Last week I saw my first James Dean movie, Rebel Without a Cause. I loved it so much (male teenage angst + dysfunctional family = Maria’s favorite genre). As soon as it was over I completed the obligatory post-movie wikipedia-ing. Some things I learned: (1) All three main stars of Rebel Without a Cause died in strange ways (James Dean: Car Accident, Natalie Wood: Fell Off Boat, Sal Mineo: Murdered), (2) James Dean was only ever in three movies, (3) James Dean is so hot I can hardly stand it. (more…)

I love to go ridiculously, overboard all-out for valentine’s day, wearing way too many heart shaped accessories, way too much pink and red, and usually some kind of heart-shaped, plastic Hello Kitty accessory just to ensure that I don’t look like, you know, an actual adult.

This year, just for you-you-you, I put together the kind of outfit I’d like to wear on the 14th (or perhaps Friday the 13th, to scare away the demons & be sure all can enjoy my cartoonish appearance). The central piece, a dress from Forever 21, is so inexpensive that if you get a little chocolate on it, you won’t be too upset <3 <3 <3.

1. These Sweatheart Sunglasses (Urban Outfitters, $16) come in four colors, so you can choose what level of “overboard” you want to go this Feb 14.

2. I featured Candy Thief and her beautiful, bright, detailed felt accessories after visiting her booth at the Renegade Craft Fair in Brooklyn last year. This time, she’s really done it with her beautiful (and one of a kind, I might add!) Valentine Headband (Candy Theif on Etsy, $35)

3. This Heart of Gold Brooch (Calexandra on Etsy, $14), while keeping with the V-day theme, is refreshingly glittery and gold which will stand out on the required red or pink top.

4. I <3 this Ruffled Satin Dress (Forever 21, $23) — full pink and ruffly, just like an old-fashioned valentine’s day card!

5. Another subtle accessory, this Pure & Simple Necklace (nanopod on Etsy, $32) is in a slightly ironic “heart-shape.”

6. This Reversible Messenger Bag with Ruffle Flap (31 Corn Lane, on sale for $14) can be navy or green, and either will contrast boldly with your pink dress while the pink ruffle will tie it altogether to the V-day theme.

7. These Shiny Stirrup Tights (American Apparel, $14) add an extra over-the-top pink to your outfit. It’s the final touch that says HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY.

The happy, heart-y, pixely font featured in this post is Pixelpoiiz, and is a free download at dafont.com.

Ahhhh! I love American Apparel for making so many fabulously cool, semi-ugly clothes that can become a billion different outfits! I just discovered this Circle Scarf ($28), which comes in ten colors and can be worn at least thirteen different ways. This makes me want to get my Bandeu Dress out of the archives, and I still want the Le Sac Dress. Le Sigh.

Happy birthday to me happy birthday to me. I don’t like getting older, but I do like getting presents, and while I don’t expect to get these presents, I can always dream. (Like my magazine-style image? Ohlala!)

1. iPod Touch. So, of course we’d all rather have an iPhone, but how many monthly bills can you add to your repertoire? I have an old-school ipod nano, so I’ve been visiting the Apple Store online and in my dreams. Sigh.
2. Headphones. Even without the new iPod Touch, I’d love some big-old, colorful, new headphones so that I can drown-out the world. Ear buds aren’t cutting it. (There were some even more colorful ones, once, but I can’t find them anywhere! They were made for me!)
3. Cupcake! They aren’t just cupcakes, they’re beautiful, elegant cupcakes. Making me hungry right now.
4. McSweeney’s Subscription. Beautiful books. Directly in your mailbox. (At least two of these mags were featured in PRINT’S Regional Design Issue this year!)
5. Duffel. Not a crappy-gym-bag duffel! It’s practically a PURSE.
6. Dress. You can do anything with this dress, so it’s really like getting a dozen dresses.

Sigh. Another year older!

Quick! Wear one of these before the summer is over! Er… actually… not so fast… first you have some choices to make…

a) Cotton Spandex Jersey Bandeau Bodysuit, $33 (Sizes XS-L, 7 colors)
b) Sheer Jersey Bandeau Dress, $43 (Sizes XS-XL, 7 colors)
c) Cotton Spandex Jersey Polka Dot Bandeau Pencil Dress, $41 (Sizes XS-L, black or white)
d) Le Sac Dress, $38 (One Size Fits Most, 8 colors with more on their way, comes with black ribbon); Additional Ribbon for La Sac Dress, $10 (11 colors/patterns — including lime green!)
e) Cotton Spandex Jersey Bandeau Pencil Dress, $41 (Sizes XS-L, 17 colors)
f) Cotton Spandex Jersey Bandeau Dress, $43 (Sizes XS-XL, 19 colors)

I love when regularly stationery items become suddenly interactive: when flaps can open on cards, pictures can pop-out of books, and paper can be folded into 3D glory! But imagine one dress with the capability of twisting and folding into about thirty other dresses… that’s a whole level beyond pop-ups and flaps.

The dresses above, all from American Apparel, can twist fold and bend into multiple outfits. B & C and E & F all work in a similar way, along with choice A which is more limited (these are all called Bandeau Dresses… or Bodysuit). Choice D (Le Sac Dress) is a new dress I’ve just discovered (because it’s new and I may or may not stalk the American Apparel web-site…), and I absolutely love it!

If you are indecisive, this dress is going to be your arch nemesis. First, you have decide which style dress you want. Then, you have to decide which color. When you finally get home, you have to decide which way to wear it! If you have the Le Sac Dress, you can also buy ribbons in different colors, and then you have to choose which ribbon to coordinate with your outfit!

You can watch a cool video online that shows you step-by-step instructions for how to turn the bandeau dress into 15 different styles. I own dress B (when it happened to be on sale… of course…), and it’s the most fun dress I’ve ever owned!