A PLAN

It's been quiet around here, and I'll tell you why: the last few days, each time I go to try and post about London Fashion Week, about Valentines and new clothes and pink and white tulips, I can't bring myself to press Publish. Something needs to be said first.

I don't like to delve too deeply into politics here, mostly because I don't think it's the proper forum, and also because I never feel that I am articulate enough to speak the way I would like to about the issues I care most deeply about, a condition that brings me a great deal of grief and frustration. Still, I honestly feel that I can't go on posting here without getting this off my chest.

On February 18th, the House voted to pass a bill that, among other things, would strip Planned Parenthood of all Federal funding. It is a disgrace to this country to think that, in a time when so many women, children and families need the sort of services that this organization provides more than ever, that someone, anyone, would seek to cripple and destroy their efforts. Planned Parenthood has always been somewhere that I've known even I (uninsured, unemployed, or both) could go for free health screenings and family planning options--or, should the worst occur, find support and confidentiality in a time of greatest need.

This is a subject I tend to get really emotional about (seriously, I'm tearing up a bit here just trying to get this all to come out straight!) and there really is so much more I would like to say. Instead however, I will simply urge you to add your name to this open letter to Congress and pass it along to anyone you feel might share this conviction. And, if you live in the NYC area, come join me and a few thousand other pissed off individuals at the Rally for Women's Health this Saturday. Obviously, both men and women should be encouraged to attend, but I will say this: as a female of the species, you and I owe it to ourselves, our bodies, and every other woman on this planet to let the government know we refuse to take this attack on our rights to govern and care for our own selves lying down.

Could it be??

Right now, I'm hoping against all hope that the photo behind Leith Clark with all the dark blue hues is, in fact, the cover of the newest issue of Lula. (And, is it just me...or does the girl in the white dress bear a slight resemblance to Ms. Lou Doillon?? Squint harder, dang it!)

The release date for their Fall issue has now been pushed back well over a month, for reasons still unknown. I love Lula, I do, but I have to admit: it really ticks me off that they've not given us hint one as to what the heck is going on. I mean, we care dammit! And we shell out nigh on $20 to buy a copy, so I feel like the least they can do is lend a few words of reassurance in these troubled times. Grrrrr.

Anyways, in the meantime, to wile away the Lula-less hours, check out this interview with Leith on The Style Notebook (also where I found the above photo.) Here's wishing the Lula pop-up shop makes a stop in NYC--and be sure to read Anabela's first-hand account of the experience while you're at it!

I'm melting

Looking at these photos I took back in May at the Hester Street Fair, I find it hard to believe that only a matter of weeks ago I was still excited at the prospect of summer. Sun! Heat! Being outdoors! All I can say is: be careful what you wish for. It has been so unbearably hot and nasty here the last week or so that it's driving me MAD. I never understood why anyone could possibly hate summer until I moved to New York. Bah! All I can do is keep dreaming of escaping West, and wishing I was leaving for vacation tomorrow instead of in three weeks...

(too?) hot to trot

It is HOT in the City today, the kind of day when air conditioning is no longer a "choice," it's a matter of fact. I think I've pretty much sweated out all the iced coffee I had with Maya and now, truth be told, I'm propped up sans pants with a stack of magazines between me and my computer (which makes a great lap warmer in the winter but becomes absolutely revolting in the summer...)

Anyways, my point is, this photo of Chloë in Jamaica is reminding me of why I am, in fact, so glad it's summer once again: flushed skin, fresh flowers, cool shade, sandy toes and polka dot bikinis. All this assuming, of course, I get to take a freakin' vacation sooner than later!

(photo by Carol Lim from the Opening Ceremony Blog)

many happy returns

I knew I was going to be spending all day Monday dragging around armloads of garment bags in and out of subway cars and up and down stairs (cuz nobody's paying for my taxis 'cept me!) so I went for something nice and loose and comfortable. I ended up having to jettison the jacket pretty quick though, I was running a serious sweat factory halfway in to my first drop-off of the day (John Galliano no less! Ooh lala.)



I seriously wish I could just wear these pants every damn day. Knowing these things exist in my closet makes shoving myself back into a pair of skinny jeans feel like a prison sentence. Plus honestly, those things are really starting to look kinda stale and boring. Is anyone else welcoming the eventual, if only partial (still never gonna be into wide-legged anything, not for me thanks!) decline of the painted-on look?

i love the flower girl

(photo from i-D Magazine June/July 2002)

Yesterday I had a bit of a crap day, so Alex, who bore the brunt of it via IM, brought me home a bunch of beautiful yellow crocosmia. Ladies and gentlemen, I've said it before and I'll say it again: you cannot go wrong with flowers! Some people complain that they're afraid of "getting the wrong thing", but guess what? There's really no such thing as a truly hideous flower (well, maybe besides those ones that live in the jungle and eat insects and smell like death), and besides that, the gesture alone will overrule any wilted daisies or bug-eaten babysbreath.

Still not convinced? Here are some safe bets that you can pick up on your way home from work today:
Spray roses (the smaller kind that has a bunch of little blossoms on one stem)
Orchids (yeah pricier, but you only need one!)
Asters
Lilies
Tulips
Hyacinths

I'm telling you, just don't buy carnations and you'll be set. Also, let me take this opportunity to plug my new tumblr devoted to flowers, because I love them, and they make me happy!

garden variety

Man oh man, how pretty are these pieces from H&M's forthcoming Garden Collection? Even better, everything in the line is made from recycled, organic, and/or sustainable materials.

I wish more "high street" type brands would come out with pieces like these. If "disposable fashion" has to exist in the first place, companies oughta take it upon themselves to do what they can to reduce, reuse and recycle while they're at it. And besides all that, I just really, reeeaaallly wanna be wearing those shorts, on my body, in the sunshine, RIGHT NOW.

dream until your dreams come true

I just dug up this beautiful editorial (ahem...stalking Dree Hemingway's thread on tfs, ahem...) from Vogue Germany. Somehow I missed this back in May, but it looks even better now that the frigid north wind is whistling past my window.

Basically, I've given up on trying to find any sort of "winter fashion inspiration" anymore, since I've also given up on "winter fashion" as such. Seriously. It's fucking impossible to look good when it's a ReelFeel of -6°F out, unless you're loaded enough to buy fancy peacoats and vintage riding boots. And even then, it's mighty questionable.

(Photos by Claudia Knoepfel & Stefan Indlekofer found here)

deluge

I honestly couldn't tell if it was night or day when I woke up this morning, the sky was so dark and ominous. Rain is nice when you can sit inside by a big window and watch it fall on other people...but when you have to shiver on a Q platform waiting for the train to school, eeeeeh, not so much.

(photos from Yvan Rodic, Gala Gonzalez, lauren schmauren, Hannah Metz, and Vogue Paris June 2009)

girl stuff

a)


Perfumes are problematic. I only really like the ones that smell like actual things, not just that gross, fake, "perfume-y" smell. Stella McCartney smells like roses, Marc Jacobs smells like tuberose, and now I'm trying YSL Parisienne on for size (courtesy of a free sample from Sephora.) It smells like blackberries and damask roses, a little sugary but I think it's growing on me. The 1 oz. size is adorable and, for once, not wildly out of my price range--just mildly.

b)


Finding pretty, classy, affordable, underwire-free brasseries has become something of a lifelong mission on my part. I don't understand why it's so hard to find such a thing, and why ladies with big boobs middle-of-the-road boobs should have all the frilly, lacey fun. Which is why I'm completely obsessed with Eberjey's Delirious Bralet. And it comes in A BAZILLION FREAKIN' COLORS, omg you guys, it's a tittay raaaaiiinnnbbbbooowwww!!

c)


On one of my first days at FADER I accompanied my boss to a downtown showroom where, as part of the festivities, they were providing free manicures from OPI's new España line. Rough stuff, I know. Anyways, she chose a gorgeous dark green, almost black number called "Here Today...Aragon Tomorrow" (ah the puns! They buuurn!!) while I went with some stupid pinkish purple junk. You might say I was...green with envy???

d)

(photo from venn. on flickr)

If there's one thing I despise in cosmetics, it's that awful, frosty shimmer that sneaks into so many nail polishes and lipsticks. I want my colors pure, straightforward, unadulterated. I also want them at drugstore prices. Which is why I'm so stoked on the Revlon Matte collection. I already have Pink Pout, pictured, but I also really want the nude shade and maybe even a red?? It's no NARS Roman Holiday, but it ain't half bad either.

flower power

So, I know it's the middle of November and all, but try as I might I can't seem to get Spring off my mind. My brain's a big mess of light, soft fabrics--khakis and olives and blues and creams, with touches of braided leather and flat sandals...ok, so I guess maybe I just have Chloé to blame?? But anyways, maybe that's why, when I see an editorial like this one, which is purportedly meant to be, quote, "a view on Kenzo fall winter collection" all I can think is ooooh, Spring! Florals! Bunnies and babychicks!! Hooray!!!!!

Or maybe it's that I just got done planting a dozen daffodil bulbs in our back yard? By the time those things come up I'll probably be all excited for Fall again. Actually, no, I doubt it. You can see the rest of this lovely editorial, featuring Elsa Sylvan, which I found on Fashion Gone Rogue, right here.

(all photos by Alexandra Catiere for Crash Magazine)

bye bye love

Sorry to get all sentimental on your collective asses, but the Pains left for a three week Spain-France-UK tour yesterday. Meaning, I wont be seeing this handsome face again for way, waaaaaay too long.

His absence happens to coincide with what, I hope, are to be the last few weeks of my school career for(knock on wood)ever. I anticipate a lot of time spent alternately feeling extremely sorry for myself, procrastinating like I've never procrastinated before and, theoretically, knuckling down and writing a masterful paper or two...or five. The last five papers I will ever write in my entire life. Knock on wood.

miu miu woo woo

Nothing could ever top Chloë in Chloé, but Chloë in Miu Miu suuure ain't half bad.

Also, and I understand this will not be an overwhelmingly popular opinion, but I really don't have a beef with this outfit. I actually...kinda like it? It's not like she didn't have a reference point, it was a party for Miu Miu, and hell, at least she didn't choose to accessorize with some big hunk of roadkill.

Mostly, I just like that she isn't afraid to go out on a limb and risk being laughed at when she gets dressed, even for events. That's what makes Chloë Chloë afterall, and why oh why would you want it any other way??