Secret Garden by MirkoG. di Brandimarte

all photos by Oskar Cecere [via Trend Hunter]

Remember that time in 2012 when the world was supposed to end? And I vowed to never mention the Mayan calendar again after posting this? Well, I lied, but it's for the very good reason of bringing you MirkoG. di Brandimarte's Spring 2013 ad campaign, Secret Garden.

Set in a post-apocalyptic world, the feminine, flowing pastels modeled by Anastasia Silveri make for a striking contrast to the desolate landscape.

The Man Cave of Alketas Pazis

photo © Vassilis Skopelitis [all via Yatzer]

Interiors can so often skew toward the feminine. Monochrome pastel motifs? Rock crystal chandeliers? Yes, please.

Suddenly, though, I find myself with a number of new male readers thanks to last week's custom suit giveaway. (Congrats to John Zukowski, who I announced as the winner via Twitter on Saturday, and thank you to all who entered!) But suit or no suit, I want these guys to feel welcome here. Skip the fashion posts if you must, but stay for the rest, because there should be nothing inherently female in great design.

Just take the home of Alketas Pazis. As the savvy collector behind Temporary Showroom in Greece, Pazis lovingly reclaims industrial objects from the 1900s through 1950s, renting them out for commercials and films and operating as a vintage trading house. It's no wonder, then, that his own living space adjoining the showroom exhibits such eclecticism and attention to detail.

With warm woods, charcoal walls and the requisite mounted stag head, Pazis' home takes the image of the man cave to the next level. No foosball tables or neon signs here; just sophisticated high design without the gilded, girly trimmings.

Animal Chairs by MollaSpace

Some time ago, I featured a very angry chair by Marcel Wanders, kicking off my fascination with anthropomorphic furniture. Last night, though, thanks to a  sale on Fab.com, I became aware of a far less sinister but equally adorable alternative. 

A collaboration between California-based MollaSpace and Taiwanese design firm biaugust, these animal chairs are hand-rendered in four species: buffalo, poodle, lamb and pony. Each chair normally sells for $540, but Fab is offering them up for $475 for the next few days. I'd scoop one up myself if I had anywhere to put it.

*Don't forget to enter to win a custom suit courtesy of Indochino!

Win a Custom Suit from Indochino

SPONSORED GIVEAWAY 

Men of Boston: Back away from the Celtics jersey! It's time to step up your game and suit up!

Indochino, the leader in custom online menswear, is opening a brick and mortar pop-up shop at 234 Clarendon St. in Back Bay from March 22 through April 15, and they're giving one Well-Appointed Catwalk reader a custom Essential Collection two-piece suit to celebrate.

While the Boston pop-up shop will certainly make it easy for locals to get measured and choose their fabrics, this giveaway is open to all since Indochino ships internationally. (They'll even send you a tape measure to ensure your made-to-measure suit fits just right.) To enter the giveaway:

1. Follow The Well-Appointed Catwalk on either Facebook or Twitter
2. Follow Indochino on either Facebook or Twitter
3. Leave one comment below telling me you've done so.

For an extra entry, you may share news of the giveaway on Facebook or Twitter and leave one additional comment below.

Entries will be accepted through the end of the day on Friday, March 22, at which point I will randomly choose a winner to be announced the following day. 

Regardless of who wins, Bostonians should sign up for an appointment with Indochino's traveling tailor here. Prices are remarkably reasonable for a quality custom suit, and registering for an appointment in advance entitles you to a complimentary dress shirt and gift set with any suit purchase. 

Good luck!

*This is a sponsored post. However, all opinions expressed here are my own. Read about my policies regarding sponsorship here.

Lucky Charms for St. Patrick's Day

Top to bottom: Clover and Horse Shoe ($68 each) by Samantha Faye  / Bracelets by Sisco+Berluti /
Large Wishbone Bangle ($240) and Large Pendant Wishbone ($280) by Celia de Flers

Here in Boston, we take St. Paddy's Day very seriously. So seriously, in fact, that I wouldn't recommend stepping outside this Sunday unless you're prepared to join in the green beer-swilling madness. Otherwise, you'll just be dodging revelers.

It only makes sense, then, that we turn to some local jewelry designers for a little luck of the Irish. Samantha Faye's Clover and Horse Shoe necklaces are part of Newton-native Samantha's Freedman's supremely layer-able collection of charms, while Sisco+Berluti's evil eye amulet comes from Westwood sisters Lisa Sisco and Carolyn Berluti

Celia de Flers' Wishbone collection isn't local - this Parisian transplant is based in L.A. - but they say good luck comes in threes! Here's to a very lucky St. Patrick's Day.

Weekend House at Raigad by Matharoo Associates

[all photos via Matharoo Associates or Architizer]

For years, India has been on my "must visit" list for its ancient relics and rich culture. Never did I consider that it might also be a destination for luxury modern architecture, but Matharoo Associates has opened my eyes. Based in the state of Gujarat, Matharoo's architects are building all manner of unexpected concrete and steel structures across India, including this incredible weekend house at Raigad.

Read the architects' statement and see more photos after the jump.

Boston's own "Shoe Obsession:" Acid Tongued Angel

Cinderella Gone Bad by Acid Tongued Angel

With the new "Shoe Obsession" exhibit now open at the Museum at FIT and the upcoming release of the book by the same name, T Magazine featured some off the most delectable shoe porn fit to print last week. That's New York news of course, but for once, Boston may be right in step.

As it turns out, our city has its own avant-garde footwear designer in Annie Jean-Baptiste, who launched Acid Tongued Angel two years ago through her blog and Etsy store. She now sells designs like the Mermaid (a heel covered in broken sea glass, gold flecks and sea shells) and the Acid Gets Trashed (a junk yard inspired creation of spikes, screws and studs) mainly through fashion shows and word of mouth.

Acid Tongued Angel's signature shoe, the Cinderella Gone Bad (above), is a modern take on the fairy tale glass slipper, complete with broken glass and rhinestone baubles. All of Jean-Baptiste's designs are custom made, ranging in price from $15 for bespoke bows to to $500 for one-of-a-kind heels.

Not enough shoe porn for you? There are more photos from Acid Tongued Angel after the jump.

The Architecture of Terunobu Fujimori

Top to bottom: Terunobu Fujimori's Charred Cedar House, Coal House and Guest House
[all photos by Adam Friedberg for Dwell]

I first became familiar with Terunobu Fujimori and his Too High Tea House when I was researching tree houses for "Fly Away Home." It was only recently, though, that I realized the depth and breadth of his work.

A modern eccentric with traditional Japanese sensibilities, according to Dwell, Fujimori is not only an architect but also a scholar and professor of architectural history. Just as the Too High Tea House is a quirky, contemporary interpretation of an age-old Japanese cultural establishment, Fujimori continuously looks to the past to inform his forward-thinking designs.

Just take the Charred Cedar House, Coal House and Guest House above. Nothing can be more modern than these structures and shapes, not to mention that precarious cantilevering. Yet, the charred effect is achieved by an ancient, painstaking technique that seals the wood from rain, rot and insects for up to 80 years. (You can see Fujimori demonstrate the fascinating process here.)

Hippie Chic at the MFA Boston

Left to right: Woman's Jacket by Bary and Yoscha Finch, 1970 (museum purchase with funds donated by the Fashion Council, Muse) / Woman's Ensemble in 3 Parts by Roy Halston Frowick (Halston), about 1970 (museum purchase with funds donated anonymously). Photographs © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

Spring may be all about mod, but the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, is delving into a very different area of '60s fashion come summer. With its upcoming exhibit, Hippie Chic, the MFA takes a look at the counterculture fashions that appeared alongside the social and political upheavals of the late '60s and early '70s - fashions that both rejected haute couture and, in turn, influenced it.

Hippie Chic will feature around 50 ensembles, many of them new acquisitions, and will run from July 16 through November 11. The phrase "Get psyched!" never seemed so appropriate. More photos follow...

It's a Mod Mod World

Tim Walker for LOVE Magazine Issue 9 

I had already been planning a post on spring's mod resurgence when I spotted these photos by Tim Walker on his site. Published in LOVE Magazine's latest issue and featuring iconic '60s model Peggy Moffit, I now feel completely validated in my fashion forecasting.

To be honest, though, the trend was hard to miss. Marc Jacobs was just one of many designers dabbling in mod for the S/S '13 shows, with a black and white graphic namesake collection and bright, checkerboard prints for Louis Vuitton. Even the ever-colorful Proenza Schouller boys featured an abundance of all red, white and black ensembles on the runway. And then, of course, there's Banana Republic's latest Mad Men collection.

Pulling off the trend in real life can be tricky, but the right pieces will add some drama without verging into costume territory. Give these a try...