school daze

so i have this friend - who shall remain nameless - who transferred to a new school this semester. she moved in on a sunday, i believe, and had decided to leave by wednesday. and by leave, i mean permanently. she's now attending school locally. sometime during those four days, something must have happened that completely and totally overwhelmed her beyond repair. i'm taking pains to ensure that i never become that stressed out.

last week at school was what they call 'shopping week', in which everyone tries out classes to see if it fits their schedules and/or interests. at the end of the week, we make our final decisions and register for the classes we've chosen. it's a pretty good system, in my opinion, and i prefer it to other schools' process of registering for classes before the year starts, but the only issue is that while you're running around campus that first week, trying out quantum mechanics and advanced playwrighting, you're still responsible for the work assigned in the classes that you end up taking. and that's what i was up against last week, along with still trying to set my room up, getting in my required number of weekly hours at work, shopping for books (which i'm paying for myself this year-eek!), and other assorted responsibilities. the bulk of these tasks have carried over into this week, as well. i can't wait until all the dust has settled so i can get back to blogging normally.

after missing the shuttle and having to walk home last wednesday, tons of brand spanking new course books in tow, the october 2008 issue of nylon in my mailbox was a welcome surprise. i flipped through it a bit during work, and paused when i hit page sixty. i knew that m.i.a. was working on a clothing line, and i knew exactly what it would look like too, but what possessed nylon to dress a model in three (or is that four? did they really layer two of those jackets?) of the loudest, boldest prints i've ever seen, i'll never know. it doesn't look attractive by any stretch of the imagination, but i had a hunch that separately, the pieces might have potential. some poking around on m.i.a.'s website confirmed my suspicions.


let me preface this by saying i have so much love for m.i.a. even though she got a little cocky and claimed to have "owned" marc jacobs' fall 2008 afterparty. even if she randomly decided to retire from making music (nylon reports that she's safely back in the studio). i just love her. her songs never get old to me, and my retinas are not yet singed from the haphazard mix of neon patterns that brand her outfits and music videos. so maybe i'm biased, but i kind of like this collection. i'm very aware that it's practically a sampling of her own ridiculously distinctive wardrobe, but i think it's actually possible to make the stuff your own. i would love to pair the 'mexico' bodysuit with my bright white high-waisted mid-calf length pleated skirt (see post below), and brightly colored heels. or the afrika jacket or leggings with all-black everything else. unlike that nylon debacle, i think wearing one color prominently with one of m.i.a.'s pieces would allow you to wear them without looking like you were dressing up as m.i.a. am i completely out there on this one? it's possible, but i'm pretty sold on this line. in a figurative sense, of course. all sartorial fantasies aside, i don't really see myself shelling out a hundred bucks on a bodysuit.
but i'm curious as to which came first: m.i.a.'s 'afrika' print? or american apparel's?

wow, did i just do a pseudo-adventures in copyright post? oh, man.

"where were you in '92?"

p.s.: happy 26th birthday to my brother!

today's post is brought to you by the letter R.

monday - sunnies:ray-ban, top: urban outfitters, pants: h&m, shoes: nine west; tuesday - dress: american apparel, vest: h&m, jeans: urban outfitters, shoes: forever 21; wednesday - sweater: zara, dress (as top): american apparel, skirt: h&m; thursday: top: high school uniform, jeans: vintage, shoes: nine west.
true story: i forgot to bring flat shoes to school with me.

i was trying out this thing where i don't bring every scrap of cloth i own to school, since for the past two years i'd lugged masses of clothing to school and ended up only wearing a fraction of them. i found a large box in which to put my shoes, and assessed what i had, taking caution to be reasonable in my decisions. i brought the heech sandals because ever since i finally got my hands on them, i've found them to be indispensable, some black heels with varying heights.. some other heels in varying colors, one pair of black booties.. the list goes on, but for some reason, as far as flat shoes, i only brought my black fringe sandals, a pair of burgundy flip-flops (i hate flip-flops), a very, very old pair of black anne klein flats, and a pair of once-white canvas sneakers in utterly pitiful condition. and so all week i've been going to class, to work, walking home, and carrying heavy objects in heels, much to the chagrin of my poor feet.

i wish i could say that there's been some improvement in my life after a week of tottering around campus in heels, better posture or an increase in attractive men's phone numbers, maybe, but to be honest, all i've gotten are a blister and sore calves. how do you do it, carine? any tips, mary-kate? no? in that case, i'm off to replenish my flats collection.

this afternoon after class, i hit up urban outfitters for the feathered flats i'd been eyeing online, as well as these gray flats that i'm completely smitten with. i'm slowly but surely weaning myself off my black flat addiction, but i did buy my third - i repeat, third - pair of crappy white canvas sneakers. i'm not sure why i haven't just bit the bullet and gotten some damn keds.. these are going to be falling apart in about two weeks, but whatever. after getting all caught up with the flat shoe situation, i went all miu miu fall 2008: home edition and got this big letter wall hanging. couldn't find any of my other initials. i'm not so keen on the color, but it might grow on me. once i've gotten my room fixed up, i'll know what color it needs to be. after urban, it was off to american apparel to pick up some essentials - tees and tights - to be precise.

today's post is also brought to you by the number 4. one, two, three, four purchases! hah, hah, hah, hah..

status report

hey kids!

dashboard says it's only eighty degrees outside, but i'm sweating like there's no tomorrow, so i took these quick outfit shots before i flung open all the windows and changed into shorts and a tank.
sunnies: ray-ban, top: urban outfitters, pants: h&m, shoes: nine west. i wish i could say i was wearing sunnies indoors to be cool and show off my awesome personal style, but it's actually that bright in my room. i love it.
i'm slowly becoming obsessed with my skylight and its beautiful views. there's a hawk family that lives on the roof of the house, and their squawks sound as if they're inside the room when the window is open, and when i lay on my bed i can see airplanes flying overhead in all directions. the moon casts just the right amount of light into the room at night, and the abundance of fresh air is deliriously enoyable. i can only hope that i'll enjoy it as much when the skies are grayer with a chill in the air.

classes started today, and i shopped an english (colonial american lit) and french (french society across the ages) class, and tomorrow i'm going to test drive another english course on major british writers (eh) and a women's studies course called "i like ike, but i love lucy: women, popular culture, and the 1950s," which i'm almost positive will rank among my favorite college classes ever, second only to the english class i took on cultures and countercultures of the 1960s last year: think film screenings of west side story, the sound of music, endless summer, and 2001: a space odyssey, readings like the electric acid kool-aid test and popism, and units on james brown and the beach boys. it was amazing.

i'm really trying to capture this beginning-of-the-year enthusiam in a bottle, so i don't find myself dejected and counting down 'til the end of the semester in a few months, as academic pressures and cold, dreary winters tend to do to me. i made sure to make the most of my responsibility-free days last week, visiting campus events, throwing a surprise birthday party for my roommate, and doing a little shopping. unfortunately, that left little time to unpack. i've still got a few boxes left to empty, but that's tonight's project, along with doing a little colonial american lit reading (i'm not falling behind this year). pictures below for your enjoyment:

they call this the cliffhanger, and it was the centerpiece of friday's welcome back carnival. didn't ride, but it did make for a sweet photo op.

we stalled the birthday girl at a restaurant called the mexican forest while her surprise party guests trickled in.

love this picture. my pre-med roommate (not pictured) was telling us some unsavory details about childbirth. sophie (right) was not amused.
p.s.: i've been keeping up with the shows in moderation, but before i can rave about my favorites, it's gonna take awhile for it all to sink in. also, if i start to think about lovely spring shifts just as the days begin to grow shorter and grayer, things could get pretty ugly over here.

song of the day: fleet foxes - in the hot, hot rays (new feature? don't know, trying it out..)

edit: just got word from kristin of prim magazine that the article i wrote will print, either in the upcoming issue or the next one!

in the closet / picture-a-day 091008

cardigan: zara, top: urban outfitters, belt: h&m, cutoffs: formerly old navy relaxed fits, boots: jeffrey campbell, bag: the sak. tan courtesy of the caribbean.
the hurricanes bring periodical rains that are a welcome break from late summer's humidity. i was accosted by men in cars twice yesterday, which made me both a little anxious and really pissed off. but then the sweetest british lady stopped me on the street to comment on my "lovely" boots. that made me feel a bit better.


my roommates were sweet enough to bring back gifts from their travels: a plushie and compact from china and earrings from tanzania.

and last but not least, how do you guys like the new banner? i absolutely loved the last one; not only am i obsessed with sophomore but i felt like the images really represented my summer in the city, albeit several different cities. for the fall, i went looking for images that reminded me of what this season will hold.. old buildings. autumn sun, and the smell of books.. i anticipate a few more blog alterations in the near future, i'll be sure to keep you guys posted!

picture-a-day 090808: a room with a view

reporting live from sunny cambridge, massachusetts!
i'm currently at school, with a whole week free to enjoy life. i'm working on tying up some loose ends before classes start, catching up with friends, soaking up the sun, making my room feel like home, and other such assorted pleasantries.

soon to come: a new banner for the site, and most importantly, posts. expect pictures of my room once i've got it looking presentable, outfit posts, and some good news and surprises.

she brought all the boys to the yard

the first time i saw kelis, she was trashing her apartment and inciting suburban housewives to riot in the streets, all the while screaming at the top of her lungs just how much she hated her cheating significant other. the next time i saw her, a few years later, she was writhing about in extra lowriders, atop a diner counter, educating us all on her milkshake and exactly what it was capable of. by the third time i saw her, a couple more years later, she'd had a major makeover, over-the-top glamour with a bit of hard-edged appeal, and she was telling everyone just how bossy she could be. it's clear that mrs. nasir jones has majorly bold style, both musically and sartorially, and though i find her style to be very hit-or-miss (google her and you'll find some definite misses), the point is that the girl is absolutely fearless. one of the blogs i came across while looking for pictures of her said something to the effect of.. rihanna took kelis' style and ran with it. without pointing any fingers, i think you can totally see some of what rihanna's doing now in what kelis was doing a year or two before.

i absolutely love the large image on the left! it's so early 80s club kid (see style bubble for the real thing). oh, and speaking of the 80s, for the past few days, i've been mulling over whether or not i should buy this october 1980 issue of interview magazine. after seeing the slightly garish but fun 'i love the 80's' spread in this month's elle, i decided hey, why not? i can't wait to see what they've got to say about kelly mcgillis (who just so happens to share a birthday with yours truly).

and come to think of it, kelis' name is a combination of her parents' names (kenneth and eveliss), and if you combine the first and last parts of kelly mcgillis, you get kelis.. yeah. did i mention that i'm extremely bored lately? one more day, and i'm (finally) out of here..

p.s.: happy 30th birthday to my brother!

all we are saying

along with my tendency to indulge in too many magazines, too many clothes, and too many shoes, i also have a major thing for books. i can't quite put my finger on exactly what kind of books i prefer.. i like what i like and there's really no rhyme or reason to the process. i like the classics, but i have to be inspired in a very particular way to read one. i love contemporary novels, but i'll often get bored halfway through for no real reason. i thought i hated biographies, but there's a growing list of people whose life stories i'd love to read. i do like how-to books, but they have to be somewhat engaging and humorous.. choosing what to read is a random process, but it works out in the end.

one thing that almost always gets me, though - and this goes against everything my mother taught me - is a pretty cover. there, i said it: i judge books by their covers, which makes coffee table books practically always a sure thing. eye-catching covers, stunning imagery inside, glossy pages that remind me of my beloved magazines.. it's almost too good to be true. imagine my excitement when my friend taylor surprised me with a hefty coffee-table book titled peace: 50 years of protest. not only does it meet all of my superficial criteria for a good read, its subject matter also includes a few of my favorite things, like history, the fifties and sixties, fashion, hippies, art, and social protest. it starts out with a history of the symbol itself and goes on to address its universal popularity. english artist gerald holtom created the symbol in 1958 for the campaign for nuclear disarmament (cnd) protest march from london to aldermaston, home of england's atomic weapon establishment. made up of the semaphoric symbols for n and d and enclosed in a circle, it quickly came to represent the nuclear diasarmament cause as well as a worldwide initiative for peace.

now why am i consulting the history books for a post on a fashion blog? because i've always loved the peace symbol, i appreciate it even more since reading the book, and i've been on a seemingly eternal quest to find a great piece of peace symbol jewelry, preferably earrings or a necklace. but for some reason or another, it's damn near impossible to find any that meet my standards: simple, unadorned (read: no sparkles, rhinestones, or bling of any kind), not too big and/or gaudy, and true to form.. no ovals or overextended lines, etc. the august 2008 issue of vogue had tanya dziahileva masquerading as tonne goodman, wearing an absolutely perfect saundra messinger peace symbol necklace and earrings, but as luck would have it, i learned that the prices weren't so perfect. then while i was trolling the target website for some dorm room necessities, i noticed that dean harris has a collection with some great and inexpensive peace sign jewelry. i ruled out the ring and earrings; the lines were a bit too twiggy for my taste. on second glance, i realized that the charm bracelet and necklace had the same problem.. which left that simple, unadorned, not too big or gaudy, true to form peace sign cuff. eighty dollars. is it worth it? i'm still considering it, seeing as how this is the closest i've ever come to finding what i want. ebay's results continue to disappoint. oh, and i still want that sophomore tee.

while i was doing google searches for this post, i found this article, which got me thinking about the ethical implications of the annexation of the peace symbol by the fashion industry. in my opinion, pretty much all's fair in design and fashion, as long you're adopting or tweaking an entity or aesthetic with a certain degree of respect, a nod to the originator of the design in question, and a purity of intent - that is, the pursuit of artistic creation (unlike the keffiyeh, for example: unless you've really done your homework on the subject, i feel like that square of patterned cloth is far too entrenched in a history of political and military conflict for a pretty young western thing to drape it about her neck as the perfect summer accessory. any other print would do just fine.). the article laments the fact that holtom never copyrighted his symbol, but according to the book, this was a conscious decision. though not everyone knows the nuclear disarmament roots of the symbol today, mostly everyone does know that it represents peace, and i don't think placing it on an expensive garment really exploits or violates that message (i do hope that these companies make donations to cnd, as the organization encourages artists and designers to do).

fashion's treatment of the peace symbol is indeed "a far cry from the thrift-store aesthetic of the original hippies," as the article phrases it, but we're not the original hippies (no matter how much i wish i were). therefore, designers don't choose to reimagine and recreate the hippie aesthetic, it's the only thing they can do. besides, the peace symbol is only a representation of hippie culture in retrospect. the hippies took the peace symbol and reappropriated it for their own purposes, much like designers are now doing with hippie style, albeit for a profit. the peace symbol has become an undeniably permanent fixture within a global cultural lexicon, but it's impossible to overlook the fashion industry's significant role in perpetuating the symbol's widespread appeal and relevance.

that said, i'm so looking forward to barney's "have a hippy holiday" campaign! nicolas ghesquière, alber elbaz, phillip lim, and alexander wang create peace sign-inspired dresses? yes, yes, yes, and yes.

[photo credits: google image search (1,2, 3, 4, 5, 6), fashionologie, target, sophomore, style.com]

harosho

there was a grand total of thirteen people traveling together on the cruise i recently took: my parents and myself, my brother and his girlfriend, my brother's girlfriend's grandmother, my mother's childhood best friend, with her husband and two of her children, my cousin and her mom, my aunt, and my boyfriend. it was a large and varied group for sure, with at least four languages (english, french, haitian creole, russian) being spoken amongst us, though not everyone was proficient in each language by any means, but the star of the group was definitely our eldest member. teaching us a bunch of russian words and phrases everyday, she'd wander off by herself and skip out on dinner, only to be found chatting up men in russian at the hot tub. we all called her babushka, which always made me think of the new d&g ad campaign..such is how my mind works.


anyway, with those images running through my mind constantly, it's almost fitting that my boyfriend's very-belated birthday gift to me (outside of school, i'm in new york while he lives in colorado) was a large pucci headscarf, practically in the style of babushka herself. this little ishihara test of a scarf is absolutely gorgeous, and i can't wait to wear it as the leaves turn this season. and sometimes it's really all about the presentation of a gift: he took pages from his mom's fashion magazines, a spread on ways to tie a scarf, ads from my favorite designers, and made wrapping paper out of it - i'm smitten. oh, and also included for your viewing pleasure: the two free (!) scarves i picked up as the icing on the cake to my last thrifting excursion.


and this is for the stylish wanderer and her new friend, jesus, taken at my cruise's first port of call, cozumel. viva la mexico!