Hey Wednesday...apologies for no real post today. I'm thinking deeply and not ready for conclusions. Plus I'm busy biz.
One thing I will riddle you with though: do you find it strange that while Lincoln Center is awash in designer duds middle America is fighting over cheap Missoni? I do. See, told ya. Deep thoughts. More later...cause that's what's up this hmmmm kind of Hump day in the MIA. XO
Ha. Two posts in one day...I'm feeling inspired.
l'm inspired because I have a recurring fantasy of constructing the perfect travel wardrobe, which is always packed in a beautiful custom made suitcase with my initials etched in gold, ready to go at a moment's notice somewhere warm, cold, sunny, dark, hazy, crazy, or wherever the mood takes me.
Such is the collection of Zero + Maria Cornejo. It's full of perfectly chic pieces for the girl on the go- there's an ease to the shapes and an interchangability that is a bit luxe Garanimals (remember those?) mixed with a sexy eaze/peaze thing that make these pieces must haves, if you have th means, that is. I would put that beige one shoulder top with the black skirt, the black jacket over that black printed dress, and put the white shell with the beige pants and the black jacket if I for any reason needed to look official. Otherwise, all of these looks could take me where I need to go this Spring, of this I am sure...I so love a collection with pieces that work together, it's a fabulous thing. Oh and leather must be involved, don't you agree? Love the leather top here with the bit of blue peeking out. Chic.
I hope to one day have that custom Goyard in the corner, packed and waiting for my next adventure, full of Zero + Maria goodness, to boot. It sure would make life easier, and that's what good living is all about...cause that's what's up this take me here, there, and everywhere (just make sure I'm dressed for it) kind of Tuesday in the MIA. XO
Yo, Tuesday. It looks like the Target site was crashed by super fans coveting some zig zag love, Missoni style. I am staying away as I am on a bit of a self imposed shopping exile. I simply can't...too many other things I need, like food and water and highlights. Oh well...
So you know I've been rather unimpressed by the New York shows for Spring 2012. The only thing I know is you better not step a freshly manicured toe out of your house this Spring without a shoe that has a banded ankle. This much I know, everything else has me scratching my head...
Sure I loved the Zac Posen show- very va va voom and such but somehow out of touch with the normal amongst us who don't need corseted eveningwear. And I'll talk about my homegirl Donna Karan in another post- her show was lovely- with the best hair and makeup I've seen so far- think glossy, slick, and sexy. But let's move on to Marc by Marc Jacobs, a fun collection for you downtown girly types not afraid to rock something unfussed. (When you're alone and life is making you lonely, you can always go downtown...)
Orange is clearly a big big color for the Spring and Marc was all about it. I love the retro bathing suits, and the orange and black ensemble (orange skirt, black top) somehow manages not to look too trick or treat. What I am hearting beyond hearting is the sneaker looks with some of the skirts, and I am blown away by the shorts suit with the kicks- I swear on a stack of Vogues that as I was driving home the other night, I had a vision of a short suit being worn with a blouse and some shell toe Adidas, it came to me and here it is- somehow realized, but by Marc Jacobs. It's affirming.
Oh and my gay crush is on MJ- always has been. Sure Tom Ford is pretty sexy, but Marc is more fun. I can just tell...I want to set up a gay/play date with him soon. I know we would have a ball....
Wishin' and hopin' for some American ingenuity to shine through for the final days of Fashion Week in New York. Let's do this. Cause that's what's up this decidedly downtown Tuesday in the MIA. I wish I was below Houston Street today, doing my thing. XO
Good mid/late morning Monday...I'm getting a late start as the traffic is so crap in Miami thes days, I might as well be in LA, which I wouldn't mind. But where I'd really like to be is at the shows, because that's the only kind of traffic I want right now- on a runway at the shows.
So I'll be honest...the big guns have not shown yet really, but the Spring shows have me a bit vexed. I'm seeing a few trends- don't dare think about Spring footwear if your sandals don't have some kind of thick ankle strap/cuff- flat or heeled they are everywhere- let's call them the bandage shoe. Then there are prints a plenty- florals and watercolors and big statements, with lots of poppy color to satisfy all you hot house flowers out there. And then there's a huge sportif moment happening, perhaps to coincide with the Summer Olympics in London. Think lots of color blocking, stripes, and athletic shapes. I must admit that despite all of this fun, I have yet to be blown away- especially by the hair and makeup, which I'm finding rather meh to say the very least.
But I will say I am very much digging the DVF show- nobody does wearable like Diane Von Furstenberg, and although she too showed a fury of prints, I'm loving beyond loving these silhouettes shown below- I am a huge fan of easy clothes that flow and skim the body- sexy and everything but vulgar on warmish Spring days and nights. I adore wearing clothes that make me feel even more comfortable in my own skin (though I'm pretty comfy in that area, mind you), and these chic pajama like looks make me beyond happy. The color combos are divine, and there's very few of us who couldn't embrace these looks- and in an unsteady world, I am digging a vibe that is forgiving, flattering, and not too constricting. But that's just me...I'm obsessed with the orange panted suity look with the minty top and neutral blazer...you know how I feel about menswear inspired looks. Hot. All of these looks are the perfect staples for strolls through the city, parky afternoons, and hopeful warm days when the cold weather breaks. I love.
Let's see what the rest of the week holds...big guns coming and a blazin so we'll see...so far I'm a bit non plussed. And that's what's up this easy peasy (or at least it looks that way from these photos)Monday in the MIA. I'm sure I'll have a moment over something in the shows ...it always happens. This much I can count on. That and Miami traffic.XO
(Looks from Peter Som's Spring 2012 show on style.com)
Hiya Friday...I am so so tired but excited that somehow it's Fashion Week, even though I am in hot and busted Miami, a town whose style has never appealed to me (there I said it).
As we get older there are fewer things that make us giddy, excited, contagiously happy. It's not that we can't access those moments, it's that we're a bit choosier about them. I myself get that feeling from fashion, and I will most likely never stop getting it, because it is a huge part of what makes my heart race.
As a young girl, I used to sketch from the society pages of my mother's W and Vogue magazines. For as long as I can remember, I was under the influence of fashion. It's in my bones, really. My grandmother owned a clothing store, my grandfather manufactured coats, and my mother simply loved clothes, as did my dad. The coolest thing about growing up is that I had parents that let me express myself through fashion- they let me dye my hair bright red, they let me wear vintage overcoats with Paratrooper boots and long skirts, and they understood my obsession with Comme Des Garcons. And that's before I turned 16...
For many years, there was no doubt in my mind that I would work in fashion, but a brief stint in the industry in New York had me re-evaluating when I had the chance to work for one of the scariest women I have ever met- who was part vampire and part witch, way before True Blood celebrated these unique types of beastly hybrids. I decided being in New York was good enough- surrounded by amazing shops, designers, street chic hoardes who blew me away- I could admire from afar and read all of my magazines and still feel connected. Oh and I could shop. A lot. (And I did. Boy did I). I was so inspired by the city- I could be rock and roll, temptress, sophisticate, sweet, hip hop, or club chick- there were no limits and I thoroughly enjoyed each and every phase, from walking around in tie dyed vintage slips to rocking a fake fur neck scarf which an old office mate named Katrina. I cried at the end of "Unzipped" and recently watched Pierre Berge's take on his years with YSL in awe. I also love the influential canon of fashion movies like Bonnie and Clyde, Klute, Breakfast at Tiff's, Annie Hall, Barbarella, and all the rest. I can't get enough.
I can remember dozens and dozens of outfits- the brown suede button front mini I would wear with high boots when I first moved to New York with any of a number of black ribbed sweaters, the sexy baby blue satin blouse I would wear with black Levis, a belt with a huge buckle I bought at a flea market in Pasadena, and a fake fur when I met one particular man who would rock my world for five years, and then break my heart. The African necklace and skinny olive pants and black sleeveless tank I wore when I met another man, the one who I am still with today and is supportive of my fashion whims and tangents and doesn't get mad at me anymore when I can't sleep because of a particular pair of leather pants I saw at All Saints (this has happened). Or the fact that my biggest regret in life is having not bought the Louis Vuitton Griet bag when it was only available for a short time. Missed opportunities suck, people. They really do.
So it's Fashion Week and I'm sitting in Miami, sweating, watching live feeds of shows and still feeling a great deal of bliss. There's no doubt the news these days is worse than any acid trip in hell, and our moment of spending again needs the brakes put ON with all this talk of double dip recessions. It's scary out there. Fashion to the rescue? I don't know if that's the case, but these dresses from Peter Som's show today sure make me feel that a 2012 Spring filled with colorful dresses may be the answer to that bad trip. I mean- is it me, or do these dresses make you smile? That pink one with the maribou feathers? Come on. That dress instantly makes me want to dance. Yes it wacky and a bit crazy flapper auntie after too much gin, but I love that about it and would be thrilled to rock that, as well as the more simple choices shown here. Regardless of what is happening in the world, there is something about a good dress that just makes me feel good. Call me ridiculous, shallow, or idealistic, I care not. I simply love clothes- always have, always will, and that's that. How can you NOT?
Yea I care about lots of other things and my interests are all over the map, but a consistent theme for me is, and always will be fashion. And that's not negotiable.
To me, fashion is self expression, beauty, individuality, confidence, embracing one's mojo and running with it. It's pop culture, revlatory, creative, part cultural barometer, thermometer, and anthropologist.. It's sexy, fun, and can mark occasions when we remember the way we wore. It suits your every mood. It's putting on a vintage dress that you find in some dusty old thrift store that fits you like a glove and makes you feel like Monroe. Is fashion sometimes ridiculous and shallow and over the top? Why yes, of course it is, and that's what makes it so magically delicious. And so I ask you again, how can you not love it?
Sure I know there's candidates jockeying to rent out the White House for the next term with scary hair and even scarier ideals. Yes Al Gore is telling us we are all going to die, and soon, if we don't pay attention to the environment. And true, the American Dream is a twisted version of what it was, if it even still exists at all. Totally fucking depressing. Watch the shows instead- trust me- we all need a break. And plus, you should probably have something to wear when the shit goes down, just in case...cause that's what's up this fuck it I love fashion kinda Friday in the MIA, though I am very much yearning for the tents in the 212. Looks to me so far the Spring is very very feminine, colorful, and flower filled- Lord knows we need it. XO
Thursday, Thursday. Heady stuff this Fashion Week. . Though I am not there to enjoy the festivities, I will surely have much to say about all of the fabulousness...whipping my hair around in anticipation. More later...enjoy this photo by the great Avedon. That's what's up this runway of a Thursday in the MIA. XO
Wednesday, Wednesday you are humpalicious. Today started off with me jumping out of bed at 3 am with a big idea, then not being able to go back to sleep, and going to the gym at 5 am, followed by a 6 am spin class where I had the supreme misfortune of sitting next to a chatty Cathy who proceeded to regale me with all sorts of bullshit throughout the whole class. Needless to say, I'm a bit tired now.
But there's no time to be tired, especially for you dedicated followers of fashion. Fashion week begins in New York tomorrow, and I can't wait to see what's up for Spring 2012. If fashion is a barometer for our times, one can only imagine what we'll be wearing when the next President gets elected, or re-elected. Regardless of which side of the fence you sit on politically, you can't escape the anxiety seeping back into our DNA (did it ever go away?) so guessing many will be scaling back on spendy purchases again as talk of double dip takes hold. That's why it's so great that the Gap is back, baby. And back in a big way.
A bit of history for you- I have always been a staunch supporter of the Gap, from way back in the day. When I first moved to New York, I remember thinking that it seemed like there was a Gap on every block, and when I'd get stressed out from my various jobs in the city, I somehow always found comfort in walking into a Gap, where everything was neatly folded, color coded, and somewhat generic. It was my own little slice of retail heaven for a long time, my guilty pleasure, my secret arsenal for basics that mattered. I adored how the Gap could be worn by everyone- democratic fashion is fantastic- I have always adored how everyone will take the same white tee and rock it in their own way. Look no further than the now infamous Oscar moment where Sharon Stone rocked hers with a Vera Wang ball skirt and some Fred Leighton jewels. Genius, and voila- high and low dressing as we know it today was born.
In the past few seasons, the Gap has left me cold, and let me down. Though I respect Patrick Robinson, I did not at all like what he did for the Gap. The clothes were overpriced, ill fitting, and lacked the street appeal necessary to compete in the lower end these days. And with Zara going online, the Gap has much work to do to keep up. And though I dig the new Gap campaign (sorta- dig the pictures anyway shot by Cass Bird), the big problem with the Gap came down to the most important thing a brand needs to pay attention to- their product. And with Patrick gone, the clothes (the product) have gotten infinitely better. There's a lot of Alexander Wang/Rick Owens moments happening there, and there's a rebelliousness to the clothes that I am super duper digging on. The leather jackets are fabulous too, as are the accessories. Finally the clothes feel on trend, sexy, and cool again. I don't give a tick about their taco trucks or the story of how their jeans are made- what I do care about is the aesthetic I always adored is back, in a big way, and for that I am thankful. In this age of uncertainty, never deny the power of a good basic, at a good price. Never ever. All the advertising in the world and cool non traditional pop ups and such are ok, but it's still all about one thing- the clothes, people. Make the clothes good, and they will come. The Gap realized this this season. About time, really. I'm glad I can be a fan again.
Because the Gap is back, with cool clothes for all, people. Oh and the countdown for Missoni madness at Target begins- one week and counting, folks until full zig zag infiltration. Until then, check out the Gap. I guarantee you'll find something you'll like, and maybe you too can feel some stress relief from strolling the well folded aisles. Now they need to fix Banana Republic. Mad Men collection seems a bit two years ago to me....sigh. And that's what's up this American classic of a Wednesday in the M to the I to the A. All the love. XO
Hiya, Tuesday. It's back to school/work/life today for many of us, so get some.
If you read this blog on the regs, you know I just spent a week in Detroit on production. It's a bad ass town full of broken hearts and beauty and coolness. I loved it, and was grateful to have shot some beautiful photos all over the city and outskirts.
Whenever I visit cities I have never been and where I will rest my head for more than a few hours, I like to orientate myself and pretend I'm living there, just so I can see how it feels. Also because I like to pretend I am living in a hotel, a fantasy of mine since I was wee (not in an Eloise way, more in a fallen heiress on the lam with a dark past kind of way). Hotels are so glamorous, when they are glamorous, that is.
Anyway, I often visit the local gyms, spin studios, yoga classes of places I go because I like to feel local, I like to see what is routine to me at home feels like when I'm not. And it's a great way to get a true sense of a place by scoping out its dwellers. One of my favorite things to do is get my nails or hair done in another town. Nothing tricky, just a blow out and a chance to always feel at home.
What do I mean by that? I mean that beauty salons, if you are a woman, have a certain familiarity, no matter where they are. I suppose barber shops are the same for dudes, but beauty shops are more my thing and I love checking them out and seeing how locals pamper themselves. There's something so comforting to me about going to a hair salon or manicurist- it's altogether familiar, you know you're amongst friends, and after a week of shooting nothing but butch American cars with a bunch of butch dudes, it's nice to squeeze in some pampering and get a pretty pink manicure (Essie is pretty much a staple, thank the Lord).
For instance, my manicurist was Albanian, her husband, an artist who paints in their basement, she was in the film industry back home but could not find work in the states so does nails. She believes that all people should do something creative, she's dying to go to New York, and she thinks it's cool that Beyonce is pregnant. See how wonderful that conversation was? This is what goes on in the salon. Female bonding and such, sure, but I'm more interested in sharing stories with strangers, especially strangers that want to make me look pretty.
Now my hair stylist was a cool rock and roll chick with a small dog and a burning interest to travel. She had never been on a plane and hoped to visit France, and maybe California. She does not like Vanessa Hudgens with short hair (nor do I). She gave me a lovely little blow dry and I was on my way, happy with the conversation and comfort that a little bit of beauty can bring.
Ladies, if you're ever feeling lonely in a town you don't know, or if you simply want to feel more local than tourist, get thee to the salon. It's a sure way to feel connected, it's inevitably comforting, and you get to see the style of a crowd you may not be used to, which is also super fun (chicks in my fancy Detroit hotel nabe were all about straight blowouts, shaggy bobs, and layers). It's nice to know in this uncertain time in our uncertain world, there's a place that always feels like home, no matter what. Cause that's what's up this home is where the hair is kind of Tuesday in the MIA. Be careful out there this week. XO
Hiya, Friday. It's the home stretch for me in Detroit and I had an amazing time. Yesterday on the ride home from set,I saw some real sadness and suffering- this city is in need of so much help- so many burnt out neighborhoods and poverty- and although we as art lovers and gloomy urban warriors find the decay strangely beautiful, it's also quite horrible and shocking. I so hope that the auto industry, as well as any other industry that is smart enough to make Detroit home, will employ more people and rebuild. No hurricane rolled through here- more like a perfect storm that tore the American dream asunder and tossed it aside. It's easier for some of us (though I can't imagine there are any of you out there who, if not directly affected by the economy don't know somebody close to you that has been) to relocate for work, stop shopping at Whole Foods for all of our groceries and Bloomingdales for our purses, or maybe polish our own nails to save some money, but in this city there are areas that are the barometer for the intensity of what is happening in this country- it's impossible to ignore the extreme economic hardship that this city has endured. I do hope that the big buzz over people moving back to cities will also bring more life into Detroit. It's worthy of such gifts. It's a beautiful place with super cool people that still love living here, regardless.
And speaking of gifts, I've been working with a wonderful photographer who has had a fascinating and charmed life- the life of a man who has lived 1000 years or more. He is self taught, has been around the world and back a milion times, and has married a woman much his junior, but also his muse, and vice versa. He is colorful, eccentric, entertaining, and very much his own person. He is just the type of human being that restores my faith in a simple thing: living in one's truth.There is no greater gift, is there?
Many of us who have worked in advertising (and surely many other industries) complain incessantly about how hard work is, how much pressure we are under, and how we can't take another minute of the insanity. I'm not at all disagreeing, but somehow I think there are too many people doing what they were not meant to do. If we all stopped and thought about whether we would be devastated if we could no longer work in our jobs, if suddenly they were taken from us (not talking about financial loss, but emotional) and we could never go back, would it be sad? Probably not. This photographer, if he could not take pictures, would not be sad, I can tell you that. Because although he is fantastic at it and has made a great career of it, he would be agile enough to simply move on- because his truth is not in taking pictures, but in being a creative free spirit who would find some other way to be who he is and contribute to the world. People who know who they are are nimble like that.
If you have found that place of truth and purity, good for you. Many of you under 30 may not even understand what I'm talking about, but as you age you realize you have to be who you are, or you start living in a place of regret. Life is too short and too precious. My truth is revealing itself more every day- and although I don't love agency politics and reactionary spaz attacks, I do realize I can still enjoy going on production, as long as I am allowed to assign my own stamp to it. And we all know I love writing, and this blog and some other assignments of late have allowed me to feel whole and ultimately true, each and every day. I looked around yesterday and realized it's still possible to have fun in this business, as long as you have the freedom to be who you are and work with people that are talented. That's the bottom line. Don't work for anyone or any place that doesn't allow your personality and style to come through, or who you don't respect. It'll get ya, I promise. There are no subsitutes for your quirks or ya yas. You're you and that's that. Like the sign above says. And once you stop blaming others for your unhappiness, you may realize you're not as unhappy as you think- you're probably unhappy because you're not living your very own unapologetic life.
And once you come to the acceptance of the fact that your work style or style in general is not going to please everyone (and that not everyone is going to love what you're throwing down), it's even more proof that you need to find those people that bring out your best work, your best mood, and your best shot. Unless you know something I don't, you only go around once. So be who you are already, would you? So you can simply be HERE.
Just some random thoughts for you as I wind down from a fun week. May you all have a lovely long weekend if you are stateside and may all the others enjoy some weekend time too. Do something that makes you happy. Cause that's what's up this authentically and unapologetic Friday in the D Rock. Looking forward and never back. XO
Oh and ps...thought of this just now on the treadmill and wanted to add...don't put up with anything but the best- if you work with people that suck, either work around them to make or do great things or get the hell out. Bad people suck. Oh and don't forget how lucky we are to have the luxury to ponder such things- very lucky indeed.