Real Alive Ariel

I'll be gone for a few months., find me at my new site!

2011-02-22T17:29:00.000-08:00

Hello everybody!

I unfortunately haven't been able to blog for a while. I have been incredibly busy with a brand new project; I have been interning for Sustainable Life Media for the past couple weeks and have been writing from a fresh blog called SB Designers where I talk about eco-friendly fashion and sustainable designs! The blog will include sustainable ideas, as well as inspirational creations linked in with the Sustainable Life Media group and their Sustainable Brands conference.

For the next few months, I will be writing from my new blog along with many other sustainable designers, feel free to check out my new blog here.

Join me over at the new site and learn more about sustainability everyday!!!

Style Guide: Meet Jessie J

2011-02-09T21:57:00.000-08:00

Jessie J, who just received her firsy No. 1 hit in the UK, is a fashion inspiration to many. Taking on the tough girl looks, J makes hip hop and R&B a little more fun.

Her signature short black hair is one of her biggest trademarks. Another is her bright red lipstick. The last? Her heels. Yes, her six inch high pumps. She claims that while on stage in the beginning of her career, she "never had a band. It was [her], [her] CD, [her] heels and a huge stage to fill."

Girl's tough. Like it.

check out her website.

Girls Luv Guns?

2011-02-09T01:40:00.000-08:00

Top Gun: noun; informal; one who has attained the highest status or rank in a field or position

Historically, showing off a firearm is seen as a power front. Ever since semi-automatic or automatic weapons existed, so did an image of strength and force that came with owning one. A gun expresses the power a person has, or a veil of authority they might possess. So what have metal firearms that shoot bullets at thousands of miles per hour have to do with anything? Well, I have noticed a semi-recent obsession with the guns in popular culture, especially among women in the music industry...

Those Chanel shoes Madonna has are fantastic!

Perhaps this current obsession with guns is bringing on the new image of strong women (I mean, Rihanna has at least 4 different gun tattoos)? Are the gun images in the media getting to be too violent? Or is it just some trashy, pop culture hype that will end when another media fixation occurs?
We shall see...

Is it just me or has my last post been over two weeks ago?!

2011-02-07T14:29:00.001-08:00

I feel horrible about not posting in so long! I've had such a busy two weeks, you wouldn't believe... But enough about that, I hate to talk about myself; I only wish to indulge my foodie, coffee, tea and fashion experiences by writing about them on here..

I live so close to so many things in the city that it is hard to find time to visit all of the exciting things. For instance, I live within walking distance of some amazing restaurants yet I decline to find the time to go. While I was sick a few weeks ago and had the craving for hearty soup and bread, I remembered the restaurant a few blocks away called Outerlands. Three words: BLOODY HELL, YES!

The wait was only 5 minutes, when the staff said 15, and when I finally sat down, I was instantly attended to with my own pitcher of water and friendly service. The romantic feel of the wood paneling around the place wasn't hurt by the candles lit on the tables. The location may be small, but it's rather gorgeous.

I ordered the Outerlands Levain Toast and some sort of squash/pumpkin soup. The soup was divine; the mixture of cinnamon spice and smooth texture made my cold go away almost immediately. The toast was genuinely to die for and I received two orders, since the soup already came with a portion on the side. Olive oil and garlic accompanied the bread, so the flavors made a perfect blend.

Perhaps I am biased on this opinion about the restaurant considering I was sick and needed hearty vegetarian food, but I still would go back to this eatery regardless!

On a side note, I've also been told their goat cheese and pear salad is marvelous...

Official Website
Yelp!

Homage to thy inspiring blogger: Cindy Manit

2010-12-18T00:44:00.001-08:00

Occasionally I will post about my favorite blogs, and friends who inspire me. Currently, you should all be reading Cindy's blog! Or blogs. Cindy is one of the most truthful, caring, and especially creative writers I have seen in a while. I always learn something with one of her posts, whether it be emotional growth, or useful information I can implement into my everyday life, I feel as if I increase my knowledge a little each and every time.

She discusses thrilling events in her life, like traveling to Thailand, and how to explore changes during your existence, like making choices based on passion. An exerpt of a few words of her writing:

"I had to jump off the boat, and swim to a ladder swinging off of the side of some rocks, climb up it to get ONTO the island and then hiked through the trees for about 5min.... to find an incredible beach filled with tourists, blue waters, soft silky sand and sexyness. This was called Aoh Maya (Maya Bay), where the film "The Beach" was filmed. My other favorite stop was BAMBOO ISLAND... omg...it was pure rawness of what PARADISE is!!!!!!! Turqouise clear water, SOFT powder like white sand, neon colored fish, and a fantastic view!! mMmmm..."

Go to Cindy's two blogs ASAP and enjoy!
Utopia Dreamz
and
Cindy Manit: Adventures in Experimental Living

OMG Shoes...

2010-12-18T00:17:00.000-08:00

That reference is starting to get old.

I have been in search of the corniest, cheeky, easily-made-fun-of, and obscene shoes. I may have just found them. And they glow in the dark...

Chrissie Morris's Tron inspired pumps. UGH.

Iron Fist's Monster pumps have got me all excited...

and who can forget my favorite Rodarte shoes YET?!

For all you guys out there needing some cheesy light up footwear as well, Nike, Reebok, and many more companies have come out with their own light-up shoes.

Obsessed with: Stockings

2010-12-13T11:40:00.000-08:00

I have lace ones, black ones, frilly ones, and the sexy thigh highs. I have see-through ones, fishnet ones, sweater ones, and ones without feet. One would say I'm obsessed, but I prefer the idea that I am purely fascinated by them.

During the shows for Fall 2010, stockings were quite popular and seen on many models in a numerous amount of shows; Alexander Wang seemed obsessed with thigh-high knit leg warmers and Anna Sui sent every girl down the runway in patterned leggings. And lately, many people have made the long warm socks their staple fashion statement for fall and winter. I have seen more tights worn by girls around the city, than I had my whole life (and I love it!)

If you're looking for something less expensive, check out all these $15-or-less ideas:

-Forever21: These Classic Sheer Tights with the adorable fake patterned jewelry around the knee is just perfect for wearing with tall boots. You can also try a knit pair, like these Herringbone Knit Leggings.

-Nordstrom: These DKNY Hosiery Crochet Tights would be good for work. Not too scandalous but still a bit sexy.

-Hot Topic: I know this place has a childish bad rep and has annoying teenage girls swarming the shelves of pink hair dye, but their selection of tights and thigh highs are amazing. The Black Rose Lace Tights are fantastic.

-Urban Outfitters: This place has overpriced goods, but occasionally I'll find a good pair of tights that's not $30. Really though... they're going to snag pretty fast if they're knits, so it's not worth the money. Find something cheap, like these Pinstripe Floral Tights and feel accomplished.

Cheers!

Luna Park

2010-12-10T00:34:00.000-08:00

Luna Park has captured by tastebuds by storm and kept them as hostages. And I like it.

After the deliciously large salad and sandwich my friend, Jodet, and I enjoyed for lunch one day after work, we decided to get some dessert. After discussion over the menu and a suggestion from the adorable waiter, we finally picked the make your own s'mores. Yes, you heard that correctly: make your own s'mores. I repeat: MAKE YOUR OWN S'MORES.

Out from the kitchen (the magical land where the best dessert ever came from), appeared two dishes full of baking marshmallows, melting chocolate, and crispy graham crackers. In other words, the most heavenly dessert man could have created was coming out of the kitchen straight towards us. And we devoured it. WITH PRIDE.

Go here. You will not regret it. At all.

They also had goat cheese fondue, but we did not get that. Next time.

Fall 2010 SF Fashion Show

2010-12-09T19:30:00.000-08:00

Finding the gems in the dust...

The fall show for 2010, attended by almost two hundred people, had some gorgeous outfits and interesting jewelery/makeup, yet I felt there were so many duds. The included looks are the enjoyable ones, but perhaps I am way too critical? (Never. Ever.)

Excited for the Spring 2011 show.

Heart Isn't the Only One Fond of "Barracuda"

2010-12-05T18:06:00.000-08:00

You'd have me down, down, down, down on my knees
Now wouldn't you... Barracuda?

Yes, yes I would.

A couple of us went to barracuda the other week for a dinner and it was some of the best sushi I have consumed in the city thus far! I ordered an avocado roll, cucumber roll, and a tempura vegetable roll. They ordered a tuna roll, and some other interesting looking stuff.

The only problem: the horribly high level of tackiness of the interior design is bad. Fake bamboo and Christmas lights? Come on.

The style of the bar was nice and the barman even gave us a free shot because of my roommate's birthday. But it doesn't matter how amiss the decorations were, the food was great. The sushi was fresh and tasty, as well as being presented in a clean and appealing way.

Located in the Castro district, on Market Street, between Sanchez St. and Noe St.
View their website.

You know it's the holidays when you get to see...

2010-11-30T22:27:00.000-08:00

Victoria's Secret Fashion Show

This year, there were the most amount of wings ever used in any VS fashion show. It was also Chanel's first year for wearing wings: I was surprised she didn't get them earlier! Furthermore, there was six different parts this year: sports, PINK, heaven (with Akon), barnyard, wild animal, and romantic firework (with Katy Perry). All the girls were so gorgeous, nobody was looking at Katy or Akon, at all. They were looking at this:

As my roommate said, every girl will go throw up now.

"The Sexiest/Weirdest Night In Television" (buddytv.com)

"Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show takes more than genetically blessed supermodels to come to fruition—it takes a village." (Harper's BAZAAR)

I absolutely loved the accents of feathers used in the wings. There were a lot of gorgeous colored peacock feathers and bleached white feathers; the designer team for the show is extremely innovative when deciding what to use for the materials. There were many natural aspects, such as straw, feathers, and flowers, that made the show so much more beautiful. Check out HB's backstage video about the wings below:

He makes them feel so awkward.

I wonder how they walk on that glitter filled runway. I like my glitter, but this runway made it look almost too ridiculous... and the sequins did not help. I am not saying that their use of sequins with bras were as bad as any Ed Hardy get up but they could use a more innovative, or expensive, type of product.

Other things I had a problem with: The boxing getup/sports part/ugly soccerball beanbag thing. That whole segment regarding to sports was really, quite, well... awkward and disturbing. THIS and THIS are not hot.

I did love the romantic part though. It was well, romantic. The effortless look of sexiness was completely evident here: THIS and THIS are hot.

But if you were wondering why Miranda Kerr wasn't in the show... She's pregnant with a pirate's baby.

If you missed it the first time around, there will be moment to relive the fantasy lines on December 8th at 8/7C on the CW!

I don't care if it's Tiffany & Co., it's still tacky

2010-11-27T20:30:00.001-08:00

I know Tiffany & Co. has been around since the dawn of time(seriously though, it's been almost 200 years), but this is too much tackiness and childishness for me. Yeah, the colors are pretty and yeah, it's tiny and 'cute'. How have we gone from Holly Golightly's favorite store to creating such a horrendous thing? The only people I can actually fathom wearing this on their keychains are spoiled seven-year-olds or mothers in their late 50's trying to regain their youth. Perhaps even a grandma getting a trinket in Hilo Hatties from Hawaii to add to her vast collection of snowglobes and shot glasses? I feel I have gone too far making jest of this item; I shall stop.

Now I will stop.

Okay, now I will stop.

Granola Munchers like Me

2010-10-20T00:03:00.000-07:00

V is for Vegan.

I recently found out I am not the only granola munching, blackberry picking, hippie in San Francisco; there are many more vegetarians out there! The San Francisco Vegetarian Society, which I did not know existed until 2 weeks ago yet it has been around for 25 years, held the 11th annual World Vegetarian Festival Weekend in Golden Gate Park. The festival was full of grocery stores and companies promoting their businesses and food. The delicious, raw, and vegan cuisine samples were delectable to try and buy.

The events were also a lot of fun to attend; I got to see a favorite author of mine, Rory Freedman, author of Skinny Bitch, Skinny Bitch in the Kitch, and Skinny Bastard. She talked about the title, how she hates it, and what influenced her to create such an influential novel. I loved how she mentioned during the festival that although she hates the title, it is the main thing bringing people to read the vegan eating novel covered up as a diet book.

Rory Freedman during the Veg Fest

There was also the first ever vegan fashion show held in San Francisco. The Show was featuring many fashion designers and apparel companies. Some of the companies were Mission Savvy, whose 5 separate lines have different missions, Pansy Maiden, which specializes in fashionable, handmade, vegan bags, Lion's Share Industries, who has an impressive amount of vegan inspired t-shirts, Rico Jeans, which has 60% recycled cotton jeans, and Vaute Couture, famous for the upcycled windbreakers. The president of the Vegitarian Society, who is 76 and has the legs of an 18 year old, was also featured at the end of the show. View the entire fashion show below.

To see SFVS's official website, go here.

Date, on a Lake

2010-10-08T00:49:00.001-07:00

Date time with Joseph, a wonderful friend of mine and we love going all over the city, seriously. This time, we decided to rent a boat on Stow Lake in Golden Gate Park and reenact The Notebook (if only). Stow lake was way too much fun, we had quite an adventure.

Although the water was green, I kinda liked it like that.

This waterfall, Huntington Falls, is supposedly one of the two hidden waterfalls in the city. Also, apparently, it's a popular cruizing spot for men...

The boat was $20 per hour, which perhaps could get a bit steep, but the boat seats four and splitting it four ways would be nothing. There are paddle boats (for lazy people, like us) and row boats (for the physically gifted in the upper arm muscle department). They also sell pink popcorn, which is a fricken tradition to buy there! Then we wandered. All the way over to Haight Street, which is about 2 miles of wandering. I love the houses all around Haight Street, so gorgeous and have many beautiful courtyards.

God, the weather in the city has been so perfect these past few weeks! I'm going to be enjoying it while it lasts. You do the same.

Why haven't I written about Philz coffee yet?!?!

2010-10-05T12:37:00.000-07:00

For real.

So I often go to Philz for some innovatively designed delicious coffee - whoever thought of mint leaves in coffee is a genius! I just cannot believe I have never talked about it on this blog before!

They have locations in SOMA, the Mission, the Loin, and the Castro (which is also a Sit & Spin). Although there is a location in Berkeley, this is a blog about SF, not hippietown. I love the Mission location because it feels so much like home and has all sorts of different people lounging on the miss matched furniture. Oh, and there are science experiments going on.

I recently went to a poetry reading right next door to the Mission location as well. I arrived at the address and met up with some friends outside. Outside of what, you ask? Oh, a dirty, rusty, metal garage door. The Kaleidoscope Poetry Center is hidden behind an old metal door, but when the location is open to the public, a beautiful, bright, colorful room full of paintings and art appears. I have never had so much enjoyment hearing people read poems before.

I know this picture does not do it justice, but I highly suggest checking out the Kaleidoscope Poetry Center in the near future!

Double Rainbow?

2010-09-21T11:50:00.000-07:00

I love me some Rainbow grocery. But since the store is so far away from my house, I rarely go anymore. Instead, I found this amazing grocery store called Other Avenues. Other Avenues is a cooperative created by the same people who own Rainbow. Awesome, right? Two times the rainbow!

I know it's weird to blog about a grocery store, but you really have to go there. The store has everything from beeswax candles to herbs and spices or in season fruits/veggies. The store also has homemade chocolate, caramel, or other candies.

Even better? Right down the street is a raw, vegan eatery and smoothie place. My goodness, I'm lucky to have found this stuff!

It really is double the rainbow. Double Rainbow? So intense. I still laugh hysterically every time I see that video.

Think Spring Thoughts

2010-09-20T00:10:00.000-07:00

I know it's starting to get (more) foggy and (more) muggy here in the city, but I am so looking forward for Spring next year. After my trip to Santa Cruz, which was completely amazing, and having to return to the cold city, I miss the sun. Seeing the newest Mary Katrantzou Ready To-Wear-Line for next Spring has definitely made my day.

The digital prints are insanely interesting. Katrantzou took vintage architecture magazines and pulled images from the pages and combined them with simple dress shapes to create the pieces. The line includes bodices covered in images of giant indoor pools, skirts with photos of dining rooms, dresses stamped on the front with windows, and many more.

I also love the flamboyantly giant pieces of jewelry that look very Grecian:

Enjoy. And tell me your thoughts!

Fashionable Female: Ke$ha

2010-09-13T22:30:00.000-07:00

Although K-E-dollar sign-ha is quite trashy and has the oddest choice in jewelry (EWW), I actually like her sense of style in some instances. The newest and most recent example is in her video for "Take it Off". Just look at some of the stills and backstage photos from the video filming.

Photos from JustJared.Buzznet

Those heels look like some Alexander Wang Spring 2010 shoes!
Piedmont on Haight street sells some tasseled short shorts like the ones she is wearing above. Of course though, it's handmade by the designers over at Piedmont.
She tends to wear a lot of chunky rings and necklaces, which I am starting to become obsessed with myself.

Tell me what you think

Been Gone Way Too Long, But I Did Eat Cake

2010-09-08T00:24:00.000-07:00

I have recently moved into my new place in San Francisco, which had no internet for 3 or so weeks, and have been exploring the city more. Oh, so fun! The fun was recently enjoyed while in a sweet shop after work in the Castro....

I was in a chocolatey choco mc-chocolate mood (only some women will understand that) the other night and was thinking about hitting up Hot Cookie before I went home. But, my amazing coworker suggested I get myself a delicious slice of cake at Sweet Inspiration. I agreed since all I needed was some choco-cocoa medicine, and was completely blown away with the selections - Red velvet, princess, orange, pumpkin, carrot, new york cheesecake, strawberry, tiramisu, and many more!

I got a slice of the Devil's Food cake. The moist texture and sweet, amazing taste of the cake and frosting was to die for (that's what she said). But the thing is, I did die and I went to heaven, really.

The cool thing, or one of the cool things, is that this bakery is open super late; I was there at eleven and it was going to be open for another hour or so. A not-so-cool thing is that the price was a little expensive. Yeah, the slice of cake was great, but $6 was a tad over priced. For me though, I would pay more for the perfect slice of cake. It's cause I'm a woman.

View their Yelp! page here.

You definitely need to go to this place!

Back to School Clothes

2010-08-17T00:08:00.001-07:00

School starts back up in less than a week for me. I have nothing new in my closet and I need some new duds to dress in when school comes around. But I'm not talking about a stupid school girl uniform.

I would prefer to wear any of the outfits from the Alexander Wang Fall 2010 add campaign, please. Thanks.

Lots of lace and dark colors are in again. Every fall the darker colors start making their way back into my closet; jewel tones, grays, blues, etc. are commonly seen on my hangers.

Chelsea Leyland(DJ) and Jenne Lombardo(DJ) at the Dead Weather at Don Hill's in NY

Notice the black bootie heels and lots of black doily lace in the dress

Natalie Vodianova (model) before the Diane Von Furstenberg show for Fall 2010

Lovin' the grays

Oscar (de le Renta) and Oprah at the Costume Institute's American Women Gala
Note the blue gown...

Tell me what you're wearing for this fall school semester...

Vegan Eating

2010-08-13T13:52:00.000-07:00

Well it's also gluten-free and some of it was raw as well...

Cafe Gratitude

While my friend and I were walking down the street on our way to Cafe Gratitude, we saw this place that looked extremely free and loving... and hippie. It had "a world of plenty" and "home of the abounding river" painted in big, block letters on the outside. It turned out to be the cafe we were going to...

The scene was a bit "hip". Many long haired, Birkenstock-wearing, lovable, hip people. The rest of the people were families and such. I did love the bar though; the tiffany light around the setup was pretty.

I had the vegan mint chip shake and my friend and I shared the spring rolls and vegan tamales. Although the springs rolls were nothing to write home about (or on a blog), the tamales were to die for. I've been thinking about them every hour since I left. It came with beans and a huge scoop of guac! Mmmmmmm....

Also, the server's aren't too bad looking there, if I do say so myself! ;)

Cafe Gratitude (Mission location) on Yelp!

Topshop Lookbook: Rough Diamond

2010-08-13T12:41:00.000-07:00

Out with a boom!

Rawr! I love the cheetah print pants and zebra print coat. The leopard print jacket has me saying "yesssss". I may be vegetarian, but I can still appreciate good quality animal clothing. Fur coats have been in style for forever, especially on those hippies who can't seem to let it go and 80-something galmour-pusses. (I admit, I stole that word from the only comic book I read..) Anyways, this lookbook is very animalistic; even the hats have feathers! Although everything is mixed and matched from many different aspects, the main style is really well out together. Since it's very reminiscent of the 60's, make sure to wear tons of eyeliner!
You can find a similar bag to the one the girl in the top middle photo is slinging here. Like the old school cabana-style hats? Urban outfitters does them perfectly. The animal print spandex leggings or jeans can be found many places such as Forever 21, Neiman Marcus (needless markups), Bloomingdales, and of course Topshop.

Topshop Lookbook: Into the Wild

2010-08-12T02:48:00.000-07:00

What an earthy-urban blend!

By combining soft cloths, large knits, and distressed jean fabrics, the Into The Wild look was born. The feel of the collection as a whole does tend to remind one of the film by the same name, starring the gorgeous Emile Hirsch. Most of the movie, the main character wore denim jeans and knit tops, similar to the models in the photos. Knits, like the sweater in the top middle photo and the headband in the top right photo can easily be accessible through various websites, like Modcloth. Lots of pieces in the shows recently have been holding holes in the fabric, which is starting to become popular. I may have some sweaters with holes in the armpits, some tights exposing skin and a couple jeans with rips, but those were all unintentional. The new look isn't. Find something similar by TopShop, like this sweater, with man made holes in just the right places. Beware, though! Try not to get pants that have too many fake holes, or you'll be stuck with this kind of disaster. I also absolutely love the strappy shoes in all the pictures.

Topshop Lookbook: Dark Nouveau

2010-08-11T23:27:00.000-07:00

If only I could afford all these marvelously dark outfits to wear to work!

The pink, lace-lined corset bra in the top left photo has got me all hot! Find a similar one Topshop offers here. I absolutely love the thin, veil-like dress on the blonde girl in the bottom left. The lace suit beneath the dress on her, which can be bought for super cheap (compared to the original) at American Apparel, completes the look as well. Find alike socks, similar to the ones the woman in the bottom left photo is wearing here.

Since fall is coming and lots of jewel tones and dark shades will be back in style, the grays and light blacks are so fabulous to copy for your fall/winter outfits. Notice that this lookbook is very different from the others so far; this one has very little color and only consists of blues, blacks, whites, and grays. Also notice the plain hairdos that aren't too done up or elaborate. This look will most likely be the best for fall to cover the shoulders and accentuate the face more often, since it'll be so cold that the rest of your body will be covered in long sleeves and pants!

Get prepared now for the cold/windy/rainy/etc. season...

Topshop Lookbook: The Outsiders

2010-08-10T22:50:00.000-07:00

Obsessed.

This specific lookbook from Topshop has peaked my interest right now. The warm, lodge-like style has got my heart pumping - It's so romantic! The plaid and fur ideas are very British "countryside" and the tights/socks pull the outfits together just so.

The burgundy skirt in the top middle photo is very similar to a skirt American Apparel sells and that I own, but I like the thin, matte color instead. Riding pants, such as the pair in the top right photo, are starting to become very popular and I might just have to find vintage pair for myself one of these days! I love the jumper in the bottom left photo, find some similar ones at alloy.com, like this one! I know capes only look good on superheros, hello SUPERMAN, and aren't meant for the mortal being of sorts, but they really have been slowly coming into style now for a couple years. They're always so perfect for relaxing or going for a walk at Tahoe in the winter, so maybe I should look into getting my own? Perhaps, maybe making one? Hmmmm I'll have to get a quality plaid fabric and some hot lining.

Light Up Panties

2010-08-05T22:04:00.000-07:00

The fight of Sexy vs. Skanky for pop music has apparently started. I am aware that there have been many skanky artists in the past but they've always been seen as slutty or dirty by the media, and most often never seen as sexy. The appearance of dirty lyrics have always been happening in hip hop, but not as often in pop. Cyndi Lauper sang about girls having fun, Cher sang about believing in love, and the most dirty song Madonna wrote was called "Like a Virgin" which was actually about saving yourself for that one person. So why are all these pop music artists all of a sudden seen as sexy now? In a world full of Lady Gaga's gun bra, Christina's light up panties, and Katy Perry's whipped cream mess , has the sexual side of music turned vulgar? Are they creating new ideas of what is considered "sexy"? Perhaps it's just that these artists are just really good at marketing themselves to the masses?

Some of Rihanna's "Rude Boy" lyrics:

...Come here, rude boy, boy, can you get it up?
Come here, rude boy, boy, is you big enough?
Take it, take it, baby, baby, take it, take it, love me, love me

Tonight I'ma give it to ya harder
Tonight I'ma turn ya body out
Relax; let me do it how I wanna
If you got it I need it and I'ma put it down
Buckle up; I'ma give it to ya stronger
Hands up; we could go a little longer
Tonight I'ma get a little crazy, get a little crazy, baby...

Rihanna is literally singing about how big a man's dick is and how hard and long she is going to go. Sexy or Skanky? Don't get me wrong, I listen and enjoy this song and every other title on her Rated R album, but is it ruining the sexiness of the act when Rihanna sings about taking it while someone's pulling her hair, or actually lack thereof now?

No, I believe it to be incredibly sexy, but not everyone thinks like me, and they're not all 50-something christian conservatives... trust me. Singing, acting, and creating music like this is widely acceptable now in the pop world. Views on sexiness have changed greatly in the past decades. 100 and even 1000 years ago women covered most of their body when going for a simple swim and it's just now, in the past three or four decades, that the appearance of nude beaches has spiked. Sexy is now to reveal more and hide less, as shown by Lady Gaga.

As I said before, many like to think of this new wave of progressive sexuality to be a terrible thing. So then, why are these women at the top of the charts and selling so many albums? Lady Gaga's 'The Fame' sold 174,000 copies the first week, Beyonce's 'I am... Sasha Fierce' sold 482,000, and Ke$ha's (yes, I went there) 'Animal' sold 152,000.
This is not including the illegal downloads, online buys, and sharing of records.

These women know how to market themselves. Shock value. Surprises. Sex. But sexy? Just like Joan Jett picked up an electric guitar and shocked everyone, nobody expects Katy Perry to be so damn suggestive.

Is a cupcake bra considered sexy? Or skanky? You tell me.

Rainbow It Up

2010-08-05T00:38:00.000-07:00

Since gay pride happened a while back and Prop 8 was deemed unconstitutional yesterday, I decided to do a post all about colorful, rainbow-inspired fashion. Also since the sun is out, there is no reason to wear dark colors since Summer is the best time to show off floral prints and striking colors.

Many designers like to stick with a couple shades of color when sending girls down the runway (For example, Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel), so for summer I like to pick more girly, fun designers such as Betsy Johnson, Anna Sui, or Valentino.

Valentino Pre-Fall 2010

Badgley Mischka Spring/Summer 2010 Ready to Wear

Marc Jacobs Spring/Summer 2010 Ready to Wear

Betsy Johnson Spring/Summer 2010 Ready to Wear

Notice that although many of the pieces have harsh and dark colors, they are mixed in with neons, brights, or white. If you're going to have dark purples, blues, or greens for the next couple months, mix it with cream or white colored garments to mix and match. The reason for doing this is to bring out the natural colors of the fabric and to accentuate the features of the outfit during the hot season.

Enjoy.

Eating Out

2010-07-22T23:08:00.000-07:00

No, I'm not talking about the 2004 gay film that I see being sold all over SF.
I'm talking about having some good grub out in the city.

Cafe Pellegrini (North Beach)
What an awesome location this small, Italian restaurant was in! Good gnocchi and bread! I got the salmon bowtie plate and ate off of my friend's dishes as well. Wish they had Italian soda though, it's really not that hard to make at all.

My next foodie adventure in San Francisco that I'd like to explore? Gracias Madre or Cafe Gratitude in the Mission! Delicious, vegan and raw Mexican food? Can't go wrong with that! Yum!

Do it Yourself: Embellished Shoulders

2010-07-20T23:32:00.000-07:00

I know it's been a while since I've posted anything, but I've been incredibly busy working. Working on this...

We all love this season's new, big fashion hit: embellished shoulders (no, not shoulder pads). From beads to spikes, from ruffles to laces, this means our shoulders can get a little more interesting looking. You can't really go wrong this season wearing a white top with lacey beaded shoulders and some hot jeans... But a quality embellished shoulder dress or top can cost a pretty penny. So instead of caring about the appearance of designer names on the inside of the garment, think instead about your wallet! Make your own fabulous shoulder designs for cheap.

You will need:
-Any sweater, dress, or top you want embellished. I chose a basic blue sweater.
-Any beaded, laced, or woven applique (these can be found at basic vintage or specialty craft stores similar to Britex Fabrics). I have some nice black and white beaded ones.
-Needle and thread. Any color similar to the applique.

I added a little "beadage" in the front a bit for a more royal look.

Tell me guys what you all think....

Why I love Givenchy

2010-07-13T13:04:00.000-07:00

The Fall 2010 Couture collection has me baffled. Yes, I know this is a late post, and it should have been made as soon as I saw the photos, but I really didn't know what to write about since I was so awestruck.

See the full collection on the Style.com slideshow.

Riccardo Tisci, the designer for Givenchy, has really shown his classic talents here. Considering he was a very unknown designer before he signed with Givenchy, he had lots of hidden talents. This line shows that he knows his way around material and ornamentation for a perfect dress. Every garment, in exception for the chocolate brown feathered dress, was vanilla in color with accents of ivory and pearls. Some of these dresses, made of lace and applique, took up to six months to produce. The dedication and beauty of the garments really shows Tisci's talents.

Travel back in Time

2010-07-09T00:01:00.000-07:00

I haven't been to Union Square in quite some time. It was another whole adventure for me this time around. The last time I went was... well let's just say that Joaquin Phoenix had no hair on his face and he didn't want to be a rapper (seriously though, something went horribly wrong there with him...)

First stop? Neiman Marcus, aka: Needless Markups. (When you Google "needless markups", the Neiman Marus website comes up first...haha...) The store is having a huge sale on many items; Since it is considered pre-sale right now, everything that is already on sale will be an even more 60% off starting next Wednesday. I loved the Missoni area of the store considering it's summer and the brand has such bright colors and patterns. I ate at the ROTUNDA restaurant and had some wonderful food. The crab louie salad was to die for and I would most definitely put the cappuccino I drank in my top 5. The cheese plate was also pretty decent; it came with honeycomb and since it's so good for your skin and health, it's a popular thing in my diet.

Another fun thing? Instead of bread brought to the table at the beginning of the meal, popovers and homemade strawberry butter are placed on your plate!

After that, I went over to Betsy Johnson, Alex Chases Salon, Williams Sonoma, Victoria's Secret, Louis Vuitton, etc.

I also have been re-introduced to a designer I once loved: Haute Hippie. Although the name sounds semi-cliche and oh so clever, the label has some gorgeous clothing and accessories. Their use of sheer fabric, sequins, leather, beading and accessories is very modern with a classic twist. I love the nude heels and dark army boots they have. View below at some of the looks from the Spring/Summer 2010 LookBook...

View the website here. The blog is interesting since you get to see all the Haute Hippie fans like Blake Lively and such.

Animalistic Females

2010-07-06T23:05:00.000-07:00

With the coming of Fall this next season, I am beginning to wonder...

Has female sexuality turned animalistic? In a time where it's okay to wear leopard print and maybe some feathers in your hair and no longer be considered tacky, has it actually become normal to wear animal-like wear? I have seen my fair share of celebrities wearing bunny and mouse ears lately. The Avant-Garde look of having antlers has made a long run in the stockings of photo shoots recently. Is getting back to the primal instincts making these women stronger or is acting like an untamed woman only for the strong?

Miley Cyrus, the former Hannah Montana, has recently come out with a very artistic music video, which I am completely addicted to and not afraid to say so, called "Can't be Tamed". In the video, the gorgeous bird, that is Cyrus, is in captivity wearing massive dark wings and a tight, black, spandex leotard looking outright beautiful. Also, I'd like to mention the perfect peacock dress, that may be one of the most gorgeous dresses The Blonds have ever created and is made from 2400 tiny metal pieces along with very large feathers, cost just over $25,000! Watch the video below.

Shakira, the past "Whenever, Wherever" girl, has come out with a song this past year called "She Wolf". The song claims that all women have a wolf in the closet and this wolf comes out when the woman wishes to the most powerful that she can be. Shakira would like the shewolf to "come out and breathe". Does this mean that wearing animalistic clothing just increases the animal inside the woman?

The girls in the Chanel 2010 RTW line are completely decked out in fur, below.

Rihanna's Elle cover shoot just reeks of animal tendancies, below.

So this fall, when we see more girls wearing those ridiculous fur go go raver boots, it won't be that peculiar. When we see the leopard print dresses hanging off of the shoulders of every woman in the city, we won't be so surprised.

Wear your animalistic wear and be as powerful as the animal inside you!

Wicked Grounds

2010-06-28T21:51:00.000-07:00

Coffee + board games + kink shop = amazing?
Who knows, I've never been that great at math...

When a coffee shop is combined with a kink shop, all you get is fun. Meeting a friend at the enchanting cafe today made my day even more awesome! I've wanted to go to this shop for a while and finally got the chance to. I strolled in, ordered an iced mocha and looked around. On one wall was the menu and on the other was whips, chains, leather, and studs. Among the more interesting things I saw today: Beefcake coloring book, stuffed animal bacteria, and some... *ahem*... other things...

If you're there for a while and don't know what to do, there's a bookshelf full of card and board games. "Fact or Crap?" is especially fun! The iced mocha was well made and perfect after I had walked around all day today. The grilled cheese sandwich I ordered along with the drink was tasty.

I heard their bagels are to die for, so next time, I'm ordering one. I'm definitely going back to the kink & coffee shop sometime soon!

Follow them on Twitter, Fb, Yelp!, or from their website.

SF MoMA & Coffee

2010-06-28T20:52:00.000-07:00

I haven't been to the MoMA since the stained glass bridge installation was up and running. I feel as if it has been forever, but as I stepped back into the wonderful building, I was met with some amazing, gorgeous pieces that I would love to share with everyone. Since I thought photography of the artwork was forbidden, all of my photographs were shot with a cell phone, hidden from the attendants and probably the worst quality you've ever seen. As I later found out, taking photographs of the artwork is not forbidden. Oh well...

The Veronica (not pictured)
By Jay Defeo (1957)
Painting, Oil on Canvas
Quite possibly my favorite as of late, Google it for a picture

Harvey
By Robert Arneson (1982)
Drawing, Conte Pencil, Watercolor, Oil Stick, Graphite on Paper
Great, especially for Pride this weekend

Typewriters
By Various Artists (1952-1960's)
Metal, Plastic, Paint

Self-Portrait
By Andy Warhol (1967)
Painting, Acrylic and Silkscreen Enamel on Canvas
How the hell does someone do silkscreening on this large of a scale?!

The Spirits that Lend Strength are Invisible II
By Sigmar Polke (1988)
Nickel and Artificial Resin on Canvas Not my photo

I also extremely appreciated Chuck Close's large scale pieces, such as James, and William Kentridge's Preparing the Flute. The Agnes Martins were very calming and made me feel at ease and serene. The tiny Jackson Pollock was too small for me and the man whose name I completely forget's video sitting against the wall was quite moving as well.

Since any day out on the town wouldn't be complete without caffeine, I stopped by the cafe at the museum, Cafe Museo, for some coffee and a muffin. Blueberry to be specific. All the food -- from the margarita pizzas to the baked goods -- are made on site and are completely delicious. I had my usual cappuccino and was actually amazed at how talented the barista was; the cup of coffee was delightful.

Visit the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art's website. For students, it is only $9 to go, ans since everyone is a "student" these days, there's really no reason why you shouldn't attend.
Make sure to go to the rooftop terrace, it is perfect on a sunny day!

Summer means Sunglasses

2010-06-25T16:51:00.000-07:00

Tom Ford eyewear for Fall 2010 is everything you'd want covering your eyes.

The aviator-inspired look to the glasses is just perfect for this season. Each pair in the line has some different exotic name such as Genevieve, Jaquelin, Delphine, Natalia, Patek, and Sandrine. For the men, the names are such as Arnaud, Hunter, Andres, Pierre, Silvano, and Pablo. The pairs cost upwards of $250 and to some, are worth it. I know if I had the money, I'd definitely buy the X aviators in the top picture, even though they're men's. The Ford styles are seen on the likes of Gwen Stefani and Angelina Jolie commonly.

Look at the EYEWEAR section on Tom Ford's website.

Buy some at Neiman Marcus (aka: Needless Markups, I laugh to myself as I write this... hehe)

Dinner by the Bay

2010-06-25T03:08:00.000-07:00

Besides the tourists and horrible traffic, the positives of Fisherman's Warf can be pretty amazing! Before I ate at the Fishermen's Grotto No.9, I walked along Jefferson Street to see the shops and stores. I had to stop at the candy store and buy at least some sweets. Right between the giant burger and the Rainforest Cafe, lies the San Francisco Chocolate Store, which is filled to the brim with chocolate of all shapes, sizes, tastes, colors, mixes, etc.

After the short walk along the tourist infested street, I stopped to listen to the old man playing Jazz before I sauntered into the restaurant. I had never been to the Fisherman's Grotto No.9 before but had heard it housed some of the best seafood in the bay and had some of the most beautiful views of the waters. Most of the food at the restaurant is caught the same day it is served. I ordered the shrimp and crab cocktail with some traditional clam chowder. I know it's such an average decision to choose clam chowder, but you really can't go wrong with some delicious soup!

The view.

The food.

The desserts.

View their website here (and PLEASE ignore the cheesy music).

Sofia Coppola's New Film

2010-06-20T23:49:00.000-07:00

I would really love to see this movie. Asap.

I don't know too much about Somewhere yet, but I am so pumped to see it. Sofia Coppola, one of Marc Jacobs inspirations, has been apart of over 50 movies and has been incredibly successful in almost anything she does. The oh-so-exciting film seems like it had a romantic three-way between Garden State, Lost in Translation, and The Pacific and Eddy. Since I hate to tell people what movies are like or give them a plotline of some sort, I have included the trailer, view it below.

Check This Out

Lace Bunny Ears

2010-06-17T11:33:00.000-07:00

Maison Michel's recent lace bunny ears have been the hottest thing since sliced bread.

Seen often on popular models, actresses, and singers, the lace bunny (and cat) ears aren't just for playboy bunnies anymore. They were made commonly well-known by Lily Allen. Since 1936, the Michel brand has been making exquisite hats and headwear for the rich and talented. Auguste Michel was the first hatmaker for the brand, closely followed by Pierre Debard. The brand specializes in the most gorgeous and hard to find ideas while still creating wearable garb. In the 70's Yves Saint Laurent caught on the the marvelous brand and fell in love with the designs. In the 80's Dior, Nina Ricci and Givenchy just fawned over the design boards in the Michel house. Almost a century before Pierre Debard died in 2003, Chanel took over the brand and helped the success broaden over many countries. They have recently opened up their first Maison Michel distribution in Paris. See the many shows Maison Michel hats have appeared in here.

Go to Maison Michel's website.

A friend of mine is having a party in which we are supposed to wear something on our heads, and I thought that the lace ears would be the perfect thing! Since I absolutely love the ears and am not willing to spend the time, money, and effort to find and buy the ears, I just decided to make them. (It seemed simple enough). There are many DIY sites out there illustrating in full detail how to make your own lace bunny ears, but I just winged it and designed my own way.

I am also taking special orders to make more if anyone wants them. I had so many supplies left over from the headband making session. If so, email me at arieljohnsonc@gmail.com and we can work something out.

Fashion Advice From a Friend: Sharice

2010-06-16T00:50:00.001-07:00

Sharice
Lives in San Carlos, which is the city of "Good Living"
Inspired by the 90's

She says:

Doc Martens aren't for everyone; you've "got to be wearing tight clothes or short shorts to balance out the toughness of the shoe."

She couldn't find any stores that sold her size, which was the exact same for me, so she found some online.

Check out the Doc Martens online shop here. Or perhaps view another website here? Maybe even here.

Look how some models and actresses wear them (and maybe get some inspirations?)

From top left: Drew Barrymore, Dakota Fanning, Agyness Deyn.

I love a lady named Gaga

2010-06-14T01:35:00.000-07:00

Where'd the fashion come from? Who are the designers? What's the inspiration? How much is actually Lady Gaga's designs? and most importantly, WHY?

From the beginning:

Beginning military outfits for the men are made by Emporio Armani

Eyeglass headpiece worn by Gaga created by Nasir Mazhar. Black cape custom made by the late Alexander McQueen.

To see the rest of the clothing and who designed it, go to Nicola Formichetti's Blog, which is dedicated in a large way to Gaga herself, and is seen as a very fashion forward site.

Most of the clothing was designed and created by Emporio Armani, Alexander McQueen, and the Haus of Gaga. For those of you who don't know what Haus of Gaga is, and I know there are very few of you, it is a creative production company in which Lady Gaga has set up an assortment of designers, musicians, artists, etc. that help her create ideas for her music, stage props, hairdos, clothing, and art. Below is an example of just one of her many "mini" films she's made and collaborated on with her Haus.

UB: Urban Bread

2010-06-10T16:20:00.000-07:00

Located in the Castro at the intersection of 18th and Sanchez, across the street from the ahh-mazing Samovar Tea Lounge, rests UB, which stands for Urban Bread.

Since I work closeby, I thought I'd stop by for lunch a while back and their bread is astonishingly great! I bought the cheddar cheese and garlic loaf for super cheap and munched on it for the rest of the day with my coworkers, since garlic is my biggest food weakness. They have sandwiches and pastries, fresh coffee and cupcakes, and such a wonderful vibe.

Urban Bread recently participated in the Flavors of SF event. Urban Bread is seen a healthy and "green", or environmentally sustainable place to eat.

View their Yelp! page here.
View their profile on the Green Cafe Network here.

Tea Tea Tea

2010-06-08T17:38:00.001-07:00

Although I love tea, I feel that I have been neglecting posting anything on my blog in the past month or so about the wonderful topic! I have been incredibly busy at my amazing place of work and have created some delicious tea recipes.

Here's an extremely easy and fast recipe I have created.

Herbal/Rooibos Tea Shake

Ingredients:
A form of loose rooibos or herbal tea (about 2 tablespoons), below

-Try to get one that is very red, deep in flavor, and fine
-You can find these types of tea in many places (from a local grocery store to a specialized seller)
-If you get tea in a tea bag, just open multiple bags up and use that
1 cup Ice
2 cups milk
-You can substitute this for soy milk, rice milk, hemp milk, etc.
1 tablespoon raw sugar
-You can use regular sugar or honey as a substitute

What you'll need:
A shaker
A glass

How to:
Quickly rinse the tea in HOT water for one or two seconds to start opening up the flavor.
Put the ice, milk, raw sugar, and rinsed tea in the shaker.
Shake very violently for about 15 minutes until it foams and fizzes, and it will.
Pour in the glass and drink up!
You can top it off with some strawberries or raspberries if you like!

Also, I've been dying to try TAZO's new Chai Latte....

Have I cheated?

2010-06-07T00:48:00.000-07:00

So I have been doing fairly well with my commitment to buying only used clothing. I have been so close to buying new heels an incredible amount of times. I almost bought an adorable shirt from a marvelous shop on 16th called the Candystore Collective (isn't the video on their home page just incredibly adorable?). I was so easily influenced by the Sufjan Stevens music, old time candies and handmade journals that I was so close to buying some marvelous items... But that is another topic for another time...

Right now, I want to know if I have cheated. Cheated on my pact to save the world (in my own, minuscule way) by only buying used clothing items... Since it's now summer and I need some fresh outfits and modern looks for this next season, my mind kept wandering back to the most important question yet: what about swim suits? I have asked an assortment of acquaintances and friends if they think a swim suit counts as underwear. 100% of the people said that they believed a swim suit counts as underwear. If you don't know what 100% is, I have below a fairly easy to understand pie chart of what it looks like.

The second question I asked was whether or not, if I bought the swim suit, if it would count as cheating. Once again, it was 100% in my favor, and the visual explanation is below.

So I went ahead and ordered some fabulous bathing suits from some rather fabulous websites.

But I still feel iffy wearing them and still being able to say that I have only been buying used clothes for the past 6 months and 7 days....

TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK.

SHOULDERPADS

2010-06-01T01:11:00.000-07:00

Shoulderpads have a horrible, ugly stigma about them; they are seen as the things moms used to wear when she tried to be "hip" in the 80's and get away with the broud shouldered look.

Now, lets get realistic. The shoulderpads started with your grandma, in the 1930's. When women stopped wearing corsets and started getting free, the idea that women can be strong surfaced as well. It stands for the strength of women and the idea that they are powerful, determined, and muscular. The shoulder pad idea started to make women seem more important, solid, and impressive.

Ever since the 30's, shoulderpads had ebbed and flowed in and out of style, and essentially landed us here, where we think shoulderpads make us look awkward and out of place. But is the look of pronounced shoulders beginning to come back and be a little more mainstream? (I mean, I did see a girl wearing a hot, padded, studded shoulder dress at a house party the other day...)

Some people in the media have recently been wearing shoulderpads.

Katy Perry

Rihanna

Lady Gaga

Beyonce

Victoria Beckham

Nicki Menaj

I'm not gonna lie - I love the look. I have for a while now...

Maybe I should get me a studded shoulder something or other...

Style Guide: Meet Pixie Lott

2010-05-29T00:44:00.000-07:00

(My new obsession).

The 18 year old singer and fashionista, Pixie Lott, says she's "not a relationship person" and is amazingly happy being single. She loves to have fun and would rather spend the summer with a guy than be monogamous with him for a long time. When she was younger, she was so shy that her parents thought she was a mute, but she has long outgrown the shyness and has definitely come into her own!

Greatly popular in the UK, Pixie, born Victoria Louise Lott, has been featured in many magazines and is seen as a hot, strong bombshell. She appeared on the cover of FHM magazine including a whole sexy spread and interview that you can see here. (She's so adorable).

Her cover of the King's of Leon song "Use Somebody". ABSOLUTELY beautiful.

Top Ten necessities:
1) High waisted shorts
2) White tanks
3) Headband (this, not this)
4) Striped tanks and tees
5) Long, wavy, blonde hair
6) Glasses (old-fashioned Ray-Bans, big, or heart shaped...)
7) Little black dresses
8) Eyeliner, and lots of it!
9) Oversized jackets
10) Heels (TALL ONES)

Check out her website here.

Cañada Fashion Show Spring 2010

2010-05-25T21:51:00.000-07:00

Highlights from the Cañada Community College Fashion Show: DROP DEAD GORGEOUS.

(Plus a tad of performance art at the beginning and end of the show)

What do ya think?

Homage to thy adorable blogger: BryanBoy

2010-05-25T21:21:00.000-07:00

Bryan Boy was just another fabby fab fabulous fashion blogger on the internet. That is, until Marc Jacobs saw the below video, Faggotry in Motion #21.

(Loving the part at 2:21)

When Marc noticed Bryan Boy's love for fashion and hilarious depiction of him, he named a bag after the witty blogger - The BB, put him in some ads, and sat him front row in his next show. The world and Marc fell in love with Bryan Boy....

View his blog here.
Follow him on Twitter.

Style Guide: Meet Anjelica Huston

2010-05-24T09:32:00.000-07:00

Anjelica Huston, who quite a lot know her as a certain character in many a Wes Anderson movies or the daughter of John Huston, used to be a fashion model in her early days and one of the most influential "it" girls of her time. She was the opposite of all the tall, blonde, skinny models out there -- which gave her the upper hand (remember Morticia Addams from the Addams Family).

Anjelica's look is very classic. Since her days as a model in her early career were quite powerful, she has always been a fashion inspiration for women. She has shown strength towards to feminist lifestyle by wearing gender-bending clothing and has always looked flawless doing so. She has dated Jack Nicholson and photographer Bob Richardson (father of Terry Richardson), which is why so many photographs were taken of her. See below for some of her spreads from European VOGUE magazines back in the 70's.

(1972 Bob Richardson for Italian Vogue)

Her top ten necessities:
1) Pearls
2) Diamonds
3) Black skin tight dresses
4) Red dresses
5) Trenchcoats
6) Big hats
7) Men's suit jackets
8) Turtlenecks
9) Anything with a big collar
10) Red lipstick & lots of eyeliner

Read this tell-all article reprinted from 'Another Magazine' on Anjelica Huston.

Marc Jacob's Perfect Gifts

2010-05-19T00:16:00.000-07:00

As I strolled along Fillmore the other day, before seeing the movie Cyrus at the San Francisco International Film Festival, I grabbed a hot coffee and stumbled upon the Marc by Marc Jacob's store I completely forgot existed (who would have thunk it?). Walking inside, I once again realized how amazing all the small, adorable trinkets are, and unusually cheap for being a designer brand. I love getting small gifts from Marc by Marc Jacobs for friends or acquaintances.
My current obsession?

The Marc by Marc Jacobs rat keychains from the Stinky Rat collection. They come in an assortment of colors including blue, green, yellow, orange, purple, black, and pink. So far, I've bought 5, and most people who see my keys usually say something along the lines of "You have a rat on your keys... Did you know this?". Before you get on my ass about buying such mundane, ridiculous things, each one was only a dollar. You can find movie-esqe heart shaped compacts (which was my second buy), silver rings, watch bracelets, Cassette lookalike USB hubs, and all the new school supplies for under $15.

My next buy?

Spiral Bracelets

Marc Jacobs, I love you.

Karl Lagerfeld's REMEMBER NOW

2010-05-12T11:14:00.000-07:00

This short film, only coming out to be 17 minutes long, was featured and previewed the night before the Chanel Resort 2011 Collection. The entire short movie was written, directed, and designed by Karl Lagerfeld (Chanel) and depicts the life of an assortment of glamorous people in the French Riviera hot spot, St.Tropez. The innocence reminds me of nighttime summers and running wild in the grass. View the beginning (Part 1) below.

Not if, but WHEN, you do see the end, you'll know what I mean when I say that the line "Yes, but this is Saint-Tropez" will never die.

I want this on DVD!

Summer is Here! Chanel's "Carefree" Cruise Collection

2010-05-12T11:01:00.000-07:00

While on a hot summer's day in red wooden chairs in the middle of Saint-Tropez's famous Sénéquier, with the sun setting in the background, guests and uninvited onlookers on balconies got to enjoy this recent collection from designer Karl Lagerfeld. With lots of brown fringe, denim, flowing flower print fabrics, bikini tops, bare feet, and big floppy hats, these girls should have walked right off the runway and straight to the beach! There were a bit of mens clothing in the line as well; lots of white or beige sweaters and some sunglasses to top it off.

I know this collection depicts the fashion for Summer 2011, but I want to so badly wear some of it noooooow! Maybe I just shall.

San Francisco State Fashion Show 2010

2010-05-08T21:42:00.001-07:00

The 16th annual the SF State Fashion Show, Runway 2010: Nouvelle, for the Apparel Design and Merchandising students was held at the Galleria (San Francisco Design Center). The show was at full capacity, with little standing tickets being sold at the door.

I was incredibly lucky to be sitting front row (thank you mother for the tickets, haha) and I enjoyed the show astoundingly. Because of the 40-some designers presenting in the show, it made for quite a captivating performance full of tall, glitter stilettos, headdresses, metal garb, and foot-tall spiked shoulder pads. I have put together a few pictures of my favorite designs and highlights from the show. Enjoy below.

(The designer's name is in GREEN).

Yes, that's a dress and a headpiece made of chainmail.

Highlights:

If you want to see more pictures from this event, just email me!

Beach Chalet

2010-05-08T20:15:00.000-07:00

I went to the Beach Chalet, right next to Golden Gate Park and beside the beach on Highway 1. Now being a pescatarian, I can eat fish and some seafood. I had a wonderful crab cake with some shrimp & scallion seviche, and a shrimp & avocado cocktail. View their website here, and their Yelp! page here.

The restaurant has a gorgeous fireplace in the center of the room.

Beautiful and delicious food!

Coloring the kid's menu!

Neighborhood Coffee Shop: H Cafe

2010-05-08T13:01:00.001-07:00

This snug little cafe, nestled in the Castro, is on the corner of 17th and Sanchez, across from Refriend Cycles (awesome name!) It's So close to my work! It's just a short walk down 17th from the Castro street Muni station. (By the way, I hate these new Muni schedules/times/routes for the M and K lines! Ugh.)
The atmosphere is very cozy and warm, with an awesome setup; couches, pillows, and comfy chairs line one wall while nice tables line the other. I ordered an Americano and was sipping it as I read my newest book selection, Memoirs of a Geisha.

View their Yelp! page here and their website here.

RodARTe

2010-05-03T11:03:00.001-07:00

I believe a made a recent post about how much I love the Rodarte Fall/Winter 2010 shoes from the runway. What I didn't know was that they LIGHT UP.
Secretly, inside, I'm completely freaking out because a friend of mine and I have been looking for a pair of shoes that light up when we walk so we could wear them out and about. I was seriously considering buying these (goodness, I know) since I couldn't find any other ones that I actually liked...
Until I saw these brilliantly gorgeous heels that had been sent down from heaven for my taking...

The only problem is that my friend, who's a guy, I don't think would like to parade around in them as much as I would.
I'm getting myself some, asap.

TGIF

2010-04-30T20:24:00.000-07:00

Thank god it's Friday.

Hahahahahaha!
Let's all laugh at some falling models.
So wrong. So wrong.

Rihanna vs. M.I.A.

2010-04-28T19:29:00.001-07:00

Rihanna's and M.I.A.'s very similar bright, colorful, graphic videos, both about the same topic...

Although I love you Rihanna, I've got to just point out that M.I.A.'s "Boyz" came before your "Rude Boy".... Who do you think is better?!

An Open Letter to The MoMa

2010-04-28T19:23:00.000-07:00

And open letter to the Museum of Modern Art.

MoMa,

I miss you and have really appreciated the many exhibits I've seen at your space. I extremely enjoyed the Superhero Costumes and other fashion exhibits. Thank you for all the inspirations.
But before I end this somewhat short letter, I wish to tell you how much I want/need/have to see your Marina Abramovic: The Artist is Present exhibit. The idea of having an artist sit and stare at people for almost an entire day, from opening to closing, interests me in a very curious way. Although she does remind me of the woman from that one Sex and the City episode where Carrie first meets "The Russian"... Oh, wait...That is her.... I find the piece stimulating and I'm very entertained by the portraits you have been taking of people as they watch Abramovic, who often does a lot of performance art, in her current state. I have found the most interesting ones to be the small children who stare up at her in puzzlement and the inspired, young people crying their eyes out.

Sincerely,
Ariel

View the website and all other information here.

1000 views.

2010-04-24T00:18:00.000-07:00

Yay!

This is quite a bit late, but thanks everyone for visiting and reading my blog so often!
I shall celebrate with some live Santogold...

...and Phoenix (but the below video has no real footage).

Day out on the town (Part 3)

2010-04-21T12:37:00.001-07:00

Last stop? The Academy of Science.
I never knew science could be so inspiring! The Academy of Science holds an Adult's NightLife, 21+, every Thursday and for something that happens every week, it was pretty packed! Including profound DJ's and some good snacks, NightLife offers so many things such as a rain forest, moon viewing room, fish tanks, and presentations. Sometimes, if the sky is clear enough, you'll get to go on the roof to watch the stars through telescopes. You defintely need to go soon! (And all April is "Extreme NightLife", celebrating mammals!)
Go to their website here.

Some photos of butterflies, birds, etc. from the rain forest.

Some big cats, including a serval, leopard, cheetah, and others. Watch the video of the high jumping serval below.

Help out the Wild Cat Education and Conservation Fund that held this event, view their website here.

Day out on the town (Part 2)

2010-04-21T12:10:00.000-07:00

Destination two? The Ferry Building. Built in 1898, it was the absolute focal point of bay area boating transportation. If you were going anywhere in or out of the bay by water, you went here. The bell tower was meant to welcome visitors into the bay. And it welcomed us as we went into the building, which has now transformed into office spaces and an amazing retail area. I like to believe that it's just a permanent indoor farmer's market. My boyfriend and I went on a Thursday, which just so happens to be one of the days when the farmer's market and arts & crafts faire occurs out front of the building. We enjoyed ice cream, cheese, tea, and coffee, just not all together.
View their website here.
And look at just a few of the photos we took while at the Ferry Building.

Alex wearing a hand-crocheted knit cap outside at the arts & crafts/farmer's market area. What a looker!

Mushrooms and some employees at the Far West Fungi shop. The shop has tons of beautiful mushrooms and the truffle salt is completely amazing. View their website here.

Imperial Tea Court. Amazing Jasmine Oolong tea. First time I had ever drank out of that kind of cup.

Blue Bottle Coffee Company has some great caffeinated drinks.

I highly suggest going to the Ferry Building in the near future.

Day out on the town (Part 1)

2010-04-20T04:20:00.001-07:00

This past weekend, I went to so many places in so many time. First on the list? Westerfield Mansion.
View their wiki page here.
My mother happens to know the owner of the house and I got to take a tour of the entire 28-room structure. Among the sites I saw were many stuffed animals, a bear with a tutu, and some amazing artwork. I was in complete awe of how much history lay in this house. If you ever get the chance to go, PLEASE do it. Here are a few of my favorite pictures I took.

Outside of the house. Currently has scaffolding around the outer edges because they're getting a new paint job.

Some pictures around the house.

This specific piece of screen-printed art in one of the rooms caught my eye. Not just because it has Audrey Hepburn, but because it looked so worn down.

Some pics of the "hippie room". Most of the memorabilia is from eBay, or was left over at the house from when the house was the first official hippie den/student commune in the 1960's.

Bear in a tutu.

Scratches on the wall from when the original owners owned a baby tiger.

And finally, the (now) owner of the house and I.

Rodarte has my heart

2010-04-12T15:05:00.001-07:00

Since the Fall/Winter 2010 shows, I have fallen in love with Rodarte's shoes. I need them. Nik Kirkwood designs for Rodarte.

Style Guide: Meet Becka Diamond

2010-04-11T00:32:00.001-07:00

It's time for another Style Guide, y'all! Haven't done this for a while...

Becka Diamond (not her real name) has been featured on dozens of blogs recently, from Style.com, to Nylon, to WhoWhatWear. You've seen her in magazines and in the front row of some pretty amazing runway shows. Her favorite designers are Balenciaga, Alexander Wang, and Balmain.

Becka loves old rock tees, jeans, and the color black. In a recent interview with NYLON mag, she confessed "The thing is, I’m not a natural blonde. So, when I bleached my hair, I realized black looks so good with blonde hair!... I do like the idea of monochromatic. Like wearing all-white is just as amazing as wearing all-black. But New York is just to dirty for white, you know?".

Get her look!

You'll need her top 10 necessities:
1. Ray Bans.
2. Rocker band tees.
3. Ripped jeans.
4. Any jewelry with spikes.
5. Black boots.
6. Tights in every dark shade.
7. Leather Jacket.
8. Bleached blond hair.
9. Black clothes.
10. More black clothes.

What's so great about clogs?

2010-04-10T23:26:00.001-07:00

Recently I've been seeing a ton of clogs on celebrities (from Ashly Olsen to Alexa Chung), and even more on the runway. I'm so confused -- I really don't get it (yet). I guess I must not fully understand the magnificence of the clog? Perhaps it's just a ploy of Holland's to increase traveling tourists? Or a joke on the fashion world?
Whatever it is, it's getting pretty popular...

Chanel Spring RTW 2010

Chanel Spring RTW 2010

Louis Vuitton Spring RTW 2010

Louis Vuitton Spring RTW 2010

I'm just as puzzled as you are....

Topshop, I love thee

2010-04-09T00:18:00.000-07:00

Holy sh*t, TOPSHOP IS NOW GOING TO SHIP TO A DOZEN MORE COUNTRIES.

Including Canada, China, Turkey, Hong Kong, and others.

Now more people around the world get to experience the amazingness that is TopShop.

Image taken while on my trip to NY in 2008.

Visit their website here, and enjoy.

Fashion Advice From a Friend: Grace

2010-04-06T03:45:00.001-07:00

Grace Lunardi
Going to school at SF State.

She says:

Change your nail polish color all the time.
If you don't have enough money to buy new clothes every week, mix up your outfit with some new nail polish!

Grace changes hers once, maybe twice, a week. Currently stuck on using "Enchanted Forrest" (Dark Green) and "Blue me away" (Blue).

Her favorite places to get polish is "any place that has nail polish". Sally Hansen's new Xtreme Wear line of polish is super cheap (around 2.99 each) and super shiny. Look at the website here.

Note the fantastically vibrant pink nails...

Find some fun colors at OPI.
Find some feminine colors at essie.

I'm Ready for Summer!

2010-03-29T00:38:00.000-07:00

As much as I love to watch the rain while sitting inside and eating oatmeal raisin cookies, drinking tea, or munchin' on some popcorn while watching Funny Face, I'm ready to walk outside and not have to run back in for my gloves or umbrella! I'm ready to shout to the sky, "I LOVE YOU SUN!". I'm ready to have midnight walks, because it's the perfect weather during those warm summer nights. And I'm extremely ready to wear my 70's inspired summer rompers. Oh god, I am ready!

I have collected many for this summer, so far, here are my favorites. The best part is that I found them all at thrift stores.

Left:f21, $9. Right: Apple Bottom, $8.

My favorite out of the bunch.
Heritage, $4.75.

Where you gonna get your jumpers/rompers for summer?!?

Find some at ShopStyle.
Find some more at ShopBop.
Find even more at Macy's, haha.

I'm just waitin' to wear some rompers, 1970's style!

When you're feeling blue...

2010-03-24T18:41:00.000-07:00

Want some delicious coffee in San Francisco while walking down the piers?
Go to the Blue Bottle Coffee Company, which is located in the Ferry Building on The Embarcadero.

My boyfriend got a mocha, for pretty damn cheap, and I sipped it for a bit. I must say it was one of the best I've ever sipped. I turned around for just a second and when I turned back, I realized it was all gone...in his stomach.

They have many other locations around the bay area, you should definitely check them out.

It's open usually 7am to 7pm, except for Sunday, which is open from 8am to 5 pm.

Visit their website here.

The September Issue

2010-03-21T02:39:00.000-07:00

The real issue is that I should have seen this movie the second it came out.

The documentary is not just about Anna Wintour, but all the other vital people that work at the magazine and the importance of the September issue of Vogue in 2007. The issue took months to prepare for while being the largest issue ever and the most bought. The year the crew followed the story the issue was the biggest in history, totaling 840 pages.

Seeing such powerful people as Stefano Pilati (YSL), Karl Lagerfeld (Chanel), Thakoon, and Vera Wang fawning over her is quite a sight. This movie may just be better than the Marc Jacobs's documentary, Marc Jacobs and Louis Vuitton. Maybe.

My favorite quote in the movie: When told many people see her as an 'Ice Woman', she said "Well, this week it has been very cold, that's all I can say."

74 Days In...

2010-03-16T12:20:00.000-07:00

74 Days ago, I made a New Years "Revolution". I embarked on a trip to Thriftland and have since never faltered, although I've been wanting some new summer dresses recently.

Positives of only buying used clothing items:
-I have found heaps of new thrift stores (which I'll talk about later)
-I have saved a lot money
-I have been able to buy more items for less
-Some thrift stores have kitchen/apartment supplies I've needed as well
-You get different kinds of clothing

Negatives of only buying used clothing items:
-Since the clothing has already been worn, there may be a run-down look to some items
-Most of the time you have to wash what you've bought before wearing it and that can be a hassle

Many thrift stores I've found in San Francisco and have been to or want to go to:

Crossroads Trading Co.
"Crossroads is a new and recycled fashion retailer that has been serving its fashionable and environmentally conscious customers since 1991."
2123 Market St.

Community Thrift
"Community Thrift relies entirely upon donations to stock its shelves." Every first Monday of the month is 1/2 off everything in the store. Prepare for a shopping extravaganza, but also long lines.
623 Valencia St.

Thrift Town
"Sells used and vintage clothing, household items and collectibles."
2101 Mission St.

Wasteland
My ultimate, favorite thrift store. "Over the past two decades, Wasteland has become known as an important trend-setter and style outlet." Watch the musical artist, Lykke Li, talk about and shop in the SF Wasteland here on Current_.
1660 Haight St.

Out of the Closet
Supporting HIV/AIDS programs. Interesting buys.
100 Church St.

And there's always Goodwill.

It's raining, it's pouring...

2010-03-12T10:31:00.000-08:00

Since it's a windy, cold, rainy morning and it's so warm inside, I decided to have some delicious green tea and some vegetarian noodle soup while I sat at my computer and watched one of my favorite Audrey Hepburn films, Charade.

Isn't the chemistry between Cary Grant and Audrey just astounding? And all her clothes in the movie were done by Givenchy. :)
Anyways, my soup is from the can, but here's a yummy recipe for some vegan "chicken" noodle soup I really want to try! It's from chooseveg.com.
Everyone needs some time to sit down a relax with a good movie and some soup!

Oscar-worthy Wear: Carey Mulligan

2010-03-08T15:49:00.000-08:00

Carey Mulligan was great in An Education (2009), which I completely loved. The film is about a teenage girl's life and how it changed once a grown man, almost twice her age, starts seducing her and her family. Her dress at the Oscars, designed by Prada, was just as outstanding as the movie!

There was a lot of buzz about what her dress was going to look like before the event and many reporters kept asking her to spill the details, but all she said about it was that "It’s kind of long. But it is kind of crazy but classic at the same time. It sort of fulfills all my 12 year-old girlie dreams about wearing the classic dress. But it’s got a twist!". The dress was decorated with ornamental scissors and silverware, nuts, bolts, screws, and other small metal objects. It brought a very modern, eclectic style to a vintage, classic, Audrey-Hepburn-like gown.

Oscar-worthy Wear: Woody Harrelson

2010-03-08T12:36:00.000-08:00

Woody Harrelson... not the one you would expect to wear a designer suit, but instead the one to wear an outfit made completely out of hemp. Being the marijuana "activist" that he is, Harrelson teamed up with Christopher Bailey, the designer for Burberry, to create a one-of-a-kind suit made completely out of his favorite green plant. (Lovin' the peace sign tie as well!)

He is wearing the fun afterparty festivities to the main event!

DIOR: The Lady Noir Affair

2010-03-06T01:53:00.000-08:00

John Galliano, I love thee. Galliano, the head designer for Dior, has some interesting ways of advertising. About a year ago, he made this movie when he was just on the cusp of his 1920's phase for the Fall 2009 shows. Galliano collaborated with the French film director, Olivier Dahan, who has also directed La Vie en Rose, and together they have created an entertaining piece, see below.

You can download the DIOR app for your iPod to see more videos similar to this.
See some of the designs from the pre-Fall 2009 collection here.

Samovar in Zen Valley

2010-03-06T01:29:00.001-08:00

I have been to the Castro Samovar Tea Lounge and the Yerba Buena Gardens location as well (since I work there) but had never been to the newest location in Zen Valley (also known as Hayes Valley) before. Since I needed to check up on my tea lounge-ness, I took a nice trip up into the city to try some tea at Samovar.

These were only two of the pots of tea I ordered.
In the realm of teas, I suggest the Moorish Mint Herbal, Mandarin Pu-erh, or the chilled Shizandra.
If you're looking for some food, I suggest the Indian Service (best tofu curry ever), Japanese maki bowl, or the chocolate bread pudding.

The location is beautiful. If you sit up the stairs at the community table, there is a place to take off your shoes and put in little cubbies. Also, there is a gorgeous fireplace in the back, as well as some nice pieces of art and statues.

Check out the company's website here.
Look at their Yelp! page here.

Bootsy

2010-03-01T15:14:00.000-08:00

Knee-high, and thigh-high boots are becoming pretty popular. They'll especially be popular in Fall 2010. Some runway looks from the Fall 2010 Fashion Week.

Burberry. Lovin' the looks.

Max Mara with some knee high plain black boots.

My favorite, Rebecca Taylor, has some thigh-high looks that are to die for. (I also love the hats and cardigans.)

Tommy Hilfiger with some laceup looks.

Salvatore Ferragamo. Brown boots.

Wear your boots this next fall. You know I will!

Fur Real?!

2010-02-28T14:35:00.001-08:00

For the Fall time fashion looks, fur coats are always a staple for any outfit. For this past Fashion Week, many designers showed off their fun looks for fall 2010, with a large amount of fur. PETA will love this one...

Alice and Olivia, with a little bit of slouchy fur vests and scarves.

Burberry had some interesting jackets. Here's my fav straps and peacoat look.

Michael Kors had some fresh looking neutral furs on the runway.

Marc Jacobs, with a bit of fur around the edges and on the heads.

Osman had a lot of big furs.

Ralph Lauren, accessorizing with fur.

Zac Posen, my favorite, had the most interesing ways of using the fur I believe. I love the different colors! The looks are very 70's.

Since I can't afford a real fur coat, I'm gonna be shopping and looking in the thrift stores in SF for a while to find the perfect faux fur jacket for fall.

Shorthaired Sweeties

2010-02-25T14:53:00.000-08:00

The traditional look of a model is one with long, flowing hair. After Agyness Deyn cut off her locks, it became popular for women to not look as feminine. The looks for Fall 2010 had lots of models with short hair walking down the runway.

Model: Cecilia Mendez

Model: Hind Sahli

Model: Iris Strubegger

Model: Shena Moulton

Model: TAO

It's becoming more common for women to chop off the locks and go for a more assertive, strong style.
Why don't you try it? I did a few months ago and I love my new hair!

Black is Back (For Fall 2010)

2010-02-24T18:39:00.001-08:00

Black has always been "in", but recently I've been seeing it a lot more on the runways, especially in the recent Fashion Week shows. Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, and Nicole Miller, are just some of the fans of this black theme...

Donna Karan. Very little blues, whites, grays.

Calvin Klein. Only a few outfits in white and blue.

Even Marc Jacobs had a little black.

Nicole Miller, I'm lovin' your style more and more.

Y-3 has stood out to me lately as a very print inspiring line, as well.

The sexy models of Reem Acra in red lipstick have some dark looks.

On a side note, noticing that many of the shows only included a neutral color scheme with lots of values of blue or red, I think all the designers got together and conspired at their secret designer meeting to discuss the new colors for Fall 2010. This is too much of a theme to be a coincidence. I'm talking to you: Christopher Bailey (Burberry), Yohji Yamamoto (Y-3), Francisco Costa (Calvin Klein), Donna Karan, even you Diane von Furstenberg!

Fashion in the Olympics

2010-02-18T23:56:00.000-08:00

The Olympics is one of the most watched events worldwide. The basic thought to any designer is that if your clothing designs were seen worn on some of the most fit bodies in the world, it is literally the largest advertisement one can ever make.

I am going to show you some of my favorite or the most popular designs I've seen from the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.

1) Snowboarding Gear, United States, Burton.

The plaid print, popularly worn by "hipsters", was transformed onto the traditional jacket worn by athletes in the snow. The jackets had leather patches sewn on them as well.
The pants, which are my favorite, are not actually jeans, like they seem. The pants are of the traditional Gore-Tex fabric Burton uses, but have integrated the worn, vintage, holey, denim look.

2) Opening Ceremonies, United States, Ralph Lauren.

The popular polo player image was seen on all the U.S.A. Olympic athletes while walking in the opening ceremonies this year. Designer Ralph Lauren said he wanted to show the American spirit by making the jacket red, white, and blue, and showing off the flag on a noticeable area.
The hats that were worn by the athletes were also created by Lauren, who collaborated closely with Team U.S.A. to be "thoroughly patriotic".
Some people seem to be upset over the collaboration, but I always look forward to see what the team is wearing every two years!

3) Opening Ceremonies, Pretty much ALL the Canadians, Dean and Dan Caten (aka: Dsquared2)
The two Toranto natives dressed Nelly Furtado, Nikki Yanofsky, Sarah McLachlan, opera singer Measha Brueggergosman, Bryan Adams, fiddler Ashley MacIsaac, and more. Some pictures of the sketches and the real outfits seen below.

The two brothers have also created a limited edition hoodie to represent the olympics happening in their native nation. Pictures of the sketches, the actual hoodie, and Dean and Dan seen below.

Also: Who saw the ridiculously funny mustache on French Halfpipe Snowboarder, Mathieu Crepel?

As Maureen O'Connor from Gawker.net says, "French half-pipe snowboarder Mathieu Crepel sported the world's most ironic mustache last night. Let us count the levels of irony: (1.) Beginner's irony: It is a fake, black-ink mustache on an adult. (2.) Advanced-placement irony: It is drawn on top of his real mustache. (3.) Nationalist irony: A teensy, curling mustache on a Frenchman, at an competition that emphasizes one's citizenship.". Brilliant.

Schoggi: Deliciousness

2010-02-18T02:39:00.000-08:00

Quick post: Imported Swiss Chocolates, anyone?

Schoggi, a dessert shop, at Yerba Buena Gardens in San Francisco has some pretty delicious chocolate desserts. It's a cute shop with lots of counter space to fill with yummy chocolate. Don't buy too much because, like any scrumptious food, it is a little pricey.

On my way to work I stopped by and got a hazelnut macaroon (I've never had a macaroon before!), two chocolate covered candied orange slices (a mouthful to say!) and a caramel chocolate. Mmmm

View their Yelp! page here.

Go to their personal website here.

Movie: The Yellow Handkerchief

2010-02-16T13:02:00.000-08:00

The Yellow Handkerchief is about three emotional, lonely strangers on a road trip through post-Katrina Louisiana. The film stars William Hurt, Maria Bello, Kristen Stewart, and Eddie Redmayne (YES, the model from the Burberry advertisements, shown below).

I went to a showing at the Kabuki Theatre on Post Street in San Francisco held by Gen Art tonight. I loved to see how the characters evolved and the simplicity to the storyline. I loved Redmayne's role.

Also, it didn't hurt that the film was playing at one of my favorite theatres: View the Sundance Kabuki's website here.

View the trailer for the movie on the official website here.

Copycats

2010-02-16T12:02:00.000-08:00

Since a lot of designers find it hard to create brand new, individual designs in the fashion industry, copycat designs happen all the time. It's one thing to reinvent the spandex pants from the 80's, but sometimes it gets crazy.

For this post, I'm gonna show a couple of my favorite or the most popular copycats I've seen. Let my know what you think about them!

Hot Topic Twilight Perfume (left) and Nina Ricci's signature bottle (right).

Alexander Wang Spring 2009 (left) and Dolce Vita Spring 2010 (right). Taken from http://www.rantingsofashopaholic.com/

Ken Jao Fall 2009 (left) and Lindsay Lohan's sketch for her new clothing label, 6126 (right). Lohan actually bought and wore the Ken Jao dress to many events. This is what happens when you let celebrities design clothing...

Topshop (left) and Chloe (right).

And the worst copycat of all? Forever 21, by far! Here are just a BIT of their copycat designs...

Forever 21 (top) and Trovata (bottom).

Diane Von Furstenberg (right) and Forever 21 (left).

Diane Von Furstenberg (left) and Forever 21 (right).

Anna Sui (two left models) and Forever 21 (right).

It's astonishing.

But tell me what you think! Who does which designs better?!

CAFFE TRIESTE

2010-02-15T21:47:00.000-08:00

Caffe Trieste on Market is a cute, small cafe with everything from coffee to panini to gelato. I was on my way back from FLAX art supply, when I decided to stop in and get a quick something to eat. I came out with some of the best gelato ever, since it's a traditional Italian cafe.

Go to this small restaurant if you're by Van Ness and need some good food! It's super cheap as well; the place only has one "$" on Yelp!

View their Yelp! page here.
View their website here.

Ode to Food Blogs

2010-02-13T23:52:00.000-08:00

If you know me well enough, you know I love to cook, bake, and do anything in a kitchen. You have probably seen my accomplishments (cheddar cheese biscuits, chocolate chunk cookies, cranberry sauce) and my failures (vegan chocolate avocado cake). But what you might not know is that while the normal person surfs the web or spends time on myspace, I browse through multiple food blogs a day. I admit it, I'm a foodie.

So today I will show you some of my favorite food blogs and tell you a bit why and if I've ever tried any of the recipes.

1) Joy the Baker
This woman, Joy, has some of the best ideas and quirky recipes ever. I've made the Vegan Chocolate Avocado Cake with Buttercream frosting recipe she has on her blog. It was a horrible disaster for me. I made many mistakes and forgot so many things. I don't want to talk about it.
She also made one podcast two years ago, which is a must see on how to make some delicious cheesecake (shown below).

2) The Kind Life by Alicia Silverstone
I know I've talked about this blog before, but it's so great that I had to mention it a second time. Alicia has been vegan for multiple years and decided to write a book on the lifestyle. The blog/website is the offshoot of her book. I've made the Mac & Cheese recipe. The food was completely delightful!

3) Broke Ass Gourmet
I've made a very similar recipe to the Pantry Spaghetti featured on her blog, it's so cheap. Most of the recipes take less than an hour and cost less than $10 or so. The blog's recipes are worth trying to if you're a "broke college student", like me.

Enjoy looking at these recipes and maybe trying some out!

Alexander McQueen, RIP

2010-02-13T18:13:00.000-08:00

Lee Alexander McQueen was one of the most successful designers of his time. He was born in London and at an early age, knew exactly what he wanted to do in life. He was first an apprentice to many tailors and costumiers and was going to art school, until he became the head designer for Givenchy in 1996 for 5 years. In 2001, McQueen left Givenchy and created the McQ and Alexander McQueen labels. Many loved his clothing, including singers, Lady Gaga and Bjork, and the supermodel, Aimee Mullins.

McQueen was known for his outlandish designs and the crazy themes to his shows, which won him the "British Designer of the Year" award. FOUR TIMES. Alexander also had a line for MAC makeup, called McQueen, which featured fall time colors, and was very popular.

This weekend, the show Fashion for Relief/Haiti, featured 7 designs from McQueen's last-ever collection, which are now nicknamed "The Magnificent Seven". See the video, featured on Telegraph.co.uk, below.

Although Naomi Campbell was included in the models showing off "The Magnificent Seven", I believe Daphne Guinness(pictured below) was the most important woman walking down the runway that day. Guinness, one of McQueen's muses (another is Stefani Germanotta, also known as Lady Gaga), was perhaps wearing the most recent design McQueen ever created; Guinness walked down the catwalk in a white, silver, sequined masked catsuit, which hid her "tear-stained" face.

McQueen's latest designs, for Summer 2010, included lots of bold lines and prints, black lace, and shoulder pads. View the designs here, on the official website.

View npr's article on McQueen's death here.

Visit Alexander McQueen's website here.

Alexander McQueen will forever be missed.

Make the Cutest Valentine's Day Gifts EVER

2010-02-10T19:04:00.000-08:00

Instead of the traditional Hannah Montana, teddy bear, or Power Rangers Valentine's, this year, make some cute homemade love gifts!

These cute, simple valentines are easy to make and adorable when given. With lyrics from songs involving heartbreakers on the front and instructions on where to tear on the back, these perfect paper hearts are filled with m&m's. The only bad thing: you'll soon run out of staples from stapling together the paper hearts...

Find my two templates for them here and here.

Have a happy Valentine's Day!

Currently listening to: Simon & Garfunkel

Tea Time

2010-02-08T19:48:00.001-08:00

I love sun-steeped iced herbal teas!

It's a mouthful to say, but delicious when made! On a lazy morning last week I was making some tea in my new pitcher when I realized how sunny it was outside for San Francisco. Instead of steeping the tea separately and then putting it in the pitcher like I normally did, I decided to put the herbal tea (and a bit of raw cane sugar) in the pitcher with the hot water over it and let it sit out in the sun for a few hours.

The tea I brewed: One of my favorite herbal teas - a peach tea made with pineapple, rosehips, Roman chamomile, and sunflower petals. I let it sit out in the sun for about 3 hours and when it was done, drained the loose leaf tea bits out and refrigerated it.

I recommend all you guys to do something similar! Here's a nice recipe on Simply Recipes about how to make Sun Tea. Here's a good recipe on About.com on how to make some Sun-Steeped Tea as well. It's super easy to make and amazing to drink.

Enjoy!

Photos: Gabby Battista

X, Y, Zoo time

2010-02-07T13:28:00.000-08:00

If you live in the city and need a cheap date or an inexpensive day out then you should visit the zoo! My boyfriend and I went to the San Francisco Zoo yesterday, and it has tons of interesting animals and wild life. Many peacocks, as well, just wander around the area since it's too hard to keep them all in a cage. I must have seen around 4 different ones while we were there.

Surprisingly, very little people were at the zoo, so many animals weren't shy when we came up to look at them. Try and go on a day when busloads of children aren't pulling up, so the animals won't be so scared to come closer.

My favorite animal was the polar bear.

The San Francisco Zoo is only $12 a day for San Francisco residents, or $15 if not.

View their website here.

I just need to say, I withheld myself making a "Where the Wild Things are" comment the entire time.

Fruitful Night at Lime

2010-01-31T09:56:00.000-08:00

My boyfriend and I were looking for something to do a while back and were just walking down Market, when a lounge in the Castro caught our eye. I don't go to bars, clubs, dance clubs, etc. so I was a tad weary when I opened the heavy metal door and was met with mood lighting and loud music.

We sat down in the white cushioned seats and ordered some food and drinks (non-alcoholic, of course). The menu was short and sweet, not too complicated. The drinks looked fabulous when we got them:

The music? Very 90's, could have been better, but it still was nice for a good Saturday night. If you have some free time with friends, stop by, it's fun and open til 12:00am, even 1:00am on Fridays and Saturdays.

View their Yelp! page here.

Style Guide: Meet Alexa Chung

2010-01-22T01:46:00.000-08:00

Alexa Chung is a model turned radio host turned TV show host in Britain and the US, and has some of the best style I've ever seen.

Alexa has a very glamorous, laid-back, rocker sense of style. The glamor comes naturally, as does the laid-back feel, but where did the rock n' roll come from? Perhaps a boyfriend or two? Since she seems to only date rockers (seriously though, shes dated someone from the Klaxons, Artic Monkeys, Horrors, etc), Alexa has a strong hold on the rocker lifestyle.

I'm also excited for her own J. Crew collaboration clothing line coming out in August 2010.
See a short article about the collaboration here.

But, how do you get her look? Simple.
Here's a regular Alexa Chung-style outfit.

You'll need her top 10 necessities:
1. Ankle socks.
2. Striped cardigan.
3. Dark peacoat.
4. Oversized band tee.
5. Knee high boots.
6. Gold jewelry.
7. Small Chanel-style bag.
8. Beanies/hats, and lots of 'em!
9. Oversized sweaters ("boyfriend shirts").
10. Messy hair.

Who should be the next person featured in the Style Guide?

Movie Watched: Youth in Revolt

2010-01-16T18:44:00.001-08:00

This movie is definitely not what I expected. Starring Michael Cera, Portia Doubleday, Zach Galifianakis, and Justin Long, Youth in Revolt is about am intellectual teenager named Nick Twisp interested more in Sinatra and experimental film than a normal kid, who falls in love with the sexy girl in a trailer closeby. If you expected Cera to only play the introverted, hesitant, young teenager looking for love, he does, but then you're really in for the money when you see "Francois", Twisp's dangerous side.

Go see this movie!

Movie Watched: Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnassus

2010-01-14T22:25:00.000-08:00

I can't say anything about this movie because no words I could speak would do it justice. Starring the likes of Johnny Depp, Jude Law, Colin Farrell, Lily Cole, and the past Heath Ledger, The Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnassus has an amazing cast and every actor plays their role quite well.
Three words: Go see it.

Movie Watched: Cry-Baby

2010-01-09T12:37:00.000-08:00

Johnny Depp. That's all I need to say and with those two words, comes the sighs and batting eyelashes of millions of girls. But that's not all this post is about.

I have seen the musical, Cry-Baby, on Broadway before, but I thought it was time to see the movie. Cry-Baby is about a "drape" (or greaser) bad boy falling in love with a "square" girl in the 1950's. The movie is also a joke on the juvenile delinquency scare films, Elvis moves and music, and teen angst. I have to say that after watching this movie, I think Johnny Depp playing Wade Walker is the sexiest vintage bad boy since Danny Zuko in Grease.

Nobody can wear stripes in a jail cell quite like Johnny.

The other amazing part of the film were the clothes. I loved the cat eye makeup, tight skirts, leather jackets, big hair, high heels and red lipstick the women wore. My favourite character had to be the blonde vixen, Wanda. I realized this when she said "I wouldn't be caught dead in a full skirt!"

And I rest my case.

How do you get that 1950's "bad girl" look? It's quite simple...

1) Essential: Leather Jacket
You can get some amazing leather motorcycle jackets at Bebe, Express, or any vintage clothing store.

2) Cat Eye Makeup
Since we seem to love the cat eye on the greasers and all the way to Audrey Hepburn, the look will never die. If you get the black liner at Mac, it will stay for a long time. If you get the black liner at Bare Essentials, you'll have some mineral makeup that's good for your skin.

3) Red Lipstick
To make your lips look cherry red, Mac has some amazing colors you should try. But I would recommend a red lip stainer instead since lipstick seems to smudge more often than not.

4) Tight Skirts
If you want the black, white, pink, and red essential tight high skirts or dresses, American Apparel has some amazing options in every color.

5) High Heels
Cathy Jean is an amazing place to get cheap high heels since they are always having sales. I work next to a CJ shoe store and I sometimes see adorable heels for only $20!

These are essential to getting that "bad girl" vixen look that Wanda, from Cry-Baby, so effortlessly puts off.

See the Express website here.
See the Bebe website here.
See the Mac website here.
See the Bare Essentials website here.
See the Cathy Jean website here.

You can also see the movie, Cry-Baby, on Hulu for free!

New Years Revolution

2010-01-03T15:13:00.000-08:00

Happy 2010, everyone!

This year, I don't have a New Years resolution.
Instead, I have a New Years revolution. I think that with my constant shopping habits, I produce a lot of waste. Whether it be the small tags, shopping bags, or the fact that I am buying brand new clothes all the time made of new fabrics, new dyes, new yarns, etc., I am producing a lot of waste with my little habit. So this year, starting right now, I vow to only buy used clothing.

Instead of shopping at Nordstroms or American Apparel, Buffalo Exchange or Crossroads will be my best friends. No new jacket, I shall buy the used pea coat at the vintage clothing store. If I need some work pants, I'm off to Plato's not Gap.

There is one exception, I will not buy used underwear. For the life of me, I will not buy and use secondhand undergarmets. This small need of buying new underwear will be my only exception.

Hopefully this will make me feel a little more "green" and eco-friendly in the city. Let's see how this "revolution" goes...

Best Fashion Show Of The Year

2009-12-31T13:01:00.000-08:00

Dsquared² Fall 2009 Ready-To-Wear

The two designer brothers, Dean and Dan, have taken the whole bejeweled, rocker chick look to a more recent era, by bringing back the "original Dsquared² girl". They were said to be inspired by the girls in LA who are "young, have cash, and don't care". In the show, the two brothers almost mock the girls of Hollywood, such as Lohan or Spears, who carry around coffee drinks and wear slouchy clothing by having all the girls hold Starbucks mugs and come out in large, fashionable beenies.

Set to old rock music, such as Van Halen's "You Really Got Me", Dean and Dan sent models down the runway wearing lots of denim, acid wash jean, spikes, chains, rugged heels and pants, lots of plaid, and most importantly, dark eye shadow.

Below are a few of my favourite looks from the show.

View their website here.
See the video on Style.com here.

This Might Just Be For Me...

2009-12-30T22:38:00.001-08:00

Here are my best fashion-related finds of 2009 (all under $20!) : The lucky 13.

1) $16 Purple flower print heels from Marshall's

2) $7 American Apparel red tee with gray pocket from Plato's Closet

3) Free Express sweater from my boyfriend's closet

4) $8 Apple Bottom 70's style romper from Plato's Closet

5) $12 American Apparel tank from a seller on Sunset Blvd. in LA

6) $6 Vintage style Rolling Stones tee from Plato's Closet

7) $12 Charlotte Russe Sailor Style Dress from Plato's Closet

8) $16 Silver, green, purple Puma pumps from Plato's Closet

9) Free Purple clip-on jewel earrings from my friend, Samyiah

10) $19 Acid wash jeans from F21

11) $6 Yoga tank from a store on Castro St.

12) $9 Waist belt from F21

13) $8 Flower wallet from F21

My favourite places to get cheap, stylish clothes this year were:

Plato's Closet in San Mateo.
View their Yelp! page here.

Crossroads near Church St. on Market in SF.
View their Yelp! page here.

Any Forever 21. The down side is that F21 has mainstream, mass-produced clothing that many people have, so I try and go towards the more individual places.

Any Goodwill. Just bring hand sanitizer, haha.

Pockets Full Of Trends

2009-12-30T21:25:00.001-08:00

As the year comes to an end, it is time for all the "best of" lists; movies, clothes, restaurants, tv shows, and the list goes on. For now, we will stick with the best fashion trends. As I find myself looking through photos and shows of this years past, I find myself coming upon a certain person and a emulator of these trends. The only thing different is, she takes it to the next level; Lady Gaga.

Below are a few of the most popular trends of 2009 on the runway, and Lady Gaga's interpretation of them.

Enjoy.

1) Big Hair, Better Than Amy Winehouse's.
Designer: Marc Jacobs for Marc Jacobs.
Lady Gaga on the cover of Rolling Stone.

2) Spikes, Goth Style.
Designer: Anna Molinari for Blumarine.
Lady Gaga's interpretation.

3) Mirror Her Clothing.
Designer: Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana for Dolce & Gabbana.
Lady Gaga during a show.

4) Heavy Leather.
Designer: Anna Molinari for Blumarine.
Lady Gaga in a regular day outfit.

5) Women Wearing Suit Jackets.
Designer: Nicolas Ghesquiere for Balenciaga.
Lady Gaga and her version.

6) Hats. Obnoxious Ones.
Designer: Karl Lagerfeld for Karl Lagerfeld.
Lady Gaga's doosie.

7) White on White on White... On White.
Designer: Phillip Lim for 3.1 Phillip Lim.
Lady Gaga out and about in a regular outfit.
That's all for my "best of" lists. For now.

Vegan Holiday

2009-12-23T00:16:00.000-08:00

I am not vegan, but I find vegan recipes to be a lot of fun to make. I'm only a vegetarian, "vegans in the making", as the experienced vegan eaters call people like me.
This Christmas, or holiday season, try replacing your normal dishes for dinners with some new vegan ideas! Not only will you be saving the environment, or trying something new, but you'll also be a lot healthier!

1) Alicia Silverstone's "The Kind Life" Mac & Cheese
Using almost only soymilk, garlic, paprika, and elbow pasta for this, makes some pretty delicious macaroni and cheese.
Since I've met Alicia and I have her new book on a vegan lifestyle, I know (from experience) her recipes are good. So definitely try this!
View the recipe here.

2) Lentil Soup
This recipe is "ridiculously easy" and made with lots of yummy veggies!
View the recipe here.

3) Zucchini Alfredo
I plan on making this recipe within the next 24 hours. It looks heavenly.
View the recipe here.

4) Simple Blueberry Pancakes
The recipe list has less than a full paragraph for the instructions, then it has to be easy to make. Here is my breakfast tomorrow morning!
View the recipe here.

and for dessert...?
5) Sugar Cookies, vegan style
I haven't made these cookies, but I completely plan on doing so.
View the recipe here.