4 Countries 3 Weeks 2 Friends 1 Suitcase

Left: REI button up and chitengue. Lusaka, Zambia 2009.

I'm about to go to west Africa for 3 weeks and have made the executive decision to only carry on. After many lost baggage experiences (including the time I chilled in Zambia for several weeks with 2 shirts, 2 skirts, and a sleeping bag) I've come to realize that all my bad karma gets expressed through the travel bag deities and its better to carry everything I need. To date, I've lived in Copenhagen and Oaxaca out of only one bag and found it to be quite easy. Even if you have good travel karma, I actually highly recommend carrying on. It makes for a faster airport experience, its easier to travel once you're in country, and if you're a girl it makes you look way less high maintenance than you actually are.
Oddly, I've also found the carry on fashion lifestyle to be very liberating. The key is to make sure every piece of clothing you bring matches. That way all bottoms, tops, and shoes match each other and you can create an endless array of ensembles.
This time I'm going with all pastels. The one exception to this rule can be a statement dress for nights out that look completely different than your day clothes. This dress can remind you and everyone around you there's more to your style-more to you- than what they've seen on your vacation. In short: I'm classy, but I'm here to party.

A sample of what I'm bringing: J.Crew boyfriend shorts in green. J.Crew weekend pants in brown. REI beige insect repellent SPF 45 button up. Threads 4 Thought organic vnecks and tank tops. Peppermint "Ride with Me Hi-Lo Dress". Black Chacos. $5 brass feather earrings from Violet Boutique in Adams Morgan. Wayfarers. Laura Mercier SPF 30 tinted moisturizer. John Frieda Brilliant Brunette shampoo. Almond Aloe Moisturizer by earthscience, put into an old Lancome sample jar. Dharma Punx by Noah Levine. ipod.

What I'm leaving: Real Ray Bans. Grandma's wedding rings. Short shorts and skirts. Heels. Laptop.

What I'll buy there: Traditional African fabrics, used as skirts or easily tailored into dresses. The skirts are called chitengues in Zambia, I have no idea what they're called in west Africa. Copper rings. Toothpaste.

Look out for a stereotypical Out of Africa post in a month. Logan is the Robert to my Meryl after all. Well, not really but we will be on the same continent.

Spring Things

Sitting in Rachel's sun-soaked bedroom in Middlebury, Vermont and contemplating the coming season. In love with Oysho and Ruche's spring look books as well as these adorable totes you can buy on Etsy.


Oysho S/S 2011


Ruche S/S 2011


Fieldguided

Fieldguided


P.S. Arianna if you read this I was serious about wiring you money for the Oysho clothes.

Today's Post Brought To You By The Letter "F"

You don't always have to fuck her hard... but sometimes you do have to just drop the f bomb. Here are some nice pictures that I think are fucking awesome. (Pardon my elementary french Mom...you guys only let me take spanish in high school.)


From Up North


Piccsy


Unknown


Piccsy


Piccsy

Cheers my loves. And if you go to AU, please attend the rally tomorrow (Thursday 3/31 11 AM- 1 PM on the quad) requesting that AU reconsider their refusal to sign off on a grant application that could give our school $300,000 towards sexual assault prevention, counseling, etc.
Because fucking is only cool when it's consensual.

When Harry and Sally Met Sid and Nancy

Currently finding inspiration from a mix of preppy and punk.

Streetfsn

One of my favorite Kate Moss images when I was in high school


Rach and I circa 2008


Rach and I circa 2010. How times change


Paul Smith Autumn/Winter 2011

Streetfsn

There Is A Light And It Never Goes Out

Valentine's Day is for sure one of my favorite capitalist holiday schemes in America. Even if it was created by the card companies... even if we'll spend 1 billion in chocolates today alone (read it on CNN this morning)... we'll also remember why we love our friends, lovers, family, and selves. And maybe, just maybe, we'll get through it without proving our affection through money.
Here are some images that inspire me on the patron saint of love's special day:

We ♥ It

Ban.Do

Ban.Do

Loveology


H&M Spring 2011

Punchbowl

Commes de Garcons and Converse March 2011

Geek Chic

I really appreciate a good book shelf. As a college student and (wannabe) academic my bed is constantly surrounded with stacks of books. These aesthetically pleasing presentations of immortal knowledge remind me that smart and pretty can go hand in hand.

All from Ffffound

I Love Men's Clothing

Le Court-Metrage

Oliver Peoples just released a new short film to promote their sunglasses. The fashion company is fairly well known for high quality short films, usually erring on the side of fantastical and dreamy. This film featuring indie musician/artist Devendra Banhart and his girlfriend Rebecca Schwartz went a slightly more steamy route. Regardless of the sexual content of this project, I actually really appreciate the style of this film. The sunny lighting inspires and lifts my mood on cold winter afternoons like today.
I have no idea who Schwartz is but the way she looks in the mirror with her big coal-rimmed eyes recalls an innocence I haven't really seen since the French New Wave era. And maybe the scene in Atonement where Kiera Knightly gets ready for dinner. To be sure, Schwartz remains the object-not subject- in this film. That said, I really appreciate these mirror shots when done right (mirror shots in comedies never really deliver). For a brief instant the audience comes in union with the object as they both see the same thing at the same time. Of course, Schwartz is this thing; we see her through rose colored glasses...maybe the same ones Oliver Peoples wants to hawk.
I'm ignoring the feminist implications of object/subject relations in movies this time to comment on the aesthetically pure nature of this court metrage. Thank you to Oliver Peoples for doing the mirror shots right. Also, thank you to Banhart for providing an excellent song for the film. Just please...less ironic anchor tattoos and more clothes next time.

Traveling with Dignity

I'm pretty into human dignity. I find days of air travel can really make or break the human spirit. Although we're taught to believe life is about the journey, not the unavoidable destination (its called life, not death for a reason), jet setting these days seems to be all about getting from point A to point B. We are constantly forced to ask if the means justify the ends. For example, TSA asked me to go through the body scanner today on my way out of DC. My thought is both a body scan and a pat down attack human dignity (not to mention our 4th amendment rights), but the body scan does it more quietly. And with more radiation. Having someone feel you up in front of 100 strangers can be humiliating: it attacks both your dignity and your integrity. That said, I would rather be felt up by a government employee out in the open than looked up and down discretely. The body scan allows people to ignore the gross privacy violation currently occurring every day in airports around the country. So, even though I was running late, I made the choice to opt out and it really wasn't bad.
Now to relate this to clothing. I have a few thoughts:
First, dignified style can create a sense of dignity in even the most humiliating moments. Second, feeling dignified (via your style) can help you demand respect from individuals in power. Third, maybe if we cared more about the journey we take in airplanes, we would be less willing to compromise our integrity every time we feel the eyes of a TSA employee upon us. This in not a well thought out thesis yet, but maybe TSA treats people poorly because they can: because people care about the destination so much more than the journey that they're willing to compromise their usual standards. How does this have to do with clothing you ask? Back in the day flying was quite the thang, and people treated it as such. Women would wear pretty dresses and pill box hats; men nice suits and newly shined shoes. Perhaps by re-instating a respect and love for the journey as well as the destination, people will be more likely to hold airports and planes accountable for the amount of dignity we demand in all other aspects of life. How we dress on airplanes is one indicator as to how much or little we care about the flight itself. I know sweatpants are really comfortable on a plane, but they also devalue a respect for the airplane experience. And it is pretty cool when you think about it- you're flying! Because airplane travel so frequently encroaches upon human dignity these days, I call upon my fellow citizens to class up your style next time you fly. I'm not saying you have to wear your Sunday's best, I'm simply suggesting you dress according to the respect you and the aviation experience deserve.

My travel picks:
1) Marc by Marc Jacobs medium sized nylon 'Tate' tote is roomy enough for to fit your belongings for a weekend away, but small enough that you can actually use it out on the town without looking like a backpacker. The side pockets are perfect for putting your liquid bag into so you don't have to rummage around while in security. There's also no leather which I appreciate.


2) A nice scarf makes me feel cute even after a long flight. The Cheap Monday scarf I purchased in Denmark a few years ago has become a constant companion wherever I go (like here in Marseille avec Rachel!)


3) Lotion. I use my mother's old Lancome sample jar but fill it up with my own paraben-free stuff. Old sample jars are perfect for airplane travel, don't throw them away once they're used up! You can also store earrings and rings in them.


4) Dr. McDougall's vegan split pea soup. I know the word vegan scares some people but this soup actually tastes and smells delicious, I've never met someone who tried it and didn't like it. All you need is hot water which the flight attendants are always more than willing to give. Just like clothing choice asserts your human dignity, so too can food. Plane food is gross, and even on the few occasions it tastes okay its typically horrible for you. Treat your body right with food that tastes and digests better.

Sock It To Me

Hansel From Basel's new collection takes fall tights and socks to a whole new level. Some are expensive but there's actually some good deals on here, be sure to check out sock of the month for a steal!

Pictures of Drawings of Pictures

Really into Krisatomic right now. Along with photography, she draws simple and adorable pictures of real-life outfits. Anthropologie and Chloe have both featured her stuff. Since imitation is the sincerest form of flattery I thought I would imitate her own imitation for kicks.

Objects Of My Desire

These artists forgo the flesh and focus solely on the material. Forgetting humanity never looked so beautiful.

Carl Kleiner



Moxy Creative


Fifi Lapin

Oktober

Cheers to the end of Oktoberfest and the start of a new month!

(Ashley Meaders)

Listening to: Heartstopper by Emiliana Torrini

A Quick Reminder of Why Clothing Can Be Art

Mary Katrantzou has only been out of fashion school for 2 years. Her Spring 2011 line is nothing short of inspired.

Also, can someone please feed the models?