New Year, New You

Some people party, some people watch a slew of artistic movies (raises hand) but both of these people reflect. I look at what opinions have changed and which ones have proven solid. I see the way new experiences have forever changed me and wonder which ones will dawn in the coming year.

This time of year I also settle into a monochrome mood. I wear mostly the aforementioned shade and white and grey. And wear one piece of jewelry almost constantly (this year its a ribbon tied around my finger.) The inevitability of being snowed in can drive me absolutely mad but in those unbelievably bored days I discovered some amazing things: Placebo, The Mystery Jets, Hysteric Glamour clothes and The Kills.

Last New Years Eve I went to the mall and purchased The Kills record No Wow. I'd been on their myspace constantly and had to have the record. The weirdly monochrme effect and vacant feel of the music fit into the cold temperatures and blank landscape. Placebo's music also complemented the mood. Lyrically and sonically their music delves into the nether reaches of despair and expresses it with an honesty that turns into a bitter sweet beauty. At any given time this past year whenever I listened to Placebo I was taken back to the first moment that their work sunk in. No matter what season it was I felt as if it is was snowing and no one has dared venture outdoors to disturb the misleading white blanket on the street.

But one particularly dark day "Diamonds in the Dark" by The Mystery Jets took my mood to exciting heights. I feel that I can't justifiably discribe their music. You just have to hear it yourself.

So tell me, what's new for you?

Iconic

On the right side of my page you can vote for your favorite icon. Then I'll post something special about the winner. I just don't know what yet.....

There's Something About Mini...

I recently forced myself to buy black tights and a black mini skirt. I was sure that I'd retreat to jeans as usual and they would lay untouched in my closet. But little did I know that when I put them on with my Rolling Stone's tee shirt I would love the look. I am only five feet tall and the idea of wearing long skirts and dresses makes me imagine a loss of height I barely have. My mother picked out most of the other skirts I own. When she handed them to me I always commented on how small they looked. She insisted that they wouldn't be small on me. They are about an inch above my finger tips. I still feel that they are dangerous to sit down in so black tights are a must. Its a sophisticated sexy in that I'm showing the shape of my legs but not the skin.

When I was in my awkward "I want to wear mens clothes to disappear completely" phase skirts were forbidden to me. I was far too used to wearing my brother's dowdy t-shirts and buying baggy jeans. That look was painfully far away from chic. Thank God I discovered Nylon magazine in seventh grade. In a chic tomboy twist I will wear my cut off shorts with tights. That would have looked great in my skateboarding days...

The girl in those great shorts can be found at http://www.thatshot.blogge.se/ and this long limbed rebel at http://www.imilk.blogge.se/

Are You a Fever?

Check out the stylish Kills in U R A Fever. They ain't born typical.

A La Mode: Lais Navarro

NOM*D

If Kurt Cobain was a designer he would have made something like this. Nom*D designs around my favorite colors (black, white and grey) with all manner of plaids and stripes and pops of color. Loose and drapey, messy but not dirty and almost always androgynous, the collections are accessable to us non-fussy types. Its like peeking into the closets of those"I'm too interesting to be cool" kids from the 90's who accessorized with suspenders and Dr. Martens. There are t-shirts that would have fared well as Alice In Chains record covers, garments knotted into complicated patterns and chiffon dandy ties that make my jersey ones look dull. Along with their casual and dark esthetic I fell in love with the collection titles ,"Operation Bombshell" "Stiff Upperlip" "Bored Games" and "This is Not a Love Song." Ladies and Gentleman, this certainly is not a label for the "cool kids."

Now listen to the Smashing Pumpkins Adore and check out NOM*D. Be sure to read the info sections about the collections.

Jean Junkie: 18th Amendment Gets Sticky

Ever envyed the fearless way Mick Jagger carries himself on stage? Look no further for 18th Amendment can put that kind of swagger in you step. They have introduced the Sticky Fingers jean (named after and influenced by the cover of the Stones album.) I love that they are paired with a black shirt in the ad which really makes the zipper pop. For this look inside out, rolled up sleeves and haphazrdly tucked in is the best way to go.

Caution: These jeans may temp the sticky fingers of others.

Steve Madden you have my heart.

If it weren't for my fear of spike heels these would have come home with me today.

Tell me something bad you done....

I went to Ulta today to buy new nail polish. I found a white with a subtle shimmer to take the place of my matte white. Then I ventured for grey. There were many in the silver family but I wanted the grrr of gun metal. Thankfully, Creative Nail Design made just what I need. It photographed silver because of the flash but in reality it looks like pewter.

I am wearing my most treasured garment. From stumbling around the neighborhood lonely to curling up in a corner with my Alice in Chains cassette my Nirvana t-shirt was always there. My grandmother ventured into Hot Topic to buy it for me for my thirteenth birthday.

I bought an issue of Preen, vintage owl neclace, a cassette of "Adore" by the Smashing Pumpkins; vintage belt, my new cowboys.

This ain't no rodeo town....

Icon: PJ Harvey

In my world PJ Harvey is the greatest musician alive. She's not afraid to experiment and take risks with her work and she always has a new look for each record. Here I'm writing about her early work. Those records were Dry (1992), Rid of Me (1993) and 4 Track Demo's (1993). During this era the world became familiar with the English girl from a farm in Yeovil who purrs, growls and moans over some of the rawest rock n' roll I've ever listened to. She is unafraid of telling attention grabbing stories and singing with a throat thick with tears. Oftentimes the sexual songs are pieces of social commentary (a la Fight Club). When I was captivated by her work in middle school I'd never heard someone sing with such raw, emotional intensity. PJ Harvey works it out from the gut. Her voice reverberates with anger and at times, deep sadness. I must quote Brian Molko here saying that she isn't afraid to make you feel like someone is bleeding on you. I also noticed the simplicity of her look during this era. She announced herself to the world in a way that drew attention to her work. She's been quoted saying that she was very serious during this time in which she preffered to wear black (most of the time) and styled her hair simply with the added quirkiness of a single earing. This look makes you hone in on her enormous eyes and elegant lips. Although she wore basically the same thing all the time she always looked like a rocker.

Tonight I came home frustrated and I went to my tape deck and turned on Rid of Me. I proceeded to pace around the room singing her songs with every ounce of passion in me.

Dress

Missed

Rid of Me

Chloe's Ceremony

I can't say that I know much about Chloe Sevigny. I've only seen three of her movies (Three Needles, Boys Don't Cry, Trees Lounge. Sorry Chloe, I know you hate when people say that.) but I do know that I've seen alot of her as a style icon. She grew up in Connecticut but commuted to New York every weekend and eventually became an intern at cult favorite Sassy Magazine. The apparent inspiration for the line is from her middle and high school years sharing mix tapes and going to rock shows. In the collection there are hints of Molly Ringwald's antique chic and Annie Hall's quirky menswear look. The greatest thing about the collection is that many of the pieces are versatile. Skinny gingham pants can translate into a preppy's wardrobe with oxfords as well as a punk's with Dr. Martens or Converses. A rockabilly girl could wear them with wedges and a button up shirt. High waisted gingham shorts could easily be worn with a peter pan collard blouse or my Nirvana t-shirt (hmm...) with suspenders and ripped tights to accomodate any downtown rocker girl. Liberty print dresses can take you to a day downtown with biker boots as well as to your grandma's birthday tea with flats or heels. One of my favorite peices is a hat made of recycled cassette tapes. This collection so punk, preppy, rockabilly and a good side of the 90s undergound. There's no doubt in my mind that the woman who attended a Sonic Youth show immidiately after graduating high school designed this collection.

Coming January 2008 to an Opening Ceremony or boutique near you.

Dressing Up With Alison Mosshart

Whenever I am faced with an event that entails fancy dressing I either go over the top, grab my vintage BCBG little black number or reach for my black velvet blazer (I call it my Brian Jones jacket) and build a tasteful glam rock look. Upon attending a ballet a few weeks ago I was head to toe in vintage: 1950s champagne colored swing dress with diamond cluster buttons, black heels also with diamond cluter buttons and a black vintage handbag. That night was magical and I felt invincible amongst all the semi dressed up dockers and Wal Mart blue jeans wearers. I'm not saying that I'm better than them, I just believe that dressing up has become out of style culture-wise and needs to make a comeback. On the other hand there are those dressy/not occasions like school plays and friend's dinner party's. Here Alison Mosshart perfects that look. She layers feminine items over her tomboyish clothes and adds an artistic flair (the above shoes). Whether she's attending Chloe fragrance launch (above) or recieving a Levi's style award (below) she looks like an arty rocker who can't put her mic down.

The last image is from here

Icon: Morrissey

Almost exactly one year ago I ventured to a thrift shop in the rain. There I found a goldmine of cassettes. There were alot of names that I'd heard but never listened to and a song here or there that I knew. With a 50c price tag I took home an arm full of the outdated musical format. The Cure "Standing on a Beach", Echo and the Bunneymen, U2 "Achtung Baby"among others came home with me. Today I write about the magic of my Smiths tape. It is a mix tape with a hand written sleeve. "Meat is Murder" is the album. Morrissey's lyrics span serious and ordinary topics and with a sense of humor here and there. I am partial to his despairingly romantic tales and songs where he mentions England. I was enchanted by Morrissey's warm, romanitc tone and music that can be discribed as atmospheric with great bass lines with at times rather delicate guitars. Elsewhere the guitars are intense. An entire year later I've returned to this tape to fall into surreal magic of autumn.

I was rummaging through Hot Topic yesterday and I found a fanstasic book that chronicled the Smiths in photographs. It reminded me of a Smiths concert on TV last spring. I noted the simplicity of Morrissey's look: jeans, a (half buttoned) button up shirt, great hair and that romantic element of a slew of beaded neclaces with a bouquet of flowers in hand. The whole group kept it simple because of the over the top theme of the 80s, but to me it speaks volumes. They knew that they had something more to say than a pop star who looked like a highlighter pen. It is a timeless image of some one who's full of ideas. That simple look most certainly suits the man who bellowed "I am the sun and the air/of a shyness that is crimanally vulgar" and I will be inspired by it til death.

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