Monday, August 31, 2009

Jump out of bed and fasten your tie

5476-3The Black Tie

Rojas Tie Necklaces - Business Casual (Modcloth) and Black (Nasty Gal)


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And leave me sleepin', dreaming of you
I'll make rehearsal 'fore quarter to 2


http://b9.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/01314/93/31/1314161339_l.jpg


Peter and the Wolf - Salut!


Can't get enough of this group right now. I'm AMAZED that they're unsigned, with songs this catchy and radio-friendly. I'm sure I'll be featuring more of them soon, maybe even later this week. (The only link I can really give is to their myspace, though - they don't have a website and they're not on last.fm or youtube. Tricky!)

Saturday, August 29, 2009

So hungry I went out to find a sushi


Sushi Slippers - Medium

Sushi Slippers - sushibooties on Etsy


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the avenue was vast - a desert.
Nothing but a pale girl staring at me
I'd rather meet a pervert, or a human sushi...

http://ll4ll.net/live/wp-content/uploads/2007/target/couv_album.jpg


Moriarty - Motel
(Lyrics)

"With members of French, American, Swiss and Vietnamese parentage, based in several cities around the globe, [Moriarty is] a ramshackle olde world acoustic outfit with a theatrical bent and a tendency to dress like 1930s Prohibition outlaws who make a mess of sound that takes in folk, country, blues, jazz and cabaret."

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Don't hang up, Frankie!


Updating early because I'm traveling/moving today, and I don't know how the internet will be at The New House...




H81 Girls Gossiping Tee - Heritage1981



Hee. I was pleasantly surprised by this in the New Arrivals on Forever 21's website; it had a retro-kitsch cleverness to it that seemed out of place. Then I realized it was part of the H81 line, and it all made sense. Heritage 1981 is a branch of F21, which began as a clothing line I guess, and is now slowly emerging as a chain of stores. I am fortunate enough to have one at a nearby mall here in DC. In terms of style, Heritage 1981 is basically Forever 21 brought down to earth. The clothes are more lo-fi and chill, but still fall into current trends and are Hip and With It. Forever 21 is a very bright store, white walls, clothes booming with bright colors. Walk into an Heritage1981 and you'll find more wood than white, normal lights, normal or earthy tones for the clothes with the occasional pop of brightness on a boho silk sundress or a knit. You get the idea.

Commercially, I'm sure they're targeting the high school girls who shy away from glossy clubwear and instead get their pride from being into The Beatles, recycling their plastics, reading recreationally and being into other "nerdy" things. It's modeled to be the Stereotypical Indie-Alt Girl's answer to F21. There are a lot of those girls. I expect the stores to do well. Of course, it's also an answer for any kind of girl who just has a more mellow sense of style and wants to dress cute for cheap. If you can't tell by now, it's one of my favorite places to shop. GO IN if you ever come across one!


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Marvin Gaye - Heard It Through the Grapevine

Hahaha, I love the slightly awkward theatrical performance that introduces the song. Also, Gaye's jacket? I want it.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Someone once lied to us; NOW WE'RE NOT SO BLIND

Gather 'round, shoppers, I've got a warning to share!


Now, I love Modcloth. I do. It's one of my favorite stores. But they sure do get away with some puffed-up prices...

Saw a dress at Forever 21 a couple weeks ago:



Woven Tea Party Dress - Forever 21

The price? $22.80. Not too bad, it's a pretty nice, flouncy cut. If it were in a different color (that pink doesn't work well on me), then I'd definitely be interested. Regardless, it's a memorable enough look that it stuck in my mind... so when I was browsing through Modcloth's dresses this afternoon, and saw this item a few pages in:

Pomegranate Dress

Pomegranate Dress - Modcloth

...there was a Moment of Recognition.

Their price? $49.99.

Mmmmmmhm.

It's definitely the same dress; I checked the descriptions on both sites, and they have the same composition (97% cotton, 3% spandex).


Now, like I said, I do actually love Modcloth, so maybe I'd let this slide without saying anything... except that this is actually the THIRD time I've seen this ripoff phenomenon with an identical item between Modcloth.com and a cheaper place's site, like F21 or Wetseal. The first two times were just before I started this blog. (Isn't it nice to share things!)

So what gives, Modcloth? Where do you get off selling F21-grade products at Urban Outfitters prices? And no offense to F21, I shop there a lot -- but anyone who DOES shop there knows that their clothes are not generally well-made, durable, high-quality wares. They're the economical option for decent fashion. Selling the same stuff that you'd find at F21 or Wetseal at double the price is like smuggling a Whopper into a nice sit-down restaurant and selling it as a $15 burger.

Thing is, people will buy that jacked-up, overpriced cheapo burger. Why? Because the nice, sit-down restaurant has Atmosphere, and it's the Atmosphere that's convincing. A customer walks in, checks out the nice look of things, checks out the $7-50 menu range... and thinks, "hey, this is a fairly nice place. Their food must be pretty good!" Likewise, Modcloth can get away with selling cheap clothes at heightened prices because so many people find their site, see the nice layout and the $25-150 dollar price range on the sleekly-photographed apparel, the $40-150 dresses... and go "hey, this is a fairly nice place. Their clothes must be pretty good!"In short, if a product is in a surrounding context of good quality, and is promoted like it's quality, then people will believe it's quality. So they'll pay more for it. Business.

And wouldn't you know, the "Pomegranate Dress" is completely out of stock at Modcloth right now. But if you like it, hey, why not click back over to Forever 21 and buy it for $25 less? They're out of pink too, but they also offer it in orange.


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This all reminds me of an angry singing Zebra.



The Lion King 2 - Not One of Us

Deception!
Disgrace!...

(Full lyrics)

Fdjfgkhduighfdga;dfsk oh my god this song is HYSTERICAL out of the context of the movie. (Though it made me laugh the one time I watched it during The Lion King 2, as well.)

LET HIM RUN
LET HIM LIVE
BUT DO NOT FORGET
WHAT WE CANNOT FORGIVE!!!

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

O heck


I forgot to cross-post from livejournal yesterday!! (I always update LJ first these days, then copy it to blogger.) Guess today's a double post, then.


Here's the Monday post:


http://ny-image3.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.77685223.jpg

Fresh is the Word Frock - iheartfink on Etsy


It's real... and it's beautiful.


And if it were mine, I would wear it with THIS (today's post!):

Oversized 1980s Black Bow

Oversized 1980's Black Bow - KittenPawsVintage on Etsy

Yes sir. Plus a pair of black leggings or skinny jeans, and maybe light blue shoes to pick up the blue stripe in the collar. Ahh, to have money...


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And then there's the music...

Monday's:




The Carlton Dance
Featuring "It's Not Unusual" by Tom Jones

I will never tire of watching the Carlton Dance.

But is dancing all he does?




Fresh Prince of Belair (Carlton Singing)

Answer: no. Ladies and gentlemen, the dulcet tones of Alfonso Ribeiro.


And another song:



David Bowie - Velvet Goldmine


For a velvet, gold-and-black bow. ie.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

"Coincidence is the word we use when we can't see the levers and pulleys."


So my lovely mother scored a free copy of the September issue of VOGUE from her workplace... And I was just noticing a couple things as I paged through.

First:

http://cm1.theinsider.com/media/0/516/94/hudson-jeans-new-face-georgia-may-jagger3.0.0.0x0.450x657.jpeg

Fantastic pair of jeans in a new ad for Hudson... very artistically destroyed, with the key being the Union Jack underlayer. I have been googling trying to hunt these down for sale, but all for naught. I hope they are released as an actual buyable item eventually, even if it's at a ludicrous price.

Obviously I can't move on from these without noting the HAIR "Manchester England" connection, a song I featured in a very recent entry! I'm sure a real-life, modern-day Claude would flip out if he came across this ad. But then, so would Mr. Neil WOOF Donovan... to make things more uncanny, the model wearing the jeans is none other than Georgia May Jagger, daughter of Micky Mick, Micky Jag himself.


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Second: Remember just last week when I did a little red riding hood post, featuring this clip from Sondheim's Into the Woods?

Well...

http://obsessee.typepad.com/.a/6a01053694df79970b0120a5031172970b-pi


Yeah. Really.


http://obsessee.typepad.com/.a/6a01053694df79970b0120a55a4351970c-pi

It's like they knew.

This photo spread is definitely a highlight of the issue. Check out the rest of it out here, where a kind and google-able soul has shared it on their own blog. My favorite shot is probably this one. Amaaaazing riding coat. (Too bad it's 3,000 dollars...)


So then. Life's pretty funny, right?

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Deeper than any root or stone


Chantilly Lace Dress

Chantilly Lace Dress - NicolasDesigns on Etsy


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Tomorrow if a golden train came to take you away
would you go, or would you stay?






Matt Doyle at Joe's Pub 8/17/09: Blake Daniel and Matt Doyle - Golden Train


Duet cover of the song by Justin Nozuka. A highlight from an all around lovely evening. (Gotta love having such a sharp, clear video, too.)

Friday, August 21, 2009

The Cicada Entry

Two things and two videos for being such a flake lately.

Turquoise Cicada Ring

Turquoise Cicada Ring - MadArtjewelry on Etsy


Bug Bag - Green and Maroon Cicada

Bug Bag - Green and Maroon Cicada - djinngal on Etsy


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Joe Iconis - I Was Born This Morning (The Cicada Song)


Love this song. It's from Joe's show "THINGS TO RUIN," and makes for a pretty goddamn rousing opening number. This performance was at Joe's Pub (named for a different Joe altogether) back in 2007.

Here's another video of it done a year later at The Zipper Factory, so you can see what it looks like as part of the actual show T2R, with its current usual cast. (No fancy zoomy schwasty camera effects on this one, though):


Thursday, August 20, 2009

Especially when I'm not with you


"Let me wear this one, mama!"

Turquoise blue raw silk Elemental Dress, size M-L

Turquoise Raw Silk Elemental Dress, size M-L - ZizzyfayWear on Etsy

"It makes me feel like a little fairy queen!"

Turquoise blue raw silk Elemental Dress, size M-L


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Vampire Weekend - Bryn

O, Bryn
You see through the dark
right past the fireflies
that sleep in my heart

You
know it's easy to see -
wait for the season
to come back to me

(Lyrics)

You can't stand it

http://images1.freepeople.com/is/image/FreePeople/16932931_60_a?$zoom-super$


Military Ruffle Jacket - Free People


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Panic! at the Disco - There's a Good Reason These Tables Are Numbered Honey (You Just Haven't Thought of It Yet)

Lol am I seriously posting this song? Yes. Sadly I couldn't find any "black slacks with accentuating off-white pinstripes, oo-woah-oh," so instead we'll have to make do with this fabulously pretentious $150 jacket from Free People.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

THIS WEEKEND WAS VERY BUSY...

So I missed updating on Sunday and Monday. :( I was doing so well, too!

TODAY, I'm doing a big three-part post to make up for the neglect - and to give a nod to the three great shows I saw!


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First up:


Rock of Ages



The 2009 Tony Awards - Rock of Ages - Tony Performance Medley + Don't Stop Believing


Kick it kinda like Sherrie in ROCK OF AGES --

Rock

-- with a pair of badass red leather boots (vintage circa when else but the 80's). Take your pick off Etsy:

AMAZING VintagePatent Bright Red Leather Ankle Heel Gold BUCKLE BOOTS 6 Vintage 80's red leather boots SIZE 9 80s Never Worn Boots Red Leather Slouch SALE Vintage 80's CHERRY RED Leather Cuff Boots 6 Pointy Toe Ankle Boots VINTAGE Heels Red Leather Totally 80 s Size 7 M Linda Carter Fantasy Boots 8M 80's Vintage Red leather folding High riding boots Vintage Red Pirate Slouch  Flat Leather Riding Boots sz 6 B Vintage 1980s red boots size 6

(The first and second pairs are my favorites...)


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http://www.broadwayworld.com/columnpic/NextToNormalCoverLO1.jpg



Next to Normal - Just Another Day (promo clip medley)


Alice Ripley
Alternately, go crazytown without ever leaving the suburbs in a hot red shirt dress like Diana's from NEXT TO NORMAL:

http://media.timeoutnewyork.com/resizeImage/htdocs/export_images/708/708.th.x491.normal.jpg

The Fabulous 80's Shirt Dress

The Fabulous 80's Shirt Dress - Schmoo1515 on Etsy


Jennifer Damiano
OR take a cue from her daughter Natalie's wardrobe instead...


Image of Cabelas Logger Flannel Shirt - Regular Click for larger product view
VINTAGE AFTER SIX  ROYAL  BLUE HALTER COCTAIL dress with SEQUINS, size Small, XS Khaki London Fog Trench Coat . Belt . D ring Buckles

...And my favorite thing she wears is her outfit for her recital.





Next to Normal - Catch Me I'm Falling (promo clip)

For that general look, you'd combine a white blouse (half-unbuttoned) with some kind of sleeveless knit v-neck dress...

Click for larger product view

Classy tights...

/

...And classy flats (plain black ones would be good, but I'm gonna use these because I have loved them long time):

Plum Crazy Flats


AND NOW YOU ARE READY TO PLAY PIANO FOR YALE!!!


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http://api.ning.com/files/1MWSA*pVpmzxS7tnh8xvcrTE*wX4CyarCTzmVyKxqejuzqpXxOIFwTJAt4b2GZowLCIkoV3u8j4JJ7lZGEa7TywBblRySLNX/z.jpg

Unless you'd rather drop out of school, become an unwashed hippie, and channel some anglophilia/Brit Envy from Claude Hooper Bukowski in HAIR:

http://images.huffingtonpost.com/2009-04-02-aazHAIRBroadway1.jpg



HAIR 2009 Broadway Cast Album - Manchester England


[hair] manchester pants


...In a bold flag-print mini dress:


http://ny-image1.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.84745549.jpghttp://ny-image0.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.84745592.jpg

British Pride Vintage Dress - BowTieVintage on Etsy


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THE END

Normal-sized entries will resume tomorrow.


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