Marianne Batlle

by Ami Kealoha

Of the many subversive crafts we've seen over the years—crocheted cupcakes, cameras and hamburgers come to mind—Marianne Batlle's handmade mix of sex and fashion takes the concept to a decidedly more edgy level. The Paris-based artist crochets penises in a range of fanciful materials and colors, incorporating silks and bows, as well as fuzzy angora threads, pearls, sequins and more, to lend personality to each one.

Her brooches pay homage to fashion legends Karl Lagerfeld, Yves St Laurent, Coco Chanel and John Galliano, along with Bob Dylan, representing the icons in finger-puppet size beadwork. You can buy these little wearable artworks online from Arty Dandy starting at €125.

See more and larger images after the jump.

FAT Fall/Winter 2009 Collection

by Tim Yu

Tokyo-based clothing brand FAT (pronounced F.A.T) recently unveiled their upcoming Fall/Winter 2009 collection. We're liking the athletic and military influences combined with modern, borderline baggy cuts.

Simple looks punctuated with saturated colors and clever logos make up the latest collection of shirts, pants, denim, cargos, sweats and cut-and-sew pieces. FATYO, their accessories line of hats, footwear, eyeglasses, luggage, ensures you're all suited up and matching nicely. All their offerings on their site deserve a look.

Arriving in stores now, the Fall/Winter collection is dropping on a rolling basis on their online shop over the next couple months, so check back with them often.

See more images from the collection after the jump.

via Freshness

Me Hotel, Barcelona

by CH Contributor

Like most of our favorite hotels, Barcelona's Me Hotel rivals the city itself with the various amenities if offers.

The one-year-old Dominique Perrault-designed hotel surrounds guests with glittering steel walls and sliding panels of vibrantly colored Lucite, complimented by dramatic views of the city from almost every angle and lending an omnipotent feel.

In the spirit of Barcelona's legendary nightlife and the beach vibe lent by the sparkling blue Mediterranean Sea, the hotel keeps the momentum alive with a popular bar scene and in-room amenities—such as Wii and iPod docking stations.

In addition to DJs at the Sky Food Bar, the stainless-steel swimming pool stays open for midnight swims or moonlit frolicking under the waterfalls created by giant sprinklers. Revelers can also take in the old movies projected onto the running water, while sipping cocktails in one of the poolside cabanas or they have the option of heading to the Angels and Kings Bar on the sixth floor to mingle with a flashy jet-set crowd and hip locals.

After a long night out (and days taking in the sights) the rooms offer comforts like a pillow menu of eight pillow types.

With locations in Cancun, Cabo and Madrid, the Barcelona Me Hotel location stands out for its supreme level of service and attention to detail. Prices range from €250-400 per night depending on the room and season. Book through Mr & Mrs Smith.

Me Hotel Barcelona
Carrer Pere IV 272
08005 Barcelona, Spain map
tel. +34 902 144 440

Tasha West Astro Cuffs

by Karen Day

Jewelry designer Tasha West's inventive Astro cuffs sleekly interpret the twelve zodiac symbols, subtly revealing the wearer's celestial personality.

Beginning with a sketch of the symbol, the New York-based designer twists its form into a 3-D rendering to create the sculptural accessory. While shown in sterling silver, the cuffs come in a multitude of metals—including gold, brass, bronze and copper.

At two inches wide, the cuffs make great statement pieces, but their matte finish and continuous lines keep them from overpowering wrists. Having created custom jewelry for Erykah Badu over the past several years, West acutely understands the art of designing knockout pieces that blend seamlessly with a look.

Prices vary from $238-298, depending on the metal and all are available from the Tasha West website.

Fashion Illustrator Michael Sanderson

by CH Contributor

by Laura Neilson

Michael Sanderson wasted no time in pursuing his talents in the field of fashion illustration. At 23, the design school drop-out already counts Victoria's Secret, Big Drop NYC and the Tokyo-based agency Taiko & Associates as clients. His colorful creations—whether of a shoe, an outfit, a Starbucks cup or an entire setting—effortlessly fuse various layers and artistic styles. At times the whimsy and focus of Sanderson's drawings recall the early fashion illustrations of Andy Warhol, but with a decidedly modern polish that just as easily references the mood and artistry of Japanese animation.

Only Sanderson's own enthusiastic spirit rivals the splashy energy and liveliness of his illustrationsspirit—and his tireless entrepreneurialism. In the process of gearing up for global domination in the form of an all-out lifestyle brand, We thought we'd catch up with the ambitious youngster before he turns 24 (and possibly becomes a household name).

How did you land your first big illustrating job? Especially not having graduated from art school—how did you develop exposure for yourself and get noticed?
I've always had an inherent understanding for marketing. Being able to present a product and having the ability to self-promote have so far been very beneficial in getting clientele. My first major illustration job was for Big Drop NYC, where for three seasons I designed their marketing materials and developed a print advertisement campaign.

Do you have any favorite fashion designers? Any that specifically inspire your illustrations?
I get more inspiration from a trip to Pottery Barn or Moss in Soho or within the pages of Martha Stewart Living then any fashion designer. I was heartbroken when Domino ceased production! Seeing perfection in action inspires me to work as hard as humanly possible in order to obtain the lifestyle within those pages. But Tom Ford is a huge inspiration in general for me. His panache for simple luxury, I find very inspiring.

When it comes to your work, would you say you're more inspired by fashion or by art and artists in general?
I'm more inspired by objects and what they mean to people. It is, after all, still very much a material world. Yet I do find a lot of inspiration in nature. My color choices are heavily based on organic materials, like cotton, slate, copper, wheat—they're all favorites of mine to draw color inspiration from.

Fashion photography and fashion illustration go hand-in-hand in many ways. Have any photographers inspired you?
Guy Bourdin. Every detail was considered in his photography and staged like a tiered cake sitting in a window—just perfect. Yet the subject matter within his photos was anything but that! I love contradictions. It's like meeting someone who's beautiful yet very intelligent, such a rarity these days.

Do you have any aspirations of your own for fashion design?
I did. I went to college for fashion design hoping to be the next Tom Ford or Alexander McQueen, but I now find myself contemplating a broader career. Bigger than just fashion, illustration or even design. I'm in the tiring process of trying to brand and launch my own lifestyle magazine targeted to a more contemporary lifestyle, like Martha Stewart Living but for our generation. I feel people have lost interest in the finer details of their day-to-day rituals. I want to inspire a more complete way of living through my publication that includes food, entertaining, interior design, as well as the satisfaction of DIY and the lost art of artisan craftsmanship. I hope to one day be a brand all of my own and to have my name completely associated with the lifestyle I've created.

More images after the jump.