MY STRIPED WONDERLAND

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HANNAH BELLE!

2010-03-03T19:05:00.000-05:00

HAPPIEST OF BIRTHDAYS TO MY FAVORITE 'MODEL'

LET'S MAKE THIS YEAR ONE FOR THE BOOKS!

CAN'T WAIT TO CELEBRATE STURDAY

DARK AND TWISTY

2010-02-26T01:10:00.002-05:00

ALRIGHT- PLEASE PUT ALL MUSICAL JUDGEMENT ASIDE WHEN READING THIS POST...

I LOVE GOOD MUSIC VIDEOS (WELL NOT EVEN GOOD MUSIC VIDEOS, BUT REALLY GOOD COSTUMES IN MUSIC VIDEOS)... WHEN I WAS GETTING DRESSED THE OTHER DAY MY DRESS-UP FELT FAMILIAR, AND I REALIZED I WAS CHANNELING A LOOK FROM A MUSIC VIDEO.

THE CULPRIT? BLINK 182'S I MISS YOU VIDEO.

HERE ARE SOME STILLS TO SHOW THE VIBE- THERE'S SOMETHING VERY MYSTICAL AND SEDUCTIVE. THE MAKEUP, THE FOG, THE SO-VERY-PALE SKIN (THAT MAKES MINE LOOK TAN)

GLITTER AND SEDUCTIVE GLARES... SO FANTASTICAL

HEADBAND CLOSE UP

HEADBAND (KELSEY TAYLOR) - FUR VEST- VINTAGE RECYCLED COAT TURNED VEST, BELT- CLUB MONACO, SLIP DRESS- THRIFT STORE (CA), TIGHTS- RODARTE, HEELS- BILL BLASS.

LAYERED FOR LENT

2010-02-19T00:01:00.000-05:00

LAST NIGHT I WENT TO MASS FOR ASH WEDNESDAY (HENCE THE STRATEGICALLY BRAIDED BRAIDS TO MAKE MY FOREHEAD FULLY ACCESSIBLE.

THINGS I'M GIVING UP: DELIVERY.COM/SEAMLESSWEB.COM AKA DELIVERY IN GENERAL (WHAT A WASTE OF MONEY) AND THIS LENT CARRIES OVER INTO UNNECESSARY FOOD SPENDING (I.E. BUYING THINGS WHEN I HAVE PERFECTLY GOOD FOOD AT HOME) I ALSO AM GIVING UP NOT GOING TO THE GYM DAILY, AND I GAVE UP MY CABLE- EEK. FEBRUARY SHOULD BE A LOT HEALTHIER FROM THIS DAY FORWARD.

DRESS-MADISON, BELT-SATIN RIBBON, SWEATER-VINTAGE LIZ CLAIBORNE COLLECTION, PEACOAT-GARAGE SALE (CA)

I WONDER IF MY MOM COULD GIVE UP GARAGE SALES FOR THE MONTH? BUT REALLY NO ONE WOULD BENEFIT FROM THAT- SHE LOVES THEM AND EVERYONE WHO KNOWS HER ENDS UP WITH LIL TREASURES... AS IN THIS PEACOAT FOR EXAMPLE.

SWEATER SWAGGER

2010-02-18T00:51:00.002-05:00

UGLY SWEATER THEMED BAR NIGHT

WELL THERE'S NOT MUCH TO NARATE EXCEPT PEOPLE WENT ALL OUT.

MINE WAS MILD IN COMPARISON- I LOVE THAT THE GIRL WHO WON HAD MADE HERSELF A MATCHING HEADBAND OF EQUAL HEINOUSNESS (THUS TOTALLY ADORABLE)... I LOVE THEMED DRESS UP PARTIES- I THINK MY NEXT QUEST IS TO FIND PEOPLE TO PARTAKE IN A GREAT GATSBY THEME AND VENTURE TO A SPEAKEASY.

WOOL AND METALLIC LUREX- LADIES AND GENTS DOES IT GET ANY ITCHIER?

SOME COOL CATS

THE MAJORS OF UGLYSWEATERVILLE

I'VE GOT A HEART ON...

2010-02-15T16:29:00.002-05:00

HOPE EVERYONE HAD A GREAT VALENTINES DAY-

FOR ME IT WAS JUST ANOTHER EXCUSE TO PLAY DRESS UP AND EMBRACE A COLOR I FEEL USUALLY MAKES ME LOOK LIKE ELLE WOODS IN LEGALLY BLONDE. HOWEVER I WOKE UP WITH CURLS AND DECIDED IT WOULD BE A ROMANTIC DAY OF DRESSING- CURLS, BOWS, BALLET FLATS, PINK- THE EPITOME OF GIRLINESS.

SCARF TUNIC DRESS- MARC BY MARC JACOBS (ALREADY TRACED OFF THIS PATTERN FOR FUN SUMMER DRESSES), KNIT HEADBAND-ST. MARKS BOOTH, TIGHTS-DKNY, BLACK PATENT WEDGE FLATS-ARTURO CHAING (SUPER CHEAP-SUPER COMFY), LOCK AND KEY 'BEAR' NECKLACE- CHRISTOPHER 19 (http://www.dailycandy.com/new-york/article/25936/Christopher-19-Design-Collective)

THE DRESS IS SO VERSATILE- I'M GOING TO HAVE TO SHOW OVER THE SUMMER (WHEN I MAKE A FEW FROM THE PATTERN I CREATED, HOW MANY DIFFERENT WAYS IT CAN BE WORN. IT'S A FANTASTIC PIECE, I'VE HAD FOR 2 YEARS NOW- NEVER GROW TIRED OF IT. I'LL HAVE SOME AVAILABLE ON MY ETSY SOON ENOUGH!

I MET MY FRIENDS IN THE EAST VILLAGE FOR SOME VENEZUELAN DELICIOUSNESS AT CARACAS AREPA BAR.

OF CORUSE IT WAS SO GOOD- I HAD TO LOOSEN UP MY OBI BELT A LITTLE POST MEAL! AS I BUNDLED UP IN MY FAVORITE MARA HOFFMAN COAT (OR SHOULD I CALL IT A WOOL BATHROBE?) I DECIDED TO KNOT UP MY PLAIN BLACK SCARF INTO A GREAT BOW- AND I LOVED THE RESULTS

WARM AND CREATIVELY FASHIONABLE

AND THE BAG- MY STAPLE PURSE THAT HAS OUTLIVED ANy DESIGNER DIG I'VE INVESTED IN- MY BEAUTIFUL LEATHER BUCKET PURSE FROM MY AUNT ON HER ADVENTURES IN POLAND.

ONE OF MY DATES

THE LOVELY SARA MCCARTY (WHO I HAVE A FEELING WILL END UP ON THIS BLOG A LOT) SHOWED HER GREAT ECCLECTIC FOLK STYLE. SHE ALWAYS LOOKS PUT TOGETHER - AND SOMEHOW I'M GOING TO FIND THESE BOOTS...

THE BERET IS A PERFECT TOPPER TO HER COLORFUL SCARF AND AMAZING MOCCASINS BOOTIES WITH CHEAP MONDAY JEANS.

SHE LOOKS GREAT FOR THE FREEZING WEATHER.

NOW IF SOME ONE COULD JUST TEACH ME HOW TO ADD SONGS TO MY BLOG POSTINGS I'D BE A HAPPY GIRL.

LOVE SOME LOVE SONGS.

NYC FASHION WEEK FALL 2010- BRING ON THE DRAMATICS!

2010-02-13T20:00:00.002-05:00

IF IT FEELS LIKE NEW YORK STEPPED UP THE STYLE THIS WEEK- IT WAS NO COINCIDENCE. FASHION WEEK OFFICIALLY STARTED FEBRUARY 11TH, AND ALTHOUGH WE WERE ALL MOURNING THE LOSS OF ONE OF THE GREATS, THE SHOWS MUST GO ON!

I DIDN'T MAKE MY WAY UP TO THE TENTS UNTIL SATURDAY- DEVOTING MY DAY TO FASHION AND FUN.

I WOKE UP EARLY (NOT EARLY ENOUGH TO GET TO LACOSTE) TO PLAY DRESS UP AND HEAD OVER TO GEORGES CHAKRA

THE COLLECTION SEEMED TO DRAW A LOT OF MCQUEEN INSPIRATION (ESPECIALLY THE LAST COAT DRESS THAT SEEMS STRAIGHT OUT OF MCQUEEN'S FALL 2009, ALL IT NEEDED WAS HOUNDSTOOTH PRINT) AND SOME DIOR LACE... IT DIDN'T FEEL VERY ORIGINAL- BUT THE SEAMS AND CUT OUTS WERE CREATIVE, AND IT WAS NICE TO LOOK AT OVERALL

I DECIDED TO FOCUS ON MY FRESHLY CUT BANGS FOR MY OUTFIT THAT MORNING

DRESS-KELSEY TAYLOR (AKA ME), HOODED SWEATER-VINCE, LEATHER JACKET-COLE HAAN (CENTURY 21) VELVET HEADPIECE-VINTAGE, SKELETON KEY- THRIFT STORE (PHEONIX AZ) SOCKS-RALPH LAUREN, BOOTS-FOREVER 21 ROGERI

BEING MINDFUL OF THE COLD WEATHER I FIGURED I'D WEAR MY MAXI DRESS BUT LAYER SOME WOOLY OVER-THE-KNEE SOCKS AND MY FAVORITE CHEAP THRILL BOOTS- AND LAYERING MY JACKETS AND SWEATERS... THE DRESS WAS KNOTTED UP FOR WALKING TO AND FROM BRYANT PARK, BUT AS SOON AS I GOT THERE IT CAME DOWN TO MAKE A LONG LEAN SILHOUETTE.

AFTER THE SHOW I CAME HOME FOR A LITTLE BREAK AND A QUICK CHANGE BEFORE THE WONDERFUL PRABAL GURUNG SHOW.
I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO BRING IN 4 OF MY FRIENDS-WHICH WAS A FEAT SINCE THEY WERE AT CAPACITY AND THE LINE WAS STILL OUTRAGEOUSLY LONG.
I WAS IN SUCH A RUSH TO GET TO THE SHOW I DIDN'T TAKE FULL PICS OF MY LOOK, BUT A FEW BLOGGERS (INCLUDING ELLE) TOOK MY PICTURE, SO I'M HOPING I'LL BE ABLE TO FIND ONE OF THOSE...

TANK-PRABAL GURUNG (WITH A LOT OF TOP STICK HOLDING IT IN PLACE) HAT-TOPMAN, NECKLACE-ESTATE SALE (CA), COAT-MARA HOFFMAN, SKIRT-JCREW, TIGHTS- TARGET, HEELS-HUGO BOSS. PURSE-VINTAGE SALVATORE FERRAGAMO (WHICH I NEED A CLOSE UP PICTURE OF) AND OF COURSE MCQUEEN SCARF

THE LOVELY SARA MCCARTY LOOKED EFFORTLESS IN SLOUCHY JEANS, ANKLE BOOTS PAIRED WITH A CUTE TEE, VINTAGE SCARF, BANGLES AND GREAT BLAZER

KYLE AND KATIE LOOKED CHIC IN DENIM AND BLACK- AND KATHERINE FEINER (FASHION DESIGNER) TOPPED HERS OFF WITH BLACK PATENT LOUBOUTIN PUMPS AND A COLOR BLOCKED MIU MIU COAT THAT FIT IN SO PERFECTLY WITH ALL THE COLOR BLOCKING WE SAW AT PRABAL'S... TAKE NOTE OF THE NAME- I'M SURE WE'LL BE SEEING IT A LOT MORE IN THE FUTURE

GETTING STOPPED BY A STYLE BLOGGER.

HIS SHOW WAS NOTHING SHY OF EXCEPTIONAL- IT MADE ME SO PROUD TO KNOW THAT I WAS THERE TO HELP WITH BUILDING THE BRAND. AND PROUD TO BE ABLE TO CALL PRABAL A MENTOR AND A FRIEND. THE SHOW WAS PACKED, THE GIRLS LOOKED FIERCE STRUTTING TO AMAZING MUSIC (WHICH I NEED TO GET A HOLD OF) AND EVERYONE LOOKED AMAZED. THE CLOTHES LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE MADE WITH THE RUNWAY IN MIND- THINGS THAT TRANSLATE WITH MOTION RATHER THEN STATUESQUE LIKE HIS PREVIOUS PRESENTATIONS.

YOU CAN WATCH THE SHOW HERE:

http://www.swarovski.tv/Content.Node/fashion/95991.php

ME WITH THE BEAUTIFUL MCCALLAN BACKSTAGE

WE INDULGED IN THE FREE LIQUOR AND SNACKS BEFORE HEADING TO SEPHORA TO PLAY-AFTER BEING SO INSPIRED BY THE DRAMATICS- LOVE THAT NARS COUNTER

WHAT A GREAT START TO FASHION WEEK.

MY INFLUENCE, MY INSPIRATION, MY IDOL

2010-02-11T23:30:00.003-05:00

FEBRUARY 11TH MARKED THE END OF AN EPIC BRILLIANCE. MY IDOL LEE ALEXANDER MCQUEEN PASSED AWAY. I HAD A VERY HARD TIME ACCEPTING THIS- AND I BELIEVE THE SARTORIALIST VERBALIZED MY FEELINGS...

"THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ANYWHERE TO TURN TO MAKE IT FEEL RIGHT OR UNDERSTANDABLE"

EXACTLY
THERE SEEMED TO BE A DARK SHADOW CAST OVER FASHION WEEK, BUT REMEMBRANCE WAS PAID FROM LOYAL MCQUEEN FANS IN THE FORM OF SKULL SCARVES AND PERFECTLY ECCENTRIC JACKETS AND SCULPTURED DRESSES. HIS CLOSENESS WITH HIS MOTHER FELT SO SIMILAR TO MY RELATIONSHIP WITH MINE (NOT JUST BECAUSE BOTH ARE NAMED JOYCE), BUT WHEN I READ HIS INTERVIEW HE DID WITH HIS MOTHER (HTTP://WWW.GUARDIAN.CO.UK/CULTURE/2004/APR/20/GUESTEDITORS) I COULD HEAR MY MOTHER AND ME HAVING SUCH SIMILAR BANTER IT WAS HAUNTING.
MCQUEEN WAS A DEFINING PART OF MY PERSONAL SUCCESS. ITS HOW I CELEBRATED SPECIAL MOMENTS, PERSONAL FEATS AND HOW I REWARDED GOALS. THE IDEA OF MEETING MCQUEEN AND SHAKING HIS HAND WAS GOING TO BE THE MOMENT I KNEW I HAD MADE A NAME FOR MYSELF IN MY CAREER. HOPEFULLY BEING ABLE TO SIT (OR STAND, I'M NOT PICKY) AT ONE OF HIS FANTASTICAL SHOWS.
MY DOG AND I WALKED TO HIS STORE IN MANHATTAN (HOW MANY TIMES I WALKED IN JUST TO ADMIRE AND BE INSPIRED) TO LEAVE SOME FLOWERS AND A NOTE THAT READ
"MY IFLUENCE, MY INSPIRATION, MY IDOL: THANK YOU FOR SHOWING THE WORLD A GLIMPSE OF YOUR BRILLIANCE.
YOU WILL BE GREATLY MISSED."

SOME OF MY FAVORITE MCQUEEN MOMENTS...

OH SO DRAMATIC FEATHERS SPRING 2001

FOREVER JEALOUS OF DAPHNE GUISNNESS GETTING TO ROCK THIS LOOK

SPRING/SUMMER 2010

HIGH FASHION PLAID

SPRING/SUMMER 2003- THE START OF THE SKULL FASCINATION

AND THE START OF MY AVANT GARDE WEDDING DRESS ASPIRATIONS

FALL 2009

SPRING/SUMMER 2004

FALL 2008

SOMETHING SO WONDERFUL AND INNOCENT SPRING 2005

SPRING/SUMMER 2008 ELABORATE HEADPIECES NEVER TOOK AWAY FROM THE CLOTHES BUT JUST ADDED TO THE THEATRICS

FALL 2003

FALL 2002 COULD GIVE YOU BEAUTIFUL NIGHTMARES

ADORNED AND SHAPED SPRING/SUMMER 2007

A GHOSTLY KATE HAUNTING THE FALL 2007 PAGAN SALEM WITCH THEMED RUNWAY

THAT WAS WALKED ALONG THE LINES OF A RED PENTAGRAM

FALL 2002 - AN EARLY MCQUEEN WAS STILL ALWAYS PUSHING THE ENVELOPE OF RUNWAYS

MY FIRST MCQUEEN PURCHASE EVER- AND HUMPHREY PAYING RESPECT.

AND THE LAST MCQUEEN PURCHASE I DEBATED WITH- BUT DETERMINED IT WAS BAD LUCK TO BUY A WEDDING DRESS BEFORE YOU'RE ENGAGED AND LEFT WITH TROUSERS AND A BLAZER...

A WHILE BACK I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE A VERY SPECIAL PERSON TAKE ME TO THE LAUNCH OF TARGET'S MCQUEEN LINE (WHERE I BOUGHT WAY TOO MANY THINGS, AND INDULGED IN THE FREE BOOZE) HE NOTED THE LEAD SINGER OF THE DUKE SPIRIT AS BEING HIS INSPIRATIONAL MUSE FOR THE COLLECTION.

SO MIXED WITH SOME UNDOUBTEDLY SAD SONGS- I HAD THE DUKE SPIRIT NARRATING MY DAY.

RIP LEE AND JOYCE MCQUEEN

P.O.V.

2010-02-10T11:59:00.001-05:00

BORN AND RAISED IN CALIFORNIA- I'VE ALWAYS HAD A LOVE FOR FILM AND FASHION, AND COINCIDENTALLY MY CAREER ASPIRATIONS INVOLVE THE TWO. THIS BLOG IS MY DEFINITION OF SYLE- YOUNG, OLD, SHORT, TALL, THIN, CURVY, FROM SAKS TO TARGET. I'VE BEEN RAISED BY A WOMAN WHO LIVES FOR GARAGE SALE TREASURES- AND MY IMAGINATION AND WONDERLAND FANTASTICAL VISION ENTICES ME TO TREASURE HUNT EVERYWHERE IN MY CURRENT HOME, NEW YORK. AS I'M MOVING ON INTO A NEW CAREER (FROM HIGH FASHION DESIGN TO STYLING AND COSTUMING FOR FILM) THIS BLOG WILL BE WHERE I CAN SHARE MY JOURNEY AND STORIES, STYLE AND VISION, AND TREASURES TO BE FOUND BY ALL.