Dress the Part
Sometimes I wish we ladies still dressed ourselves in gowns that had trains like wedding dresses. Sure, we probably wouldn’t fit in our economy cars or sit well in our little dinner chairs but it’d make for an arguably classy night out. I crave the one-on-one in fluffy femininity.
Don’t you?
iPhone, Reflection, Go
Earlier this week I had a photo shoot with one of my favorite Arizona photographers, Kym Ventola. The above, reflective snapshots are the result of me getting Web 2.0-ified after 7 am hair and makeup (hair-pins still in). Good time. Can’t wait to share the final pics.
Small Absence, Big Comeback
Just because I’ve been ‘busy’ gives no casual validation for neglecting the one thing that has, for an entire year and a half, been my creative outlet. I don’t appreciate when other blogs go MIA, so I plan on ending my long pause and delving back into the digital chatter- right about, now. Please forgive me. From here on, it’s you and me time.
I’ve always loved typography and quotes so here’s to hoping you find the unrelated visual as enlightening as I did (via Pinterest). Talk soon. Promise.
The Lovely
I’m a big fan of the lovely. You know, the quintessential feminine characteristic that can be found in just about anything delicate. The lovely is the reason I pair khaki and black, the reason I’m an O.P.I. nail polish addict and the reason I prefer red lip sticks to clear gloss. The lovely is the demure, unannounced quality that few have embodied since the 1950 beauty queens like Jackie, Audrey and Doris.
The picture, above, (pulled from somewhere, I don’t remember) reminded me of the lovely. The dress alone had me Googling Mid-Century style.
Things I Love 7.11
1. I think it’s safe to say that the Kate Spade suede wedge-pump is smokin’ in fuschia, and I just made the decision it could be a killer winter favorite. Can you imagine what it’d look like with tights?
2. Twitter is a powerful tool. 140-character updates to explain, impart and exchange with complete strangers who end up becoming your friends. All another affirmation that the world is oh, so flat. We are all connected. Feel free to chat with me, here.
3. If you somehow missed the biggest music news this side of Europe, I’ll give you the lowdown. Spotify has revolutionized how I listen to music and will for you, too. You can have a free account much like Pandora (but without the stations and quite as many commercial interruptions) or you can choose to purchase the Premium option and stream all of your music to devices like your iPhone. Unbelievable, right? You can share playlists, build your own and then wonder where the time went. Seriously, it could be the best 10 bucks I ever spend.
4. This month, I’ve been craving hippie-styled artists. I’m a fan of a wide variety of music flavors but lately, it’s been music by Alexander of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros and Devendra Banhart. Go. Listen. Favorite tracks by Alexander include Truth and Remember Our Heart- they’re sure to get your beat-foot bouncin’.
5. ‘C’ is for creativity. The American scientist and inventor, Edwin Land put it right when he said, ‘An essential aspect of creativity is not being afraid to fail.’ This month I’ve spent time analyzing the creative process. I notice it’s in those moments when insecurities are put aside that creativity spews. How is your creative process?
6. So it’s apparent that I’ve visited Kate Spade a few times this month. Since I’m in need of some fancy sunglasses I was drawn to the Chantal pair. Slightly more modern than the Audrey. Thin frame. I say, adaptable to any outfit. Done.
7. Sometimes I have an embarrassing amount of fun with Photo Booth and Rollip. This photo is a result of one of those moments. Follow me on Twitter, friends.
Interview Series: Spooky
When you listen to Rick Schaier and Algernon Quashie’s new project, Spooky, you’re going to a hear a lot.
I’m not talking predictable vocals or the expected trendy stuff, either.
No, I’m talking music that will have you smiling big, ramping up the decibels on your iPod, and sharing with friends because the duo’s mini-album, Bitchcraft, is just that good.
When I first gave it a listening to, I was reminded of a few experimental beats from Wax Tailor or Baths, but soon realized after just a few minutes into the track titled Hey My Brotha that Spooky is in a class all of its own.
The project, which took just 2-months to complete, is the product of Schaier and Quashie’s satellite talent collaboration spanning all the way form New York City to Los Angeles.
The two worked to produce a sound that they categorize as as ‘pop hop’ or ‘Beach Boys trip hop’.
‘We talked on the phone all the time working the album out and it was just so smooth, fun and enjoyable,’ said Schaier. ‘No stress, whatsoever! It also came out super fast and organically. It is so much fun to make music with Algernon. I can’t wait to make the full-length next!’
When asked how he describes the Spooky album, Quashie put it simply.
‘Spooky is just a pure collaboration’, he said. ‘Rick doing what he does, and me doing what I do.’
The best part of my interview with these guys was how they both attributed their inspiration to each other.
Schaier described Algernon as his influence and vice versa.
‘Honestly, Algernon was my inspiration,’ he said. ‘He put me in the mood and the headspace to know what to do with these songs. So I felt I was simply trying to craft the songs and sing melodies to fit the vibe he established.’
Quashie placed the Spooky dynamic in more of a recognizable sense.
‘The dynamic between us is like Batman & Superman,’ he said. ‘That is a serious answer, too.’
The duo has plans to self-release the album on 6.21.11 via Bandcamp.
Things I Love 6.11
1. I think everything tastes better from the traditional mason jar. In Things I Love 5.11 I already discussed my affinity for homemade lemonade. Today I’d just like to drive that home. Go put your favorite summer beverage in a mason jar and see how cool you feel.
2. Forever 21 never fails when I’m looking for inexpensive jewelry. I’m really into grouping my rings lately, so this gold cluster naturally stuck out.
3. This month I’ve had the latest album from The Submarines on repeat. The husband and wife duo create a musical experiment based on phrases and emotion that are relatable to only those who’ve passed the butterfly-in-the-stomach stage.
4. Yves Saint Laurent offers the prettiest perfumes. I wore Elle for quite some time and then bought Young Sexy Lovely for my sister. It’s floral but not overpowering. Very feminine with a delayed surprise.
5. As many of you may already know, I’m a sucker for fonts and lately I’ve been studying the art of letterpress. For a look at some beautiful cards, I invite you to check out Oh So Beautiful Paper.
6. I Heart Quotes was one of the best ideas ever. If you’re on Twitter you need to follow them. If you’re not on Twitter you should be just so you can follow them.
7. StylePage is a digital fashion venture that I’ve recently joined. It’s a social media community that offers every registered user a look into what’s popular and voguish according to it’s users. You can read my full review, here.
Shelter Los Angeles
I chose it because of a recommendation, I happily booked it because of the competitive price, and I enjoyed it because of its retro curb appeal.
Honestly, my first impression of Shelter Los Angeles consisted of love for the chocolate-colored hard wood and excitement because of the oversized pink knight and convenient location.
It’s smack-dab in the middle of Koreatown and in my opinion, couldn’t be in a better location because it’s 10-minutes away from almost everything in Hollywood, including Birds Café on Franklin. (If you happen to be craving Korean food, then you’re in even better luck because you’re surrounded.)
This boutique hotel was nothing shy of an urban experience and lucky for me, didn’t break the bank. Between the friendly staff and vintage-meets-modern appearance, I still can’t stop talking.
I suppose if you need additional convincing, then I invite you to consider two things: complimentary pink-frosted cupcakes and free parking.
Done and done.
How Was Your Weekend?
This past weekend I hopped into my ruby red Corolla and drove the 6-hour commute it takes to get to Los Angeles.
It was the perfect time for both me and my little sis to laugh, listen to our playlists and try a few new eateries. In addition to all that, we enjoyed the local theme park and set aside time to free ourselves of our weekly routine by visiting Hermosa and Manhattan Beach.
If you were around you would have clearly spotted us since we were the only two jumping. I suppose it can be attributed to our happiness level and the fact that I believe every photo should have some sort of composition to it. (Try jumping next time you’re experiencing the scenic. Without a doubt, you’ll find spice in the photo.)
Anyway, enough about me, what did you do this weekend?
Fashion Review: StylePage
There’s a new social media site out there that is fast becoming the fashion-lovers playground, and it’s called Stylepage.
I was followed by the design-aggregating site a few weeks back on Twitter and after a few simple steps I ended up joining my new social media acquaintances’ style project by becoming an official member.
Basically, the site brings designers, photographers, models and fashion bloggers together into a single, online space where they can share things like photos and updates about their latest finds.
The site is no respecter of location so it’s the new place I like to go for discovering international trends.
Like many other social media sites, you can follow, like and share once logged into the page.
If you end up joining, be prepared to limit yourself because if you’re anything like me, you’ll end up spending more time than you expected browsing a gob of beautiful things.
Happy stylin’.
