Inspiration: Porcelain Antiquities

On somedays, we all just want to look like antique porcelain dolls. Am I right or am I right?

Brooke

IN CASE OF A NATURAL DISASTER

While a storm brews off the shores of our Caribbean isle, our parents are preparing for the full effects of category one Hurricane Sandy (the squirrel). They buy canned goods and batteries, store water, etc etc., to prevent unreservedly primitive living. Truth is, while the radio repeats the precautions to be made in the case of a hurricane every hour on the hour, since time immemorial, like the precautions are ever going to change - our poor teenage souls are left to fend for ourselves in the realm of disaster-living; searching, and often not finding a means of entertainment to live through the disaster. While it is first and foremostly important to remain as safe as possible during a storm - I figure that if any of you are anything at all like me, you'd like to have some closure when it comes to what you can do for yourself before and after a hurricane.

Ok, poetics aside, here's what you should do in the case of a hurricane:

1. DO YOUR HOMEWORK

Get it done the day school lets you off early until further notice. I'm sure we've all been in situations where we overestimate pending tropical storms and hurricanes, only to realize they're a total bust and we do have school the next day..... Awkward..... Don't let the homework pile up, otherwise you'll cry the night before with a major cup of coffee in your hand and papers scattered across the floor - not exactly 'très chic'

2. TAKE A REALLY LONG BATH

And when I say long, I mean really long. I mean I normally take half-hour in the mornings without washing my hair. So, roughly approximating, I'd say spend an hour and a half or two, washing your hair, shaving, pampering etc. You never know what type of radioactive, contaminated, debris-ridden water Sandy might leave us with after she's shat all over us. Even with a tank, you might be bathing out of a bucket for the next few days. Take heed my friends, take heed.

3. MUSIC, MOVIES, BOOKS, THE LIKE

We all have 'Rain' playlists on our iTunes, but how may of us have 'Hurricane' playlists? I'm sure none of you do, because I just thought of it and I don't even have one. When it comes to music, it's all about what you like to listen to of course, but no offense, if you don't even consider the songs I'm about to suggest, you might be basic? I'm sorry that that may be the case my friend, but we all have to learn to live with our afflictions. Anyway here are my ideas of a Hurricane playlist:

Ayla - The Maccabees

Barely Love You Too - Frank + Derol

The Boys - Nicki Minaj Feat. Cassie (I already know what you're thinking, shut up)

Little House - Amanda Seyfried

Give Me Love - Ed Sheeran

Lego House - Ed Sheeran (scratch that, everything by Ed Sheeran)

Red - Taylor Swift (The entire album. Or you could just have everything by her like me - why not)

The Cave - Mumford And Sons

Little Lion Man - Mumford And Sons

I Will Wait - Mumford And Sons

Gossamer - Passion Pit

After The Storm - Mumford And Sons

Boom - Anjulie

Fantasea - Azealia Banks (The mixtape)

For movies, I prefer watching a mix of pathetic teenage/young adult films involving suicide, pathetic emotions, drugs, eating disorders or psychosis (or all the above), along with horrors/thrillers of the late 90's into the 2000's. Why not live what we were too young to appreciate, right? Don't forget all - or just a few - of the Audrey Hepburn movies too!

The Silence Of The Lambs

Sixth Sense

The Others

Funny Face

Dazed and Confused

The Breakfast Club

Thirteen

Pretty Woman

Ten Things I Hate About You
Clueless

Armageddon

Breakfast At TIffany's

Girl, Interrupted

Heathers

Life Size

Forrest Gump

The Parent Trap

Jurassic Park

Toy Story (shut up)

Lion King (3rd time's the charm)

Scream

Books - Read whatever you really want, whether it's pathetic teen love stories, tear jerkers, historical novels, poems, whatever. Just physically and emotionally immerse yourself in something to pass time. While you all read something by Nicholas Sparks (blah), I'll be reading the latest issue of Vogue (and all the others before that because I'm hopeless), The Fault In Our Stars by John Green, Sylvia Plath's entire collection of poems as well as The Bell Jar by her.

Wasn't that fabulous? Ok have fun and keep safe in the hurricane!!!!!

Brooke

GAGA FOR BALENCIAGA

PS: Vogue.com 

After Paris Fashion Week set sail with Rochas and Dries van Noten, the Balenciaga SS/13 defilé was next in line, proving to be nothing short of spectacular. What we all love about Balenciaga, I'm sure, is it's ability to create refreshing looks each season while maintaining consistency in the structure of the pieces. The clean, tailored structural lines and the symmetry in the patterns of the looks, are things we see every season in some way. Even the asymmetrical pieces seem to have some structure or repetitive pattern. Let's not forget the shoes, the reason I fell in love with the fashion house years ago: those clunky geometric heels jutting from a fairly 'tailored' shoe might as well be a trademark for Balenciaga. However the regularity never bores us, because something strays just enough to keep our eyes on the garb. And once again, these looks are a breath of fresh air amongst all the (tasteful) fluff we've seen for other designers throughout the Fashion Weeks...

But that's just me. What do you all think?

Brooke

Triple Threat: Valentino, Ballet and SJP

For me, there's nothing better than being able to dress like a chic-inista and go to a phenomenal arts performance or gala of any kind. So imagine my joie de vivre - jealousy really - at seeing the photos of the total chic-fest that was the New York City Ballet Gala held some nights ago. As expected, the event was chock-full with iconic designers and fashionable celebrities and editors of all generations, including the likes of Anne Hathaway, Carolina Herrera, Chloe Malle and of course the co-chair, SJP!

Although the New York City Ballet's audience caught my eye, it was the actual ballerinas who captured it - most importantly their costumes. Having danced ballet since I was just a lil tot, and performing in shows etc, the thought of being able to wear black and white or berry coloured tulle costumes and tutus - designed by Valentino Garavani himself - killed my soul. Don't get me wrong now, if I had actually been able to wear the couture costumes my heart would have melted, but instead I watched other, perfect ballerinas wear them. I might need a moment.

Witticisms aside, Valentino's costumes really did take my breath away, and even after looking at them for the millionth time they still inspire me. There's just something about the fabric, the tiers, the ruffles, the B/W, the berry colours. There's simplicity and complexity in the details amalgamated to form 16th century perfection.

Brooke

Lana Del Rey: Face of H&M

Photo Source: Vogue

A few days ago the fashion world found out that Lana Del Rey, a fairly new artiste, is the new face of H&M. Personally I love Lana Del Rey, and I think her music, style and attitude are fabulous. Plus she's ridiculously gorgeous! What do you all think?

Brooke

Thinking about Summer

 

Lately I've been dreading school a lot more than usual. Besides not seeing the point of being forced to this place of 'education' for such a long period of time per day (especially when I know I won't need majority of these things for what I'd like to do in the future), seeing the 13th graders go off on summer already, when I have 4 weeks left has basically made me want to die. Even worse, I have exams beginning the 18th of June, which of course I haven't even began to study for. So I guess you could say I'm in that trance-like state of denial/disillusionment where I only think about summer. But hey, why not enjoy the disillusionment till it comes to its tragic end, right? Why not post some pictures, I thought, of what I plan to make my summer entail - nothing special of course, just lots of colourful, relaxed outfits, awesome makeup, flowers, Lana del Rey, water-sliding, pretending to be hippies, reading Vogue, going to the beach, doing lots of nothing with friends, watching Breakfast at Tiffany's everyday and of course sleeping in all the time! What do you amazing people plan to do for summer - anything special or are you just planning to chill it out like me? Tell me in the comments if you'd like!

Brooke

The Problem with Skinny Models?

According to Vanessa Friedman, a writer for the Style section of ft.com "If we get used to seeing all kinds of bodies, all kinds of bodies will lose their stigmas. It won't solve all eating disorder problems but it might stop this endless debate. Then we could get into some really meaty topics."

In her article she reflects on her earlier years in writing, telling of one of her earliest assignments, to spend a weekend in the Hamptons with 10 young models, new to the business, all of whom were an average 15/16 years old. She claims that despite their good health, "what struck [her] at the time was their absolutely bizarre physical reality."

She then goes on to speak about the pledge that the 19 international Vogues made to "not knowingly work with models under the age of 16 or who appear to have an eating disorder.." and about the magazines' editorials in their June issues, which focus on healthy eating habits and lifestyles. She argues that the editorials wouldn't be seen as a promotion of healthy living, unless one were looking for a promotion of healthy lifestyles. Basically we should use all sorts of models in the fashion industry, just as much as skinny models to prevent the constant debate that is the size of models of the fashion world.

Personally, I understand her argument, but at the same time I just can't agree with it. I'm a person who likes traditionalism in certain cases, and I think that while it is absolutely brilliant to ensure that a model is healthy and of appropriate age, totally changing the criteria for one to be a model is too much for me. Of course, there should be petite and plus sized and average sized models, but the truth is that since the beginning of time, a standard criteria has been maintained when it comes to the dimensions of supermodels. Why should we break that criteria now for the sake of an insecure generation? If the criteria was the same several years prior, and the problems of eating disorders were not nearly as serious as they are today (I have no evidence that they were or weren't - I'm only assuming), why are we deeming the tradition the problem, rather than how the population is now? Is it that we've become too accustomed to obesity, whether extreme or slight, that being naturally skinny, or a little skinnier that normal is a total anomaly? Understand that I'm in noway condoning any form of malnutrition or eating disorder, I'm just questioning why it seems as though the world finds more fault in being anorexic or bulimic than in being obese, if both are forms of malnutrition.

What do you all think of Vanessa Friedman's post of ft.com. Here's the link, read it and tell me how you feel! Maybe I'm being biased because I'm naturally skinny, and because those around me seem to react in this manner to naturally skinny models, especially in a country where being thicker in the right places is ideal?