Are Pearls Vegan?

I'm not much of a jewelry wearer. For years I've getting necklaces, bangles and brooches for gifts and although I do appreciate them I never remember to wear them. Except for one gift. My boyfriend presented me with a coral-pink pearl necklace for graduation/our first anniversary. I LOVE pearls. They're so delicate, feminine and exotic. Today when I was babysitting my 16 year old brother (goodness) I started watching this awesome show on pearl faming on PBS.

share: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/pearl/

I did not know that they crack the mussels and oysters in half to get at the gem inside. Isn't that cruel? And farmed pearls are breeded and the gene become weak over time as the pool gets smaller and these inbreed oysters are susceptible to all sorts of parasites. However, to get to wild pearls, divers usually harm already endangered coral reefs. Are there cruelty free sustainable pearls? Thanks to this Nova documentary pearls are now on my list of gems I hate to love.

SORRY!

Hey Loves,
I've been very out of it. Work has been tough & balancing between work & play = little time for this blog. Sorry!

In really funny/interesting news, I was on the train and there was a girl wearing the faux-Balenciaga shoes (aka leggos). She paired the bright stilletos with green skinny jeans and a pepto-pink top. I kinda liked it. At the time, I thought the outfit was too bright for 9:30 in the morning, but I was probably envious, business casual is not really me guys.

As much as I like pencil skirts, I'm still figuring out how to b-cas. and be cute. I may try floppy necktied tops, ruffles or puffy sleeves. Thoughts?

In slightly different news "who is Christian Louboutin?" was the question in one of the Jeopardy questions today. Category: Christian, answer: something like designer of shoes with a trademark red sole. Surprisingly no one even guessed the answer. Word?

Well Now You Know: Baseball <3's Fashion

Did you know that the symbol of the New York Yankees was originally designed by Tiffany's?
Read it & weep Boston fashionistas.

PS, pardon the shadow!

Things I'm Really Excited About

Outdoor movies:
Mondays - Bryant Park
Tuesdays - McCarren Park Pool
Wednesdays - Pier 54 on the Hudson, Riverside Park on 72nd Street
Thursdays - Under the Brooklyn Bridge
Fridays - Kids Movies @ Pier 54 on the Hudson

McCarren Park Pool Parties (slip'n slide, cool bands, people watching in Greenpoint/Williamsburg,...) on Sunday afternoons

Yoga & Pilates in Riverside Park & Bryant Park

Rainy Saturdays

New favorite site: Deli Magazine

I've been a pop princess since '96. I bought my first TLC CD (crazysexycool), played it in my bright yellow Walkman and walked around the city like the biggest b.a.m.f. in the 5th grade (bad ass mother-f***). Then boy-bands (BSBluv4lyfe! + Lance Bass crush = middle school in a nutshell) came onto the scene & Britney too. It was NOT cool to like pop in my high school, at least with my friends, so I tried to stifle my love for all things MTV & top-40 radio and adopt cooler obsessions: Old school pop. Marvin, The Beatles, Al Green... (This ties in to The Deli NYC, trust!)

Okay so 1/2 the reason I loved pop is because it was so accessible, its on EVERYWHERE. Thanks to You Tube & MySpace indie music is accessible, but with all the options out there how's a pop-princess supposed to know what she likes? In comes the Deli, with lists of small-venue local concert dates, links to band websites, links to venue websites, band interviews & party info it has everything you need for your hipster/indie conversion. Dark skinnies, buffalo plaid jackets, & peroxide blond dye not included.

RIP Sir Snaps a Lot

my camera died.

it would have been a year old in a week :(
silly little bugger.

I was going to call this "Le'go my Eggo", but Fashionista titled their post on the shoes the same way two months ago... haha.

The Balenciaga original, fall 07


The Steve Madden "version," spring 08


The Pay/Half option, summer 08


Just because an item is critically acclaimed does not make it good. Yes, Beyonce wore them at some award show performance but besides that I do not know of another taste maker (or famous consumer) being photographed in them. But remember Beyonce does have a thing for quirky, critically acclaimed pieces, she performed in Balenciaga gold robot leggings. For all the Steve Madden's, Pay/Half's, Bakers and Aldos out there, Elegant faux-'boutin's, yes; Shoes that look like it was pieced from your kid brother's K'nex set, not so much. Mass marketing is all about mass consumption, therefore when you decide that an item should be produced you are under the assumption that it is something people want. The economics of the shoe really bothers me.

Moreover, Nicolas Ghesquière's construction of sporty futuristic stiletto sandals is a unique idea. The fact that these companies stole intellectual property is also deplorable. I cannot explain it very well now, but in my mind copying idea which is as unique as this one rates higher as intellectual property theft than all those Carrie-esque faux-Dior gladiators I see all over NYC. It's economic inevitability. When there is positive buzz about a garment or accessory, from the consumers or the advertising community (bloggers, magazine editors, highly photographed celebs... when we talk about an item, its free advertising) people will want to go out and buy that item. However, authentic status items (the Louie Vuitton logo bags of the earlier in this decade) cannot be bought by the common consumer. The laws of economics dictate that SOMEONE SOMEWHERE will fill that demand.

I do not think that design theft is laudable but I do think it is inevitable until there is a law disallowing such practices but I do not think that it hurts the designer's sales. The person buying shoes at Pay/Half most likely cannot afford authentic in season Gucci, so it is not taking away from their sales. I argue that as income rises those clients will buy according to their tastes and the faux-Balenciaga suppliers will lose customers.

Disagree? Rant and rave in the comment section.

Adventures in Discount Shopping

I spent the last two days trying to find shoes that are work appropriate. Yesterday on 125th, great place for discount shopping, I found a Balenciaga "Leggo" shoe replica. Does supply predicate demand or over zealous wholesalers? Photos & more info tomorrow.

Web Gems

I spent most of yesterday trying to stay quiet and still in efforts to stay relatively cool in this heatwave. Luckily sitting on a couch with a laptop on my lap in front of my fan is pretty quiet and still, so I checked on the fashion blogs/sites to see what I missed while I was shopping.

1. MISSHAPES

The MisShapes, if you've never heard of them, are a DJ trio who hosted a weekly party at Lower East Side club Don Hills last summer. They've been DJing clubs in NYC since 2002, toured with the likes of Peaches, The Killers, Bloc Party and Cansei de Ser Sexy (aka CSS, the Brazilian band who wrote that "Music is My Girlfriend... Music is my hot hot sex") and DJed several fashion shows. I tried to convince my friends to go to this party all last summer and since they don't dance or go out to clubs I had no one to go with. With a lot of moping and bitching, I guilt-tripped one of my friends to go over Thanksgiving, when I'd be in the city next. The party closed in September. I was so mad, until I read this little gem. THE MISSHAPES ARE BACK! They hosted their relaunch party last night and are holding events and parties, but not on a regular basis. Oh joy.

2. FASHIONMEETSFINANCE

The innocently named party is a happy hour mixer run by Pocket Change for the Y chromosome heavy Financial industry gents, and the double X-ers in the fashion industry. In other words rich guys and pretty girls (or at least men with earning potential and well dressed women). There is a screening process, based on your position in your company. I do not know how I would feel about this if I was in my late 20s, single and/or in the fashion industry but between this video and this blurb:

"In New York City you are defined by what you do and the dating world has to follow the same rules... Women in fashion need men who can facilitate their pre-30 marriage/retirement plan, and men in finance need women who will allow them to leverage their career in their dating equity... FashionMeetsFinance facilitates destiny by purifying the dating pool bringing together only the most appealing populations in the New York dating game."

my gag reflex started up. Is this what I have to look forward to? Men thinking that they have to afford to buy me Louboutins to get my attention? I mean... a pair would be nice... but I'd rather be self sufficient than dependent on my 6-figure earning boyfriend/boytoy/husband.

edit: I am judging the superficiality of the event, but i guess I have to remember that both industries uniquely superficial... and I don't think that's wrong. Meh... I'll have to think this one through a little more. I think I also have a bias because I didn't an internship with UBS last summer, haha!
Oh and K- if you ever want to get me Louboutins I would not say no. Haha, just don't do it because you think it'd make me like you more. Besides I'm more of a bag girl. Good vegan "leather" and no logos. Luv u!

Denim Guide

If you read my last post you probably know that Shop Bop is not somewhere I'd shop all the time. However as a denim connoisseur, I cannot help but look every now and then. When I looked today I found this gem on their website. Their denim guide outlines everything you need to know about how different inseams, pockets, rise, washes and styles can flatter your lower half. The first part is a little commercial-y, advertising Shop Bop's plethora of denim options, customer service options and well options. But the next two parts have helpful little hints to flaunting and concealing with denim.

Enjoy!

Hot Town Summer In the City

Sorry for the lack of posts this week. I've spent the last 4 days looking for cute, inexpensive, "business casual" pieces for my internship this summer. Yeah not a fashion internship but I cast a wide net during my Spring job hunt. It was one of the first jobs I applied to and the last one I interviewed for - which shows you how random job searching can be.

My first stop was the internet. I combed through Fashionista, New York Magazine and Top Button to find sample sales in New York. Checked Bloomingdales, J Crew, Banana Republic and the Gap for sales and found none. Then I made a list of stores which may be within my price range and planned my attack.

There was a Theory Sample sale on 36th between 6th and 7th. I've forgot the actual address or sponsoring sample sale company since because I didn't find anything within my price range. The only reason I went is because I found this PERFECT brown Theory cowl neck tee at a sample sale last summer for $20. As a college student - and now broke recent grad - I wouldn't spend that much on a tee, but the cotton blend fabric showed off my curves nicely, the sleeves are at a beautiful long length, and the bottom hem just covers the hip bones of my long torso. I could wear it out (which I have) and I could wear it to interviews/work (have and shall!). Since that introduction I have been a fan. Theory has some really great basics and their palate is usually nice and sparse. Actually I don't know if sparse is the right word. What I mean is that they use bold even color, lots of black and white, and not many prints. With that love in mind I hiked up a flight of stairs (hey they were steep) and found myself in a room full of racks and racks of beautiful garments. However with $200 to spend on a suit, dresses, flats, a pair of pumps, perfume and make-up, beautifully tailored dresses running $75 a pop were off my list.

I was going to try to the bi-annual Diane Von Furstenburg sample sale on 5th and 29th but figured it'd be as much of a tease. Depressed I walked to 23rd and 6th to discount designer retailer Burlington Coat factory. On the way I saw this mannequin in a shop window. This is by far the strangest thing: Pipi Longstocking hair, a head dwarfed by her shoulders and that grin or is it a laugh? Well at least it achieved its desired effect, I looked. Funny.

Anyway I actually found some really nice gear at Burlington Coat Factory. Of course I had to go through racks and racks of garments to find possible outfit with all the buttons still in tact. But I got a Calvin Klein suit and a Michael Kors dress together for about $100. That made me and my wallet very happy.

Oh random note, New York Burger on 22^nd and 6^th has delicious fries, burgers and interesting sauces… I suggest the Seattle burger which has Portobello mushrooms. Yum! And my brother came home last night raving about the equally yummy & cheap $1 cheese pizzas @ some pizzeria on St. Marks.

The next day was blouse/cover-up day (yeah it’s the summer, but working in an office means at least 8 hours in an air conditioned room, burr!). I went to the Gap and tried on the CDFA white shirts. I don’t think they were made for my body plus I don’t usually like button down shirts. Ann Taylor yielded an adorable swing jacket, and H&M had cute basic cardigans and Uniqlo (my favorite store, it’s like a Japanese H&M) had a sale on broadcloth button downs.

I still need shoes and make-up. I’m over budget, hot from the heat wave and tiiired. Oy. I continue tomorrow.

Yves Saint Laurent (August 1, 1936 - June 1,2008)

Fashion legend Yves Saint Laurent passed away yesterday at his home in Paris, France. Monsieur Laurent had been suffering from Brain cancer. He was best known to people of my generation as the name behind the YSL brand. He created Le Smoking, a woman's pant suit created in an era when women may have not been seated in restaurants wearing trousers.

In 1955, the young Laurent started designing for Chirstian Dior's house, which he ran after his death in '57. With the financial backing of his friend and, at that time, lover, Pierre Bergé, Laurent revolutionized the fashion industry in 1961, when he created his house under his name, and popularized ready-to-wear designs. His iconic looks feature clean lines, simple shapes and impeccable tailoring. He retired in 2002 after 40 years in the industry, closing the his house of couture but leaving the brand to be managed by the Gucci Groupe.