Love, love will tear us a p a r t

[NO FILLER ADDED] Gorjana Flutter Ring, Michael Kors Gold Oversized Runway Watch, multi-layer drape necklace from Singer22, Free People Angel Dolman Top, Johnson Wool Short w/ Button Cuff in Black and Steven by Steve Madden Intyce Boot.

Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" as the AMALGAMATE

I LIKE the video but I'm going to have to go there since no one else has:

I am OKAY with this video because I understand where the original ideas are emerging from. See Tool's videos circa late 90s with the awkwardly moving, emaciated humanoids or sometimes just plain creatures. See Alexander McQueen since conception until now, literally. See Japanimation for exaggerated features such as large eyes, elongated limbs, etc... I could go on. What I see happening here is now that her Andy Warhol "genius" of the Factory FAME is played, she's moving towards the hypersexualized macabre. And she's taking all that she's seen, heard, experienced and been presented with and using her pop soapbox to give the music world a "new" anthem. Though I appreciate her approach, I believe credit should remain first where it is due: as long as we can recognize where she's coming from, then I'm okay with where she's going.

The [shitty] City: Nightmare @ Freddie's

I know I've missed a few episodes but I'm just going to post in pace with the remainder of the season. No looking back, only forward.

You can't have a summer in New York City without spending some time in The Hamptons. For those of you who don't know, The Hamptons is both a popular seaside resort area in addition to residential homesteads for some of the east coast's most affluent individuals and families. The area is also becoming increasingly popular amongst Europeans as an American summer retreat. Think sprawling estates set in historical villages, complete with Madison Avenue quality shopping, five - star restaurants and of course, the icy waters of the Atlantic Ocean.  A home away from home for the well-heeled socialites and the certain city dwellers looking for an escape that maintains all of the amenities of the good life.

Welcome to East Hampton

When making the 2 hour drive from Manhattan to The Hamptons, one must absolutely do so in style. I love how all of the girls in the car look fresh-faced except Roxy, because harlots never leave home without a full deck of makeup. Remember the importance of the first impression; you never know who you might meet along the way and during those fateful 2 hours, you are guaranteed to make stops somewhere (especially if you get lost, which is almost certainly going to happen). Also, try and keep comfortable. As a veteran of public transportation, I always try and travel with a big bottle water (your skin is your best accessory), comfortable shorts and footwear, such as gladiator sandals or leather riding boots, a loose t - shirt and a hoodie. Think wrinkle-resistant clothing, because after sitting for a few hours, you don't want to look like you went a few rounds in the bedroom while exiting the car. Bedroom hair yes. Bedroom clothing no. And don't go crazy on the accessories either. Whitney was an excellent example of this as she just kept to a simple watch and a few bracelets, with slight earrings. Just because this was her first time out in Le Hamps doesn't mean she had to look like it was her first time. The locals can spot first-timers from Manhattan a mile away (New Jersey, two). Don't let that be you.

 

[side note: make sure you have a full tank of gas! There's definitely a stretch of 495 that doesn't have a single gas station, and we had to almost call BMW Roadside Assistance to save us from being stranded in no man's land.]

Roxy & her Playboy mouth

This girl can either be highly entertaining or beyond annoying and with each episode, she teeters on this fine line precariously. Either way, she can be simply boiled down to these two words: attention whore. As a self described "bull in a china shop," I know a thing or two about being invasive and sometimes, inappropriately so but, there's a time and a venue for such behavior(s):

• The proverbial "what's the wildest thing you've ever done" conversation: these are great when you're drunk and are done rehashing your life to a complete stranger and want to send them to the moon (this presupposing that you in fact have a wildest story to tell). I would caution telling stories about how you got completely wasted, went to get a tattoo (I can feel a cliche coming on here), went to remove one article of clothing and ended up naked with a gnarly tattoo on your vag on national/international television. She can pretty much eliminate any possibility of a white collor job right now. 
• The Fackelemayer Boys & Tanning: Roxy: Have you been tanning? Harry: No, we've been surfing all day. Roxy: No, you guys look like you've been in a booth. Though I agree with Roxy, Harry might not be lying. I mean, where else are you going to find a larger reflective surface than the ocean? 
• Puns on the Fackelmayer name: Roxy calls the Fackelmayer's "Frankenmiles" playfully in one scene. Though generally speaking, that was not nice, you've got to admit, there is something inherently comical about their last name! I went to college with Freddie and we were in the same social circle and I remember meeting him and hearing his unfortunate name (not to mention at the time, he had freckles, red hair and a much slimmer build). Pretty fucking funny.
  
• Freddie and his high infidelity: I have to correct Roxy's "he probably does this all the time" with respect to his alleged cheating ways during the revelation to Whitney that he has(had) a girlfriend. From what I understand of Freddie ala our college years, he was far too romanitically inept to be the player. MTV was just capitalizing off of the fact that he was in fact, in a relationship with a young woman who wasn't apart of the show and unaware of his exact involvement with the plot (i.e. that he was going to be Whitney's love interest). There is no doubt in my mind that that was intentionally worked in to create more fictitious drama (though I am told the girlfriend in question has since left him because of said fictitious drama, more on that story, at 11). Though I applaud her effort as a friend for speaking to Whitney immediately and directly about this, she took two giant steps back by approaching Freddie in the presence of Whitney. That wasn't her place. And didn't Whitney show her with "listen, I don't need a mouthpiece." Congratulations to Whitney. I think she finally found her cojones.

[side note: What does it say about the Fackelmayer Boys and their respect for women (or each other) when they begin fighting over Whitney, while drunk, at a club, on national/international television, like she's a t - bone steak? I'm sure Fridolin's proud.]

Reason 344645778 why Olivia Palermo is pure fiction

When someone asks you to conduct an interview of another person, you should never assume you know enough. There are always questions you can ask; your goal is to learn as much as about this person as possible. People in general, love to talk about themselves; all you've got to do is give them a soapbox. But Olivia, as fictional accessories editor for Elle, doesn't know any of this and thinks that by asking a few paltry questions, she's "conducted an interview." And Erin was dead-on with her criticism of Olivia's second blogger interview; you can't ask someone about the current trends when the article wasn't slatted to post until the fall.  A real accessories editor would have known better.

And I think Joe Zee must have been reading some of my blog posts (hey Joe!) and finally, well, almost stepped up to the plate by ripping Olivia a new one for failure to perform. When asked about her performance in conducting the interviews, Olivia immediately deflected to the bloggers, blaming Tommy for being "a little quiet" and how she "tried to get her out of her shell." The blogger was anything but -- patiently waiting for you to take a genuine interest cannot possibly be construed as timid. And for the record, Olivia did not ask Jane about her personal style (unless that footage was left on the cutting room floor). If she did, she wouldn't have had to ruffle through her papers looking for the invisible answer, she'd have known it right off the top of her head. A real accessories editor would have known better. Joe, unsatisfied and frankly, probably a little embarrassed, chided Olivia for her "lackluster" answers and sub-par work ethic. I mean, you have a pretend job, for god's sake! At least put some bloody effort into it!

[side note: I was actually surprised by how not cute Jane from Sea of Shoes was in this episode. I always suspected that the shots on her blog were hyper-real by way of Photoshop, I just had no idea that she'd come off dowdy.]

PLEASE NOTE: ALL PICTURES ARE PROPERTY OF ROXY OLIN

All I want for Christmas is a $162.00 cable knit beanie by Hortensia.

Eons ago, there was an online boutique and subsequent store called Girlshop, then located in the Meatpacking District of New York. Girlshop was known for introducing the then-relatively obscure indie designers, such as Dita, Ingwa;Melero and Hortensia.

I remembering eying a pair of Dita Wonderlust Sunglasses in Rose Gold for two weeks before finally taking the plunge. And after seeing Paris Hilton in the Solar Panel Dress, I knew that I had to find out more about the designers Nike Ingwa Clausing and Tina Hernaiz Melero. Luckily, I was able to scoop up a stunning royal purple Solar with a brown leather panel.

And I cannot forget my all-time favorite hat, the Newsboy by Hortensia. This was my fall/winter go-to hat not just because of how well it fit (when you've got an abnormally large head such as myself, finding the perfect hat can be a bit of a challenge) but being made of 100% alpaca, my head was not only warm but comfortable. There's nothing worse in the winter, than wearing wool (if you're allergic like I am) and having to constantly adjust what you're wearing.

[unfortunately for me, my Newsboy was five-fingered by one of my friends and was never seen again]

But then the most amazing thing happened: while browsing Oak NYC's website, I was reacquainted with Hortensia. Handmade in Peru, the fall/winter collection contains some of their signature pieces including my Newsboy, a delicious Cable Knit Collar (excellent alternative to a chunky scarf) and the Babette Beret, another item I so desperately covet. They also have a few knit pieces such as capes and even a dress and all of the items are made from 100% alpaca, i.e. the hair from the Peruvian Alpaca. [and why is this so important/awesome, you're wondering?] Alpaca, while similar the wool of sheep, is warmer and contains zero lanolin, which makes the hair hypoallergenic.  Thus making Hortensia's collection some of the most soft and luxurious winter wear items you can buy.

And just in time for the slowly moving cold front, the sweethearts over at Hortensia are offering a 15% discount on all pre-orders with complimentary shipping from their online store! Just enter in "falltopieces" at check out.

So really, my solitary Christmas wish is $137.70. For the comfort, style and durability of a Hortensia hat, I'd say my cable knit beanie is worth every penny.

**UPDATE** The sweets over at Hortensia have hyperlinked to me from their blog post! Be sure to check out Hortensia's blog for all of the latest with this darling company and make sure you're a good girl or boy so someone leaves a knitted delight underneath your tree! 

Fame Kills Halloween: well, almost

Halloween in NYC was completely out of control. It was almost as though the island of Manhattan (and the outer buroughs) had morphed into this massive mash-up of Mardi Gras/Hedonism/Carnival. I really should have taken more pictures of the various costumes, but Jameson, 6 - inch YSLs and no pants can create quite the precarious situation! Can you guess who I decided to be for All Hallows Eve??

[on me] American Apparel Cotton Spandex Micro-Mesh Gloria - V Bodysuit

Fashion Week 2009: The Queen of Hearts Dos & Don'ts

Now that all of the shows internationally have wrapped up, I’ve decided to compile a list of Dos and Don'ts based upon my experiences, stories from friends and what I’ve read about here and there concerning fashion week.

Dos

1. Do look and act like a million bucks: I didn’t bring invitations to any of the shows I attended but because I walked up with a purpose, hot-stepping in my Yves Saint Laurent Tribute Pumps and Marc Jacobs bag, every door greeter knew I meant business. And even if I didn’t have those things, I’d still go with confidence. If you are fortunate enough to attend some events, don’t be afraid to let that pride show! Stay poised, polite and pretty. Those three can take you far in this business (and in life too). Also, you never know who is going to take your picture so again, look your very best. I w as fortunate enough to have a bunch of shots taken of me by some Spanish magazines focusing on my accessories. I felt extremely honored (and slightly embarrassed that I was hung over).
2. Do smile and act nice: You never know who you are going to encounter while you’re at the shows, backstage or at parties and the fashion world is incestuously small. I ran into a few people that I used to work with and even met some that I hope to connect with in the future. It is always wise to start from a point of humility. 
3. Do drink, dance and be merry: During Fashion Night Out, my friends and I went from event to event, sauced but in high spirits. Positive energy is infectious. Your best fashion accessories should be bright eyes and a big smile. That is something we can all afford and share for free. And don’t be afraid to shout the lyrics to Thriller at the top of your lungs in Meatpacking while dancing outside of the Theory store! I know I sure did (big hair et al)! 
4. Do (if possible) bring your friends: There was so much excitement in the air at each show that I attended, you could feel it pulsating through your veins. Though it wasn’t your baby about to be born down a runway for the next 20 minutes, you were connected by all of the energy that was just passing through everyone present. Sharing this with friends only makes the experience that much more awesome because just as much as the power of the moment connects you with strangers, it is taken to another level when you’re surrounded by your sisters and brothers in arms.
   

Don’ts

1. Don’t be tardy for the party: If you are late to a show, and you have an assigned seat that isn’t in the front row, your seat will be gone so be on time! I was relegated to the press gallery for Robert Geller because my friend and I were too sauced from the previous night’s festivities. Imagine trying to take pictures with your digi cam when you’ve got hundreds of lights flashing every millisecond and other bloggers obnoxiously blocking your view. This won’t happen if you’re on time because you’ll have your seat assignment and a comfortable view of the runway.
2. Don’t actually wear spring colors to a spring show: From what I’ve witnessed first hand in New York and can attest to from shots from both Paris and London’s Fashion Weeks, c o l o r is for the runway only. This doesn’t mean you can’t wear some shimmer or shine, but walking around like it is Easter isn’t going to get your picture taken but rather looks of disdain. There is no safer lack of color better than black. I played it super safe with “all black everything,” an Alexander Wang blazer and Park trouser pants. In New York, we like to look comfortably numb. 
3. Don’t act self - important: There was a man who basically Benjamin Franklin-d his way into seats for he and his Christian Audigier nightmare of a girlfriend to the Twinkle by Wenlan show. Aside from the fact that they look like visual road kill, no one should be pulling out stacks of cash to prove they belong at a show. Leave that foolishness to Diddy please! If there is room for you to attend, then space will be provided for you. I think someone forgot to tell Tommy Tackymaster that this isn’t the Sopranos and Twinkle isn’t a strip club at Caesar’s -- here we have manners, decorum and for god’s sakes, enough sense to never wear Audigier in PUBLIC (let alone e v e r). 
4. Don’t party too hard: Only Lindsay Lohan can walk around like the girls from Last Night’s Party and "get away with it" in the fashion world (and that is because this is expected from her, i.e. the very worst). Remember the importance of presentation and first impression! Also remember the importance of feeling good, feeling great! It will be difficult for you to not only focus on the shows, put keep it together when you are burping Veuve Clicquot and appetizers from La Esquina. Not to mention, the patrons on either side of you, will not appreciate the smell.
   

And remember, DO say thank you to all of those who made your experiences possible! A big big big thank you to those I can’t name publicly who allowed me to have the opportunities that I did this season, even if I couldn’t attend all of my scheduled shows. I had some of the best times of my life, that won’t soon be forgotten.