A NYer in PDX

Moon In Cancer

2013-05-16T16:35:00.002-07:00

I received an email from Bergdorf today announcing the arrival of Charlotte Olympia's new Zodiac collection. As usual, the Virgo shoes are not as exciting as other signs. Too scared to click thru as lust would come over me and I just can't afford to buy them. But thinking about my Cancer rising sign and moon in Pieces or maybe I want to pretend to be an Aries just because the red ones are so rich.....

Super Linda Purchase

2013-05-14T13:07:00.002-07:00

I couldn't help myself - I got two things from the pop up sample sale. One a classic Mayle piece that I know I will wear forever - the Rita black lace mini dress. The other a bit riskier - as I normally don't wear blue but was intrigued by the color/pattern clash. The Eniko in the amazonia. Has anyone else shopped?

Sing Your Life

2013-05-13T10:55:00.002-07:00

I was never a fan of boybands, though I was a sucker for booking a european one like Boyzone (they also had one of the first boybanders to come out - Stephen Gately, whom I believe has since passed.) That said I was not a huge Take That fan, but I was a fan of the rough and tough Robbie Williams, who left the band, started to party hard (hanging out with the lads from Oasis and Kate Moss) and wearing dodgy adidas trackies.

Robbie was rough, skinhead with a twinkle in his impish eyes and the je ne sais quoi that only true pop stars have. I was Robbie obsessed. Robbie put out a solo album. No one in the UK cared until the last push of the last single that the record company was planning to release - "Angels" which quickly became a British anthem. Everyone loved this song, then bought the record and Robbie was back on his way to the superstardom that he had as a teen idol.

During one of my trips to the UK I heard "angels" and became obsessed. Of course my friend Paul Adams was friends with Fil Eisler who played bass for Robbie. Oh and he was coming to America - NYC and LA specifically to play small press parties. I got on the list.

It was a Thursday night that Robbie played in NYC at Idlewild, which used to be Den of Thieves re imagined into the interior of a vintage airplane. It was small. The bathrooms even smaller. They set up an area where Robbie and Fil performed. It was myself and a handful of music journalists. I remember wearing specifically an aubergine Dolce & Gabanna bustier and a red metallic cardigan from TopShop and a black skirt. I stood up front. I knew all the songs and sang along. After the performance Robbie approached me excitedly - how on earth did I know the songs? All of them? What was my name? What did I do? We chatted for ages until the publicist came and dragged him away. At the end of the night everyone got to take a photo with Robbie. I had brought my own camera. So in addition to the black and white autographed photo I received a few weeks later, I took the color one and made it into a limited edition holiday card (total of 100) that I sent out to top publicists in the US and UK, and Paul Gallagher at Creation that read "Happy Christmas from the Williams family, Robbie, Marti and Fred (the cat). The response to this was as intensive as the outgoing voicemail message I had from Method Man on my home phone.

Time wore on, I never saw Robbie again. Fil creates all the music for the show "Revenge" in LA. I am sure that he and Robbie stay in touch. Wouldn't they?

Mother's Day

2013-05-13T10:54:00.002-07:00

I love a holiday, especially one where there is a present involved. This Mother's Day I was surprised to receive the book that is accompanying the new fashion exhibit at the Met. I have had a love hate relationship about this exhibit. I want to see it but then I don't. I hate the idea that punk - though its been mainstreamed for years has now become a fashion thing. Not that punk hasn't always been a fashion thing - to an extent its all about cultivating a look - standing out and being set apart. Badly dressed punks growing up were not popular punks. But, fashion is referential. No ideas are truly new these days. It's always the 20/30/40/50/60/70 over and over again - with a touch of 80's neon and a hint at 90's grunge glamour. But after spending an hour with the book, I didn't really realize just how similar some of the most lauded pieces in fashion were literally copies of tattered punk gear that Sid/Nancy/Johnny/Richard/Siouxie wore - from stripey sweaters to padlock necklaces (encrusted with an interlocking CC in the 90's). Have I turned that much of a blind eye while watching runway show after runway show all these years? Obviously growing up punk in the 80's I had my fair share of trying to emulate this look - down to Siouxie Sioux precision of eyeliner, teased hair and safety-pinned everything.

The book did stir up memories and made me long for a time that no longer exists.

Thrills, Pills & Bellyaches.

2013-05-09T16:27:00.000-07:00

In 1997 I was obsessed with Nick Cave. Not restraining order obsessed, but fan girl enough to fly to England to see him perform at the Brixton Academy at the last minute.   In 1996/1997/1998 I hung out nearly every day with Marc Spitz. I was young, dumb, and had a huge crush on him. At the time he was a website columnist for SPIN. And he loved to take advantage of the "juice" that I had. As someone who was foolish (and probably still is- will I ever learn) I was more than happy to use my "power" to get us tickets to gigs in other countries, introduce him to UK power publicists and help advance his career. That sort of thing. So when I found out that yes, I could get on the list to see Nick at Brixton, I pulled out my American Airlines visa faster than you could say free tickets and booked a trip. Marc, Minty and James Robb all joined the journey with Marc and Minty flying Delta and James and I on American. Those were the days that you could board your 6AM flight and start off with free cocktails that would take you all the way to London - and the cocktail hour that was inevitably happening when you landed. On the 5 hour flight James and I had many.

We arrived in London. It was the first time that Marc met my good friend Leslie, Roger's ex. He knew she was a good friend and she knew that I liked him. It didn't stop them from flirting and making out the entire trip.   Several days into the trip - the same day as the show at the Brixton Academy we found ourselves in Primrose Hill in the park. I felt like I was in a Blur video with girls and boys lounging in the sun. We sat on blankets, ate out of a Fortnum and Mason basket. We all drank too much. Mark and I started fighting. We fought every day on that trip. Starting with the second night when I rang Roger and demanded that he come pick me up from Leslie's flat because Leslie made out with Marc and I had to sit there and watch him moon over her. Roger was in Devon. But he talked me off the ledge. I sat outside and listened to Radio One and contemplated if I could afford Claridges. Though my limit was $10K Claridges was $500 pounds a night ($750) so it wasn't going to happen.

Back to the park, I got up and stormed off to the nearest phone box and called my friend Dina in NYC collect. For a moment (a brief one) I was Audrey in European Vacation calling her best friend to book her a ticket home from Hell.   Dina refused to change my ticket. I only had two days left - couldn't I just suck it up?   I could, mainly because I ran into Mani from the Roses/Primal Scream 10 feet away from that phone box. It was like a divine intervention. Though what really happened was "Oi! Marti, what are you doing here?" He dragged me to the pub. We drank for two hours. He had beer, I had double G&T's.   Then I told him that I had to find my friends, because I had to go see Nick Cave.   I stumbled back into the park. I ignored Marc. We made up by the time we got to Brixton. But the next night (Saturday) we went dancing at the Underworld. We got bored and Marc and I mini-cabbed it back to Leslie's listening to Tim Westwood's radio show.

And suddenly, all was good in the world.

Sleep Well Tonight

2013-05-09T09:32:00.001-07:00

While I decide if I am actually going to pen this tome of rock and roll debauchery (do I have the time? will people I know be mortified by some of my behavior? Will I forget things? leave things out? realize that Maybe Marc Spitz was only hyping me up as the 90's queen of the modern age in his book) I thought it would be best to try to share some of those stories - whether they are naughty or nice and because this is the internet I wont go into the detail that I would if it was the book, mainly because other than the 20 people I know who read this regularly this is sort of like a diary - an open one.

1996. Summer. I was finally living on my own in a studio apartment in the east village. No more roommates. No more pastry chef drama or agro childhood friends who wanted to leverage my job to fuck rock stars to deal with. I finally felt grown up. 225 East 5th street #4BR was my place of solitude. I had a hot pink and leopard bathroom. A shower closet in the kitchen. Two vintage sofas from France, a giant television and a stairmaster. It was $600 a month. All mine. I didn't have to feel strange bringing someone home, or having a party or listening to the Notorious BIG and dancing in my underwear.     As a single girl living alone all the Brit bands felt like they had to walk me home to my door. At first I was embarrassed of my tiny apartment but we would end up making G&T's and talking about music and look at art books.   These were some of the best times of my single life. Occasionally passing on a book like the Mole People to the singer of Reef who had been dying to read it.   All of these instances were so purely platonic. I was a cool girl hanging out with some random band who was insanely popular in the UK but 20 people would check out their show at Wetlands or Brownies. And most of the time the record company didn't care. They had some hair metal band or boy band that they needed to focus on.

One of the only people who cared as much as I did was Matt Pinfield who often times ended up at dinners with bands that I was also invited to- like dinner with the Buzzcocks at Spring Street Natural. I remember the band begged me to say that we had plans post dinner because they couldn't stand Matt. He was faceless and fawning. It was around this time that Gene came to the states to promote their latest record. And like Shed Seven before them, no one except for me and a handful of people like Nevin Martell actually cared. And to be honest I didn't care at all. I thought that Gene were a terrible Smiths knock off. I only booked them to get the Buzzcocks. What I didn't know was that by booking Gene is would lead to several other tornadoes in my life. I wont go into them here - one day in print. Yes. So I booked Gene (they came after the Buzzcocks). It was spring. Their singer Martin Rossiter was like a charismatic English serial killer. He was charming with a posh west London accent, amazing hair and dressed in lanky suits, smoked silk cuts. He looked so straight that you could tell that he was really naughty. He was the perfect British rock star and if only someone cared about his band.   After our event, he asked if I wanted to get a drink. I loved English people, so yes. I took him to Max Fish. We sat at a booth in the back and talked about poetry, music and art. I told him that I thought my mother was a secret lesbian because of all the time she was spending with her "friend judy" he told me that he thought his sister was a secret lesbian. "We had so much in common!" We did talk for hours long enough that it was almost last call. I needed to go home, and he inquired if he could walk me. From that day on for a week we had an affair. Martin met me after work at Max Fish, always with a G&T awaiting me, sometimes a present like a book that I mentioned I wanted to read. We would talk for hours, get dinner, go back for another round. Then he went home and I was ok with that because he sucked up all my social time. And if there was something that I was in the 90's it was social. I did tell him I was going to London to visit a friend in a few weeks. He told me to call. When I arrived to visit Leslie I waited. I mean seriously I didn't have that much interest in him, but catching up might be nice.   So I called on my second to last day. He was in a tube station. It turned out that he had a girlfriend. And we got disconnected. and that was it.

I do follow his twitter which is a bunch of football rubbish and political views. It also appears that he gained weight and has lost his hair.

The Songs That Changed My Life or 6 Records I Can't Live Without

2013-05-08T10:46:00.001-07:00

Everyone talks about 5 records they cant live without. But if I was stuck- truly stuck on a desert island what would I listen to? What would I truly feel lost without? I have been thinking about this a lot after conversing about it with a coworker on a recent trip. At the time I was pretty quick to pick the following records (with one bonus) - I wonder what this says about my psyche....

Probably the first record that I really identified with. It came out when I found myself 13 clumsy and shy. I was dating a boy named Chad Steckman. He looked like Jim Reid and wore a black trench coat. They played a sold out 15 minute show at the 9:30 club in DC. We went, and fought and broke up while the Reid brothers beat each other senseless. It was a really bad show but completely magical in the sense that it was all noise and so punk and even though it was as short-lived and as bitter sweet as my first romance with my first boyfriend, I can listen to any song on this album on repeat for hours on end - and do several times a week.

"I touched you at the sound check and you had no real way of knowing in my heart I begged take me with you - I don't care where your going." That line from "Paint a Vulgar Picture" had me at hello. That song is the entire reason why I couldn't live without this album. It has rung true for me throughout my life. That song completely describes nearly every relationship I have ever had. Its probably my favorite song on the album besides "Girlfriend in a Coma." I love The Smiths, so its hard to just pick one album. But that song. I must hear it. I have lived it. I listen to it every day. (and I danced my legs down to the knees in those ugly old houses)

The Cure is another band that I find nearly impossible to pick a favorite record by. My favorite song is not on an album, but on an EP - The Walk. "The Upstairs Room" is a song that the band never play live. In fact the only recording its on is this EP. In fact, Roger one of my oldest friends (and the Cure's keyboard player) couldn't remember it. Its a gothic anthem about mind games and crawling into bed to sleep to escape it all. Poppy upbeat goth dance track.

This is hands down my favorite Verve album with the best song in my opinon of their career - "History." There is something about the line " The bed aint made but its filled full of hope, I've got a skin full of dope" that hits you in a way that you feel Dickie Ashcrofts pain and loneliness and the fact that the woman that he just stole away from record #5's singer (Kate) just left him after they married to be with Mr. Spaceman. Most the songs on this record are angsty brit pop at its finest but some of the most emotionally charged songs I have ever heard. In fact when this record came out I listened to this song on repeat for three weeks.

Everyone knows how I feel about Spiritualized. Super fan. This record makes me cry since the first time I heard it. Soon after the release the band played all teh "highest points" in the world - sears tower World Trade Center. I was lucky enought to go with Marc Spitz to the exclusive Spin event at Windows on teh world. I conquered my elevator phobia and rode to the 104th floor and floated in Space. In 2008 and it made me have a total breakdown at the Apollo theater in when Jason played it acoustically with a full choir. Every song is genius.

Its hard to pick one New Order record. But its this. Every song, plus the Gothic artwork from a painting that hangs in the national gallery that I have stood in front of reinterpreted by Peter Saville. Its all about Age of Consent.

Met Gala

2013-05-07T15:19:00.001-07:00

And here are my favorite Met Gala looks from the Punk - Chaos to Couture ....

Go With The Flow

2013-05-07T13:52:00.002-07:00

It's been awhile since I have write anything. I sort of haven't been inspired. At all. I haven't gone to the gym as much, haven't been eating as much. I have been having a hard time committing to anything - musically, fashion wise and cant move past page 4 of a book that I have been attempting to read about brit pop for the past two years.

I feel like I am in a pretty strange state. Last night's met ball, which I normally would have blogged about (best outfit! worst outfit!) didn't even motivate me. But I will most likely regret saying that I thought Chloe Sevigny looked great. I despise Chloe. But she killed it in a Proenza fall 2013 look with a turban. I go bananas for a turban (mainly because I would look really bad in one).

The only think I have been motivated to do is purge things from my closet. I have obsessed over snagging some new/old Mayle on sale this week but even with this I am not as obsessed as I normally am.

Have I hit my mid-life crisis?

Orlando Pita @ Costco

2013-04-30T07:35:00.001-07:00

A few weeks back I was flipping through the new issue of Allure when I spied an article about three luxury brands that were going to debut at Costco - one was a nail care brand with a line of exclusive nail color, another was make up and the third was celeb hairstylist Orlando Pita with an Argan Oil shampoo/conditioner/hair serum.

On Sunday we were in Costco for the first time in over two months and for $16 I snagged the haircare set. Which I tried today - other than the fact that my hair smells like a coconut it feels pretty good - less dry and definitely less frizzy. Plus its paraban free which is so rare in good organic skin/haircare these days..

Lucky Numbers

2013-04-29T10:23:00.001-07:00

The most perfect dress for summer - Balenciaga's limited edition t-shirt dress ($375) at Barney's. Last collection of Nicholas. I will wear this with chic flat black or gray sandals. perfect for summer strolling. Though I fantasize about wearing it and strolling in St. Barth's - ha.

Get Lucky.

2013-04-29T10:19:00.000-07:00

I can't stop listening to the new Daft Punk single "Get Lucky" (produced by Nile Rodgers and sung by Pharrell). Literally the song of the summer.

The Return of the Super Linda Sale....

2013-04-26T14:52:00.002-07:00

There is nothing like a light at the end of the tunnel at the end of a crappy week. Yesterday was hard for me and the day before and well Tuesday really sucked. But on Thursday I got the best email in my in-box - that yes for three short days in May there would be flirty, fun, lacy Mayle dresses on sale for 30-50% off. How does this make me feel? Scared (about spending), excited (about the thrill of new Mayle) and well delirious. Its like a lost lover coming back and for three days they are yours - and you don't know when they will be back so you need to take advantage of the time that you have. Its that bad boyfriend who broke up with you by text who suddenly appears at your local bar seeking you out. it's lace dresses. its printed dresses. its belts. oh and rompers, but I don't care so much about those.

I know that many people are feeling ambivalent. I was for awhile - until I realized that I could have two Mayle dresses for the price of a Proenza one. Or that Sandro and Mayle, those price points aren't that different.

For now I am dreaming of Rita, in black lace (if its in my size) - which will allow me to fantasize about being an italian widow in Sienna, Italy walking down a desolate road in a black lace mini dress carrying a basket of flowers and wearing really simple flat sandals. Or better yet the Eniko dress in a print mash up. Or even Flora in the animal crackers print that takes me to a picnic in a park by a lake with a thermos of Tom Collins, a missoni blanket and a boom box playing Serge & Jane singing Bonnie and Clyde......

I plan on shopping. do you?

Barney's Warehouse

2013-04-24T10:41:00.001-07:00

I am officially obsessed. The Barney's Warehouse site is like the Outnet on steroids and I can't stop myself from stopping there every day to check out the latest sale pieces. Obviously the incredibly inflexible "no return" policy has a bit of a turn off - however I have been happy with what I have ordered so far - the Carven boots and two Proenza Schouler dresses for under $200 each (both currently being tailored). I highly encourage everyone to check out the site. iThere really are some hidden gems....

Birchbox Surprises

2013-04-23T21:40:00.000-07:00

I subscribed to Birchbox - and embarrassingly enough it was because of some special on GOOP. Most months I am pretty disappointed with what arrives I maybe use one item, if I don't pass the samples along to a friend or co-worker. A month or so back I received a premium sample of this amazing Oscar Blandi shampoo. Its a jasmine scent and its actually worked wonders for my hair. The packaging however is not the best design.... I assume something somewhere has to give.

Too Much Stuff - Purging

2013-04-22T12:50:00.002-07:00

Its true. I have too much stuff. So much of it in fact that I sort of feel like a fashion hoader. It was only a few months ago that I purged. I took a bag of clothes to consignment, a bag to Buffalo and then posted some on eBay. Looking back, I realized that yes there are other things that I don't wear, most likely wont wear and why bother to keep them? I have always been so precious with Mayle almost like it Chanel couture but thinking today when will I wear my Jemeem dress? Is it even that cute on me? The same with the Kaori dress - which I haven't worn since summer 2009 (and really have no place to wear). When I find myself getting dressed up, I have been gravitating towards long dresses - floor sweeping gowns (that Jane did best). Watch this space. some things to be listed soon.

Dirty Rose Gold, Pretty Things

2013-04-19T16:23:00.001-07:00

I adore Eddie Borgo's punk meets precious metal asthetic. One of these pieces needs to make it into my accessories wardrobe this summer - there is nothing I adore more than rose gold.

and..

2013-04-18T15:35:00.001-07:00

thoughts on the tattoo that I have been mulling over. Clearly the best FAC recording next to FAC 257.

Recent Obsessions: Sandro

2013-04-18T15:32:00.001-07:00

My love affair with Sandro continues....I would like all of these things in my closet now.

and Girls

2013-04-17T13:22:00.001-07:00

Girls. I can't stop listening to this Death in Vegas song, which reminds me of one of my favorite dreamy films "Lost in Translation" (its on the soundtrack) but also has a lush sonic landscape that makes me want to fall into a dream state and feel euphoric at the same time.....

Girl + Boys

2013-04-17T07:53:00.002-07:00

Was it nearly 20 years ago that Parklife was released? I have been obsessed lately with listening to this record. I was never that girl who was Blur or Oasis. I loved them both passionately and equally. Blur were art school lads writing deceptively peppy pop songs and Oasis were hard Northern lads who wrote about being hard northern lads. I saw Oasis first gig in NYC at the now defunct Wetlands. There were 30 people and I knew 5 of them. Blur however I first saw live when producing the 2nd Tibetan Freedom concert on Randall's Island. Though my brushing with Liam and Noel were very few (and actually I have never met them, but am pretty friendly with their older brother Paul) I have encountered Damon on many occasions. The first being the aforementioned Randall's Island gig.

After a long day in the sun (and two days before I was going to London for holiday) I found myself starving and in the food tent backstage. I was producing all the interactive chat and cybercast for SonicNet. Sean Lennon saw my plate of food on a computer tower and without even asking (and his exact words were "this is really bad for the computer") he threw it out. The backstage at the Tibetan Freedom Concert was like a summer festival on overload. No matter where you looked you were looking at some of the moment rock n roll demi god. whether its the Beasties or Sonic Youth, Radiohead, Patti Smith or Foo Fighters everyone was hanging out. I wrapped up the chat portion after chasing Blur and their publicist down and securing them for 10 minutes. They were busy. they were THE BAND of the MOMENT. So back to the food tent, I was sunburned. I was tired. I was dehydrated. Of course there wasn't much catering left and as I dejectedly took an apple and strolled to the exit, I caught Damon's eye. And then he took a really big bite out of his apple, looking at me, watching me leave (I did follow his eye out of the corner of my eye as I took what was a 45 second walk).

Damon and I were not to meet again until a year later. I was at Roseland on my own seeing the band (thanks to the popularity of Song 2 it was maybe one of the toughest guest lists ever to crack). I found myself backstage with their radio guy Indian. Damon was telling anyone who would listen that he was really hungry and wanted a veggie burger. specifically one from Zen Pallet. His exact words? "I worked very hard for you today and I really want a veggie burger." Never shy I piped up and told him I could score him this coveted veggie burger. He grabbed my hand, we ran out the backstage door. He hailed a cab. And then his publicts came chased us and told him he needed to go a party. He asked did I want to come? Yes. We piled into the cabs and headed to Neil Simon's son Dustin's house on 11th ave by the Roxy. Upon entering the party, Damon pulled me aside and told me that we only needed to stay 30 minutes and then we could go eat. As the party continued, I found myself stuck talking to a guy who watched my cable access show whom I would date for several weeks - who was also the brother of ad rock (and whom I had absolutely no interest in). Damon was corned by wannabe's, hangers on and at about 1AM I made my way back to him and told him I had to go home. I was tired and I had an 8:30am doctor appointment. He looked sad. He wasn't getting the veggie burger or whatever random hook up he thought may be coming his way. He did however walk me outside and hailed me a cab. Oh and gave me the warmest hug and kiss on the cheek.

If I Don't Go Crazy I'll Lose My Mind

2013-04-16T14:39:00.000-07:00

It's Tuesday which is slightly better than Monday but not as great as Thursday. I refer to Tuesday and Wednesday as my "mid-week blues" days. They are the days that absolutely nothing is on, they are days that take up space in the week. They are the days in which I will undoubtably hear bad news, become overdrawn, find myself treading water during the day. Some recent thoughts.......

I have lost more weight. None of the Hi There Karen Walker dresses that I spent so much money on and so much time tracking down fit any longer. In fact alot of things don't fit. I am torn between altering them or waiting to inevitably put the weight back on. And I have embraced my new/old body. The body that I had at 25. Old Mayle fits which makes me regret selling so many of my favorite things over the years. And I am loving the cut of Rag & Bone dresses with nipped in waists and flared skirts. I am wearing more Sandro and Maje. More bare legs with ankle boots. Trench coats, biker jackets - its like I am finally re-embracing the 90's Marti but with a bit of french sophistication.....

Last night I celebrated Monday with a dance party with my friend/neighbor Jen. I finally figured out how to use the Sonos and access our music library from my iPhone. I have spent the past few days listening to PJ Harvey, Soul Wax, Spiritualized, Death in Vega, New Order, Echo & The Bunnymen (and so on) super loud - last night we danced and drank cocktails and it was actually the sort of release that one needs on a Monday night. I went to bed at midnight. I doubled my fuel band goal. I pretended that I was single and that my 6 year old wasn't 40 feet away sleeping and I danced to "Smack My Bitch Up" and enjoyed cocktails and gossip and I wondered how many more nights I can do this before I settle back into my regular routine on Saturday..... Jon being out of town has definitely stirred up my lost/missed/wasted youth.

As Max slept at a friends on Saturday night, I had dinner with friends, then went out for cocktails and went to bed listening to Sunny Day Real Estate, I woke up with a slight hangover, went to the gym. Came home, listened to Spiritualized, read the NY Times and ended up eating something that I was horribly allergic to - popped a benedryl and passed out to PJ Harvey. I was in a benedryl haze most of the day. I ate guacamole for dinner. I didn't really have to answer to anyone. I could do what I wanted.
AND I realized that now that I can actually access the music library, I have no desire to watch TV. Even Bravo.

Tonight is Johnny Marr.

Spring Breakers

2013-04-12T21:57:00.000-07:00

In the past I have had issues with Harmony Korine films - though I loved Kids Gummo was a nightmare. This week I went to see The Spring Breakers - and I was enthralled. I found it visually stunning and the social commentary on spring break and college students today was completely relatable based on today's culture. I highly suggest it. Plus it may be James Franco's best role to date.

Coachella

2013-04-12T08:25:00.000-07:00

The last time I went to Coachella, Depeche Mode headlined and Madonna did an hour set in the dance tent. I was 6 weeks pregnant and knew that I was expecting so I spent the entire time avoiding booze, bong hits and well just about everything. The one thing that I did remember from Coachella was that it was hot. and dirty. There is so much emphasis put on "festival fashion" - as someone who worked in the music business for nearly a decade and went to my fair share of SXSW, Lollapalooza, Coachella in addition to Reading, and V Festival - I can tell you what you don't want to wear at a festival. To wear something that you love because its going to get destroyed. Kate Moss always does it right. You dress comfortably cute. You wear those cut-offs that are literally going to fall apart next time you wash them, shoes that you wont care become muddy/wet or a variety of other things (I am not going into detail what can happen to shoes - it really still makes my stomach turn). When I used to go to the festivals in the UK I always had a laminate/backstage pass. I had access to awesome food, nice porta potties - Thom Yorke was not going in just any old porta-loo. I was working, interviewing bands, getting drunk in the Bacardi dance tent - but dressed to comfort which for me at the time was normally some really random D&G ensemble that needed to be dry cleaned and was thrown into a plastic bag as soon as I returned to my friend/partner in crime Leslie's flat. I amlways moaned why did I wear the "blah blah blah" because its probably ruined. I was that person wearing their favorite Miu Miu platforms. And I felt stupid, though I did look good. As I have gotten older and wiser I have been smarter about what I wear to things like this. In fact Curiousa on Randalls Island was a black miu miu silk blend skirt and a tank top, along with a great scarf and cardigan (but again I wasn't in the mosh pit, I was hanging with my bestie Roger O'Donnell, Cure keybloard player). So imagine my surprise when I got the following email from Barneys (excuse the pieced out screen shots) tauting some of the most ridiculous things to wear to Coachella.

But my real question is are you rock? Boho or Classic? REALLY? I cant imagine those Dolce sandals making it past a few hours at coachella or the Tabitha Simmons wedges - and I can only imagine how pissed someone would be to lose the Pamela Love ring in the dance tent.... Just a thought/observation.

Studded

2013-04-11T16:20:00.002-07:00

These studded sandals by Fendi are sort of well, everything.