I live in Chocolate City, Work for NPR, Love my roommate and two Kittehs. Day to day I find more and more beauty lurking in the oddest spots. Rouge My Knees is an accumulation of notes on what I find whets my curiosity for all things toxic and pretty.
I love sharing my view of the world through the photos and links posted here. 
I’ve recently discovered the most amazing products… geared towards men…which makes me want them all even more.
The Portland General Store (sold already?) makes the yummiest smelling toiletries ever. In the past when I’ve tried non-perfumy products I’m left with something to be desired. This time, JACKPOT! All nicely priced too.
Only catch is that they sell out quickly. You can find them on Etsy or at Hickoree’s Hard Goods.
My cute package (arrived wrapped in brown general store paper and twine, of course) included the following:
“Turkish Fig” Bar Soap with Rhassoul Clay
This is a hand-poured, rough-cut bar of soap. It has a subtly sweet but masculine scent.
The key functional ingredient, Rhassoul clay, is rich in magnesium, silica, potassium and calcium and claims many beneficial properties. It originates from the Atlas mountains of Morocco, and has been used by local people for over 12 centuries. Rhassoul clay helps to reduce dryness and flakiness, and improves skin clarity and elasticity.
“Tweed” Shea Butter Solid Lotion Stick
Lisa from Portland General Store says: “if a young Marlon Brando were to wear a Portland General Store scent, it would be TWEED. Elegance, strength, and charisma describe the fragrance of this lotion bar.”
“Wood” Old-Fashioned Body Creme
This is a very thick body/hand creme, especially well-suited for soothing overworked hands. Essential oils of cedar, hiba, patchouli, vetiver and vanilla give a distinctly masculine scent, but this creme can be worn by both men and women.
I love all the products so much that I just placed another order for the Eau de toilette Sampler and the Tabacco bath scrub.
My cute friend from across the pond, Paul, shared this video with me. it’s so rad and retro.
I didn’t know about Italian singer Adriano Celentano or his hot wife (the blond in the video doin her thang) Claudia Mori.
The lyrics are pure gibberish, often described as sounding like American English as heard by a non–English-speaker.
Adriano and his wife perform together here. musical magic. choreographic magic. and those outfits TDF.
I love watching figure skating every time the Winter Olympics come around. This year the men are killing it with dark goth and whimsical appeal. Obviously Vera Wang’s work on Evan Lysacek’s costumes is TDF. Never saw something so magic on the ice as Evan last night.
Yes…it is all about the talent of the skater…of course…but the gift to use drama in your presentation just adds…
kevin van der perren evan lysacek johnny weir
I also found it fitting that another dark angel grabbed the spotlight in NYC. Sexy Sadie taking Best In Show.
I caught a documentary on cable the other day about Apple and the mad scientist behind Apple, Steve Jobs.
I have to say the old photos of Jobs captured my attention. Jobs is intriguing as he managed to greatly influence how we communicate and absorb culture with the most stylish tools imaginable.
It’s been noted that Jobs in the past put strain on projects because of his intrinsic need for great design and beautiful composition. At NeXT, he pushed his hardware division because of the magnesium case used on the NeXTcube. Functional Elegance.
In 1972, Jobs enrolled in Reed College in Portland, Oregon. Although he dropped out after only one semester, he continued auditing classes at Reed, such as one in calligraphy.
Jobs later stated, “If I had never dropped in on that single course in college, the Mac would have never had multiple typefaces or proportionally spaced fonts.”
After browsing and seeking out old pics it’s easy to see that he has always been stylish. I like the idea that his style and his smarts combined have created magic.
Even with a mustache…I’m still diggin his look.
Today Jobs is famous for his uniform of a black long-sleeved mock turtleneck
made by St. Croix, Levi’s 501 blue jeans, and New Balance 991 sneakers.
The most practical shoes I’ve ever owned used to be my tattered old cowboy boots. Comfy enough to wear all day and walk miles…yet still cute enough to not make me feel frumpy. Replacing the boots, my black oxfords. They’re great with wide legged wool slacks or black tights and a lacy vintage dress. I can dance in them, walk in them, run in them and LOVE in them.
Fittingly, I happened upon an interview with shoe designer Rupert Sanderson. He’s featured on the Lula Scrapbook and talks about his inspiration for keeping the saddle shoe and oxford alive via his Saddled O’s collection.
It inspired me to put together some images of the iconic shoe. I guess perhaps a characteristic my favorite shoes tend to have in common is masculinity.
Empowering.
Snippet:
Why do you reckon that now is an opportune moment to breathe new life into oxfords and launch the Saddled O’s collection? I just felt that now was a good time. Had a feeling that people were tiring of trainers and the idea of a shoe with genuine sports provenance felt right. I like the bookish cool the shoes give a girl… There’s something brainy about girls who wear them and I find that sexy. Perhaps my favourite film reference is Woody Allen wearing them throughout Play it Again Sam – the ultimate dysfunctional date movie.
Full Interview here.
When I was in Taos for the holidays, I found some wonderful craft treats on the cheap.
My favorite, a bell jar for my room.
Made complete with song birds, florescent stones, moss and feathers.
Yay to doing stuff that makes you content.
Eventually, I’d like to put a bat skeleton in the jar.
Right at home under my elk horns.
It’s all so perfect right behind my Museum of Jurassic Technology porcelain memento I got in L-LAY on my last visit.
If you are ever near the museum, it’s a MUST.
I fittingly stored coins from my cute Liverpool boy’s pocket.
I’m feeling old footage of the Stones rocking out. It must have something to do with the above photo of me pulling a Mick Jagger on New Years Eve. Mick may very well have set the tone for rocking with your pout out…
“I have the right to give stupid answers to stupid questions.”
I’m mildly obsessed with these guys…well…maybe not mildly…I’m utterly in love with their music and artistic expression.
I Lost You is a heart wrenching tune. I found this video that mixes it with old footage. It is brilliant.
Canadian Girl is another pretty, heart churning tune on You & Me. I love that they love their horns….and Hamilton’s voice kills.
I’m way excited to see Tom Ford’s creativity translated onto the screen.
NPR’s Terry Gross did a great profile and interview with Ford for Fresh Air.
Listen to it here.
We get to hear Ford discuss his arresting, provocative Gucci Ads and branding.
He also talks about the ‘post-humanism’ evolving in our culture and how un-natural beauty standards have become.
Is Jon Hamm the voice on the other end?
