Fashion Pirate

some notes on napkins.

2012-05-21T10:00:00.000-04:00

Visionaire / Comme des Garcons via rifles @ tumblr

“…the female narcissist is dangerous to patriarchy because she obviates the desiring male subject (loving herself, she needs no confirmation of her desirability from him). in the case of an artistic practice that performs female narcissism (such as wilke’s), the threat lies in its making superfluous the arbiters of artistic value. already presuming her desirability, wilke obviates the modernist critical system; loving herself, she needs no confirmation of her artistic “value.”

—	amelia jones, body art: performing the subject

“Those who subvert social norms are, ostensibly, people who have forgotten that they can be seen, publicly, at any time. Therefore, when they transgress social norms—by expressing physical affection for a person not visibly coded as the opposite sex, for example, or by being fat and rejecting social and bodily invisibility—they need to be reminded of this omniscient social gaze, and in the absence of institutional discipline, must be punished so they do not transgress again. This is the mechanism by which a dude who sees me in a vividly-colored dress, walking alone as though I either don’t know or don’t care that I am defying bodily norms, feels compelled to scream “UGLY FAT BITCH” at me. He is applying social discipline and teaching me a lesson: Everyone can see you, and your body and/or behavior are unacceptable.”

—	So Michel Foucault and Jeremy Bentham walk into an elementary school cafeteria*

Cindy Sherman Untitled #479, 1975

I have been very very happy lately, friends and parties and Beyonce do that to a person. That doesn't mean I haven't been thinking critically though... and thinking critically makes me feel sad in kind of a detached way. I wrote this the other night on my tumblr, and I collected all of these things on Tumblr too, but I need the conciseness of a blog post with all of them together to understand what I want from art / critique / myself. Anyway, here goes.

I want ridiculousness in fashion. I want ugly. I want destruction, I want imperfection, flaws, ripped seams, extra armholes, mutated glory that when people walk by me they whisper that they just don’t get it. I want to confuse you. I don’t want timelessness. I want everything, right here, right now, no regard for looking regal or rich or calm and collected. Why do I have to be classy anyway? Why do I need to impress you? When I slip on something I love I’m not doing it for you, I am doing it to feel good about myself, I am doing it to be transported into a place in my mind where I am safe and powerful and the cracks in my existence are filled with gold and diamonds and chocolate and goodness. I want to be able to change what I’m wearing mid walk — flip my jacket inside out, upside down, endless options, I want to tear apart what I’m wearing and what I represent and build back up again. I want you to have to think about what I represent, the space I take up. I want you running scared because you don’t understand and I don’t want you to. Every fucking seam of my jacket represents something you can’t have because I don’t want you to.

This is mine.

All mine.

You can’t have it.

hur hur hur bob

2012-05-18T16:36:00.003-04:00

Wearing vintage chiffon landscape dress from Ebay, Rebecca Minkoff M.A.C Clutch c/o, Wanted Shoes c/o (Similar ones found here)

My lady came to hang out for a bit, went to the diner, watched movies instead of going out to do anything interesting because I am incredibly lazy.

I've worn this dress once before on the blog a year ago when I first purchased it. I haven't worn it since then actually, because it is very prim, but on impulse I pulled it out and just shortened it with a belt to make it more suitable. Now it's much nicer and I didn't have to sew anything. Woooo.

Been really busy with Rookie shenanigans and zine things -- if you'd like to contribute to my zine read more about what I'm looking for here and then email me! I'd love to have you. :)

all i want is everything

2012-05-16T10:00:00.000-04:00

Details of the other posts I forgot to include.

Another outfit I wore to the park. (We had multiple outfit changes, because we are #glaml #diva #goddess individuals.) This one is my 'happy dress', though really it's my 'sad' dress because I got it while trolling on ebay after a terrible day. When in doubt, go shopping, right? I figured I could smother my sadness with chiffon. It worked, because I'm awesome.

My hair is taking forever to fade! I think I'll have to take drastic measures. I want green hair!!!! Blah. Anyway, do you have a happy dress? I wanna know what it looks like and if you do. I'm sure you do, everyone has that one thing they put on to smile... :)

this feeling is brand new

2012-05-12T20:40:00.000-04:00

Sorry I've been M.I.A! I had finals and parties and stuff at school. Now I'm done with the semester so there will be plenty of time to post, at least until I go to Taiwan in July (I will try to blog there too, I want a record of my visit!). I swear it must seem like I wear only Dusen Dusen now....meh, I'd be lying if I said I was doing different, lol. This is the Babydoll dress, which will be on Emerging Thoughts soon enough. I'm wearing a jacket I thrifted from Goodwill some years ago and my friend's flower crown. My sunglasses are vintage and I purchased them the same time I purchased my regular glasses. I think altogether they were $45 or something.

Some of my friends and I went to the state park. They dressed in Lolita and I...didn't bother, because I don't have enough actual Lolita because it's too expensive and I'd rather spend my money on lingerie at the moment, haha. I have to be off to bed early because I'm doing makeup for a shoot tomorrow, so I'll see you soon!

bugs hearts liars and friends

2012-04-21T16:53:00.000-04:00

Been too busy to take more outfit photos from this week so here are some that have been sitting about, same situation as the past few outfits. You can get the dress and bag here. I have been getting some questions about the shoes, but I have no idea where you can buy them now, sorry.

baby darling dollface honey

2012-04-16T10:00:00.000-04:00

Lauren from Emerging Thoughts and I were emailing awhile ago and from those emails, she decided that it's be cool to have her clothes modeled by her favorite bloggers -- including me! I think it's because this collection by Dusen Dusen reminded her so much of me. I can see why. So if you're wondering why my last outfit post has some similar things to this one, that's why -- I took them all the same day, ahaha.

What I am wearing:

Dusen Dusen Bug Dress, Emerging Thoughts

Dusen Dusen Paisey Skirt, Emerging Thoughts

Vivienne Westwood Anglomania x Melissa Winged Sandals

Six, seven, all good girls go to heaven.

a love so fine

2012-04-15T12:19:00.002-04:00

What I'm Wearing:

Paisley Tennis Dress c/o

Rodarte for Target Sweater c/o

Convertible Bucket Bag c/o

Vivienne Westwood Anglomania x Melissa Winged Shoes

Wore this yesterday to IMATS, came home and called up my friend Massiel (who just started her own blog) so we could take pictures. We planned to go to the Cherry Blossom Festival but it was getting too dark out because I get CONSUMED by makeup and came back later than I expected, so we just went to a local park. These are the first outfit photos she's ever taken!!! I ordered her around mercilessly and I think they turned out pretty excellent heh. I took full advantage of the situation and changed my outfit like 5 times into things I've been wearing recently because it's so rare I have someone help me with photos. She is the best for putting up with me.

I hope your days are going well my friends. Stay fly.

blah blah outfit blah

2012-04-09T16:22:00.001-04:00

Blazer: Vintage Button Up: Thrifted, similar available here. Harness: Zana Bayne Pants: American Apparel Sneakers: Nine West (c/o)

Blah Blah outfit Blah. I tried changing the color (to green) but the pinkish undertone of this hair dye wouldn't leave my hair so I had no choice but to stay purple. Whatever. I'll change it up next time.

I don't know where my head is at the moment, I am incredibly happy some days but other days I can't be bothered. Today is one of those days. I am doing the best that I can though. It's funny -- every time I take photos sitting down in this room I can remember it being one of my off days. Maybe it is my off corner.

These pants are a source of contention in my head. I really dislike Dov Charney as a person and I think his practice at American Apparel totally sucks, but I love these pants. I can't even lie, I totally adore them and would buy a billion more if I had the money. The upside is that I got these for $40 at the AA Warehouse on 23rd St when it was open (is it still open? It was like a month ago). I'd never pay full price for these pants, god bless them. I felt so dirty when I purchased them, but there were really no other alternatives; I knew I'd wear these to death, there are no other pants I like right now, they go with everything, they are lazy pants for every occassion. I hate that I have to defend the purchase to myself though.

Sometimes it sux being so ~correct~, even though being 'P.C' isn't a bad thing and shouldn't be treated as such. I just get exhausted from thinking about politics and debating things sometimes. I'm always 'on', I am always critiquing, I am always dreaming of something better, I want more, all of the time, always. I am a perfectionist dreamer of the future more than anything else. I'm not a romantic about the past or even the present. I just want more. Everything. All of it. But working for it can strip me down to the marrow.

if god had an ipod id be on his playlist

2012-03-30T14:13:00.002-04:00

No new outfits to share, I've been in my own hole lately. Tara uploaded these photos last night though so figured I'd share them. This will be the last time you see my purple hair for awhile I think! I'm changing it up. Place your bets on the color, though if you stalk me hard enough you can guess what I'll be doing next.

when the pawn hits the conflict he thinks like a king

2012-03-28T10:00:00.000-04:00

“When the infinite servitude of woman is broken, when she lives for herself and by herself … she will find strange, unfathomable, repulsive, delicious things; we shall take them, we shall understand them.” - Arthur Rimbaud, Letters of the Visionary.

Antilamentation, by Dorianne Laux

Regret nothing. Not the cruel novels you read
to the end just to find out who killed the cook.
Not the insipid movies that made you cry in the dark,
in spite of your intelligence, your sophistication.
Not the lover you left quivering in a hotel parking lot,
the one you beat to the punchline, the door, or the one
who left you in your red dress and shoes, the ones
that crimped your toes, don’t regret those.
Not the nights you called god names and cursed
your mother, sunk like a dog in the living room couch,
chewing your nails and crushed by loneliness.
You were meant to inhale those smoky nights
over a bottle of flat beer, to sweep stuck onion rings
across the dirty restaurant floor, to wear the frayed
coat with its loose buttons, its pockets full of struck matches.
You’ve walked those streets a thousand times and still
you end up here. Regret none of it, not one
of the wasted days you wanted to know nothing,
when the lights from the carnival rides
were the only stars you believed in, loving them
for their uselessness, not wanting to be saved.
You’ve traveled this far on the back of every mistake,
ridden in dark-eyed and morose but calm as a house
after the TV set has been pitched out the upstairs
window. Harmless as a broken ax. Emptied
of expectation. Relax. Don’t bother remembering
any of it. Let’s stop here, under the lit sign
on the corner, and watch all the people walk by.

Peter Lindbergh for Vogue Italia, 5/99

Max Vadokul's photo for Y's Autumn 200 Catalogue

I don't know where I am, but I know I am very happy -- and when I am not, I know that there is happiness waiting for me down the road. I have decided to regret nothing and try everything.

it makes you think.

2012-03-20T10:00:00.000-04:00

Fashion, at it's best, transforms and inspires us and it's more than thread and fabric and seams. It is an idea that you can wear that you can shape or be shaped by. That's why I love it. I might not ever be able to afford the things that are very high fashion, or at least, very rarely -- but it lets me dream and that isn't something you can buy. I actually paid attention to shows last season (or at least, London shows, I was a TERRIBLE reporter on the NY shows and need to beg forgiveness to my editors for that.... please love me bossman I love you!!!) and I'm glad I did, because it confirmed my love for designers I have been watching for the past few seasons. The main one being J.W. Anderson.

This is from his last collection, but I'm a big fan of his past few seasons, too. I like how sparse and naked they feel. He takes sex out of the equation, like all my other favorite designers. It's one of my favorite things to think about, the relationship of sex to fashion. Most of the time I don't want my clothes to say anything about sex, I don't want to be an object. If they do make a statement about sexuality, I want it to be a subversive one, I want to creep people out, I want to make people as uncomfortable as their leers make me. I want protection and thorns. The idea of a collection designed 'for women' but leaves the idea of what a woman really is -- that is so interesting to me. It is ambiguous and questionable and for that, it's remarkable. Clothes say a lot about a person if you want them to, and these are like opting for silence. It's rebellion.

Learning more about this collection made me love it even more, too. Apparently it's called "The Chamber of Isolation" -- JWA "imagined a woman so oppressed by that domesticity that she'd flipped her wig." It's rad, isn't it? You can tell. She's saying enough is enough. I don't want to be fucking cute. I want to be free. Fuck your noise.

It's rad when you can see your politics in the clothes you love. I could wax on about Rei's last collection, too, but I mean... we all know how much I love her.

tales from earthsea

2012-03-18T13:23:00.000-04:00

by Logan

by Sandy

Laurence by Sandy

Tara by Sandy

Some more photos from my Brooklyn hangout sesh. It was so fun and I can't wait to hang out with everyone again. New friends are so wonderful aren't they? You can just taste your future happiness when you're around them sometimes. It's lovely.

wings of desire

2012-03-15T23:13:00.000-04:00

Man, my spring break has been RAD so far. I decided not to sit on my butt all day and meet up with friends I rarely see and it has been just a week of self care and smiles. I don't have any 'outfity' photos but I have some I still want to share. This isn't so much as a style blog as my diary, anyway, and I'll treat it as such. So this post are just snapshots of my favorite moments of the past that have not been documented properly.

One of the only pictures from the best night ever that I can actually use because I do not look shitfaced, and also it is not from a photo agency that spelled my name wrong?? Thnx Leia. I did an outfit post in this outfit, but this is from the party Tavi held that night. Still the best night ever. Proenza dress, Proenza necklace, Givenchy glasses, vintage sweater.

This is from Hoot Mag, the day before the outfit above, I think...? Yeah I think so. Might have been the last day. This is such a boring outfit for me... I pretty much wear this every single day anyway, minus the cape and hat. Everything is thrifted minus the harness, which is of course Zana Bayne. When in doubt, BLACK! HARNESS! COLLAR! Out the door.

My friend Christine and I. Isn't she super cute? I have a crush on her. (INTERNET REVELATIONS? It's no big deal it's not like tens of thousands of people read my blog or anything word won't get out...........hahahahahahahaha why am I still talking). Anyway this is from a super chill party. I like it because we're both really happy and I'm wearing my favorite sweater, and my makeup is artfully a mess. I approve of looking like a mess. Let your mascara smudge and your eyeshadow fade, cry in public, scream when you need to. It is okay.

Beacon's Closet the other day with Sandy, Logan, Laurence, Tara. We had such a wonderful day together, I can't wait for all the photos to get developed. I'm only showing this photo because apparently it was sold to Beacons the other day by another Rookie writer Jenny. I didn't end up getting it (no $!) but I thought the story was funny. CIRCLE OF ROOKIE LIFE?

Tara and Laurence and I muggin 4 da cam.

I match my salad. (Thrifted sunglasses, TEAMO blouse c/o Emerging Thoughts)

Well that is all I have to share for the moment -- happy moments with rad people. We took tons of photos in Brooklyn, Logan and Tara and Sandy and Laurence anyway, so when they get them developed they'll be up here too. But I'm off to bed because I have MORE SOCIALIZING to do tomorrow. I hope you are all happy and cared for and safe and loved, my friends. I'll talk to you soon.

mansion of misery

2012-03-12T14:48:00.002-04:00

Mmmmm, back to black. My friend Ari sent me this TAO blouse from where she works, 'cause she knew I'd love it. I seriously have the best friends -- they've given me most of my CDG collection?! I am completely spoiled, but I'm not gonna complain. It's not really a blouse, more of a layering piece, which I like. I reorganized / cleaned my closets yesterday afternoon and set aside this outfit to wear today just because. I haven't worn something so strange in awhile, it felt good and like myself.

I have to wear more bizarre things once in awhile just to remind myself that I can. I like wearing lazy outfits a lot but it's the weird outfits that remind me that I can actually participate in fashion and create my own identity and not just wear lazy hipster shit and call it a day. Not that there is anything wrong with lazy hipster shit. My disco pants are honestly my favorite pants right now, I feel disgusting about it but whatever. At least I didn't buy them full price. I take labels very seriously I guess, but I still feel gross about buying AA even if it was for 60% off. I guess I care 'too much' about fashion. Whatever. It's part of my life, part of who I am, of course I care. How can I not care? It's not that I care about what others see me as, it's how I see myself. Self absorbed introspection, what can you do about it? Ah well.

Jacket: Comme des Garcons

Blouse: TAO Comme des Garcons (similar to this)

Dress: Calvin Klein (basically this dress, but long sleeved), thrifted

Belt: Zana Bayne

Felt like showing you guys my ''whats in your bag'' kind of deal.

Rebecca Minkoff bag. I usually carry this around if I'm not carrying around a backpack. This was a gift from Socialyte.co.
Gum & a journal to write in. This is a Simple Diary, you basically fill in a page, each page is different. It's nice to fill out on the subway when you get bored. This was a gift. I would bring around my actual writing journal but it's too big for this bag, so I keep it in my backpack.
Wallet. Yawn.
Makeup: NARS Schiap, my favorite lipstick of the moment, and my favorite liquid and pencil eyeliners, brow gel, lip balm, and powder.
iPhone. Ugh, I wish. This is basically a brick now, after taking this picture I had to go bring it to the cell phone store to try to get it fixed. I'm gonna have to sell it, it doesn't work on TMobile anymore. I have a Samsung Galaxy S2 now. I miss the iPhone for instagram and the cute cases I got from Iconemesis, though. They have the cutest cases & I'm going to miss having the occasion to use them. People asked me where I got my cases from all the time when I had a usable iphone, I always directed them to this website. So many cute cases. ;__;

time wrinkles

2012-03-09T12:30:00.002-05:00

The background image is an old background of the CDG website. Everything is from Goodwill except for the shoes (c/o Wanted.)

By all rights this is a pretty typical Arabelle outfit, I go for the same thing in different variations. For example: this jacket. I have a blue one VERY similar I've worn several times on the blog, and my friends have worn it, too (see: Scott). I dunno, patterned blazers are the easiest thing ever to wear to me. I could have one in every color and wear them every day for a month, year, etc, and be totally content. I prefer wearing darker looks now but I needed a break from all the black and silver I was wearing.

Now that I'm on spring break I can finally catch up on emails and posting and the sequel to my fashion blogging video. I want to go further into blogger relationships with brands and this idea of integrity and clarify that I don't want to make people feel bad about liking what they like even if it is trend driven. We all blog for different reasons but there is a lot to be said about blogging in hopes of getting sponsorship and free stuff rather than blogging because you want to tell your story. When you step back and realize that a good portion of every one of your posted outfits was sponsored by a brand you would otherwise never wear, you need to figure out your accountability and if you're being truthful to your readers. This applies to me as much as anyone else -- even though I primarily wear vintage and thrift, a good portion of my wardrobe was gifted to me, by friends I've made through blogging as well as through brands. I'm very lucky and I acknowledge that but it makes me feel like a hypocrite to continue doing so when I'm so jaded by the system I'm critiquing.

I mean maybe it's because I'm studying to be a journalist and I have always wanted to be one that my instincts are always to follow the Code of Ethics as closely as possible, but blogging isn't considered journalism? Or at least, fashion blogging. It's so linked to having relationships with brands that acting independently can be really hard. Are we really independent fashion bloggers when we're all being courted by the same brands, hoping for the same shit, networking with the same people?

I don't know. Just something to think about.

just a better place to die

2012-02-22T10:00:00.000-05:00

Vintage sweater and jeans and necklace, thrifted GAP striped shirt, Nine West sneakers c/o brand.

Quick outfit of me on Sunday. Worst weekend ever, super stressful week, just barreling through it on a lot of empty prayers and screams into my pillow. Bandaids on my fingers because these jeans, while they actually fit me, have a weird zipper and it takes nothing less than 20 minutes to try to get them on properly. They look so good on I can't help myself though. Oh well.

Been swamped with emails re: state of fashion blogging, too. Haven't gotten back to any of them but I will, slowly. I have a lot on my plate right now but since it's year of the Hustle I will try my hardest. Been trying to not let the stress get to me so been burying myself in self care mantras. I like this one a lot:

“Only hang around people that are positive and make you feel good. Anybody who doesn’t make you feel good, kick them to the curb. And the earlier you start in your life the better. The minute anybody makes you feel weird and non-included or not supported, you know, either beat it or tell them to beat it.” -- Amy Poehler.

Self-care is so important. Love yourself you guys.

proenza and cotton candy and jesus imitations

2012-02-17T10:00:00.000-05:00

So this is what I wore the last day I went to shows during Fashion Week, and to Tavi's Cadaver Screening/Party. Recognize that print? YES YOU DO. Or you should, it's from Proenza Schouler's best collection. (We're not going to mention this season ok? I was gagging when I saw the pictures.)

Rent the Runway & Krupp Group were gracious enough to offer to dress me for the night, and I used the credit they offered me to rent one of their dresses instead to buy this on sale. It's actually a drop waist dress but I know my body shape and decided to belt it into something more fitting my petite stature and I love it so much. The texture is remarkable. I think I'll get it tailored to the shape I want eventually but belting it is easy enough (read: doesn't cost me a penny).

Since this post is also going to include me rubbing a shoe orgasmically and pictures where I look high as fuck (I was high... ON LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!) I will be putting the rest of the pictures after a cut. They're worth the click, I promise.

PANTHER GIVENCHY GLASSES YA'LL. So good, I want them so bad. Borrowed them from Meagan along with the Proenza necklace. Her wardrobe is to kill for -- she has the best ebay skills on the planet. Luckily we have pretty much the same prescription so wearing these to the party wasn't a problem. ANYWAY, I need to show you my nails bc they are integral to the outfit:

Palm trees that look like weed from far away! Intense! I'm mentioning weed a lot in this post huh. Whatever. Anyway, enjoy these parting photos where I am inappropriately cradling Meagan's Rodarte shoes, and also being stereotypically asian with my peace signs.

Now, in this gem of a photograph I am apparently doing my best impression of Adam reaching out to touch God's hand. No, I'm just really drunk and discussing how great the DJ was with everyone after an hours long dance a thon with Claire, Nicolette, and company. Bloggers make the best dance partners. Best. Night. Ever.

I am Rutgers Video

2012-02-15T16:45:00.000-05:00

A couple of months ago (TIME FLIES MAN) I am Rutgers approached me to do a video piece on me and another fashion blogger who goes to RU. The results are unintentionally hysterical because it just displays how completely different Melanie and I are! Seriously night and day but we both found our places in the community Rutgers provides. Have a watch and laugh hysterically at the contrast with me.

Have a good day my friends.

rachel antonoff, cute cats, and horcruxes

2012-02-12T10:00:00.001-05:00

Low key day today -- brunch with Lucrecia, then chill time with Kristin (all lesbian gossip, all the time) & a quick visit into Rafael Cennamo's presentation which was lovely and I wish I had beauty pictures of it for future reference. Here is an instagram of it, though. So pretty! Might drop by for a showroom appointment to spend more time admiring the details.

Then we met up with Tavi and caught up and headed down to Rachel Antonoff, where it was like EVERYONE I LOVE IN ONE PLACE!! So many friends I'm not gonna spend 304924 minutes naming them. But it was so, so great and the music was great -- the Drive soundtrack -- and there was a CAT and also ADORABLE CHILDREN and A REALLY CUTE CAT and all the clothes reminded me of my favorite lady and it was just so lovely I don't even mind that my feet still hurt like hell. It was such a cute collection -- when does Antonoff ever disappoint? I was ogling the creepers and the sweatshirt in particular. Love.

It's days like these that make me happy to be doing that I'm doing. Some Rookie readers and also blog readers said hi at the tents (HIIIIII sorry I couldn't stay longer but it was such a pleasure to meet you all!!♥) too and it just made me feel validated to be among people I care about and have known for a long time and surrounded by clothes that have so much care and thought put into them. Going to sleep with a smile on my face knowing I get to do this tomorrow, too. :')

actual coverage of shows because i talk about fashion sometimes

2012-02-11T15:00:00.000-05:00

I'm only going to a handful of shows this season, shows my friends are styling or designing or shows I just know they'll be there. Shows I have faith in, shows I know will inspire me. Concept Korea is a presentation of 5 brands , one of the rare shows I actually bothered reporting about last season (post here). Since this is rather photo heavy, click the cut to see everything.

I'm a bit bummed I didn't get more good photos of Lie Sang Bong's Dol Dam collection, he's my favorite designer out of the Concept Korea crew and I loved his last season so much! This was a definite turnaround in color -- no more shiny faery texture play or colorful palette, but that doesn't mean it wasn't interesting . This season he was inspired by "Dol Dam," which are traditional Korean stone walls built by stacking pieces of stone in different sizes and shapes. I could definitely see his inspiration come to play in the organic shapes and lines, it felt more earthy than last collection which was some sort of intergalactic majesty that I wanted to just drown myself in.

Okay so these two photos are of the ANTIQUE'EN FW2012 Collection by DoHo. I think the texture work of DoHo is very consistent from season to season. Insight into how DoHo creates each collection is important in order to appreciate the finished look, which isn't particularly my style but admirable nonetheless. This is her interpretation of a traditional antique style from a new perspective. She collected antique furniture and old-fashioned jars during her travels around the world, and they are the basis of her new collection.

Whlie I wouldn't wear any of these looks -- though Taylor Momsen might steal a few items? I saw her at the event, anyway -- I do like how she uses texture. One must always have an appreciation for detail work.

By process of elimination I'm guessing this is Son Jung Wan (.....my journalism professor would be so ashamed of my reporting skillz right now). I liked this a lot! Actually, it reminded me a lot of Ms. Glamourai. SJW loves glamour, and I like this season's take on it more than last season's which was much colder. I think if you're going to do glamour it should be rich, luscious, like warm velvets and golds and this delivered on that promise. Plus I liked the makeup.

Next up is Steve J & Yoni Pi. Wearable, referential to stargazing. I liked the bright knit suit situation they had goin' on the most. They aren't my favorite collection in the group, just not my style.

OK I'm gonna be real I was most excited for CK not for LSB but for the chance that Sen Mitsuji might be modeling, and he's my favorite model at the moment and I'm fucking obsessed with him, but he wasn't there this season so I am sad and the mens show was irrelevant to me because of that. SADFACE.

damned if i do

2012-02-10T18:57:00.001-05:00

Mostly taking a photo of this outfit for my dad, he was nagging me to do it and he NEVER does that and he spent a good ten minutes pinning and tucking at my outfit before I went out to shows like a little stylist papa. It was cute. He offered to take photos of me in it (Blogger boyfriend? NO I HAVE A BLOGGER DAD!!) but he is terrible at photography, bless him. Anyway, this is what I wore to the shows today at NYFW. I opted to just wear things I like on a whim rather than plan my outfits beforehand or anything. I'm not trying to impress anyone or get photographed, I'm just going to shows to see my friends and the clothes. I have a lot of feelings similar to Cat in this article. It took me a good 45 minutes to get out of bed this morning.

Anyway, here is my dutiful reporting of what I did today at fashion week thus far.

This is the face I make when my friends (Meagan and Laia) talk about Jezebel and bronies. Very attractive. Oh yes. Got all the ladies lining up for me obviously.

I really liked this street style photographer's look. He looked as disinterested in everything as I feel inside, lol. Just kidding, he just had cool style. That little spike ball thing was what initially caught my eye.

Here are instagram photos of some of the events I went. For whatever weird reason wifi in the tents at Lincoln Center refused to work for me so these went up late. I'll post actual photos (and video) of the events in another post.

There are some parties later on today that I might go to, but I'm kinda boring right now and think I'll nap and watch Sherlock again. Peace.

the state of fashion blogging.

2012-02-03T10:00:00.000-05:00

I recorded this a little over a week ago, but you can probably tell by the tenor of my posts that it's been kicking around in my head for awhile. I don't know, it's scary to put this out there -- but I had to. It feels honest.

if the clothes fit

2012-01-31T10:00:00.000-05:00

Someone asked me if I consider myself a fashion blogger or makeup blogger or what. At first I was offended (I get defensive easily LET IT BE KNOWN) but then I thought about it. It's a perfectly reasonable question to ask, considering the state of this blog. I'm not as interested in "fashion" as I once was, let's start there. As in, I don't spend hours trolling thru style.com archives anymore, taking notes on each and every collection in a Google Doc when I'm supposed to be paying attention in class. It's not as though I'm ignoring fashion, but rather, my focus in the industry is very finely tuned -- now more than ever. I know what I want out of fashion and I'm focusing all my personal style and creativity on attaining what I want out of the industry -- nothing more, nothing less. I think that is what makes fashion empowering to me, as a feminist. I use fashion as a tool of power/personal identity as much as I am used by fashion as an influencer thru my voice in social media. When people ask me about how I can possibly be feminist and be into fashion I feel like the answer should be obvious: it lets me do what I want. The end. Minh-Ha T. Pham says it pretty wonderfully in this Ms. article:

If feminists ignore fashion, we are ceding our power to influence it.

I mean, I get why people don't 'get' the fashion industry, I get that the representations of it can make it seem like a totally shallow, soul sucking industry. It can be. The parodies and satire are funny because they are sadly, woefully, true, in a lot of cases. Fashion isn't deep unless you give it depth. Once you put power and thought behind it, put meaning, it becomes something else: agency. Now, this agency can sometimes be at odds with privilege. It can be hard to like fashion when the only versions of fashion we see in popular culture are the ones modeled by skinny young white girls whose bodies don't resemble ours, who're wearing $500 tshirts and $798 skirts and $1000 worth of jewelry on each wrist. Make no mistake: I'm not hating on the people who can afford these things. Because rich people who see themselves in the popular representations, they might be using fashion as a means of identity, too -- it might just be easier for them to do it. There is nothing wrong with being rich, it's what you do with the money that counts. People read designer clothes and see what they want to see, you know? People see expensive clothes and think, "That person has it easy. That person is probably not like me." And it's easy to hate someone for it. I've done it before and I'll probably do it again in the future, I'm not perfect. But you also have to take into consideration that fashion can't be equivocated to designer clothes -- it's bigger than that and it's smaller than that. Essentializing it into a scene for rich white girls is selling it short. You're dismissing the power it can give you, and that power is one of the most pervasive and widely used forms of communication you can have as a person. I mean, yeah. I think it's really stupid and fucked up that fashion designers don't make space for larger sizes -- I think it's unforgivable, really. And I think there needs to be a change. There is a lot wrong with the industry, but I think at heart fashion can be good, too.

I think it's weird that people hate on fashion and in the same breath encourage people to "be themselves" and be unqiue. Girls are told we should "maintain ourselves" and in the same breath it's apparently uncool to be girly because being girly means we're dramatic and troublemakers and guys have 'so much less drama' and blah blah blah. All the mixed messages can really fuck with a girl. And I think a lot of the resentment towards fashion can be grounded in self-hate & the special snowflake complex.There's another blogger that said it pretty succinctly:

Jenny Holzer, Source

“Fashion is one of the very few forms of expression in which women have more freedom than men. And I don’t think it’s an accident that it’s typically seen as shallow, trivial, and vain. It is the height of irony that women are valued for our looks, encouraged to make ourselves beautiful and ornamental… and are then derided as shallow and vain for doing so.

I love fashion. I hate fashion. I can't really live without fashion, because I can't escape clothes. I can claim defeat and pull on sweatpants and keds or jeans and a hoodie, but it's like slipping into someone else's skin, it doesn't feel like me. Fashion gets me into my own space, it's like I can breathe properly. I know that fashion can make people feel really bad about themselves but I think if you subvert it and use it and make it work for you and not the other way around it can be more than you'd ever expect......use the power it has and you get stronger because of it. I wrote a post about agency and fashion a little while ago, if you remember. The words are as relevant as ever:

I always return to the sentiment that my favorite clothes are my armor and my friends. They will never fail me. . . Clothes give me agency where talking often fails. . . I can be a feminist and also love fashion because I believe that your style and how you approach the industry and dissect and create the media can give you agency, give you a voice, give you strength. Passion in any form, like getting dressed (even if that is a simple form), just says that I am here and that I exist and I am not ashamed.

my birthday blouse

2012-01-27T14:42:00.000-05:00

If you follow me on instagram (my username is fashionpirate, natch) and twitter you'll know that when I went to Opening Ceremony with Meagan I got myself a Rodarte (for OC) blouse. Well this is it! It was heavily on sale, just like many other pieces from the collection. I've got one of the dresses on my wishlist and it's within reach so I might buy one....or two. I really liked the collection, at least the pieces that are available in black. WESTERN GOTH DREAMZ.

This is admittedly a more risque piece for me to wear (boobies!) but I don't really care. I have some fashion tape and pasties so when I wear this out my ickle buds (ugly laughter) aren't saying hi to anybody.

Blouse: Rodarte for Opening Ceremony

Skirt: Thrifted (and seen before in this post, along with several others)

Saggy as all hell tights: I don't know. Probably Satan planted them in my drawer bc I hate them.

Clear Creepers: Some Halloween store online? $20. Also seen before on the blog.

P.S You can click on the images to make them bigger now, they won't link to Flickr. Progress!

parrots and zebras and curtains as dresses

2012-01-20T12:21:00.000-05:00

Ughhhh I forget how to pose for outfit photos. I'm just like "OK HOW DO I SMILE" and then I look at the photos and I have the same soulless smile in all of them oh well. At least I'm pretty. (And modest, too!) Oh yeah, I was boring and instead of going green like I'd planned in December I just redyed my hair purple. I'm so used to it now, it's like my natural hair color to me. Anyway, I wanted to take photos of this dress Meagan got for me at Opening Ceremony over the weekend when we went shopping. She is so so generous and lovely and one of my favorite people period, we have lots in common re: how we view fashion and the blogosphere, feminism and personal politics. I hope she moves to New York so we can hang out more, I miss her already.

Cardigan: Rodarte x Target, gift from Tavi

Dress: Opening Ceremony, gift from Meagan

Brown Jacket: Gift from my mom

Vintage Jacket: Gift from one of my HS teachers

When were were in OC we tried on a bunch of stuff, but we have very similar taste so the people helping us accidentally put everything we both wanted onto one rack/dressing room. It was funny. Anyway, I got myself a Rodarte top (you'll see in another post) and might go back for a dress but I'll wait until I have more saved up. Even if the sale discounts are really good I don't have $$$$ to spend every week. I've been really bad with temptation this month. But I haven't purchased any new clothes in....man, I honestly can't even remember how long. Maybe since....November. I have enough clothes, and I've been focusing my style to a very specific point, and I have everything I need and can afford to achieve the style I want at the moment, so I haven't felt the need to buy new stuff.

Anyway, I hope I did the dress justice in these photos, for Meagan stipulated that I had to take LOTS of photos in it if she were to buy it for me. So I did and these are the best ones I think. You'll see me in it a lot though -- I have a bagillion ideas as to how to wear it. So happy. Thank you thank you thank you! I have the sweetest and most generous friends.