Festival Style: Los Angeles edition

I've had the goods for this soon to be excellent post for almost two weeks and yet, I've just been sitting on it...blame it on classes starting, working a big person job far away or the generally frantic desire to get drunk with friends I haven't seen all summer...whateva, a weird combination of laziness and ultra business is cramping my style.  No pun intended. I've also had to do some renovations around here as of late..new year/new semester/new look, which took some time to perfect.  Anyways...

I got the super sweet opportunity to hit up FYF (Fuck Ya Fest) at LA Historic Park over labor day weekend. So yeah I had to "work", but luckily my bosses are mad cool and whiled away most of my shift feeding me delicious vegan food in the artist's tent. Post-shift I was allowed to frolic around the festival and do whatever I liked, which was so fun.  Warpaint, Father John Misty, M83, Tycho, and Sleigh Bells fucking rocked. (...there the f bomb goes...) It was a cool venue with a visually arresting crowd...people watching and street style was half the fun, really.

 

I'm an inside (wo)man now

turns out PR is a very dog friendly job

 

Sunday schedule

  

Chili Beans, a weird Brazilian sunglasses company that sponsored

Backstage at Sleigh Bells - soo epic

And now for the fun stuff. THE CLOTHES.  Like I said before, I was rubberneckin right and left trying to look at the kewl stuff everybody was wearing.  The general dress agenda seemed to be donning the most minimal amount of clothing as legally possibly.  Granted, it was hot and dusty as texas/hell, but frozen lemonades, cold air guns, and more high-wasited shorts/bandeau combos than a person could count made it all bearable.  I had the pleasure of running into my sexay fried Matt and my gal Mirna, both of whom were looking all around rad.  I have one thing to say, and one thing only: Givency nose ring.

look into those baby bluezzzzz

 

 

 

Mirna who showed up on Vice/Noisey's Hottest Kids at FYF feature because...well she's making that bodysuit work hard for her and it's workin good.

small outfit details from me...Dolce Vita booties, which I managed to ruin in the tanbark and dust, H&M shoulder bag, DIY black beaded bracelet, studded leather wrap bracelet handmade in Rome, and my sweet ass production pass :-P

rebellion

In a recent fit of rebellion I dyed my hair...pink. Ever since my days as a preteen dirtbag (hah) I've had the secret desire for my hair to look like the inside of a pack of tropical skittles.  Spoiler alert: I needed to maintain some semblance of presentability, so was just the ends that I dyed. But still. Rebellion. Pink hair. They go together, no? 

So the best part about this (probably momentary) rebellious streak is that the color is going to last about as long as my attention span for any given stylistic excursion (approximately 2.5 days).  The color came from straight up artists chalk, also known as pastels, but NOT to be confused with oil pastels.  If your 3rd grade class ever had art time, you inevitably drew with these babies, and if you haven't, then let me be the first to tell you they are GREAT.  The chalky consistency deposits tons of pigment so your work comes out looking super vibrant and rich.  Luckily enough, the reason you can use the chalk on your hair is pretty much the same reason they're so fun to use: lots of pigment.  Starting with dry hair and dry chalk the color looked crazy bright and stayed on for a good 24 hours, with some of the colored powder sprinkling itself on my shirt, sheets, and towels. Fast forward to the morning of my last wash and I started pouting because I liiiiiiked the pink and I didnt waannnnaaa wash it out!!! So I started working with wet hair and crushed up chalk. The result? The sickest awesome fuschia color one day and a beautiful cotton candy pink on day 2 and 3.  Currently on day 4 we'll see what this wash does...
Up next: barney purple and colbalt blue

"For Charity"

While the concept of shopping "for charity" is a little lost on me, I'm not one to say no to free-flowing champagne and tiny hor d'oeuvres served by hot gay men while being encouraged to shop for bags/shoes/accessories. Which is how I wound up at the Michael Kors fall preview party last night.  It was mildly disconcerting to be looking at fur vests and cashmere sweaters when it was 80 degrees out, but something about guzzling champagne after a workout will really make you forget what season it is. The clothes were scrumptious, I now have an insatiable desire to own the perfect orange bag, and all in all it was a smashing success.  Plus we were helping people and stuff...ya know? Anyways, here's what I wore:

Me and my gorgeous mama with said champagne in hand

top/Intimately Free People

skirt/Michael Kors (duh had to wear something of his)

sandals/Dolce Vita

bag/Rachel Zoe

Everybody, Just

festival style 2.0

Outside lands is different.  Not different like that kid in your second grade class who once hid under a car in the parking lot because he didn't want to come in from recess, different like a cool older cousin you whose (apparent) worldliness you tried  to (poorly) imitate when you were a kid.  Not that I'm speaking from experience or anything...but take my word for it.  Outside Lands IS the cool older cousin of the west-coast music festivals; largely devoid of the neon-tank-wearing types that flock to Coachella these days, the crowd is always a little more subdued, a little more conservatively dressed, and a whole lot more mature, one could say. But no less fun, that is for sure. Obviously this translates to a significant lack of bikinis as clothes (which is, I'll admit, slightly disappointing), and the usual festival look of how-little-fabric-can-I-get-away-with-without-being-totally-nude.  Also a tad disappointing because, in case I have not personally let you in on this secret, my favorite kind of suit is a birthday suit, of course.  One must also factor the weather into the equation for OL; my first foray into nor-cal music festivals almost ended in death by hypothermia and I will not be repeating that experience anytime soon, so, layers, layers, layers and big comfy sweaters are topping my possible-to-wear list.  As per usual, last year's crowd gave me some solid ideas, and I cannot lie, the abundance of fur makes me want to run myself to the nearest vintage/consignment store to start my search for your grandma's rabbit fur coat.  Animal Rights 4ever.

Anyways, check out last year:

can I be a part of your clique? pretty please?

I'll gladly admit that I'm completely obsessing over this last girl, Temple Hull.  First, she looks like Sloane from Ferris Bueller's Day Off, the best character from the best movie ever...I'm still trying to copy that white leather fringed jacket... second, she looks so goddamn cool (and warm) and nonchalant in her vintage fur and over the knee socks.

The general feel seems to be worn leather, warm fur, and laid-back cool.  City style with a twist, I can dig.

Now take a peek at some of the things I've started to throw together in preparation...since dressing for a festival is not unlike packing for me...

sweater/Free People

waxed snakeskin jeans/J Brand

suede lace up boots/Sam Edelman

bodysuit/Hanky Panky

mullet skirt/Stem

suede ankle boots/Sam Edelman

invisible awesome fur coat?????

close-up on my awesome new ankle boots! wee

skirt and top/Free People

heeled ankle boots/Dolce Vita

Updates on what I ACTUALLY wear to come...

boots and jackets live long & prosper.

a reflection on travel packing two months too late

I must preface this post by saying that it was intended for posting in MAY (whoa am I disorganized or whaaaat), prior to my departure, but I liked where I was going with it, so here we are.  Revamping.  It works.

Packing for a trip is one half awesome/exciting and one half extreme dressing OCD neurotic weirdness (for me, anyways). A place and time for an item of clothing + unknown location = ?????? I DON'T KNOW EITHER! The obvious solution seemed to be, pack everything.  Pack every cool and/or relevant item of clothing you own and pray that your (if you're me, again, an abnormal example one might say) many mostly stylistically irrelevant pieces come together to create some sort of eclectically questionable "vacation style" you can play off as a having just picked up during your time...wherever you went. Soo having just returned from being in Rome and then on the east coast for 6 weeks, and now currently posted up in Northern CA whiling away the remains of my summer sometimes at a desk job (a real adult job!) and sometimes floating in my pool, I can make (slightly) more informed judgements on what one actually needs when traipsing around Europe for a little while.  Or for that matter, what you need when you're away from the entirety of your closet; a sad, sad time for some (me).

I tried my best to avoid the aforementioned flurry of packing where I end up holding two armfuls of clothes and exhaustedly staring at the space between my dresser and my midget cubbyhole closet, but alas it did not work.  Two 60 lb bags and a freaking astronomical charge for overweight luggage later, I can safely say I did not need my whole closet with me, considering I wore the same sorts of things on repeat.

Interestingly, I did a comb over of a few of my favorite blogs before I left to get a round-up of solid travel/walking old monument friendly outfits that wont have you looking like this.  Just kidding.  Although sometimes when my shorts are too short they get all bunchy, an experience I'm clearly sharing with the father in that lovely photo. Aren't you glad you're reading this post? Me too. Back to the point at hand, the outfits I gravitated towards (from Style by Kling, Tuula, and The Man Repeller) ended up being pretty on par with my actual outfits while abroad. NEAT!  Simplicity and comfort reigned supreme, think lots of white, small dresses and button downs.  Oh yeah, I bought birkenstocks. yikes/yay.  Check out some of the bloggin/real world comparisons below.

 Tuula in Florence

Man Repeller...being less repellant than usual?

Elin Kling

photo credit: Allie Shorin

 shirt French Connection

glasses Ray Ban

dress vintage

sandals Birkenstock

bag H&M

I'm Baaaaack

So my accidental hiatus deserves addressing because of all the lovin I've been getting about the blog lately. I LOVE HEARING PEOPLE SAY WHAT I WRITE DOESN'T SUCK. or is crazy. So thanks guys!! I'm diggin the warm fuzzies and it was not my intention to leave all you kiddies hanging without a shred of my worldly/sarcastically harassing advice on life love how to dress.  The leave of absence was due largely to the fact that I skipped off to Italy for a month and a half and consequently only had access to Italian internet, which, let me tell you, belongs in 1997.  Though frustrating at times, this is also totally acceptable because everything else in Italy kicks America's ass and you don't want to get on/near a computer when you're so busy enjoying life anyways.  That being said, the trip was like a major cultural shock to the brain and the information overload sucked my creative juices dry for a while.  I'm trying to get this baby up and running again! So here I am, STYLEme 2.0.  

Like I said before, there's been a lot of love lately, and accordingly I want to give a major shout out to my lovely friend Cameron at Guest of a Guest for pegging me as a "Unique Fashion Blog Worth Following"!  What I'm especially digging about this whole situation is that my man listed me up alongside FashionToast, honestly WTF, and VICE which are probably my main pseudo literary indulgences.  I don't think the word pseudo literary exists, but let's go with it.  So thank YOU for likin me :)

There will be more comin so stay tuned.

Oh and if you're interested...the article

and some pictures of itlay...ciao regazzi!

 Some Alex Garland outside my school

shoes Cole haan x Nike Air

bag Rachel Zoe

 oasis in the city-Villa Borghese

shorts Free People

sorrento/eden/paradise

top FP Beach

bikini Thakoon

Roma I love you

Coachella '12/I Pretend I'm in the Desert

In the realm of logical existence, sweaty masses rubbing their bodies together in 110+ degree heat should culminate on the style achievement chart, a score roughly equivalent to what I wore my first day of seventh grade, but miraculously every year the crowd at Coachella manages to dodge this.  It’s a literal fashionable petri dish in the desert every April; all those little drunken amoebas moving around in stylish groups. Set aside the fact that the festival may have bastardized the legacy of one of the only rappers anyone of minor intelligence has respect for... Coachella’s gotten reeeeal popular in the last couple of years so all the big music/movie/fashion/whyaretheyfamousicantremember names are there gettin their scene on.  This always results in inneresting game of who-looks-the-coolest, here are my (personal) winners:

Kate Bosworth- rockin all Isabel Marant all da time

Whitney Port- showing that I don't always hate print mashing

Nicole Richie- the original boho child 

Isabel Lucas - I can't decide if I posted the first picture because I like her outfit or her boyfriend. Option 2 most likely. but OUTFIT 2. prairie girl. yes please.

Rosie Huntington-Whitely - showing the world that we might as well just bury our heads in the sand, while wearing extra awesome Jbrand x Christopher Kane daisy shorts and Givency ankle boots. meow. 

ANNNND now, last, and most definitely least we have a crackhead Vanessa Hudgens trying really, really, really, really, really, really hard to look like she's still relevant and/or cool.  And failing miserably. I personally prefer the drug-dippin picture of her from last year.

While all these loons were prancing around under the desert sun, I was busy in Northern California losing (part) of my mind at STS9's two-day oakland show.  Four sets, two nights, SO MUCH DANCING. I was awesome and HOT out too, so needless to say I made like a desert-goer all short shorts and crocheted dresses and what not.  Here's what I wore:

 (from top left) shoes/Cole Haan x Nike Air, belt/Joe's Jeans, shorts/vintage Levi's (my roomates), tank top/Rebecca Beeson, dorky green sticker/my own, shoes/Sam Edelman, dress/Free People, Bracelets (wrist down)/Costa Rican friendship bracelet, custom made leather and onyx, Stella&Dot, House of Harlow 1960

Loyola Street Style/Lock Your Door I'm Coming to Steal Your Clothes

Set aside my initial bashing of the on-campus style here in LA, and feast your eyes on this delectable outfit.

Amanda Bjorn, senior photo/art history major rockin the shit out of the most awesome pair of pants I've ever seen and a belt "just from some boutique in Paris".  Oh Amanda, I praise you for your nonchalant coolness and bangin outfit. YOU GO!

top/free people

pants/vintage

belt/boutique in Paris

boots/vintage 

jewelry/vintage

Frills and Shit/Lady Dressing/Pre Excitement for Pre Fall

Those of you who are lucky enough to be graced with my weirdness on a semi-regular basis may have heard me inquire, quite legitimately, whether or not I appear to in fact like other girls. IE: me in size 30 destructo* jeans, brogues, and a men’s XXL topshop tshirt, “do I look like a lesbian right now?” my roommate: “you might want to find a smaller shirt” Me: sad face.  THE POINT BEING comfort reigns supreme in my daily life/dressing habits, and coupled with the fact that I can really get down with androgynous (read: not girly) clothes, results in my forgetting that I have a female figure at times.  That being said, while perusing the pre-fall shows a magical tingly sensation spread over my body after seeing the supa fem girly girl dresses, gypsy-lady skirts, and grandma lace that was featured front and center at all the shows!!!! WOWOWOW! PANTS BEGONE! I can’t wait to get my bod in these solid gold lady clothes. This stuff is actually wearable, a concept often forgotten in high fashion. Not only do they make sweet street duds (ok, I admit that's a sliiight stretch- but stick with me here) that but they are flattering to those of us less pin-shaped than the models the clothes are shown on. Awesome because I like cheeseburgers. (TMI? too bad.) Some may argue HEY these are fall styles dummy! But let’s be real, if I was trying to dress on-trend/in-season….well that’s never happened so I’m not even sure what trying would look like. 

Roberto Cavalli

Jesus. Even though Gypsies may be the most hated race (?) of people in Europe I will gladly make like a psychedelic urchin girl if I can dress like this.  Fabric on fabric on fabric touchin the floor, animal prints, the color aubergine and furrrrrrrrr. Yum.

Isabel Marant

Isabel Marant has once again managed to capture and reproduce a ‘I just pulled this off the floor of my closet and threw it on, IDGAF, don’t you want to be me?’ vibe.  Yes Isabel, yes I want to be you.  She’s pulling a sexy western cowgirl/annie’s got a gun theme for her fall ’12 show, and I for one am digging it. Emphasis on the short hemlines and frills. Plus dress + leather ankle boots = fun

Now let's be real people.

I could realistically afford approximately one button from the back of the epic mermaid Cavalli skirt picture above OR a single stud from the sweet Isabel Marant booties in the pics. OR people, not and, or.  This shiz is so crazy expensive that for now I am relegated to drooling on my computer screen while dreaming studded leather boot day dreams, but ALAS the unplumbed depths of my closet (think 20,000 leagues under the sea, Dr. Nero would be scared) have much to offer.  I present my findings…

 (from top) skirt/free people skirt/free people dress/vintage dress/lucky brand
 ps- pardon the "unique" (mediocre) photography, I am currently tripod-less

 *anything with more than 3 holes in it. whether intentional or not…