Saturday, April 30, 2011
michelle williams : interview mag
Love Michelle Williams. This interview magazine editorial is lovely. I wish I could cut my hair that short and still look as cute as her.
Have a great saturday!
If you live in LA, come to our garage sale!
address is: 4004 N. Figueroa St. Highland Park, Los Angeles, CA
Friday, April 29, 2011
totes magotes
Loving the colors in these tote bags from Steve Mono. Steve Mono has been making amazing leather bags for men since 2006 so this women's collection was highly anticipated. See the rest of the collection available at opening ceremony.
Its such a perfect bag for a trip to the beach or the weekly flea market run.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
nadinoo!
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Classic Series: Mikki Itzigsohn
Other than that, most of my dresses are thrift store or vintage store finds. I love one of a kind dresses and having fun with prints....Sometimes too much fun.
2. Big hair and Flowers- When I was in elementary school, we were told the story of how Billie Holiday accidentally burned herself while curling her hair. It was right before she was supposed to go on stage so she covered it with a gardenia and that became her trademark. I always loved that story and kind of related it to my own life later when i started getting into hairstyles from the 50s and 60s I've always loved the look of those hairstyles and flowers in the the hair in general. I started putting flowers in my hair in the high school because i hadn't really perfected the art of teasing my hair so the flower would jazz up the part that i couldn't get right.
3. Waist belt- Waist belts i collect here and there. I like them to be pretty basic so they can go with many outfits. It's always a score finding one that fits nicely and has a great buckle.
4. Leather booties - They are great shoes. I like em with most outfits. These specific ones were a gift and i love them dearly. I had worn my last pair into the ground and they are pretty pricey so my McCabe's (music store that I work at) family all chipped in and surprised me for my birthday.
5. A good jacket - For me, a good jacket completes the outfit. It says you mean business. Nothing like a good jean jacket to pull an outfit together. The red vinyl/suede is my sleaziest jacket. i love the mix of fabrics and the lapels. I got it at a thrift store warehouse in in Hamilton, New Zealand. The fringe jacket is one of my favorites as well. I got it at a thrift store near my house. I had always wanted one but never found the right one. My sister and i were looking through tchotchkes and things and we saw it and everything came together. I tell you this jacket is wild.. you put it on and no matter whats going on you are ready to have a good time.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
oh you pretty things....
garage sale!
Monday, April 25, 2011
the northern lights
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Kate Spade
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
do you polka?
Saturday, April 16, 2011
For Me, For You: an interview
all photos are taken by Kate Miss
Today I am so excited to share with you one of my favorite bloggers + jewelry designer, Kate Miss. I emailed her a few months back and asked her if she would do an interview and she was so kind enough to say yes. So here is the little interview. One thing I want to point out is that her work ethic is amazing. She's a full time graphic designer, takes amazing photos for her blog and still has time to make her necklaces. whew. People, never say that you don't have time to do your own projects after work. She MAKES time. Another thing I'd like to draw attention to is her personal style. She consistently has great color palettes and knows how to make simple style come to life.
1.
Me: Kate, I've stumbled across your blog by chance a few years ago and its been so inspiring to see how far your necklaces have come. You have such a great simplistic yet fashion forward style in everything from your website, your photos and your wardrobe. What's your background? and how did your jewelry making come about?
Kate: I’ve always been involved in creative things – be it art, music, and/or design. I’ve been a graphic designer for about eight years and have a full-time job doing that during the day, but I’m the kind of person who hates being bored and having too much time on my hands, so after some dabbling in making and selling art prints, I decided to teach myself how to make jewelry (I also ended up taking a couple classes). It revolved around the idea of turning friendship bracelets of my childhood into necklaces from the very start, and eventually evolved into different styles that also use thread, or simple brass pieces that coordinate well.
2.
Me: Did you think that you'd be doing this a few years ago? It seems hard to believe that your able to handmade every necklace! Would you ever consider mass production or are you a handmade advocate?
Kate: I never even thought I’d sell them when I first started! They were just necklaces I was making for myself and something creative to keep myself busy, but as soon as I posted a few photos on my blog and flickr page, people asked if they could buy them. Sometimes I feel like I’m missing out on a big opportunity to grow, but then again I don’t really want to have someone else making my jewelry, even an assistant. I like it just the way it is right now – making them when I have time, making the jewelry more limited edition and special that way. When I made 100 necklaces for Target, it killed me and took all the fun out of the business. I had no life for months! I don’t know if I’ll ever do something like that again. If the perfect opportunity came along to join forces with someone else who was business minded, or I found myself unemployed, I might consider growing, but right now, it works for me.
3.
Me: What are some of the challenges of juggling maintaining your blog, working full time and still being creative and make jewelry?
Kate: It’s a struggle sometimes. I had to cut back to three posts a week on my blog because it just became impossible to keep up with, posting every day. If you’re forcing yourself to blog, it shows. I’ve found that quality over quantity works for me – both for my blog and my jewelry. I get asked all the time how on earth I handle all three of these things, but like I said before, I have to keep busy in order to be happy. But of course, that can take it’s toll sometimes, so it’s nice that I can take a little break from the blog and jewelry line if I need to sometimes, people understand.
4.
Me: What inspires you? And who are your favorite designers? musicians?
Kate: My move to LA is my biggest inspiration right now. The colors, the sunshine, the plant life, the laid back attitude – it fills me to the brim with creative energy. I had no idea that waking up to sunshine every morning was such a life motivator for me. Other than that, I love and am inspired by Rachel Comey, Caitlin Mociun, Maira Kalman, Louise Bourgeois, among others. As for music, the list is pretty endless! My favorite musicians to work to are Neko Case, Iron & Wine, Nina Simone, and Mulatu Astatke.
5.
Me: What are your favorite places to shop?
Kate:Madewell, Zara, Needsupply.com, Asos.com, Totokaelo.com (when I can afford it!), J. Crew for the occasional basic, Sephora (I’m a beauty product addict), Mohawk General Store, Tortoise General Store.
6.
Me: How would you describe your personal style?
Kate: Sometimes I joke with my friends that I dress like a blogger. I own many striped shirts, skinny jeans, and seven pairs of shoes with wooden heels. I rarely wear anything that’s the slightest bit uncomfortable (no heels over 3” high), and I have a pretty consistent color pallete my boyfriend calls “Kate Miss colors” – marigold, camel, navy, burnt oranges and reds. I'd rather wear something with an interesting shape than an interesting pattern. Simple, with a twist.
Thanks, Kate for taking the time out to do this!
Friday, April 15, 2011
Hair INspirationals: Arizona Muse
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Oh you fancy, huh?!
let's go swimmin'
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Classic Series: Jenna Sauers
For this week's Classic Post, I asked my friend, Jenna Sauers of Jezebel to let me peek her wardrobe. Her collection of vintage clothes is pretty amazing and would make any girl from LA really jealous.
I met Jenna back during fashion week through my best friends + dynamic duo David and Danny Roberts. Its not a surprise at all that she used to be a model. Jenna is incredibly tall, thin and naturally beautiful. I instantly wanted to be her friend after talking to her because she just gets "it". And by "it" I mean life, pop culture and fashion, man. (I sound like a hippie but who cares?) She writes about things that are often controversial, creating a buzz and attention to things that most people are scared to talk about.
1. Ferragamo Flats
My obsession with these shoes dates precisely — and maybe embarrassingly — to the first semester of my freshman year of college, when Nylon magazine published a fashion spread inspired by the style of Joan Didion, a writer with whose work I was then in the earliest throes of an obsession that has proven enduring. Ferragamo flats — specifically the "Vara" flat, the one with the bows on the toe — were in that spread. Those are cute, I thought! (I mention in passing that Didion was also known to rock a scarf back in the day.) I'm fairly tall, and I walk a lot, so I am always looking for a dependable, presentable flat. Something with more arch support than a ballet slipper and without the likelihood of blisters of an Oxford. I think I bought my first pair (secondhand, on eBay) the week I saw that Nylon story. I've since acquired maybe a half-dozen pairs, paying no more than $40 for each. Cap-toes, loafers, Varas, sandals; lime, brown, black, red, bone. My closet is sated, but I still have an eBay alert set for Ferragamos in my size. What I like about these shoes is simple: They are well-made, and when properly taken care of, they will last many years. The Ferragamo company does not seem interested in altering its patterns in order to chase trends, and most of its styles have been in production for decades, so the secondhand market is plentiful. They're never out of style, they're never in style, but they're always stylish. Also, Joan Didion. Duh.
2. Scarves
I pretty much always have a scarf on me — if one's not tied or draped around my neck, there's almost certainly one tied to the strap of my bag. I feel about 900% more pulled-together with a scarf, and they hold a strong allure to me as someone who tends not to wear a lot of prints, because they're a very easy way to introduce a lovely print or an unusual complimentary color into an outfit, without feeling like you're getting overwhelmed. They're so cheap to pick up in thrift stores, and so pretty as objects, that I can't help but collect them. (I got really lucky once in San Francisco and scored this blue-and-gold vintage Balenciaga scarf with ducks on it for $2. I've been trying to repeat that luck ever since.)
Also: Scarves are practical! They're like the MacGuyver of accessories. Caught in a rainstorm? Tie that scarf around your head. Sudden drop in temperature? Silk is warm. Need to suddenly class up a t-shirt and jeans? Tie that scarf around your neck and go. Last summer, I went to the beach, and a really chic friend of mine took along a huge silk scarf with a kind of taxonomic floral print on a black ground, which she'd inherited from her grandmother. She wore it like a cover up knotted like a sarong, she napped under it like a blanket, she folded it up and used it like a headband. Basically, I was this close to killing her for her awesome scarf, but I restrained myself because I was even more interested in seeing what she was going to do with the thing next. Watching her was like watching that episode of The Simpsons where Marge buys the Chanel suit at the outlet mall and falls in with the ladies-who-lunch crowd, and has to rework the suit again and again to make it seem like she has as many clothes as they do: you just couldn't imagine what she was going to do next!
3. Pencil Skirts
I just think they're sexy. I don't have much in the way of "curves," but when I put on a pencil skirt, I feel like I have an ass all of a sudden. And yet, they are considered appropriate business wear. Paradox!
4. Nail Polish
Among my slovenly, shameful personal habits are nail-biting and cuticle-picking, and I have found that having a nice manicure is the only thing that will motivate me to keep myself from doing either. Also, living under repressive high school and job dress codes during an impressionable period has ensured that painting my nails retains a scintilla of rebellion. A bottle of OPI's latest concoction is $8 at the drug store, so it's a habit my wallet can live with. Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in the red bottle is by far the world's best top coat, FYI. (It is also far from Insta in its Dri, but I'll forgive it for 6-9 days of chip-free shine.)
5. Lastly, a Nice Vintage Dress
I wore this one (with cordovan croc-embossed Vara flats, natch) to my graduation! And on many occasions since. Once, a woman came up to me at a party and started talking to me just because I had on this dress — and we became really good friends. She was dressed in a sort of cowgirl-ish pink cat-print Miu Miu dress and obviously we were meant to be together, but we never would have known that had it not been for this dress! Can you imagine the tragedy? I got the Magical Dress on eBay for $34, it's from the 1940s, and I love it still. I wear plenty of pants and separates, but slipping on a dress always makes me feel instantly put-together. Second-hand clothing is interesting, because of the information it presents: Old garments embody all kinds of messages about the circumstances of their creation, the kinds of roles available to women in times past, and the historic plasticity of our ideas of what's appropriate, attractive, and beautiful. Even a relatively plain blue linen day dress like this one has a lot to tell about how clothing was and is made, in what kind of economy of labor, for whom, and why.
also check out her blog.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Good day, sunshine
An outfit post for you today. Think we took it right before we left. Can't believe I went from wearing shorts and sandals to coats and boots. haha. I will be excited to get back to warmer weather, thats for sure. I'm having fun out here though. Not wanting to go home just yet... Went bowling yesterday and there were these crazy clown people dressed up in wigs and the make up. It was really strange and creepy at the same time. I hate clowns. They freak me out haha. Ever since that Stephen King movie, IT....
*sigh* anyway, I'm about to start my day and get some food. Was thinking of going to Five Leaves for lunch.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
hi, how are you?
It was rainy today so we really haven't done much and we stepped outside to try and do an outfit photo but it started raining pretty hard so we only got a few shots. There was this weird old polish guy sitting outside his door and commented to us, "of all the beautiful places in brooklyn and you take a photo HERE...." haha funny but I didn't care. It was freezing. Well, I'm off to bed. It's like 1 am right and Ryan's on the phone with our friend getting score updates from the Lakers game. hahaha....
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
stripes
April 5th 1994
Its been over a decade since his death but his music and style lives on. I'll never forget my first song I ever learned on the guitar was a Nirvana song back when I was in 7th grade. Its true he wasn't the best role model but what he did for the 90s and music paved ways for other bands. So I salute you today, Kurt. Thanks for making grunge and mohair cardigans look so friggen cool.
xx
Monday, April 4, 2011
a little bit of sunshine...
Ryan & Alice Baxley: Wedding Video from Ryan Baxley on Vimeo.
think pink!
What do you think about the pink trend?