I Hate Generic

Reflections on The September Issue: Connoisseurship v. The Corporate Push

2010-02-26T05:48:00.001-08:00

Earlier this week I had the privilege of attending a panel discussion featuring Grace Coddington, André Leon Talley, and William Norwich, all of Vogue magazine, and R.J. Cutler, director of The September Issue. Despite the blizzard outside, a large audience turned up to hear the four panelists discuss the film, with Norwich serving as the group's moderator.

Mr. Leon Talley was characteristically attired in a large black (weatherproof?) caftan, a fur ushanka-looking cap, burgundy velvet pants and duck boots. Ms. Coddington, ever her demure self, wore a black sweaterdress, black tights and flats, conservative silver jewelry, and - the only color besides her famed hair - a classic red manicure.

Mr. Norwich began by asking Mr. Cutler if he'd had any trepidation about making The September Issue, and if at any time during the filming he had been afraid there was no story to tell. Mr. Cutler assured the audience that he was certain "at every moment" of the process that there was no film, and he acknowledged that he had been "driven by the terror" that he'd find no narrative within the over three hundred hours of footage he captured. He never gave up, though, because he found himself so taken by the meticulous dedication of his subjects to their work. He found that the Vogue executives were "people who care about what they do, do it extremely well and they do it under high stakes." Using a baseball analogy to describe the caliber of work he saw, he likened going into the Vogue headquarters to "walking into the clubhouse of the 1927 Yankees."

Mr. Norwich then asked the resident Vogue royalty if they were hesitant to appear in the documentary, given the recent democratization, corporatization, and some might say bastardization of fashion. He made reference to the slew of fashion-oriented reality TV shows, and the overwhelming number of new "celebrity designers" each season that seem to cheapen the art and process of fashion.

Ms. Coddington replied, with much conviction, that the speeding up of fashion necessarily dilutes its quality. She expressed dislike for the frenzied push for a constant flow of new product and said in no uncertain terms that this hysteria was complicit in the recent and tragic death of Alexander McQueen.

Mr. Leon Talley agreed, saying he missed the old school way of doing things: "New school is good but old school is better." (Interestingly, he made no mention of his upcoming appearances on America's Next Top Model, but took a jab at reality TV stars-cum-designers, saying, "Keeping Up With The Kardashians? Why would I want to keep up with a family that looks like that?")

Mr. Cutler said, and his fellow panelists agreed, that his film successfully shows the connoisseurship at Vogue, and how to take a slow and deliberate approach to the creative process. Apparently the mutual appreciation for this deliberate, artful approach has paved the way for future collaboration: Ms. Coddington and Mr. Cutler acknowledged that they're working together on a upcoming project that will put her book, Catwalk Cats, to film.

Mr. Norwich finished the Q&A by asking each panelist to comment on personal style. Ms. Coddington said a person's personality should be reflected in his or her style and emphasized that "it's hopeless to dress like someone else." Mr. Leon Talley agreed and said, "Your personal style should remain with you; it shouldn't come from the pages of Vogue."

The September Issue is now out on DVD. Included in the DVD set is special behind the scenes footage of The Met Ball, and also footage of Anna Wintour's preparation for her touching eulogy to Isabella Blow.

Reed Krakoff's Feminist Fatale

2010-02-17T19:06:00.000-08:00

The Reed Krakoff show featured smart, crisp lines, unfussy layers, a camouflage palette, and evoked a Rosie the Riveter "We Can Do It!" toughness. Models filed down the runway in leather bombers, blue wool slacks, sweaters with reinforced elbows, and tightly laced boots, as though they were marching off to war, or out of an Army Navy store. But the mood wasn't somber. On the contrary, there was a carefree, independent feel that recalled Amelia Earhart.There was the pragmatic, no-nonsense sensibility of Katharine Hepburn.
There was a sporty, baseball tee-inspired sweater. Slick leather skirts tied snugly at the waist were reminiscent of welders' or woodworkers' aprons.
But in the midst of all this utility, there were hints at luxury. I wrote earlier about anticipating a fundamental Americanness in Reed Krakoff's design, and the history of America is not complete without the history of the fur trade, specifically beaver fur. Its presence on the runway recalled the New World's rugged past and exoticism. In combining this with Krakoff's utilitarian tailoring, the collection successfully drew together two ends of America's vast sartorial spectrum.The result of this melding is a wardrobe for a feminist fatale, and considering the reception the collection has received, it's a look we can expect to see more of.
photo source

Crisscross Will Make You Jump

2010-02-15T17:22:00.000-08:00

A welcome and crisscrossed update on the ubiquitous bandage dress, by Hervé Léger. I love the smoky palette.
source

Made for Walking, or Ass-Kicking

2010-02-15T15:53:00.000-08:00

I finally found boots to kick around Europe in. Last time I was there I was wearing beat up old Dr. Marten's, but they're brown and rugged and I feel like taking it up a notch and looking more Euro and less Lumberjack this time around, so I upgraded to Prada.
These boots were lovely and glossy when I bought them yesterday, but I wore them all around town today (to Ellis Island and back!) and they're already getting a worn-in look. I feel more SWAT team in them than Euro, but that's okay with me.

Texturize, Mesmerize - Ports 1961

2010-02-12T17:57:00.000-08:00

source

Glancing at Fall

2010-02-12T17:34:00.001-08:00

Fall seems to feature a lot of dark layering, few if any prints, and subtle introductions of color (in these cases, variations on gold).

Yigal Azrouël. Booties continue to be big, as do menswear-inspired looks.
BCBG Max Azria. Asymmetry is everywhere. (P.S. That's Sophie Srej!)
Ruffian. Mid-calf boots also remain through Fall.
source

Wu Woos Michelle

2010-02-12T16:58:00.001-08:00

Jason Wu was catapulted to fame a little over a year ago when Michelle Obama wore a gown of his to the inaugural ball, and Wu seems to be wooing the First Lady again with his latest collection.

This dress would work with a pair of Mrs. Obama's ever-present flats and J.Crew cardigan. I can even envision her wearing it with her Alaia belt.
This mustardy-gold color has been lovely on Mrs. Obama in the past, and the off the shoulder asymmetry would show off her famous biceps.
This dress would be a riskier move for Mrs. Obama, but it's not riskier than the Narciso Rodriguez dress she wore on election night 2008. Besides, the conservative silhouette makes the gilding a lot easier to pull off.
source

Wintour on McQueen

2010-02-11T10:15:00.000-08:00

"We are devastated to learn of the death of Alexander McQueen, one of the greatest talents of his generation. He brought a uniquely British sense of daring and aesthetic fearlessness to the global stage of fashion. In such a short career, Alexander McQueen’s influence was astonishing — from street style, to music culture and the world’s museums. His passing marks an insurmountable loss."

RIP Alexander McQueen

2010-02-11T08:01:00.001-08:00

He was brilliant and his work was consistently beautiful, original, and fearless. His clothes were regal, theatrical, ornate, historical but timely, and above all, never trendy. His death is tragic, and there is now a void of creativity in the fashion world that none could fill like he did.Read his obituary in the Times.
source

Anticipating Reed Krakoff

2010-02-06T10:15:00.000-08:00

Marc Jacobs has been the de facto face of American design for a while, but not since the days of grunge has his work been idiosyncratically American. Lately, his work has been overshadowed by his frequent tabloid presence. Zac Posen was thought, for a time, to be the new wunderkind of American design with the potential for knocking Marc Jacobs off his throne, but his star seems to have fallen. Thakoon is a fashion darling, but my impression is that his fame is due in large part to his youth and the consistently high quality of his work, rather than his exceptional talent for innovation. Older American designers rely on heavy-handed, sometimes literal flag-waving (Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger), but their designs are too cautious and conservative to be pioneering. Ditto Donna Karan and others, whose work is good, to be sure, but whose inventiveness is debatable.

After Reed Krakoff's fashion week debut in less than two weeks, the fashion world may have a new American design pioneer. The level of anticipation surrounding his show is palpable, and the amount of press it's receiving is a testament to that fact. Once the reviews are in, critics may find themselves shouting a collective "Go West!", and New York could reclaim its place as the global fashion capital, paving the design path for the new decade. But there's no telling till the last model walks down the RK runway, so stay tuned.

"Art, design, and architecture influence everything I do... Right now, for me it's about re-embracing design that is unmistakably American—reimagining and reconfiguring it, while simultaneously elevating it, in a way." Regarding this image of a Lee Bontecou sculpture, Reed Krakoff said, "I'm really feeling for these kind of naive, industrial textures, but executed in a more refined, unexpected way." - Vogue

The September Issue

2010-02-05T13:05:00.000-08:00

The DVD of The September Issue is being released on the 23rd. When I saw it in the theater last year, I was frustrated by its overemphasis on the editorial process and its glossing over of moments that could've proved to be liminal and profoundly revealing of its central character. Although it was interesting to see Anna Wintour's selection process and the actual construction of a September Vogue issue, the subtext of the whole film was, supposedly, to provide insight into what makes Ms. Wintour function, and even -- some might say -- to humanize her.

Though her choices are interesting, more interesting is why she makes the choices she does. There is a particularly poignant moment in the film, in which she refers to the disparate career paths of herself and her siblings. Without ever changing her facial expression or tone, she seems to reveal a bitter sibling rivalry. She says, flatly and maybe sarcastically, that her siblings are saving the world, and they find her work vapid and meaningless.

I was stunned by her comment. As a middle child with five competitive siblings, this information was hugely revealing as it illuminated a great deal to me about Ms. Wintour's M.O.. But apparently it was not even slightly compelling to the director, R.J. Cutler, who let it come and go without comment and never returned to it. He seemed to find the dynamic between Grace Coddington and Ms. Wintour to be far more deserving of attention, and though it was interesting, how much more compelling would it have been if we were to have learned that Anna Wintour's decisions are influenced by a fierce desire to prove to her siblings, and the world, that fashion is neither vapid nor meaningless; or that it is, but who cares anyway when it is the source of her power?

Sophie Srej

2010-02-05T08:26:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since I got excited about a model, but Hungarian model Sophie Srej has changed that.
I actually met her through mutual friends when she had only recently moved to New York and spoke just a few words of English. (Here we are in the Fall of 2008.)And look at her now, on Rodarte's runway! I was actually just flipping through the March issue of Marie Claire and came across a picture of her from this show. Keep your eye out for her! She's stunning, and clearly versatile.

source

Peru

2010-02-03T14:06:00.000-08:00

Okay, I promise I'll give Mario Testino a break soon, but I've been reading a lot about him lately. Despite being a big fan of his, I never realized he was born in Peru, and in fact has a photography book called Lima, Peru, which looks fantastic.

I was in Peru last year and found it absolutely breathtaking. It's no wonder people flock to it.During an interview with The Independent, Mr. Testino said, "I grew up in Peru in a very conventional Catholic upbringing, so sex was a taboo. But at the same time it was the 1960s; the sexual revolution. So I'm a contradiction."

Danish-Peruvian Helena Christensen was in Peru last year on behalf of Oxfam to document the effects of climate change in the country.

The Stuff of Dreams

2010-01-30T13:31:00.000-08:00

I know I haven't updated in awhile. Life's been busy, etc., etc. But today I had one of those surreal New York experiences that begs to be written about.

This morning I was having brunch with a friend at NoHo Star. I glanced at the table beside me and who should I see but Mario Testino. I became instantly giddy. I excitedly told my friend who was sitting nearby and she didn't know who he was, but she said, "Go say hi!"

Without really thinking, I walked up to him and, unabashedly gushing, said, "I'm so sorry to interrupt, I'm just a huge, huge fan of your work. You're amazing!" He smiled kindly and said, "Well thank you! And I'm a huge fan of your style!"

I nearly threw my arms around him, but I managed to maintain my composure and I left him to his brunch.

Oh Mario Testino, I love you even more now than I did before!

Wearing Art

2009-11-10T09:58:00.000-08:00

Many gowns aim for the appearance of grace, fluidity and movement. Rihanna's dress, at the Glamour Women of the Year Awards, seems to be going for a stop-motion effect.
Nude Descending a Staircase, No. 2, by Marcel Duchamp. Anyone else see the resemblance? When Duchamp debuted this painting, critics loathed it and said it looked like "an explosion in a shingle factory." But, it turned out that the world had never seen quite an explosion, and the painting stuck and became an iconic image of the 20th century. I cannot help but feel the designer of Rihanna's dress was inspired, either consciously or subconsciously, by Marcel Duchamp.
If given the opportunity, go to the Philadelphia Museum of Art to see this painting. It's even better in real life.

What Should I Wear to a Premiere?

2009-08-12T09:12:00.000-07:00

I have an extremely busy travel schedule coming up, which will include eight cities on two coasts in two weeks. Or ten cities, including layovers. It's hard to call that kind of travel vacation, but that's what I'm calling it.

I'll be vising friends and family in Seattle, and helping with a photoshoot. Then I'll head down to LA for a film premiere (and a total of thirty hours in LA). Then I fly back to New York, and six hours later take a train to New Haven, Connecticut. The next day I'll drive up to Montreal for a wedding, turn around the next day, and drive back to New York.

Then I move into a new apartment, and a few days later I leave for Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.

I'm exhausted just talking about it. So, in order to cut back on things to think about, I'm requesting advice: what should I wear to the premiere?

Look forward to hearing feedback!

xo

Schlub

2009-08-02T11:54:00.000-07:00

On Friday, Manhattan seemed to have been hit with monsoon weather. It was humid and miserable, and that was before the massive downpour of warm rain. I had been running around all day, getting soaked, stomping in puddles, looking like a drowned rat, but somehow my friends coerced my into going out. Despite the fact that I was wearing wellies and looking waterlogged, I agreed.

On the train into midtown, I sat next to this charming transsexual, who looked exceedingly glamorous, waving her black lace fan and wearing gaudy rhinestones. I felt like even more of a schlub.
Boots: Festival by Hunter. Bag: Garnet XL with chain by Coach.

Wherefore Art Thou, Summer?

2009-07-01T09:18:00.000-07:00

Well, it's July 1st and this is the weather forecast for New York City:

Thank goodness my new boots arrived from Gilt Groupe. I jumped on them because they're so cheap off-season, but apparently, based on the ominous weather report, I won't have to wait till autumn to make use of them.

Waiting for the inevitable muggy heat are my other new shoes: python gladiators with gold lining. Every girl should own a pair, right?

Sustainable Sartorialist

2009-06-11T14:09:00.000-07:00

"Here's how it works: There are 7 identical dresses, one for each day of the week. Every day I will reinvent the dress with layers, accessories and all kinds of accouterments, the majority of which will be vintage, hand-made, or hand-me-down goodies. Think of it as wearing a daily uniform with enough creative license to make it look like I just crawled out of the Marquis de Sade's boudoir."

What do you think? Could you manage, or would you get cabin fever in your dress?

Read more about The Uniform Project.
HuffPo

Daria's Derring-Do

2009-05-15T06:16:00.000-07:00

Not too long ago, I was drinking tea in a cafe on the Upper West Side and Daria Werbowy walked in and sat a few tables over from me. Inside I was a bit giddy; it's fun to see the models I write about, and Daria is one of my favorites.

I see models somewhat frequently and my reaction is usually not, "Wow, she's so gorgeous!" but rather, "Wow, she is so extreme looking." Extremely tall, extremely thin, extremely angular, and extreme eyes (my sisters and I call them hammerhead eyes, because often models eyes appear to be practically on the sides of their heads).

Daria is no exception physically, but her demeanor seemed soft. While I acknowledge that my brief and impersonal brush with Daria didn't give me luminous insight into her personality, she struck me as gentle.

Which is why I love these pictures from French Vogue so much. Here she models swimsuits atypically, and in my opinion, much more compellingly than in the run-of-the-mill swimsuit spreads we're all accustomed to this time of year.
I would like this photoshoot to inspire a movie directed by Quentin Tarantino.
Link

Jam in Tam?

2009-05-13T13:57:00.000-07:00

Michelle hosting a poetry jam
Possibly wearing Vivienne Tam

If anyone knows
The designer of those
Colorful threads she is wearing

I beg you to tell me
and end my inquiry
To save the rest of us guessing

Ikat

2009-05-13T12:39:00.000-07:00

Ikat, or Ikkat, is a style of weaving that uses a resist dyeing process similar to tie-dye on either the warp or weft before the threads are woven to create a pattern or design. A Double Ikat is when both the warp and the weft are tie-dyed before weaving.

Ikat means "to tie" or "to bind" in the Malay language. Wikipedia

Ikat has various international incarnations, from Indonesia to Spain to Native American tribal patterns.

A few seasons ago it found its way to the runway...

Yesterday it found its way to the cover of WWD:
There are Ikat handbags from Coach and Target... ...and Fall 09 woolens (thanks to Pendleton for Opening Ceremony).

So what do you think? Is this trend worth ikatching up on? (Sorry, sorry...).

photo source

Mummified Muses

2009-05-12T08:14:00.000-07:00

I visited The Met this weekend to see The Model as Muse. I was able to sneak a few pictures before getting tsk-tsked by a docent.

Unfortunately, the show was desultory and uninformative. The rooms were extremely dim, making it impossible to view the intricacies of the craftsmanship. The mannequins were, obviously, cold and lifeless, and when paired with the dull lighting, the room gave off the aura of a tomb.
The exhibit winds down a narrow hallway with about three switchbacks, and it ends in a large room with a moderately impressive collection of early Nineties dresses (Anna Sui, Perry Ellis). Making my way down the dark hallways, staring at the frigid mannequins decked out in their finest, I felt like I was tunneling through a burial vault, surrounded by mummies who had taken all their lovely garments with them to the grave in hopes of recovering them in the afterlife. I was half expecting to see a little mummified pet along the way, too.
The walk is formatted like a timeline. It begins with the turn of the century, then almost immediately jumps to Dior's New Look, then it skips to Mod London (loved the YSL beaded silk organdy - part Mod, part Flapper), and then charges full speed ahead into the Era of the Supermodel.

The timeline is as rudimentary as Spark Notes for 20th Century Fashion 101, only it is evidently missing several pages.

I wasn't aware of ambient music in the first part of the exhibit, but once I reached the era of Cindy, Christy, et al., I was suddenly bombarded with Wham's "Freedom" and the ostentatious designs of Gianni Versace. I quickly edged into the next room where jubilant Wham gave way immediately to "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and the age of Kate Moss and anti-glamour.

The lack of segues was discombobulating and I was anxious to get away and on to something less bizarrely exhibited (like 5000 year-old Cypriot and Persian jewelry).

The Model as Muse, I believe, entirely missed its own point. It reinforced the stereotype of models being lifeless and personality-free clothes hangers, instead of vaunting the ability of rare models who surpass this lowly moniker by performing alchemy and bringing otherwise inanimate clothing to life. These models do exist and just might be worthy of their own show at The Met, but certainly not this one.

Purple Python

2009-05-08T13:32:00.000-07:00

This week I noticed that the bag I've been carrying around for months now looks decidedly funereal. The sun is shining, people have stowed their eskimo coats, women are wearing breezy skirts, and I'm still lugging a black, wintery tote.

Time to revamp for summer.

I'm taking night classes, so I still need a bag big enough to haul text books, a laptop, and all the other things I'm compelled to drag around the city.

I figure purple python with gold hardware is about as exotic and exciting as a tote gets, and right now life is calling for something exotic and exciting. No more wintery black.

I might look like Elle Woods carrying this into my economics class, but Elle Woods is my generation's feminist hero, isn't she?

Bag by Coach.

The Model as Muse

2009-05-08T12:38:00.000-07:00

As a lover of fashion and denizen of New York City, I am very excited about the latest exhibit at The Met. The Model as Muse opened this week with much hoopla and, of course, the rote drama.

Anna Wintour wouldn't acknowledge Azzedine Alaïa's genius by including him in the show, and Alaïa got his feathers ruffled and called her a dictator, and now everyone's all in a tizzy.

I'll go to see the show, despite being a loyal admirer of Alaïa's, and I will simply say this: Azzedine Alaïa is an icon and institution whether or not Anna Wintour cares to acknowledge him. In addition, the most powerful woman in fashion has his back: Michelle Obama.

In fifty years, when they release coffee table books of Lady O's headline-making fashions, there will be picture after picture of the First Lady looking smashing in Alaïa, and Anna Wintour will be rolling in her grave.

With the First Lady as muse, who needs a model?

Shoes of the Summer

2009-05-08T12:08:00.000-07:00

The Luella wedge by Cynthia Vincent.

My first official purchase of summer attire. I am so happy to put my boots at the back of the closet, paint my toes a vibrant color and rock some almost-5" heels.

Anyone else finding great summer shoes that call for vibrant nailpolish?

Wooden wedge, leather. Four straps from toe to vamp, two straps around ankle. Small buckle closures. Zipper opening from toe to ankle. Closed back. Leather insole and sole. 4.75" heel.

Find them here.

The Not Fresa Tote

2008-12-03T05:10:00.000-08:00

I'm typically one who shies away from patent products. Something about the high gloss makes me feel a little tarty, although tarty doesn't quite describe it. The best word I can think of doesn't really have an English translation, but in Spanish, it's fresa. Literally, it means strawberry. Colloquially, it means something like "entitled brat on The Hills." That's how patent makes me feel.

However, I just got this large patent tote (unlike the tote pictured, mine has brass hardware). I love it. It holds everything: large wallet, two notebooks, a 640-page book (Chasing The Flame by Samantha Power), a water bottle, and any number of tiny extras like chapstick.
Because it's so utilitarian, there's nothing fresa about it, and I'm learning that patent paired with matte and more industrial-looking textures is actually quite striking.

Bond Cute

2008-11-25T20:29:00.000-08:00

I went to see Quantum of Solace at the Ziegfeld Theatre this weekend. I was instructed by my friend T. to look "Bond cute." Bond cute to me means a bikini and excessive eyeliner and backcombing. I wasn't about to venture down that road. I decided to do something vaguely detective-inspired, but ended up looking way more Bonnie Parker than Honey Ryder.

Vintage beret, vintage Diane von Furstenberg scarf, Coach trench, Coach "Sabrina" handbag, Ralph Lauren jeans.

Winter Wear

2008-11-25T13:20:00.000-08:00

I'm learning to adjust to New York's winter weather. The frigidity is ravaging my skin. When I walk from the subway to work, the cold feels like needles jabbing into my face, my eyes start tearing and my mascara starts running. There's really no point in styling hair either, because it's at the mercy of the elements. I've learned to just twist my hair into a super-tight bun and cover as much of my face as possible, in an attempt to look halfway professional when I walk into the office.

I've also recently acquired the following weather-conscious and classic New York items:

Coach's Great American Trench:
Two pairs of Coach's Whitley Boot in Whiskey and Black. They're so sturdy and classic, and hopefully will sustain me through many future east coast winters.

Black is the new Black

2008-07-23T13:08:00.000-07:00

"Italian Vogue's 'all-black' issue has been selling out on New York newsstands, prompting Condé Nast to reprint the issue, reports Folio. There are 10,000 copies polybagged with the tagline 'Most Wanted Issue Ever' and 'First Reprint' banded across the front. Vogue Italia editor Franca Sozzani says she was inspired by Barack Obama: 'America ... is ready for a black president, so why are we not ready for a black model?'" Source

Sayonara, Skinnies

2008-07-10T16:17:00.001-07:00

Are wild bellbottoms the new skinny jean? Prada thinks so, and so does The Cool Hunter.
I would've killed for these jeans as a pre-pubescent girl who thought that all things vibrant and clashing were fashion forward (back in the days when I made my own kente cloth dress). Those days are (sort of) behind me, but I'm unabashedly attracted to these break-the-mold jeans.

But remember, should you suddenly begin to see knock-offs in every chain store, just because skinny jeans are relatively flattering for a variety of body types, does not mean checkered bells are.

Dolce & Gabbana's divergence from the ubiquitous skinnies is more cautious than Prada's, but paired with animal prints, it's an undeniably hot look. Maybe time to break out my as-yet-unworn Bill Blass jeans. I occasionally put them on and walk around the house in them, but I can't very well wear them out till I've had them altered.

To Be A Thief

2008-07-09T13:48:00.000-07:00

The Times asked Milla Jovovich if she could steal anyone's wardrobe, "past or present, fiction or reality, whose would it be and why?" She said, "Marianne Faithfull's and Bianca Jagger's. And I'd also steal Isabel Archer's from The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James. I'd steal everything from Edith Wharton's heroines, and from the little chimney sweeps from Dickens's novels. I'd love to go into David Bowie's wardrobe. I'd mix all the clothes from these wardrobes into one of my own."

All around fantastic choices. My question to you, dear readers, is whose wardrobe would you steal, and why?

Source

en la calle

2008-06-18T05:22:00.001-07:00

Maybe one of my favorite things about Latin America is the way buildings are painted. On my street, there are red houses with turquoise doors, blue houses with yellow doors, and pink houses with green doors. I hesitate to simplify or wax poetic, but I do think it reflects something inherently joyful about the culture. When you think about cultures that employ stark minimalistic and neutral architectural and aesthetic schemas, do you think of them as joyful?
This church is fascinating. Its roots are in Cortesian Mexico, but somewhere along the way, someone decided to give the facade a rosy facelift.
These street musicians were only teenagers and were completely adorable in their little uniforms.
These breakdancers were more than happy to pose for pictures. They were dancing in el centro, the town gathering space, but I found it especially interesting that they were breakdancing right in front of a grandiose and towering government building. What better place for street dancing?

The "Aggy"

2008-06-17T16:54:00.001-07:00

Whoa, whoa... The Daily Mail needs to do some homework. Cool kids got the "Aggy" back in January 2007, or even December 2007.

RIP Cyd Charisse

2008-06-17T15:38:00.000-07:00

In March I reminisced about my childhood crush on Cyd Charisse as "The Green Lady." She passed away today.

Mercado de Las Artesanías, Cuernavaca

2008-06-16T19:20:00.001-07:00

The Market of Artisans sits in the shadow of El Palacio de Cortés and a statue of the conquistador himself.
It occupies about a city block with aisles and aisles of handmade jewelry, earthenware, clothing and other crafts. I bought two Aztec calendars printed on some oddly textured paper-like product.
I desperately want one of these traditional Puebla dresses, but it's almost something I want to make for myself. There's a great pattern here, at The Mexican Dress. I used to embroider when I was young, but I never did anything nearly this intricate. I may have to just buy one in Puebla when I'm there this weekend.
This vestidito was so adorable it almost make me want a child.
more to come...

Cuernavaca

2008-06-16T14:40:00.001-07:00

After one day back in Cuernavaca, I remember why it's called "The City of Eternal Spring." The weather is ideally warm, never too muggy and often with a cool breeze. It's especially pleasant with a glass of guayaba juice. Guayaba is the official fruit of Morelos.

Today my language school threw a fiesta for los estudiantes nuevos. Some local women came and performed traditional dances. I tried to get some "in action" shots, but they were too quick on their toes for my camera.

Afterwards, I ate tacos and fruit with chiles till I nearly burst.

Princeton

2008-06-13T13:42:00.001-07:00

I've spent the day walking around Princeton and ducking into cafés looking for shade and something cold, like Earl Gray gelato.

My sister's busy writing, so I took the liberty of photographing her pretty things, like party dresses...
pearl collection...
pin collection...
Miu Miu and Ferragamo...
Ugg, Dolce & Gabbana, Anna Sui...
Then I spent an hour meandering around Princeton's cemetery, also known as "The Westminster Abbey of America." I saw the graves of Glover Cleveland, Aaron Burr, Jonathan Edwards and John O'Hara, along with a few signers of the Declaration of Independence.

I learned some American history today. Apparently, during the Revolutionary War, Princeton was briefly the capital of the United States, and this building, Nassau Hall, was the official government building where the Continental Congress met. During the Battle of Princeton in 1777, it received canonfire from the Continental army as it attempted to reclaim the building from the Redcoats.
It's getting too hot to sit outside and blog, so I'll have to find some more gelato. The next time I post I will probably be in Mexico.

Hasta luego...

Packed!

2008-06-10T16:22:00.001-07:00

Tomorrow I set out on my summer travels. On the way to New York, I have a four-hour layover at LAX, so my friend is meeting me to hang out for a bit at the airport. I arrive at JFK around 6am on Thursday and have to haul my ass and my luggage all the way to my sister's apartment in Princeton (this requires taking trains from JFK to Penn Station to Princeton and serves as a nice incentive for packing light). Once I've dumped by bags, I'll probably head right back into the city.

This is seven-weeks worth of clothes and toiletries crammed into one small suitcase (I do have a carry-on, but it's carrying books and my MacBook).

I got a new camera yesterday, so I'll do my best to post pictures as I'm able.

Hope everyone's beginning to enjoy the summer. Anyone have travel plans?

Sandals, finally

2008-06-10T14:04:00.000-07:00

I ranted a few weeks ago about my really frustrating experience trying to buy sandals at the mall. I'd pretty much given up hope of finding what I wanted - attractive and wearable sandals with an ankle strap.

With only days left before my trip, I finally found the shoes I wanted. And - surprise, suprise - I did not find them at the mall. I found them at Marshalls. (Marshalls is apparently developing a Shoe Megashop - over 5,000 sq. feet of shoes - for people like me who want quality shoes without having to deal with snotty Nordstrom people.)

It can be difficult finding shoes for my feet (they're size 10 - La Femme knows my pain), but these feel like they were made for me.

Material: Italian leather
Price: under fifty dollars

Grecian Calf Tassles, Gravity and Guardsmen

2008-06-07T09:50:00.001-07:00

Since I'm already thinking about Greece (see previous post), I thought I'd post this picture of Nicolas Sarkozy taken yesterday at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Syntagma Square in Athens. I love the uniforms the guardsmen - or Evzones - wear. It's hard not to stare at the little red slides (tsarouhi) with enormous pompoms, and the calf tassles (kaltsodetes). The white skirt is called a fustanella and is apparently the cultural equivalent of a kilt. According to the very scholarly source Wikipedia, the fustanella has "400 pleats, commemorating the 400 years of Ottoman occupation." Aside from the pleats, the uniform has many details that hail Greece's amazing and ancient history.
Tombs to unknown soldiers are such somber symbols of nationalism, history and gratitude. Dozens of countries have them to commemorate their lost. It seems to me that the guardsmen chosen to watch the monuments, aside from adding to the pomp and circumstance, would also be cloaked in uniforms that complement the gravity and symbolism of the tombs.

The intricate and rich uniforms of the Greek Evzones make me a little disgruntled about my own country's uniforms. I realize that the history of the United States is just a blip compared to the history of Greece - we don't have such a vast culture to draw from - but there's nothing remotely historical represented in the uniforms or ritual of the guards at Arlington. Certainly there is an aura of stateliness, but not a real sense of place (especially when the actual monument is a rather bleak block of a sarcophagus).

Maybe I've fixated on something that shouldn't be fixated upon - I wouldn't put it past me - but does anyone agree with me? Does anyone care to educate me on the uniforms or commemorative rituals of other countries?

Photo from Reuters

Grecian Holiday

2008-06-06T09:29:00.000-07:00

My brother and sister-in-law just celebrated their one-year anniversary by taking a weekend holiday to Santorini, Greece. (They live in London, so weekend trips to Greece are relatively easy, damn them.)
My sister-in-law is so cute I had to post pictures of her, but also, because I'm beginning to pack my suitcase for Mexico, I'm taking warm-weather-wear tips from her Grecian holiday attire.Apparently Santorini is known for its sunsets.

I thought it was Sex and the City, not Canine Sex and the City

2008-06-06T00:04:00.001-07:00

First, I'll say something nice. The movie got me really excited to be in New York next week. Really excited.

Second, I kind of wish I hadn't seen it. I assumed I'd be underwhelmed, and I was. Really underwhelmed.

Actually, I should clarify. The quality was underwhelming, but the content was overwhelming.

There were so many unnecessary things - I wish they'd just stuck with what worked. Jennifer Hudson? Served no purpose - I kept waiting to get back to Sex and the City as I knew it. Why didn't they give poor Stanford the screentime that Jennifer Hudson used up? Seriously - he was the one who always pulled Carrie together after something dramatic happened.

Samantha in Los Angeles? No. Doesn't work. Samantha on Rodeo Drive, or reclining on her deck of her beach front Malibu pad doesn't make sense in the slightest - she's a Meatpacking District girl.

Charlotte? Hmm... just as annoying as ever. Her snottiness is totally intolerable when the girls are in Mexico and she only eats pudding cups because, "It's Mexico."

It irritated me that the girls treated every Mexican on screen like trash.

Oh, and what was with Miranda when she was househunting? She walks through an old neighborhood and becomes visibly grossed out by the (minority?) situation. She says, "Oh, there's a white man with a baby - follow him!" Quick - stick with the white people!

Also - I realize that at this point in the story, Carrie's supposedly a successful writer with a decent income - but the film is gratuitously materialistic. Yes, more than the original series. Within the first few minutes there are so many labels name-dropped - Christian Lacroix, Vivienne Westwood, Christian Dior, Lanvin - just in case we somehow forgot that Carrie loves fashion. But it isn't just her haute clothing that annoys me - suddenly she's living in a penthouse on 5th Avenue. Suddenly she has a massive and glitzy wedding. Suddenly she has a closet the size of her old apartment. No longer are Louis Vuitton bags lovely things Carries makes eyes at through windows - suddenly they're a constant prop, a plotline, and a recurring topic of conversation.

I wanted a little more grit - maybe a dive bar or a trashy alley scene - and a lot less glitz. The movie lacked anything grounding and Carrie was no longer an "every girl." Had they introduced Carrie in the series as the luxe Carrie in the movie - I can't see how anyone would've stuck around to watch her fuck up her charmed and coutured 5th Avenue lifestyle.

And don't even get me started on the horny dog who got a least four sex-with-pillow scenes. It's called Sex and the City, not Canine Sex and the City. Why did they resort to Judd Apatow humor - to appease the boyfriends who got dragged to the theater? And Charlotte shitting her pants.. also for the male audience? Because the biggest scatalogical joke I remember from the series is Carrie accidentally farting in front of Big.

Anyone see it? Any opinions?

Laura Miller Hates Generic

2008-06-03T10:32:00.000-07:00

From "We Are What We Buy" on Salon.com:

"It's all too easy for people, under the influence of the siren songs of marketing (or murketing), to drift into a situation in which they use commodities 'not to reflect who they are, but to construct who they are. Not to reflect a self, but to build a self.'"

Read the rest here.

YSL on BBC

2008-06-02T16:45:00.001-07:00

Click here for a slideshow of YSL's work.

Wedding Season

2008-06-01T18:41:00.001-07:00

I went to two weddings yesterday. In general, I try to avoid weddings because I find them exhausting, gaudy displays of vanity that are the first expensive step towards divorce. Yes, I know I'm cynical. But also, I find that weddings very rarely diverge from puffy, chichi and formulaic.

Wedding #2 yesterday was held on a beautiful piece of property in Olympia. It was outdoors, and all the blossoms were out (so were the goats, chickens and kittens). The bride, my friend C., found her lovely ivory lace gown at a boutique in Seattle. It was refreshing to see something other than a starchy white, bedazzled-cupcake gown.

I was grateful she avoided the poodle prom updo and went for a soft classic updo, with a little feather hairpiece. Her sash and shawl contrasted splendidly with her vibrant hair.

RIP YSL

2008-06-01T16:18:00.000-07:00

Yves Saint Laurent passed away today. The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts just opened a YSL retrospective this week, and San Francisco's de Young Museum announced it will host the YSL retrospective this November.

"Fashion does not only exist to embellish women, but also to reassure them, to give them confidence, to allow them to accept themselves… I have wanted… to place myself in the service of women… Meaning to serve them." - Yves Saint Laurent

Best Accessories (And Eyes) Ever

2008-05-30T15:07:00.000-07:00

Have you ever seen such amazing eyes? These are women from the Pakistani Kalash tribe, known for its amazing handicrafts and ancient culture.
>source

Why So Cheapish?

2008-05-30T11:16:00.001-07:00

Santa Cruz Style

2008-05-24T20:03:00.000-07:00

You can almost get high by just inhaling in Santa Cruz. People's conversation is peppered with "bro" and "right on" and the city is extremely chilled out. I'm tempted to move here and hang out with happy stoned hippies. Make sure to stock up on George W. Bush toilet paper.

Ick

2008-05-21T22:02:00.001-07:00

Hard not to feel a little upset by this picture, taken in Bangalore. Maids are seen in front of a Louis Vuitton ad, hanging callously in a city (and country) racked by poverty. Almost as crass as the Louis-clad elephant from the Keira in Africa Vogue layout.
NYT

Le weekend

2008-05-21T19:33:00.001-07:00

I'm off to San Francisco for Memorial Day weekend. I hope to be swept off my feet by a reincarnation of Jimmy Stewart under the Golden Gate Bridge while wearing a beautiful creation by Edith Head.

xo,
Ailsa

Geishas for Obama

2008-05-21T12:43:00.001-07:00

A woman dressed as a maiko (apprentice geisha) walks down a street wearing Democratic Party candidate Barack Obama campaign buttons in Kyoto, Japan May 20, 2008. - Reuters

Necessity Is The Mother of Alteration

2008-05-19T18:15:00.001-07:00

I mentioned a few posts ago that I had taken scissors to some old dresses. Here's one of the products of that experiment. Basically, I've collected about a dozen cheap dresses from various charity shops. Most of them are circa 1985 and fairly unflattering (mid-shin length... shudder). Because I'm going to be in hot, hot places all summer, I knew I'd be wanting some summer dresses. But because I'm pinching pennies for the actual traveling, I don't consider buying more clothing an option.

This dress was actually from my grandmother's rag bag (she's an avid quilter and collects tons of old clothing to harvest). I salvaged it and then forgot about it.

I chopped about 16 inches off of it, left it unhemmed, and sinched it with an old Army Surplus belt. I wore it with some gladiator sandals today and my roommate said that all I needed to complete the outfit was a trident.

The crazy people on the bus seemed to like it. So did the greasy pervert who asked me if I'd like to keep him company. If I'd taken my roommate's advice and carried a trident, I would've impaled him, in true gladiator form.
I have four more altered dresses, so I'll try to post pictures when I can get around to it.

In the mean time, I recommend taking scissors to any boring old dresses you may have collecting dust in your closet. Reuse and Recycle!

Forward Thinking Fashion

2008-05-15T16:19:00.000-07:00

Only in Europe. The U.S. is too regressive to catch onto something so progressive as teaching inmates skills and trades to reincorporate them back into society as contributors.

"A model displays a creation during a fashion show in San Vittore prison in Milan, May 14, 2008. A group of fashion designers have created a local cooperative called 'Sartoria San Vittore' to help prisoners learn job skills. Female inmates have learned tailoring skills from cooperative members and have made costumes for theatre and television." - Reuters

Pretty Pictures

2008-05-13T23:12:00.000-07:00

I wrote a few weeks ago about my delightful afternoon with La Femme. She has posted a lovely pictorial of her trip to the Pacific Northwest. Check out the adorable seals, killer Burberry platforms, graffiti art and fluffy pink blossoms.

Rant Rant Rant

2008-05-12T19:36:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time I scribbled out a rant that, as it grew, morphed into an "I Hate Generic" manifesto. Then this blog was born. It was created as a forum for blowing off steam. Over the last (almost) two years, it has become many other things.

But forgive me while I return to my roots.

I've been in a frenzy trying to complete my final projects before graduation, while simultaneously trying to pack up my life (I'm moving out of my place the same day I graduate and also the same day I fly off into the wild blue yonder for two months).

I had a brief window of opportunity this evening to run out and buy a pair of sandals for my summer travels. I did some research online to figure out what I wanted so I wouldn't end up wasting more time and energy than necessary.

What I want (in a nutshell): good quality sandals that will survive ambulating around Mexico City and through Aztec ruins and then all around Manhattan. Not so difficult, right?

I despise the mall with my entire being and in the last three years I have only gone three times (three times too many). I found some shoes online at Nordstrom that looked promising, so despite my mall-phobia, I huffed it to Nordstrom with my very specific mission.

I detest the snobbery of Nordstrom. It's not like it's Neiman Marcus or Saks or Harrod's, but for some reason it has a superiority complex.

I went wearing exactly what I'd been wearing all day: cut-off shorts, my grandfather's old flannel shirt, and a pair of flip flops. I walked straight to the sandals I had seen online. I saw two preening salesmen fops glance at me and curl their lips in disgust. Ignoring them, I picked up the shoe, and to my dismay, it was a flimsy piece of crap. The sole was a piece of stiff plastic and looked like it would snap after two steps. The straps had shoddy stitching that was already sprouting in places.

I walked over to one of the fops and said, "Hi, I'm just wondering if you have a similar sandal in another brand."

"Hmm... uh..." (eyeballing me up and down) "noooooo."

"Okay, do you know if another Nordstrom might? I'm just looking for a better quality shoe," I said.

He smiled condescendingly at me, his nostrils flaring slightly, and said, "Are you looking for a specific designer?"

"No, I just want a shoe that's not unraveling already," I said, involutarily aping his facial contortion.

He stared at me coldly without responding, his arms crossed impudently across his chest. Silence.

"Is that a no?" I asked.

"Mmmhmm," he purred.

Right. Here's the thing. I'm not a cheapskate, but I'm thrifty (I just converted four winter dresses into sundresses so I wouldn't have to buy summer clothes). I like quality, but I'm not a label snob. I'm anti-recreational shopping and firmly believe in only buying items that last, thereby avoiding falling prey to the culture of obsolescence.

But wow. I'm kind of stunned by the whole mall experience. That place is soulless, full of stale air, heavy with migraine-inducing (well, poisonous) fragrances. It was full of chintzy, ludicrously overpriced crap that is designed to only last one season. According to multiple sources who study consumerism, 99% of all purchases in the United States are trashed within six months.

What is wrong with people? I'm really not trying to wax philosophical or get all Don DeLillo White Noise or something, but the whole picture is just dismal. People go and shell out hard earned dollars for trash. Literal trash. And the buying experience is trash too. There's no joy in it and it makes me feel filthy.

Anyway. That's my rant. I still don't have sandals. Can anyone empathize?

Fashionation

2008-05-03T22:23:00.001-07:00

Coming soon from The Cool Hunter: Fashionation

If Money Grew On Trees...

2008-05-03T12:39:00.001-07:00

...I'd climb trees in these shoes.

Balenciaga
Burberry
Source

Shoes I Don't Understand

2008-05-03T12:38:00.000-07:00

If I wore these I'd feel like an elephant wearing fur anklets.
Calvin Klein/Source

summertime

2008-05-03T09:19:00.001-07:00

After seeing this beautiful woman on The Sartorialist, I'm inspired to finally get out my summer clothes.

Old School Coiffures

2008-05-03T09:07:00.000-07:00

The Face Hunter snapped this photo in Moscow and I couldn't help but be reminded of the eternal and international influence of Vidal Sassoon.

Steve & Barry's

2008-05-01T07:43:00.000-07:00

The Times has an article on ultra-cheap clothing chain Steve & Barry's. I've never been to one because, well, there isn't one near me and I was worried about the whole sweatshop thing. (Apparently they don't use sweatshops? Is this possible? I'm not convinced).

Anyway, I'm curious to know if anyone has shopped Steve & Barry's and is willing to review the quality of the clothes?

xo

un après-midi avec La Femme

2008-04-29T10:50:00.000-07:00

I spent yesterday afternoon with La Femme and we had a lovely (if taxing) walk around Seattle, capped off with lemondrop cocktails (we couldn't find mojitos).

Before La Femme went to India last winter, she asked me if I wanted a souvenir. I asked her to bring me back something red and gold (my favorite combination). She brought me back a whole bag full of beautiful red and gold items, including pillowcases, bangles, earrings, a table runner and a sari.
I'm spending six weeks traveling in Mexico this summer, so I've promised to bring her back a whole bag full of Mexican loot as a thank you.

On another note, sorry for the lack of blogging. I'm getting ready to graduate in June, but I'm also going to be traveling quite a bit in the coming months.

Here's my schedule:

May: San Francisco, Santa Cruz, San Jose
June: New York City, Mexico City, Cuernavaca, Acapulco
July: New York City, New Jersey, Connecticut

I hope to blog about my travels, so check in periodically.

Much Love,
A

Checkers

2008-04-19T09:41:00.000-07:00

Gustave Doré looks fantastic with his variously checkered raiments.

How To: Gold Accessories

2008-04-19T00:17:00.000-07:00

"Kashmiri Muslim women prayed outside the shrine of Syed Abdul Qadir Jilani, a Sufi saint, during the saint's yearly commemoration, in Srinagar, India." - New York Times

Quote of the Day

2008-04-19T00:12:00.001-07:00

It's been awhile since I posted on Lou Doillon, but because she was recently in the New York Times, I'll post my favorite quote from the interview.

"What attracts me is something broken, something a bit off. I never comb my hair or make anything pretty. When people look too beautiful, it's too easy. I know I'm dressed wrong if the businessman turns his head. But I like to think that after an hour of sitting next to me on the train, he'd look. I'd have grown on him... Someone suggested I design men's wear. I should. I have such trouble dressing up as a girl."

Frolicking Belarussian Child Models

2008-04-10T15:23:00.000-07:00

Ekaterina Atrakhimovich's show in Minsk. The creation on the right looks a little Sesame Street-ish, no?
Reuters

Burberry Afghan

2008-04-10T15:17:00.000-07:00

That is to say, an Afghan wearing Burberry...
Reuters

Vivid Nepalese Textiles

2008-04-10T10:08:00.001-07:00

Women in Nepal line up to vote. When I went to the polls last month for the primary, I can assure you the line looked much more bleak.
NYT

Sudanese Sartorialism

2008-04-09T20:52:00.000-07:00

My friend is working for an NGO in Sudan, where he took this picture. I'm totally fascinated by this woman's dress, but I can't figure out what the picture on it could possibly mean. Any ideas?

Happy 100th Birthday, Bette Davis

2008-04-05T16:10:00.001-07:00

A Nomad in Jammu

2008-03-31T09:43:00.000-07:00

This woman is a nomad near Jammu. I feel I've seen this look on innumerable hipsters.
Reuters

Should Annie Leibovitz Be Taken To Task?

2008-03-28T09:50:00.000-07:00

I know I posted on this a few days ago, but I'm still kind of stunned by it. It would take a great stretch of the imagination to believe that brilliant photographer Annie Leibovitz's could produce such an offensive photo in a strange fluke.

People had been comparing the cover to King Kong, but look at it next to this old racist propaganda. Look at the savage brutalizing the lily-white damsel. "Destroy This Mad Brute"?? My God, Leibovitz. I want an explanation.

Source

Iraq House of Fashion

2008-03-19T14:11:00.000-07:00

Watch a video here.

Fashion Don't

2008-03-17T15:54:00.000-07:00

This was ill-advised, but Hillary's advisers have been giving her consistently bad advice.

Inneresting

2008-03-17T15:52:00.000-07:00

Source

New American Gothics

2008-03-16T08:41:00.001-07:00

I gave a presentation in my Career Development class on Thursday. The purpose of the presentation was to describe how the class had helped me focus on a career and develop my hireability by strengthening interviewing skills and my resumé. I decided to be a smartass, as is my wont, and give a presentation describing why I'm more suited to being a farmer than to pursuing a conventional career. I even interviewed a local organic farmer for the project and looked into summer internships on local farms and with organizations like WWOOF. (A few of my friends have "Wwoofed" around Europe and loved it.) My classmates chuckled as I said I was more comfortable with poverty and gritty hard labor than with powersuits, profiteering and cubicles. Too bad I wasn't joking.

Well, imagine my surprise when I opened the Sunday Styles in my Times today to find an article called "Leaving Behind The Trucker Hat: Young urbanites, learning that dirt can also be soil, are using their overalls as originally intended." It's all about city dwelling young people kicking the dirt of the city off their shoes and heading off to the farm, so "their Carhartts are no longer ironic." "Many longtime observers of small farms say they have noticed an increase in recent years among college graduates who want to farm," says the Times.

Who knew? And who's laughing now, classmates? I've got the Times on my side.

By the way, I have a feeling I already dress like the woman pictured above.

This Is Why I Don't Cover LA Fashion Week

2008-03-12T10:19:00.001-07:00

Ghastly Gams

2008-03-07T14:37:00.000-08:00

"A model presents a creation from designer Dino Alves Autumn/Winter 2008-2009 collection during Lisbon Fashion Week in Estoril March 6, 2008." - Reuters

New Acquisitions

2008-03-06T16:45:00.000-08:00

Armani shades

A tiny plaid dress

Must Love Vivienne

2008-02-14T22:45:00.000-08:00

REPRIEVE.ORG.UK

Source

Love it or Leave It?

2008-02-14T17:44:00.000-08:00

I've seen this outfit completely panned on other blogs, but I kind of love it.

Not many people could pull this off without looking like death, but overall, Lily Allen looks sharp and very gothic femme fatale meets Brigadoon.

Source

2008-02-14T16:37:00.000-08:00

Happy Hallmark's Day to all my lovely readers. If you're bored, take a Valentine's-related quiz here.

Thought of the Day

2008-02-14T16:26:00.000-08:00

Iconic fashion photographer David Bailey (who has worked with Penelope Tree, Jean Shrimpton, Jane Birkin, Mick Jagger, The Beatles, Catherine Deneuve and Marianne Faithfull, to name a few) was asked by Guardian Unlimited what he thought of the UK's new curriculum which introduces children to five hours of culture per week (art, music, etc.).

Bailey answered:

I learned nothing at school. I didn't really go until I was eight, and I left on my 16th birthday. The only person I liked was an art teacher - a woman, of course - and she told me you couldn't put a line around things. I was amazed because that was all Walt Disney ever did. My real education came from reading and going to Hollywood movies with my mum - it was cheaper than putting another shilling in the meter.
They never told me Van Gogh cut off his ear because he couldn't get it up; they never told me Caravaggio was the character he was. If they had, it might have been different - it was all too academic. I didn't discover Picasso till I was 17. I didn't know art galleries existed. But I don't like the idea of compulsory culture.

See some of his best work here.

A Missive for Perez Hilton

2008-02-07T12:36:00.000-08:00

People who read this blog know that I've loved Agyness Deyn since I first posted on her on August 14, 2006. At the time, I wrote this about her: "...when you Google this girl there are only nine results. It won't be that way for long. This twenty year-old British model is destined to be the next big thing." For the following months, my blog was the first Google hit for Agyness Deyn.

On August 27, 2006 I wrote this: "I have taken it upon myself to promote the hell out of Agyness Deyn. I first posted on her a few weeks ago when there were only eight Google results for her name. Now there are thirty-three."

Well, that was one and a half years ago. Now there are almost 200,000 hits for Agyness on Google, because as all of us who love and keep up with fashion know, Agyness was definitely The Model of 2007, and maybe even 2006, depending on whom you're asking.

Which is why I find it very amusing that Perez Hilton, who often likes to claim having "discovered" people (like Robyn, who's been around for over a decade and who I danced to in eight grade), posted this today, speaking in the Royal "We", as is his wont: "Miz Deyn is gonna break out in 2008. Mark our words!"

Just to clarify, I do not claim to have discovered Agyness either. I'm pretty sure a scout did, and then her agents. But I will say that a certain blogger who likes to speak authoritatively about all kinds of things (like the supposed death of Castro), has really stepped outside his bounds on this one, and I'm calling FOUL.

I may only be speaking for myself, but I'm sure a few people will concur when I say: Let the fashion bloggers blog on fashion, "Miz"ter Hilton, and you can keep to your own vocation of drawing semen on people.

Much love,
Ailsa

Zellweger, as Novak (again)

2008-02-07T11:23:00.000-08:00

In Down With Love, Renée Zellweger played Barbara Novak. Now she poses as Kim Novak in Vertigo for Vanity Fair's Hollywood Issue.

I just watched Vertigo last week and was reminded that it really is one of Hitchcock's most beautiful films. Here's Zellweger, and here's a classic clip from Vertigo.

Here's a montage accompanied by U2 (I'd mute it - the movie is better than the music). Keep your eyes open for Kim Novak's fabulous costumes.

J'Adore Jumeau

2008-02-06T17:46:00.000-08:00

I'm always looking for animal-friendly, eco-friendly fashions that are interesting to look at. So often the ethical product lines are, well, bland.

I've been keeping my eye out for a new purse that is functional (I'm always lugging too much stuff - notebooks, a MacBook, textbooks), attractive (I'm underwhelmed by the gazillions of canvas totes I'm seeing), and vegan (if I can save an animal's hide, I will).

So imagine how pleased I was to be introduced to Jumeau. I've just added two new bags to my collection from Jumeau's Green Collection, made of organic cotton.

I got the Keri and Wisdom models - they're just the right size for a laptop, books... everything. - the color, Deep Sea Bloo, is a beautiful, lush marbled turquoise and navy with gold accents.

2008-01-30T15:44:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Style for the lovely Marion Cotillard.

Quick Debriefing, Bill Blass

2008-01-21T17:20:00.001-08:00

Hello everyone - I've been on hiatus (again) because what with the holidays, moving, obsessing over politics and overloading on classes, I haven't had much time to blog.

Besides, the weather here in the Pacific Northwest is frigid and icy, so my sartorial leanings are all towards warmth and comfort rather than attractiveness.

Today I took a walk to the local charity shop where everything was half off. I found a pair of Bill Blass, new with tags, extremely high-waisted jeans - I mean, two inches above the bellybutton high-waisted. I mean Farrah Fawcett in her heyday high-waisted. These jeans must be from 1976, and I have no idea why they've never been worn. They're spectacular, and I'll post pictures as soon as I can.

Hope everyone's enjoying 2008.

xoxo,
Ailsa

Gemma Ward, actress

2007-12-27T12:59:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa, et al.

2007-12-24T23:38:00.000-08:00

Source

2007-12-22T02:33:00.000-08:00

Dude, fool jacked my threads.

The fellow on the right is Ted Honderich, who apparently thinks he's smart because he promulgates controversial philosophies. Fine, maybe he's clever when it comes to books, but this don's gotta work on developing a look of his own.

Agyness, is that you?

2007-12-21T10:54:00.001-08:00

This is supposedly Agyness Deyn for Armani's new cell phone. What have they done to her face? Something's awry... her lips are way bigger, her eyes are wider... I'm confused.
I know makeup is partly to blame, but why did they turn a fresh-faced, towheaded Mancunian into an exotic, Christy Turlington-looking bombshell? Why didn't they just use Christy Turlington?
Source

Clan Destined

2007-12-19T23:31:00.001-08:00

With all the plaid around, I decided to look into my own connection to tartans. Like many people, I have a pan-European heritage, including Scotch, English, Dutch, Czech and French. My Scottish ancestors were from the Kennedy clan. I am named after the Scottish island Ailsa Craig and my name in Gaelic is Aillse. As a child, I did Highland dancing (and thought I was alone till I found out my friend, La Femme, Highland danced as well!).

The Kennedy seal - "Consider The End" (how ominous):
And the Kennedy tartan:Does anyone else have any clan pride that they're willing to wear on their sleeve?

Style, Elle

Twinkle

2007-12-19T23:25:00.000-08:00

Net-a-Porter
Elle

Belted

2007-12-18T13:51:00.001-08:00

Inspired by Marion Cotillard, I decided to add a red belt to my otherwise bleak outfit.

Berlin Beauty

2007-12-17T22:23:00.001-08:00

The Face Hunter caught this lovely Berliner wearing the fur hat I talked about last week, and my favorite accessory: excessive gold.

Style Icon of the Day: Rita Hayworth

2007-12-17T22:11:00.000-08:00

I give you the stunningly beautiful Spanish-American singer, dancer, actress, Margarita Carmen Cansino. If you haven't seen her in anything, I recommend Gilda.

Paired Plaids, Again

2007-12-17T21:19:00.000-08:00

Kate Hudson and her girl-boy. She's wearing paired plaids, which I find totally endearing.
Photo from Just Jared