HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Y'all.

fotodecadent

be careful with all that.

I Ought To Start By Saying, It's 2am

And I'm watching Sabrina The Teenage Witch.

I think, "I can't fall asleep" goes without saying.

I want to do this with a sweater.  But not with the letters YSL.  Earlier today, I researched and found 3 fonts that are similar to the logo (which, as i found out, is not an actual font but a custom-design by Adolphe Cassandre) and I'm thinking of doing this with my initials.  I do have three of those.

Also:  I was parusing Refinery29 and found this article about St. Vincent, the singer.

"Black Wolford tights.  They're like America.  They never fucking run"

"Anything you're coveting right now?

'What's worse than coveting is that I now rationalize the most sensational purchases as a 'business expense'.  This is a slippery, slippery slope."

this will probably be deleted once I write something worthwhile, I swear.

Completely Off Topic, Unless You Count Peggy's Awesome New Dresses

Seriously, she has gotten a lot better since smartening up.  I.E: from season one to two.

I really loved the black and check dress she wore when Don came back.

But this post was actually just for me to tell you all:

THE MAD MEN SEASON FINALE WAS BANANAS, BANOODLES, AND ANY OTHER NONSENSICAL WORD YOU CAN COME UP WITH TO DESCRIBE SOMETHING THAT TOTALLY BLEW YOUR MIND.  I MEAN SERIOUSLY, IT EFFING BLEW MY MIND IN SO MANY WAYS.  FOR EXAMPLE: USING THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS AS A PARALLEL TO THE EMOTIONAL TRAJECTORIES OF ITS MAIN CHARACTERS, WAS FUCKING AMAZING.  THE PART WHERE DON AND ROGER SAY "WE REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON" AND ARE TALKING ABOUT THE MISSILE CRISIS WAS A PERFECT EXECUTION OF DRAMATIC IRONY. AND BETTY.  DEAR BETTY.  YOU MAKE THE NAME BETTY LESS ANNOYING, AND FOR THAT I THANK YOU.

I'M NOT EVEN GONNA GO TO THE WHOLE PETELOVESPEGGY THING BECAUSE I'LL BREAK DOWN.

Treacy

I want that hat so bad.  Ever since I was little and I would see pictures of Isabella Blow in the "Blow" hat, I wanted one.  When I learned the name "Philip Treacy" I wanted one more.  Now that he turned a peacock into a gold hat, I may just fly over to London and follow him around until he gives me one.

That dress is nice too.

Swap Meet.

Eh!

This gonna be short because I can't think of anything long to say, I'm afraid.

I bought one thing this past week, and that was a Zara copy of a very nice, very shiny, kinda S&M-if-you-wear-it-right, pair of Kate Spade boots.  Winners: 299, Zara: 69.

I'd say I won this round, corporate bigwigs.

ALSO: the 69 Vintage By The Pound store had a clothing swap this week.  Taking away all of the stuff I don't wear anymore got me the above very pretty white jacket (for some odd reason, I could not get a proper picture of it, next time maybe), two pairs of shoes, a fall-y plaid skirt, and two shirts.  

*sigh* and I saw a partridge singing in a pear tree on my way home, isn't that weird?

The Amazing Adventures of Mary Kate and Ashley.

via The Cut.

About their new book, called Influence.

Having grown out of my idolizing-a-child-star phase, my excitement about the Olsen twins and their projects has been dwindling.  I'm sorry, but after Two of A Kind, and that movie where they tried to find their dad a date by posting his personal ad on a billboard, I sort of didn't care about a clothing line.

It was nice.  But it was no madcap adventure.

But this could be:

KL: Maybe you'll stay inside with a baby. Do you want to get married? Children? Two perfect mums, yes?
[Mary-Kate and Ashley look at each other]
KL: Ah! Don't worry, you have time. You're young. Don't you want to get married?
MKO: I don't feel the need to get married. But Ashley wants children. I'll be a great aunt or godmother.
AO: To my child.
KL: [To Ashley] Are you planning?
AO: No. I don't even have a boyfriend. You have to plan that first, right? Figure that out first?
KL: If you get a boyfriend it doesn't mean that! Today you can have a baby first. If you want. I never liked the idea of a family at all. If it's a woman — it's more fun for a woman.

and:

MKO: It can be dangerous when you're driving [in L.A.] particularly, because they follow you in cars and scooters. That's bad. That's not easy.
KL: I had two accidents where I fell asleep — after that I thought it was better that I don't drive. I'll get a driver. I'm a bad driver because I want to look there, there, and up there. I get bored easily — so twice I fall asleep and twice the car is destroyed … I had nothing [wrong] with me — but both cars were destroyed.

after that last bit, I'd say driving with Karl is a madcap adventure worthy of two people who saw a crime and therefore had to be relocated in the witness protection program, but because they kept blowing their cover they had to do it so many times that they ended up in Australia.

I Should Just Turn This into A Shoe Blog or Something.

bottom from jakandjill

Nicholas Kirkwood.  Very exciting guy.  And another example of little details being added to heels and toes.

I don't remember where I found these, but I did, and they are exciting.  The second pair are Stella McCartney.

inunrelatednews:  one month 'till my b-day! woot.

EDIT: It's easier to post this link from JAK&JILL than it is to post & credit all of the ones I love.  Because I'd say I'd line up for 90% of them.

A Light Coming From Somewhere

Another photographer found while doing the daily blog thing.

Sean Lee, Photographer, User of Light, part of that new school of "Hyperrealism" in digital photography.

Found via. "The Artist And His Model" blog - "daily collectives on arts, [graphic design], fashion and photography"

Fly Me To The Moon.

I once had an online diary where each entry was named after a song.

Just thought I'd say.

All I did today was go get groceries and bake meringues but to leave my house I forced myself to not leave in my jammies.  This time last year, I would have worn my jammies to go to the No Frills, but now I feel I have some kind of responsibility to not look like a mess.

Seeing as I didn't have to think hard, I call this progress.  P.S a reason to love TCM:  To fill in the time between movies, they play old film reels, like a tourism reel for New York from the 60s.  

"Word" To The Finding Gods

I found a find today.  A biggie.  

After an interview for a job (yes! step one!) I went to a vintage by-the-pound near my house to just pass the time and look at clothes that I wouldn't buy.  In addition to the following I also found a yellow and white striped, super-wide leg terry pantsuit.

It actually screamed " 1977, L.A, A POOL IN THE HILLS + YOU, ME, A DRINK, AND A FLOPPY WIDE BRIM HAT BABY", which kinda freaked me out/made me want it so bad (in related news, disco can save lives).

What I did find was this dress:

I can't seem to get a picture that does it justice in the teeny basement that is my apartment, however, the original price of this dress (which is in perfect condition save the single hook + eye that is on a loose thread) was $140 at 69 Vintage.  I have photographic evidence of the original tag.

But at their amazing, lovely, fantabulous, ridick, ridonk, awesome, brilliant, e.t.c By-Th-Pound it cost $10.50, including the belt and scarf I got with it.

um yeah.  Pretty much.

I suppose I had a bit of a 50's-y, vintage-y day seeing as I also wore this very comfortable (faux) fur wrap:

Me likey.  Found at after cleaning out my closet-y.  It keeps me warmy in the October fall.  Y.

Later:  I put the dress away and discovered it had pockets.  !!! pockets!

A Question For Those With Opinions

Before I get into what I was going to say, I have to tell you that right now I am watching a Russian court dance in a Bollywood film.

Imagine Russian dancing and a Bollywood movie.  Now put them together.  Kind of amazing, thank you Rogers Television.

My original question was about Halloween.  I am planning on being a perfume ad.  I sort of have it sorted out in my mind, and have accepted the fact that I probably can't do something really cool like one of these:

But I wanted to know if there is a way to create some kind of frame to attach to myself to look like a border of some kind?

Anyone?

Anyone?

Anyone have a suggestion as to which perfume ad I should blatantly copy?

Cubism

These are all Pierre Hardy.

Some woman at Holt Renfrew thought I could afford a version of that shoe on the bottom left there.  It looks like a gold square is sliding off your shoe - a lovely trick for the eyes.

Something to trick people with at parties.

1,2 Buckle Your Shoe

More shoes to ruin your keyboard over.  

I think I only like these because they try a little harder than other boots to get you to pay attention.  What would be interesting is if one were to scrawl some little haiku over the straps?

Maybe a Nursery Rhyme or Two.

ERROR:/CLEVER TITLE APP. NOT RESPONDING

uuuuuunnnnhhhhggg.

My computer is acting strange.  Far too slow.  This, among other reasons, is why I have not posted in a few days.  The other reasons include seeing people who would be leaving at the end of this long weekend, and eating enough turkey to take me until Christmas.  I ran errands yesterday and voted. It didn't do much, but was a nice day.  Got to spend some quality time with a box and a golf pencil in my elementary school's gym.  And I was one of 59% of something.

Not the point.

This is.  Fiddling with this scarf is a fun pastime.  I managed to get a bit of a Pugibethan neckline out of it earlier while trying to fend off "october".  It's actually become one of my favourite pieces because of the fact that I do not know what to do with it and therefore have no limits in my imagination as to what it can be worn with/how it can be worn.

Oh I'm also going for a new look with this blog thing.  I have a lot of time (probably a little bit too much) on my hands right now so I can, and I'm trying to do a big overhaul thing.  I'm halfway through organizing my files of crap that I have saved and will get on to my closet next.

Maybe I'll post the results of that........would that be as productive as I think it will?  yes.

Recuenco Blows My Mind A Bajillion Time Over

I've been using "bajillion" often lately as an adjective....interesting.

So I've gone on and on before about Eugenio Recuenco's photography, and I have his online portfolio in that long list of links to the right there, but I never took the time to explore his website past the photography. And I'm so, so happy I finally did because I never realised there was a video section.
Nor did I know he directed the commercial for "Infallable Lip Colour by L'Oreal" - who knew?

I really love this Nina Ricci one.

Nina Ricci
by erecuenco

For Loewe. There's another, shorter version as well. Called Quisaz Quisaz Quisaz, but I think this ones tells their "story" better.

Esencia de una Seducción
by erecuenco

All are very good, all retain that "off" quality in his photography, most verge on the more sexual/sensual side of things.

I found it while looking for another short film I saw online once, years ago. Don't you hate it when you remember something clearly but can't remember it's name (thereby not being able to actually find it to share it with others)?
Here is his Dailymotion profile. So you can watch other videos. Or go to his website and to the "films" section.

To finish off:

So I'm Out Of A Job.

And did this.

None of these photographs are mine, but I don't remember where all of them are from.  A combination of Jak&Jill, The Sartorialist, Facehunter, and the like.

I'll see you guys later.

Achoo: A Tale of A Tag

In blog-land, being tagged is almost like being.....verified?  Confirmed?  Initiated?

I'd say so.

I'm glad to be initiated.  Especially by such an articulate, and awesome blogger.

A Guide To This Tag:

1 - Turn on itunes/ipod/music playing device

2 - Activate "Shuffle Mode"

3 - Use the first song that plays to influence/inspire your outfit for the day.

I actually did this first on Saturday night to inform my outfit for Nuit Blanche.  Sadly, during the event (which, compared to past years, kinda blew) I managed to gracefully and cartoonishly, dump a tray of McDonald's onto my lap. So..that picture will come when my pants have come back from the dry cleaners.

But I did it once again this morning and came up with a very fitting song.  In part because it was raining like the dickens outside.  It was grey, and cloudy y'see.  And dammit, I spent 3 minutes outside and was soaked to the bone, to the bone y'hear!

The song?  Audrey's Dance by Angelo Badalamenti, from the Twin Peaks soundtrack.

My ipod really loves Angelo (as do I).  He works with David Lynch often, has done the soundtrack for Twin Peaks, Mullholland Drive, Blue Velvet.  He also worked on the film Secretary.

    

The only piece missing from these is my pink hat, because it got a little wet and dirty so I had to dry and clean it.

The image that this composition brings to mind is of metals - brass specifically.  It's hard to explain, but I picture sort of....puddles of a dark, thick liquid, and someone stepping in them, and causing the splashes to sort of solidify and turn into brass or silver.  So I went with a basic black jumper, tied up around the front to create those little triangles and a lot of silver - on my belt, on my wrists, and I put a silver headband around my hat to complete that part of it (I suppose I'll show you those when I post the pictures from this weekend, or maybe sometime tomorrow.......I'll figure it out).

My jumper is also really slouchy.  I pulled it up so that the top half was draping over my belt and the legs were draping over themselves, and the whole idea was to make it a black, "liquid" that was hit here and there with bits of metal.  Don't know if those pictures give the idea but I thought it was there.

This was worn with a pair of lace up H&M wedges, by the by.

*ahem* So...who to tag who to tag......

I think I'll ask:  Leila Grace from The Vain and The Bored (because based on the song of the day at the top of each of her posts - she has great taste),  Stefani from Keep Your Guns at Home (for a chance at Cat Power), and Quoth The Raven 

Oh, and for a random pick from my blogroll:  Urban Audrey.

I Like To Pick A Theme and Beat It To Pieces.

via Altamira NYC

The Collar.

I have done this here, and admired it here, and will continue to do both until it is smashed into a mangled, knitted blob.

P.S: Follow my blog with bloglovin´ because you know you want to join me on this bandwagon too.

Tryin' the Blingin' on the Wristin'

This was my wrist today.  The rest was not particularly noteworthy soooo I focused on my wrist (also making the "outifit post" a bajillion times easier).

Comments included: a joke about selling fake rolexes, being on Toronto/London/Tokyo time, forgetting the time, being on time, e.t.c.  Not that it matters much anymore, I quite like this.  Next time I'm thinking of going smallest to largest face.  

Part of the comfort is from my love of cuffs.  Almost all of my bracelets are cuffs.  Silver, brass, cut out, solid, most (I'd say about 90% of my wrist jewelry?) are cuffs.  I like how protective they are.  I like that they climb up my arms, into my sleeves as if trying to give the impression that my arms are in fact made of metals.

Another positive - the watches over the sleeves made me stop stretching my sleeves over my hands (The equivalent of putting that gross tasting liquid on your fingernails to stop from chewing them).

Later: I found out who belongs to those shoes, apparently The Sartorialist liked them too:

  

Jealous party, table for one.

via jak&jill.com again.

What is it with this new "heels and details" thing?  With the intricacies of Prada ss08 and those awesome Ungaro shoes and that Miu Miu shoe I saw in the window of Brown's today.  No one ever stared at the ground as much as I did until now.

Maybe it's a sign of the times.  Like.....we're picking one element of clothing, one garment category (wow, I cannot form a thought well), to really exaggerate, really put an emphasis on so that we can either be a) really lazy or b) really frugal with the rest of it.  'Cause you don't need a lot after you have those shoes.  

And who doesn't like shoes?  Who doesn't spend on shoes?  Who doesn't crumble when they see a pair of shoes in a store window?  Who hasn't walked into at least one person/pole/mailbox/obstacle in the street while staring at a pair of shoes?

So why not make the one piece that we spend all of our limited fortunes on the one piece that seems to make everyone feel good about themselves?

come to think of it, why do shoes make us feel good/better?