la boudoir

Carolina Herrera and the Symphony

2011-04-25T21:39:00.000-07:00

My job comes with some pretty awesome perks, occasionally allowing me the opportunity to take part in some pretty amazing events. Such was the case this past week when I was given the opportunity to attend the Symphony’s benefit fashion show with Carolina Herrera.

You can read all about the event at Women’s Wear Daily, and check out my slideshow below.

yes..I am about to ask for a favor...

2011-04-05T21:18:00.000-07:00

Here comes a shameless, but humble request...

As you may have noticed by my sporadic blogging, I have taken up a new hobby…photography. Working with my lovely little film Pentax, I have slowly but diligently continued to soak up all-thing-photography.

One of my New Years Resolution's (yes, I do those), was to enter two photo contests this year. And to my benefit, Crossroads Trading Company (the fabulous little second-hand store, that stocks my closet), has a contest. And, well I entered. (Slightly scared…opening a hobby to public criticism is a little unsettling, to say the least.)

This is my first pass at digital photography; so needless to say, I could use your help and support, aka I NEED YOUR VOTE. I have entered two photos, so feel free to vote for either, just please vote for me.

You have to create an account (name, email, and password) to vote.

Thanks a million, trillion, billion. Seriously, THANK YOU.

welcome home

2011-03-29T22:13:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, while San Francisco was sunny, I was stuck inside, a forced house-arrest in some regards. My roof and bathroom were being ripped apart—a long story which involves a leaky roof, a moldy bathroom, and a long list of other issues. However, I used my time trapped in the living room to try out a new 18mm lens.

My husband and I are collectors. He has his records, and I have my magazines, and clothes, and shoes, and... I've collected magazines for years, and although I do have issue after issue of Another Magazine, Lula, Vogue, Elle Decor, Noise, and Nylon, I have to say I am most proud of my French Vogue and Elle UK collections. They are a testament to the fact that I have gone to the magazine store at least once a month for the last 6 years. Dedication. Truly dedication. (Note to memory here: I did live in Sacramento for a while...imagine trying to find any thing French there, let alone a magazine.)

Aside from our collections, I love that most things in my apartment were given to me from my family. The bronze elephants and apples are unique, as they were my mothers and grandfathers. Constant good reminders.

All homes are a work in progress, but I think my husband, nacho dog, and I are off to a good start.

photography, my love

2011-03-24T15:08:00.000-07:00

Stacy Lucier Photography

I finally completed my photography website. Of course, all things are a work in progress, as I hope to add many, many more images in the coming months.

At this point photography is a hobby, not a job, as I am still growing and learning. That being said, I’d love to do more and take more photos. So if you’ve got something interesting going on, let me know at laboudoirblog (at) gmail.com. I’d love to be there to capture it all.

Emmanuelle Alt's Alternative Direction

2011-02-09T11:29:00.000-08:00

If you haven’t noticed, I’m slightly elated at Emmanuelle Alt becoming Editor-in-Chief of Vogue Paris. We all love Carine, but Alt’s personal style, a refined rock & roll girl she is, and her very distinct stylistic tastes, places Alt on the top of my list of fashion women.

With Carine Roitfeld stepping down, many of us are eager to see and hear about Alt’s direction for the magazine. Her first issue will be in April, but from a recent interview with Mark Holgate, it sounds like any changes will be slight and slow.

I recommend reading the full article.

Emmanuelle Alt: Dreams, Rock & Roll, and Topshop

2011-01-27T22:09:00.000-08:00

Newly appointed Vogue Paris editor Emmanuelle Alt had her first official-non-official interview with Hilary Alexander following the Chanel show yesterday. Watch:

in the beginning

2011-01-24T19:03:00.000-08:00

Before there was The Sartorialist, Jak & Jil, Face Hunter, and 21 Arrondissement, there was Bill Cunningham. The father of street fashion photography, who still shoots film (be still my heart), is a long time fashion photographer for The New York Times, and is credited with moving street photography to the forefront.

So read all about him, watch the film, and get dressed just in case you catch Mr. Cunningham on the street.

Photo: The Sartorialist

well deserved

2011-01-07T10:21:00.000-08:00

Emmanuelle Alt named Editor-in-Chief for French Vogue. Read more.

a new year, a new (or at least improved) you (and me)

2011-01-03T21:26:00.000-08:00

Two weeks ago I hopped into a cab and headed toward the doctor’s office*. The cabbie was uncommonly conversational, as he was rambling on about resolutions for the new year.

“What are your resolutions?” he said.

I paused, and said, “I guess I haven’t really thought about it.”

“Well you should think about it,” he replied.

Umm, alright dad, I thought to myself as I internally rolled my eyes.

“Do you know your life’s goal?” the cabbie followed-up.

What? My life goals? I thought I was paying for a cab ride, not a counseling session about my future.

With nothing to say, the cab driver looked in the rear view mirror and said, “Well you should think about it. You can’t get anywhere without knowing where you’re going.”

So I’ve been thinking about it. A lot actually. I’m a list-maker by nature, so I spent the following days writing out everything I’ve accomplished in the last decade, reflecting on where I’ve come from, where I am, and where I want to be (the ever moving target, sigh).

I could write for days about the always present “life” question, but I’ll get to the point. Not every year has stand-out accomplishments. Sometimes the accomplishment is merely standing still, growing through circumstances, rather than changing the circumstances.

This has certainly been the case for me this past year. And though I cannot say the past year was the best ever, I can say I have learned a lot more about myself, my character, my needs, my wants, and what I want my future to be. By standing still in my circumstances, my foundation and understanding of myself has grown stronger.

Knowing what I know now, I am left feeling optimistic. This next year has much potential. New friends, new hobbies like cooking, new obsessions like my camera, and more importantly a better understanding of me.

Any year that starts off as 1/1/11 is bound to be lucky, right? Happy New Year.

* long story—I had a nasty stomach infection, but nothing antibiotics couldn’t fix.

the comeback kid

2010-12-02T10:52:00.000-08:00

Tom Ford knows how to do business. He’s the master of mystery, the savant of sexy, and quite frankly the most formidable force in fashion in the last 20 years. Ford’s return to womenswear this past September, after a six year hiatuses, was the hottest and hardest to get ticket in town. The ubber-exclusive show allowed no photos, had only one photographer (Terry Richardson), and provided no public information on the highly anticipated collection until this past month.

The collection rides the wave of current 70’s fever—sequins, wide-legged pants, feathers, and one fresh afro. “The seventies is what I love.” said Ford in the December issue of Vogue, “Soft, touchable beauty is what I love. I want to be touching the skin; I prefer no bra—I want to be able to slip in my hand.”

Umm, Hello!

Having all things within his control, Ford has timed the release of information to a “T”.

Ford took over the November issue of Paris Vogue. See spread after spread of the designer’s photography and collection.

Images of the Ford’s fabulous fashion show, featuring Beyoncé, Julianne Moore, and Lauren Hutton are being released in the December issue of Harper’s Bazaar U.K.

There is also a fabulous interview with Mr. Ford in the December issue of Vogue.

island vacation

2010-11-30T06:00:00.000-08:00

My husband and I were in Hawaii about two weeks ago.

A much needed vacation, which involved catching up on sleep, fish tacos, afternoon guava mimosas, lots of photo-taking (see more photos here), and...

the beach, of course!

calendar girl part 2

2010-11-29T11:52:00.000-08:00

The French Vogue 2011 calendar, in its entirety, is out. The calendar was shot by Mikael Jansson, and unlike past years, Daria Werbowy is the main attraction, gracing every page while wearing next to nothing.

See the entire calendar at Fashionologie

calendar girl

2010-11-26T20:48:00.000-08:00

Daria Werbowy snagged the cover of French Vogue's 2011 calendar. The highly desired calendar comes with the December/January issue, and is expected to hit French newsstands November 30 (which means December 15 for the US).

want it.

2010-10-19T15:48:00.000-07:00

J.Crew’s collection lookbook kills me. Seriously. I think I may just have to purchase a pair of leather pants. Umm, and this jacket too.

life lesson 201

2010-10-18T07:30:00.000-07:00

About 4 months ago I was having “the worst day ever!” As in, work wasn’t working so great, husband was cranky, and I was down-right tired of it all. I need a serious girl day. More than a mani-pedi. More than a massage. Something REAL serious. A trip to the lingerie store.

There’s a beautiful boutique two blocks from my house. The Eres window displays are enough to make any man or woman want what’s in the window. I walked in to the little bra and panty boutique, not knowing what to expect.* I pushed open the white-washed wooden doors to a room full of Eres, Chanetelle, La Perla, Stella McCartney, silk, satin, and lace, all delicately draped on wooden hangers. It only took a matter of seconds before my inner-woman came alive. I walked in a girl, walked out a lady. And my wallet was $350 thinner. I know, I know, serious shopping therapy.

Point being – once you go there, there’s no turning back. The best part about luxury lingerie is it’s sexy for you and no one else. You’re the only one who knows what you’re wearing underneath your skirt, and unless you walk around the office half dressed, you are the only one that will take satisfaction in what hiding beneath your clothes. It’s an ultimate self-indulgence -- satisfying to you, and only you. Life lesson learned.

And that’s why I just had to go back and get this super cute Stella McCartney set!

*For my entire life I have shopped department stores from my body basics. It’s just a bra right?!?

spring thinking

2010-10-07T07:25:00.000-07:00

The marathon month, a.k.a fashion month is winding down. After scrolling through rolls of fashion film and photos, from New York to London, Milan to Paris, I’ve narrowed the biggest and boldest spring/summer hits down to these:

White. It’s the new camel.
The 70’s. Think Three’s Company, Jane Fonda, and trousers with lots of flare.
Sheer. It’s a sure thing.
Clean slate. Minimal dressing translates to mega sexy.

doin it like a lady

2010-10-06T18:46:00.000-07:00

Not uncommon for the workplace, today, like many days, the topic of TV came up. In the midst of our conversation about primetime shows like Weeds, Eastbound & Down, and the HBO network all together, my boss said she loves to watch reruns of Sex and the City. Not surprising, lots of ladies love it, right?

Time out. Time for a confession -- I have never seen Sex and the City.

What! What? I know, I know, me, this girl has never seen an episode. Not the movie. Maybe a commercial. That’s it.

My co-workers disbelief was followed-up by a quick list of reason why I would totally, 100% love it. “Girls, clothes, and sex. What’s not to love?”

“Wait,” another boss spoke up, “well, I mean they do have sex with their bras on.”

Hold on. Stop here. I couldn’t help myself, but seriously, who has sex with their bra on?

The only reasons to have sex with your bra on are the following:

1. It’s the “ first time” (we all know how that can be),

2. You truly believe your bra is more attractive than your breast (like the $350 Eres bra in the boutique around the corner from my house, now that is beauty),

3. You decided to get down to business, and left the top half untouched (if you know what I mean),

4. Or, you’re in the midst of some mad, passionate, heat-of-the-moment, Michael Douglas meets Sharon Stone in Basic Instinct moment (but wait, even he managed to get her bra off)

I mean seriously, bra’s are like god punishment to women. Metal rods, tight straps, oh my. If you managed to get the top off, I would think the bra would come with it. But what do I know. I live in San Francisco, and this is sex, and “The” city. Maybe they do it differently in New York.

day dreaming

2010-10-05T20:12:00.000-07:00

Missing Paris today...

and almost every day for that matter.

So I figured I'd share some photos from our most recent visit.
See all the rest here.

it ain't easy

2010-09-22T04:00:00.000-07:00

Keeping up, that is. Okay, so seriously, between work, a husband, a dog that doesn’t stop barking, the need to eat, the gym that I never actually make it to, and more work. I've got a stack of magazine 3 months back, untouched. Ahhhhhhh. Where is all the time for the fun stuff?

I’ve come to the realization that all I do is work, and the rest of the time I’m just tired from working.

Man, oh man, I need a vacation. A drink. A massage. Or maybe just the ability to sleep for more that 5 hours. Oh yes, sleeeeeppppp.....

Theyskens’ Theory

2010-09-13T21:43:00.000-07:00

If you know anything about me, you know I love Theory. So you can understand my joy when Olivier Theyskens, who previously held stints at Rochas and Nina Ricci, agreed to design a capsule collection for the brand. Over the past week, there have been sneak peeks at the collection. But today the waiting was over, as Olivier Theyskens debuted Theyskens’ Theory, his collections of 80 looks, on the rooftop of Theory’s Meatpacking District office.

Leather jacket, suit seperates, silk dresses, silver-painted jeans, and shoes! Seriously, see for yourself.

heritage

2010-09-02T07:00:00.000-07:00

As a little girl growing up I’d lie in my bed, wide awake, staring at the glow in the dark stars scattered across the ceiling. Just 3 steps away, across the dark brown hall way, I could hear the shower water run. My mom was a night-time bather.

After 20 minutes, when the hot water would start to run cold, my mom would step out of the shower to finish getting dressed. It was only a matter of minutes before the soft scent of Estee Lauder Youth Due dusting powder would tip-toe across the hall, dancing into my room. I’d take a deep breath. Comfort was in the air.
______

Unlike my mother, my grandmother didn’t shower, she bathed in a bath. Around 2:30am, while lying awake on the hard twin mattress across from my sister, I would hear the bath water run in the baby blue bathroom, right next door. The water so hot, within second the air would thicken and the temperature rise.

She’d lie in scolding hot bath until her tired, sore muscles were melted into submission. Once finished, I would hear the water being sucked down the slots of the silver drain, and in the same moment, I could smell the soft scent of Estee Lauder Youth Due dusting powder, ever so softly walking its way down the hall, and into my room. Deep breath. The smell of comfort.
______

My alarm goes off every morning at 7:45am. Leaving my husband tightly tucked beneath the blankets, I rise to the sound of jack hammers and drills from the construction worker next door. I hear the busy people, frantic in their cars, honking their horn before the street light even turns green. Ahh, morning.

As I fight for hot water with the neighbor showering down stairs, the construction workers yells, “Jack, Jack, get the hell down here. Jesus, man, what the hell are you doing!?!” Ahh yes, morning.

And after I lose the battle and the hot water is gone, I step out of the shower, cold, tired, and somewhat shocked by the abrupt aggression that has verbally filled the air. I take two steps toward the door, reach for a teal box set atop the shelf, flip open the lid, pull out the duster, and breathe deep. Comfort.

all scents are not created equal

2010-09-01T06:00:00.000-07:00

Growing up I remember jumping up onto the front seat of the car and shutting the door as we headed off to Sunday morning service. Within a matter of seconds after pulling the heavy minivan door shut, a thick layer of my mother’s Ciara perfume crept across the steering wheel, meeting me square in the face. The overwhelming scent was suffocating. Blocking my airways and giving me a massive headache. Rapidly rolling the window down, I’d stick my head out the window, searching for the scent of fresh air. Every Sunday I’m sure the man mowing the lawn around the corner saw me, similar to a dog, sniffing for air.

My mom wasn’t the only person who had an overwhelming love for her perfume. I’m pretty sure she learned from her mother. You don’t know what Interlude really smells like until you’re trapped, driving at 30 miles an hour down the freeway, windows rolled up, on the hour ride from San Jose to Tracey.

And still, there were the girls that start wearing make-up at 14, hung a mirror in their locker, always have a can of Aquanet hairspray handy, and freshened-up with Bath and Body Works fruit body splash right before they'd slide into their seat in biology class. These are the same ladies that grew up, and freshened-up with frequent sprays of Pink by Victoria Secret before their communications course in college. The scent sticks with them -- that misty, musky, funky smell. (My husband is standing over me saying, “stripper, it smells like stripper.” I’m not going to ask how he knows what a stripper smells like.) Enough said.

Needless to say, I was never going to wear perfume. I hated it. Note here the word "hated", as in past tense.

Recently my grandmother handed me a small bottle of Balenciaga Eau de Parfum. Of course, she wears Interlude, so she had no use for it. I figured is sounded cool, I mean it was Balenciaga right, so I would give it a try. I started with a dab on my wrist, and within days I was wearing it on my neck. Not bad I thought; after a few days I was getting used to the smell. It was good, but not perfect. With the possibility of a tolerable, perhaps pleasurable perfume out there, the quest was on. I did some research, a quick 1-2-3 tutorial on what makes perfume, well perfume. No matter what I read, what I kept coming back to was Chanel.

This is getting long, so I’ll get to the point. . . I love Chanel No. 5. No, it’s not a hip Marc Jacobs Daisy, it’s not a Gwyneth Paltrow frolicking with flowers and baby lambs in Pleasure, and it’s certainly not sexy Scarlett Johansson The One by Dolce and Gabbana. It’s better.

Chanel No. 5 subtle, sophisticated, refined -- just like a lady should be. Perhaps a little old for a 26 year-old, but certainly something every woman can grow into. It’s not what you wear, but how you wear it, right? Perhaps the age-old saying applies to scents, just as much as it applies skirts, scarves, and so forth.

show and tell

2010-08-26T08:00:00.000-07:00

I’m sure you read Garance’s blog post a back in May, regarding her stellar opportunity to shot along side Peter Lindbergh. The pair headed out to St. Barth’s to shoot the David Yurman Fall 2010 campaign. My understanding is the Lindbergh shot the ads, while Dore shot the behind the scenes images seen here.

Just a little show-and-tell here. A couple of new images have surfaces, along side the only ad release to-date below.

film n fashion

2010-08-25T23:12:00.000-07:00

There are a variety of excellent examples of fashion and film melding together to make perfection. All I have to say is Audrey Hepburn or The Single Man, and you understand. I mean, did you see the clothes in The Devil Wears Prada? I know, I was jealous too.

Martin Scorcese’s recently made another addition to the fashion-film family with his commercial for Chanel's new Men's fragrance Bleu de Chanel. Sadly, I can’t say I’m a fan. I mean, the Rolling Stones' "She Said Yeah” doesn’t exactly screen Coco to me.

But then again, what the hell do I know. I’m a girl and Audrey Tautou in Chanel No. 5 just makes more sense to me.

disappearing act

2010-08-17T20:29:00.000-07:00

Don't get me wrong, I love a good ad campaign. Yes, yes, I can get swept away by skinny models looking super cool, in their designer clothes and crazy hair. However, when my fashion fantasy is interrupted by an emaciated model, who looks more like an alien that a woman…well, perhaps the ad has failed.

I mean seriously, where did her waist go?

lit up

2010-07-27T04:00:00.000-07:00

The lights are on at the new Madison Street Lanvin boutique. Until now, rich ladies were spending loads on lovely things, but had to shopping by candlelight. Who said being wealthy was easy?

If only, right. The shoes alone are enough to make your heart swoon and your pocket book swell. The new shop is fully loaded with bridal, bag, clothes, and shoes.

Lanvin, 815 Madison Ave, NY

pretty in pink

2010-07-26T04:00:00.000-07:00

On my first trip to Paris I didn’t go into one clothing boutique, seriously, not one. What the hell was I thinking? I know! This time I made a must-do list of boutiques. I google-mapped directions, and studied each location; I was so ready, by the time I hit the streets I could provide locals with directions. Slightly compulsive, but I like to think of myself as prepared.

One of my favorite boutiques was Isabel Marant. The small black building was tucked away on rue Saintonge. I had the whole place to myself. Walking slowly from rack to rack, I made sure to exam every single article that hung from those wooden hangers. I didn’t want to miss a thing. I knew enough French to ask for my size, and once I had settled on the pieces I wanted to try on, I slipped around the corner, behind the large wooden doors to model for myself my soon-to-be purchases.

Believe it or not, what was purchased doesn’t matter, that is not the point of my story. Down to what matters…

So I approach the counter, and the tall, slim, 35-year-old reaches her hand out to take my clothes. Her slender fingers extend and I glance down to see…oh my! No she wasn’t missing a figure, and her hand did not fall off. She has florescent nail polish. Florescent pink to be exact.

In that moment all I could think was, “People actually wear that!” Garance Dore talked about her summer love for florescent polish, but Garance lives in a dream world where maybe Kate Moss and Karl Lagerfeld have florescent nails, but not the rest of us. But oh was I wrong, apparently the coolness of florescent polish has trickled down to the woman behind the counter. Maybe she reads Garance’s blog, maybe she’s just as cool as Kate and Karl, obviously I don’t know.

I had a minor moment of worldly awareness, thanks to nail polish. This story is stupid, I know. Whatever. No matter what, I won’t be painting my nails florescent pink anytime soon.

Back to life, back to reality

2010-07-22T22:56:00.000-07:00

My husband and I just got back from Paris on Sunday. We have friends over there, he dj’s, and I like to think I am more French that I am, kind-of like those Irish that only come out on St. Patrick’s Day to drink. I’m not that bad, I promise.

This isn’t our first trip to Paris, but knowing that we wanted to travel elsewhere in the coming years, we planned ahead to make sure this trip would be fantastically-fabulous. We wandered the streets, TJ went from record store to record store, and I strolled from Isabel Marant to Vanessa Bruno, with a day trip spent at the Bon Marche. In the evenings we spent our time eating and drinking with the best of friends - stayed up till early morning, and slept in until late afternoon. It was what every Paris vacation should be; extravagant yet simple.

There is something unreal that happens to your brain when you are not checking an email for a week; not a personal email, not a work email. A true vacation, wherein you transport yourself to another lifestyle, where money doesn’t matter, everyday stresses don’t exist, and the biggest dilemma is which Celine bag to purchase…oh life is good in that moment.

But it’s back to work. Back to bills to pay, dishes to do, deadlines and dilemmas. Back to everyday life. Oh, if only every day could be like a Paris vacation.

A girl can dream right?

1 week 6 days

2010-06-28T21:22:00.001-07:00

My husband and I will be in Paris in 1 week and 6 days. In an attempt to contain my excitement, I have been going through old photos from our last trip.

TJ is going to DJ a couple of nights, we will visit with old friends, eat way too much cheese, drink too much wine, and spend way too much on shoes.

Oh I can't wait...I can't wait!

oh my.

2010-06-21T06:00:00.000-07:00

Wow. Seriously, wow. The woman praised for being so sexy, looks a lot different in real life.

Her abs, breast, and body are looking quite different from her recent Armani ads...thanks to Photoshop.

Perhaps the most frustrating part of this body comparison, is that young girls and women think they are supposed to look like the Megan in the ads. We are told over and over that her body is sexy. Yet, it’s isn’t even her body!

battle of the body

2010-06-02T06:00:00.000-07:00

The battle over the increasing appearance of “plus-size” or “normal-size” models, rages on. LOVE magazine kick-started the discussion when Gossip lead singer, Beth Ditto consumed the cover of the March 2009 issue. Spark flew over whether promoting not just larger figures, but obese bodies such as Dittos were the “right thing to do.” Style photographer and blogger Garance Dore received mixed reviews for her comments to SkyNews in which she expressed, “It's not such a good thing to show plus-size because it's not really physically healthy and not always flattering to fashion."

But if Ditto is too big, where is the line drawn for too small?

Model Magdalena Frackowiak’s frail figure has walked the runway for years. There is no doubt in my mind- the girl doesn’t eat. And yet, she is booked for runway shows and ad campaigns year after year. Louis Vuitton doesn’t appear to take exception to Frackowiak’s barely-there body; she’s the face of their SS campaign. Yet, leave it to less expense brand J.Crew to send sparks flying. Salon and BlackBook took exception for her too-skinny figure being flaunted in J.Crew’s, “average woman,” SS10 catalogue.

Ditto is too big. Frackowiak is too small, sometimes. Is there a balance between too big and too small? It doesn’t appear so.

Just look at plus-size model, as in size 10-14, Crystal Renn, who recently walked in Chanel’s resort cruise show. Renn came under fire for dropping a few pounds. Renn’s agent defended her weight loss in People, claiming the weight loss is due to increased activity. “She went hiking in Patagonia for three weeks over the holidays and she firmed up and got a little smaller.”

And then there is Lara Stone. We praised her for her voluptuous figure, a.k.a Lara has breasts. Yet there is no arguing the Lara has slimmed down, and there is nothing average about her 24” waist.

So where does this leave you and me, those of us being bombarded by advertising every day, searching and striving for something achievable and realistic? Yes, the average American woman is a size 14. According to the Center for Disease Control, she is 5”3 and weighs 164.7lb. But Garance does have a valid point. Just because it’s normal doesn’t mean it’s healthy.

From all of this back and forth, I’ve distilled one idea-- throw “ideal” out the window. What matters most can’t be measured solely by a scale, our waist line, or pant size. Health extends far beyond the size of your body. Start focusing on what you put inside your body. From food to foul thoughts, from crappy relationships to stressfully work lives, the toxins we allow inside severely impact our outside. As the saying goes, you are what you eat, in more ways than one.

baby belly

2010-05-24T06:00:00.000-07:00

What the pregnant Demi Moore did for Vanity Fair in 1991, Claudia Schiffer is attempting to do for Vogue Germany. Shot by Karl Lagerfeld, the cover photo positions Claudia in an almost identical pose to Demi Moores controversial cover. In addition to the cover, the all-Claudia June issue features editorials of the pregnant Claudia shot by Ellen von Unwerth.

See more prego-photos here.

short cut

2010-05-18T05:00:00.000-07:00

Trish Goff channeled Demi Moore when she was photographed by Ezra Petronio for the 32 issue of Self Service magazine. The photos are a bit reminiscent of Moore in some of her most memorable movies GI Jane, A Few Good Men, and Ghost.

Whether it's Moore or Goff, there is something sexy about a woman with short hair. The lack of hair screams loads of confidence. Aside from Moore, there are quite a few super-star women that have made the cut. From Twiggy to Katie Moss, Agyness Deyn to Rihanna, all of these women have cropped their hair without cutting their physical appeal.

You can’t help but love a woman that has the guts to cut it off. Although I like the look, I don’t have it in me to send my hair to the chopping block.

long live...

2010-05-17T05:00:00.000-07:00

"I still love the smell of paper and the feel of a pencil."

Anna Dello Russo, editor-at-large, creative consultant, Vogue Nippon
in Self Service, spring/summer 2010

scaredy-cat

2010-05-03T05:00:00.000-07:00

photo: jonathan waiter
This weekend I went shopping and found myself a cute, little Theory skirt. Though barely long enough to cover my rear-end if a pencil drops, I figured I’ll give it a shot any way. Why not, right?

Before going all the way I needed to think this through. Could I really? Would I really wear this? Lord knows, I have spent fortunes on clothes I want to wear, but won’t. After many years of “maybe someday” spending, I’ve come to accept a few truths about myself:

I’m scared of prints. As much as I like the way the look in magazines, photos, and when worn by others, I just can’t. I know. I should, I wish I could, but I just can’t do it.

Slacks make me uncomfortable. No matter how much you spend, what fabric they are made out of, or who designs them - they wrinkle.

I’m color blind, as in colored fabric might as well be invisible to me. I will never wear purple, or blue, or any other color for that matter. I’m married to black, white, and grey. Forever. Till death do us part. How many black dresses can a girl own? Oh, many more than you know.

Point being, after walking in circles through racks and racks of clothes, I came to an agreement with myself. I need to pair this with a simple sweater,” tone down all that leg showing”, and then I might just be able to pull it off. I can do this. I can.

So I bought it. It’s hanging in my closet. And now I’m freaking out about having to show all that leg.

risky business

2010-04-30T20:17:00.000-07:00

Helena Christensen for Reebok
Sneakers. Tennis Shoes. Cross Trainers. Whatever you call them, I don’t wear them. It’s probably a personal issue, but at a towering 5’5 sneakers have a way of making me feel short. They are wide, clunky–looking, and have an innate ability to shorten my legs. I’m paranoid, I know.

None the less, apparently supermodel Helena Christensen disagrees with me. She’s so confident in her Reebok trainers, she wears them naked. "With my busy schedule it's a perfect way to do something without spending hours in the gym," explained Helena in her recent VogueUK interview.

Something tells me it’s not the shoes that are toning her legs, it’s Photoshop.

catch up

2010-04-14T13:51:00.000-07:00

I have been m.i.a. for about two months….my laptop broke. Yuck, I know.
But. . . I just bought a new one yesterday.
I should be back in action soon.

obsession

2010-02-23T08:00:00.000-08:00

This photo is part of Garance Dore's post.

I'm sorry for posting some else’s post; however, I love the photo so much I couldn't help myself.

You see, my husband and I just got cameras. First, my husband bought a fancy-dancy little Nikon digital thing. You know, the heavy duty camera that all the super-cool, super-serious photographer folks have. Basically, a camera that takes awesome photos without even trying. The digital is great, but my husband doesn't like to share. And it's not so fun walking around while he takes photos.

So what do I do? I run right out and buy a 1964 Canon camera. Yea, the film kind. My camera is cooler, I swear.

None the less, now we are the dynamic duo - strolling the streets of San Francisco, fully armed and ready to shoot.

Okay, okay. So my point is, I'm slightly obsessed with photos right now, and I really liked this one.

It’s about time

2010-02-19T06:00:00.000-08:00

It’s only taken 8 years, but finally a solo black model will grace the cover of Vogue Paris. Fair to say, black models have shared the cover, but it hasn’t been since Liya Kebede in May 2002, that a single black model has owned it all to herself. Rose Cordero will own it this March.

forward

2010-02-18T08:00:00.000-08:00

For lack of a better, more appropriate line…the show must go on.

President and chief executive of Gucci Group, Robert Polet, announced today that the Alexander McQueen label will continue. "We believe in the future of the brand," Polet said.

According to the reports, the Alexander McQueen label will show in Paris, currently scheduled for March 9. Chairman and Chief Executive of PPR, François-Henri Pinault, was quoted in the statement saying, “This is the best tribute we could offer to [McQueen].”

_______________________

Alexander McQueen died one week ago tomorrow, on Feb 12, 2010. His mother died less than two weeks prior of Feb 2, and her funeral was scheduled for Feb 13. Police found multiple notes with McQueen’s body, in which he tries to explain the taking of his life. Content of these notes has yet to be released, with more information scheduled to be released at a later date.

spring | summer 2010 review

2010-01-26T08:00:00.000-08:00

I’ve been absent. Consumed by just about everything I’m not interested in. And though I’ve been working way too much, I haven’t forgotten.

I haven’t forgotten what it feels like to truly create. Though I have little time to read, write, be inspired, and express, I do remember the feeling. Nope, I haven’t forgotten that when it comes down to it, I don’t breathe brochures, print ads, staff meetings, and so forth. What I spend the majority of my day “doing” is not nearly the sum of who I am.

Point being, more often than not when we have little control over circumstances in our lives, we focus intently on one thing. This review was my “one” thing. You see, these runway reviews take a ton of time. Hours spent cataloging and cropping photos, laying out pages, and finding the right words to place on each page. Seriously, hours. Lots of hours. Yet, creating these collections are something I look forward to.

Ask me two months ago if I thought I could get this thing done, the answer would have been no. Yet with the ensuing weeks, I became more intent on getting this review completed. I may not have time to read my magazines, work on design, take bubble baths, go to the gym, and so forth…but damnit, I was going to get this stupid thing done. I had hoped to finish it up before February magazines drop on the 15, but I didn’t.

I’m 11 days late. But hey, it’s done.

There is a lot to look forward this spring. The ladies brought it* to the runway this season. Phoebe Philo for Celine, Hannah MacGibbon for Chloe, Isabel Marant, Donna Karan, even Rachel Comey knocked it out of the park. This season is all about being a woman. Peek-a-boo blouses, frivolous feathers, goddess draped dresses, belly-baring tops – whether wearing pants or skirts, dresses or blouses, you bet it will be distinctively feminine.

See more of what I’m talking about in my spring summer 2010 review.

____________________

*As in, “bring the heat”. Like Russell Crowe brought it in Gladiator.

tomorrow....

2010-01-25T19:34:00.000-08:00

the other side

2010-01-06T06:00:00.000-08:00

Olivier Theyskens' talent as a designer speaks for it self. The 2006 CFDA International Designer of the Year revitalized Rochas, and then moved on to be the Artistic Director at Nina Ricci. His designs have graced the pages of every major magazine, and been worn by all of Hollywood's leading ladies. And if that isn't enough for you, just ask his most loyal fan, Anna Wintour. Remember her April 2009 Editor's Letter:

"Olivier Theyskens's recent departure from Nina Ricci suggests to me that the vital role of artistic talent has been obscured in the current economic climate. My staff and I were shocked to learn that Theyskens's contract would not be renewed; and I am very concerned that the business of fashion is undervaluing the most important asset our industry requires: creative visionaries. There's a reason we continue to see Theyskens's influence everywhere, from catwalks to the mall. He'll be back, but fashion must hold its nerve. This is the mission that we at Vogue happily shoulder."

Who knows where Theysken will work next. For now, his first contribution to 2010 is a new collection of beautiful backstage photos from his fashion shows -- Olivier Theyskens: The Other Side of the Picture. You can take a sneak peek and purchase a copy online.

really?

2010-01-05T06:00:00.000-08:00

I may sound like a total jerk here, but what the hell is with V Magazines "Plus-Size" issue!?!

I have nothing against plus-size women in magazines. Actually, I think it's a great idea for more normal women to grace the pages of fashion magazines. Perhaps we wouldn't be so afraid to eat apple pie, if women that actually ate were on the cover.

All that being said........why does V Magazine intentionally dress these women in clothes that are too tight, and position the women in ways that are unflattering? Let me break this down. Take a look at these photos:

The models jeans are too tight (on the right). Nothing complicated, nothing to do with being overweight, her jeans are just too tight.

A cut out bathing suit? Really? Very, very few women can wear these and look good. Hell, Heidi Klum wouldn't look good in this. So why? Why?

Her suit is too tight (on the left). Obviously, they didn't learn from the last photo.

Why is this photo cropped this way? I have never seen a girl cropped with only an inch of her thigh showing. Normal it's full body, 2/3rd body, of belly-buttom up. Oh my.

V Magazine wasn't interested in doing an issue that embraces the "Plus-Size" model. It was a gimmick, so that they could claim to have larger women in their magazine. Perhaps V Magazine needs to take a walk by Lane Bryant, and learn the basics of shooting plus size models.

coming to america

2010-01-04T05:00:00.000-08:00

Trying to buy Isabel Marant inside the U.S. is a pain! The clothes are limited, online retail is not allowed, and odds are you don't live in a city where the highly desired items are sold. However, money talks... Net-a-porter is contracted to sell Isabel's spring 2010 collection online. And perhaps better yet, the first U.S. boutique is scheduled to open in New York early this year.

Starting Fresh

2010-01-01T04:00:00.000-08:00

This past year has thrown me a few curve balls (read this and understand). With a job that is “all consuming”, I’ve had an awful time engaging in the things I love. I’ve fallen behind on friendships, magazines, reading, blogging, gym time, bath time, going out, blah blah blah. 2010 has got to be about “me” getting back to “me”.

So hopefully these New Year’s Resolutions will get me there:

Lose it. Drop the 6.5 lbs I’ve put on since moving to San Francisco.
Gym. Tues & Thus after work, any additional time would be great, but I doubt it will happen in Jan
Red Wine. Learn to love it. I love white, but red is better for my heart (so I’ve been told)
Cook. 1 new item a month that sparks my interest from a cookbook or magazine (baking counts too)
French Class. Some way, some how, I will learn to speak French (this has been a resolution for 3 years). I got to Paris in July!
High Heels. Wear them. It's as simple as that.
Figure “it” out. Long story, involves a bar, coffee shop, record store, or clothing boutique. TJ & I need to nail it down and make it happen.

Argentina

2009-12-30T15:35:00.000-08:00

So, I may have been the only person NOT a fan of the Chanel barnyard show; however, the clothes have been transported to a different place and time - Argentina.

I have only two words for the Chanel spring 2010 ad campaign...

Love it!

Looking Back

2009-12-29T08:00:00.000-08:00

I was watching ESPN last week, and they did a feature on the last decade of sports. The best, the worst, most memorable, exciting, disappointing, blah blah blah... you get my point. It got me thinking what has the last 10 years of my life been like. TJ and I went to a bar last night and wrote it all out on paper, the last 10 years of experiences…Here are the highlights and then some….

2000: I stopped going to church (thanks to my first boyfriend), had an AP English teacher, Mr. Pedersen that changes my life (little does he know it)
2001: Broke up with my first boyfriend, got my self a second boyfriend (of course), graduated high school, and started college at SF State
2002: Met Annie (my best friend for the time), we moved to the Castro (my first apartment), I started smoking cigarettes (oh american spirits how I miss you), I read over 30 books in a year, and decided I wanted to be a writer
2003: We got a new roommate who is 50% responsible for my interest in fashion, I started going to church again (what was I thinking) and then stopped (finally I came to me senses), took a trip to Mexico, I moved to another San Francisco apartment and 3 months later moved back to Sacramento, Annie and I stopped being friends, I spent a semester at Sacramento City College, and my sister got pregnant. It was a busy year.
2004: I moved in with my dad for 3 months, started college at CSU Sacramento, moved to downtown Sacramento (3rd floor apartment, hardwood floors, claw foot tub, tile, and windows that make my heart swoon), I started dancing (bigger deal then you would think), and I dated a miserable boy that would end up leading me to a better boy.
2005: I quit smoking (sad face), I met TJ (my future husband), graduated college, I had my first encounter with Adobe CS (a introduction that has changed my career path), TJ and I moved to Seattle, and I got my first job, oh my.
2006: We moved back to Sacramento (Seattle was too cold), I got my first Marketing job (look where it has led me), I started graduate school at the Academy of Art, and we got Nacho dog
2007: TJ and I hit a rough spot, we moved back to Seattle, my dad died two weeks after moving, we flew 13 times that year including our first NYC trip, and I landed my first Graphic Design job
2008: my grandfather died, I got engaged, took my first trip to London and Paris (oh how I love Paris), we got married, I started my job at the university, moved to into a new apartment on the other side of Seattle, and through a kick-ass wedding party
2009: I worked at a clothing store with an awful woman who directly impacted TJ and I moving to San Francisco, I quit my university job, got my job at the symphony, my uncle died, I moved in with my grandmother and lived apart from my husband in San Jose, CA for 2 months in order to take the symphony job, and finally TJ and I moved to San Francisco in October, and here we are…

In 10 years I’ve… moved 13 times, lived in 3 cities, 2 states, had 2 major deaths (my dad and grandfather), graduated college, acquired 1 husband and 1 dog, and traveled a lot. And crazy enough, most of the big changes have happened in the last 5 years.

Anyways, you should do this. Pull out your paper and pen and start writing. You'll be suprised. I promise.

all I want for christmas...

2009-12-22T04:00:00.000-08:00

pearls (they may not be diamonds, but they're my best friend)
fresh flowers (to make me smile)
D&G dress (it was made for my body, seriously.)
another fashion book (i have lusted after this book for months)
cote bastide bath products (soap, soap, soap....i love soap)
marc by marc jacobs slippers (my heater broke, my house is cold, and my feet are frozen)

I hope you get all you wish for.

satisfaction.

2009-12-01T06:39:00.000-08:00

Let me introduce you to my new favorite place...Birch. This small convergence of fashion and flowers makes my heart swoon...

If you live in San Francisco, you need to make it a priority to check out this fabulous black box of all things fashion and floral. Birch's small European-inspired store front host a select assortment of florals, fashion magazines, and housewares.

You may have seen store owner, Torryne Choate's work in the Dec issue of Vogue, or perhaps in Real Simple Weddings 2009, California Home and Design, Elegant Bride, Allure, and the list goes on.

Torryne's client list speaks for its self: Isaac Mizrahi, Vera Wang, Kate Moss, Tory Burch, Oscar de la Renta, Diane Von Furstenberg, Vanity Fair, and again, the list goes on. So seriously, just go....

Birch
3263 sacramento street, san francisco, ca 94115
564 hayes street, san francisco, ca 94102

true or false

2009-11-30T06:00:00.000-08:00

I walked into my local magazine store on Friday, and was drawn to the cover of W magazine. Yes, Demi Moore looks amazing; however, my initial thought was "too amazing." The whole world knows she works out a million hours a day, I can't remember if she's still eating only raw food, and who knows what other wild health habits she has. Point being, god may allow perfect 47 year old women to walk the earth, but I just can't believe they look "that perfect."

I guess I wasn't the only one to have the same gut reaction. PopCultureMadness blog wrote about it, Jezebel thought about it, and The Huffington Post nearly proves it.

Two options: model Anja Rubik and Demi Moore are using the same personal trainer, or the only part of Demi Moore in that photo is her head.

Seriously, check out The Huffington Post images. Wild.

yawn.

2009-11-23T05:00:00.000-08:00

Oh Monday morning, why do you arrive so soon?

vacation

2009-11-18T22:09:00.001-08:00

I just got back from Hawaii, and I'm playing catch up...be back soon.
See more trip photos.

dude!

2009-11-09T06:00:00.000-08:00

Cup of Joe posted this early last week, but this was too fresh (yes, fresh) not to repost. Stephen Wiltshire took a 20 minute helicopter ride over New York, and then sketched the entire city from memory (freakin' memory!). He's done similar drawings of Tokyo, Rome, Madrid, Dubai, London, and more.

Read more about Stephen Wiltshire, and check out his gallery.

cool claudia

2009-11-03T08:33:00.000-08:00

French Vogue has some behind-the-scene shots from Claudia's photo shoot for Alberta Ferretti perfume. I have no idea what the text says, but the photos are worth a look.

Note to self (and the rest of the world): I'm registered for French class come January, which means I will be able to ask "Where is the bathroom?" by the time I go back to Paris next July.

white is black

2009-11-02T05:00:00.000-08:00

I did some serious reading this weekend. Lula, Another Magazine, French Vogue (Oct and Nov issues), British ELLE (Oct and Nov issues), American ELLE and Vogue (Oct and Nov issues), even Bon Appetit was part of the pack ... It's safe to say I have a slight magazine addiction.

Anyways, I'm a bit late on the coverage, but I finally saw the Lara Stone blackface spread in the October issue of French Vogue. I wasn't a huge fan of the styling; however, the photos did make an impact.

This isn't the first, nor the last of skin coloring we are going to see. I haven't paid much attention to America's Next Top Model (the under 5'7 height thing is slightly ridiculous to me), but I guess Tyra did a blackface shoot. And more still, Mario Sorrenti shot a spread for the most recent issue of V Magazine (image above).

I don't know how the rest of the world feels about it, but I think I kind-of like it.

UpGrade

2009-10-22T15:07:00.000-07:00

Vogue.com, the French version....recently got a facelift. And perhaps one of the best parts about it is the new feature on Carine Roitfeld. It's no secret the woman is well respected, well dressed, and working it out, if you know what I mean. And now, thanks to a little collaboration between Garance Dore and Vogue, we get to learn a little (and I mean very little) more about Carine.

The information is interesting, but personally I like the layout of photos and text. Garance is always spot on with her graphics and photos, and these notebook pages are no exception.

Check it out…it’s worth a look. French Version. English Version.

So sad, it’s stupid

2009-10-15T14:16:00.001-07:00

You know Ralph Lauren fired Filippa Hamilton-Palmstierna for being too fat. Yea, I thought the same thing. I think she something like 5’10 120lb. I know, I know, whoa mama, she’ll blowin up the scale.

Anyways, in case the height to weight ration didn’t illustrate just how stupid the Ralph Lauren decision was, the recent Photoshoped billboards of Filippa prove the point.

Umm yea, does this look natural? Her head is wider than her waist. WTF?

Rachel Maddow did a short piece on this yesterday. Watch and Enjoy!

Visit msnbc.com forBreaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

balancing act

2009-10-09T14:22:00.000-07:00

I looked at my blog last night and realized I haven’t posted anything in over two weeks. Holy crap! I have a rather long story to illustrate the last few weeks, months even…

When I was a kid, my family used to spend time in Tahoe. We’d take long walks in the woods, often crossing various streams that flowed to the Sacramento River. At the deep parts of the water, we’d step from rock to rock to get across. We were taught early on, in Girl Scouts probably, that you always test the rock you are about to step on before you put your weight on it. I’d stick my foot out and try to wiggle the rock beneath the translucent water with the tip of my toe. If it moved, obviously I would avoid it and try another, slowly making my way across the stream.

On rare occasions, because you never really know, I’d test a rock, think it was sturdy, step on it, and then the rock would shift. I’d throw my arms in the air, trying to catch my balance, and more often than not, end up crashing into the ice cold water. Good thing I could swim…

Point being, we’ve had a lot of rocks that wiggle lately. Some that have merely caused TJ and me to catch our balance, and a couple that have sent us crashing into the ice cold water. We may get three good rocks that move us half way across the river, and then holy crap, we almost fall in.

In some respect, TJ and I are soaking wet, our clothes are weighted from the water, our socks soaking, and our toes have turned to prunes. Situations we’ve had no control of have slipped out from underneath us, and life’s wiggly rocks have caused us to lose our balance.

You can’t sit down in the middle of the river, no matter how much you want to, just like you can’t sit down in the middle of life. I think I just need to dry off a bit. I need to make it to the other side of life’s current stream, before I embark on another. And perhaps take some time sit down, catch up on the things I miss, and enjoy some sunshine. I’m going to get my feet on the ground. I am going to get back to reading magazines, listening to records, watching Rachel Maddow, eating salad, going to the gym (yea right!), and all those other things have been pushed aside (like writing here).

it's about time

2009-09-23T04:00:00.000-07:00

I have been separated (by distance not by choice) from my husband for 3 1/2 months. I moved down to San Jose/San Francisco for a job, and he has been up in Seattle waiting to make the move. Finally, finally, finally I am getting my husband (and nacho-dog) today. We'll be driving down from Seattle with all our stuff, and the dog for the next two days. So, forgive me for my absence, but I got something far more important than blogging to do :)

Until Monday...

the issue with the september issue

2009-09-21T04:00:00.000-07:00

Has anyone else seen The September Issue? I saw the movie last week with my mom and . . . was bored out of my mind!!!

Here's my movie summary:

Everyone bickers with each other.

Anna Wintour is pissy and aloof most of the time.

Umm, can I get a refund?

someday is today

2009-09-16T17:54:00.000-07:00

When I was young (as if I am old), I would come to San Francisco from time to time. For my 16 birthday, I came to San Francisco with my mother and sister, and we shopped for my Jr. Prom dress. Upon driving back into the city, we drove up Van Ness Ave. and past the San Francisco Opera. It must of been their Gala, as the red carpet was rolled out and limos were parked outside. As we drove past the front of the Opera House, I vividly remember seeing a woman standing at the top of the steps; brown hair swept up in a twist, her back exposed, and the train of her crimson dress covered the steps beneath her.

I was enthralled. For a 16 year old girl, that spent her days listening to TOOL, to find the Opera desirable was an accomplishment. If my mother would have known what was going through my head at that moment, she probably would have stop right there, bought me a ticket, and made every attempt to save me from my poor music taste.

Anyways...we drove past the building, my head turning to see as much as possible, and although I only got a glimpse of the interior through the window of my mother's mini van, I thought to myself, "Someday, I will go there."

Well 10 years later, I'm going. Tonight, in fact. It's no Gala, and there won't be a red carpet, but I will finally see the inside, here the music, and be able to say at 16 I knew what I was talking about.

Enough said. I've got to go get dressed.

turning the page

2009-09-15T04:00:00.000-07:00

My 25 year was destined to be a rough one. The day of my 25 birthday I said to TJ, "25 is a figure it out year, it will be messy; however, 26 is when I finally get to hit the ground running." Man, oh man, was I right.

I spent my last 5 months of being 25 "getting it together." Starting a new job, family members passing, living apart from the two best people on the planet (TJ and Nacho dog 0f course), moving in with my grandmother in San Jose, moving to San Francisco alone, blah, blah, blah...the list could go on...

Rough times only prove who you really are. They test your character and refine your soul. You true colors really show under stress. That being said, if you're a horrible human, you seem even worse. And if you are a person of character, you come out of the "toughness" a tiny bit taller, with your head held high.

Something about seeing the light at the end of the tunnel....knowing the end is within arms reach, makes me turn around and feel proud. "We survived," I tell myself. Mine (and our) transition to San Francisco is almost over. In less than two weeks TJ, Nacho, and our entire home will finally be here. No more sleeping on a sofa bed, yay! Finally, we both will be ready to "hit the ground running."

Point being, I turned 26 this past Saturday. And I just know 26 is going to be a good year.

it's just getting started

2009-09-14T04:00:00.000-07:00

Although the fashion frenzy is just getting started, you can see the first trend from a mile away...they look like paintings almost. What the hell am I talking about, you ask? Why, brush stoke prints for Spring 2010, of course!

Who needs florals when you've got a paint brush? Though the spring 2010 season is almost a year away, you might as well start shopping early. You can save yourself a pretty penny searching out prints from this past seasons.

One down...many more trends to go.

here's why

2009-09-09T16:00:00.000-07:00

Whyred pronounced why-red, is one of my favorite Swedish labels. Designers Roland Hjort, Lena Patriksson Keller and Jonas Clason started designing menswear back in 1999, and quicky grew into womenswear.

The Spring 2010 collection consist of minimal, raw, "throw it on and walk out the door" clothing that I would suggest you consider adding to your wardrobe. Simple, easy, clean, and modestly priced are all accurate words to describe the collection. Exactly what you need and what you can rationalize spending money on in "economic times like these." Whyred just launched an online store ... sounds like it's time to start shopping right?

Here are some more images from the Spring 2010 lookbook.

signs of life

2009-09-09T04:00:00.000-07:00

I'm alive, still breathing, and back. I have moved into my apartment in San Francisco, finally established the internet, and in two weeks the sounds of A's baseball, Rachel Maddow, and little dog feet running across the hardwood floor will fill the house again. I am a step closer to normal, two weeks from having my husband back, and with some time things will be settled again...ahh.

In the meantime, back to basics, back to the things I love. I've missed staying up late, warm bubble baths, Cote Bastide soap, the smells of olive oil and garlic, drinking cheap table wine after 10pm, systematically scanning one fashion site after another for news, reading my French Vogue...ahh.

Anyways, I'm back in the game, just in time for Fashion Week to start.

fall 2009 runway 'kind-of-sort-of" overview

2009-08-25T23:50:00.000-07:00

I haven’t had time to put together my normal runway review. Moving to San Francisco has cut my time short. So, in I decided I would give you an overview of the collections and trends that stood out the most.

Everything in the attached pdf I have previously posted about. There is so, so much more. It's sad to think I spent all those hours cataloging photos, only to not use them. What can I say, time has gotten away from me.

Fall 2009 1/2 complete, kind-of-sort-of overview

truth be told

2009-08-24T21:51:00.000-07:00

The cat's out of the bag. So it's time to tell the truth. I promised a while back I would fill you in on all the details of my "new job" and now is the time. If you haven't noticed, I have been absent from my blog, posting on 1-2 times a week. In a variety of posts I have left subtle hints about what a life-changing decision my job would be. Little did I know how true this would be...

My new job is working for the San Francisco Symphony. Fabulous, right? It's the Symphony! It's San Francisco! However, if you read my blog, you know I live in Seattle. I was offered the job in June, and two weeks later I was on an airplane to California. This means since June I have lived in California, while my husband and nacho-dog stayed in Seattle. Aside from being alone, away from the comforts of home, and missing my best friends (my husband and nacho-dog), there is so much more to this...

So, I didn't get a place on my own. Instead, I have been living with my grandmother in San Jose. This means a 1 hour and 15 minute commute each way. Up at 6:30am and home at 9pm. No more going out at night, staying up late, sleeping in, and so forth. I haven't had time to watch tv, read a magazine, cook dinner, or anything else for that matter.

My husband is still in Seattle, and just told his job this past Friday. He held off telling his job the situation due to a variety of reason; nonetheless, he has been unable to talk to any one in Seattle about the situation. We have both been living in two different worlds. He's waiting to come down to San Francisco, worried about his job situation, and alone with nacho-dog.

Perhaps the worse part has been the run-down of things that happened with in days of moving to California: my uncle passed away and his funeral was the day before I arrived, two days later my husbands grandmother passed away, and two weeks later our dog had emergency surgery that cost upwards of $3000 bucks (the day before our 1 year anniversary). Eww.

Needless to say, it's been an exhausting few months. Still, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

We finally have an apartment. A cute flat in Hayes Valley, walking distance to work, cute shops, and tasty restaurants. I move in September 1, which means no more commuting!

TJ told his job this past Friday. Fingers crossed they will keep him on, and he will work from San Francisco. He loves the Seattle Opera, loves his co-workers, and wants to continue working for them.

And, soon we will be living in a fabulous city. Warmer weather, close to friends and family, and of course, the Oakland Athletics and Raider games. We'll be able to go to ballgames after work, walk nacho in the winter without him freezing, and see friends more frequently. And perhaps the best part, we are selling the car! No more driving. I cannot wait!

I think I will have my husband (and dog) here soon! So things are on their way to being better, I think.

Like Whoa

2009-08-21T13:48:00.000-07:00

This image was posted on Jak & Jil today. At first I thought, Awesome. And then I looked closer and thought, Dude, are those her pubes?

Happy Friday!

miss marisa

2009-08-17T02:00:00.000-07:00

Marisa Tomei did a one-off, fashion photoshoot for the Boy Fall 2009 lookbook. I'm not the biggest fan of the photos. They have a very similar vibe to Marc Jacobs print ads, which isn't really my thing. However, Marisa Tomei is too cute for words. She hasn't aged a bit, and she's over 40! Ahh, a reminder that there is hope for us ladies out there.

I think I need to go watch Untamed Heart now. Check out more photos.

models without makeup

2009-08-12T22:09:00.000-07:00

You remember a while back when French ELLE did a fashion spread, and the models were without makeup? Wild, I know. Seems like the trend is catching on. Check out Harper's Bazaar model spread. They aren't "au naturel", but pretty dang close. All I can say is, "Work it out Helena, work it out!"

Can't Touch This...just yet

2009-08-10T04:00:00.000-07:00

I cannot wait to get my hand on this... a new book, The Italian Touch. Aside from all the fabulous photos, what I really want to see is Anna Dello Russo's home. You've read the story about her two apartments right? One for living, and one just for her clothes. Oh Yea. So you can only imagine what her home looks like. Needless to say, I know I will be drooling. Lots and lots of drool I think. I'll be sure to have tissue with me before I start reading.

run, run, run

2009-08-05T04:00:00.000-07:00

Oh my! It's Wednesday and I haven't posted anything. This week has ran away with me.

Work has picked up, and my favorite person in the world (a.k.a. my husband) and I spent this past weekend in San Francisco. I am working hard to catch up on everything, but I figured I share some things that have sparked my interest:

I love these Balenciaga ads with Jennifer Connelly and I want to know what Pia is up to!

Is it Friday yet?

read it.

2009-07-28T08:45:00.001-07:00

I got a kick out of this interview with Scott Schuman of the Sartorialist. It's a little bit of photo background, fashion throughs, personal info, and a little T.M.I (aka too much info). But, it's well worth the quick read.

oh baby

2009-07-27T04:00:00.000-07:00

There seems to be a rash of pregnancies in the modeling world: Gisele, Karolina Kurkova, and now Jourdan Dunn. It reminds me of when Katie Holmes, The Pitts, that Simpson sister, yea, yea you get my point. It's as if the business of popping out babies (i.e. baby clothes, baby bumps, blah blah) is a trend. Your thoughts?

home sweet home

2009-07-24T10:00:00.000-07:00

Back to Sac. I’m going home this weekend, to my childhood home in Sacramento. My mom and I are going to cook for hours, I’m going to go buy Star Wars toys for my nephew (aka my new BFF), and perhaps I will get myself a tan in the 90+ degree sunshine.

Until Monday…

2009-07-22T13:55:00.001-07:00

This photo was posted on Jak & Jil today. All I can say is, Work it out Garance, Work It OUT!

small things make all the difference

2009-07-21T04:00:00.000-07:00

You ever have a moment where things are made right? As in, everything wasn’t perfect, but then something came along and made it work.

Let me explain. Yesterday was gloomy in San Francisco. No sunshine and no warm wind blowing my hair across my face. It was cold. And well, the office was pretty quiet and cold too. Silence and overcast weather can make the day feel gloomy.

I left my office around 1pm, and walked down the street to the sandwich shop for lunch. I ordered myself a caprese sandwich, waited for it to be prepared, and then took my sandwich back to the office to eat. When I opened my mouth and took my first bite, I tasted to my delight, perhaps the best caprese sandwich I’ve ever had. Heirloom tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, warm banquette… mmm…delicious!

And just like that, my mood switched. My sandwich was good, and for the moment, all was as it should be.

grandmothers know best

2009-07-20T10:03:00.000-07:00

I bought a new dress yesterday. It’s a cute little black dress, kind of Jane Birkin-esque. I am not that into jewelry so I didn’t think twice about the accessories. I figured the dress was simple and cute, and that’s all that matters.

Oh how wrong I was….at least according to my grandmother.

I hung the dress in the doorway when I returned from shopping, and about an hour later my grandmother came down the hall inquiring what the dress was for. Work, of course. “But what are you going to wear with it?” she asked. Umm, some shoes, my body?

She walked out of the room, only to return with her arms outstretched, “Here,” she said, “Wear this!” In her hand was a beautiful gold necklace and bracelet.

The point of this story…. Grandmothers know best! I woke up this morning, threw the dress over my head, snapped the gold necklace around my neck, and walked out the door. And in the course of just three hours this morning, the necklace and the dress have landed a great handful of complements.

So thanks Grammer, for making me look good.

my first

2009-07-16T13:45:00.000-07:00

Tuesday was my one year Anniversary. My husband and I aren’t into giving gifts; however, I am way into getting flowers are work. My gift from my husband was just that.

And I, my clever, creative self, I made my husband 365 chocolate chip cookies. That’s right, 365 – one for every day we’ve been married.

If you haven’t read all the post on my wedding, the party, or how I got married, feel free to check them out.

b is for boobs.

2009-07-14T04:00:00.000-07:00

Continuing from yesterday’ post . . .

You see, the reason I bring up the issue of men wanting bigger breast, and women desiring model like breast (a.k.a no breast at all) is I find myself it quite a position.

I’ve recently put on about 5lbs and it appears the added weight went primarily to one place. I’m trying to embrace my new body part, but there is a part of me that absolutely hates it.

Most of my tops are low cut, and for the most part it never mattered. It wasn’t like I had anything to show anyways. Yet, the other day, sitting in a meeting, I came to the realization that there was something to show for it now. And it appeared others were aware of it too. Talk about embarrassing.

Of course, my husband thinks it’s great. “Keep up the good work,” I can hear him say. But I’m thinking, “How can I cut these babies off?”

Don’t get me wrong here, I have blown open the chest gates. But I have had to leave my A behind for B’s. This brings me to a whole different topic – bras.

an age-old dilemma

2009-07-13T09:17:00.000-07:00

Let’s be honest – women dress for women. Men could careless about what color shoes we walk in, or who designs our dresses. And for the most part, this system of dressing works. . . well except when it comes to one particularly body part – boobs.

You see, what us ladies watch on TV and stare at in magazines are tall, skinny, flat-chested women. And what we see is what we want. We want small hips, long legs, and plunging necklines. But then there are men. Men who want hips, an ass, and a rack (if you know what I mean).

Just look at the difference between Vogue and Maxim magazine. Men think Eva Mendes is perfect, while we are busy trying to figure out how to look more like Magdalena Frackowiak.

Not that we have a choice when it comes to breast-size (naturally at least), but still… what is a girl to do?

I’ve got more to say about this topic tomorrow…

vanessa bruno's beauty

2009-07-10T04:00:00.000-07:00

Vanessa Bruno is in the process of making a four-minute film with Lou Doillon. The mini-movie is set to release on September 9, but director Stephanie Di Giusto is giving us a sneak preview. The image above and more, are stills released by the director. Honestly, I am not a fan of Lou Doillon; however, from what I see so far, the movie looks to be visually delightful.

final thoughts. . .

2009-07-07T20:32:00.001-07:00

I intentionally didn't bring it up. I figured if I started writing about it, I would merely be saying what every other person has already said. "The greatest." "The best performer of our time." "A star." Big statements for a man that died weighing only 112 lbs. But so was Michael Jackson.

I'm not going to go into how big of a fan I was. What I can say for me is that I am certain of two things: I am a dancer and lover of music. And in my experience, I've come to realize your soul and rhythm are one in the same. What makes your heart beat is what moves your feet. If you didn't like Michael's music, you need to have your heart checked.

Like many people I watched the service today. I watched the casket carried in, the songs sang, and little Paris cry. Sad, yes. But perhaps what related the most to me was watching the crowd sing "We Are The World."

Let me explain.

There is something that happens when people die. I've had my dad, my grandfather, my uncle, and my husband's grandmother all die in the last 2 1/2 years. And in each death, I watched a family come together, my community rally to provide support. It is rare. Rare that we take the time to support one another, to help one another. We live in our world, consumed by our needs. And truth be told, in our world we put ourselves first.

Just like my family has come together and my friends have provide me with support, today I saw parts of the world come together to support each other. And perhaps it all came together and made perfect sense to me as everyone (including myself behind my work desk) sang,

"We are the world

We are the children

We are the ones who make a brighter day

So let's start giving..."

slippery slope

2009-07-07T04:00:00.000-07:00

Starting a new job is tough. Starting a new job, in a new city, with crazy long hours is super tough. I feel like time has slipped away. And though I am trying, desperately trying, to get my feet on the ground, I am having a bit of a hard time. I am not used to getting up at 6:30 am and getting home at 7:00 pm. My days are shorter, my free time less, and my ability to focus on the things I truly enjoy is dwindling.

I want to catch up on the news. I want to follow-up on fashion. I want to read a book. Play the piano. Garden. But, I am tired when I get home. You know that old, time is slipping away feeling . . . you get my point.

I am going to get some sleep and I promise, by next week I will be back in action and posting stuff you actually want to read.

oh to be here . . .

2009-07-06T20:28:00.000-07:00

source: jak & jil

patience pays off

2009-07-06T04:00:00.000-07:00

For 5 years I have struggled to come up with a headboard for my bed. Something rustic and french, old and unique - this is what I want to place my pillows up against. I've looked at platform bedframes, brass frames, athropologie headboards, and so on. Idea after idea, and countless hours of researching creative and unique headboards, I have spent years looking and still, my bed sits on the black metal frame I received when I purchased my mattress. Uck, I say, Uck!

Ah ha! But wait. At last, I have found what I have been looking for. I am in love, as in seriously loving the old door used as a headboard. The bedroom in this photo is far too colorful for my taste, but the old wooden door caught my eye. I have seen doors like this in antique stores and loved them; however, I never knew what to do with them. But now, now I have an idea and it's time to go treasure hunting.

In case you're interested, you can learn how to make your own pallet bedframe like the one in the photo here.

blessed balmain

2009-07-03T04:00:00.000-07:00

Love the new fall Balmain ads. Love. Love. Love. Now off for the weekend . . .

red. white.& blue.

2009-07-02T04:00:00.000-07:00

Thursday is the new Friday, well at least for this week. Independence day is fast approaching, and though I'm not into fireworks or BBQ ribs; I am however, into having Friday off. I'm going to lounge around, give some sunshine-love to my skin, do a little shoe shopping, and then get to work on my Fall Runway Review.

spring 09 review here fall 09 review here

Until Monday . . .

surprise. surprise

2009-07-01T14:16:00.000-07:00

Well guess what . . . Paris is the world's most stylish city, according to Forbes magazine that is. Do we need proof? No. Just check out all the images at Garance Dore, and I think that is proof enough.

beautiful people

2009-06-30T04:00:00.000-07:00

It's inevitable. A fact of life. There are beautiful people everywhere.

Ever see the movie The Last Kiss? It's the one with Zach Braff, where he cheats on his sexy older girlfriend (Jacinda Barrett), with the hot young college girl a.k.a Rachel Bilson.

Anyways, there is this part in the movie where Zach is trying to explain his "bad behavior" to his girlfriend's dad. In essence he blames his cheating on the fact that Bilson was hot. The dad stares at him for a second as says something to the effect of, "You think I've seen my last hot brunette?"

Alright, alright . . . it's probably better if you just watch the movie.

Point being, I'd rather be 40 and sexy, than hot at 25. Hot 25 year-old girls are everywhere, but stand out, sexy 40 year-olds are rare.

love

2009-06-29T19:00:00.000-07:00

Just a thought: I love the colors in thie outfit posted on Jak & Jil. Love, love, love it!

simple truths

2009-06-29T04:00:00.000-07:00

"It's not what you wear, its how you wear it" or "It's all in the attitude" or "You wear the clothes, don't let the clothes wear you" . . . and so on, and so on.

Every time I see Carine Roitfeld or Emmanuelle Alt I think these truths. These ladies just wear it. What ever the article of clothing is, they wear it like it was made just for their body. Whether is cost 5 dollars or 5000, they wear it all the same. Fur, feathers, leather, who cares! They were made to wear it all. And their swagger in heels is intimidating. They walk across all surfaces - grass and rocks - without stumbling or getting stuck. Amazing. They could walk for miles and run marathons in heels. How do they do it?

And here I am, too timid to wear my Isabel Marant bomber jacket out of the house, and foolishly stumbling around in my Chloe heels. They say the 20's are supposed to be the best. But I'm looking forward to my 30's and all the confidence my age will bring.

isabel interview

2009-06-25T04:00:00.000-07:00

I am so sorry for being M.I.A this week. With the new job came new hours (i.e. up at 6:00 am home at 7:00 pm); therefore, I am super tired and have less time. I haven't had time to catch up on everyone blog, but I did come across a fabulous interview with one of my favorite designers, Isabel Marant.

Read the whole interview here.

I'll be back . . .

hi ho, hi ho . . .

2009-06-23T04:00:00.000-07:00

My first day at a new job reminds me of the first day of school. I always pick two outfits the night before. Why two? Well, because I never know which outfit is going to feel "just right" until the morning. Pants or skirt, pants or skirt?

I always have a terrible time sleeping too. I am afraid I am going to over sleep, so I end up waking every hour throughout the night.

Every school year you start over, new courses, new outfit to wear, new nervousness, new orientation to sit through.

Point being, today I am starting over. Today is my first day at my new job. Do I hear you screaming, "Yes!" I finally got a job, an awesome job, and while you are reading this, I am probably on my way to work. The new gig requires a huge chunk of my time away from home, which is a whole new story. I'll get into all details later, but for now, I say, "Hi-ho, hi-ho, it's off to work I go. . ."

baring it all

2009-06-19T04:00:00.000-07:00

So I have a question but maybe I should explain before I ask. You see, yesterday I was reading about the upcoming 2010 Pirelli calendar. These babies are almost impossible to get your hands on, and are considered collector items. For the past 40 years, Pirelli has hired one international photographer after another to take themed photos of female models. It wasn’t until 1964 that these calendars became famous, but the notoriety lives on with the 2010 calendar being shot by Terry Richardson.

So yesterday I was flipping through some behind the scenes shots from the 2010 calendar photo shoot in Brazil last month. Of course, not surprising, all the models were topless - bare-breasted holding monkeys, dodging waves, riding animals, pouring cream on themselves, and so on.

So my question…

Does it weird you out when you see models so comfortable being photographed topless? I know it is normal in the modeling world to run around naked, but as a viewer, a spectator of the modeling world one might say, what do you think of the topless photo shoot?

what's for sale?

2009-06-18T04:00:00.000-07:00

When I was in New York last week, I saw the steamy threesome Calvin Klein billboard. (Obviously, it's hard not to miss it.) Since the days of CK Underwear ads, Calvin Klein has always screamed sex, at least to me. And it appears Steven Meisel has rediscovered the concept of sex-sells with these new ads featuring Eva Mendes.

Honestly, I wouldn't have known it was Eva. Perhaps that's because I am too busy noticing how much of her "whoa-ha" is showing. You can see Eva's other CK ad here.

do you like it?

2009-06-17T04:00:00.000-07:00

What do you think, is this Stella McCartney jumpsuit super cute or super lame? Stella, herself got mixed reviews when she wore it a few weeks back. Now that it's photoshoot friendly, what do you think?

the winners are . . .

2009-06-16T04:00:00.000-07:00

Monday night was the 2009 CFDA Awards. The party is over and the winners are:

Accessory Designer of the Year: Proenza Schouler
Popular Vote Award: Ralph Lauren

Menswear Designer of the Year: Italo Zucchelli for Calvin Klein and Scott Sternberg for Band of Outsiders (tie)
Swarovski Award for Menswear: Tim Hamilton

Swarovski Award for Womenswear: Alexander Wang

Swarovski Award for Accessories: Justin Giunta for Subversive Jewelry

Womenswear Designer of the Year: Rodarte

Personally, I give a "Yea" for Alexander Wang and Rodarte. Check out more photos from the event.

cruise control

2009-06-15T04:00:00.000-07:00

In my opinion resort/cruise collections are fashion overkill. I think spring and fall collections do enough damage to our bank accounts. But, since designers are creating, I figured I'd share my favorites for this year.