Big Dreams and Splendid Themes

I watched The Tourist last night which conjured memories of my...

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 12:03:04 -0400

I watched The Tourist last night which conjured memories of my trips to beautiful Venice. I took this photo along one of the smaller canals, and I love it because it captures the unique intricacies of this magical place. Take me back…

Fresh Starts

Wed, 30 May 2012 21:49:54 -0400

So many journeys begin with this very idea. A newness. Something pure, leaving all past regrets and failures behind. Riding on hope where possibilities are endless. It’s what we call a “fresh start.”

As human beings (particularly in the consumer culture), we love new. A new item or clothing is exhilarating. Eagerly waiting to tear the delicately-wrapped tissue from the colorful paper bag. Maybe for a special occasion or just because. For a few precious moments in time, it brightens your day.

These small occurrences are fleeting, but some stay with you forever. Like fresh starts.

I have been thinking about this as I approach a new beginning. I have written in countless emails to friends, “I am excited for a new adventure in a new place.” The combination of the two is kind of remarkable. It led me to ask the question, “How many times do we get these?”

The most significant fresh starts are rare (I am not talking about New Year’s here), mostly taking place in the earlier parts of life. Maybe a big cross-country move in lower school. Going to college. The new city after graduation. If the path follows like most typical people, maybe another few moves during family life. But that’s it.

One big fresh start left before my post-grad move. I can feel the time slipping away and the ‘truly uncovering yourself’ deadline coming. This next year holds many opportunities to become closer to the person I want to be. To make a few mistakes. To learn from those before I run out of fresh starts.

So I vow to make this one count. To squeeze every bit out of this fresh start. To set goals. To take chances. To just be, when necessary. To accept the things I can’t change. To grow.

Because no matter how untethered a fresh start feels, there is always knowledge and experience from the past that precipitates this mindset. It is a blessing, not a curse of baggage. And finally, with each step hopefully comes gratitude for this priceless moment of novelty.

As my girl Eleanor Roosevelt said, “The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.”

"Anything can be a threshold for the extraordinary"

Wed, 09 May 2012 16:09:15 -0400

“Anything can be a threshold for the extraordinary”

- Jan Detter, on future pursuits after my research presentation

A Foray Into Collecting

Fri, 04 May 2012 00:04:10 -0400

For my visual arts management class, I was given $100 to buy a piece of art. It sounds simple, but it is definitely not. The task brought me much agony. As an idealistic perfectionist (scary combination, I know), I wanted the exact piece of art that would capture my opinion and belief of art in this particular moment in time. I wanted the work to show that I had learned something from a semester’s worth of exposure to the art market while functioning as a beautiful part of my world.

In the end, I purchased “Mary Kate” a silver gelatin print by Lauren Martinez, a classmate of mine, that I am utterly in love with (see below). I chose this piece for a variety of reasons, making it a holistic purchase.

When I visited the International Center for Photography in New York, I began to look at photography in a new way. I always liked the ability to expose but also manipulate reality through photography production. These processes have become commonplace in the digital age (dare I say too common), but there is something so unique about hand processing that can’t be replicated by a computer. I love how you can see the imperfections in Lauren’s process; it makes it real. It is reminiscent of Picasso’s works where paint application and visible mistakes are integral elements in themselves.

I tend to gravitate toward editorial images, and this is no exception. It’s the fashionista in me! The work exudes old glamour, particularly in the black and white setting and Mary Kate’s lace dress and stilettos. Upon initial impression, I was transported to that imaginary surrounding scene, like a 1940s jazz club with lux velvet, studded banquets and plush curtains. In terms of subject matter, the ironic objectification of the body spoke to me. Our society looks at women for their exteriors (“does she have the whole package?”) yet also picks apart body pieces to meet certain criteria. Through Lauren’s exposure technique, you only get parts of a whole, and the lines where the body begins and ends are ambiguous. The combination of parts rearranged in a new context of “whole” antagonizes the traditional image of a woman.

To see more of Lauren’s work: www.lauren-martinez.com

Mary Kate; Lauren Martinez; Silver gelatin print

Fri, 04 May 2012 00:02:08 -0400

Mary Kate; Lauren Martinez; Silver gelatin print

“Come Back Down”-Greg Laswell feat. Sara...

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 21:44:41 -0400

“Come Back Down”-Greg Laswell feat. Sara Bareilles

These two are amazing individually but exceptional together. Today is the last day to get this song free on iTunes! And how do you not love the vibrant graphics in this video?

Pumped about these nautical-inspired wedges from Splendid! (See...

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 14:48:18 -0400

Pumped about these nautical-inspired wedges from Splendid! (See what I did there? a well-heeled pun…ok, I will stop my bad humor there) Definitely worth the half of my paycheck I spent on them yesterday. Nautical is the ultimate example of the forever summer.

“Falling”- Florence + The Machine Tenderly...

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 00:24:06 -0400

“Falling”- Florence + The Machine

Tenderly melancholic yet tinged with hope. Getting me through long, busy, rainy Mondays.

A Fashionable Alternative

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 17:47:10 -0400

A Fashionable Alternative:

Threadflip.com opened today as the brainchild of Manik Singh after seeing his wife’s burgeoning closet. Although it is hard to part with those pieces that we know are not going to be worn again anytime soon, getting paid offers more re-investment opportunities (read: shopping spree!). Traditionally ebay has a collection of clothing and designer pieces ( I myself have purchased a few Lilly dresses back in the day) but the fear of faux is always looming, particularly for handbags. Threadflip is fabulous in the sense that you control the price, unlike consignment shops, and they provide the shipping. However, there is always that gamble of quality and fit when purchasing clothes (especially vintage) online. I may have to sign up to at least check out the jewelry!

California Dreamin’ today. “If you’re alive, you...

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 22:43:34 -0400

California Dreamin’ today.

“If you’re alive, you can’t be bored in San Francisco. If you’re not alive, San Francisco will bring you to life.” -William Saroyan

If Mr. Saroyan is right, then I think the West Coast and I are going to get along just swimmingly…

Where Art and Fashion Meet Life

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 23:15:56 -0400

Over the last couple of months I began to really notice W Magazine. Not so much for the exquisite photography or iconic, oversized frame but more for the infiltration of art in each issue. When I returned from a fabulous trip to New York (based solely around the art market) in March, the pages of W started to make sense to me. This world is incestuous, where lines are easily blurred and elitism is the name of the game.

The similarities between the two have always been quite striking. Competition is fierce. Technical skills are not necessarily required (think Jeff Koons and Tommy Hilfiger). Creativity and originality are the bases for critical success while the bottom line wins (almost) every time. New York is the mecca, and “starving” is given a whole new meaning (both literal and figurative). Basically, you could call these two sisters.

However, the delicate dance of defining where fashion, art and life diverge has become trickier. Defining what art is plagues the modern world (from my viewpoint at least). When contemporary art has become so bizarre or interactive that you can’t pick out the metaphysical heart of the work, art and life are almost synonymous. For example, at the Independent Art Fair I saw a little girl swinging on a structured net of ribbons and campfire-esque materials. I honestly thought this was a classic case of negligent, laissez-faire parenting, but it turns out she was part of the piece. What to make of this?

Artists often collaborate with designers (think Takashi Murakami for Louis Vuitton) for special collections. But many people would argue designers are artists in their own respect. If you saw the Alexander McQueen exhibit at the Met this summer, you would agree with that statement too. Just as a designer brands his or herself through core values and consistency in collections over time, artists also develop a signature theme or style.

Take Cindy Sherman for example. In a recent W article, Sherman’s love of fashion is highlighted as a staple in her more recent photographs. Of course this a pivotal moment in her career as her retrospective at MoMA opened in late February. But ironically the article focuses more on her use of costume (the woman had access to the Chanel archives….I am dying!) than her art. It goes to show that a personal interest (Sherman’s love of fashion) uses a manifestation of another art form (vintage couture) to produce a unique narrative (transformative characters in photograph). Through her rise to art stardom, Sherman has built relationships with important fashion houses and has even been selected to sit in the coveted front row at fashion shows like Balenciaga. If I have learned anything so far, relationships are the key to success.

So in an effort to separate the art and fashion worlds with that thing called life, one can only conclude that they are reciprocal to each other. It is all about dialogue, an action and a reaction. Each fuels the other in a place where fantasy and conceptual thought meet in the middle. And what a beautiful place that is.

Cindy Sherman W Article: http://www.wmagazine.com/artdesign/2012/03/cindy-sherman-moma-retrospective-profile?currentPage=1

Maiyet: A Love Story

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 01:14:20 -0400

Something big has finally happened. I have been waiting too long for it. I have stalked, researched and prayed for the debut of an endeavor of this sort (until mine, of course). And now my friends, the time has finally come. Let me introduce to you, Maiyet.

The brain/love child of former human rights lawyer Paul van Zyl, former Band of Outsiders president Kristy Caylor (MY NEW GIRL CRUSH/role model, seriously look her up), and Daniel Lubetzky, Maiyet is harnessing the skill of artisans the world over to produce elements of a goooorgeous clothing/accessories line while simultaneously sustaining those artisan communities. Basically the company partners with local artisans in countries around the globe to promote self-sufficiency and entrepreneurship in these developing economies. A portion of the profits then goes into training and development. I would call that a win-win.

So not only does it have an amazing core business practice/principle, but it is also so freaking chic. Most people (myself included) upon hearing “sustainable clothing,” think earthy-crunchy, hiking/biking/rock-climbing yogi eating a handful of kale and sipping on organic, unsweetened almond milk. Sorry for the stereotype, but when you see clothing in Whole Foods, this IS the target consumer. But, Maiyet is elevating this to a whole new level. Hello, they are exclusive at Barney’s, one of the most elite department stores in the world.

The founders behind this project know what they are doing. The brand is being promoted through traditional outlets (Paris fashion week, exclusive retailing) in order to spread the message to a broader (albeit luxury) audience. I was flipping through an old W Magazine and there they were, full page. Not to mention the articles on the most important fashion websites (Vogue, Fashionista, Style, Elle). Need I say more? Oh wait, after viewing the Fall 2012 fashion show images, I would wear 95% of the clothing straight off the runway.

I am thrilled these practices are becoming mainstream and a focus for consumers. My whole independent study is based around the necessity of sustainable thinking and how it offers a competitive advantage in the marketplace. So in a nutshell, Maiyet makes me smile.

http://www.maiyet.com/

View the video of artisans at work: http://www.style.com/stylefile/2012/03/the-making-of-maiyet/

A little luxurious travel inspiration. My fav is the croc, 3rd...

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 12:11:19 -0400

A little luxurious travel inspiration. My fav is the croc, 3rd from the top.

elle:

Wanderlust

We’re thinking of getting away! What better way to travel than with a stack of Loewe luggage??

Photo: courtesy of Loewe

Can’t. Stop. Listening. Loving Adam Levine’s...

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 21:29:26 -0400

Can’t. Stop. Listening.

Loving Adam Levine’s voice.

“Just a Feeling”- Maroon 5 on Hands All Over

Ready for this view. Touchdown. Tomorrow.

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 01:23:21 -0500

Ready for this view. Touchdown. Tomorrow.

Dinner Parties I distinctly remember my family’s ritual before...

Sun, 04 Mar 2012 22:05:54 -0500

Dinner Parties

I distinctly remember my family’s ritual before we hosted a dinner party. After all the vacuuming, dusting and pillow-straightening, the candles were lit and a 90’s easy rock CD was put on (most likely Counting Crows or REM). My mom didn’t make us put shoes on or dress up for the neighborhood guests. It was an organic event, a time for friends, good food, and comfortable conversation (and a bottle of wine or six for the adults).

I look back on those days and have nothing but fond memories of the Friday night gatherings of my childhood. I guess that’s why I have a love of dinner parties. They were never stuffy or required our “best behavior.” Everyone could just simply be.

In high school I hosted my first dinner party for my girlfriends and cooked a 5 course meal, quite proud of my culinary and planning skills. I wanted everyone to dress up and pretend to be adults. In the end, I never wore shoes and we all laughed and danced to Gaga while eating off colored paper plates. It was better than a rehearsed ideal of a prim and proper dinner party that I thought I had wanted.

Now as I am in college, I can’t wait to grow up and have my own apartment with gatherings for close friends on a lazy Saturday evening. I want fresh-cut flowers and a delicious, unpretentious menu hopefully on a terrace with views of a beautiful city.

I recently found this magazine called Kinfolk which is committed to that exact idea, “a growing community of artists with a shared interest in small gatherings.” They believe that a table shared by friends anchors our relationships and energizes us, and the process of entertaining should be simple, uncomplicated, and less contrived. I love it.

So this picture represents all those ideals: honest, cozy, and still aesthetically beautiful. Unleash the inner domestic goddess (in the most natural sense).

http://www.kinfolkmag.com/

Layers

Sat, 25 Feb 2012 22:38:28 -0500

As my blog namesake suggests, this is another dream post. And while this picture (taken at the Mercedes showroom in Munich) shows words relating to cars, I thought it was appropriate. Today I went to the TEDx Conference on my campus and was inspired to say the least. For those of you who don’t know what TEDx is, it based on the TED mission “ideas worth spreading” and focuses on technology, social impact and entrepreneurship. An overwhelming theme today was the pursuit of your dream, no matter what. So it got me thinking about what I really want to do. I realized that many of my passions are not mutually exclusive and build upon each other, enmeshed in mind, body, and soul, a multi-dimensional web (not unlike that structure in Mercedes). After the conference today, I decided to write down my dreams/goals. A little weird that I had never done it before, but it keeps me accountable, and I encourage you to do the same :)

1. Write a book 2. Start a sustainable apparel company 3.Travel the world 4. Be a role model 5. Help someone in need find his/her voice 6. Always keep learning 7. Live in a big city 8. Recognize beauty in all its forms 9. Never fear new opportunities 10. Be open-minded

My Take on New York Fashion Week

Sat, 25 Feb 2012 22:15:33 -0500

My Take on New York Fashion Week

I could use a little Santa Maria Novella Farmacia in my life...

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:11:49 -0500

I could use a little Santa Maria Novella Farmacia in my life right now. After many visits to this incredible spot in Florence (with its origins dating back to the 1600s), I noticed its global popularity. From W Magazine to Gossip Girl, people are talking about the elegant perfumes, decadent creams, and gorgeous elixirs (featured above). If you ever find your way to Florence, you MUST visit. Although they have stores in the US, you can’t beat the original!

The Future of Retail (And Some Will Be Left Behind)?

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:32:34 -0500

The Future of Retail (And Some Will Be Left Behind)?:

Interesting article from Schumpeter in last week’s The Economist.

I hope this does not mean the adorable (and quintessential) boutiques of Europe will become endangered animals. Before we know, our whole world will be engulfed by the online market. And I am not entirely sure I like it.