Ha Ha, Ugly

Wow, rarely do I see a collection that is just so wrong. I mean, I often don't like collections, or don't get it, or know it's just not for me, but I feel like the Tory Burch Resort 2010 collection is just bad. Not like evil, but badly done. If your size zero model appears not to have a waist in any of the styles, who might this look good on?

It's like she decided the do the classic Chanel suit as re imagined by Satan. Huge patch pockets on the belly? Sweet.

This picture makes me think of poor Jessica Simpson being accused of getting fat in the tabloids.

Wrong. Lazy. Depressing.

This one just makes me laugh. It's like she brought her home-made Renaissance fair tunic to throw on after a garden party.

I think this is what happens when Tory Burch (Upper East Side preppy socialite) tries to be artsy.

Do I sound mean today? I'm not trying to be; I'm actually in a really positive mood. This collection just kind of boggled my mind.

Art on the Street

Thanks to a wonderful series of totally unpredictable coincidences, I found myself in front of my favorite street art with my camera in my purse.

I love this thing (mural? piece? collage?). I see it everyday as I go by on the bus, and was worried that it would disappear before I had the chance to document it. Part of it got ripped off a while ago, hence the "art thieves suck" addition.

It kind of changes and grows and morphs, so it's fun to see it evolve as I pass by everyday.

Parsley in the Foreground

If this dress was yellow and polyester, I would be certain it was made from 70's curtains. It's white and cotton, so it just gives me the feeling that it is. A guy working at the gas station complemented my on the cuff and wanted to know what stone it was. I'm surprised he noticed.

Swan Complex?

When I was doing the Prague post, the swan pictures were in a folder aptly named Swans. Seems I had enough pictures with swans in them, that I had randomly come across, to warrant a folder. Is that weird? I also have a Straw folder. What's my deal?

Do you have any odd themes going in your photo files?

Prague

I was looking at our pictures from Europe the other day and picking out some of my favorites from each city. Then I realized that I had some pictures from a magazine editorial that was shot in Prague, so I thought I'd post them together.

It's such a beautiful city. Everywhere you look there's something special, from the intricately cobbled sidewalks to the Art Nouveau flourishes.

And yes, plenty of swans.

Belated B-day Shout Out

Happy Birthday to the lovely (and lovlier by the year, might I add) Miss Krista. You threw a superlative Hawaiian bash last night, which is my only excuse for why I didn't post this yesterday!

All the rest of my pictures turned out pretty wretchedly, but I like the drunken sparklers and cake vibe of this one. I thought later we should have posed everyone together for a big group photo like lame children. Maybe next year!

Eye Candy of the Sweetest Sort

pictures from Paris Vogue, courtesty of fashioncopious.com

In Leiu of Strawberries

I was going to post a big juicy picture of a bowl of strawberries. Fresh, local, delicious strawberries. But then I realized that there were only a few left in the bottom of the bowl - not so photogenic. I implore you, go buy some. They are the best treat and the good ones are only around for a few weeks.

So instead you get two pictures of me looking quite tired,

A scratch and sniff worthy rose,

And a candid kitty on the front steps.

A video for your morning

Please watch this. It is so mesmerizing! I can't watch it without thinking about what a lot of work it must have been though!

Women I Love, Part 8

Vivienne Westwood is just about the best fashion role model, in my opinion. She has built a career on starting trends, not following them, being a total individual, and staying true to herself. I did a paper on her in school, and I always think about her self-taught approach to pattern making. She disregarded conventional patterns and cut fabric on the body as it hung, reasoning that the body isn't flat, why would one cut a pattern flat on a table. Makes so much sense!

She has been a pioneer for decades, but remains humble and naughty, and as cheeky today as in the 70's when she was designing rubber fetish wear for London's punks. I love that she dresses and presents herself in a way that tells you she knows that she in absolutely beautiful. I wish we could all do that!

Geez Lou-Freakin'-EEZE!!

Holy hotness, isn't this girl some kind of beautiful? She's my new it-girl pick! Her name is Ataui Deng, and apparently she's Alek Wek's niece, which I can believe.

She's done some runways this past season and is featured in The Row's new lookbook (above). I just think she's so stunning, and it's refreshing to see a new face that isn't just like all the others out there. Cheers to a great new look - gimme more!

Sweet Sunday

I love my Sundays. Here I am among the peas, it's nine at night, new red shoes from the Village of Value, life is good. How did you guys spend this lovely day?

"Death is the mother of beauty"

-Wallace Stevens

I tend to keep cut flowers around for a couple of days past their prime.

Sometimes the results are particularly rewarding.

These photos make me wish I was a painter.

Finally!

We've lived in this house for over a year and this week I finally got around to making real curtains for our bedroom. I'm a real stickler for a DARK room, so I used the heavy lining and everything. Now we are just like grown ups!

Karl and I picked the fabric out together - he kept choosing anything with elephants for some reason, but we compromised on something vaguely jungle-y.

Other window coverings we considered:

Bob Marley flag

fuzzy blanket with wolf and owl scene

alien with a joint poster

Metallica flag aptly accented with tinfoil over the windows

multiple gauzy scarves with fringe

Blerg

I think I overexerted myself at work today and melted my brain. I was to lazy to go outside to take these pictures, or to adjust the camera to get my head in. Then I looked in the mirror and decided it was probably better that way. I like this dress, but it might be too short to wear with bare legs. Maybe if I put another button at the bottom? What do you think?