Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Too Much?




I don't understand school. There's something about it that makes me feel like someone punched me in the face. I just feel so drained, so exhausted. I've completely lost the will to care. What does sitting in a classroom, learning mundane facts have to do with life? I'm sure that if Precalculus ever comes up in my future career I can get a tutor or read a book (shocker!).
A friend of my mine went to vocational school, training during high school so that the minute she graduated she could go straight into a job. Though I do want to go to college, there's something about learning practical skills. If by some chance I couldn't go straight to New York I would be able to work my way to where ever I wanted to go. But it's even less about having a job (no, the hunt has not gone well), it's really about being able to take pride in something.
Creation in its rawest form is done with two hands, determination mixed with curiosity, and a whole lot of time. Recently, an artist (I wish I could remember his name) holed up in his brother's garage for two weeks. He created a live art project, leaving his web cam running the entire time he worked, creating a self portrait on a turning wheel with letters from significant moments in people's lives who called in.
Crazy, you say? Need years of training you say? Wouldn't you be surprised to know that during the week this man works as a computer processor. People have the capacity for the amazing. The technological advances we've made in the past fifty years speak to that. But how can we continue to grow and to really understand our world if we're never in it? We spend so much of our lives sleeping or stuck in a cubicle/desk that the world becomes idealized; a glimmering bit of sunlight almost completely blocked by Venetian blinds.
Don't get me wrong, I believe in education. As a society we cannot grow as a society if we never have any knowledge, but students (that means you!) need to demand more real world experience. Whatever we learn in those seats are useless if we can't carry them with us.

You might be wondering how these photos fit into this post. Notice the black and grey? Yea? Well that's my mood.

What do you think? Am I a whiny slacker or is school getting you down?

Images Via: lookbook.nu, becausei'maddicted

Monday, August 30, 2010

Little Details


I know I shouldn't "sweat the small stuff", but isn't really all about the details? Today, during a much too hot and much needed lunch break, I couldn't help but stare at the girl across from me. No, I have not finally decided to go gay after my many male misadventures, but I was fascinated by her socks. It must have been 90 degrees and yet here she was, wearing thick, tall knee socks with suede boots. There's got to be something wrong with us (yes I include myself among the fashion literate). We choose to wear the ridiculous, the weird, the unbelievable. We torture feet to fit into heels, suction our stomachs for bandeau dresses. It's crazy! And yet, isn't that what makes fashion so incredible? The need to express oneself so strongly that you can help but wear five inch heels to school or socks on a steaming August day.

Images Via: Street Pepper, I Know What You Wore Last Season (Louis Vuttion backpack)

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Bowling

Wear your surgical mask. It's been reported, an outbreak of the Moving Flu. It seems like every blogger is moving (5 Inches and Up, Fashion Toast) or fixing up the apartment that they've just moved into (The Glamouri). My family has finally decided on a house, as well. But before we even start decorating, it's packing up everything that's been strewn around the rental house for the last nine months. Though I hate breaking out the tape and getting my lazy ass off the couch to actually complete something, I definitely enjoy finding pieces of my closet that I though I lost.
My favorite, so far, has been a vintage bowler hat that my Bubbie (translation: grandmother) gave me a while back. I didn't even remember having it, but all of a sudden: there it was. It's nice to know that the goblins under my bed haven't stolen everything.

Images Via: lookbook.nu

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Unimpressed



I've watched this video at least three times. With the first click I though I was going to be blown away, I mean, Martin Scorsese + Chanel= Heaven. Except not. I watched the whole one minute and two seconds and was almost angry it was over. Remember Now must have been a good ten minutes of quiet murmuring between Lagerfeld and his cheek-bones-made-of-glass muse/mistress (Side note: Did you know that Karl used to be fat? And I mean rotund. Apparently he stopped eating and just drank Diet Coke). Anyways, I clicked again, thinking I must have hit a wrong button in my excitement to see this video. I mean, the Chanel website continues to call it a 'film', it can't just be a minute.
Oh, but it is. I watched it another time (and possibly once more), just for you dear reader.
Conclusion: Yes, the what's-his-name who speaks into the camera looks so good in a suit it should be illegal, but besides that, this "film" (see what I did there?) is more moldy than a Rastafarian's dreadlocks. Even watching it so many times didn't help make sense of the plot-wait, there was a plot?

But don't trust my angry ranting. What do you think?

P.S. I know I owe you guys some posts and I'm getting my act together, I promise!

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Back to School (Add On)

Back to School

Back to School!

It's here. The new school year is starting, and summer vacations and freedoms are ending too quickly. However, at least we have one thing to be thankful for; new style to kick off the year! Thanks to Polyvore, I looked to starlet Blake Lively who's Gossip Girl character Serena is also beginning a new year, as well as the lovely romantic outift below that caught my eye.



I decided to make a little outfit threesome; below is the collection of items that I fell for, featuring full skirts and a pair of jeggings, a trapeze top, corset and blousy lace tank, knee high boots, nude pumps, leopard flats, accessories, bags, need I go on?

Back To School Cocoa Style
Hope everyone has an awesome first day of school!

Friday, August 20, 2010

Vancouver Day TWO












Cardigan: Random
Shirt: Francesca's Collection
Jeans: Top Shop
Bag: Dooney and Bourke

The second day was definitely my favorite. Nothing better than walking along Canada Place Way, where the Vancouver Olympics were held. The Olympic stadium was beautiful, shining white against the deep blue of the ocean. It was very humbling to be next to the place where all these dreams were fulfilled or crushed.
We also traveled to Granville Island, a little covered market where I had the best fish and chips. Maybe it was the fact that we had to wait in line for twenty minutes to eat it, but it was even tastier than its counter part in England.
We finished the day at Bard on the Beach, the outdoor Vancouver Shakespeare company. Yes, I know, I firmly cemented myself as a Shakespeare dork. It's not like I studied it in England for two weeks. But whatever, it was exceptional! Much Ado About Nothing is a fun, seemingly modern romantic comedy. Almost better than the show itself was the discussion with the actors. I wish I had photos to show you, but it was wonderful to talk with people so passionate about their field. Very inspired to finally get off my ass and get those head shots.

There's No Place Like Home

FINALLY. With just a few days left before starting school again, I am finally home from all my traveling, summer-schooling, cow-raising, improvising, and all that jazz. My family and I came home from a fabulous Holland America Alaskan cruise on the Oosterdam, which began in Seattle and hit up Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan, and Victoria (Canada).

We had unbelievably beautiful weather (which we were told daily never happens), went whale watching and can now officially say that we have been less than 6 feet from a Humpback whale (another something we were told almost never happens), we saw a black bear cub in a tree, and watched 4 brown bears feeding on a whale carcass...yeah, saw that one from our balcony while we were sailing through a cool place called Glacier Bay.

But anyway, now that I'm back for more than a day, I wanted to post some of my favorite memories--enjoy.

My dad in front of an adorable boutique in Seattle
I got to hold a starfish and a sea cucumber on one of our excursions! So cool, but so slimy!
The whole family in front of a totem pole in Ketchikan
lovelovelove these YSL heels that I saw in the September issue of Harper's Bazaar
Here are some photos of my family and me in Victoria, Canada, plus the lovely doll-shaped jewelry racks which my little sister and I each got 1 of

(mines the second to last one on the right/top shelf!)



my sisters' (I loved this one but it only came in the smaller size)
Juneau was like a village right out of Toontown, only colder. We loved the bright colors of the buildings! This is me, my mom, younger and older sisters, in not exactly the most fashionable of outfits, but I love my Calvin Klein fleece because even though it's pretty thin, it's so warm! And you gotta love the hat--it was my mothers in the 90's

Whale-watching was amazing! This whales' name is Sasha, and our guide could tell because whale flukes (tails) are just like fingerprints; no two are exactly alike!

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Vancouver Day ONE















Day one was full of Boys Town, sight-seeing, and pastries. Actually, quite a lot of eating was done on this trip and I couldn't stop licking my fingers after eating at Stepho's. The lamb is roasted for three hours and when it finally reaches the table you barely need to lift your fork to make it fall off the bone. You know the food is good when after shoving a hunk of meat the size of your face into your belly that you go back for dessert (picture under the Stepho's bill).
Another obsession: Bang On, Vancouver's t-shirt printing company. The shop is incredible for custom printed t-shirts, but I was blown away by their accessories. I couldn't stop caressing the fox tail they had hanging behind the counter. There was no way I could justify bringing home an actual fox body part even if Louis Vuttion made a case for them A/W 2010. But don't worry, Bang-On and I will keep meeting, our love affair's not over yet.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Cheer Up Sleepy Jean


Seeing as I am still on the road and have no access to make-up or a hair dryer, I have been living in my brand new vintage 80s acid wash shorts. Jeans, denim, all are so comfortable it's just like curling up with a blanket, cocoa, and a roaring fire. Yes, I'm craving winter, but only because that jacket I bought from New York is calling me. I can hold off, though, if anyone can help me find a snood...

Images via: Sartorialist, Late Afternoon

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Shoe Porn



Lately I've been doing quite a lot of traveling, hopping from continent to country to city (photos to come when I get home!). As much as I am enjoying myself, I almost feel like I can't breathe. There is so much to be doing. There's the upcoming fashion show, school, and still trying to find the perfect part time job.
Oh course, all this anxiety forces me to shop. I really don't think there's a better way to relieve tension then to try on a new pair of shoes. I'm still lusting after the Sam Edelman 'Zoe', but these could do in a pinch!

Images via: Whowhatwear (clogs), Fashiontoast (Jeffery Campbell 'Litas'), Ribbony Boo (YSL)

P.S. Don't the 'Litas' look like the boots Sailor Jupiter wore on Sailor Moon?