Tadashi Shoji said he wanted the girls to look angelic, like they’re going to take flight. Take flight they did in his Fall/Winter 2011 presentation at New York’s Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. The show was a stunning spectacle to say the least.

Known for his feminine silhouettes and clean lines that often grace red carpets (Julie Bowen’s nude dress at the Golden Globes was a favorite), Shoji wowed the crowd with his elegant collection inspired by the gardens of the far east. Drawing inspiration from the beauty of nature, “the art of birds dancing, branches intertwining, rock formation and light reflecting in water”, Shoji brings the stage to life, evoking a sense of serenity and purity.

The presentation began on a soft and demure note, showing one-shouldered draped cocktail dresses, incredibly classy feathered skirts, feather-accented shoulders and collarbones and feather-like lace tiers that continued the aviary theme. Each piece was made with a simplicity that compliments the female form.

The colors were absolutely gorgeous ranging from muted neutrals and earth tones like black, cream, gray and olive then progressing into evening wear. Exuberant jewel-toned, long floor-lenghth gowns graced the runway. Bursts of yellow, deep purple, magenta, navy and rich shades of floral and emerald green glided in formation.

Even with bolder jewel tones that would be at home on a parrot the entire line exuded a tranquil and peaceful aesthetic through fabrics like silk crepe, silk organza and chiffon mixed with delicate lace. The material created beautiful movement throughout the collection. Intricate rouching, draping, feathers, rosettes and floral appliques added a touch of elegance.

Overall the collection was very visually appealing and well-rounded, offering every type of dress from lace to strapless, to asymmetrical and flowing. The palates and accents were incredible and each piece appeared to be worn effortlessly, mirroring the collection’s overall ease of wear. We were really impressed with Shoji’s ability to seize the runway with such captivating colors, fabrics and fit. The attention to female form in such a vibrant and sophisticated way, while maintaining a fun and youthful energy, is what stands out most in his work. This collection is one that will please everyone from fashion editors and celebrities to the every day consumer.

The memory of late architect Charles Gwathmey, who passed away 3 August this year, is being honored with a new eponymous professorship at the Yale School of Architecture faciliated by the generosity of American designer Ralph Lauren.

Lauren and his wife, Ricky, shared a close friendship with Gwathmey, whose vast design résumé includes the Holocaust Memorial in Berlin, the Yale Arts Complex, and various housing and urban design projects — all executed in his iconic “High Modernist” style.

The Charles Gwathmey professorship serves not only as a living tribute to the architect, but also as a means of fostering growth into the design community and encouraging the flow of fresh, new ideas: something which will never go out of style.

Read the full story {Archinect}

These delicious, made-to-order cookies have a far grander purpose than your typical baked good: they aim to be miniature works of art, inspired by the artistic and European cultures of the owner’s history, that are anything but ordinary.

Each cookie is named for a city that embodies a specific architectural school. Feeling neo-classical? Much on the Edinburgh – a shortbread cookie with French cocoa – or try the New Delhi – a Valencia Orange Scented Cookie with Curry, Cinnamon, Almonds and Toasted Coconut.

Of course, all this artistic/cultural import would mean nothing if they weren’t tasty, but oh are they ever. In the words of the editor at myGourmetConnection, these morsels are “sheer perfection in the form of delicious and exotic cookies and sweets.”

You can order these cookies by the dozen or choose from the suggested collections, and they’ll be whipped up to arrive at your door two days later. Sounds like the perfect holiday gift to us!

Read More {Elsylee Galetes Artesanals}

Read More {Daily Candy}

Read More {myGourmetConnection}

Its existence has troubled academics and artists since the second half of the 20th century, but that hasnâ€t stopped millions from living there – people who either see it as a utopia or a living hell. Despite its notoriety and ubiquitous nature, however, it remains perennially overshadowed and virtually forgotten as a travel destination.

Iâ€m talking, of course, about suburbia.

If youâ€re like most urbanites, any mention of the ‘burbs conjures terrifying images of soulless houses, minivans filled with screaming children, maybe even a WalMart or two. But my fellow city-goers, as much as you tell yourself that thereâ€s no reason to ever venture beyond your cityâ€s limits, Iâ€m not afraid to voice the unpopular point: the suburbs has something unique – and maybe even better – to offer you.

Consider: when was the last time you toured a city and genuinely experienced the life of a typical inhabitant? That you ate not at a cutting edge café with “fusion” food and fussy, miniscule entrees, but at a restaurant with unabashedly local flavors and a community-oriented ambiance? That you witnessed the beauty of nature from an oasis of civilization?

Itâ€s time to stop unthinkingly dismissing the ‘burbs and uncover what they really have to offer. My first stop? Think turquoise-blue waters, expansive Midwestern skies, world-renowned architecture, and hearty food worth venturing into the bitter cold for – all tens of miles outside of Chicago.
Click “Next Page” to read on about the unappreciated bright spots of Evanston, and find out why there’s more to this college town than Northwestern.