lovely rubbish

I always imagine "Lisztomania" means making a lot of lists, but that's probably wrong

2009-08-20T14:00:00.000-07:00

Since I was en elementary school kid, I've gotten really excited about back-to-school shopping. So excited that I would plan out what I wanted to get, get it, then save the labels in a composition notebook. It's almost scary to think how much I loved collecting labels (not necessarily designer labels, because I was like, nine years old, but actual paper labels) for the love of shopping and cataloging everything. The notebook started in fourth or fifth grade and ended in ninth. Every fall and many shopping trips in between, I'd make pages of labels with notes about the garment's size, color, and style.

Now that I'm getting into my third year of college, it's more about what clothing I *wish* I could buy, rather than the everyday. After all, my notebook would be a collage of the same damn places I can't stay away from (and that I can actually afford): Urban Outfitters, H&M, American Apparel. College, for me, means a wardrobe filled with items from the aforementioned holy trinity mixed with vintage, DIY, and thrift. Don't tell my closet, but as faithful and loving as I've been, I'm secretly longing for everything at Barneys. Sorry. And this is where the blog comes in...

WANT LIST: Saving my allowance, selling used clothes

WISH LIST: Golddigging, selling some plasma and some unnecessary car parts... those exist, right?

WANT LIST

1) Silence & Noise Double Breasted Blazer

2) Tights, tights, tights

3) AA leotards

4) Vintage cross-body bags

5) Victoria's Secret bikini (Downside to living in "the OC": less opportunities for proper fall fashion. Upside: Going to the beach every day)

Being ~~a hobbit~~ petite, I've given up on finding good jeans, so I plan on keeping up my current uniform of a top tucked into a skirt or shorts (hence the need for more leotards).

WISH LIST

1) Aldo Seace ankle boots (not particularly expensive, but I. Do. Not. Need. More. Shoes. I have to keep telling myself that).

2) Alexander Wang Hanne Zip Boot3) Yves Saint Laurent Imperiale Boot (Psst... Bebe makes a thigh high boot for about $150, not almost $2,000... but hey, YSL is YSL).

Summer at Parsons/Crop top amazingness

2009-07-08T21:38:00.000-07:00

It's been so long since I've updated! I've been so busy with school and finals and moving out of my apartment at school, out of my house at home, and into a new house an hour away. I'm probably even busier right now because I'm at Parsons in NYC doing the fashion design summer intensive program. Yes, they're filming Project Runway. No, I haven't seen Heidi or Tim (yet!) A bunch of my classmates have, though. I'm jealous. Anyway, the intensive program really is INTENSE. It's funny how the fashion people have been staying up ridiculous hours while people in the other programs get to hang out and party a lot more often. I'm so tired and it's only the second week! As crazy as it is here, I love it. I doubt I'd come back to Parsons for another undergraduate degree after UCI because I would have to pay for it myself, but then again, I love New York and I love design, so why choose to go to a school that isn't as good? I guess we'll see how it goes in a few years. In the meantime, I should decide if design is actually what I want to do. Speaking of design, I'm supposed to be making a mood board right now. I just got back from a nighttime gelato run. By "run", I mean taking 2 subway trains to Greenwich Village to arrive at Cones, which closes at 11 p.m., at 10:59, then hanging out for a bit before coming back my dorm in the financial district. So tired! Time to start on this board and get some sleep for the draping seminar tomorrow!

I need to put up pictures at some point, but here's some written DIY construction for a crop top. I found a scoopneck tee at Forever 21 that's made of surprisingly soft cotton for amazing price of $4.50. I found that the best place to start cutting was about half an inch above the little tag on the inside that tells you what the shirt's made of. Step 1: Buy the shirt in large. (I think this project might only work with this top if you're already a size small, actually.) Turn the shirt inside out and stretch it a bit. Step 2: Find that tag. Step 3: Cut a straight line across the shirt. Step 4: Stretch the shirt again and it'll develop a rolled hem on it's own! I'll probably reinforce the stitching on the sides by hand later on.

American Apparel has a crop top for about $17. I'm thinking about buying it for the mossy green color, but if you want a basic color, just make one from a Forever 21 top. You don't need to cut a more feminine neckline like you would if you started with a basic Hanes tee or something of the sort because it's already built in.

More "Suburban Outfitter" and shredded jeans

2009-05-18T12:03:00.000-07:00

American Apparel tank, DIY jeans

Close-up of my "Ironic Mustache" necklace (yay for Shrinky Dinks jewelry!)

I've been ridiculously busy these past few weeks trying stay alive and attempting to put together my line for UC Irvine's Fashion Interest Group's fashion show. I have to have TEN outfits ready for Wednesday the 27th. I feel like I *should* be panicking, but because I'm juggling school and my column, I haven't really had the time. I think I'll be sewing for three days straight this Memorial Day weekend. Woohoo! Anyway, here's my latest column about my favorite fashion blogs (which I'm sure you all know about already, haha):

Personal Style 2.0: Fashion Blogs that Trump the Age-Old Magazine

BY LOUISE LAO

VOLUME 42, ISSUE 29 | MAY 18 2009

As much as I love fashion magazines, I often find myself getting frustrated with their content. Photo spreads might as well be pages of a catalog that only sell clothes that a college student can’t afford to dry clean, let alone afford to wear.

When I want a dose of reality, I forgo the glossy pages filled with impossibly tall models and go online to peruse my favorite fashion blogs. These days, the blogosphere is expanding, with countless bloggers recording their daily outfits, fashion news and musings on the latest trends.

However, there are only a few Web sites that I frequent daily. These bloggers not only show off their unique personal style, but they also demonstrate how the latest trends aren’t solely reserved for the pages of magazines. As real people with real bodies, lives and stylistic visions, they show that you too can work more fashion into real life.

For fashion inspiration and sage advice, visit my favorite blogs of the moment:

Fashion Toast:

FashionToast.com

Rumi Neely’s popular blog, Fashion Toast, is full of gorgeous photos of the blogger’s effortless yet daring style. San Diego-based Neely is known for her uncanny ability to embody the high-low aesthetic in every ensemble she posts. Take her last post for example: Neely paired a baggy Ungaro hoodie adorned with chains, leather shorts, tights and platform heels in basic black.

Another instance in which Neely mixes a high-end designer piece with wallet-friendly fashion is her mix of an oversize Alexander Wang sweater with cutoff Levi’s shorts and thigh-high stockings from Hot Topic. While these combinations may sound strange in a newspaper, Neely proves how well such random pieces can work together with a chic nonchalance.

Karla’s Closet:

KarlasCloset.com

I constantly turn to Karla Deras’ blog for inspiration because of her excellent ability to mix vintage and modern. This Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising student dares to wear eclectic mixes of vintage blazers, frilly skirts and blouses, and lots of American Apparel.

Aside from her many one-of-a-kind vintage pieces, perhaps the element of her outfits that I envy most is her seemingly endless collection of heels. Deras’ sophisticated outfits look perfectly put together, yet they are still edgy enough to remain youthful and fresh.

Style Bubble:

StyleBubble.typepad.com

In high school, I was lucky enough to discover Style Bubble, a fabulous blog written by Londoner Susanna Lau, aka Susie Bubble. To this day, I am still amazed by her singular style. Style Bubble is the most informative of the blogs that I frequent because Lau offers her insight regarding the goings-on in the fashion world in addition to spilling the details on her wild outfits.

Lau blogs about boutiques in London and beyond, as well as new designers, fashion illustrators, fashion publications and more. A true trendsetter, Lau exhibits the kind of quirky style and adventurous attitude toward fashion that I would love to see more often in America. She has inspired me to take more risks and be unafraid to experiment with the bold, colorful and outlandish.

Bleach Black:

BleachBlack.com

If you don’t have time to read through lengthy blog posts but you want a taste of what’s new in trends, Do-It-Yourself projects and more, visit BleachBlack.com. The site is basically two blogs in one — two modules side-by-side written by Kristin Reiter and Valerie Killeen, designers for RVCA and Element, respectively. Reiter and Killeen publish short-but-sweet posts that exhibit their Southern Californian style and crafty sensibility; the latest post teaches readers how to make amazing Balmain-inspired spiked heels, for instance. Bleach Black does a fantastic job of posting quick trend reports, such as flowered dresses and crocheted pieces (as you may be able to tell, Bleach Black loves the ’90s).

Face Hunter:

FaceHunter.blogspot.com

Chances are, if you’re familiar with street style blogs, then you know all about the Sartorialist. I, too, am a fan of Scott Schuman’s snapshots of stylish people perfectly poised on the streets of New York, Paris, Milan, etc. However, I feel that Face Hunter captures another aesthetic in his subjects that deserves similar recognition. While most (if not all) of the Sartorialist’s shots include people in incredibly expensive-looking, chic ensembles, Face Hunter’s subject embodies a more louche and youthful realm of style. After perusing Face Hunter, I am able to see what fashion lovers are wearing in Stockholm, Berlin, Budapest and other countries. Most shots are taken during the daytime and give readers a refreshing view on style around the world — truly “eye candy for the style hungry,” as the site declares. Visit Face Hunter daily to get inspired to shake up your daily wardrobe and break out of the jeans and t-shirt rut.

Whether you’re looking for new trends to experiment with, new ways to wear basics or new gossip and events in the fashion world, look no further than these blogs. Bloggers make it possible to experience what’s new and what’s hot in fashion as soon as possible. All it takes is a few clicks to discover the latest news and the best style tips and secrets for you.

"Is it wrong that I want this?"

2009-05-11T12:04:00.000-07:00

It happens to lots of us--we see something so tacky, so outrageous, so random, that we immediately want it. These thoughts are often followed by disparaging second opinions that make us change our minds. Sometimes, though, we follow through with our "love/hate at first sight" feelings and buy whatever strange item it may be. In these cases, it feels good to take a chance. Unfortunately, there are those other times when we experience a "What was I thinking?!" moment. Here are a few things that I must admit I'm fascinated by. Will I actually buy them? We'll see...

A sequined bikini that I would wear with the top as a bandeau. Would it even last through a lap in the pool? Who knows. Guess who makes this trashy yet weirdly charming (to me, at least) bikini? The brand that outfits legions of high schoolers in those infamous sweatpants... Victoria's Secret PINK.

I'm not big on graphics, but there's something I like about this subtly integrated text on the upper back of a vest that happens to be two of my favorite things: 1) black and 2) studded. What may be surprising is where this vest is from and, better yet, who "designed" it. Don't laugh. It's from a certain 5 ft. 2 in. Canadian (or is she a US citizen now?) who makes guilty pleasure music for 10 year-olds. Yup, it's from Avril Lavigne's Abbey Dawn line at Kohl's. I've never actually set foot in a Kohl's because there are none by my hometown or where I go to school. I assume it's like the now nonexistent Mervyn's? Hmm...

For you Orange County readers!

2009-04-19T00:52:00.000-07:00

My column in UC Irvine's New University paper is back for Spring quarter! :)

Frugal Fashion, Fabulous Finds: Thrift Shopping in the OC

BY LOUISE LAO

VOLUME 42, ISSUE 23 | APR 06 2009

When you think of Goodwill, you might think of shelves of used toasters, racks of obscure T-shirts, old stuffed animals, and maybe even the clothing you donated last week, as I have. Don’t let your first impression or the store’s notorious aroma deter you from seeking what could be your next favorite item of clothing. Recently, I found a black vintage jumpsuit, denim jacket, faux-fur stole, and several other pieces to use for fabric at the Goodwill store in Costa Mesa. I’ve learned that if you take the time to sift through the racks, you’re often lucky enough to discover a unique item.

Dee Lux: 1500 Adams Ave, Costa Mesa

I had the best shopping experience at Dee Lux in Costa Mesa. It was clean, organized, well-lit and even had good music playing. With The Shins as my soundtrack, I headed straight toward the vintage dresses. Unfortunately, I didn’t find anything in my size, but the browsing itself was enjoyable. Instead of the clothing being crammed into the racks like in other used clothing stores, the pieces were manageable so that shopping could be stress-free. Of course, the less chaotic atmosphere meant that the selection isn’t as large as it is in other stores, but I didn’t mind one bit. I expected a place that was so well-kept to have ridiculous prices. Fortunately, I was wrong. For example, all sunglasses were $12. Most of the dresses were under $20. Of course, Dee Lux is no Goodwill, but finding authentic vintage clothing in such a clean environment makes me willing to pay extra. In addition to men and women’s vintage, Dee Lux has some new clothing, but also sells some American Apparel clothing for less than retail price, like raglan pullovers for $21 and hoodies for $30. I recommend stopping by Dee Lux for clothes, shoes, jewelry and even books and kitschy knick-knacks.

Crossroads Trading Co.: 1835 Newport Blvd #B123, Costa Mesa

Like Dee Lux, Crossroads in Costa Mesa sells used and vintage clothing, but most of the items I came across were used clothing from recent years rather than true vintage from decades past. Another factor that distinguishes the two stores was the sheer chaos of the place. The racks were stuffed with so many pieces that the experience was overwhelming. The clothes seemed to be priced by brand; for instance, two similar blazers differed in price by $13 dollars because one was Wet Seal ($12) and the other was Calvin Klein ($25). I found several pieces from contemporary labels like Marc by Marc Jacobs and Betsey Johnson for a fraction of their original cost, but I didn’t actually come across anything I’d like to wear this season. Overall, it was hard to pinpoint the price range at Crossroads due to the variety of labels for sale. Most tops were under $15 and dresses under $20. The men’s section had a great selection of both new and used shoes, like new Converse sneakers for $16.50 and vintage Doc Martens for $18. Men’s jeans and pants were reasonably priced between $10 and $50. If you have enough patience to sort through the mess, you might find some good-as-new fashion for cheap. Crossroads is great if you’re looking for more contemporary clothing for a low price, but don’t expect to find as much vintage as you would in a smaller place like Dee Lux or Swellegant in Newport Beach.

Swellegant Vintage: 3409 Newport Blvd, Newport Beach

Swellegant Vintage sells clothing that’s truly vintage — think mod dresses circa the 1960s, gaudy sequined evening wear from the 1980s, and more. The selection is great if you’re looking for something authentic for a costume party or even something to tailor to present day. Walking into the store was like entering a time machine; the clothes were perfectly preserved and oldies played on the store’s speakers. Although Swellegant is the smallest of the stores I visited, I think it had the most interesting collection of clothing, shoes, accessories, jewelry and home décor. Clothes are marked in sections by time period and style (take their rack of 1980s prom dresses, for example). Like Dee Lux, the store sells a variety of sunglasses for $12 each. Necklaces, my favorites being the chunky safety-pin necklaces from the 1960s, sell for $10. I especially liked the $14 cigarette/ID cases with pictures of pin-ups, Audrey Hepburn and other retro images on the front of each. At Swellegant, clothing is a bit pricier than other used clothing places, but this may be due to the fact most of the items are strictly vintage, with some pieces dating back to the 1950s and possibly even earlier. Swellegant carries an extensive collection of blouses for around $30 and dresses that mostly fell between $30 and $60. At Swellegant, you’re guaranteed to find something that no one else has.

If you want to stand out from the crowd and break free from the mall, visit a used clothing shop, a vintage clothing shop or even a Goodwill store. Once you dedicate some time and patience to your search, you’ll likely encounter a piece that will set you apart from the rest and save you some cash at the same time.

there's nothing that the road cannot heal

2009-03-03T00:22:00.001-08:00

Forever 21 red cardigan and silver leaf necklace. Conor Oberst tour tee from a show @ SOMA in San Diego.

I spent Saturday morning/early afternoon styling a shoot with Michelle and Andi, the amazing photographer and model. Andi wore some of the clothes I designed/made/altered from last spring to this winter, necklaces I made, and my own shoes and other accessories. Here a few pictures:

AA Afrika dress worn as top, Forever 21 vest and faux leather shorts, Urban Outfitters sandals

Click them to enlarge! More to come soon.

fighting fire with firewood

2009-02-23T01:22:00.000-08:00

1) and 2) An outfit for the weird Southern California winter. American Apparel cardigan, DIY shredded tank, Hot Topic (!) chain scarf, My Jenny Humphrey Nine West boots.

3) A phone photo of my legs (in AA lamé leggings and my studded Converse) sitting in the sand on a beach. I don't know if I'm in Laguna or Corona del Mar... Laguna, I think. I'm sitting against the wall of someone's house, under a light. The stretch of blackness is the ocean. So gorgeous at night, but kind of scary at the same time. After an Honorary Title acoustic show in San Diego.

The rest: I just thought the clouds were pretty. This is the view from my balcony/my window.

Midterm season!

2009-02-10T16:44:00.000-08:00

I'm still on hiatus because of these darn midterms. I started another blog for my club at school here. Go look!

Column #2!

2009-01-19T23:55:00.000-08:00

Here's my second column, published in UC Irvine's New University newspaper. I need to add pictures later! Enjoy :)

SUBURBAN OUTFITTER
Swing Back Into Spring Styles With Soft Tones and Do-It-Yourself Fashions
BY LOUISE LAO
VOLUME 42, ISSUE 14 | JAN 19 2009
Back home in the Bay Area, I never thought about shopping for spring and summer clothing until March when, if I were lucky, the temperature would slowly climb to the cool mid-60s. Here in Irvine, however, it’s mid-January and a ridiculous 85 degrees. Even though I’m wearing denim cutoffs, I feel like I’m about to pass out as I trudge up a slight slope in Aldrich Park.

What does this tell me (besides that I’m ludicrously out of shape)? It’s time to shop for the new season.

This spring, I’m determined to bring some color into my dark, gloomy winter wardrobe, which is currently dominated by black and gray. I’m definitely looking forward to experimenting with different color palettes, fabrics and shapes.

Soft tones in creamy, nude shades were big on the runways this season, as seen in the parade of sandy-colored gowns worn at this year’s Golden Globes. Stella McCartney mixed pieces in shades of nude, ivory and peach, to breathe new life into colors that would seem muted against basic black.

In typical springtime fashion, shades reminiscent of Easter eggs have re-emerged, but this time, more dusty than pastel: ice blue, pale rose and light mint green. I plan on pairing these sweetly colored pieces with faded, distressed denim for a fresh look that won’t make me look like a marshmallow Peep.

Alternatively, highlighter hues lit up several runways, including several outfits in Alexander Wang’s Miami Vice-inspired show and Luella Bartley’s self-declared “Sunday best on acid” collection. While Wang employed clean lines and a 1980s vibe in his designs, Bartley’s cheerful designs have a ladylike look with a kooky, frilly twist. If you’re reluctant to sport a head-to-toe supercharged ensemble, take inspiration from the pieces from Marc by Marc Jacobs and mix khaki with brights.

I plan to continue my love affair with pyramid studs this season. I’ve adored the things since my high school days when I lived in studded belts and band tees and half my hair would change from Fuchsia Flash to Vampire Red. I even studded my Converse. Now that I’m slightly more mature (and my hair is, sadly, back to normal), I still wear the sneakers occasionally, but I adorn myself with studs in a more subdued way — in the forms of earrings, bracelets and the occasional belt. Studs and other metallic accents have stuck around since last season and continue to embellish belts, jewelry, clutches and even moccasins.

Precious metals shone on the runways in the form of stunning frocks. My fantasy wardrobe would include Balenciaga by Nicolas Ghesquière’s futuristic dresses that transformed the models into walking disco balls and the gorgeous stud and gem-encrusted Little Black Dresses at Balmain. In a perfect world, I would parade around in every one of the stunning silver mini dresses at Collette Dinnigan, from the drop-waist flapper-esque dress to the dress that resembles a mirror mosaic.

For now, I’ll head back to reality and talk about the trends that are a bit more accessible and easy to recreate. Rodarte’s collection practically had “Do-It-Yourself” (DIY) written all over it — dresses were slashed, sweaters were shredded, gowns seemed to be dipped in Rit dye and delightfully useless chains were affixed to certain pieces. As haphazard as this all may sound, I found beauty in the randomness and deconstructed elements of Rodarte’s spring collection. As an aspiring designer who finds some strange enjoyment in ruining perfectly good items of clothing, I’m quite inspired by Rodarte’s designers, the Mulleavy sisters, this season.

Feel like updating a top with minimal effort? Follow both Rodarte and Jeremy Laing and make precise cuts in a tank or T-shirt to create a paper lantern effect. Just don’t hack away at it carelessly, or you’ll end up with tatters that come off as crazy rather than conceptual.

Perhaps even more wallet-friendly than completing a DIY project is wearing updated classics and pieces that are already in your wardrobe. This idea of “recession chic” has arrived in full force in the fashion world; however, as a mere college student, I have always shopped with a recessionista’s attitude. Besides bargain hunting, this includes supplementing essential pieces like cardigans and blazers with accessories. An easy way to update a look is with a belted waist. This season, anything goes, from skinny to studded to wide obi belts à la Louis Vuitton. As far as jewelry goes, attention-grabbing earrings from the past have made a comeback.

Now that I’ve outlined some of the trends for spring and summer, I can’t wait until this sporadic weather settles on sunny.

Nicolas <3 The Second Amendment

2009-01-13T18:35:00.000-08:00

Balenciaga Pre-Fall 2009 and the right to bear arms.

Suburban Outfitter

2009-01-06T09:23:00.000-08:00

Hello all!

My first column article came out this week in UC Irvine's paper, New University! (That's my school in Orange County, California.) I'm excited about writing it, but a little nervous because I have no idea how I got the authority to write about this stuff. Haha. It's called "Suburban Outfitter" because I live in the Irvine bubble and I have an incredibly lame sense of humor. Har har har. Well, read and let me know what you think!

SUBURBAN OUTFITTER
Less Trashin’, More Fashion on Social Network Chictopia.com
BY LOUISE LAO
VOLUME 42, ISSUE 12 | JAN 05 2009
Last night, I had a nightmare about Chictopia.com. I was clicking through page after page of girls in oversized white t-shirts, black leggings and black boots. Every single ChicBlog was exactly the same. My legs began to hurt as if the sight of so many bland outfits was physically painful and I suddenly woke up in actual pain. Lying in bed, I began to wonder if I go on Chictopia too much.

Chictopia.com is a social network based in San Francisco designed for users (mostly women) to showcase their most stylish outfits. Deemed the “people’s fashion destination,” users rate and comment on each other’s outfits. Teen Vogue called Chictopia “the next big thing” and Nylon declared the site to be “totally inspiring, despite the cheesy name.”

On Chictopia, users are able to browse the pages of other users with the same age, body type and even skin tone. Members post reviews on specific items of clothing, from Hanes T-shirts to Ksubi jeans. Each month, members with the most “fans” (other users who add them as a favorite Chictopian) become style icons and receive prizes.

What’s the point of Web sites like Chictopia? Blatantly put, they are places for people to fish for compliments. You post up a picture of yourself and people comment with things like, “Your hosiery are amazing!” and “Yeah, those tights are the bee’s knees!” (Both of these are real comments, by the way. Thanks, Zahara22 and spencerjacobs!) A cynic would say that Chictopia.com is a massive cesspool of narcissists. We judge each other based solely on our outfits and make friends with the people whose outfits we like. Of course, we talk cyber-trash about people in ugly outfits, right? Wrong.

Contrary to popular belief, fashion nerds, at least the people who are truly interested in fashion rather than shopping, appreciate quirkiness. We are less interested in Louis Vuitton monogram purses than we are in clothing that is unique, eccentric and often anachronistic. Take drop-crotch pants for example. I go on Chictopia to see users proudly don pants that would look horrendous on me and have an extremely slim chance of being seen in Orange County (the land of year-round flip-flops), and I admire them for it. I crave the eccentric. Chictopia users are more encouraging and praising than someone would expect a community of the fashion-obsessed to be.

One could argue that this is shameless self-promotion, and I agree completely. In fact, that’s entirely the point of fashion. Dressing is a form of self-expression, and showing it off online is akin to an artist showing off her portfolio on deviantART. I’m not ashamed to admit that on most days, I put thought into what I put on my back and getting feedback — especially if I’m trying something new or particularly quirky — is very much appreciated.

Having a place like Chictopia, where people can ask for advice by creating polls and posting in the Chictopia forums, is also helpful for the style-challenged. I log on when I’m feeling uninspired or bored with my wardrobe. This brings me to the one qualm I have with style websites — the notion of originality.

Everyone knows the adage, “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.” So what happens when people are inspired by each other’s outfits? Everyone starts to look the same. This is simply the nature of trends; they may seem obscure at first, but they gain popularity and soon you can’t escape them. Posting on Web sites like this with the expectation that people will like your “original” outfit often guarantees that people will copy elements of it, which led me to realize that people are rarely, if ever, truly original.

We take inspiration from each other, from art, from movies, from the runways. Chictopia is a place to see how this inspiration shows itself in our everyday lives.

Random photo because this post would feel nakie without one: Sasha P. in January's Vogue UK, looking like a cooler, less racoon-y version of Jenny "I'm Not Little J Anymore" Humphrey

2009-01-03T03:52:00.001-08:00

Follow my blog with bloglovin´

2009

2009-01-01T00:50:00.000-08:00

What makes a woman beautiful?
I think inner turmoil makes a woman beautiful. It has nothing to do with being sad or depressed or angry. What I mean is that you always have to have a certain kind of restlessness in you so that you’re never really contented with the way things are. You’re always striving for something better, striving for perfection…

What is your beauty secret?
[A] beauty secret—do you really want to know?—is being in love with the wrong man. Having this grand, impossible passion for the wrong person.

--Interview with Gemma Cruz, a journalist, museum curator, jewelry designer and the first Filipina to win a world beauty title in 1964.

I found this interview recently, and while it doesn't have much to do with fashion, it gave me something to think about for 2009 (the first part, at least). I don't have any resolutions at the moment, except this one: Keep up with my blog! I am going to be a lot busier this quarter than the last, but at the same time, I need this space to say what I feel like saying as well as whatever I can't say in the newspaper or elsewhere.

Happy New Year! Party like it's 1993 (and you're Kate).

Shred-mania

2008-12-14T21:45:00.000-08:00

Step 1: Put on leggings.

Step 2: Station yourself in front of a mirror.

Step 3: Cut straight lines very close together. Line them up along the side of your leg. Sometimes it helps to cut a few tiny little holes on the outside of one leg for alignment's sake. Cut the line, then adjust the straightness of the lines after you've cut a few.

4: Fiesta!

Most importantly, be careful! I found that the best way to get the cuts exactly how you want them is to do it while you're wearing the leggings (although that could just be me being my crazy self). Also, nice fabric scissors help. My black Gingher scissors are my babies--according to my old sewing teacher, it's vital to have scissors that cut fabric and fabric only. Interesting.

I also shredded one of my boyfriend's old t-shirts in the style that's been making it's way around the blogosphere courtesy of childhood flames.

Is it weird that I have a garment rack in my bathroom?

In other news....

WINTER BREAK! YESSSSSSSS.

Here is a gratuitous (and rather large) Christmas image for no real reason:

Hiatus

2008-12-01T23:37:00.000-08:00

I'm going on hiatus until finals are over! In the meantime, here's a shopping article I wrote for the paper.

Nifty Gifts on a College Budget
BY LOUISE LAO
VOLUME 42, ISSUE 11 | DEC 01 2008
This year, don’t resort to a last-minute gift card. Buy something unique while avoiding the dreaded mall crowds by shopping for presents online. These Web sites offer original and affordable gifts, from beautifully crafted baubles to downright wacky knickknacks.

Etsy.com is a treasure trove of handmade goodies. This is the perfect place to order gifts that cannot be found anywhere else. Because many items are vintage or handmade, sellers often have only one of each in stock. For example, the seller “dugshop” has pomegranate-scented soap shaped like a human heart, the perfect gift for an aspiring surgeon ($6.50). Majestyinc sells vinyl key chains shaped like mustaches for $3.00. Etsy has “Geekery,” a whole category devoted to eccentric finds like these. If you are shopping for a more traditional present, however, look no further than Etsy’s handmade jewelry and housewares.

Etsy’s Gift Guides help shoppers browse gifts by other categories like “environmentally friendly,” “steampunk,” “dark arts” and “nostalgic whimsy.” You can also narrow gifts by recipient, price range and even the location of the seller.

FredFlare.com also helps you shop by theme and price range. The site has a plethora of gift themes from Audrey Hepburn (which includes ladylike sweaters and “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” eye masks) to Star Wars (an R2-D2 backpack and astronaut ice cream). FredFlare carries something for everybody, from cute jewelry to funky flash drives and other gadgets. Presents for the home include Juno’s hamburger phone ($26), a mini fondue kit ($10) and an ice cream-shaped lamp ($48). You’ll find tons of fun and affordable presents for girly-girls and nerdy friends alike.

Speaking of geeky gifts, ThinkGeek.com is heaven for the easily amused. ThinkGeek carries what could arguably be the coolest t-shirts ever. The Electronic Drum Kit shirt has an embedded speaker that plays seven drum noises when you tap spots on the shirt’s drum graphic. The Wi-Fi Detector shirt displays the Wi-Fi signal strength in fluctuating glowing bars. Both shirts are $29.99 and will surely entertain the Rock Band lovers and computer geeks on your list.

ThinkGeek also has some obscure gifts that could entertain your zaniest friends, like the R2 Fish Training School Kit, which is exactly what it sounds like. For $39.99, you get an instructional DVD, an instruction manual and more accessories that will help the lucky recipient teach his or her goldfish “over 10 amazing tricks.” For the ultimate useless present enthusiast, order a box of LOLMagnetz to make captions for your very own “Lolcat,” cat images juxtaposed with humorous statements in broken, Internet slang ($19.99). I can has?

Even higher up on the crazy gift scale are presents from Edible.com. Edible is not for the faint of stomach. Have you ever tried oven-baked tarantula, scorpion-infused vodka, or barbeque worm crisps? What about Thai green crocodile curry? Edible carries all these things and more. The England-based Web site carries food that you would never think can be consumed, but happen to be delicacies in certain countries. Edible even explains the nutritional value of its products and describes their tastes. For example, did you know that Mopani worms, a snack enjoyed by South African natives, have a texture that’s similar to tofu, but taste like dried fish?

Those who don’t want gifts made from animals might enjoy food made with the animals’ help, like tea picked by specially trained monkeys or coffee that has been regurgitated by weasels.

In Edible’s “aphrodisiac” section, you can find “the ultimate extravagance”: a champagne-flavored lollipop that contains flakes of 24-karat gold. The Aphrodisiac Pearl Lollipop, made with real ground pearls, raw cane sugar and wild Madagascan vanilla essence, sounds genuinely yummy.

Whatever you choose to buy from these Web sites, one thing is guaranteed: a holiday shopping experience that has never been this memorable.

My Wish List!

2008-11-22T12:50:00.001-08:00

Marc by Marc Jacobs Staples and Studs bag, Ashton faux leather jacket from Delia's, more Polaroid film. All jewelry and watches by Marc by Marc Jacobs.

These may be a bit of a stretch (Santa, I hope you're reading this):

Vintage Porsche

Proenza Schouler Medium PS1 Bags

Jeremy Scott for Ksubi

2008-11-17T12:55:00.000-08:00

I haven't had much time to post lately because school has been crazy. I'm also in the process of looking for a job and working on a "secret project" (aka a project that I should have done by now but totally isn't ready, thus its elusiveness is a cover-up for its lack of existence) related to the club I'm involved with here at UCI (Fashion Interest Group). I'm actually sitting in the library right now, mildly annoyed that a guy decided to park himself at the table behind mine with a plate of Chinese food. Yay. I'm supposed to be starting two papers that are due tomorrow, but of course, I'm reading Fashionista instead. My thoughts on today's post on Jeremy Scott's collection for Ksubi:

- I think I need those black floral sunglasses.

- The bustier/skirt combo pictured above is adorable. I doubt I would wear them both together, but I'd gladly accept either one :)

- See the rest of the looks here.

- The collection is nice and all, but something about it (especially the floral pieces) reminds me of something... Hmm...

YAY!

2008-11-05T15:18:00.000-08:00

Obamas May Bring New Fashion Sense to White House
The color-coordinated family will bring style to Washington.

By SAMANTHA CRITCHELL

AP Fashion Writer, Nov 05, 2008

The Obamas' first official appearance as first family-elect will be long remembered for many weighty historic reasons, but it could also signal another new beginning: An entirely different fashion sense in the White House.

The Obama family took the stage in Chicago Tuesday night in color-coordinated outfits, all with touches of red or black.

For Michelle Obama, no stuffy suits or demure pastels here: Instead she wore a striking red-and-black dress designed by well-regarded, but not-so-mainstream, Narciso Rodriguez.

President-elect Barack Obama wore the same style dark-navy suit custom-made by Hart Schaffner Marx that he wore at the Democratic Convention, the company says, accompanied with a deep red, striped necktie.

Older daughter Malia wore a red bubble-hem dress, while the younger Sasha wore a black dress with an oversized bow on the front.

Together, they made a pleasing picture of coordination and confidence, style-watchers say.

"One of the things about Michelle and Barack is that they have classic American style," said Pamela Fiori, editor in chief of Town & Country.

"I hope as they move into the White House, they'll continue that and dress in a lot of American designers -- it certainly has been the case so far. She says on TV that she's wearing an outfit from J.Crew," she said. "You have to appreciate her honesty and sense of style."

Michelle Obama also has worn some relatively new names on the fashion scene, including Thakoon Panichgul and Maria Pinto. She also wore an off-the-rack style by White House Black Market on "The View."

"You know what I think is amazing? She likes fashion but she doesn't really let fashion wear her," observed Adam Glassman, creative director at Oprah magazine.

(Longtime Obama supporter Oprah Winfrey, attending the Obama victory party in Grant Park, wore a long green Agnona tunic that ties at the waist.)

"She (Michelle Obama) is incredibly democratic when it comes to fashion. She doesn't just do the old guard, she represents the new," he added.

The straight-from-the-runway Rodriguez dress highlighted both her attractive figure and her savvy sense of style, Glassman said. He also said he thinks she -- not a stylist -- is calling the shots about her look.

It's worth noting, especially amid all the comparisons to the Obamas and Kennedys that Rodriguez also designed the wedding dress that Caroline Bessette wore at her wedding to John F. Kennedy Jr. That could be a coincidence, said Bridget Foley, executive editor of W magazine and Women's Wear Daily, but it's fodder to fuel further connections.

The sheath-dress silhouette that Jackie made famous is indeed a favorite of Michelle Obama's, albeit a more modern version.

"She took a dress shape she looks great in -- a curvy sheath, but she still makes a powerful visual statement. She wants to project a bold image ... but it's not over the top wild," Foley said.

As for the new president's two-button suit, it is a classic power suit, says Homi Patel, chairman and CEO of parent company Hart Marx. "It's strong, navy and it does make you look powerful, but what makes it presidential is the man in it."

But if fashion insiders applauded the Election-night look, many bloggers called in the fashion police.

Yuli Ziv, co-founder of the user-generated online fashion magazine Myitthings.com, gave Michelle Obama points for not wearing a suit, but she also thought the dress was unflattering. "It accentuated some parts of the body I would try not to enhance," Ziv told the AP.

A posting on "The Dish Rag," an online component of the Los Angeles Times, called it a "bizarre dress that looked more like a Halloween costume than an election night frock."

But everyone seemed to love the children.

"I love how Barack and Michelle's beautiful daughters matched -- a perfect complement," said designer Zac Posen.

Town & Country's Fiori thinks the Obama family will help usher in an era of more refined dress. "Obama has taken to task the style of young boys who let their pants hang low and let their underwear show," she said. "I think we're all going to dress better and speak better and behave a lot better than we have in the past."

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press

---------------------------------------------

The runway version of Michelle Obama's Narciso Rodriguez dress is available on back order:

I'll end with a re-post of a little something I made back in February:

NO.

2008-10-27T03:04:00.000-07:00

During an outing Wednesday in L.A., Pratt wore a "Palin For VP: God, Guns, Glory" T-shirt, while Montag sported a "Read My Lipstick: Vote McCain-Palin" top. (See more photos at JustJared.) -Us Weekly

I've never watched a single episode of The Hills because reality television makes my brain hurt. I've never felt the need to comment on anything relating to "Speidi" and their ridiculous little photoshoots. Until now.

These crazies endorsing the McCain campaign (not that I'm saying McCain people are crazy, but...never mind) in such a cheesy way (beer and a shotgun? Classy!) wasn't what made me finally publicly acknowledge their existence. An even greater crime has been committed here:

Heidi has absolutely RUINED those Stella McCartney wedges. If they are in fact the wedges I'm thinking/dreaming about. My heart is weeping.

Ru-eend!

The McCartney wedge in red... [Insert sigh of longing]

THE ORIGINAL

2008-10-13T02:09:00.000-07:00

So, guess what, friends? The editors at my school newspaper decided to cut 416 words out of my 779-word article that was supposedly too short to begin with. Keep in mind that the audience I'm writing to is made of college students who don't have tons of money to spend on clothes and also don't have tons of fashion knowledge (hence the explanations for really obvious references... you'll see what I mean when you read this). Not that I'm saying I'm an EXPERT or anything, but I sure think that I know enough to not have over half of my article cut out. That's all I'm going to say. Here's the article as it should be.

(I'll try and add photos later--it's past 2:00 a.m. and I just checked the paper's website for my article, realized what happened, and decided to blog immediately. Now I want to sleep.)

CAMPUS CHIC: FALL FASHION 2008
By Louise Lao
Although it may not seem like it, a new season is upon us. In a matter of weeks, the sun will go into hiding along with last season’s fashion. In the meantime, any girl can update her wardrobe with a few of this season’s trends on a college budget.

HEAVY METAL
This fall, it’s all about the details. Zippers, chains and studs give basic pieces an edge. Layered chain necklaces inspired by Givenchy’s plentiful piles of silver can be recreated by buying chains from a craft store or simply layering chunky necklaces of your own. Statement jewelry like this can toughen up a simple dress at night or add instant style to an everyday ensemble. Exposed zippers seen at Marc by Marc Jacobs and Alexander Wang not only make formfitting dresses and skirts more interesting but also are ridiculously easy to make. By simply sewing a zipper onto a piece of clothing—the zipper doesn’t even have to function for this look—a plain piece can be instantly transformed to chic.

HAUTE HIPPIE
“Luxe bohemian” may sound like an oxymoron, but Anna Sui and Gucci’s Frida Giannini proved that sixties-inspired prints, feathers and fringe could be glamorous and modern. Elements of this trend can be worn in everyday life with hair accessories, jewelry and eclectic prints. Fringed boots, in both the short bootie and knee-high varieties, are a cold-weather must-have. Fashion houses like Balmain, who debuted a high heel-moccasin-ankle boot hybrid, and sought-after labels like Louboutin have released their own spin-offs of the “original”, (the original moccasin brand to be marketed to the masses, that is), more wearable and less pricey Minnetonka styles (Kate Moss is a fan!).

GRUNGE 2.0
For those of us who were still in OshKosh overalls when grunge took over the nineties, the fashion world is giving us another chance. Alexander Wang’s louche synthesis of masculine and feminine embodies the new grunge that’s a hit with the young and fashionable. Ripped tights, distressed denim and baggy trousers appeared on the runway along with plenty of black and neutral tones. Other fall collections included plenty of plaid, which, as it seems to do every fall, has made a comeback. This season, however, the pattern is reincarnated as a Kurt Cobain-inspired shirt rather than the typical preppy pair of shorts or schoolgirl skirt. Finally, the infamous Doc Martens, a long-time favorite of youth subcultures, finish off the look. Once known as a goth kid’s clunky combat boot, Doc Martens have been adopted by trendsetters like Daisy Lowe (who stars in the company’s ad campaign), Cory Kennedy (who, according to Nylon, will take over as the new face of the brand next season) and model Agyness Deyn.

MODERN ROMANCE
The abundance of lace on Prada’s runway has undoubtedly inspired many others to include this classic feminine fabric in their designs. For those of use who don’t want to be wrapped head-to-toe in a fabric that can be both so prim yet so risqué at once, more accessible labels have interpreted the trend in much subtler ways. For instance, dresses and tops by brands like Kimchi & Blue at Urban Outfitters let people embrace lace for a much lower cost. Lace tights, when worn with a simple outfit to avoid looking too much like 80’s Madonna, are an unexpected spin on this trend. Keep your ladylike lace dark and pair it with youthful clothing like miniskirts and casual layers to make the look age-appropriate and not fussy.

FANCY FRIPPERY
Jewelry should be full of personality this fall. Whether you choose glitzy statement jewelry or quirky charms, anything goes. Look for inexpensive, bold baubles like cocktail rings, bangles, and cuffs at Forever 21. If you tend to gravitate toward more avant-garde pieces, choose body chain jewelry that’s striking, yet simple like the pieces from designer Bliss Lau. Interested in a gold-plated retainer necklace? Find it fredflare.com for funky conversation-starter jewelry. For accessories that are even more unique, go to Supermarket at supermarkethq.com, where independent designers sell their work (jewelry, clothing, and even home décor and furniture), much of which is handmade. Stick to a few statement pieces this season to make even the simplest outfit your own.

To sum up the mood of this season, elements of youth subculture have surfaced to the mainstream, or at least to the fashion world. Also, with the cooler weather come darker, richer colors as a reaction to the styles of last season. While it may seem paradoxical to have styles from non-mainstream movements sold for hundreds at department stores, the message designers seem to encourage is to take the carefree attitude of youth culture and use it to determine your own personal style.

No one does it like you

2008-10-13T00:03:00.000-07:00

Just purchased: Organic cotton vest from H&M. I feel like I need to get this vest out of my system, if that makes any sense--it goes with practically everything, so I want to wear it all the time. Actually, no, I don't want to get sick of it. It's too good to me. Sigh.

As you can see in the second photo, I bought the lace tights from Urban Outfitters that I blogged about earlier. I took advantage of the 2 for $20 and got these:

So far, it's been way too hot to wear anything winter-y, though. Last night it was actually cold enough for me to wear pants! Gasp! Hopefully it'll cool down soon so I can wear these. My next mission is to figure out a way to wear over-the-knee socks without looking slutty. Can it be done? We'll find out...

[I changed my song to the Best. Cover. Ever. Ben Gibbard of Death Cab doing "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun." Ah, perfection.]

Speak to me, darling, in hushed tones

2008-10-02T13:19:00.000-07:00

I haven't updated in forever. I've been super busy moving into my new apartment and starting my second year at UCI. I'm now officially a Literary Journalism major. Yay? Actually, I was pretty mad yesterday because I found out that the class I needed to take so I could graduate early (I need to take a bunch of workshops in a certain order) was full, so I have to wait another year to take it. That means I'd be graduating on time instead of a year or so earlier. I was looking forward to moving back home to San Francisco (I actually live in a suburb, but I would move into the city when I'm on my own) or moving to New York to work in fashion journalism. I can't wait.

Speaking of fashion journalism, I'm doing a fall trend article for my university's paper right now, so I should probably stop blogging. I'll post something soon! Go to my chictopia in the meantime :)

Tights!

2008-09-13T12:09:00.000-07:00

That's something I did for my fashion journalism class. Click to enlarge it!

I can't wait for the weather to get colder, just so I can wear tights more often. I really want to take advantage of Urban Outfitters' 2 for $20 deal. Unfortunately, the website doesn't have those total Chanel rip-off tights that are black on one side and pale on the other. So sad! I can't wait for...

1) Ripped tights a la Alexander Wang: (Hooray for cheap drugstore pantyhose!)

2) Lace tights from UO:

3) What do you think about these floral tights from Forever 21?

My autumn-inspired summer look

2008-09-07T21:24:00.000-07:00

The problem with living in California is that everybody buys their fall/winter outfits in August and can't wear them until October. This is an outfit inspired by the Gucci collection I've been raving about, but actually worn on a 90-something degree day.

H&M one-shoulder top, thrifted/DIY skirt, vintage Moschino belt, Urban Outfitters sandals, Gap bag.

I'm really not looking forward to going back to school. The only thing I'm looking forward to is having an apartment, but not really, because I have no intention of cooking or cleaning. Okay, maybe cleaning, because that's kind of necessary, I guess, but you know what I mean. Chores. Not cool. I guess I can just focus on the (very few) lovely things about southern California. The beaches, for instance (Newport Beach being the closest):

And LA, I guess. Although I hate driving, so my lazy bum will have to wait for some other people to take me :) Here's a phone picture I took from a car in May:

I'll be winding down my oh-so exciting Sunday night by reading Sam Kashner's Marilyn Monroe article in this month's Vanity Fair. I swear I've seen Gentlemen Prefer Blondes like five times this summer. Now, I'll leave you with a picture of me being my terribly attractive self.

Link time!

2008-08-27T17:32:00.000-07:00

Refinery29 -- Ten Fall Must-Haves*

From Refinery29: Must-have number 9

I want them all! Most of them, anyway. Fortunately, plenty of them are easy to DIY, so if you're anything like me (cheap), you don't have to buy most of the stuff that Refinery29 actually recommends.

*There are actually twelve, not ten, for some reason...

1) Zip-front dresses: On my to-do list. I just made a zip-front skirt.

2) Full miniskirts: Done. I'll post pics of it soon. So, so easy to make, although mine is probably in the "fast" category of doing something fast or doing it right.

3) The rolled jean: I like this look, but it probably works best with taller girls, not elves like myself... I may try it with heels, though.

4) Slouch blazers: One word: Goodwill. (This is a good thing.)

5) Ankle-length trousers: Who wears trousers? Oh well, I like them anyway. I can start.

6) Floral dresses

7) Pops of orange

8) Leather pants: I miss my AA leggings! I left them along with my lamé skirt and some vital heels down in a relative's house near Long Beach and I've been lamé-less all summer long. I weep for my legs.

9) Plaid jackets: Probably something that can't be thrifted or made so easily. Still want one though.

10) Leather jackets: I'm furious at an eBay seller who was supposed to ship me a jacket form Israel like a month ago. This may be my first negative review... tsk tsk.

11) Denim shorts

12) Plaid shirts: Four and counting...

Style Bubble -- Susie Bubble on layering necklaces.

Yet another thing I left down at school was my layered chain necklace I made last summer. Tragically, one of my models left it at the FIG fashion show and I doubt I'll ever see it again. Ah well, at least I can make another one. Here is is in a photo that was actually one of my projects for a studio art class. I was supposed to be making something 3-D into something 2-D, so the necklace became a snake and the snake became a photo of a snake. From far away, it has fangs:

SASSYBELLA -- Kate Moss’ neighbors complain about her teepees

This is just funny and has nothing to do with my lost accoutrement. Kate should invite me over so we can prance around in Minnetonkas and talk about how men are "absolute bastards." Her words, not mine--"I'm a tit man" is another profound quote from that interview. Wise words.

San Mateo Daily Journal -- The skinny on a 'Gossip Girl' wardrobe

This is pulled from another source and not written by someone on the staff. I would freak out if it was, because I intern for this paper and fashion is what I'm basically trying to write about for, like, you know, the rest of my life, so I should hope that they'd want me to write about it. The article would have been better with some visuals, in my opinion, but oh well. I appreciate anything Gossip Girl related because the show is so cheesy and horrible but so fun to watch anyway. (I love Chuck and Blair! Everyone else whines too much, so I just look at their clothes while they do it.) If you're reading this blog, you must be interested enough in fashion to already know most of the things mentioned in the article, but there it is, direct from the paper I'm currently working for.

I count only sunny hours

2008-08-26T22:26:00.000-07:00

I was running late for my sewing lesson this morning, so I threw on the most basic outfit ever: AA cardigan, H&M tank, J Brands and Keds. It ended up being perfect for today--the weather in SF was lovely. The bf and I went to the SF MOMA and frolicked around Golden Gate Park afterwards.

One of my favorites from the museum, Robert Rauschenberg's American:

The Shakespeare Garden:

The sundial:

He's carrying my shopping bag, not a man purse, by the way...

Not-fashion related, but...

2008-08-26T01:45:00.001-07:00

A little Conor Oberst never hurt anybody. Pictures from his show at Amoeba in SF earlier this month:

Amazing.

Technical difficulties, kind of

2008-08-21T00:17:00.000-07:00

Hello world. My internet at home isn't working, so I've been stealing my neighbor's wi-fi. It's not as fast or as reliable as I'd like it to be, so I won't be blogging until my actual internet comes back. Until then, I leave you with the bf and I at the beach:

ELLE "The Look" assignment!

2008-08-06T20:46:00.000-07:00

Here's an image of the fake ELLE page I made for my fashion journalism class. Once again, click on the image to see it bigger in a new window. Honestly, I've never been absolutely wowed by a Gucci collection, but this fall's collection is amazing.Some of my favorite runway shots:

FALL TREND REPORT

2008-07-30T14:26:00.000-07:00

If I resize the images, you can't see all the pretty details so please click each image to see it full-size in a new window. Enjoy!

These are actually rough drafts of trend pitches for my fashion journalism class. We're supposed to pretend that we write for Elle, which lost a bit of credibility in my mind because of the whole Stylista thing. Or maybe I'm just jealous. I wanted to do a pitch on exposed zippers ("XYZ: Get some exposure this fall...") but I ran out of time looking for runway examples and just went for metal in general. Gareth Pugh took my safety pin idea and made it work. Seriously. My safety pin garment from my collection looked more like a robotic hula skirt. But whatever. We're both so metal. Harharhar.

Probably the only Chanel freebie that isn't a shopping bag

2008-07-24T21:34:00.000-07:00

Photo from butterboom.com

Forget PhoneSaber and Remote. My new favorite iPhone application is Chanel's. Actually, it doesn't even do much (no games or anything) but it does link to a fabulously clear video of the Fall Winter 2008/9 Haute Couture Show. Also, it links to 64 shots of Looks and Accessories, Chanel News in French and English, and even a store locator if I happen to be strolling around and have the sudden urge to head to the nearest Chanel retailer. Right.

This is the first fashion-related application I've seen for the iPhone. Leave it to Karl and his 70ish iPods to work some fancy Chanelements into an Apple product. Rumor has it that Gucci will have an app too, but I haven't seen any screenshots. Who knew these fashion houses could be so nerdy?

Speaking of Karl, I think I would actually wear this shirt. Too bad it only ships to the UK!

Busy busy busy

2008-07-17T08:49:00.001-07:00

Hello, hello! Just posting to let people know that I still exist. Here's a French Vogue picture of Kate Moss wearing an amazing leather jacket, motivating people all around the world to start smoking. Truly inspirational.

I really need to update this more often, but ironically, I've been spending lots of time learning how to write better fashion journalism. I've been busy with a fashion journalism class (online) from the Academy of Art University. I've also been taking astronomy (ugh) and Philosophy (meh) at the local community college. On top of that, I've been doing an internship with my city's paper. Today I'm headed to San Francisco to cover the American Idol auditions... should be interesting. Lastly, I've been trying to get a summer job, but it's hard to find places that are still hiring seasonal. I've just been waiting on a few places although I already had one interview, which my or may not have been pointless because afterwards they said they'd call me "if something comes up." Which means if someone quits, I suppose. It's okay--I still love you, American Apparel. In fact, I'm wearing it head-to-toe at the moment: hoodie, deep v, leggings. Shameful, but comfortable. Perfect studying-for-philosophy-but-not-really-cuz -I'm-blogging attire...

YES.

2008-06-30T20:46:00.000-07:00

One-shouldered tops and dresses plus contrasting straps = perfect. Exactly what I've been hankering for this season...

I was never really interested in AA's "convertible" dresses or whatever you call them because it seems really difficult to wear a bra with most of their looks. Not in this case, though!

One of the several looks AA shows on the page for its Le Sac Dress.

When I first saw this dress on the website, my first thought was, "I could totally make that myself." But thennn I realized the straps are lamé! And I'm a total sucker for lamé! Amazing! Side note: I left my lamé skirt and leggings in SoCal... I was momentarily heartbroken. Anyway, I really want to see this is stores; however, the one-size-fits-all thing might be a dealbreaker because of my height. In that case, it's straight to Joann Fabrics and copyright infringement heaven for me!

So overdue... FIG's first annual FASHION SHOW!

2008-06-22T01:31:00.000-07:00

So I've been at home for about a week. Because of finals, packing, coming home, unpacking, summer school, job hunting, and more, I haven't been able to update or post pictures from the show. My school (University of California, Irvine in Orange County... "Like The OC'" is a pretty accurate description, I guess, but there's like 500x more Asian people in reality) has a Fashion Interest Group, more of which could be read about here. The article talks about the show (although they get the name of my song wrong--it's "Kiss, Kiss" by Yeah Yeah Yeahs) and quotes me a bit. This is the first time I'm in the paper without actually writing the article! Heh. Anyhoo, as I said in the article, I sewed everything by hand, with the exception of what I finished up with that stitch witchery melty plastic stuff. I suppose that can be an excuse for the lack of complexity in pieces, but I tried to make up for that by painting them. Enough blabbering...

Basically a reconstructed t-shirt (the back is where it gets fancy) with a hand-painted mini.

Weird shot. One-shoulder top with a hand-painted belt with a black mini.

Hooray for grey jersey! Inspired by this season's YSL.

One-shoulder dress with rosette belt.

Hand-painted dress.

Ruched top with safety pin-embellished bubble skirt.

I wish I had better detail shots! I'll try to take some and post ASAP. Actually, I have a few, but Blogger isn't cooperating with me at the moment, so I'll add them later. I should probably get to bed... it's 2:13 am. Today (yesterday, actually) was the first day of summer! Yay! Although that means that the days are getting shorter and shorter... but this day was long enough. Nighty night.

It's finals time...

2008-06-08T20:13:00.001-07:00

...so this should be my last post before I buckle down and study.

I just finished my last english paper, so I rewarded myself by doing basically nothing today. Here's some proof of the time I killed:

I know, I know... Lindsay Lohan is usually high fashion anathema (with the exception of Karl and his Chanel ankle purses), but I really like this outfit. Plus, we share initials, hence the LL :) I had an "lol moment" when I read someone's comment on a forum on the whiteness of her legs: "That's what happens when you wear leggings for six months!" True, very true... Well, pale is better than orange, I must say. I'm considering buying those Minnetonkas, but I'm not sure if they look good on shorter people like myself. I've been debating buying that AA dress for forever now, but I haven't been able to find my size in the stores. As much as the vest reminds me of Colonel Sanders, I like it anyway. Lastly, LL and I share the same love for our Wayfarers. Wayfarers, Minnetonkas, and AA clothing--three things that people tend to love or hate. I happen to love them all, especially in black. (And who doesn't love the Colonel?)

Stay tuned for pictures from my fashion show!

My second New U article: Fashion on a Budget

2008-05-27T23:28:00.000-07:00

Apologies for the lack of original posts. I'd just like to share the second fashion article (fourth article overall) that I've written for New University:

As college students, when we think about money, we think about how we spend ludicrous amounts on gasoline, how we wish we hadn’t made so many Starbucks runs and how buying textbooks tends to leave gaping holes in our wallets. Accumulating costs throughout the quarter leaves us more worried about being in debt than about the next It bag or pair of Nikes we’re going to buy.

Basically, fashion is not something most of us can spend too much on. Some of us are willing to sacrifice our savings for style, but for those who would rather be more frugal with fashion, here are some tips.

The first thing that one should keep in mind is what to splurge on versus what to save on. For girls, bags are splurge-worthy because they can last season after season and have the power to add polish to any outfit. Guys tend to spend their cash on multiple pairs of shoes and an array of dress shirts. Many people, guys or girls, insist that the price of designer jeans can be worth the perfect fit. But what can one do if they want to dress to impress without spending too much? Don’t get your skinny jeans in a twist: It’s very possible to save some money when shopping for the pricier items of your wardrobe.

One way to save is to subscribe to the mailing lists of your favorite stores. What you may think is spam could actually be great savings. Not only will a store e-mail about new items, but the store (which could be anything from Barneys to American Apparel) can also mail promotional codes for “private” sales, deals on shipping and even discounts just for signing up for their newsletters.

Although extra e-mails can be annoying, it’s worth it to save some cash with a few clicks. Another online shopping tip is to Google promotional codes or coupon codes for wherever you’re ordering from. Sites like Retail Me Not and Coupon Cabin offer codes for savings on tons of sites.

Now that you know how to save on regular-priced fashion, where can you find clothing that’s inexpensive to begin with? Start by looking where you would normally be hunting for DVDs and toiletries: Target. The megastore has a surprisingly good selection, including their GO International line, which carries designs by different designers that change every few months. Currently, Rogan for Target’s eco-friendly women’s wear line is in stock. Look to places like Target for affordable basics and swimwear.

Searching for another opportunity to find some inexpensive and trendy fashion that’s even closer to campus? Look no further than UC Irvine’s upcoming Sample Sale, organized by Associated Students of UCI. On Tuesday, May 20, come to the Student Center’s Emerald Bay and Doheny rooms to find tons of merchandise at factory prices. Approximate prices for some of the clothing include hats and T-shirts for $10 and shorts, backpacks and sweaters for $20 to $25. The brands include BB Dakota, Rocawear, Kallusive, The Other Duck, Stussy, Rad, Undefeated, USDA Clothing and more.

Now that you know how to fill up your closet for less, spread the knowledge and use those extra pennies to fill up your gas tank. Happy shopping!

My first fashion article for the New U!

2008-05-07T20:57:00.001-07:00

I've written a few articles for UC Irvine's newspaper, New University. This article, called "From the Runway to Ring Mall" was published this week. Ring Mall is the name of the fake street (shaped like a ring) that goes around campus. Also, Fashion Island is the nearby mall in Newport Beach. Enjoy!

From the Runway to Ring Mall
BY LOUISE LAO
The sun is shining and the breeze is balmy—spring has definitely arrived. Some days, the heat is sweltering enough to drive a girl into the ubiquitous shorts and flip-flops uniform. What can you do to get out of a hot-weather fashion rut, especially on a college student’s budget? Here are a few spring and summer trends to take from the runways to Ring Mall.

IN RAINBOWS

In this spring’s shows, ROY G. BIV ruled the runways. Color was bold, bright and unapologetic. Designers did not shy away from color, and neither should you. To interpret this trend in a subtle way, try taking one item of clothing and wearing it in an unexpected color. Buy jeans in a striking lemon yellow, or for those who take baby steps, a pale blue. Accenting neutrals with brights, like the chartreuse miniskirt or the lipstick red jacket paired with pale colors at 3.1 Philip Lim, is quite a brilliant move. More ways to add punch to an everyday outfit are to layer with a bright cardigan or wrap oneself in a scarf in an eye-catching color—why not both? Spring is no time to be shy. Even Ralph Lauren, which is known for its classic designs and color palette, sent models sashaying down the catwalk in vibrant, saturated hues in the label’s 40th anniversary show. From Easter-egg pastels to Day-Glo neons, fashion went full spectrum.

AROUND THE WORLD

Many designers took inspiration from global cultures in their collections, from Christian Lacroix’s outlandish feathers and prints to Proenza Schouler’s more subdued palette. African motifs and Asian ikat patterns were prevalent on this season’s runways. Fortunately, for those on a budget, this trend can easily translate into an accessory, like a scarf or piece of jewelry, to update a basic outfit.

Another global-inspired trend of the moment is the gladiator sandal. Although the shoes have appeared in past seasons, they are everywhere this spring. If you want to keep the style a bit more subdued (in other words, if you want to avoid looking like you’re about to fight Russell Crowe) try the style in black or silver with just a few straps. With these global looks, you can dress like you’ve traveled the world, even if the most exotic place you’ve been lately is Fashion Island.

ART STAR

Vivid colors, expressionistic and aggressive brushstrokes—does this sound like a critique from a studio art class? Actually, we’re talking about dresses from Chloé and Dolce & Gabbana, among others. This season, many pieces appear to be streaked with paint and covered in a myriad of intense hues. Art and fashion unite more than ever this spring. In addition to fashion inspired by the abstract expressionism movement, designers have been inspired by illustration.

A prime example lies in the fairy illustrations printed throughout Prada’s collection. Are you artistically inclined? Grab a fabric pen or even some acrylic paint (because it’s permanent, it works as fabric paint) and make some fairy figures (or anything you’d like!) of your own. If you’re more on the crafty side, a bottle of Rit dye is your friend as designers were also inspired by the look of watercolors. Dip-dyeing a shirt, skirt, scarf or even a dress will create the much-desired ombré effect. Tie-dye shirts and scarves are also fresh ways to bring the artistic trend to everyday wear.

Now that you are familiar with some of the trends of spring and summer, make them your own. Don’t fear color, pattern or personalization. As Coco Chanel once said, “Fashion is made to become unfashionable,” so embrace changing trends as different outlets for self-expression. Have a stylish spring!

The new basics

2008-04-22T22:41:00.000-07:00

Everyone knows the basic kinds of shoes a girl (or guy) can have: Converse, Vans (slip-ons or sneakers), flat boots, and--if you're in California like me--Rainbow flip-flips. I own all of these, but I've been trying to step things up a notch. Presenting Louise's new basics! All should be available online right now, in fact--on a college kid's budget. Lucky you.

First come my silver flats form Urban Outfitters. I love these for the color: they're not an obvious, Tin Man silver, but more of a muted pewter. They make even the most casual outfit a little more interesting (see my last post for what usually constitutes for my casual days). The only problem I had with them was that I dented the slightly pointed toes, but that can probably be avoided by people who aren't as klutzy as me (i.e., most people).

Pair #2 would be my fringed sandals, also from Urban. I saw these and fell in love/hate at first site. For some reason, I am extremely drawn to things that look "weird", including this sandal that appears to be the love child of one of Kate Moss's (or Serena van der Woodsen's, if you really want to go there) Minnetonka boots and a gladiator sandal. I always found sandals boring, so the only way, for me, to make them more interesting without doing the actual gladiator sandal thing (I haven't seen any that aren't too strappy for me... I'm picky) is having swingy fringe. Kind of like the bangs I wish I had. Or a mop. Or one of those things that slaps against your car in a car wash.

Finally, my platform heels from Old Navy. I got multiple compliments on these shoes and I've received interesting comments upon telling people they're from Old Navy. If you've been reading fashion blogs in the past month or two, you've probably already seen the wedges that ON came out with in three colors; however, I already have similar wedges, so I stuck with the heels. I love, love, love, platform heels because everyone is in awe over how high they are--little do many people know, the front platform decreases the angle that your foot is from the ground, meaning you feel less pain than you would in the average stilettos. The higher, the better. Also, I love how these work with brown or black outfits (although they also come in an ivory color). Even more good news: they're on sale.

Unrelated to shoes...

I have proof (from my phone) that SoCal has consumed my soul:

It's my new piercing! I heart Outer Limits in Costa Mesa.

Walking from Outer Limits to South Coast Plaza:

THE UNIFORM

2008-04-14T16:47:00.000-07:00

I'm going to start off with something that isn't related to fashion for a change. Actually, Karen O has everything to do with fashion because she--and Christian Joy, who designs her and Klaxons's stage outfits--basically rules all. I drew this during one of my classes a few weeks ago so it was pretty quickly done. I'm not really a "fan art" kind of person, but I saw a picture online and just had to draw it:

A shot of my sketchbook. These are the times when I need a scanner!

Back to the clothes...

This is actually more of an inside joke between my boyfriend and I, but I decided to share it with you lovely readers... you may either find it funny, repulsive, or neither (which means you're a hipster too. Just kidding!). How to dress like the hipster ghost that lives in my dorm room:

1) American Apparel hoodie

2) American Apparel v-neck

3) Dark skinny jeans

4) Vans or some other type of dark sneaker

5) Wayfarer-esque sunnies

Wear with an Alex + Chloe necklace for full effect.

Yes, all of these articles of clothing belong to me, but no, I never wear them all together... unless I'm doing it ironically. But wait--attempting to convince someone that you are not a hipster by ironically wearing hipster clothing (all at once) makes one even more of a hipster, yes? Oh, the confusion! The befuddlement! The bafflement of my sweatshop-free vestments! I must discuss this on my blog! *Whips out the Macbook*

(I'm scaring myself at this point... at least that's a good sign.)

Now if I could only find these in a store...

2008-04-01T16:50:00.000-07:00

I have found the latest bag of my dreams: the Foley + Corinna City Clutch ($444):

The size is absolutely perfect because I am relatively Olsen-sized, and, unlike said twins, do not enjoy schlepping around totes that cause people to speculate if I'm harboring a stowaway sister. The bag can be folded in half (hence its classification as a clutch, although to me, the unfolded version seems like adequate-sized handbaggery), which doesn't actually look as appealing as the folded version of the larger yet equally priced Mid City Tote.

Folded City Clutch in Fuschia:

Folded Mid City Tote:

As you can see, the handle reaches a bit lower on this larger tote, making it a wee bit more attractive than the clutch version when it's folded. Unfolded, though, I'd still choose the clutch. Here's the Mid City Tote:

The slightly-more-wallet-friendly Glazed Mini City Tote ($413) would be more to my liking because of its smaller size; however, the shopbop.com exclusive tote only comes in this yellow color, shown here. That's a shame, because shine + black + smallness = perfection to me.

Sounds good to me

2008-02-26T17:00:00.001-08:00

MS Paint can do no wrong.

The Not-So Ubiquitous Legging

2008-02-12T16:35:00.000-08:00

I am a dirty hypocrite. I was never a "leggings as pants" person. Leggings are NOT pants. The closest thing in existence are yoga pants. Which are still, in my opinion, not REAL pants. But here I am, wearing black leggings with an Edie Sedgwick print from Warhol's screen tests. When one thinks of Edie, tights and a leotard come to mind, but seeing that I am NOT Edie Sedgwick--nor am I Sienna Miller who happened to think she was, apparently--I chose leggings as a happy compromise. Paired with black ballet flats too, of course.

Now, I'm prepared to take the leggings one step further. Instead of entering a (pretty much) leggings-only-ALL-THE-TIME-like-every-day phase, a la Lindsay Lohan, I'm thinking about getting the ever-so popular American Apparel lame version (actually, I think she has them too... hmm).

Ironically, black leggings have been anathema to the fashion world (aka, people older than 23) for literally years now, but the tackier version of plain ol' leggings--and I don't necessarily mean "tacky" in a bad way, of course, because tackiness is what makes life interesting, after all--have been popping up in magazines for a while... See the "Press Alert" for the American Apparel version.

Despite the rave reviews, I have never seen anyone wearing this type of leggings aside for Lohan and Susie Bubble in a non-AA PVC version. Until today, that is--Topshop's Fall 2008 show displayed many a model in PVC pants. Hmm. Are tight, shiny-ish pants about to cross over from quirky/saucy/tacky category into simply a more fashion-forward version of regular bottoms?

FYI...

2008-01-13T18:05:00.000-08:00

In case you can't tell, this blog was created for a project for my Writing class last quarter. All the DWP posts are part of the project, but now I will update with my own musings on fashion. Enjoy :)

Movie Review: The Devil Wears Prada

2007-11-28T22:57:00.001-08:00

The Devil Wears Prada, rumored to be based on novelist Lauren Weisberger's experience working for Anna Wintour at Vogue, captures the essence of the glamorous yet stressful job at a fashion publication. While some aspects of the business are exaggerated (such as the extravagant office wear), the job perks, catty attitudes, and glitz and glamour are definite reflections of the real-life world of fashion journalism.

When movie reviewers asked different fashion insiders about the reality of the portrayal of the fashion industry, their responses varied. Some, like Booth Moore of the Los Angeles Times, criticized the movie’s outfits, saying that the film’s stylist Patricia Field (who also styled for Sex and the City) created “a fine fashion fantasy with little to do with reality.” Field retorted, “If they want a documentary, they can watch The History Channel.” Field reportedly had a budget of $100,000, but used borrowed pieces from friends and designers to compose a wardrobe worth about one million dollars—resulting in the most expensive wardrobe in the history of film. Glitzy outfits aside, many commended the film for its realistic portrayal of industry relationships. Charla Krupp, executive editor of SHOP, Etc., said, “It's the first film I've seen that got it right… [It] has the nuances of the politics and the tension better than any film - and the backstabbing and sucking-up.”

The Devil Wears Prada tells the story of Andy Sachs, played fantastically by Anne Hathaway, an aspiring journalist caught up in the world of fashion under editrix Miranda Priestly and her stylish minions. Although Weisberger denied that the Miranda character is based on real-life Vogue editor Anna Wintour, the similarities are uncanny. Both have icy demeanors and are extremely influential, having made some of the biggest names in fashion famous. Another blatant comparison: Wintour supposedly enjoys a midday steak, just as Miranda requested in the film, according to Barbara Ameil of The Daily Telegraph. Miranda instills the same fear in her minions that Wintour’s workers feel: According to the UK Guardian, “One US Vogue intern was famously told never to make eye contact with Wintour or to initiate a conversation. One day the terrified girl witnessed the editor tripping up in the corridor but was too scared to offer help. She stepped over Wintour's prone form and carried on walking.”

Meryl Streep delivers a spectacular performance as editor-in-chief Miranda Priestly. Her cold disposition and quiet, yet venomous manner of speaking can make even the snobbiest fashionista cower in her presence. This is clearly seen with Emily Blunt’s character, Emily Charlton. Blunt is both severe and hilarious as Andy’s eye-rolling superior, barking orders at Andy while dropping everything to do Miranda’s bidding in hopes to accompany her to Paris for Fashion Week. Also working at Runway is Nigel, played by Stanley Tucci. Rumor has it that Nigel’s character is based on Andre Leon Talley, Vogue’s editor-at-large and Wintour’s close friend. In the movie, Nigel becomes Andy’s most trusted friend at Runway and is the man responsible for her fashion metamorphosis, providing her with shoes, bags, clothing, and even a new haircut and makeup so that Andy becomes the most stylish of Miranda’s underlings.

The movie is any fashion lover’s fantasy. Who wouldn’t love to be in Andy’s place: surrounded by powerful designers and editors, given access to priceless pieces from the magazine’s closet, and granted the opportunity to work with one of the most influential people in the world of fashion? As covetable as her position may be to many people, (a job “a million girls would kill for”), Andy Sachs initially receives these circumstances with skepticism. Andrea “Andy” Sachs, a recent Northwestern graduate, dreams of a career as a writer for one of New York’s newspapers. Convinced that working at Runway for year will lead her to the job of her dreams at another publication, Andy takes the job and is soon sucked into the world of couture, cattiness, and run-ins with mysterious yet alluring other writers (played here by Simon Baker). Soon enough, Andy’s frequent late nights working (although “working” meant, on one occasion, accompanying Miranda and Emily to a charity benefit, pictured above) and her devotion to Miranda takes a toll on her relationship with boyfriend Nate (Adrian Grenier). The movie focuses on the conflict between Andy’s personal life and working life: Should Andy let Runway dominate her life so that she can have her pick of jobs once the year ends? Or should Andy give up her job to maintain her friendships and relationship with Nate, which could potentially hurt her career in journalism? In the end, Andy leaves Runway, not to please Nate, but to free herself from Miranda’s clutches. In my opinion, The Devil Wears Prada teaches a lesson about staying true to yourself and not allowing the wrong job or a relationship to stand in the way of what you truly want. Andy neither sacrifices her career for her boyfriend’s wishes nor disregards his wishes that she return to her old self and continues her duties as Miranda’s assistant. Instead, she realizes that Nate has a point—that she had become one of the girls that she used to make fun of-- and decides to leave the magazine and interview at a newspaper. When Andy tells Nate about her decision, she does not expect him to take her back, which is an important part of the film’s lesson. Although they do get back together, Andy’s decision to leave her job was not to get her boyfriend back, but to get her life back. I believe that the movie has a great moral: Do not make decisions about your life for anyone else but yourself and don’t let the demands of anyone, be it boyfriend or boss, stand in the way of reaching your goals.

As someone whose dream job is an editor or stylist at a fashion magazine, I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. Of course, when I initially read the ending (having read the novel a few years ago), I was shocked that Andy would quit her job and lose so many perfect (in my opinion) opportunities. However, I realized that, in Andy's case, she would be better off without the job because in such a demanding world, someone who doesn't take her duties seriously and doesn't enjoy herself could not be happy or successful in the end. That's the beauty of the story's lesson: Follow your dreams and keep on persisting, even if obstacles (in Andy's case, her bad experiences working for Runway) stand in your way. Whether or not every aspect of the industry is portrayed accurately, the viewer definitely gets a sense of the fast-paced atmosphere and the demands that one must meet to succeed. The Devil Wears Prada is as entertaining as it is stylish, teaching a priceless lesson to any viewer, fashion-obsessed or not.

Compare Anna's office to Miranda's office! Can you spot the differences? (Not really.)

Emily and Andy

Nigel "glamifying" the new girl: "You are in desperate need of Chanel."

Andy's old look (except for the heels, courtesy of Nigel)

Post-makeover Andy

Buy the DVD from Amazon

The Devil Watches YouTube

2007-11-28T22:36:00.001-08:00

An interview with Anne Hathaway:

Barbara Walters discusses the film with Anna Wintour:

Sinfully Stylish

2007-11-25T15:37:00.000-08:00

Get Andy's style from The Devil Wears Prada.
Click the boxes to enlarge!

Inspired by Andy's "writer" look, this outfit is about chic, classic comfort with a hint of embellishment-- perfect for Andy's post-Runway career.

This ensemble is a revved up, nighttime version of Andy's Paris luncheon look. Complete with Louboutins, this look has an edgy twist that even Miranda would envy.