Minimalism

Remember Fiona? Well she recently sent us an email saying she'd just returned from a trip to Tokyo, and while she was there... yup, you got it, she thought of US! We're verklempt over here. Tokyo! Vacation!

Where first she found this:



And then this:



She goes on to explain that any left-behind umbrellas in lobbys or metro stations are quickly collected by the homeless, and she was lucky enough to see why and where they go. What a grand re-use, and wonderful perspective from a new locale.

Thanks Fiona!

Form over function or function over (re)form?

Commence pinching self.
Yes, very real, very adorable and so very stylestance.

The work of Italian designer Cecilia Felli, shared via DesignNewTrends and Trendspotting.

Robin Hood

Reader Dan pointed us to this excerpt from the New York Times' Metropolitan Diary:


Dear Diary:

My husband, who is the ultimate recycler, collects the sad, misshapen and rejected umbrellas that are often found lying in the trash bins around our West Village neighborhood.

Knowing of my aversion to collections of clutter, he hustles them past me to his study and spends quite a bit of time repairing them.

The next time it rains, he carries several repaired umbrellas into our neighborhood and approaches anyone who appears to be bedraggled, drenched or just plain miserable. He says, “You look as if you could use an umbrella.”

After their initial expressions of shock, their faces change to smiles of gratitude as he hands the refurbished umbrellas to them. “Have a great day,” he says, thoroughly enjoying himself. Ricki Fier


Ms Fier - we hereby name your husband the Robin Hood of umbrellas, and oh how we'd love love love to go hunting with him some rainy day.

And thanks again for sending the article, Dan! It looks like we weren't the only ones who thought this story was a pot of gold.


Source: New York Times Metropolitan Diary

Um(brella), reincarnation?

Our New York City girl Ruth qualifies as a Better Off Soaked paparazza with this amazing series. Not only is she fast re-acting and iPhone-using, she's got a great eye -- capturing for the first time in BOS history, the "Another Man's Treasure" (which we now regret using for an earlier post).





Ruth, we bow in your awesomeness and equally also thank you for helping us make the case for purchasing an iPhone.

Enjoy, reader!