You Know You Love Me, XoXo

While doing some research this morning, I came across a line that I hadnt heard of but have definitely been in love with for a while. Explanation: I heart Gossip Girl. I am definitely a Serena at heart, in the wardrobe department.  The costume designer definitely puts work in. He apparently pulls from Haute Hippie, which is how I came to the conclusion that I love them even without knowing who they are.

ShopBop.com

Blush

This season I have found myself absolutely ADORING this whole blush and black color palette that I have been seeing lately.  Makes sense, as contrasting themes always get me going.  Kanye West's use of this color combo for his Runaway performance at this years MTV VMA's was one of my favs. He added an unexpected dosage of red and it worked but I personally enjoyed Pusha T's classic take on it better:

In my head, thats what I would imagine a Miami business boss wearing. Dont ask.

The sisters Simmons and Khloe of the Kards also took part in the trend:

Haute Hippie, Asos and Lover:

I May Need Help...

My one gig at "EPIC" Hollister on 5th Ave put me in an interesting space Sunday night. 

Before I went in to work I signed up for Netflix (I dont have a TV,and this is actually a crucial part of the story).  I started watching Confessions of a Shopoholic andd was finding myself all too familiar with the behaviors of the main character. Halfway in, I had to leave for work.  I decided to take a different route to work and ended up...welll, in heaven so to speak.  I got off at the 59th and 5th train stop and as I was walking up 5th ave, it hit me.

I.have.a.problem.....Im a shopaholic.

My heart literally skipped a beat as I walked passed Bergdorf's, Lousi Vitton, Prada, Swarovski, etc.  Duh, Ive seen these exact same damn stores fortyfivetrillion times but seeing it at night when theres all of maybe three other people on the sidewalks with you, is euphoric. It was like art to me.  I just paused and stared.

And then I paid $2 for a CAN of soda. A CAN, I say!


Fast forward a few hours, and I go to do a photoshoot in Jersey for DEEN boutiques Fall 2010 Lookbook (http://www.shopdeen.com/)  and my shopaholic tendencies kick in again.  The shoot went really well. The owner, Shez, had everything organized to absolute perfection. Everything about this chick was chic. Her boutique was chic, her boots were chic, and her haircut (which i caught wind of at FNO) is Anna Wintour chic.

I worked with this model, Alba, who I had worked with on FNO (and who happens to be the most considerate, fierce, savvy model in all of new york)

(pictured above in a gla.MAR.ous piece from the shoot.)

I also got to work with Mary from gla.Mar.Ous again, who is slowing working her way to becoming my favoritest New Yorker. Her new collection was being shot as well. I have one of her signature 7-way head bands on the way. They retail for $30 and are worth every penny. The fit is perfection and I highly doubt you will see anyone else with anything like it (seriously, its patented).  Prepare to be a bit jealous...or I guess you can just get your own.

http://www.shopglamarous.com/
http://www.myspace.com/glamarousclothing
http://www.twitter.com/shopglamarous

Another reason I am so excited to see the pictures from this shoot is because of the photographer.  I looooooovved the images on her website and I can tell she has vision. She looks like she could be Betsy Johnsons younger, rocker sister.  Her names Robin Souma (robinsouma.com) and shes dopedotcom.  If she doesnt charge a bajillion dollars, I will definitely try to use her when the time comes for my own line.

I also met  makeup artist Shayla Harris (http://MakeupByShayla.blogspot.com, http://twitter.com/Shayla_Blushing) while I was on the shoot.  She did the makeup for the shopglaMARous website campaign.. She was my accomplice in my shopaholic craziness.
 heres what i couldnt leave without

i also got a hat, which i may or may not post depending on how wretched my hair looks in the A.M. when I put it on again.

Photoshoot Number Two

About three weeks ago I trekked over to Williamsburg to do hair and makeup for another portfolio shoot...

I worked with this cool stylist (Alison Weintraub) who wore this fabulous red lipstick and this Blossom-inspired floral print ankle length dress. Model Ila and photographer Ashley DuPree.


Heres what I learned:
1) I have to learn when I NEED to be assertive/aggressive.

2)Williamsburg is my new favorite place in the city

Better Late Than Never

I was doing my usual blog surfing and I came across a new one that I enjoyed enough to manage to get to page 18, and saw this:




It is a photo of Pakistani babies and their current living conditions, which resulted from the floods that happened back in July. I was walking down 42nd one day and this guy stopped me and was asking for donations for a nonprofit ( I believe it was feedthechildren.org). He asked me if I had heard of the floodings and proceeded to tell me some of the same things that this blogger is speaking of. Cliff notes version for the a.d.h.d crowd:


About 20% of the country is underwater

If you add the amount of people victimized by the Haitian earthquake, Hurricane Katrina, and that major tsunami that happened back in 04, combined, they do not outnumber those affected by the Pakistani floods.

and most importantly,

no one seems to give a flying you know what about it.

Other than the guy on the street and this girl (im guessing) on her blog, I havent heard zilch about this natural disaster. The blogger goes on to insinuate that the reason is linked to the systematic discrimation/hatred for the Muslim community since 9/11. And Im thinking she may be right.

This photo kind of drove the message home a bit for me. I feel like I keep finding out about things that I absolutely cannot understand why they are going on in todays society. With all of the technological and social advancements that we have readily available at our fingertips, things like this appall me.

The blogger also makes the point that the hatred and resentment that people still hold from 911 should be directed towards the fundamental extremists who commited those acts and not the Muslim religion as a whole. Such a simple concept yet many folks cant seem to grasp it. I also JUST decided to get more information on that whole 'Qu'ran Burning' hoopla that actually DID get alot of press recently. I didnt take much notice of it when it was actually happening, but so what. Im interested now and I have two cents I'd like to share with you about it.

So this pastor and his church decide that America "as a whole" doesnt want that Islamic Center to be built near Ground Zero. In order to get the center either shut down completely, or at least relocated, he arranges a protest at which "Korans" will be burned. The symbolism alone in that pisses me off. Pardon me for going on the deep end here, but people like the organizers of this 9.11.10 'Koran Burning Protest' disgust me. They give Christianity a bad name and I would even go as far as to say that they are the ones who turn people away from the church and quite possibly to atheism. You cannot fight hate with hate. No one wins. I thought we learned that lesson already. Guess not.


Donatations are being accepted by UNICEF, RedCross and the UN Foundation for the Pakistani flooding. Do something.