Make me thrill as only you know how.

Rebecca Taylor, Fall/Winter 2010 RTW

As I get a couple of minutes here and there, I enjoy few things greater than perusing the fall collections on style.com. Though fashion is no longer my career, I will always get that special butterfly-in-the-stomach feeling of viewing the newest things. Fashion is without a doubt the most accessible and universal artistic expression- everytime you get dressed you choose how you want the world to view you. Granted sometimes you are constrained by things like weather and location, but otherwise the sky is the limit, and I love nothing more than a fabulously curated outfit.

Now I generally don't look forward to the fall/winter collections. Being a Southern California girl I live for light, ephemeral pretty things, and live in dresses and t-shirts, but as I get older I find myself craving a solid, "mature" wardrobe. I approach the new collections with a different eye. That being said, the gemini that I am could never dream of settling down on one style or another, so I enjoy picking out looks from all of the designers and coming up with something all my own. However one of the few collections that I truly would want to wear just about every look that came down the runway was Rebecca Taylor. I have always loved Rebecca Taylor's uber-feminine prints and aesthetic, but I am especially loving the pared down, extremely wearable vibe of this collection. I'm definitely sensing some Isabel Marant notes, and it feels like this collection is perfectly suited for the streets of Paris. Or, perhaps in my case, New York. Very much looking forward to it.

p.s. how fierce are those cat-eyes? obsessed.

Photos from style.com

"a strange picture of perfection"

Wendy

Tiffany

Molly

Maggie

Lois

Jane

Anne

Deborah

Amy and Michelle

Barbara

All images from the series Week-End by Alex Prager, 2009

I went to the opening of this show a few weeks back and haven't been able to get these images out of my mind. I caught an article about Alex Prager before the show opened and was shocked I hadn't heard of her works before, as they encapsulate so much that I love and identify with. Honestly, there was no artist I studied more than Cindy Sherman during my undergrad, so to find a young artist from Southern California doing a modern take on the idea, I was in love. The images are incredible. They truly appeal to me on so many levels. I mean the 60's/70's aesthetic, the clothes, the emotions, the Los Angeles background, the colors. How could you not be pulled into the twisted tales of the lost looking women? Sure, some may say they're superficial and too derivative, but isn't that true of Hollywood itself? I love that she makes images of women that are compelling and intriguing, as opposed to sexy and obvious. So although the images and the ideas behind them aren't the most original, it doesn't make them any less successful in my opinion. In fact just the opposite. I would be honored to be one of the women in the images, which is a lot more than I can say for many other artists' depictions of women.

The show will be up through March 6 at M+B. If anyone is thinking of getting me an early birthday present and has an extra couple of thousand, my favorites are Barbara, Jane, Deborah, and Molly. I would love you forever and ever.

The here and now is coming round.

Princeton, 2.22.10

Castledoor, 2.22.10

Fanfarlo, 2.20.10

One of my favorite things about this city is the never ending supply of great music to be heard. I'm finally taking advantage of it, going to Fanfarlo at the El Rey last Saturday, then Castledoor and Princeton at Spaceland last night. Tonight its off to the Bootleg to catch Ferraby Lionheart's last night of his residency along with Leslie and the Badgers. If you haven't heard of any of them, I'd highly recommend doing so. Fast.

Were all those pretty words you whispered to me meant for her

There isn't much I don't like about this track, from the Swedish trio Museum of Bellas Artes. In fact, there isn't anything I don't like about them- from their name, their aesthetic, to the video. I want more.

You're all that I have to discover.

Charlotte Gainsbourg in Flaunt Magazine

Thank you to Summer Teeth for sharing these images.. And one of my favorite songs of Charlotte's.

Everything I Cannot See - Char...

clean house, clean mind.

Today was spring cleaning unlike ever before. Momma came into town, and not only cleaned my house like no other, but had the genius idea to move things around. I was so thankful for her burst of inspiration as I too wasn't feeling content with the lay out of things, and was further spurred by reading the latest Lonny yesterday. So within a few hours my mostly unused dining room is my brand new study/art studio! By moving my dining table into my extra large living room, the two rooms instantly breathed a huge sigh of relief. So now my living room is pristine, white and uncluttered, and my little study is, well me. Filled to the brim and overflowing with color. Although I wish there were a few pieces of furniture I would chuck, and some I would love to buy, seeing as I hope to be in NYC in 6 months, and I'm assuming in a place half this size if I'm lucky, it doesn't make much sense to bring in more things, so what I have will have to do. Isn't it funny though that sometimes a fresh eye is all it takes to re-appreciate everything you have?

Here are a few inspiration pages from the newest issue of Lonny-

Love the color palette (and the Marilyns! Someday, someday)

Ahh the turquoise, and that side table! Reminds me of DIANI...

The books! The Zebra skin! I wish I was audacious enough to use black..

Love how homey this feels. Love the mix of textiles, although I would love to see a few modern touches..

That it will never come again ..

is what makes life so sweet.

-Emily Dickinson

I looked at a picture of an english muffin yesterday, and I'm still full.

Very Mary-Kate, Episode 2 from Mary-Kate Olsen on Vimeo.

Thanks Caroline for sharing this. It is pretty hilarious.

What'd ya wanna look like Barbie for?

Have been revisiting Goldfrapp's Seventh Tree album today, I almost forgot what an incredible album it was. Their new single Rocket is such a departure from the last album, but I wouldn't expect anything less. I'm interested in hearing how the album plays out, as the single is a little too synthy-80's for me. I realize I'm one of the few Goldfrapp fans that really enjoyed Seventh Tree, but an interlude is sometimes very necessary, and the album is perfect when you're in a mood to just drift off, preferably in a meadow with a cloudless sky overhead.

I'll be there, to hold you tight..

Canary Hotel, Santa Barbara

Just got home from a most lovely Valentine's weekend. Chris and I headed up the coast to Santa Barbara, and I got to share the place I call home with him. It was such a great time getting to show someone around, and getting to fall in love with Santa Barbara all over again. It really is such a beautiful, magical place and all of us who have gotten to live there at one point or another most definitely took it for granted. He had booked us at my favorite hotel in Santa Barbara, the Canary. It's the perfect place to say when you want to be right in the middle of everything, and it's style is so true to Santa Barbara. Plus there is no better view than that from the roof top pool.

Of course a trip to Santa Barbara isn't complete for me without a meal at Carlito's. I have raved about the food for months, and I think Chris acknowledged that I wasn't fronting, it really is deeeelish (+ those mango margaritas....) Sadly, we weren't even close to hungry by our 9:15 reservation at Cafe Luck, so we made a meal out of oysters and onion rings. We were underwhelmed by just about everything at Cafe Luck, so perhaps it was a blessing we weren't starving.

After a night of heavenly sleep (the beds at the Canary are one of my favorites) we were off to Wine Country. I was so excited to take him to my FAVORITE place in all of Santa Ynez Valley- House Tasting Room, owned by the epic Saarloos family. I couldn't wait to try the newest wines and eat more than a couple of the out of this world Enjoy cupcakes. As we pulled up to Grand Ave. in Los Olivos I was DEVASTATED to see that House was closed because they were sold out!! Apparently Valentine's Day was the day to be up there, and we missed out. So we trudged along Grand Avenue, and stopped into Coquelicot for a tasting. After a lovely time chatting and a bottle of Chardonnay and Riesling later, we stopped into Los Olivos Cafe where I filled my burger fix. Then it was nap time so we headed to Hotel Corque in Solvang, which on the website claimed to be a "boutique" hotel. Though there wasn't anything "boutique" about it, the rooms were lovely, as were the views. Over napped a little, and unbeknownst to us all of the wineries closed at 5, so we just made it to a little tasting room a block from the hotel. If you haven't had the joy of exploring Solvang, then you can't know the bizarreness of the place. Chris loved its kitschy-ness and lack of pretention, but personally its a little over the top for my taste. I prefer the langour of Los Olivos, Los Alamos and Santa Ynez. But we did have a wonderful dinner at Root 246.

Overall I cherished every second of our lovely trip. I haven't really had a moment's reprieve since moving to Los Angeles, and sometimes you don't even realize how much this city has wiped you out.

gratuitous.

Honey Ryder, 2.11.10

Love of My Life. This dog has been with me for so long, and through so much. She loves me more than I deserve.

+ She poses better than any bitch I know.

There's no turning back..

In honor of Valentine's Day (which I am so excited for this year) I wanted to share some of my favorite love songs. So here is one that is so simply, honestly beautiful. Rosie Thomas has such a gorgeous voice, it's hard not to just fall right in with this song..

Even when you're down and out.

View from Santa Monica pier, west. 2/7/10

View from Barnsdall Park, 1/31/10

Feeling really bad about falling behind on updating the blog- I have seen, smelled, felt and tasted so many amazing things the past couple of weeks that I would love to have shared. As with anything that's too good, it all caught up with me and I caught a little, but nasty, cold. It hasn't completely knocked me out, just enough to slow me down. I also have some really exciting things on the horizon, so I am just trying to nurse myself back to health quickly! Unfortunately, or fortunately however you want to look at it, there isn't a moment to rest, so off I must go..

ooh la la

I have a not so secret obsession with anything/one related to Jane Birkin, in particular her two daughters, Charlotte Gainsbourg and Lou Dillon. Lou has been my favorite model for as long as I can remember, so it was destiny that she also happened to be the muse for one of my favorite designers, the dreamy (and tres francais) Vanessa Bruno. She does the whole "I am so cool, but don't even try, but I know it" french way that makes a little California girl like myself look like a slob. Her clothes are so effortlessly elaborate; that inherent irony is what makes them so compelling. I am particularly obsessed with this season, as I can't get enough of the lace, long skirts, ruffles and that insane white sweater in the above photo, and above all her palette is solely composed of my favorite colors- nude, tomato red, light blue, white, and of course black. I have always loved perusing the Vanessa Bruno website, and was ecstatic to see the newest video for Spring 2010, as shared by my absolute favorite, uber-chic boutique, DIANI. Such a gorgeous couple of moments, I suggest sitting back and just letting it all sink in..

preview

Another busy week ahead, love it! Tonight we're off to the opening of Urban Panoramas at the Getty, followed by dinner at Tavern, (which I am so excited for!). Then some great shows this week, specifically tomorrow Ferraby Lionheart at the Bootleg and then Yeasayer at the Natural History Museum. I'll leave you with a quick tune from Ferraby, and promise for more updates this week! Specifically I've seen some great art the past couple of weeks, that I'm really looking forward to sharing..