A, ahem, 10

A decade ago, I graduated high school. Shit. A lot was supposed to happen in that time, and I suppose a lot did...to me.

Sometime, thereafter the year of Y2K and Justin Timberlake, my friends and I realized a lot more had changed than our taste in boys. We had grown from wine coolers to beer, fast food to faster and cheaper food (enter advent of the 99 cent menu), and so, so did our waistlines.
This last bit of information was realized and exclaimed for all to know when Heidi and Autumn went shopping one day. While I wasn't there to witness Heidi's shock and disappointment in accomplishing "A TEN?! A mother f*cking TEN??!" I empathize accordingly in this next attempt: whittling down a decades' worth of music to a mere ten.

While not the most radical decade (the sixties) or most electrifying (the eighties), it was, however, as if "those two babies met..."--insert linked scene of Pineapple Express, in which James Franco explains said title. (Franco, ever the intellect, dug deep for this role and therefore scene, and quite honestly, I've not seen a funnier or simpler mergence of nouns.)

So, I give this decade a ten. Ten for the steady maturation of our musical predecessors and to those who influenced a few new kids along the way. A ten to the industry for embracing the many new modes of technology and a big up to the artists who realized you can't put a price on the sound of music. We are after all, by nature, a rogue generation.

So here goes an equal effort in sizing up the most excellent of the decade into ten.
A Mother F*cking Ten.

1) Everything In It's Right Place, Kid A (2000) Radiohead
Synthetic twists, back beat, and a falsified Thom Yorke telling us "Everything (is) in it's right place..." The fourth disc from the acclaimed Brit band, Kid A came to the American public after Yorke expressed open dismay believing his songs had become "background noise: all the sounds you made, that made you happy, have been sucked dry by everything they meant." He suffered writers block and the group differed on the direction of their next release, but eventually agreed on the revolutionary and experimental sound. Yorke introduces us to his new sound, cooing "Yesterday I woke up sucking a lemon..." But something tells you, this is the perfect lemon aid.

2) Don't Know Why, Come Away With Me (2002) Norah Jones
A request or command, the sultry-sweet Norah Jones stole our hearts with her debut album, Come Away With Me. A stand alone channeling jazz, soul and a hint of country with mainstream pop criteria, Jones managed to score five Grammy's in 2003, and two more for subsequent releases proving the decade would have been unmemorable without her. Just as gently as she knows how, "Don't Know Why" answers the most difficult questions of the heart. To have her sound is as if Patsy Cline and Etta James are in your living room, but allowing plenty of room for more.

3) Neon Bible, Neon Bible (2007) Arcade Fire
One of the greatest contributions to the decade was the growing reception to musics' newest and possibly least understood genre: indie rock. Independent rock is just that: a grassroots, underground effort in which the artist seeks to maintain full control, minus the man. The funny thing about indie rock is often times a chicken and egg argument: who and what came first if it's all independent? While Arcade Fire wasn't the first of their genre, they have succeeded in attaining relative commercial success finding their way on numerous Album of the Year lists. In their sophomore release and 2007 title track, Arcade Fire set to challenge what we had always believed to be true, chanting "Not much chance for survival/if the neon bible is right."


4) Beautiful Day, All That You Can't Leave Behind (2000) U2
If Bono says it, it must be right, right? Penned detailing a man "who has lost everything but still finds joy in what he does have," All That You Can't Leave Behind blasted a seemingly cryptic message better felt after the 9/11 attacks. Released a full year prior, "Beautiful Day" was the first album single making it no secret the group sought to "reapply as the best band in the world." Maybe they were asking for our hand, but the American public needed theirs with the November 2001 release of "Walk On". A bitter reminder of our national heartache, "Beautiful Day" reminds it's one you must admit gets better with Bono.

5) Maps, Forever To Tell (2003) Yeah Yeah Yeahs
There is a scene from the movie Swimfan in which the stalker (female) antagonist loses 'control' thereby informing her lover unbeknownst "You love me! I know it!" While Maps isn't exactly psychotic, it's the same desperate intensity that Karen O begs you to understand. Craddled with an evenly controlled tempo and electric rift, Karen O's voice dances on the edge of crazy, but it's just crazy enough to lose control.




6) Say, Continuum, Special Ed. (2007) John Mayer
In 2007, Rolling Stone named Mayer one of the "New Guitar Gods" along with John Fusciante, and Derek Trucks. In Malcom Gladwell's 2008 book Outliers, the author suggests--along with a handful of other arguments, no less than 10, 000 hours are committed before one becomes the best his trade. At one point, Mayer declared "Gravity" as his most important work; at another, "Say" was his most prized piece. But Mayer would most likely agree, it is a constant state of dissatisfaction which credits him one of the best of the decade.

7) The Seed (2.0), Phrenology (2002) The Roots, featuring Cody ChestnuTT
An audio visual to the miracle of life (fairly P.C. even so), The Roots laid it on us in 2002 with "The Seed (2.0)". While the entitled album is in reference to the pseudoscience, "The Seed" details a literal effort in creating rock & roll. But we are forced to ask: can one borne rock & roll? Rhetorical or otherwise, The Roots are brilliant lyrical masters and bang it out with each beat of this song.

8) Single Ladies (Put A Rind On It), I Am...Sasha Fierce (2009) Beyonce
Destiny's Child is to Beyonce as Beyonce is to Diva. Er, something like that. That is, the redefining of the best. I find it practically impossible to settle on one frickin' song this woman popularized and it is the simple fact that this particular album has been nominated for 10 (count 'em) ten Academy Awards that I have selected "Single Ladies" as the best of the decade. Beyonce is the epitome of commitment and hard work and to achieve that alone is something fierce.

9) Seven Nation Army, Elephant (2003) The White Stripes
A rift you want to learn, a rift you practice air guitar the moment it comes on. Suddenly, you're Meg White--foot stomping, arms flailing about; then Jack, fist-ro-phone mic, singin' "a seven nation army couldn't hold me doowwn..." A tune in which multiple body parts uncontrollably function? Yeah, it's like that. This lo-fi duo out of Detroit packed a punch in 2003 serving up the Grammy winning album and best Rock Song of the year. While Jack White has since moved on to The Raconteurs and more recently The Dead Weather, the twosome left plenty of room for others proving it takes far less to uncontrollably function.



10) Spirit on the Water, Modern Times (2006) Bob Dylan
According to RS and esteemed voters, Dylan had two placements on the "50 Best Albums of the Decade" as did U2, Jay-Z, Kanye West, The White Stripes, Outkast, and Radiohead. Only difference is, Dylan was on the scene before any of these kids could even spell "U2". Dylan proved top of his game with the 2006 release of Modern Times, an astute throw-back of sorts enveloped in an irony clad, matter of fact title. There may be three chords to the song (I actually don't even know what a musical chord is...) but it's enough to put you cheek to cheek with your love, present or past. That's the charm of Bob Dylan or Robert Alan Zimmerman or any other pseudonym he chooses. It's still him. And he's still for you and me.


*Alternate (C'mon! It's my favourite song ever!)

11) Clocks, A Rush Of Blood to the Head (2002) Coldplay
The opening solo is enough to send me into fits. There is a strange buoyancy teasing in the rift like a euphoric bubble allowing you to drown and ingest all it's glory. Originally thought to be another Brit export or even Radiohead knockoff, Coldplay was coined "melodramatic", and even further so "depressing". But when the group returned with Rush of Blood to the Head, and front man Chris Martin answered critics with "Clocks", a lot more than identity was defined. "A lot of people think that I write depressing songs. If I were depressed, then I never would have written 'Clocks'." Whatever the outlook, "Clocks" went on to beat out Outkast's foot-stomping, finger-snapping "Hey Ya!" winning Record of the Year (Grammy's, 2003).

Now, who's ready for more?
Cheers! to the New Year!

-PCD

Do you realize...

...that you are reading a one year old? Er, rather that a Pretty Cheap Dress is one year old today? :)

Yes, indeedee folks, it was one year ago today Pretty Cheap Dress and your host awoke awfully early in the a.m. for absolutely no reason at all. Shortly thereafter did it occur to me this statement was and is in fact untrue as, since I was awake and accomplishing nothing, why not partake in my favourite past-time, writing? It was as if something else in me woke and sought to get out and as the saying goes "No sleep for the restless." (Wait, looks like I just made that up too.)

And really, that sums up PCD: something I came up with at a time I didn't know why or exactly what for.
In light of said celebration, AbsolutelyRachel and I went to our favourite city secret for some Christmas shopping.

"Oh my gosh, Rach! Look at this sweater!," I said displaying a strange, seasonal find.

"Perfect for an Ugly Christmas Sweater Par~tee!" she chimed, followed by "Geez. Everyone's been to an Ugly Christmas Sweater Party this year but me..." (Personally, I would substitute "Fun" for "ugly", but that's just me.)

I informed her everyone but we as I have not been to an "Ugly" or "Fun" Christmas Sweater Party, ever.

I also have not been in or to half the "parties" I have outfitted; yet, this fact does not stop one from the belief and discovery of something good, even at times, before such ever exists.
I am not sure where this sense of hope comes from or just how to instill it, but do know we all need a little encouragement along the way.
To cite my brother, Vincent, a most fearless individual, wise beyond his years: "It's amazing to think how much would change if you would just do it."
You, me, we.
Here's to the Fun Christmas Sweater Parties yet to come and all the Pretty Cheap Dresses along the way.

Truly,

A Pretty Cheap Dress

Echo (echo)

Just saw this on a commercial. Yeah, it came with a lot more information about a new disc, "best selling artist", la-la-la, and for a second, it reminded me of the last bit of news I heard about Leona. Pretty sad, actually. Some crazed fan was at her autobiography book signing, let the crazy get to him. All we know is poor, pretty Mrs. Leona Lewis was signing Mr. Fans' book, when he reached up and decked her! Punched her in the eye! I'd never heard such a thing aside from when this episode went down with John Stossel, but he was asking for it. Note to Mr. Fan: "I keep bleeding love..." is not only a lyric but a metaphor, fool!
As I was saying, I saw this on the commercial. What is this, you say? This is in reference to her top or the top of her top and how familiar it looks...to me and maybe a handful of other people.

This pic and product isn't the best rendition of what I had in mind, but it is what I had to make it work. I created this piece as one of my final garments for Project Make last year. I originally had tons of the white material--a heavy cross-hatch weave that ended up being more difficult to manage than originally considered. Given conditions, I decided to use the blue suede yoke for a softer touch and add contrast to the piece. But, imagine if you can, the white points to the left and right of the piece...Yep, they were originally where Leona's are.
Maybe I should change my blog name to "Jessica's Latest "Doh!"'

Oxy-moron

I don't even know how to start this story.
The picture above is of...a few things.
1. All the boots I instantly claimed "Mine" upon scoping stock at my local consignment shoppe.
2. The only other shoe I could find to fit me while I looked for my own.

That's right, people. I lost my shoe while shoe shopping.

So, as I say, "shoe shopping," which, in reality was my effort in which "One skillfully scores the most awesome boots available to man, at a fair price"...and tells about it on her blog.
Instead, I write to warn of such a sojourn, minus a mode.

Scene: PCD enters store, feverishly grabs every black boot in sight.

Reality, none of the shoes were "The One(s)" so I was over it.
Hording haze lifted, I assessed the situation at hand: either find my freaking shoe! or buy a new pair as naturally, this was my initial motivation. (While I didn't realize an actual hunt and peck for the shoe I came in with was in order, nor did I anticipate exiting in said misfit footing.)

At any rate, my first thought was "Karma...": this is payback for my hungry haste and began to return (a few) boots to the racks. When my flop did not (magically) appear, I took it one step further (really) and began organizing all the shoes for sale, as surely my work would work.
(It should be said, that loan loafer on my right foot was indeed alone as it was the only shoe I could find to even fit me.)

...(those dots should indicate) 45 minutes later, a fellow I'll call Joe happened to pass by just as I was ready to give up. (Joe is the "Loss Prevention" guy at the front door and I felt silly not handling the loss on my own.) I must of screamed "HELP!" because Joe's first words to me were "Ok! Do you know where you are??" (Yes, Joe. I just spent half my life on aisle 7 and a half.)
---
The long and short of it is, Joe recruited the manager (he said he'd "never heard such a thing") who in turn simply crouched lower than I had to find the flop in limbo.

That's Joe up there although the real hero of the hour (!) was the manager and I failed to get her picture.
Who am I kidding?? I got my flippy floppy on and beat it out the door with nothing more--or less, than what I came in with, as I suppose Joe really did do his job.
What do you think is the roll of "Loss Prevention"?

Lisztomania

Mustard is my favourite colour this season.
And silver.
And grey.
And leather.
And riding boots.
And this disc as an accessory.
The End.

Wolfgang Amadeus, Phoenix

I have issues.

One million September issues, that is. As if my loss of creative, constructive writing (which is now called 'blogging') weren't enough, we lost:
1.) Dancing-singing-colour-changing-extraordinaire Michael Jackson and
2.) feather--weight and hair, Farrah Fawcett in the same day.


3.) Then, came the truly tragic loss of director John Hughes who gifted us a reservoir of cult-classic 80's hits such as Pretty in Pink by which to reference for this fall, y'all.

4.) Now, I recently learned DJ A.M. was found dead alongside (or on top of--wee're not sure) a crack pipe. Do crack pipes kill, you ask? Idk, but the message here is: Pop Culture. What a way to go. And "Crack kills." But that one's not mine.

Therefore, it must be said, I have briefly thumbed through said pages. I actually intend to say it is by choice I refrain in doing so as I consider myself a 'Trend Analyst'--c'mon, let me have something..., for the purpose of this blog. 'Trend Analyst' by definition means to me n.: one who studies the evolving interpretation of style. What works on the East Coast rarely works on the West Coast and let's face it, most of those issues don't address the subject of everyone in between.

So, before I lose my train of thought*, the following trends are the most optimal and available style perks at a retailer near you.

*Just because I can't leave a hanging star: my brother diagnosed me with A.D.D. whereas I've diagnosed print media with R.A.D.D.: Regional Attention (according to interpretation) Deficit Disorder.

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1.) The New Scarf is Bejeweled. The New Bejeweled Scarf Goes Round and Round.

The new take on the scarf this season is really fun and feminine and even merits bonus points as a finishing layer. While there is little need to purchase this specific new take, stores have stock piled an impressive array of prints, fabrics, and colour due to demand. If you're like me and can't resist an eye catching dash of colour, keep in mind this seasons prints and colours, which will be further discussed within this post.
The simplest way to update your favourite scarf is to drape and entwine a 35" or longer necklace atop a full, loosely wrapped scarf for instant bejewel. Warm colours call for gold or bronze while cool blues and purples will pop a clean silver; think winter white and the reflection you want to cast.
While a full, lengthy scarf will serve many functions, the classic silk square makes a gorgeous come back for all ages this season. Corner by corner, tightly roll the fabric to create a double loop necklace and simple knot. While it is a closer fitted scarf, play with the material to expose pretty colours, print and comfortable fit. Equally, feel free to display a delicate chain necklace atop your custom creation. The contrast in textures gives edge yet maintains a truly chic look.

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2. Everyone loves a Cougar

Granted, many of the current associations with the feline variety aren't the most ideal, but I myself have come to embrace my inner Puma, since I am not of Cougar age. (Apparently, there are rules for this, as well.) Thankfully, as the pride ages and matures, so do the styles as leopard print has made great stride toward tasteful variations. Look for a painters brush stroke or splotchy multi-sized print. The most versatile looks can be found in pieces using the same print but with multiple colours: blue and white, red and black, or all of the above. In which case, a little goes a long way; unless you are a master of tasteful prints, the safest bet is start with accessories: belts, heels and flats, then progress to finer knits such as sweaters and trench coats.

3. Q: "What if you only have $20 to spend on a fall update? What would you buy, then?" -David Letterman

A: "You can buy red lipstick!" -Anna Wintour

As declared by fashions' most notorious trend analyst, red is the biggest, punchy, poppy colour this season. Be it The girl in the red shoes, The girl in the red trench, or The girl with the reddest lips, the point is to be pointedly haute in the hue. According to PCD resident make-up maven, AbsolutelyRachel suggests Chanel's "Vamp", $28.50 available at Nordstrom or on sale now at Smashbox.com, multi-award winning Photo Finish in "Ravishing", $16.50.


4. Get Lifted

While some may opt for the illegal sort, the one I speak of is indeed killer: platforms. Here's the thing: if they look like you can't walk more than 50 feet in them, then you are right. Makers realize not all are comfortable at such great heights and have therefore adjusted their footing to fit. If the heel reaches four inches, the padding should balance at one inch allowing for a comfortable, stylish, three inch heel. For a more day to day, casual look, opt for a stacked heel and eventually build toward a sleek heel. Also for fall: opt for a matte finish or suede feel such as these from Nine West, $89.

5. White Shirt

Oh, White Shirt. It's been a while.

A classic staple, indeed, the white shirt is the perfect palette for the seasons many looks.

Print silk scarf + white shirt + skinny blue jeans

White shirt dress + leopard print skinny belt + a red heel

His white shirt + your red lipstick + suede platforms---you get the picture.
J. Crew Tuxedo shirt, $69.50


While there are many more incoming favourites this season-- the messenger bag, the return of Doc Martens, dress shorts for evening--I'm even forecasting applied fur!, an update or addition of these top five will undoubtedly expand your reserve and look book.

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Keep in mind, this season pulls heavily from iconic 1940's fashion with luxe ladylike details such as heavy tweeds, patterned hosiery, and even red lips. Not your style? Go gradual by incorporating details, piece by piece; start tonal, move toward a pattern, and by fall's end, you will be in full force. Any combination of the suggested looks will work no matter your locale.

Remember being a woman of style means you're not tied to one look, i.e., your comfort zone. Actually, I got that from Usher, who arguably got it from his dealer. Er, stylist. In style: what a way to go!

"But all you have is clothes...and kids and ex-husbands..."

Who am I? Where am I? And what has happened to Pretty Cheap Dress? If you've ever found yourself uttering these words, then you know that a liberal helping of water and self forgiveness is in order. Two posts in one season?? Sacrilege you say, and agreed. But c'mon. Summer is skimpy. Skimpy clothes, skimpy bod (except for me), skimpy print, skimpy news--and seriously, I repeat, there has been minimal to write about.

I do come armed, however, with fat prospect. Er, at least fluffy hope. One should expect a word from PCD's guest blogger Blaine for insight on what the "manz" will be sporting come fall. Also, congratulations to Absolutely Rachel and her recent promotion to Business Manager as we will hear of the newest and most promising product from lines such as Perricone MD, SkinMD and Frederic Fekkai. Speaking of face, I noticed many summer covers were very light on the make up. Wait, light is light--nude is more like it.


Amy Adams for Allure, August 2009

Hayden Panettierre for Lucky, August 2009

And of course, Sasha Cohen as zany Bruno in the June issue GQ, which is the first time a subject has graced its cover completely naked. (Note: Fellas, if you'll recall, Jen Aniston was wearing a tie. Modest gal, that one.)

Speaking of notes, use these last days of summer to research a new autumn scent. They say ones' sense of smell is the strongest link to memory recollection. I know this to be true as there for a while, everytime I reached under the bathroom sink for toilet paper, it reminded me of my ex. Something about the smell... Anywho, I recently re-discovered Archipelago's Botanical Milk Soy Lotion No. 12 and know for a fact I was not a fan a few years ago. How could I have not loved this mature, luxurious lather that doubles two in one!? Because, as proved by the continual need for t.p., we change. Given the impending change in seasons, aim for one such as this as your skin will appreciate the consideration. Be scientific about it: what lasting impression do you want in your scent? Where and when can you incorporate this into your vibe? More on this to come...

So, Bruno for the eyes, minimal for the face, and a scent to please the nose is all ancillary to the clothes. CLOTHES, I say! is the culmination and evidence of all things good. And why we have The September Issue. And The September Issue is why we have clothes...and kids and ex-husbands.

Smoke signals mean nothing to a city girl

It is time. To confess. My undying love. For pizza. No, that is not me with the faux feather as seen above, but! it very well could have been me posted up next to the pizza stand... ok, a couple times the course of Bonnaroo (and most likely why I wasn't asked to be in any stylin' pictures.) In order to emphasize my infatuation for my fav food group: one time, this guy kept asking to take me out: "Hang out at the house?" No. "Come to the lake?" No. "Pizza and a *french kiss?" --but he did not say f*rench kiss---and I seriously stopped to ponder, thinking "...I do like pizza..."
So, anyway, Bonnaroo. If you are unfamiliar and/or did not check out the multiple aforementioned links: four days, Manchester, Tennessee (home to Heidi's boyfriend Jack), 80,000 people pitching 25,000 tents in the middle of nowhere, 200+ bands playing to everyone and their token' hippie, and somehow, a limo and Drew Barrymore were there. Ok, I don't know that they came together, but both were very stylin' for the middle of nowhere.
So, after what pieced together to make a full day spent in the car, we rolled up just in time to re-energize for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs featuring the one and only Karen O. The lead singer for the New York based trio, Miss O. stands as indie rocks' most daring female. From a distance, I believed Miss O. to be sporting an ethereal white kimono with traditional print accents. Note: when it comes to the Indie genre, never mistakenly label anything "traditional" as that's why it's called 'indie'. I've read many disagreed or altogether disliked what surely is a custom outfit, but after a bit of research, I get it now.

Note: the pic on the right is a nod to their website and latest disc "It's Blitz!"; one may decipher interpretation of the left picture on their own. Much love to the incredible Lucinda Williams; always have been a fan, always will be, but sister was looking rough. If Ray Wylie Hubbard were there, I would have a) had a case of amnesia whereby attempting to alleviate my disillusion with b) a nap. Anywho, wasn't really feeling it and was joined in the belief that, neither was she.
Photo courtesy this blog, which offers a great--both pictorial and editorial review of what can be had at Bonnaroo. Speaking of naps: it was astonishing how many people found comfort in the middle of nowhere. No really. They would lie down and sleep in the middle of nowhere. While watching Lu, there was a strange, occasional noise accompanied by heat. Huh? Looking around, we discovered a gas-filled torch that, when lit, shot up huge smoke rings that could be seen 'round the grounds. (Me and Lu happened to be nearby.) So, en route to actually see where this random heat was coming from, we saw this guy asleep in the lawn. I thought it rude to take a picture of a clearly exhausted person, but also needed evidence of what I'm talkin'. I took this picture just as he woke to a stranger lying down with him for his Kodak moment, when he honestly woke up with this expression:
Quite honestly, I saw way too many acts to name and think my running mate Dave nailed it when he said "I've heard so much about them, I don't know who I've actually seen!" The Beastie Boys were nothing but energy; Jenny Lewis was everything I remembered her to be: purely poetic and always stunning. Bon Iver, The Decemberists, NIN--if there is one tip I could offer anyone due to make a subsequent trek: if there is a show you want to see, be sure you want to be there beginning to end. Tardiness or lax motivation gets you nothing (at times, not even an eye on the stage, Ex: Phoenix) if you are indeed there for the music.

I was able to see Robyn Hitchcock and the Venus 3 on a recommendation and would extend the same rec for those of you heading to Austin for ACL. An elder Hitchcock jazzed the audience with impressive bluesy rifts and folk melody often compared to Bob Dylan.

Grammy winning Raphael Saadiq was a phenomenal throw-back to the traditional indie line-up. Motown sound paired with a discerning, modern eye for style, Saadiq was my pick for the festival. Oh, and if you'll recall, Saadiq is formerly of R&B group Tony! Toni! Tone (eeek.)

And so it pains me to tell this next part of the story. How everyone wanted to see MGMT. How I missed my opportunity to hang with The Bruce in VIP. How a random conversation with two tech's in Memphis hooked me up with MGMT's sound engineer at the Roo; how I was supposed to meet him and MGMT at "8:00, stage right..."-- six hours before the 2 a.m. show and how then, I would have totally missed NIN "last show" going down at the exact same time.

So, no, it didn't happen. But now I totally understand why some opted for a re-charge nap in the middle of nowhere.

Check out Style.com and Lucky Magazine's Bonnaroo Style Report for more looks from Bonnaroo 2009.
And no, I didn't totally miss MGMT. I just had a different point of view.

Ugh! I forgot my feathers!

Did you check out Bonnaroo?? I did :)
In short, it was impressive. And to be fair, I'll need to get back to you on the course of events. But I want to go ahead and post some of the pics I took in earnest search of personal style--which is hard to define amongst 80,000 people. The thing is, one can be different. One can be the one and only. But if you are different, the one and only, and you start a trend, well now that is impressive. Check out these potential trendsetters and consider the different ways you could work the looks.
Ok, maybe not this look. BUT! If you are a fan of Aaliyah and can't let her go, I'm right there with ya. You can hardly tell, but this girl is wearing a sherpa. The first pic I took she was making this face


--granted, I opened with "Aren't you hot??", the obvious answer clear, but more so evident was her commitment to the look. (Yes, I complimented her on it--it's how I got the pic.)



If you look closely, those are lobsters. Embroidered lobsters.

I knew I forgot something for the MGMT show (i.e. neo-native headress).

I'll delve deeper into exactly where each of these looks were seen, and of course the scene of the seen. But at this juncture, I want spend a little more time exercising what may come more difficult for some. Multi-tasking.

Business Trip

Am off to Bonnaroo 2009. If you are unfamiliar with Bonnaroo, ...actually, I have no time to even try to explain what I believe to be Bonnaroo. Click any of the aforementioned links I've hyperlinked and start reading.

Two questions:

Is three days and 80,000 people a good sample size for personal style?

Is three purses, two hats, and bag full of necklaces overkill?

Stimulus, Check!

Photo by Alfred Eisenstaedt, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1951

When was the last time you learned something 'new'? Hold that thought. Outside of your mouth.
---
So the other night, I learned two things about children: one) it's not always a guarantee they make it inside the toilet. And two) "children bite themselves when they are bored." When my friend Jessica stated the latter, I instantly envisioned a room full of toddlers gnawing on their arms, a "I don't know any better but this is interesting..." look in their eyes. "They bite themselves, Jess??" No, not themselves, but rather each other. Oh. Apparently, and this makes sense, they need to be adequately entertained or have consistent adult interaction. I'm pretty sure I have found my fingers in my mouth more times these past months than I have ever before. I am absolutely bored out of my gourd.
Originally, I suspected my lack of creativity was a result of 'just a funk': a condition evidently onset by excusable lingo such as "recession" and "decline". A visceral funk with little or no defense mech--heck, we were afraid to die by Swine Flu and eyeah, I still found my fingers in my mouth; an actual funk with far less fatalities than the more common strain--lest I remind, it's still out there folks.
So, it's still out there. The lack thereof. The non-inspiring. The 'new'found celebrities and their supposed inherent style. Alas, I realize, the search for all things good often come despite and long after giving up. "Happiness is a journey, not a destination", right? (I also agree "Happiness is a journey, but almost never a song by Journey.")

Here are a couple looks to check yo' stimulus:

True Religion "Jordan" Boyfriend Jean, $246

Ha! You know as well as I do, there is no rationale behind spending this kind of money on rip-torn jeans. But comfort and style are two reasons to bust out the blade and bleach and do it yourself. Recycle a baggy fit or check out your local thrift shop for a men's pair; length is unimportant as this fit and style should always be worn rolled up to complete the lax look.

Levi's 501 cut-offs, American Apparel, $48

I know it's hot out if my legs are sweating. The same goes for you. Like summertime, there are few other options when the heat hits. Lunges, baby.

Off the Shoulder 3/4 Sleeve, $55
Head to thigh, this look is exactly what I'm gunning for. (You should know what's on the feet.) A great find, modal is one of the most comfortable fabrics through many seasons and the 3/4 length sleeve is appropriate at any age.

Max and Chloe Cabochon Ring, $20

A sophisticated dose of colour, I'm really loving all things bauble this summer. Summer Boho is all about textures and prints (and lots o skin); if you are hesitant any combination of the above is too much 'dirty hippy', mix up the eras with clean-line enamel accessories to freshen your look.
Check out my style book for more samples.

Eisenstaedt on Marilyn Monroe, 1961

A recent trip to my beloved cities' flee market, I came across an interesting book I couldn't walk away from. A most famous photographer, Alfred Eisenstaedt captured some of the most unforgettable images in American history, most notably of V-J Day and the infamous sailor kissing the nurse, 1945. The subjects of that classic picture are unknown, as Eisenstaedt hurriedly captured the unexpected moment and was unable to cite their names. Eisenstaedt on Eisenstaedt, a beautiful pictorial history by the artist and author, came to me much the same, as an unexpected gift from my Aunt. Thank you Ana! Like Eisenstaedt, your timing is always perfect.

As for how I discovered children don't always make it inside the toilet: let's just say my only argument with my favourite look of the moment, jumpsuits, is the wrenching time it takes to unbutton/un-do, and the pool of clothing left to go no where but at your feet, which apparently, in a house full of kiddos, is along with other said pool.

Alas, I suppose one can never really expect the unexpected.