Kartell x .normaluisa: Lady Cinderella Platform Sandal

by Karen Day

The second model to mix Kartell's plastic design expertise with Italian label .normaluisa's fashion sense, the Lady platform sandal is another injection-molded knockout. Keeping to the bright color scheme of the Glue model, the Lady steps it up a notch with a 3.5-inch plastic wedge heel.

While Kartell's two-tone shading—a nature-inspired bi-injection process applied only to footwear thus far— and touches like a star-shaped logo imprint in the sole make for a design-conscious shoe, touches like a thin heel and low cut keeps the look sophisticated and feminine.

Made of 100% recyclable plastic, the Lady platforms, along the original ballerina styles in some great new colorways, will be available from .normaluisa and Kartell stores soon.

Maison Martin Margiela Glass Slippers

by Tim Yu

Made famous by none other than Cinderella and brought to life by Maison Martin Margiela, the Brothers Grimm fantastical shoe concept now exists, albeit in limited quantities.

While Margiela usually plays with reality by repurposing everyday objects (see his Currency Wallets, nail keyring and silver hospital bracelet) rather than turning to fairytales, we can't think of a better designer to execute this shoe. Taking the idea further, the designer sells these limited edition heels, not in pairs, but per piece. We shouldn't have to tell you that these pumps are not for daily use, however if you're brave make sure to get a pedicure and tread lightly.

Available at Maison Margiela Stores for HK$9,900 each or HK$19,999 for the pair.

via @eugenekan

MyPantone Color Library iPhone Application

by Karen Day

Launching today, Pantone's new application for the iPhone and iTouch—aptly titled myPantone—allows users easy access to the Pantone color libraries, serving as an on-the-go color reference guide. (Click on images for enlarge view.)

The application not only makes discovering new hues a snap, it also affords the user the ability to create and share color palettes in addition to saving and storing them for later comparison. Similar to the Sherwin Williams ColorSnap application, myPantone's Color Library comes in handy for designers or anyone seeking to make an exact color match.

It's available from iTunes for $10. To find out more about the myPantone community and to become a member, visit their myPantone site.

via @3than4llen

Gallo Socks Fall/Winter 2009 Collection

by Karen Day

For those who consider every last detail when it comes to dressing, the elegantly stylish Gallo socks' quality and aesthetic work equally well paired with a sophisticated Jil Sander suit as with denim from Self Edge.

The Italian-made socks project a sense of personality with their bold patterns and mixing of complimentary colors. Gallo's long history of producing high-end accessories—especially durable socks with strengthened toes and heels—goes back as far back as the early 1900s, continuing today with a regimen that includes each pair passing nine quality control tests.

Using silk, cashmere, wool, cotton and linen, the pure yarns comprising the Gallo Fall/Winter 2009 collection offer superior foot dressage for everyone, with styles available for men, women and children.

Available from retailers such as Barneys New York, Gallo socks and knitwear can also be found in their brick-and-mortar shops in Europe. Check their website for a full list of locations.

Postlerferguson Paper Weapon Model Kits

by Ami Kealoha

Design duo Postlerferguson's new paper grenade, Uzi, M4A8 and MP5 join their first paper gun model kit, an AK-47, making for a full arsenal of DIY weapons. Investigating "the history, the aesthetics and the lethal seductiveness" of these war machines, the London-based multidisciplinary studio includes fascinating background on the objects, such as how the Uzi first captured the popular imagination when a secret service agent pulled it from his pocket to defend U.S. President Ronald Regan.

Their research also looks at the design, noting for example that the MP5's modular design represents the "possibilities of industrial production and evolution of the computer era" and that the machine pistol now stands along with walkie-talkies and handcuffs as technical gadget staples.

The kits themselves, recommended for those with experience crafting, produce exquisitely-detailed models. They will be available from Gestalten and Amazon.

See more images after the jump.

Brimfield Antiques Market Fall 2009

by Ami Kealoha

Enticed by stories of car-sized vintage disco balls, taxidermy albino peacocks and optometry instruments, I recently set off with a couple friends to Brimfield, a small town about an hour outside of Boston, to visit the week-long antiques fair that takes place there three times yearly.

Thanks to VW, who hooked up with one of our favorite current rides, a Volkswagen Touareg TDI, we had the perfect transportation to safely carry us through the unfortunate downpours (props to the powerfully thorough windshield wipers) and with ample room to cart home our purchases. We also came equipped with Nikon's as yet unreleased D5000, a robust prosumer model that my trip-mate, photographer (and de facto CH photo editor) James Ryang used to document the characters and scenes that make up the fair.

With his expert eye, James' photos take in the sheer quantity of stuff we saw and frame them into a study of (mostly) early American design and the dealers and shoppers who love it. As James commented on the photo of the above cart-puller (one of many that we saw), "That's the story right there."

From cast-iron lawn sprinklers to 8 x 10 view cameras, we learned that there are collectors for everything. He also captured the absurd contrasts that pop up in the often haphazard jumble of stuff—compositions that are easy to overlook in all the clutter.

See lots more after the jump. Also, check James' blog for several we didn't publish here (as well as his other gorgeous personal work).

Stay tuned for more from Brimfield, including a few profiles on some of our favorite dealers and what we took home with us.