I found his work very interesting and never banal. There was always some attraction to death, his designs were sometimes dehumanized. Who knows, perhaps after flirting with death too often, death attracts you.
-Karl Lagerfeld on Alexander McQueen

Pretty words. I've always found death and its circumstances fascinating too (ask anyone). Don't worry, I won't ever have the guts to ever do what he did.

Scott's Words

I think Scott Schuman says it best:

Alexander McQueen and Dries Van Noten were the two shows I was most excited to see during my first Paris fashion week.

To me, McQueen represented the drama of fashion. He represented the conflict and harmony of being a craftsman and an artist - Savile Row training, runway dreaming.

There are people in fashion I always figured I'd meet sooner or later.
I'd meet them in a very natural way (introduced by a mutual friend at a party or something) and the encounter would be so much more meaningful that way. McQueen was one of those people I felt I had time to meet. I almost wanted to save him for later. Not a conscious effort but just a concept. Well...I'm sad that won't be the case.

I hope we all remember him for the genius he brought to fashion.


ps. I'm rereading what I wrote and what has been written on other sites and blogs.

All very nice but I still feel so unsatisfied, so empty, even a little mad.

When a bigtime movie star or politician dies someone like Tom Brokaw has always been there to help put it into perspective.

If it was a sports star, fans would talk about it for days on talk radio.

However, for someone that loves fashion Alexander McQueen is just gone and no one seems to be able to make sense of it.

There doesn't seem to be anywhere to turn to make it feel right or understandable.

I don't have any answers for you either. All I know is this sucks.

Boots

Isabel Marant is my new boots lover.

She seriously makes the most coveted boots (at least for me). So boho chic! I saw the black studded Otway boots months ago but it slipped my mind that they were also Isabel Marant. I saw a similar pair to the brown chain ones at a cheap storefront in Paris. I really liked them, but I wanted something a little more high end (they were all manmade materials). Now I wish I would've bought them. Why didn't I? They were only 20 Euro! Now I'm on the hunt for the Zara lookalikes of the chain wrapped pair.

SO I posted about these Jeffrey Campbell Charlie clogs last month, and I just saw the photo above on another site and want them even more. They'd work now with tights or socks, and later this spring/summer with bare legs and little dresses. Oh they're so trendy. I'm not really into trendy trends, but I must admit I do love these Chanelian-inspired clogs.

Placing my preorder soon at singer22.com!

Legs

Some old favorites. Both by guess who? Scott Schuman. I've held onto these for about 3 years now.

I've never seen snow fall from the sky. Can you believe it? I've been a southern California gal my entire life, and while I've been in snow, I've never been around when it's fallen from the sky. This is partly why I love this Scott Schuman photo of the current blizzard in NY so much. It's kind of a fantasy for me - something so foreign it's beautiful.

JPG for Target

Just flipped through the images of the Jean Paul Gaultier line for Target, and I don't love much, except for this rolled collar floral dress above. I have a wedding to go to in May and I think this would be the perfect option. The line releases March 7th.

Pink Diamond

Big pink diamond. Pretty (AND would really hurt if you chucked it at someone).

RIP

RIP Alexander McQueen. Always loved his avant garde gowns and designs. I have a photo in one of my old posts from 2007 from when I went to New York and passed by his store window. I didn't take photos of other designer's windows, but I had to of his. Although I don't own any of his couture designs (despite Gilt making them very accessible) or McQ items, I'm very glad that I purchased one of his dresses when he did the Target collaboration (above).

Sometimes I feel some people are meant to make their impact and abruptly leave, just so people appreciate them and their work more. I feel Michael Jackson was one, and McQueen another.

if everything happens that can't be done

I'm not much of a poetry kinda gal. I loathed it in high school. But I have enjoyed some E.E. Cummings stuff. Probably because most of it is written in such a funky poetic way that I don't really understand it. I love the last part of this poem, "If Everything That Happens Can't Be Done". Lovely.

we're anything brighter than even the sun
(we're everything greater
than books
might mean)
we're everyanything more than believe
(with a spin
leap
alive we're alive)
we're wonderful one times one

I never paid much attention to Isabel Marant until I saw her Fall 2009 line and fell in love with those ohsolovely suede boots. So I was genuinely pleased when I was doing my usual online routine when I stumbled upon her Spring 2010 line and wanted everything. It reinforced my original feelings for her as a designer (since I can't accurately judge her based on one collection). The elements that caught my eye? Slouchy fringy boots with everything, bright pink little numbers, and light and floaty dresses. I know the bohemian thing has been done several times, but I don't care for what's in or what's out (though I do love Project Runway). I enjoy what I enjoy, regardless of what magazines and style experts may say. For me, Marant's Spring collection exuded a refreshing bohemian vibe. I think the reason I enjoy this collection in particular is because of its wearability. Now while I do love the crazy, risk-taking Hussein Chalayan type designers, I appreciate Marant's collection differently. I can actually see every one of her looks off the runway. She makes flirty little frocks and pairs them with equally adorable jackets and boots. She pairs black ensembles with contrasting colored boots -- a combo I've always enjoyed.

Every season, I can't wait for the next. This season is no exception.

From The Sartorialist. Zara and Topshop leopard coats anyone?

I know my blog has been all over the place in terms of the title, themes, and photos ever since I started it in college, but it's all due to me growing, my tastes changing, and me figuring out what I want to focus on. I just went through some old posts from 2007 and while I still feel similarly towards most of what I wrote about, the outfits and things I put together aren't so much my style today. I try to keep the tone of this pretty casual. I'm not writing an essay, I'm just speaking as I think. I don't think in fancy words and semicolons, so why should my blog? I write whatever I like. This is mostly for me, not for anyone else. I hope for the most part that my tastes have only gotten better and a little more mature. It would suck to regress.

The photo above has nothing to do with this post, I just didn't want this to be all text. But isn't she cute? She's my little puggers. Look at her cute little Piggie face! Look at her cute little tongue and matching collar! Aside from fashion and the duh things that make people happy, photos and videos of little Piggers always makes me smile.

Kiss

Kissss. Although I do feel like it should be the man on the ground and the woman on the fence.

Hooky

Today I ditched work with a fellow coworker and enjoyed a lovely day minus the pressures and annoyances of the office. We started a little past noon at Urth Caffe. I know it seems like a pretentious LA spot, but they do have good food and drinks and a nice outdoor seating area, so what the hell. I actually really like it. Boyfriend and I often go on sunny weekends when I crave some green tea boba. My Urth Farmer's Salad:


Urth was followed by a trip down the fancier side of Melrose, with visits to the Marc by Marc Jacobs store (great little affordable gifts), Vince, DVF, and CHLOE where the lovely salesperson talked to us for almost an hour. Poor girl, we were her first customers and it was around 2 when we came in. The store opens at 10. When we exhausted Melrose, we drove to Beverly Hills and walked around the Canon/Beverly Dr/Rodeo area. What did I buy? A couple Sprinkles cupcakes, food, but no actual clothing items.

I took the above photo at the end of our hooky day. I didn't go in. It would've made me too depressed.

I love this photo from The Sartorialist. So glamorous 20s. Of course this photo was taken in Paris. How come I never see anyone here dressed like this? How come most of the style I see here is this disheveled, I-look-like-I-just-rolled-out-of-bed, Urban Outfitters unnatural forced style? Is it that people here just can't pull it off as well as foreigners? What is it?!

The style I'm talking about is this (from lookbook.nu):

and

UGH. This is not good style. Unfortunately, I know I'm in the minority in thinking this since the site continues to succeed.

My hair in my face. San Francisco April 2009

This is off the typical fashion subject, but I'd like to take a little detour from the usual. It doesn't even matter since my blog is basically a secret and known to no one but me, anyway.

There are several things I've been unlucky in, but I don't feel that relationships has been one of them. Sure, I didn't start any sort of relationship ANYthing until I was 19 and I've had the horrible arguments and fights, but overall, I've been very happy. Our relationship is pretty simple. No fuss, little confusion.

1.5 years on the 15th.

I just noticed we don't have many good photos together.

Yeah, that's as emotional as I get.

Oxfords

I've been on the lookout for a good pair of flat leather oxfords for a while now, but I've always held out on actually buying a pair. I never thought I had the right clothing or body proportions to make them work. Now, however, I don't care. I want a pair. I saw some nearly two years ago or more at Anthropologie. They were white and sold out quickly. Today my tastes are a little different. I want a good brown pair, similar to the Frye Erin style above. I think they're much more versatile than the me at 22 years old believed.

Emmanuel Alt in my favorite sold out Isabel Marant boots. The Zara pair were the closest I could get to the real thing.

On a side note, that's quite the stylish child. Khaki trench, cropped denim, and black flats. It's a combo I'd wear 20 sizes bigger.

FLUFF

I've always loved Scott Schuman and was so sad to have missed him while he was in LA for his book signing (I was at work). Unlike other sites that I feel are so phony, his photos are always uncontrived. And while he does shoot the Carine Roitfelds and Giovanna Battaglias, he also captures everyday people. People clothed in unknown labels, older people, people of all sizes and from all over. His photos aren't so much about fashion and trends as they are great and/or unique style. It's for these reasons that I've religiously followed and continue to follow The Sartorialist.

Thrift

Just found this vintage suede/leather combo bag at the thrift store near work. It reminded me of the child an orgy of the Hermes Kelly, Chloe Sally, and Chanel 2.55 would produce. $10. A little dirty and worn, but for that price, who cares?

Also found a black Moschino belt with a little heart buckley thing. $5!

Cheap thrills.

Fade into you

I covet this foufy dress.

Paraty

Oh hello! My name is Chloe Paraty. I'm nutmeg in color and I'm made of such thick luscious (yes, luscious!) leather. I look fabulous with florals, neutrals, and especially black. My mother likes to carry me by my strap. Although I'm not the highly coveted python paraty, I'm equally as beautiful. Dontcha think?

Zara Boots

Here are the Zara thigh high boots I've been obsessing over. The only minor flaw of these boots are that they slouch a little when I want to keep them up higher. But they're still my favorite boots! I have other flat suede OTK boots I bought years ago, but these are by far the best. The biggest thing for me with these were the fit. 99% of all other boots I looked at weren't form-fitting enough so these stretch suede ones are just perfeeeect. I just wish I had more clothes to wear them with.

Also, it took forever trying to take these photos! I'd like to use more photos on my blog when I put some effort into my daily outfits, but I'm horrible at using the timer on my camera. Maybe I'm just unphotogenic? The lighting is always off in my pictures. I think they look better in natural light, but I'm unavailable during natural light hours to take photos. I have an unfortunate but necessary thing called a full time job. Maybe learning to photograph myself should be a late new year's resolution?

Kate

Kate. I've always loved her, even during her crazy coke days. With Kate, doing it and getting caught seemed glamorous. Style for Kate has always come naturally and unforced. She doesn't look like all those people on lookbook.nu who pose for a camera like they don't know it's there. Even after video was released of her little drug habit, it didn't really matter. Sure, several designers dropped her in the post-cocaine seasons, but that crazy f'd up part was what made her Kate. Kind of like how I rationalize my messed up parts and history as what make me. Who wants a perfect girly-girl anyway? A little bit of ugly makes pretty.

Obviously I'm not the only one who has the same admiration for Miss Moss. Nearly 20 years after her infamous CK ads, she's still splattered across every glossy ad in my magazines. Not to mention her rival Sienna Miller copying her style (she totally did).

Harlow (now Monrow) made a Kate tee a couple years ago. It was also available with other models like Linda Evangelista, Marilyn Monroe, and Cindy Crawford. It's sold out now, but I still search for it on eBay.

So sad, I've been incredibly busy at work that my blog that I've told no one about suffers.

There's so much I want to write about, but no time. How often do I think of all the pretty things? All day long. It sounds crazy, but I really do.

It's supposed to rain again today. Like fall, I think it's romantic. I like to drive around in it and listen to music like Mazzy Star or Radiohead. It makes me feel all contemplative. Funny to hear this coming from a gal who's dead inside, no?


I used a new wave technique on my hair last night. I bought a cheap Conair 3/4" flat iron at CVS last night and remembered seeing a Rachel Zoe email on waving hair with a flat iron. I'm sure it's old news in the hairworld and most hair savvy girls, but I know nothing about hair. I just know I have a lot and it's difficult to deal with. So the poorly taken photo above is a close-up of my flat-ironed-waved coif.

Also... I just received my Chloe Paraty bag in Nutmeg. Lurrrrve it. The leather is so thick and smooshy and the color so rich and deep. I wanted the black python, but it was too expensive when I already have a go-with-everything black bag. I guess the Chanel Jumbo XL will just have to wait.

Clogged

When I got more money (I'm trying to save), I hope these Jeffrey Campbell Charlie clogs are still in stock (preferably in black). To me, they're kind of the current cowboy boot. Western and chunky. I know, I'm being so trendy right? Well what can I say, Chanel's influence never fails.

Available for preorder now at singer22.com.

(Photo via nitrolicious)

So the people I've shown (roommate, boyfriend) this vintage little number to have thought it was super ugly or weird, but I still have the same feelings towards it when I bought it. I really like it! It's from Goodwill and I got it for $20. It had this horrid black skirt part to it that wasn't beaded, but was really long and layered and just ugly in general. I cut that part off, so just what you see remains. It's made in France (or so my friend who took French in HS tells me from the tag) and the beading is actually done really well. I don't notice any falling off and they feel pretty securely sewn on. The only problem with this lovely thing is it's too big. It actually came with shoulder pads in it, but I removed them. They weren't the cool Balmain type shoulders, just horrid 80s shoulders. So anyway, I think it would work great as a tunic or a little dress with tights once I get it tailored. But how much is that going to cost? It's beaded everywhere and I have a feeling it'd be pricey. Oh well!

I love H&M Spring '10. NEED that pink strapless dress.