The Young Victoria

Emily Blunt has been nominated for a Golden Globe for her role in The Young Victoria, a film by Jean-Marc Vallée. The story focuses on the queen, Pre-Victorian era when few believed in her abilities to rule. It cements her youth, her struggles and her triumph. This film is a love story, but not so deeply rooted in forbidden, fictional love affairs as other period pieces. Her husband, Prince Albert, actually existed! This film is honest and so to is Blunt's performance. The way she translates the emotions to the screen is incredibly genuine and unforgettable.

"I LIVE FOR GLITTER, NOT YOU!"

Wow. Neon beams of light radiating from his body, running around half naked with a red fedora and glittery Christian Louboutin sneakers...This is how I like my favorite performer of the decade. MIKA... M I K A. He's back, and so too are my old (but all too familar) groupie ways. I can't help it! He's too wonderful, too soaked in technicolor shades of iredescent rainbow to ignore. I mean, I look at him and I see everything I've ever wanted to say to this world summed up in the way he sings, the words he says, the clothes he wears. He says what the rest of us can't. The misunderstood, cooler than cool, misfit toys of the universe convene in his lyrics.

His newest single, 'We are Golden' is a massive ode to adolescence. I'm on my last year of being a teenager, why not send off the number 19 with a new anthem?

WATCH & LISTEN HERE!

I love you Ralph Lauren...

Ralph Lauren. I adore him. I appreciate him. His dresses, his choice of color and texture...The equestrian chic vibe of his jackets is something that no designer has ever and will ever replicate. That look, is by far my favorite. A few days ago, I purchased the purchase to end all purchases. A pay check, my non existant first born child perhaps...went into getting this jacket. It's a blazer, a simple striped blazer with the ralph lauren shielded armour emblem on the upper pocket. The stripes are black and the emblem black, white, blue and red. When I wear it I don't feel like anything... I am royal. There are no real words to describe how an article of clothing changes your life. But I can tell you that this is an important part of my wardrobe and will go with almost everything this fall.

BUT NOW, I HAVE MY SIGHTS SET ON THIS... MY JACKET'S COUSIN.

Purple?! Come on, it was made for ME!

How to do a t-shirt the right way...

I'm not a fan of your average casual wear. But by no means does that mean that I live by the rules of labels and expensive cocktail attire. No way. I think it's possible to take a simple concept, like the t-shirt and jeans thing and make it stand on it's own in the rankings of great and effortless style. Let's talk about Beat It (Yes, I'm still talking about Michael Jackson) The look was simple: blue graphic t-shirt, black jeans and the "pop" of the red leather jacket. THAT'S how you do street wear. That's how you connect fashion with everyday life. Can any one of us walk around looking like that now? We can, but it'll never mean what it did then. The solution? Do your own thing.

Everyone who knows me knows that I am a huge fan of the "hipster" joint that is Urban Outfitters though I definatley do not consider myself a *gag* "hipster". Over the past few years, its become infamous for housing "over-priced" artistic pieces and has somewhat lost its originality. Who cares? I still shop there, like everyone else who reads this does. I still think the clothes are great, and the style effortlessly cool. It isn't cool to pay big money for something "vintage" however. That part is not my favorite...That's why it's so ideal being around the city because you've got all these vintage, one of a kind stores. Some things you'll find are so one of a kind that they don't even have labels on them or finished hem lines. All and all, Urban is my go to place for alot of outfits. They've made me fall in love with the t-shirt and jeans concept. I need to have this outfit.

I LOVE Les Miserables and the adorable poster child. This t-shirt is an absolute rag. That's why I love it. It's so modern day French Revolution. Note: When I'm going to wear a "raggy" thing on top, I make sure the bottom is streamline. The same goes for if I want to wear ripped jeans. I do something chic and clean on top.

P.S. I love leggings. They became "tweeny" in like 2005 when everyone was trying to wear them with sequined handbags. *barfness* But now, it is possible to give them back their dignity. Faux leather, neon electric blue...whatever! They work...

Long Live The Last King

I wasn’t prepared to hear that Michael Jackson, The King of Pop , had died on Thursday afternoon. I was in my Holocaust class (of all classes) when peoples’ phones started buzzing with texts. The next thing you know, “Michael Jackson is dead…” was on repeat every two seconds. “What?!” I thought… How could he be dead? A world without Michael Jackson is like a world without simple everyday encounters like stop signs or door knobs. He comes with the package of life. His is the soundtrack to all of our lives. That’s the deal right? We’re supposed to keep him forever. It isn’t so. We have lost an icon of the universe. His career is the epitome of epic. He is and will always be the height of musical genius. Thriller was the best selling album in all of history. Will that ever happen again? No, the reign of Michael Jackson cannot and will not be replicated. I don’t care who you are or what you do. You will never be able to do THAT. And what was THAT? I have no idea…no one does. His presence, his iconic style, his voice, his melodies and rhythms are simply all his and no one else’s.

His influence on fashion alone is one of his most memorable contributions. The military jackets, the gloves, the colors, the sparkle, the leather, the EVERYTHING was out of this world.



Say what you want about his infamy. I’m not interested in that. He was misunderstood. End of story. Let’s move past all the things he allegedly did and remember the complete brilliance he created on stage. He wrote most if not all of his songs, and there was always light shed on something difficult to understand about the world in his lyrics. His melodies were like the neon colors in the crayon box. When you hear a song like Beat It or You Rock My World, you can't help but get up and move, snap your fingers, tap your foot. He is timeless. And his legend will absolutley live on.

His moves...a must see.

Beat it, live.


Best of Dangerous Tour...

Patrick Wolf, The Libertine

On June 15th 2009, I was in the presence of absolute genius. His name is Patrick Wolf and chances are that you don’t know exactly who this guy is. This is what I can’t stand about the U.S. The taste in music is usually based on popularity. And popularity is based on how often you hear an artist on the radio or the easy to remember, meaningless lyrics like, “I wanna take a ride on your disco stick.” (I don’t like Gaga) Yeah…okay.

Well, Patrick writes his own music, uses his own voice and plays several instruments to top that off. I love music with emotion, with words that I can relate to. The songs are like stories. He creates characters, gives them life and releases them to us to keep. I titled this “…The Libertine” because that’s one of my favorite songs of his. A libertine usually points to someone with sexual freedom (which he definitely has) but I see it more as someone completely unbound and unchained. That’s what we all strive to become, but I truly think Patrick is unparalleled with his ability to be uncensored and unapologetic. I love him for that and always will.

One of my favorite parts about him is his style. He is completely story book…The Mad Hatter meets Charlie Chaplin, meets Peter Pan. His clothes are genius (when he wears clothes, that is)

My photos, my videos...

P.S. Before he played the song ‘Paris’ (one of my favs!) he nodded at me…looking dead at me. I mean come on, how insane is that?! I must have looked very happy for him to do that, and I was…completely! Here's the video, it happens at about 22 seconds.

So I waited a loooong time for him to finally come on stage. This was the Nylon Summer Concert tour and there were three opening acts. Jaguar Love, The plastiscines and Living Things. My favorite was The plastiscines, an all girl rock band from France. They had great style, and I found their lyrics to be anthem like. Complete girl power, complete confidence. They were very French, very “ I can get away with anything, If I just smile at you.” Which is a rule I’ve always lived by. Put on the charm, and you’ll get what you want ;)

There is a castle on a cloud...

I read this quote by Henry David Thoreau today and was reminded of that song from Les Mis "Castle on a Cloud": a song that fully evokes everything I was as a little girl and everything that I still am. What are dreams for if not to transport us to places of endless possibility?

"Do not worry if you have built your castles in the air. They are where they should be. Now put the foundations under them."-Henry David Thoreau

"Have no fear of robbers or murderers. They are external dangers, petty dangers. We should fear ourselves. Prejudices are the real robbers; vices the real murderers." -Les Miserables

'The strange world of MIKA'

A journalist's job is to observe, and it's fitting that a UK publication like The Observer did just that with MIKA. They came up with the conclusion that the world of MIKA is in every way 'strange'. Having spent the last year and a bit studying journalism and all of its ethical standards, I can remind everyone that the subjet (MIKA) has no say in how the article looks at the end or what is written/ how the story is told. I think that's fair, and I think it's what's great about freedom of the press. I havn't read any article yet, though I definatley will when it becomes available to me. This video makes me happy, it brings me back into his world. I say it's "his" world because it absolutley is ALL his. He created it, he imagined it, he brought it to life. Do I think Mika's world is strange? I havn't decided. Do I think he thinks his world is strange? Who knows. For me there is something in his art, his writing, his voice that is so familiar to me that it becomes less foreign. He exposes the world's true colors in this cartoon way. As a result, life for us, the observers, is a bit less daunting and alot more beautiful.

Watch the video and if you're not already in love with him, you certainly will be...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/video/2009/jun/12/mika-observer-music-monthly

MANGO: Penélope Cruz

I love Penélope. She's such a devoted artist in so many ways. The girl can act! I've never seen a more relatable tantrum thrown then the several ones thrown in Vicky Crisina Barcelona. She nailed the Spanish temper. She nailed my temper! No matter who is on the screen with Penélope , they stand no chance of out shining her. Scarlet Jo. is obviously the more obvious beauty, but when put together in the same scene...there was no comparison. There's nothing risky about her face. Besides celebrating her unique beauty, I have to write about her clothing line: MANGO which she co-owns with her sister Monica. (The two look so similar!) I first started shopping at MANGO about two years ago. The jeans are what convinced me. They fit like a glove. Finally somebody to understand my body, my frame...my attitude! The colors are vibrant, the beauty of the clothes is effortless and there is an underlying toughness for every ounce of femininity. That's the way I like an outfit.

THIS is Monica! Or Penélope #2

http://www.mango.com/

No more H8!

I am no stranger to voicing my opinions. I try my best to give equal opportunity for an opposing side to tell me off but the problem is... THAT NEVER HAPPENS. I don't understand how anyone anywhere could ever be opposed to the practice of a union founded in love. Are there really still people making rules based on what they feel is religiously moral? News flash, not everyone has a religion. It's time to be POLITICALLY MORAL. Do we as a nation go around saying "I can have brown hair but YOU can't." or "I can breathe this air but YOU can't." How about my favorite, "Jesus loves ME but he doesn't love YOU." It's as idiotic as it sounds.

I'm straight, but I can still fight for something that effects my fellow citizens and friends. We have a responsibility as humans to protect one another, to empathize and stand by those who are being oppressed and help break the chains of injustice. That's all I'm doing. Somewhere along the line we shut out reality and started twisting the constitution, creating loop holes. "Liberty and justice for ALL." Remeber that concept? As far as I'm concerned, congress should pay more attention to homicidal death rates and drug abuse rather than using their energy fighting to ban gay marriage. This is in every way a segregation. There's no "but's" about it. You are denying someone a human right. And of all things, you deny your fellow citizens the right to show a public display of LOVE.

Then there's this whole religious issue. The bible says God intended for man and woman to come together and be one. If everyone slept with people of the same gender, eventually the human race would die off. Here's a thought... NOT EVERYONE IS GAY. So, chill out. Also, the bible says alot of things that no one should be believing or practicing like "He (Adam) shall have rule over you (Eve)" Men ruling over women? Still acceptable? I don't think so...

I have much more to say... I hear the opposing voices and guess what, you're not convincing me. Why should a gay couple be denied GOD'S blessing over them? There is no reason: In recent years, the catholic church has finally come to the realization that "okay okay, maybe it's not a sin to be gay. Maybe people really cannot help it." BUT along with that step forward comes one step back. They imply that it's okay to be gay as long as you don't act on what you desire. If a public display of love is what they desire and hope for, than let them have it. God is all loving right? And he wants us to treat others as we would like to be treated right?

Then why is this STILL an issue? Right and wrong, good and bad... AS LONG AS THERE IS LOVE IN THE WORLD AND PEOPLE PASSIONATE ENOUGH TO WANT TO DISPLAY IT, HUMANITY IS STILL HUMANE.

Isn't she lovely...

My favorite "It girl" of this generation is without a doubt the incomperable Miss. Natalie Portman. When I was fifteen years old I watched Garden State for the first time. She had this way about her...even when she was playing someone extremely down to earth and somewhat fashionably challenged. Whatever the role, her inner radiance always comes through. Besides being a talented actress, and cementing her name as a pre-teen in The Professional (Which by the way, is the best performance I've seen from a twelve year old) no one can deny the fierce beauty that is and always will be Natalie. What sets her apart from others who some may argue are just as beautiful? Here's the difference: She is effortless. The clothes, the makeup, the hair...they never wear her. You see the person before you see what she is wearing. She doesn't have to try to be beautiful, she just is.

The thing I love most about her is her humbleness. She doesn't feel entitled to twenty minutes on the red carpet posing like some statue. Her confidence is a quiet one. In her normal everyday life, she is often seen wearing outfits over and over again...simple things that don't scream celebrity. On the other hand, however, you can tell she appreciates the fashion industry. When she was young, probably around nineteen, she became somewhat of a muse for Isaac Mizrahi. Then she caught the eye of a then up and coming designer, Zac Posen who officially dubbed her as his muse. He dresses her very well. I like the risks she takes... and the fact that she's small and short statured. She is often compared to Audrey Hepburn, which makes alot of sense because Audrey is my ultimate idol. She was even lucky enough to wear the dress Audrey wore in Breakfast at Tiffany's for a Harper's Bazaar cover shoot. She brought the dress back to life, she made known the essence of that dress which only Audrey could have ever produced. In the years to come, I think Natalie will continue picking roles she finds interesting and out of the ordinary. She will continue to support the arts, all the while being herself. She's smart (a HARVARD grad), adorable, talented, humble, sweet, gorgeous and let's not forget her work with FINCA and other charities. She is truley beautiful from the inside out... as cliche as that sounds. The "It girls" of today have nothing on Nat. They think about how beautiful they are...They know it...They observe their looks and offer up a fake modesty. Loveliness is Natalie.

Who can pull off a pair of converse at a Marc Jacobs show? Only Nat.

With Zac Posen (my favorite designer) They would make a cute couple, but he'll make a man very happy one day. Story of my life!

She definatley has a tendency to go hippie trippy for more casual affairs, love it.

Love her in purple.

Even when she was bald she was stunning.