tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37414077933958980202024-03-05T02:09:14.866-08:00EmmaUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger439125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741407793395898020.post-88009059229241946272014-03-02T08:25:00.003-08:002014-03-02T08:27:31.258-08:00Three from Paris. <br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> <i style="font-weight: bold;">BALENCIAGA. </i>New York designer, Alexander Wang, showed his third collection for Balenciaga on Thursday. The anticipation for his collection seemed to have waned a bit, as fashion's residential players are now acknowledging him as a fixture to the brand. Or are they? We'll get to that.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There was an interesting incorporation of knits this season, a material and craft that neither Cristobal nor Nicholas really incorporated into previous Balenciaga collections. These knits were utilized in the cocoon coats with asymmetrically-emphasized collars and in boxier sweaters adorned with fur pinstripes, reminiscent of, perhaps, a Yankees jersey. Then there was the innovation, as young Mr. Wang tends to do, in his use of latex. He molded vibrantly-colored latex pieces into classic toggle coats with the texture of a classic fisherman's sweater. The concept of having the knit as an intermediary for blazers, latex toggle coats, and cocoons was interesting. There was both structure and softness within a single garment. His cut-out shirts (tail on one side, ending just before the hip on the other side) were interesting, his leather dresses with crystal detail were ill-fitting, paltry. His pants were intriguing and well-fitted. They were skinny, sometimes with zippers, unless when in satin, wherein he utilized the very fluidity of the fabric to create proportion. The pants were an unabashed reference to Balenciaga beyond Cristobal; it felt as if Nicholas might be home.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Still, back to the top. Is that fusion of Wang x Balenciaga really there? Sure, he's utilized the famous cocoon shape of the House all collections. He even seems to be unable to break away from it. And yet, his collections, especially this one, have started to feel a little more like him. Still, when it comes down to it, the clothes almost propel the editor, consumer and viewer to nitpick between what is Wang and what is Balenciaga. The clothes are very cohesive, but perhaps both the Wang and the Balenciaga are much to polarizing to yet fit perfectly like puzzle pieces. Maybe it's a matter of time, as that undeniably helped Nicholas make the house his. He also didn't have a namesake line, though.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">MARGIELA. </i>Should this show require a simple motto to sum up its entirety: She Wears the Pants. Womenswear as menswear and vice versa is no new feat. In fact, it can often feel tired when the words "contradiction" or "opposites" are involved. But where this Margiela collection is involved, those phrases are taken quite literally and wonderfully portrayed in Margiela's signature transformative garments.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The femininity quite literally emerged from the more mens' -- no gentlemen-ly -- wear pieces, like tweed blazers and navy overcoats. The use of the off-the-shoulder technique to display the feminine masculine felt both robust and delicate. the House has undeniably toned down and softened their signature extravagance in recent collections, and what is left is some very good basics. Even in staples like a fisherman's sweater, though, the shoulders are slightly horned, and the pants tailored pants are still exuberant in their flow-y, wider proportions.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> The notion of less demure basics is a romantic one, and Margiela does it well. They make staples, but they're just not entirely standard.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">ACNE. </i>Acne still elicits mental images of good-fitting jeans and Swedish bloggers circa 2007. However, in the past five or so years, Acne has taken a distinctly new turn for the more avant-garde, their collections resembling the love child of Comme des Garcons and Maison Martin Margiela. If there had to be a fashion love child, the aforementioned is a brilliant one, but when the previous mental images come to mind, how does one define the true look of the brand. In a way, this is the same tension that has manifested between Wang's sportswear look and Balenciaga's minimalist grandeur in the era of the Great Houses. This season, the wearability factor (when considering the demographic of the consumer) was back without compromise of this newer direction.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> There was an apparent beachy vibe to clothes that manifested in the swirly patterns of garments in browns, aquas, and pinks. They seemed to be references to the design of brochures or PSAs that might say "Come Surf California, Dudes!" in 1971.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> The pieces shown ran the gamut in terms of aesthetic. The cohesive nature of the collection was different this season in that the aforementioned pattern carried through the collection was a much more literal tie than in seasons' past. There were little motor jackets for mass consumption, to low waist, wide-leg Bermuda shorts for the bolder consumer. The best pieces, however, were in the all-encompassing knits. They wrapped the body up, but when paired with a pant in the same color, looked sophisticated and put together. Perhaps the most interesting part about the collection was its lightness despite oversized knits and beanies. The collection had all of the elements of fall, yet the spirit was very light. The concept of lightness in winter and heaviness in summer usually is the most unpractical yet wonderful concept. Here there wasn't any trade-off in the cleanliness of summer vibes vs. warmth. And that's important.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>All photos from Style.com </i></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741407793395898020.post-182252461118880832014-02-21T21:04:00.001-08:002014-02-21T21:04:14.288-08:00There's a Riot Going On <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The last few months for Pussy Riot -- and specifically group members, <span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-size: 17px; line-height: 23.51999855041504px; word-spacing: 1.6799999475479126px;">Nadya Tolokonnikova and Maria Alyokhina -- have been undeniably turbulent. This, of course, means that these women have been met with many ups and downs, including their release from the Russian prison system to being whipped by Cossack forces at Sochi earlier this week. The Pussy Riot Collective even went so far as to declare that they have chosen to secede both Nady and Maria from the group, as the other members feel these two no longer exemplify the leftist, feminist, anti-capitalistic philosophy that propelled the group into the spotlight. However, both women claim that such claims are entirely farcical, hence their appearance in Sochi earlier this week. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-size: 17px; line-height: 23.51999855041504px; word-spacing: 1.6799999475479126px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 17px; line-height: 23.51999855041504px; word-spacing: 1.6799999475479126px;">Either way, their reappearance in the spotlight has been necessary in continuing to propel the message. I recently read this great piece from </span><a href="http://www.anothermag.com/current/view/3419/Pussy_Vs_Putin" style="font-size: 17px; line-height: 23.51999855041504px; word-spacing: 1.6799999475479126px;" target="_blank">AnOther Mag</a><span style="font-size: 17px; line-height: 23.51999855041504px; word-spacing: 1.6799999475479126px;"> regarding a documentary, called </span><i style="font-size: 17px; line-height: 23.51999855041504px; word-spacing: 1.6799999475479126px;">Pussy v. Putin</i><span style="font-size: 17px; line-height: 23.51999855041504px; word-spacing: 1.6799999475479126px;">, about the group. Besides merely relaying the events that occurred at the most controversial and publicized portions of the collective's public displays, the documentary and its producers look into the psyche and the raison d'etre of the group. As one of the pull-quotes so aptly states: </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: leitura_displayitalic, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 20px; letter-spacing: 0.6047999858856201px; line-height: 27.215999603271484px; word-spacing: 1.6799999475479126px;"><i>"Pussy Riot practise a thrilling, nuanced style of youth protest that ranks reason and educated debate as highly as noise."</i></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741407793395898020.post-74463489725708581152014-01-03T22:09:00.000-08:002014-01-03T22:11:44.276-08:00Blank on Blank: Farrah Fawcett <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> I spent the summer between seventh and eighth grade watching as many episodes of the original </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Charlie's Angels</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> as I could. I loved that show. I loved the badassness (for our purposes, that's a word) of the women, I loved the costumes, I loved the hair -- I even didn't mind the smooth jazz that accompanied each punch and car chase. I've always thought that, if I could time travel, I would go back and live in the seventies. I would perm my hair, and wear the perfect wide-leg pants that hint at a slight camel toe, and a matching turtleneck.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> But that's not the point. Several months ago I came across this amazing production by PBS called<i> Blank on Blank</i>. The program takes rare interview audio from a variety of notable humans and accompanies it with fabulous illustrations. It is amazing how such simple line drawings can do to enhance the experience of listening to the sage advice/musings of, say, Tupac Shakur or Grace Kelly. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> I came across this installment using a 1980s interview with Farrah Fawcett. Until now, I had really only been exposed to Fawcett through the lens of Jill Munroe, who, like most blondes portrayed on television, was more sweet or seductive than brainy. In this interview, you will see a Fawcett much stronger than you might have previously perceived her. She slings around the F-word with great ease. And, perhaps most importantly, she speaks of the importance of the stiletto. Be it for going out dancing or defending oneself in dire times, the concept of female-accouterments-as-weapon is entirely fascinating. Plus, you can almost just see her walking the streets of New York with that bouncy hair and powerful heels.</span> </div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/8Eskff0RUQ8" width="560"></iframe> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741407793395898020.post-11681964029765679772014-01-01T19:49:00.001-08:002014-01-01T19:49:13.563-08:00#2014 <br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">New Year's has always felt rather depressing for me. I would chalk it up to being sentimental that a year has just ended, but I come from the camp where one day doesn't feel exponentially different from the next. For the past, say, three months I have been really into everything concerning the late '50s to early '60s. I wear loafers with socks nearly every day, and have been opting for trench coats and camel coats over large, denim jackets. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The other day while thrift shopping with my friend, I purchased a very ladylike bag. It is a brown, snakeskin bag from the aforementioned time slot. My style for the past couple of years has been anything but ladylike. Sure, I wear dresses, but not unless they are paired with sneakers. So...while I don't really believe in the effectiveness of resolutions unless they permit more ice cream or less homework, I am going to try to really delve into this pre-Mod kick I've been on. I've even be wearing bows in my hair. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">How long do you think I can be <i>A Lady</i>? Here's betting I'm good for a month, tops. </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094043797494040775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741407793395898020.post-36757261702095257042013-11-22T16:32:00.005-08:002013-11-22T16:32:54.115-08:00Resurrecting Old Flames <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqw0Z7zkAA_IQKTJs2RbELH3jOImn6rbbhihn-OIdVF8wW1ILwEWletKWjwg12rDZszlEJK8gukviTaZLWo71UZPxPwgkF21Xfpg0fApw8zkjyZ3so8l0CFKt18KqcTw_AY0OrBkvg13nK/s1600/old+docs+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqw0Z7zkAA_IQKTJs2RbELH3jOImn6rbbhihn-OIdVF8wW1ILwEWletKWjwg12rDZszlEJK8gukviTaZLWo71UZPxPwgkF21Xfpg0fApw8zkjyZ3so8l0CFKt18KqcTw_AY0OrBkvg13nK/s400/old+docs+001.JPG" width="340" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> I've never really liked romantic comedies. In fact, I really dislike them. I watched <em>The Notebook</em> this past year with my cross country team and it was probably the mushiest, most implausible story I'd ever seen. I could hardly it enjoy for the sentiment of being "just fiction," because I strongly believe that fiction can often mirror reality more than reality can mirror itself -- even if in the form of fantasy. You follow? I don't make sense, I know. </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> Anyway, the point is that I am really not that girl who roots for people to get back together in rom-coms, but when the people are clothes, I have a different approach. That is to say, I love resurrecting old pieces from the past. Resurrecting old pieces can be a little like a song or a smell: the melody or scent can take you right back to a place, jumpstarting the memory and a prompt escape from the current setting. This can be good and bad, and that goes for clothing, too. </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> Life is quite cyclical and there are stages, and ultimately our sartorial choices reflect that. It was sophomore year when I wore my jean jacket and floral Doc Martens almost everyday. I was experimenting, but I often found comfort these chunky articles of clothing, as if they had become my friends, accompanying me in moments of excitement, boredom, and everything in between. </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> So, since it is getting a little cooler where I live and a slight drizzle -- aka "torrential downpour" in California -- has come to visit us, I dove into the back of my closest to fetch the two items I've been avoiding. I am not entirely sure why I was avoiding these items. My deduction is that, like a song that you listened to with a crush or the one that was playing in the store when you got the call your grandma died, I didn't really want to travel to the past, which would inevitably happen if I tried them on. Or, more importantly, I didn't want to stay in one period of my life. There was nothing at all wrong with those times, but it feels refreshing in these adolescent years to keep changing, to keep growing. Ironically, though, I am very much the same person in so many aspects -- perhaps it is all mental and the only things that have really changed are the shoes and the jacket. Either way, they've come out to play again. Hey, Old Flames!</span> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741407793395898020.post-75802356669249301532013-11-21T17:17:00.000-08:002013-11-21T17:21:15.968-08:00Björk's Birthday<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> I can't quite pinpoint the exact time or place that I had discovered Bjork. Perhaps that was because Bjork was always a constant in my life, always there, if only by name. That is to say, I "knew" Bjork far longer than I had engaged with her music. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> Once I took the time to really familiarize myself with her work and her existence, it opened up entirely new doors and perspectives -- so much so that I am having trouble trying to articulate that sentiment. At this point, it sounds very tenebrous but in all honesty, trying to demystify or explain her world takes life years I don't yet have and the knowledge I don't yet harbor. And, to be frank, I may never acquire either in the quantities needed to decode her. (Or maybe, we're never supposed to be able to digest her psyche to the fullest).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> Listening to her music isn't simply listening to lyrics and melody, and perhaps that lies in the incredible complexity in the way her music is produced. This, of course, encompasses her revolutionary use of synths and machinery, but it has equal amounts to do with her lyrics. Much of her words are simple and strung together with clarity, but many songs are not without cryptic messages. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> Perhaps the most appealing part of her music is the juxtaposition between her voice and her melodies. No matter the melody -- incredibly somber or airy and light -- her jarring, vulnerable voice is a constant, even if it does often reflect the anguish or awe of her lyrics/emotions. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> Her work spans several decades, and it would take a long time to try to list everything, so I am choosing just a few (3, but there are layers to each) things that have really stood out to me. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1) Bjork is a style icon, hands down. While her counterparts opted for the body-con dresses, she went for bionic arms, mini-buns, swan necks (if anything, this has been parodied on MadTv), and slogan sweaters. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">2) Interviews of Bjork are unlike anything else. She takes moments to pause and gather her thoughts. I want to see the inside of her head, where all of those ideas and thoughts and emotions are resting (or running?). There's a lot in there, and her explaining how a television works is a priceless example of that. First and foremost, her hunger for knowledge and her relentless curiosity for man, machine, and nature (often intertwined in her work) is enviable. The way she searches for words is amazing, especially when paired with her accent.</span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">3) <em>Biophilia. </em>I was -- and still am -- hesitant about speaking just to this album given her other masterpieces, but I feel it speaks to me at the times in a way that is different from the others. What Bjork has done with this album is incredible. Each song essentially addresses an earthly or cosmic phenomenon, but in doing so she also addresses the perils of the human heart, of the mind, of the future, and of technology. In a certain "Crystalline," she sings "Internal nebula / rocks growing slow-mo / I conquer claustrophobia." The line is impactful partly because I have mild claustrophobia and partly because of her determination to live and to grow with vigor not unlike that of crystals growing in deep, dark, hard places.</span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Well, that's all I have! Happy Birthday, Bjork...you've changed my world.</span> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741407793395898020.post-64253085840201726582013-11-16T11:01:00.003-08:002013-11-16T11:01:52.600-08:00Well, Aren't We all Plagiarists? <br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This morning I read a highly interest piece from <em>The New Yorker </em>that was spearheaded by Rand Paul's recent plagiarism debauchery. Cartoonist and author of piece, Robert Mankoff, argued that perhaps we are all plagiarists. While we may not intend to sound or draw influence from anyone else, Mankoff argues that we now have abundant access [insert technology reference here, etc] to information that would lead us to confirm whether or not our words were plagiarized. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> This got me thinking about the pieces I've written over the years. Be they silly poems in a journal, vignettes on the backs of napkins when I'm in New York and inspired, or essays, I begin to wonder how much of it really mine. I think it starts with thoughts. For the most part, the same thoughts have been thought and feelings have been felt by a large number of people, or even the entirety of the human race. There's bound to be some overlap. And of course, of course there is the common notion that our writing styles are ultimately a culmination of that of the writers' we read, before we find our own. This leaves me sometimes to ask: "Did I write this line, or did Fran Charles Didion Hemingway write it?" </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/cartoonists/2013/11/we-are-all-plagiarists.html" target="_blank"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Read the piece, people</span></strong></a> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741407793395898020.post-76002468879148601572013-10-29T17:47:00.001-07:002013-10-29T17:47:28.420-07:00I Feel Bad About My Eye<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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....Well, not really. I am just trying to mimic the title of the book I am holding up, <em>I Feel Bad About by Neck. </em>I've read several of Ephron's other essays, etc but this is my first time with <em>this</em> collection of essays, and I must say I am sold. As always, she's poignant and funny. No need for fancy-schmancy words or complex sentences to get the point across or impress the reader. <br />
For the last, say, year I have been into monochromatic dressing. This summer it was pretty much all white, save for the ubiquitous denim cutoffs. This fall, I am doing/plan on doing a lot of black, navy, and heck, even some more white. White is calming to me in that it really doesn't have much of a connotation aesthetic-wise. The New Balance, of course, are partly because they are comfortable and partly because I feel a little bit more French or Scandinavian in them. This summer I came across a girl from Paris who was wearing New Balance. <br />
"Oh, I love your New Balances, " I said. <br />
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"Ah, yes, Zhank you. They are very nineties, Sehn-Feld <em>(Seinfeld), </em>non?" she said. <br />
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"Uhmm, yes, super great!" I answered. <br />
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You see, though, she made them look exponentially cooler than I do. I also think they can make the wearer look smarter if done right. Or a better writer. And for the record, I'd love to pose as both. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741407793395898020.post-52476578201795068362013-10-25T17:48:00.006-07:002013-10-25T17:48:45.042-07:00Style Comes From Within (aka Pinterest). <br />
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I am in one of those viscous wardrobe-cum-identity-crisis cycles again where I look into my closet, "look" into myself, and proclaim I have nothing to wear. That, of course, isn't true because I find myself in need of hangers regularly due to the growing contents of my 'drobe. The "nothing to wear" thing falls more along the lines of my having a mental rut than the actual contents of my wardrobe vanishing. <br />
In these cycles, it is incredibly important to seek inspiration elsewhere. Running circles inside the head while looking at the same closet never elicited an Ah-Hah Moment. Now, whether this is a direct correlation to the intensity of my lack of inspiration (I think it is) or not, I turned to Pinterest. <br />
I've always had an uneasy relationship with Pinterest. When I think of the site I think of middle-aged women who are in an endless search for scrapbook inspiration. These women also like nice candlesticks, fashion diffusions of saddle boots, and vacations to warm places. They've tried green juice diets and stringing café lights up in their dining room in the name of <em>fun, spunk, </em>or <em>funk. </em>And, in that sense, Pinterest is phenomenal. The inspo-site is Tumblr's metaphorical older sister (or its mother). She's the one who's put together, set to marry a guy in finance, doesn't get lipstick on her teeth, was valedictorian in high school and wrote an award-winning poem on her dog when it died. She's smart, yes, but not entirely quirky. Tumblr, on the other hand, is the little sister who's had as many hair colors as possible when including hybrid pigments, too. She's perhaps mistaken her general angst for a sign that she might have been adopted because <em>no else in my family feels like me</em>. But why the metaphor? Because it is an exact reflection of why I turned to Pinterest for style inspiration. Pinterest, do to its Boards feature, is easily sortable, alleviating search time spent sifting through pictures of Supreme hats, pizza slices, and John Green quotes. I can get "Alexa Chung gingham" upon first entry, and even be directed toward pages that house exclusively that. <br />
I was surprised to find that post-Pinterest search, my closet suddenly became a mélange of really useful things. For one I learned shin-length childhood socks with lips, stars, pumpkins, look alright with ballerina flats. I also learned that maybe I am not as sick of denim cutoffs as I had claimed mere days before. I also confirmed that if I don't find the perfect pair of high-waisted mom jeans (sounds paradoxical, I know), I might go insane. <br />
What this long testament is about, though, is finding love in a hopeless place, not unlike Rihanna did. I had always derided Pinterest for the very triteness that I am perhaps now partaking in. Nevertheless, I've found that I love pictures of low-caloric zucchini bread just as much as my middle-aged Pinner counterparts. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741407793395898020.post-18871531682110722013-10-09T20:16:00.002-07:002013-10-09T20:22:56.471-07:00Howard Stern, Arguably Orwell? <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From <em>The</em> <em>New York Times</em></td></tr>
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Sunday's opinion section offered <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/06/opinion/sunday/howard-stern-my-literary-idol.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0" target="_blank">an essay</a> detailing one man's collection of literary idols that ultimately shaped his verbose world. <br />
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Not unlike the contradiction of enlightenment shrouded in naïveté of youth, Sayrafiezadeh was enthralled by the works of Orwell, Beckett, and Kafka. Their works are undeniably relatable to the teen that is drowned in angst, "alone" in the world with the perceived notion that there is nowhere to turn. In those circumstances, these writers speak to you: their portrayals of dark rooms, fantastical childlike aspirations and ultimately depictions of the quotidian can feel so real, and so close. <br />
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What's interesting, though? Howard Stern, the radio personality with curly hair and a controversial tongue, is named among the Kafka-type for Sayrafiezadeh. He writes: " This identity of the alienated, forged in the crucible of early youth, is the engine that drives Mr. Stern’s radio show..."<br />
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<o:p>While I admit I know next to nothing about Stern and was initially skeptical on the assertions that his influence could be of the same caliber or brilliance as that of Orwell, there's an underlying theme of the isolated individual that rings true in both situations. I especially enjoyed the writer's comparisons of a typical Stern-type radio guest, Tan Mom (presumably a chain smoker or alcoholic when the kids are away at school), with the characters that grace the pages of his initial influences.</o:p><br />
<o:p> </o:p><br />
<o:p> My English teachers were not wrong to drill the concept of <em>universal symbolism</em> into my head. What is perhaps the most profound part of this essay is the concept presented that be they man-insects in Kafka or a sorry soul on a radio show, humans are funny creatures:distorted, flawed, and highly unglamorous in their truest denominations. Maybe, though, that's what makes us uniquely us. Oddly beautiful, even. As for the said distortions, Stern, Orwell, Beckett, and Kafka themselves are not off the hook. </o:p><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741407793395898020.post-22911068536375907662013-09-22T08:47:00.002-07:002013-09-22T08:47:29.369-07:00Prada S/S 14 <br />
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I've been following the shows remotely from a communal computer screen for and upwards of four years, now. Those four years have dedicated themselves to the ups and downs of near-human relationship. At first, it was illogical love: I was amused and obsessed with nearly any dress on a long, thin girl that pranced across my computer screen or jumped across the page of a magazine. Then, as the years progressed, the love became more critical and perhaps more genuine. The range of designers I loved became dramatically slimmer (albeit it still a large amount), and the way in which I viewed the clothes was approached with much more thought than previously had. Quite simply, I've grown up and with that comes a change of thought or exposure to new medium of expression. <br />
This season, however, the remoteness of my admiration was alleviated with Prada. Behind the hasty checking of Style.Com in between classes, I felt a sense of closeness to the fashion I had so loyally and distantly observed. <br />
If there is one word that should be used to describe Prada's collection, it is <em>Feminist</em>. From look one, Miuccia put up a blatant rally for the word and its implications. The walls of the show space were adorned in murals by six graphic artists. They depicted women of various looks, yet all were incredibly feminine in a classic sense. It was a refreshing contradiction to see their soft -- fragile, even -- features conveyed by way of street art. To have the longing faces of refined femininity done in the overtly underbelly style (in the sense it was born of rebellion in tough, urban neighborhoods) of art was no doubt a political move. And those are contradictions that are distinctly Prada. They ask questions and beg answers. Upon staring back into the eyes of a blonde woman whose flower crown was anatomically cerebral, I couldn't help but think she was asking what all the fuss was around the word <em>feminist</em>. When did it become a "four letter" word? <br />
To sources at the show, Ms. Prada said "I want to inspire women to struggle." The statement confused me at first, given that I had hoped and thought she wanted the struggle of women for equality to be addressed once and for all. As the clothes came out with their garish colors and faces that matched those of the murals, her sentiment re-reared its head in more clarity. Perhaps the struggle was the actual rally for power, equality, intellectual freedom, or any other oppressed feature that has inhibited female potential. The women of this collection were fighters. They came out in thick, wool dresses embellished heavily in sequins and paired with sporty socks and underskirts. The shoes also had elements of sport, which vouched for the duplicity of the collection. The notion that the girls were entirely covered in shirts in heavy fabrics that were nevertheless adorned with the outlines of a brassiere, was a move equally as political as the murals. Especially on some of the more structured tops, it was an explicit image of the debate working woman with power vs. working women with intact femininity (thus, no power). By infusing the two so abruptly into one garment (one was not possible without the other), Prada argued that there shouldn't be a trade-off when it comes to power and the characteristics of being feminine. And, therein lies the struggle. <br />
Her women don't (and won't) compromise. <br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Pics via WSJ (first), and Style. Com (remaining)</span> </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741407793395898020.post-19526712611289023532013-09-08T09:29:00.001-07:002013-09-08T09:29:41.616-07:00Alexander Wang, SS14 <br />
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At 5PM EST today the Alexander Wang show went off, made available to those in the physical and fans over the internet. As you might imagine, I was a net participant (cue my tweet about "viewing #nyfw from afar for the billionth time"). <br />
In recent collections - and more so in conjunction with his work for Balenciaga - Wang has grown up. He has since strayed from the denim tuxedo and utter basics of his earliest collections, opting for a selection of debatably more sophisticated materials and silhouettes. Nevertheless, he stays with the now-ubiquitous raison d'etre of the brand: a place in between model off duty, a sporting event, and the streets of New York. Isn't that, though, just the mix of street-style? I digress. <br />
To be entirely honest, while his collections for Balenciaga have become increasingly better, I feared that he might be compensating in his collections for his namesake label. With fall, we saw a collection made almost entirely of conservative wool coats, and I was entirely ready to give up what I had grown to love about Wang. This collection, though, was a complete exercise in the reinvestment of faith - and, more importantly, that Mr. Wang can handle (wonderfully, I might add) the pressures of two very different brands.<br />
This season, Mr. Wang explored the ingenious idea of self-branding. Self-branding has been in the fashion limelight for some years now with the emergence of the blogger, but Mr. Wang managed to explore the side of branding that dealt more with the designer of today. This dialogue hasn't yet been<em> as</em> exhausted as the aforementioned, so the collection helped to open the door for new conversation. Self-branding for a designer has undoubtedly come - in recent years - in the form of t-shirt. Yet, we can't help but reminisce about the fact that that very same branding adorned the t-shirts of the 90s. Think Tommy Hilfiger sport shirts, Claudia Schiffer in Chanel tees, and Kate Moss in Calvin Klein ads. And this is exactly what Wang grew up with. As he relays to critic Nicole Phelps: "That was the height of me in high school, reading and obsessing over [magazines] and being a fashion geek". <br />
Today, fashion is equally obsessed with the t-shirt, what with the likes of the enumerable amounts of fashion puns (see: 'Ballinciaga' and 'Hotmes'), along with Givenchy shirts that retail for around $600. But back to Wang, though. <br />
The beginning of the show was marked with wonderful, mini tennis skirts and crisp shirts in blues, white, and hints of pastel purple. Then came the lovely scrub/hospital-like dresses, which I am still trying to decode - thoughts? And where does all of the self-branding come into play? In the last, more evening gown equivalents of the collection, no less. In between the layers of pleated skirt, the laser-cut leather wide belts and waistlines spelled out ALEXANDER WANG many times over. Shameless promotion, maybe, but he managed to disguise it in a way that looked like a sophisticated adornment rather than the blatant naming of brand-on-tee. <br />
To put it simply, he knows what he's doing. He continues to push the limits as to how far he can take his initial DNA on his journey into adulthood, and high fashion. <br />
------<strong><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">ALL PHOTOS VIA STYLE.COM --------</span></em></strong><br />
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On another note: you'll most likely find me in pinstripe boxers come spring. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741407793395898020.post-57935657018057895012013-08-25T20:55:00.001-07:002013-08-25T20:55:44.153-07:00The Same but Different - Denim Cutoffs <br />
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My love of the denim cutoff didn't really grow out of adherence to trend, but out of a deep obsession with all-things late 60s/early 70s. For years now, I've been trying hopelessly to emulate the style of denizens of the French cinema/music scene. My heroes, Francoise Hardy and Jane Birkin, could both work denim like no other. They looked so effortless in their denim cutoffs, pulled high on the waist paired with bohemian or mod tops. <br />
In recent years, the likes of superstars Alexa Chung and Chloe Sevigny have only helped to continue the search for the perfect pair. That's the thing though: I'm having a really, really hard time finding the perfect pair? One that sits high on the waist, fitting snug around the waist, hips and gradually getting looser when they hit the thigh.<br />
My first pair of denim cutoffs made their way into my closet when I was in 7th grade. At the time, I was on my first phase of Jane Birkin madness, seeking a pair that would justify prove that I was somewhat semblant of the aforementioned music. The pair was from Urban Outfitters (let's talk about the shift of aesthetic in that store at a later date, shall we?) with white lace trim at the bottom. The pair, three years later, has now become somewhat ubiquitous with the many lace-detailed pairs that grace (read: stick) the legs of other girls. However, this doesn't make me love them any less. After all, they will still be my first pair of cutoffs -- besides the ones I made a prior that turned out horribly wrong. My second and third pairs of denim cutoffs came a year later from a vintage store in the East Village that must crank out hundreds of pairs a year, bringing in $8 for each pair of mom jeans they cut and receive for free. I love the feeling of actually making natural holes in a pair of denim, living in them until they rip. Several of the belt loops are holding on by their last straws and I rip in the buttocks area proves their life might be ending shortly --or at least until they find themselves a patch. <br />
This is where having more than one pair comes in handy. Jeans, until their eventual deaths, remain works in progress. We wear them until they can no longer be worn without a wash, fading with the sun and the suds. When one pair becomes loved -- and consequently damaged -- beyond the point of repair, there will be another to follow, in a similar, perfect light wash and preliminary rips. While the perfect pair may just come once in a lifetime (I don't think I've found it yet), I have hope that they will one jump out, much like the candlesticks in Pier 1 commercials . Because, when it comes down to the basics, each pair is a separate enterprise, just in a very similar way. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741407793395898020.post-76377302382662004982013-08-23T17:18:00.001-07:002013-08-23T17:18:15.052-07:00Friday Afternoon <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In the process of writing a few other pieces and it is the Friday before school starts, so....why not spend it with Grimes? Love this interview she did with <a href="http://shopghost.com/" target="_blank">Shop Ghost a</a> while back. Happy Friday and read it <a href="http://shopghost.com/grimes/" target="_blank">HERE</a><br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741407793395898020.post-68620647009169438162013-08-19T13:13:00.002-07:002013-08-19T13:13:54.030-07:00Must Read: Dear Emma <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">image via NYT </td></tr>
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Yesterday, as part of my habitual Sunday morning routine, I scoured the newspaper for its essays that I wish I'd written. You know that feeling? I came across this piece -- written by pilot/writer, Mark Vanhoenacker -- regarding the endearing form of friendship that is the Pen Pal. Vanhoenacker detail's the personal growth he shared intimately with never-met-until-recently best friend, Emma. <br />
While reading, I couldn't help but ask if the pen and paper Pen Pal was effectively more romantic and meaningful than its technological equivalent. People may speak online, but does it at all embody the respect or depth that the physical copy still owns? If anything, the sheer time investment of the antiquated mode of communication might be leg up enough in the breadth of comparing such similar/not-so-similar endeavors. At any rate, I was just really, really happy to read that there's a new crop of children taking on the task of keeping in touch with a stranger. It's a nice paradox, isn't it? To know so much about someone, yet then again nothing at all. In my opinion, I don't think that has exactly translated unto the internet-derived relationships just yet, but maybe we can all relish in the fact that there are still ways to make this vast, beating planet a little less foreign. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094043797494040775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741407793395898020.post-89201871703926372852013-08-06T06:00:00.000-07:002013-08-10T07:41:32.438-07:00Adidas Superstar // <br />
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Now, it's a familiar story on this blog to hear about my loving something that I previously hated. I have been a fan of Adidas shoes for a long time, but never have I been a fan of the Superstar. Maybe it is because I never idolized the typical clientele for the shoe. But with this whole sneaker craze that has been culminating for the past few years, the clientele has invariably extended into more comparable people - or, if anything, people who's style I really admire. <br />
The shoe, especially when worn with a great short, actually looks pretty decent. I think the key with this shoe is to keep everything else really simple and classic. Perhaps a pinstriped blazer, a plain black tee, and some denim cutoffs would be an ideal look. Or, just like this blogger of the blog, <a href="http://paris-paris.cover.dk/" target="_blank">Paris Paris </a>, they can be paired with a vintage pair of athletic shorts. Either way, I think I'm really beginning to fall in love. And don't you think they'd look pretty cool with <a href="http://madamecouture.blogspot.com/2013/08/grooming-bag_2.html" target="_blank">an Hermès Grooming Bag? </a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741407793395898020.post-42453143660334294242013-08-03T12:20:00.001-07:002013-08-04T07:54:08.020-07:00vintage sport shorts <br />
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I've always been into retro sport shorts worn sans exercise, but I've never really taken that sentiment to heart when it comes to my own outfit choices. After seeing several photographs yesterday, I decided to pull out these (presumably) 80s running shorts that I've had for a while. I like when they are paired with sneakers and then a simple white tee, along with a classic trench. With the trench, it is all about creating proportion with the shorter short. <br />
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And what this workout is telling you is, be sure to follow @emmahager on Instagram for a good time. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741407793395898020.post-52960866140375522652013-08-03T09:06:00.000-07:002013-08-03T09:06:04.684-07:00Morning Sounds: Flume <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR3HezLmxSgLKBtYbjKXUaG2vsI3ytiN1Y1_E30tC3HbKfgxPBmaEmt4TSRrp-5Hox_jtt4wOFw9S9pk99Pgsc6qDIgDS_fNcIcZJKa0NZGgtrd1Qe2puM0BTuqYqR4H9AYMGv8E8LNOpo/s1600/elle+france+june+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR3HezLmxSgLKBtYbjKXUaG2vsI3ytiN1Y1_E30tC3HbKfgxPBmaEmt4TSRrp-5Hox_jtt4wOFw9S9pk99Pgsc6qDIgDS_fNcIcZJKa0NZGgtrd1Qe2puM0BTuqYqR4H9AYMGv8E8LNOpo/s640/elle+france+june+2013.jpg" width="498" /></a></div>
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I'm invariably still on East Coast time, which provides for waking up relatively early. Consequently to have sound accompaniment to early morning reading or blog perusing, Flume is played and danced to (or at least from torso up, as I still remain 1/2 upright in bed). <br />
Harley Streten, otherwise known as Flume, has produced one of the best albums of the year thus far. The young producer notes that he is particularly invested in the quality of his melodies. This ultimately creates depth and texture in the music that tends to side around an easily digestible, danceable sound. What makes his music strikingly good is his decent ammunition of samples and vocals that add to the depth of the his foundational sound. So, take a listen and let the thoughts come out! <em><span style="font-size: xx-small;">pictures via random sources </span></em><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/mwLbOg_7pwY" width="420"></iframe><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741407793395898020.post-338268364308801542013-08-02T19:13:00.001-07:002013-08-02T19:13:46.162-07:00Grooming Bag Like many of my current love affairs, they find their roots on Instagram. With cool people taking pictures with other cool people in effort to make other cool people jealous (#FOMO ?), there is always bound to be a serial search unto the lives connected by this endless network. Naturally, as these networks unfold and my perusal grows deeper, so does the exposure to more and new consumer goods (see: handbags, shoes, leather jackets). <br />
About a week ago upon scrolling down the homepage of Instagram, I came across this photo taken at the hip downtown spot, The Butcher's Daughter. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpgp9Cz-2vg2om5e1wHvs4jnnhkdMwQost1xjVLvSGgS99a_GR4rI0eJE9mH8BujlVVFPPRED62_twDjQSK-g72B_FA-41wIPaCSL43VyZyINrULCizzqsBMo6fNoE89COXhvzcC9DZNX_/s1600/ITG+hermes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpgp9Cz-2vg2om5e1wHvs4jnnhkdMwQost1xjVLvSGgS99a_GR4rI0eJE9mH8BujlVVFPPRED62_twDjQSK-g72B_FA-41wIPaCSL43VyZyINrULCizzqsBMo6fNoE89COXhvzcC9DZNX_/s400/ITG+hermes.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">from @intothegloss on Instagram</td></tr>
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<em>Cool bag</em>, I thought. <em>Really cool </em>bag. But, what was it about this bag that made me want it more than any bag before? Truth be told, I've never been one to obsess over handbags. Rather, if it is small enough to not be a menace yet large enough to carry my things, then I'm on board. But back to the point, this bag was inscribed with branding, no less, making it an extra peculiar choice. Yet, the little round, canvas bag with the pretentious label was yelling at me. </div>
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A few hours later the owner of the bag - stylist extraordinaire, Stevie Dance - posted a photo of herself in the most perfect summer outfit with the bag in the foreground. For one, her outfit resembled that of a 1970s Birkin, MacGraw, ever complimenting the bag in her simple red shirt and denim cutoffs -- not to mention the gold chains. And the bag held things! Water bottle - <em>check. </em>Sweater for when it gets cold - <em>check.</em></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixaPeP4Pwz9p8-FeTNidtV0ZqlPqCHJOvdzUOSCyvyBWwh1zImiPbRCV4s2odz5VAbAq8QDJ13rL1uV3t-FYdcULwesgZRa-D17klqDkeVj4PToTCsFR0KwHjCV98f5Sj-zU0ptVeAmrOx/s1600/hermes+dance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixaPeP4Pwz9p8-FeTNidtV0ZqlPqCHJOvdzUOSCyvyBWwh1zImiPbRCV4s2odz5VAbAq8QDJ13rL1uV3t-FYdcULwesgZRa-D17klqDkeVj4PToTCsFR0KwHjCV98f5Sj-zU0ptVeAmrOx/s400/hermes+dance.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">from @stevie_dance on Instagram </td></tr>
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I began frantically searching the web with the words I had seen on the bag, finding surprisingly few results that proved semblance. But finally, I came across the bag on the Hermes site. It was a mere $1,575 which seemed like a nominal fee compared to the lifelong saving and waiting for their more famous bag, The Birkin. But as I perused the page a while longer, I realized it was under the 'Equestrian' section, and further under the 'Grooming Bag' section. What, now, was a grooming bag? It was hard to imagine that this bag -- in its native state of use -- would be created primarily to hold the likes of smelly, hairy horse combs or sheers. But then again in this backward world, racing horses often find themselves in much more luxurious situations than most of earth's citizens. </div>
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This all stirred a pot that <a href="http://www.manrepeller.com/2012/08/blinded-by-the-label.html" target="_blank">Leandra </a> had previously stirred. Did I have a case of Blinded By The Brand? If I had seen this little canvas bag at a boutique for $50 with, say, just <em>Sellier </em>(French for Saddler) on the front, would I purchase? I'll answer my own question, one-hundred percent not. I came to the conclusion that there was something magnifying about the simplicity that this little Hermès, especially with the brand's storied history. And, of course, the fact that some of my idols, Stevie Dance and Emily Weiss, were approving the bag only amplified the love. After seeing the photograph - or rather, 'Gram - of Ms. Dance with the bag in her 70s-esque get-up, I started to envision the aforementioned style muses actually carrying around the canvas horse bag. </div>
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Bottom line, though, is that Instagram has made me fall in love with something almost at the same speed it takes to upload a picture, which is to say instantly. So while the bag won't become mine due to the price tag anytime soon, as long as horses keep getting knots on their tails and owners are willing to keep their brushes in this piece of Hermès, then I suppose I can find it somewhere down the road. For now, envisioning Jane Birkin give her basket a rest for this little guy is a really, really nice thought. </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741407793395898020.post-9211833632367806512013-07-28T12:36:00.000-07:002013-07-28T12:36:40.635-07:00holy cow <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyKgdWy1CtV9562mbWKtSeIg6VX1pfbZVXTzepTGreZ_FdkTmxHUfQvL20x1opARjj3eZBnEBbrXTUkz81jrPryLaI6pvtTfXvcpG7-8B76x6AOyamGhEJzwh0fbdljOlfZi8tTd5EL7NM/s1600/celfallc1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyKgdWy1CtV9562mbWKtSeIg6VX1pfbZVXTzepTGreZ_FdkTmxHUfQvL20x1opARjj3eZBnEBbrXTUkz81jrPryLaI6pvtTfXvcpG7-8B76x6AOyamGhEJzwh0fbdljOlfZi8tTd5EL7NM/s640/celfallc1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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For a couple of weeks now the Céline fall 2013 ads have been circulating, and leaving everyone on the airwaves either speechless or able to let out an "OH EM GEE." Either response, they're fabulous and I'm so glad the Phoebe-Teller-Daria Trifecta is hanging around for another season (and hopefully a lifetime). <br />
The use of the mosaic and patterned backgrounds with both the all-white and shopping bag-patterned looks is perfect, as there is a consistency and muted busyness that transcends the series of ads. <br />
My guess is that all girls will have those plaid, plastic shopping bags to accompany their Birkenstocks shortly. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741407793395898020.post-75114748764345044422013-07-27T19:37:00.000-07:002013-07-27T19:37:10.654-07:00Zarabel Marant. <br />
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I rarely buy new clothing because thrifting is typically more economical and fun (not to mention better for our planet), but when in Manhattan, there is always validation to buy some new, along with some old. <br />
Zara has been one of my favorite stores for a rather unethical reason: they do really, really good copies of runway clothes I can't afford. Let's not get carried away, though, I am in full support of the independent artist, but at the same time the clothes are <em>just</em> different enough to validate the purchase. <br />
I had fallen in love with the quilted jackets from étoile Isabel Marant some time ago, and when I came across this Zara version, it wasn't really a question of whether or not it would be taken home. Worn with trusty denim cutoffs (two ways - rolled and unrolled), Nike shoes, and a very, very vintage bag. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094043797494040775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741407793395898020.post-18788721307847054222013-07-26T11:39:00.001-07:002013-07-26T11:39:08.016-07:00On J. Crew, Customer Voice <br />
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In a piece penned by Chris DeRose for <i>Forbes, </i>the issue (well, now there's an issue) of J. Crew's lack of ability to stay to the raison d'etre of the brand was brought up by way of his wife's email. Ms. DeRose - to Mr. Mickey Drexler, CEO of J. Crew wrote - "I am so disheartened and disappointed that you are leaving your core values and styling and abandoning your loyal customers." <br />
Upon first reading, I was intrigued by the sharpness of her email, but on second reading I was almost scared. Why? Because Mr. Drexler, in a later phone conversation to Ms. DeRose, stated "I hope you see a difference this fall." That isn't to say that he doesn't stand up for the current direction of the brand; in fact the article stated clearly that Drexler stood by the need for change and evolution in the brand. I began to question Ms. DeRose's statements regarding the brand betraying the loyal customer. Surely a "real fan" would realize that, while the brand has evolved (for the better, in my opinion), J. Crew has stayed largely loyal to its core values.<br />
The clothes are well-made classics that have simply been redone in a way that will increase longevity, long into the future. Sure, I acknowledge that J. Crew is not solely in the industry of modest basics or khakis anymore, but should one wish to be purchase these items, they are not hard to find in either the J. Crew catalog or on their site. <br />
The collection under pressure - fall 2013 - featured creased, straight leg, cropped pants in both plain colors and brocade patterns. There were great, boxy jackets, and streamlined skirts in deep, romantic floral prints, along with a variety of chunky knit scarves. Plain? Maybe not. Simple? Sure, as the color palette was muted and the silhouettes timeless. If anything, then, creative director Jenna Lyons should be commended for her ability to revitalize the brand, making it of interest to a younger generation. Even though Lyons ultimately gained her current position as Executive Creative Director just a few years ago (2010), there has already been drastic difference in the breadth and depth of J. Crew clientele. This is due in part to her contributions to the company that have gradually increased since the mid-90s. And, logistically it makes sense. It is important to breathe new life into a company, especially when those (probably the ones complaining) won't be around forever - or much longer. <br />
Any which way we look at it, one thing's for sure: paying attention to customer concern goes a really, really long way. <br />
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">photos: sources and seasons/collections = various </span></em>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741407793395898020.post-45960307315709066252013-06-29T17:25:00.000-07:002013-06-29T17:25:14.148-07:00Backstage Seattle <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I don't really have too much to say, today, but I will share the fact that I purchased Birkenstocks recently. With my short hair, 90s jeans, Birkenstocks, and furry sweater, I'm feeling quite Kurt Cobain. Or a mixture of both Courtney and Kurt. So, am I a victim of my childhood surroundings or a victim of fashion upon purchasing Birks? Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741407793395898020.post-3692155338026639722013-06-26T16:48:00.002-07:002013-06-26T16:48:55.985-07:00Girly Girl <br />
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For the past 1.5 years, my style has evolved from mixing tons of prints, textures, and proportions to a simple diet of men's shirts, denim, and cropped, high-waisted pants. Or Mom Jeans. When it gets hot, the shirt turns to a simple tee or the sleeves are rolled up, and I trade in my pants for a pair of denim cutoffs. These looks are always paired with a sneaker of some sort -- think Saucony Jazz or something from Nike. But you've heard this all before.<br />
Lately, though (full disclosure: today while I was attempting to clean out my closet), I've been in the mood to wear girly, billowy floral dresses and Easter-y colors. I wore the above with <a href="http://madamecouture.blogspot.com/2013/06/an-ode-to-converse.html" target="_blank">Converse, though, of course. </a> I think rediscovering this Rodarte x Target dress helped to stimulate this new interest, along with some internal urge to embrace the sartorial advantages of being a girl. <br />
Well, that's all I've got for right now! Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3741407793395898020.post-40367539053707096832013-06-25T19:21:00.004-07:002013-06-25T19:21:46.248-07:00An Ode To Converse <br />
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I'm sure we've all owned a pair of Converse in our time, but that doesn't take away from a potentially intimate, unique relationship that each owner can have with the shoe-in-question. I, for one, have an amazing -- and have had amazing -- experiences with all of my hi-tops and lo-tops over the years. Here's why. <br />
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1. <em>Classics.</em> <br />
I think I can speak for everyone (yell if I'm only speaking for myself) when I say that we feel a certain safety and heritage when we participate in the using of a classic item. Not a blasé, fad-laden item, but an item that has been around for years passed and years to come. I always liked the thought that Beaver Cleaver and his buds were playing baseball in these in the 50s, or the fact that these shoes managed to suffice as suitable basketball shoes for the professionals for a relatively long time post-Cleaver era. They're simply something that will always feel right and are deeply engrained in personal and external history alike. I say stick with classic colors like off-white, black, and red. <br />
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2. <em>They Look Good.</em> <br />
Bottom line, they look good. The way the lip of the shoe can be substantial or fall behind the laces can completely change the shape of the shoe and the mood of an outfit. They are perfectly robust, narrow, rounded, straight. Also, they look good with anything, really. They can pair down a lace dress or compliment a pair of denim cutoffs also indigenous to the same season. <br />
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3. <em>Pseudo-Unique.</em><br />
They can make an outfit pseudo-unique not because of their invariable ability to appear on nearly every "soft grunge" or bona-fide hipster Tumblr, but because they grow (well, not literally) and age with the individual over the course of their wearable existence, contouring to their foot. That, but also they have surely been there in light of many<em> Firsts</em> in a person's life. <br />
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4. <em>They're Relatively Comfortable.</em> <br />
Compare them to, say, a pair of heels, these shoes are relatively comfortable. That being said, they are quite thin and have very little support, but the canvas gives the false impression of ankle support. And that placebo is enough for me. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1