Score + Solder

via Score + Solder

Decorating with plants was never the problem; it was keeping them alive that was the hard part.  That’s why we’re loving these Score + Solder terraniums, all handmade by Matthew Cleland.  (Can also imagine them as fish tanks!)  Not just because vegetation from the desert grasslands can still exist even in times of neglect (big plus), but the terraniums come in unconventional shapes like quartz and geodesic that exude a certain mystical air.   Quite suiting since Matthew is described as, “A traveling gypsy…skills passed down through ten generations and continued by this magician. With a flask in one and a soldering iron in the other, he brings you one of a kind pieces of art.”  Solder on, Matthew, solder on!

Tags: cool designs, matthew cleland, quartz, score + solder, terraniums, traveling gypsy

Niko

images via Niko

The aliens and outer space theme for our first Gallery set was drawn up by our good friend Tomoko Matsui.  We intentionally wanted an artificial look that mixed illustrations with the clothing – check it out here!  Above are a few of our favorites from Tomoko’s illustrations; we love her style – the photos have a touch of melancholy sweetness mixed with bright cartoonish colors and sinister details.

For more, check out her website here:  Niko

Tags: graphic illustrator, illustrations, niko, tomoko matsui

Pony Stone

lookbook images courtesy of Pony Stone

1.     Sheer pleated nude maxi skirt
2.    Crochet bustier tank
3.    Cut-out sides knotted front tunic

4.    Zip away cut-out dress
5.    Sheer stripes long dress
6.    Swinging fringe white tank
7.    Sheer wide legged pants with lace shorts

Bangkok’s heat and humidity has reshaped my wardrobe greatly to include items that are unfussy and don’t require a lot of extra add-ons.  Before in colder climates, it was all about the love for layering.  Most of the clothes hanging in my closet that I naively hauled across the sea has been left neglected and unworn since moving here because, you know, this dress only looks good under that shirt when worn over this tunic-dress-thing with these tights.    Dressed like that here though you’re destined to heat rash and possible fainting spells.

So happy was I when I found Pony Stone and its cool rocker chick meets vintage girl vibe, a local label designed by Boom who graduated from Central Saint Martins in London.  Here at Olive Shoppe we like both ends of the fashion spectrum – progressive and experimental or straightforward and easy to wear.  Although her designs appear simple at first glance, it’s all about the little details mixed in that take it one notch up; like the hidden zippers on a dress with lace trim showing when unzipped or the subtle textural contrast of lace and mesh on a pair of wide legged pants.   The designs look good enough worn by itself but if you’re like me and feel naked without an extra layer or two over it (excluding current climatic circumstances) they also work amazing as a layering tool  ~ hellooo sheer-y goodness and uneven hems!
Now sold exclusively at Olive Shoppe – shop here.

Tags: bangkok designers, central saint martins, olive shoppe, pony stone

Eriko Nakao

images via Sugar Guerilla

One of our current girl obsessions right now is Tokyo model, Eriko Nakao.  We love her unconventional beauty and expressions that resemble a deer caught in the headlights.    Check out  Sugar Guerilla, a blog by Eriko Nakao, TY and Rie Shiraishi (designer for accessories brand Vargas) for more eye-candy, mainly photos of Eriko from various photo shoots for Vargas and Shibuya boutique, Sister.

Tags: eriko nakao, rie shiraishi, sister tokyo, vargas

Little Thing

editorial photos via Little Thing

Our new Olive Shoppe site redesign is  finally finished and we’re finally getting around to starting this blog!  It all took longer than expected with its fair share of frustrations and curses at the screen, but now that all the technical headache-inducing bit is behind us we can go forward to the fun parts.  So take a peek at the new look and tell us what you think.

A little while back on another visa run (never thought I’d ever say it but being forced to go traveling does become a nuisance) out of Thailand we flew to Hong Kong for a few days and made a side-trip into Shenzhen to visit our friends, Timmy and Jason, the creators of Little Thing 戀物志 magazine, and see their new shop.   Some of you may already be familiar with Little Thing magazine, since they often do features and mini-interviews with fashion bloggers.   The styling of the fashion editorials in their issues are always vintage-inspired with a hazy, dreamy mood about them but with a touch of quirkiness reminiscent of Japan’s So-En mag.  The shop translates this feeling very well bringing to life the pages of their magazine; the space is decorated with flea-market finds from their travels abroad,  racks and counter-tops made from salvaged materials, and misplaced old trunks and armoires showcasing wares, all give you the sense like you’re foraging for treasure in grandma’s attic.   Stocking both menswear and womenswear, labels like TBA, Blonde and Bean of Jack from Bangkok can be found plus a cool collection of retro-styled sunglasses from a local designer that’s produced by the same factory as Karen Walker’s.  Along with clothing, they also have a good collection of vintage purses, handmade accessories and stationary designed by local artists.   Even being herded like cattle across the HK/Mainland border twice was well worth the visit.

Little Thing Shop
深圳市南山区香山东街华侨城创意园北区A4栋113-114
113-114, Block A4, OCT-LOFT, East Xiangshan street, Nanshan District
Shenzhen city, Guangdong province, P.R. of China

Tags: boutiques, little thing magazine, retail therapy, vintage