Emilie Autumn WTF

So I have often thought how one of the aims of this blog was to touch base on all facets of things that inspire me - and early on one of the areas I thought I would talk about more frequently was Goth culture. But nothing has really changed in that area in quite some time - my trips to Hot Topic *and I have made more than 1 which is harder than you would expect in a big city* have not resulted in any purchases and much to my dismay - I felt stuck and lost. Nothing seemed that edgy. The twist of 'tude and individuality was lost to me.

BUT. I knew it was only a matter of time before the mass market caught up and although I have not made the effort to go to Hot Topic in recent months - I have come across some Goth inspired pieces recently which have held my wide eyed attention.

1. This bracelet at Forever 21. Cant explain it. Didnt buy it. Going back to get it.

2. This crazy ass chick named Emilie Autumn.

OK.

Dude.


She is kind of fucking scary. And I cant even say that I like her music. But my sister knows her and shes apparently this sweetie pie. But when shes on stage she has this scary, screamy voice and actually is capable of scaring the shit out of people.

But LOOK AT HER!


I havent seen anyone who worships makeup this much in a LONG time and it INSPIRES ME!!! GOSH! I just want to see her in real life and study her make up and see if it looks as good as it does in the pictures and I want to learn and master it and have people pay and praise me for being able to transform a face the way she can here. I wonder if it looks gross and cracky/cakey in real life or if it looks really phenomenal. I hope it is the latter. Luckily, its totally possible (thanks to my sis) that I will actually have the opportunity to see her for myself.

Well in any event, this to me is a good representation of the grass roots of Gothic style and its fundamental interest in dark individualism.

Love it.

She also paints and decorates teapots because she is really into the whole tea ceremony thing. She sells them and her loyal fans pay around $1500 for them. Crazy!

Ugh. I want pink hair. And for the record, I think Marc Jacobs and DSquared2 would worship her too.

UPDATE: I did meet Emilie Autumn over the summer and forgot to mention it here. She's fascinating. She's like 5'2'' and a buck-10 maybe. She has an intriguing face and speaks in an almost-baby-voice, but with a large vocabulary - so she doesn't sound ditzy. Sometimes I felt like I was being hypnotized by her because I couldnt stop staring at the details of her face. She's absurdly nice and asked me a lot of questions. She wore striped tights, a lace dress and big black platforms. Fan. All the way.

Tears for Fears

This model, Auguste Abeliunaite, walked in the Jil Sander show a few days ago with tears streaming down her face. I of course found out about it in my obsessive compulsive fashion blog reading. Some people thought her tears were a subtle yet bold statement by Jil Sander about the struggles of the modern woman in todays economy. Yeah, times are tough, but you keep your head up and walk that runway, girl! Even if times weren't tough, I still think that would be such a cool message to send. It turns out that the fashion house did not send her down the runway crying on purpose, and upon questions from the public, JS has said that they were unaware of the Italian girl's tears. Women's Wear Daily is using its clout to get the deets from her agency in Italy as to why she was crying. I'll post them too, if and when they are revealed. Wouldn't that be so disappointing if her tears were over a man? I hope it was because the shoes really hurt or something heart-wrenchingly tragic happened.



Isn't it beautiful? It moved me.

Three Sexy Yes's for Alexander McQueen at Target.

I bought the asymmetrical black and grey patterned dress, the asymmetrical black and blue top and the McQ T-shirt with the chick on the front of it.

GO

For Pete's sake! GO!! I would've bought 4 more things if I wasn't being a recessionista these days.

I couldn't find the blue and black top's picture. Trust me, its hot. I will be day drinking in it all summer long.

Update: I know tons of white guys who would wear this outfit.

Also. I made a mistake. My original myspace bulletin was titled: "Kanye West is a Whiny Bitch"
Very catchy.

Kanye West is a Gigantic Douche (Part 2)

I once wrote a 2 page rant titled "Kanye West is a Gigantic Douche" about a year ago. I wish I would have saved it because I wrote it in a fit of rage in about 20 minutes. Looks like I'm reliving history but for other reasons.

Part 1 Breakdown:
- I hoped 50 Cent kicked his ass in their album sell-off competition.
- His racial commentary on why he didnt win any MTV awards was laughable since he performed every 30 seconds during the whole thing.
- His inflated ego should've make him eligible to be auctioned off to an organization that pays to torture people.

So allow me to, again, rage on the biggest ass of our generation: KANYE "CAPS LOCK ON MY BLOG" WEST

Part 2:
In a recent interview with Details magazine: (I commend you if you even want to read what he said. Move on, if you want, I would)

"Put this in the magazine: There's nothing more to be said about music. I'm the fucking end-all, be-all of music. I know what I'm doing. I did 808s in three weeks. I got it. It's on cruise control. . . . Man, we talked about music for God knows how long! Now let's talk about how my fucking sweater didn't come back right from Korea. That's what's interesting me."

WHAT? Like 808s is the masterpiece album of our time? As. If.

Kanye on being the voice of this generation:
"If not me, then who? Someone could be a better rapper, dance better. But culturally impacting*? When you look back at these four and a half years, who’s the icon at the end of the day? Who broke down color barriers? What other black guy would a white person use as a fashion reference?”

The voice of this generation is obviously a three way tie between Snoop Dogg, Paris Hilton and Bobby Trendy #1. #2, Is he fucking serious? Broke down color barriers? Again, with this whole racial thing. Give me a futsing break. I know a black guy that white people would use as a fashion icon: DUH! P DIDDY. His street-crap Sean Jean mass-production-bullshit-clothes are for street sweepers and hoodlums, but his legit fashion lines of upscale Sean Jean, Enyce, and this other line I saw at Macy's (cant recall the name) that was uber nice and classy for women - make him more of a fashion/cultural icon. He's got TV shows, vodka, legitimate acting roles, and while he may not drop as many dope beats of his own, he knows good music and produces a lot of it....including the best rapper of all time BIGGIE.
STEP OFF, KANYE.

At Lollapalooza last year, I lined myself up to be front and center for Kanye's performance because I heard he was "amazing" in concert from some lightweight-rap-fan friends of mine. All the hipster idiots around me were licking their chops and practically crying because they sincerely believed that Barack Obama was going to introduce him. They were so stoked at the idea of him announcing a rapper at an outdoor concert, they were on the verge of tears. I decided not to be mean but to explain nicely, "Guys, I dont really think thats going to happen...haven't you been watching the news? For the last two weeks his campaign has been back peddling because Ludacris endorsed him in one of his songs and threw him a fund raiser with Mos Def. Everyone has been questioning his capability of being president when he's had close ties with rappers and shady characters in Chicago for the last ten years." They were dismayed. But Im glad I broke the bad news before the concert started Barack-less.

Anyway - He SUCKED in concert. I've seen like 20 rap shows and he was mediocre, at best. I left 3/4 of the way through to meet up with my friends and eat some nachos.

This is exactly why I pirate his music and dont pay for it. Im calling for someone to deliver a level 9 ass beating on Kanye West. I hope someone super ghetto does it too - like Gorilla Zoe.

Recession, Fashion and Bias

The recession is, well, permeating my life. I'm resisting spur of the moment purchases with much more ease than I ever have.  I can't pretend like I have found some higher-order-self-control. Well, ok, yes I have. In the form of wanting a new closet organizational system, a flat screen, and a digital stereo system that goes through my entire place. I'd rather save my money for things that will actually make my life better in the long run instead of the habit of  my past of buying a top that I'll wear one night in Chicago, one night in Michigan and then never again...for the first time since I started making my own money.

So, money is on the brain. If I was making an exorbitant amount these days, I still think I'd be saving it up. 

It is blowing me away that Fashion Week in NYC is losing designers by the day. All the lavish parties are being cancelled. One of the events that allowed me to look away from my life and to look onto something else with pure joy is reflecting the heavy heart (thanks to the political scene) I have right back at me. Parts of fashion week and of my heart are slowly being taken away by the state of the world - speaking in a broad manner and also in terms of my own, personal world. I thought 2008 really was a garbage year...but now 2009 seems to be on the road to being garbage too. Maybe we can start counting 2009 on St. Patrick's Day. Actually that idea makes me really happy. St. Patrick's day may become my "New Years" from here on out. 

Today. Inauguration day - which at one point kinda looked like an episode of "Soul Train" (Jay-Z the former drug dealer rapping for the new Pres? Come on! What a joke.) Yes, it is a historical day. Yes, the profound notion of the US having a black president is a wonderful testament as to how far we have come as a country. However, I found the events gross and disrespectful to the status and realities of virtually everyone else in the country...pinching their pennies together. 

NYMag's "The Cut" nicely pointed out today:   "Maria Cornejo has custom-made a number of pieces for our new First Lady. She wore one, a purple jacket, on the train ride from Philadelphia to Washington on Saturday. A spokesperson for the designer reveals that Cornejo made a range of pieces 'specifically tailored' to Michelle, including eight jewel-toned suits, two winter coats and three dresses."

The obvious bias displayed in a lack of commentary on how much money these pieces (in addition to several more they commented on throughout the day) cost in contrast to the way the same blog slaughtered a particular female front runner for spending money on clothes was not lost on me. 

So. In some twisted, forced conclusion...Here's to my countdown, to my personal new year., to clearly understanding the way the media works, to humbling responsibility and most importantly, to trust in God; that he will take care of those who believe and the well-being our country. 

PS - So if I were going to buy something - you know I'd go on the cheap. On the sly. And I would wait for this: Alexander McQueen for Target. I mean are you Fing kidding me? (March 1, 2009 hits stores)

Post Post Post Prost

It's obviously unusual for me to post more than once a day - or even once a month - or scarily enough even once every couple months. I suppose I have been rather uninspired until today with regard to my general interests. Maybe its my new beautiful haircut that has brought me back to life.

Or maybe its just that time of year when its so drab that you simply have to find solace in something that makes you happy so you don't go off the deep end.

Or maybe its the Gwyneth Paltrow Detox I've been doing for the last week. Veggie power kicking in?

Ehhhh....I'll attribute it to my new hair. 

I spent a few hours going through magazines, websites, and areas generally associated with high style. Unfortunately, my mullet-chic-inspired haircut was nowhere to be found. Was it because my taste is off? Oh thats right. Thats not possible. It's the usual thing that happens to me...I get something in my head that I want so badly and I spend weeks and months trying to find it - and cant - because it essentially doesn't exist. Then. Two years later it pops up in 10 different colors at Express and I want to kill somebody. Yes this has really happened. Multiple times. One time I designed purple boots in my dream. They were amazing.

So I did what I do. I turned to art for inspiration. And my dear friend who is very in tune with Japanese Anime, culture and hair. I describe for her what I want. I am not surprised when she immediately sends me a picture.

If I was slightly more hipster I would have kept it exactly...but I dont like putting in that much effort to curl the long and straighten the short. So I did a softer version. I hope it doesn't take too long for others to get hair inspiration from Anime. This chick is Lightning from Final Fantasy...I dont know much about her but apparently she is the real deal in the FFVII world. Me likey!

Colossal Volume Express Mascara

I would like to state for the record that Maybelline's Colossal Volume Express Mascara is NOT the best mascara at the drug store. It makes your lashes look like spider legs - not in a good way.

As a makeup professional, I would like inform you all that L'Oreal's Telescopic and/or Voluminous in Carbon Black are by far the best on the market.

Thank you very much,

C