Fashion Pirate

chopped up victorian modern

2013-05-21T01:17:00.000-04:00

I'm totally in love with this little alley for photos, perhaps you'll get tired of it soon but I won't! I think the industrial, airy, distressed quality of it is quite beautiful and is much more suitable for my outfits and like.. general existence... than a garden or a sidewalk. I'm not outdoorsy at all. Anyway, this skirt is one of my new CDG pieces that I purchased at the Archive sale.

I'm wearing it with a TAO blouse my friend Ari gave to me awhile ago. It's pretty shapeless and strange, the way I wore it today is completely different from the way I wore it last time. I don't know if there really is a right way to wear CDG? I like it that way, though, the possibilities. Both the skirt and the blouse have weird details that make it look probably just plain wrong to strangers but that's half the fun, really.

Outfit details:

One Spo Blazer (my friend Massiel's, who took these photos)

TAO Comme des Garcons Capelet Top worn as Blouse (similar)

Comme des Garcons Skirt (similar)

Feminine and Masculine 1954x Shoes (c/o)

smoke and ladders

2013-05-16T00:20:00.000-04:00

Schools out for summer! I guess I have lots to talk about -- like the CDG Archive Sale! I bought a bunch of stuff, now I am close to my goal. When I came home I just stared at my room with utter disgust at all the stuff I have though, so I spent the past few days cleaning out my closet and decluttering because I have so, so many unique items I've thrifted and whatnot, but so little of it fits where I am going aesthetically. Not really into super kawaii, sequin frills. I need a little bit of wrongness, you know? I'm trying to figure out a place to host a blogger flea market or something in NYC or Brooklyn with a few other babes -- if you've got a spot or an idea, let me know. I just want my clothes gone!

Anyway, this is not one of the pieces I purchased at the Archive Sale, if you thought it was -- it's been on the blog before actually. I thought I'd photograph it with this dress because it's a bit of an unexpected match; the dress is Pinkyotto (c/o) -- similar here -- and it's so, so sweet. I actually got a skirt, and two dresses at the Archive Sale and easily could have convinced myself into two other pieces but I have to keep a budget so I can travel semi-comfortably later in the summer. Eeeee, London in August!!!!!!! I work really hard at school and at my freelance jobs but spending my own money on the ticket and at the Archive Sale made me hyperventilate both times respectively but there is really nothing like being able to do something for yourself that you really love and care about all on your own. I guess that is what being an adult feels like, a little.

Pardon my Helga Pataki mid-walk stance, being this cute just comes naturally. Oh yeah -- I guess this is the fashion blog debut of my new hair, too, huh? Got it done a few weeks ago. My hair grows super fast so I've already been to the salon to shave the undercut twice. I love the buzzer.

Hope all is well (and I'll be posting more often now because I'm out of school, I promise!) -- Arabelle

on survival & anxiety & feminist film gaze & words to heal you, from me with love

2013-04-17T15:32:00.000-04:00

Hmm. I do inspiration posts occasionally, but I think I'll do them more often now because they are a good place to center my thoughts that often get sidelined into tumblr text posts and forgotten about later. Plus, I don't really care to document what I wear on a routine basis, it's more about everything else to me now. By everything else, I mean what I do with my body, what content I create, not the image I produce. I don't know how long this will last, me being me, Narcissist Extraordinaire, but there are so many strange, terrible, horrible, and beautiful things in the world, that it seems like a waste of energy for me to obsess over my looks at the moment. I want to think about the influences.

It's a matter of both closing my eyes to constant self-surveillance and taping them open so I can learn everything, because I have realized nothing will ever be enough. I am thinking also about the complexities of constant self surveillance when it comes to women and femininity (they are not the same things, women and the feminine, so this distinction is important). We insist on seeing ourselves and maintaining ourselves constantly like we are going to disappear. Some of us are going to disappear, and maybe that surveillance has something to do with it. I am having weird problems with vanity. I am not ashamed to be happy with myself as a whole, because I am working to improve myself constantly, but also, it is sometimes very exhausting to realize how much work I have done to myself, and how much work there is left to do.I get dysphoria looking at pictures of myself now, even recent ones, like, 2 week old ones. It's so rapid and it isn't stopping. Like I said, nothing will ever be enough. It's ok, though, it's actually quite beautiful.

Here are some things that matter to me at the moment, and things I've written recently that have kept me grounded. They are lists, because I am a Type 8 and keeping lists helps keep me motivated to get things done.

♠ ♠ ♠Things to Remind Yourself When People are Never-Ending Shitheads Who Seek to Destroy You ♠ ♠ ♠

Filed under XY Mar 1999 by XYmagazine

§ § 15 of My Favorite Feminist and Queer Films § §


1. Cleo from 5 to 7 2. Sympathy for Lady Vengeance 3. Ladies and Gentleman, the Fabulous Stains 4. Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!

Picking these particular screencaps was pure coincidence but I think it speaks to the overarching theme of my perspective on feminist and queer cinema, and also my thoughts on self-surveillance and vanity and repulsion etc as a whole (things that make up feminist academia and feminist practice as a whole) . Feminism for me is about resistance and analysis but also empathy. Not charity, but empathy, and solidarity, because we can't speak for others and we have so much to learn from each other, and we are all so fucking complex. I will never know myself fully and you won't either, and it's important to question ourselves to further ourselves, you know? Critical analysis breeds complexity which breeds a way to understand how we can help each other.One of the reasons I enjoy my Lady Vengeance ladies so much because it becomes so clear they are being reactionary to what has been handed to them. In cinema, women are rarely afforded really complex hero positions, and when they are, their femininity is taken from them in some traumatic fashion, they are considered animals, sellouts, unhappy with themselves. It's a punishment for being different, you have to be punished in some way if you're going to be free.

I admire all the women and people in these movies because they reject, and scream, and are very aware of the positions they have in society and are fighting against it and for themselves every step of the way. Again: vanity & resistance & vengeance & will & power & sisterhood & solidarity & refusal & freedom. When you watch any of these films, you are so aware that nothing is "natural" and being a person is such hard work, and you appreciate the shit you go through as a result. Pain, you see, can be pleasurable too, because at least you know you're feeling something. There's a truism for you. Now, we're almost done....

A Trio of Poems to Hit Home

Ok, I'm done. I suppose this gives us both lots to think about. I'm going to get back to reading. Hope you have a nice day. Much love.

stripes and psychedelics

2013-04-04T14:00:00.000-04:00

Ta da, a revamp of the blog! I hope you like it. We're still working out the kinks, sorry -- tweet me if you have any huge troubles with it. You'll note I added a Shop FP link up at the top (with faves of the moment) and also sponsorship opportunities. Someone in the last comments thread asked about skype consulting and yes, I'm happy to do that as well, just email me. Ok, back to business:

I have always been a total sucker for stripes -- my all time favorite shirt is just a striped tank top I purchased from Goodwill and have worn so much it has literally fallen apart at the seams, and then I just sewed -- HAND SEWED -- it back together while I watched Breaking Bad on Netflix. It took several episodes but it was so worth it. This dress spoke to me and this is actually my favorite jacket, it's just made so beautifully and is the softest leather. Paired 'em together et voila. It's very funny to see my outfit posts and how rapidly it seems my style changes, but that's only because I do so few of them that you can't see my style change on a day-to-day basis. Though I'm practically omnipresent on the internet you still only see a sliver of my life, so you don't see me change, you just see the results. That's fine with me. A girl has to have secrets.

I'm obsessed with this dress from Gypsy Warrior -- I want a crop top version and a high waisted skirt of this fabric and cut. This is what it looks like without the jacket. It's definitely one of the most obnoxious high-low pairings I've ever worn, the jacket retailed for four digits and you can pick up the dress for $32. Something about this amuse me so much....postmodern fashion methodologies forever, man.

Outfit details: Similar jackets here, here, and here . Dress c/o Gypsy Warrior, Similar stockings by Kate Spade. Brahmin Tucker c/o, YRU Platforms c/o Gypsy Warrior. Lipstick is a combination of Morgana Cryptoria's Metallic Seafoam. underneath OCC Powerplant. Mai sent me the lip tar. Bonlook Marquise sunglasses.

Also! I have been getting a lot of compliments and questions about some of my new glasses, so I thought I'd do another giveaway to share the love. All you've got to do is sign up for Bonlook's Newsletter (you'll automatically recieve a $10 discount) and then leave a comment on this entry with the name of the style you want. Everything else is optional but will increase your chances by a lot.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

if it's good it's worth it, or, a long ramble about fashion feels.

2013-04-01T19:31:00.000-04:00

Note: This is a long blog post and I know the text of my blog is small, you might want to enlarge it. Also, read the actual paragraphs first and captions second, I only included images so you wouldn't die of boredom. I CARE.

One of my favorite things to do is visit stores where I can't really afford stuff and obsess over my favorite designers. I try to only buy investment pieces now, which means I spend more, but also, (ideally) less often. The idea of the investment piece to me used to be a super statement piece, usually runway -- because most of my investment pieces are runway Comme des Garcons, haha. Investment pieces don't have to be expensive, just high quality, something you know you would wear for years to come, something that hopefully means something to you, made with quality craftsmanship. This eliminates most fast fashion but also, if you think about it some high end products too. I mean, just because it's expensive doesn't mean it's good.

JW. Anderson Min Skirt, $665. Proenza Schouler Leather Woven Skirt, $648.

There is an inevitable markup for it being a label of repute, but putting that aside, it just might not be made well enough if you look at the stitching, it might not have lining (or be lined properly), it might not fit just so, the fabric might be totally average (why the hell would you spend hundreds on a 100% polyester dress, I truly do not know). I think there is a lot of value in actually going into a store and looking at clothes before you plonk money down. It's not always possible, but it's important. Physical interaction with clothes is the only reason I bother going to events anymore. I don't care about your DJ. I don't care about your catering (unless it's yummy and open bar, let's be real ok), if you're trying to get me out of my hermit cave you better present something worth the trip. Seeing friends is awesome and luckily part of the job since so many of them work in fashion for a living, but I want to be impressed and inspired by the clothes in the industry -- because people revolve in and out of their jobs in New York like musical chairs, but the clothes will stay for years.

The fact CDG used this quote is funny because Rei adamantly doesn't align her work as art, she is a businesswoman. To align herself with Ai WeiWei, a political artist and dissident, is great/funny/strange, just like her. The method in which she does business and brands her company is as political and paradoxical as her designers, and so I love her endlessly not just for the designs her house produces but the method in which they are represented. It's this rebellious, masters-tools-to-fuck-with-the-master's-system approach to things that I look for in all of the brands I admire.

That being said, there are a few brands that over the years, I've grown to totally obsess over and admire almost as much as CDG. Their craftsmanship totally blows everyone out of the water and it's clear even in a 2D landscape the internet is, but in person, I literally cannot help myself from petting their work hypnotically. It just kind of shouts at you and is utterly impossible to ignore, because it's so good. Literally perfect seams, perfect cuts, perfect lining, the fabric is beautiful, supple, and often intricate. And when you do a little research and realize they source the highest quality products from all around the world just to weave in layers to form the perfect basket weave or the most luxurious, strangely psychedelic brocade, you kind of get overwhelmed. Or at least I do. Because it's really the end result of a long process of a lot of communication between multiple factories around the world (or even the now rare local garment industry), a lot of testing, probably a lot of failing, and all of that work went into every yard of fabric and every button and now it's in your hands. That's so fucking cool to me. That's the perfect balance of art and commerce. That's the fashion system in the purest form.

Ann D. is a fashion saint when it comes to her method to design which is why I'm including her. You should read the quote that goes with this image here.

It gets muddled with diffusion, with knockoffs, etc -- though it's clear those are parts of the system as a whole now too of course -- and the quality is lost for easy profit margins the farther down the line it goes. But when you see the original, pure end result of a small label's work, it's something I can't help but appreciate and be in awe of. Because yeah, J.W Anderson and Proenza Schouler might be now international fashion names but they still have a very small workforce. Actually, Anderson and his small team (I think maybe 11 others work with/for him?) produce every piece. The name might be big but the workforce is small, and it took so much to get here. And it takes very little to reproduce the material idea and the profits are disgusting, and sometimes the knockoffs are weirdly good, but you know, I'm a romantic and I want the real thing, I want a connection and I want to pay my respect to all of the people. All of the people, not just the famous designer name but their workers, and the factory workers they get their source materials from that often have shitty working conditions. Paying it forward helps sustain so many relationships that are the backbone of practices that make every beautiful piece of clothing we see on the runway, and those practices are dying out or being bought up by LVMH etc in an effort to survive.

Chanel Couture. It is absolutely gobsmacking how stupid expensive a single piece of couture can run you, but also, how much labor goes into it -- hundreds, no, thousands of hours of manual labor and so many people contribute to every hard of embroidery. Feathers from one part of the world, beads from another, buttons from another, fabric woven somewhere else with materials from 3 places.....etc.

Sustainability is a difficult practice to get down even theoretically and as such we don't discuss it a lot in fashion, we're more focused on immediacy and we're suffering for it. I think Karl Lagerfeld is leading the pack in terms of keeping small, high quality fashion manufacturers alive actually, and that is because LVMH gives him free reign and essentially endless spending money. But the details of that deal are pretty vague to me, and I wonder if the places they save are working exclusively for LVMH now or are able to work with small independent designers., ones in the margin. I think if we're going to discuss sustainability we need to find responsibility within ourselves to contribute to that and not expect big corporations to buy up small ones to have them survive. Personal relationships as a consumer seem to be diminishing, and it's a little scary, you know? Because fashion as an industry based on hierarchies means that somebody somewhere is getting screwed over really badly and I want people to care. At the root of it all, my interest in fashion is a feminist one.

Jesus. I didn't expect to write that much. I mean, I think about this stuff all the time but I never really write about it, outfit posts are """""easier"""". But, I don't like being seen as purely a personal style blogger because what I'm really interested and what got me interested in blogging was actual FASHION. Blogging weekly about "look at the cool stuff I'm wearing" is not fashion so much as a personal statement of brand and identity. That's good and all but it's not as interesting to me. I pretty much stopped caring about what I wear anyway because everything I own is nice and goes together because I have a method and it leaves me room to think about stuff I care about. And I care deeply about fashion as a system, as a process to study, as something with theory behind it. So I'm gonna write a lot about actual FASHION because I think if people know more about it as a system that participates in capitalism they will maybe think more critically about what it means on a personal level. By that, I mean as in how its related to personal style blogging, and how that relates to their purchasing power, and the visibility of people in consumer culture, and how that is linked to systems of oppression, and maybe that will bring some change.

This is my version of activism, this is what I have knowledge of and what I know I can provide, and this is something I don't see talked about much in the fashion blogosphere by "popular" fashion bloggers which I guess I am considered a member of. But I want to talk about things that matter in any way that I can. And well, I guess this is how. I hope you actually ended up reading this whole thing and wanna talk about it with me too.

Much love,

Arabelle

scraps of poetry

2013-03-26T15:48:00.002-04:00

Tookan impromptu break from blogging for a lil' to really get the most out of my spring break, no regrets. I like documenting things but some things should just be savored without having to carry a camera around and then worry about editing later, ya dig? I did not engage in any Spring Breakers / Harmony Korine level antics, don't get any ideas (though I advocate for girls ruining things for everybody all of the time, forever). Here are some things I've currently been obsessed with that I discovered I liked since I've been away.

As a beauty blogger and brand consultant (I am now available again for phone or in-person consulting for both brands and for people to revamp their makeup collection, just a note) I consider it my job to be up to date with everything. I don't like MUFE lipstick packaging at all and their foundations have not reeled me in yet, but this lipgloss!!! Here is a swatch of it with other things during my last visit. It's so beautiful.
Re-reading Just Kids by Patti Smith, and also a lot of poetry in general. Actually, I'm spending more time actually reading zines and stuff about anxiety, loneliness, design, rather than internetting and I feel a lot more inspired. I do a whole lot of nothing on the internet sometimes when I could and should be creating.
I've always liked these Miu Miu's but now I really want 'em for summer. Would be perfect with a vintage dress or high waisted denim, you know?
My lingerie-collecting hobby has gotten really serious in the past year; I just purchased this Stella Balconette Bra off of THE OUTNET for 50% off. They have plenty of sizes left, and it was only $35 which is like 1/3 of the price of every other bra I have been drooling over, so I'm happy about that. Speaking of lingerie -- I'm going to be hosting a Google Hangout with The Lingerie Lesbian this Saturday at 3pm EST. You're welcome to join!
Bought some Mario Badescu products off of Hautelook last sale and I am very impressed by this item in particular. I stopped using toner awhile ago and this has done a nice job as a replacement, I think it does more than toner.
Right now I'm using a Graftobian palette (Neutral #1) but I want this one specifically because of the green which would be great to counteract redness.
You probably know I'm a big fan of OCC, and this lip tar was formulated in collaboration with one of their long time employees (and irl beautiful person) January for her gender correction surgery. 100% proceeds go to that and it's a beautiful color. Get it here.
Visited Jeffrey's the other weekend to play with beautiful things and I'm smitten with this perfume. I am obsessed. I carry the perfume sampler with me EVERYWHERE. I MUST HAVE IT.
Flats forever.

So! to reward you for getting through this post of wishing, and also as a #treatyoself gift, I have a $50 Amazon Giftcard to giveaway, sponsored by Appliances Online. Thank you Rebecca!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Short giveaway turnaround because I want to be able to announce the winner during the Google Hangout I'm doing on Saturday with Caro. More about that here. See ya then. x

basically, pants forever.

2013-03-07T15:36:00.000-05:00

I can practically hear my dead grandmother chastising me for slouching. SORRY IT'S JUST FOR #FASHION

I wear pants now. Pants are cool. (Doctor Who reference.) I got these pants in L.A from Marshalls, they're Cynthia Steffe, and they're changing my life. I never really wore pants for years, I could never find ones that fit properly that didn't need to be cuffed. I'm short (5 ft 2) and typically wear 4 inch heels and skirts but I'm switching it up now and embracing my tiny. Flats and pants and short hair and a revolving arsenal of glasses! Change. It's freaking out people more than I'd expect but I find it funny I guess.

The top and sweater are both vintage (and have been on the blog before -- the sweater most notably with my Proenza Schouler dress). Glasses are the La Marquise frames from Bonlook c/o, pants are Cynthia Steffe but these are pretty similar. And the shoes are Cole Haan c/o.

It's pretty crappy out and I have homework to do so I'll talk to you all later! Hope all is well.

The Space Between

2013-03-02T10:00:00.000-05:00

Everyone needs change once in awhile. I think it was a culmination of a lot of things, but as soon as I got into the stylist's chair at ARROJO I knew I wasn't going to get the same haircut I get every time I visit (this is the haircut, fresh and shiny). Topher understood and gave me something vastly different and I think it was a step in the right direction as to where I want to go aesthetically. When I get too comfortable with something, I get bored and I live for a challenge.

I took these photos really quick before class and after getting back from filming a project in the city so I didn't get the opportunity to really mug for the camera my new haircut. Here is a proper picture of it.

So: outfit details: Converse Sunglasses (c/o). I think they looked better on me with longer hair but I'm still going to wear them. Vintage red leather jacket (previously seen here) was a lucky find in Long Beach. Disco pants because comfort is queen. I've been wearing it constantly, I wish I had it in every color. It's definitely shaped how I get dressed. Figured since I've been basically wearing this outfit all of the time I'd find you guys some options as to where to get this stuff yourself: There are high/low options for each item.

I'm pretty stoked on how my style has abruptly changed post-fashion week. I'm just very into exploring a more androgynous version of myself, long hair lends itself to uber feminine effortless stuff and I'm kind of bored by that. I can look pretty in my sleep, I'd rather look kind of intimidating! We'll see where it takes me I suppose.

Hope all is well.

hope springs eternal

2013-02-19T12:24:00.001-05:00

"Never forget what you are, for surely the world will not. Make it your strength. Then it can never be your weakness. Armour yourself in it, and it will never be used to hurt you." (x)

Nan Goldin, Amanda in the Mirror (1992)

Feel like NYFW was a bust for sure. Every season I contemplate if I should really return next season because I don't enjoy writing about the shows unless it's one I really care about -- which is once in a blue moon. My feelings about shows are so personal I just want to talk about them over tea with a friend in hushed stillness, somewhere intimate-- writing impersonally about the shapes offered is so bland to me. Fashion writing, reviews, critics, there are few good ones that elevate it above just explaining what went down but talk about why and how it came to happen. Everyone can be a critic but that doesn't mean they're a good one, that they bring clarity to a collection. Most of the times it's just words about clothes, which is funny because fashion week itself is seldom about the clothes. People take it as a production of ego and identity instead of treating it about the clothes, and it ruins the romance of being invited to see something beautiful. I think maybe everyone knows it, too, which is why it was very subdued this year, but there was so little joy in between shows because people were waiting for something wonderful that didn't arrive. We look for distractions in this week to validate why we're there, and why we belong there, and it didn't come, and we pretend not to be disappointed. I think that's the case for too many people at the shows. That stopped being the case some time ago for me which is why I hardly wrote about any of them and skipped so many. And I'll go to even fewer next season, if any at all. It doesn't bring them anything anymore. I think there might still be something left for me, I just haven't decided if it's worth the shot.

We Won't Play Nature to Your Culture by Barbara Kruger, 1983

My priorities are my friends and myself and finding happiness and wholeness for us in places that are inhospitable and often lonely, and I don't think we find that in fashion anymore -- or at least most of the time. I feel like a lot of my friends have moved on and I'm so happy for them, but I am unsure of where I stand now. I do love fashion, I do, I do. I care about the history of clothes. I care about what they mean to me. I care about, you know, things. Material things. these things help me be what I want, and hide or show what I choose, and it provides a nice distraction from having to think too hard about bigger, scarier things. I'm still figuring shit out, you know, so it's good to have things to focus on physically, because if I didn't have a channel I'd be buried in my own head, terrified of whats to come. Dramatic, but it's my blog, and I can cry in my own head if I want to.


Zen 101, Peteski via

A few years ago I wrote quite adamantly -- and sincerely, so sincerely -- about my desire to work in fashion. You know what? I do still want to, even if this post makes it seem like I don't. It's just that my focus has changed. Fuck the performances. I want to work in the peripherals. I don't want to write about clothes I don't care about. I want to write about clothes I care about and the history of the clothes I care about, and I want to produce images that mean something to me, and I want to develop products that connect to me, and I want to surround myself with people who inspire me and don't need validation. I love makeup and all of it's complexity, so that's my baby. I feel like I've been stuck for awhile on what to do and who I am and so it's my goal this year to change, even if that change hurts, even if it's scary, because without change I am the history of myself instead of the present or the future, and if there's anything I'm not -- it's a sucker for nostalgia.

I'm not here for games anymore. I'm not here to be someone else's hero or someone else's image of me. What I love about art and fashion and beauty is that it is malleable and easily changed. It's both the lie and the truth. Most of the time lately I've felt like I'm doing something in between, so I'm going to try to be as honest as possible about what I want and what I need. And some of the things about my image and my priorities are not things I want or what I need. So expect some changes around here. And I hope you're whole and happy and well.

See you soon.

Fashion Week Fatigue

2013-02-12T17:00:00.000-05:00

BonLook Nomad Chocolate Tortoise Glasses c/o, PacSun Flannel Shirt c/o, Brian Lichtenberg for BITNB Winona Forever T c/o, Elizabeth & James Textiles "Cooper" c/o, Nine West Sneaker Wedges c/o.

I haven't done in outfit post since L.A and I'm so out of practice I legitimately couldn't even find my camera charger. Oopsy. I don't know, I find documenting my outfits kind of a hassle if Massiel or Kimi aren't with me. People with blogger boyfriends have it way easy. But there's something to be said about documenting myself, it feels kind of ritualistic. I've been blogging for more than five years now, longer than any relationship I've had and longer than friendships, too. It's a big number, a lot of days. I think even if I'm not the most reliable 'personal style blogger' it is still important for me to make make myself visible and to keep track of myself and my changes, however subtle, however gradual. I mean, I don't think I'd be caught dead in this outfit when I started blogging. In fact, I started blogging to get away from my daily uniform of jeans and a band-t because it was getting me into detention in school (I was a freshman in high school at the time, and my school had a dress code I liked to ignore. I've never been a fan of rules, you might have noticed). Fashion didn't mean jeans to me, and I thought more was better, always. I wasn't wrong -- I live and die for super elaborate, wonderfully detailed couture, but there's nothing wrong with jeans and a t-shirt either. Whatever works for you, whatever makes you happy and comfortable in your own skin. Don't let anybody mess with your idea of yourself. I guess what I'm saying is the more things change for me, the more they stay the same in other ways. Basically: jeans forever.

Hope you are safe and happy and whole. See you.

MLM: La Perla Presentation

2013-02-07T22:57:00.000-05:00

Long time no see, so what better way of breaking radio silence with back to back posts from NYFW? Kimberly Ovitz was my favorite show so far (no pictures tho, I was too concentrated and dazzled and meditating to the sick soundtrack) but La Perla was my favorite too for #magical lingerie moments reasons. I took a lot of pictures, they'll be under a cut.

los feliz and the stoner babes

2013-01-19T10:00:00.000-05:00

Outfit: Hunx Painted Vintage Denim Jacket, BITNB Jane Birkin + Serge Tank c/o, Dusen Dusen skirt from Emerging Thoughts -- and on sale for $45, too!

Spent the day driving around L.A with Mitra (founder of BITNB, the dopest t-shirt company around. I'm in the latest issue of the zine if you see it around). I've been in LA for almost 3 weeks but it's only like this week that I've really begun warming up to it and I will miss it when I'm gone -- so many weird places and so much great vintage. If I had more of a budget I'd have purchased more and there are things I miss but I can't be going berserk when there are textbooks to buy and stuff for school.

Of all the hoods I've visited, Silverlake and Echo Park are definitely my favorite. So pretty! The store fronts! People walk around! The malt shakes are swell and there are actually bookstores! This excites me because in my hood there are zero bookstores, not even B&N. I love indie bookstores and the one I went to sold the Rookie Yearbook (my heart swells with pride) but also a lot of zines and a beautiful film and fashion book selection that I drooled over. Everything was mellow, it makes me feel very calm being here.

We went to a bunch of different vintage stores, The Dog Show was my favorite though. Not necessarily in terms of selection (though this denim painted jacket was super dope and is still available for I think $75 if you're inclined, I left it behind because I'm not made of money -- go for it!) but because it has a gigantic unicorn and they were watching something hysterical on Netflix on their big purple television.

Will probably return to the Silverlake / Echo Park area on Saturday to hang with some friends and explore more. If you see me around say hi!

Also, I haven't been carrying around my DSLR on my travels because it's just like, so heavy - so all of these L.A posts have been on my Samsung Galaxy SII. CRAZYTOWN!!!

retro row

2013-01-16T23:18:00.002-05:00

I hung out with my friend Mai, a beauty blogger I've known for awhile today. We went to Retro Row, a small line of shops in Long Beach. Very cute area, though there seems to be like, a serious shoplifting problem and every single storefront had a stern warning? I guess there's been like a series of shoplifters, what a bummer. Regardless, it's a super adorable area with affordable vintage.

Dress is by Blue Pepper (alternative to the Lover dress I want), Rebecca Minkoff MAB Mini , Nicole Miller Tights, Clear Creepers by Demonia (similar here)

I didn't pick up anything besides this vintage red leather jacket, but I'm happy with my purchase. I've been looking for a leather jacket that fits for years and I stupidly passed up on the perfect black one a year ago in Goodwill because it was a little too pricey for me ($50...I WAS BROKE!) but this one will do just fine (It was $125, I'm considering it a birthday present to myself, since I'm returning my impulse purchase Furla bag). Trying to only buy things I can see myself using for years and years and years.

I've only a few more days here -- strange to think I've been in L.A for almost 3 weeks. Not that it feels like home or anything (VERY keen for my dirty Manhattan) but time slips I suppose. I'm happy to have finally hung out with some of my favorite people like Mitra and Marie and Mai and Coco though. I plan to travel a lot this year. I want polaroids for every friend and every nice memory.

K, I have to get back to writing (gotta make the guap). See you soon.

it's my birthday, i'll buy dior if i want to

2013-01-14T04:08:00.001-05:00

It's my 20th birthday -- and also, the blogs 5th anniversary! It's strange that this blog has not actually changed my life, but actually gave my life direction? I don't know what person I'd be without fashion, and I wouldn't have fashion and the family I have within it if I didn't blog. It's given me so much, and I am so incredibly grateful. It gives me drive, it gives me family. I feel at home in it and discussing it and worshiping it and dreaming about it. I don't have an outfit post or anything for you today because I'm out and I don't have a tripod (or any photographer friends who can help me take photos without me spending ten minutes instructing them how to use a DSLR) but I do want to share some of my favorite things at the moment. I'll probably #treatmyself and pick one to get for my birthday, I haven't decided what.

1. Y's Yohji Yamamoto Harem Pants 2. Comme des Garcons Dress (from 2007, my fave era of CDG!) 3. Kaal e Suktae Line Detail Sparkly Skirt 4. Jil Sander Lace Up Brogue 5. Shourouk Ring 6. Valentino Sheer Trenchcoat 7. TBA Sheer Etta Dress

Birthday outfit!!

Birthday crown.

Snaps from my Los Angeles adventures so far. Disneyland (and dead birds) with my darling friend Lolita.

And my favorite happy music video on youtube. I'm going to bed now -- full day later on in Santa Monica, perhaps I'll see you around. To another year in blogging. Let's see where it'll bring us both.

urban decay, l.a

2013-01-07T23:58:00.003-05:00

Hi! I hope your New Years and Christmas celebrations were wonderful. I decided to take a true holiday from all responsibilities and stop blogging for a lil' bit too but now I'm back -- and in Los Angeles for most of this month! I'm here for IMATS, mostly, with photoshoots and meetings and exploration sprinkled in. Of course, exploring LA is a little hard when you don't drive... but I'm making it work.

Today I visited my friends at Urban Decay for the afternoon with my cousin. If you follow me on insta -- still undecided if I'll keep it after the new TOS go into effect, are you? -- you'll have seen a few pictures already.

I'm wearing a Romwe dress (seen here), handmade sweater (also seen there), Rebecca Minkoff Mab Mini c/o, Bedazzled shoes from Nordstrom Rack (I can't remember the brand right now).

The Urban Decay offices are incredible -- Wende and the UD team designed it themselves from scratch really, including the color schemes, the chairs (custom made) and wall detailing. It's really magnificent. I didn't take many pictures because there were a lot of to-be-released products sprinkled everywhere and I can't spoil the surprises. Know that the upcoming releases are going to be rad, though. You can see pictures of the office on Refinery29 though.

The lighting fixtures in the Women's bathroom are the most perfect things ever? In case you were wondering, they were Alice & Wonderland themed.

When you enter, there are a few different displays. When I asked they explained it was because they want to see what displays look like before they enter Ulta, Sephora, etc so they can decide how to modify them. This is the UK display.

The wall mural in the bathroom hahaha.

The lighting fixtures and the chairs in general were my favorite parts of the whole visit.. besides visiting the product development area, the product closet and visiting the Hotbox (a really old UD product since discontinued, not THAT kind of hot box). We also went out to lunch at Pizzaria Mozza and had the most AMAZING desert I have EVER had --- still drooling about it. Will perhaps visit Newport Beach again just to re-experience.

Anyway, those are the photos I took that I can show you guys -- for your own tour you can visit the refinery29 tour link above though. I'll show pictures of what I grabbed from the product closet (thank you again for your generosity, UD) on powder doom, my makeup blog. Over the past few days I've been poking into stores with my aunt and fast accumulating new things to try, so maybe it will just be one big megapost of makeup and clothes!

See you soon.

StylelikeU Interview

2012-12-25T15:24:00.000-05:00

Arabelle Sicardi Closet Interview for StyleLikeU.com from StyleLikeU Editor on Vimeo.

StyleLikeU visited my home awhile ago, here is the result. There are more pictures and captions and things on the site - it was a pleasure having them over and talking about things I don't usually get to. Thank you for visiting. :)

And happy Christmas.

leaves and wood and home

2012-12-22T10:00:00.000-05:00

Vintage jacket, my mom's handmade leather wedding corset (previously seen here), Zac Posen for Target Skirt (thrifted from Beacon's Closet), Feminine & Masculine Shoes c/o previously seen here.

Finals are officially over and I'm back home, hanging out with my friends and eating all their food, and wrapping my own presents that I got myself because I'm the queen of #treatyoself. I don't take XMas very seriously at all, I have lights up year round in my dorm room and a talking Christmas Tree that borders on terrifying. The only Holiday thing I do religiously is drink a lot of wine and try to find excuses to wear my (Great) Ugly Christmas Sweater. Anyway, I hope you're safe, happy and whole in the wake of the recent events this month and that everything is ok with you. Happy Holidays, from my very pretty neighborhood to yours.

Last series from my previous shoot with Kimi of Tan Camera.

the science of imaginary solutions

2012-12-19T10:00:00.000-05:00

Finals suck, this outfit, however, does not. Sorry, I'm too grumpy to be witty. I look mad cute though so there's that.

I think all of these pieces are blog repeats -- I may have a vast closet but it's obvious what I'm into. The jacket was previously seen here. I've definitely worn this shirt before on the blog, but years ago... I'll be surprised if you can find the post in the dark and endless cave that is the blog archive. The velvet skirt is a find from Goodwill. I found some similar options for you though if you want your own. These frames are actually from Coastal, I got them for like $20 total with my prescription -- they're the brand Derek Cardigan if you are curious. I quite like them but I wear my vintage frames more.

Above photos by Kimi of Tan Camera, bottom one was using my phone and FxCamera (my current favorite app. So good.) The photos were in just a nondescript section of the park from the last post -- right behind a church, which is suitable for such a witchy outfit, I suppose.

shopping moments

2012-12-17T16:48:00.000-05:00

I'm not a huge holiday person (strange considering my love of sequins) and I guess I'm pretty hard to shop for. I'm putting together a wishlist of things I'm lemming for. Strangely, Bona Drag sells it all. I hadn't visited the store in awhile but they have so many good brands right now.

Lovely Longline Bra, To Be Adored Black Sheer Etta Dress, Lover Shelley Bodycon Dress (here in gray), Shakuhachi Lace Block Cutout Dress , Pamela Love Snake Ring

valor

2012-12-15T10:00:00.000-05:00

I'm in the midst of finals so I'll just be showing you snaps from the last shoot I had with Kimi. If you follow me on instagram you saw snapshots already but these are the finished photos. I'm really happy with the way they all came out. Kimi is really talented and taking photos with her wasn't awkward at all. The rest of the photos from this batch are under the cut.

Her website is Tan Camera.

This monument is also in the park from the last batch of photos -- I come here when I want to be alone sometimes, and meditate. No one ever hangs out around it because it's such a tiny memorial, but I like to give it some attention. Abandoned things are unsurprisingly my favorite things.

From my instagram.

empty spaces

2012-12-12T11:48:00.002-05:00

Two weeks ago -- geez, time is running away from me -- Kimi of Tan Camera came over to my digs and we explored my little city suburb of gloom and dog parks. I don't really know my own neighborhood as well as I do Manhattan, there's nothing to do here and it's not the safest, but it's my own and I have a lot of old memories here. Not many new ones. I took Kimi to my old haunts from when I used to play with the neighborhood kids, most of who have moved away, gone to juvie, or are just running in different circles now. We've all changed so much, but funnily enough, the landscape? Not so much. Same state of perpetual and grand decay.

You can click the photos to enlarge. They are all taken by Kimi (@tancamera).

This is actually a prom dress my mom made from when she was a teenager, or for some event similar to prom. She told me the story when I was in middle school when I asked, and I'd never worn it until now because the shoulder pads. I never went to my senior prom, but every party I go to is a better version of prom than the real thing could have ever been anyway. No regrets. This fountain has a lot of memories too. I got stuck in the snow around it with my old dog during a blizzard once for a few hours. Another time, I was playing on the ice in the fountain over break, and the cops yelled at us and chased us out (three times).

And other times, other moments.

I'll see you soon.

Fashion Book: Alexander McQueen Evolution

2012-12-02T15:51:00.000-05:00

McQueen was and remains one of my favorite designers. I remember the day he died, everyone at the tents (shows were still at the tents! Lincoln Center say what?) was in a state of shock. I don't even remember what shows I attended, just that I felt perpetually scared -- I guess shell shocked, and grappled for my friends arms in the dark on the way back home. In the taxi cab back from Milk Studios with Tavi and Elizabeth we passed by the McQueen store and were quiet since the first time we got into the cab, and I don't remember anything else. Just that moment. A sense of loss.

Since he's died I've spent hours and days poring over fashion books about him to be disappointed in what they've offered; I've guess it's because I'm always trying to understand him in a profound way so I feel more at peace with the fact such a genius ended his life so early. I don't begrudge him and I'm not angry, I'm just constantly wondering where would he would be now. He was so good -- so, so good. And now he's gone, and we'll never know. And more than anything else, I find that frustrating, and when I read fashion books about him, I'm usually left frustrated because they just relist what he's done, without offering any real insight on his relationships or the mood of the seasons he presented, and it all feels so shallow. That's why I'm so appreciative of the new release by Katherine Gleason.

Gleason sets the mood for each show and provides beautiful description of both the audience reception, the inspiration behind the collection, McQueen's life and relationships at the time and how it all connects. She also doesn't paint him as a perfect person, and takes her time to describe him in all his complexities, and for that he had plenty. I've included some of my favorite parts of the book -- but not all, and not in their entries because duh copyright, but I hope you enjoy them and you buy the book so we can share the experience.

It's a lovely book and collection of his work. You can buy it here or on Amazon for about $25.

room for a queen

2012-11-29T20:45:00.000-05:00

Got this amazing jacket a few months ago (at Goodwill! SCORE) but I'm only just now wearing it out. The day before I came across it I was obsessing over a F/W collection on style.com, which had similar jacket details, but now I totally forget the designer! Does it remind you of any collection? Maybe you'll have an idea which I'm talking about. It kind of reminds me of Dolce & Gabbana FW 2012 (the baroque collection).

Anyway, it's the perfect evening jacket, isn't it? This was the only picture we got in the living room so to show the full detail of the jacket the picture below exists, I just 'shopped myself in front of this castle. I mean, my house. I didn't tell you I was a princess hmm? Must have slipped my mind.

I think the next time I take pictures in this jacket -- and believe me, you'll probably get tired of seeing me in it -- I'm going to go all out with a crown of braids (I would have done it this time but I couldn't find any bobby pins) or some regal waves and wine red lips. I'm sure they'lll go well with such a regal jacket. Still can't believe I got it at Goodwill for like, $15.

Hope you're well and happy and whole,

Arabelle

it's not supposed to be pretty

2012-11-26T21:53:00.000-05:00

I got this school uniform at Goodwill the last time I visited (and scored some amazing shoes too, if you follow me on instagram you'll know which ones) because it just strikes me as just the right amount of ugly. In middle school, I had to wear school uniforms and I absolutely loathed it, but now I'm glad I can still fit into them (?!) because they go really well with the awkward school goth whatever look I enjoy so much. I look short and my dad says I look hasidic. I see nothing wrong with this, so like, whatever.

I am wearing a Comme des Garcons FW2010 jacket, French Toast Skirt Overall, Vintage Blouse, Zana Bayne harness, and Feminine/Masculine shoes c/o. Lipstick is PBCO. As always, click to enlarge the photos.

Knockoffs, Diffusions, Collaborations & Snobbery

2012-11-22T10:00:00.000-05:00

Soo Joo in

H&M x Margiela for Dazed & Confused

Been thinking about it for awhile -- every time a collab line comes out from H&M we hear the same arguments about brand legitimacy coming into question, snobbery, etc. My thoughts on designer knockoffs a la Jeffrey Campbell and H&M, Zara, etc are really mixed and complicated. I wrote this post on tumblr awhile back and had it saved, I'll just copy here:

when it comes to fashion houses and exclusivity and fast fashion, i always hear people complaining about how combining with h&m will ruin the brand or whatever and I just find it very interesting because:

mmm and rei and all these high fashion brands that i see, they are really post modern and seem to combine these aesthetics and textures from ‘low fashion’ and street culture and use fabrics that were traditionally considered low brow and they make them high fashion when they combine them with ‘higher quality fabrics’ though we all know full well that that $500, $700 dress is just as likely to be made out of polyester. how many times have i gone into barneys or jeffrey or whatever and played with the fabric and realized they’re asking $700 for a shitty basic ass cotton/poly blend? come on.

you buy just as much for the name as for the clothes you know? people are mostly bummed about the fact their favorite brand won’t be ‘exclusive’ but fashion is for everybody because it is so malleable. you can’t pull something off, someone else can, you can wear something, someone else can wear it differently. style is malleable. you can still retain your private connection to a brand and let someone else who isn’t as aware of the brand culture wear something from it too. a lot of my fav brands, they constantly collaborate with people, but you don’t see people shitting on them for doing so. i guess that is because from the get go, rei threw all the rules in the wind and when everyone was still having a boner over traditional luxe fabrics she was using cheaper fabrics and black and made everyone look like futuristic bag lady nomads or something. i think the more progressive you are, the more willing you are to break the barriers between classes and pricepoints. if you can still be high fashion but operate on multiple demographic levels i.e fast fashion and RTW it should be admired. designers don’t really have any way of protecting their own ideas from copycats and those copycats are fast fashion brands, so the only real way they have of cashing in on someone else profiting from their ideas is to join them when they can and take the money and run.

why throw shade at a designer for making it easier for you to buy something they created? chances are fast fashion buyers aren’t going to suddenly love their new shirt so much they go drop 400 bones to buy the non-diffused line version of it, so the ‘integrity’ of the brand you so love and adore is still there if you want it.

This TED talk is something I watch literally all the time -- probably at least once a month, usually once every two weeks. I can never figure out how to feel about it, but it always makes me think.

What is fashion to you? How does fast fashion and knockoffs impact the way you approach clothing? I think it's such a complicated thing most of the time. Buying knockoffs sometimes fills me with shame and this shame is reinforced by my friends who recognize that they are knockoffs and say it's terrible that the designer had their ideas stolen. This shame sometimes deters me from buying shoes that I think are pretty, even though they're the only ones I can afford because the originals are so out of my reach. Hey man, I would if I could, you know?

That's why I'm totally happy with seeing big brands like Margiela collaborate (and essentially just recreate their key looks) with fast fashion retailers; none of the guilt, all of the look. I think it's messed up when people shame you for your purchases just because you can't afford the real thing, but it also makes me uncomfortable to condone knockoffs of an original and beautiful design, because when you buy it, none of that money you're paying for the idea of the shoe goes back to the creator, just the thief.

*sidenote: this is not a response to the BoF op-ed I linked on twitter a few days ago, i actually wrote this post when the collaboration was just announced.