city soul

Don't run, don't rush, just flow

2011-03-28T22:30:00.006-03:00

Francesca Woodman, 1958-1981.

Photos from here, here, here, here, here, and here.

She likes to wear green underwear

2011-03-27T19:12:00.007-03:00

Kim Gordon, Kat Bjelland of Babes in Toyland, and Courtney Love of Hole.

Forgive me for being over thirty years late, but I recently discovered Sonic Youth.
I'm in love.
They're from good ol' NYC, and they formed in 1981. They were associated with the "No Wave" music and art scene, a satirical response to the "New Wave" genre when they started out.
There are a few reasons I really admire them, besides their music (which of course is the glue of the whole operation). To begin with, I think it's totally adorable Thurston Moore (singer, songwriter, and guitarist) and Kim Gordon (bassist and guitarist) have been married since 1984, and have worked so well together for so long. They even have a child, Coco, who was born in 1994. I also am just a big fan of Kim Gordon because I really respect that only-chick-in-the-band situation, like Tina Weymouth from Talking Heads, or Kim Deal from Pixies. I also like that she grew to be successful a little later than some other musicians; she was 28 when Sonic Youth was formed, and their most-praised album, Daydream Nation, was released in 1988, when she was 35.
As for their music, it consists of intense dark, quick riffs, unconventional tunings, with clever, humorous lyrics, but incredibly honest and frank as well. They have developed a wide variety of style in their work, and some songs sound like they're by completely different artists, but Kim Gordon's deep, breathy whisper is recognized instantly.

Photos: here and here.

Come As You Are

2011-02-20T03:28:00.003-03:00

Fourty-four years ago today in the state of Washington, Kurt Cobain was brought into this world.

Happy Birthday and rest in peace, Kurt.

And I Could Love You Like a Colored TV

2011-02-15T20:58:00.003-03:00

I hope everyone's Valentine's Days were lovely, and if you don't believe in Valentine's Day, I hope your regular day was lovely, too.

Photo from here.

So if you're out tonight, don't forget, if you're on your bike, wear white.

2011-01-23T22:04:00.005-03:00

Photos: here, here, here, here.

Today, I

2011-01-20T20:14:00.009-03:00

...woke up in the shower.
...left my phone at home.
...wore this-

Zara polyester top, BDG Jeans, Mellow Yellow boot(ies? I always thought that was such a lame word)s, vintage necklace.
...and got compared to Hamlet and The Pope. fUk d@ h8rz. And off-days.

P.S. I apologize for the dimly lit photos. I'm kind of afraid of flash.

P.P.S., this.

sins for the sinners

2011-01-17T12:15:00.018-03:00

I have mixed feelings about the rockabilly look. I believe it can be pulled off in a very classy manner, or trashy and unattractive. When the rockabilly, pin-up, and greaser looks originated in the 50's, all were unapologetically adorable. Today, I find it difficult to to do these looks tastefully, but a few months ago, Teen Vogue featured an article on rockabilly that really caught my eye, and displayed the look perfectly. It has been dog-eared atop my never-ending pile of magazines, along with the concept still marinating in my mind.

Classy Modern 50's Style

(Click to enlarge)

A Little Example of Modern Rockabilly I Find Hard To Handle

Rachel Federoff from The Millionaire Matchmaker. I agree with essentially everything Patti Stanger says, along with the rest of the cast, but not necessarily the style of the cast. Regardless, they seem to be doing their jobs correctly and be overall very entertaining, so I put my differing opinions aside.

Sources: tfs, poptower.

but i'll stop now before i start crying

2011-01-13T19:35:00.001-03:00

you have a pineapple

2011-01-11T22:49:00.018-03:00

Ever since Nirvana released Bleach in 1989, a revolution began. Drenched in oversized flannel and ripped skinny jeans, a new genre of angsty, fuck-the-world teens emerged from the Pacific Northwest. Their unique style, sound, and lifestyle left a permanent impression on pop culture, and recently, the concept of grunge has made a comeback.

OG's (Original Grungesters)

Liz Phair

Pearl Jam

Claire Danes and Jared Leto in a promo shot for My So-Called Life.

Rosario Dawson and Chloe Sevigny on the set of Kids.

Kurt Cobain

Courtney Love

Grunge teens

MG's (Modern Grungesters)

Alexander Wang Fall 2008 RTW
(Click to enlarge)

Pixie Geldof and Alice Dellal

Jesse Jo

Cory Kennedy
I'm not sure if this one qualifies as grunge, but regardless, it displays the extraordinary awesomeness/crackheadness of Cory.

Photos from here, here, here, here, this place, and of course, Cobrasnake.

In The Desert

2011-01-10T22:25:00.001-03:00

In the desert
I saw a creature, naked, bestial,
Who, squatting upon the ground,
Held his heart in his hands,
And ate of it.
I said, "Is it good, friend?"
"It is bitter – bitter", he answered,
"But I like it
Because it is bitter,
And because it is my heart."

-Stephen Crane, 1895

Photo: this lovely human's flickr.

(You should also take a look at my flickr.)

Words of Wisdom from Sir West

2010-09-01T14:39:00.035-03:00

Today, my darlings,
I have for you a treat.

For it is not the way he sings,

But what's in a Tweet.

@kanyewest: She asked when is fashion week.... uuuum...I thought it was every week??!!

Word.

P.S. Download his newest single, "Monster", featuring Jay-Z, Rick Ross, Bon Iver, and Nicki Minaj here.

Photo from here.

Why the fuck is Kelly Osbourne doing E! "Fashion Police"?

2010-08-31T23:42:00.013-03:00

The scene of the crime.

I had been treating myself to some Frosted Flakes and lounging on the couch in my den just a few moments ago. I had been flipping through the channels, rolling my eyes at the lackluster mix of news and reality television shows, when I came across lovely, trendy, Kelly Osbourne's delightful face on the E! channel. I pressed Info on my remote. The show was "Fashion Police".

Since I recently formed a deep appreciation for Ms. Osbourne, I continued watching. It was a review (or rather, a massacre) of celebrities' looks from the primetime Emmys, which had occured last Sunday. Four people, three women (Ms. Osbourne, Giuliana Rancic, and Joan Rivers) and a man (George Kotsiopoulous), sat in almost miniature and uncomfortable-looking leather chairs, behind a coffee table with an illustrious bouquet upon it, discussing the gowns and tuxes of the rich and famous.

To continue on with my experience, I must inform you of my "Fashion Police" and related programs/media/concept in general opinion. I am strongly opposed to it. It goes against so many of my morals, and disagrees with so many of the expressions I repeat to myself every day; said expression (one of them) being this:

Wear what you want to wear.

I can't repeat it enough. Shows like these only prevent individuals from being confident and happy with their personal style. They believe they should wear things like what these celebrities wear. They fear their own spin on fashion isn't good enough, or isn't "cool" or "stylish". It also makes them wonder that if they did leave the house taking a risk/s with their look, that they would get ridiculed, just like some of the celebrities on that show whom perhaps didn't have (god forbid), the one and only, Rachel Zoe as their stylist.

I believe these fears are silly. Not silly as in not a big deal and easily changeable, because for lots of people, it takes years to accept their desire to wear out-of-the-norm things. I mean silly as in so silly, these fears shouldn't exist. What could someone say that could actually hurt you? Would anyone really think less of you? Wear that sequined minidress to the club. Paint your nails hot pink. Finally buy those floral Doc Martens. Rejoice, my friends. What have you got to lose?

So yes, there I was, watching with fury four people shatter millions of other people's self confidence. Beautiful, lip-glossed and bow tied men and women paraded down the red carpet, stretching their lips out to reveal frighteningly bright white chicklet smiles. This was simply not enough to satisfy the "Fashion Police", and nearly everyone fell victim to a Joan Rivers-take no prisoners-criticism. The woman dissed Betty White. Who does that?

Yes, I agree the looks at this years' Emmys were unimaginitive, but such is the case with every awards show. Don't get me started on that. I'm here to pitch a little rant at Kelly Osbourne.

Back to the initial thought- why are you doing this show, Kelly? I thought our passions and views were similar, you and I. Little did I know you were just like the rest. You mix punk with lady-like accents. You make purple hair look elegant and effortless. Where did your spark go? Don't tell me that bleached-blond cheating manorexic ex-boyfriend male model (*breath*) took it with him.

I was even more saddened when I discovered this was to be a weekly occuring program, not just an annual event.

Get out, Kelly, before they take your soul, too.

Photos from weheartit, exposay, and here.

it was like a fine-toothed comb

2010-08-30T23:14:00.000-03:00

we were wearing kitten masks

2010-07-11T04:34:00.008-03:00

Summer state of mind's officially in full bloom. I don't know the weekday, I can't form proper sentences, and my skin has managed to escape the inevitable sunburn and looks effortlessly sun-kissed (yet it required a lot more effort than appears). The ice cream is flowing, as well, which is always a plus. For now a few random photos that remind me of the current season will have to suffice for a real post until I get my shit together. I hope you believe me when I say that I am capable of still putting actual writing in my posts. They will come. In due time, young grasshopper, in due time.

Photos mostly from Jak & Jil and weheartit.

purple mountain's majesty

2010-07-08T04:41:00.003-03:00

Hope your July 4th was absolutely delightful.

Photo from Jak & Jil.

sophomore

2010-06-16T10:52:00.001-03:00

Sophomore Spring 2010 from SophomoreNYC on Vimeo.

funny the things you think about, funny the things you don't

2010-06-01T23:46:00.003-03:00

But like I don't need to see more ass in my life.

"See-through pants: the way to wear pants without really wearing pants!"

http://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2010/06/see-through_lingerie_pants_may.html

everything in moderation

2010-05-31T10:52:00.001-03:00

I was just going through the random thousands of files of photos I have saved on my computer when I came across some photos I'd saved of Agyness Deyn before she hit it big. You've come a long way, sweetie. You really have...

Some more attractive photos of her now...

Of course, she's not concerned about being "attractive". That isn't what fashion's about at all, either. After all, she recently made an appearance at Coachella sporting a black buzzcut.

With her best bud, designer Henry Holland.
I'm not saying she looks better "attractive"- the way most men would want her to be, all I'm saying is she's certainly gotten prettier since her awkward teenage years. I'm also glad that she's got her own style. That's really something I look for in a person, and she doesn't really give a crap what other people think of her.

First set of photos I cannot remember the source of because they were just saved on my computer, but the others came from here and here.

current thoughts

2010-05-30T11:48:00.028-03:00

5. These two CD's are simply phenomenal. The first, an oldie but goodie, the second, new, fresh, and hip. Buy them both.

The Moon & Antarctica by Modest MousehhhhhhhhhhhhhhBroken Bells by Broken Bells
4. The novel Paper Towns by John Green. We were assigned to read it in my English class. I've got to admit, I used to be an extremely avid reader, but lately, I simply hadn't had the attention span to get through a whole novel until reading this. I read it all in one day. It's a new, funny story of a male high school senior, Quentin, who's kind of an outcast. His next door neighbor, Margo, whom he's been in love with his whole life makes an impromptu appearance at his window one night. She informs him she needs help with some tasks she needs to complete. He obeys, of course, and they spend the night driving around Orlando performing various odd jobs that Margo insists on doing, no matter how dangerous, absurd, or pointless they may be, until the wee hours of the morning. The next day at school, Margo isn't there. Or the next day. Or the next. Now, Quentin must find Margo. Akskljifkweo4trkldwfsw buy it. Now.

3. I was recently looking through the photos on my phone. I came across a few photos I took of a subway sign a few weeks ago. Instead of the sign saying "Uptown & The Bronx", someone had put a sticker over the sign, so it read "Uptown & The Broncks". Guerilla form of street art? Me think so.

2. I would really like to own these Alexander Wang for Opening Ceremony zipper sunglasses. Please and thank you.

1. ME. ALSO. WANT. RISTO. LIGHTNING. JACKET.

Photos from here, here, here, here, and here.

new york road runners

2010-05-29T10:49:00.004-03:00

Today my friend and I went to go see Exit Through the Gift Shop at the Sunshine Theater, a film we'd been dying to see for a long time. The movie begins with a man sitting in front of a graffiti-full wall, with various street-art apparatus materials and wood frames behind him. The man is wearing dark jeans and a black hoodie, and there is lamp in the shape of a monkey beside him. The only skin you can see of him is his hands, and his face is completely covered by the shadow of his hoodie. A deep, British accent begins to speak. He explains that the movie was originally supposed to be made about himself, Banksy, and a few other street artists, but that it turned out to be an egotistical feature about the filmmaker, Thierry Guetta, a.k.a. "Mr. Brainwash". The movie takes us on a rollercoaster of laughs, amazement, shock, and awe. Viewers will be dissapointed that it isn't as much about Banksy as they thought it would be, but it is completely and 100% still worth it. Seeing the movie has also slightly motivated me to become a street artist. Is that bad?

a biscuit affair

2010-05-28T22:38:00.006-03:00

Feast your eyes on Gaga's culinary skills!
I haven't been feeling all that inspired lately, and school's almost done and I haven't had much time for posting. No worries, though, lots and lots of glory-full posts to come. I did just use glory as an adjective...?

paracelso

2010-05-18T23:57:00.008-03:00

New Seattle duo with a name that only a certain number of people can get away with saying without getting laughed at. The producer half, Tay Sean, 21, calls the group "space-age funk" and/or "neo-soul funk-jazz hip-hop". Call it what you will, but enjoy listening to it first.

you do you and let me do me

2010-05-15T17:31:00.002-03:00

Last week, my friend Leila and I visited the Museum of Modern Art. We were disappointed when we had found that the Tim Burton exhibition had closed, but our regrets were soon forgotten when we stepped into the William Kentridge one. The show consisted of mostly charcoal drawings and animated films using them. His work, yet humorous, also focuses on serious political messages. I highly recommend it.

Above, Leila and I fooling around in front of the projectors.

there's no shortcut to a dream

2010-05-08T10:11:00.000-03:00

The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival started in 1999, was semi-succesful, but regardless, they didn't make any profit. The next year there was no festival due to budget issues. The next few years, they scraped together enough money to have a few more festivals, but they weren't all that successful all at once, but rather, they formed a sort of cult following. Today, the Coachella Music Festival is one of the most successful music festivals of today. This year's festival took place April 16-18, in Indio, California, and its line-up included such acts as:

Yo La Tengo

Vampire Weekend

The xx

Spoon

She & Him

Phoenix

Passion Pit

Grizzly Bear

Girls

Dirty Projectors

Deerhunter

Beach House

That's only about a quarter of who played. Other acts included De La Soul, Fever Ray, Whitest Boy Alive, Yeasayer, Die Antwoord, MGMT, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Matt & Kim, and many, many more. I wish I had been there!

Photos thanks to Pitchfork.

and if life is really as short as they say, then why is the night so long?

2010-04-26T20:03:00.004-03:00

I'd like to say a Happy Belated 14th Birthday to Tavi from Style Rookie! Hope it was a great day, Tavs!

photo from weheartit.

untouchable and uncrushable

2010-04-15T13:40:00.007-03:00

Zac Posen, NYC clothing designer and just overall fabulous, is doing a collaboration line with Target. Before the collection comes out on the 25th, Zac's having a 24-hour only pop-up shop. Rather than a typical pop-up shop, it will serve as more of a party, including a band and a DJ.
The shindig begins at 11 p.m. tonight and ends tomorrow night at 11 p.m. at 481 34th Street and Eighth Ave. See you there!

Check out the full collection here.

good head on my neck, good heart in my chest

2010-04-13T11:02:00.016-03:00

Oh, hai there, bloggy. I have not been posting lately, as you may have noticed, due to a number of reasons. One, spring is here in New York City. My happiness level has skyrocketed just a teensy bit because of this fact. Therefore, I am spending much more time out in nature in Central Park, more so than I usually do (yuck! Nature! Poison ivy! Bugs! This is why I try to avoid it), yet I find myself enjoying it, and so alas, the blog has gone unposted. But then there's reason two, spring break is over. Wipe the tears Lyris, wipe 'em! Yes, it may have ended over a week ago, but I'm still in that slump. I don't want to get out of bed for school, but then I don't want to go home to do my homework. So, what's a girl to do when she's feeling down? Rant about it, of course!

I don't understand certain things today. Of course, no one can understand everything, because that's simply not human. But when one can't understand, they try to accept it for what it is(well they should...). But I can't accept some things either, like how FUH-REAKIN' LAZY WE ALL ARE NOW.

First, it starts in fashion, with the ripped-jeans trend. In the 70's, when the Ramones reigned the underground music scene, they donned leather jackets, t-shirts, Converse sneakers, and skinny jeans everyday.

The Ramones in their signature clothing.
They didn't give a crap about whether or not they wore those jeans yesterday, and they'd keep wearing them, jumping in them, rocking out in them, and eventually, little tears would appear at the knees. The tears would keep ripping until there were full-on holes on their kneecaps. Today, though, it isn't about the stories behind those holes, because no one has any. Nowadays, people pry open the doors of Hollister, perhaps even the new Soho one to make themselves feel cool while they're visiting "The Big Apple" (who came up with that name, anyways? Because I have never heard a true New Yorker ever say that) with their aunt, and prance into the dark, techno-blasting four or five floors of stomach-ache-causing perfume air and mahogany-wood decorated building.

Greeters/douches at the Soho Hollister store.
They smile and wave at the wannabe-male model in swim trunks and a six-pack at the front, and perhaps even stop to take a picture with him that they'll put on myspace later that night. They bop over to the denim table, and take a look at the eighty-dollar pre-ripped, "Deconstruction Wash" jeans that lay upon that table. They leaf through them, finding their size, and they lift them off the table and up into the air. *Gasp! This is the pair Rachel Bilson was wearing in Life & Style!* Well, now they've got to get them, since Rachel Bilson's been their idol ever since The O.C. coined the term "Christmukkah".

But anyways, that's the jist of how things go today. Everything's done for people. Jeans come pre-ripped, CD's come to you in thirty seconds, pizza is ordered with the click of a button, stamps are no longer licked, and books can be bought without stepping foot in Barnes & Noble, like on the Amazon Kindle.

The convenient Amazon Kindle, the perfect excuse for a date.
Another reason why I'm not quite fond of today's society. Once again, like the mock dress or the band-skirt situation, no one has any energy anymore. No one appears to have the desire to step outside of their homes, start up the car, catch the subway or bus, unlock their bike, etc., and haul their asses over to the bookstore. They've got to order their new Dan Brown "groundbreaking" novel from their virtual library. Could a name for something get any lamer? "Carry your library with you in 10.2 ounces" "Books in 60 seconds". It's disintegrating culture. According to the second definition of "book" from Dictionary.com (yes, I admit it, I too contribute to the descent of culture. Everyone does, unless you're a hippie with a compost), it's "a number of sheets of blank or ruled paper bound together for writing, recording business transactions, etc." You hear that? Paper. Books are supposed to be made of paper.

I don't exactly know what I'm trying to get at here, because no matter what I say, it's never going to change anything. I'm also not saying that I'm not lazy. After all, I do write on this online diary, and when I feel like it, I do order my clothes from the web. I'm also not saying that I want a Kindle real bad, or that I'm dying to buy a pair of Hollister jeans. I think what I'm trying to say is that Kindles will break, computers will crash, and in the end, the ol' paper and pen are never going to turn on us. It's also always been this way, and everything's going to keep getting more and more advanced. All I'm saying, though, is that here and there, I think it's worth it to get down to the record store and bring yourself home a CD you can hold in your own hands.

First photo, second, third.

you won't lose the beat if you just keep clapping your hands

2010-03-30T23:41:00.007-03:00

Off to Seatown for Spring Break. Have a lovely one!

P.S. Turn on your boob tubes at 6:30 tomorrow night to MTV. I'm going to be on Teen Cribs!

awakening

2010-03-29T13:23:00.012-03:00

3 quick things for today.

1. Joan Jett and The Blackhearts- Crimson & Clover. Ever since I saw the Runaways, I've begun to have a minor obsession with Joan Jett/The Blackhearts/The Runaways. This song is so simple, but it's really catchy, too. Plus, Joan Jett was and always will be undeniably hot.

2. This photo from Jak & Jil. I don't know what I like so much about it. It isn't even a picture of the whole outfit, yet scrolling through that blog it immediately left an impression on me and I kept coming back to look at it.

3. The burgers at The Pink Pony in the Lower East Side for a pretty decent $12. They blow my mind. Next time you're in NYC, stop by Ludlow St. and Houston. It's definitely worth it.

the monkey doesn't fit in the suitcase

2010-03-28T21:07:00.004-03:00

In the summer of 2005, a 15-year old California girl met a photographer, Mark Hunter, at a Blood Brothers concert at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles. Her name was Cory Kennedy. He took some photos of her to put on his website and they exchanged phone numbers. In 2006, she started an internship at his office, and they soon stared dating. Fast forward a few years, and Mark Hunter, who now uses the moniker "Cobrasnake", and Cory Kennedy, become huge stars. Cory Kennedy has starred in several ad campaigns and has graced the cover of a number of magazines, such as Nylon and Women's Wear Daily. The Cobrasnake's website, featuring photos he takes of parties and events he attends, gets 20,000 hits a day. The Cobrasnake has gotten so famous, in fact, that he's launched a vintage clothing shop. Each item is one-of-a-kind and handpicked by Mark "The Cobrasnake" Hunter himself. It's mostly sweaters and t-shirts with pretty decent pricetags. The t-shirts go from anywhere from about $30-$40, and there's even men's clothing! Every item is photographed by the Cobrasnake, and some pieces are even modeled by some of his Los Angeles hipster friends, such as Peaches Geldof. I know I'd like to buy each piece in the store. Maybe even the men's stuff, too.

Cory Kennedy and the Cobrasnake photo from here, photo collage from the cobra shop website.

funny faces in the mirror of the bathroom

2010-03-25T21:34:00.001-03:00

Oh, the world of fashion models. I'll always be fascinated by them. Maybe it's because of their beauty, or their style. Why this is, I don't think I'll ever really know, but I know there are some out there that are most definitely my all-time favorites.

Freja Beha Erichsen. This Danish beaut was discovered on the street while a modeling agent passed by her in a taxi. In 2005, she made her debut on the runways of Prada, Miu Miu, and Louis Vuitton. She's starred in hundreds of campaigns, such as Chanel, Gucci, Balenciaga, Calvin Klein, among others. Freja started out with long hair and bangs, and cut it short (like the above pictures) later on in her career, and I miss her bangs. She's the main reason I got mine. It's okay, though, because she's got killer style to boot.

Lara Stone. The 26-year-old been on the scene for quite a while now, but just recently she really hit it big. With the return of curves, she's the frontrunner. The Dutch model was discovered at the age of 12 in the Paris subways. She entered the Elite Model Look contest in 1999, and although she didn't win, she impressed Elite executives anyways and soon found herself signed to the Elite agency. For years she struggled in the modeling world, and in 2006, she signed with IMG and before she knew it she was opening for the Givenchy couture show in Paris. She's been in campaigns and walked the runway for some of the biggest designers out there. Her distinct look is due to her wide gap in between her front teeth and curvaceous physique, which designers love. She also has unusually small feet for her 5'10" frame- size 7, and because of that she has said that the only thing going through her mind as she walks down the runway is "Do not fall, do not fall."

Abbey Lee Kershaw. She was born in Melbourne, Australia in 1987. Miss Abbey got her big break by winning the Girlfriend CoverGirl Model Search in 2004. She's appeared in ad campaigns for Gucci, D & G and Ck Jeans. At the Alexander McQueen Spring 2009 runway show in Paris, Abbey got people talking when she fainted just as she exited the runway. This was said to have been because of "a combination of high heels and a tight corset". Whatever the reason was, it never phased her, and she's one of the most coveted faces in fashion today.

P.S. This was quite a while ago, but a few weeks ago it was my birthday!

All model photos from weheartit.com

careless in our summer clothes

2010-03-24T14:59:00.007-03:00

Spent a lovely day around Soho with my lovely friends, Caroline, Leila, and the Gotham Hipster (she's the one in the middle of the above picture!). We met up in Topshop and walked up a building to a sketchy roof with graffiti on it, and it was a magical place and we took lots of pictures. Next, we wandered into a few stores, such as Madewell (the Alexa Chung line isn't out yet!), A.P.C., and the Garment Room, a vintage store in a setting of graffiti by street artists. We saw the Runaways, which was definetly up to my expectations, and then we went to the new John Varvatos store that used to be CBGB's. I wish it had never closed to begin with, but they did a good job of keeping lots of the elements of the old venue. After, we went our seperate ways (Miss Gotham Hipster: via bus, of course). Although it was gray and cold outside (for spring, dangflabbit!), it was still tons of fun!

don't look now but i lost my shoe

2010-03-22T21:28:00.005-03:00

James De La Vega. A street artist that currently lives in Harlem. He often does chalk drawings on sidewalks or murals on the sides of buildings. His chalk drawings are usually accompanied by little messages, like "Become Your Dream". Many of his drawings are of fish inside fishbowls. His art is quite simple, but Christie's has sold lots of his work for thousands of dollars. In July 2003, he was charged with vandalism for a mural he painted on a blank wall in the Bronx, and eventually sentenced to 50 hours of community service, but he's still a working artist today.

Recently, he's been hitting up the Upper East Side, and I've thoroughly enjoyed each and every one of his pieces. Below, a combination of phone shots and camera shots of a few drawings I've seen.

First photo.

lace

2010-03-18T00:27:00.009-03:00

So last night, I crawl into bed and realize I'm not tired, and I notice a few weeks old Spring Fashion New York Magazine next to my bed. I flip through and stop at a one-page interview of the fashion director of Vogue Nippon, Anna Dello Russo. I read the interview and was thoroughly disappointed. This lady runs a high fashion magazine, yet I feel she doesn't know how to put an outfit together. She says a few things I'm completely blown away by and 100% agree with, but other times I'm left dumbfounded- and not in a good way. So, in conclusion, I still have mixed feelings about her. Here, a breakdown in case you missed it.

Things I Was Blown Away By-

"I don't want to be cool! I want to be fashion." This is basically my motto.
How many pairs (of shoes)? Hundreds? "Noooo. Thousands." She loves shoes, as every woman should unless there's something wrong with their head.
"I buy mostly all my collection from the stores." She obviously has a passion for her expensive designer clothes- such a passion that she has to buy them, not borrow them, which is what I would do if I were her and had the money.
How many times a day do you change during Fashion Week? "Two or three." Once, again, she's in love with fashion. That's good.

Things I Was Dumbfounded By (And Not In A Good Way)-

"I remember going to school with my collection of Fendi bags...I was, I think, 12." Oh, that's nice, you were born rich, too. I mean it's not a big deal at all to have a Fendi collection when you're 12, right? No, not at all.
What do you wear on the weekends? "I wear fleece from Abercrombie." She's an Aberzombie, too?! The editor of a high fashion magazine should know better. It's obnoxious, overpriced, and worst of all- generic. I guarantee you Anna Wintour would never be caught dead in this appalling label.
You still like to dress in complete looks- but from the runway. "I always do that." Okay, so she's into the runway, as she should be, because she is a fashion director, but this leaves me wondering. Does she actually have her own sense of style? Can she actually put a look together that wasn't created by someone else? Also, if you're going to wear a complete look from the runway, at least make it worthwhile. Why spend thousands of dollars on one look that isn't even that fabulous? For example, below, when she wore a simple, basic Lanvin cocktail dress. Give 100% Anna! Why half-ass it?

Meh.

First photo, second photo.

What I'm Listening To Right Now

2010-03-14T23:46:00.003-03:00

Daniel Victor Snaith a.k.a. Caribou or Manitoba is a true genius. He was born in 1978 in Ontario. His family is full of mathematicians, and he completed his Ph. D. in mathematics, and I believe it shows in his music. He creates very interesting, intricate electronic songs, almost like each one is as thought of about as a work of fine art. I'm not really into electronic to begin with, but this guy has me changing my mind. His new album, Swim, drops April 20th in the U.S. Also check out: She's The One, Sandy

California's Best Coast, fronted by the beautiful Bethany Cosentino, is a fresh, new band with a fresh, new sound. She says their songs are about “summer and the sun and the ocean and being a lazy creep,” with “drums, beach boys bass lines, and other amazing things”, and she couldn't have put it any better. They have a very garagey-beachy sound. So far they've only released EP's and singles that started dropping in October, so I sure hope there's a full-length album in the works soon. Also check out: Sun Was High (So Was I), When I'm With You

winners

2010-03-11T12:11:00.001-03:00

Because K. Lagz never half-asses.

I always hold pretty high expectations for all of Chanel's shows, and Tuesday's did not disappoint, scenery-wise. They room was set to about 28 degrees farenheit, and models walked around a giant iceberg. The floor was actually covered in an inch or so of water. The iceberg was actually a combination of ice and snow ("snice"), and was sent to Paris all the way from Sweden just for the show. It weighed 265 tons and was 28 feet high. It was also carved by 25 sculptors from seperate parts of the world in six days.

And we still wonder where all the ice went...?

As for the clothes, very typical Chanel. Lots of black and white, tweed, fur (faux) etc. I was nervous to see that lots of the beginning looks featured pants made out of all fur. I didn't not know where Karl was going with those, but I'm sure it was a superior inter-galactic fashion concept that I will never understand. The rest of the show was alright, I suppose. I do know that those boots will be everywhere come next season. It was very trendy and sophisticated, as always. Karl kept true to Chanel's roots, but still updated the look and made it edgy (again). I do believe that Karl Lagerfeld is a genius and superhero, but I would like to see him think outside of the box just a little bit more than usual. But don't think that I don't still worship him anymore.

(Click to enlarge.)

First photo from The Cut. All runway photos from style.com

ripped at the seams

2010-03-09T22:17:00.002-03:00

Thirteen years ago today, one of the most influential rappers of all time, The Notorious B.I.G., was shot and pronounced dead early in the morning.

R.I.P. Biggie.

The Evolution of Rihanna

2010-03-04T23:58:00.004-03:00

I suppose when Rihanna started out in the biz a few years ago, she had her own distinct style. Not one that I was particularly fond of, but she had her own thing. In 2007, for the Nickelodeon Awards, she revealed a shorter, hipper hair cut. I started to like her look then, and she had her own style then, too, she just updated a bit to be more relevant, which I completely understand. In 2009, she cuts her hair shorter, a bit Agyness-Deyn-like. I absolutely loved her hair at this point, as this was the time in my life when I was infatuated with Aggy. Then, she shaves half her head, and gives herself a faux/mohawk (who even knows what the hell that's supposed to be called), and puts blond streaks in it, and from then on, she follows up with weird outfits to boot.

Let me express my opinion on this matter a little differently. I don't actually believe in the word "weird", because you can't criticize what other people are really in to. Just because whatever this said person is doing or saying is something you wouldn't do, doesn't mean it isn't right. That's what they like, and you can't stand in their way. Besides, we're all a little out of the ordinary. What is "normal" anyways? But anyways, back to Rihanna, the reason I started this post in the first place.

I'm going to call her outifts now, just this once, "weird" because I know she isn't true to her own opinion anymore. She's lost sense of her own style, and now she only wears what is in style or a modified version of what Lady Gaga would wear. She did indeed update her wardrobe a bit, just to fit in a bit better in the business, but now, she's overdone it. I liked her look in 2007, when she had her own style and still managed to look good. What ever happened to the real Rihanna?

Below- the shifting looks of Rihanna.

2005

2007

2009

2009

2009

2010

Photos from here, here, here, here, here...and The Cut!

the whole world's just a little oyster for snow white and her poison apple

2010-03-03T23:36:00.003-03:00

Randy Jackson dons a Play by Comme Des Garcons cardigan on American Idol right now. Despite the show being full of bad karaoke (with the exception of a rare few talents *cough Lilly Scott cough*), this sole sweater alone will keep me coming back for more.

Photo courtesy of Fox

i can be a freak every day of the week

2010-03-03T00:46:00.002-03:00

You've really outdone yourself now, haven't you J?

Photo from style.com

i just feel like turtles aren't just roaming around new york city

2010-03-02T00:48:00.009-03:00

Shoes have always been a girl thing. It's sort of a broad statement as not every woman likes them, but often it's true. It's very common a woman has twenty pairs of shoes. With the success of Sex and the City in the late 90's and early 2000's, the women's shoe scene exploded. Suddenly every woman and their mother needed a pair of Manolos. This may still be the case in many people's minds, but for a certain group of people, the tables have turned. I think it may only be a NYC-based teenage boy thing, but I'm afraid it may be catching on.

In 2004, a Harvard college student, Mark Zuckerberg, was bored in his dorm room one night and decided to conduct on experiment. He soon created Facebook, and it became a world-wide success. One of the features of Facebook is "groups". They can be anywhere from a fan page or something people don't like at all ("I Hate Getting Texts That Only Say 'K'"). One popular group, Buying and Selling Kicks NYC, is a group that's a store as well. Members post pictures of their limited edition Nikes or other sneakers and other members bid on them in the comments, and the seller and the lucky winner meet up and exchange the shoes and the money. Sometimes, the seller will not ask for money but for an iPod or gift cards or a trade for another pair, and so on.

Rare, good-condition, Nike SB's can sell for up to hundreds of dollars, just like designer women's heels. Lots of people, male and female collect shoes, but now teenage boys don't collect. It's an addiction. They will be on NDSBG Marketplace (another Facebook group) or Buying and Selling Kicks NYC, 24/7, even during school hours, uploading, commenting, buying. They'll spend their month's allowance on a pair of sneakers.

Somewhere, somehow, shoes became a guy thing, too.

First photo from here, second photo from planetdunks.com.

you are the blood

2010-02-28T00:01:00.000-03:00

In the dog days of winter, life can get a bit dreary. After the first snowfall of the season, us New York women grow tired of the same old same old. We are simply not accustomed to the flakes making our mascara run, or getting the tips of our noses Rudolph-red. Luckily, spring is right around the corner, and soon we can indulge ourselves in the cinema with these up-coming features.

Shutter Island
Directed by Martin Scorcese, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Ben Kingsley, Mark Ruffalo.
Snuck into this one last night with my homies, as I am not quite 17 yet. Not quite sure whether it was a "good" movie per se, because my mind is still in a daze and I still can't think straight, but it really makes you think. It's about a World War II veteran who becomes a U.S. Marshal. After a patient goes missing at a mental institution for the "criminally insane", he and his partner are hired to investigate, but later you find that isn't the only reason they were asked to pay a visit. Very well done and keeps you wondering. For the complex plot line connoisseur. (P.S. May not be up-coming, but still must be seen)

Alice In Wonderland
Directed by Tim Burton, starring Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Anne Hathaway, and newcomer Mia Wasikowska.
Coming out March 5th. Guaranteed to blow your mind. It's a new take on the 1951 cartoon classic, and uses a combination of live action and animation as well. I will definitely be attending a screening of this one.

The Runaways
Directed by Flora Sigismondi. Starring Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning.
Coming out March 19th. I'm not quite as confident in this one. It will either be a complete and total dud, or it will turn out to be a huge success. It is about Joan Jett's all-girl rock band (The Runaways) that launched her career in the 1970's, and follows the story of her and her best friend, Cherie Currie, the lead vocalist. They hailed from the rebellious L.A. street kid crowd, and eventually rose to international fame and become role models for future rock-girl bands. Hopefully this one turns out to be a winner.

First photo from here, second: here, third: here.

i was having a daydream

2010-02-27T21:03:00.003-03:00

Received an early birthday present this morning from the old man- the Nikon d3000. Still tearing up a bit.

Closet test shot.

the chronicles

2010-02-26T01:08:00.004-03:00

Because looking at these shoes reminds me that nothing I'll ever write on here will ever be as genius as anything Nicholas Kirkwood does.

Photo from Jak & Jil.

high expectations

2010-02-24T22:45:00.006-03:00

Mind is blown.

parkour motion reel from saggyarmpit on Vimeo.

Also, this.

lost in translation

2010-02-23T23:12:00.008-03:00

Today, I present to you a very serious, urgent issue.

Why?

At first glance, you'd think this type of outfit is a shirt tucked into a skirt. Then you look a little closer and you notice the shirt and the skirt appear to be moving at precisely the same time when the chick who is wearing it walks, and you start to wonder. Is that possible? What exactly is going on there? Then it hits you.

OH! It's a dress that looks like it's a shirt tucked into a skirt. But why? Do people not have the energy to put on, dare I say it, two articles of clothing anymore? Is this another America-Getting-Fat-And-Lazy thing?

Here's another important issue.

The skirt with the elastic band on it. What's the deal, here? Is it supposed to be a substitute for a belt? I feel that both these skirts would have been just lovely before the elastic band was slapped onto them. Quite honestly, it flat-out ruins both of 'em.

What is the purpose of the mock shirt-skirt dress and mock belt skirt? And most importantly, why does it appear that every female, ages 10 through 30, have one?

First set of photos from Nordstrom. Second from Forever 21.

antiquities

2010-02-22T21:17:00.003-03:00

New York City's famous Solomon R. Guggenheim museum gets a bit more hipper by the day. For their 50th Anniversary, other-worldly sounding art-rock band Animal Collective is collaborating with visual artist Danny Perez to put together a performance art piece.

"...that will transform the museum’s rotunda into a kinetic, psychedelic environment. Transverse Temporal Gyrus will feature original recorded music composed specifically for the event along with video projections, costumes, and props, rendering the band members and performers into intense, visual abstractions. During the evening, guests are invited to freely explore the space in order to fully immerse themselves in the environment created by Animal Collective and Danny Perez."

I want to go to there.

P.S. Take a look at my sister's blog, Doing It and Doing It and Doing It Well. It's totally awesome.

Photo and article snippet from here.

for your listening

2010-02-21T17:46:00.009-03:00

For Christmas this year, I received this package.

And I was like what the hell is this Pops?

And I opened it up and discovered it was a pair of headphones!

And I was all, "Thanks Dad!"

And that's when I discovered Urbanears. They are a Scandinavian brand that started very recently. They only have three products out- the Plattan headphones (the ones above that I have), the Tanto headphones which are a bit smaller (actually the ones on the package up top), and the Medis, little earbuds. They all come in about 20 colors.

The Plattan ones have a "Zound Plug", which is a socket that allows a friend to plug in their headphones and listen in to your Plattans. They also have a microphone that is compatible with Nokia, iPhone, and if you're a crackberry person, Blackberry, too. They also can be folded down to the size of your fist so they don't take up too much room in your recycled canvas bag, you hypebeast, you.

They're pretty good priced for their sound quality- about $60- and who doesn't want a pair of hot pink headphones to wear on the subway?

Check out their website here.

First photo from here, second from here, third from here.

The Hipster: An Investigation

2010-02-20T13:46:00.002-03:00

Ever since I saw Man Man play at McCarren Park Pool in Williamsburg two summers ago, I have pondered the topic of the hipster.

What the hell are they?

Everyone has a different opinion of the hipster. Even self-proclaimed hipsters aren't exactly sure of what makes a hipster a hipster. This question was asked to a panel of four self-denying hipsters who all write for New York blogs on culture, food, events and other local coverage.

But as you can see, they aren't sure either, so I did some research, and came up with a few general genres of hipsters.

The Too-Ridiculous-Wannabe-Hipster

Examples:

Interests: Afghan scarves, neon-rimmed "nerd" glasses, MySpace, buffalo check shirts, asymmetrical haircuts.

The Mad-Fresh-Music-Making-Hipster

Examples:

Ninjasonik

Matt & Kim

Kid Cudi

Interests: Nike, A Bathing Ape, Supreme, hoodies.

The Female-Hipster-That-Mixes-Feminine-And-Masculine

The best example for this one would be the one and only Alexa Chung. No one can pull it off as well as her.

(She isn't very masculine in this one, but it doesn't matter because this dress is perfect.)

Interests: vintage, menswear as womenswear, lace, breton stripes, leather jackets, oxfords.

I think there are many types of hipsters and everyone has their own opinion on what they are. Through hours of extensive research and a coffee, I'm still not quite sure on what a hipster is, and I don't think I or anyone else will ever be, either. I do think, though, that there are a few essential items that every hipster needs, no matter what kind.

-Grizzly Bear and Animal Collective on their iPods.
-A good pair of skinny jeans.
-A plaid shirt.
-Something from American Apparel.
-Irony.

L.S.

first set of photos from latfh, second set here, here, and here, third from here, here, and here.

rabbit or hare?

2010-02-19T06:00:00.000-03:00

This photo is from Lady Gaga and Beyoncé's upcoming music video for "Telephone". The track itself is complete shit, but notice the hair telephone in Gaga's hair. That is not. That is genius.

L.S.

photo from People

only us

2010-02-18T20:46:00.000-03:00

It was 1967. It was 20-year-old aspiring poet Patti Smith's first day in New York. It was on this day, that while working at a book store, she met photographer Robert Mapplethorpe. This day spawned a relationship of friends, lovers, muses, and roommates, too, until Mapplethorpe's death of AIDS in 1989. At the time, they were both undiscovered starving artists, and they most definitely looked that way, too. Once, while they were in Washington Square Park, they overheard a tourist couple whispering about whether or not they were worth a snapshot. The woman argued that they had a look and were indeed worth it, but the man disagreed, replying with "They're just kids."

Smith has recently released an autobiography titled "Just Kids", a memoir about her and Mapplethorpe's lives together (while they occupy the famed NYC Chelsea Hotel, of course). It is $27 from HarperCollins. I admit it, I haven't yet read it myself, but the New York Times calls it "enchanting" and "splendid". I'd go for it.

L.S.

photo from SFGate

pleasure to meet you!

2010-02-17T22:50:00.000-03:00

Hey there! I'm Lyris. I'm a New York City teenager living a few blocks away from Central Park. I've kind of had a few ideas floating around in my head lately, and I felt I should jot them down somewhere so I don't forget them. This blog will be about Lady Gaga, girl power, rock stars...anything that comes to mind, honestly. I hope you like it, but if you don't, whatever dude. I'm not about to judge you.

L.S.

photo from The Sun Blog