Is it a Crime?

My love is wider

wider than Victoria Lake

My love is taller

taller than the Empire State

Is it a crime,
That I still want you
and I want you
to want me too?

-Sade, Is it a Crime

Supa Dupa Flyy

"...they wanna bring the 80's back/ that's o-k with me-thats where they made me at..."


I'm sure you've already peeped the subtle way that 90's fashion has been creeping back into the mainstream, right? The grunge trend, being the most obvious one, is my personal fave. Word on the street is that early 2000's fashion may be getting its second run soon too. At first I was terrified. That was the era when folks of my kind came of age. Two words: middle school. Eww. But then, I came across these images and I got to thinking and you know what? It may not be so bad after all.

all images from V Mag

Drita's Turn ;)

Apparently today's music sucks so hard that it's sent me to showtunes.

Seriously.

I just started watching the first season of Glee and I am kind of loving it. The sole gay kid, Kurt, put me on to this little number from the musical Gypsy.  It's called Rose's Turn and it is perfect.  Its a song but its like a rant too. It's full of shit you want to say but wisely keep to yourself most of the time. Oh, and the theatrics! I love it.  It reminds me of when I was in beauty school and my friend forced the entire class to listen to the Wicked soundtrack as he explained each scene the tracks were assigned to.  Except I'm actually into this one.

Anywho.

This song is like a personal proclamation of independence.




Most normal people have, at some point, stuck their neck out for someone only to have their heads chopped off.  Right? Most people have, in some way, helped encourage or develop someone else's betterment only to have them get temporary amnesia and leave you behind in the end.  Right?
 
Right?
 
Well.
 

I come apart, but thats ok...

Chill music playlist for when I want to be a complete introvert and tune out the world. While it has been successful at doing this, it has also served as the soundtrack to my insanity lately.

The Life- Alicia Keys
Trouble Man- Marvin Gaye
King of Sorrow- Sade
Lift Me Up- Christina Aguilera

There are about 10+ other songs on the list but these are the ones that aren't nearly as bad but they give me the blues just as easy.  I think I may be a masochist.

You be the judge.




Ev'ry day I realize that

this might be the last day of my life
Walking down the street, I find, yeah,
I'm coming closer to losing my mind.

'Cause when it rains, it pours;
isn't life worth more?
I don't even know what I am hustlin' for.
You've got to do what you've got to do
just to make it through
all the hard times that's gonna pace you.

This is the life, striving to survive.

Livin' will always be a struggle,
lookin' for someone true to love you.
Lookin' back, I see all the hard roads.
Thiis madness makes me wanna hide.
I work slowly, eternally. I'm dying.
Pillowcase is wet from all my crying.
There is nothing more to be here for.
Take me away; I can't live that life no more.







 




I love listening to these tracks.  They may mellow me out, they may even get me down but at the end of the day they make me reflect.

L.E.S Artistes

My beloved Santigold is allegedly preparing to release a new album soon so obviously, that means interviews and other promo stuff is coming, right? Well, I just read an interview with her and fhe said something that really resonated with me and where I am right now.  She said this album was all about her creating her reality. When I read it I think a lightbulb went off.

If I had a penny for everytime I preached someone's head off about how if there's no opportunity presenting itself to you, make one, I'd be a rich bitch.  But somehow I, like, forgot to take my own advice recently. Thank you, Santi,  for the reminder, boo.

I turned 25 yesterday. I sorta feel like I'm suspended in time or something.  Like I sorta don't know what the fuck's going on with my life. Like I'm not sure what I want and the things that I think that I want don't seem right. I don't expect for you to understand that last sentence. I'm not even sure if I do.

But what I do know is that excuses are for pussies and I'm not letting them interfere with my life anymore.

Afingo: How and Where to Sell

If you have a desire to be a legit force in the fashion industry and you aren't familiar with Afingo, you should probably stop and reevaluate what you're doing with your life. 

So...

I went to one of their forums titled "How and Where to Sell" a few days ago at the boss ass Soho House hotel in the Meat Packing District and I was totally inspired.  There were six panelists who all had different success stories and roles within the fashion industry plus a host who happened to be an editor from Racked NY:

Of course, I got there entirely too early which turned out to be the smartest decision I made that day since the small venue grew to be seemingly packed to capacity.  Shortly after I nabbed my gratis SmartWater and old issue of Blackbook magazine I scored the most perfect aisle seat across from some cool looking broad in kiddy ruffle socks and platform heels. This woman then came and snatched up the seat next to me.  She reminded me of Charlotte York a little.  She just started chatting me up and I was very pleased. I was dressed in a 'We Found Love' inspired get up and was looking quite grungy in a Big Pun sized flannel, black skinnies, and tattered Chucks. In conjunction with the pink/purple hair that was in a tousled mess and the septum ring, I didn't particularly fit in; but then again, I NEVER think I fit in. I then shocked my own damn self by confidently  introducing myself as a 'hair stylist and aspiring womenswear designer' for the first time in my life.  Seriously, that was a moment.  I felt like a grown up, like a professional, like a real go-getter and not a phony...

But thats totally not the point of this.  Charlotte was actually a Julie and Julie was the CEO of a lingerie line based out of Providence (temporarily) named Sexy Period (http://sexyperiod.com/store.  Her company makes hot little numbers for women (obviously) to wear during their girly time. I somehow refrained from scaring her away with one million and one questions.

The event started and even though I had vowed to turn off my ADHD and turn on my listening ears, I got distracted by the innocent cuteness of the Onia founder/designer and the wittiness of Warby Parker's. Snap back to reality after everyone basically recited the bio's from the pamphlet I recieved upon arrival and the show really began.

From here on out, this is all paraphrasing and based on the sloppy notes I jotted down, so don't quote me.

Question: For new designers many buyers may be hesitant to make orders. What would you recommend to someone on how to get in front of the right people and stand out?

Jen (Bird owner; not an actual bird, but the cult boutique in BK): Start small and work on building personal relationships with people who could possibly sell your shit. [She did not say the word 'shit']

Buyers get hundreds of lookbooks emailed to them daily so make sure you have your line presented in the best way possible. Invest in marketing, keep sending your lookbook to potential buyers, be persistent and do your research on the retailer to make sure your product is a good match.

Denise (Williamson PR founder): Spend money on your marketing materials.  Before your launch, have a clear concept of your customer as well as long term goals for your line.

Neal (Warby Parker Co-Founder): Reach out to editors and wait until you can launch to a feature in a major publication or media outlet.  Be very presentable and try to have a story or purpose attached to the brand.

Moderator, Elizabeth of Racked NY interjected: Its all about the story.  A good story. [Personal lightbulb moment]

Question: After being established in this industry, how do you maintain the same level of energy in your business?

Gemma Khng (Designer): Evolve with your designs. Get better and be very focused on the future.  Also, keep delivering good merchandise.

Question: How crucial are tradeshows?

Kyle (Onia founder/designer): This is the most important aspect, sales wise. Be sure to walk them all to see which show has the right buyers for your line and who may be interested in carrying you.

Jennifer: Capsule!

Question: [So my notes aren't so great but this one was about successful launches]

Denise: [From a PR point of view] Rag and Bone was a successful launch because it was a partnership and the designers were very hands on and strategic with their plan to push their brand.

Kyle: [From a designer point of view] Call stores and get the names of the buyers! Be persistent and take in any feedback from the retailers.

[A brief converstation about 1) the impact of Gemma's appearance on Joe Zee's All on the Line on her line- it was great, Julia Roberts recently wore one of her garments. 2) Social media- Warby Parker used it to drive a bajillion  people to an insane pop up store in Soho and get people excited about the brand. 3) are brick and mortar stores becoming obsolete?- Fuck no!]

Question: Designer collaborations- do they water down the brand?

Kyle: Onia decided to instead do a lower priced line under an entirely different name to maintain integrity of the brand

[Everyone agreed the high/low collabs are here to stay]

The last thing the moderator asked was for each panelist to share some really good advice.  Here's what they said:

Kyle: Learn on someone else's dime

Jennifer: Be patient and take time to learn.

Denise: Have a clear idea of who you are and what you're doing.  Keep evolving your brand every six months but remain true to who your are.

Gemma: Get a really strong team

Neil: Nowadays there is no real division between personal and business so do what you love. Don't do it unless you can't stop thinking about it.

[...and scene]

I will try to add the video footage I took for the audience q & a portion.

The Iconoclasts

More to come soon :)

"Baby, I paint the sky Blue"

Some people can't understand how you can feel so much for someone you've never met.  I'm not the one to explain it but the amount of happiness I am experiencing for Beyonce and Jay Z is overwhelming.  There is just something so magical about two people coming together in love and creating even more of it. Perhaps I'm starved of it and really needed to see it with my own two eyes to know it existed.

I don't know.

I can only pray there's more of it in store.

http://lifeandtimes.com/glory-feat-b-i-c



the song is beautiful- and in it's own little way, inspiring

Random acts of poetry

Don't understand it
but I can't help it
And I kinda wish
that I never felt it
My heart-
yeah, it kinda melted
I play the cards
But look at who dealt it


Some things,
are best left alone
This taste
the sweetest ever known
Never give my all
but might give a loan
Try to catch the thoughts
searching and on roam
...


I swear I wish I had a band :)

Numero 129

Gertrud Hegelund for Numero 129
Hair by Shay Ashual

"...And I don't need a hook for this shiiiiiiiiiit"

A while ago I went on an Amazon book-buying binge and ended up with more works of literature on my hands than I had imagined.  Slowly but surely I'm making my way through my personal library and I'm finding that my most recent purchases are fucking perfs (Me-speak for 'perfect').

I've been chanting about this 'cleanse' that I feel I need to go on lately (mind + body +soul) so I bought Yoga Bitch and The 21-Day Cleanse.  My 24 year old self clearly enjoys the idea of cleansing, but actually practicing it is proving to be more difficult than I had planned.  Yoga Bitch was pretty good it inspired a newfound desire to go on a Middle Eastern retreat next year.  The 21-Day Cleanse is hardcore, bro.  Day one had me questioning everything I ever wanted in life and why. And I do mean that literally.

I've since moved on to I Was Told There'd Be Cake by Sloane Crosley and, whoa. The title itself is superfucking symbollic of some of the shit I've been going through lately.  Wannabe professionals, habitual liars, manipulating fuckwads- you name it and I can put a face with it. 

I come from the school of If You Don't Have Anything Nice To Say About Anyone... on the corner of Karma Avenue and Kill Them With Kindness Boulevard.

....However...

I have somehow took a detour down I Don't Give A Single Fuck Road and ended up here. 

Yet again, I've found myself victim of some supreme fuckery.  New Yorkers, I can't with you people.  You have tested me time and time again yet I always somehow find it in my heart to start again with a clean slate. 

Fuck it, I'm on one...Again. I have to let these things out from time to time so to keep the peace in my normal life.  Its like gas; if I don't let it out, it just might kill me.

Not for nothing, I Was Told There'd Be Cake is a collection of small essays from an imported New York chick that may have helped give me some unexpected clarity about the direction of this blog.

http://www.wix.com/pistolsandpetals/andrita