NTS Magazine Issue 5

Issue 5 asks: how does design stir our feelings and drive our connections to places, to our pasts, our secrets, our inner child and to each other? From Malaysia to Spain, Finland to China, we spotlight groundbreaking creatives and compact design that pushes the boundaries of imagination.

Inside this Issue:

• Tsai Design converts awkward spaces into elegant instruments for living
• Street artist Cloakwork’s home – buzzing with colour, character and nostalgia.
• The ‘third-world’ design that is preserving the ‘living culture’ of our cities
• The curiosity-driven art practice and benign menace of Bertjan Pot’s rope masks
• Emilie Seto breathes beauty and dignity into everyday urban life with her artworks
• Embracing the awkwardness of apartment building communities.
• How to spot the difference between a community and a cult
• A deep-dive into the history and impact of New York’s tenements.
• A celebration of the unsung brilliance of the bench
• Tom Loeser’s furniture that conceals surprises and subversions to reward the curious
• Small homes: a ‘domestic prototype’ in San Sebastián, a rejection of minimalist aesthetics in Rome, and a Paris apartment that brings outdoor bathing in. 

Plus: a shop of secrets, the Instagram sensation 10/1 from Bogdan Gîrbovan (resplendent in print!), more pepper mills than you can poke a stick at and a sticker sheet surprise.

We commit great resources to finding for you emerging brands that are thoughtfully priced from all other the world.

Our buying philosophy is rooted in three core principles: quality, taste and originality. When you purchase LIKELIHOOD know that the product is of high quality, good taste and is likely a style you haven’t seen before.

To fulfill on these principles, we travel to Seoul, Copenhagen, Paris, Hong Kong, Japan and many other places to source brands. We are also fond of sourcing locally too.

We believe all this effort makes for a unique, exciting, “yummy” assortment that when it comes together you can't wait to get your hands on.

Footwear

 Fit Principles

Most people buy shoes too small. Aim for ½ to ¾ of a thumbnail length of space in front of your big toe.

The width should feel secure—not loose, not painfully taut.

Avoid shoes where your toe presses directly against the front.

If the heal slips but the length is good, try tightening the laces and lacing all the way up.

Men’s to Women’s Footwear Conversion

General rule: add +1.5 sizes to convert men’s to women’s. Example: Men’s 9 = Women’s 10.5. Women’s 7 = Men’s 5.5.

Some brands may vary, but this is the standard conversion.

Brand Fit Adjustments

True to Size: adidas, Jordan, Asics, Karhu, Salomon

Size Up ½: Nike, PUMA

Size Down ½: New Balance

Size Down 1 Full Size: Converse

Apparel

Measure, don’t guess: Use a tape measure. (See what to measure below.)

Fit varies by brand: Check notes below for brand-specific adjustments.

Prioritize key measurements: Tops/jackets: chest/bust is most important. Bottoms: waist and hips matter most.

Comfort matters. Really consider how you feel most comfortable in your clothes. Do you prefer baggy or tight fitting clothes.

Consider Silhouette. Are you tall or short? What clothing shape best fits your shape.

Consider fabric: Stretch fabrics (jersey,
knits, most cottons) have give; woven fabrics (denim, poplin) don’t.

Style affects fit: Slim, regular, or oversized will change how a garment feels.

When in doubt, size up: Easier to tailor down than stretch too small.

Jewelry

Two easy ways to find your ring size at home

Paper/String + ruler

1. Wrap a paper strip around the base of your finger you want for a ring as if it were a ring you would wear. Can use a rubber band or any elastic material.

1. Mark where the string/material overlaps.
2. Measure the strip in millimeters with a tape measure or ruler. This is the circumference.
3. Match it to the Inside circumference (mm) on the chart we provide. This is your ring size. Easy Peezy.

Measure a ring you already own

1. Measure the inside diameter (mm) of a ring that fits the desired finger. You can use the above method with a string on the ring too.
2. Match it to the Inside diameter (mm) on the chart.

Gorgeous Tips

• Measure at day’s end with warm hands; fingers are smaller in the morning/cold. Measure 3–4 times. Who knew!?

• If your knuckle is larger than the finger base, measure both and choose a size in between. Makes sense.
• Wide bands fit tighter—go up ¼–½ size for bands  or approximately 5–6 mm and wider. Wow! Didn’t know that! Good to know!

You’re welcome, Gorgeous!