International Klein Blue Sunglasses by Etnia Barcelona

photos courtesy of Etnia Barcelona

In time for summer's last hurrah come these ultramarine sunnies from Etnia Barcelona. Etnia's International Klein Blue collection represents the first time that the Yves Klein Archives have authorized a brand to use the vibrant color patented by the French artist.

A really brief art history lesson: As a leader in Nouveau Réalisme, Yves Klein featured 11 identical blue canvases made of ultramarine pigment suspended in synthetic resin at his Milan art exhibit in 1957. Discovering the brilliant hue with the help of a Parisian paint dealer, Klein patented this color "recipe" as International Klein Blue, and it remained omnipresent throughout his career.

The International Klein Blue collection features vintage-inspired frames and very now/very retro mirrored lenses in the signature hue. Each pair is made in Spain and retails for $297. Major plus: royalties from the collection are donated to Orphanaid, a non-profit helping vulnerable children and their families in Ghana.

Palo Alto Remodel by Lindsay Chambers

all photos by Chris Stark

Ah, Palo Alto... the playground of the rich and famous. Rich and famous techies, that is. Surrounded by companies like Google, Apple and Facebook, this charming little city in Silicon Valley is known for having one of the priciest housing markets around. But, as it turns out, there was still some room for improvement when Lindsay Chambers dug into her latest project.

Midweek Covet: Jimmy Choo Vanish Ankle Boots

"Vanish" ink Suede and black calf ankle boots by Jimmy Choo ($995)

Jimmy Choo, you've ruined me. I was supremely spoiled with a pair of your sparkly heels for my wedding day, and now that I'm privy to the surprising comfort that can be found in a 4-inch stiletto, no other brand will do. Of course, I haven't actually bought another pair since then, thanks to the steep price of luxury, but I hereby proclaim myself a brand devotee nonetheless. (A girl can dream.)

When I do give in to temptation (or, more accurately, when sale season begins), these "Vanish" ankle boots will be mine. That geometric heel reminds me of Céline's gorgeous spring collection, and the combination of navy suede and black leather is just so damn chic. Plus, I tried these on in the Tannery last week just to torture myself, and they look and feel amazing.

Oh, by the way, my birthday's in October, and I'm a size 35 (wink, wink).

Craigieburn Library by Francis Jones Morehen Thorp named Public Library of the Year

Denmark has crowned the best new public library, and the winner is... Australian. The competition between foreign and Danish libraries was established by the Danish Agency for Culture and sponsored by Danish firm schmidt hammer lassen architects. But, despite all that Danish influence, it was the Craigieburn Library in Hume City, Victoria, Australia, that took the top prize for 2014.

Designed by Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp, it's easy to see why: Walls of glass and the striking interplay of light and shadow make Craigieburn the perfect spot for studying or whiling the day away in a stack of books.

More photos after the jump...

A Perfume Bottle Selfie Camera from Sony

all photos by Sony [courtesy of IDG News Service]

I can't decide if Sony's latest camera, the Cyber-shot DSC-KW11, is an insult to women everywhere or an ingenious marketing ploy. Announced today in Shanghai and Hong Kong, the new camera is designed specifically for selfie addicts in the shape of a perfume bottle, complete with Swarovski crystals and available in white, pink, green or violet.

What appears to be the perfume bottle's cap is actually a wide-angle 21-mm lens that swivels 180 degrees for easy selfie shooting. Photographers can then use the camera's "Beauty Effect" to perfect skin tone and smoothness, slim the face, or widen the eyes before posting directly to social media via built-in WiFi connectivity.

Designer Discovery: Claudia Li

all photos courtesy of Parsons The New School For Design [via Style.com]

The wonderful wormhole of Pinterest recently led me to Claudia Li, whose graduate collection for Spring 2014 was a standout among her classmates at Parsons. The voluminous cocoons Li sent down the runway may not be all together wearable, but they exhibit a pairing of drama and simplicity that's rare to find among fashion veterans, let alone students.

Azerbaijani Rug Art by Faig Ahmed

Section sculpture of plastic and woolen handmade carpet

Born, bred and based in Baku, Azerbaijan, Faig Ahmed takes the art of traditional Azerbaijani rug weaving and turns it completely on its head with his handmade wool carpets, sculptures and installations. Disassembling traditional rugs and rearranging their compositions, Ahmed creates entirely contemporary works of art based on an age-old technique, and the results are incredible. Check 'em out!

Top 3 Picks from Altuzarra for Target

It's here! The full Altuzarra for Target lookbook landed in my inbox today, and while I wasn't totally on the money with my predictions (no cutouts or faux shearling), I was right about those slits, which make an appearance in each of my favorite looks from the collection.

First up is an Asian-inspired structured dress with crane embroidery at the collar paired with ankle strap heels and a faux croc belt. Striking, no?

3x9 House by a21studio

all photos via a21studio

If you thought East Coast city living was cramped, meet the 3x9 House, a project completed by a21studio in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. At 3 meters wide by 9 meters deep, the architecture firm was tasked with renovating an old house in the highly dense city to create a more comfortable and functional space. In total, the home is just 27 square meters, or around 290 square feet.

You're Invited: 9W♥InStyle Fall Launch Party

SPONSORED POST 

Ooh, a party! Head over to Nine West at Copley this Wednesday evening to celebrate 9W♥InStyle's Fall collection, which looks pretty fabulous based on my sneak peek. InStyle accessories director Leah Karp will be on hand with expert styling tips, and you'll walk away with a swag bag curated by the fashion magazine. That's in addition to the new heels/clutch/jewelry you won't be able to resist, of course. Be sure to RSVP to NineWest_Boston@timeinc.com.

*This is a sponsored post for Single Edition Media on behalf of InStyle and Nine West. However, all opinions expressed here are my own. Read about my policies regarding sponsorship here.

Fashion Logos by Mike Frederiqo

YSL [all images by Mike Frederiqo via imgur]

I'm just loving these quirky and totally unofficial brand logos by Dutch artist Mike Frederiqo. Reinterpreting iconic fashion imagery, Frederiqo creates interlocking Cs of Coco Chanel, seats Ralph Lauren on his ubiquitous Polo pony and has Anna Wintour doing acrobatics to spell out Vogue.

Conceptual Designs by 1 Week 1 Project

Casa Futebol [all images by 1 Week 1 Project] 

Based on conceptual designs for repurposing Brazil's World Cup stadiums into apartments, Mashable today bemoans the failure of concepts like these to take shape. It's a fantastic article that questions the purpose of all conceptual design, but what a boring world it would be if designers were dissuaded from imagining the improbable!

In fact, the firm behind the Brazil plans tasks themselves only with the improbable. 1 Week 1 Project (or 1W1P), founded by École Nationale Supérieure d'Architecture de Paris-Belleville graduates Axel de Stampa and Sylvain Macaux, does exactly as its name implies, creating one conceptual project per week. While they may never amount to much, it is conceptual works like these that fill the design world with inspiration for what is possible. Just take a look at the work...

Responsible Raffia Handbags by Ma'mitons

As if you needed an excuse to buy the perfect beach bag, these raffia beauties by Ma'mitons are both eco-friendly and socially responsible. The brainchild of Cameroon native Priscilla Njankou, Ma'mitons partners with skilled artisans from all over the Cameroon, providing them with job opportunities and fair pay.