Miami Valley Journal

Salutations!

2012-02-15T03:11:00.004-05:00

Hey, Men's Wear from Dolce & Gabbana.

2012-02-11T03:35:00.001-05:00

My fascination with Dolce and Gabbana's Fall Collection begins with the black velvet lapels and the luscious bow ties.

Who Designed This?

2012-02-04T15:43:00.001-05:00

Who, What, Where, When, Why and How?

2012-01-26T00:03:00.001-05:00

Who, What, Where, When, Why and How? by contentnet featuring wood rings

Objects from A Miu Miu Gift Bag and "A Rant About Women": Discuss!

2012-01-22T23:10:00.000-05:00

What do you see when looking at an image of a demure woman? Do you see attitude? Confidence? Frailty? Fashion has the ability to communicate various moods. In this way, fashion is like a mask. But what you see isn't always what you get. I know women who dress demurely while ripping through a stack of philosophy texts. I feel empowered knowing that today's fashion trend -- "the lady" -- is one trend that is as much a commentary on the idea that 40 years ago, when women were struggling to find their seat at the board room table, they were nearly obligated to dress like men.

While corporate dress is still business-like, there is some room for the addition of details that may be read as distinctly feminine. However, even the notion of "distinctly feminine" is changing thanks to male street-style bloggers who are taking on the role as their own muses, so to speak, by borrowing embellishments that may be read as feminine. I shall show some examples of this phenomenon and post them later.

The images of feminine beauty captured in these photos are shots I took of objects from a Miu Miu gift bag that I received last week from a kind sales staffer. Thanks to Miu Miu for this gift of two photo books and one magazine. So, I was wondering, whilst perusing these pages, whether subconsciously, feminine details detract from an authoritative stance? Or conversely, might they also be read as more authentic and therefore supportive of a women's authority?

Today, I read an interesting piece by NYU Prof. Clay Shirky titled, A Rant About Women, and judging by the hundreds of comments the blog post received, Shirky sparked debate about why women don't behave more like men when it comes to getting what they want. Although he had nothing to say about the way women dress, I did wonder about the conundrum faced by women who feel as though they have to surrender what feels feminine to them in order to don an outfit deemed suitable for the professional world of work, whether that work be in the corporation, or the classroom, or some other location where women are expected to dress modestly, or without decoration. Perhaps it is too simplistic to argue that beautiful details that are often associated with fashionable excess are a detraction. Certainly, one cannot always go around wearing something that is richly detailed and beautiful. That is unrealistic. Instead, it might be interesting if more women, and others who enjoy adornment, might address the feeling of empowerment that excess detail sometimes conveys and whether or not this style of dress allows one to express an authoritative voice.

The Anticipation: Coachella

2012-01-14T02:24:00.000-05:00

There is a Time for Everything.

2012-01-07T14:27:00.001-05:00

There is a Time for Everything. by contentnet featuring high heel booties

Strike it Up!

2012-01-05T13:23:00.000-05:00

Welcome to 2012. Whew.

She Was a Butterfly.

2012-01-03T01:43:00.001-05:00

I saw the trailer for the new Charlize Theron movie Young Adult (2011) and was expecting a romantic comedy that would validate some ideal perception I previously held about life in a small Midwestern town. However, the actual movie was more drama than comedy (dramedy) provoking my introspective gaze. This provocation only prompted me to wonder about the ways in which setbacks come to define a person. What does it take to overcome setbacks in order to live a full, rich, balanced life? Something to ponder this first week of 2012 before moving on to the good stuff that awaits. The film, directed by Jason Reitman, stars Theron, who plays writer of teen fiction, Mavis Gary, Patrick Wilson, as Buddy, the object of Mavis' affection, and Patton Oswalt, as Matt, a survivor of a violent high school bullying incident who befriends the mean and vulnerable Mavis as she returns to her tiny Midwestern hamlet to seduce Buddy, a new father with a wife who is, as we used to say in the day, well rounded due to her career and her social position as a member of a riot grrrl-inspired band.

I wondered about the feelings of desperation that drove Theron's character to return to her hometown bent on home-wrecking. A pivotal monologue during a crucial group scene attempts to yield insight into Mavis' motivation and illustrates the lengths one might go to be, not merely understood, but recognized in full as fully human with the capability of being affected by change.

Unfortunately, one of the tricks of the script is for Mavis' character to slip into third-party fantasy narration during crucial moments and the effect on the audience, or at least on me, was to leave the resolution to the age old-question about the role of the organic intellectual, and whether that individual truly can come home again, unanswered. Please see the movie for yourself, and let me know if you would agree.

One positive thought about this film is that it taps into a general feeling that is prevalent now among young adults (those folk who fall into the category of "30-something", or "40-ish,") that hard work and satisfaction do not come bundled neatly into one package with the promise of recognition, as it being seen as the person who you think you are.

Perhaps most importantly, this film neither led me to want to drop everything and totally rearrange the minute details of my day-to-day life, nor, did the movie make me resolute in my belief that life is for living, damn the complications. Of course, life is for living. This may be the greatest message of the film, Young Adult. However, it is yet-to-be determined whether this means it is necessary to do something out-of-the-ordinary when we could simply live our life.

She Was a Butterfly. by contentnet featuring gold plated jewelry

Ring in the New Year 2012!

2012-01-01T03:31:00.002-05:00

Will fashion go tribal in 2012? If the trend for more tribal textures and patterns for next year is correct, it might be safe to assume that natural fabrics such as silk, cotton, linen, and the like will outpace synthetics such as polyester. But I am no expert on textiles and fabrics. I just noticed from my own perusal of on-line shops that certain retail outlets seemed to have amped their inventory of poly-blends for dresses, skirts and tunics. I tend to prefer natural fabrics over synthetics, although my closet does contain some polyester. How do you feel about fabric? Do you have a preference? Finally, Toast to the New Year!

Happy New Year!

2011-12-29T02:13:00.000-05:00

May your New Year's Eve celebration be safe and joyful as we welcome 2012! Is it better to contemplate the past 12 months in an effort to take inventory of the good, the bad, and the ugly of 2011, or should any attempt at self-reflexivity be ditched in order to focus on the future? One word comes to mind: anxiety. If thinking about the future produces anxiety, never fear because anxiety

may just be a symptom that a swift kick in the pants is looming. (Ouch!) And that is why New Year's Eve has secretly been my favorite holiday. (Call me a hedonist, why don't ya.)

Will you dance the night away whilst embracing change like a toddler discovering a piggy bank?

Will profundity ever be in my future? Will you keep your New Year's Resolution a secret? Or will you share it down below in the comments section, please? As for me, I am embracing realistic goals for the year 2012. So, I will not foreswear chocolate, as I boldly proclaimed one NYE past. I do not think I will foreswear anything next year. Instead, I might try extending myself one tippy toe further in a do more, give more kind of way. But I am not sure what I mean by this. What has provoked this interest in extension of self is my curiosity about the rapidly changing world, the expanding universe, and the realization that my knowledge of pop cultural phenomena needs a training bra. I shall celebrate 2012 by taking a mental vacay to a swanky place inside my head where ideas incubate and then burst into bloom. Cheers.

Downtown at Night

2011-12-24T03:47:00.000-05:00

I do like the way the city lights are pressed into the dark horizon as if to say, carry on. Never mind the haze.

Griffith Observatory

2011-12-24T03:28:00.002-05:00

Is there a place more breathtaking than this?

Sunlight and Palms.

2011-12-16T01:17:00.002-05:00

Pink Palm Springs Bike

2011-12-15T23:16:00.002-05:00

David Amico Show at Ace Gallery

2011-11-12T16:03:00.002-05:00

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T16:27:00.002-05:00

Dots are Back

2011-10-29T16:03:00.000-05:00

Seeing dots? There is something bewitching about dots on a dark background. I spied these lovely polka dot pull-overs at the American Apparel Warehouse Sale. Can you imagine this kind of print on a see-through pussy-bow blouse? OK. Maybe not see-through and dots, too. ~~No, that would be too much.~~ Then again ... maybe not. Hmmm. Are you reading this AA designers? Think pussy-bow blouse + dots for spring 2012!

Canvas Jacket

2011-10-28T01:55:00.000-05:00

There is nothing like menswear to break out of a clothing rut. Thus, the appeal of the anorak. This canvas anorak sports drawstrings and a gold-tone zipper at the neck. No hood, though. I suppose a smart hat will keep the rain at bay just as nicely for those times when you absolutely must have a rugged-androgynous look while stomping around the woods. Happy clothes hunting!

Warehouse Style

2011-10-26T00:58:00.001-05:00

See and be seen this month at the American Apparel Flea Market. This young woman conjured the spirit of a bookish, Old-Hollywood dame with her delightful accessories. Nod to the turban, the huge glasses, and the chunky heels for balance.

Speaking of balance, this sale, located at world-famous factory HQs in downtown LA, is anything but chaotic. So hop in your automobile and get on the freeway, kid. You may be lucky enough to time your visit perfectly so to beat the crowd. Thus, I experienced a delicious bliss from walking endless neat and orderly rows of brightly-colored clothing, vintage, and not so, whilst listening to the soothing vibes of Viva Radio.

An elevator ride down to checkout counter yielded more entertainment in the form of artistic videos projected onto the warehouse walls. Watching videos on walls whilst descending in a freight elevator is the kind of funky-cool one might expect to experience at, say, LACMA. How fresh then, to get my art-on whilst boosting the economy by letting go of some of my hard-earned cash on discount tube socks and hosiery.

To return to a brief discussion of the sale itself, as stated previously, vintage clothing, including a variety of plaid, school-girlish skirts, are included in this sale. But fans of not-so-vintage clothing will totally appreciate the return of various iterations of the t-shirt dress. (Yeah, '80s; the good ole' days?!?). And then there is my personal favorite look, the AA wrap-dress, a sophisticated Southern California look. I now have more than one AA wrap dress and I enjoy styling this cozy dress with knee-high suede boots to maximize the softness factor.

The American Apparel Flea Market Sale ends Oct. 31st. With a plentiful selection of basics at discount prices, a trip to the factory is sure to win the heart of even the most seasoned shopper.

Culture Shock and Rock-and-Roll: Bryan Ferry at The Greek

2011-10-17T19:04:00.000-05:00

I never thought attending a rock concert would be the impetus for me to reconsider the entire direction of my life, but yes, this is exactly what happened when I attended the Bryan Ferry concert at The Greek Theatre in LA. Pre-BF, I was a style-obsesed-Midwestern transplant with aspirations. Post-BF, I am no longer a style-zombie, I am a work-in-progress, unconstrained by conventional style boundaries and open to a reality that is unaffected.

I had waited my entire life to see Bryan Ferry, the British, suave, lounge lizard, who is one part of the band Roxy Music. When I saw he was coming to The Greek to promote his new album, Olympia (2010), I jumped at the chance to buy tickets to the show. When the day finally came for me to go to The Greek, my trip was almost delayed due to me being overly excited to experience what I had longed to experience all this time. (I blame my delay on disbelief that this was really happening after having planned this outing for months.)

Thus began my realization that my grad-school bubble was about to burst. Could seeing BF in person really be that much better than simply imagining seeing him singing on stage?

I arrived at The Greek two hours prior to the start of the opening act, the Phenomenal Handclap Band from New York. Why not go early and check out the scene, I thought? What was I expecting? I had pictured Bryan Ferry fans all dressed up for the show. I imagined them sporting various takes on his classic, glam-rock, jacket-and-tie sophistication, and some glitter, too. Upon arrival, I met quite a few interesting people, such as a guy who had earned his PhD in the sciences in the early'90s, a kid who knew nothing about Roxy Music, but whose dad had brought him to the show; and finally, a pair of friends who routinely meet up for LA music shows and who have been Roxy Music Fans since the '70s. A pattern was emerging, Bryan Ferry fans (BFFs) where not teenagers anymore, but doctors of philosophy, parents, and adult friends with responsibilities. Their earnestness, in fact, was commensurate with the degree to which they were dressed down, way down. While not all of the fans in the packed theatre were of modest attire, the majority were, in fact, causal and non-affected.

Therefore, the "scene" at Bryan Ferry was more reality than fantasy. And that is when I noticed my perception of reality beginning to disintegrate like raw sugar in cafe au lait.

But what better place than Los Angeles to realize that my days of rock-and-roll sartorial pleasure are on the wane? This concert, this phenomenal exchange of energy between rock-star and audience member, provided a welcome distraction from the pesky recurring themes of adulthood. There was a catch, though. While sitting on a bench watching the couples wearing complementary outfits arrive, I sensed that my fantasies of glitter, glam-rock, and fame are dated. I felt the un-hipness of being left behind in a bohemian rhapsody of false-consciousness. I decided then and there that, instead of giving in to fantasy, I would evolve, so that I, too, could experience my idol from the distance of un-affected reality.

The concert was about to begin. I adjusted my only blingy accessory, a silvery-threaded, fringy peasant scarf I had had since college. I was comfortable in my dropped hem, deconstructed-DKNY dress accented with a faux-suede, deconstructed Calvin Klein vest, over which I wore a studed military-style jacket. Combat boots finished the look. And yet, from my perch in the back of the theatre, I scanned the crowd; would anyone rock a Balmain ensemble? Anticipation occupied me. Afterall, I said to myself, this is Los Angeles, where sparkle is a right, not a privilege.

Alas, among the sea of happy faces, I saw no one who really stood out. This is not to diminish those who thought about it, though. Kudos to the gents in the smoking jackets, and yet, somehow, the men who wore baseball caps also surreally fit in quite nicely. Who would have thought it was possible?

A true Los Angeleno, that's who. Not a greenhorn, like me.

And maybe that was the point. And to emphasize this point, let me confess that my eyes brimmed with tears when I finally realized the reality of the situation. It happened when I spotted one female sporting a classic jeans jacket - only to note she had completed the look with a pair of grey cargo pants.

Upon reflection, my observation about the cargo pants seems, trite in its blatant lookist-judgement. Fashion-statement be damned. This is the City of Angels.

My point is, seeing Bryan Ferry, in concert this past weekend at The Greek Theatre in LA, has definitely caused me to re-think my value system - at least as it pertains to style. I am shamed to admit, but not to shamed to post on this blog, that there are certain aspects of LA style that I have failed to grasp, like, why would anyone wear cargo pants to an evening rock concert? (Cargo pants for a day show? Possibly.)

However, attending this Bryan Ferry show was the best thing I could have done to step outside of myself and really confront my feelings about the necessity of flexibility when it comes to expectations of style. In fact, this experience caused me to be confronted by my own B.S.(blind-spot). A moment such as this, a moment of radical self-awareness (especially regarding something as close to my heart as the sociolinguistics of fashion), causes me to deeply reflect upon the degree of my own superficiality.

For years, I have listened (with feigned patience) to those closest to me explain that my frustration regarding the perceived lack of attention to sartorial detail (on the West Coast), is symptomatic of my own general lack of worldliness. Well, friends, consider this my wake-up-call. I am proud to say, that finally, I get it!

Should you doubt my sincerity, please note that by attending this show, my very first rock concert in LA, I realized Los Angelenos could care less about what might be considered normative stylistic standards of dress for a glam-rock concert. Collectively, the audience, dressed in various ensembles of, largely casual attire, send the message: "We are who we are, regardless of our clothes.

Surveying the appreciative crowd, I evaluated the possibility of being left behind in the bohemian rhapsody of false-consciousness that was my mind; a place, for me, not.

This brings up an important question. Have you ever experienced culture shock?

The week after the Bryan Ferry concert, I attended a classroom discussion on the topic of culture shock from an international student's perspective. What struck me was how the stages of culture shock are similar to (or even the same as) the stages that some individuals, who may not be in foreign land, experience during a transitional phase. An example of a transitional phase might be a cross-country move, or committing to a relationship.

I was reminded that If you are in a period of transition, chances are your values are being challenged. This can feel destabilizing. Why? Because of the possibility of being confronted by that which has previously defined you. My example of such a challenge to my value system is the idea that one should never, ever be caught in public wearing cargo pants at an evening glam-rock show. That is one belief I can simply let go.

It is important to note that a sudden shock to one's esteem can yield positive results. What I learned though, is the importance of not denying the experience of culture shock. There is no need to remain silent when experiencing the reality of a perceived threat to one's sense of self.

It is important to remember that not all that is gold must glitter.

Sonny Bono Statue

2011-10-12T11:50:00.000-05:00

Marilyn, Palm Springs

2011-10-09T23:59:00.000-05:00

Escape to Palm Springs

2011-10-09T02:13:00.003-05:00

OK. Bear with me because if you read this post to the very end, you will see that it contains many questions, and I hope you will take the time to answer back.

We escaped to Palm Springs for a respite from the slightly nippy change-of-seasons in LA. The weather in the outback was a combination of hot and dry with a touch of humidity thrown in for good measure - perrrrrfect!

More road-trip photos will appear before too long. I've had to re-make friends with my blog and my camera after having been stuck in a rut for a bit. What has carried me forward? My desire to beat procrastination by breaking some eggs, as they say.

Two things have sustained me through this intense period of gross navel-gazing. They are my infatuation with the blogosphere, and my passion for Fashion Week. I've never attended Fashion Week, but who needs to when you have so many fabulous blogs covering the event. And then there are even blogs and websites that will allow you to make your own "lookbooks" and photo sets. Take a look at Polyvore, for example. Like many bloggers, I draw my inspiration from reading other blogs, and from sorting photos from my travels. One day, soon, I hope to travel to Fashion Week so that I may blog about my what interests me there. Maybe LA will claim a bite of the Fashion Week cupcake, so to speak, too. Good times for all.

In lieu of Fashion Week, I took a trip to Palm Springs to clear my head and I will post more shots of the trip in the near future. The next two shots are inspired by one of my favorite blogger/illustrators. Can you guess who?

Meanwhile, what do you think of my new Van's?

I am slowly (very, very slowly) crawling out of ~~bed~~ my post-exam funk in order to re-think my personal style (and do something substantive with my life; (don't worry, people... I can stop reading the Internets whenever I want!)).

This is not a growth spurt, per se, but it is, rather, a journey.

And with all good journeys, one must have the perfect shoes. So, what do you think of my new Van's

And what do you prefer, Van's or Chuck Taylor's, and why?

I am drawn to Van's for their classic skate-punk appeal, but does my crush on Van's disqualify me from hipsterdom?

I hope not!

Cheers to all of you who are on a journey. What is your preferred sneaker for such a personal undertaking as a self-makeover?

(That is all for now.)

Flapper Fun

2011-09-26T10:53:00.001-05:00

Perhaps we associate the fun-loving, free-spirited liberated woman with the free-loving hippies of 1970s American-counter-culture. Here is one dame who dared to be different prior to the social revolution. She is the late Marion Davies. Born in Brooklyn, Davies moved to Hollywood during the birth of the movie industry. She began her career in New York as a Zeigfeld show girl. An actress, a dancer, a world-class socialite, a real-estate tycoon, and entrepreneur, she was ahead of her time. This fall, I am feeling rather celebratory, so I will channel my inner flapper and don something vampy. How about you?