Still here...

I'm still here! The problem with posting is my apartment is lacking one major necessity - Internet! Whenever I need it, I go to a nearby Starbucks or use my phone. So obviously, it's this lack of wifi that makes posting so difficult (I'm at my brother's now, using his Internet).

It's been quite the experience here in NYC. I can't say it's all been positive. There have been major negatives that have caused me to question my purpose of moving here, but hopefully after some events this past week things will turnaround soon. Work has played a big part in my experience. I love being around beautiful clothing, but I wish I worked more with the actual pieces, instead of just moving them from place to place. There are some crazy Givenchy and Alexander McQueen gowns that make me appreciate couture and the designers behind them so much more.

My future here is unknown. I'm thinking I will stay at least through September and work fashion week, but then...? NYC is a great city and I love it every time I'm out on the streets, but I miss predictable sunny (SUNNY being a key word) LA weather and Murakami sushi! I guess it's to be expected having lived here for less than a month.

Things that would help my LA to NYC transition - the weather warming up and staying that way, the cookies I enjoy so much in Chelsea Market being marked down from $4 to $1, and that somehow there could be less walking and stairs so I could bust out the heels more often. I purchased some of the notoriously comfortable Reva flats this weekend. With all the walking in this city, my feet will fall off in a month's time in 4 inchers.

Here's to a better next five months.

P.S. R Kells visits this week. Excitement!

Shelter

I've now been in NYC for almost two full days and I just found shelter! It's pretty far from my work, but it's only one subway ride allll the way down to Chelsea/Meatpacking. Plus, I didn't want to run all around town looking at like 10 different places. Pictured above is the outside of the pre-war building. You can't really tell much from it, but it was all I could get.

Rebel Romance

These are old from June 2008's Vogue, but I'm such a girl who watches Sex & the City every time its edited episodes are on TV, and I love these. I own the entire series on DVD and have seen each episode over five times each, but I still get excited when I see it's on. I know, I know.

Two weeks

It's finally starting to sink in. I've received confirmation of my start date of April 4th, I told everyone I needed to tell, my "goodbye" brunch is this Saturday, my lovely armoire is on Craigslist, and last night I started to pack and cram my sartorial life into huge boxes for shipment. As I started to pack last night, I wondered how the hell I'd live out of these boxes for the next (at least) 5 months. I can barely live out of my too-small closet! Now I have to shove everything into as few boxes as possible and dig through them to put together outfits? And what if the boxes are lost in transit?!

Today makes my departure officially two weeks away. Eeep...

Tim Walker

I need this ridiculously priced book. Or this more modestly priced one.

Two of the same

I have the same dress in two colors. I got the olive last summer, and today found the pink for spring. I went to H&M to do a return, but made an exchange (and received $3 back) for the dress. I can't help it, I like the shape!

Sorry for the poor photo!

More Sand

So filming for the movie officially ended on Monday. Monday was the longest day yet - 17 hours! I didn't know I was even able to work that long! And in 35 degree weather! I don't drink coffee or smoke like most people on set, so I'm not sure if that made the long days even harder for me. The wrap party is tomorrow night at one of the actors' beautiful large Mulholland home, and I'm excited to throw on some girl shoes other than gym sneakers or my Frye boots (don't get me wrong, I love my Frye boots, but I need something feminine!).

In the end, I do wish the movie was a higher budget with a story that required more fashionable wardrobes, but it was a good experience nonetheless. I didn't really get the opportunity to put my opinion into the outfits that were chosen, but that was probably for the best for this first time. I would have attempted to put all the characters in designer runway clothing on a ridiculous budget that would barely cover one pair of Louboutins, and none of the clothing would have fit with the theme of the film! Men don't battle sharks in Gucci, do they?

The photos above are from Monday. I took them during some photoshoots and the interviews.

Sand

I've been missing. I would have thought with my new and current status that I would have more time to post, but I forgot about my failing personal computers and the fact that my ass is not stuck to a desk chair for 8 hours a day.

I've also had zero time because I've been working 12+ hour days as a costume/wardrobe designerassistantwhatever on set for a lovely low budget, straight to video movie called SAND SHARKS. The title says it all and explains it all. At the end of the day, my clothes smell like dirt and sand, my hands are dirty and rough, and my once clear complexion has been infected with red splotches and zits. Not to mention the sunglass tan I've achieved despite my constant reapplication of sunscreen. On top of this, our wardrobe budget was also extremely low and impossible, which in turn made me appreciate my own slightly higher budget wardrobe more (at least I don't need to shop clearance at even the cheapest department stores and fast fashion chains). I subsist on Cheez Its and animal crackers and wear ugly shoes and clothing all day long. When I come home each day, the stack of WWDs only grows taller and taller, and will only continue to and stress me out because I have zero time to read them (especially with the fall shows). But even after all this, I've learned a lot and still enjoy it much more than the previous. The days are long and tiring, but the location and drive up PCH help relax and calm me. We're in Malibu with 70 degree weather, blue ocean and sky, and occasional dolphin sightings. I can't complain much about that.

I wish I could include some photos of me on set, but like I said, I've had to wear ugly clothing and my face has reacted negatively to the change. Ugly clothing = extremely practical. And I've realized I have none of that. So my designer jeans of 5 years ago have had to take the beating. Sorry. At least the lady I work with got me a down jacket for the chilly mornings and nights that I can use in NYC. So nice of her.

This whole thing is more enjoyable as each day goes on, but I must say I'm excited for the end (21st) when I will be free to enjoy my last days and month (for the next five months) in the city of angels.

Love this

From Martalicious.

Sparkle

I didn't watch the Golden Globes last night, but did keep track of my favorites online - Angelina Jolie in Versace and Anne Hatheway in Armani Prive. Can you see a common theme in the gowns I currently fancy?

Joy

I'm actually optimistic!

Sorry for such ambiguity. I'll clarify once it all begins.

2011

Cheers to 2011!

Excited for a better and more exciting year beginning with a freezing New York trip starting on the 11th.

Here's to getting what you want in 2011 (not necessarily hundred dollar bills, but if that's what you want, then sure)!

:)

Meow

Hello, I would like these Prada Rectangular Cat Eye Sunglasses.

I would also like these Dior Rounded Cat Eye Sunglasses.

Thanks!

...

There are over two hundred comments on the photo above on The Sartorialist. Usually when a picture receives an extraordinary amount of comments it's for an extraordinary shot, outfit, person, or all of the above. Some may disagree with me, but I don't think this shot is really anything that special. It's about the shoes. The shoes are the hoopla.


Dansko. Sigh. Several commenters love their clogged comfort. Several say "wait until you try them on!" But for me there is absolutely nothing this shoe can do to redeem its ugly factor. Ugly is the main adjective to describe these shoes and dominates any positive qualities the shoe may have. I understand if you must wear them for work - nursing, serving, occupations where you are forced to be on your feet all day and where style plays no part. But even if I were in one of these positions (and I have been in positions where I've been forced to be on my feet for entire shifts), I would have a very difficult time buying these. If I need comfort, a simple ballet flat will do. If I need even more comfort, I'll stick one of those Dr. Scholls inserts in them. These Danskos are rugged, wide, unfeminine, and fulfill a non-hetero stereotype for women.

I'm sure this is a lovely gal dressed in APC with sore and tired feet. But I cannot condone such unattractive footwear. I guess if anything, they're better than Crocs.

the story with no ending

The whole slew blossomed beautifully,
And I was beside myself
So I gave into your love
As you rapturously commanded
And this is like I have always dreamed:
Cobblestone and dusty feet
That's the way it should always be
Head over heels and deftly
Wonderful and healthy

Not my usual materialistic post. It rained all weekend and will continue to until at least Wednesday. I wish it would rain right through Christmas. It's not snow, but it's the closest weather I can get to a somewhat wintery Christmas.

Journals

Once upon a time, I used to write in journals. My first ones were Sanrio with big plastic locks that were easily picked with Bic pen caps. These were called diaries (is there a difference? Does a lock define a diary, and a simple open book with pages dictate a journal?). In my tweens, basic black and white Composition books housed my teeny bopper thoughts. In my teens, I had a brown one with books on the front from Costco. And then when I was 17, I had a basic black one from Barnes & Noble that I used for school, and filled up maybe 20 pages at most. Then, for some unknown reason, I stopped.

I guess I can think of possible reasons. When I was 17 or 18, I went through the old Composition book journal and the brown book one. It was embarrassing. How could I have thought those thoughts and written the way I did? They were both instantly thrown in the dumpster outside. I couldn't risk the chance of someone finding them and reading such embarrassing thoughts. There were some very angry entries with large spiky writing and lots of profanity and others debating about what to wear on picture day. Remember picture day? I had completely forgotten that even existed.

Around the time I gave up journals was also the time my friends and I decided to write in Xanga. I used this as a substitute to a tangible journal, and since then, never went back. I went through all of college and my early twenties without writing out of any of my real thoughts and feelings. How did I do it? I think boyfriends became the journals, and had they known they were the alternative, would have bought me a journal immediately.

So I've decided to journal again. Not blogs. Nothing online. Good, old fashioned journals. Pen and paper. Growing up, I found it very therapeutic. It's been at least a good seven years since I've last written in journal. I think I need it. As I've said before, a lot has died in me in the past seven years. Maybe journaling will bring these things back to life.

I would love a pretty one such as the Prospero Journal pictured above, but are my thoughts at twenty-five worthy of such an elaborate looking book? Will I read this at 35 and chuck it in the dumpster as I did at 18? Or are my musings more sophisticated now?

Karmenaf

I won't deny it. My taste in footwear is a bit traditional and girlish. I lean towards modernized classic shapes and styles. I'm not the edgiest when it comes to what goes on my feet, but how can anyone resist such a pretty, feminine pump?

Belle Fleur

I have the next two weeks to myself. I'm looking forward to it. I've been meaning to sit down with my thoughts and really clear my mind, but I always end up falling asleep. I'm also going to be unemployed starting January 7th, so I'll have some serious time to sort things out. Maybe I can revive that thing that died in me a few years ago.

On a lighter note, I went to the Monique Lhuillier sample sale this weekend with my sister. The line was 3 hours long, hot and sweaty, and we left with nothing. I DID try on this "Belle Fleur" gown above, though. It looked much better in real life, and made me feel like some fairy princess who lives in the forest. I would like it to wear around the house or to sit on the couch and eat ice cream. I wouldn't even mind R Kell's football watching if I were able to watch in this gown!

Watching Forever

This is why events unnerve me...

Back in college, I was so excited to see Marie Antoinette. I was enthralled by the images of elaborate pastel colored gowns, Laduree macaroons, and New Order's "Ceremony". Silly me, I was more wowed by the way the movie "looked" than the actual story. To my dismay, the movie lacked depth. It was just looks, and not much else. Despite its lacking story, I still found the costume and the way it was filmed absolutely breathtaking.



After watching the video above, I almost want to give the film as a whole a second chance. Great style and music has that effect on me.

... and I also love that Marie Antoinette had a pug.

(title of post comes from the song "Ceremony")

Current Favorites

There are certain styles I will be forever keen on, and there are other trendier ones that come and go. I don't know if these are as transient as I think they may be, but these are the trends/items I've been gravitating towards lately:

Furriness. Faux or vintage (I heard it doesn't count if it's vintage?), I want them in coats and jackets the most. I already have a couple, but would like more - like this one.


Beaded everything. Shirts, dresses, bags, all of it. Topshop and Kate Moss's Topshop has some great beaded dresses. I love the weight and the glamour factor of them.


Rachel Zoe-esque goddess gowns. Not so much the red carpet style, but the more casual. I got one at the Geren Ford sale and am waiting to find the perfect necklace for it. You can't see it very well, but I would give my kidney for the Fendi gown Rachel wears in the In Style article below. And the vintage Lanvin pendant Kiera Knightley has on.


Denim shirts. I've been very inspired by past Chloe runways, and I'm loving the khaki and denim combination. Also enjoy denim shirts with black, or used as a cardigan or cover-up.


Chunky heeled platforms. I read somewhere once in an interview that some fashiony person wished that platforms would go away. Why?? I dread the day! I'm not into feeling every pebble on the ground and hobbling around in pain in non-platforms. And they are great with all sorts of socks.



And big chunky rings. Because I think my hands are not the prettiest and most feminine (I have pinky issues and calluses from writing), I've never been a big ring wearer until recently. Not sure what happened, but now I want tons of big fat obnoxious rings.


This all of course, in addition to every other silly thing I'm always wanting.