If I Were in Porn

To the Left, To the Left

March 12, 2009 - Grassroots Bar on St. Marks
Is it wrong that I find those arrows beyond aesthetically pleasing -
So much so that I want them tattooed on my body? Theyre just garbage
someone etched onto a bar table but theres something about them. No?

Cant Believe Its Trudy

Apparently, before achieving infamy as Trudy Wiegel on Comedy Central's RENO 911, Kerri Kenney was in a 90s Alt-Rock outfit.
Enough said.
The only available track on YouTube from her band Cake Like boasts a traditionally bizarre 90s music video complete with shots of dolls clothes, electric waves atop TV wires, and an entire girl group semi-kinder whored. The song itself, however, does something slightly PJ Harvey and slightly Sonic Youth but its no wonder Kenney had to wait for fame. Her voice is unmistakably Wiegel and though she sings well enough, its hard for this generation to separate her from her television persona. I suppose when this video came out it wouldve been hard to separate her from the hoards of other similar acts - many of which were probably better, especially lyrically. For me, thats what sets 90s grunge apart from the music of other eras - the lyrics had more poesy and Cake Like doesnt seem to have achieved that. As far as my greatest 90s obsession, fashion: while I dont particularly like the look in the video, the two promo shots I could locate are looking pretty awesome. Light blue denim and black lace all around, and that, I can stand behind.

Anyway, just thought that was worth sharing/wildly amusing.
Thanks to Alex for uncovering this little gem.

Worship Worthy

I honestly have no idea how I turned this blog into a style blog, but Im hoping to eventually salvage what is left of my more personal thoughts and move my fashion ideals (of which there are many and Im attempting to sort through in a coherent manner) to BADLOOKING where I will let myself go overboard with infinite posts and links and photos and whatever else. Until the new blog is really set up, I have a few things to share (some of which have been shared elsewhere but deserve more support):

1. Nina Nikicio's Oneandahalf




Another blogger - Style Bubble - gets full credit for posting about Nikicio's work yesterday. As a huge fan of simple silhouettes and the full spectrum of the gray scale, I immeditely contacted the designer, herself, asking for prices. To my surprise, some items are even as inexpensive as $19! Of course that raises the question of quality but with most designers pricing their items far above $100, ordering a few items under that feels logical (?) so Im placing my order tonight. That white dress, in particular, will be mine! Nina calls the collection Heartbreak, describing it as:

Collection 1: Heartbreak is pretty straightforward as it’s inspired by the end of one relationship and so the color is somber in black, white, and grey pallete. The tassels and attached shawls are used in the collection to represent tears and hoods are used to hide the face. The detachable shirt, blazer, cuff, and collar are used to represent the shattered feeling. We’ve all been there and it’s not pretty, but it’s very challenging to create a collection based on sadness and make it look beautiful. If there’s such a word as beautiful sadness, then this is what the collection is about.

1. Aoi Kotsuhiroi


A little over a week ago I stumbled upon some images of these pieces somewhere on the internet and seeing that Jessie over at Burn These Bones also blogged about them (I also totally stole her efforts to capture the images from Kotsuhiroi's site), I had to chime in with my own words of appreciation. Lord knows I love all things dead and dying - hence Horace and Morris - so I immediately fell for these pieces that incorporate human hair, crystals, fired porcelain in the shape of eerie skulls, all handmade. Each of these is so uniquely beautiful and mesmerizing, I only wish I were made of money so that I could make this piece my own. The craft of the hair - used almost as wire - and its sleek blackness amongst jade green stones and the slight dirtiness of the skull pieces is just unreal and truly beautiful.

3. Opening Ceremony Spring 2009
Somehow it completely escaped my knowledge that Opening Ceremony finally put up a website that I can lurk constantly - my favorite hobby. Thus, after creating this list:

Mock Neck Bodysuit
Zip-Front Cardigan
OC Bodysuit Dress
Jean Bodysuit
Pleated Pointelle Skirt
Nude Toga Tank
Waisted Knit Top
OC Cropped Bow Top
OC Beach Top

of items I am coveting, I made my way down to Canal Street - my least favorite place on this green Earth - and tried on almost everything on that list. Of course, what I came out with was yet another piece of Alexander Wang's T Collection. Ive overworn my long black racer back tank dress so I chose to get the cream version. Its safe to say I need to stop shopping.

4. Oak Editorial
The most recent Lookbook shots from Oak are really high fashion and worth sharing with yall!
Come visit me this weekend (and buy some Acne products from me so I can win a free item).

What Happens in SoHo

So, I went. After six hours in class I met up with Meredith, from my trip to Israel, and Pam and the three of us walked down to TopShop from Cooper Square. South of Prince Street we kept anticipating a mob of screaming girls and a hideous mass of people but instead there was a civilized and organized line around the block. Maybe it was the time of day that allowed for only the more relaxed enthusiasts waited until after 5, but it was - all in all - a very pleasant experience. Id never gone to anything knowing beforehand that it was going to be so intense, as I had expected opening day to be, but it wasnt stressful in the least. We waited in line for maybe twenty minutes before spotting Marika and friends headed home and then running into Texas, fresh from Paris, and a friend of hers who joined us in the cue for another twenty or so minutes and then we easily made it inside. Because the outdoor waiting area was so well run, the store, itself, wasnt over-crowded or difficult to manage in the least. There was an appropriate number of shoppers at all times and not until fitting room lines was anything else a hassle.


My two purchases: denim bra & white cut-out dress. Success!
Im 100% going back for the denim body suit, as well. Regrets!
(Went back for the unitard and got a hot red bikini as well!)

I was right, however, in anticipating some kind of disappointment. TopShop is, ultimately, just a glorified H&M or Forever 21 and though the trends they are cashing in on are a bit more to-the-minute and well-made, there is minimal difference. What I can say in favor of the company over others in the same vein is that the store never felt a mess, it is not overcrowded with displays and where the items go right, they go right. Their collaboration with Preen (the best of which is that black piece hanging in the foreground of my dressing room heap) looked beautiful on the hangers and fit half amazingly (the other half looked horrendous) and there were several pieces that stole my heart. With three gift cards, each worth $5, two a gift from Pam, I spent over $100 and walked out with the two single most 90s inspired pieces in the entire store despite having tried on at least 15 other items. Im very happy with what I got in time for Spring to start and I do believe I will be visiting TopShop again - unlike H&M and Forever21, which I wrote off ages ago as every one of their pieces came apart with minimal wear. The items I already own from TopShop are of good quality and I can agree to spending minimal cash on easy-to-wear clothes that last well enough as well.



Thanks to Nicky Digital for this shot of Meredith and I holding our items.

My oufit: Ideeen biker jacket, Opening Ceremony belted top, Larsen Grey skirt, DKNY tights

Why Try to Change Me, Now

Heaven knows I am a personality snob and rare do I find someone who encites true and total awe but much of my life (thirteen years, now, to be exact) have I marveled at the beauty and the essence that is Fiona Apple. Just as she released Tidal in 1996, I was maybe the only eight year old at Lilith Fair, eagerly awaiting my chance to see Apple in succession with The Cardigans (of which Nina Persson is still someone I admire, as well), Jewel, Joan Osborne, Sheryl Crow, Tracy Chapman, Sarah McLaughlan, amongst many others. Since then, she has consistently been my favorite musician and maybe even general "person". Not only is she a physical beauty and an immense talent but she has a knack for closing herself off and opening herself up at the precisest of moments. She tells the world some but never too much and she is all emotions - even angry - with a kind of grace that reminds me, however sentimentally, of the way swans take off from water. I admire her in every way without an ounce of jealousy in the form of some admirations. So, after nearly four years since releasing Extraordinary Machine and only a single track for The Nightmare Before Christmas 3D, its only fitting that she perform songs of those that Id like to assume she admires with maybe a similar fervor. Reportedly, she is releasing a covers album (perhaps similar to Cat Power's Covers Album but better because Chan Marshall, despite doing the songs she chose a certain kind of justice, did not make a "listenable" album worth hearing over and over again while Ive already listened to Apple's single track release at least a dozen times today). Anyhow, she does an incredible favor for Cy Coleman's Why Try to Change Me, Now? (originally written for Sinatra), following solidly in the footsteps of Colman and Sinatra themselves, not to mention alto sensation Beverly Kenney in 1956 and many more. Its safe to say that I cant wait for more of this to leak. More information at Stereogum.

TopShop Take Over: Tomorrow

So, Manhattan's TopShop finally opens tomorrow and despite how dramatically I despise crowds - due to the constant fear that I could have a panic attack at any moment - I have been fully tricked into having to go on opening day. As Pam blogged about the other day, this adorable group of TopShop girls has been roaming the city in the Heartschallenger bus giving out free tote bags filled with Lookbooks and fliers and some of us were given gift cards with an anonymous quantity on them between $5 and $500. Problem is that these gift cards are only valid on April 2nd!


The one thing I really dont understand about TopShop is that their Lookbook boasts the most amazing pieces and adorable styling but none of the features items even exist for purchase! At least not on the website. Instead, everything on the site just looks like slightly glorified H&M and Forever 21 reissues. Granted, I have several items from the TopShop and TopMan lines that I got at Opening Ceremony over the years but Ive never been blown away. Where are all those glorious items above? Where is all the fringe and the amazing patterns and perfect pleats and washes? I suppose Ill see how it goes tomorrow, assuming I make it through the whole experience.