporating the team colors of clubs from across Europe and UK with traditional football terminology. The intention was to show the beauty, colors, and graphics of football scarves (what attracted me to them in the first place) in a new and interesting way.

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I'm not sure about you, but I'd have a hard time choosing one of Ju$t Another Rich Kid's 7 Deadly Sins charms. If I had to choose one, I'd pick: gluttony, but only because it's such a cool little gold shovel. I'd never use it or anything. Really.

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, hatred, wrath, seditios, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. -- Galatians 5:19-21

Ever fascinated with pop culture iconography and following the success of the Indulgences series, Ju$t Another Rich Kid created a series of Indulgences based on the 7 Deadly Sins. The collection is comprised of 7 unisex, gold-dipped pendants on 24" chains.

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I'm psyched to have in my possession one Brandon Herman limited edition Fire Maker (retail $199) -- a custom made lighter by LA artist Brandon Herman, one of only 19 left from an edition made in 2008. The perfect piece of artwork for the secret arsonist in all of us.

For those of you not yet familiar with Herman: make sure to check out his site. It's chock full of images and info on current and past projects.

Brandon Herman is a contemporary artist based in LA who works primarily in photography but, in recent exhibitions, has begun to show sculpture, painting and video work as well.

Herman's creative process involves diligently staged events, often preceded by months of research on a topic of interest, and then scripted, cast and executed with chosen participants. In 2007 he orchestrated a yearlong project inspired by the high profile abductions of Polly Klaas (in the 90s) and Patricia Hearst (in the 70s).

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Not sure how this one got by me earlier, what looks to be an amazing documentary on legendary fashion designer Valentino opens at Film Forum next week.

Valentino Emperor is a feature-length film on the legendary designer Valentino Garavani in the wake of his exit in 2008 from the company he founded in Rome more than 45 years ago. Produced and directed by Matt Tyrnauer, Special Correspondent for Vanity Fair magazine, the film is an intimate, engaging and very funny fly-on-the-wall exploration of the singular world of one of Italy's richest and most famous men.

The film documents the colorful and dramatic closing act of Valentino's celebrated career, tells the story of his extraordinary life and work, and also explores the larger themes affecting the fashion business today. But at the heart of the film is the unique relationship between Valentino and his business partner and companion of 50 years, Giancarlo Giammetti.

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Simon from superfuture recommends the Vans Sk8 Hi Lx.

You know how much I love Vans -- I've got the Sk8 High Classis in white on white canvas and the Authentic low tops in black. With all of the black Authentic low sightings I've had lately, I think it's about time for a change. This color combo and the fabric of this Sk8 Hi Lx is so-weeeet!

Vans Skate Hi Lx with fabric uppers In a red and brown colourway with brown sidestripe, off white outsole and red laces.

The Vans classic hi-top shoe with a fabric upper, a padded collar for comfort, sidestripe and the Vans classic waffle sole. It was designed in '78 to be the toughest skate shoe available, the original Canvas and Leather combination meant the SK8-Hi was very strong and very light.

Check them out upclose and personal on oki-ni.com.

You've gotta check these chairs by Japanese architecture and design group nendo. They are gorgeous.

With Ghost Stories, nendo shows a constellation of forty sculptural works known as Cabbage Chairs, in a dreamlike interior landscape of his own design. Cabbage Chairs are nendo's answer to the challenge posed by fashion designer Issey Miyake to create a futuristic object that would convey "how man will live in the 21st century." Miyake's concern for environmental and sociological crises facing the contemporary world propelled him to seek innovative living solutions from basic human creativity.

The concept was to create a chair without making use of conventional chair-manufacturing assumptions. Hand crafted from the folded paper rolls used in Miyake's own pleat-making process, the chair makes use of a waste product. With Cabbage Chair, the roll's original shape and function is obscured and its inherent material property gives rise to a unique conceptual object.

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I know I'm rushing the season a lot. I mean it was 65F over the weekend, but I just got in from a run and my fingers were numb. Nevertheless, all I think about these days is how great I'm going to look once I have a tan; not a fake and bake tan from Hollywood Tans like I've been known to do in the past, but a real tan from the beach that looks ten times better and last ten times longer.

Now I've seen the Gucci beach towels at Century 21 -- at the bargain basement price of $200 or so -- and tought "Are you kidding me? Who would want to bring a $200 to the beach?!" As far as I'm concerned, as long as your towel is thick Egyptian cotton -- you can't go too budget folks -- you're fine. That was before I discovered the series of artist towels on Artware Editions site that are really cool. I'm still not sure I'd get one for myself, unless the quality is amazing.

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The folks at The Journal of Popular Noise -- in addition to coming out with a semi-annual audio magazine that we all love -- are also putting out records. Thank god because twice a year isn't enough to satisfy my craving for music by these guys.

The creators of Brooklyn-based audio magazine The Journal of Popular Noise, will release a limited edition EP by Seattle experimental duo Flexions on April 15th, 2009. Entitled Leisure Time, the record will be available online as a digital release in addition to the 12" 45rpm vinyl.

Leisure Time is an eclectic, explosive collection of songs juxtaposing dystopian dreams with tropical jaunts. Welch plays the guitar and the vibraphone; Stein the bass, the rhodes and the melodica; and they both provide rhythms, synthesizer and vocals.

The duo has also enlisted Journal of Popular Noise veteran contributor Tyler Swan to play the rhythm machine on the propulsive opening track Fated Occupation, while the decadent Over Tanned features both Swan's beats and vocalist Shannon Perry's lush harmonizations.

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Various Projects designers Elizabeth Beer and Brian Janusiak -- also the owners of super cool LES store Project No. 8 -- are part of a new gallery space that's just opened in Berlin called Arratia, Beer. The gallery opened its doors this past Friday with an exhibition entitled PSYCHOMETRY (II).

The stories that come from objects or events are a haunting of those things. If you want to know the pyramids you can do extensive research at the library … or you can also visit them in Egypt. People write history, but objects do most of talking.

Part 1 of this exhibition investigated a 1975 movie called The Ghost of flight 401. This film is a story about a pilot, played stoically by Ernest Borgnine, who crashes a passenger plane. After the scattered pieces of the plane are gathered, its salvageable parts are re-used in other airplanes, and Ernest's guilt-ridden ghost appears on those flights warning of potential dangers.

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If I were a rich man....

Here is an absolutely beautiful Pinhead blazer from Maison Martin Margiela in light grey. The extreme attention to detail really does make this jacket look and feel amazing.

Internally this jacket features a Margiela branded half lining with three working internal pockets. The jacket has a single vent at the back with a two button fastening and the collar and lapel are narrow and sharp with a single button hole detail. The cuffs feature four buttons, three working and one for added detail.

Grey slim leg trousers with in a two tone pinhead fabric. Really simply – but impeccably- cut, they've got two slim hip pockets, two rear pockets and fasten with a button fly.

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I spent some time checking out art at the fairs this weekend. With all of the talk about the art market being dead and the downturn meaning only big names will be shown because nobody can take a risks on unknowns, I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of hot work I saw from artists I wasn't yet familiar with.

At the Bridge Art Fair, Latvian Gallery Bastejs had work by two artists that I loved: one for her dour portraits of children in somber colors and the other for her bright pop art palette and simplistic forms.

It's funny, I didn't used to be so into "small" art. I preferred works at least 5+ feet wide and equally as high to anything smaller. As with everything, my taste is constantly evolving, or changing as the case may be.

Jana Birke's work is not tiny, but she creates pieces that are relatively small in size. What caught my eye was the somber palette and the dark, creepy air the works gave off. If there'd only been one piece, I can honestly say, I'm not sure I would have even noticed. With 10-12 pieces grouped on one wall, though, Birke's work was hard to miss.

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Some friends saw and loved the 2006 documentary Who Killed the Electric Car? and suggested I see it. After a few months of sitting in my Netflix queue, I decided it was time to bump it up to the top slot -- I have roughly 200 movies in my queue -- and see what the hype was all about.

Given what's going on right now with US automakers, the timing couldn't have been any better. Not only did they totally lie and deceive -- and were probably bribed in some way by big oil -- they also scared the Japanese so much that as the US automakers' electric cars were being crushed and buried, Japanese automakers designed and released viable hybrids. They not not only wasted $1 billion or so in tax payer money to develop electric cars they destroyed, but effectively gave the business away to overseas companies.

After seeing this movie, if you're anything like me, you'll hope the US automakers fail and aren't bailed out any more by the government with taxpayer money. They dug their own graves and now it's time to pay the piper.

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I stopped by Bblessing yesterday to pick up two sets of the He loves me. He loves me not. coke spoons and caught a minute of the sickest music: a band of out SF called Om.

If you've followed this blog at all, you'll know I love dark, droning stoner rock. If you like Black Sabbath, chances are you'll like Om. Their music isn't straight up heavy metal, though. It's dark and melodic with hints of metal thrown in for good measure, with different tracks and different records touching on various sounds.

Om is a duo formed in 2003 by the rhythm section of the disbanded stoner doom metal band Sleep. The band's first three albums feature Al Cisneros on vocals and bass and Chris Hakius on drums. Their music is similar in structure to Tibetan chanting and is rich in rhythm and melody. Their music and lyrics lift off at the beginning and slowly mutate giving a feeling of evolution inside each song.

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I really have to get on a few more gallerys' mailing lists. I've been covering Deitch a bit too much lately, but it's all well-deserved. They've got a lot of hot shows going on, including Ryan McGinness Works. featuring new work by none other than Ryan McGinness.

Ryan McGinness Works., an exhibition of new paintings and sculptures by Ryan McGinness, opens on Saturday, March 7th, at Deitch Projects' 18 Wooster Street gallery. Like all of McGinness's exhibitions at Deitch Projects, this show is not just a display of new works, but an experiential installation. Gallery visitors will enter the world of Ryan McGinness.

McGinness merges several of the most important directions in contemporary painting. His work combines all-over composition, inspired by Jackson Pollock and the mechanical silkscreen process inspired by Andy Warhol. The work also fuses naturalistic and contemporary pop culture references. His imagery derives form a broad range of sources: from dreams and hallucinations to song lyrics and fragments of art history.

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I've had my ups and downs with Keith Haring (I was obsessed as a teenager then got over it after mass mass mass marketing took over) but I'll always be a fan. No matter how you look at it, his work -- especially the early subway drawings and his ascent to stardom -- is amazing.

A new film entitled The Universe of Keith Haring has just come out on DVD. Haring fans and art fans must see this. It's inspiring, heartbreaking, and, best of all, it's got lots of interviews with his friends, fellow artists, and video clipsof Haring himself. I thought I covered this film last Spring when it came out, but only included it in a list of must-see films at the Tribeca Film Festival.

The Universe of Keith Haring is an intimate portrait of world-renowned artist Keith Haring whose mantra was that "Art is for everyone!" The film is a thorough and intimate exploration of the background and career of one of the most popular and significant artists of the 20th century.

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I have to get my act together and get a new intern. Setting up the give aways isn't easy without Graham here. This week, I'm giving away a $50 gift card that I was given at a Tretorn press event, because I was too busy to set up something else!! Not a bad give away though, I must say.

In case you're not familiar, Tretorn is the iconic Swedish sneaker brand that was super popular in the 80's (remember the Preppy Handbook?) that's recently made a huge comeback, launched amazing new styles, updated old styles, and is now even doing clothing.

They opened their first free standing store in the US in New York last spring in SoHo at 151 Spring Street. If haven't been yet, it's the place where you'll be able to use this gift card.

Don't forget to check out their official site and Tobi.com, where you can buy select pieces from the collection.

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I read an article today about the a custom fragrance just released for New York's very own Amanda Lepore. It's name? Amanda, of course.

Amanda is a new boutique fragrance from the iconic Amanda Lepore and is designed by award-winning perfumer Christophe Laudamiel of Les Christophs.

Amanda Lepore is one of today's most recognizable international celebrities and is the reigning doyenne of transsexuality worldwide. Mr. Laudamiel was so inspired by Ms. Lepore that he created a fragrance especially for her as a birthday gift many years ago. Now for the first time, this expertly crafted scent is available to the public in a limited edition release of 5,000 bottles.

For Amanda, Mr. Laudamiel aimed to capture Ms. Lepore's soft elegance, glamour and formidable strength with a fragrance that was larger than life. The overall assertive blond-woody structure of the fragrance is bolstered by a revolutionary new molecular structure, Orriniff, that imparts a warm orris amber tone and provides a softening platform for real and beautiful floral extracts like Tuberose absolute, Orris butter, Violet, and Orange flowers.

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Alright French Fashion week is upon us so in accordance with the times we have an all French PVH mix. I went through a pretty crazy Yeh Yeh Girls phase in high school so this has been a pretty amusing and enjoyable mix to compile. Another operating title for this group of songs is The Casual Sex Mix.

10. 1901 (Phoenix) This is the new track off the righteously titled Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix record. They are not doing anything new, just writing the greatest jams that you can play at any coke party over and over. I just put this song on the mix so I could listen to it over and over.

9. Moi Je Joue (Brigitte Bardot) A charming and mischievous song by Bardot. This sounds like an ideal beach song…like a French Gidget. I see very theatrical dancing, arm shaking, feet shaking, and all kinds of beach dancing antics. *Note I didn't even make a reference to how attractive she is.

8. Nous Ne Sommes Pas Des Anges (France Gall) This is probably one of my favorite songs of this era. I always thought it would be ideal for a movie. Then I thought about the name of the song and realized it actually is the same name of a classic late 80's film We're No Angels. Not surprisingly Monseiur Serge Gainsbourg penned this classic track.

7. Et Moi et Toi et Soie (Cleo) This little cute number typifies the French pop sound, very light and carefree like a spring day. Don't think too hard on this one.

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She's baaaaaaaaack.

Deitch Projects presents VB64, Vanessa Beecroft's first public performance in New York since 2000 and an accompanying exhibition of new sculpture at Deitch Studios on the East River in Long Island City.

Vanessa Beecroft works in the space between painting, sculpture, performance, and real life. In VB64, she introduces a new element into the work, gesso sculptures cast from live models, resting on coffin-like bases. The twenty live models in the performance will be in white body make up and at the beginning of the performance will be indistinguishable from the sculptural casts. VB64 pushes Beecroft's deliberate confusion between sculpture, performance and real life into a new realm, the tension between life and death.

Read the full press release here. Don't forget to read her Wiki and check out her official site. If you've never seen one of Beecroft's performances in person, you need to check this out.

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Sean Hanratty tipped me off on a hot band the other night that I'm totally into: SALEM.

I scoured the net for info on the band, but came up with nothing in terms of who what where when why or how. So I have to beg and borrow from the folks at RCRDLBL, who must have emailed the band or their manager, both of which I thought of, but wanted to do the post now so really can't wait for an answer.

SALEM are made up of three members - John, Jack and Heather. The three of them have been making music independently for several years, but ... (more) have recently come together to form SALEM, a band who's ambition and influences stretch way beyond the normal confines; by way of Juke, footwork, chopped and screwed rap, black metal, classical music and fallen pop stars, SALEM create a dark, new, ghostly world, and a music all of their own.

On December 8th, 2008 they released a new EP, Water on Merok Records. Made up of two incredible parts, it shows two very different sides to an intriguing new band.

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Heads up New York: there's a new year long not-for-profit art project called X (548 West 22nd Street) opening this week and you won't want to miss it.

X is an initiative of the global art community, with a goal to inspire and challenge us to think about new possibilities for experiencing and producing contemporary art. In the creation of X, artists, curators, museum professionals, gallerists, collectors, art historians and critics are reaching across traditional boundaries to form a consortium interested in responding quickly to the major philosophical and economic shifts impacting culture.

Organized into four phases during Spring, Summer and Fall 2009 and Winter 2010, the programs at X will feature durational artist interventions, site-specific projects, historical in-depth exhibitions, one-night performances, lectures and weekly events.

Phase one of X will include exhibitions by three artists of different generations: Mika Tajima, Derek Jarman, and Christian Holstad.

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I love a pleasant surprise.

I've kinda thought I'd see Two Lovers a few times since its limited release on 02.13.09, but for some reason it just didn't pull me in.

I'm sort of a Joaquin Phoenix fan -- although much less so after the antics he's been involved in lately -- and have never really been a Gweneth Paltrow fan. I've always thought of her as a solidly mediocre actress, who has less on-screen charisma than Scarlett Johanson, if that's even possible. The film's synopsis was interesting, but ultimately didn't really do much for me. And llthough I love all films set in New York, I haven't heard any buzz about Two Lovers from friends and/or the press.

For reasons unknown to me, today I decided to go to the movies and, without hesitation, picked Two Lovers which I think is only showing at the Sunshine on Houston. I mean, how bad could it possibly be??

The answer: it's not bad at all. I'd actually say it's one of the best movies I've seen in a while and a shockingly meaty indie film despite its Hollywood cast.

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It's looking like an all music Monday, but we'll have to wait until the third entry for today comes in before I can declare it officially.

I came across a sick DC band this weekend called The Points and am obsessed. Shocking, I know.

This quote from the NY Times sums it up perfectly: "Their record has poor sound quality, bad graphics and crooked typesetting, and it's nearly perfect." I'll add: if you like The Ramones, you'll love The Points.

You know I don't like to generate too much original content on this site being a curator of info. All you need to know from me is: The Points rule. You should check them out. I'll let the music critics do the rest, like friend David Malitz at the Washington Post:

The Points are D.C.'s best band. And really, the competition is not even close. The Points comfortably held the title of the city's best live band for a while but now that its jarring jolt of energy has been successfully captured on record, it gets the more general title.

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Sean Hanratty -- the mind behind the People V Hanratty playlists on the site -- has just found an incredible musical talent from Australia named Johnathan Boulet. I got a promo copy of his eponymous debut record last night and it didn't take me long to realize this guy is going to be big.

Evident Records (Hanratty's label) would like to call the world's attention to the premiere release of its first ever record release, the debut LP of Jonathan Boulet.

Jonathan Boulet is the 20 year old Australian wunderkind whose music is both poignant and intelligent, but with a beauty so sincere it feels like a crime not to embrace. Boulet writes anthemic folk-pop born out of a world of endless campfires and tribal jam sessions.

The prodigiously talented Boulet wrote, recorded, produced and played almost every instrument in his tiny garage studio, using whatever means necessary to accomplish this triumphant self titled debut.

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Mark your calendars: Jeremy Kost has a showing opening Tuesday that you won't want to miss.

Dactyl Foundation presents After the Party, an exhibition featuring the art and photography of Jeremy Kost. The show is curated by Tim Goossens of P.S. 1.

Known on the New York circuit as "the Polaroid artist," Kost creates art with his tried and true Polaroid camera. His Polaroids are about power and desire; whether it is obtained or not, the works presented lend to the notions of instant gratification, restraint and the overall fulfillment of desires....

The results of the photo sessions take the form of one-of-a-kind Polaroid grids and collages. The Polaroid images allow for instant gratification thanks to their quick development, but at the same time the observer is left with a certain craving.

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Like most artists, at one time or another, I have a legal issue I need to attend to, but don't have a big bank account to pay a lawyer to address it. Luckily, a friend told me about a gem of an organization called Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts (VLA) with whom I met yesterday. If you're an artist, please read on and spread the word.

VLA's Legal Services program is the central focus of our activities and resources. The program includes a wide range of services including: the Art Law Line, a legal hotline; the VLA Legal Clinic for VLA members; in-house appointments with VLA staff attorneys; and pro bono placements for low-income artists and nonprofit arts organizations with one of over 1,200 volunteer attorneys. I spoke with a lawyer friend last night, who said the pro bono attorneys that work with VLA are some of the best in the city. God, I love New York. Click here for more and here for contact info.

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Need to add a little life to your spring wardrobe? I've got just the thing for you: something from the latest collection by Belgian designer Walter Van Beirendonck, who you may remember as the genius mind behind the late great line from the 90's W&LT.

From the looks of the list of stockists on his site, Van Beirendonck's current line is doing quite well, selling at American Rag Cie, Dover Street Market, 10 Corso Como, Kokon To Zai, and at his own shop Walter, which you can see pics of here, in Antwerp.

Born in Brecht, Belgium, Walter Van Beirendonck studied at the esteemed Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, where he developed his own aesthetic that fuses art and ethnic influences. Launching his first collection under his self-titled label in 1983, his big break came in 1987 where at the British Designer Show he presented as one part of the influential Antwerp Six.

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Mark your calendars: ASS (Asia Song Society) is having an opening you won't want to miss.

Says ASS owner Terence Koh: i am very proud that this tuesdae, march 3, 2009, 7pm we will debut solo exhibition O ZHANG call A STREAM BENDS FOR A THOUSAND LI

title comes from an ancient chinese poem liu zongyuan that evokes a stream winding its way to a distant and unknown place in the forest. (please remember li is a chinese unit of measurement.)

for this installation zhang has collaborated with new york artists peter garfield to create an idyllic tropical garden inside our gallery. nestled into the leaves and branches are several dozen photographs from absolutely amazing zhang's photographic series daddy and i. each image depicts a young chinese girl with her adoptive american father.

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