All Hallows Eve

I'm thinking of dressing up as Carrie Bradshaw.

Ever since I was a small child I have been pretty much obsessed with Halloween. It's the one night of the year where you can wear whatever you want and get away with it. As Cady in Mean Girls so famously remarked, "Halloween is the one night a year when girls can dress like a total slut and no other girls can say anything about it." Of course I am not advocating dressing in an obscene costume just because you can, I am advocating going all out with whatever it is you decide to be. I am still in the throes of what to wear tonight, but I do promise to make it fabulous. So happy Halloween to everyone dressing up, and for those too cool to put on a costume I send my condolences.

Coco does Korea

These are all absolutely stunning photos of one of my favorite models of the moment, Coco Rocha. The images are from the October issue of Korean Vogue, which only adds to my argument that American Vogue is diminuized by its global counterparts. I am currently lusting over the hair.

Unless you love someone, nothing else makes any sense.

I cannot claim to be a fashion blogger without writing a post about the beauty that was Johnny Depp and Kate Moss...together. Normally, I would reject the notion of conformity and steer clear from a trite subject, but this time I have conceded. Johnny Depp is brilliant. Kate Moss is brilliant (in a different sense than Johnny though). Together they exceed the earthly capacity for collective edginess and make everyone else feel inadequate.

And, like all good things, they came to an end. I don't think it's appropriate to continue mourning their break up, in fact I think we should celebrate that they came together in the first place. One thing I love about the picture above is the youth in Kate's face. She seems to have a look of adolescence rebellion, we're young and in love so no one can stop us. The fashion world still daydreams about their relationship and I can only hope that two equally incredible people like Kate and Johnny can get together sometime soon and give us bloggers something new to talk about.

*please note that the post title is an e.e. cummings quote and not of my original creation

Best friends

We say we don't need them, we say that's it's just an elementary label, but inside we know we can't live without them. A best friend is the person you call when you're laying on your bed on the verge of tears because you simply cannot decide what to wear to the party. A best friend is the person who never needs to say even a word because one look reveals everything. A best friend is the person who sits patiently and listens to all of your problems without passing judgement. Most of all though, a best friend is with you for the long run.

Some of the world's most famous best friends are the ecletic pairing of designers who produce year after year of flawless work (ie. Proenza Schouler). Between best friends exists some undeniable chemistry that can create the most brilliant works of art, sports teams, and literary masterpieces. Sometimes, I feel as though we too often celebrate our family in lieu of our friendships, and although family is critically important, so is friendship. After all, we do get to choose our friends.

Ladies and gentleman, the beautiful Marion Cotillard

I must admit that lately I have been boycotting American Vogue. I feel as though it is so outshined by its European counterparts that I can no longer afford to spend five dollars on something not wholly fabulous. This said, I almost died when I saw Marion Cotillard on the cover of the November issue. She represents that small percentage of actresses who are real. Her performance in La Vie en Rose was incredible, and if you haven't seen the movie I highly reccomend you do. The photos above are from French Elle of May 2009 (more proof that European magazines put American ones to shame). Enjoy. And be sure to say a little prayer that Anna Wintour will stop playing Oprah and start becoming a little (dare I say?) edgier.

And my apologies for not writing for a while, life sometimes just gets in the way.

Gone too soon

For some reason, some of the world's most iconic figures have died prematurely (ie. Marilyn Monroe, Kurt Cobain, Heath Ledger, JFK, Albert Camus, Princess Diana, Michael Jackson). International phenomenons occur when these already famous people die and their stardom rockets from mediocrity into the stuff of legends. We imagine all the additional great things these people could have done if they had lived longer. We allow our minds to place these people on a pedestal because of their potential. Often, when celebrities fade out of their prime and grow old we forget about them. Yet, when their latent health problems emerge from the closet and kill them or when their car crashes suddenly, society sanctifies them.

I am not sure why this interests me so much, but talking about Albert Camus' premature death today in English made me think about all the other cult figures of modern history who also died in their prime. I wonder if it's some kind of cult itself, these young deaths. Just imagine the world's most famous people sitting at a table with one another planning out their deaths to ensure their iconic status. (P.S. John and Kate, Octomom, and Balloon Boy you would definitely not be invited to these meetings. To be an icon you must make an actual contribution to society.) It's an absurd idea, I know, but isn't the entire notion of celebrity absurd as well?

NERD

Tomorrow is Nerd Day at school and I am at a bit of a loss as to what I should wear. Should I go for the classic Erkel look of suspenders and cropped pants, or should I dress a la Dwight and don a tie and tortoise-rimmed glasses? In theory, Nerd Day would require no dressing up because the wardrobe is not what makes a nerd. Yet, I will eventually put together some ensemble and only hope that I can properly pay homage to all those that are responsible for modern technology.

These boots were made for walking

Contrary to the title of this post, I doubt I could actually walk in these boots (let alone afford them, they are $1200). Yet, all it took was one look at these Christian Louboutins on the Barney's website and I knew I was in love. There is something so striking about these shoes. They immediately make me think of something out of Charles Dicken's Great Expectations in the way that they scream 17th century England. Despite the historical references nothing could be more modern than a throwback to the footwear of centuries past. And although this exact pair won't be residing in my closet any time soon I can be placated with thoughts of all the extremely intelligent conversations (in British accents of course) these boots could instigate.

Follow the yellow brick road...

I am beginning to feel as Dorothy must have felt as she gazed upon the yellow brick road for the first time, not knowing what lay ahead of her. So far, senior year has just made me realize how much I still have left to accomplish. I also hope that at the end of the yellow brick road that is the college application process I will find myself in my own Emerald City (and by Emerald City I do not mean Seattle).

While I cannot wait to finish high school and just move on, I also know that this is the year during which everything changes. I can only hope that the scarecrow, the tin man, and the cowardly lion will be waiting on my path to help lead the way because let’s face it, I am going to need all the support I can get. So for all the other high school seniors out there faced with application deadlines and AP classes, just know that we’re not alone, and that at the end of the road something worthwhile awaits us.

Just do it.

Only good can come of it.

Currently Reading:

The Stranger by Albert Camus

The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test by Tom Wolfe

Still Alice by Lisa Genova

Scarlett and Pete make an album.

If solely the cover photo doesn't make you want to buy the album, than the music should. While I am often skeptical of the singer-actress types (ie. Hilary Duff, Paris Hilton, Miley Cyrus), Scarlett proves over and over again that she can easily shake the stereotypes being imposed on her. Like fellow singer-actress Zooey Deschanel, Scarlett's voice has an ethereal yet raw quality not heard often enough in today's music. As of right now my two favorite tracks are "Relator" (the album's first single) and "Clean". If you are a fan of Zooey's collaboration project that is She & Him then I promise that you will love Scarlett and Pete. You can see that life's for us to talk about...

He who makes the good girls go bad

There is no better example of the ultimate bad boy than Gossip Girl's Chuck Bass. While we try to pretend that we aren't a little bit attracted to his slime ball of a character, we secretly swoon at his slick delivery of lines and impeccable suits. Although in real life the bad boys may not always be the best of ideas, Chuck Bass gives a perfect mixture of distance and temptation. This is exactly why Gossip Girl is my most guilty pleasure.

Let your imagination run wild and frolic with the monsters

On a scale of one to ten I would rate my excitement for Where the Wild Things Are as about an eleven give or take. Of course I loved the book as a child (and still love it), but rereading it made me rediscover the beauty of imagination. In fact, imagination is central to fashion. One might even argue that fashion is imagination materialized. We all have our own little worlds to some extent, those little places we go in our daydreams where the sun shines brighter and anything is possible. I even had imaginary friends as a child: Pally and Olivia. I can still tell you exactly how they looked and their little quirks because for me they were far from imaginary. So, where do we draw the line between imagination and reality? I hope that Where the Wild Things Are will blur that line a little and revert me back to my childish dreams of magical places. And if this doesn't happen, well at least I have the incredible soundtrack to listen to.

Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da

Louise Gray's debut collection was amazing. In fact, the Scottish designer who I had never heard of before a couple of days ago put together an astounding collection (note the shoes and eye make-up). Here are a few little ditties to go along with this wonderfully eccentric collection.

revolver- madonna (ft. lil wayne)

all is love- karen o and the kids

relator- pete yorn & scarlett johansson

furr- blitzen trapper

hang you from the heavens- the dead weather

dying is fine- ra ra riot

sleepyhead- passion pit

blame it on the girls- mika

little bit- lykke li

kids- mgmt

ob-la-di, ob-la-da- the beatles

up, up, and away- kid cudi

daylight- matt and kim

Rest in peace Irving

I just found out that Irving Penn died today. It has left me a little speechless (a rare occasion I assure you). He revolutionized fashion photography by creating an unprecented aesthetic in his photos. May his legacy live on in his art.

The girl that looks like a boy that looks like a girl that looks like a boy

Beautiful Coco.

Classic Annie Hall.

The one and only Ashley Olsen.

Girls can wear jeans
And cut their hair short
Wear shirts and boots
'Cause it's okay to be a boy

-Madonna

I have always held some inexplicable fascination for women dressing in menswear and pulling it off. There is something so powerful about a woman comfortable enough with her feminity to be able to supress it by wearing something masculine. The two people that immediately rush into my mind are Coco Chanel and Diane Keaton. Coco obviously was the pioneer of the entire menswear movement in women's fashion, yet Diane Keaton and Ashley Olsen make it more modern and relevant. So, please, empower yourself. Wear a tie to work, wear pants with an button down to a formal event, do something different. I think sometimes we forget to make a statement with what we wear and no one wants to slide softly into the background.

For the cynical romantics

I saw this photo earlier today and it reminded me of my favorite Billy Collins poem (and maybe even all-time favorite poem), "Vade Mecum".

I want the scissors to be sharp

and the table to be perfectly level

when you cut me out of my life

and paste me in that book you always carry.

What's your crime?

I think there is something so genuine about people admitting their guilty pleasures or flaws publicly. So of course I immediately fell in love with the Jane Magazine (which unfortunately went under) photo shoot at the Sundance Film Festival which asked actors the telling question, what's your crime? I think my favorites are Zooey Deschanel and Danny Masterson, but they are all quite striking. As for my crime...I am not sure I am ready to admit it quite yet.

Dear Mr. Lagerfeld,

I am perpetually in awe of both your work and your being. You always seem to be able to capture the most authentic version of both culture and youth in your clothes and to say that I am envious would be an understatement. Your most current collection from Paris for Spring 2010 is, in my humble opinion, your best work yet. While at a first glance the collection may seem to be a visionary minimalistic approach to spring fashion, a second glance betrays that first assumption because this collection is all about the details. These details are in fact extraordinary metal details that denote the heavy metal images you evoked with your fashion week invitation. I hope that I am not alone when I say that your fashion genius is unmatched in the business.

Sincerely,
the girl you sent spinning into dreams of heavy metal and tangerine colored jumpsuits

La vie Parisienne

My favorite time of the year has finally rolled around; it's Paris fashion week. And while admittedly the shows themselves excite me, what excites me more is the street style. Somehow the Parisians manage to wear clothes better than the models do, a true accomplishment in the fashion world. I am beginning to think there is something in the French blood that makes them so intrinsically well dressed. So while I still sit here attempting to figure out the French secret to style, I have included three of my favorite photos so far from fashion week. Enjoy.

I want to be like them when I grow up.