Midnight Blue

Just a quick post about a new beauty trend that I'm jumping on (I'm becoming quite the beauty maven aren't I?).
Nailpolish for the fall/winter season. Usually reserved for reds as opposed to spring/summer pinks, but that's all changing.
We are looking at the moody and unexpectedly edgy colors of the spectrum this year. Beautiful blacks, charcoals, burgundy and jade greens (ala Chanel), especially in a matte, these nail polish shades are like the teenagers of the nail polish family. While I might dabble in a matte shade this year in a charcoal color (my favorite color in general for winter), the color that stole my heart was this moody navy from Chanel, Blue Satin: And for those of us not willing to spend $23 on a nail polish, here's Midnight Satin from Milani, at a more reasonable $4.50:
Picture thanks to Nailphile

Moving Out

Its been a little crazy around here, sorting out my housing with the bureacracy, contacting room mates, room mates contacting me and I think they're a sketchy stalker so I don't contact them back and then they think that I hate them.... and, oh yeah, packing.

So how do you fit a year's worth of stuff into the back of a car? Lots and lots of re-organizing and re-stuffing.

I might be absent for a little while so bear with me. We'll be back to our regularly scheduled programming on Monday when I move in!

photo thanks to CarLee

Ebay Madness

I love ebay almost as much as Marshalls. (I love Marshalls more because its an instant gratification thing, plus I don't have to pay shipping). This week for some reason the stars aligned and I managed to snag a lot of what was on my list of things I (mostly) need.

School bag/everyday tote (Its reminiscent of my Dooney and Bourke red patent leather tote I'm in love with. However, this one was a bit more within my budget and is still lovely): Nine West, new with tags, and $45 from $85.
Trouser jeans (just for fun): Seven for All Mankind, new with tags, $30 from $165.

Tops that are not T-shirts: BCBG Blouse, new without tags, 19.99 and assuming the original price was much higher.

Denim Shorts (I know, can you believe that I don't own a pair of well fitting denim shorts?? The closet clean out was crazy I tell you!): American Eagle denim shorts, $15 from $39.95.

Shirt dress: J. Crew shirt dress, $30 from something at least twice that. (This one had a little mix up in the mailing address, and should hopefully be on its way to me soon, hopefully before I leave for school. Crossed fingers!)

Black Pumps (These would've been helpful for my internship earlier this summer. Better late than never I guess): BCBG black pumps, new without tags, $19.99
My polyvore vest: BCBG Max Azria, new without tags, $21

All in all I think it was a pretty good haul this week. I'm so excited for fall! Now I just need to go by target and get some knee-high socks....

Sock It To Me

The other fashion trend that I'm lusting after this year is knee high socks. I completely rocked this trend from elementary school to freshman year of highschool, but its time to bring it back, albeit with a little more class and just as much sass this time around.

I think I'll be ditching the argyle and neon glitter stockings and sticking with a dark charcoal or perhaps a textured pair of stockings that come to just above the knee, with a couple inches of skin and then the hem of my skirt (to keep things classy. We're going for cute and sassy, not "I just got off the street corner" here)

I'm taking my inspiration from these lovely ladies on Lookbook.nu, although the style I had in mind most resembles the last one.

Funny story about these socks, I was talking with Blondie, who is always slightly baffled about my love of shopping and watches in amusement as I systematically hunt down all the items I "need" for that season. This year as I was explaining why I needed long socks, he asked "you mean catholic school girl like socks?"

"Sort of... well, yes. Except not like a slutty catholic school girl. Classy knee high socks. I'm only showing a bit of skin above the knee." Which is true. I'm hoping to stay FAR away from that cliche

Blondie thinks about this for a couple of seconds, then decides. "Catholic school girl socks. I approve of this trend."

Apparently there's no way to stay completely away from the school girl cliche. But hey, if I wear my "Clark Kent" glasses then I guess I'm just going to be channeling Geek Chic this winter, and a woman with wit is always "in".

My New Brass Knuckles

So I've told you that last year I lived in the Bronx right? So even though I'm moving my address to New York, New York this fall it seems only fitting that I'm strangely attracted to this ring.

I'm also loving all those double fingered rings out there, but I feel that this is a more inventive spin on a double finger, with a little more street cred thrown in for good measure. Of course, I'm a bit of a girly girl. There's nothing I love more than a well-placed ruffle or bow, and like I've mentioned before some of my favorite colors are purple and pink. HOWEVER, I still feel like if I decided to buy this from Bijules at Moxsie.com, that it would never leave my fingers.
Another ring at Moxsie.com that caught my eye was this ever so playful "slinky ring" by Meggie:



I will be the first to admit that this probably fits my style more than the brass knuckle rings, but sometimes the most interesting effect is created by having something a little clashing, no?

I honestly could not tell you why I don't have a bigger collection of rings. My collection at the moment consists of... zero. Yet I lust after them when I do see them and love the way they look on everyone else. I just can't seem to bring myself to spend money on something that I always bang up (I use my hands constantly through out the day in sports and my art classes) and I lose like its my job (I fidget a lot and play with anything on my hands and wrists). Perhaps rings are not something I should wear, and I'll just admire these from afar. *Sigh*

Brogues/ Oxfords/The Cool Kid's Shoes

I'm slowly acquiring my list... after stalking poor Lisa Monaco I have my etsy necklace, I decided after seeing the Elizabeth James collection on giltgroup to get the BCBG vest that I had been eyeing on ebay (I scored HUGE on ebay this week. More later when everything is shipped to me). But this also looks just like the Helmut Lang vest I used in my polyvores earlier this week. Darlings, me and this vest were meant to be.

Anyway, next on my list to acquire/hunt down/obsess over is oxford shoes. For an example of just how cute you can be in oxford shoes, please look to http://withlovegabrielle.blogspot.com/ and there are some really cute options on lookbook.

my newest lust? a Melin shoe from Steve Madden, except could you please make them bright blue or red? thanks. http://www.stevemadden.com/item.aspx?id=49303&DirectSearch=MELIN It seems the search continues

pictures thanks to Neida H. and Yu Yeh C.

The List

This week I'm loving:

Built by Wendy's fall 2009 collection

Rihanna's Rehab

This "You and Me" print by Yellena (on Etsy.com)

Sleeping. Something I haven't been getting enough of lately.

thanks to an.thor and stylelist.com for pictures

Fashion's Night Out

I got my September issue of Vogue a little late (yeah, I know. It's August 23rd... think I waited long enough?) and they mentioned this thing called Fashion's Night Out.

"In a global initiative to promote retail, restore consumer confidence, and celebrate fashion, U.S. and international editions of Vogue are coordinating evening extravaganzas in their respective world fashion capitals.
In the United States, American Vogue has joined with NYC & Company, the City of New York, and the Council of Fashion Designers of America to enliven again the consumer spirit that churns the economy and boosts the local industry of America’s fashion capital, New York City. Next only to finance, fashion is the second-largest sector of industry in New York City—the headquarters of more than 800 fashion companies employing 175,000 people and generating $10 billion in total wages. At City Hall’s May 20 press conference to announce Fashion’s Night Out, Vera Wang said, "To put it bluntly, if people don’t shop, people lose their jobs."
The first evening of New York Fashion Week, Fashion's Night Out will encompass festivities galore— from inventive window displays to model and celebrity appearances. Champagne may flow; hors d'oeuvres may be passed. Rumors of musical performances, downtown barbecues, shoe capsules, limited-edition rings, and sweepstakes abound. Apparently there will be makeovers, brow bars, and haircut stations at sundry spots, too"(http://www.fashionnightout.com/)



ummm... SIGN ME UP?!!! AWESOME. I'll be back in school by September 10th also, so I'm totally all over this. I personally think this is a great way to buoy up the New York economy, not to mention a great idea to kick off fashion week with a fashion extravaganza, celebrating everything we know and love about the New York fashion scene.

Color Theory

So I realize that I'm not exactly one to expound on color theory, considering a peek into my closet reveals my undying devotion to black, grey, white and khaki. However, there is one color combination that has my love and that is the combination of purple, orange and green. I know it's unlikely, but for some reason I feel that these colors just work together. For example:
purple green orange by erind90 featuring Miu Miu shoes

These are three outfits I would wear in a heartbeat, all featuring these three colors. My theory is that since all the primary colors go together (red, yellow, blue) it only makes sense that secondary colors all coordinate as well (orange, purple, green). And of course, my other two favorite colors to wear, blue and pink look delicious with any of these colors as well



pink and blue by erind90 featuring Dorothy Perkins





Of course I use my favorite neutrals to ground these a little, but that just keeps the colors from competing with each other.
I feel that color is one of the easiest ways to stand out in a crowd. I was always told never to buy a black cocktail dress. EVERYONE wears black to formal events, so my fancy dress is a cherry red. Let me tell you, this makes me very easy to find at a black tie event. Wearing color is not for someone who wants to slip into the background.
One of my resolutions for the new fashion year is to try and wear more color, instead of falling into the New York cliche of wearing all black (which I have done a few times, I'll admit.) My goal is to look like this:

Except, well, you know.... in my own style. I was never really one for dead muppet coats or layers and layers of tulle :)

shopaholic pictures by style.la.mimi.com

A Clean Getaway

So you know how sometimes you buy something, THEN you read the tag and it has instructions that read something like:

Professional Dry Clean ONLY (THIS MEANS YOU. DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT PUTTING ME IN THAT WASHER)



Or:

handwash in 63 degree water from the fujii mountains

then gently pat dry for the next four hours



Or:

Just don't EVER get this dirty. You cannot clean it. EVER.



or something like that.

and all those instructions make me want to do this:

So I was feeling reckless last night, and I decided not to listen to those tags.

hear me out first. It was a silk blouse that I LOVE, but I never wear because its starting to smell funny, because I wore it too much and it said Professional Dry Clean Only, and well, that's not going to happen. It's 100% silk though, which is a cloth that has been used for thousands of years, and last time I checked the ancient Chinese did not have professional dry cleaners.

So here's what I did:

1. Stare at said blouse and decide if its really worth it. Dunked corner into water, and the blouse did not burst into flames. Decide to proceed.

2. Fill sink with lukewarm water and a tiny dab of woolite. Swish blouse around, rubbing nastier parts together gently with a little more woolite.

3. Empty sink, refill with cold/lukewarm water. Swish blouse around some more to rinse.

4. Squeeze gently to get rid of water.

3. Place flat on a towel and let air dry for a day.

4. Laugh because I have flaunted the tag and won.

The result is that its just a little crinkly, not all neatly pressed from the dry cleaners. But I'm just going to hang it in the bathroom and let all the kinks steam out, and it'll be good as new.

The other experiment I did was for a pair of jeans that have gotten stretched out over the years. Easy solution, just do everything the tag says not to do:

1. wash in boiling hot water

2. dry in broiling hot dryer

VOILA! Pants that fit.

Sometimes not listening to directions pays off.

picture by Alli Jiang

Birds of a Fether

So one of my favorite designers EVER (right up there with Pour la Victoire and Louis Vuitton) Erin Fetherston created the cutest video in order to advertise her fall/winter collection. I wound up watching it while waiting to see how my latest rule-defying experiment turned out (more on that later).
It's a fashionable twist of the Pied Piper, and its definitely worth checking out.
http://www.style.com/video/guest-directors/guest-directors/1896809785/embirds-of-a-fetherem/33805471001

The Madeline Hat

It was absolutely gorgeous today, so I decided to go for a bike ride around town. However, as I was biking, I passed by a sidewalk sale and figuring that I had no place to be, I decided to take a look.
That's when I saw it.
The Madeline hat.

How perfect is it?? The bow, the wide brim, the color... perfect. And I do think it looks like Madeline's hat, even though the cashier looked at me like I was crazy when I explained to her why I was buying it.
see?

okay, so maybe its a little bit of a stretch, but that's what I thought. I also got this denim vest, which was perfect for the dress I was wearing.

So then I biked home, wearing my new hat and vest (yes, I know I'm probably going to get lice. Pray for me) and today was a good day.

Artists and Authors

Its been a little hectic at work lately, so I've been making it a habit to take a few half hour breaks throughout the day by reading in the shade (don't worry, the half hour breaks are mandatory so I don't get heat stroke as a lifeguard :) )


I've been re-reading my collection of Ray Bradbury books. I just finished "Something Wicked this Way Comes" and am currently reading through "One More for the Road". If you haven't read Ray Bradbury yet I highly recommend him, there is really no one else who writes quite like he does.

All of his stories have just a slight malice to them, with one foot in reality and one foot someplace else. I always have to think about them for a while every time I read them, they really are quite extraordinary.

But they also have me loving editorials like this:

Not outright scary, just beautiful with a hint of malice. The fourth picture if gorgeous. Perfect.

Tanya Dziahileva by Henri Bulow for Dansk

(thanks to Fashion Gone Rogue)

Fall Uniform

So of course because its 95 degrees here in New England, I'm starting to dream of all of the lovely fall clothes I'll be wearing when its time for school. Well, I'm starting to sort through my closet and pack up for school (leaving in two weeks! Time flies doesn't it?) and I'm already mentally pairing things together.
Here's what I've decided I'll be living in this fall and winter (just trade in the Helmut Lang and Dooney & Bourke for Urban Outfitters and Nine West and you've pretty much got it):

studying by erind90 featuring F

school wear by erind90 featuring Rupert Sanderson shoes

school by erind90 featuring Helmut Lang

Has anyone else noticed my love for that red patent leather Dooney & Bourke tote? I'm in the market for a new school bag, so I'm keeping my eyes open for a look alike. But please tell me that isn't a gorgeous, go with everything bag.

YES

I finally contacted the seller of my dream necklace, only to have a reply that she had just put one up for sale.

How long did it take for me to buy it? Probably a personal record of 0.27 seconds.

This darlings, is now on its way to me. YES!

Dinner and a Museum

Yesterday was my Birthday *WOOO*. So I got a day off and Blondie and I went out for dinner and a museum, which is personally my favorite way to spend an afternoon.

We went to Myers and Chang which I highly recommend to anyone with experimental tastes (or not, my BF is known to turn his nose up at "brown bread" but even admitted it was pretty good)

Then we checked out the ICA because I'd never been there before, and I wanted to see it before I left for New York. My reaction was that it was really small (only one floor of galleries) and that the video art as always, confused me, but they had a pin sculpture that we decided was pretty awesome although it made us want to kick it.

Sorry, but I don't have a camera at the moment :( it needs repairs, but this thing was awesome. They literally took thousands of straight pins, poured them into a box, peeled away the box and it resulted in a five foot cube of pins. WITH NOTHING HOLDING IT TOGETHER. NOTHING. Someone please explain the physics of that to me, because Blondie (who is a budding engineer) tried and I didn't get it, I just kept thinking "That's awesome. A magic cube of pins. What would happen if I kicked it? You think I can kick it? Is the security guard still looking? Okay, I'm going to kick it."

The main event was about Shepard Fairey, and he took up about half of the gallery. Here's the blurb on the guy if you, you know, live under a rock or aren't at all interested in art:

"From humble beginnings as a defiant, skateboard-obsessed art student pasting homemade stickers, Shepard Fairey has developed into one of the most influential street artists of our time. Despite breaking many of the spoken and unspoken rules of contemporary art and culture, his work is now seen in museums and galleries, as well as the worlds of graphic design and signature apparel. His multi-faceted, open-ended and generous artistic practice actively resists categorization. Building off of precedents set by artists such as Andy Warhol and Keith Haring, Fairey shifts easily between the realms of fine, commercial, and even political art.
Fairey's multi-layered renderings of counter-cultural revolutionaries and rap, punk and rock stars, as well as updated and re-imagined propaganda-style posters, carry his signature graphic style, marked by his frequent use of black, white, and red. Recently, his portrait of Barack Obama, a ubiquitous sight on the campaign trail, drew a new level of attention to the artist's work and was recently acquired by the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC, for its collection."

and here's some pictures (look familiar?):

My overall impression about Shepard Fairey (although I had seen some of his stuff before going to the ICA) is that from a graphic design point of view and purely aesthetically, this guy is the bomb. He is absolutely a genius. He has an incredibly distinctive style, it grabs you attention, every piece is just incredible with the designs, the old newspaper headings peeking through the paint of the collages, the way he uses his proportion and balance, and the striking red, black and white... honestly I'm taking a few lessons away from this. Not to mention its incredibly fresh and dare I say "edgy" and "street". Wow, those sound weird even when I'm typing them.

However, if I'm paying attention to the messages that he's giving (because every single one does have an agenda if you haven't noticed) I'm afraid I don't always agree with they way he expresses his point of view. I'm all for peace (who isn't?) but I just feel he's a little heavy handed with the images, and slants his point of view so much that it's a turn off. Just my opinion obviously, and any good art should get people talking and make you take a stance, so he certainly accomplished that.

The List

This week I've been loving:

cat eyes (looks like another trip to Sephora!)

Andy Warhol (perfume and paintings)


The Kings of Leon "Use Somebody"



My etsy necklace. Which is still sold out. :(



fresh raspberry smoothies