I'll Be Back!

(photo from Reserved 2010)

I have stuff to do that I'm blatantly avoiding. The motive: Fear. The method: Hissyfits. Soon, I will be better. By then, I will return.

After a Long, Grueling Weekend,

   I'm ready for a calm, relaxing week. If those exist. I can make them exist if I want them to, right?

   I don't know what it was about this weekend that made it so intense, but it was probably the fact that I was sick. Also, don't you feel like there is always this frantic energy in you that's trying to get the most out of your weekend? So you do something after school/work on Friday, work a little bit on Saturday morning and then hightail it out of the working frame of mind and go out/stay in with friends?

   I refuse to play that game this coming weekend. I'm going to rent movies, wrap up in blankies, drink pumpkin spice lattes...OH WAIT. I have a race this weekend. Oh man. Still, I will be trying to slow down, yet get work done. Maybe that's what this is...I avoid work and then in the end, am overwhelmed...oh well.

   Enjoy the videos, Mr. Blue by Catherine Feeny reflects how I felt this weekend. As for Restless, Gus Van Sant's up-coming film, I was told that the costumes seemed to be styled by me. Sigh.

Welcome to the Weekend!

Happy Friday!!!

"Sink/Let it Sway" from Someone Still Loves you Boris Yeltsin's new album entitled "Let it Sway." They've been a long-time love of mine, and I'm not really sure why. Is it their chill yet optimistic vibe? Is it the fact that they seem like Nice Boys from Missouri? Is it the fact that I enjoy some smooth, rock-pop every now and then and they consistently deliver?

All of the above?

Yes.

So, after this whole Glee + GQ scandal, I've decided that Cory Monteith is One Cute Babe.
I've also decided that the scandal, well, doesn't need to be a scandal. This is GQ we're talking about. GQ.
I'm sorry parents were lazy and thought, "Show tunes? High school? Football? Singing? Glee Club? Sounds wholesome a la Highschool Musical, go ahead and watch it Little Suzy."
This is Fox. This is Primetime. These are adults.
Now, I will say that Lea Michele prances around in the underwear the whole time, and the Parents Television Council are screaming pedophilia, but this is GQ and her own decision.
Of course, the girls are going to "apologize" again and again, yet I have yet to see an article in which Cory Monteith "apologizes" for his part in the shoot.
Double standard? I think so.
In conclusion, I agree with Ms. Argon who aptly stated,

"...if your eight-year-old has a copy of our GQ cover in hand, again I am sorry. But I would have to ask, how on earth did it get there?"

Now that I used and abused a perfect From the Spiral Wednesday topic, I want to know what YOU think! Mainly to make me feel better about ranting...la di da. So comment it up, and let me know your opinion!

Film!

  

My dad gave me his old film camera, an EOS ELAN II E, and voila! I took some pictures. (Last photo, care of Chad.)

Meandering...

 

It is cold and rainy here and I'm exhausted from a crazy weekend. What is it like where you are?

New stuff from my favorite band, Drew and the Medicinal Pen, entitled "Chipped Plate."

Lovely and slow, yet totally exciting.

Is This Fall?

It's been raining for a few days now, and I'm guessing that this is the beginning of true fall weather. So, I guess it's time for a fall roundup.

(Greta Gerwig in Noah Baumbach's Greenburg)

(via Harper and Harley)

1. Acid Yellow Sweaters.

Mmmmmmmm! I love the one Greta Gerwig wears in Greenburg so much. It looks all musty and straight from the wash after it's debut from Goodwill. No matter what, the color doesn't take itself too seriously. I've seen some yarn in this color before and I always want to buy it up right then and there but I never know what to make with it. HM.

Zara Fall 2010

(via Kris Atomic)

2. Zara Fall 2010

I'm not a big fan of the grungy dresses and cardigans (but watch me dress like that), but man, when you combine Americana sweaters, denim shirts, slouchy pants, and penny loafers, you've got Alaina's dream outfit front and center.

3. Anja Rubik in German Vogue 

The shirt is genius. Just another example of my affection for story, ethnic inspiration, and texture above all in my clothing.

(via Knight Cat)

4. Sweaters

I love sweaters. Sweaters sweaters sweaters. I have so much sweater blogging to be done. Don't you worry. It'll come.

(via Fieldguided) 

5. Capes and Outerwear

I love the versatility of coats and jackets in the winter. One interesting coat can change one's outlook on winter entirely, I believe. I also believe we'll be reading an entire post about this sometime in the near future...

Yum. Fall. My favorite clothing season. Yes.

*There WILL be a From the Spiral this week. Yes yes yes.

Eun Jeong. (Sooooo pretty.)

Eun Jeong debuted her SS11 colletion at London Fashion Week. It's so gorgeous, I first saw it a few days back and I can't get it out of my head. Enjoy!

I've been reading that this is the first time Jeong has utilized digital prints. I give it a thumbs up!

A great version of the widely popular opaque polka dot on a mesh backgound. Mmmm.

Greeeeaaaat shoes. In my mind, I see Dorothy's Ruby Slippers meets a member of Of Montreal.



Pick Me Up.

OH GOSH. School's started. We're into Week Two. This is something I can do. (Yes I can, yes I can, yes I can!!!) Cross Country, possibly a play, homework, and MAKING THINGS.
I'd better do that. EEEE.
So, because I have crap to do, here's something quick.

1. Matt & Kim Cameras.
I've been feeling crappy about the future and what not, and there is nothing like some New York to help me out. (Wicked Single art, too!)


2. Alexa Chung for Madewell.
Now, I don't want to rain on everyone's parade, but all I'm seeing is high-end Goodwill. Now, I'm not dissing Goodwill, because I absolutely adore them, my local Goodwill, and it's amazing finds, but for Madewell? For Alexa? I was more impressed with the previews. I found them more interesting and sartorially satisfying. Maybe they were just styled better. Maybe I just missed a few items that are already sold out.
But I do like:

The Aimee Fisherman-Knit Sweater.

Great lines. I love the shortness and medium chunky ribbing and details.

I'm on the fence about:

The Annie Blouse

It's nice. I'm a velvet fan. But doesn't it remind you of this dress she wore on It's On with Alexa Chung? (I miss that show.) Which I believe is Betsey Johnson. Correct me if I'm wrong.

I'm also on the fence about:

The Greta Coat

The sleeve length kills me. Great color though. Also, great inside lining.

But I do love:

The Silk Margot Skirt

You can't deny Annie Hall genius. But I'll grab it at Goodwill.

From the Spiral (Part 2): My Boyfriends

(From the Spiral- My Wednesday rant of randomness, from my scattered brain to yours!)

     I am a girl of many crushes. So, staight from my brain and my heart, I present a compilation of my favorite men.

1. Thomas Mars

(Photo via Peacetime Resistance)

(Photo via Dear Jane)

     After those two photos, what more do you need? He's the Parisian boyfriend of Sofia Coppola, the father of her children, AND frontman of the band Phoenix. He also rocks blue oxford shirts like nobody's business.

     I just want to go to a Phoenix concert so I can scream his name and grab my bestfriend's hand and say, "He's sooo cute!" over and over again. It's that kind of love.

2. Jason Schwartzman

(Photo via Band of Outsiders)

     I probably fell in love with Jason when I saw him in The Darjeeling Limited. Subsequently, Marie Antoinette, Shopgirl (I would've chosen him too!), and Fantastic Mr. Fox deepened my love. He's married to Brady Cunningham, who styled him in this month's NYLON Guys, and is a fashion designer. Swoonworthy, right (Both Brady and he.)?

     I just want to see him so the world can stop what it's doing and I'll feel it spinnning while I take a peek at him over my mug of hot cocoa at a cafe in LA and then haunt the place in hopes of seeing him again. It's that kind of love.

     Also, he makes music as Coconut Records. Christmas came early and brought you this gift. Enjoy.

 

3. Wes Anderson

(Photo via Film School Rejects)

     He dresses well and makes beautiful films = I like him. (Spike Jonze does too, but I wouldn't be allowed in his filmmaking club. Their tree house smells like piss anyways.)

     I just like to watch his films, discuss his use of color, and look at pictures of him wearing velvet bowties while imagining I get to tie them and style his wardrobe. It's that kind of love. 

Honorable Mention/Real Life Crush Type: Justin Long

     Baby Justin. Whatta babe. I dig his haircut.

     I just wanna be his best friend and run my hands through his hair and ask him (innapropriate) questions.

     Note: I'll fix this prolonged mind-numbing moment of man-worship later. Promise.

Monday Medicine

Welcome to the work week! I'm super excited to announce that I might actually be DOING WORK this week!
Things that need to be done:
1. The creation of my college list. (I CAN DO IT!)
2. The detailing of my car. (For new and improved Fall freshness!)
3. The buying of school necessities. (Because it HAS to be done!)
4. The making of bow ties. (For school day flair!)
5. The making of (end of summer) clothes. (CHEER! YAYA! Ahem. More on this later.)
6. The partaking and planning of end of summer madness. (A Drew & The Medicinal Pen show?!?!?!?!?!?!?! ? ! ?? !!)
7. The creation of a fall reading list compiled by my friends, a.k.a. YOU!
8. Finishing my summer reading. (You go Jekyll and Hyde! You rulin' my Victorian world.)
9. Working on the most awesome From the Spiral (Part 2) in the whole wide world. (You wait and see. YOU WAIT AND SEE.)
10. Making sure that all of you think I'm crazy after all is said and done. (Duh.)

(Photos via Knight Cat)

I want to make clothes like this. Mmm. (You shall see!) 

 

Finally, Chupee by Cocoon. My friend included this in a mix cd she made for me. So brilliant.

Roll them sleeves up, it's a week until everyone (and I mean EVERYONE) goes back to school. If you wanna school 'em, you gotta start early.

Do Work! A.K.A. What Turned Into A Lover Loving Post

Just some Friday inspiration! I really need to do some college, portfolio, mental, physical, and back to school all around preening, shopping, cleaning, and uplift.

(Photos via Liebemarlene)

     Lover. I love this label from down under. And their FW 2010/SS 2010 collection entitled Untitled is exquisite. Because of Lover's location, this collection consists of both Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter pieces. I love the duality of both and how one could incorporate pieces from both seasons into one outfit, regardless of hemisphere.

     Also, I am enamored with the orange (and yellow coat- check it out!) at work in the collection. The silhouettes are also breathtaking. The belted kimono-inspired coats, shirts, dresses, and pantsuits become wearable in this collection. Scalloped edges and lace (allover and peek-a-boo) also give the collection depth. Last but not least, the long skirts remind me of Annie Hall and the 1970s and make me want to wear a nice wool one to school all year. (And the sweaters! I love knits.) 

     I love the fact that this collection offers Fall and Spring inspiration just when I feel drained of all inspiration. (Enough boo-hooing. It's time for me to sleep. I need to recharge sooo bad.)

From the Spiral (Part 1)

So my friend Ian has decided that my mind is like a spiral.

"With a dude in the middle just spinning and going, 'Ahhhh!'" But I don't think it would be a human male. Maybe a squirrel. I prefer to think my mind is shiny and sparkly like the surface of the ocean or American Apparel gold lamé.

But that is all neither here nor there. A new weekly blog feature is being brought to the table. I call it, "From the Spiral." Basically, I'm going to post something that has been floating around my mind that is so comepletely random, it hurts all of you normal thinkers' brains. So, without further ado, I give you round one of "From the Spiral." Ding ding!

They Might Be Giants - Doctor Worm 

Yaya!

(artwork by Katie Daisy of The Wheatfield)

Let's Go Anywhere. 'Cause that seems to be where this life is taking me. All I wanted to say was, "Lookit, a new blog header!" I arranged the pictures, and my friend Jill did magic with the lettering. All while in a sweaty post-run diner haze.

I'M BACK HOME.

Deal with it. I'm Back. I'm Back Home. Home To Stay. I was having a existential blog crisis- it's over. Enjoy the song while I get my stuff together and bring whatever I said I was going to bring to the blogging table whenever I said it.

You Really Got a Hold On Me...

So, exactly a week ago I sang a little song (You Really Got a Hold On Me - She & Him/Smokey Robinson/The Beatles) at my school's talent show.

That is all.

(Except for a huge Thank You!!! to the boy who filmed-slash-giggled at this/I Had a Really Amazing Awesome Time with You Guys- Let's Do It Again!)

1976 Crocheted Bikini

A nude colored crocheted bikini from 1976. To make or not to make? I'm bored and I need a project. Haha! (Obviously lining and darts would be involved.)

So, what color should it be?

Cotton I guess, right?

What are your general thoughts?

I Dig This.

Say hello to Frank. And a good song.

Mom Jean Shorts

I don't think it's okay to take mom jeans and cut the legs off. Yes, they're high-waisted. Yes, they're up your butt. Yes, they're still mom jeans.

This Weekend I...

So this weekend, I rocked a new haircut, made burgers late at night, and took a picture of this little guy.

I have polaroids and Prom pictures coming right up!

Here's My Stormy Weather Now

Today was Crazy!

When I woke up, I thought it was a dress-down day, but I was seriously mistaken. I woke up early, worked on some projects, got ready, and set off. (In such a good mood at that!!! I was early!) Then, to my shock and horror, everyone was wearing their uniform. I was upset- that's the only word for it. Whiny and tearful upset. I had to drive back home, in my beat up air-leaked 1984 BMW straight from the fringes of car extinction. In a torrential downpour! And then, when I went to leave, the garage door wouldn't close. Sigh. But I'm over it.

We had some crazy storms today, hail, lightning, wind, sheets of pouring rain. Mmm! I had fun.

My poor Hercules was stressed out by the storms. We hid under blankets and listened to The Postal Service.

Then Chad came over and we watched Pee Wee's Big Adventure.

I honestly think Pee Wee's Big Adventure is one of the best movies ever. Totally silly, really great costumes, and the best locations! Honestly, if you've never seen it and you need a pick me up, Watch It. (!!!)

"The mind plays tricks on you. You play tricks back! It's like you're unraveling a big cable-knit sweater that someone keeps knitting and knitting and knitting and knitting and knitting and knitting...! " - Pee Wee Herman