Let Stylehive’s Stylescopes Help Spring Your Wardrobe Forward!

Let’s face it, unless you’re living in a select few places in the southeast and west of the United States, chances are, you’re experiencing perma-cloud, the days of winter when the sky is so grey that it is barely distinguishable from the horizon. Most commonly viewed in the Midwest, this pheomenon is most severe after Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow. It can leave one with a sorrowful outlook, and a general status of being down in the dumps. I say, let us rally against this oppressor, and focus on what we can control — our wardrobes! Shake off the winter doldrums, color yourself spring, and take a hint from this week’s Stylescopes!

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ShopShow by Tracey Neuls

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A temporary shop designed by shoe designer Tracey Neuls to show her shoe designs has opened in London. (more…)

STAR WARS: The Force Trainer

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The Force Trainer is the most compelling in a new line of
STAR WARS Science toys
by the well known educational toy company
Uncle Milton
.

To use The Force Trainer (recommended for ages 8+) you put on a headset that features dry EEG sensors and technology developed by
NeuroSky
; the sensors read your brainwaves, and the brainwaves are then translated to the fan in the column of the toy—the better your concentration, the more you are able to control the fan and the ball rises or falls. The Force Trainer has 15 training levels, and Yoda serves as your Jedi Master, helping you along the way with training tips and sound effects. The Force Trainer should hit stores shelves by September 2009 for around $130, and is certain to be a popular item for the holidays.


Mattel
previewed Mind Flex, a toy that similarly uses dry EEG technology, at CES 2009 (see story
here
). It won’t be long after these products launch that you’ll see them popping up in dorm rooms and frat houses, finally creating an alternative to beer pong.

The rest of the STAR WARS Science line will show up at retailers in July 2009 with prices around $25-$45, and includes: The STAR WARS Optical Command Unit, which teaches optics; the STAR WARS Darth Vader Robotic Arm, which teaches robotics in medical science; the STAR WARS Naboo Sea Creatures set, which features an aquatic environment where you can grow
Triops Longicaudatus
; the STAR WARS Dagobah Frog Habitat, where you can hatch tadpoles; the STAR WARS Jedi Telescope, which includes audio content and sound effects; the STAR WARS Jedi Projector, which projects images of STAR WARS vehicles and compares them to those on Earth; and the STAR WARS Mustafar Volcano Kit, which teaches how volcanoes work.

Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab Perfumes

by Laura Neilson

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The Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab, a goth perfumer, is the perfect blend of past and present.

Past: Since 2002, the online purveyor has offered more than 300 scented household and perfume oils, inspired by allegorical subjects such as “Bewitching Brews,” “Ars Draconis,” “Good Omens,” and “Rappaccini’s Garden.”

Present: The Los Angeles-based company, owned and founded by Beth Moriarty Barrial and partner Brian Constantine, is devoted to conscious-driven capitalism. All of BPAL’s olfactory products are free of animal testing, and the company has regularly contributed funds to charities such as the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, the Orangutan Foundation UK, AIDS Project Los Angeles, Covenant House, the Red Cross, and the Humane Society.

Past: The website, a cornucopia of gothic, medieval, Victorian and romantic-era artistry, features illustrations and sketches by artists such as Madame Talbot, Jennifer Williamson, Jennifer Rodgers and Sarah Coleman, as well as Aubrey Beardsley, a notable figure from the art nouveau movement.

Present: To benefit the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, the lab has released a limited edition scent, “413 U.S. 15/Miller Vs. California.” Named in reference to the landmark 1974 court decision which ruled that obscenity was not protected under the First Amendment, the perfume oil is a blend of leather, cognac, fig, ripe berry and cream aromas, and comes cheekily-packaged in a plain brown paper bag.

The limited edition fragrance will be available until 13 March 2009 and can be ordered from the website Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab.

More images after the jump.

Vondel Verses by Anouk Vogel and Johan Selbing

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Landscape architect Anouk Vogel and architect Johan Selbing have won a competition to design new lighting and furniture for the Vondelpark in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. (more…)

Backstage Pass: Rock amp; Roll Photography

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From the utterly personal collection of an anonymous donor, “Backstage Pass” is a book of 120 striking photographs of rock & roll’s greatest contributors. As curious as the unnamed collector himself, two compelling qualities define his accumulation of photos. They’re all taken during the artist’s prime and the musician is actually making eye contact with the camera, affording a small glimpse of the person behind the entertainer.

Not to be overshadowed by the iconic photos, the book includes five insightful essays covering rock & roll related topics written by a cast of industry experts.

Photographer Laura Levine comments on today’s calculated photo shoots with managers focused more on the band’s appearance than the artists themselves. She also illustrates a typical night out documenting the NYC music scene during the ’80s and her adrenaline-fueled 5am dark room sessions after the bars closed and the bands went home.

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Music journalist Greil Marcus provides an inspiring intro about the book’s cover photo, which shows Andrew Loog Oldham, manager of The Rolling Stones at 19-years-old, holding a picture of the band over his head, a year before writing on the back of their first album that The Rolling Stones “are a way of life.”

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The book is published in conjunction with the exhibit of the same name going on at the Portland Museum of Art in Maine, now through 22 March 2009. The book is available for purchase from theYale University Press website, for $30.

Backstage Pass: Rock & Roll Photography

Through 22 March 2009

Portland Museum of Art

Seven Congress Square

Portland, Maine 04101 map

tel. +1 207 775 6148

PRINCESS ELISABETH ANTARCTICA

The first ZERO EMMISSION Research Station

The Princess Elisabeth Station in Antarctica was officially inaugurated on 15 February 2009 in the presen..

Eye candy time: Norio Fujikawa

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Norio Fujikawa’s striking vehicle and character designs combine tech-fetishism with anime and mecha influences; check out his drool-worthy portfolio here.

(more…)

Yankee Gal

Voici un court métrage d’animation 3D, réalisé en 2008, par quatre personnes de l’école Supinfocom. Il met en scène les dernières pensées d’un pilote juste avant le crash de son avion. A la clé : animation 2D/3D et effets spéciaux à découvrir dans la suite.

yankee

lolita

Réalisé par Antoine Perez, Céline Desrumaux, François Pons et Gary Levesques.

Flip through Design Addict’s Radar for research or dreaming

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One activity sure to grow during the recession is window shopping on the web. While you may not be able to afford the furniture on Design Addict’s new Radar section, it’s nice to see a sort of eBay dedicated to nothing but 20th century design furniture.

Radar has over 500 dealers (and growing) hawking everything from Le Corbusier to Joe Colombo to 1980s German design. Click, dream, and bookmark here.

via swiss miss

(more…)