Strong Week Links 28

D.S. & Durga just announced that they're now producing samples of their lovely, complex scents. I smell the next test fest coming on.

If money were no object: this new Hermès furniture.

Solange Knowles just launched e-commerce on her site Saint Heron.  It's filled with (surprisingly affordable) fashion, beauty and even candy created by a group of diverse designers. If you love her totally on-point Instagram, you'll love the vibes and editorial shots. I'd be excited to try this prickly pear face serum (love everything prickly pear).

Coveting one of these super tall, super wide-brimmed Stetson hats designed in collaboration with photographer Tasya van Ree.

Totally obsessed with this song right now.

Image via Saint Heron

Strong Week Links 6

Earth Day saw some pretty cool sustainable fashion stories like this one about Reformation introducing RefScale and a 'Low Carb' collection, and this one by fashion writing hero Tim Blanks about Stefano Pilati at Zegna.

An interesting post on this unique LA art installation (if you follow any Angelenos, you may have seen whitewashed palms all over Instagram recently).

This sounds like the coolest modern day musical Smell-O-Vision.

Excited about the imminent opening of new Oakland bar and venue Starline Social Club. We got a sneak peek this weekend and the space (a former Odd Fellows hall dating back to 1893) looks amazing.

An inspiring kitchen before and after to file away.

Finding yet more New Mexspiration in this beautiful photography zine.

Everlane is really keeping the new arrivals coming, and I want almost all of them.

Photo by Patty Hume

Strong Week Links 3

I had a whirlwind trip to NYC and got right back into the swing of things with a busy work week, starting a new ceramics class at the Berkeley Art Studio, going to a wine tasting at Ordinaire, and hanging out with my brother and sister-in-law who are up for a visit. New Brooklyn favorites include: Chuko Ramen (wait for your table at Weather Up across the street) and House of Small Wonder. Here are some favorites from this week:

If you've known me over the last few years, you know I'm basically a bumper sticker saying "I'd rather be in Joshua Tree." I was only semi-joking when I tried to convince Tim we should go all-in on a 13-acre Pistachio farm in the high desert. Until we can pack it in and buy a pickup and take it down to the desert, I'm excited about Wonder Valley Olive Oil.

I'm reading this and really enjoying her descriptions of growing up in LA.

I've been a huge fan of Vena Cava for a long time, and it really bums me out that they're no longer a label. Which is why I'm obsessed with Sophie Buhai's new jewelry and interiors line. It feels like an authentic evolution and the apotheosis of sophisticated LA architectural minimalism. A hewn-in-sterling-silver lining.

I would love to go here.

Linda Rodin is a major style icon of mine, and you can add business icon to the list too. She recently sold her beauty line to Estée Lauder, but at the age of 66 is still involved in the creative direction of her line and has recently collaborated with D.S & Durga (another favorite) on a new scent based on memories of her mother.

I did it the old fashioned way and stayed in a casa particular several years ago, but now you can Airbnb in Cuba.

California's drought got real for us this week when the local water district changed our water source to a higher level in the reservoir that experiences algae blooms — our water now tastes strange and metallic. The drought's gotten me thinking about California's water a lot lately, a subject I'd like to learn more about, but this visceral experience made this great story flood back into my mind.

Jewelry by Sophie Buhai.

D.S. & Durga

On a recent trip to NYC I stopped by the rad little boutique In God We Trust. They have their own small collection of women's and men's clothing, an awesome wall of $15 sunglasses ("holy shit, these sunglasses are only $15!), and those little heart necklaces that everyone loves with the cheeky phrases engraved on them. But the one thing I just had to come back for is this amazing D.S. & Durga perfume (or is it a cologne? wondering is part of the charm), Cowgirl Grass.

D.S. & Durga is run by a fetching husband and wife team from Brooklyn — he concocts the complex, nostalgic, Americana-inspired scents, and she designs the pretty, botanic-apothecary vibe packaging. Names like Siberian Snow, Boston Ivy & Mississippi Medicine are paired with equally evocative descriptions that spin vintage narratives and list the rarefied ingredients that make up each fragrance. And if they sound dreamy, sophisticated and esoteric it's because that's how they smell. Like something very old and very modern.

Some of the scents are powerful enough to be challenging to wear, although the super friendly girl working in the shop that day said she wears Burning Barbershop, their strongest scent, but that "because she's a lady" she sweetens it up. Charming, and so true because scents can totally shapeshift depending on the wearer. They also make some less intense scents, which are easy to find since there's a little continuum guide from light-bodied to full-bodied for each fragrance.

Not only do I love the smell of Cowgirl Grass in and of itself, but for me it has that extra special associative power of scents to so strongly remind you of a certain time and place, and it will always remind me of my first trip to NYC!