heart beats: santigold, mykki blanco, scott melker

Fair warning: While I absolutely do not endorse misogyny, bigotry or excessive profanity, my taste in music may indicate otherwise. I'm young. I allow myself these contradictions without having to explain.

While my style is a hip hopster/minimalist rock star-earth mama hybrid, my iTunes is a fist-pumping frat boy hip hop-head demi-hipster who secretly likes Justin Bieber. Secretly. I don't even attempt to reconcile the two.

Anyway, if you're averse to an excess of expletives, I'd suggest skipping this post. Or you could just read it. I don't swear. It isn't ladylike ;)

 

 Santigold - Look At These Hoes

While the spelling of the title instructs listeners to check out Santigold's gardening tools ('hoe' vs. 'ho' -- how are we still going over this?), I can forgive the typo because the song is hot and modern-urban-meets-Renaissance-classical artist Kehinde Wiley designed the art for the singer's bangin' sophomore album. Double swoon.

 Mykki Blanco - Wavvy

Everything I know about rapper Mykki Blanco, I learned from this song: she spits fire, wears sick shoes and drives the boys crazy. It is 100% cliche to call her 'fierce' but that's what she is, a flame-tongued dragon in a bustier. Clearly, she's everything I aspire to be.

 

Gotye vs. Notorious B.I.G. - Somebody That I Used to Know vs. Dead Wrong (Scott Melker Popped and Screwed Remix)

My love affair with mashups began in college with the discovery of The Hood Internet, and then KMT (check out his Jay Z vs Dolly Parton track) a few years later. This Scott Melker joint is everything good about both songs, made even better by putting them into conversation. Best enjoyed rolling around with the windows down.

Warm weather may bring out the softer side in my style, but my abiding love for hard bass-heavy tracks like these ones doesn't change with the seasons. Ugh get a room, right? But this is my blog so I get to say what I want.

Music's best when it moves you. Turn these tracks up and feeeeeel the beat.

xx

spirit animals

Lil B as Mozart//1993 Mario Testino shot for Harper's

Have you checked out my tumblr yet?

xx

spring cleaning

Chanel Iman and friend in all their Coachella-requisite grunge/boho glory

I think I'm over grunge. At least I'm over the [I had a few strong adjectives here but removed them] version of grunge proliferated by a couple of recently-rad brands (who shall remain nameless since I may change my mind tomorrow and go full-Miley Cyrus). After clicking through way too many Coachella pictures like the masochist that I am, I'm experiencing this great urgency to purge my closet of the fast-fashion fringe, flannel and leopard print and start clean.

While I'm wary of making such a strong declarative statement, this transition feels more like a return to my "true" self. I've always favored smart, simple design and while my tastes have evolved to include color and pattern in the last couple years, my style is still more Wang than Wu.

Two ladies who do simple so well:

San Francisco-native Rumi Neely is the epitome of laid-back California cool. Her closet, full of It girl brands like Theyskens Theory, Phillip Lim and Isabel Marant, is what my closet aspires to be.

Thanks to super-stylist duo Mariel Haenn and Rob Zangardi, Rihanna has transitioned from pop tart to sleek, sexy rock star. Whether she's in Acne denim or an Armani gown, the girl looks good.


So, resolved as I may seem to clean up my style act, I reserve the right to revisit retro band tees, ditsy florals and chenille whenever the mood strikes. Fashion is cyclical, so while my Juicy velour sits on a shelf gathering dust right now, we know that those plush coordinates will be back someday. Sounds ominous, right? Dun dun dunnnnn.

xx

lust list: spring

Nasty Gal Kate Muscle Tee//Free People O-Town Muscle Tank

MUSCLE TANKS: There's something about a high crewneck that seems really fresh right now. [I rolled my eyes at myself after I typed that, so you're allowed to too.] The masculine minimalist style of these tops just begs for a drapey maxi skirt or a cuffed-hem pair of rigid selvedge jeans.

Three of the four Courtin-Clarins girls in Pristine//Diane Kruger in Repossi

EDGY EARRINGS: I've been toying with the idea of some minor body modification lately, but as fickle as I am, it's probably best to try the impermanent version first. Until I have the budget of an heiress/movie star, I'll be freaking my mom out by wearing these.

Nike Dunk Sky Hi Liberty//Jeffrey Campbell Teramo

WEDGE SNEAKERS: Aside from a brief "sporty" phase in the third grade, my tastes have always been more silk than spandex, but the recent trend of athletic-inspired womenswear is a home run/touch down/slam dunk etc., etc. The wedge sneaker is everything I love about a high-top plus some added height. Ain't no shame in a little lift. Just ask Tom Cruise ;)

Gap//Current/Elliott//Zara

CUFFED DENIM: What is it about rolling the hem of jeans that instantly makes the look? I've been obsessed for months. I cuff everything. When shorts weather rolls around I may have a real problem. But until then, I'll be celebrating the transitional weather ankles-out.



Which spring trends have you sprung?

xx

do it like a dude

Gap jacket, pants and belt, Emma & Sam tank, Steve Madden booties

This has been my uniform lately. The slouchy, boyish look is elevated (heh heh) with the addition of my favorite wedge desert booties. Pants that make the boys go, "Uggh" make me go, "Yay!"

Route 66 flannel, Mango camisole, Levis jeans, Gap belt, ASOS booties

These jeans were my first foray into the 'boyfriend' look a couple years ago. Rest assured though, these babies aren't getting me any dates. On a recent stroll down Chestnut, a charmingly-inebriated Marina bro slurred, "Lesssbian" as I walked by. For the record, homeboy could have used a little homo in his life.

Gap jacket, Quicksilver shirt, Plush leggings, Converse shoes

Menswear button-down, little boy's sneakers and leggings, just to prove that my legs aren't always sheathed in extra yards of canvas and/or denim. I can almost hear the, "leggings aren't pants!" cries now but these fleece-lined wonders will make believers out of even the most adamant stretchy pants opponent. Deny them, I dare you.


The moral of this sartorial story? Borrow from the boys with pride. Style tips from dudes in popped-collar polos are made to be ignored.

xx

cine-fille

I really love movies. And I know, thus far, that I've only written about documentaries, but I swear I'm not that girl. I've seen every Twilight installment in theaters, and generally, I enjoyed them (in the special way that one enjoys sparkly men and vampire-werewolf-human love triangles). But since I graduated, I've been starved for substance. Without professors and peers in the arts introducing me to the latest and greatest, I've been left to my own devices in search of creative stimulation.

I've had the opportunity to see some really wonderful documentaries in the past year (I blogged about the Bill Cunningham, Diana Vreeland and Charles Eames films in the past months) and now, provided they find distribution, here are a few new docs I'm looking forward to seeing in 2012:

Advanced Style is about the stylish older women of New York. Zelda Kaplan, a 95 year-old socialite featured in the film, recently made headlines when she passed away while sitting front row at Joanna Mastroianni's New York Fashion Week show earlier this month. Her friends said it was a poetic end to a long and happy life. Zelda literally lived and died for fashion.

 

Also about life after mid-life, About Face profiles former supermodels as they come to terms with their changing appearances. The film includes interviews with the eternally-beautiful Jerry Hall, China Machado, Isabella Rossellini, Paulina Porizkova and Carmen dell'Orefice.

The Tents reviews the history of New York Fashion Week, first at Bryant Park and then at Lincoln Center. Both celebratory and cautionary, the film features interviews with fashion greats from Isaac Mizrahi to Donna Karan.

In the current wasteland of reality entertainment, the documentary genre engages with the real without sensationalizing or manipulating the truth. Authenticity. It's an interesting concept in creativity, right? I guess that's a post for another day.

xx

lust list: collaborations

Clockwise from left: Madewell x Dr Martens 1460 8-eye pony hair boot, Supreme x Northface Nuptse Puffer Jacket, Joyrich x LeSportsac Chain Print Weekender, Oscar de la Renta x Beats by Dre Fox Fur Headphones

Even though the boots and bag are now sold out (heyyy eBay!), these are a few of my favorite recent-ish designer collaborations. There's something so exciting about two creative forces coming together to produce doubly inspired results. On my radar in 2012- Jason Wu for Target, Marni for H&M and Doo-ri for Macy's.

twenty - eleven

I've never been a huge fan of the end-of-the-year roundups. It seems that all the top-this's and best-of-that's add extra emphasis on the already-stressful end of the year. But despite my own aversion, I've decided to include this very self-indulgent look back at my 2011. It wasn't an easy year by any measure, but as it came to a close, it felt important for me to acknowledge the moments that made it memorable. I am so fortunate to have met some incredible people, visited beautiful places and experienced many new and interesting things.

Here's to a 2012 that brings health, happiness and beauty in all its many forms
xx