Better Late than Never...

Sorry about not writing yesterday, but unfortunately I've ended up with some really strange sleep patterns this last week and a half. Two to Four hours of sleep is a no go due to causing nerve problems (you get jumpy, you shake, and you can't focus)and a think capacity no better than a puppy. No bueno people! So unless we all wanted a two paragraph entry that could be summed up with a good old *durp-de-durp* we get to wait a day.

Now, moving on...


Chris Colfer/"Kurt Hummel"

Another thing that could fall under better late than never is my new found love for Glee. I've slowly been converting due to the music and some of the performances. Am I a die hard fan, gotta watch every episode? No, in fact half the characters annoy me to no end. Are the teenage dramas real. Yes. I remember people doing some of these things in high school; there was no remakes of favorite songs involved, but we can't all have a musical life. But the character that's really starting to drag me in, and I want to see more of is Kurt (played by Chris Colfer). That's right, like half of America, I have faller in love with the gay boy of the show. And like everyone else who's been watching this season, I've fallen in love with his story line. It's rather hard not to really.
It stands to say that everyone loves the idea of a quintessential, flamboyant, gay, guy friend. And Kurt has fulfilled that. But the part that everyone is loving about him is that he's real, in a way that Will and Jack - of Will & Grace fame - will never be.
For those that don't know, this season the writers have begun to focus on Kurt as a main character and primarily the bullying and depression that can come from being a gay student in a more conservative atmosphere. What I'm loving is that this show doesn't just point out that the bullying and suicides earlier this year were horrendous, they show it using Kurt. Granted Kurt is not killed off, but we do see the scarier side of being an openly gay teen. I can honestly say I never saw this at my high school, but then again I was in the theater crowd and a lot of the male stars were very gay. But just because you don't see something doesn't mean it isn't there.
What I especially love about this story line is that they have introduced the idea of hope. Anyone that has been watching knows that Kurt not only makes a friend that is also openly gay (Blaine - as played by Darren Criss) but ends up finding a way to stand up for himself and that sometimes leaving a situation is the best possible option. I'm looking forward to seeing what the writers do with this story arch in the future, excuse me while fangirl and say that I hope they end up making Kurt and Blaine a couple (those are two very good looking boys who would be very pretty together, and two characters that seem to need each other), but sadly we won't know anything until the Super Bowl episode in February. I'm kinda hopeful though.

Darren Criss/ "Blaine"

In other news: Yesterday for class, my Visual Merchandising class went on a retail walk to see different visual set ups in stores, and the last store we went to was P.O.S.H. If you live in the Downtown Chicago area and like vintage stores, go here. It's kind of awesome. But I had some money for my birthday, and have a bit of a love affair with vintage hats... so I may have ended up walking away with a new accessory. A vintage French Naval Barret. It actually reminds me of a picture I found awhile ago. Sadly I don't know the info behind the picture but I do remember getting off of Google. This might seem a bit off topic, but we all seem to need a pick me up once in awhile, especially after some heavier info and insight (please see above). Plus, I'm rather happy with my new purchase.

p.s. my internet is giving me problems so I will upload the picture later... stupid web connection.
*EDIT* Here's the pic

STORY TIME!

Once upon a time there was this little girl who wandered off the path...
No this isn't a retelling of little red riding hood; I don't have a red cape or coat for starters. The path I'm actually talking about is the religious one. You see a lot has happened in my life in the past year, and coupled with the amount of ancient history and religions I've studied you start to loose focus, and in some ways, your faith. But I've been told since a young age that "The Lord works in mysterious ways" so when I ran across St. Peter's Catholic Church, just off Madison Ave, I went in. The chapel itself was stunning, minimal in frivolities (it's run by Franciscan friars) but they had these statues and reliefs... it was stunning. And rather small. If it hadn't been for the doors I wouldn't have noticed it - odd considering the crucifix on the front, but I wasn't looking up. Chicago, winter, wind... need I say more? Anyways, for whatever reason I decided to look at the mass schedule, and ended up going to 11:40 mass today. And I feel better for it. I think I missed believing in something... I missed doing something so natural to my state of being. Granted I have never claimed to be a good Catholic, for many reasons, but at the same time it's what I believe.

Moral of the story: Do what your gut tells you; do what you believe.

Now that I've taken the time to tell you all my religious story let's get to all the stuff you want to hear about. First off: I'M SORRY I DIDN'T WRITE LAST WEEK!!! But since everyone was dealing with Thanksgiving and black Friday (I had work at 6am), I don't think I'm in too much trouble.
Also, starting about two weeks ago, I broke down and started watching The Nutcracker. This is a ballet that is near and dear to my heart, always has been, and always will be. I've read the book almost every Christmas season since middle school; I've performed in the ballet multiple times (No, I don't have any pictures that I can show you, otherwise I would); I used to watch the cartoon when I was little; and I have a collection of at least 10 of varying sizes that continues to grow every year. So when I ran across two new ones on youtube (new for me at least), I was excited.
The first one is performed by The Australian Ballet, and I know the choreography (Peter Wright's, for anyone who knows repertoires by choreographers) so that wasn't terribly intriguing, but the sets and costumes were. They're like a watercolor kaleidoscope!






And the other one was by the Mariinsky Theatre for the 2007 season, with choreography by Kirill Simonov. OMG! I have always thought that the Waltz of the Snowflakes was a bit erratic sounding at the end, more like a blizzard than anything, and I gotta tell ya, this production saw it my way!


Their Waltz of the Flowers was pretty spectacular as well.

Not to mention, the Sugarplum Fairy costume reminds me a bit of a design I created awhile ago...perhaps I'll upload my old nutcracker designs sometime. Regardless, this production makes me smile all the way around.

Steam is the Future!

Call me crazy, but it seems as though the world has become obsessed with the idea of steampunk! Don't get me wrong, I love that this is happening, but it's still rather weird that this underground/fringe fashion (one I ADORE mind you) is on the brink of going mainstream.

For those of you that have seen my earlier posts you might have a vague inclination as to what the whole genre is, but for others this a whole new idea. Because of this, I have decided to dedicate this post to some of the basics, how and where you might incorporate these ideas and aesthetics, and where these ideas are popping up in mainstream culture.

What is steampunk?
According to Wikipedia (I don't suggest this site normally, but in the case of pop sub-cultures, this is really the best way to go) steampunk is:

Steampunk is a sub-genre of science fiction, alternate history, and speculative fiction that came into prominence during the 1980s and early 1990s.^[1] Specifically, steampunk involves an era or world where steam power is still widely used—usually the 19th century and often Victorian eraBritain—that incorporates prominent elements of either science fiction or fantasy. Works of steampunk often feature anachronistic technology or futuristic innovations as Victorians may have envisioned them; in other words, based on a Victorian perspective on fashion, culture, architectural style, art, etc. This technology may include such fictional machines as those found in the works of H. G. Wells and Jules Verne or real technologies like the computer but developed earlier in an alternate history.

Other examples of steampunk contain alternate history-style presentations of "the path not taken" for such technology as dirigibles, analog computers, or such digital mechanical computersCharles Babbage's Analytical engine. as

Steampunk is often associated with cyberpunk. They have considerable influence on each other and share a similar fan base, but steampunk developed as a separate movement. Apart from time period and level of technology, the main difference is that steampunk settings tend to be less dystopian.

Various modern utilitarian objects have been modded by individual artisans into a pseudo-Victorian mechanical "steampunk" style, and a number of visual and musical artists have been described as steampunk.

For the whole article please visit Wikipedia. In fact, if you've read this far you should probably read this article.

Okay, so it's a sci-fi genre that deals with gears and clockwork? In simple terms, yes. Like they said, H.G. Wells is a fabulous example . Time Machine anyone?

Or perhaps League of Extraordinary Gentlemen is more your style?

Of course there's also Wild Wild West (both the old show and the movie), Around the World in 80 Days, Van Helsing (starring Hugh Jackman - YUM!)... the list could go on, but those are probably the more well known ones. Heck, even the new Sherlock Holmes movie could be considered steampunk.

Yes, underground fashion can be quite scary, but this one isn't. It's of exploration, fantasy and about bringing the best of the Victorian Era to the forefront. Heck, if you love the old steam engine or think traveling by balloon sounds like great fun, you might be a steampunk supporter.

As for all of you going "yeah, right!" and rolling your eyes I have one word for you: OZ. Whether we are talking about the yellow brick road, Elphaba, or the O.Z. of the Tin Man franchise, it's all there. So lets continue easing down the road, shall we?

And you all thought by mainstream I was going to show you a girl in a bustle...

These are two of my friends. Sadly you can't see the white bustle...I draped it!

But how can you add the aesthetic to your own life (if that's what you want)?

Earth tones by way of cargo pants and military jackets are probably the best place to start. Small things like pocket watches, or bowler hats (there back in fashionistas!), gloves, button up boots reminiscent of spats, vests... the list could go on. It's really not as hard as you think. The aesthetic is really more an antique feel than full out costume. Granted, if you want to do a costume you should! They're splendiferous fun!

What about just a small motif? Go to Zazzle (like my page!!)or Cafepress and search "steampunk". Done!

"But it's not on the runways!!" Aux contrare!!

D & G Fall 2009

L.A.M.B. Fall 2010

Dior Fall 2010

Seduced by the dark side yet? NO? Well, I shall just leave you with the Bergdorf Goodman Window Challenge

These were my entries:

Looky looky...

I got a makeover! As much as I loved the last look I felt it wasn't representative of me. Plus, it didn't match my new banner. Ah well, I'm rather pleased with the stacks of fabric myself.

So I've been on an inspiration kick this past week, from inspiration boards for weddings over at Snippet & Ink (it's a bad addiction...kinda like crack!) to pictures of awesomely colored rooms captured by Damian Russell, and other pictures from hither and yon that have sparked my fancy.

Some of my favorites are as follows:
These amazing red lanterns on Purple Area

or perhaps the black butterfly chairs that are echoed in the butterfly pictures are more to your taste


For a hint of color, check out Damian Russell's gallery



Everyone loves a touch of vivid color right?

M.A.C. Cosmetics new Tartan Tale line... all the cases are plaid!!!


An oldie but goody:

I stumbled on Olivier Theyskens' blue gown a long time ago and fell head over heels in love. It was only this week, when looking for other project pictures that I ran across it again. I'm so happy!!!


Based on this weeks round of pictures and color one might think I was channeling an acid trip similar to the Yellow Submarine movie by the Beatles.
"I've got a hole in my pocket."

However, That's not entirely true. Over at Live Fashion I ran into this beautiful picture from Vogue Italia's Lady Grey photo shoot:


I've had an image like this stuck in my minds eye for years, and to finally see it like this had me sitting in awe for a good minute when I found it. I don't know what it is that's so amazing, but it is.






This post is dedicated to Rae Classen. Wife, Mother and Sister. 10/16/54 - 11/11/09

Making up for last time

So last week's post was kinda special, and not in a good way. What can I say, I didn't do anything particularly exciting. I did go to one Halloween party, but it wasn't crazy, and I wasn't wearing one of my usual extreme costumes. The Party was themed "side-kicks", so I went as Lavern, from Lavern and Shirley. I was cute, people knew who I was, and life was good. The drinks were only so-so, but I liked the people so being sober was a-okay! On the day of Halloween, my alarm didn't go off, so I ended up missing work (I freaked out over the phone - I DON'T DO THIS!!! -
and this apparently did some good with my manager), and would end up going out to an all-you-can-eat sushi place for my dad's birthday. Sweet Jesus, that was A LOT of sushi! But it was soooooo gooood...

Last night I finally saw Toy Story 3! I laughed, I cried, I have come to reaffirm the idea that Disney/Pixar isn't just for the little kids. That movie was dark! Welcome To Sunnyside, the Attica of the toy word! But the Jessie/Buzz duet during the credits was probably the best part of all. What can I say, I'm a dancer and an artist, and when you can make the two work that well without doing a simple waltz, you've definitely done well.


Sorry about the ugly watermark, but I've seen people steal artwork before.

I'm also more or less done with my Christmas shopping. I'm still trying to decide if I should be ashamed or not...

Other than that I didn't like doing my Visual Merchandising project for the week. We had to take an artist (randomly drawn from a hat) and create mannequins based on their works. I had Francesco Clemente. He was fine, just not a personal favorite. You win some, you loose some; In the end you put up with it, cause in the real world you don't always get to do what you want.
I did like his one piece titled Scissors and Butterflies, the color choice was rather delightfully striking in my opinion.



Other than that, I have nothing new to report in the current fashion world. Perhaps next week.

In past fashion news though, who knows Dior's 2005 and 2006 Fall Couture shows? Yeah, I ran across them and they kinda helped prove why I love Galliano oh so much!
Here are some faves:

2005



2006


Granted there are more, but these are my favs as of right now.

P.S. I cleaned my room!!! No more war zone!!!