Balmain Be Mine

Bonjour, Paris Fashion Week.

It began with a bang at Balmain today, where everything was hot, sexy, rock and roll glamour.

Balmain's Christophe Decarnin had the mini dress of all mini dresses last year -- everyone from Carine to Celine was spotted in the one-shouldered frock -- and this year, he's no doubt going to have everyone sliding their plastic for his huge-shouldered jackets (think Balenciaga Spring '08 shoulders but bigger and pointier), tutu skirts, expensive rhinestones and artfully stonewashed denim.

Watch out for the French Vogue girls and Kate Lanphear to turn up in Decarnin's designs in three, two, one...

PS. Double points for having Angela Lindvall walk the runway.



















I'm Lovin' it: Those grey suede booties I spotted at Winner's, of all places, last week. I loved them, which makes it all the more embarrassing to say they're courtesy of Jessica Simpson. But they TOTALLY looked Loeffler Randall.


I'm Over it: Missing out on Religulous yesterday afternoon. Bill Maher, religion and political incorrectness with Larry Charles -- he of Borat the movie fame -- directing? Sounds like a hilarious time to me.







Music of the Day: Kid Carpet. This dude -- nee Ed Patrick -- from Bristol in the UK uses Casio keyboards, samplers, Fisher Price guitars and Tamagotchis (haha) to make electronic music. Check out "I Don't Want To Fall In Love With You". Apparently, I'm not the only one who digs Kid Carpet -- the Kid has toured with Mylo, Arcade Fire and The Go! Team.








* Photos property of style.com, bestival.net, nagornyy.com and are used solely for commentary purposes

Happy Friday!!

This news tidbit really made my Friday:

Sacha Baron Cohen wreaked havoc at Milan Fashion Week as his gay Austrian fashion reporter alter ego, Bruno. He showed backstage up at Iceberg, Mariella Burani, Roberto Musso and then at Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, where he actually made it onto the runway, walking with the models. He had security on him like white on rice and had models screaming at him backstage.

This is all, of course, for his new film Bruno: Delicious Journey Through America for the Purpose of Making Heterosexual Male.

Hilarious.

Happy Friday, y'all!

xo
Haute Hippie







I'm Lovin' it: The Young and the Banging. Curated by Heron Preston, this book is a collective effort that compiles nearly 200 cool, up-and-coming kids across the creative fields from cities around the world. Marketing consists of setting up galleries to exhibit the book and its contents, with gallery-goers getting their picture take -- yearbook-style -- before entering. Next on the docket from New York is Los Angeles, followed by Paris, Berlin, London, Tokyo and Amsterdam. Bang-a-rang.








I'm Over it: How a nearly 2 am evening last night has rendered me thoroughly fatigued today. Also, that event producer at the Nicole Bridger fashion show last night was a heinous, well, you know. I know you agree with me, Reebs!


Track of the Day: "Family Reunion" by Kid Sister, featuring David Banner. Chi-town's Kid Sister -- nee Melisa Young -- is the girlfriend of Kanye West's tour DJ A-Trak and the real-life sister of Flosstradamus' J2K (Josh Young). She shot to the limelight with her track "Pro Nails", which features West. This song is probably her most commercial-friendly, thanks to an appearance by David Banner, so I expect to hear this on the radio pretty soon, much to my chagrin. But the beauty of "Family Reunion" is that it makes you happy, which is all anyone wants to be on a Friday, right?

Click here to jam.








* Photo property of WWD, rcrdlbl.com, hypebeast.com, youngandbanging.com and are used solely for commentary purposes

Laptop Chic

My precious MacBook is having its first birthday at the end of December, and let me tell you, he's been through a lot already.

I'm talking daily blogs, articles, deadlines, constant Facebook checks, switching between screens and, unfortunately, enduring two cracks as the result of a nomadic lifestyle, coffee shop-hopping for free Wi-Fi.

My green Boden bag just won't do anymore since it lacks major padding, so I found something even better: Tom Ford's computer bag.

It's chic and black, with padded compartments to store various accessories, though it won't fit your studded Gucci heels (sorry). The lock is based on the shape of a lighter, too. How very...boy's club of TF.

This is how I imagine my conversation with Tom Ford going down in regard to my laptop:

Me: Hi, Tom. I'd love for you to meet my cracked Mac. Oh, what? Er, yes, that most certainly is a surf decal and that most definitely is sticker that says, "Partypants!" covering said cracks.

Tom: Ew.

So in order to avoid such a nightmare, I should probably make my way down to the nearest Tom Ford store.

And I just might have to take a deep breath, swipe that plastic and know my blogging will be that much better because of it.









I'm Lovin' it: This silk jacket from DSquared2's Spring '09 collection in Milan. In the famous words of Carrie Bradshaw: Hello, lover!







I'm Over it: Where has the day gone?? Is it seriously almost 4 pm already?

I'm Over it, Part Deux: Why, oh why, can't I find three tickets on Craigslist for the upcoming Cut Copy show? The number of "wanted" vs. "available" tickets is like 20 to 1 or something completely ridiculous like that. Scalper time.


Track of the Day: I walked into Urban Outfitters yesterday to see if, by chance, someone returned their BDG jacket -- you know, the one I wanted so badly -- and instead got barraged by a few really great tracks. I did my best to remember the lyrics so I could google them later but, of course, totally forgot them upon exit. So instead, here's the Fiascos Chunkafunk remix of "Breathe You In" by Samantha James. It's a Blenz music special.







And here's the original, too, which is equally good.







* Photos property of sybarites.com, WWD and are used solely for commentary purposes

Another Music Gem From RAC

RAC's Andre Allen Anjos just sent me his remix of Lady Ga Ga's track "Just Dance", featuring Akon and Colby.

Anjos said he tried to do something a bit different with it, so enjoy!







* Photo property of Lady Ga Ga and is used solely for commentary purposes

Give Me Guinness

Daphne Guinness is that beautiful, skunk stripe-coiffed, couture-crazy heiress to the Guinness beer empire.

She stuns her way through social events from London to New York, wearing the very best of Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga and towering shoes from companies that make heels for hookers.

Steven Klein, who is hot and fresh off his statement "Black Issue" shoot for Vogue Italia, photographed Guinness for a "Future Couture" supplement that comes with the magazine's new issue. I think the image of her looking very Gwen Stefani-esque with arms crossed wearing a diamante-encrusted eyepatch looks amazing.

So she's not Sasha or Coco, but Daphne sure strikes a pose with the best of them.













I'm Lovin' it: A snippet I read in the latest issue of Wired that GD lent me about how nice, little demure Japanese girls go from eight-hour school or work days to nights wearing french maid, dominatrix and all other kinds of crazy ensembles. Because these double-life ladies have no place to change, COS-Pa is a company that rents out little rooms for $6 for 30 minutes, providing in return a space to switch outfits, put on provided beauty products, check email on Wi-Fi and drink a non-alcoholic beverage. Sneaky. Those Japanese think of everything, don't they?







I'm Over it: My addiction to the new HBO series "True Blood", which centers around the romance between a mortal named Sookie Stackhouse who can hear people's thoughts (Anna Paquin) and a vampire named Bill Compton. Yeah, you read right -- the vamp's name is Bill. Anyway, the ficitonal Louisiana backwater town is just so creepy and, for some reason, I can't tear myself away from the show, which I can imagine a few people might think is actually really terrible. GP, folks. Guilty pleasure.







I'm Over it, Part Deux: I really, really love those Naked and Bolthouse Farms green juices, you know, the ones packed with nutrients and vitamins and veggies and fruits and all that good stuff. But the price of just one bottle?? Yikes, yo.


Music of the Day: Oh. My. God. I have so much good music to post, but one at a time. For now, let's start with anything remixed by CFCF. At the moment, I can't stop myself from playing his version of Sally Shapiro's "Time To Let Go". There isn't a YouTube video of this remix track, so instead check out the CFCF remix of Justice's "D.A.N.C.E." below.







* Photos property of Fashion Week Daily, Vogue Italia and are used solely for commentary purposes

Gather 'Round The Bonfire

NBC's Lipstick Jungle just doesn't have Brooke Shields as protagonist, enviable New York-centric fashion and Candance Bushnell as mastermind, it also has a matching glossy to boot: Bonfire Magazine.

Tomorrow marks the drop date of Bonfire's next issue, featuring the model posse from television show Janice Dickinson's Modeling Agency.

Find out how to find the perfect assistant (should you require one), go back in time to rediscover 80s fashion (hello, neon yellow!), discover the best shop and nosh joints in Chicago and Miami and pick up a few pointers from Bonfire editor-in-chief, Nico Reilly, on how jet-setters pack smart (tip for thought: always, always pack a dress).

And the best thing about this all?

No smoke stench on your clothes from this Bonfire.

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things...

Today is one of those days where I've done a lot of wishing for things, like being in San Diego with my parents for the San Diego Chargers vs. New York Jets game (my dad just sent me a picture text of the field).

That isn't happening at any point in this day of mine, and neither is getting any one of the following, but hey, a girl can dream, right?


1. New York graff artist Claw Money was one of 25 guest designers who created a limited-edition My Little Pony for the company's 25th anniversary. She decked hers out in a signature Claw Money silk scarf jackets and gold Nike Vandals -- two pairs for four pony legs, obviously. Can of spray paint is not included, unfortunately, but this My Little Pony is, well, money, nonetheless.






2. Damn, son! Forget about getting a pretty pink bike cruiser for next summer. This 24-karat gold Hutch Prostar BMX bike from Goldstriker. It'll match all my costume jewelry at least.






3. This striped jacket from McGinn. It's like Cabaret, the Godfather and Elizabeth & James all rolled into one.






4. He designed the mega-cool Prada flagship store in New York, and now he's building a freestanding, "swerving", 24-story apartment tower in the same city overlooking Madison Square Park. Rem Koolhaas is one of the greatest modern urban architects of our time. He apparently has a great sense of humor, too, because he laughed when asked how much one of the penthouses goes for in the $120 million building.






5. Ooooooo. Emilie de Ravin, who plays Claire in Lost, showed up to the Emmys last night in this very, very pretty dress from Matthew Williamson. I like.






It's rather necessary to tally up just how much these five items would set me back, even if I actually had the dough to drop on them, but it's definitely more than two months rent.

Yikes. Veuve Clicquot tastes, Pabst budget.



I'm Lovin' it: Rainy Saturday afternoons reading at coffee shops. Just as long as with you're with someone who ends up making a tasty chicken cacciatore pasta dish for dinner with baguettes and red wine, followed by a bowl of Island Farm coconut ice cream (my new favorite flavor). I love food! Oh yes, this Marc by Marc Jacobs outfit is just about as equivalent in the covetable department, only I can't eat any of the latter if I want to fit in the ensemble without Spanx on.







I'm Over it: Thinking of a baby gift to get my roomie's new nephew. I'm just not in baby mode at this point in my life, so I'm pretty sure I'm just afraid to dip a toe in my neighborhood Babies 'R' Us.


Track of the Day: There was this amazing Hed Kandi remix of a familiar song that GD had playing on his iTunes this weekend, but I just completely blanked. I'll have to use my investigative powers -- or my phone dialing powers -- to find out its name for y'all. In the meantime, here's another artist he discovered: Jamie T. Enjoy the Brit's half-rap, half-indie pop track "So Lonely Was The Ballad". The quality is bit low in this video, so I suggest downloading it off iTunes when you can.









* Photos property of style.com, highsnobiety.com, fashionweekdaily.com and are used solely for commentary purposes

Color Me Happy

I really love the pops of bright color against more neutral backgrounds in these two pieces I've come across recently -- one is graphic art, the other a photograph.

The first is from a Russian graphic artist named Danil Kryvoruchko.

The second is from Phil Clarke-Hill, who shot shoe-shine boys in Bolivia for an art and social commentary exhibition called "Lustrabotas".








I'm Lovin' it: This shot of photographer Terry Richardson and Barack Obama. Man, Obama is such a rock star.






I'm Over it: Timing. Bad.


Track of the Day: The Teenagers' remix of Vampire Weekend's Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa. Listen to it via Hipster Runoff at your leisure.







* Photos property of Kanye West, Phil Clarke-Hill, neumagazine.co.uk and are used solely for commentary purposes

Principles of Pleasure

Are you kidding me??

This rectangular jersey cape with hood and patch pockets in smoky grey from Pleasure Principle is about the hottest thing ever.

Apparently I'm not the only one who thinks it's hot, though, because Oak is all sold clean out of it.

Rats.









I'm Lovin' it: Discovering hole-in-the-wall eateries. Yesterday, GD and I had dinner at a little nondescript place on Davie called El Taco, which neither of us had been to before and where we proceeded to eat the best shrimp and cilantro pesto baked quesadillas with baked beans, Mexican rice and green tomatillo sauce. Yum. This was followed by ice cream from Marble Slab on Denman (bananas foster in a Skor waffle bowl for me, raspberry cheesecake in a Butterfinger waffle cone for him) and a viewing of a gorgeous English Bay sunset (swirls of thin, wispy clouds against a red sky). Long live quesadilla and ice cream combos. I could've done without the sugar coma that followed, though. Oh, the price you pay for good food, good dessert, a good sunset, good company and a few impressively good jokes...







I'm Over it: My new bondage heels sure look great, I can't deny that one. Plus, they're so very comfortable for heels, which -- trust me -- is not something that happens often. So what's the problem, then? The back zippers give me really terrible blisters behind my ankles. Nothing is ever perfect, is it?


Track of the Day: I was all over Passion Pit's track "Sleepyheads" a few weeks ago. I'm still pretty into the song, though it's always super fresh when someone remixes it. This awesome music site I subscribe to called Rcrd Lbl -- which gives out free MP3 downloads -- informed me via e-blast that Landau did something called the "Wake Up" Remix of this track. Good stuff.







* Photos property of oaknyc.com, thephoenix.com, eltaco.ca and are used solely for commentary purposes

PRPS School

I fully intended to write a "Top Ten at New York Fashion Week" blog last week, just as it came to an end on Friday, and then got slammed with work.

Is it too late to write one now? Is it moot now that London Fashion Week has started??

Hmmmm, I think it might.

Instead, I dedicate this post to PRPS denim and a wonderfully strange trend phenomenon called the boyfriend jean.

PRPS, which basically stands for Product With A Purpose, hit it big with the media and fashion circuits after Katie Holmes -- yeah, I know...please don't judge me -- wore her boyfriend-style pair rolled up with flats around NYC.

Because the brand isn't available in my current city of residence, I've subsequently taken my Express skinnies (which, thankfully, are not skintight and get loose after a few wears) and rolled them up, pairing them with both flat gladiators and bondage heels, depending on day, mood and time. Oh, I just love it.

Anyway, PRPS has been selling out mad crazy in Noo Yawk, and I imagine will go that fast in major fashion cities like L.A. and London, too.

But apparently, I won't be able to wear this look anywhere near Prince Street or Union Avenue, since some fashionable New Yorkers are reserving it for...well..."douche-bags".

Heaven forbid.








I'm Lovin' it: The Sea Ray. Thanks to some rubber arm-twisting by Stephanucci, she convinced me to spend a lazy Sunday on board her buddy Robbie's boat, which she has been doing practically all summer. Now I understand why -- Robbie ain't got a dingy, that's for sure. Basically, it's the kind of boat that comes with a boat. The Sea Ray was well-equipped with a BBQ, table and seating in the back, plus a bathroom, lounge area, kitchen and bed downstairs in the galley. It also came with watermelon cubes soaked in blueberry Stoli, more Stoli the cooler, huge grapes from Granville Island, loud tunes, an 8-ball jacket from the 90s and a pair of binoculars, with which we -- me, 'Nucci, Robbie, his girl Janet (who peaced out early, having done herself boating damage on Saturday), Tracey (who is like the live version of Mr. Clean, shiny bald head and all) and Jason (who had the raddest Bruce Lee tee I've ever seen) observed nude sunbathers at Wreck Beach from the water. Ishita and Anita joined in the festivities later on, too.

Needless to say, in the end, there were four: Captain Robbie, Jason, me and 'Nucci, causing a trouble on a Yaletown patio and eventually ending our Sunday fun day of boating near midnight. It was the best Sunday of my entire life, despite the bruise J. gave me by stepping on my right foot with the entire weight of his 6'3 frame.

So guys, can we do it all over again this weekend?!







I'm Over it: Whoa. It's not a wise idea to operate from 6:30 am to 2:08 pm on only an iced americano, a vanilla bean Frapp and a kiwi strawberry smoothie sampler at Blenz. Hungry hippo action happening to me right now.



Track of the Day: "Beast of Burden" by the Rolling Stones. It will now forever remind me of jetting down the ocean on the Sea Ray, singing at the top of my lungs with 'Nucci on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Quite the feat, considering I don't really know the words.







* Photos property of denimblog.com, Google Images and are used solely for commentary purposes

Nothing Wrong With A Little Posen

It's true.

I love fashion so much, it just HAS to be encoded in my DNA. Honestly, I must be made up of DKNY chromosomes or something.

There have been many moments in my career of viewing pretty clothing when a dress or a shoe or a bag or a ruffle has taken my breath away, where deep down inside I feel an odd familiarity to a collection. It's inexplicable, really.

That happened today to me today while taking a peek at Zac Posen's Spring '09 showing.

Everything from the puffed-up hairdos to the metallic lilac lip color to the clothing to the shoulder-grazing earrings -- it made my heart skip a beat. Numerous times.

And I swear, it wasn't heartburn.













I'm Lovin' it: Everything Melanie Huynh wears. Huynh is an assistant stylist at French Vogue, and like I just told my girl Aims, I wish I had a fraction, a sliver or an atom of her style. And closet.







I'm Over it: My lower back has been way too sore for my liking over the past few days. An educated guess from me would pinpoint the culprit as improper office seating, which usually consists of a stool at the coffee shop or a stool at the marble counter in my apartment. Talk about no back support.


Art of the Day: Stickmen always make me laugh for some reason. Even better is a street art stencil man erasing a graffiti stickman.







* Photos property of style.com, coffeeoverconversation.com and Wooster Collective and are used solely for commentary purposes

From Kost To Kost

I propose creating a new section besides my "I'm Lovin it", "I'm Over it" and "XX of the Day".

May I present to you "From Kost to Kost", a sporadic record of photography from Jeremy Kost, who has a hankering for snapping the fashion, art and music sets with a Polaroid camera for media outlets like Style.com and Fashionista.com.

Here is Marc Jacobs hamming with recent MJ ad campaign subject, Victoria Beckham, who chopped off her signature bob into a pixie cut just in time for the Fashion Week circuit.

I'm currently on the fence about the hairdo move.







* Photo property of Jeremy Kost, fashionista.com and is used solely for commentary purposes

Oh My, Monika

There was something about this outfit on Double Seven New York co-owner/mixologist, Monika Chiang.

It's this juxtapositional hybrid -- can there be such thing?? -- of lady-like lace (think Prada Fall '08) with the tough-girl chic of Alexander Wang, William Rast or even new denim label sensation, Current/Elliott.

Chiang's accessories were en pointe, too. Loads of bangles, rock & roll motorcycle bag, long gold necklace, chunky silver ring and -- my god -- those heels with their multiple ties. Good for her, pairing the gold and silver metallics!

In short, the outfit is awesome and I'm jealous.

Plus, she's changed my mind about the cons of denim shirts, a wardrobe piece I've been wary of since banishing my own back in 1996.






I'm Lovin' it: These election-influenced buttons, only with model names like Stam, Agyness and Lily -- is that Cole or Donaldson, by the way? Anyway, if you read my ballot out loud, a check mark would be ticked off next to Coco.







I'm Over it: Um, I just paid $4.25 for a very small yogurt parfait. Didn't want to do it, but my hunger won over. Rats!


Track of the Day: A Tribe Called Quest's Q-Tip has a new track called "Gettin' Up". It's got a laidback 90s backbeat to it -- perfect for transitioning from the end of summer into fall.







* Photos property of style.com, Chic Report and are used solely for commentary purposes

New iGoogle Artist Themes Are Out!

The new designer backgrounds for iGoogle are up for grabs!!

Stella McCartney, Anna Sui, Michael Kors, Vivienne Tam, Jimmy, Choo, Sergio Rossi, Gucci, Rock & Republic, Burberry, Vera Wang, BCBG and Herve Leger backgrounds just launched the other day.

If you happen to be around the Bryant Park tents for Fashion Week, be sure to stop by the iGoogle tent featuring these nouveau designer artists themes.

I changed from Dolce & Gabbana to Sergio Rossi in a matter of seconds.

The funny thing is I actually own neither.

Yet.







* Photo property of Google and is used solely for commentary purposes

Macho Macho (Wo)Man

A perk of working in the fashion industry is getting look books for next season well before those clothes hit retailers.

For one of my contracts, we received the Spring/Summer 2009 look book for Nikita, a brand with some of the freshest gear I've seen in awhile. Bright colors and paint splatters ruled big for Nikita's SS '09 collection, giving it a super street vibe.

Finally, something to go with the Creative Recs Jenks got me!

The Macho Reversible Beanie is the single Nikita item I have to have, if the rest don't happen to pan out for me.

You know how Alexander Wang was doing the slouchy, roomie beanie? Nikita's Macho sort of has the same feel, except with a short bill, reversible capability (grey/white/coral pattern on side A, hot coral on side B), different fabric and skills to hide any particularly nasty hair day.

Sorry, SS'09 images aren't on the Nikita site yet, but their Salm Reversible Beanie -- as seen below -- is pretty close.






I'm Lovin' it: This atmosphere shot from the Vena Cava after party, hosted by the label's designers Sophie Buhai and Lisa Mayock, as well as the Shipley & Halmos boys Sam Shipley and Jeff Halmos (formerly of Trovata). How cool does that grassy knoll look with all those pretty lights??






I'm Over it: Lots of brainstorming to do by Friday. Ow, my cranium hurts already.


Track of the Day: I was sitting here at my "office" downtown when a cover version of The Mamas and the Papas "California Dreaming" came on. One quick Google search later pointed to Queen Latifah's jazzy, blues-y version of the song, which is off her "The Dana Evans Album". Smoooooth. That woman can sing, yo.








* Photos property of nikitaclothing.com, smoothvibes.com, fashionista.com and are used solely for commentary purposes

Got Me A StyleList

It's not Rachel Zoe, it's not Jennifer Rade and it's certainly not Kate Schelter, but it's just as good.

The StyleList.com -- AOL's fashion and beauty site -- revamped its look, partnered with some key blue chip companies in both Levi's and TotalBeauty.com and expanded their expertise in all things beauty with the help of their new resident blogger, Carmindy, from TLC's What Not To Wear.

Be sure to look out for more features and content in StyleList.com's trend, style guide, hairstyle, beauty shopping and celebrity style sections now that the new site is up.

And really, who needs Zoe or Rade when you already have a StyleList?








* Image property of AOL and is used solely for commentary purposes

Alexander Wang Gets Hot and Sweaty

Marc Jacobs' show is THE one to go to at New York Fashion Week, but Alexander Wang is nipping at Jacobs' heels at a close second.

New York was hit hard by Hurricane Hanna over the weekend, prompting fashionistas to either lug out their Wellies or walk home in knee-deep puddles barefoot (ahem, Tory Burch). Rain was not good for the hair or makeup, either, leaving most attendees looking like death or -- to look on the bright side -- like Audrey Hepburn's Holly Golightly in that last scene in the rain from Breakfast At Tiffany's, though it's hard to imagine looking as beautiful as Hepburn did.

Most showed up to Alexander Wang drenched to the bone and sweaty from: a) the hot venue stuffed to the hilt with people and b) running around to catch shows on time.

And then Wang turned out models who looked hot and sweaty. ON PURPOSE.

Dick Page, the Shiseido makeup artist handling Wang's show, applied lip gloss to models' eye lids and sprayed them on the face and neck with water before their runway strut for something Page dubbed "humid chic".

Hmmmm. I know what I look like when it's humid out and chic is not it. But then again, I'm not Raquel Zimmerman, Anja Rubik or Freja Beha Erichsen.

High-five to Alexander Wang for his incredible foresight on making the wet look hip.

Guess what all the kids in the LES will be looking like in less than a week...










I'm Lovin' it: Check out these BCBG shoes. Holy moley. Part of me wishes they were gold, but silver will do, too.







I'm Over it: So I had a box of Junior Mints in my bag and discovered this morning one errant candy escaped its confines, smushing itself kamikaze-style against the little pink notebook I carry around, in case I get an idea or an epiphany or something mid-day. Now my notebook has melted chocolate all over it. Oh well. At least it smells minty fresh.


Music of the Day: I'm a huge, closeted Motown fan. Big ups to Gladys Knight, her Pips and the Midnight Train To Georgia.








* Photos property of style.com, nymag.co, blogcritics.org and are used solely for commentary purposes

The Virgins Remixed by RAC

Andre Allen Anjos, from RAC (Remix Artist Collective), sent me a zshare to his phenomenal, sexy remix of The Virgins' "Rich Girls".

Click here to check the track out, which I highly suggest you do.

For more info on RAC or to follow Anjos (originally from Portugal, but now stateside) and his collective co-horts of Andrew Maury from New York, Chris Angelovski (aka. Crookram) of the Netherlands, Aaron Jasinski from Seattle and Akutou (nee Tom Pereira, RAC's new artistic director), clickity-click here for their website.

They remix everything from Ra Ra Riot to The Pipettes to Tegan & Sara to Au Revoir Simone to the Bloc Party to The Shins to The Cloud Room to Tokyo Police Club to Kenna to Radiohead.

Apart from RAC, Anjos has done original music work for HBO's Entourage, too, as well as has his own band called The Pragmatic.

So good.









* Photos property of rocksellout.com, thefastlife.org and are used solely for commentary purposes

Lorick Love

Abigail Lorick -- aka. the real-life designer behind Eleanor Waldorf's line in Gossip Girl -- had her first New York Fashion Week presentation, and what a presentation it was.

Instead of renting a $20,000 white tent and dealing with all the madness that comes with Bryant Park, Lorick opted to show her collection in a more intimate setting, with models set up in live vignettes, eating cake that looked suspiciously like the same pastries from Sofia Coppola's version of Marie Antoinette.

Of course, the models stuffed their faces (or at least appeared to) while gussied up in Lorick's designs, which were as girly and feminine as the clothing we've been accustomed to see from Eleanor Waldorf.

Namely, Blair "Queen B" Waldorf would loved it.

Since we know how obsessed I am with Polaroids and basically anything Jeremy Kost, here at a few snapshots from Kost via Fashionista.

As for the models, I'm thrilled Lorick let them eat cake, because that's probably the only thing they ate all week.









I'm Lovin' it: How rock and roll is Taylor Momsen looking these days?! She's not just little Jenny Humphrey anymore. Hot. The bangs smolder.







I'm Over it: It's technological. It's maddeningly frustrating. It's unrequited. I'm not being very clear here, am I? Sorry.


Music of the Day: Matt & Kim from -- where else, really? -- Brooklyn, New York. Mmmmm...I love indie pop that makes you want to clap. Check out "Good Ol Fashion Nightmare". It'll please you as much as it pleases me.







* Photos property of style.com, fashionista.com, Jeremy Kost, blog.knoxnews.com and are used solely for commentary purposes

HAHA...

The Sartorialist shot a girl at New York Fashion Week wearing these fringed heels from Zara.

They're the same ones I tried on when helping Scoots find new duds the other week -- and ones he chirped for being weirdly hideous.

But, you know, they kinda sorta work with her outfit.

Sorta.

It helps the rest of her outfit looks good.

FASHION WEEK IS HERE!!

Yeeeeeeeeeeeees.

New York Fashion Week has arrived!!

The presentations, events and parties are currently in full swing.

There's much more to come later, but I just HAD to post these shoes from the Rachel Roy SS '09 collection, ones she designed for Manolo Blahnik.

Got. To. Have. Them.

Back to work now.






* Photo property of fashionista.com and is used solely for commentary purposes

There's No Place Like Home

You can't follow every trend that hits magazine editorials and streets in Japan, but I'm currently amping up the courage to try one in particular: short socks and heels.

It resonates of little girl grown up. Or girl who never grew up.

There's something about this weird trend that's cute, yet avant-garde -- and completely not something I'd see on many ladies in this city, which gives me the impetus to maybe try it out.

After all, I did eventually bring myself to rock the over-the-knee socks with criss-cross strap, open-toe wedges earlier this year.

I can do it. I think.

Anyway, peep the Facehunter picture below. Doesn't she look like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz with her wee socks and ruby red heels?

All she needs is Toto and perhaps the Tin Man. And minus the ciggie.







I'm Lovin' it: One of my top ten favorite designers, Yigal Azrouel, designed rubbers for Proper Attire condoms. Now these are the kind of condoms you want to pull out of a Devi Kroell clutch after a great date.







I'm Over it: This black Plaid Popover Dress I tried on at Gap. It looked so rustically grunge and perfectly layered on the mannequin. It looked monstrously huge and Little House on the Prairie on me. Even with an extra small size.







Track of the Day: This came off some random Buddha Bar CD I got off Torrentz. It's called "My Darling" by Ralph Myerz, featuring Pee Wee. And it's got a smoove groove.







* Photo property of facehunter.com, gap.com, nymag.com and are used solely for commentary purposes

Coach Class

Reed Krakoff, creative director of Coach, launched an online design contest in which entrants could use Coach prints or their own designs to make a new style of bag.

The winner was a 15-year-old girl named Grace Hia from SoCal, who created a pretty damn fly tote with a fantastically bold print. As a prize, she gets a $2500 shopping spree, a $500 scholarship and a huge party toasting her win somewhere shi-shi in Los Angeles.

Not too bad for someone who's still in high school.

Do we have another Esteban Cortezar type prodigy on our hands?? I think we might.







I'm Lovin' it: The US Open. Andy Roddick and Novak Djokovic play tomorrow. And now I can't get Djokovic's impersonation of Maria Sharapova out of my head.







I'm Over it: Things that don't come on time.


Track of the Day: So Nerdy B has got me listening to a bit of MF Doom these days. The rapper has been on the Rhymesayers label before and has collabo-ed with the likes of Danger Mouse, Ghostface Killah, Madlib and the late J Dilla, the latter of which I have huge, huge respect for. Peep the track below -- it's called "Mash's Revenge", featuring Guilty Simpson and with beats by The Dilla (which I recognize from J's album "Donuts").







* Photos property of fashionweekdaily.com and are used solely for commentary purposes

HAHAHA...

Oh, Maureen Dowd, you are just so funny.

The New York Times Op-Ed columnist wrote an absolutely hilarious piece on the nomination of Alaskan governor, Sarah Palin, as vice president alongside Republican presidential candidate, John McCain, for the Sunday paper.

It likens Palin's life and subsequent appointment as VP of the US-of-A to the plot of a generically vacuous chick flick (in Dowd's own words).

Her fans are apparently called "Palinistas", which I can only assume is the political variation of "fashionistas".

Please check here for a good read and good laugh.

God bless Maureen Dowd. Seriously.










* Photo property of beyondchron.org, vanityfair.com and is used solely for commentary purposes

Touch The Skye

You know that when 400-pound September issue glossies hit your mailbox (the Vogue I recently bought has over 700 pages), beach days are non-existent, weekends at the lake are finito and summer sangria has run dry, fall has unofficially arrived.

There's a bittersweet aspect to the end of summer for me -- yes, I love tans, beach volleybal, popsicle-eating and wearing gladiator sandals with short dresses, but I also love layering, scarves, boots and sipping pumpkin lattes while going on walks on crisp days, minus the subsequent runny nose (a terrible malady of mine when it comes to chilly climes).

My new obsession for the unofficial and official fall season is the hood. Hooded tees, hooded jackets, hooded dresses and this Skye hood-scarf from Brixton, a style from their new F/W collection.

Brixton already has my vote for all things chapeau, taking into consideration the straw Castor I own and love to pieces, but this accessory concoction from the SoCal hat brand is just genius. You can keep your body heat from escaping through your dome and, as Craig Mack said in a rap once upon a time, you can "protect ya neck". And it looks pretty freakin' cute.

Hey, the Skye is never out of reach.








I'm Lovin' it: There's a BDG jacket that I have to own for fall and wanted to show y'all, but couldn't find an image. Then I ran into this amazing "Sgt. Pepper" jacket from the same brand and decided I loved it, too. It's so Proenza Schouler, circa Jack and Lazaro's Spring/Summer '08 collection.







I'm Over it: Blogging system difficulties for work that are making extra work for me.


Track of the Day: "Double Shadow" by the Junior Boys from their "So This Is Goodbye" album. It's an older track, but listened to it the other day and remembered how sexy it kind of sounds. I LOVE the subtle (yet unsubtle...does that make even make sense?) transition that happens at 2:58 into the song.








* Photos property of Brixon and are used solely for commentary purposes