Refinery29

by Ami Kealoha

New York is turning into a giant shopping mall...in a good way. Based on an easily navigable flash-based floorplan, Refinery29 is a website launched just over three weeks ago that is dedicated to the best shops in the five boroughs. Their clean design (thanks to Agnieszka Gasparska, the lauded graphic artist and sometime Fischerspooner collaborator), along with friendly info-icons, handy "receipt" sidebars highlighting store basics, and well-written descriptions, make for a useful guide to area retailers. A regular feature-well includes categories such as editor-culled daily picks, a local's neighborhood-specific guide, fashion history, and (my personal guilty pleasure) a profile of a found fashionplate, which all indicates that we needn't fear; Refinery29 is much more Nylon than it is Mall of America.

As co-founder Philippe Von Borries puts it, Refinery29 aims to be "the mall of your dreams" by providing real-time details about the depots they deem superlative in New York. (Editorial space will never be sponsored.) Citing the entrepreneurial spirit (Von Borries quit his job as editor at The Globalist to start the project) and "an Old-World attention to detail" as an inspiration and guiding principle, he says that stores are chosen based on their approah to retailing. (Boutiques are the new "shoppes"? It's so neo-19th century! Just like...blogs!) Refinery29 looks for those spots that thoughtfully consider elements like interior design, personalized merchandising, service, and, most importantly, what they stock. Catering to what Von Borries refers to as "people's constantly growing need for individualism," these stores are more than specialty outposts; they're the places where the proprietors take retailing to the level of "true artform." Those that have made the cut so far include the LES, artist-run AFF, the Williamsburg cabinet of curiousities, Saved, and in the East Village, the men's lifestyle store Odin (who we just can't stop jocking).

An ecommerce site is planned for the Fall, natch, and look out for editions that cover the fashion capitols of Berlin and Los Angeles by the end of the year, followed by a London site.

Vivienne Westwood's Union Jack Rug

by Ami Kealoha

Fans of Vivienne Westwood's fashions can now bring her punk sensibilities home with a series of new carpet designs for The Rug Company. Westwood's tattered Union Jack is unconventional patriotism at it's best, sprung from a partnership with the British-based purveyers of quality, modern floor coverings and launched in June. Since 2000, The Rug Company has been tapping fashion, interior, textile, and product designers to create a line of unique rugs. (See Paul Smith's contributions for a fresh dose of his characteristic hues and stripes.) All carpets are available at their London and New York showrooms, come in several sizes, and can be custom-fitted.

p.s. The history section of Vivienne Westwood's site is a great primer on the legendary designer's influence and punk past.

Perfect Picture Wall

by Parker Hutchinson

From the Picture Wall Company comes sweet relief for one of the most frustrating tasks in interior design-- picture hanging. Their "Perfect Picture Wall" is a time-saving cheat that promises to spare a lot of the blood, sweat and tears involved in the traditional trial-and-error method.

The system includes ten picture frames (in the finish of your choice) as well as a template for arranging them. Once you have the simple, one-sheet template level to the ground, it adheres to the wall and directs you where to hammer in the (provided) nails. No measurement whatsoever is required; just fill and hang the frames, and you've got a wall of neatly arranged photographs in minutes. The frames boast crystal-clear plexiglass for safety, in case one should fall, and the set includes everything you need except the hammer. It's available from Picture Wall for $349, which includes shipping.

Let's Lazer Tag Sometime

by Ami Kealoha

Tonight, July 7th, San Francisco's Arrow bar hosts the 3rd installment of Tigerbeat6's monthly night of the uncharacterizable. All we know is it will be fun. This weeks line-up includes live dance rock from New York-based Shy Child and a set by the DJ who moonlights as a journalist Philip Sherburne. Look for more electro-fun every 1st Thursday.