I know more than I knew before.

I was having a really crummy morning, so what do I do? Put on some Feist. It always cheers me up right quick. Happy Monday.

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.