The summer before last I flew out to London to help my best friend with her final dress fittings and to attend her hen party in London. The hen party (or a bachelorette party for thus of us on this side of the pond) was a raucous scavenger hunt afternoon all over Londontown and of course I got way too competitive during much of the trivia section of the game. Early the next morning, her and I went on a BFF’s pre-marital moon on the rocky island of Sardinia, famous for it’s Leonardo DiCaprio sightings and emerald colored waters. It did not disappoint. We arrived in Cagliari hungover and proceeded to immediately wander the streets in search of gelato and anything with melted mozzarella. Luckily we were in Italy so we were immediately successful. After a recovery night we woke up refreshed and drove to Cala Gonone on the northeast coast of the island getting lost in old rustic towns on the way. The next five days were spent exploring the beaches and rocky alcoves along the coast, some just a strip of perfect sand between the sea and a green lagoon with goats grazing in the surrounding mountains. We steered clear of the rich & famous (mostly because well we are not rich & famous) and ate pane caresau, pasta with bottarga and ending each day with a little limoncello and good old fashioned female bonding on our lanai.
“These…dear little creatures are my friends.” – David Hockney
I have spent a lot of my life with dogs and increasingly I find myself looking at them and thinking to myself this very sentiment from Mr. Hockney, famous for painting his pudgy little doxie friends. A big part of travelling, to the coffee shop or with a passport, are the scruffy mongrels I find along the way. On my first trip to Sayulita, Mexico last year I met a Xoloitzcuintli in an artisan’s shop and proceeded to visit him everyday (sometimes twice a day) while I was there. I was completely enthralled by him, he was hairless and leathery and warm and had the ugliest/saddest attempt at hair on his face, much like the Asian sprouts on my brother’s chin.
Supposedly they are good at generating heat so people with joint problems have added health benefits to dog snuggling. I hope to own one someday when I have rheumatoid arthritis. Another added bonus? Frida Kahlo had loads of them and they were her best friends often appearing in her art. The unibrow herself had numerous health issues throughout her life, it’s good to know she had many of these little creatures to snuggle with.
Frida with four {via}
Frida with two {via}
Frida, Diego and their Xolos {via}
Art imitates life {via}
Frida and her menagerie {via}
Making me happy this Friday
It’s the end of a long hot week in LA. Here are some things that are carrying me happily into the weekend:
Rediscovering my huge cache of dog photos, particularly those of mongrels found round the world.
Chef Bellini Pastafungu making a scrumptious paella that will put the “rumble from your stomach and move it into your butt.” That is exactly how it works.
My favorite Thai foods make it to the top of LA’s cheap delicious eats list. Good thing I have them on speed dial.
Possibly finding time to make something this weekend that reminds me of Greece, one of my favorite places in the whole world.
Lusting after impossibly expensive things to wear for the chilly nights at Burning Man.
The Perseids are peaking this Saturday night/Sunday morning with perfect viewing conditions (a new moon). Definitely going to make a trek to somewhere dark and be reminded of how, as Lauryn Hill says, Nothing Even Matters.
girls on bikes
I need a bike. And I want to look good on a bike. Kinda like these ladies. One can dream.
are we schmucks?
Remember that movie Dinner for Schmucks? It’s about A-hole corporates who held dinners that celebrated the idiocy of their guests. I feel as if at times we simpletons are also being secretly mocked by the head haunchos of the fashion power houses. Just think of those t-shirts or plastic sunglasses famously Made in China that probably cost nothing to make and we pay out the noses for! Buyers remorse is usually the name of the game with these things, you leave the store feeling guilty and terrible. You desperately try to rock that item as much as you can only to stare at yourself in the mirror and curse the money that could have been in the bank for some other frivolous purchase. But hey, sometimes this stuff is downright funny and you have to have a giggle at it.
Ladies (and Gents), you can have this Givenchy Rottweiler tee for only $895 (before tax) and no it is not made of spun gold but rather 100% cotton! Furthermore, you can have some crystal accents fastened with brass. Look, even the model is trying to covertly steer you away from just giving your money away.
And now, for a real investment you can put your hard earned cash into this Lanvin cuff that retails for $2290 (yes, that is in USD). But of course you might think that these are at least semi-precious stones? No, honey, this thing is all glass and brass. Sadly, I truly love Lanvin but I have to say that everything that house churns out is absurdly overpriced. Sad face.
You can fight off the cold this fall and winter with this Peruvian scarf from Joseph for only $795. Now, it is made of alpaca but last time I checked alpaca wasn’t at the same market price of platinum. Plus, I saw this exact scarf at a roadside mart in Bolivia and it cost $3 with them cute little llamas and everything. Time to get knitting.
No matter how you attempt to rationalize this Marni bib for $590 you know that you probably will not wear this even once a week. In about a month, that white cotton will turn to yellow and you will inevitably dribble some coffee on it too. And no, you are not “investing” because this is made of cotton, crystals and black ribbon. Do the math. If you want this so badly you should spend $20 and a Saturday to learn how to macrame. I’m sure you can even find an online tutorial! This is not to say that I didn’t buy that ridiculously expensive cotton sundress or non-semiprecious bauble. I’m just saying maybe they should at least try and hide the fact that they think we are jerks even though we probably are jerks.
Red Hot
I sat down at a street stall in Phnom Penh to this plate of raw red hot chilis and all I could think was “what a beautiful color for fall clothing” as well as “I’m going to need some Pepto and a clean toilet.” Of course, a clean toilet was not available so I did without. I don’t, however, want to do without that hue of red which I believe will be a great way to strut your stuff, or your lack of stuff, in the upcoming season. Currently searching for a BIG RED bag.
{PS1 Extra Large Satchel, Pashli Mini Satchel,Lia Pebble Bag}
And maybe some cherry accessories. What the hell. Pop it in there with an all neutral palette.
{Clockwise from top left: Susanna studded bootie, Love Me Heart Applique pumps, Iosselliani Rhinestone rings, Hot Lips ring}
Carrie does it
At times my roommate/husband asks me how it is possible that I can still watch episodes of Sex & the City over and over again after all these years (like last night in bed with my sister). Besides the great writing and riveting story lines and Samantha riding every man like the bull at Saddle Ranch is the great work of Patricia Field. This woman managed to make Carrie look incredibly trendy yet somehow timeless, though there were undoubtedly numerous mishaps along the way: bad hairdos, terrible makeup, ill-fitting dresses and some frightening accessories. But for the most part, she was spot on. I remember seeing this look (Season 6B/Episode 1) and thinking this is the perfect high/low pairing minus the “hey lookie at my black bra” thing. What really makes this outfit work is that vintage rhinestone necklace which can basically transform any look. Fast forward to 2012 and there are still so many of these baubles to choose from.
{Left to Right: Tom Binns Madame Dumont Necklace, Dannijo Talford Necklace, J.Crew Collection Martha Necklace}
Why is this so right? Just think about it. Don’t got any fashion sense? Put a sparkly necklace on with your t-shirt and jeans and, Poof!, you’ve got an outfit going. We are all like magpies, anything sparkly will distract us nicely from the rest of your look including that zit on your face. Check out these colorfully overpriced ones:
{Left to Right: Iosselliani Bronze Stone Necklace, Miu Miu Crystal Bow Necklace, Tom Binns Dot Dash Necklace}
Go on. Give it a whirl.
Wannabe Brides Rejoice!
While I was prepping to jump off the cliff and get hitched, I basically had a self-appointed full time job looking for dresses for the big day. Big ones, little ones, colored ones, fluffy ones, lacey ones, beaded ones. I probably checked the wares on Bona Drag daily (ever since I bought my very first Lover dress there for $200 less than anywhere else!) for the perfect offbeat reception dress and the most eye-catching accessories. I ended up with a Lover dress (again) for the party hardy portion of the night.
You can find the longer version here.
Lo and behold they have finally curated a Ceremonial Collection, just what a I was praying for 6 months ago! Also, did you see Honestly WTF?, they did a little something something about it too. It’s a little too late for me but not for you! Mara Hoffman finally made a wedding dress and this is what I would have worn:
Art deco (you’ll look like a walking Chrysler Building, a very pretty one), meets boho meets abso-freaking gorgeous and an open back too. She also made this heavily beaded number:
A bit too risqué (and heavy?) for my ass even though my concave non-bubbies would have been perfect for it. And what about the jewels?
This band is both affordable and understatedly cool. You want something more blinding? The wannabe Kim K’s (I think I am in this group. Sorry.) can go for this crazy contraption that will literally scream, “I AM THE COOLEST HIPSTER IN THIS COFFEE SHOP.”
{photos via Bona Drag}
Want it.
Lady is a Vamp
Rabbit Rabbit. We roll into August and all the Fall looks are now flooding the webzines, printed things and e-shops. It’s really difficult to look at a sweater when it’s 80 degrees outside. Instead, I’m looking forward to fall by checking out the new beauty looks that can update my facial wardrobe. The girls in the Rochas Fall 2012 show were sporting a decidedly goth/vamp/femme fatale look with deep berry lips, not a stain mind you, but a hard smear of dark wine.
It’s perfectly appropriate as Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 2 will be the blockbuster to carry us into fall and now that newly minted vamp Kristen Stewart has fallen off her throne there’s room for other femme fatale’s to take her spot. Or at least try to look the part.
Asians can vamp it too.
{photo courtesy of Vogue China}
Camilla Belle and, my personal favorite, Kate Bosworth going very dark at the Met Ball.
Try these:
Left to right: Chanel Rouge Coco in Rivoli, Cle de Peau Extra Rich Lipstick in R10 (used at the Rochas show), Nars Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil in Club Mix
A Word of Warning
Models are taller, prettier, and overall just a lot hotter than you. This is why these creatures get paid to walk around in expensive couture however the model-off-duty look is both lusted after and difficult to achieve mostly because, well, they are hotter than you. Checkout these ladies basically proving that models look good in everything. Imagine yourself wearing these sweats:
You would surely look like you belonged in a mall in New Jersey plus, trust me, those pants would do absolutely nothing for your figure. In fact, you might find that your ass has grown double time in them. On to exhibit 2, imagine yourself wearing an oversize jacket and WHITE tight, like sausage tight, pants that hit right below your calf. No no no no. Add to that flat grey high top sneakers and you have obliterated any remnant of a leg you had.
Lastly, attempt to pair a baggy chambray shirt with a shapeless floral print dress finished off with acid washed denim hidden wedge sneakers. You would end up on the back page of Glamour magazine with a black strip over your eyes and the stamp “DON’T.” Sorry. I actually sat next to this girl last month at Westville in Chelsea and she was wearing these god-awful sneakers yet, believe me, they looked really good on her.
Photos via Altamira
No to say that us Earthlings can’t dress like this too. Just take some care ladies, these looks are only for the pros as witnessed here. Take that sweatshirt T and pair it with a great pair of pants, a nice heel and top it off with red lipstick (which is basically like wearing jewelry except much cheaper). Remember, when wearing sneakers keep the shorts short and the pants long. Unless you are 5’8 and up, anything else and you’ll be asking,” Where did my calves go?” They got swallowed somewhere between your pants and your sneaker wedges dear.
