jojotastic

May 2, 2013

Say it with me, COBALT!! I’ve been waiting for this one, guys. One of my favorite colors ever, cobalt is a ‘Joanna color’ meaning that I wear it entirely too often. I love how rich it is, how bright, how luminous. I own about 10 shirts in this bold, saturated hue… and most of them are silk. Dry and slightly paper-y, silk makes cobalt positively sing. Needless to say, May is going to be a good month.

links top to bottom left to right: hand painted dress from DDLSS / Elle Netherlands / Everything You Love to Hate / grid shibori pillow by Rebecca Atwood / pinched petal bowls from Suite One Studio

check out more Color of the Month posts here!

look what i did!

May 1, 2013

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look what i did

Warning: there will be a few of these posts in the coming weeks! Summer product has hit stores and, I must admit, it’s a season of product that I truly loved designing. I have so much to share with you so let’s start with the Medersa Pillows.

Inspired by our design director’s trip to Bordrum, Turkey, each pillow features hand-drawn traditional susani motifs that are layered and cropped. Perhaps it’s because I’m Greek, but something about that trip inspiration really spoke to me! Picturing crisp cobalt and white boats cutting through the turqoise waters, I drew each motif on these pillows by hand, then used Photoshop to complete the layouts for each side.

Set against a pure white canvas base, I love the way the jewel-tone colors pop. Like these other pillows I did, they feature crewelwork embroidery and are completely reversible. This time around though, I tried to keep the backs a bit more modern and graphic, while letting the fronts be an ethnic punch for any decor.

images via Anthropologie

meow meow tweet giveaway!

April 30, 2013

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beauty + cosmetics, pretty packaging

When picking cosmetics and toiletries, I tend to steer away from overly sweet fragrances, icky chemicals, and ingredients I don’t immediately recognize (and can’t pronounce!). I always spring for products that are good for me and the environment. In my mind, it’s worth the extra money.

My love of Meow Meow Tweet is well-documented (see previous post here), so I was thrilled when they approached me about offering a special treat to my readers! This week one lucky reader will win the motherload: a bundle of these six all-natural, cruelty-free, hand crafted products!

deodorant cream
vegan lip balm
all natural insect repellant
3 bars of soap: might I suggest the Lavender Lemon and Tangerine Basil?

To enter, simply go to the Meow Meow Tweet website and leave a comment here about which product you’d most like to try! One winner will be chosen at random by Tuesday May 7, 2013 at 10 am EST. Open to US and Canadian residents only. Winner will receive 6 products as listed above. Retail value is $62.

Please note it takes a couple of minutes for each comment to post. Don’t worry, it’s there!

the ultimate tote: forestbound originals

April 29, 2013

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accessories, want list

It seems like everyone gives out totes these days. Go to a conference, get a free tote. Start a new job, get a free tote. They’ve become ubiquitous, mainstream… dare I say, common. However, I really dislike how… disposable they’ve become. I understand they need to be available at a lower pricepoint to make them accessible and easy to use, but at what point does it work against the environment we are trying to help when the totes are so cheap that they tear after a few uses? As you can tell, I am exasperated!

Enter Forestbound Originals. Boston-based designer Alice Saunders hunts for well-worn vintage fabrics and hardware in the ever-plentiful flea markets of New England. Alice then uses her findings to create one-of-a-kind totes. For example, this tote is made of sturdy canvas salvaged from a WWII era US Navy sea bag and trimmed with a 1940′s era lumber apron and cowhide. Because each tote is made from re-purposed materials, it’s almost like you get bonus points for sustainability!

Rugged, vintage, and raw, I love the way these totes look, too. I have a deep admiration for vintage typography and signage, so the more graphic design-inspired fabrics really speak to me. They just don’t make ‘em like they used to…

images via Forestbound Originals

insta-week – no. 33

April 28, 2013

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instagram

It’s always funny to me how summer suddenly surprises us all and shows up. All I can think about right now is being outside. My ice cream intake has tripled, my allergies are in full bloom, and my skin is showing the first signs of freckling. And, despite my ghostly pale skin, I sported shorts today for the first time this year. Summer is upon us!

I had a few adventures this week, but I have to say… the highlight was getting to meet Maddie of Maddie on Things. I knew she was coming to the Anthro office as part of the Maddie On Things book tour, but I was not prepared for the giddiness I would feel upon seeing her in the lobby. That face you see? It is pure, pure glee. Special thanks to Maddie’s owner, Theron Humphrey for being so patient with me as I fawned all over his dog.

Also, like those pants? Read more about my outfit here!

How about those sparkles?? That is the Big Sur Compass ring from Of a Kind. I love the simplicity and, to be frank, strangeness of this ring. It is unlike any other piece of jewelry I own and totally one of my favorites.

Lastly, in case you missed them, here are my posts for Anthology last week: Bath Necessity: Woven Handtowels and Wrap it Up: Packaging Ideas for Mother’s Day.

photos by Jojotastic using Instagram — follow me here!

outfit of the day: crazy pants

April 26, 2013

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fashion, style

Remember when I divulged my love of muumuus? Well, here’s another confession: I heart crazy pants. Gimme bold prints, wacky color combos, and convention-defying fits, ’cause I eat that mix for breakfast. Take these ikat printed linen pants, for example. The truly bizarre palette combines bubblegum pink, minty blue, a weird shade of brownish charcoal grey, and a taupe color that soooort of looks like my tinted moisturizer. But throw in high paperbag waist and a peg-leg silhouette and you’ve got total perfection.

When sporting a crazy pant, mind you, do hold back on the rest of the look. Lest you look…you know…crazy. I paired mine with a simple black racerback tank from Splendid and sky high suede wedges from Shoemint. The finishing touches are my favorite sunglasses and clock pendant necklace.

Obligatory jumping photo…

I shot this particular look to enter Splendid’s Coast to Coast giveaway. If you share your east coast or west coast style by uploading a photo to Facebook, you could win a $1000 giftcard! The contest ends May 1, so jump on it and enter soon. Check more details here… or vote for me!

links: pants (similar – mine are from a past season at Anthropologie) / racerback tank from Splendid (similiar) / wedges from Shoemint / Free People sunglasses / clock pendant necklace

photos by Chloe Grigri for Jojotastic

color of the month / coral

April 25, 2013

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accessories, color of the month

While I’m a bit sad to say this is my last post about coral, I am rather pleased by this gathering of punchy, perky accessories. I truly feel like this collection shows just how versatile coral can be. Whether it’s geometric, hardware-inspired rings or natural raffia dipdyed in coral, each piece sings and complements any look! How will you be adding coral to your life this spring?

links: coral link cuff from Bauble Bar / ring set from Gorjana / Splendid wedges / Tart Deco polish from Essie / necklace from Net-a-porter / Topshop sunglasses / raffia clutch from Calypso St. Barth

check out more Color of the Month posts here!

let’s get intimate: best bra ever

April 24, 2013

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fashion

Here’s a fun fact about me: when I’m having a rough day, chances are I’m wearing something a bit lacy underneath all my clothes. There’s something about quality lingerie that perks me up and gives me a boost of confidence. Thanks to Oprah, we all know the importance of wearing a properly fitted bra… but why can’t they be pretty, too?? When lingerie shopping, I veer away from molded, padded cups, plain Jane elastic straps, and anything that could possibly be considered a sports bra.

Enter Free People’s Cheeky Lace Bra. Ever so lightly lined, this lace balconette bra (read: cleavage for days and super flattering) is my new best friend. I may have purchased 3 in one shopping excursion (with many more color options waiting in my online cart). The fact is that I am not an amply endowed girl, so this bra is perfect for me. And the best part? Free People offers complimentary fittings, ensuring an Oprah-approved fit.

photos by Jojotastic

mother’s day gift guide: pastel perfection

April 23, 2013

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shopping + gift guides

May 12 is fast approaching, guys. That means one thing: showing some serious love to all the mommas in the world! While you should be grateful for your mom every day of the year, let’s make this one extra special. Here are a few finds that will turn your mom to mush this Mothers Day.

highball glasses from Rosanna
Loren Hope cuff
speckled jar from Leif
dessert plate from Baba Souk
patterned throw from Crane & Canopy
Clare Vivier foldover clutch

If your mom has a bit of a sweet tooth check out Mother’s Little Helpers giftset from New York Mouth.

Talk about pastel perfection, these Suite One Studio creamers are enough to wow any mom!

celebrate earth day with BeGood

April 22, 2013

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fashion, the great outdoors

Founded under the mantra that you don’t have to wear burlap to be eco-friendly, BeGood believes that each purchase you make should have meaning. For example, when you purchase this toothbrush, a toothbrush is donated to a child in need. Each piece of clothing on BeGood is handpicked for maximum global benefit while still being functional, beautiful, and highly desirable. I’ve certainly got my eye on that cobalt silk number — when this top is purchased BeGood donates a meal to the San Francisco non-profit, Project Open Hand, which delivers meals and groceries to critically ill people in the Bay Area!

So, let’s celebrate this Earth Day with a sweet deal: BeGood is offering Jojotastic readers 20% off all orders today through April 29,2013. Just use code jojobegood at the checkout. Head on over to check out gorgeous silk blouses, summer-perfect maxi skirts, and some colorful totes!

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