ALEXANDER MCQUEEN RESORT 2011 HIGHLIGHTS

There's this amazing scene in The Upside of Anger that always helps me to describe how I'm feeling when there are not words to be found:



This single scene has inspired me to create several works of art as I draw inspiration from heart ache, frustration, and of course, love. A few years back I was given an assignment to paint whatever came to mind but my thoughts were somewhere else. I sat at long and crowded table as I watched my classmates discuss all of their ambitious ideas and all I could think about was this completely unrelated issue. I was nervous and anxious and needed to know where I stood in the world and all I could do was imagine my heart falling onto the table and having the blood pour down off the sides (enter emo music here).

It's been a while since I've felt that feeling, but seeing Sarah Burton's first Alexander Mcqueen collection has made it all come rushing back. With romantic lace, structured silhouettes, and gold brocade, Burton brought a soft touch to a brand that needed to be handled with care. Appropriately so, the collection is mostly muted in color until the very end where a sea of red slowly bleeds through. The collection pays tribute to Mcqueen's avant garde style and is a beautiful next step that will continue his legacy.

Congratulations, Sarah, you did good.

PHOTO CREDIT: FASHIONISING

RESORT 2011 TRENDS: HATS

One of my favorite pop culture facts comes from the commentary on the 40 Year Old Virgin DVD extras. Judd Apatow was discussing the scene where his real life wife, Leslie Mann, meets Carrell's character in a bar and drunkenly drives him home. Mann is an absolute mess and the scene ends with her conveniently vomiting all over Carrell's face. This is by far one of the funniest scenes of the movie and Judd begins to discuss certain cliche characteristics about Mann's character. The one comment I'll never forget is that he made sure to put her in a hat because only the really crazy girls wear hats. I personally don't agree as I look completely adorable in a hat, but maybe I'm just one of them crazy girls.

PHOTO CREDIT: STYLE.COM

FRESH TRAVELER BY ARIAN BREKVELD

Making OCD people look stylish since last night when I ordered it.

AVAILABLE AT GSELECT

GALLIANO & CHAPLIN

"I do not have much patience with a thing of beauty that must be explained to be understood. If it does need additional interpretation by someone other than the creator, then I question whether it has fulfilled is purpose." - C.C.

PHOTO CREDIT: FASHION FAME

SCOTT CAMPBELL

Speaking of tattoos..I was sent a really cool article about Mr. Scott Campbell, tattoo artist to the stars, who apparently has more than one talent hidden up his sleeve. Campbell has tattooed the bodies of Marc Jacobs, Courtney Love, and his friend the late Heath Ledger, but it is his latest gallery shows that has catapulted him into the spotlight. His first solo show at Miami's OHWOW in 2009 completely sold out, and based on what I've seen for his latest exhibition, this one will be no different.

Campbell's artwork is certainly a reflection of the passion he has for his day job and he uses a lot of the same motif's, such as cartoon characters and rock'n'roll imagery in his paintings and sculptures. My favorite pieces from his collection of work are from the Dollar Bill series where he neatly pastes hundreds of dollar bills on top of each other and laser cuts elaborate shapes and designs out of them. When asked about this particular series, Campbell replied, "Money is a sacred thing. People pay attention just because of the medium. To take something that is so iconic and precious and destroy it for the sake of communicating an idea, that gives that idea a little more weight." Below are some pictures of Campbell in his studio as well as a few images from the Dollar Bill series. Enjoy.

PHOTO CREDIT: NOWNESS

DAVIDE ALLIERI CONVERSE

HS!!!!!

PHOTO CREDIT: THE SHOE MUSEUM

* HOLY SHIT

DAMNIT, LOUIS VUITTON!

For my entire life I have been very impartial to Louis Vuitton. Yes, some of their clothing has tempted me into liking them, but then I remember that they sell $2,000 plastic bags and I resume my initial position. Wait, hold the mother f-ing phone: Louis Vuitton bags are plastic, you say? Yup. My most favorite incident involving the PVC purses was when someone on my flight to Rome threw up on someone else's Louis bag. The girl was so upset that her "leather" was going to be ruined when I offered her a wet wipe and insisted she give it a go. And what do you know, it wiped off easier than spilled milk on glass.

Flash forward a few months and my thoughts about the brand have begun to waver. First there was the Fall runway, followed by one of the most beautiful ad campaigns I've seen in a long time. As I scrolled through the flawless pictures on Tavi's blog, I began to sweat and I started to analyze my stance on the subject. Lady-like skirts, Mad Men quality hair and make-up and old school models got a little bit under my skin but I held my own. Until now. It's like Marc Jacobs knew that the mid length A-line skirts would put the idea in my head and then THIS would push me over into the dark side. Enter: Louis Vuitton neck tattoos. And no, I'm not admitting that I like L.V., but I am flattered that I have now become their target audience.

PHOTO CREDIT: REFINERY29

PHOTO CREDIT: STYLEROOKIE

SAM EDELMAN LORISSA PUMPS

Black suede with studs and spikes, gems and leopard lining.

Do I really have to explain why I like these?

AVAILABLE AT AKIRA

WELCOME TO MY CLOSET: KITCHEN EDITION!

If you read this blog, you are already well aware that I can never decide which I love more, fashion or food. Fashion usually wins, but food is always a close runner up. But one thing I have yet to discuss is my love for kitchen appliances, utensils and gadgets. So although it is common for a New York girl to choose an apartment based on closet space, I also have to have an enormous kitchen to accommodate all of my cooking necessities. From immersion blenders and food processors to vintage chrome ombre glasses to stainless skull skewers, everything has a place and no, it is never enough. There is always something I need (a juicer), something I want (a kitchen aid), and something I have to have (an espresso machine).

Being a vegetarian, I like to eat as healthy as possible and experiment with lots of different spices and sauces. As a result, I tend to cook a lot of Asian food but am pretty partial to Thai cuisine. So it probably doesn't come as much of a surprise that I have spent the last 2 months researching rice cookers and I finally settled on a winner. So in a very special "Welcome to My Closet: KITCHEN EDITION!", here are some of my favorite new purchases: