Princess Monster Truck

Princess Monster Truck is my latest obsession. One of my favorite photos of her is this Self Service style picture of her looking ever so sleazy and sultry.  I know one cat who's milkshake must bring all the boys to the yard.

For Agatha A. Nitecka - Elena Dawson

Elena Dawson dresses 

Film Still from Wuthering Heights by Agatha A. Nitecka

Dover Street Market stocks a designer named Elena Dawson who's work is so incredibly personal and beautiful.  Looking inside reveals uneven hand stitches and raw edges reminiscent of the days when every girl/boy wanted to be a fairy princess and make their own dress.  When you made clothes purely for your personal enjoyment.  Her work also always makes me think of my friend Agatha, who is the closest thing to a real-life fairy princess that I've ever met.  I don't know Elena personally, but I'd love to make a virtual introduction here in the hopes that one day, Agatha can start wearing Elena's clothes just because it makes so much sense! 

The Idea of Fame

One of the things I used to want, was to be an i-D cover girl. I have always loved the playful and iconic photography.  Grace Coddington is a perfect representation of this goal because she was famous in her own industry but never to the outside world until the September Issue aired.  The best part is, she became famous for all the right reasons.  It began with her work but those who couldn't necessarily relate to the intimate world of fashion fell in love with her due to to her passion and personality.  Which has me wondering, why is it that when you tell someone you want to be famous, there's almost always a negative connotation?

Mentioning my desire for fame has always been met with first a strong emotional reaction that you can feel radiate from your friend like a punch to the gut, as if I must be really pompous to want such a thing.  It is then followed by an incredulous "you want to be famous?"   We then launch into a debate about what fame means and how they don't want to be famous.  However, I don't ever recall hearing about why. Why don't they want to be famous? What does fame mean to them?

For me, it has always been the idea that your work or you as a person, resonates enough with others to inspire or motivate them to do as you do. Of course, there are varying degrees of fame.  Rest assured I am not talking about wanting to be hoarded by thousands of people or followed by paparazzi.  I just want to be able to show others that if you want to change things, you have to be that change (as Ghandi says). Fame allows you to reach a larger audience and to create the change you crave quickly.

I've decided not to feel ashamed to admit that I want fame.  I have too much to say and have no desire to let others tell me what is normal and what isn't.  We are all important in our own way and if it takes fame to make that clear, then that is what I want.  At the end of the day, it's just a word. The context of it is up to you. If you see it negatively, that's what it'll be.  I see it as a way towards freedom.  

This quote (from an Apple advertisement) never fails to impress:

“Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can praise them, disagree with them, quote them, disbelieve them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They invent. They imagine. They heal. They explore. They create. They inspire. They push the human race forward. Maybe they have to be crazy. How else can you stare at an empty canvas and see a work of art? Or sit in silence and hear a song that’s never been written? Or gaze at a red planet and see a laboratory on wheels? While some see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.”

Sue Ellen's resume

Did anyone else ever wonder what was on Sue Ellen's faux resume on Don't Tell Mom The Babysitter's Dead? Since I'm in a similar position I found it intriguing! Particularly that she claimed to be a design assistant at Comme Des Garçons Tokyo haha. Enjoy!

RE-EMERGING!

Balenciaga SS13

I haven't been this excited about fashion for a while and finally, I feel I can relate again! I want to save all my money, grow out my fringe and do an insane amount of aerobics so I can re-emerge as a Balenciaga butterfly!! 

Self Service Tumblr

Simple and Beautiful

Castle Gardena - Amazing Homes Part II

from W Magazine photographed by Simon Watson

An Incredible photograph. Enough said.

Duchess of Alba - Amazing Homes Part I

from W Magazine photographed by Simon Watson

It looks like Hogwarts x Coraline. I'd pay to walk down this hallway. MAGICAL!

Secret Shifters

Sometimes when I am feeling less than perfectly happy, I have to retrieve those feelings by turning to a secret shifter, which is a folder of random things that makes me instantly happy. This retarded cat from Natsume's Book of Friends brings me such joy! How the simple things in life can do this is incredible!

Thanks Keith for introducing me to this anime!

Romantic Ramblings Inspired by Breakfast With The Love of My Life

"When I say, "I love you," it's not because I want you or because I can't have you. It has nothing to do with me. I love what you are, what you do, how you try. I've seen your kindness and your strength. I've seen the best and the worst of you. And I understand with perfect clarity exactly what you are. You're a hell of a woman."

I copy and pasted this and for whatever reason, can't get rid of the baby blue highlighter, but, more the more important issue at hand is, how great is this quote? It's by Joss Whedon, is that the guy who wrote Buffy the Vampire Slayer?! Wow, it's both deep and contemporary. As sarcastic as that sounds, it is 100% truth. How amazing would it be for someone to say this to you? Girls, aspire to be with no one else but the man who feels this way.

History + Nostalgic References

I've been looking at photos online of various bloggers etc...and we've (when I say we, I mean most of the fashion set age group from their teens to mid/late twenties) is referencing 90s/grunge right now. The pictures are cute and all because it's an era that's already passed that we know is visually pleasing...but does anyone ever think how this will skew the historical referencing years down the line? Obviously it'll never be as authentic as the real 90s but will we want to remember the 2010s as the year that look like the 90s? It's kind of weird isn't it? Perhaps this is why we are all so fucking bored.

Although, while trying to find a picture for this posting, I came across a Sex and the City reference from I think 1st or 2nd season and actually, they look incredible!! This is the 90s I'm thinking of. Vogue 90s, Jil Sander. Even Miranda looks cool.

Obsessed with this song!!

Don't know if it'll make it to the final edit of the runway soundtrack but it's a good hint to how I'm feeling for the ending of the collection. It's kind of romantic in a high school prom kind of way. All I know is that she's so cool and everyone is totally in love with her!!

Christopher Kane x Mary Katrantzou

Colette window display : Paris

Jil Sander AW 2011

WANT #1.

Maybe There Are More Important Things Than Being Really Really Ridiculously Good Looking

Remember in Zoolander when this conversation occured?

"Maybe we should be doing something
more meaningful with our lives.  Like helping people.

Uh Derek, what people?

I don't know. People who need help.
 
Models help people. 
They make them feel good about themselves.
 They also show them how to dress cool and wear their hair in interesting ways."

Well, I agree. I definitely want to wear my hair like Abbey Lee Kershaw. 

So Thanks for helping me Abbey!!

"Men Are Better Designers Than Women"...?

Christian Dior

During my final year at St. Martin's, Peter Louis Crown, the owner of House of Lachasse, came in to give a lecture on tailoring and design. He told fascinating stories about old customers and English heritage, how he came to own the House of Lachasse, but the one thing he said that stood out most to me was "MEN ARE BETTER DESIGNERS THAN WOMEN."

His explanation was that men don't design for themselves, therefore, they are not restricted by anything and create more beautiful things. At first I was offended, but when a fellow woman in the industry agreed with him, I became curious. Afterall, good design is in the eye of the beholder. BUT having always been a fan of elaborate french embroidery and cutting myself, I have to admit that the designers I have always loved are indeed male. Dior, Balenciaga, Lacroix...all the most amazing houses have been headed by men.

If I could re-write my thesis, it would be a study on this debate. It would be so interesting. Perhaps I will continue to post comparisons on this blog.

Prada, You are so Brilliant!

Prada Espadrille platform sneakers

The perfect blend of comedy and style

Hypothetical Christmas Gift List

Item #1: Junya Watanabe Man M-51 Parka for MY MAN

I love that the love of my life is stylish but in the most masculine and understated way. God I love him!

Silent Hill Nurses

Aside from the unenviable Bloody Spider Veins on their legs, the nurses from silent hill are so unbelievably hot! It makes me understand why girls want fake boobs or wonderbras. How amazing would it be if Victoria Secret used these nurses for a Halloween ad campaign?

I normally stay away from horror imagery but thanks to my boyfriend and his obsession with it, I now find myself dreaming of being chased by zombies etc. The Silent Hill nurses are one of the "nicer" inspirations I've gotten from him. Now I am obsessed with finding latex white nurse costumes for Halloween. Thanks Hunny! (I'm being sarcastic)

Heavy Metal Magazine - Print Inspiration

I found this 3 pack of 1980's Heavy Metal Magazine at Half Price Books today.
The girl on the cover is the inspiration for Debbie Harry's Album Cover. The content is a bit gory for my taste but the cover art of the magazine is wonderful.