Granica Monotremata

middle eastern design and culture blog.

2009-04-19T18:24:00.000-07:00

Very interesting:
BROWNBOOK

istvan orosz is very cool

2009-04-18T23:54:00.000-07:00

somewhere between magritte and escher I would say, with a twist of course: peep more of his works here.

cute as f

2009-03-19T15:03:00.000-07:00

can't NOT post these! TOO ADORABLE!Prepare to be devastated by the CUTENESS

generally not a fan of dressing the pets up - I MUCH prefer to dress MYSELF, but these little bugs don't seem UNHAPPY...mostly they just radiate the most cutest cuteness I have been bombarded with in a LONG time

Get some more at: beantown handmade on etsy

HOLI

2009-03-16T00:48:00.000-07:00

Sorry honeys - it's been awhile. School and work are really eating up my time and energy - but today I saw something I knew I HAD to post IMMEDIATELY.

Please know that even if my posting slows down appreciably, I still love this blog and will always occasionally deposit treasures here. Who made the rule that you have to post everyday anyways? Post when you have something and want to - that's what I say.

Thanks to all of you who do check in - it's lovely recieving your comments and your attention.

Anyways- this is HOLI - the Hindu festival of colors - everything about it is so lovely - it's all about banishing evil and celebrating joy and surprise and color and spring and newness etc. etc.

These pictures make me SO HAPPY!
{images from the boston globe}

Trying on wedding dresses....

2009-02-24T15:22:00.000-08:00

Amazing jewelry

2009-02-18T20:27:00.000-08:00

Who makes my jewelry these days? Yoola, that's who. Seriously, I have like 5 pairs of earrings from her shop and they go with EVERYTHING and are so beautiful and light and SO WELL MADE. I have tried crocheting wire. It looks like a big scribble. It takes me ten minutes to make one little crooked loop. But look:

Yoola makes amazing things! Pomagranates, beads, earrings, lamps! And look how perfectly they are crocheted. I also got the ring from her store and it looks like a little golden scarf for my finger. So gorgeous and delicate. Plus she is always updating with new designs and colors so go take a look!

more wedding dress inspiration

2009-02-15T19:03:00.000-08:00

these girls look like shipwrecks/sunken treasure mermaids. Love the draping and deconstruction:

marella ferrera

so cute

2009-02-08T18:08:00.000-08:00

look at these:

they're lavender scented sleep angels. Aren't they adorable?

bonne nuit

denim sleep angels!

they even have little wings on their backs!

inspiration apples...
from Etsy seller la pomme.

head of roses

2009-02-05T16:57:00.000-08:00

chanel spring 09 couture:

that's paper btw - head dresses designed by hairstylist/milliner Katsuya Kamo. Here's some of his other work:

Amazing.

so cool

2009-01-29T20:15:00.000-08:00

wire sculptures by sugar susan:

Just what I need

2009-01-23T12:59:00.000-08:00

I am notorious for being cold. All the time. Very. How thrilled was I to find out about these babies? Very. And the price tag is super reasonable, too. I want to go to there!

The Lippi Selk Sleeping...Suit!

Designskolen Kolding

2009-01-19T19:33:00.000-08:00

Copenhagen. Similar to Mercibeaucoup, love the black dresses...

what a cool dress

2009-01-09T17:34:00.000-08:00

Speaking of horses, have you all read Aryn Kyle's The God of Animals? It is a great read, and contains a mini amalgam of my life, a family from Berkeley, an astronomy professor, and of course HORSES!

Well, goodbye to 2008 - a year of many changes, upheavals, and twists and turns for me.

For the first time in my life, I didn't make any resolutions, since the biggest lesson 2008 taught me was sometimes things change quicker and more drastically than you can imagine. Of course, our economy is probably the most obvious example of this, but for me, what I'm scratching my head over, is my style! Not even a year ago, I could have been the spokesgirl for Anthropologie, now I worship all things Japanese and avant-garde - whatever that word means anymore. In any case, black's the word in my wardrobe these days.

I wonder if that's some unconscious response to the economy since black is the one unassailable timeless color of fashion. Because for all the "new" blacks out there, there's only one true black and that is black. And black is always in style, except on Nantucket.

Anyhoo, back to resolutions. D and I made a sort of unofficial resolution to walk everyday, no matter how short or what the weather. So far, so good. I think my favorite place so far to walk is Pt. Isabel, due to the enormous quantities of dogs that can always be found frolicing about. However, the wind is just as frolicky, and nowhere near as warm and fuzzy. Bundle up.

We also wandered around a nice cemetery in Oakland, I believe it is called the Mountain View, which reminds me of Poland. To wander around looking at the head stones, taking in the views, and the other visitors imbues one with a not-unpleasant sense of gravity and respect for the land and for other people. If you are wondering about your existance or your place in the world, do go wander about a big, beautiful cemetery. It is like chiropratics for the soul, at the end, everything is more settled and aligned.

{dress by Mika Machida}

Be back after the new year

2008-12-21T22:24:00.000-08:00

Happy Merry everyone!

Here are some last minute treats before I go:

Alithia Spuri-Zampetti

and this cool blog about recycled fashion: OUTSAPOP

Have a happy and elfy new year!

Lia Cinquegrano

2008-12-10T16:21:00.000-08:00

Lia Cinquegrano.

I know I haven't been posting as much here, since I've been pretty occupied with school, and when I have time to blog, I tend to devote it to SFstyloscope, the fashion blog I'm trying to start to be for emerging designers and student work. But I will still be posting here at least once a week. So do check back in every once in a while!

Bling

2008-12-05T16:56:00.000-08:00

Are you curious? Find out more at MY OTHER BLOG!
P.S. If, WITHOUT going to my other blog (that would be SF Styleoscope.blogspot.com) you can tell me who these people are, I will do a special post just for you! Leave a note in the comments - who are they, and what you want your post to be about.

etsy goodness

2008-12-03T20:31:00.000-08:00

I've been checking Etsy a lot more often than I used to and am continually impressed at the stuff there is to be had.

soul2mate

isadora

lisa rietz

desira pesta

gougoloft

Felipe Oliviera Baptista

2008-12-02T18:41:00.000-08:00

SS09:

Sort of like a minimalist Marni.
Here's the FW08:

designer colabs

2008-11-30T19:03:00.000-08:00

I love it when worlds collide - which is essentially what happens when two huge but vastly different fashion empires decide to collaborate. Here are three that are all the buzz right now:

Comme des Garcons and Louis Vuitton (Wow.)
That last bag is so great. Apparently Rei K. designed 6ish bags using the LV signature and these will be for sale for a very limited time in a transient boutique set up in Tokyo.

Lanvin and Acne (Say whaaa??)

Alexander McQueen and Target (No way.)

Read more here.

I hope A. Mcqueen ponies up some serious style. That man is pretty f-ing talented, but it's hard to see it translating to the masses. Therefore, I hope he doesn't TRY to translate for the masses and just goes for the gusto. A girl can dream...

{Images from designboom, hauteconcept, acne and nitrolicious}

finsk shoes

2008-11-19T17:33:00.000-08:00

Would you like some hot shoes? Here, have some: Finsk.

Loving the suble architectural details. Are they too subtle? As Sea of Shoes would say: are these shoes even relevant?

Russian Vogue Dolls

2008-11-17T15:04:00.000-08:00

To celebrate Russian Vogue's tenth anniversary top designers were each asked to design a matrioshka doll. Said dolls will be auctioned off for charity and there will be a huge party, etc., etc. What cute little dolls! And what a change it is to see the designs on a chubby little marshmallow rather than a stick thin model. My favorites are below, see the entire gallery here.

And pop on over to my other blog to see each doll with her model counterpart!

Roberto Cavalli and Prada
Pucci and Antonio Marras
Moschino and Maison Martin Margiela
Marni and Giles
Alena Akhmadullina and YSL

One last thing. In one of my classes I have to do a design project where my "target customer" is a more mature woman, age 30's - 70's, who likes fashion and I need to make her 4 outfits. Give me your suggestions, please! If you fit this demographic, what do you like to wear? Dresses, pants (what kind?)... What is your ideal outfit? Is there a dress in your head that you are looking for but can never find? Is there anything you wish designers would realize? (Like: it would be nice if not ALL dresses were sleeveless, etc.) How do I keep it fashionable but age appropriate?

If you aren't this demographic, who cares? Leave me your thoughts anyways. Thank you, my dear readers!

Alina Akhmadullina

2008-11-14T17:20:00.000-08:00

Re: the necklace
Well, the fashion school verdict is undecided as I had both yays and nays and the yays may have just been polite (to see the necklace scroll down to the CSA post) however, i had an unprecedented amount of homeless men flirt with me, although this may be due to the fact that I took a stroll into the tenderloin today and their taste is questionable - very into layers and the grunge look.

These days I'm into taking inspiration and really abstracting and for lack of a better word (although I'm certain there is one) intellectualizing it when you make it into clothing. Ex: If you're inspired by a flower, you might just literally embroider flowers all over your dress, or you might do some weird drapy thing that sort of looks like a wilted tulip if you squint and shake your head at precisely the right frequency. I'm into the wilty-shakey. But here is a designer who utilizes her inspiration quite literally and it totally works for me.

OK. Tricked you. That was Fall08. Here is Spring 09 - and the motif continues:

Don't you just love the crochet skeleton harness thing and the rather large earrings. I do. And I also love the way in this collection, instead of printing feathers, she creates them out of the fabric all 3-D like. Have you checked out my other blog? Not much to see really. There will be soon, though!

New Blog

2008-11-13T18:05:00.000-08:00

Well, well, well. What's this all about? Unfortunately, it's just as it sounds. I "opened" a new blog today. It is called SF Styleoscope and it is meant to galvanize the fashion community in San Francisco and hopefully to get people who are not so interested in fashion a little more interested.

San Francisco dresses well, don't get me wrong. But they dress so SAFELY. And they cancelled their fashion week. The blog is still in the beta stage, but hop on over there to see some stylish folks that showed up at H&M today due to the launch of the Comme des Garcons collection.

Those racks were teeming with garments not five minutes ago. But then frenzied shoppers descended on them and ripped all the clothes off in a matter of minutes. It was pretty crazy. But let's start at the beginning:

Having never stood in line for anything, I went to H&M because I am a staunch supporter of Japanese fashion and of fashion in general (as we well know). Stood in line for an hour and a half dodging pigeon crap falling like missiles from the sky and watching the security guard trying vainly to keep people out of the doorways of the other stores. I also amused myself by gawking at the hard-core-ers who had camped out and were now huddled under a blanket with steaming cups of coffee. Starbucks was doing quite a lively trade that morning. Yes, more so than usual.

Perhaps because I looked the most wholesome and approachable, but most likely because I was alone, I was approached on more than one occasion and asked to speak as spokesperson for the crazy-people-in-line. The first time a homeless man approached and asked belligerently if we were in line for a video game. I laughed out loud because, well, because. Video game? Me? Nevah. Before he could kill me with his shiv, I quickly explained we were waiting for the Comme des Garcons collection. But when you say Comme des Garcons to an American, they get confused. They expect names like Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger. Names that are actually names. And pronounceable.

My next encounter was a sweet old couple who thought we were in line for a sale. Ha! These days, you don't line up for sales. They line up for you, thanks to the crashing economy. And once again, when I said Comme des Garcons, the women looked at me gently, like she knew every single designer, and this wasn't one of them, and I had been fooled and was standing in line for nothing. Then they gently wafted away.

When the doors at last opened, people sprinted. I kid you not. So the slow runners, even if they were 41st in line, ended up 103rd in the door. And I don't know how she did it, but a mother got in there with her child in a stroller. Who takes their kid to a mosh pit? People were grabbing and shoving and then scuttling away to corners to sort through their pile. Consequently, a lucky few scavengers were able to snap up the discards. But most people weren't discarding. Oh, no. They were saving for the trading stage.

So the next stage was trading. As the lucky few who had been in the door first stood waiting to pay, everyone else skulked about asking furtively: you got anything to trade? I hadn't, as before I had been made aware of the trading stage, I had given away the skirt I decided I didn't love. So I had nothing left to trade, but that was okay because no one had seen hide or hair of the coat that I really wanted. It was as if it had never existed. So I left empty handed.

But of course, not really, because this made me get my other blog up and running.

CSA's ROCK!

2008-11-11T21:14:00.000-08:00

So D and I recently joined a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture [Farm]), despite my skeptisicm towards all things even remotely "hippie" which is pretty ironic considering I live in the hippie capital: Berkeley.

Anyhoo, it turns out CSA's are SO AMAZING!!!
They totally break you out of your veggie rut. For all you fashionistas and -istos reading this, it's like getting a personal shopper (eee!) for your veggies.

Our first week, out of all the veggies we got the only ones I would have purchased for myself were a butternut squash, some onions and salad greens.

We also got: broccoli, broccoli raab, tokyo turnips, bok choy, and a pomegranate.
That's five new things!

D made a yummy casserole out of the broccoli. The raab was fantastic sauteed with toasted pine nuts, parmesan and pasta, it turns out pomegranates are ace for snacking, the bok choy got stir fried, and tonight we're sauteing the turnips.

When you get your box for the week, it's like Christmas! Seriously, consider CSAing it. You'll find yourself (probably) eating a lot more veggies, and discovering lots of new recipes, and if you think you don't have time to be chopping and cooking and all that, take the easy route and fry it up or boil it down, season with lemon, salt, pepper. Never fails.

This is our CSA: Fully Belly Farm

Here's one in ABQ: Los Poblanos

Here's one in Tuscon: Tucson CSA

In other news:

I need your (honest) opinion on this necklace:

and I need you to see this belly dancer, who we saw last Sat. night at the Conscious Fashionistas Fashion Show. She good:

{Figs and pumpkins from the immensely talented Sweet Paul, fuzzy peach from Janoid , chilis from my also immensely talented MOM}

cycle style

2008-11-10T16:39:00.000-08:00

Style, my friends, is not just a word. It is what makes you different from the rest of the sheep.

Style is communication - and now, style is also transportation. Behold the velo-liciousness! (did I mention my favorite color (for things other than clothes) is red):

The top bike there is my new obsession. Why? I'll tell you why. It's the eternal designophile's lament. Why do beauty and function seem to be mutually exclusive? I love the retro bikes but they're kind of impractical for the kind of commuting I do. I go over hills and thus need, yes, require, more than just three gears. There are staircases to tote the bike up and down, thus the bike should weigh less than a ton of bricks. I have to dress nice for work so a coat guard and chain guard are necessary, and should also be functional, not just perfunctory touches, just there for looks.
This gorgeous red bike with it's yummy blond tires is lightweight, you can choose 3,5, or 8 speed, and it has the guards. Plus it is so beautiful. The other bike pictured has balloon tires and kind of a hiphop inner city retro-ness to it. And the colors, all stormy-like. Oooh, and then there's the accessories. But that's a whole nother post. Just one tantalizing box bag for you here, available from London Cycle Chic.

Where are these hawt bikes from? Velorbis. Let's have one last look at the bike of the hour:

So yummy!

2-nite:

2008-11-08T06:00:00.000-08:00

AT CELLSPACE, SF
Also, love this:
{image from My love for you is a Stampede of Horses}

When Fashion Meets Architecture

2008-11-07T02:51:00.000-08:00

For a "brief" (2 yrs) while there, I though I was going to be an architect. It wasn't for me, but that doesn't mean I don't appreciate it. Granted, the below photos are more interior design, but still. I thought that in addition to seeing the Marni SS09 collection, it would be fun to see some of the boutiques, all designed by UK based Sybarite.

{Sydney, above.}
{Aoyama, above.}
{Aoyama, above.}
{Aoyama, above.}
{Madrid, above.}
{Madrid, above.}

Marni has got the lock on style, thas for sures.

Happy Friday. Don't play too hard. :)

{Images from Sybarite and style.com}

Comme des Garcons at H&M SOON

2008-11-06T12:59:00.000-08:00

NOV. 13, 2008 is when you'll find Comme des Garcons at the Powell St. H&M. See more of the collection here.

I am excited, but still not sure if I will go, as madness is sure to ensue...and we all know how much I love lines. People are camping out in Japan, but that's Japan. If I do go, more than anything it will be to see the demographic that also goes, and to people watch rather than to snag an item.

And not because I love Halloween (because I don't. ) but because I have to give it up for Heidi Klum (as Hindu goddess Kali) and Christian Siriano (as Cruella deVille). Those are some mighty fine disguises.

[Images from Nitrolicious and Dlisted]

Pughly

2008-11-05T06:01:00.000-08:00

Gareth Pugh-ly, that is. What happens when a Storm Trooper and a Piano have babies?

This is what happens.

why didn't I think of this?

2008-11-04T06:56:00.000-08:00

These go OVER your boots baby! And keep them stilettos on - you can be high and dry in these honeys!

So it's been pouring here. POURING. And ruining shoes and soaking feet. Pah.

But there is a solution (albeit an expensive one): SWIMS.

The Swims Webshop doesn't have these babies up yet, but hopefully will soon. At approx 150 bones a pop, are they worth it? You decide.

Thanks Rich of Eve!

Viktor and Rolf

2008-11-03T06:48:00.000-08:00

The last dress totally reminds me of some plates I saw in Neruda's house of black and white girls coming out of seashells. When I first saw this collection, I was like, NO. And then after browsing through several lackluster collections, I was like, thank you, yes! And remember my earlier rant about style.com wanting solely mainstream easytowear fashion? And remember how I told you to go to British Vogue instead? Well look:
"Of the more wearable pieces – and it's not that we wouldn't want to wear the aforementioned, it's just the practicality of daily life may beg to differ...." says BV about V&R.
No mention of front row girls, thank god, just good ol' tongue in cheek. That is more like it.

OH! And PS: Alabama Chanin is coming to San Francisco!!!
Nov. 5 there is a lecture at CCA.
Friday there's an all day trunk show and Saturday there's a book signing!

Go here for the details.

Got style?

2008-10-31T18:06:00.000-07:00

Wow guys, this girl is amazing! By now you may or may not have realized I love bold architectural clothing and that means Alexandra Groover is right up my alley!

Look at her fabu designs!

And here is the stylish girl herself, wearing her 5-hooded sweatshirt, as photographed by the Sart:

Happy Weekend, Everyone!

[images from Alexandra Groover's blog and website]

Erte

2008-10-30T12:34:00.000-07:00

Hello Sweetayzz!

Last night I watched a snippet of Oprah's interview with the Olsen twins when she did a show on tween moguls. How depressing. The twins have been running a multi-billion dollar empire since the age of 15 or something like that. The twins failed to show much personality or intelligence, but I forgive them because: a) it's Oprah b) they were visibly nervous and c) they can't be a day over 22. I wasn't exactly a font of poise at 22 -unlike those incredibly beautiful and intelligent girls Scarlet Johansen and Natalie Portman...who were.

If you are in love with the Olsen twins (even if it is very reluctantly and both feet planted firmly in the closet (like me)) you should check out this blog dedicated solely to them: Inside the Olsens Closet.

Anyhoo. Since starting my second semester of fashion illustration at school I've been researching famous fashion illustrators. I've already shown you my favorite thus far, Mats Gustafson, but I am loving Erte as well. Art deco, highly stylized, highly awesome, Russian born, French schooled. Nuff said.

He did an entire alphabet and letter series:

Z:
L:

zer0:

Some others:

selection of a heart

seagulls - harpar's bazaar cover

bride

ebony and white

Yummy.

[images from erte.com]

The Hollow Women

2008-10-29T12:53:00.000-07:00

Chalayan's SS09 collection reminded me of TS Eliot's "The Hollow Men" for a few reasons.

Chalayan describes his collection saying, "It's about the speed in our lives and how it can only result in a crash." In fact, as the models were walking the runway, the soundtrack was provided by the eerie melody of wineglasses that had previously been lowered onto the catwalk being played by fingers running around the rim.

At the end of the show the wind machines got louder and the lights flashed out just as all the glasses were smashed.

"This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but a whimper."

Chalayan's piece de resistance were 5 latex molded dresses that implied the blurring of shape that comes with high velocities:

"Shape without form, shade without colour,
Paralysed force, gesture without motion."

Ultimately Chalayan was commenting on the current social and political state, which let's be honest, seems pretty dire but could definitely be worse:

"The eyes are not here
There are no eyes here
In this valley of dying stars
In this hollow valley
This broken jaw of our lost kingdoms"

Lower postage rate!

2008-10-28T22:44:00.000-07:00

Just trying to get you excited about my lack of posts....Honestly, the recession is to blame. Ugh.

This will cheer you up: fun fact: cashmere comes from the chest hair of mongolian goats.

And also: Swedish born fashion illustrator minimalist guru Mats Gustafson:

(Above: Comme des garcons, '97 and '05)

(Above: Yamamoto)

The power of silhouette, color, mood, and most of all: simplicity.

He also did cut-outs:

There's something so great about the fact that in such a layered and flamboyant industry the narratives of collections and designers, etc. can be distilled down to such poetry.

This last one is the sky:

(Images from fig, the fashion spot, anti-corporation, and tatielle)

blogs away!

2008-10-23T10:46:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the long delay in posting. It's been pretty crazy here and I've been too distracted for even the blogosphere to distract me.

But this beautiful jewelry from seller Lunasa on Etsy totally cheered me up:

I call the two above her Wild West Collection. One looks exactly like a beat up western saddle and is called "Cowgirl," and the silver dappled one is named after my favorite horse: "Appaloosa."

And isn't this cute? A mushroom ring!

But this totally takes the cake. Cast from a juniper pod from NM. Gorgeous!

skull-diggery

2008-10-16T08:49:00.000-07:00

Bones were big for SS09. But the cool bone hoy dia is the spine/rib cage. Oh well, I guess Alexander McQueen can be forgiven because look:

Look closely at the details, because they are gorgeous:
I love the faux bois material and I love the white embroidery.

I even like his wiggly wooden root heels:

Alexander Mcqueen is in my top 10, no doubt about it. Once we're done covering the shows, we'll do top ten designers SS09 and now you know one of them.

P.S. Watch Leanne's audition video here to see LOTS of her really beautiful designs!

[Images from style.com]

extra! extra!

2008-10-15T20:39:00.000-07:00

Leanne won! YAY! CONGRATULATIONS! (we totally endorse her here at GM and think she is the ABSOLUTE best. We are so happy we can't breathe.)

Thanks to P for the news! :)

Final Collection:

LOVE IT. LOVE IT!

loving lanvin

2008-10-15T06:22:00.000-07:00

what women want:

[Images from style.com]

leather and pearls

2008-10-14T07:20:00.000-07:00

Gorgeous leather jewelry from Annie Costello Brown:

[Images from ACB's website and Des Kohan]

Thank you!

2008-10-13T20:02:00.000-07:00

Today I'm feeling very grateful to those lovely folks out there who stop by from time to time here at GM. I'd like to say thanks to everyone who reads GM and who (bless your hearts) leaves the occasional comment which I read with great excitement and happiness. So thank you, denizens of the interwebs, the blogospheres, all you stylish web 2.0 savvy guys and girls!

Today: another knitwear design found via London Fashion Week from Scotland! Alice Palmer's graduation collection was inspired by Morocco. She has yet to post her SS 09 designs, but I'm sure they will be equally gorgeous:

Remember: I appreciate you guys! THANKS!

Aviation Inspiration

2008-10-10T21:02:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite parts of the new collections is seeing what the inspiration was. VPL was inspired by aviation. I used to be such an Anthro girl: bows and cuteness and polka dots, but more and more these days I find myself drawn to stark understated architectural pieces. Must be the recession. ;)
Anyhoo, VPL is right up my alley:

I especially like the shoes : the tiny pops of color they add to the whole and how slouchy and comfy they look. Happy Friday, friends.

What a day

2008-10-09T06:00:00.000-07:00

Here's what I learned in class:
about 75% of Paris's revenue comes from fash.
40% for NY.
25 % for LA.
Back to school today.

Now. Something that is really annoying me and I just have to discuss it with you. I don't know what resource you use for your fashion week but I use style.com and I cross check it with British Vogue.

Not once, now, but twice now I have read really irksome catwalk reviews on style.com and I am sharing them with you, so you can be irked too.

The concluding paragraph of the Rodarte review reads:

"Drama and intellectual content, along with an otherworldly loveliness, may always be the Rodarte thing, but more down-to-earth-wearable pieces would be welcome. "Beautiful androids" (as the models were referred to backstage) make for great editorial, but flesh-and-blood women like Natalie Portman, Sarah Sophie Flicker, and Dr. Lisa Airan, who all sat in the front row, need to be able to imagine themselves wearing the clothes out into the big, beautiful world."

And Rue du Mail:

"As a whole, though, the collection was rather overwhelming, and the eye sought relief. It came in the form of a quiet-by-comparison peplum jacket in black satin, and sexy cigarette pants—a look that's definitely more those front-row girls' speed."

Now correct me if I'm wrong, but last I heard these designers had grander plans in mind than designing for "flesh-and-blood" women like Natalie Portman. I'm sorry, but if her look is more conservative and mainstream, that's hardly the designer's fault, now is it?

They're there pushing the borders of fashion outward and upward. They're thinking about how to revolutionize the industry, how to use the newest technology, how to find beauty where no one has seen it before, how to shock and amaze. The fashion industry is finally being accepted as a serious form of design. I sincerely hope that the last thing on their mind is dumbing down their designs so some star can wear them without fear of...what? Actually showing individual style?

So I've been going to British Vogue for the reviews. And let me tell you: it's far more objective and descriptive and doesn't end with a comment that betrays the author's total lack of understanding.

Now let's see what Rue du Mail is all about. I personally, quite like the collection.

Confessions

2008-10-08T06:00:00.000-07:00

You know how when everyone else thinks it's really cool you don't want to think it's cool, you don't want to be a sheep, a follower.
I think it has to do with sisters. That's it. It must be sisters.
How else can you explain the inexplicable coolness of Mary-Kate and Ashley and the Mulleavy sisters?
I want you to be the first to know: when I have my own store we will carry Rodarte and Elizabeth and James. Because they are so painfully hip I have to acknowledge it even as everyone else is fawning over them. I humbly join the masses. I bow to their coolness.
Because HOE. LEE. KRA. KER. Look at the Rodarte SS09 geniusness:

Come on. Give it up.

las pasarelas!

2008-10-07T11:07:00.000-07:00

I know I should be showing you the big ones: Prada, Mui Mui and so on, but I like to look for the weird ones. I just can't help it.Duyos is one such one. Their hilarious SS09 collection is inspired by iceskaters, comic book superheros, and haze. The color pallette is absolutely fabulous: muted metallics and earthy pastels. Check out the full collection here.

I love it.

fash forward and rewind

2008-10-06T13:20:00.001-07:00

A longlonglong time ago I promised (well, I mentioned) I would say sumsing about all zeez cloz out on zee runway. And I will, slowly but surely we'll work our way through it all.

Today we have three things to cover. First of all: Lists. I love em. And I have two very special lists to feature today.

But even more first: Remember when I blogged about Bless? Well, American Rag Cie in San Francisco has a really cool romper outfit and more by them on display and for sale for only $3,000. Go check it.

Next: Galliano.

Okay. The lists. Peacock Chic has alerted me to a list the magnitude of which scares even me, a compulsive list maker. 101 in 1001 is a project wherein you set yourself 101 goals to reach in 1001 days. If you decide to do it, you get your own little interweb space where you can share your list and recieve comments and so forth. It's too scary for me. I like smaller bite size lists myself.

Here is one list which has really stuck with me and comes with a very inspiring post as well which you can read (and really should - all the charm of the list is in the accompanying post) here. It is the list that started a business. I found it on design sponge and the business is kenzie kate.

I'm fashionated

2008-10-02T10:32:00.000-07:00

My obsession with London Fashion Week was seeking out all the knitwear designers. For some reason, maybe because it's cold and dank in the Bay, maybe because Fall is definitely upon us, I wanted cashmere, darnit and heaps of it.

Tim Ryan isn't the most obliging chap, unfortunately, and seems not to have a website, but has a decently extensive profile on IQONS.

But with the beautiful knits he designs, we've already forgotten we were miffed at all:

who wants to see where I'm getting married?!

2008-10-01T09:09:00.000-07:00

Well, it's not just the place I'm getting married. Make no mistake, it's not one of those wedding venues for hire. This is my favorite place in the world, where I spent my summers as a kid and then a teenager and then where D and I hung out when he lived nearby. I did a lot of growing up here. I never did learn how to dive, though.

Anyhoo, onto the pictures. Geez, you people are very visual.

First, the land:

And now the buildings:
Ceremony:

Dinner:

Dancing:

This place is called Ghost Ranch.
Thanks to my father, Celestyn Brozek, for taking the most beautiful of the above photos.

warning: things I want ahead

2008-09-27T09:55:00.000-07:00

found this very tasteful (according to moi) boutique online: des kohan. here is my virtual shopping spree:

vena cava top

sharon wauchob top

hussein chalayan loop ankle pants

sharon wauchob belt

total: 2 grand. not bad.

next time we talk is when i get back from the homeland. CIAO!!!

unusual

2008-09-26T11:44:00.000-07:00

usually not a fan of bags. but i LOVE these: knox.

coolness killed the cat

2008-09-25T21:43:00.000-07:00

are these belts cool? You decide: des kohan. The latter is actually one belt that can be worn four ways. neato.

wasn't it just the other day the Olsen twins were starting their clothing line The Row? Well, they've got another one, too. And probably many others I just haven't discovered yet. This ones called Elizabeth and James. Do we think the jewelry is so ugly its cool or so cool its ugly?

And i have the same question about this shoe. Please advise. Ugly or cool? (or, as is so often the case, both)

i recommend to you...

2008-09-23T22:44:00.000-07:00

these films:

bottleshock

the Fanny trilogy

the most beautiful blog ever

2008-09-21T10:03:00.000-07:00

no, not mine. this one: resurrection fern. (You must also check out her flikr- I haven't even posted the most beautiful photos due to the fact that you would be blinded.) The person who writes this blog is a family physician in a small rural community somewhere in the fjords of Canadia. She goes for walks in the wood and sees things like this:

And she makes things like this:

Yes, she knits sweaters for snails and frocks for rocks. And she prints on cloth using real plants. And her laundry looks like this:

And her dinners look like this:

And she is sweet and gentle and happy.

clothe me in japan, please

2008-09-19T14:06:00.000-07:00

wow, its japanamania here. How sad that nuan doesn't ship internationally?? They do knitwear very well in japan:

something else to add to the fall needs list: a skights (skirt + tights) or a romper (or as we say, jumpsuit) - that grey knit one is cute. and, for when i move to tokyo/portland, leopard print galoshies.

And THIS fun website. Visit it for a WILD experience.

who i want to be when i gwow up

2008-09-17T11:55:00.000-07:00

those of you who are saying, you're already grown up...hush up. if forty is the new twenty, then i was indeed born just yesterday. googooga.

the last time i was this excited about a discovery was I think when i blobbed about j morgan puett.

today, the cause of all the hoopfafa is matohu.

I worship everything about this label from their ADORABLE logo:

to their wise and poetic design concept:

"Matohu is a Japanese concept. It has two meanings:

The first meaning is to wear clothes in such a way that it creates an atmosphere of beauty, like the motion of wrapping your body softly, and leaving a gentle afterglow.

The second gives the sense of restraint, allowing oneself to mature, like a fruit, slowly, and not to consume something hastily and throw it away." Um, wow.

to the way they use traditional japanese artforms as their inspiration for each collection:

The iht writes this about their most recent collection: "This time the pair took their textile motifs from Tsujigahana, a traditional style of decoration that is so fragile, intricate and complicated that only a few artisans in Kyoto carry on the tradition. Sekiguchi and Horihata went to one of these artisans to learn the craft and the textiles used in the show are their creations."

This is how the fall 08 inspiration is described: "Keicho-Kosode is a style of Kimono which was popular in the Keicho period in Japan. It is distinguished by how it combines three types of art forms tie-dye printing of abstract and concrete motifs, shiny gold foil, and vivid embroidery."

And spring 08: ""Shino" is the name of a style of pottery known by its unique, original sense of beauty typical of late 16th century in Japan. The surface of the pottery is distinguished by an ivory and blue-grey glaze with brush work strokes of rusted iron , elegant distortion and a colour that hints at the green tea which is its perfect complement.
matohu has sought to re-enact these elements in its new collections. Some of our nagagi-dresses were actually drawn by using real iron rust prints."

craves, faves, and the bearable

2008-09-15T07:34:00.000-07:00

japanese fashion week continues.

The stuff I thought was wearable and kinda cute, actually. ;)
hisui: note the skeletal dress...

kamishima chinami

support surface - liked the sleeves.

And the ones I loved:

noriko fukushima - looks a little like marni!

motonari ono - i don't care what anyone says - these are too cool. I would totally rock the one with longer shorts! :)

matohu - so sweet and gentle! I love their logo, too. I want those pointelle leggings!

Wow.

oxymoron

2008-09-12T06:43:00.000-07:00

japan fashion week is perhaps my favorite. you see, i love how whimsical yet scientific japanese design is. it's very crazy and skillful, at the same time. you know how you sometimes meet someone and think how can someone so smart be so stupid? it's a little like that. an oxymoron if you will.

Because there were so many designers that were new/interesting to me, I will split this up into two posts:

a) the ugly (the good ugly, that is. I would never show you pure ugly. It is not my way)
bi) the (potentially) wearable
bii) my faves and craves

So let's see some UGLY!!!

mintdesigns. You'll notice a dinosaur/skeleton/umbrella theme as we go. Please note the headgear below accordingly. click on the photo for a larger image.

mercibeaucoup, is a personal fave. it's so sweet.

somarta. see: umbrellas and skeletons!

zechia: are those sleeping bags on their heads? Also pls. note dip-dyed lace short.

everlasting sprout: CROCHET!!!

hiroko koshino:

copenhagen - 100th post!

2008-09-11T06:55:00.000-07:00

Copenhagen Fashion Week

Read this: it's always fashion week somewhere!

Cutest Set Styling: Stine Goya (just skip the intro if its not your thing)

Best Nuanced Little Touches: ann-sofie back

Most Black/Drapey: bARBARA i gONGINI

Most Glamourous/Varied: By Malene Birger

Day Birger and Mikkelsen wasn't too impressive, but there are a couple of pieces from Fall that I want:

That dress is gorgeous and the top reminds me of a Helmut Lang dress I love.

its monsoon season

2008-09-10T21:06:00.000-07:00

at least in new mexico it is. or it should be. and it is in the fashion blogosphere. the fashion weeks have arrived. from now until what seems like eternity you will hear about the spring collections, they will be abundant as the rains. but not quite yet. i need to get myself organized and i jet off to nm in a week, so i'll do what i can but expect comprehensive yet delayed reporting.

today, we return to rose gold, plus hit a few other pieces as well. we are also exposed to my must-have list for the fall.

Above: egg-shaped (and we all know I love the shape of eggs) bangles and ring, plus a rose gold chain bracelet. Oversized chain is huge for fall, friends and neighbors. All from Bing Bang.

Strong, architectural rings are one of my fall craves- preferably in rose gold. Rings with white background are from Diana Kane. the rest are from redcatrun.

Insanely gorgeous and huge and blingy geode rings from Elaine Cox.

My fall "needs":

The perfect black boot. gravity pope

Warm leggings that go over the heel. Revolve has em

Huge and I do mean HUGE sweater coat.Shopbop

Rose gold anything. Plenty above.

A vest. This one is dvf, but charlotterusse has plenty cheap cuties.

Next, we'll be re-interpreting the flying monkey

2008-09-08T06:17:00.000-07:00

What a fun challenge: Several top designers were asked to re-interpret Dorothy's red slippers for the fashionista of today, and were allowed unlimited use of Swarowski crystal elements. The creations were unveiled during NY fashion week and will be making the rounds before being auctioned off to benefit the pediatric AIDS foundation. Guys, more than anything I love shoes, so I was pretty excited to see these babies. It was a bit difficult to track down photos, so thanks to everyone whose flicks I peeped. Let the fashion show begin:

Dorothy's original shoes from the classic film. Thanks yahoo news.

The whimsical display. Thanks prnewswire:

From top to bottom: A. Testoni, LAMB, Diane von Furstenberg. Thanks cigarettes:

Sergio Rossi. Thanks nj.com

From top to bottom: Oscar de la Renta, Stuart Weitzman, Abaete, Alberto Ferrari, Moschino (I love the droopy oversized bows).

And finally, thanks to the fashion spot, top to bottom, Betsey Johnson, Botkier, Tuleh, Jimmy Choo, and Tibi.

Bye, bye Kansas. Hellooo, New York!

thailandish

2008-09-06T06:00:00.000-07:00

A label to watch - out of thailand: Senada Theory.

Very chic dress - Audrey style.

Loving the skirt - look at the hip/pocket details.

Love the sleeves and belt.

The draping of the skirt.
I like these pieces - they're a little Japanese (de)construction and draping meets Anthro.

And my new jewelry crave: rose gold. Like these Giles and Brother earrings I can't find anywhere. If anyone can tell me where to get them, I'll give you a hundred bucks.

Oh, PS, I felt my first earthquake today. Quite irrationally, I first thought it was the landlord's dog digging up the foundation of the house. And then I thought it was the irritating kids next door finally waging open war on D and I cause we're too cool. Finally, I put two and two together and got earthquake.
VIVA rose gold! For those of you waiting for communiques, I WILL call in the very near future. Flo, did you get my tea? Ah, you can't hear me cause you don't read your sister's interweb contribution. Shame.

the loot

2008-09-05T06:00:00.000-07:00

We have the perfect jewelry at our store. Well made, simple, with just the right amount of bling added if you want to take it up a notch or two. It is designed and made by Colleen Lee, a partnership between the Colleen I know and her friend in AZ - who contributes the "Lee." Recently, Colleen brought in a few of her gorgeous peices to be raffled off to benefit Muscular Dystrophy Research. After a month of collecting tickets, she came in to pull the winner, and it was me! Here is what I won:

I am so excited! I put on the crystal ring necklace and silver-gold teardrops as soon as I walked in the store, because this is, my friends, the jewelry equivalent of the perfect little black dress. Check out Colleen's website for more styles and retail locations. Here are some more that I love from her "Wovens" collection:

There are a number of organizations that help you raise funds for various causes, such as leukemia, AIDS, or neurological disorders such as ALS, while helping you get in shape, meet people and have fun. One of D's friends recently trained to complete a century bike ride as a way to raise money. He got free support and training and people sponsored him and all the proceeds went towards research. He had loads of fun, it was a relatively low time commitment, AND it was all for a great cause.

Check these links out for more info:

AIDS marathon
Team in training
walk to defeat als

Labor day

2008-09-04T09:33:00.000-07:00

Are you all wondering what I got up to on labor day? Well, I labored, since I work in retail, but then my (seriously) lovely manager let me go early, so D and I went to check out Chihuly - who is at the deyoung till end of September. It was crowded but still gorgeous:

And I won a raffle! See next post for details. :)

bike me

2008-09-03T20:25:00.000-07:00

hahahha! I kill myself. You guys. When I first got out here to Berkeley, (Who else out there lives in Berkles?! Hollah!) I was on the hunt for a bike. And while hunting (I'll spare you the details - you've heard enough about my materialistic escapades) I found Jolly Bike.

These ladies import awesome classic Dutch bikes from the Netherlands and they come in the Cutest colors - lime green! Purple! But I've saved the best part for last. Poor America, you don't know about coat guards, do you? Yes, they're great. They go over the back tire and keep your coat tails from getting caught. Just like a chain guard keeps your pants from getting caught. We don't know about those either here. Alas. The best part is, these bikes come with both. AND the ladies at Jolly Bike custom paint your coat guard! Take a looksee:

And as if your bike weren't cute enough, accessorize it with these panniers:

Bike me!

my engagement ring

2008-08-31T20:59:00.000-07:00

is soooo insanely brilliant and awesome. Look: here it is. It has a white gold band, and the setting and bar are rose gold. The stone is a deep deep blue sapphire and it spins around and slides along the bar. On the other side of the setting, the letter C is stamped (for my name, obvio). Along the inside of the band it says, kocham cie, which means I love you in Polish.

It reminds me a little bit of an orrery or a globe, which is fun cause D and I met when I was studying astrophysics and working at an observatory, and we actually had our first date on the deck of the observatory, and my name is Celestyna and all of that. I LOVE that it spins.

An orrery:

You MUST check out the other work of the amazing craftswoman who made this ring, although she and D co-designed it. Her website: Loving Anvil and her Etsy shop.

How EXCITED are we? Very VERY excited. Pictures of Ghost Ranch when I return from my trip home. EEEEE!!!!!

(picture of orrery via reassembler)

Flowering tea

2008-08-28T23:38:00.000-07:00

My dad sent me some amazing flowering tea. Look what it does. It's really yummy too. It comes from Primula Tea. So beautiful and fun. Order yourself some, it's totally worth it. It's like those little dinosaurs that grew into huge dinosaurs when you put them in water that you got at the science museum gift shop. If you love tea, then this is the jackpot.

Thanks, Tata! I LOVE it!

You know how it was when I found my skinny jeans...

2008-08-28T10:21:00.000-07:00

well, IT'S HAPPENED AGAIN! So there we were having our sale (yes, get prepared, this will be a long post) and we had a ten dollar bin of absolute grotesqueries.

Only there were a couple of gorgeous expensive items in there that had been damaged beyond repair. A huge tear, some snapped elastic...or so we thought.

A long grey jersey shapeless thing found its way in there and time and time again would get rejected after fitting room sessions. I touched it. It was nice fabric - that soft as butter micro-modal stuff. But it looked like it had been torn, and then there was the snapped elastic.

The sale was extended and the madness continued. Make-up smeared on white blouses. Zippers ripped out of their very existance, prices crossed out, items hidden, stolen, etc. Clothes began to take on the appearance of thrift store wares as crazed women violated them time and time again.

And still the grey blob persevered and was not taken - legally or illegally. Nor was it damaged beyond its original status. This, ladies and gentlemen, was a sign, but I was too blind to see it.

After a month of sale, we determined we were going to give all the real crap to charity. Grey blob got packed in with the rest. One day both my coworkers came in wearing maxi dresses and they looked so cute and I wished I had a maxi dress too. Meanwhile, the grey blob wallowed in darkness and impending donation.

I began to look online for maxi dresses. I decided I needed more jersey tops. I had some time off of work. And suddenly it hit me like a red herring: I could hack up the grey blob and make a fabulous top out of it! All week I prayed we hadn't suddenly gotten our s*** together and donated everything already.

But that was the second sign and we hadn't and I purchased grey blob for $10.

And took grey blob home where I promptly got distracted by a million other projects. Grey blob was left to ponder the great mysteries of life tied around our clothes rack like a soft and cuddly boa constrictor.

Yesterday a girl came in asking if we carried Rachel Pally. Do we know who Rachel Pally is? Well, I will tell you. Fashion interlude:

Rachel Pally used to be a dancer and now makes gorgeous micro-modal dresses that are insanely comfy and flattering. Sure, they all look more or less the same. But my friends, to make a long story even longer, watching Proj RW season 3, I was a little miffed at how these awesome designers were unable (for the most part) to design for plus sized women:

Rachel Pally, on the other hand, has it in the bag:

When I first saw jersey dresses, I was all: ugh, blah and boring. But try one of these babies on, and try to hate it. Just try. You can't. Why? Because it's like looking like you're in an evening gown while feeling like you're in pjs.

If you're still there, we're now going back to my grey blob, which, if you have a drop of in you, you will already have deduced, is in fact a Rachel Pally dress.

Today I decided I was going to make my top. (You are shreiking, no! NO! Don't cut it!) BUT I decided to what the heck, try it on first.

And it looked like a shapeless mu-mu.

But I had my second and final revelation (THIS is my maxi dress!!!) and I persevered and discovered the "tears" were really just raw edges, the "snapped elastic" was a drawstring that had got sucked inside the casing, and when the dress is put on right and the drawstring is tightened, the ugly duckling becomes a SMASHORGIFULABULOUS dress!!!

I have my maxi dress, and you, my friends, have wasted the better part of your day in sharing this glorious moment.

Group hug. :)

Yo, Dudes! Yeah, I'm talkin' to you

2008-08-26T23:47:00.000-07:00

Ah, boys. You poor boys. Lately all this blog has been about is weddings and girl-items. I can't help it. Being a girl, it is girl-items that excite me.
But - every once in a while, I find some boy-things. Observe: Schmoove. Crappy name, cool shoes.

What a great idea. Photographing shoes JUST as they hit the water. If you go check out the most recent collection, if you're like me, you won't notice it at first, then the situation will dawn on you and you will become hypnotized by the eatheral brilliance of it all.

Oh, and this from Vlieger Vandam:

I prefer the former. And yes, they're bags.

Muses

2008-08-25T19:35:00.000-07:00

Well, well, well, browsing one of my fave blogs the other day Neon Polish I dipped into the blog roll because trolling for fresh blood is what I do.

And found...Hel-looks, fashion from Helsinki. It is way better than one of the standard street style blogs though, because each image has an accompanying explanation, and they are truly poetic and bizarre. People cite their inspirations as all things varying from Moommins to the Lottery. I thought I was the only person inspired by luck. :)

First some girls I think are absolutely gorgeous and then a taste of the strangeness:

Ok, those were the beauties. Now for the beasts:

Wille (21)
"I'm wearing a second hand leather jacket which cost 4 euros and my ex-girlfriend's jeans and scarf.
I like clothes that have a story to tell.
When I saw Daniel Palillo's designs half a year ago, I became interested in dressing up and clothes.
I'm inspired by lotteries, lying and elderly people."

Hmmm. Nmmmm. Mmmmmmmmmmm.? ?

While we're on the subject of street style blogs, there are bike style blogs out there (I swear, there is a blog for everyTHING.) Two I've been perusing: Chic Cyclist and a Cali one Riding Pretty. WHAT OTHER STYLE BLOGS ARE OUT THERE? I want a cowboy style blog. :)

What did I do yesterday?

2008-08-22T06:02:00.000-07:00

Let's see:
1) Made this SWEATER!!!

A la Project Runway style. No pattern, no muslin, no nuthin, just draping and lots of f***-ups and a little bit of luck. I actually still have a LOT of work to do on it, trimming all the thread and redoing the entire placket and all the buttons. Sigh. It looks fab on, though. I am pleased. The buttons I got from a teeny button store I read about on Sweet Sassafras.

2) Continued my quest to find the perfect self-tanner. Got an airbrush version this time. Fingers crossed, but it smells weird, as per usual. Grrr.

3) Cleaned up the horrendous mess I make every week doing my fashion school HW and making my own little projects. One of these days I'll take a photo but not until I have tenure at a prestigious institution.

4) Received these awesome shoes in the mail from Endless.

5) Ate at a Thai/Soul Food restaurant. Talk about fusion. :)

Okay three blogs. I'm pumped. Once again thanks jamillions to Sweet Paul for the double dose of award love: Brilliante and Blog I Love.

Alabama Studio Style. Speaking of Soul Food, this here is a exquisite taste of the romantic, slow, sweet South. Talk about amazing. This is a lady who sticks to her principles like nobody's business, and is basically my hero. In fact, my little sweater is indirectly inspired by her. She takes the most comfy basic fabric (jersey) and makes literal gorgeousness out of it. I tried to dress fleece up a bit myself with the sweater.

Reclaiming Miss Havisham. How witty and acidic is this girl?!? She reminds me of a post card I saw somewhere: Something about putting the funk in disfunctional. (Not that you are disfunctional Miss H.) This blog has got all sorts of funk and brilliance. I read it for laughs and inspiration all in one go. Who else can make you feel ashamed for not knowing how crabs work?

Scrapiteria. Awesome and I do mean awesome collages and collaboration. See below. I am not joking.

So the rules are please give the above awards (top right) to five other bloggers. Last three tomorrow. (I'm giving them to 9 cause Paul said I could. :)

Awarded but not thwarded

2008-08-20T11:14:00.001-07:00

Wow! My first blog awards! (To the right there) Thanks gajillions to Sweet Paul who truly is very sweet for honoring me with these awards.

Sweet Paul has the most amazing food blog with absolutely gorg photos. One of my favorite posts of his to date was about beets - see his photo above.

Having Polish roots, beets are very near and dear to my heart (although if my parents are reading this, they are probably shaking their heads in disbelief because I did turn my nose up at borsch for the longest time - I don't anymore!).

Now who to give these A-wards to?
Here is THE LIST:

This lovely individual supported me during my early blogging days (um, not so long ago) with both his hilarious, fabulous blog and his kind comments on mine. Mr. Beefy, the interweb would do well with more like you. One of the things that cracks me up the most is when Beefy critiques the new Anthro catalog. He's always totally on point.

Next we have two blogs who never fail to wow me with their posts. Back when I was discovering the world of fashion (again, not too long ago) Neon Polish (D actually found this blog!) introduced me to Marni. This blog is just plain cool with lots of amazing finds.
And same goes for Fly. This blog has a very cohesive beautiful design and a great feature is the Fly Girl of the Week posts where ordinary women doing extraordinary things are featured. Consistently fantastic posts.

Okay, this is taking for EVER. Why don't we do it this way? I have 9 blogs total I want to honor. Let's leave you with these three today, and for the next two posts we'll also do three. My haaa-aands huu-uurt. Wa. BTW - rules are give these awards to five fab blogs. Since I got two awards, I am doing more blogs. :)

Onto the House of Boing. First of all, what a great name. Second of all, what great fashion:

Cut out heels

2008-08-20T10:30:00.000-07:00

Normally, I am very ambivalent about this feature, tending towards dislike, but you have to admit- thinking about the practicality of it all it makes the shoes a lot lighter which is nice, n'est pas?

Here are two styles I am smitten with howev, both from Bronx, found on my new fav interweb shoe shopping site, Endless.com.

I feel really guilty about not shopping Zappos since their business philosophy is so great, but at the end of the day I have to say it's the cleaner interface and lower prices that win. Plus Endless actually picks and chooses their brands resulting in a far higher grade selection when you don't know what your looking for and put in only general parameters.

Now for some music I am loving:

Ladies...and Gentlemen

2008-08-18T20:33:00.000-07:00

Normally, I'm all about the ladies. But today this is all I found:
Hui Hui

And this Betsey Johnson shoe - what do we think?

But check this out - for all you men:
Luise and Franck

Now, you'll notice two things. Firstly, there is a bunny in the first photo, which is what got me all curious in the first place. Secondly, the second photo appears to be of "white-tie over-alls." I think we found D a wedding outfit! Woo-hoo!

OMGOMGOMG!!!

2008-08-15T06:56:00.000-07:00

I can't believe I didn't know about this till just now. THIS GIRL (okay - woman - it was about 10 yrs back) graduated from FIDM, my school!!! And now she's on Project Runway! And her work is frickin' amazing! Leanne Marshall designs and creates every single peice of her label Leanimal. So I spelled peice wrong. Who cares! Take a look at this:

Be still, my heart. Isn't this the most crazy fantastic awesomeness you've ever seen?!? Like those prada shoes I blobbed about - only clothes!
I have to change topics or I may asphyxiate: The Wedding.
Update: D and I have commenced correspondence with our "liason" at Ghost Ranch. While I am home I will go meet with her. Eeeee. Also: I is needing a photographer, but if I were to go bridezilla on any aspect of the wedding, it would be here. Does anyone have any recommendations on NM photographers? I should say, I don't want the standard wedding photos, oh no. That would be too easy for everyone involved. I want interesting gorgeous photos, with a whole variety of lighting and techniques, and I am a huge fan of the soft focus and backlit and "artistic". I know - very soon I will do a leetle wedding post about Ghost Ranch for those of you who have had the misfortune of never going to the most beautiful place on Earth and also a sample of the types of photographs I like from other weddings. I see you people deleting me from your blogrolls. Come, come, now, it will only be one post. Let's not be too hasty - you know you want to see Ghost Ranch. ;)

More Wedding Dress Ideas

2008-08-14T10:03:00.000-07:00

So it has come to my attention that it is bad luck to make your own wedding dress. Phew, the pressure's off! :) The search is back on, however, and a certain label has really caught my attention: Victim Fashion Street. Ooo La Freakin La. Lacey. And I am SO into the face paint.

You are going to love this!

2008-08-13T08:49:00.000-07:00

Obviously. Otherwise, why are you here? I still want to talk to you about Web 2.0 but right now that requires more concentration than I can muster so we'll keep putting that off, although there is some major juicyness there.
In other news, there is really nothing to say. EXCEPT for I think we need a New Mexico Arts and Design Blog! Who agrees? I'm coming home Sept. 17 - 30, so we need to discuss. Obviously, it would be great if someone who actually resides in NM could keep their finger on the pulse of NM design...hmmm....someone with connections...HMMM...
Anyhoo, some fabulously existential nostalgic photography from Wendy Bevan for you today:

So polaroidy and vintage-y! I feel the years melting away!

Beautiful jewelries

2008-08-12T01:52:00.000-07:00

Stone and Honey agate necklaces:

Mniam!
Rheanna Lingham feather necklaces:

Ruth Zelanski's nature inspired gorgeousness:

Earrings inspired by Queen Anne's Lace and Mermaid's Wineglass (a type of algae) respectively.

Luscious necklaces inspired by wings and pods and the like. GIMME.

The Upcoming Election

2008-08-11T06:14:00.000-07:00

Just some of the more interesting "media" I have come across:

Dover has released Obama and McCain paper dolls, with "accurate campaign trail outfits".

Via Post Secret

And finally, I randomly picked up a circa 2005 Utne mag which had these predictions about Hillary, long before these primal primaries ensued:

"Mark my words. She will never make it out of the primaries if she runs. Hillary Clinton's instincts suck. They are horrible." S. Gilliard, The News Blog

"Bottom line: Hillary Clinton has no ability to inspire. When she speaks she doesn't even appear to be interested in her own words." Daily Kos weblog

Politics isn't nearly as cerebral as I used to think. These words - instinct, inspire - these are words that only make sense outside the mind.

Good Monday Morning to you.

Happy Anniversary to D and Me!

2008-08-09T13:45:00.000-07:00

Actually, our anniversary was yesterday, but I prefer to celebrate it today, due to various reasons. D and I celebrated by going to the Ivy Showboat or Le Bateau Ivre a DELIGHTFUL little brunch place in Berkeley. HIGHLY recommend. And yes , I know the proper translation is: The Drunken Boat.

Mary Poppins, move over!

2008-08-08T01:50:00.000-07:00

these are a few of my favorite things:
Anthro:

Graydn Resort 09:

And the best yet: Olive Brown's ADORABLE dogs and dog cowls. TOO CUTE!!!

Shopping and puppies, guys. Shopping and puppies and I'm happy.
BY THE WAY, the date today is 8/8/08 and eight is my favorite number, speaking of FAVES. HURRAY!

As I Lay Sick In August

2008-08-07T10:03:00.000-07:00

All you astute readers (of both blog and lit., that is) will recognize that my title today is a clever montage of two Faulkner titles plus the word "sick". I think it will epitomize the phrase "beat a dead horse" (one i never particularly liked anyways for what should be obvious reasons) if I once again start harping on the weather conditions of this arctic outpost, but I truly believe the ubiquitous chill is what finally brought my immune system to its knees. I haven't been this sick in a long time, but you'll notice it hasn't kept me from blobbing...

{BTW - in defense of NM who was lambasted by yours truly yesterday in an excoriating reprimand of its uncoolness, I should mention, that while it's weak on the fashion and design fronts (NOT FOR LONG, if me and P have anything to say about it, right P?) it hasn't done too bad for itself on the folk and fine art fronts. What it lacks in boutiques, it makes up for in galleries. Am I right?}

Ah...Etsy. I love it, how can I not? But I still haven't learned how to navigate it. People always find the coolest sh*t on there, and me? I find all the - excuse me - how shall I put this? well, all the other stuff. So today, courtesy of two other bloggers (how do you do it, guys?) I have some fun finds:

Courtesy of Painfully Hip I found Ramona West, who sells the MOST beautiful vintage stuff I have ever seen. I want to know what thrift shop she goes to. None of my excursions have EVER yielded vintage YSL glasses.

And via Peonies and Polaroids Little Doodles, whose adorable birds are just too adorable.

"George wanted to be an iced gem more than anything"

"Sylvia hadn't quite understood the concept of the tea bag...where would her lipstick go?"

New Mexico, I need you to STEP UP

2008-08-06T01:50:00.000-07:00

Here's my dilemma: I LOVE LOVE LOVE my home state of New Mexico, but it's a little behind the times. To define this in a quantitative way: we just got an Anthropologie not but a year ago.

Yet another tool I use to measure New Mexico's "coolness" deficit: The number of boutiques that carry: Acne and/or Hudson Jeans and Mike and Chris and/or Zero Maria Cornejo. Basically, New Mexico gets a rating of negative 100 here. Actually, I believe I can count the total number of "boutiques" period in New Mexico on one hand.

Finally, the number of design/music/culture blogs written out of New Mexico. I have yet to find ONE, so HELP ME PLEASE, Interweb world, if there is such a blog, PLEASE send me the link. Also, if there are boutiques ANYWHERE in New Mexico, tell me!!

How can I move home if no one will understand my genius? If no one is willing to pay $200 for jeans? They're designer people! If no one understands my avant-garde fashion shows? If no one eats caviar and striped figs? If no one has the money to buy my beautiful clothes or even worse, no occasion to wear them to?

Here is what New Mexico needs: more clever start-ups headed by hip young people, more connections to the outside world (San Francisco turns itself inside OUT trying to emulate New York! Why is no one in New Mexico furiously subscribing to San Francisco magazine in the hopes of becoming cooler?? Everyone in New Mexico needs to get shipped off to NY/SF (okay, even Chicago) for a good month or two), more galas, fancy parties, record releases, independent theaters, black-tie events, more skyscrapers full of people who HAVE TO wear a full suit to work, which brings me to: a more stringent dress code. Wranglers and sneakers will no longer make the cut, UNLESS you look tragically hip wearing them.

SO New Mexico, you need to get your COOL ON, you need to put on your COOL BOOTS, your COOL HAT and start CARING ABOUT DESIGN!!!! ABOUT FASHION!!!! Please, go throw yourself in a big pool of cool!! Sob.

This is what I am talking about: OAK. This is a boutique in NY. They are so cool, they are too cool for school. Here is a random selection some of their painfully cool designers:

Alice Ritter:

You CANNOT get sleeves that weird or dresses that short at Wal-mart. You just can't.
Alexander Herchcovich:

Look at the DESIGN. These people radiate coolness.

Hussein Chalayan:

Coolness IS drapey shapeless blackness and boots. PERIOD.

Humanoid:

The Fedora. I have been borrowing D's as of late. The Fedora is COOL.

The afore-mentioned Acne Jeans:

These are COOL jeans. Cool jeans are grey and cool jeans are worn rolled with high heels. THIS IS COOL.

NM: I have shown you the way. Go! Go and be COOL!

How's school going, you ask?

2008-08-05T13:17:00.000-07:00

Well, it's going. In fact, I have to go there soon, so I'll make this short and sweet. Yesterday in class, our teach (I hesitate to say prof - since it feels like middle school) asked us what two images juxtaposed define sexy. Answers varied from legs and handcuffs (??) to (four) strawberries and the stem of a wine glass (???) to the more classic lips and lingerie.
Let me tell you what sexy is to me: a well fitting pair of jeans (on either a guy or girl) and a wild horse standing on the horizon with nothing but desert around. In short: the west of Cormac McCarthy's novels. Do read them, they are magnificent. And sexy. It just occured to me that my images are also basically a Marlboro ad. Eep.

I love the colors and the tights/socks combos of Pepper and Pistol's Fall Collection:

If you feel so inclined: what two images define sexy for you?

a GOOD day

2008-07-31T08:55:00.000-07:00

LG Almighty, I have the hardest body in the world to jeans-shop for. All you girlies out there, don't go gettin' all anorexic/righteous on me because I do think I'm a cutie - no body issues here, but there is no getting around it, my large(r) thighs + (relatively) teeny waist mean every single bloody jean out there is too tight around my leg but super loose and baggy in the waist. And skinny jeans? The WORST offenders....---Until today. I'm so excited about this I had to blog about it.

A little background: we just had our once a year sale at JC. We got over 20 huge boxes of sale stuff from our AZ stores, including loads of denim, most of it at least a year old and from designers I totally didn't recognize, including this strange label Jenne Maag. During the busiest day of our sale, one of the girls was convinced someone had stolen some of our jeans and left their "crappy" pair behind when she picked up the JMs. It's true - they're not lookers in the least, and they're sized weird.

I tried on most of the jeans in "my size." They were beauts - awesome detailing on the pockets, designer names like Hudson, soft, yummy denim, gorgeous washes. It took me a long time to work up the energy to do so. First, I would "harvest" the jeans and store them away in little nooks in the store, but wouldn't protest if a customer or employee put them back.

Once I had my stash finalized, I vocalized my desire to try on jeans to everyone I spoke with, and claimed my stash with a post-it, giving the stink-eye to anyone who ventured too close. My managers had to tell me to stop circling. J/K.

It took me about three days to try on all the jeans in my stash. None of them fit. No surprise there, really.

Yesterday, there was a huge bust of shop-lifters at the store across the street from ours, including a girl who had been in our store earlier. (!) Like six policemen and loads of shouting and crying. Eeep. This was after I had lost all hope of ever finding skinny jeans (or any jeans really) that looked cute on me. A dark and gloomy day.

I worked by myself today and the paranoia was ripe for the picking. I would count how many items I put in a fitting room and employed the rule of Conservation of Hangers and Garments almost continously (There is a garment for every hanger and vice versa is the basic principle).

A girl came in and picked out a pair of Jenne Maags to try one, and as she lifted them from the rack I had a lightbulb moment - she had the same body type as me, the Jenne Maags were dark and skinny legged, and I was about to put them in a fitting room for her. Hope and fear entwined in my heart.

Then a whole bunch of people came in and I lost track of her until she came to the register to check out. She had a brown pair of JMs - not the jeans. In what I can see now was not the most polite tone I asked her very sternly if she left her other items in the fitting room because remember today I suspected everyone of shoplifting, especially old ladies because isn't that the perfect cover, and how heinous would it be if my perfect jeans were shoplifted from under my very nose only seconds after I realized the Ugly Duckling was in fact my Swan?!?!

Sooo...to make a long story short (too late) I tried them on, they fit great, they look awesome and I LOVE them. (Plus I got them for $30 marked down from $172.) Happy dance!!

Check my beast out here: Jenne Maag.

Okay, not to get our heart rates up too high, but these are some sweet shoes: Ready? Begin! Tracy Neuls.

Web 2.0

2008-07-30T00:02:00.000-07:00

I've learned a hell of a lot since I graduated and I may regret this bold statement later on, but I have to say, I've learned way more in these last two years than I did in university. Maybe I'm a late bloomer - well, not maybe :) - and maybe it's cause I'm workin' a gig that don't require no education but I have to say to all the kids out there, I do:
College is optional. It's not a free pass to a white collar life and it's not a pre-requisite for a white collar life.
So if you love debate team, and playing the cello, and varsity soccer, and AP English, and those sorts of things, then by all means, the world is your ivy l oyster. But if not, don't fret, because oysters ain't all there is to life, and pearls before swine and all that.
I know we get nervous when this blog strays from frivolities, so let's get back to our regularly scheduled programming: Hall Ohara

You may be wondering what this all has to do with Web 2.0. Well, we didn't get to that today, so let's save it for another time. Good night and god speed.

Sales Suck

2008-07-28T08:08:00.000-07:00

...when you are the person on the other side of the till. It's all fun and games till someone asks you for a further discount on pants that have been marked down from $300 to $30 just because they don't fit. Shoot me now, please. Whooop. Did I just say that out loud? Excuse me, I think I'll mosey on over here and refold the entire southeast corner of the store just so your a) toddler b) dog-too-large-to-be-in-store c) drunk boyfriend can promptly restore it to utter chaos while you spend two hours hogging a dressing room, then try to steal a t-shirt.
I do still love my job however, as I got to spend all day today snuggled in a yummy Nanette Lepore coat - why was I HAPPILY wearing a coat in July you may ask? Why, because I work in San Francisco. It was FLIPPINB cold today.
Okay on to design-y fun.

SUCH an awesome floor + idea. Via design sponge.

Look to the right there and notice the wire elliptical bookshelf. I like it.

Check out these shoes! Via peonies and polaroids.

And your designer of the day: alexis mabille:

Love the colors in this outfit.

So Audrey. I love the way the loops stick out over her arms. Notice the bow earrings as well.

This dress is SO fun. Notice the bows on the pockets.

I love the way the mushroom pleats make the chiffon opaque.

These bowed-out shoes are insane! I don't know whether to laugh or cry. Probably cry. :)

Would this not be an awesome wedding (ha - I almost wrote "weeding") dress, or am I crazy? It would NOT be an awesome weeding dress. Mwah, y'all.

When Do I Get My Own Label???

2008-07-26T10:07:00.000-07:00

Megan Park

Fashiony Fun

2008-07-25T13:15:00.000-07:00

Sorry I've been MIA. We're having a huge annual sale at work, so things have been crazy there, plus I've started school and the homework load is not insignificant, although it does consist of drawing barbies and sewing seams so I think I'm not the only one who would agree that life could be worse. Plus, I think mine is the ONLY degree where we are strongly encouraged to subscribe to at least three fashion magazines. No problemo. :)

Besides, I love my job.

I love it when a piece of clothing that looks totally innocuous, even ugly, on the hanger, becomes gorgeous when the right person puts it on.

I love figuring out how a certain item of clothing fits, is it high in the waist, cut narrow, cut for an ample bodice, and then spotting the person who has the exact right body, who is willing to try it, who falls in love (of course)and purchases it (cha-ching).

I love meeting our daily sales goal, with that one magical person who comes in needing a whole new wardrobe. Mwah, dahling, enjoy! You look fab.

I love that we drink. We offer beers, and wine, and during the sale, the margaritas flow freely.

I love that we carry designers I love, and can thusly, should I be so moved, order any piece in their collection, in any size and color, at will AND receive a discount to boot.

And I love the people I work with. But enough already.

Some YSL:

I'm off to go draw barbie in profile, dears. What a life.

Beggars can't be shoesers

2008-07-18T21:08:00.000-07:00

Whatever that means. Charmone. Does that word mean anything to you? It will after the following images are viewed:

My friends. Charmone is a VEGAN shoe company who promises their shoes are good for the environment and good for your feet. Apparently the materials they use are as durable and breathable as leather. Hooray!
Don't get me wrong. I love Zappos. Their customer service is amazing. But their selection? Overwhelming and is it just me or is their search engine really bad? Bottom line: you have to WORK to find cute shoes.
Enter Endless.com. Whoever does the buying for this site, I highly commend. Very consistent cuteness. Some shoes I would like:

Nine West

Joy Chen

DV by Dolce Vita

Pour la Victoire

Beautius Maximus

2008-07-16T00:11:00.000-07:00

Found Janne Peters via tiny k. What beautiful places:

Love the purple wall with the lace!

Gorgeous refurbished furniture from vintage renewal:

Plates I wouldn't mind having around:
From Nuno.

Colors: black on white, white on black, fuschia on navy, chartreuse on grey.

If I Had a Million Euros

2008-07-15T06:00:00.000-07:00

The dollar has disappointed us all, but if I had some euro-coin, I'll tell you what I'd do. Buy me some fabulous ruffled Prada shoes (photos via San Francisco Magazine and style),

(I lovelovelove the Fall Prada collection! Eeeee!)
buy me some luscious tiled tubs from Sicis (is it weird that I love these tiled bathtubs so much?),

and buy me a supermodel best friend who strikes me as cocaine anthropomorphized: Omahyra Mota. Here she is as I first saw her. When I saw the gladiator sandals and the baseball cap I knew it was meant to be, no matter how dangerous and insane she is.

Further research yielded these results:

This post is all about luxury, and not surprisingly my euro-dough has been spent mostly in Italy. (Except - I picked up my BFF in Paris via the Sartorialist.) In conclusion, I swear, if the price of those yummy shoes dips a cent below $500, I will all over them like tattoos on a sailor.

Sniff

2008-07-14T04:00:00.000-07:00

Sniff is a UK online shoe boutique and I found some fun little shoe brands while looking around there:

Velvet Bee:

Minna Parikka:

Miss L Fire:

Atelier do Sapato

Yummy!! Guys, I miss New Mexico and I miss Europe but I guess I'll survive, as long as there is beauty such as I featured above in this world. A great big thank you to all you people making beautiful shoes out there - I want to be you, but in the meantime it's enough to visually caress your creamptations (creations + temptations).

Cold Hands, Warm Heart

2008-07-11T06:08:00.000-07:00

Story of my life. Of my life!! D can attest to the poorness of the circulation in my extremities, as he often (very reluctantly) acts as a warmer-upper. But there is a solution. Electricwig very presciently created just the series for me: Keeping Warm. This collection includes, but is not limited to:

A "mouse hand warmer" for warming the poor hand that has to stick out of the blanket and work the mouse.

A rug slipper. Slip those frozen toesies into the felty folds of warmth and be glad.

That's not all this talented designer does. What lured me to the site in the first place: Crocheted lampshades. I'm telling you - this blog is your go-to for ALL things crochet. If you can think it, people, you can crochet it. Amen!

Speaking of fun lights: "footballers" from rainer spehl.

CIAO! Ooh - and a lovely Dwell photo: