resort favorites, part I

costume national: really awesome collection, liked the colors, loved the shoes.

balenciaga: duh. the height of cool. could probably wear when humans live on the moon and you would still look fresh.

abaete: well, there's really no way that i wasn't going to like this collection. give me clean design, menswear touches, and a black and white palette and i can't say no.

ADAM: i loved this collection for summer, however, it is all very simple. i don't believe that fashion always has to be avant garde or even forward thinking. if someone can perfect basics and make a person look pretty, that too is a skill, and a necessary one at that. simplicity can be an art. plus, i thought that "cable knit" sweater idea was pretty clever, but i'm a sucker for that kind of stuff. :)

so sue me!

but really, don't.

i did end up buying that old navy vena cava knockoff.

and of course i wore it for the SECOND TIME tonight and already it has some wine or salad dressing or something on it. god i rule.


watcha think, does it need a necklace?

lulu chang - not so ugly

she's cool, funny, well dressed, totally edumacated, has an awesome job and is the marketing force behind one of my absolute favorite fashion sites on the net. its true, i'm a total fangirl for lulu chang. take notes kids, and if you have yet to check out the browser's wet dream that is chictopia, do it now right after you read this interview!

1. what exactly is it that you do?! [career-wise, besides chictopia]
I am a freelance contemporary arts writer/ editor for a really awesome indie mag. But right now, Chictopia is my baby. Previous to this, I worked in fashion pr/ production in New York for various young labels.

2. when did you first become interested in fashion?
Tiffany's self-titled album when I was 5 years old. It made me want to dress like an 80s pop star. I've since decided to retire this look - but I do occasionally enjoy a nice body-con mini dress.

3. did you ever consider any non-fashion careers?
Technically, what I do now is not fashion - and I love it. I still help out my friends who work in fashion on and off because I just enjoy it. To be honest, I think I'm far too California-nized to ever do the NYC fashion thing again.

4. your style is so personal and unique, yet chictopia is basically a place to go to get inspired by others - do you think your style comes more from your natural aesthetic eye or from outside inspiration?
Mmm... a little of both? The great thing about Chictopia is that everyone is so damn chic. My outside inspiration are usually really pretty boys - Adam Ant and such.

5. where did you go to college and what for?
I went to UC Berkeley, I was an English and Political Science double major.

6. top three fav. items of clothing, besides your beloved jewelry? :D
Any of my Alexander Wang knits - buffalo plaid or oversized cashmere cardigan, Topshop bandage mini, and my beat up and worn to death Comme des Garcons combat boots.

7. top three fav. cities?
San Francisco, London, New York

8. top three bands or albums right now?
I've kind of fell out of following current bands. I went back to listening to what I listened to in college: Adam Ant, Kate Bush, Sugababes (god I love pop music... )

9. $1,000 bucks to blow on one item right now - what is it?
This Christopher Kane dress: http://www.style.com/slideshows/fashionshows/S2008RTW/CKANE/RUNWAY/00220m.jpg. All the zips and ruffles really turn me on. And I have these vintage Justin Roper boots that are similar to the ones on the runway minus the metal toe.

10. what are your biggest fashion pet peeves?
People who don't dress for their size - things that are too tight or don't button. And I really hate those striped shirts from Express that every man thinks is sexy time for ladies at the club.

11. is it weird being an internet superstar? [hah seriously!] do you get recognized on the street?
Am I? I'm kind of always used to homeless bums cursing at me on the street. So when people say they've seen me around it doesn't really phase me. Someone at Opening Ceremony, one of the most bad-ass stores in the Lower East Side recognized me. That was cool.

12. what advice would you give to fashion industry hopefuls for breaking in and being successful?
I started interning when I was 19 for a pretty large fashion/ design/ architecture mag that is now based in New York. Since then, it's been a series of friends/ colleagues in the industry and a mutual respect for the business that has lead me up 'til this point. Be observant, hard-working, and smart. Also, don't expect to make any money.

13. and finally, do you have any goals/new projects in mind for the future or are you content with just being the coolest girl on the internet? :D
Again, am I? My team at Chictopia and I are working really hard on the site. We want to take over the world - it's gross.

summertiiiiime

i know, major slacking over here. but i promise good stuff soon. :)
i looove these sandals, if you couldn't tell.

chictopia faves

velvetunderwear

rissa

rissa

s33z

s33z

unwisepedestrian

maleugly

missinterpret

nonno

nourahshammari

pauline

carolinephoto

carolinephoto

cherrymacaroon

lindarrr

looops

not gunna lie

i didn't wear the heels out of the house. i still need practice. :D

we like to use the term "inspired"

Q: where have you seen me before?

A: thaaat's right, the vena cava fall 2007 collection!




Q: where can you pay $35 to get a pretty knockoff dress and another heaping of guilt for your fashion conscience?

A: old navy! see you there!

gradjumagation

so on sunday i was officially freed from the bonds of that fascist machine known as high school. we had to wear a white dress and white shoes. in a move of utter brilliance i decided that graduation night was a good time to purchase and wear my first pair of heels. four inch heels, no less. [i mean yeah, i had previously worn some hideous sparkly kitten heels to a homecoming dance freshmen year, but i prefer not to talk about that.] so yeah i got these heels at old navy for about thirty bucks. they are actually super cute. and they actually made my feet feel like hell. so i took them off during the ceremony and slipped them back on just in time to walk across the stage. and no, i did not fall, thank you jesus.

again, horrible picture quality, i'm sorry i'm sorry but i'm more poor than sorry.



now i get to start PAYING to go to school, oh joy. at least there won't be any ridiculous dress code restrictions. no sleeveless shirts? how about "no hideous uggs and tacky juicy couture track suits?" now that's a rule i could get behind.

omgreendocs

SO COOL!


i wanna get some docs so bad but i'm not sure if i will be able to pull them off. i haven't got those camille-esque legs. [those of you who are true fashion blog devotees will know what i mean.]

photo via facehunter, bien sur.

lurked, volume two: angela stella

if you remember a while back i did a little post on the wonderful mark p, co-founder and creative powerhouse behind the LA group PRMTVE. now i would like to introduce y'all to mark's gf and partner and crime, the beautiful and talented angela stella, all around cool kid and photographer extraordinaire:



i'm a huge fan of angela's photography so i showcased some of it below and had a little chat with angela via myspace about her inspirations and aspirations. i have no doubt that angela will go far with her artistic eye and skill behind the camera. also, she has excellent taste in music and some seriously awesome hair. you can find out more about angela and see more of her photography on myspace and flickr.




How did you get interested in photography?
Since I was 5 my Aunt Angela from Greece comes out to visit every year for a month during Winter Break and she always take pictures of everything. Growing up, I wanted to be just like her so I began taking pictures of anything I saw lying around. At the age of 13 I picked up a fashion magazine and my vision on photography expanded immensely. Since then I’ve been aspiring to be a fashion photographer.

Favorite photographers/artists?
Ryan McGinley, Lina Sheynius, Juergen Teller, Diane Arbus

What inspires your photography?
Human beings, Places, Stories, Honesty, Vintage, Diversity, Old-school, Fashion, and a little bit of everything that has made an impact on my life

What inspires you and your style?
Fashion magazines, 1970’s , imagination, passion, family

Dream photoshoot?
Shooting for Nylon Mag on the streets of Tokyo with every single person that would like to be in my picture.

Favorite magazines?
Nylon, NME, VOGUE, PC PHOTO

three favorite books:
Sex, Drugs, and Coco Puffs
I Love You is Back
Born in the year of the butterfly knife

three favorite movies:
Gladiator
Pulp Fiction
Good Fellas

three favorite albums:
The Black Keys - Magic Potion
Immortal Technique - Revolutionary, Vol. 2
Muddy Waters - I’m Ready

top three places in the world you’d like to visit:
Tokyo, Ireland, Australia

Who are your style icons?
my best friend Shelby and my boyfriend Mark ;]

Describe your style:
New-wave, but old-school

If you had $1,000 to blow right now on one item, what would you get?
The Canon Mark 3!

What’s your summer soundtrack?
Sublime, The Black Keys, Shwayze, MGMT, The Expendables, Girl Talk, Leftover Crack, Howlin Wolf, Cool Kids, Bloc Party

What do you plan on doing after HS?
Attending Brookes Institute of Photography, makin money, taking pictures

Person you would most like to meet?
There’s not one person in particular, I’d like to meet anyone.

And umm… what shampoo do you use? Seriously - best hair ever.
Natures Gate Tea Tree Calming Shampoo!