I.D. Annual Design Review.

One of our favorite mags for keeping up with the ever changing design world is I.D. and the latest issue, the 2006 Annual Design Review, is America’s largest and most prestigious juried design competition. Now into its 52nd iteration, this issue is filled with latest and greatest in the world of design from the past year. Curated by both the I.D. staff and leading designers, the review is an apt snapshot of the contemporary state of design. Categories include Consumer Products, Environments, Furniture, and Concepts with the Calphalon Katana Series Cutlery, Graphics from the Walker Art Center, and Packaging from Birdie Hangtag representing just a few of this years winners. You can check out the other big names in this year's competition and those who merit mention at I.D. Online or to see all the winners pick a copy of the July/August Issue and feast your eyes on the overwhelming amount of fabulous design.

The Brand Underground.

The idiom of today’s alienated (or anyway, hipster) youth isn’t art or music or literature. It’s turning an idea you have — or maybe your self — into a product. Go to Article

Gap Tries On European Styles

The retailers's American look isn't drawing enough buyers, so its launching a London design studio to tap into European tastes. Read more.

FALL trends at Anthropologie.

Check out the skinny at Anthropologie for the newest fall arrivals - a feminine take on menswear, the new greys and a cool refreshing selection of organic patterns.

NEW Organic Men's line at Origins.

ORIGINS, ONE OF THE FIRST all-natural beauty brands, has built itself from a maverick label into a full-scale feel-good institution. Now 16 years old, the brand has finally come out with its first complete collection of men’s grooming and skin care products. The line is full of fragrant, wholesome ingredients that allude to just the right combination of adventure and luxury ($10 to $18.50 at Origins stores). Products include the Easy Slider pre-shave oil with sesame oil and organic jojoba to reduce nicks; Fire Fighter Plus beard-taming after-shave soother with algae and caffeine extracts to hydrate; Fire Fighter with chamomile and winterbloom to take the burn out of shaving; Blade Runner shave cream with kukui nut oil to calm skin; and Skin Diver active charcoal body wash with bamboo charcoal for deep cleaning, spearmint for a refreshing kick and rosemary for — well, that’s for remembrance.

MALIN + GOETZ private styles.

IN THEIR 13 YEARS TOGETHER, Matthew Malin, left, and Andrew Goetz have always appreciated, even celebrated, how little they have in common. “We’re opposites in every way,” said Mr. Malin, 38. “Andrew loves to cook, and I hate to cook. He loves to clean, I hate it. He’s opinionated, I’m diplomatic. He’s Jewish, and I’m Christian.” The main inspiration for the couple’s streamlined unisex skin care line, Malin & Goetz, was yet another yin and yang. “Andrew has oily skin and mine is dry,” Mr. Malin said. “We wanted to create products we could both use.”

The men share facial cleanser, but not shopping habits. Mr. Malin, who has been a buyer at Barneys and developed beauty products for Prada and Helmut Lang, is a fashion fanatic. “I could have a thousand coats, bags and shoes,” he said. “I like anything that makes me look thin.”

Mr. Goetz, who previously worked in marketing at the modern furniture company Vitra, called himself impatient.

“I’d rather shop once a season and get it over with. But I could have a million pairs of sneakers.” On a recent day outside their Chelsea shop with their dogs Junior, left, and Bob, Mr. Goetz combined a vintage T-shirt with vintage Gucci trousers and Puma sneakers.

Mr. Malin wore an Earnest Sewn shirt, Helmut Lang pants and Converse sneakers. Mr. Goetz often dips into Mr. Malin’s T-shirt collection and gladly takes hand-me-downs, but otherwise there is no wardrobe overlap, Mr. Goetz said. “Our closets are separate but equal.”
JENNIFER TUNG (NYTimes)

Take your T-shirt to go.

Mobile fashion is making inroads, bringing sought-after clothes to your door. Read more

Fashion Emergency At Wal-Mart
Shoppers are ignoring the racks. Can the chain change its style-challenged image?
Read more.