The Curiosity Cabinet

Get Some Head & Shoulders, Bitch.

2010-05-30T18:30:00.000-07:00

A shot from a few weeks ago with my friend Danny Krug, and his Yashika T4

I have a question. How do you overcome the staggering flakiness of our generation? In a personal capacity, its the height of rudeness in my opinion. People don't show up for plans, or text you at the proposed hour to tell you they're going to be three hours late, or bail the day of, or simply fall off the face of the earth. It sends out the message that they think your time is ok to waste, and that you're not important enough to merit a two second phone call to confirm or cancel plans.

In a professional setting, I have to wonder how much any of these kids really want what they're working (or not working) for. Do they not understand the power of a network or a good reputation? I'm confused. They talk and talk and talk, they want to do shoots, they want to set up fabulous projects on location here and there, and then the time comes and they pretend like they don't know what you're talking about. Or maybe they really don't - they were pretty smashed at the party the night before.

I have one friend working towards an artistic profession who is on the ball - professional, timely, honest about his schedule limitations, and willing to sign a contract. Everyone else - and I mean everyone - is so flakey it makes my skin crawl. setting up a project, even on a small scale, is so fraught with etiquette peril that I almost don't want to bother.

Except that this is my career too and I want to have as much experience under my belt as possible. And while I hope that the best in the biz are as professional as my friend, I know that most artistic types can't answer a phone call or show up to a shoot on time for love nor money. And I need to learn how to deal with that, what the best ways are to navigate through that and still end up with a photo and an experience. I just don't know how to do it.

Kiss Me, Kate

2010-02-16T09:56:00.000-08:00

So...I have a small thing I would like to point out. To whit - Kate Spade rocks. My socks, your socks, your grandma's socks. They just rock.

They also rock for a very specific reason - aside from their fun bright pops of colour and nifty takes on 60's classics and their stationary (my God, their stationary!) they have a little sumpin' sumpin' extra on their website called "Behind the Curtain" which has a section called "Things We Love".

This little crumpet never fails to give me pause - the section is replete with inspirations found by patrons of Kate Spade and Kate Spade staffers. Everything from the polar bears at Coney Island to the strange and wonderful Art-o-Mat (seriously, go check it out, I'm totally going to find one) and is presented in a delightful mood board kind of way. Music, interesting articles, artists, projects, moleskines, websites, products, and generally delightful ideas jostle for space and make me giddy with excitement.

There are also sections every couple of inspirations where you can click and contribute an inspiration of your own, thereby spreading the love, so to speak.

In short, Kate Spade makes me happy, and you should make the electronic journey so that you may be happy as well. Its well worth the trip, but pack a toothbrush because you may be extending your stay when you see how awesome it is.

Bisous!

Bangin' Bags

2009-10-01T10:51:00.000-07:00

Photo source: Style.com

Some of my favorite bags from A/W 2009 RTW - Fendi and Prada.

The Fendi bags ( 1 - 3 ) are a mix of, from what I can see, at least five different materials - wood slats, crocodile skin or leather, metal, precious stone, and cloth. They're pretty amazing...the construction is so well thought out that it sort of reminds me of those secret compartment boxes...where you have to push all the pieces around to find and open a hidden compartment. Every panel on these bags fits together like a puzzle.

They're interesting if you think about them, almost like bags made of found materials or scraps...which is what fashion is for most people right now, certainly for me. It looks like they were reconstructed out of bits and pieces of past season Fendi bags. There are signatures peeking out everywhere - crocodile skin, large stones - but these are a new take. Updated colours in an inspired bid for recycling.

And then there's Prada - classic, as always. I've been thinking about traveling allot recently - I think I want to work for a little while and then use the money I make to take a world tour. Now, since I'm nothing if not impractical, my tour will not be of the backpacking variety. I am no backpacker. I am high maintenance in some ways. I've decided on a small suitcase, but that's the only concession I'm making to long-term travel. The small suitcase will be Longchamp (Le Pliage) and I will still need a carry on. Voila! Prada's Cervo tote - big enough to hold all my on -flight necessities and chic enough to satisfy my style requirements.

Of course, its retailing for upwards of $1500 so I'll be in search of a cheaper alternative.

But it has to be red, and it has to be BIG.

Brown paper packages tied up with string...

2009-08-20T12:10:00.000-07:00

Just quickly a few of my favorite things, which, of course, mostly have to do with fashion :)

1. Rayban Aviators! 2. Paris... 3. Motorcycle boots to go with my girly dresses 4. Masks! 5. Audrey Hepburn everything 6. Red Lipstick 7. My Camera 8. Pretty Lingerie 9. Books! 10. Beautiful Heels!

& Fortune

2009-08-10T10:17:00.000-07:00

Is it worth it?

Batty for Banhart and Dotty for Dukoff...Oh Yeah, I Said It

2009-08-09T11:47:00.000-07:00

All photos care of LA Times, copyright Lauren Dukoff

I saw these photos in the LA Times this morning and I went nuts. They're amazing, and that's coming from someone who was never a big fan of Devendra Banhart. It's not that I didn't like his music, it was just that it didn't really move me in either direction. But that was before I new about how stylish he was. Eeeevvvverrything's different now.

These photos remind me of the Avedon portraits of Andy Warhol's Factory Family, in a way. They represent a group of artists creating a world for themselves, a community. With as much style as possible. I love the way these photos look, as if from another time, and I love the clothes, and the ideas, and the crazy people. I love that they've all known each other for years. Dukoff, the photographer, went to high school with Devendra.

I don't know. It's hard to explain. But don't these pictures speak for themselves?

PS: Go check out Banhart's website - I just did and it's so much fun! (Just to give you an idea, there is a Devendra Banhart interactive paper doll.)

*NB: Again, the photos have been cropped to fit the post, which is very irritating and I can't figure out how to fix it other than tedious resizing in photoshop before hand, which I don't have time for. Just click on 'em. If anyone can tell me how to make them stop cropping, please let me know!

Dreamboat

2009-08-07T07:00:00.000-07:00

Source: The Sartorialist

Augh. He's so beautiful. LOOK at him! Bah...there is no God. I should be back in Italy right now.

Bon Voyage, et Bon Chance

2009-08-06T09:35:00.000-07:00

I love to travel. Driving to the bookstore, road trips, 13 hour flights - I love getting somewhere new and exiting.

Well, I don't actually love the traveling part - I love the new places part. And the accessories.

Because people, who doesn't love a good old-fashioned solid, dependable, lovely suitcase?

They're aesthetically pleasing and practical!

(I'm really exited about this point because usually I only ever find things that match the 'aesthetically pleasing' point. Which doesn't bother me at all, but still, its nice to have both sometimes)

Suitcases fascinate me. I couldn't really tell you why, something about the orderliness of fitting a life into a small space, finding a spot for each and every item. (Another thing I love are pockets - which are plentiful on suitcases) I love older ones, with their hard cases and satin linings, and new ones with beautiful patterns or supple leather... small vanity cases, hat boxes, steamer trunks (God I love steamer trunks) but not duffel bags. Sorry, but those things are just...giant lumpy cloth slugs. Ew.

Here are some of my favorites I've found sprinkled around the internet. Some are being used for their original purpose, some have been given new lives. Some are ancient, some are brand spankin' new. Some have a story, some haven't started theirs yet. All of them are wonderful :)

*NB: Some of the photos, even at their smallest, are cut off when the post is published. Please click on them for a full image, its worth it for all of them!

1. Suitcase vanity mirror via weheartit * My absolute FAVORITE of all of these - I wish I knew how she did this!!! 2. Photo via Elen Usdin 3. Pink suitcase via Miss Kris 4. Solar powered entertainment trunk by Louis Vuitton 5. Vintage numbered suitcases via Yimmy's Yayo 6. Vintage Samsonite vanity case 7. Limited Edition Goyard steamer trunk showcasing Visionaire Magazine 8. Steamer Trunk - inspired coffee table by Sundance, via CasaSugar 9. Snapshot of a stack of Goyard Trunks, viaBlog Sorbeta 10, 11, & 12. Paper Source suitcases 13. Skeleton Collection by Alexander McQueen for Samsonite

P.S. {Pink Secret}

2009-08-04T12:21:00.000-07:00

I was listening to music while I wrote the Pink Post, and thought it would be nice to add a soundtrack to my favorite pink things (can you tell I really like this topic?)

The idea is that you choose a song, hit play, and scroll down to my first (below this one) post of the day titled Prettier than Pink.

So here are a couple of songs to listen to while perusing my list- enjoy!

Prettier than Pink

2009-08-04T11:05:00.000-07:00

Good morning!

So, I read an article on Plum Sykes in the July issue of Vogue UK, and while I'm not really a big fan of her work per se, I like her style. Even if it's completely different from mine. Especially.

The article was nothing. I lied actually. I didn't even read it. What caught my attention was the spread on some of Sykes' favorite things. She is famously obsessed with all things pink, which I find fascinating - I mean, this woman has designed her entire life completely around the colour pink. Her poor husband ;)

Anyway, I loved so many of the items chosen (I even bought a few, like the pink moleskine volant notebooks) that I wanted to try to make a list of my own favorite pink things. I'm really more of a red girl, but pink gives me this feeling of being ultra-feminine which I adore - something like living in a cross between Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day and Breakfast at Tiffany's. Which really isn't much of a cross at all, its more of an extra layer of femme... but I'm digressing.

Alors, without further ado, here are ten of my favorite things in that delectable tint of rosé:

From top:

1. Illustration of Louis Vuitton f/w 2009 collection by Tanya Ling 2. Photo from French blogger The Cherry Blossom Girl's bedroom series 3. Vintage dress tags from PapierValise.com 4. The cover of 77 Love Sonnets by Garrison Keillor *I've been collecting pink books lately, and in addition to the beautiful cover of this collection, the works themselves are lovely... 5. Nars nail varnish in Schiap Shocking Pink *So named after Coco Chanel's equally talented rival, Elsa Schiaparelli; pioneer of surrealist fashion 6. The Glamourai's exquisite Marie Antoinette necklace *unfortunately, sold out, but I believe orders can still be placed for the next batch ** Go check out The Glamourai's blog, totally amazing! This girl has more style in her pinky finger than I do in my entire body. 7. Beautiful fashion illustration by Bill Donovan - 'Anett' left a link to his profile for me in a comment on my post "You Take My Breath Away". I would love to know if she has a blog of her own - sadly, her profile is private and inaccessible. Thank you all the same, they're a treasure! 8. Love Poems by Pablo Neruda, Nobel Laureate. * This is now one of my favorite books I own - aside from being lovely (admittedly, my original motive for purchasing it) it is also powerfully moving. The original spanish is printed on the left pages, with an English translation printed on the right. His poetry takes my breath away, literally. 9. Cadillac El Dorado Beach Cruiser * I would ride it in a big floppy straw hat, my hair down, in a completely impractical white cotton and lace sundress and sandals...with a wicker basket maybe? 10. Peonies! These are some of my favorite flowers, and I think pink suits them very well, don't you? Incidentally, I took this photo from a food blog that I read, called Cannelle et Vanille which I LOVE its amazing...it's by a chef and food photographer, and in addition to being visually stunning, she gives the full recipes for everything she posts. I love this woman, she makes me happy.

Let the light shine through

2009-08-03T11:55:00.000-07:00

Source: Via {This Is Glamourous}

I am preoccupied with interior design. I need my own space. I have two other girls sleeping in my bedroom with me and what's worse, the whole room is purple - down to the lilac wall paint. Its not hideous, by any means; its just incredibly undeniably NOT ME.

I love this room, yellow and white is a favorite combination for me. Especially this pale yellow. It just calms me down...makes me happy.

I wish I wasn't living at home. This is ridiculous.

The Sea Gypsy

2009-08-03T08:37:00.001-07:00

Source: Lenaah's Flickr

A friend of mine came across this poem by Richard Hovey ,originally published sometime in the late 19th century, in a book of children's poetry from the forties, and she wrote it down. She read it aloud to me and I immediately had to write it down. There's something about it that catches me, and enthralls me. Its supposed to be about the ocean, but its lustful, passionate, more like a love poem, and I understand.

I am fevered with the sunset,

I am fretful with the bay,

for the wander thirst is on me

and my soul is in Cathay.

There's a schooner in the offing,

with her topsails shot with fire,

and my heart has gone aboard her

for the Islands of Desire.

I must forth again tomorrow!

With the sunset I must be,

hull down on the trail of rapture

in the wander of the Sea.

You Take My Breath Away

2009-08-02T17:57:00.000-07:00

...That's what my dad used to say to me when I was little. And I was so embarrassed by it that I made him stop. I really regret that now.

Just a few of the most beautiful women I have ever seen. Loveliness is everywhere.

From top:

Rachel Weisz
Kate Moss
Audrey Hepburn
Natalie Portman
Liv Tyler
Kaya Scodelario

Welcome to the OC, Bitch

2009-08-02T08:33:00.000-07:00

Lately, all I want to do is read. I want to find a nice cafe somewhere, and sit there all day and read a stack of books, just switch to a different one whenever I feel like it. No one calling me, no distractions, no people I need to see, just happily flipping through page after page of a towering stack of books on every imaginable subject.

I have the books, and I have the cafe, but then things start going downhill. Back in San Francisco, there was always someone who wanted to see me, or something I had to take care of before I moved back home (yeah, its pitiful) or work at 5 in the morning or or or...and I never really did get to read all those books I'd collected.

Now I'm back in Newport (cue tears and ululating) and I have EIGHT people in my house, with a two year old in the mix who seems to have a radar for people who don't want to play with her, parents who are dead set on harassing me "for my own good" so I don't "stagnate", and four other children. Oh, and my uncle is coming to stay for a week in a few days. Kill me now.

I just want to READ damn it. Can't everyone just leave me ALONE? I promise, I'll do everything else, just give me a few days to myself. There's so much happening all the time.

At least Kate Moss is serene, although I'd quite like to change her choice of reading material.

Tough it Out

2009-07-05T17:14:00.000-07:00

Source: Unkown

So I apparently have some kind of brain bacteria, which sounds disgusting and is disgusting and makes me feel drugged up and stupid. Now I really am drugged up on antibiotics (thank you free clinic!) and hopefully that will help.

I LOVE this picture. Its one of those pictures that's stayed with me over the years. One of my best friends in high school had this picture taped to her wall and I never knew where it was from and have, on occasion, scoured google image search for it but to no avail. I stumbled across it via visualize.us today and I was so exited! I still don't know where its from, so if you do, please leave a comment and let me know so I can give credit where credit most decidedly is due.

I dunno...she's just so tough and sexy, and I love how freakishly long her legs are. They're so cool looking :)

Love and coffee.

Does your Name Spell CHIC?

2009-06-11T02:08:00.000-07:00

Via: Nom Nom Nom Tumblr

Tired. Really really tired. With a capital T. Its 2 am and my insomnia is back. I want to do things, try things, see things, go places, be with interesting, new people. Aaaaaand I can't because its 2 am. Duh.

So I'm going alittle stir crazy. I need to get out of this apartment, get my own space, decorate how I want, make a sanctuary. When I lived at my mom's it wasn't allways pleasant to be home but my room was safe...er, anyway. It was exactly as I wanted it, all the things I loved. And I totally took that for granted. My own space, my God, my kingdom for a goddamn HORSE.

Anyway. Hem. I want to do great things...don't you?

And the first step to doing great things is to live in an inspiring space.

I'm on my way.

Bloomingly

2009-06-06T21:54:00.000-07:00

Brothersbloom.com

I just saw The Brothers Bloom for the second time, it is one of the best movies I've seen all year. Seriously. I'm in love. It suits me...perfectly. Everything about it means something to me and I understand it well and identify with it. Plus, its hysterical and super fun and crazy.

GO GO NOW.

Wooooooowwwwwwww

2009-06-04T18:30:00.000-07:00

via: FFFFound!

Ok so I started to get a few hits, which reminded me that I had this (I'm ditzy). So I'll try to post on this more often. Lets sayyyyyy 3 days a week? To start with.
So while I was away, I set up a few other accounts: tumblr, weheartit, visualize.us, lookbook, and twitter. I had fun lol.
So I've been especially busy on weheartit and tumblr, but if you by any chance want to find me on any of these sites, here are my names...

tumblr: http://gildedzwaar.tumblr.com/

weheartit: my username is wishbone

visualize.us: username wishbone

lookbook.nu: username wishbone

twitter: username AnnaEG

For those of you who don't know weheartit.com, you need to go. Right now. Its so much fun! Its basically like an online inspiration board for the entire world. Anytime you find a picture online you can post it to weheartit and everyone gets to view it and it gets put into your personal weheartit "library". It really is pretty cool, go try it out :)
Visualize.us is similar, just more annoying and lookbook is to post your daily style ie: outfits you wear. Sometimes cool, sometimes just suuuuuper pretentious, lol.
Also, I was thinking about holding a little contest or something with those of you who do read this thing. Last time I tried this it didn't even get any replies, so if you like the idea then comment and if I get five or more people interested we'll do it :)

Talk to you...few soon!

2009-03-24T01:11:00.001-07:00

Find me on Polyvore

Sorry :(

2009-02-08T19:17:00.001-08:00

I haven't posted in a while. Not that anybody reads this thing, but I ought to act as if they do. Anyway, I'll try to be better. School keeps me busy thats all :S

1920s

2009-02-02T19:19:00.000-08:00

I LOVE this coat...the details are so delicate and pretty. Very chic. And I love the illustration...the juxtaposition between East and West, and how each of them are super stylish in their own ways...so beautiful.

Sorry I didn't post for a while, I was in Seattle visiting the boyfriend. Fun! So many amazing bookshops...

Snazzy

2009-01-27T13:05:00.000-08:00

Allow style to permeate every aspect of your life.

Flying

2009-01-26T15:27:00.000-08:00

I'm back in San Francisco, and school starts tomorrow. I was starting to get antsy on the flight over, and then I looked out the window and was totally transfixed by the beautiful cloud formations outside that were leaving shadows on the water below me.

So I took about a bajillion pictures. Literally. And I was totally psyched about these fifties sunglasses I found at Nicole's, so I took some pictures of myself too.

But seriously, don't clouds just make you feel peaceful?

J. Herbin ROCKS

2009-01-25T09:19:00.000-08:00

Source: J. Herbin

Omigosh. I have found the mecca of writing accessories. This is awesome. J. Herbin, according to the press blurb, "is the oldest name in pen inks in the world. M. Herbin created "The Jewel of Inks" in his shop on the Rue des Fosses Saint-Germain in Paris in 1700."

The company deals in writing inks, pens, sealing wax, and other writing accessories (shown above is the packaging for their sealing wax, an art piece in of itself.)

With names like Eclat de Saphir (a deep blue) and Poussiere de Lune (a beautiful purple) how could you not love this company? I'm a sucker for packaging, so slapping a really cool name on something just about does it for me. That and the pedigree make it a 10 out of 10.

Among the standard inks (30 colours) are some really interesting novelties, like their "Invisible Ink" which turns blue under lamp heat and fades as the paper cools, and their "Authentique Ink", used by french notaries on legal documents in the 18th century. "Lettering done in this ink is said to be legible for 300 years."

I just bought three of their coloured writing inks; Rouge Opera, Cafe des Iles, & Bleu Nuit. I'm so exited! My journaling will be even more fun now.

The Sartorialist Strikes again

2009-01-25T09:13:00.000-08:00

I love this guy. I really do. What I see every day, he captures. Its great. My favorite of these is the red head; she's just beautiful, so sharp too. Elegant and daring at the same time. I also really like the beardy guy, I just love his face. It reminds me of a noble in Tsarist Russia or something...Count Vladonovich or something.

I'm heading back to San Francisco today after my month long Newport Beach hiatus. Wish me luck.

New Yoik

2009-01-24T09:25:00.000-08:00

Pretty soon I'll be moving here. Hopefully. But what then? God, its scary. This whole growing up thing.

Liv Tyler

2009-01-23T08:59:00.001-08:00

I love this picture of Liv Tyler, its so fresh and natural, and also almost...luminescent. She's a beautiful woman. I love the shapes her hair makes in the photo!

Da Bomb

2009-01-22T09:19:00.000-08:00

Can we just talk about how hot this kiss was? I mean, I need to step outside for some fresh air just looking at the film stills.

Definitely one of the best kisses EVER.

Stationery

2009-01-22T08:05:00.000-08:00

I've always loved paper. Different patterns of paper, letterpress, lithograph, Gocco print...stationery makes me happy.

I just bought a bunch of "correspondence cards" - apparently all the rage right now, they're like postcard sized letters. And I saw this woman's business cards and I loved it; they're like old fashioned labels in the New York Public Library.

My favorite touches are the letter-pressing of her information and that each card has a catalog number printed at the bottom.

Her photographs ain't bad either ;)

The Deadly Seven

2009-01-21T09:48:00.000-08:00

The seven deadly sins. A popular motif, with infinite possibilities for reinvention. I like this artist's women - delicate, whimsical, and the jewel colours are great. Plus, I would wear every one of those dresses.

I guess at the moment, I'm prey in a big way to every one of those sins. Usually my biggest problem is Vanity and Sloth. But recently I've been accumulating deadly sins.

What are yours?

Hope

2009-01-20T09:46:00.000-08:00

While it is unfortunate that this is a Rolling Stone cover, the photograph is great, and I love Obama's smile.

What a morning...the President's speech made me cry, the ceremony made me cry, this moment, the hugeness, the momentous historical moment that just happened, I'm so proud and happy that I could be alive for this.

I hope our future is a good one.

Beautiful Rudy...

2009-01-19T08:47:00.000-08:00

This photo allways reminds me of Rudolf Valentino, in Lawrence of Arabia. What a sexy guy, :).

Ooh La La

2009-01-18T09:37:00.000-08:00

I'm reading a new historical novel, Philipa Gregory's The Queen's Fool, and its making me all dreamy and I keep being attracted to paintings like this one. Pretty yet creepy no?

The End.

2009-01-17T18:44:00.000-08:00

I miss my boyfriend.

...I'm getting mopey.

I feel like everything's falling apart. Everything's disintegrating and everyone's looking at it like its a blessing - a new start etc. I just see sadness.

School Bag

2009-01-17T13:31:00.001-08:00

Source: Billy Goat Designs

I was looking for the perfect present for my boyfriend for our anniversary, and I thought...he needs an awesome bag. I love the look of this bag, rugged, manly, and it'll age really well, and last forever.

Actually, I have a confession...

I liked it so much that I bought one for me too :p

But I promise never to wear it at the same time as him.

UCSB

2009-01-16T08:55:00.000-08:00

Sorry it's been so long since I posted, I took a little vacation to visit some friends at UC Santa Barbara, but now I'm back!

Honestly, what a view...the california coast never ceases to make my heart ache, its so beautiful.

Work today, blah :(

JACK Spade!

2009-01-12T09:01:00.000-08:00

Source: Jack Spade

I just found Kate Spade's "brother site" Jack Spade, and in among the standard men's briefcases etc. there are some tongue in cheek, adorable things.

My favorites were these "Nice Parking" cards - to be left under the windshield of the offender, and these mustache gloves - when you're feeling mysterious, simply hold your finger under your nose! My boyfriend's getting both of these...hahah :)

Kate Spade

2009-01-12T08:33:00.000-08:00

Source: Kate Spade

I love these calling cards from Kate Spade, They're so delicate and I love the simplicity of the design and the jewel-like colours...I'll be getting some of these soon!

I bought a Kate Spade notebook yesterday...here it is:

Source: Kate Spade

I love it; you can refill the cloth binding so I can use the same beutiful notebook again and again :)

These non-refillable notebooks by Kate Spade are also lovely.

Magic allways happens in threes...

2009-01-11T10:05:00.000-08:00

Big changes in my household. Huge, as life-altering changes go. Sad ones. But necessary, and we are strong. Life goes on, and we're happy just the same.

But the three things I want most right now are:

1: A cup of coffee (it'll be ready in 5 minutes)

2: A pair of wings that I can use whenever I need to get away. I quite like the longest bird ones; they look sturdy and good for gliding.

3: This scarf, because I love red and white, and I love stripes, and I love that it doesn't say "candy cane" to me.

Baldovino Barani

2009-01-10T09:29:00.000-08:00

I realize I've been quite lax about posting lately...I just have less of a connection to this blog now that I'm not sharing it with Yasi. I posted because I wanted her to see and now she's not here.

Anyway, for the few who do read this thing, I'll try harder, which brings us to today's post about Baldovino Barani. He's a fashion photographer who incorporates alot of movement into his pieces, I love the use of the fabrics and the colours.

Hide!

2009-01-07T22:29:00.000-08:00

I want to look just like her, and walk down the street in that mask...for some reason what she's wearing reminds me of the Gossip Girl uniforms...love it.

Christian Dior Shoes at Half Off...God Loves Me.

2009-01-06T21:51:00.000-08:00

I bought them...I actually bought them. I think I'm still in shock because I've never spent so much money on a pair of shoes before, but I truly love them.

I saw them two weeks ago at the Bloomingdale's sale and they were $250....originally, they had been almost $700, so I was like hell yeah! But I don't have that kind of money! I'm still a kid!

But I'm a kid with a credit card.

Which is bad. So they're mine. Alllllllll mine. I went back to Bloomie's 3 times before I finally bought them. And they were still there. I figured it was a sign and I bought them :)

Can you tell I'm exited? Because I am.

Today was my Birthday, I'm 19. And this was my present to myself :)

Happy birthday to meeeeeee!

Ha

2009-01-04T10:14:00.000-08:00

Source: Ffffound.com

Ahahaha after a semester of typography I actually get this...very funny :)

Sarah Seven

2009-01-03T10:03:00.000-08:00

Source: SarahSeven on Etsy

This Portland-based designer has a head start on the rest of us - she's only 21. I love her sweetheart busts and her flirty lines, all so delicate and old fashioned but with a great modern edge.

I found her on Etsy, but she has a website as well and also sells on prettypleasedear.com.

You can check out her blog here.

From top:

1. Tea Top

2. Lemon Drop Dress

3. Flock Dress

4. Fancy That Dress

A new year, a new regime

2009-01-02T18:25:00.001-08:00

There has been a parting of ways on the blog front this year, but I hope that whoever does read this thing will keep reading it anyway, because I will keep posting on it.

RIP dual blog extravaganza.

so long old bean

2009-01-02T11:21:00.000-08:00

school days, i think i'll miss you

wow! sorry guys i feel like i'm ages behind. okay, let's see: HAPPY NEW YEARS - hopefully 2009 will not be anywhere close to as big a bitch as 2008 was. we can only wish. i spent my new year's eve camping and looking at real constellations, sitting around a campfire singing along to neil young and leonard cohen songs with about 20 guitar-strumming, good-vibed kids. not joking. i can only thank them thoroughly for their kindness and acceptance (since i previously knew about 2 of them before that night) and also because my own personal vibes are notoriously fickle. i must admit, i smoked a few too many cigarettes, had a little too few sips of wine, but come morning a crisp hike sort of evened everything out. and i know you were dying for all those details. but regardless, i wish you all the happiest of '09, and for all the 1990 kids, happy upcoming birthday. n-n-n-n-n-nineteen nineteen.

goodbye high school

i'll remember you india

forgive me summer, i don't remember you

dearest hollywood bowl, perhaps we shall meet again (unlikely)

orion, i saw your belt, body, & the bull - yeauh

robert, _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _. and i love you.

anna, ditto to both & if i just... idk... showed up at disneyland, would it be a problem?

oh! and to ms. d-glass, conkers, & clark - i'm not mad, but in the most neutral of tones, i thank you for nothing.

and in response to anna's post: my last new year's saw me horribly out of place at a palisade's residence where i knew everyone & really had no desire to. i was wearing suede, aqua boots that went to my knees, black jeans, an orange tank top, and - to top it off - a vibrant yellow, red, and blue puffy vest to keep me warm. oh yes, it was a very bad year from the start. this year's beginning = more promising? i do believe so.

Day after New Years Sales ROCK

2009-01-02T10:17:00.000-08:00

Light splatters are cool. These remind me of L.A., where I will be living next Fall, hopefully.

This time last year I was nursing a huge hangover, I wasn't speaking to Steven, I had kissed who knows how many people on New Years, and I was generally a mess. In a year my whole life has changed...no more university, no more San Francisco, I have to pick up and start again. And to tell you the truth, I'm scared shitless and also really exited. I hope I get it right this time. Someone somewhere is giving me another shot at this.

Wish me luck :)

New Years Wishes

2008-12-31T22:48:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everyone :)

I hope it turns out to be better than last year - especially if last year was the best year ever.

Work by Jeremy Fish.

I'm thinking about holding a little contest if I can find a suitable prize - the question to be answered is:

What are your New Year's Resolutions?

Results out by January 8th - but I'll tell you if I have a good prize by then.

Cheers!

websight

2008-12-30T18:48:00.000-08:00

hey guys, i'm working on a website for my art n stuff. feedback is always welcome :)

czech it out.

Birthday Plans

2008-12-29T08:37:00.000-08:00

Source: Ffffound.com

This will be me on my birthday. Except she's much cooler and sexier than me, but I will also be wearing a mickey mouse hat, because I never grew up and I am going to Disneyland :) I'm exited, I love Disneyland...despite the commercial current running through the place, its still one of my favorite places from when I was a kid.

Now if only I could carry that purse....

(click on the image for a full view of the purse, its pretty cool)

source: makr.com

BUNNIES!

2008-12-28T11:01:00.000-08:00

I love these girls...I draw like this so they're lovely to me. I like that alot of clothing detail managed to be incorporated into such simple drawings. I like the imperfection too.

I'm lounging around in the giant white bath robe my boyfriend got me for Christmas...Sunday mornings are the best :)

By the way...I feel like I post either way too much or Yasi posts way to little...what do you think? Maybe its just my impulse to post in threes...

Morning...not that great though.

2008-12-27T10:46:00.000-08:00

These are just some patterns from the sixties I dug up on Google. I like the illustrations on patterns, they're very feminine and simple, very pretty. Plus they make the clothes look way better than they ever will in life...which is why I love fashion illustration.

Life is hard right now for me...how's life for the rest of you?

have a holly, jolly christmas

2008-12-25T16:19:00.001-08:00

i spent christmas watching jim jarmusch's "stranger than paradise" and i liked it. merry christmas everyone, i hope you got what you were wishing for.

Today's the day!

2008-12-25T11:12:00.000-08:00

Hahaha I know this image is a bit odd but since I sent out a pin up for Thanksgiving I thought I'd send out a pin up for Christmas...even if she is in a strange bunny costume and she has unnaturally small feet :)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Chuck!

2008-12-24T13:37:00.000-08:00

Ok I know I know...but I love Gossip Girl and I LOVE Chuck Bass...Ed Westwick is nice too but there's just something about his character that I'm smitten with...maybe its because my own love is the nicest guy anyone's ever met...and I like the thought of a little drama. Only the thought mind you, not the reality. ;)

...you know you love him...

arg no room...

2008-12-24T13:30:00.000-08:00

Lovely workspace :)

Living at home right now, virtually no time to myself, people everywhere, and definitely NO workspace, so I envy whoever this is....

But I love Christmas, and I'm definitely exited for tomorrow so happy Christmas Eve everyone and a Merry Christmas too!

slumberkattz

2008-12-23T12:11:00.001-08:00

source: flickr

this week has exhausted me, i can't even think of what to post. i'm so tired, i think i'll sleep all day... oh parties.

OH my god. Its OVER!!!

2008-12-18T23:38:00.000-08:00

Winter break has officially started and I can't wait for Christmas...and aren't these pirates deelish? I want to look like...all of them, lol.

Yay :)

2008-12-17T18:16:00.000-08:00

BUNNY. I mean...just look at him....she's pretty too ;)

apologies on my knees

2008-12-17T14:00:00.000-08:00

sources: all over the place... sorry i'm too lazy!

i've been lax with my posts... i seem to have forgotten all my interests. maybe to jog my memory, maybe to keep you entertained, maybe just because, i have decided to put up a collection of photos i have saved on my computer. hope you like 'em.

Edward McCartan

2008-12-16T20:13:00.000-08:00

Source: Google

Pretty cool sculptor from the twenties...Edward McCartan. I like his women...very fluid, the look like they're movine. plus, I like "deer girl"s hair. Cool hair.

rite of passage

2008-12-16T11:07:00.000-08:00

source: google image search

got to make my resume, got to get a job... what a hassle. got to make bank. anna said it, i said it, thus it is true.

Money makes the world go round

2008-12-15T23:36:00.000-08:00

Source: Google

I hate money. I hate worrying. I hate not having enough. I hate this. I'm scared. And what an ugly dress.

Announcement

2008-12-14T14:02:00.000-08:00

Hello anyone who finds this blog :)

I sort of lost the urge to use this one because I began a similar one with my friend Yasi, so if you liked my (really erratic) posts, then just come over to the blog I share with Yasi, which is much better.

I'll be leaving this one up for occasional if-i-feel-like-it use, but if I were you, I wouldn't expect much.

Here's the link to Anna & Yasamine.

Enjoy!

Finals...

2008-12-14T13:50:00.000-08:00

Source: Ffffound

Source: Elle Decor

I want a room like this and a desk like this and I want to live the life where these things are a practicality, not a luxury and I want to never have finals again and to never have unreachable deadlines and inconsiderate teachers who each think that theirs is the only class you will ever take and I want to talk to my mom and I want to go dancing and I want to see my friends in Luxembourg and I want to be with steven and I want I want I want....

This is just too much for me. Truly.

we gon' do it again

2008-12-14T09:09:00.000-08:00

source: google image search

hello and welcome to one of LA's best treasure troves. i love the rose bowl flea market! besides being absolutely massive and steadfast (rain or shine, second sunday of every month) it is impossible to imagine what odds and ends, golden wonders, and delightful trinkets you are assured to find. note: this event often amounts to a los angeles-hipster mega-magnet, so in addition to your healthy stack of dead presidents - you'll want to be generous with yourself - and arriving early (10am), don't forget to show up looking good & bring a camera. available wares include clothing of all types and prices, furniture, paintings, mirrors, home decor, shoes, sunglasses, musical instruments, books, food, vintage everything etc. etc.

lucky for me, it is exactly 9:27 am on the second sunday of the month!!! so in about 15 minutes, you know where i'll be.

Scary stuffed animals

2008-12-13T12:33:00.000-08:00

Source: ffffound.com

Found these little guys on ffffound. (no terrible pun intended) They're a little creepy, kinda cool. Yasi knows about these, I used to make little stuffed animals that looked like this. I mean, no crazed faces but the little bodies were kind of the same. Anyway, I like them, lol. Hope you do too :)

Julia (Again)

2008-12-13T11:58:00.000-08:00

Source: Minkoff on Flickr

This is in conjunction with the post I made a couple of days ago about Julia. I finally figured out a way to post her pictures (she's very smart about copyright but I got her permission) so here are some of her girls, plus some of her collages.

They're so pretty, and perfect! I wish she would teach me how to use watercolour, every time I do it looks like a giant mess :( These are so precise, like japanese paintings, with the minimalism in the use of material and colour. Use only what you need, and simplicity is key.

New favorite illustrator!

Thank you Julia for the use of your girls, I hope you like my post!

the road back home

2008-12-13T01:12:00.000-08:00

man it is d-i-f-f-i-c-u-l-t to get back into the swing of things here on the west side. it's been a pretty rough 3 days so far. amongst other things, i've been noticing that there are so few people! and my, the ones that are here move at such a pace... not to mention how frigid california suddenly seems. it's hard to readjust, but oh well, all i can hope is for some good hangouts, festive spirits, and some good grass. by the way, i want to be the girl in this picture. the whole image is just laid back & warm, two of my favorite things.

Stephane Tartelin

2008-12-12T13:19:00.000-08:00

Source: Tartelin.com

This is an illustrator I found....I just like his stuff, very cool and different. :)

Obsession with Moleskine

2008-12-11T19:47:00.001-08:00

I love this site! Its a forum for moleskine notebook lovers (a group I belong to whole heartedly) to share all things moleskine! Anything goes, from personal sketches to references to moleskine in movies to a post on how to turn an old moleskine into an ipod case. One of those sights that is fascinating for its superfluousness.

Revision:

Here's another site with people's sketches posted - all drawn in moleskines.

Julia Bereciartu

2008-12-11T19:01:00.000-08:00

Source: Minkoff on Flickr

I found this on ffffound but I followed it to flickr. This illustrator makes the cutest girls...she has many styles in her commercial work but her personal work is better I think. They make me happier. They remind me of me. You can see all her girls on her flickr here, or check out her website here.

el-ay / el home

2008-12-11T10:12:00.000-08:00

hey i'm back in the sunny city. i must recuperate but i promise to make some juicy, over-loaded posts in the coming days. i'll get some pictures up from new york but if you want to see some of mine from india, you can check my flickr.

Etsy post 2...or 3? Oh well...

2008-12-10T20:58:00.000-08:00

Some pretty dresses from etsy.

I'll post the various sellers later, I'm tired.

Good Morning San Francisco...what fresh hell is this?

2008-12-10T02:22:00.001-08:00

I found this picture around two years ago. She looks so scared to me. So sad.

I feel what she feels.

hey girl what kind of music you play

2008-12-09T05:00:00.000-08:00

I AM IN NEW YORK, I AM IN LOVE WITH NEW YORK. and i will not get over this anytime soon. anyone who has ever tried to make the argument that los angeles is any sort of a fashion capital has probably never been to new york. because i hadn't, and now i've been here, and i will never be so shameless as to argue that again. it's incredible, because people actually care about what they wear.

anyway no time to spare, will write more later - must go explore the city.

Hedi Slimane

2008-12-08T11:43:00.000-08:00

Source: Hedislimane.com

Besides having a really cool name, this guy is an amazing photographer and fashion designer.

He's one of my favorite photographers I have ever found, his work just makes my heart sing, you know? It "speaks to me" cliche as that might sound. He does fashion photography (kate moss at the top there) and you can see how much he loves what he does, because his visual diary, found on his website, contains thousands of photographs that he updates every day. So, in fashion and art terms, he's a renaissance man.

namaste indiaji

2008-12-08T02:18:00.000-08:00

source: google image search

leaving tonight! it went by so quickly. well i can't say i didn't love it all. for anyone considering it, i HIGHLY recommend you travel around india. so much good here. daniyavad, india. namaste!

what i saw today

2008-12-06T22:06:00.000-08:00

source: what i saw today

the sartorialist equivalent in easy, breezy sketches. amazing blog. a lovely drawn record of street-styles by a fashion illustrator whose name i am regrettably unaware of. anyways, "designerman" posts fabulous stuff, and even if it's all men's outfits, it's still irresistibly stylish.

The Sartorialist

2008-12-06T17:20:00.000-08:00

Source: The Sartorialist

I love this blog, and it gives me inspiration daily. This man is genius. His name is Scott Schuman, and he works as a fashion photographer. According to his biography, he started writing The Sartorialist because

"I thought I could shoot people on the street the way designers looked at people, and get and give inspiration to lots of people in the process. My only strategy when I began The Sartorialist was to try and shoot style in a way that I knew most designers hunted for inspirations."

His original inspiration for the blog came from a photograph of a man on a street taken by German photographer August Sander. Incidentally, he is now involved in an exhibition of works that are in homage to that same photograph.

I love the people he captures, the creativity and the confidence and the style...I love that these people don't wear the It Bag or even any bag, maybe. For God's sake, that woman in the last photo looks like she's wearing an entire family of rabbits on her back...and she looks fabulous.

Karl Lagerfeld in Vogue Dec. 2008

2008-12-05T17:05:00.000-08:00

One of Karl Lagerfeld's sketches from this month's Vogue (December 2008). They illustrate some kind of story about a ball. I love his drawings, they're so fluid and a little messy and chic.

I'm gonna go get a copy right now!

somebody please tell me

2008-12-05T09:13:00.001-08:00

source: egon schiele

the answers.

Whinging of the first water

2008-12-05T00:37:00.000-08:00

I know I have to work my ass off tomorrow and every day for the next two weeks and the prospect is awakening this intense need to lounge in bed all day long watching Will & Grace and old movies and catching up on my blog reading.

A really really strong need.

Please someone help me stay on track!

Or else I might black out and wake up three weeks from now with a 7000 dollar credit card bill for buying everything in this picture.

Seriously.

mermaidz n shiet

2008-12-04T10:46:00.000-08:00

edmund dulac! genius of delicacy, cornerstone of my childhood. i have a copy of a book called "F was a Fanciful Frog" for which he did all of the illustrations. it is, beyond a doubt, one of my all-time favorites. i think that illustration ranks in my top 3 favorite art forms (the other two being photography & film). and i love mermaids.

4 more days in india. any requests?

OH MY GOD. I LOVE THIS MAN.

2008-12-03T22:33:00.000-08:00

Source: Style.com

So I model clothes for a fashion class at my school, and without fail one of those bitchy fashion students says something snotty to me every time I model for that class. Today it played out like this: I was waiting for the elevator on my break and a tiny wisp of a girl who sits in the front row came to wait for the elevator too. She turned to me, smiled, and said "You know, I usually draw my croquis too skinny, so its really nice to have someone more full model for us. They don't usually hire plus-sized models."

My feelings were so hurt. Its not that I have anything against plus-sized models, in fact I admire their confidence. Its just that I'm 5'8" and a size 6. I weigh about 135. I'm healthy, but my body type is thin to begin with. And you know what? I have bad body image. Bad bad. So that really got to me. I don't know...it was just mean.

There is a point to my rant. So when I got home and had vowed to myself to be done with fashion and its disgusting ideals and dangerous goals I logged on to style.com ( I know, I know) and I found this show by Christian Lacroix for the Fall 2008 Couture shows and I went faint.

Its so beautiful, so perfect, it takes my breath away. Even though nothing good has ever come of my interest in fashion I can't help it - I'm hooked. For the rest of my life.

This isn't just clothes, its art. Its inspiration and god its just so pretty...

If you like what I posted, you can find the show here.

P.S.

Thanks Mr. Lacroix.

tuesday, wednesday, break my heart

2008-12-03T03:16:00.000-08:00

source: google image search

i come home next tuesday! farewell india, you've been good to me.

Fan Dress

2008-12-02T22:31:00.000-08:00

Source:Elizabeth Hoff

Cool...its all flowy and billowy...

photographers: yousuf karsh

2008-12-02T15:03:00.000-08:00

source: yousuf karsh

time period: 1908 - 2002

status: legendary

title: master portraitist

medium: black and white

nationality: canadian

for more pictures, visit the official site here.

photographed subjects from top to bottom: ernest hemmingway, audrey hepburn, paul robeson & winston churchill.

the sky, she dances

2008-12-02T10:18:00.000-08:00

source: ?

the northern lights! i was sent these pictures in an email, i hope someday i can see this for myself.

Beach Beauty

2008-12-01T21:59:00.000-08:00

She looks haunting and beautiful and I love it :)

vanity fair portraits at lacma

2008-12-01T01:59:00.000-08:00

source: edward steichen

the los angeles county museum of art (lacma) has what looks to be a very great exhibit right now featuring 150 portraits from the archives of vanity fair magazine. the show includes photos from magazine's first period (1913 - 1936) and second (1983 - present) & is the first comprehensive showing of their greatest portraits from both past and present archives. featured photographers include: cecil beaton, harry benson, julian broad, imogen cunningham, man ray, marry ellen mark, mario testino, steven meisel, herb ritts, bruce weber, annie leibovitz, edward steichen, & helmut newton. it runs until march 1, 2009 and as soon as i get back to los angeles i am going.

Paris...La ville de l'amour

2008-11-29T11:40:00.000-08:00

Source: Ffffound.com

This girl reminds me of Paris, and not just because she has a giant Eiffel Tower on her shirt :) She's just...I don't know, kind of chic and interesting. Sexy in a confident, unselfconscious, natural kind of way. Plus, I like how stylish she looks in those harry potter glasses :p

Yasi saves the day

2008-11-29T09:19:00.000-08:00

Yaaaaaay you found it!

That sounds very cool :)

Thanks for searching.

the architect's brother

2008-11-29T00:32:00.000-08:00

source: The Architect's Brother

anna's bird-man picture post was too cool to be left in ambiguity. by chance, i stumbled across the image and a site of the full exhibit it belongs to! the show is called "the architect's brother" and is a collection of works by Robert & Shana ParkeHarrison. the ParkeHarrisons, despite the misleading appearance of their photographs, are contemporary american photographers who have been exhibiting their work since the mid-1990s. they are internationally renowned for their unique artistic approach to photography and the extreme production effort put into making each piece. the pair draws inspiration from a wide variety of sources, including silent films, dreams, inventors, theatre, cinema, & literature. and often presents the prevailing topic of a wounded earth attempting to heal itself through the vignette of a man in a black suit embroiled in some interaction with the landscape. "the architect's brother" is a traveling exhibit, though the ParkeHarrison's work can also be found in the notable collections of such museums as The Whitney Museum of American Art, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, & The National Museum of American Art at the Smithsonian.

When I look at these, I have an overwhelming feeling of looking into the Industrial Age around the late 1850s... they're like perfect, eerie dreams.

And if you REALLY like it, you can get the book here.

cause of peace... that's like saying a hunk of butter

2008-11-28T10:15:00.001-08:00

source: flickr

i like you all, very much. for the hitherto unexposed we have: bob marley, jack kerouac, devendra banhart, charlotte gainsbourg, & bob dylan. in large part, i see these people as examples of lives well-lived (even those still in progress). yes these are the heavy-weights (maybe minus charlotte g) & all the nooks and crannies of their circles and works are worth exploring.

Friday...I'm fatter than yesterday.

2008-11-28T09:24:00.000-08:00

Some cool stuff I found on Etsy. I know none of it matches in that cool "look at all the whimsically themed things I happened to find" kind of way, but this is kind of how I dress (obviously not all of it at the same time) and so shoot me if you must :)

Jean Ackerman

2008-11-28T08:46:00.000-08:00

Source: Litteredglass on Flickr

This is a photo of Jean Ackerman - surprisingly hard to find any info on her at all, but I do know she was a hollywood actress in the 20s, and she used to be a Ziegfeld Girl. Very graceful and provocative, i like her.

Groggy.

2008-11-28T08:40:00.000-08:00

Morning everybody. Welcome to Black Friday. She's a little treasure no? Reminds me of Alice in Wonderland...

Second "Anna-keep-out-of-the-kitchen-you're-knocking-stuff-over" Post

2008-11-27T16:57:00.000-08:00

Don't remember how I found this, but look, its so coooool....I like to think he flew to distant lands and had adventures.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-27T16:54:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving - quick post between pie batches :)