i like a lot of stuff

tf

2010-05-14T16:09:00.003-05:00

My favorite contemporary designer is, without a doubt, Tom Ford. He always prioritizes elegance and timelessness, not trends.

I've seen this show, his last for Gucci, more than a dozen times. He's coming out with a new line of lipstick that I'm really excited for. (Did I mention that he was born in Austin?)

mother's day

2010-05-10T02:16:00.008-05:00

About a year ago I went home for a visit and came across a gem of a photo that I feel like writing about right now...

My grandmother must have been in her teens or twenties when she wore the white sunglasses and navy, halter swimsuit. She's sunbathing on a rock in the middle of a river in Mexico. Half her body is propped up by her arms and she's starring into the sun. It's honestly one of the most beautiful pictures I've ever seen. (My absolute favorite is a picture of my mom in a little sundress eating cake.)

I grew up knowing that my grandparents were stylish socialites as countless photo albums are filled with pictures of them at costumes parties, balls, fancy restaurants and exotic beaches. One of my favorites photos is of them dressed as a pimp and call girl at a costume party in the '50s. (Also in the picture are a couple dressed as Castro-style communists. So amazing.)

Though my grandmother would eventually assume the role of humble high school teacher, she kept tucked away in a closet her most prized processions of her youth.

Visiting her house was like having the best treasure hunt a little girl could ask for. Her collection included but was not limited to crocodile-skin pumps, mink stoles, giant pearls and gems, lacy evening gowns, tailored petticoats and the most intricately decorated evening clutches. I'd sit in her room for hours, making outfits and begging her to tell me the stories of the pieces I'd find.

By the time I met my grandmother, she was battling cancer and suffering through tremendous amounts of pain. But that never stopped her from dressing up. She was known for her style even in her old age as she always wore this really amazing wig (chemo makes your hair fall out), fake eyelashes and a complete set of jewelry every single day. Even her pajamas (silk, floor-length, patterned tunics) were amazing. They're so beautiful that my mom keeps them in her closet and will sometimes wear them to sleep.

Whether as a young girl in a swimsuit, sitting on a rock, or as a beautifully coiffed old lady, my grandmother is my epitome of glamor. Not only did she give me the most amazing mother, but she gave me my love of fashion.

(I'd post that picture, but I don't have a scanner and unfortunately my writing could never do it justice. Maybe I'll post it someday...)

Happy mother's day everyone.

my wish

2010-05-04T20:12:00.004-05:00

I'm sorry I've neglected you, blog. You were so nice to have at first but then I got busy and decided you could wait. But today I need you.

Do you have a wish list? Either things you want from life, your relationships, Amazon.com? Because I have wish lists. I have so many wish lists I can't even keep track of them anymore. I'll visit a new, cute website with new, cute things and I'll notice that I have "XX" number of things in my wish list. Do I remember visiting the site before? No. Did I know I perused the site's contents and sadly bypassed the "add to cart" button, opting instead to click the depressingly smaller "add to wish list" button? No. Wish lists plague my impoverished life.

I'll go to fashion blogs and quietly sit at my laptop, scrolling down the site through the immaculately dressed girls. I'll ask myself how such young people - like late teens early 20s young - can afford their wardrobes. While I refuse to buy things at full price, crunching my nose at anything that costs more than $80, they eat sandwiches made out of $100 bills. Thousand dollar bags hang from their shoulders. Their fingers are covered in gold rings and their feet carry this season's most beautiful shoes. And me? I'm in the Target dressing room crying on the polyester dresses I'm trying on and probably can't even afford.

I wish that one day I'll be able to afford all the beautiful clothes and shoes I find. I wish that one day I'll be able to pass more than my collection of Wal-Mart's finest on to my daughter. I wish that one day I won't have any wish lists.

In case you're curious:
http://www.shopnastygal.com/wishlist.php?action=viewwishlistitems&wishlistid=5837

http://www.modcloth.com/storefront/wishlists/230672

polished

2009-11-24T21:15:00.003-06:00

I go through kicks where I will paint and repaint my nails dozens of times in one month because I love nail polish so much. And today, i found this and this . I envy anyone who wears cool nail polish.

I am currently wearing a new one I bought called Shim-Merry Chic. It's a gold lacquer with small flecks of metallic bronze and translucent green glitter. It might be one of my top 5 favorites. I'm wearing Smitten with Mittens on my toes. Both are from OPI's holiday collection. Next I want to buy Merry Midnight and Sapphire in the Snow. K bye!

shoes

2009-11-09T18:52:00.004-06:00

I once did a story about a local women's boutique, and the owner had on this really cool pair of shoes. Literally everyone who walked into the story complimented her suede blue heals, so I finally asked her where they came from since I had also been admiring them. Her answer? Payless. Here she was selling $300 dresses in $19.99 shoes from Payless. So, that got me thinking about what Payless and similar stores might offer this winter. I found some cool stuff, but I do offer one disclaimer: I'd consider buying a lot of these shoes, especially the "leather" ones, in person. They might look cheaper than you think. But, most of these are under $35, so I wouldn't mind walking around with a cheap-ish looking pair of shoes for a few months. (Or just wear them at night.)

These rain boots from Target are cute. Actually, Target has some really cute rainboots on it's Web site.

I really like these studded motorcycle boots, also Target.

These little ankle boots from Payless are kind of cute, but I'm sort of confused about the bow. I'd have to see them in person. (Honestly, for under $30, I'm not sure I'd mind the bow.)

The picture isn't too clear on the Payless Web site, but I like the theory of these shoes. They're Christian Siriano for Payless (you know, Project Runway?).

cutie!

2009-11-09T18:31:00.003-06:00

This is an Oscar de la Renta dress for little girls priced at $290. I wish I could afford to dress my kids in this kind of stuff. But seriously would you spend that kind of money on children's clothing? $100 of it goes to charity, so that makes it a little more appealing. Also, it's definitely something you can keep in the family and pass on for generations to come. Honestly? I'd buy it.

namasteeeee

2009-11-05T06:55:00.003-06:00

I think I'm going to re-join yoga today. I did a few classes a few months ago and really liked it but, of course, I stopped going. I wanna be like Russell Simmons haha!!

xmas list p. 2

2009-11-04T23:16:00.003-06:00

I've always wanted to walk into Saks with $100 to spend on really nice perfume...too bad I'm poor. Well I guess it doesn't matter much anyway -- I could never pick from their amaaaazing selection .

carmen

2009-11-04T23:13:00.003-06:00

I'm studying for a Music of Brazil test I have tomorrow, and part of our material involves, not surprisingly, the late, great Carmen Miranda. While she perpetuates a really overly glorified, false version of the country and culture, she honestly introduced the world to Brazil. This video of her is one of my faves and, according to Alex, is shot by a really famous musical director...soooo cool! It's so sad nobody appreciates this stuff anymore!

xmas list p. 1

2009-11-02T19:43:00.004-06:00

Lists are always a really daunting task to me, so I never make them. A. I'm bad at sitting down and focusing enough to compile anything comprehensive and B. The piece of paper I use to write the list always ends up missing or forgotten. It is for these reasons that I've never really made a Christmas wish list. Even when I was a kid I was never really encouraged to make a list because gifts weren't really a priority in my family. So this year, thanks to this blog, I'm going to make a digital list and gradually publish pieces of what I want whenever I see cool stuff. So, first up on my list is something I've wanted since I can remember.

1. Trish McEvoy makes makeup. Hehe. Aaand she makes this amazing brush set I've wanted for soooo long. Though I'd prefer her classic set, this season she's offering a zebra print case I wouldn't mind.

photo

2009-11-01T22:42:00.003-06:00

I know very little about photography other than what little information was provided in the Intro to Photo class I took a year ago. But in this class I learned the hardship and complexity that goes into the composition of a good photo, so I have a lot of respect for anyone who attempts this impossible feat (mostly for me anyway). Magnum Photos is an agency for the world's most elite photographers, and represents a handful of the best. I've been looking through their site lately and have found some photographers that I really like. Elliott Ewitt , who I'd actually heard about from my photog friend Caleb, seems to be famous for his campy shots of Parisian life (and apparent affinity for dogs). His work has a sense of humor - an emotion that's already hard to include in writing much less a small lens. My favorite picture doesn't seem to include any of his aforementioned attributes, but it's just so cute!

NYC marathon

2009-11-01T22:03:00.004-06:00

I want to work for the editor who thought of this. From old to young, American to foreign, I didn't realize the variety of the racers until I saw this photo gallery. I can't pick a favorite though I do like one toward the end of a woman leading a blind runner. It kind of makes you wonder if you'll ever do anything like finish a 26.2 mile race that weaves through one of the greatest cities in the world. Oh, and it also reminds me of how lazy I am. One day...

Anna

2009-10-29T19:20:00.003-05:00

Anna Dello Russo , Fashion Director At Large for Vogue Nippon, via Garance Dore . Few women half Anna's age can pull off what she wears. I want her closet when I grow up.

don't

2009-10-29T10:38:00.001-05:00

make fun of me

madonna

2009-10-29T10:35:00.002-05:00

from "who shot rock & roll: a photographic history 1955-present"

pleeeeeaaaasse!!!

2009-10-29T00:13:00.002-05:00

pretty!

2009-10-28T23:30:00.004-05:00

held by the taliban

2009-10-28T21:40:00.003-05:00

Who was held captive by the Taliban for 7 months and lived to tell their story? Held By the Taliban (I had to post it even though it is completely unrelated to the subject matter of this blog.)