Nothing says summer like seashells, ya know? Dive in to your inner beachcomber with some of this fun:

A.) Seashell hat, $17
B.) Chanel ivory resin shell clutch, $48,000
C.) Earrings by Girlprops, $6.99
D.) Local Celebrity seashell print tanktop available at Caruso Caruso, $46
E.) Versace jersey bustier, $1,045
F.) Versace jersey skirt, $1,350
G.) Shell minaudiere by Lanvin, $1,490
H.) Mali Sabatasso Opalescent Shell Ring, $101
I.) Lanvin brass and acetate necklace, $1,650
J.) Charlotte Olympia platforms, about $1,445
K.) Ariel tank by Wildfox Couture (via Nastygal), $60

Several internationally known artists have visited the Motor City in support of The Detroit Beautification Project. I cruised Hamtramck today and found a few incredible pieces including Sever’s “Death of Street Art” which has been making waves on the WWW as well as a massive collaborative mural at a school soccer field in Hamtramck. This is just a small section of the huge art effort which has invaded Detroit and its surrounding areas. So rad, right?

Curious about the project? I pulled this excerpt from 12ozPROPHET:
“REVOK, Montana Cans, The Seventh Letter and 1xRUN present: The Detroit Beautification Project — As the chill of winter has given way to the warm hues of spring here in Detroit, we’re excited to unveil our most recent public arts project that will bring over a dozen of the world’s premier graffiti artists into the city for a series of murals in the neighborhoods that need them the most. To coincide with the first phase of the project we’re excited to release a series of prints with several of the participating artists including RISK, SEVER, STEEL, REYES, DMOTE, WANE, CES, REVOK, Tristan Eaton, Dabs Myla, 123 Klan and POSE.”

Click here to check out REVOK’s “Sacrilege.”

Enjoy!

For more visit 1XRun.com

Everyone knows Detroit is the Motor City but did you know it’s the hair capital of the world, too? Well, it is. Especially if you ask David “Hump The Grinder” Humphries, the man behind the outrageously awesome hair entertainment extravaganza (internationally) known as Hair Wars. What began as an informal stage show for Detroit hair stylists to present their talents in 1985 has envolved into a travelling gig which has been spotted across the United States. Hair Wars is a wild, captivating nod to African American hair art and culture which is a booming $9 billion industry (didn’t you see Good Hair?). In it, local stylists and salons put on five-minute live shows from choreographed dances to skits ranging in themes like movies and music videos. Basically it’s like your middle school talent show but much more awesome and with a lot more weaves.

Organizers worked with Karmanos Cancer Institute to promote breast cancer awareness to create this year’s Detroit show, “Hair Wars With A Twist of Pink” which was held last weekend at Cobo Center. As usual, I couldn’t take my eyes off the stage. Here’s a gallery of images from my camera and iPhone:

For more on Hair Wars visit HairWarsUSTour.com.

In the market for a wooden bow tie? A ring that resembles a tiny tree stump, perhaps? I thought so. Meet Ferndale-based FourChamberForge., specializing in custom furniture, rad jewelry and accessories made from trees, leather, metals and more.

“I just like natural materials that aren’t innately valuable,” says Chris “Burkey” Burkeybyle, the company’s sole proprietor, designer and creator. “The value is added through work and insight.” Burkeybyle, a self-taught woodsmith, grew up on the “make it, don’t buy it” mentality. A few years ago he created his first ring out of his own firewood in hopes of winning the affection of a gal (insert “sappy” pun here) only to, in turn, be given a hard time (lovingly, of course) by other female friends for leaving them out. The positive feedback lead to his first booth at Ferndale’s DIY Street Fair in 2008 and a few fairs and markets since from Chicago’s Renegade Craft Fair, to the occasional space at the Rust Belt Market. City Bird downtown carries his wares and you can shop his stuff at Old Hollywood in Brooklyn as well. Oh, and that rad bench at Cacao Tree Cafe in Royal Oak? Burkeybyle made it.

His work, crafted from a range of tree types from cherry, oak and mulberry to lignum vitae, black locust, juniper and more, has become recognizable for its simple yet smart design, earthy beauty and undyed, unstained and generally uncompromised integrity of the original wood. “I try not to screw up what’s naturally there,” he says. It’s not uncommon to be stopped when wearing one of Burkeybyle’s signature pendant necklaces, unique earrings or chunky rings to be asked, “Is that a Burkey?”

Burkeybyle just completed his spring collection featuring new necklaces and earrings with chains and metals in geometric shapes (think smooth rectangles of purple heart with circular inlays and a lot of emphasis on the grain), a wooden bow tie debut (and leather, too!), belt buckles, drop thigh holsters and other rustic chic accessories. Click the gallery below to explore more.

For more, including products, information and stockists, visit his website, FourChamberForge.com and Etsy store.

It’s officially spring in Detroit which means one of two things: 1.) it will be 84° today, 2.) it will be 41° today. While dressing for the season may present the thrilling challenge of deconstructed dressing, beautiful accessories always work. This would be the part where I’d write “Meet Michigan-based babe Marlaina Stone,” but chances are you’re already familiar with the name (her striking couture jewelry has garnered attention from major magazines including Redbook, Cosmo and Nylon, to name a few).

From bracelets to necklaces (which can also be worn as hip chains) a Stone creation can be identified by a few (un)common characteristics: unorthodox pairings of hardware and natural elements like, for example, heavy gold chains and dainty pearls. I dropped by her bright, bubbly Birmingham studio/showroom to catch up with the designer and see the new line which, in addition to her space, is also available at eight Nordstrom locations in the U.S. (but she refuses to stop there, trust me). Materials come from all over the world, but the pieces are handmade and manufactured here in Michigan. Marlaina leads the gang of 25 people — which continues to grow — from design, sourcing, distribution and sales. “I wanted to build a team of radical designers,” Stone says. “I get tired but tired is what fuels me. For us to be big, you have to think big.”

For spring, Stone combined warm-hued materials and aquatic-esque beads with her signature aesthetic to create “Paradise,” a collection of necklaces and bracelets that beg to be worn in your own way whether you’re strutting the sand or cement. “Paradise” pieces range from $95 – $225. Bonus: You can also create custom pieces from materials at the studio and your own. Explore more of Marlaina’s world in the gallery below.

For more visit MarlainaStone.com or visit her showroom located at 933 S. Eton Street, Birmingham; Hours: Mon – Fri: 11am-6pm, Sat: 11am – 5pm, Sunday by appointment; 248.792.2956;

After creating a few alcoholternatives to their (far from) “Standard” Bloody Mary (vodka topped with McClure’s Bloody Mary Mix, garnished with a dill sprig), the McClure boys decided it was time to give the new cocktails a test run on some local boozehounds food and beverage enthusiasts.

I’m not one to turn down delicious drinks and fantastic company (laced with McClure’s pickles & potato chips, nonetheless) so I dropped by the gig, aptly titled “Bloody Monday,” hosted by Joe McClure and Philip Bator (editor of TFLN and Thrillist-Detroit) at Philip’s place.

Each drink, carefully concocted by tattoo artist/bartender Kristian Slywka, was made of McClure’s Bloody Mary Mix and a non-vodka liquor from Hendrick’s gin (yes, gin!) and Modelo Especial beer to Ardbeg 10-Year Old whiskey (my new favorite). The small crowd, which included Erin Rose of PositiveDetroit, The Solid Dudes, Ashley Woods, the livest redhead at MLive, Eat It Detroit‘s Nicole Rupersburg, video guru Matt Dibble, young wordsmith/renaissance man Ryan Patrick Hooper and Henry Balanon of Detroit Labs, to name a few, provided feedback on the drinks. As expected, good times were had, people were tagged via social networking sites and many Instagram shots were posted.

In case you had any doubts, yes, McClure’s Bloody Mary Mix works well with gin. And whiskey. And beer. Don’t believe me? Try ‘em for yourself. Below you’ll find the recipes from Monday’s soiree so that you can impress your friends at brunch this weekend. My pick is their Southbound but I encourage you to try them all and create some yourself.

McClure’s Southbound
100% agave tequila topped with fresh lime and McClure’s Bloody Mary Mix and Corona, served in chili-rimmed glasses and garnished with a cilantro-skewered lime.

The Northerner
Smoked Canadian whiskey topped with McClure’s Bloody Mary Mix and bacon marmalade, garnished with a peameal (bacon) skewer.

City Mary
Olive and rosemary infused gin shaken with dry sherry, lemon, McClure’s Bloody Mary Mix, garnished with a rosemary-skewered olive.

The Farmstand
Muddled cucumber, lime and chili peppers topped with gin and McClure’s Bloody Mary Mix, garnished with a cucumber-chili-lime skewer.

Countdown Cocktail
McClure’s Spicy Pickles juice with mescal and lemon, served with a Bloody Mary chaser, garnished with a McClure’s potato chip.

Bottoms up, babes!

For more information including products, recipes and stockists, visit McCluresPickles.com.

UK-based company, Takkoda, really knows how to make me smile. A Siamese cat version of Amy Winehouse on a coffee mug? Could they have zeroed in on my favorite things any more precisely? I mean Snoop Dogg drawn as an actual dog on a functional product?

The characters-as-animals list, ranging from musicians and artists to celebrities and a saint, is pretty hilarious. Choose from Michael Jackson, David Bowie and Ozzy Osbourne to Andy Warhol, Karl Lagerfeld, Mother Teresa and several more. You can have the artwork on all types of things: mugs, coasters, stationery, notebooks, clocks and pillows.

Which one is your favorite? I opted for Snoop and Amy.

For more, visit Takkoda.com.

Talented Detroit native (she’s a classically trained opera singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist) Alex Winston (Island Records) just released visuals for her track “Choice Notes.” The video, directed by by Austin Peters, showcases her delightfully eerie style as well as a few Detroit staples including The Heidelberg Project and Café d’Mongo’s Speakeasy. Isn’t she a gem?

I caught up with the budding star last year, take a peek here:

For more, visit AlexWinstonOfficial.com

This site is the farthest thing from a sports blog but here we have a fashion face-off, folks. Get it, face-off? Anyway, aside from my Uncle Gary, other cool people have been spotted sporting Detroit Red Wings jerseys including Cameron Frye in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, the late, great Tupac Shakur and Uncle Joey (OK, Dave Coulier who grew up in metro Detroit) with Michelle Tanner (either Mary-Kate or Ashley Olsen) from Full House.

So, who gets your vote?