Style Icon: Juliette Lewis

I have loved Juliette Lewis for years.  I think my first introduction to her was in From Dusk Til Dawn, and with Natural Born Killers being one of my favourite movies, she has stayed on my radar for years.  But it wasn't until a few years ago, when Juliette transitioned into music that I really started taking notice of her style.  She has often been my hair icon, with her messy waves, big bangs, and grown out brunette colour.  I remember spending hours watching her videos on YouTube, and being totally enamored of her Indian headdresses, leather pants, bodysuits, sequins, and glam rock makeup.  I was completely inspired, and to this day, whenever I have an excuse to get dressed up, I want to throw one or all of these elements into a crazy outfit.  

  

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.

Top 10 Fashion Needs for 2010

I am not a huge shopper.  I like to go vintage shopping, but only between the hours of 10-2 on a weekday (which now that I'm working 9-5 is going to be difficult), I will go shop in little boutiques (but I'm not earning a ton of money, so that will be tough), and I despise most stores like H&M and Forever 21.  Having worked in a boutique from the ages of 17-20, I have an aversion towards most giant stores, something to do with overhead lighting and racks of clothing askew and the chaos that goes with it.

Having said that, I usually keep a list of the clothing items I want.  This way I stay on my budget, I don't end up with too many things I don't need (vintage dresses aside), and I don't have to spend much time shopping.

So far, as my life, interests, and attitude is changing, so is my wardrobe.  My list is growing far more then I want it to, but here are the Top 10 for 2010:

1. Bamboo T-shirts.  I have been searching for the perfect t-shirt for a while, and am dying to move to more renewable fabric sources.  I began this quest with my bamboo bed sheets last year, and I cannot get over how soft they are.  Bamboo t-shirts can be a little pricey, so I plan on investing in a black, white and probably yellow one for the time being.

2. Skinny black pants.  Remember when those GAP ads used Audrey Hepburn a couple years ago?  Well, I missed the boat on that and am now kicking myself for it.  I have a feeling that with enough hunting I will be able to find them, but I have a feeling that these will be one of the purchases I make next fall.

3. Patterned silk scarves.  I have a few of these already, and I love adding them to a t-shirt and skirt as a fun alternative to a necklace.  Hey, it worked for Jackie O.

4. Striped boatneck top.  I secretly desire to spend my days drinking wine, reading Sartre, and smoking cigarettes (even though I don't really intend to ever do this last thing).  I've always seen myself doing that in a striped boatneck top with my hair pulled up in a bun.  Granted, I'm also super tall and skinny in this fantasy, so who knows.

5. Short black Frye boots.  As I've previously mentioned, I have a deep love for Frye boots.  I asked for the Harness Frye's '8' for Christmas, but I think my dad figured that after two pairs, a third was unnecessary.  He may be right, but that doesn't mean I won't ask for them for my birthday.

6.  A signature silver necklace.  I know this sounds a bit weird, but I have been scouring the globe for a simple, classy, silver necklace that is all my own.  I have a silver graduated bead necklace from Tiffany that I love, but it's almost too classy.  I also have a great sparrow necklace I found for $3 at a thrift store, but that too, just isn't quite me.  It's time for me to find my signature piece.

7. New sunglasses.  I want basic black frames, and a decent lens, is that too much to ask for?  Upon last Spring's loss of my favorite Burberry's (left drunkenly behind at Down the Hatch), I have been dying to buy some new, classic sunglasses.  Having gotten all of my sunglasses at amazing prices, I've always been super picky about how much I spend, that's probably a good thing, considering how things go on those drunken nights.

8. Fabulous and practical neutral colored flats.  Recently, I've learned the joy of having fashionable flats in New York City.  Not only do I need something I can wear to work, but I need something comfortable enough to get me through Grand Central at rush hour.  These are a few months off, I definitely plan on spending some good money on these, I need something that will last me more then a month.  I'm not a huge label queen anymore, but I've always thought these Chanel flats to be perfection.

9.  Long, thin knit cardigans.  I have a number of these that I've been wearing for years, but that's the problem, I've been wearing them for years and now they are well-loved and not so work appropriate.  The only problem is that I am super picky about my cardigans, and cannot find the one that I already own.

10. A really practical, really great, really classic, really big bag.  I have a really great collection of purses both vintage, and designer that I rarely carry.  The truth of the matter is that in New York, we carry our lives on our shoulders and that usually requires a big bag.

Now that I'm doing a mental checklist of how much all of this will cost, I realize that it will definitely take me a year to acquire all these items, either that or maybe I should start picking up some extra bartending gigs :)

Style Icon: Courtney Love

I have had a thing for the 90s for a while now.  A couple years ago, anticipating the return of the 90s, I started to collect vintage Doc Martens and a few babydoll dresses that would give me that early 90s Courtney Love grunge look.  Now, I am well aware that most people hate Courtney Love, and while I consider myself lucky that my ex-boyfriend no longer reads my blog (saving me hours of a lecture about how awful Courtney Love is), I am still certain to get some flack for secretly loving her.

The once prominent musician (thanks to her tumultuous relationships, zany antics, and Cobain written lyrics), has certainly had her fair share of media downfall.  She is constantly run over the coals for things she is saying, lawsuits she is dealing with, and issues with her daughter.  All that aside, if I could dress like she did in the early and mid-90s and pull it off, I would.

The first step is to build my collection of too tight/sheer/ripped/stained baby-doll dresses.  Thankfully, Spring and Summer are just around the corner and if I pair these with an oversized cardigan (or maybe a flannel button-down), I may just be able to pull it off.

The second item I will need to start acquiring is a great collection of Doc Martens.  This is actually going to be surprisingly difficult.  Now, this won't be difficult because Doc Martens are tough to find, no, it will be difficult to create a great collection of them without looking like a total poser.  Thankfully, I am already well on my way already owning a few pairs, including my white and black polka dot graphic Doc Marten boots, which are perfect for rainy weather or bar hopping in Williamsburg.

I bought these Doc Martens at a thrift store in Missoula, Montana a few years ago for around $35.  I've gotten more then my fair share of wear out of them in the rainy New York weather we've had this past year.

Finally, what really makes Courtney Love who she is, is her makeup and hair, and the fact that it is all just way to extreme.  Dark red lipstick, pale white skin, and kohl rimmed eyes that always look as though you've just slept with your make-up on after one too many PBR's.  The final touch is the bleach blond bob.  Having already been a blond for a large portion of my life, I have recently been contemplating switching my dark to light and my long to short. 

That's not all Ms. Love has proven herself to be.  No matter how much MAC Russian Red lipstick or peroxide I use, I could never be like Courtney without all the attitude and "I don't give a fuck" attitude that she projects.  Love her or hate her, get used to her, because even in her 40s, this woman is still making headlines.  

Quick Grammy Recap

I normally don't write much on award shows.  I don't usually watch many award shows, but I did watch the first half of the Grammy's this year.  Here were a few of my favorite highlights:

-Leonard Cohen receiving a Lifetime Achievement award.

-Green Day performing with the cast of American Idiot, which releases March 24, and I will definitely be seeing it.

-Beyonce covering Alanis Morissette's "You Oughta Know."  When asked why this song was so often covered by pop stars in the past year by a music loving friend, I suggested that it offered an interesting juxtaposition between anti-misogonist lyrics in the grunge-loving mid-90s, versus 2010 with Beyonce's "If I Were a Boy"

-Pink's aerial silk performance.  The female chandelier is very Howard Hawks circa Gentlemen Prefer Blonds, but Pink's body is banging, she's an amazing performer, and a killer singer.  I really just want to be her.

-Finally, I have to say, that as much as I adored Lady Gaga and Elton John's performance, it was a Lady Gaga performance, that made me originally decide to give into my love for the woman, and I was expecting something insane and wonderful again.  It's okay, I still love her.  In fact, she was so awesome in this Giorgio Armani Prive dress, that it was difficult for me to look directly at her.

Lady Gaga wins my vote for being the best dressed of the night.  I know I'm pretty much alone in this, but the weirder you dress the more I like you (ahem, Bjork).

Lady Gaga has become my surrealist fantasy.  Everything I loved in modern art and cinema is becoming realized through this woman, and one day I feel as though they'll be teaching a class in modern and surrealist performance, studying Lady Gaga concerts and videos!

Best Montana Find: Vintage Prada

One of my favorite parts about Montana is that I have the opportunity to buy designer vintage for much cheaper then I would find it for in the city. While it is rare that I am able to find anything designer (it's Montana after all) I can usually manage to find one or two really great items.

This trip, I was on a mission to find a more professional wardrobe. One of these days I won't be working at a restaurant and I may actually have to look semi-professional. I killed two birds with one stone when I found these vintage Prada loafers on sale for $30.

Vintage Prada Loafers, Blue Suede with Brown Leather Straps

A bit tight, but still comfortable.  These loafers make me think of Audrey Hepburn meets Molly Ringwald.  I fully plan on wearing them with leggings, skinny jeans, and dresses come spring.  Not bad for $30 bucks.

One more picture, for proof

One Day Our Kids Will Mock Us

Dear Vanessa Hudgens,

I think you're pretty adorable, and even though you were young, and stupid, and maybe a little naive to jeopardize your career at Disney to gain the attention of a boy by sending him naked pictures, I'm still on your side. As someone on your side, let me ask you this, have you looked at pictures of your mom from the 80s? I've spent many a days in my youth mocking my mom's uber-80s style, and although I at times recreate those same styles, I avoid having my picture taken (let alone being plastered all over the pages of Us Weekly and People) when I'm wearing said styles.

That being said, this is a bit ridiculous and over the top dontcha think?

On My Wishlist: Leather Pants

As I gear up for my thrilling/exciting/terrifying (circle one) move to New York, I can't help but picture what I will be wearing as a I strut up and down the streets of the city. Considering nearly all of my NYC fantasies include me at a cafe reading a book, or perhaps taking in a concert (ridiculous, yes?), or perhaps running into Ed Westwick (it COULD happen), in every one of my fantasies I happen to be fabulously dressed.

Although I wear bold clothing now (sequins, fur, bright colors, not your Montana style), my NYC wardrobe has to be that much MORE wonderful. And the one thing that keeps showing up in my NYC dreams (besides my brown leather jacket that was tragically stolen) is a pair of leather pants. Not a pair of leather biker pants, and not the leather flared pant that was oh-so-popular when I was in junior high (of course those were all pleather). No, what I really want is a pair of super-tight, super-skinny leather pants that I can wear with towering heels, my red velvet boots, and maybe even a sequin or two if I'm feeling daring. Of course, without the hundreds of dollars to wear the same brands as celebrities, I am coming up short on just where to get such leather pants. I suppose this is the dream the big city holds for me. Art, celebrity, culture, music, and a land full of opportunities and leather. Preferably black pants and a replacement brown coat.

So tell me? Are leather pants wearable in day-to-day life, or are they best left to the celebrities?