Thanks To My Fellow Fashion Nerds.

Ladies and Gentlereaders,

I just found out I've been admitted to my dream program for grad school. It is a Museum Studies MA program at F.I.T. that trains its candidates in fashion history, textile conservation, and exhibition design with the goal of setting them free into institutions like The Costume Institute At The Met. I'm beyond thrilled to have been accepted into this competitive program, and second to none I have to thank you all. I started my blog as a creative outlet for all of the fashion/culture/theory/art/pop stuff swirling between my ears. I thought this site would be an excellent way to spend more time on my creativity when I was stuck behind the desk of a pretty miserable 9-to-5. I knew I would be accountable for that goal because it was a public venue. What began as a readership of nine (all of whom I knew...very well) has blossomed into a supportive community of like-minded fashion nerds. I am so grateful to have a loyal audience, it feels amazing and your support as readers gave me the courage to put this blog front and center in my application. So, thank you. I promise that now that the knot of anxiety has left my gut, I'll be posting more and more and more. I love you. No, really--I do. Will you marry me? At least go steady?

*Anna

Sculpt Me A Little Something To Wear.

Fashion as sculpture at Gareth Pugh.

Gareth Pugh is exceedingly talented. His draping skills verge on sculpting. He backs leather with neoprene and makes it stiff enough to structure. The folds of his garments flow onto the body or move away from it with a grace that keeps its hard edge. Really, it's quite an accomplishment.

Wearability; Sweet, sweet wearability.

But, the reason why Pugh is poised to last lay beyond his fashion-as-fine-art skills. The man who made Sasha Fierce's stage costumes as pret-a-porter day wear has upped his wearability ante quite a bit this season. There are the garments that you will need a lot of panache to put on, but then there are also those that will let you wear them without your stage persona confidence. Pugh is one of the few this season who has successfully straddled that line of sellable and impressive. His clothes may do well on a retail floor, but they are still designed to be interesting.

Dazzle Me.

I want glitzy overalls now.

I love when unexpected things glitter; it's just so refreshing. This pair of sparkly, studly overalls made its way down Jean Paul Gaultier's couture runway, and I hope they just keep walking until they arrive in my closet.

I'd rock the heck out of those things with a wifebeater and some Chucks, and maybe a fur stole too. Well, does anyone have a fur stole I can borrow?

Photos: Monica Feudi and Simone Manzo/ Gorunway.com via Style.com.

You Know You Are A Fashion Geek When...

...the new Style.com app for your iPhone makes you so happy that you could soil your stilettos!

Fashion coverage in the palm of my pretty little hand!

I have no idea what that even means, but I know that I now have up to the minute access to all of Style.com's amazing fashion coverage in the palm of my pretty little hand. Good fashion gods, that's a serious happy-maker! Get yourself the app and see if it makes you just as happy. If it does, we should definitely be friends!

Sunshine and Lace.

I had one of those days last week where you wake up and just need to make things and maybe break things and maybe love things and hate things and feel everything. So, instead of losing my marbles, I ran around the city and snapped some pictures. That's my new heaven. Here are some of the shots I got:

I love New York and pretty things. I hope they love me.

Master Class with John Galliano

Here's a rare chance to hang out with Mr. John Galliano for a little private tour of some of the highlights of the Dior archive. The dresses come both from Mr. Dior's own, historic work and Galliano's decade plus of diligent service to the house of Dior. They look almost as fab as John himself-- almost.



This video was actually made in 2006 to celebrate Galliano's ten year mark at the helm of the house. I can't wait to see the retrospective of the 15 year mark. His work is always fascinating and a little, dare I say, crazy. What a treat to hear him discuss it in private, and in his lilting, effete voice, no less! Thanks internets!

While we are on the subject of John Galliano, I need to fawn over his unbelievable collection of exit photos. His final wave and walk outfits at his shows are immensely enjoyable. Here's just a few:






A rapier, a space suit, some payos, a rake? Loves it.

Photos are all from Style.com.

Sweet Christian Candy

I love this photo from behind the scenes of the Christian Lacroix couture show that ran in this past weekend's New York Times Magazine.

So much everything-colorshapetexturevolumeflowersjewels-everything against a white background makes me happy. The girls looks sweet as sugary candy. And, it was shot by Ellen von Unwerth. Love her. Crush her, actually. More to follow on that later...

And The Winner is...

Rodarte! The Mulleavy's owned the Oscars if you ask me. Two of the night's biggest and brightest wore their creations and looked great.

I'm so happy that they were well represented. Their designs are gorgeous enough to be classic glam, and interesting enough to satisfy the serious fashion eye in me. Their vision is so unique, yet toned down a bit it translated well on the Red Brick Road to Oscar Land. Yay for them, yay for us.

Photos from JustJared.com.

Big Love.

Katie Grand super-stylist turned editor for the Conde Nast publication Love unveiled the new mag's cover, and it is grand indeed.

I first saw it on fellow fashiony site The Cherry Blog, and well, fell in love. It's Beth Ditto ya'll! She's the beautiful icon of bigger bodies and sexy feminists everywhere. I love how she routinely just puts it all out there. She's all up in your grill with her BeautiFull self and I really admire it. Apparently the issue is full of fuller figured women with not one model fitting in the classic sample size. I can't wait to see it when it comes out tomorrow! $7 won't be easy to part with for this thrity lady, but I can be a big spender for this big deal.

Photo from WWD.com.

I Want To Eat It!

Ok, so you can't wear this--unless you count wearing it on your hips if your consumption gets out of control--but damn, you need to try it. Apparently God thinks we've been very good and has sent a little bit of heaven down to earth. You know how storefronts of Tasti-D-Lite all over the city have morphed into very similar looking places called TLC? I assumed it was just another version of the same crappy, chemical, crack-laced yogurt vendor where every brown flavor tastes like chocolate and every yellow flavor tastes like vanilla, and yet I still want to eat them like my life depends on it. Well, I was wrong. Now, I've only tried one flavor at TLC, but that's all I needed. Two words, one flavor: almond butter. It is a divine mix of the light vanilla ice cream blended with fresh, creamy, ground-on-the-spot almond butter. Dear lord, it's good. I got lost while eating it. Then I cried a little when it was gone. I have to say that I don't advocate consuming mass quantities of anything other than your leafy, green veggies (my mama raised me right!) and this post makes me feel a little like I'm a pusher on the corner, but try it. What do they say at the end of beer commercials? Drink responsibly? Well, eat responsibly.

Oh, and just so you know, even if it isn't on the list of flavors for the day you can still order the almond butter. They'll make it fresh for you! God bless them.

Swagga Like Her

MIA and her swagga at the Grammy Awards.

MIA is the type of girl girls need. I want to frame photos of her and put them up in school auditoriums across the nation. I want to nominate her for Secretary of Womanhood Done Right and appoint her to a Global Office of Girl Power. She's a singular sensation full of great beats and lyrics that slip substance in through the side door of catchy, clever, dancey songs. And she rocks a pregnant belly better than any mama-to-be I've seen in a long time. No one on the corner's got swagga like her: smart, gorgeous, feminine, tough, and totally unafraid to wear whatever the heck she feels like. I salute her. MIA 2016. Here's more evidence for my case:

M.I.A. sounds off
by CNN_International

I'm so happy that she is procreating.

Uh Oh, There Goes My Social Life!

How did I not know about The Selby? Actually, God, why did let me find The Selby now, in my vulnerable, way-too-much-free-time, down-market state? I'm never leaving the house because I'll be too busy looking at other peoples's places. Are you kidding me? Fascinating virtual tours of the inner sanctums of fascinating (chic, fun, creative, colorful, stylish, musical, talented, artistic) people? Friends, sorry if I don't call you for a few years...I'm looking at cool shiz on The Selby. Like this:

melia marden - chef; and frank sisti jr. aka kid america - filmmaker
at their home - east village new york - jan 12 2009

Warning! The Selby may be incredibly addictive to susceptible readers and may invoke feelings of acute agitation with both negative and positive effects. Symptoms may include, but are not limited to euphoria, intense jealousy, general casa envy, decor inspiration, perspiration, intense feelings of longing, hives, nauseating urges to poke overly styley people in the eyes, and in rare cases, calm. Use with caution.

Yes, It Is True.

Maira Kalman's beautifully illustrated storytelling of her inauguration day memories finally made it all sink in. We have a President named Barack Hussien Obama. That President is biracial. He is a realisitic optimist. His intelligence is broad, used considerately, and palpable. He can dance. I look at him dance with his wife and believe he loves her; can feel that love and hope for it. We have a new President that I, as a young person in America, can be proud to say is the leader of my country. We have a President who is the frequent subject of street art, really good street art. We have a President named Barack Obama who is not an old, white, man. Wow.

And, he looks damn good in a suit. There, now that revelation is fashion-related. Read Maira's entire, amazing piece over at The New York Times website.

Thrilled

Ok, so I was gone for the inauguration and I was going to wait for my viewing of the entire thing on my Dad's DVR tomorrow before I gave my Michelle Obama commentary, but I've received too many requests to keep quiet any longer. One word: chic. Two words: so smart.

Michelle is the kind of fashion icon that comes along so rarely. She is a classic with enough twist to make things look fresh, new, and exciting. I don't always absolutely love what she's wearing, but I do always love how she's wearing it. Her lemongrass Isabel Toledo dress and coat is so acutely fitting for the occasion and so precisely speaks the message of the new President. Its regal detailing gives it a sense of tradition and ceremony, while the color, the contrasting gloves and shoes, and the completely radiant makeup make it fresh and new and unstuffy. She's the real deal. She's gorgeous and dignified and so are her daughters, and of course our new President. Her Jason Wu ball gown was graceful and fanciful and flattering and had that same newness by virtue of his unknown status.

The reason I feel justified and not silly about focusing on her fashion (besides for how incredibly fun it is), is because it completely elucidates her smarts. She knows what's what, she knows how to say something with her sartorial choices. It's a talent that will only add to her political role. No one should underestimate how clothing influences peoples' impressions, ideas, and states of mind. It is a tool in her loaded box and she knows how to use it. She's a smart dressed woman.

As for the rest of the fashion on display during the inaugural festivities, Bill Cunningham gives the day and its public stars their most throughly compassionate due, and the Fug Girls take care of the rest of the celebs. Oh, and I vote a yes for Aretha's hat. Why not, you know?

Gotcha Covered!

Ooooh baby, Santa did a fashion blogger good! I got a great little MacBook cover from Etsy dealer fernfiddlehead.

The fabric is from textile designer Alexander Henry and is called Perfect Pattern. It's a seamstress' dress pattern! I love it. Thanks Santa! And fernfiddlehead! Check out Cathy and fernfiddlehead's entire collection in her Etsy shop. She's got super cute stuff and it's very well made. Happy Happy Holidays!

Images: (top) Anna Yanofsky, (bottom) fernfiddlehead.

Yes, We Did.

Record voter turnout, a clear victory, and a historic campaign run on all of the antidotes for cynicism: What a beautiful night.


Dignity, grace, eloquence--it is so refreshing to have those words come to mind when watching a politician speak. Thank you, President Obama.