May 19, 2013

king of new york

The Christopher Walken classic, King of New York, is a must-see if your likes include one or all of the following: old school hip hop, Christopher Walken, New York, 80s/90s style. I was still rocking diapers during the 80s, but the clothes make it pretty clear that the Madonna decade took its partying very seriously. Gritty but glamorous, provocative yet playful, the clothes have an in-your-face boldness.

When the balance of ridiculous and rockstar is just right, it's genius. (Talking Heads being an epic example of such 80s perfection.)

November 06, 2012

old friends

October 24, 2012

up in arms

This Swiss Army backpack/ messenger bag from 1971 is so functional and so oddly stylish.

All I can say is, the Swiss military knows how to make a solid bag. The leather is like Coach on steroids - this thing isn't falling apart any time soon. In this day and age of poorly constructed Gucci knock-offs on Canal Street...

Nice to see some old fashioned quality craftsmanship.

October 17, 2012

Mockingjays

These are photos of a girl who got dumped. Yep, that's me.

This dilemma got me thinking about what one should or could wear for such a humbling occasion. Of course you can't always prepare for these things, but if you see heartbreak on the horizon, here are some thoughts on what to wear. (One disclaimer: Long story as to why I'm shoeless. I would recommend wearing shoes - particularly comfortable ones that would allow for a speedy getaway.)
Something about being sad immediately makes me crave really unflattering sweatpants, probably eighteen sizes too big. It's challenging to feel especially dignified and self-reliant in sagging cotton. So I vetoed the sweatpants for the doomsday talk. But I didn't want to seem like I was trying too hard. I was shooting for cool, calm, and relaxed. Because I wear jeans everyday and he knows this (we live together), I decided that straying from denim would add to my air of desperation. As the line cook at the Lobster Pound used to tell me during the dinner rush, never let 'em see you sweat.
The Evil Twin fishtail shirt (it's sheer and flowy and I quite like it) satisfied a couple more of my checkpoints; something pretty, breezy, and comfortable. When getting kicked to the curb, the brain has enough going on. Pulling at a too tight waistband or trying to keep a shirt from falling off seems pretty exhausting.
If you happen to live with your other half, a big bag doesn't hurt. Enough space for some electronics, a toothbrush, and... maybe some sweatpants for the after party.
As for break up jewelry, I've had this necklace forever and I find it comforting. Especially because it wasn't a present from the name we do not mention. This particular medallion has the added bonus of a certain armor-like quality. Basically, any treasured accessory that can give you a little boost when you're feeling down on your luck. Sort of like Katniss Everdeen's mockingjay in Hunger Games (a highly entertaining read, made to order for anyone who needs to take a short hiatus from reality.)
Most importantly, keep that head held high because things are gonna be alright.

September 18, 2012

wide leg

I still remember my first pair of wide leg jeans. It must have been about 12 years ago - definitely a long time because I know that I ordered them from the Anthropologie catalogue. (Remember catalogues?)

I wore those Anthropologie jeans, more or less, every weekend for about 3 years. The party ended when half of the left leg finally disintegrated. Then they just looked like a weird rag. It was time to move on.

It took almost a decade for me to find a comparable replacement. I finally filled the void in my denim rotation when I found these vintage 70s jeans. I've gotten pretty thrifty recently but was more than willing to overlook the 990% mark up. Given the amount I wear them, I'd say it was a worthy investment.

Helmut Lang tank top, vintage jeans, Urban Outfitters circle scarf, Ralph Lauren sunglasses, vintage bag

break the dress code /