I GET IT FROM MY MOMMA series: Prada messenger mini.

It's about damn time I started a series dedicated to momma dukes! A solid half of the great fashion bits you see on here are from my all time favorite store...

My mother's closet lol...

A mini Prada messenger bag she recently added to her purse collection. Yea boiiiiiiiii!!!!

This series is dedicated to my ol' G.

Mom, thanks for your the love, support, and wardrobe!

THE URBAN LOVE SERIES: Big Names In Little Spaces

This week ODE would like to give props to the urban talent from Basel 2010. Every year there is a convergence of street artists who spray paint murals, and pieces all over Wynwood. I stumbled upon these two pieces by BIG time artists Shepard Fairey and Space Invader, while heading to Pulse...

Below: A wheat pasted wall by Fairey.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with wheat pasting, it is another graffiti-like form of street art, similar to wall papering something. These designs are created by the artists, then mounted to the walls with a home made, wheat based glue.

Below: Andre the Giant wheat paste by Fairey.

Below: A piece by Space Invader.

 Space Invader's street art is more than your average spray paint. They are tile mosaics reminiscent of the video game characters from Space Invaders. These little tile designs get cemented to the wall! Needless to say, Invader leaves quite a lasting impression wherever he goes.

For more on Invader, and more awesome urban culture details, subscribe to Shepard Fairey's SWINDLE!!

 article by Shepard Fairey: SWINDLE: Space Invader

Check My PULSE: More of Art Basel 2010.

PULSE was one of the smaller fairs, but the most creatively set up.

Some rather enchanting sculptures...

Below: Hyper realistic painting. NOT a photo!

I think my favorite aspect of Basel this year was seeing the incorporation of modern technology & LED screens.

Above & Below: My favorite pieces from PULSE!!

Below: This interesting, braided rope installation was set up randomly all over the lush garden entrance to the tents. 

PULSE was an absolute blast! 

I LOVE Art Basel: Sneak Peek.

There will be a plethora of photos soon to come. In the mean time, here are some shots of the amazingly, great, awesomeness that is ART BASEL.

 I LOVE installations! They are my favorite form of art.

This installation was amazing!

This was one of my FAVORITE pieces..... Is it wrong that I would totally wear this with some killer pumps lol??

This was a...... Fashion Truck??

These were a few fashion statements that I really dug...

Big ups to Andrea Marucci for being such a good sport and letting me take her picture!

More will be up soon so stay tuned!!!!

TRAFFIC JAM: The Art of Living & Driving

There are few things that make me more upset...

furious, ticked off, annoyed, aggravated, cross, heated, vexed, irritable, wrathful, outraged, hot

and ROYALLY PISSED OFF,

than driving...

and traffic jams.

As we drive through life, we run into a lot more than just the average bump in the road. Challenges can get us into accidents. It's easy to feel like we are blocked in from every angle. 

Sometimes,

our life's flow of traffic,

feels more like drowning.

Playing with this analogy turned a long day, and an even longer drive home, into motivation to blog. I love when that happens :) Tonight's post is...

The Art of Mastering Life & Driving:

Rule #1: Yield to others.

This is as simple as, do unto others as you would have done to yourself. It's a lot easier to get ahead when you cut off everyone else to get there. Loose two seconds of your time and let someone else get ahead of you. You never know when you will be the one in line,

in desperate need to get by.

Rule #2: Pay attention to the signs.

When we are forced to choose between our impulses, and our better judgement, life sends us signs, with words of caution.  Life finds ways to answer you when you are plagued with questions. If you don't pay attention, you will pass them by.

Rule #3: Set limits for yourself.

There is a time and a place for everything. More often than not, we over look limitations that can be helpful, just because there is no one around to enforce them. Over indulgence in the individual creates a breeding ground for inadequacy in the spirit. Setting limits creates a balance in your life. There are times to speed up,

and times to slow it down.

There are so many ways to get to the same place. 

Life is your own personal road trip, so drive safely. 

When you make a wrong turn, there isn't always a detour. 

Sometimes, 

we have to backtrack,

and we get stuck in traffic. 

Remember that even the worst traffic dies down eventually. Red lights are temporary,

Wait for the green light,

and GO.

WARNING- FRAGILE: A Little Piece of Me, For You.

The Anatomy of A Stranger

by Daniella Mia Piantini

[Click to Enlarge]

There is a stranger in my midst,

I'm not sure what to do.

As for me, it's come to this,

to ask some things of you.

You have two hands,

I have them too.

If hands like these were made to touch,

Will you feel with me?

The way the grass feels the sun's caress

at the early break of day.

You have two feet,

and so do I.

If feet like these were made to step,

will you take a walk with me?

Down the street,

and past my house,

until the skies behind us melt to pink.

You have two eyes,

as do we both.

If eyes like these were made to see,

will you find yourself in mine?

and loose yourself in their affection...

You have two lips,

two like my own.

If lips like these were made to kiss, 

will yours escape to meet with mine,

and stay with me a while?

And,

If minds like these were made to discover,

will you explore with me,

to see what else we find along the way?

"To my stranger with the stuck B, I've loved you always."

-Daniella Mia

Spray It, But Don't Say It: Part Duex

What an incredible morning! I definitely snuck into the back of some abandoned buildings where I totally was NOT allowed :]

This...

is what I found.

I'm not sure of the artist, I didn't recognize their tag. Still, is this not great?!?

Do NOT fuck with the guy in the suit. He is really mean.

Going further in I saw this piece...

And then this one...

Below: A piece by MSG.

In another part of downtown, where I was a lot less likely to get bitten by a crackhead, 

I saw these:

Above: Piece by MSG.

Below: I'm not sure who did this one.

Below: A piece by TBD.

Then, on the next street over, with nothing else around worth photographing,

was this:

(Above: MSG Throw Up.)

Not too long ago, MSG lost a young crew member to a brutal, and tragic fight.

His tag, was Ynot.

I was so touched when I saw this. After reading the Miami New Times article on Ynot's passing, I knew this had to be the work of his crew. This tag was not there a month ago, although Ynot had already been killed. 

I don't know much about MSG, or the graffiti world for that matter. Neither do most people, which I think is probably the basis of its appeal. It is the fleeting nature of graffiti which sparks my curiosity, and triggers my intrigue. We pass pieces on abandoned buildings, and throw ups on highways, without giving them much thought. Now, on the walls where a young artist once laid his claim, we find his remembrance under the shadows. 

What I got most from seeing this was just how many ways individuals can express themselves. Art's potential is limited only by the artist, nothing more. So to those who have recently told me they have been inspired to try new things, and you know who you are, go for it. The only difference between yourself and, "talented" artists, is how you express your thoughts, and the ways you allow your creativity to manifest itself. 

When it comes down to letting it out, some people spray it, but don't say it.

For more on Ynot, visit: Miami New Times: Ynot.

For more on MSG, visit their blog at: http://www.msgcartel.blogspot.com/