Style Inspiration: Teen Witch

Ahhh....the 80s.  A time when Madonna and Billy Idol ruled the airwaves, Dynasty and Cheers made television complete, and a time when John Hughes managed to explore the teenage psyche in a timeless way.  A time that has lent us so many great pop culture fixtures, including ridiculous fashions.

Being stuck inside due to rain, this weekend I forced my roommate to watch Teen Witch.  The cheesy movie, that is part musical, part ridiculousness, was modeled after Teen Wolf making an attempt to capitalize on the films popularity.

It's the story of Louise, the uncomfortable, awkward 15 year old who finds out that she is a descendent of a great witch and will gain these powers upon turning 16.  And what does she do with her powers?  Why, make herself the most popular and pretty girl in school of course.

And with that popularity comes a wardrobe of 80s excitement that I envy:

BEHOLD- Shoulder Pads!!!  Although they are making a comeback on the runways the past few seasons, nothing compares to the way they made formal dresses with shoulder pads in the 80s.

Perfectly matchy-matchy outfits.  The 80s was like Granimals, but for adults.  

And last, but not least, Tutu's.  There was an overabundance in tutu's and tiered skirts in this film that make me want to stock up and wear with ankle boots (my mom would be proud).

The 5 Most Annoying Things About Concerts

I like to think of myself as a live music connoisseur.  I am constantly pouring over the pages of The Bowery Presents to see what new acts are coming to town.  All my spending money goes towards concert tickets, and I'm never one to shy to going to a show solo.  Throughout these concert going experiences, there are five obnoxious things I have noticed that are consistent at each show:

5) The people who are in the very front won't be very enthused.  They will get there the minute the doors open, and they will maintain their position like they are preparing for battle, but the minute the show begins, you will barely get a head nod from these folks.

4) The overly-enthusiastic obnoxious douschebag.  There is always that one guy (I've strangely noticed he's usually blond) who makes an ass out of himself to the point that everyone around him notices, and usually gets annoyed.

3) No matter how expensive the tickets are, there will always be some group of people who think their own conversation is far more important.  And these people always seem to flock to me.  I had never experience worse then at February's Wakey Wakey concert, but overly chatty people seem to be a pretty consistent theme.

2) The opening band will always have shitty sound quality.  Regardless of the venue I am in, I always notice that the opening band has awful sound quality.  Now, I wish I could blame it on the band just sucking, but when I can't even hear the words, I feel like it's not their fault.  Maybe it's a clever ploy so we will think that the second band sounds much better then they do.

1) The tallest guy in the room will inevitably stand in front of me.  This happens without fail, as anyone who has ever attended a concert with me can attest to.  I remember one night at Sugar Nightclub in Victoria, I was there for a concert super early, got my spot (1st step up, middle of the floor) and a guy who was 6'4" came and stood directly in front of me while the place was still empty.  There was bad blood between us that night....

So there you have it.  The five most annoying things you will find at a concert, at least if you're me.  It could be worse, I have yet to experience the puking guy or ridiculous bathroom lines....

Style Inspiration: Willow

Ok, this one may seem a bit outlandish, but here me out.

Ron Howard's 1988 epic has always had a very special place in my heart.  I grew up watching this movie on repeat, developed a crush on Val Kilmer before I knew what crushes were, and always wanted to be a red head because of Joanne Whalley.  And in my older years, I'm taking it one step further and using it as a current wardrobe inspiration.

Now, I'm not suggesting wearing armor to the Lower East Side, or wielding a sword through Midtown, but I think that inspiration can be found everywhere, even fantasy movies starring Warwick Davis.

Fashion highlights of this film include: the bits of fur that the brownies sport, the layers of chains that are part of Sorsha's battle gear, the amazing boots that all the warriors ride the countryside in, the dashiki style tops of the male Elwin's, and (obviously) the kick-ass all black, structured outfits that allow Sorsha to kick Madmartigan's ass and steal his heart.

And I don't think I'm the only one inspired, check out some of these pictures from the Fall 2009 and Spring 2010 runway shows and see if it takes you back to Tir Asleen...

Chanel Iman during the Phi Fall 2009 show is oddly reminiscent of a modern day Sorsha.  Metal chest plate and helmet optional.

Dolce and Gabbana Fall 2009.  

Alexander Wang Spring 2010

Style Icon: Stevie Nicks

My roommate and I don't disagree on a lot of things., and we're lucky that way.  Unfortunately, the one big disagreement in our house is, of all things, Stevie Nicks.  My roommate, hates Stevie Nicks.  We are talking a vehement passion against this woman, a passion that she does not express towards anyone else she does not know.

I, on the other hand, love Stevie Nicks.  I once made my parents buy me Rumors on vinyl, and my dad's response was "really, Alex, I've had this album for 30 years and you want me to buy it for you"?  My love of Nicks has not stopped since.  To this day, laying in my dark room listening to Rumors is my favorite way to start my week.

Yes, I love her rough, sorta annoying voice.  I love the lyrics her and Buckingham wrote during their breakup, but most of all, I love her style.

Call it gypsy, witch, peasant, or victorian, whatever you call it, I want it.  I want to wear billowing layers of lace, skirts of velvet, and shirts adorned with ruffles.  And more than anything, I want to pair it with six inch suede boots that make me fear for my neck whenever I walk on cobblestones.

Granted, I'm not a musician or a quaalude queen, which makes pulling off this style a bit more difficult.  Maybe I need to drop out of life, find a profession in the arts, and invest in some ridiculosity.  After all, if there is any place I can pull off a Stevie Nicks look, New York City is the place to do it.

The Soundtrack of My Life: Edition 1

Lately, I've been going through a rather obsessive compulsive music phase.  Now, I am not an obsessive personality.  I can quit nearly anything if I put my mind to it, and can change habits quickly.  However, with my music, I like what I like, and lately, it's been a lot of the same things.

So, in light of my recent personal situation, and in light of being a 23 year old in New York City, here are a list of the 10 songs that I cannot get enough of right now in my life.

10. "Purple Rain," by Prince.  Duh.

9. "Falling Down" by Scarlett Johansson.  Yes, her album was not spectacular, but every time I hear this song come over my headphones when I'm walking through the city or in the subway, I am instantly calm and nostalgic for another life.

8. "Over It" by The Dandy Warhols.  One of my favorite bands, this song is my go to I don't give a damn anthem.  If only I meant it half the time...

7. "1901" by Phoenix.  Except I feel so super uncool liking this song now that it's in a car commercial.

6. "Second Hand News" by Fleetwood Mac.  I've been harboring a deep love of Fleetwood Mac since college (I know, I was a little late), and this song always reminds me of my friend Mark.

5.  "The Recluse" by Cursive.  A friend of mine once told me, in a reference to film noir, that I might be a black widow.  Apparently, that means that I may have the ability to get people caught in my web before I gobble them up.  I'm not sure if this is a compliment or not, but with a line like "you're in my web now, I've come to wrap you up tight, til it's time to bite down," this is one of those songs that takes me back to that memory.

4. "Empire State of Mind" by Alicia Keys and Jay-Z.  Yes, it's cheesy, and it doesn't really mean a whole lot, but there is no better song to listen to when I'm walking down the bustling streets of this amazing city.

3. "Piece of My Heart" by Janis Joplin.  Last week, at Harlow's Hideaway, I watch a great burlesque performer do a comedic piece to this song.  I've been listening to it non-stop ever since.  But that's what I love about Janis Joplin, you can forget about her for years, but the minute you need her, she's there.

2. "Nightingale/December Song" by Sunset Rubdown.  "You are a vast explosion and I am the embers." Uhhh, yeah, I feel that way a lot.

1.  "West Coast," by Coconut Records.  I can remember the first time I ever heard this song and the completely visceral moment I had with my friend Josh.  We looked at each other and instantly knew that we would both love this song forever.  I still get that feeling every time I hear the opening bars.

This list seems kind of weak to be perfectly honest, maybe I'll have to keep working on it.  I hope edition 2 isn't quite this pathetic...

New York Band to See: Schaffer the Darklord

The first Monday of every month, there is a burlesque/variety show in the basement of Fontana's that I cannot wait to attend.  Comedians, musicians, and naked chicks, oh my!

And why do I want to attend?  People like Schaffer the Darklord (STD).  Yes, upon hearing the name I was expecting long hair, all black, basically Andrew from "Kell on Earth," what I got was so much better.  Part Mike Skinner, part Screech Powers, Schaffer the Darklord is officially my new crush.

Being post-Easter, STD performed "Night of the Living Christ," officially winning my heart with his tale of a zombie christ and his followers.  Quick as lightening, and as entertaining as hell, STD is the real deal of the nerdcore hip-hop scene.  Having had the opportunity to chat with STD in the bathroom line post-show, he is a genuine and down-to-earth artist.

I've since requested that my friends make sure he appears at my birthday party, and if that doesn't work out, then I definitely intend to catch his next show in New York.

For tour dates, music, and more info, check out his myspace here:  http://www.myspace.com/schafferthedarklord