demasié

I've been thinking about Café design lately, and Demasié Café came to mind. While living in Barcelona last year, I used to stroll around the streets trying to find cute places to have a nice hot chocolate (you might have guessed I was over there during the winter...that winter that snowed for the first time in like 40 years...that year when I used to freeze myself to sleep because Catalans are not used to turn on the heater, so I used to put my feet in my boyfriend's socks). So, I was coming back from work and bumped into Demasié Café, the coziest and cutest little café I've seen in my time. Those pale turquoise walls and extravagant mix of white couches with wooden chairs...not to mention the Cookie Monster poster hanging on the wall. I might add here that their slogan is exaggeratedly good cookies, so the Cookie Monster appearance actually makes sense! I have to admit I never ate a cookie, which I now think it was a horrible mistake, but I can recall that every time I walked past Roger de Lluriá, all I wanted was one cup of that deliciously thick hot chocolate! And not to forget to mention: their packaging done by Mucho, a design studio located in Barcelona, won the Laus prize in 2008.

rise and fab

Mulberry

CC Skye

J. Crew

The Row

Summer's fab might just be hanging from your shoulder this season. The Olsen twins have got it right again with their fashion line The Row, launching their Classic Shoulder Bag, described as chic, classic and clean by Harper's Bazaar. A less expensive, yet not necessarily less fab, is Mulberry's Polly Push Lock. A briefcase-push lock-rectangular-looking shoulder bag is all you need :)

sequin summer

Kelsi Dagger Laurie Pump $89.95

House of Harlow 1960 Double Diamond Hand Piece $125

Elizabeth and James Estelle Crop loose-fit blouse $225

Express Sequin Shorts $59.90

Ann Taylor LOFT Lea Bronze Flip Flop $78

I recently purchased these awesome pair of shorts from Express, and was wondering what great summer outfit I could come up with to pair them up, especially in these hot summer days (I just came back from Nevada and 100F is definitely sizzling!). I noticed that button shirts are a total must this season, and what could be more comfortable than that?! If you want to go for a complete in look, go crop! And of course, you have the option of a high heels vs. sandals, I usually go for the heels because I'm very tiny, but Ann Taylor's new collection is definitely screaming summer! If your budget allows, you may consider the Pour La Victoire pumps that are sooo sexy...or your favorite summer wedges hidden somewhere in the closet!

primary spirals

A couple of months ago, Perú launched its new identity. Spirals and typography are the main elements used by FutureBrand, a British design firm that has also worked for the Australian & St. Lucia's identities, alluding to the country's archeological sites. Its font Bree Peru was created by design firm Type Together, influenced by the patterns used in the ancient Peruvian culture and has the feel of being handwritten.
I can't help but recall Lucho Chompitazi's work, a Peruvian graphic designer, whom I heard in a conference a while ago. He talked about the archeology of Perú and how it was influenced him to create logos through the shape of a stone or the memory of a landscape. Most fascinating, however, is how a logo can inform through the simplicity (or complexity) of shape, color, feel, etc.