Shred-mania

Step 1: Put on leggings.

Step 2: Station yourself in front of a mirror.

Step 3: Cut straight lines very close together. Line them up along the side of your leg. Sometimes it helps to cut a few tiny little holes on the outside of one leg for alignment's sake. Cut the line, then adjust the straightness of the lines after you've cut a few.

4: Fiesta!

Most importantly, be careful! I found that the best way to get the cuts exactly how you want them is to do it while you're wearing the leggings (although that could just be me being my crazy self). Also, nice fabric scissors help. My black Gingher scissors are my babies--according to my old sewing teacher, it's vital to have scissors that cut fabric and fabric only. Interesting.

I also shredded one of my boyfriend's old t-shirts in the style that's been making it's way around the blogosphere courtesy of childhood flames.

Is it weird that I have a garment rack in my bathroom?

In other news....

WINTER BREAK! YESSSSSSSS.

Here is a gratuitous (and rather large) Christmas image for no real reason:

Hiatus

I'm going on hiatus until finals are over! In the meantime, here's a shopping article I wrote for the paper.

Nifty Gifts on a College Budget
BY LOUISE LAO
VOLUME 42, ISSUE 11 | DEC 01 2008
This year, don’t resort to a last-minute gift card. Buy something unique while avoiding the dreaded mall crowds by shopping for presents online. These Web sites offer original and affordable gifts, from beautifully crafted baubles to downright wacky knickknacks.

Etsy.com is a treasure trove of handmade goodies. This is the perfect place to order gifts that cannot be found anywhere else. Because many items are vintage or handmade, sellers often have only one of each in stock. For example, the seller “dugshop” has pomegranate-scented soap shaped like a human heart, the perfect gift for an aspiring surgeon ($6.50). Majestyinc sells vinyl key chains shaped like mustaches for $3.00. Etsy has “Geekery,” a whole category devoted to eccentric finds like these. If you are shopping for a more traditional present, however, look no further than Etsy’s handmade jewelry and housewares.

Etsy’s Gift Guides help shoppers browse gifts by other categories like “environmentally friendly,” “steampunk,” “dark arts” and “nostalgic whimsy.” You can also narrow gifts by recipient, price range and even the location of the seller.

FredFlare.com also helps you shop by theme and price range. The site has a plethora of gift themes from Audrey Hepburn (which includes ladylike sweaters and “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” eye masks) to Star Wars (an R2-D2 backpack and astronaut ice cream). FredFlare carries something for everybody, from cute jewelry to funky flash drives and other gadgets. Presents for the home include Juno’s hamburger phone ($26), a mini fondue kit ($10) and an ice cream-shaped lamp ($48). You’ll find tons of fun and affordable presents for girly-girls and nerdy friends alike.

Speaking of geeky gifts, ThinkGeek.com is heaven for the easily amused. ThinkGeek carries what could arguably be the coolest t-shirts ever. The Electronic Drum Kit shirt has an embedded speaker that plays seven drum noises when you tap spots on the shirt’s drum graphic. The Wi-Fi Detector shirt displays the Wi-Fi signal strength in fluctuating glowing bars. Both shirts are $29.99 and will surely entertain the Rock Band lovers and computer geeks on your list.

ThinkGeek also has some obscure gifts that could entertain your zaniest friends, like the R2 Fish Training School Kit, which is exactly what it sounds like. For $39.99, you get an instructional DVD, an instruction manual and more accessories that will help the lucky recipient teach his or her goldfish “over 10 amazing tricks.” For the ultimate useless present enthusiast, order a box of LOLMagnetz to make captions for your very own “Lolcat,” cat images juxtaposed with humorous statements in broken, Internet slang ($19.99). I can has?

Even higher up on the crazy gift scale are presents from Edible.com. Edible is not for the faint of stomach. Have you ever tried oven-baked tarantula, scorpion-infused vodka, or barbeque worm crisps? What about Thai green crocodile curry? Edible carries all these things and more. The England-based Web site carries food that you would never think can be consumed, but happen to be delicacies in certain countries. Edible even explains the nutritional value of its products and describes their tastes. For example, did you know that Mopani worms, a snack enjoyed by South African natives, have a texture that’s similar to tofu, but taste like dried fish?

Those who don’t want gifts made from animals might enjoy food made with the animals’ help, like tea picked by specially trained monkeys or coffee that has been regurgitated by weasels.

In Edible’s “aphrodisiac” section, you can find “the ultimate extravagance”: a champagne-flavored lollipop that contains flakes of 24-karat gold. The Aphrodisiac Pearl Lollipop, made with real ground pearls, raw cane sugar and wild Madagascan vanilla essence, sounds genuinely yummy.

Whatever you choose to buy from these Web sites, one thing is guaranteed: a holiday shopping experience that has never been this memorable.

My Wish List!

Marc by Marc Jacobs Staples and Studs bag, Ashton faux leather jacket from Delia's, more Polaroid film. All jewelry and watches by Marc by Marc Jacobs.

These may be a bit of a stretch (Santa, I hope you're reading this):

Vintage Porsche





Proenza Schouler Medium PS1 Bags

Jeremy Scott for Ksubi

I haven't had much time to post lately because school has been crazy. I'm also in the process of looking for a job and working on a "secret project" (aka a project that I should have done by now but totally isn't ready, thus its elusiveness is a cover-up for its lack of existence) related to the club I'm involved with here at UCI (Fashion Interest Group). I'm actually sitting in the library right now, mildly annoyed that a guy decided to park himself at the table behind mine with a plate of Chinese food. Yay. I'm supposed to be starting two papers that are due tomorrow, but of course, I'm reading Fashionista instead. My thoughts on today's post on Jeremy Scott's collection for Ksubi:

- I think I need those black floral sunglasses.

- The bustier/skirt combo pictured above is adorable. I doubt I would wear them both together, but I'd gladly accept either one :)

- See the rest of the looks here.

- The collection is nice and all, but something about it (especially the floral pieces) reminds me of something... Hmm...

YAY!

Obamas May Bring New Fashion Sense to White House
The color-coordinated family will bring style to Washington.

By SAMANTHA CRITCHELL 

AP Fashion Writer, Nov 05, 2008

The Obamas' first official appearance as first family-elect will be long remembered for many weighty historic reasons, but it could also signal another new beginning: An entirely different fashion sense in the White House.

The Obama family took the stage in Chicago Tuesday night in color-coordinated outfits, all with touches of red or black.

For Michelle Obama, no stuffy suits or demure pastels here: Instead she wore a striking red-and-black dress designed by well-regarded, but not-so-mainstream, Narciso Rodriguez.

President-elect Barack Obama wore the same style dark-navy suit custom-made by Hart Schaffner Marx that he wore at the Democratic Convention, the company says, accompanied with a deep red, striped necktie.

Older daughter Malia wore a red bubble-hem dress, while the younger Sasha wore a black dress with an oversized bow on the front.

Together, they made a pleasing picture of coordination and confidence, style-watchers say.

"One of the things about Michelle and Barack is that they have classic American style," said Pamela Fiori, editor in chief of Town & Country.

"I hope as they move into the White House, they'll continue that and dress in a lot of American designers -- it certainly has been the case so far. She says on TV that she's wearing an outfit from J.Crew," she said. "You have to appreciate her honesty and sense of style."

Michelle Obama also has worn some relatively new names on the fashion scene, including Thakoon Panichgul and Maria Pinto. She also wore an off-the-rack style by White House Black Market on "The View."

"You know what I think is amazing? She likes fashion but she doesn't really let fashion wear her," observed Adam Glassman, creative director at Oprah magazine.

(Longtime Obama supporter Oprah Winfrey, attending the Obama victory party in Grant Park, wore a long green Agnona tunic that ties at the waist.)

"She (Michelle Obama) is incredibly democratic when it comes to fashion. She doesn't just do the old guard, she represents the new," he added.

The straight-from-the-runway Rodriguez dress highlighted both her attractive figure and her savvy sense of style, Glassman said. He also said he thinks she -- not a stylist -- is calling the shots about her look.

It's worth noting, especially amid all the comparisons to the Obamas and Kennedys that Rodriguez also designed the wedding dress that Caroline Bessette wore at her wedding to John F. Kennedy Jr. That could be a coincidence, said Bridget Foley, executive editor of W magazine and Women's Wear Daily, but it's fodder to fuel further connections.

The sheath-dress silhouette that Jackie made famous is indeed a favorite of Michelle Obama's, albeit a more modern version.

"She took a dress shape she looks great in -- a curvy sheath, but she still makes a powerful visual statement. She wants to project a bold image ... but it's not over the top wild," Foley said.

As for the new president's two-button suit, it is a classic power suit, says Homi Patel, chairman and CEO of parent company Hart Marx. "It's strong, navy and it does make you look powerful, but what makes it presidential is the man in it."

But if fashion insiders applauded the Election-night look, many bloggers called in the fashion police.

Yuli Ziv, co-founder of the user-generated online fashion magazine Myitthings.com, gave Michelle Obama points for not wearing a suit, but she also thought the dress was unflattering. "It accentuated some parts of the body I would try not to enhance," Ziv told the AP.

A posting on "The Dish Rag," an online component of the Los Angeles Times, called it a "bizarre dress that looked more like a Halloween costume than an election night frock."

But everyone seemed to love the children.

"I love how Barack and Michelle's beautiful daughters matched -- a perfect complement," said designer Zac Posen.

Town & Country's Fiori thinks the Obama family will help usher in an era of more refined dress. "Obama has taken to task the style of young boys who let their pants hang low and let their underwear show," she said. "I think we're all going to dress better and speak better and behave a lot better than we have in the past."

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press

---------------------------------------------

The runway version of Michelle Obama's Narciso Rodriguez dress is available on back order:

I'll end with a re-post of a little something I made back in February:

NO.

During an outing Wednesday in L.A., Pratt wore a "Palin For VP: God, Guns, Glory" T-shirt, while Montag sported a "Read My Lipstick: Vote McCain-Palin" top. (See more photos at JustJared.) -Us Weekly

I've never watched a single episode of The Hills because reality television makes my brain hurt. I've never felt the need to comment on anything relating to "Speidi" and their ridiculous little photoshoots. Until now.

These crazies endorsing the McCain campaign (not that I'm saying McCain people are crazy, but...never mind) in such a cheesy way (beer and a shotgun? Classy!) wasn't what made me finally publicly acknowledge their existence. An even greater crime has been committed here:

Heidi has absolutely RUINED those Stella McCartney wedges. If they are in fact the wedges I'm thinking/dreaming about. My heart is weeping.

Ru-eend!


The McCartney wedge in red... [Insert sigh of longing]

THE ORIGINAL

So, guess what, friends? The editors at my school newspaper decided to cut 416 words out of my 779-word article that was supposedly too short to begin with. Keep in mind that the audience I'm writing to is made of college students who don't have tons of money to spend on clothes and also don't have tons of fashion knowledge (hence the explanations for really obvious references... you'll see what I mean when you read this). Not that I'm saying I'm an EXPERT or anything, but I sure think that I know enough to not have over half of my article cut out. That's all I'm going to say. Here's the article as it should be.

(I'll try and add photos later--it's past 2:00 a.m. and I just checked the paper's website for my article, realized what happened, and decided to blog immediately. Now I want to sleep.)

CAMPUS CHIC: FALL FASHION 2008
By Louise Lao
Although it may not seem like it, a new season is upon us. In a matter of weeks, the sun will go into hiding along with last season’s fashion. In the meantime, any girl can update her wardrobe with a few of this season’s trends on a college budget.

HEAVY METAL
This fall, it’s all about the details. Zippers, chains and studs give basic pieces an edge. Layered chain necklaces inspired by Givenchy’s plentiful piles of silver can be recreated by buying chains from a craft store or simply layering chunky necklaces of your own. Statement jewelry like this can toughen up a simple dress at night or add instant style to an everyday ensemble. Exposed zippers seen at Marc by Marc Jacobs and Alexander Wang not only make formfitting dresses and skirts more interesting but also are ridiculously easy to make. By simply sewing a zipper onto a piece of clothing—the zipper doesn’t even have to function for this look—a plain piece can be instantly transformed to chic.

HAUTE HIPPIE
“Luxe bohemian” may sound like an oxymoron, but Anna Sui and Gucci’s Frida Giannini proved that sixties-inspired prints, feathers and fringe could be glamorous and modern. Elements of this trend can be worn in everyday life with hair accessories, jewelry and eclectic prints. Fringed boots, in both the short bootie and knee-high varieties, are a cold-weather must-have. Fashion houses like Balmain, who debuted a high heel-moccasin-ankle boot hybrid, and sought-after labels like Louboutin have released their own spin-offs of the “original”, (the original moccasin brand to be marketed to the masses, that is), more wearable and less pricey Minnetonka styles (Kate Moss is a fan!).

GRUNGE 2.0
For those of us who were still in OshKosh overalls when grunge took over the nineties, the fashion world is giving us another chance. Alexander Wang’s louche synthesis of masculine and feminine embodies the new grunge that’s a hit with the young and fashionable. Ripped tights, distressed denim and baggy trousers appeared on the runway along with plenty of black and neutral tones. Other fall collections included plenty of plaid, which, as it seems to do every fall, has made a comeback. This season, however, the pattern is reincarnated as a Kurt Cobain-inspired shirt rather than the typical preppy pair of shorts or schoolgirl skirt. Finally, the infamous Doc Martens, a long-time favorite of youth subcultures, finish off the look. Once known as a goth kid’s clunky combat boot, Doc Martens have been adopted by trendsetters like Daisy Lowe (who stars in the company’s ad campaign), Cory Kennedy (who, according to Nylon, will take over as the new face of the brand next season) and model Agyness Deyn.

MODERN ROMANCE
The abundance of lace on Prada’s runway has undoubtedly inspired many others to include this classic feminine fabric in their designs. For those of use who don’t want to be wrapped head-to-toe in a fabric that can be both so prim yet so risqué at once, more accessible labels have interpreted the trend in much subtler ways. For instance, dresses and tops by brands like Kimchi & Blue at Urban Outfitters let people embrace lace for a much lower cost. Lace tights, when worn with a simple outfit to avoid looking too much like 80’s Madonna, are an unexpected spin on this trend. Keep your ladylike lace dark and pair it with youthful clothing like miniskirts and casual layers to make the look age-appropriate and not fussy.

FANCY FRIPPERY
Jewelry should be full of personality this fall. Whether you choose glitzy statement jewelry or quirky charms, anything goes. Look for inexpensive, bold baubles like cocktail rings, bangles, and cuffs at Forever 21. If you tend to gravitate toward more avant-garde pieces, choose body chain jewelry that’s striking, yet simple like the pieces from designer Bliss Lau. Interested in a gold-plated retainer necklace? Find it fredflare.com for funky conversation-starter jewelry. For accessories that are even more unique, go to Supermarket at supermarkethq.com, where independent designers sell their work (jewelry, clothing, and even home décor and furniture), much of which is handmade. Stick to a few statement pieces this season to make even the simplest outfit your own.

To sum up the mood of this season, elements of youth subculture have surfaced to the mainstream, or at least to the fashion world. Also, with the cooler weather come darker, richer colors as a reaction to the styles of last season. While it may seem paradoxical to have styles from non-mainstream movements sold for hundreds at department stores, the message designers seem to encourage is to take the carefree attitude of youth culture and use it to determine your own personal style.

No one does it like you

Just purchased: Organic cotton vest from H&M. I feel like I need to get this vest out of my system, if that makes any sense--it goes with practically everything, so I want to wear it all the time. Actually, no, I don't want to get sick of it. It's too good to me. Sigh.

As you can see in the second photo, I bought the lace tights from Urban Outfitters that I blogged about earlier. I took advantage of the 2 for $20 and got these:

So far, it's been way too hot to wear anything winter-y, though. Last night it was actually cold enough for me to wear pants! Gasp! Hopefully it'll cool down soon so I can wear these. My next mission is to figure out a way to wear over-the-knee socks without looking slutty. Can it be done? We'll find out...

[I changed my song to the Best. Cover. Ever. Ben Gibbard of Death Cab doing "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun." Ah, perfection.]

Speak to me, darling, in hushed tones

I haven't updated in forever. I've been super busy moving into my new apartment and starting my second year at UCI. I'm now officially a Literary Journalism major. Yay? Actually, I was pretty mad yesterday because I found out that the class I needed to take so I could graduate early (I need to take a bunch of workshops in a certain order) was full, so I have to wait another year to take it. That means I'd be graduating on time instead of a year or so earlier. I was looking forward to moving back home to San Francisco (I actually live in a suburb, but I would move into the city when I'm on my own) or moving to New York to work in fashion journalism. I can't wait.

Speaking of fashion journalism, I'm doing a fall trend article for my university's paper right now, so I should probably stop blogging. I'll post something soon! Go to my chictopia in the meantime :)

Tights!

That's something I did for my fashion journalism class. Click to enlarge it!

I can't wait for the weather to get colder, just so I can wear tights more often. I really want to take advantage of Urban Outfitters' 2 for $20 deal. Unfortunately, the website doesn't have those total Chanel rip-off tights that are black on one side and pale on the other. So sad! I can't wait for...

1) Ripped tights a la Alexander Wang: (Hooray for cheap drugstore pantyhose!)

2) Lace tights from UO:

3) What do you think about these floral tights from Forever 21?

My autumn-inspired summer look

The problem with living in California is that everybody buys their fall/winter outfits in August and can't wear them until October. This is an outfit inspired by the Gucci collection I've been raving about, but actually worn on a 90-something degree day.

H&M one-shoulder top, thrifted/DIY skirt, vintage Moschino belt, Urban Outfitters sandals, Gap bag.

I'm really not looking forward to going back to school. The only thing I'm looking forward to is having an apartment, but not really, because I have no intention of cooking or cleaning. Okay, maybe cleaning, because that's kind of necessary, I guess, but you know what I mean. Chores. Not cool. I guess I can just focus on the (very few) lovely things about southern California. The beaches, for instance (Newport Beach being the closest):

And LA, I guess. Although I hate driving, so my lazy bum will have to wait for some other people to take me :) Here's a phone picture I took from a car in May:

I'll be winding down my oh-so exciting Sunday night by reading Sam Kashner's Marilyn Monroe article in this month's Vanity Fair. I swear I've seen Gentlemen Prefer Blondes like five times this summer. Now, I'll leave you with a picture of me being my terribly attractive self.

Link time!

Refinery29 -- Ten Fall Must-Haves*

From Refinery29: Must-have number 9

I want them all! Most of them, anyway. Fortunately, plenty of them are easy to DIY, so if you're anything like me (cheap),  you don't have to buy most of the stuff that Refinery29 actually recommends.

*There are actually twelve, not ten, for some reason...

1) Zip-front dresses: On my to-do list. I just made a zip-front skirt.

2) Full miniskirts: Done. I'll post pics of it soon. So, so easy to make, although mine is probably in the "fast" category of doing something fast or doing it right.

3) The rolled jean: I like this look, but it probably works best with taller girls, not elves like myself... I may try it with heels, though.

4) Slouch blazers: One word: Goodwill. (This is a good thing.)

5) Ankle-length trousers: Who wears trousers? Oh well, I like them anyway. I can start.

6) Floral dresses

7) Pops of orange

8) Leather pants: I miss my AA leggings! I left them along with my lamé skirt and some vital heels down in a relative's house near Long Beach and I've been lamé-less all summer long. I weep for my legs.

9) Plaid jackets: Probably something that can't be thrifted or made so easily. Still want one though.

10) Leather jackets: I'm furious at an eBay seller who was supposed to ship me a jacket form Israel like a month ago. This may be my first negative review... tsk tsk.

11) Denim shorts

12) Plaid shirts: Four and counting...

Style Bubble -- Susie Bubble on layering necklaces. 

Yet another thing I left down at school was my layered chain necklace I made last summer. Tragically, one of my models left it at the FIG fashion show and I doubt I'll ever see it again. Ah well, at least I can make another one. Here is is in a photo that was actually one of my projects for a studio art class. I was supposed to be making something 3-D into something 2-D, so the necklace became a snake and the snake became a photo of a snake. From far away, it has fangs:

SASSYBELLA -- Kate Moss’ neighbors complain about her teepees

This is just funny and has nothing to do with my lost accoutrement. Kate should invite me over so we can prance around in Minnetonkas and talk about how men are "absolute bastards." Her words, not mine--"I'm a tit man" is another profound quote from that interview. Wise words.

San Mateo Daily Journal -- The skinny on a 'Gossip Girl' wardrobe

This is pulled from another source and not written by someone on the staff. I would freak out if it was, because I intern for this paper and fashion is what I'm basically trying to write about for, like, you know, the rest of my life, so I should hope that they'd want me to write about it. The article would have been better with some visuals, in my opinion, but oh well. I appreciate anything Gossip Girl related because the show is so cheesy and horrible but so fun to watch anyway. (I love Chuck and Blair! Everyone else whines too much, so I just look at their clothes while they do it.) If you're reading this blog, you must be interested enough in fashion to already know most of the things mentioned in the article, but there it is, direct from the paper I'm currently working for.

I count only sunny hours

I was running late for my sewing lesson this morning, so I threw on the most basic outfit ever: AA cardigan, H&M tank, J Brands and Keds. It ended up being perfect for today--the weather in SF was lovely. The bf and I went to the SF MOMA and frolicked around Golden Gate Park afterwards.

One of my favorites from the museum, Robert Rauschenberg's American:

The Shakespeare Garden:

The sundial:




He's carrying my shopping bag, not a man purse, by the way...

Not-fashion related, but...

A little Conor Oberst never hurt anybody. Pictures from his show at Amoeba in SF earlier this month:



Amazing.