Okay, what the hell does the title “Maria’s Fall of Currently Obsessed” MEAN? I don’t know. I am too lazy to change it.
1. I’m just getting into Swedish pop artist Robyn‘s 2010 album Body Talk
2. Speaking of Robyn’s leggings, she recently wore the above pair by Alexendar McQueen when she was featured in Rye Rye’s “Never Will Be Mine” music video.
3. Speaking more of Robyn’s leggings, she’s worn some sweet gas pump leggings by Jeremy Scott. Kate Perry recently wore his “poof ball” dress on a magazine cover. You can check out his weird fashions (like a bookshelf skirt!!!!) at Fruition. But you probably can’t afford them. Or I can’t.
4. After Tricia’s recent currently obsessed, which featured women wearing bow ties, we have been in communication about the newly popular style of androgyny. I loved Lady Gaga’s VMA stunt where she came on stage as her alter-ego, Joe Calderone and sang her single “You and I.” Jo Calendrone also appears in the official music video. After raving about Gaga dressing as a man, my friend told me that Annie Lenox already did this whole stunt in 1984 while singing “Sweet Dreams.” I say, good job to Gaga for bringing it back, but I love how Annie just went up there and started singing without any semblance of an explanation.
5. Finally, I’ve become obsessed with poet Edna St. Vincent Millay after reading Nancy Milford’s biography of her called Savage Beauty
Sonnet 42
What lips my lips have kissed, and where, and why,
I have forgotten, and what arms have lain
Under my head till morning, but the rain
Is full of ghosts tonight, that tap and sigh
Upon the glass and listen for reply,
And my heart there stirs a quiet pain
For unremembered lads that not again
Will turn to me at midnight with a cry.
Thus in the winter stands the lonely tree,
Nor knows what birds have vanished one by one,
Yet knows its boughs more silent than before:
I cannot say what loves have come and gone,
I only know that summer sang in me
A little while, that in me sings no more.
I just discovered the wonder of wedges. They are like high heels, but you can walk in them! I love having a painless little two-inch boost. There are so many styles, from classy to whore-y. They can function as high heels for a nice dinner, or sandals for dress-down days. And they come in so many colors! There is basically an entire aisle of them at Target for $20-30.
Here are some I found on the internets:
, Amazon.com, $60 (also comes in hot pink) (PS Ed Hardy is a retired tattoo artist)Also, I want to remark on the brown and sandaly wedges… these are good for summer. Also, the gladiator sandal trend looks TERRIBLE on me and my thick runner legs. They sort of make your feet look all bound up and cut off at the ankles, so you kind of end up looking shorter. These kinds of sandals look much better on me in wedge form because of the added inches. Another hint: if you get the shoe in a color similar to your skin, it makes your leg look really loooong instead of looking cut off.
(Left to Right, then Top to Bottom)
by nicole, amazon.com, $45-105 (looks like the coral version (not pictured here) is much cheaper)
I know, I haven’t posted in EONS! But I am obsessed with JewelMint. I found them first in Teen Vogue, which, YES, I still subscribe to even though I am in my MID TO LATE TWENTIES.
The basics: it was created by Kate Bosworth and a friend, and is like the Columbia House Records of jewelry, but not quite as sneaky as Columbia House when they send you like 10 CDs you never asked for. You begin by taking a quiz, and then each month new jewels are selected for you, but you don’t have to buy them. I never buy any of them because I don’t have $30 to spend at the moment (sometimes they email you a coupon and you can get them for $9-18), but I think one day I might. I just look at them online. (You can look at all selections and don’t have to buy the one they suggest.)
I *love* this jewelry because there are some unique BRIGHT COLOR options, but there are more classic designs, too, and lots of silvers, blacks, and golds. They also suggest what you can wear the jewel with, and have pictures of the jewelry close-up as well as on a model, or occasionally a celebrity.
Just wanted to share! (Maybe I’ll do another post soon — my year in grad school is just finishing and my computer just came back from the shop.)
I usually am apathetic towards Spring. I enjoy Spring LIFE (tulips, bunnies…), however, I hate stuffy noses and ceaseless strings of sneezes. But if there’s anything that can get someone more excited for Spring, it’s Lula Magazine.
What was once a magazine of questionable existence to me (I used to cross my fingers that liebemarlene would post about it, since she seemed to have better luck than me at finding a copy), Lula is now mine! It appeared at the Borders near work on the exact date that the distributor gave me as its release date (yes, an embarrassing amount of effort to obtain a magazine). Although we are technically in the last month of Spring, thus making the previous anecdote irrelevant in a temporal sense, the Chicago Spring hasn’t kicked in yet. It’s the second week of May AND I am sitting on my back porch AND my nose feels like a dog’s AND I am wearing heattech tights AND legwarmers AND a scarf. Sustained warm weather, where art thou?
1. I like to imagine that Madewell is J.Crew’s rebellious little sister. I am excited for Alexa Chung for Madewell this fall (she’s fantastic!), but for now a Spring dress. That even has “Spring” in its name. Spring Garden Dress from Madewell, $145
2. The secret notes I write in the Spring have to be in pastel, otherwise someone else will deem me to have a frosty, unapproachable soul. Pastel pens for Spring! And they write on plastic! Pilot Latte Gel Ink Pens Pastel Color Series from JetPens, $18
3. If someone was picking my brain to find out what I consider to be the perfect swimsuit, they’d find a picture of this. Even though this is more of a “SUMMER” item, perhaps you people who live in warmer areas can put this to use RIGHT NOW. Perhaps it’s a good thing that I won’t be receiving mine until June (oh additional warning: it’s back ordered because there must be some global consensus that it is a perfect swimsuit). Natalie One-Piece from Anthropologie, $148
4. This reminds me of Little House on the Prairie, and how much I disliked The First Four Years, the only other Little House book that I owned. The Joyous Dress from ModCloth, $75
5. REALLY ADORABLE. I came across these when searching for new plants that I could buy-and-tend-to-and-love (R.I.P. lemon basil plant named “Cutlass”). Petit Coco Casserole Pots from Brooklyn5and10, $13
6. Is there a yellow equivalent to “nantucket red” and “cape cod blue”? Yellow Newport Cordones from TOMS
7. A SECOND QUESTION: Will someone teach me how to properly ride a bike so I can go on bike adventures? Velorbis Studine Classic from Copenhagen Cyclery, $1300
Due to various circumstances (like an overpowering desire to discuss aspects of the perfect Johnny Weir party), this post is incredibly delayed. And for that, I APOLOGIZE. While I sit here, arrested in my mundane office life, exactly a week ago, I was at Bryant Park enjoying the Tracy Reese Fall 2010 show. My friend, Tiffany Rogers, Assistant Designer to Tracy Reese, invited me to the show. Past Tracy Reese collections have proven that Tracy Reese likes cute and feminine. AND has a certain obsession with florals. Going into the show, I did not know what to expect. I knew that fur and florals were somehow intertwined in her fall collection: both assumptions and intel that I had gathered from Tiffany gchat status (“fur in mouth!”). As I waited for the show to begin (my first fashion week show ever, mind you), I stared at the pretty flowery backdrop, and longed for spring. Which is an inappropriate longing considering I was about to witness a FALL show.
Soon after, however, my lust for warmer days transformed into a crave for crisp fall (and a desire to meet Julia Stiles, who was also at the show, and the teenager in me, of course, flipped out). While still maintaining her dainty aesthetic (my goodness there was a lot of lace), the Fall 2010 show was surprisingly grittier than past Tracy Reese collections.
Leopard prints, suede, and fur seamlessly unite to create a mesmerizing collection.
Oh! And the loopy scarves! How I wish I had one to hide behind!
I WAS NOT JOKING. The above is a close up of the scarf from backstage (taken by Tiffany).
Afterward, we ate a lot of meat at The Breslin (which is PERFECT INSIDE, and I WISH-I-LIVED-IN-NYC-SO-I-COULD-BE-ONE-OF-THE READERS-IN-THE-COFFEE-BAR-LOBBY-OF-THE-ACE-HOTEL), and took tiny naps before the after party at Gold Bar.
…Which, as the name implies, is filled with gold (like gold skulls, as Tiffany is demonstrating above) and wonderfully creepy paintings. Delightful.
Although he may be ranked sixth after Tuesday’s Olympics men’s short, Johnny Weir is easily the most entertaining competitor in men’s skating. For those of you unfamiliar with him, Johnny is like the product of what would happen if Lady Gaga and Patrick Wolf had a baby that flew out of the womb with ice skates. If my visual is unsatisfactory, please watch the video of his short here. Yes, those are pink tassels.
In honor of this innovative luminary with unbridled creativity and glitter (literally), I decided to cover quintessential components to the perfect Johnny Weir Party. My actions are extremely timely, as the MEN’S FREE SKATE IS TONIGHT. I highly encourage you to watch and throw your own little Johnny Weir party. Although the possibility that he will medal is slim, at least you will have a fine time celebrating Johnny Weir.
SURROUNDINGS
1. Has your rug been on the road to death? Have you always dreamed about getting a hot pink rug? Well, my friend, this is a splendid time to get a pink rug. FACT: Johnny brought pink bath mats with him to Vancouver. Mohawk Home Shag Run in Racy Pink from Target, $100
2. As I hinted moments ago, Johnny Weir is like a skating version of Lady Gaga. It is, therefore, not surprising that Johnny is a HUGE Lady Gaga fan. His love for Lady Gaga extends to the ice rink, as demonstrated in a recent performance to “Poker Face.”
FACT: Johnny brought also brought a poster of Lady Gaga to Vancouver so she could “watch over us.” Lady Gaga poster from Movie Poster USA, $7
ATTIRE
1. FACT: Johnny likes to wear shiny things. THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW MOMENTS IN YOUR LIFE WHERE IT IS APPROPRIATE TO WEAR AN AMERICAN APPAREL METALLIC BODYSUIT (with an even more inappropriate zipper!) NECESSARY ADDENDUM: Johnny also designs his own sparkly onesies, so you should take the creative liberty to further sparkle up your metallic bodysuit. Shiny Zipper-Front Bodysuit in Champagne from American Apparel, $45
World Championships 2006 from Johnny Weir Online
2. Shiny star leggings to avoid an inappropriate crotch reveal if your quadruple lutz living room impersonations go sour. Printed Shiny Leggings from American Apparel, $46
3. FACT: Johnny has been criticized for wearing fur. Silver Indigo Fox All Fur Pill Box Hat from Fur Hat World, $250
picture from delawareonline.com
4. Face and body glitter! Make Up Forever Glitters from Sephora, $13
5. Even more glitter! Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter Liner from Sephora, $18
CONSUMABLES
1. For Johnny’s short, he wore pink tassels. Obtain some pink tassels and tie them to martini glasses, only to be filled with…
2. …lemon drop cocktails! This drink is a lemony ode to Johnny’s calming techniques. I cannot take credit for this brilliant idea is from my friend Tiffany, who is obsessed with skating and the Olympics (mutual passions?, read her blog!). We actually ran to Barcelona Bar so she could catch the end of the Pairs skating Monday. Anyways, she sent me this Johnny Weir quote yesterday:
I was nervous last night. So I Pledged everything in my room. Some people eat, some people drink — but I Pledge everything.
3. Sober Sally? Johnny loves Vitamin Water. Shots of Vitamin Water it is!
4. Apparently Johnny barely eats (which is troublesome for a Johnny Weir party), but once a year he will eat angel food cake with strawberries and whipped cream.
Does anyone else harbor a desire to throw a Johnny Weir party? Am I the only one?
1. Chicken Skittles from MUJI, £5.95 (football is to soccer as skittles is to bowling)
2. The Africa swimsuit by We Are Handsome, $163
3. Miso Soup Ring by SouZou Creations on etsy, $8.50
4. Candy Bar Bracelet from Dylan’s Candy Bar, $50 (Wish 1.5: That Dylan offered international shipping.)
5. MacBook Pro 17-inch from Apple, $2500 (although a plain old MacBook is much more realistic!)
6. Colour In Dress by Michiel Schuurman, €250
7. Bubble Wrap Calendar from Perpetual Kid, $20
8. ASAP/OMFG Totable from Knock Knock,$10.50
9. PostSecret: Confessions on Life, Death and God from Barnes & Noble, $14.94
10. Kron by Kron Shoes (Amirah also requests the ability to walk properly in heels!)
1. Catcher in the Rye book cover poster from AllPosters, $30 (But you can choose from over 600 other book cover posters here.)
2. TOMS Borges Cordones , $79
3. LOMO Diana F+ CMYK camera kit from Fred Flare, $99
4. Greetings from the Ocean’s Sweaty Face: 100 McSweeney’s Postcards from Amazon, $14
5. The Original of Laura by Vladimir Nabokov from Amazon
6. Fleet Foxes from Amazon, $13 (Maria requests it on vinyl, because she wants to get Tricia’s portable record player and play Fleet Foxes on it.)
7. Osborn Design Sneakers, $60-130
8. Buckyballs, $30
9. Cardboard Moose bust from Perpetual Kid, $48 (large)
10. Collocation NO. 14 (NATURE) Print (left and right panels) from 20×200, $20+ (photos by Mickey Smith)
In London, winter is fast approaching, and to be truly honest it’s not very motivating : it’s getting very cold (antartica-and-penguins-kind-of-cold) and the sun disappears around 4.30pm. BUT I have an unbeatable plan to keep my spirits up : drown myself into retro/vintage fashion. The theme : (it’s) only black and white (but I like it). Here is an idea of what we’re looking for :
1.Who Are You, Polly Maggoo? (in French: Qui êtes vous, Polly Maggoo?) is a 1966 film directed by William Klein, about the fashion world. Very funny, and eye-popping. Sadly, there is no american release of this dvd, but you can still find great posters on amazon. Great visual inspiration !
2. Spat-like Boots : much more classy than Uncle Scrooge, don’t you think ? Plus, tall boots = warm. WARM, yes ! Beat that, UK winter !
3. Camera necklace : accessories make the difference. And sometimes I’m too lazy to take my real camera out, so this is a nice alternative.
4. Duotone tights : For schizophrenic girls, show off your legs !
5. Retro 60s dress : Arrows + Black & White = Swinging London Heaven. Wearing this is like being in a black and white picture taken in Carnaby Street in 1967. Except it’s now, and I’m just not very tanned. Bonus : wear with extra long fake lashes and lots and lots of eyeliner. Just don’t go see a sad movie, because this could end up in a scary “fake-lashes-mustache-and-panda-bear-eyes” fiasco
6. Esoteri Louboutin boots : Ok, this is just a dream, and a 700$ reality, but I can’t help it, these shoes are SO CUTE.
7. Leather Avengers boots : I know, another pair of shoes. How many feet do I have ? Just the average two, but, honestly, how can you resist such a graphic pair of boots ? (This is a winning argument for me, anything with a “graphic” edge is absolutely essential. Even a “graphic toothpick” would work on me)
8. White blazer jacket : This reminds me of the old TV serie “The Prisoner” starring co-creator Patrick McGoohan, who spend the entire serie with a drop-dead gorgeous black jacket with white hemlines. Except this jacket is mainly white, so it gets dirty quicker BUT adds a little je-ne-sais-quoi.
Voilà ! To be honest I don’t own everything on this list, but Christmas is coming in a couple of month, and I’m preparing my wish-list in advance. Just a quick advice to finish : don’t overdo it. Personnaly, I draw the line at black lipstick (Unless it’s Halloween, of course).
