You Wildnerness Girls.

Don't ever forget Troop Beverly Hills.

xoxo COUNCIL

PS
We have a fab Phyllis Nefler cape in the shop right now. We hope you like black.

And PPS
Just in case you need reminding...

Tomorrow, tomorrow.

Excitedly we begin planning our Fall '10 collection shoot, and with it, a series of gorgeous still life photographs of Plume and Miranda Bennett pieces for the store. We'll show you soon, soon.

xoxo COUNCIL

by stephen shore

From Mahalia, with love.

Happy MLK day.

xoxo COUNCIL

Bon Anniversaire!

Happy birthday to us! One year ago today we softly and quietly opened our doors to the public before having our official opening on Valentine's day. It is such a milestone for us and we are so grateful to all of our wonderful friends, family and patrons who have made this experience all that it was and continues to be. And we are so excited for the year ahead! We plan to have an all out celebration this spring. We'll be sure to let you know when...

xoxo COUNCIL

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Science is Fiction.

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Jean Painlevé (November 1902 - July 1989)

Advocating the credo "science is fiction," Painlevé managed to scandalize both the scientific and the cinematographic world with a cinema designed to entertain as well as edify. He portrayed sea horses, vampire bats, skeleton shrimps, and fanworms as endowed with human traits — the erotic, the comical, and the savage. Painlevé single-handedly established a unique kind of cinema, the "scientific-poetic cinema". Wikipedia

A few years ago, maybe even five, we got to see Yo La Tengo perform an original score that they composed to accompany Painlevé's short aquatic films. If you haven't heard the results of their project then you ought to, and soon. 

The Criterion Collection released a collection of his work called Science is Fiction: 23 Films by Jean Painlevé - click here to see a clip or to order yourself a copy. 

And, right now, enjoy this visually stunning and very psychedelic short film The Liquid Crystals below.

xoxo COUNCIL

See Saw

We were sorry to hear about Jae Reatard's passing today at the tender age of 29. We are sure that a whole lot of people will miss him lots, including us.

xoxo COUNCIL

See Saw - Jay Reatard

Just one look.

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xoxo COUNCIL

Lucky couple one hundred.

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Our 100th post!

Thank you for being there.

xoxo COUNCIL

P.S.

Somewhere, a blanket of balloons descends gracefully from a ceiling.

Warm up.

xoxo COUNCIL

See the words.

"I want to say thank you for letting me create a physical representation of my hopes and dreams."

We couldn't have said it any better. See who did here.

xoxo COUNCIL

Super Eight.

Remembering our '09 collection film for Plume and Miranda Bennett has set the wheels to turning for our 2010 film project. All that we can say for now is: Super 8. And, it's sure to be something. Until we can debut it (or make it even), why not sooth your waiting heart with this?

xoxo COUNCIL

Encore.

Some pretty, proper images from the Au Revoir Simone show this Thursday, by photographer Gabi Porter.

xoxo COUNCIL

Still Night, Still Light.

A new year and a new gorgeous performance from our favorite of favorites Au Revoir Simone.

We saw them play a beautiful show in New York last night with a set list replete with songs off of their most recent album Still Night, Still Light. Dressed in a parade of white party dresses and performing under a cascade of falling snow, their show was the perfect winter dream. Thank you for the lovely memories girls.

xoxo COUNCIL

P.S.

And how can we resist a moment of remembering for our favorite film project of '09, featuring their song, Knight of Wands.

Goodnight, oughts.

We're sorry for the pause in transmission, we missed you terribly but required some quiet as the new year arrived. And now we are back. The store has undergone a complete overhaul and is looking rather charming in its shiny new decade. It's lighter, brighter, and brimming with beautiful things. Come in and have a look.

xoxo COUNCIL

Merry, merry.

We hope you are.

xoxo COUNCIL

Camera Obscura.

And another reason to go the Met, the incredible Robert Frank exhibit. The exhibition space weaves you through a sequential tour of works from his amazing book The Americans (1959). This photo, included in a collage of his working prints, got us thinking about new year's eve - what we'll be wearing, who we'll be kissing...

xoxo COUNCIL





P.S.

If you're still feeling gun shy about making the trip, you can peek at more images from the show here.

Walk like an Egyptian.

On a recent snow day in New York, we remembered Egypt by way of the incredible Egyptian wing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. That visit, and the fact that our amazing (and we mean that - he really and truly is!) landlord is a native of Egypt have inspired us to get some lovely vintage books on the subject for the shop. They're coming real soon, so stay tuned.

xoxo COUNCIL

Special delivery.

Our dear friend Cydney Puro had the most beautiful arrangement from our neighbors at Opalia delivered to us. It looks like an undewater dream and boasts Orchids and berries and green Hydrangeas that smell just like honey.

Thank you Cyd, we adore them!

xoxo COUNCIL

To friends with cheer Pt.2, photographs

And without further ado, photos from the Music Tapes holiday show.

xoxo COUNCIL

the mobile set, with yule log accompaniment

the boys, preparing

bowing banjos

trio of saws

storytelling

xylophoning

our lovely host, Stephanie, and COUNCIL partner, Pam, enjoying the show

To friends with cheer.

Our good friend and once featured artist Stephanie Schwallie hosted her second annual holiday party featuring a performance by Julian Koster of the Music Tapes (and formerly Neutral Milk Hotel). This and last year's performance were part of an ambitious caroling project that attempts to take Julian to ever more living rooms and homes, performing multiple shows a night in countless cities across the country. This year Julian brought friends (in addition to Badger, his musical saw); he was joined by two other performers as well as a pop-up set of illuminated drummer boys and lambs. And, just like last year, his father sat in the audience, beaming with a glow of pride and boasting the loudest laughter in the room. The performance was nothing short of beautiful and we all felt so lucky to be there. Thanks to Julian and company for performing and to Steph for hosting! We will post photos soon, but in the mean time enjoy a video from yet another of his living room performances.

xoxo COUNCIL

The Music Tapes - Freeing Song For Reindeer from Hard to Find a Friend on Vimeo.

This just in!

A class of 1965 year book from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. The type, layout, illustrations, and photographs are some of the most special we've seen in a little while.

Come and see for yourself before we sell it to some lucky so-and-so.

xoxo COUNCIL

And, giving.

And on the subject of giving, we have a few ideas. We have thought long and hard this year (our first holiday season!) about what could make your annual looting easier, especially for those who like to shop in a one-for-me-one-for-you-kind-of-way (as we usually do...). Here is a sampling of a few new items that you can currently find on offer in our shop, in addition to our stable of staple Plume and Miranda Bennett pieces.

xoxo COUNCIL

Assorted vintage books. Art, design, and inspiration.

A little YSL-esque magic for your head, just in time for the cold. Plume wool hats. Various sizes. Available in grey and black. Photo courtesy of *

Pieces of memory. Miranda Bennett floating pressed flowers. Each tagged with date of collection and place of origin. Photo courtesy of *

Felt, in the wild.

One half of the little felted wonders have arrived from team Mouton, and they have already found places of repose in the store. We captured them in their new (temporary) habitat. At $12 each, you may be wondering how they will look in yours.

xoxo COUNCIL

Our house stud.

Refinery 29 recently included our very own Pamela Johnston of Plume Jewels in their editor holiday picks list. Have a look! Our thanks to the lovely Christene.

xoxo COUNCIL




Above, from left:

Pamela Johnson Gold Bars Stud Earrings, $205, available at Council. "I love the simplicity of these long gold bar studs."


To read the full article, click here.

Kissing Cousins.

COUNCIL commissioned a dynamic duo of felting cousins who are very close to our hearts, Bridget and Monique Mouton, to make holiday pieces for the shop. Their work is shipping to the store this week, and we cannot wait to unpack their creations and show them off to you. Until then, enjoy some teasers in the form of other works by still other felters. Oh, the possibilities of what's to come!

xoxo COUNCIL

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