Why Then, Why Now

fur coat at Bluebird Vintage

I don't know why or what it is but all of a sudden I kind of want one of these fur coats.  The shorter, yet bigger, blonder late-60s/disco 70s kind of style.  In a lighter-coloured (vintage) fur.  Part of me thinks it would look good with my dark hair the rest of me is screaming that I just want it because it is trendy and that a year from now I won't wear it.  A year from now I'll think it's just too big and too short and doesn't work with my soon-to-come non-wardrobe of actual colour as opposed to all black.  What if a year from now (or months from now) I'm wearing wider-legged jeans?  Or the whole late-60s Edie look sinks back into its manhole and I'm left with this big poufy thing and a pile of regret to match?

What if it just makes my hair look even bigger?

Many what-ifs to examine what exactly it is that makes one want.  You know?  That makes you see something once and roll your eyes, see it again and sort of catch your eye in the mirror and then see it a third time and let the consideration creep into your head.  What is it that convinces us that the look that once caused a snarky remark is something to seriously consider and, eventually, buy into?

Why Has This Taken So Long

I've been working and reworking the banner and the layout of this blog, only to return to its original format about four times. I almost wish I had a paid account on blogger so I could put up a very fancy "We Will Return After Visual Maintenance" banner while I work at it. I'm still not entirely done. Blogger is very limited, but this is generally what it will be. The image is a photograph I found via google image search that originates HERE.

The set is made up of photographs of Courtney Love (performing, I assume) contrasted with black and white photographs of roses.  This time around, when creating my banner I really wanted to incorporate flowers, because of the origin of the title of the blog, and these were my favourites.  Even alone, before being altered in photoshop, they provide a ve I'm ry simple, almost formal yet still very "cool" image to introduce all the semi-coherent rambling that follows.  SO after deciding a) use this particular image (as opposed to the many others) and then opting to split it in two (to bookend my blog with it), I started playing in photoshop.  Like I said the image itself doesn't need anything but I was bored and kind of sick so I was playing with the filter options. The Color Halftone option creating this candied image above so I kept it.

and as a reward for reading all that, my friend Eliza spent New Year's Day doing THESE.  I'm the one in the Hello Kitty....head.

Steely Resolve

The red dress I saw a few days ago at Fawn is also on sale at Holt Renfrew.  I was parusing a few sale racks and while in the change room trying on a magnificent leather jacket (original price was approximately $1200 yet I see no difference in fit or feel to others I've tried on, expensive and inexpensive) I spotted it on the rail people leave the clothes they don't want on.  I immediately ran off, found my size, and checked the price: a full hundred and a bit off the sale price at Fawn.  I tried the dress on again to make sure it fit the way I remembered (it did) and while standing in the change room my thoughts flip flopped between:

Do I want to give Holt Renfrew my money, or would I rather have it go to Fawn.

But this dress costs less.

But do I want to support Holt Renfrew, as opposed to a local business.

But this one costs less.

And so on.  Cost won over morals this time, I put the dress on hold.

However, while I drifted through the shoe section (thank all heavens I was distracted) I started thinking about local business, cost, and shopping habits.  My shopping habits.

I thought about quality and quantity and at some point came to the conclusion that the way I shop (collecting H&M as if it were facing bankruptcy) really is doing nothing for me.  I forgot what the benefit of shopping from those kinds of places were, especially since they start to fray after a month or so, and I spend just as much time mending them as I do wearing them.  I've been searching for a cardigan and keep picking up the same one from H&M before putting it down, remembering the 3 others that ended up with irreparable holes in them.

I prefer the quality of stores that yes, are slightly more expensive, but are smaller, and sometimes are locally owned/designed.  And how many times I've gone into those stores and thought that the sweaters are too too expensive, but how often do I think that thought after having spent "less" at a store like Forever 21?  I end up spending the same amount of money on 4 sweaters that I'll have to replace.  I own a cashmere sweater that, after 4 years has kept it's shape (the only problem with it is due to a bad experience with a dry cleaner).  I'm more inclined to care for my more expensive pieces as well - the silk vintage dresses, and the Twenty8Twelve pants I own are treated delicately and put in their place while my jeans, t-shirts and etcetera are carelessly strewn about my teensy bedroom.  Even after cleaning out my closet I still feel as if I am left with a mountain of crap I don't want to wear because it has lost it's shape or I feel it doesn't "go" with whatever else I own.

In short - I think I need to change my shopping habits.

SO. My official new year's resolution list was compiled as I sat in Lettieri staring out the window and staring at the boots I bought in order to replace a cheaper pair that broke.

#1:  Buy Less Buy Better.

I resolve to shop less often and window shop more.  I resolve to really try to shop locally, for better quality pieces and instead of saying "oh well I wish I could get the Acne jeans" I will save and buy one pair of great jeans instead of 3 that are too long, too wide, or too _____.  I will care for these pieces, and get them tailored if necessary.  I will also take the time to find my size instead of guessing, and I will find and keep a really good tailor and cobbler.

#2: Get In Order.

I resolve to put my material life in order and to do my best to keep it that way.  Too often I have lost a backing to an earring (or vice versa) due to throwing it on a shelf and not thinking about it until I decide to wear it.  Too often do my things fall through the crack of my bed and I am altogether too quick to replace it.  Not anymore.  I also resolve to procrastinate less.  I've made quite a bit of progress in this area in 2008, but in 2009 I'll take another step in the "do it" direction.  I won't let my "alterations and sewing" basket overflow and if I really want to d-it-myself, I will DIY with the idea still in my head.

#2 - A: I will not let my google reader get out of hand.

#3: Stick to Something.

In regards to this blog, I resolve to get back to basics.  I started writing to really break down what I wore, why, and track my progress.  I wanted to focus on how I project myself to others (and the best way to see this, is to project yourself to others) so I resolve to commit myself to posting outfits, ask questions, and really look at what I am doing.  I resolve to try new things and narrow down what I really like and explore them further.  I suppose this is a companion to resolution #1.  And if I shop less,  I'll have less to incorporate and more time to devote to dressing myself the way I want to.  I resolve to create a style for myself, as an extension of merely dressing well.

And on that note:  I'll clear out the "inspired" folder on my computer at least once a month so that maybe I'll look at those photographs and use them in dressing.

#4: Practice, dammit!

This isn't necessarily related, but I resolve to dedicate at least one day a week to rehearsal so that I am really prepared for theatre school auditions when they start popping up a few months from now. And to continue them afterward so I'm prepared in general.

Go, Billly, Go

Well hello again.  I've been away for a few days, visiting friends in Windsor and taking a tour of WindsorU.  Very scholarly, and it was kind of amazing to get away from Toronto for a few days.  I won't go into it, but it was really relaxing not having to worry about........aesthetics.

NOW!

I want to know what kind of environment creates the minds of people who do stuff like this:

via styelsightings

It could be that I just don't know about it, but I know few people who would go so far as to dress up and meet up for anything like the Tokyo Rockabilly Club.  It's more than detachment from the culture it comes from, because you can appreciate and covet a lifestyle from afar (I'm very familiar with the feeling) but there is a line you have to cross to actually pay homage to it at this level.  It involves study and immersing yourself in a culture (or sub-culture) that is far enough from your own that you really have to rely on 3rd party opinion and interpretation so you can create you own version of it.  For example:  I'd have to have an entirely 3rd party view of "hipster culture" through books, photographs and film in order to create my own idea of it without influence from someone who knows the "truth" of the sub-culture and can tell me that I'm doing something wrong.

Break Board.

I took a wee blogger break which I a) already told y'all and b) do from time to time.

SO I made this:

It's a compilation of photos that have been piling up in my computer file labelled "For Still" so I can remember to share them on here at some point in time.

From Default

These are from FaceHunter, FotoDecadent, Life Magazine Photo Archives/Gnarlitude, and the Miu Miu website and more, I just don't remember where all of them are from.  Oh! and Fak!

Some Notes:

• A lot of people are using bullet notes. This reminds me of school and how easy it was to convey information in short form.  Lucky for you I have decided not to use the short form "language" I use for school, because you would NOT understand that.  
• I'm almost done that YSL sweater project.  I just have to actually attach it to something, which I will do on Thursday (I'm very determined)
• Adobe Illustrator is a pain in the rear.  The Gradient Map tool is the work of the devil.  I don't know why I ever use it.  This has to do with another DIY project I'm doing because I am a) crazy and b) bored with what I see in stores that I can afford.
• The project that involves Adobe Illustrator is (I think) kinda cool.  I'm excited for how it turns out, Illustrated or not.
• I came up with yet another diy project which I promise I will not do until I'm finished the other two.  Damn, I do this with books too.  I'm always reading about 3 at a time and it takes me forever, then I complain about it taking me forever to finish a book, even though it is all my own damn fault.

Happy Things

I was tagged by Jam-Bo-Ree to name 6 Unimportant Things That Make Me Happy.  I have been working on it since then.  And then I kind of forgot about it while taking a "blogging breather" which I do from time to time.

1. Wikipedia.

Call it unreliable (which it totally is.  My friend once edited the Michael Buble page to say that they were engaged and then it was deleted.  She then put it back, and it was changed to "formerly engaged" for about 6 months before being deleted again), but where else can you read about Project MKULTRA,  Roberto Bolano, Chaos Theory, the Zodiac, Isabella Blow, and Joaquin Phoenix in one place, and from the comfort of your own home? I love it.

2. WNYC's RadioLab.

Here is the link to what I consider the best not-music oriented podcast I've heard in awhile - you can download it off of that website and also through itunes.  Hosted by Rob Krulwich and Jad Abumrad, two very charismatic, smart and kind of strange guys, they have shows about science for the curious who don't necessarily want to read scientific journals.  They use interviews that are cut and pasted with their own commentary, and a variety of sound clips to explore the topic from the perspective of the listener.  And the two hosts have great chemistry.  My favourite shows are Memory and Forgetting, War of The Worlds, Pop Music.  Choice, the most recent and the opening to their 5th season, is also a good one.

3. The Latest Issue of Camoflauge.

It's the shoes issue.

I'll scan my favourites soon, they did something very interesting with shoes.  But it um....makes me happy.

4. Coffee and Pie.

Separately, both can make you feel better, comfort you when you're down, but together they can raise you up higher than Josh Groban manning a crane.

5.  Non-Pretentious Music Blogs.

I say "non-pretentious" because sometimes when reading Stereogum or Pitchfork I feel like I'm being talked down to, which I do not like (it does not make me happy).

I go through phases in liking music so discovering new music tends to come in handy.  I also like to read about music. Music blogs bring the two together.  Some I really like are Fluxblog, Marathon Packs and Star Maker Machine.  

6. Life Magazine Archives.

As hosted by Google.  

Just the fact that we have access to all this makes me so so happy.

 

I just thought of many other things that make me happy.  But instead I'll spread the happiness by tagging Pandora's Closet, Garbage Dress, The Vain & The Bored, and......ANYONE ELSE.

Sheesh.  I forgot about this tag until today.

Yeah, This Is Still About Clothes.

I've just been off on planet "away" for awhile.  

Here is one thing that doesn't cover everything only a snapshot.  I actually wish I had taken an outfit photo a week and a half ago when I wore the same Pink Floyd shirt 3 days in a row (I know it was gross, but in my defence - day two was laundry day and I had the decency to throw it in there for those few hours) because it would illustrate the story a bit better.

I have mentioned many a time that I dressed badly in high school.  Like, ill-fitting jeans and t-shirts, never a skirt in sight.  I also went to a hippy arts school (Rosedale Heights for the very curious) that had no auditions and no strict "major" system (so you could branch out into more than one aspect if you wanted to).  There was a very creative and cool atmosphere, especially when I first got there.  I remember being struck by the volume of manic panic-ed heads, torn clothing, and metal (there was a lot of metal).

Okay the point - their general presence made me want to be a punk.  For awhile I had this secret desire to stomp around in Docs and style my hair with wood glue though I never did because I knew that there was just no way I could pull it off;  I didn't even swear, let alone actually listen to punk rock.

  

Now, I kind of figure it was the metal and the chains.  I like the picture, the attitude that metal projects, how safe it is and makes one feel.  Slowly I seem to have integrated a lot of metal into the general rotation of jewelry 'round my neck, wrists and fingers, piling them on top of one another and wrapping them around already slightly torn sleeves.  Is this a return to my 14 year old dreams of punkdom?  Shall I go back to The Clash and Rise Against, develop a snarl and curl my lip for no particular reason?

I highly doubt it.  The reason is probably more along the lines to the trend to stud everything in sight, tearing and shredding the rest, and the influence of Ms. Lanphear and her preferences for metal cuffs that would make Wonder Woman drool.  

I kind of wish I could see whether this will just be a passing trend (for me) or I'll stick to it.  This isn't the first time I've wrapped a chain around my wrist, but how far from the last is it?  I've loved my cuffs for as long as I can remember but if bare wrists and knuckles come into vogue what will happen to my cut-out silvers and golds?

Design 101: Imitation = Flattery (?)

I saw the Bloc Party singles via wikipedia (because I'm that girl) and had a nasty few days where I thought I was crazy for recognizing the layout of it.  If I could find a proper photograph of the Transmission single, I could probably illustrate this better.  I remember when Bloc Party first came out it was during this whole "omg, remember Joy Division? Probably not, but they were so cool!" and they were supposed to be one of the big bands to make us young 'uns "rediscover" Joy Division.

Just an observation.   I really like the theme of these, but was curious as to how conscious the design decision was.

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.

MY HUNDREDTH

Hehe, I realised it was my hundredth post after I decided to do this activity. And now I see how perfectly fitting it is!
I sometimes read blogs about food (because I looove food) and while reading one of these I found the following, 100-themed activity:

*ahem* 

THE OMNIVORE'S HUNDRED

1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.2) Bold all the items you’ve eaten.3) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.4) Optional extra: Post a comment at http://www.verygoodtaste.co.uk/ (or here) linking to your results.

1. Venison  --  2. Nettle tea  --  3. Huevos rancheros  --  4. Steak tartare  --  5. Crocodile  --  6. Black pudding  --  7. Cheese fondue  --  8. Carp  --  9. Borscht  --  10. Baba ghanoush  --  11. Calamari  --  12. Pho  --  13. PB&J sandwich  --  14. Aloo gobi  --  15. Hot dog from a street cart  --  16. Epoisses  --  17. Black truffle  --  18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes  --  19. Steamed pork buns  --  20. Pistachio ice cream  --  21. Heirloom tomatoes  --  22. Fresh wild berries  --  23. Foie gras  --  24. Rice and beans  --  25. Brawn, or head cheese  --  26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper  --  27. Dulce de leche  --  28. Oysters  --  29. Baklava  --  30. Bagna cauda  --  31. Wasabi peas  --  32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl  --  33. Salted lassi  --  34. Sauerkraut  --  35. Root beer float  --  36. Cognac with a fat cigar  --  37. Clotted cream tea  --  38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O  --  39. Gumbo  --  40. Oxtail  --  41. Curried goat  --  42. Whole insects  --  43. Phaal  --  44. Goat’s milk  --  45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more  --  46. Fugu  --  47. Chicken tikka masala  --  48. Eel  --  49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut  --  50. Sea urchin  --  51. Prickly pear  --  52. Umeboshi  --  53. Abalone  --  54. Paneer  --  55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal  --  56. Spaetzle  --  57. Dirty gin martini  --  58. Beer above 8% ABV  --  59. Poutine  --  60. Carob chips  --  61. S’mores  --  62. Sweetbreads  --  63. Kaolin  --  64. Currywurst  --  65. Durian  --  66. Frogs’ legs  --  67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake  --  68. Haggis  --  69. Fried plantain  --  70. Chitterlings, or andouillette  --  71. Gazpacho  --  72. Caviar and blini  --  73. Louche absinthe  --  74. Gjetost, or brunost  --  75. Roadkill  --  76. Baijiu  --  77. Hostess Fruit Pie  --  78. Snail  --  79. Lapsang souchong  --  80. Bellini  --  81. Tom yum  --  82. Eggs Benedict  --  83. Pocky  --  84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant.  --  85. Kobe beef  --  86. Hare  --  87. Goulash  --  88. Flowers  --  89. Horse  --  90. Criollo chocolate  --  91. Spam  --  92. Soft shell crab  --  93. Rose harissa  --  94. Catfish  --  95. Mole poblano  --  96. Bagel and lox  --  97. Lobster Thermidor  --  98. Polenta  --  99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee  --  100. Snake


My results add up to 45/100 which ain't so bad considering how arbitrary and varied the options are. I'm not going to "tag" anyone in this because a) wouldn't know who to tag and b) do it if you like. It's actually kind of fun, especially when you have to look up some of those foods and start making little mental notes of what to try.

Don't ask why I've eaten a whole insect. It involves quite a bit of immaturity, an out of control game of truth-or-dare, and a little bit of emotional scarring.

I'm Against The Colour Pink

and yet it appears on the bottles of the perfumes I decided were very "me".

According to my mother every proper young lady needs a "scent" so she sent me to the Bay with a wee bit o' cashola to get one.  I narrowed it down to these two and then down to Ma Dame which has a very nice, smooth, mellow scent, but makes me feel like I am merely a pawn in the current preoccupation with Agyness Dean.

I wonder why we do this.  Like, how far down does this go? When I am old will I be the androgynous grandmother who has finally cut her hair into a spikey pixie cut?  Or will I be wearing oversized, cut up shirts and black skinny jeans a la Erin Wasson and the Wangs? Is the susceptibility of a person related to how cool they think they are or how cool they think they ought to be?  One does not have to read No Logo or have a degree in marketing/business/advertising/journalism/psychology/related to see that we of the now are the highly desired group.  The ones that everyone wants to gain their loyalty and trust for the few months we can turn our attention spans to them.  But how does it happen?

I want to know whether the Agyness comes before the Blogs or vice-versa.  Would Wang be Wang without Rumi et all?  I would also like to know (for future reference) whether or not these fascinations and inspirations will be replaced with newer, shinier versions of the above or whether I really will be the androgynous grandmother wearing oversized shirts and black skinny jeans.

The Space Between.

I've never wanted to update my blog more than this past week, when my life-supported computer finally came to a sputtering, catastrophic stop this week. My dad is slowly trying to fix her, but the girl is old. She's not gonna last for long. I need to save up to buy a new computer (hopefully a laptop, probably refurbished since those are cheaper) which means that my shopping is going to have to be rationed. I have planned on one thing to buy but everything else is being put on hold.

Which is very disappointing considering this is the week that my eyes were opened to Supermarket.

It's an etsy-esque website. Full of independent, unknown designers (some of whom are also on etsly) but at a slightly higher price point. With a cleaner more minimal design to the site.

Supermarket is not quite as well sorted as etsy is (harder to narrow down what you want) but I feel like the quality is slightly higher? Or maybe it's just the pretentiousness or prestige that comes with using Helvicta?

Here are a few examples of what I'm trying to get at:

The Dino-Love necklace by verameat jewelry. You can browse her products by collection, or see all of them at once. And you see through this page and others, the quality of photography is slightly higher. More....produced.

I'm a sucker for design. Half of the reason why I love day trips to Ikea is because they're so simple, straightforward and well produced. Well thought of. I mean, I like one of a kind as much as the next person but I swear: If you come up with a sleek marketing campaign. Maybe throw in a little Helvicta to satisfy my wee hipster heart, I'll be yours forever.

Intelligent illustration that borrows elements from various periods of history while still catering to the childish air this generation is still holding on to, like Little Otsu has on his stationary or an ultramodern frivolous "piece" like the "Container for one thing" from Perch is what Supermarket is great for. Quirky yet sophisticated. A good balance between adult and still cheeky.

Their layout reminds me of Lookbook's layout. Bold straightforward lettering, underlined where need be, no fancy illustrations to distract you from what you are there for: to see great independent design that you would not have heard of otherwise.

Do a search under "designers" and you'll see that these are all people who are dead serious about what they do.

It is yet another site that I will browse for hours and make mental notes of in hopes of one day being able to order something and not feel extremely guilty about it. Maybe, on that day, I'll be ordering and browsing and falling prey to marketing on a beautiful new computer.......probably a mac.

BAHAHAHA Oh, Adbusters.

DISCLAIMER: I didn't edit this, nor am I officially qualified to have an opinion.  I just spew out what pops up in my head, that's sort of the point of a blog anyhow so don't complain. Please.

This article only made me laugh because of the irony that is so neatly and carefully (yet sloppily and recklessly) sewn into it.  I'm sorry but the people who read Adbusters are the glorified hipsters.  The ones who protest to the label, who complain about hipsters while riding around on their racing bikes and who joined greenpeace in order to have real proof that they're pledging their undying allegiance to the fight for Earth.  The ones who complain about Nike and wear Converse.

At least, the people I know who read Adbusters are like this.

And complain as much as we want about hipsters and hipster culture, it is a defined group.  Who are, in their own twisted, copycat way, genuine.  They drink, they party, they shop at American Apparel, they show up to work hung over, they ignore politics until it shows up on a t-shirt, they celeb-watch, they are apathetic and self-absorbed.  It is a fun lifestyle because it is the lifestyle of those who have the luxury of fun.  Oh okay, it used to be underground.  Well maybe now it has enough money to move out of a basement apartment.  It's not the death of anything, it's the mutation of the creature we've been growing in the dark corner of the underground.

I can't help but think it's a reaction to the age we live in.  Where everyone is afraid of....everything.  Being watched, being followed, afraid of what is "over there" and how soon it'll be "over here".  Mass paranoia didn't create people who are attentive to detail and who want to saturate themselves with all the crap that happens so they can fix it.  Instead, all this negativity has created a generation of people who want nothing to do with it.  They want to find a way to pay less attention to conflict because (let's face it) there's no getting away from it.

Maybe that is why keffiiyah (sp?) scarves became such a popular fashion accessory?  If you want to ignore the grand significance of a symbol of social conflict, why not make it a symbol of the apathetic uniform? Enough hypothesizing, I haven't done enough research to really think that through and commit to a strong argument. 

This is an argument and complaint that has been written before.  With the death of punk or hip hop or any other counterculture that snuck its way into the mainstream.  Hipsterdom is the latest in a long line of lost ownership.  That is the reason why people are starting to complain.  The irony and attention to aesthetics tied to Hipsterdom have gotten out of hand, but back before people paid attention to it, it was called "indie" and promoted as an acceptable option, an alternative, to the mainstream that no one wants to be a part of.

It is dead, because it is the mainstream (and no one wants to be mainstream).  

Punk is dead.

Rock is dead.

Metal is dead.

Indie is dead.

RIP  culture, apparently no one likes it when you crawl out of the corner anymore.

*later: my favourite quote: "Are you a hipster"  "'Fuck no' she says, laughing back the last of her glass before she hops off to the dance floor"

Because an article bashing Hipster-ism is basically her answer wrapped up in an eco-friendly, hemp bow.  Oh, and the photos of hipsters are from the cobrasnake

Ageless Adolescent Aesthetic.

I have a really odd obsession with the 60s. Not the whole decade, not the events of it or the politics or the whole "hippie generation", strictly the popular culture of the 60s. I love The Beatles more for the effect they had on people, and what they did. The macroculture of the 60s is what attracts me so much to certain parts of that decade. We still have elements of culture that are common to almost everyone in this generation but back then.....it just seemed even more together. And way cooler.

It all makes me want to be a Shindigger. I suppose years into the future someone might feel the same way about MOD or MTV Live or a similar show, but I think that the constant blather about celebrity and random "news events" takes away from (and gives less time to) having music on the show. Live music. Live music that can potentially be iconic (wow, how badly does the pop culture junkie want to be part of popular culture).

I really love what she's wearing in this (see, relating back to style). The tunic and the mary janes are awesome. I'm thinking of copying this, if I can find my t-strap shoes...

GIANT SHOES! AHEM! GIANT SHOES!

I have a lot of others bookmarked but it would take too long to go through all of them. These are just some that makes me feel really nostalgic for a time where I wasn't even a concept. It's popular culture at it's television-announcer-voice, sharp, spiffy, and well enunciated finest.

A Large Yawn and A Stretch.

I've spent the last week reorganizing my books, watching Batman 4 times, and then re-reading the Watchmen by Alan Moore after seeing the trailer 4 times. No, I have not taken outfit pictures. Nor have I updated on inspirations, ruminations or examinations of what I've been wearing. In part because I have not had time, in part because I've been really tired.

*whines all around*

So in order to reinvigorate my blog weariness I've created new rules.  Rules based on need and because sometimes restrictions create creative impetus.  For an example, see the first two albums of The Raveonettes.

Rule #1:  I'm only going to post pictures of casual outfits.  This is due to the fact that casual is what I have the most trouble getting my head around.  In a weird way it is easier to look put together when I have to look "put together" than when it doesn't matter so when it doesn't matter I end up reverting to the exact kind of outfit I was trying to avoid in the first place (t-shirt, pants, keds, socks, and some flair).  So I figure if I concentrate my efforts I'll resolve a problem.

Like this one:

I actually liked this.  I'm liking the mustard yellows and browns.  But this was really simple, fitting for a cloudy day, and because I ended up wearing it with heels I met myself halfway (ERROR: vocab not working - word wanted not found) and brought it all up a notch.  The second version brought it up yet another notch but you'll never see it again, because that was taken in the Holt Renfrew dressing room and as much as I'd love to, I'm not about to drop $90 on a caplet that I wasn't completely taken with.

So to sum up:  I will focus on the casual rather than posting everything in order to not turn outfit-picture-taking into a chore and actually be able to concentrate on something I have trouble with.

Rule #2: Influence.  Not inspiration: Influence.  This is purely my curiosity speaking.  Inspiration will show up again from time to time (but honestly, how often has it come up before?) but I want to focus on influence.  I have always been a bit of a collector of media and that has created for me a very large pool of influence to draw from.  I'm just curious as to how much of it reflects in my clothes.  Like music, and books, and whatever else I can think of.

And when I do think of it, I will put it here.  And maybe even try to find a correlation. 

All this preambleblather really means is that I might be posting less frequently than before and they might be even longer than before.  So if you are bored by my preamble and blather, I apologize.  You will only be ever more bored by my analysis and blather.

Hello again re-invigorated blog.

Tabula Rasa

I'm looking over my blog today in part because I have not had access to it for a week.  In this overview I've realised that there are no obvious clues to my personality.  Yes you do have a glimpse into my odd figures of speech such as: wickedcool, awesome, amazing, cool.  Oh and the fact that I sometimes bleed them into each other.  And the fact that I make up nicknames for about everything or abbreviations or hyphenations for those everythings.  And my magical dry wit and non-sequiturs that cure and fix everything with a chaser of sarcasm.

I'm also really easily distracted and have a tendency to ramble especially when I'm writing or speaking but am actually paying attention to something else.  For example: right now.  As I'm writing this little ramble I'm listening to "Seven Words You Can Never Say" an mp3 of a George Carlin act.  Very funny.  About the 7 words you can never say on television.

So.  Oh! another clue you have: is my short attention span.  And my ability to magically forget about projects and names and tasks I should/must do.  And the fact that I usually don't finish a thought so about 5 seconds later I add to it.  And I typically begin these sentences with "and".

So. Ahem. Also. Anyhow, anyways, anywhatevers.

In my boredom and half-bummed self reflection I made a (very large) winzip file.  A small selection of the 2665 songs I have on my ipod in order to put on display some of what is behind what is on here.  What I (people) listen to is closely tied to the clothing worn by me (them). 

My taste, in all its schizophrenic glory.

Florence and the Machine - Girl With One Eye

This American Life Podcast #293 A Little Bit Of Knowledge

Roy Orbison - Crying

Nouveau Riche - Love

Tom Lehrer - Poisoning Pigeons In The Park

Soul Hooligan - Algebra

David Bowie - Five Years

Florence and the Machine & Kid Harpoon - Going Down

Apes & Androids - Golden Prize

Kings of Leon - Knocked Up

Saul Williams - Talk to Strangers

The Duke Spirit - Drinking You In

David Bowie - Golden Years

Holy Fuck - Milkshake

The Zombies - Spooky Little Girl Like You

Otis Redding - A Change is Gonna Come

Nouvelle Vague - Dance With Me

Flo Rida - Elevator

The Last Shadow Puppets - Wondrous Place

Elton John - Grey Seal

Bloc Party - She's Hearing Voices

Clinic - Emotions

Bat for Lashes - Horrorshow

Santogold (f. Trouble Andrew) - I'm A Lady

Nancy Sinatra - Friday's Child

Lupe Fiasco - Dumb It Down

West Side Story sndtrk - America & I Have A Love

It's a lot. I know. But I challenge/invite anyone else to do this.  

Look through your blog and then look through your ipod (or alternative music organizing gadget), sort through it all to come up with a playlist that you think marries the two in some way.  Ties to you, if you will.  It doesn't have to obviously correlate, don't explain it at all (let someone else do the analysis for you) don't come up with a theme, repeat as much as you like, just go.  Do.  Make a fashion playlist that is not related to fashion.  Clear your plate by filling it to maximum capacity.

Be as annoyingly philosophical and restorative as you can (just as I am attempting to do right now).

Ongoing Saga of DecoPunk

Eugh. I'm aware that today (actually....technically....tomorrow) makes a full week that I haven't posted on this ol' blog o' mine. It's been a crazy week, to full moon-esque proportions. In the past week I've gone out more often than I have in the past 3 months (party, Canada Day, two plays in one night, another party......and something else I don't even remember).
I managed to squeeze a picture or two out of it but right now I don't have the time to make witty captions for them all so I will leave you with one little blip before I dive into Decopunk.

Saturday. High Park. The essential elements that make up an outfit and the bag (and the glasses) are mine. My friend had this straw hat and I proceeded to act as obnoxiously hipsterlike as I could. It is the perfect beach hat but I'm not so into wearing it as an everyday thing. A beautiful hat, but not one that can be taken far (I think) without looking like you (read: I) really tried today.
Okay. Over and done with. Your outfit appetite has been whetted and I can move on.
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A bajillion posts ago was around the time I met and fell in love with Eugenio Recuenco's photography. I love the images and settings he manages to create. I adore the little stories he is able to tell and I love that he can be and let us see strange characters and stories and etcetera without falling into the (slightly overdone) Tim Burton aesthetic. He always manages to be romantic and sinister at the same time or at least use elements of the two in his photographs.
I considered doing a post about his photography and my adoration of it in something titled RecuencoPunk. I even thought to myself "hah, I'm brilliant! I made a post called DecoPunk and now I can make a kitschy series about ___Punk! It's hilarious!"
But while sifting through the images I collected I found these (which are from his website and probably a magazine somewhere) and figured I may as well just add to my collection of why I love art deco and all its imitators.































































The swimmer is from something else, but hey, the point still stands. I love the lines in all these and in what I know from this period. I love that everything, the dresses, the building, the design looks as if it was once a third smaller and someone decided they ought to stretch it out. Dresses drape all over because a giant person stretched it out to be larger than a person (larger than life, if you will).

Maybe not now. But when I decide that I should commit to this I will. Until then you'll just have to listen to my uninformed opinion on it.