the final stretch

i can't even begin to explain how restless i'm feeling these days. since i began college, this has become an annual thing for me, this limbo stage between whatever i did to occupy myself during the summer and the start of school. most colleges' fall semesters begin at some point towards the end of august, and high schools around here usually start class right after labor day. my school, on the other hand, doesn't begin classes until the middle of september. in a desperate attempt to get myself out of the house, i'm moving in on september 6th, the first day the houses open. even so, i've still got another full week to spend here while literally everyone else i know is busy at work and/or school. it's enough to drive a girl mad. right before my freshman year, i found myself wandering through my local mall alone on a weekday morning. i'd splurged on a pair of chanel eyeglasses before i left. an uncharacteristic move for sure, but at that point, my insanity was acting for me. last year, i threw my energy into packing, arranging and rearranging my belongings and meticulously folding garments countless times with the intensity of someone with ocd. this year, it's books and music. books about music, music about books.. i've been consuming it all these past few days, and voraciously, too. still, my attention is waning yet again, and blogging seems to be my new project. expect elaborate and/or frequent posts, at all times of day and night, beginning with this, the autumn/winter 2008 installation of my disney dress-up post that i started in may, now new and improved with song downloads!

jessica rabbit
slinking her way through the ink & paint club, she cooed, "get out of here, and get me some money too." assuming she's since acquired that money, one can only hope that she'll buy herself some new threads. let's face it, the girl's been working the same look since 1988. i understand the importance of a trademark, so a sparkly red gown à la balmain lets her simultaneously update and maintain her signature ensemble. it's clear that a girl like this never dresses down, but a diane von furstenberg look or two allows her to continue channeling that sexy 1940's vibe during the daytime with just the right amount of sultriness. as far as accessories go, i wouldn't dream of taking away jessica's fire engine-red heels, but burberry throws some studs onto the heel that would really take her into femme fatale territory, and some thick golden cuffs will add some extra shine to those evening gloves. with such an excellent wardrobe, jessica is sure to make some new friends in high places, like fifi lapin. this could be the start of a beautiful friendship, as long as jess doesn't catch fifi playing pattycake with roger..
[photo credits: google image search, fifi lapin, nordstrom (1, 2, 3), style.com]

tinker bell
ever since miss bell primped and scrutinized herself in a hand mirror, i had a hunch that she might have good fashion sense, with a love for all things short and sassy. thing is, she's not a big fan of change.. i mean, look what happened when wendy showed up in neverland. i wouldn't be surprised if she went right for a gauzy neon green dress from celine, not straying too far from what's worked for her in the past. in time, i think she could be persuaded to test drive a yellow versace or a pink dior, as long as it remains bright and fun. but in the end, tink would most defnitely turn out to be a marc by marc kind of gal. i suspect it's the pompom heels that would win her over.
[photo credits: google image search, shopbop (1, 2, 3), style.com]

cruella de vil & yzma
with those rail-thin frames and tyrannical tendencies, either one of these ladies may have a future as the editor-in-chief of vogue. based partly on tallulah bankhead, cruella de vil harbors a serious penchant for the dramatic, and as someone who, by her own admission, worships and lives for furs, she'd find sonia rykiel's black and white fur simply irresistible. paired with "something austere" from nicolas ghesquière, and intimidating rodarte heels (all in her classic colors, of course), this lady quite truly will be dressed to kill.
yzma's character was based on both the legendary eartha kitt and cruella de vil herself, meaning there's a great deal of diva coursing through those villainous veins. yzma's aesthetic picks up where cruella's stark black-and-white ensembles leave off, with regal shades of purple and plumage to replace all that fur. ralph lauren's got all her bases covered, merely shifting the feather from the head to the lapel. this isn't to say that she couldn't make a little balenciaga work for her, too. the slit will be higher than what she's used to, but the cut of the dress will do wonders for those razor-sharp hip bones.
[photo credits: google image search (1, 2), style.com]

blake's got a new dress

i used to devote a fair amount of my internet time to celebrity gossip blogs, until i came to the realization that once you've read one, you've pretty much read them all. when brad and angelina step out with their kids in tow, when lindsay stumbles out of nightspot, legging-clad with samantha in tow, when inappropriate photos of miley cyrus surface on myspace.. celebrity blogs will always be there, with the same commentary and the same pictures.

as i gradually discovered more and more innovative fashion and style blogs, i started phasing out the gossip blogs from my daily reading list. the last remnant of that particular blogroll is what would tyler durden do. it's crude, misogynistic, and generally out of line, but what can i say? it's pretty funny. the site's image content is chock-full of your normal nipslips, panty flashing and generally unflattering shots, but once in a while i'll come across a good picture of a celebrity i actually appreciate. which brings me to this: what's the deal? is this a reenactment of the gossip girl episode where serena stumbles through the new york streets clad in heels and a men's dress shirt? i can't say i'm the biggest fan of this.. which i guess is why i prefer leighton meester.

odds and ends

it's another lazy day at home for me, futzing around on my laptop, reading books and magazines, and sleeping as much as humanly possible before heading back to campus. a few random, interesting tidbits:

-project east. read about it, vote for it, come see the show. i can't begin to describe how much it means to me, and how much of a difference it will make.

- the reading list feature on blogger's dashboard is a godsend. if you're on my link list and notice me obsessively keeping up with your posts, you now know why.

- i've been playing around with the labels on my posts, making it easier for myself (and hopefully, by extension, you) to find posts relevant to a certain interest. below, for the sake of clarification:

*acquisitions (future): clothes, shoes, magazines, hairstyles, etc. that i'd like to obtain at some point in the future. this can run the gamut from a $16 aa tee to a $1,450 marc jacobs satchel. a girl can dream.
*acquisitions (recent): things i've acquired. recently.
*bloggery: i blog, you blog, he blogs, she blogs.. stuff about the direction/layout/future of this blog, other people's blogs i like.. you get the idea.
*bookish: on the subject of books.
*excursions/events: trips i've taken, trips i'm about to take, concerts, parties, happenings, good times.
*face paint: i still don't wear make-up. if i ever start, you all will be the first to know. until then, if i ever offer up some commentary on other people's make-up, it's here.
*glossies: because i have an addiction.
*hearsay: quotes and gossip andbits of dialogue taken from all over.
*in the closet: what i'm wearing these days.
*not fashion: things that are..not fashion.
*on the tube: they say it'll rot your brain.
*photo finish: any post that has pictures taken by me gets this label.
*playing dress-up: in the vein of my disney post, channeling a character/vibe/mood/etc.
*silver screen, *street style
*style crush: i like your style. call it a style crush.
*the shows: fashion, that is.
*the sound of music
*time warp: we're gonna go back. way back..back into time. writing about it, anyway.

- it's times like these that really make me wish i had an iphone. or an invitation to fashion week. either one.

- once upon at time, i sent an idle wish into the world wide web:
"until [american apparel] starts manufacturing shoes (which whould be unprecedentedly awesome, by the way), i'm on my own when it comes to finding simple, unadorned shoe styles."
now, it seems possible that my wish might be coming true. fingers crossed.

- when i was a younger pandora, i'd hole up in my room, tearing through piles of books at breakneck speed while lamenting the fact that one day, it would be impossible to even remember the titles of all the lovely stories i'd read, let alone their content. i'm trying to counteract that inevitable forgetfulness with pandora's bookshelf. yesterday i tried to remember some of my favorite titles from the past year and added links to them underneath my blogroll. i won't include books that i didn't thoroughly enjoy, so feel free to check any of them out (the titles are linked to barnes&noble's website) and share your opinions. i'd love to hear them. the last title on the list is the book that i'm currently reading.

double whammy

i know i rarely put up photos of my daily outfits, but as long as i'm doing this whole "'dress like you mean it" campaign (see post below), i might as well document it, right?

it was a saturday afternoon and sarah, one of my term-time suitemates, was making her second-ever excursion to staten island. the first time she visited, we'd gone to see the dark knight (since most manhattan theaters were sold out), and a verbal, almost-physical altercation had broken out during the movie, eliciting a visit from the police, lots of anxiety, a partially ruined film showing, and a gift certificate to regal movie theaters on behalf of the theater manager. the second time around, i opted to show her the more culturally-sensitive, less guido-filled side of the island (as out of line as belmar mayor ken pringle was, there were notes of truth to what he said). we hung out near the ferry around st.george and stapleton, sampling the coffee shops, vintage stores, and general atmosphere.

left (yesterday) - headscarf: papaya; top: vintage; jeans: h&m; shoes: mama pandora;
right (today) - headband: urban outfitters; top: gap; jeans: vintage; shoes: nine west. i'm happier than i look. promise.
sarah had just found a beautiful mid-calf length, semi-sheer floral dress (like something you'd find at urban outfitters for less than half the price) at everything goes and was trying it on in the fitting room while i prowled the 80's racks, unsure of exactly what it was that i was looking for. i encountered a cropped white denim jacket with white lace sleeves, and discreetly placed it back on the rack. i'm not quite that daring - yet. there were tons of bright, cheekily patterned little tops that screamed 'bayside high', but nothing struck my fancy until i pulled a gray, blue, and purple crop top in oversized plaid off the rack and held it out at arm's length for examination. not only was it different from most of the tops i own, its print was strong but not overpowering, the length was just long enough to not be indecent, and it had no shoulder pads (major selling point). the selection process didn't take long; i tried it on right then and there and slapped down eight dollars for it in a matter of minutes.

we were almost out the door when sarah spied a maxi-length black and gold floral skirt (the girl loves her florals, what can i say). while she decided whether or not to buy it, my eye fell upon a light denim pair of wide-leg jeans. no one loves her skinnies more than me, but something told me i couldn't pass these up. i scurried off to the fitting room and pulled them on. spying myself in the mirror, i grabbed my phone and dialed sarah, located somewhere near the front of the store. had she answered, i would have sang gleefully, "i've just found the coolest jeans ever!" and giddily invited her to the fitting room to share my joy. but she didn't answer, and i had to prance awkwardly towards the entrance, barefoot and wearing store merchandise, quickly beckoning her to the back before my fitting room door closed and locked me out.

i love these jeans. love. they are complete and absolute perfection in every way. the wash is clear and uninterrupted by signs of wear and the fabric is of the perfect thickness, such that it seems impossible to wrinkle it, despite being packed in my luggage for a full week. they fit like a glove on my hips but are a bit large on my waist (story of my life), but until i get them fixed, any belt remedies the situation almost perfectly. i expect to be wearing these jeans excessively as fall rolls around, and in the springtime, and next summer..

oh, and with those jeans at twelve dollars, the entire shopping trip topped out at a grand total of twenty bucks. plus two free silk scarves, one for each purchase. oh, how i love a good thrifting trip.

cleaning up my act

remember when i wrote about holding off on intensely preparing and looking ahead to fall? i was doing a pretty good job of it, but sadly, it now has to come to an end. i've got two weeks left in new york before school starts, and countless tasks and errands to accomplish before then. yesterday was my first full day at home since the cruise, and i spent the majority of it on my macbook, composing to-do lists, tweaking my course schedule, and marking up my iCal with upcoming dates and events. i'm trying out this new thing this year where i swear off procrastination and live efficiently on a daily basis. this is quite a tall order, seeing as how i've spent the past two decades doing just the opposite, but i figure change has to start somewhere.

to be perfectly honest though, the only things i knocked off my list yesterday were the admittedly simple tasks: keeping up with friends via e-mail and facebook, cleaning up my overflowing inbox, and catching up on two of my few small screen indulgences: project runway and mad men. though it pains me to say it, p. run isn't exactly blowing my mind this season, and i suspect that i'm continuing to follow the series simply out of habit. mad men, on the other hand, continues to keep me enthralled before the television screen every sunday night, not unlike sally and bobby draper during "people are funny".

though i've seen every episode of both seasons multiple times, i'm something of a latecomer to the series. with limited means and no time or desire to watch television up at school (outside of gossip girl, that is), i'd only heard snippets of praise here and there throughout the past year for mad men. i couldn't glean the exact premise of the show from what i'd heard, but i did know that it was set in the 1960's, which had me intrigued from the start, and that the costumes were apparently divine. by the time school had let out, however, in the days leading up to my trip to paris this summer, my daily schedule consisted of packing, meeting up with friends, and watching mad men. i'd finally made the leap and downloaded the entire first season on itunes, since i couldn't find a reliable source to watch it online. i rarely download anything on itunes, and simply buying on the basis of other people's reviews, i was running the risk of wasting my money, but it turned out to be everything people had promised and more.

i won't gush (too much) about my love for the characters, the unflinching portrayals of quotidian prejudice and sexual harassment, or even the details of the gorgeous garments that each and every character sports during each episode. i will, however, comment on something that i've seen in old photographs and been regaled with tales of by nostalgic old-timers, something that truly comes across on the show: the level of sartorial diligence exuded by nearly everyone who lived during that time, regardless of gender, race, or social status. it doesn't quite suffice to say that everyday was an occasion for them. one need only look to the differences between betty draper's household and evening ensembles to refute that statement. still, the words 'disheveled', 'messy' or anything of the like need not apply when describing mad men's characters' meticulous appearances. one can easily see the differences between don and his estranged brother, adam, but the former doesn't look sloppy. joan ridicules peggy's frumpy attire early on in season one, but she still always looks presentable.

when and where did this proclivity toward put-togetherness dissolve within the general public's consciousness? when exactly did it become okay to leave home in an ensemble indistinguishable from something that one might sleep in? despite my apparently judgmental stance, i speak from a practitioner's point of view. i spend plenty of my days carelessly dressed in yesterday's wrinkled cast-offs, without a second thought as to the image that i'm putting forth to the world. but just as i'm erasing my tendency to slack off in regards to responsibilities, i intend to shake off the doldrums when it comes to my daily dress, as well. will i eliminate jeans and tees from my wardrobe entirely, replacing them with wool skirtsuits and lace head coverings? not likely, but i do plan to get my act together and take full advantage of my wardrobe (which i'm constantly expanding, anyway) instead of just dipping into it on special days and occasions. easier said than done? i guess i'll find out; stay tuned for results!

picture-a-day 082308: daylight come and me wanna go home

"but this feels so unnatural, peter gabriel too.."
there's been a blogging break over the past week and a half as i've been cruising the seas, making stops in cozumel, grand cayman and ocho rios. to be honest, it wasn't quite my thing - too many cheesy stage productions and much too hot - but i did get a new camera to replace my well-worn old one, and i'm a bit obsessed.. to say the least. luckily, my boyfriend and cousin were willing models for my endless photography experiments. regular life will resume shortly.

Project East: a fashion show

i've already mentioned that i'm trying to savor these final weeks of summer before i find myself back at school, hidden away in a library somewhere, trying to finish some essay by five. still, this coming semester won't be all cram sessions and all-nighters. i'm working on a bunch of exciting events and ideas that i can't wait to share with you, one of which is project east (though the website has yet to be updated, you can view some amazing images and press from last year's show).

needless to say, i love fashion. nevertheless, it's undeniably flawed in several ways. for starters, the fashion industry is notoriously tough to break into. despite my annoyed objections, my mother often tries to discourage my industry dreams, likening it to the capricious nature of show business. and if there's one thing i've learned from both the contestants and the winners of project runway, it's that making a profit is also a tough task to accomplish. to add to these difficulties, the business isn't really winning any awards for its egalitarianism lately, as referenced by the current state of the black model. while we're already on the topic, let's throw out a couple of other problems with the industry, shall we? sweatshop labor and the counterfeit goods that it's often responsible for producing are a huge blemish on the industry. oh, and outside of fashion schools themselves, there are limited fashion career opportunities on college campuses, whether in the form of job fairs, internship opportunities, etc.

a little over a year ago, three students, also deeply appreciative of fashion, wanted to address these issues. they came up with project east, a charity fashion show. due to their belief that asian designers' talents have long been underestimated, project east showcases both asian designers and their work. attempting to forge a relationship with the arts locally, this year's proceeds will go to artists for humanity, a boston organization bringing arts opportunities to inner-city youth. such an event serves a dual purpose of providing exposure for designers and introducing a fashion presence to our campus, which in my opinion is sorely needed, in terms of career connections.

and now, expanding project east's mission even further, it now also aims to award scholarships to child laborers in sweatshops and give money to struggling young designers! to help us with these goals, the show's executive producer recently registered project east for funding from american express as part of its members project '08. members project is a contest and discussion forum in which you can submit potential projects that will ultimately make a positive change in the world. in order to receive funding, however, our initiative must be voted into the top 5 (the top-voted will get $1,500,000; 2nd place: $500,000; 3rd place: $300,000; 4th and 5th place: $100,000). which is where you guys come in. if you have an american express card, please, please, please log in and nominate project east! and if you don't have an american express card/don't feel like registering it online, guess what? you can still help! if you click the above link, there's an option for 'guest member sign-up' along the right-hand side, which will allow you to nominate project east as well.

this project and its far-reaching and big-hearted aspirations are very near to my heart, and i'm counting on your help to make our goals a reality. thank you in advance for your support! and i'd like to invite each and every one of you to the show if you're in or around the boston/cambridge area on november 15, 2008! last year's show was phenomenal, and this year's promises to be even better. i'm pretty sure that i'm not allowed to divulge who the contributing designers will be just yet, but i assure you that they are quite talented, to say the least. i'll be sure to keep you guys posted. feel free to contact me with any questions you might have, and thanks again for helping project east become a reality.

je t'aime.. moi non plus

american apparel and i have a love/hate kind of relationship. i'm wondering how long they plan to continue with their "edgy" ad campaigns, showing off more and more skin and less and less clothing. what i've heard about ceo dov charney tends to disgust me and freak me out a little bit. they entice me with great styles and colors, but every once in a while, i'll make my way to the fitting room, garments presumably my size in hand, and the clothes just ravage my figure, forcing me to start from scratch. but i like their 'legalize la' initiative, and the fact that their clothing is durable and long-lasting (that which fits me, anyway). it's a very fickle thing we've got going on, but american apparel continues to maintain an unassailable position within my wardrobe. their pieces simply work well with me, considering my budget and personal style. therefore, it's not unusual for me to comb through the aa website, piece by piece, picking out my favorite items, not unlike the way i stalk style.com after the shows. with the new school year a distant point on the horizon, here are my preliminary choices for my next aa visit(s).


1. (tr480) unisex tri-blend short sleeve scrimmage shirt, $16: i have a vintage top kind of like this, except it's striped, got a wider neck, longer, more fitted sleeves.. and shoulder pads. that top looks great with high waisted skirts and jeans, so i'm looking forward to trying out similar looks with a looser cut, thinner fabric, and all around simpler garment. and i think it'd make a really cute pajama top.
wanted in: athletic grey

2. (6456aw) unisex acid wash jersey deep v-neck short sleeve summer t, $26: the acid wash screams 'summer in the city' to me, but i'm really into the idea of autumnizing this tee by tucking it into tailored slacks or straight-leg jeans. i'm usually not a fan of the deep v-neck, but in this case i think it could work.
wanted in: brown or red

3. (2456) unisex fine jersey short sleeve v-neck, $19: i've got history with this shirt. it's my fallback, everyday, perfect tee, and i have no intentions of outgrowing my love for it. i need another white one, as mine is beginning to look a little dingy. my black one is holding up well, but one more color couldn't hurt.
wanted in: white and heather gray

4-5. (rsa0401) unisex big t-shirt, $26/ (rsas314) sheer rib short sleeve tunique, $36: i'm not quite sure what the difference is between these two shirts. the unisex big t-shirt is longer than the tunique by three inches, and other than that, it seems like the it's just cut looser throughout. some trials in the fitting room will most likely help me make my decision.
wanted in: white and/or black and/or lapis

grand total: $106-178


1. (rsacp400) unisex pinpoint oxford button-up shirt, $54: it's things like this that make me remember why i love american apparel. my two beloved high school uniform button-downs remain in heavy rotation, but after all these years, they lack a certain crispness. still, i've been hard-pressed to find replacements for them until now. i must have one. or two. on another note, why is this shirt's description written in french?
wanted in: oxford blue and oxford grey, to be honest, though that alone would put me $108 in the hole. this is bound to be a tough decision.

2. (br394) tri-blend light weight raglan pullover, $34: i'm not gonna lie, i dress down a lot at school. late nights and early mornings often bury my sartorial sense under a mountain of thesis statements and review sheets. lucky for me, an oversized tee and jeans look great for a long day of class..until it starts to get cold, that is. this should do the trick during the winter months. and i'm not saying that a little flashdance off-the-shoulder action will go down.. but i'm not saying it won't either.
wanted in: athletic grey

3. (rsa2405) unisex fine jersey double-breasted cardigan, $39.50: this one is a toss-up. aa is big on their unisex styles, but it seems like the presence of a bust ruins the line of this garment. i've bypassed this cardigan a bunch of times in stores, but now that i've got a couple of looks in mind for it, i'm willing to try it in a bigger size and see what happens.
wanted in: sahara/black or paprika/natural

4. (4393) baby rib long sleeve turtleneck, $27: i've always been a turtleneck hater. i'm not too big on scarves, either. this winter, i intend to give my freezing neck a break.
wanted in: charcoal

5. (rsaf401) unisex flex fleece v-neck sweatshirt, $38: i wanted to buy this sweatshirt a few months back but never got around to it. bottom line, it just looks like a great piece to have for fall, one of those essentials that i'll want to wear all the time, on its own, belted, with skinnies, with a pencil skirt..
wanted in: mauve and/or forest

grand total: $153-284.50


1. (rsa8340) cotton spandex jersey double u-neck dress, $36: my double u-neck dress has stood up to my near-daily use for almost two years, rarely as a dress, but as a skirt, tunic, or layering piece. towards the end of this past spring semester, i noticed a bunch of girls starting to wear the super body-conscious little number to parties, and i almost wanted to take them to the side and tell them of the dress' several other possibilities. i'll let them figure it out on their own while i get my hands on a replacement.
wanted in: black

2. (rsa8343p) afrika printed cotton spandex jersey too-short tube dress, $29: aa has tons of colors but few prints, leading me to believe that whether tons of girls or next to none have this dress, it'll be conspicuous nevertheless.still, my tendency to seek individuality is falling prey to my desire to wear this as a skirt, either with heavy boots or a pair of statement heels.

grand total: $65


1. (rsac306) shiny legging, $42: my first pair of these leggings caused quite an unexpected uproar when i debuted them. co-workers expressed disapproval, complete strangers felt compelled to feel the fabric, and my mother told me in no uncertain terms that they looked like clothing for a very specific type of girl. multiple wearings and washings have them looking a little dull lately, so i need to snag another pair. hopefully this time around people can keep their hands and opinions to themselves.
wanted in: lamé black

2. (rsart400) four-way stretch high-waisted side zipper pant, $75: these pants looks pretty awesome, but for $75, they're gonna have to look mighty good on me to warrant a purchase.
wanted in: medium grey or ash blue

grand total: $65-117

grand, grand total: $366-644.50. holy crap. a hefty price tag for sure, but i can think of single handbags or pairs of shoes that would run up a higher bill. after trying on things and changing my mind about some of them, i'm sure i can whittle down the final price.. i hope. the hunt begins.

save the nest for last

every now and then, i really wish i had my own place. to be fair, i'm up in cambridge for about nine months a year at school, but this isn't quite what i'm after. i'm talking about my own place, with no move-out date or dormitory rules in sight. a place where i can paint the walls on a whim and pair antique furniture with modern accents, a space where i can hammer, organize and tweak my way towards my own version of domestic paradise.

unlike my magazine addiction, which i've always been keenly aware of, i have no idea how this little proclivity snuck up on me. during 'tweenage visits to macy's, i used to nag my mother incessantly until she stopped browsing through bedsheets and bathroom rugs and accompanied me to my preferred areas: namely, the juniors and shoe sections. as of a few weeks ago, however, while hitting the city pavement with two of my term-time roommates, we stopped into the herald square macy's and found ourselves inexpicably drawn to the home section, seriously contemplating splitting the costs of glassware sets, a cocktail shaker, and a blender priced in the hundreds (looking back on my past couple of posts, maybe i simply have spending issues in general). sara, one of my blender purchase co-conspirators, has confided in me that she too harbors similar longings for a place of her own and describes the desire as a "nesting urge," though not so much "an uncontrollable urge to clean one's house brought on by a desire to prepare a nest for [a] new baby" as an urge to bypass the college dorm room, throw blanketed-futon, postered-wall, dining hall and take out, beer-fueled social scene of our late teens and early twenties, skipping ahead to a more mature and elegant lifestyle, sans plastic dinnerware. given the relative newness of my nesting urge, i have to admit that my home style icons are few and far between. i have yet to see the inside of karl lagerfeld's living space, and what i've seen on mtv cribs leaves much to be desired. instead, i prefer to emulate a couple of women who represent a sort of elaborate minimalism, in the realms of both reality and fiction: kate spade and holly golightly.


megan gave me kate spade's style book in passing one day during high school, offhandedly remarking, "it was a gift. i think it's more your style than mine. keep it, you'll like it." and i did. i bought manners and occasions days later and have since lost count of many times i've thumbed through their pages, in pursuit (and eventual discovery) of that perfect tip or idea. her modus operandi is clearly void of fuss and frills, and the punchy simplicity that penetrates her handbag, shoe, and home collections is a characteristic i aim to translate to my future space. breakfast at tiffany's the novella came before breakfast at tiffany's the movie for me, and though the apartment as depicted on film is something of an icon it's own right - that refrigerator and the surprises inside, the split bathtub as couch - it's truman capote's own description of holly's place that represents a bit of the ambiance i so adore:

"the room in which we stood (we were standing because there was nothing to sit on) seemed as though it were being just moved into; you expected to smell wet paint. suitcases and unpacked crates were the only furniture. the crates served as tables. one supported the mixings of a martini; another a lamp, a Libertyphone, Holly's red cat and a bowl of yellow roses. bookcases, covering one wall, boasted a half-shelf of literature. i warmed to the room at once, i liked its fly-by-night look."

oj berman disapproves of holly's digs, saying, "this is a dump. this is unbelievable. but the kid don't know how to live even when she's got the dough." but there's something to be said for a room that's airy and a bit flighty, sharing it's square footage with furniture without ever being weighed down by it. even when i've "got the dough," so to speak, i never want it to be visible within my habitat. i've no need for stuffy patterns and furniture sets, heavy drapery and lush carpeting. all i want is high ceilings, an abundance of light, fresh flowers and a hardwood floor. the rest will fall into place.

now i could sit on all these ideas and continue to fashion glass houses and crystal castles in my mind's eye until 2010, when i'll leave dorm life (hopefully) for good, or i can do trial runs during my remaining time at school, learning what works and what doesn't, and how to make the best of the limited space allotted to me. unfortunately, i can't make any predictions until i see this year's room in september. updates to come. until then, i'll be on the lookout for a few pieces of fly-by-night decor.

the first step is admitting it..

true story: i am an incorrigible, unabashed magazine addict junkie. i can't help it. if you take a collection of pretty pictures and slap them onto some glossy pages, i'm liable to buy it, at pretty much any cost.

i got hooked when i was just a wee pandora. i'd always been an avid reader, but for some reason i used to hoard kids 'r' us and macy's catalogs and snatch up my brother's disney adventures before he could get his hands on them. i'd wait breathlessly for my highlights to arrive each month, and i'd have killed for an american girl or nick magazine subscription. i talked my mom into getting me a subscription to seventeen just before eighth grade began, and i never felt more sophisticated that year than when i was reading about the the future of destiny's child or how to wear tweeds for fall.

high school came and went and college has begun, but the tide has yet to ebb. i've done vogue, teen vogue, and nylon subscriptions, and i've been known to dabble in elle, i-D, bust, missbehave, foreign vogues, vanity fair, jane (r.i.p.), harper's, and pretty much anything else. i buy foreign magazines, i buy vintage magazines, i buy non-fashion magazines (when i've exhausted my usual roster of fashion magazines within a month, i've been known to buy interior design or music magazines, or pick up free local publications, just to keep myself sated).. it's kind of a problem. i'm not even exaggerating when i say that all of my spare cash goes towards magazines. the other day, while waiting for the ferry with no cash on me, i went to an atm, took out twenty dollars, and promptly spent fifteen on magazines. magazines i don't even normally read, mind you, i just needed to pass the time.

i'm starting to run out of ideas for curbing my habit. fashion blogs help in a major way; there's an ever-growing group of innovative and diverse people who are interested in fashion and i enjoy having access to their myriad points of view, the designers and collections that they've stumbled upon, and best of all, editorials from the few publications that i don't have in my possession. foto_decadent is a godsend in that arena, as well. and now there's rive magazine, a completely paperless fashion magazine dedicated to living green. while i wouldn't call myself a green crusader or anything, i know that my little addiction isn't exactly kind to the earth. according to rive, if "a printed fashion magazine prints out 30,000 copies of one issue that contains 200 pages (100 pieces of paper), that's 3,000,000 pieces of paper for just one issue of one magazine." and i'm a major pack rat, so these reams of paper aren't even being recycled *cringes guiltily*.

you might think that someone like myself might have trouble making the leap to a paperless magazine. after all, i've been under the impression for years that if it's not glossy, it's not worth it. but i've discovered some unexpected advantages to a green publication. rive is interactive, so when there's an article about an up-and-coming band, for instance, you can simply click the video player and hear a free sample of the music, instead of relying on a critic's description of it. video clips of interviews can be found in the magazine, as well. and some of the fashion spreads are clickable, so that you can buy pieces directly. "rive does not place any strong emphasis on any type or style of fashion; rich or poor; high fashion or streetwear...since fashion is all about self expression," so i'm looking forward to seeing how it evolves with time. the second issue is out now, so feel free to check it out, become a subscriber, register for their current contest, or see more eco-friendly fashion on the rive magazine blog. as for myself, i'm glad that there's at least one fashion mag that i can read without worrying about its impact on my pocket or the environment.

time out

last monday, i clocked in bright and early at eight for my first day of work. usually i'm all about trying to make a good impression with the help of a carefully crafted ensemble, but i opted for beat-up white canvas sneakers, gray cotton shorts, and an old t-shirt. to accessorize, i settled on sunglasses and lots of sunscreen. underdressed? not quite. as a day camp counselor, i couldn't have dressed more appropriately.

no matter what my job, internship, and/or travel plans are each summer, i always manage to find my way back to camp. it's located on my old high school campus, run by my former gym teacher, and staffed by alumni and current students, so workdays equate to something like a homecoming. best of all, i'm allowed to - expected to, even - essentially be a big kid for eight hours a day, five days a week. things have changed a bit since i was a little one, but for the most part, the childhood experience seems to have remained somewhat constant. for instance, if you fall down on the playground, you're allowed to cry your eyes out, even if it's more for your bruised ego than a real wound. trading snacks at lunchtime is customary. and during the summer months, you never, ever talk about the fall. that season isn't to be spoken of until the scent of fresh pencil shavings permeates the late summer air and school bells can be heard ringing in the distance.

and really, why would you want to talk about it? i'm certainly in no rush to return to a life of papers and exams, responsibilities and stress. my summers are a time for three r's of a different sort: relaxation, recovery, and reflection. still, there's something that keeps me and people like myself talking at length and ad nauseum about the upcoming season. haute couture and ready-to-wear shows, displaying the fall collections before spring has even sprung, keep the fashion-conscious abuzz for months with talk of autumn trends and the like. while the idea of a great coat has been known to get me going, i'm the type of girl who spends long winters yearning for the days when i'll be able to walk outside without one. i adore muggy city afternoons and searing sunlight, and i somehow feel like i'm squandering my precious summer days by daydreaming about fall fashion. not to mention that viewing and reviewing the collections for fall during spring and summer makes its realization feel a bit.. stale. it might be considered ancient history now, but what about lanvin's billowy brights? chanel's denim americana? by the time i'm ready to whip out tailored black pants or heavy necklace layering à la givenchy, i'll have already been dwelling on it for months. so what's a girl to do, especially now, during this "weird limbo phase between seasons where most of the designer pieces from spring are sold out, and fall collections have yet to hit stores"?


i've settled on talking the autumn talk without letting it get in the way of walking the summer walk. so, i'm just gonna throw out some potential plans for fall: ali mcgraw, ivy league chic, jet-black razored hair, skinny skinny shiny pants, heavy metal, blouses galore, leather and lace, bohemian rhapsody. just sayin'.

and now back to our regularly programmed summer fun.