I always imagine "Lisztomania" means making a lot of lists, but that's probably wrong

Since I was en elementary school kid, I've gotten really excited about back-to-school shopping. So excited that I would plan out what I wanted to get, get it, then save the labels in a composition notebook. It's almost scary to think how much I loved collecting labels (not necessarily designer labels, because I was like, nine years old, but actual paper labels) for the love of shopping and cataloging everything. The notebook started in fourth or fifth grade and ended in ninth. Every fall and many shopping trips in between, I'd make pages of labels with notes about the garment's size, color, and style.

Now that I'm getting into my third year of college, it's more about what clothing I *wish* I could buy, rather than the everyday. After all, my notebook would be a collage of the same damn places I can't stay away from (and that I can actually afford): Urban Outfitters, H&M, American Apparel. College, for me, means a wardrobe filled with items from the aforementioned holy trinity mixed with vintage, DIY, and thrift. Don't tell my closet, but as faithful and loving as I've been, I'm secretly longing for everything at Barneys. Sorry. And this is where the blog comes in...

WANT LIST: Saving my allowance, selling used clothes

WISH LIST: Golddigging, selling some plasma and some unnecessary car parts... those exist, right?

WANT LIST

1) Silence & Noise Double Breasted Blazer

2) Tights, tights, tights

3) AA leotards

4) Vintage cross-body bags

5) Victoria's Secret bikini (Downside to living in "the OC": less opportunities for proper fall fashion. Upside: Going to the beach every day)

Being a hobbit petite, I've given up on finding good jeans, so I plan on keeping up my current uniform of a top tucked into a skirt or shorts (hence the need for more leotards).

WISH LIST

1) Aldo Seace ankle boots (not particularly expensive, but I. Do. Not. Need. More. Shoes. I have to keep telling myself that).

2) Alexander Wang Hanne Zip Boot3) Yves Saint Laurent Imperiale Boot (Psst... Bebe makes a thigh high boot for about $150, not almost $2,000... but hey, YSL is YSL).

Summer at Parsons/Crop top amazingness

It's been so long since I've updated! I've been so busy with school and finals and moving out of my apartment at school, out of my house at home, and into a new house an hour away. I'm probably even busier right now because I'm at Parsons in NYC doing the fashion design summer intensive program. Yes, they're filming Project Runway. No, I haven't seen Heidi or Tim (yet!) A bunch of my classmates have, though. I'm jealous. Anyway, the intensive program really is INTENSE. It's funny how the fashion people have been staying up ridiculous hours while people in the other programs get to hang out and party a lot more often. I'm so tired and it's only the second week! As crazy as it is here, I love it. I doubt I'd come back to Parsons for another undergraduate degree after UCI because I would have to pay for it myself, but then again, I love New York and I love design, so why choose to go to a school that isn't as good? I guess we'll see how it goes in a few years. In the meantime, I should decide if design is actually what I want to do. Speaking of design, I'm supposed to be making a mood board right now. I just got back from a nighttime gelato run. By "run", I mean taking 2 subway trains to Greenwich Village to arrive at Cones, which closes at 11 p.m., at 10:59, then hanging out for a bit before coming back my dorm in the financial district. So tired! Time to start on this board and get some sleep for the draping seminar tomorrow!

I need to put up pictures at some point, but here's some written DIY construction for a crop top. I found a scoopneck tee at Forever 21 that's made of surprisingly soft cotton for amazing price of $4.50. I found that the best place to start cutting was about half an inch above the little tag on the inside that tells you what the shirt's made of. Step 1: Buy the shirt in large. (I think this project might only work with this top if you're already a size small, actually.) Turn the shirt inside out and stretch it a bit. Step 2: Find that tag. Step 3: Cut a straight line across the shirt. Step 4: Stretch the shirt again and it'll develop a rolled hem on it's own! I'll probably reinforce the stitching on the sides by hand later on.

American Apparel has a crop top for about $17. I'm thinking about buying it for the mossy green color, but if you want a basic color, just make one from a Forever 21 top. You don't need to cut a more feminine neckline like you would if you started with a basic Hanes tee or something of the sort because it's already built in.

More "Suburban Outfitter" and shredded jeans

American Apparel tank, DIY jeans

Close-up of my "Ironic Mustache" necklace (yay for Shrinky Dinks jewelry!)

I've been ridiculously busy these past few weeks trying stay alive and attempting to put together my line for UC Irvine's Fashion Interest Group's fashion show. I have to have TEN outfits ready for Wednesday the 27th. I feel like I *should* be panicking, but because I'm juggling school and my column, I haven't really had the time. I think I'll be sewing for three days straight this Memorial Day weekend. Woohoo! Anyway, here's my latest column about my favorite fashion blogs (which I'm sure you all know about already, haha): 

Personal Style 2.0: Fashion Blogs that Trump the Age-Old Magazine

BY LOUISE LAO

VOLUME 42, ISSUE 29  |  MAY 18 2009

As much as I love fashion magazines, I often find myself getting frustrated with their content. Photo spreads might as well be pages of a catalog that only sell clothes that a college student can’t afford to dry clean, let alone afford to wear.

When I want a dose of reality, I forgo the glossy pages filled with impossibly tall models and go online to peruse my favorite fashion blogs. These days, the blogosphere is expanding, with countless bloggers recording their daily outfits, fashion news and musings on the latest trends.

However, there are only a few Web sites that I frequent daily. These bloggers not only show off their unique personal style, but they also demonstrate how the latest trends aren’t solely reserved for the pages of magazines. As real people with real bodies, lives and stylistic visions, they show that you too can work more fashion into real life.

For fashion inspiration and sage advice, visit my favorite blogs of the moment:

Fashion Toast:

FashionToast.com

Rumi Neely’s popular blog, Fashion Toast, is full of gorgeous photos of the blogger’s effortless yet daring style. San Diego-based Neely is known for her uncanny ability to embody the high-low aesthetic in every ensemble she posts. Take her last post for example: Neely paired a baggy Ungaro hoodie adorned with chains, leather shorts, tights and platform heels in basic black.

Another instance in which Neely mixes a high-end designer piece with wallet-friendly fashion is her mix of an oversize Alexander Wang sweater with cutoff Levi’s shorts and thigh-high stockings from Hot Topic. While these combinations may sound strange in a newspaper, Neely proves how well such random pieces can work together with a chic nonchalance.

Karla’s Closet:

KarlasCloset.com

I constantly turn to Karla Deras’ blog for inspiration because of her excellent ability to mix vintage and modern. This Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising student dares to wear eclectic mixes of vintage blazers, frilly skirts and blouses, and lots of American Apparel.

Aside from her many one-of-a-kind vintage pieces, perhaps the element of her outfits that I envy most is her seemingly endless collection of heels. Deras’ sophisticated outfits look perfectly put together, yet they are still edgy enough to remain youthful and fresh.

Style Bubble:

StyleBubble.typepad.com

In high school, I was lucky enough to discover Style Bubble, a fabulous blog written by Londoner Susanna Lau, aka Susie Bubble. To this day, I am still amazed by her singular style. Style Bubble is the most informative of the blogs that I frequent because Lau offers her insight regarding the goings-on in the fashion world in addition to spilling the details on her wild outfits.

Lau blogs about boutiques in London and beyond, as well as new designers, fashion illustrators, fashion publications and more. A true trendsetter, Lau exhibits the kind of quirky style and adventurous attitude toward fashion that I would love to see more often in America. She has inspired me to take more risks and be unafraid to experiment with the bold, colorful and outlandish.

Bleach Black:

BleachBlack.com

If you don’t have time to read through lengthy blog posts but you want a taste of what’s new in trends, Do-It-Yourself projects and more, visit BleachBlack.com. The site is basically two blogs in one — two modules side-by-side written by Kristin Reiter and Valerie Killeen, designers for RVCA and Element, respectively. Reiter and Killeen publish short-but-sweet posts that exhibit their Southern Californian style and crafty sensibility; the latest post teaches readers how to make amazing Balmain-inspired spiked heels, for instance. Bleach Black does a fantastic job of posting quick trend reports, such as flowered dresses and crocheted pieces (as you may be able to tell, Bleach Black loves the ’90s).

Face Hunter:

FaceHunter.blogspot.com

Chances are, if you’re familiar with street style blogs, then you know all about the Sartorialist. I, too, am a fan of Scott Schuman’s snapshots of stylish people perfectly poised on the streets of New York, Paris, Milan, etc. However, I feel that Face Hunter captures another aesthetic in his subjects that deserves similar recognition. While most (if not all) of the Sartorialist’s shots include people in incredibly expensive-looking, chic ensembles, Face Hunter’s subject embodies a more louche and youthful realm of style. After perusing Face Hunter, I am able to see what fashion lovers are wearing in Stockholm, Berlin, Budapest and other countries. Most shots are taken during the daytime and give readers a refreshing view on style around the world — truly “eye candy for the style hungry,” as the site declares. Visit Face Hunter daily to get inspired to shake up your daily wardrobe and break out of the jeans and t-shirt rut.

Whether you’re looking for new trends to experiment with, new ways to wear basics or new gossip and events in the fashion world, look no further than these blogs. Bloggers make it possible to experience what’s new and what’s hot in fashion as soon as possible. All it takes is a few clicks to discover the latest news and the best style tips and secrets for you.

"Is it wrong that I want this?"

It happens to lots of us--we see something so tacky, so outrageous, so random, that we immediately want it. These thoughts are often followed by disparaging second opinions that make us change our minds. Sometimes, though, we follow through with our "love/hate at first sight" feelings and buy whatever strange item it may be. In these cases, it feels good to take a chance. Unfortunately, there are those other times when we experience a "What was I thinking?!" moment. Here are a few things that I must admit I'm fascinated by. Will I actually buy them? We'll see...

A sequined bikini that I would wear with the top as a bandeau. Would it even last through a lap in the pool? Who knows. Guess who makes this trashy yet weirdly charming (to me, at least) bikini? The brand that outfits legions of high schoolers in those infamous sweatpants... Victoria's Secret PINK.

I'm not big on graphics, but there's something I like about this subtly integrated text on the upper back of a vest that happens to be two of my favorite things: 1) black and 2) studded. What may be surprising is where this vest is from and, better yet, who "designed" it. Don't laugh. It's from a certain 5 ft. 2 in. Canadian (or is she a US citizen now?) who makes guilty pleasure music for 10 year-olds. Yup, it's from Avril Lavigne's Abbey Dawn line at Kohl's. I've never actually set foot in a Kohl's because there are none by my hometown or where I go to school. I assume it's like the now nonexistent Mervyn's? Hmm...

For you Orange County readers!

My column in UC Irvine's New University paper is back for Spring quarter! :)

Frugal Fashion, Fabulous Finds: Thrift Shopping in the OC

BY LOUISE LAO

VOLUME 42, ISSUE 23  |  APR 06 2009

When you think of Goodwill, you might think of shelves of used toasters, racks of obscure T-shirts, old stuffed animals, and maybe even the clothing you donated last week, as I have. Don’t let your first impression or the store’s notorious aroma deter you from seeking what could be your next favorite item of clothing. Recently, I found a black vintage jumpsuit, denim jacket, faux-fur stole, and several other pieces to use for fabric at the Goodwill store in Costa Mesa. I’ve learned that if you take the time to sift through the racks, you’re often lucky enough to discover a unique item.

Dee Lux: 1500 Adams Ave, Costa Mesa

I had the best shopping experience at Dee Lux in Costa Mesa. It was clean, organized, well-lit and even had good music playing. With The Shins as my soundtrack, I headed straight toward the vintage dresses. Unfortunately, I didn’t find anything in my size, but the browsing itself was enjoyable. Instead of the clothing being crammed into the racks like in other used clothing stores, the pieces were manageable so that shopping could be stress-free. Of course, the less chaotic atmosphere meant that the selection isn’t as large as it is in other stores, but I didn’t mind one bit. I expected a place that was so well-kept to have ridiculous prices. Fortunately, I was wrong. For example, all sunglasses were $12. Most of the dresses were under $20. Of course, Dee Lux is no Goodwill, but finding authentic vintage clothing in such a clean environment makes me willing to pay extra. In addition to men and women’s vintage, Dee Lux has some new clothing, but also sells some American Apparel clothing for less than retail price, like raglan pullovers for $21 and hoodies for $30. I recommend stopping by Dee Lux for clothes, shoes, jewelry and even books and kitschy knick-knacks.

Crossroads Trading Co.: 1835 Newport Blvd #B123, Costa Mesa

Like Dee Lux, Crossroads in Costa Mesa sells used and vintage clothing, but most of the items I came across were used clothing from recent years rather than true vintage from decades past. Another factor that distinguishes the two stores was the sheer chaos of the place. The racks were stuffed with so many pieces that the experience was overwhelming. The clothes seemed to be priced by brand; for instance, two similar blazers differed in price by $13 dollars because one was Wet Seal ($12) and the other was Calvin Klein ($25). I found several pieces from contemporary labels like Marc by Marc Jacobs and Betsey Johnson for a fraction of their original cost, but I didn’t actually come across anything I’d like to wear this season. Overall, it was hard to pinpoint the price range at Crossroads due to the variety of labels for sale. Most tops were under $15 and dresses under $20. The men’s section had a great selection of both new and used shoes, like new Converse sneakers for $16.50 and vintage Doc Martens for $18. Men’s jeans and pants were reasonably priced between $10 and $50. If you have enough patience to sort through the mess, you might find some good-as-new fashion for cheap. Crossroads is great if you’re looking for more contemporary clothing for a low price, but don’t expect to find as much vintage as you would in a smaller place like Dee Lux or Swellegant in Newport Beach.

Swellegant Vintage: 3409 Newport Blvd, Newport Beach

Swellegant Vintage sells clothing that’s truly vintage — think mod dresses circa the 1960s, gaudy sequined evening wear from the 1980s, and more. The selection is great if you’re looking for something authentic for a costume party or even something to tailor to present day. Walking into the store was like entering a time machine; the clothes were perfectly preserved and oldies played on the store’s speakers. Although Swellegant is the smallest of the stores I visited, I think it had the most interesting collection of clothing, shoes, accessories, jewelry and home décor. Clothes are marked in sections by time period and style (take their rack of 1980s prom dresses, for example). Like Dee Lux, the store sells a variety of sunglasses for $12 each. Necklaces, my favorites being the chunky safety-pin necklaces from the 1960s, sell for $10. I especially liked the $14 cigarette/ID cases with pictures of pin-ups, Audrey Hepburn and other retro images on the front of each. At Swellegant, clothing is a bit pricier than other used clothing places, but this may be due to the fact most of the items are strictly vintage, with some pieces dating back to the 1950s and possibly even earlier. Swellegant carries an extensive collection of blouses for around $30 and dresses that mostly fell between $30 and $60. At Swellegant, you’re guaranteed to find something that no one else has.

If you want to stand out from the crowd and break free from the mall, visit a used clothing shop, a vintage clothing shop or even a Goodwill store. Once you dedicate some time and patience to your search, you’ll likely encounter a piece that will set you apart from the rest and save you some cash at the same time.

there's nothing that the road cannot heal

Forever 21 red cardigan and silver leaf necklace. Conor Oberst tour tee from a show @ SOMA in San Diego.

I spent Saturday morning/early afternoon styling a shoot with Michelle and Andi, the amazing photographer and model. Andi wore some of the clothes I designed/made/altered from last spring to this winter, necklaces I made, and my own shoes and other accessories. Here a few pictures:

AA Afrika dress worn as top, Forever 21 vest and faux leather shorts, Urban Outfitters sandals

Click them to enlarge! More to come soon.

fighting fire with firewood

1) and 2) An outfit for the weird Southern California winter. American Apparel cardigan, DIY shredded tank, Hot Topic (!) chain scarf, My Jenny Humphrey Nine West boots.

3) A phone photo of my legs (in AA lamé leggings and my studded Converse) sitting in the sand on a beach. I don't know if I'm in Laguna or Corona del Mar... Laguna, I think. I'm sitting against the wall of someone's house, under a light. The stretch of blackness is the ocean. So gorgeous at night, but kind of scary at the same time. After an Honorary Title acoustic show in San Diego.

The rest: I just thought the clouds were pretty. This is the view from my balcony/my window.

Midterm season!

I'm still on hiatus because of these darn midterms. I started another blog for my club at school here. Go look!

Column #2!

Here's my second column, published in UC Irvine's New University newspaper. I need to add pictures later! Enjoy :)

SUBURBAN OUTFITTER
Swing Back Into Spring Styles With Soft Tones and Do-It-Yourself Fashions
BY LOUISE LAO
VOLUME 42, ISSUE 14 | JAN 19 2009
Back home in the Bay Area, I never thought about shopping for spring and summer clothing until March when, if I were lucky, the temperature would slowly climb to the cool mid-60s. Here in Irvine, however, it’s mid-January and a ridiculous 85 degrees. Even though I’m wearing denim cutoffs, I feel like I’m about to pass out as I trudge up a slight slope in Aldrich Park.

What does this tell me (besides that I’m ludicrously out of shape)? It’s time to shop for the new season.

This spring, I’m determined to bring some color into my dark, gloomy winter wardrobe, which is currently dominated by black and gray. I’m definitely looking forward to experimenting with different color palettes, fabrics and shapes.

Soft tones in creamy, nude shades were big on the runways this season, as seen in the parade of sandy-colored gowns worn at this year’s Golden Globes. Stella McCartney mixed pieces in shades of nude, ivory and peach, to breathe new life into colors that would seem muted against basic black.

In typical springtime fashion, shades reminiscent of Easter eggs have re-emerged, but this time, more dusty than pastel: ice blue, pale rose and light mint green. I plan on pairing these sweetly colored pieces with faded, distressed denim for a fresh look that won’t make me look like a marshmallow Peep.

Alternatively, highlighter hues lit up several runways, including several outfits in Alexander Wang’s Miami Vice-inspired show and Luella Bartley’s self-declared “Sunday best on acid” collection. While Wang employed clean lines and a 1980s vibe in his designs, Bartley’s cheerful designs have a ladylike look with a kooky, frilly twist. If you’re reluctant to sport a head-to-toe supercharged ensemble, take inspiration from the pieces from Marc by Marc Jacobs and mix khaki with brights.

I plan to continue my love affair with pyramid studs this season. I’ve adored the things since my high school days when I lived in studded belts and band tees and half my hair would change from Fuchsia Flash to Vampire Red. I even studded my Converse. Now that I’m slightly more mature (and my hair is, sadly, back to normal), I still wear the sneakers occasionally, but I adorn myself with studs in a more subdued way — in the forms of earrings, bracelets and the occasional belt. Studs and other metallic accents have stuck around since last season and continue to embellish belts, jewelry, clutches and even moccasins.

Precious metals shone on the runways in the form of stunning frocks. My fantasy wardrobe would include Balenciaga by Nicolas Ghesquière’s futuristic dresses that transformed the models into walking disco balls and the gorgeous stud and gem-encrusted Little Black Dresses at Balmain. In a perfect world, I would parade around in every one of the stunning silver mini dresses at Collette Dinnigan, from the drop-waist flapper-esque dress to the dress that resembles a mirror mosaic.

For now, I’ll head back to reality and talk about the trends that are a bit more accessible and easy to recreate. Rodarte’s collection practically had “Do-It-Yourself” (DIY) written all over it — dresses were slashed, sweaters were shredded, gowns seemed to be dipped in Rit dye and delightfully useless chains were affixed to certain pieces. As haphazard as this all may sound, I found beauty in the randomness and deconstructed elements of Rodarte’s spring collection. As an aspiring designer who finds some strange enjoyment in ruining perfectly good items of clothing, I’m quite inspired by Rodarte’s designers, the Mulleavy sisters, this season.

Feel like updating a top with minimal effort? Follow both Rodarte and Jeremy Laing and make precise cuts in a tank or T-shirt to create a paper lantern effect. Just don’t hack away at it carelessly, or you’ll end up with tatters that come off as crazy rather than conceptual.

Perhaps even more wallet-friendly than completing a DIY project is wearing updated classics and pieces that are already in your wardrobe. This idea of “recession chic” has arrived in full force in the fashion world; however, as a mere college student, I have always shopped with a recessionista’s attitude. Besides bargain hunting, this includes supplementing essential pieces like cardigans and blazers with accessories. An easy way to update a look is with a belted waist. This season, anything goes, from skinny to studded to wide obi belts à la Louis Vuitton. As far as jewelry goes, attention-grabbing earrings from the past have made a comeback.

Now that I’ve outlined some of the trends for spring and summer, I can’t wait until this sporadic weather settles on sunny.

Nicolas <3 The Second Amendment

Balenciaga Pre-Fall 2009 and the right to bear arms.

Suburban Outfitter

Hello all!

My first column article came out this week in UC Irvine's paper, New University! (That's my school in Orange County, California.) I'm excited about writing it, but a little nervous because I have no idea how I got the authority to write about this stuff. Haha. It's called "Suburban Outfitter" because I live in the Irvine bubble and I have an incredibly lame sense of humor. Har har har. Well, read and let me know what you think!

SUBURBAN OUTFITTER
Less Trashin’, More Fashion on Social Network Chictopia.com
BY LOUISE LAO
VOLUME 42, ISSUE 12 | JAN 05 2009
Last night, I had a nightmare about Chictopia.com. I was clicking through page after page of girls in oversized white t-shirts, black leggings and black boots. Every single ChicBlog was exactly the same. My legs began to hurt as if the sight of so many bland outfits was physically painful and I suddenly woke up in actual pain. Lying in bed, I began to wonder if I go on Chictopia too much.

Chictopia.com is a social network based in San Francisco designed for users (mostly women) to showcase their most stylish outfits. Deemed the “people’s fashion destination,” users rate and comment on each other’s outfits. Teen Vogue called Chictopia “the next big thing” and Nylon declared the site to be “totally inspiring, despite the cheesy name.”

On Chictopia, users are able to browse the pages of other users with the same age, body type and even skin tone. Members post reviews on specific items of clothing, from Hanes T-shirts to Ksubi jeans. Each month, members with the most “fans” (other users who add them as a favorite Chictopian) become style icons and receive prizes.

What’s the point of Web sites like Chictopia? Blatantly put, they are places for people to fish for compliments. You post up a picture of yourself and people comment with things like, “Your hosiery are amazing!” and “Yeah, those tights are the bee’s knees!” (Both of these are real comments, by the way. Thanks, Zahara22 and spencerjacobs!) A cynic would say that Chictopia.com is a massive cesspool of narcissists. We judge each other based solely on our outfits and make friends with the people whose outfits we like. Of course, we talk cyber-trash about people in ugly outfits, right? Wrong.

Contrary to popular belief, fashion nerds, at least the people who are truly interested in fashion rather than shopping, appreciate quirkiness. We are less interested in Louis Vuitton monogram purses than we are in clothing that is unique, eccentric and often anachronistic. Take drop-crotch pants for example. I go on Chictopia to see users proudly don pants that would look horrendous on me and have an extremely slim chance of being seen in Orange County (the land of year-round flip-flops), and I admire them for it. I crave the eccentric. Chictopia users are more encouraging and praising than someone would expect a community of the fashion-obsessed to be.

One could argue that this is shameless self-promotion, and I agree completely. In fact, that’s entirely the point of fashion. Dressing is a form of self-expression, and showing it off online is akin to an artist showing off her portfolio on deviantART. I’m not ashamed to admit that on most days, I put thought into what I put on my back and getting feedback — especially if I’m trying something new or particularly quirky — is very much appreciated.

Having a place like Chictopia, where people can ask for advice by creating polls and posting in the Chictopia forums, is also helpful for the style-challenged. I log on when I’m feeling uninspired or bored with my wardrobe. This brings me to the one qualm I have with style websites — the notion of originality.

Everyone knows the adage, “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.” So what happens when people are inspired by each other’s outfits? Everyone starts to look the same. This is simply the nature of trends; they may seem obscure at first, but they gain popularity and soon you can’t escape them. Posting on Web sites like this with the expectation that people will like your “original” outfit often guarantees that people will copy elements of it, which led me to realize that people are rarely, if ever, truly original.

We take inspiration from each other, from art, from movies, from the runways. Chictopia is a place to see how this inspiration shows itself in our everyday lives.

Random photo because this post would feel nakie without one: Sasha P. in January's Vogue UK, looking like a cooler, less racoon-y version of Jenny "I'm Not Little J Anymore" Humphrey

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2009

What makes a woman beautiful?
I think inner turmoil makes a woman beautiful. It has nothing to do with being sad or depressed or angry. What I mean is that you always have to have a certain kind of restlessness in you so that you’re never really contented with the way things are. You’re always striving for something better, striving for perfection…

What is your beauty secret?
[A] beauty secret—do you really want to know?—is being in love with the wrong man. Having this grand, impossible passion for the wrong person.

--Interview with Gemma Cruz, a journalist, museum curator, jewelry designer and the first Filipina to win a world beauty title in 1964.

I found this interview recently, and while it doesn't have much to do with fashion, it gave me something to think about for 2009 (the first part, at least). I don't have any resolutions at the moment, except this one: Keep up with my blog! I am going to be a lot busier this quarter than the last, but at the same time, I need this space to say what I feel like saying as well as whatever I can't say in the newspaper or elsewhere.

Happy New Year! Party like it's 1993 (and you're Kate).

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

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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: