in absentia

images from top: Shai Yehezkel photography (via unknown), back tassels at Mara Hoffman, Sergio Rossi lookbook, Alexander McQueen backstage, Jak & Kill

Sorry for the lack of posting (because I'm so sure you're at home right now clutching a bottle of wine in one hand and a box of tissues in the other, wailing to the heavens now that MY MAGNIFICENT VOICE is no longer echoing across the internets).  Unfortunately outside forces have conspired to keep me on long, profanity laced phone calls with Comcast because my internet and cable don't work. Oh, and my computer is out of memory and cannot handle one more picture, so I'm anxiously awaiting the arrival of an external hard drive. Things are malfunctioning. We should be back to regular irregularly scheduled programming shortly.

room with a view

The best part of living at the top of a hill: whether it's sunny, hazy, foggy, rainy, morning, evening, or nighttime, there's always something pretty to look at from the couch.

blonde

All images via Google

As you may have noticed in a previous post featuring my (not organzied) nightstand, I've been reading Blonde by Joyce Carol Oates, and finally finished it last night. It's a novel about Marilyn Monroe that chronicles the factual elements of her life and then artfully and convincingly invents those details that we would have no way of knowing. It was utterly and wholly engrossing and obviously well-written, and I find myself more curious than ever about her. In particular, I am fascinated by photos taken towards the end of her life--at a time when hard living had crept into the corners of her eyes. She was still beautiful, but so worn looking.

It's hard to say if any modern-day blonde truly lives up to her genius beauty, talent, and natural propensity to delight people, but Gwen and Scarlett are two of my favorite modern-day blondes.

Gwen Stefani for Elle UK and Scarlett Johansson for Vogue China, via Fashion Gone Rogue

And because no discussion of blondes is complete without their patron saint, here's Coco and her "amazing 8th-world-wonder ass":



image via Dlisted
So, who are your favorite blondes?

tucker

wearing: Tucker blouse, Burberry pants, Zara oxfords

Shortly after these pictures were taken we locked ourselves out of my apartment. Luckily my boyfriend was able to crawl up the side of the house and into the open bathroom window (we live on the 2nd floor). So in honor of his bravery, he is being included in this post's outfit festivities wearing a brand-spankin' new (thrifted) Pendleton flannel and some seriously rugged sheepskin-lined snow/rain boots found in yesterday's thrifting adventure at Black & Brown (which also turned up the Burberry wool trousers above). I love that we can shop together.

wardell is wearing: Pendleton wool flannel, vintage Wrangler pants, L.L. Bean boots

 Ok, so he needs to work on "smizing" but isn't he cute?

my space

a few vignettes from my room

Japan is on my mind, as I'm sure it is yours. Thinking about how tenuous our grasp on normalcy really is kind of puts a new spin on simple luxuries like reading in bed, cooking yourself dinner, or hanging out with friends. It could be snatched away from us at any moment, so shit, enjoy it. Do what you love. And if what you love is to buy things and write about clothes and force your boyfriend to take awkward pictures of what you're wearing, then do it. A tragedy shouldn't force us all to look at our hobbies like they don't make sense anymore. It should have the opposite affect--to strengthen the bond we have to the material world and the things that occupy and keep us happy within it. So no, I don't feel dumb posting pictures of a few random nooks in my room. And, just my two cents, you shouldn't either.

we did it, we're living in the now with no regard for the future

wearing Zara cape and v-neck sweater, "vintage" pleated skirt from high school, Forever21 blouse (from a long time ago as well), patent belt from Banana Republic, Made by Elves booties

Not that you were keeping track, but I technically haven't bought a single item of clothing since February 1st.  Until now. Last week's Gilt sale on Tucker dresses and blouses turned out to be a little more than I could handle and I purchased the blouse below from the label's Fall 2010 collection:

Image via Tucker site

I'm proud of myself anyway though. Still haven't dropped a dime at Forever 21, H&M, or Target this year, despite having entered a quite expansive new Forever 21 store and visiting the website on a couple of occasions. So, ya know, woo hoo for that.

remotely

wearing vintage sweater, Topshop vest, J Brand jeans, vintage necklace

Been testing out my new wireless remote for the Pentax-- clearly something that I have not yet mastered.

Side note: holyfuckingshit Japan just got hit with The Big One. My thoughts go out to everyone affected, especially my colleagues at Ustream Japan. I can't even really process all the damage I'm seeing on the news. I hope it's not as bad as it looks.

nola

images via Trendland

Happy Mardi Gras everyone! It's always around this time of year when I get nostalgic and homesick for New Orleans.  Luckily my sister lives there now and I'm going to be paying her a visit in May, during which time I will certainly be on the hunt for each and every one of these Banksy works. I will also stuff my face with crawfish and heavy sauces, hang out at a lot of bars and music venues that end in "eaux", sweat my ass off and dance too much, and basically not give a fuck. Because when you're in New Orleans, that's how you do.

For a hop, skip and jump down memory lane, read about last year's pilgrimage here, here, and here.

Is that a banana holder in your hand or are you just happy to see me?

Sometimes my favorite thing to do on a Saturday is go to a store where I don't necessarily need anything and buy a whole bunch of it. Thank GOD my friend Annie introduced me to Daiso recently, because it has changed my life. Nowhere else on the planet can you find nail gems, banana holders, black q-tips ("earwax can be seen on tips clearly after using"), and disposable underwear for men and ladies. UNDER ONE ROOF. For those of you not familiar, Daiso is a Japanese dollar-store chain that basically stocks everything you never knew you wanted. Sometimes it's better than clothes:




men's disposable panties, banana holder

Cell phone holder, cruel and unusual anti-feline mat

toothpick holders, portable ashtray

Black q-tips, black facial puff
If you ever get a chance to do to Daiso, I highly recommend going.
Oh look! You can shop online.

i can't help but stay the same

wearing Vince silk pants, Old Navy sweater, vintage embroidered vest, Saks Fifth Avenue scarf, vintage, thrifted, and flea marketed jewelry, Zara studded boots

You should see me trying to totter down this hill in front of my apartment in my highest heels every day. I'm pretty much bound to fall eventually. I just hope when that day comes the dude who walks his cat on a leash isn't there to see it, because I don't think I could bear being laughed at by a man who walks his cat on a leash.