Queen of Mayhem

I'm Listening

2012-01-15T01:50:00.004-05:00

Do you ever feel like you're completely displaced from your own body? It's almost like you're watching a movie and that main character happens to be you living in an out of body experience. I had an evening like that. Hopefully tomorrow I'll be more grounded and push out a DIY or maybe I'll post a new recipe for you guys. Currently my sanity is being kept via the sole action of running. But hey, enjoy the music and keep on listening. :)

DIY Designer Pillows

2012-01-09T09:30:00.000-05:00

For the longest time I had a brand new, gorgeous, grey couch and no pillows to adorn it. Months ago I had found some gorgeous designer pillows for my friends apartment, alas they were $100 a piece. I tracked down the fabric and we made two pillows for half the price of one. I travel four days a week and desperately wanted the perfect pillows. So, I went out and bought the perfect fabric but never got around to buy zippers... until this weekend. Follow me, step by step, and learn how to make some designer style pillows.

Before you start making pillows, you should have some basic knowledge in using a sewing machine. You won't be doing anything but sewing straight lines, but it will involve sewing in an invisible zipper.

Step 1: Find your perfect fabric. Be sure to buy matching invisible zippers. You should also buy some pillow inserts which are available at most fabric stores like Joann's.

Note: Here are some basic guidelines for how much fabric to buy: If your insert pillow is 20"x20" you will want to be able to cut two pieces of fabric that are about 20.5"x20.5". That would mean you'd want a 20"-22" invisible zipper (or however large of a hole you think you'll be able to shove your pillow insert into).

Step 2: Take your fabric and cut rectangles/squares that are the size of the pillow insert + 0.5" on the height and the width. That is a 0.25" seam allowance on each side.

Step 3: If your fabric is a loose weave, or will unravel easily like mine did, you will want to serge the fabric around each side. If you don't own a serger you can simply use the zigzag stitch on a sewing machine to go over the edges.

Step 4: Insert your invisible zipper. There are some great tutorials out there, like this one. You do not need to use an invisible zipper foot to sew an invisible zipper-- it's more on an aid!

Step 5: Finish two edges of the pillow with the right sides together. Unzip the zipper, at least part way (so you can turn it right size out later) and finish the remaining side. Turn the pillow right side out.

Step 6: push the corners out with the point of a scissor, etc.

Step 7: Stuff your pillow insert into the cover, zip up, and enjoy!

Feel free to email me or comment with any questions. If you're a first time user of a sewing machine, you might want to get a more experienced friend to help, and to practice sewing straight lines! My email can be found on this page.

Black & White is Timeless

2012-01-06T19:04:00.000-05:00

Why is black and white so timeless in photos? It can be almost an subject that that camera captures, it doesn't matter, time stands still without color, without movement. It's so powerful.

Some photos are from Vogue, some photos are of lost Alaskan ski resorts from the mid 20th century.

Forgotten Suburbia Part 2

2012-01-03T19:19:00.001-05:00

I just got back to Washington DC today. It was a rude slap back to reality after waking up at 6:30 AM for the first time in days to 27 degree weather and a gorgeous dusting of snow. I slept on the plane and rolled onto the metro with my huge (40 pound bag) in which I carried my Christmas goodies and clothing from the past month (and boots!). Here's another photo from my suburban adventures. I love how natural all the colors seem and yet how stark the difference is between the nature that surrounds the chain and the industrial chain itself.

Can you imagine what this lock was once for?

Forgotten Suburbia Part 1

2012-01-02T11:27:00.000-05:00

After spending so much time in Charlotte and not being able to make it back to New York for quite some time, I had forgotten about the little details of suburbia. While Charlotte may have dulled my senses to the south it heightened them to what I once called "home" and what I now call "home-home". I ran out of time to photograph all of what I was inspired by, I did manage to find 20 minutes to get some things down digitally. More to come in later posts. :)

An abandoned house that was probably once quite grand. It overlooks a lake.

One of These Things is Just Like the Other

2011-12-20T16:56:00.001-05:00

What's inspiring you this season? After watching a dozen North Korea videos last night I started to feel oddly inspired by the contrast of the uniforms to traditional Korean dress. I seemed like the perfect picture of change. I know it's strange but I love how for decades Kim Jong Il wore his funny platforms and the drab garb that could be translated into something so completely modern.

A fabulous plane and some naughty nuns. North Korean wear. Can you name the other Asian styles?

Beautiful Things

2011-12-16T19:47:00.000-05:00

What are some of your favorite things of the holiday season? I'm a total sucker for old Christmas movies like White Christmas. The food is obviously number one on my list. If it involves cookies, I'm down.

These are just some of the beautiful things that are inspiring me this winter. The finger tattoo is Florence Welch's.

Details

2011-12-06T20:42:00.001-05:00

I've been so bad about posting lately. Not because I don't want to, but because I have been having issues with Picasa and therefore have post typed up with photos that I can't seem to put in! It's such a shame. Anyway, it's all be worked out.

I went back to my town in New York a couple weeks ago to hang out with the fam, do Thanksgiving, and strengthen my love of boutiques and the charm of classic north east America. I honestly can not wait to be back in the north.

Corner of the YMCA. The planter has holly in it. Such a nice holiday touch.

All the pretty metallics and organics lines up in this wonderful shop in Nyack, NY: Ki.

Gorgeous elbow detail on a jacket in Ki.

Mirror chimes outside of a Christmas store and the light fading inside a building stairwell.

I can't wait to go back. It will be completely lovely during Christmas!

Falling Back

2011-11-07T07:12:00.002-05:00

We just turned back our clocks this weekend and you can spy a glimpse at frosted grass if you wake up early enough. The south is much different than I expected in the fall. I imagined a warm fall. Sure, Charlotte did not get hit with the snowstorm the north did a few weeks ago, but I find myself waking up in the middle of the night (or morning) freezing because it's dropped to the high 30s. Maybe, just maybe I'm becoming unconditioned to the cold down here!

Halloween was unseasonally cold down here which was surprising to say the least. I skipped my holiday festivities and ate (horrible) takeout Chinese food on the couch. Here is a key takeaway for you if you ever move down south from the northeast: don't try to find good American-Chinese food takeout. You will just be frustrated by the fact that the fried rice doesn't have eggs in it nor the lip-smacking taste of MSG. Pizza is a topic for another time.

Let me me rewind Charlotte for you to before Halloween. My camera was being tempermental, otherwise you would have gotten a post out much sooner.

Every weekend there is a tiny farmers market just outside of downtown (officially called uptown) Charlotte.

Right before Halloween most of the market comprised of pumpkins. I kept on telling myself that I would get a pumpkin but never actually did.... which was fine because I spared my apartment from the mess of pumpkin seeds and guts.

I love all the colours at the farmers market and it's actually cheaper to buy produce there than the horrible Harris Teeter. Charlotte needs more grocery stores!

I really need to figure out the weather down here. I really can't decide if it's cold yet or not-- my wardrobe is SO confused.

Where has Christina been?

2011-10-21T02:17:00.000-04:00

Lanterns hung in an alley in Penang.

The long story short is that I've been on a multi-month hiatus jetting around the world and then settling in the south. To be precise, Charlotte, North Carolina. Yes, this is the same Christina that was ranting about being stuck in Pittsburgh for years and whining about not being in New York non-stop. What changed? Nothing really... I got a job that took me here. Surprisingly I've found some wonderful little niches that are quintessentially southern and some that are slightly reminiscent of the north that I miss so much.

So what has happened since my last (real) blog post and now?

Graduated (amen). I ran a half marathon while part of my graduation went on. Weird.
Moved back to New York and out of Pittsburgh.
Turned 22.
Flew to California to ride horses, enjoy the views, and drink wine.
Flew to New York.
Flew to Charlotte, NC to have the worst experience of my life trying to find a place to live.
Flew to New York, ate some good food.
Packed.
Flew to Frankfurt for a 12 hour layover.
Flew to Bangkok for a couple hours.
Flew to Malaysia where I toured around, drove up to Penang, drove down to KL, ran a half marathon and packed up and did steps 10 and 9 in reverse.
Packed my stuff to move to Charlotte.
Flew to Seattle for my first day on the job. Of course it wasn't a direct flight.
Flew to Denver.
Flew to Charlotte.

Right, so I'm in Charlotte now. I few to a couple other places in between step 15 and where I am now, but really, you don't need to know. It's too much flying and I have of course neglected to bring my camera on any of these trips.

I lie, I borrowed one in Malaysia that DID NOT LET ME TAKE THE TIME STAMP OFF. Seriously, it's the most irritating thing ever. So here are some time stamped photos of my journey. :)

Coconut water is perhaps one of the most refreshing things you can choose to drink in 98 degree weather + 90% humidity. The guy we bought the coconuts from hacked them open right there. Once we were done drinking the water he'd split them in half so we could eat out the meat. Perhaps I'll include the photo of me struggling to eat the meat out in my next post.

Jack fruit, they are huge! Yes, I could have made a "that's what she said..." joke. I resisted. I feel like a bigger person.

Window! I just really liked the textures. I hate the time stamp majorly right now.

Nasi Kandar... look it up. It's delicious.

There should eventually be more to come... Of course in a completely nonsensical, nonlinear format. Also, what's with my life being all about food?

Clear Claws

2011-09-17T15:50:00.000-04:00

Lucite lace nails at Joy Cioci SS 2012

Four Inspirational Dresses

2011-05-29T14:03:00.001-04:00

I like to spend loads of time shopping around on websites that I could never afford a single thing on. Luckily looks are free so while I cannot purchase anything, I can fill my brain up with inspiration that I can share with you!

The Weekend Dress • CHEAP MONDAY // DARLENE DRESS • Simple soft and drapey this dress would go a long way as is, belted or accessorized with some fun jewelry. At $85 this is one dress I could actually afford.

The Powerful Professional Dress • GIVENCHY // TRIPLE GEORGETTE DRESS • This dress doesn't need much. Its strong lines and longer hemline make it perfect for that powerful professional.

The Party Dress • MARC JACOBS // DRAPED ONE SHOULDER TUNIC • This dress really needs no explanation as it basically looks like a fancy fiesta. I love hoe muted the rust colour is-- it makes the pop of pink so much more sensational.

The Simple Silhouette Dress • LANVIN // JEWEL BACK DRESS • If I had 1K to spare (hey, it's 70% off) I would drop it in a heartbeat for this dress. I love simple silhouettes. The back zip is a gorgeous detail. I'd definitely call this understated chic.

On a different note, I'm in California now with shotty internet so I've been holding off on posting anything. I graduated, ran my half marathon and am now just a few weeks away from the working world. Scary!

Egret Dress

2011-05-02T13:47:00.000-04:00

Once again it's that time of year that we break out our spring and summer frocks. They're so easy to just throw on and easily become ultra chic with a pair of heels and a clutch. Here is my latest creation. I guess I'm trying to build my spring wardrobe.

My inspiration came from the simple chic cut of the many dresses on the SS 2011 runway.

Prints are also really huge this year and a great way to make a simple dress stand out.

I especially liked the back of this dress although this means I'll have to go bra-less (not an issue for someone with a small chest unless someone starts blasting the AC). Although I might invest in one of those cool low back criss-cross bras!

Some of you might know that I'm graduating in 2 weeks and will be moving on to the real world. Because of this you should be expecting more wardrobe building posts. :)

Let me know what you think! Interested in buying one? Email me at christinaooi at gmail.

Nail Files: Urban Outfitters Nail Polish Review

2011-04-28T12:13:00.002-04:00

Ever curious about those little square Urban Ouftitters nail polishes that they have out on display in stores? Well, I took the liberty to try on every colour sans 2 because I didn't have enough fingers. Here's my verdict:

Wow, the lilac was gorgeous with my warm skin tone! The sea foam green didn't look so nice on my fingers in natural light. (It's like a ghetto version of Chanel's Jade). All colours except the grey and gold were a single coat. The grey was pretty translucent when you put it on so I had to double up in fear of my nail looking like a dead nail. The gold was nice with one layer but I wanted to pack a punch. The dark green is one again a ghetto version of another nail polish: British Racing Green by Butter London. I didn't really like it... Maybe it needs another coat.

Now, onto the ugly hand. We won't talk about the blue. It's disgusting. The second nail is a dark purple that I found really boring because they have much nicer ones in a similar shade at Sephora. You can't tell in this awful photo but the pink is HORRIBLE. It looks like semi-matte bubble gum. Ew, disgusting with my skin tone. The orange was disappointing. I'd call it a creamcicle color and to be honest, I have two other MUCH nicer orange nail polishes by Butter and Essie. The watermelon-ish color on my thumb was nice. One again, all of these had one coat.

Bottle photos: libbywilkie-aneyefordetail.com

The dark colours had the least staying power and flaked off by the next day. They also took longer to dry for some reason that some scientist will probably link to caner in the future.

Overall, not bad for the price but I'd stick to my first hand! UO sells them $8 for 2 in stores.

Objects of Desire

2011-04-06T00:55:00.001-04:00

Anthropologie is a jewelry deathtrap. There are so many fun, chunky, and colourful statement pieces that my head explodes as soon as the webpage loads. My mouse always unknowing gravitates towards the most expensive pieces, and well... I can dream of a day when I can fork out $400 for some ceramic genius on a string but right now my price point is about that divided by 100. I swear this is how all my DIY's get invented (until I realize I can't even afford the raw materials).

Anyway, here are some things for you to ogle at with me.

Anyway, I'm about to graduate and hopefully then I will have enough time and resources to do millions of DIYs for you guys!! :)

6 Feet Tall

2011-04-04T12:58:00.000-04:00

Actually, it was more like 5'11 in those heels but whatever, I'll take it! You may be asking why I'm sporting such a goofy grin. It's because of the weather. It's actually not 40°F today, instead it's 70! This is a serious reason to be smiling because it hailed yesterday and snowed the three days prior.

Anyywayyyy... this is my new dress! I finished it last night after having it sit around for weeks because I was too lazy to go out and buy a zipper. I found a bodice pattern lying around and decided to use it for the top and well... after sewing it up I realized it was a very small petite size. Lucky for me I have no boobs so it actually fits perfectly... well I actually might have to extend the darts because I actually have no chest.

If you think I look stupid smiling in these photos you should have seen the ones I didn't post. Haha.

Now I'm going to go run around outside (read: go grocery shopping).

Perfect Transition

2011-04-03T16:20:00.003-04:00

While Pittsburgh is teasing it's inhabitants with a frosty spring breath (read: it's been snowing for 3 days), everyone is aching for spring! I've been thinking a lot about pieces that transition well from chilly spring weather to the heat of summer. I'm not quite ready to bear my legs yet, but I know as soon as it hits the 70's I'll be ready to shed my pants and tights. So what's a girl to do?

Invest in a nice seasonal skit! I couldn't find a skirt that would allow me to comfortably wear tights with in early spring, spice up with heels, play down with my All Saints boots, be ready for the heat of summer and a cruise. I mean, it was a tall order. It would NEED to be lined unlike so many skirts out there.

Inspiration: Classic lines, pops of colour.

The solution? I decided I'd make my own! I found inspiration in J.Crew's mini skirts from last year but decided to spice up the boring straight waistband. I found some beautiful twill fabric that mimicked the waistband shape and decided to fully line the skirt.

Construction: Pins & stay tape

The outcome? Instant classic!! Perfect for a cruise, fully lined for tights in the spring and can be dressed up or down. I'm in love. I made the skirt a size larger than what I wear and therefore will be selling it in my shop! The skirt required quite a bit of hand work and a lot of love.

Instant Classic! Love it!

Seasonal skirt with an invisible side zip and lining.
Fabric: cotton/spandex twill, polyester lining
Care: wash on delicate in cool water or preferably hand wash (fabric has been pre-washed to account for shrinking)

Let me know what you think!!

For sale here.

All the Things You Did & Didn't Want to Know!

2011-04-02T21:15:00.001-04:00

People ask me questions, here is the deal.

What's your name?
Christina! People have gone around searching for me email and then finding out my real name. I never really thought about "hiding" my name because I know a lot of my readers are probably people I know anyway. :)

Why did you start your blog?
It all started in 2008 when I realized I had tons of cool links that I wanted to share with people but none of my friends were 100% interested. I also just wanted a place to put things I thought were cool or inspirational. I've been slacking because uploading photos is a pain!

How'd you come up with the name "Queen of Mayhem"?
I'm really clumsy. Sometimes I get deep into thought about something and clip a corner too close haha. My poor face. I also tend to context switch a ton... mayhem!!

What do you do?
I studied computer science at Carnegie Mellon University. I love sewing, fashion and design (hence the blog). I sew and attempt to draft patterns and do DIYs when I'm not broke. I'm going to work at Microsoft in North Carolina starting this summer.

I keep on hearing NY this, NY that. I thought you lived in Pittsburgh!
I grew up in the burbs of NY.

What camera do you use?

Cannon Xti, though I actually like the way Nikon's deal with colour better.

What's your ethnicity??
Ah, well, I'm half Asian. 1/2 Chinese, 1/4 German, 1/4 Slovak, but I'm sure centuries ago stuff got messed up along the way.

What sewing machine do you use?

I use a Husqvarna Viking Romeo that I got in 4th grade. It's white and clear blue, it was so cool when I was 9. It's still cool. I think they go under the name "Daisy Prelude" now. I recently purchased a Huskvarna Viking Huskylock 910 overlock machine.

Can you do a _______ DIY??
Email me (christinaooi at gmail dot com) your DIY inspiration and I'll see what I can do. :)

Dogboarding

2011-03-28T12:39:00.002-04:00

Completely unrelated to most things other than it's awesome.

Diana Misetic FW 2011

2011-03-13T12:23:00.002-04:00

By now, most of you probably know that I have a fashion internship. While finding a fashion internship is hard pressed in Pittsburgh, where I intern exudes something that is far from the blatant and easy style that I am all to accustomed to seeing in the area. I might dare to say that Diana Misetic's Little Black Dress is my cosmopolitan haven-- a slice of New York! Anyway, I should let you be the judge. Let me know what you think!

I can't say the photos do the collection full justice but I do think you can get a good idea of what's going on. Hopefully I can do a fashion internship insider post soon so I can show you all what I actually do. :)

Perfect Banana Bread

2011-03-01T21:46:00.001-05:00

Banana bread is one of my not-so-guilty pleasures (there are much worse things that I consume). I love it hot with a lick of homemade orange marmalade and a cup of tea. It's perfect on a cool day and quick to make!

Perfect Banana Bread

3 to 4 overripe bananas*
2/3 C granulated sugar
1/3 C safflower oil, or your oil of choice (you can also use butter)
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla (optional)
1 1/8 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 C all purpose flour
1/2 C whole wheat flour
3/4 C chocolate chips, you can add walnuts too, but I seem to have some strong aversion to them in my banana bread. ;)

Directions: Mash up the bananas with a fork or go wild and use your hands. This should obviously be done in a bowl. Add the ingredients in order and stir before you add the chocolate morsels. Then stir in the chocolate or disgusting walnuts. Pour into a greased bread pan. Cook for about an hour at 350°F. Insert a toothpick into the middle of the bread, if it comes out clean your bread is done. Dig in and burn yourself, or let it cool and enjoy.

Notes: *A note about the bananas, they really should be overripe (black on the outside) because otherwise your bread will not tastes banana-y and will probably need a LOT of sugar to make it sweet. Sometimes my bananas are so sweet that I don't have to add sugar! You can add the sugar last if you prefer to see if you need any at all. :)

You may ask why 1 1/8 teaspoons of baking soda. It's not 100% necessary but I find that when working with whole wheat flour I need a bit more rising agent.

Ring Fever!

2011-02-25T18:19:00.003-05:00

While ring fever may sound like some terrible plague or STD or a combination of hay fever and ringworm, I assure you it's not. Basically, I discovered JewelMint and now have the strong and sudden urge to buy tons of rings. It's a long and slippery slope because they're only $29.00 AND... wait for it... Nylon sent out a coupon (NYLON50) for 50% off. I must use my willpower!

Someone please save me! My ring selection is below, you can buy them all for me if you please. :D

And then I looked at the necklaces...

Please help me choose a ring!! Also, if you're interested in checking it out click here. And if you're tempted to buy something, use the coupon! :)

Random Ramblings a.k.a Pillow Talk!

2011-02-23T01:16:00.000-05:00

This video has the potential to be extremely embarrassing when I actually wake up refreshed in the morning. Oh well... I don't think I'm talking about much.

FYI, I'm obsessed with this song:

After listening to myself for about 12 seconds on the video, I should definitely be banned from speaking. You know, it's that thing where you HATE your recorded voice and think you're the most annoying person in the world... or maybe that just happens to me.

Strawberry Valentine Waffles

2011-02-21T20:45:00.001-05:00

While most of you probably celebrated (or maybe you were one of those haters) Valentine's Day last Monday my boyfriend wasn't around to celebrate with me. Instead I got some roses (yay!) and a card from him in the mail. :) So today we had our belated 14th of February. I started the day with some festive buttermilk waffles.

Yummm. Here is a recipe that is quite similar to mine. I don't use sugar nor vanilla extract in mine. I also use more butter, but hey, you don't want to get fat, do you? Sorry that the photos are a bit blurry, I couldn't wait to scarf my waffles down.

As far as heart shaped waffle irons go, they are EVERYWHERE and quite cheap right now. The rest of my day was super nice and I'll have another little V-Day goodie to blog about so stay tuned for some more belated valentine action.

What did you guys do for Valentine's Day (besides keep updated on NY Fashion Week)?

Pefection is...

2011-02-18T10:46:00.002-05:00

...a Calvin Klein FW 2011 coat.

Rodarte FW 2011

2011-02-17T13:49:00.000-05:00

All I can think of when I see this (most amazing) collection is 'prairie world meets fantasy world'. The prints are really to die for... and the stylistic darts.

Images: models.com

Yum!

Guess That Show!

2011-02-15T10:55:00.001-05:00

Ok guys, we're going to play a little game: guess that show. Show off your FW 2011 fashion buff! What show is the picture below from? Comment with your answer!

If you guys don't know you seriously haven't been following your fashion blogs lately. ;) Here is a hint:

To Do: Pittsburgh Half Marathon 2011

2011-02-14T22:17:00.001-05:00

This will be my second time at this half marathon. I hope to beat my (extremely crappy) time from last year. Mapping this years course really tired me out! Thinking about all those miles is a killer. I really take my hat off to those at run a full marathon and well, I think ultramarathoners are downright crazy (read: I want to be you).

Pittsburgh Half Marathon 2011

I urge you guys to sign up. The half marathon is 80% full and the full marathon 75%. Sure this was not fashion related, but it's definitely an important part of my life. I was working on some sleepwear to be finished today but I ran out of thread 95% through the project. Oops!

Neu Vest

2011-02-09T12:51:00.003-05:00

I've had the idea for this vest in my head for ages. I don't know why I never bothered to make it before because it's PERFECT. It really adds a wonderful dimension to an outfit and would even be great in the summer over a t-shirt or tank and a pair of shorts. It looks great belted, over long sleeve shirts... I think I'm obsessed. I hope you guys aren't sick of seeing black. ;)

Interested in purchasing a neu vest? For sale here.

Now, in with the bad news! I ordered fabric 2 weeks ago on ebay and it STILL hasn't arrived. I really wanted to get sewing before Valentine's Day but noooo the people who I bought the fabric from thought I shouldn't. Ok, I'm done with my rant. On another note, thank you to all my followers, new and old and to those that comment or even just read. Ever email, IM and comment means a lot! :)

More Jersey, More Dresses

2011-01-31T18:13:00.002-05:00

You all must think I have this terrible black jersey addiction. In fact, I might, but the closer reality is that I bought a ton of this black jersey because it's super soft in the hand and well, it drapes wonderfully. I made this dress last weekend and although I like it, in the end I would have preferred a stiffer jersey.

What do you guys think? I have some plans to make a pink dress and some fun lingerie next... I must feed the addiction!!

See Thru

2011-01-26T14:13:00.002-05:00

Yes, I just did a 1 photo post... But really it's like lots of photos! Excuse the messy room. I made this a couple weekends ago. :)

See-Thru Drape Dress/Tunic
A soft stretch jersey tunic/dress that is perfect for lazing around or going out. The tunic features mesh side panels that may be pulled out and draped or pushed in and draped. Style the tunic with a belt or without. There are so many variations!!

Black might scream winter, but the cool mesh side panels will keep you at a nice temperature in warmer weather.

Karla Spetic + Giveaway Winner!

2011-01-22T17:05:00.001-05:00

Congratulations to Tammy for winning the giveaway! Most of all, thank you ALL for entering, following and commenting on the giveaway. I hope my blog will have a lot more to offer you in the future! I'm already brain storming giveaway ideas so get ready for found two. :)

I can't take my eyes off of Karla Spetic's SS 2011 collection. Not only is it stunning, it's extremely sophisticated. I would love to own a skirt from the collection since I know I could never find a print like that to make my own.

I hope you all have been enjoying your weekend. :)

I'm a SUPERSTAR!

2011-01-20T11:42:00.002-05:00

... I'm totally kidding. Today, we're going to talk about my failures. Well not exactly. What I really mean is we're going to talk about my trials. First off, I've been sewing more so I'll give you a little sneak peak of what I've been working on. I'm looking to eventually sell a few pieces. I'm focusing my look on modern comfort. It doesn't mean that I'm making sweatpants (I actually really hate most sweatpants), but it does mean that I'm focusing on soft draping fabrics-- pieces that you'll want to lounge around in because they're so comfy but feel perfectly happy wearing out! Ideally you'll be able to eat enough to let your food baby expand and you won't feel constricted, haha. Yes, food is one of my main priorities in life, it's kind of disgusting, but we'll get to that in a second. So here ya go:

It's really hard to see the dress/tunic on the dress form because A: it's black, B: the exposure was crap, C: I was too lazy to properly edit the photo so I just make it black and white. Yes, I'm an overachiever. :P Anyway, the dress I'm wearing I haven't been able to take off! It's so comfy and I probably will never sell any because I won't want to let them go. It's really an issue.

Next up is running. Some of you might know that I ran my first half marathon (rather poorly) last May. It was hell because I got so hungry bu the 10th mile and hadn't run for 2 month prior-- I like to use the fact I was sick for 2 months as my excuse. Anyway, I finished, I got a high runners high and signed up for another half marathon because I like to torture myself. Here is the only picture of me running/about to run/before I'm disgusting and panting and red.

Don't judge me. I just wanted to spice up this post a little. Anyway, I've been FINALLY getting back into running and I'm all good-sore BUT my appetite. Holy crap, I am the most hungry person you can imagine. I ate about 4 slices of toast with Nutella yesterday, devoured half a pound of pasta with sauce and tomatoes and carrots. Also there was lunch and some other stuff in there. Help!! It's like the flood gates have been released. I need to curb my hunger, any advice, anyone? That's all for now. I know this was kind of a boring life post-- oh well, I like to over share.

Remember, today is the last day of the GIVEAWAY (below). So if you've commented and not followed and want to enter, follow me, etc.

PS: I sincerely hope you all understand my sarcasm... otherwise I must come across as a big old b!+c4! Am I allowed to curse on blogger? Will they sensor me??

DIY Feather Mono Earring + GIVEAWAY

2011-01-07T15:33:00.004-05:00

Ignore the fact that it looks like I've got shot through the head with miniature track lighting, and look at the earring! Like it? If you do, read on for a little DIY and GIVEAWAY. I just got back last night from Germany, so don't expect me to be 100% coherent!

What 'cha need:

assorted feathers & ribbon
scissors
28 gauge wire, or anything you can easily wrap with your hands. The idea is that you don't want to have to wrap by force because your earring will be ugly and you will give up. Just kidding-- it will just be a pain in the butt. Note: the smaller the number the gauge the fatter the wire gets. This wire can be any colour.
20-ish gauge wire in a colour you like
jump ring in matching color
eye pin whatever color-- the size doesn't matter too much and you can even forgo it and use the 20 gauge wire by simply looping it (tutorial) which is really simple and I ended up doing this because I ran out of eye pins. Oops.
jewelery pliers (round nose)
earwire-- feel free to go fancy. I kept it simple.

Let me know if you need links to any other supplies. :)

Basically you just want to start off by arranging your feathers and ribbon, cutting them to the desired length, getting them in a nice order, etc. Next you will want to take your eye pin and insert it in the center of your arrangement so it peeks out of the top of it... because that is where you will be connecting the tassel part to the earwire. I hope that made sense.

Begin to wrap the 28 gauge wire around the arrangement so it all stays in place. You might want to do this in various stages so the contents are more secure. You could even try hot gluing some of it together first but glue and feathers just sounds like a bad idea to me. Now you're almost done. Take your pretty 20-ish gauge wire and wrap it over the 28 gauge so it all looks neat and nice. You could forgo the 20 gauge wire but I thought it looked nice and I had ugly 28 gauge wire so I didn't really have a choice.

Now, open the jump ring and put the feather tassel and earwire on it, then close. Ta-dah! You are done. Wear your creation proudly. :)

I didn't have enough energy in me to take tons of photos so I hope the tutorial is clear enough. Feel free to contact me about questions, clarifications, etc.

GIVEAWAY

Here's the deal, you can win one of the two earrings I made (pictured below)

To win follow me and comment on this post telling me which earring you would like to win along with contact information in the case you win.

+1 entry for following me on twitter (let me know your username in a comment)
+1 for tweeting about this giveaway (let me know your username in a comment)
+2 for posting about this giveaway on your blog (comment with the link)
+1 liking my new Facebook page (let me know who you are)

The winner will be picked randomly on the 22nd of January! Good luck! :)

A Little Bit of Athens

2011-01-02T15:47:00.004-05:00

I know I'm a bit late but Happy New Year! I'd like to thank each and ever one of you, really and truly for visiting my blog! It means so much when you comment, when my follower numbers go up and even just when I check my visitor numbers. So, thank you! Because I'm abroad and without a computer I haven't had the means to update about my travels, so while I am able to steal my boyfriends computer I'll update a litte. Mwahahaha!

On one of my days here I visited the center of Athens where I got to do all sorts of touristy things like see the Acropolis and Acropolis museum. I got to try Greek coffee and walk around the old area of the city (Plaka) which is touristy but still has old world charm. Plaka sits in the shadow of the Acropolis so my boyfriend and I took time to mosey through the winding streets (and confusing areas) on our way to the Acropolis. On the way we saw some interesting graffiti and empty tourist shops (oh, the economy). Once we got to the Acropolis we realized that there was a 12 Euro fee for seeing the Acropolis and six other main attractions (the Temple of Zeus, etc). Alas, they never took our tickets but I'm all for supporting a good cause. The Acropolis was seriously amazing. While I had heard so much about it in books and of course history class somewhere between grades three and six, I hadn't expected it to be so grand. Note to those future travelers to Greece: go in the winter because I would NOT want to deal with the crowds in the summer.

This photo is out of order but I figured it would lure you all in. ;)

A shop? A cafe? Who knows... I guess those that can read Greek!

Making our way up to the Acropolis... it looked very residential and we may have walked through some peoples yards to get there but we never really got lost. Haha!

Cool! Too bad her head chipped off. :(

Yeah, obligatory photo. :((((( On the up side, I am wearing a cool vest... buuuuttt you can't see it too well.

This is an awesome car. It would not last in NY or Pittsburgh.

On our adventurous walk up to the Acropolis we got to see some amazing rooftops.

After paying 12 euros to get into the Acropolis gates we got to see this forest which I could imagine some nymphs playing in. Too bad they don't exist.... or do they?

To be honest, I'd need to look at a map of the Acropolis to know the name of what I took a picture of. Oops.

Yes, this is so awesome. It looks so awesome. I want an awesome shirt with this awesome set of shapes on it. AWESOME! I think all the feta I've been consuming is making me crazy. or perhaps it's the sugar from the 5 different cakes I ate today...

The internet connection is being slow right now, so you'll have to wait for the rest of the photos and more of my adventures! I assure you all that I will be responding to all of your comments and emails as soon as I get real internet. :)

Enjoy!

FYI... I'm In Greece

2010-12-30T18:48:00.000-05:00

Expect some sort of blog post soon. Here is a picture to keep you entertained in the mean time. I'm here for a wedding and should hop to Germany in a few days and then back to New York... :)

x

DIY Lady Liberty Headband

2010-12-22T14:31:00.004-05:00

While I may look like a really angry, hardcore 12 year old (see, we continue with the 12 year old theme from last post), you will probably look chic and fashionable if you attempt this incredibly easy DIY. This headband took me about 20 minutes from the birth of the idea to completion. If you don't own a sewing machine, it might take a little bit longer.

Before I get started on the DIY, I warn you, there are pictures of my unwashed, bed face-- that was my disclaimer. Also, the instructions are pretty simple. If you don't understand them, I have a higher IQ than I thought, or I'm just really dumb and made something super simple, super confusing. Just ask if you don't understand, I don't bite. :)

What you will need:

scissors
leather (or pleather stuff if you're cheap like me and use stuff that's lying around the house)
studs of any size you like (honestly, I think the bigger the better, but I just used the ones I had on hand) I purchased mine from Studs & Spikes
sewing machine with thread of choice, or needle and thread
elastic
knife
screwdriver

So, here is the deal. Take your leather and cut a strip that will cover most of your head. Take your elastic and figure out how tight you want your headband. This should all be self explanatory. The elastic is attached to the leather so the whole thing stretches and stays on your head. The end.

Sew the elastic onto the leather strip to make a closed circle. Now you have a headband. Yayyy! Now it's time to decorate. I used a pen to mark where on the leather I wanted my spikes but then got lazy and just started poking holes. You can do the same. So presumably you have your leather marked. Now you will want to take your knife and poke a SMALL slit into the leather-- just enough to fit the screw of the spike through. If you make the slit to big, the spike will fall through and your headband will suck. Don't do that. I messed up (just like I told you not to) and just made a slit a little farther up from my mistake. It worked!

Now, push the screw through the slit, screw on the spike, and tighten with the screw driver. Keep on doing this until you're done, and TAH-DAH, you look fab like lady liberty.

I basically found stuff around my house to make this headband. Be creative and use interesting fabric, etc to make your headband better than mine. Remember that the spikes are heavy so if you plan to use fabric, you will want to put something heavier underneath to keep your headband from drooping.

Don't wanna make one? I'm selling them for $25. Email me christnaooi at gmail dot com!

Polka Dot!

2010-12-20T15:22:00.002-05:00

I made this blouse for my trip to Greece. It was fun to make although the instructions kinds sucked at some points and I did a botch job when it came to finishing the inside of the garment. Also, nowhere could I find instructions on what size elastic I needed. Boo. I'm also retarded because I sized up even though I shouldn't have. While the top doesn't totally fit and it's not really my style, I like it. :)

One other thing, why did they not have this pattern in silk! Ugh, the fabric stores around me have an overwhelming love for cotton. It's kind of depressing.

I've been making Christmas cookies... So I might need this larger size. :( Alas, my boobs will never be larger than those of a 12 year old boy.

Cherry & Peach Cobbler

2010-12-05T14:12:00.002-05:00

I know it's not quite the right season for cherries or peaches, but I felt that I should share a recipe to welcome The Silver Mandolin to Queen of Mayhem. Some of you may know that The Silver Mandoline is my poorly maintained cooking blog. I started on it a few years ago but quickly got fixated on Queen of Mayhem. While The Silver Mandoline has somewhat gone to ruins, I still find people posting comments on it. Thus, I've decided to post recipes and foodie delights on Queen of Mayhem. I'm not going to take down The Silver Mandoline all together, so you can still look at old recipes on there. Feel free to browse, and be sure to enjoy the recipe below!

Cherry & Peach Cobbler

Yummm... This recipe is SO easy and SO good! You can also substitute the 3 pounds of cherries with 3 pints of blueberries. Don't forget to wash your fruit. To anyone who needs metric units, I have the units converted so you can simply email me for them. :)

3 pounds cherries
2 T lemon zest
2 lbs peaches, peeled & sliced into ¼ inch wedges
¼ C brown Sugar

1 ½ sticks sweet butter, cold
¾ t salt
¾ C sugar
1 ½ C flour
2 t baking powder
½ C buttermilk
1 egg

Preheat oven to 400° F.

Combine pitted and halved with lemon zest & set aside. Sprinkle peaches with brown sugar and set aside.

Slice butter into ¼” pats and place in large bowl. Add salt, sugar, flour, baking pwder. Using pastry knife, combine ingredients until mixture resembles course corn meal. Make well in middle of flour and butter mixture and add buttermilk & egg. Stir.

In 9x13” baking dish, spread layer of about half of the cherries. Cover with peaches. Top with remaining cherries. Using a rubber spatula, dab the cobbler dough on top, smoothing as much as possible. Bake 40 minutes until fruit is bubbling and crust in gold.

Winter Spoon

2010-12-02T13:14:00.000-05:00

I know the snow is hitting the ground where most of my readers are, but I figured that a little reminder of summer colours wouldn't be too bad at all. The images below are from the August 2010 edition of the Japanese magazine Spoon. I thought they'd be interesting considering I blog a lot of American and European fashion and never really touch upon the Asian take of fashion.

Well, I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving-- or weekend to those who did not celebrate. :)

Clutch Me!

2010-11-16T22:26:00.002-05:00

...hahahaha, how creepy is that blog post title? So first, I suppose I must apologize for my absence. The only excuse I have for you all is flying around the past two weekends for job interviews. I just got back from Seattle today from a less than triumphant interview with Microsoft. Oh well, the world keeps turning. Maybe it's someones way of saying I really ought to go after my dream.

Anyway, my busy-ness (it's funny, I first spelled it business... I can't spell) has been keeping some photos from you, in particular the ones below (I know it's weird I'm putting my verbage above the photos this time, ahhhh, creatures of habit).

Tricked you, I still have some words down here. This clutch is something that I've been working on at my internship. I'm not sure if it will stay a clutch because there have been some rumors about some chain and handles being added... The clutch is reversible and has a nice red lining complete with a pocket for those oh-so-essential items. I hope you all enjoy and hey, Thanksgiving is almost here! Yay! It's the start of my favourite string of holidays. :)

Lanvin for H&M

2010-11-02T10:42:00.000-04:00

This is going to be a lame post,but there is no point in me posting what's already done wonderfully out there, so go check out the Lanvin for H&M collection. It's beautiful. I really would like the yellow dress, or the navy one after it.

Into the Future

2010-11-02T00:30:00.002-04:00

These rings are simply amazing. They're $54 each by Jan Michaels. I like the touch of good 'ol earth tones (thank you semi precious stones) and futuristic settings. I have no idea which ring I'd choose if I had the choice and paycheck... Perhaps one of the ones with a claw setting... Purple, white, agate? Oh, it's a tough decision!

So yeah, how many more days until Christmas?? ;)

Dreams

2010-10-27T17:30:00.000-04:00

This is such a strange and stressful time in my life. I've been having all sorts of weird dreams because of it and a lot of deja vu (although that's not all too new). Do you dream in colour? I do. In my dreams I usually meet the same "dream people" over and over again. My dreams often build upon one another and occasionally there are people from my real life in them who play larger roles. Haha, I must sound crazy. :)

Come Back Summer

2010-10-26T15:35:00.000-04:00

Although the sound of crisp leaves under my feet are always a welcoming to a beautiful season, I wish it was still summer in a way. Another year will soon pass and I'll forget most of what happened-- the thrills and downs-- everything that made up, well, everything. I'm not sure if that makes sense, but I get this feeling at the end of the summer that's very nostalgic (almost sad). And when I think about the summer having past I feel that way too. I guess it's a good thing I have pictures to remember the little moments.

Photos taken by the most talented Lizzy Picardi. You should check out her website, she paints amazing shoes. Oh, my outfit is: tunic from Thailand, belt is vintage, shoes are Loft.

oops, $%@*!!

2010-10-12T16:42:00.000-04:00

Ughhhhh... okay, just have to make it through the week. And if you were wondering, All Saint sweater (they actually call it a dress, wtf?), Banana Republic skirt, and Nine West shoes.

What do Birds and Dragon Ladies Have in Common?

2010-10-08T16:27:00.001-04:00

I don't know how you feel about t-shirts, but they're pretty much a staple item as far as my wardrobe goes. Most mornings I roll out of bed and toss something on only to realize 3 hours later that my sweater isn't super uncomfortable today, it's just inside out. Pretty ad hoc. That's why I love (read: need) t-shirts-- they're pretty hard to mess up.

Some of you may know that I started a fashion internship at Little Black Dress boutique. I know, fashion in Pittsburgh?? This is proof it exists. These tees are from the boutique I'm interning at... so although the shirts aren't available online, if you really want one don't hesitate to shoot me an email.

More on my internship later because my stomach growling.

Just in case you were wondering...

2010-10-05T00:01:00.003-04:00

My favourite designers are:

Balenciaga

Hussein Chalayan

Gareth Pugh

Jil Sander

And I'm obsessed with:
Billy Idol - Rebel Yell

David Bowie - Lady Grinning Soul

Kaskade (in general)

My favourite artist of all time, hands down, no competition whatsoever, is...

Francis Bacon.

Gareth Pugh

2010-10-03T18:52:00.000-04:00

If you haven't seen this film yet, you're missing out, so watch it. Also, there are a lot of things I would like to post here but fail to have the time to do so. In that case I post to my twitter. So follow me! It's getting dark out in Pittsburgh which is never a good thing for me. This time of day always makes me anxious. It's like everything I did during the day is slipping away... Ahhh. Well I better get down to business before it's Monday...

Je Suis Belle AW 2011

2010-09-29T09:42:00.001-04:00

Je Suis Belle are two designers that started in 2005. I must say that I absolutely adored their spring summer collection. The colours were lovely, vibrant and were masterfully combined with a host of fabric to create lovely textures. I'm not completely sold on their AW collection (probably because I'm not a huge fan of silky fabrics) but I think there are a handful of interesting pieces and a bunch super wearable pieces. I like the look with the vest the best. :)

Here is part of the SS collection which I absolutely LOVED!!

On another note, I have an interview today. Eek! I'm really torn with what to wear-- something casual or a suit?

Visit me...

2010-09-27T20:58:00.000-04:00

at my portfolio.

Sunday Morning

2010-09-12T12:12:00.004-04:00

It's been a while. I'm freaking out about having to go into the real world so my posts have been nonexistent. Yep, that's right, I have to get a job...

Just in case you were wondering: All Saints sweater dress • Romeo & Juliet Couture leggings

2010-07-31T10:56:00.002-04:00

things I should own...

2010-07-11T00:09:00.000-04:00

All by the fabulous designer Tsumori Chisato, except for the tights.
1• Sky Frill Print S/L Dress
2• Cat Spiral Dress
3• Falke Pure Matte Tights
4• J013 Lace Up Wedge

Ethnic Suburbia

2010-07-04T18:21:00.002-04:00

Primal Feelings

2010-07-03T20:12:00.000-04:00

Happy 4th to all of you.

Thoughts?

2010-06-23T23:45:00.001-04:00

Critters in the Garden

2010-06-21T22:52:00.002-04:00

My mom was watering the flower boxes on my deck today when she discovered 3 black swallowtail caterpillars. They're really beautiful but were munching away on our dill plant. We have no idea how they got there but quickly found out that they were poisonous and reeked quite at bit. Apparently these creatures like to eat plants from the parsley family so sadly we had to remove them otherwise we'd be out of herbs.

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend! I've been really lazy about outfit posts since I started summer class. Hopefully I'll get around to posting my 2 new pairs of shoes. :)

2010-06-18T16:09:00.003-04:00

Taken from this wonderful little film.

For All You Aussies

2010-06-10T23:03:00.002-04:00

you're all so lucky!

Like the Look

2010-06-08T09:41:00.003-04:00

Model Nika Lauraitis backstage at Camilla.

Hello beautiful shoes, why don't I own you?

2010-06-07T22:07:00.002-04:00

The first two are Jeffrey Campbell (Mary Roks, Solestruck), the last is Kork-Ease. I'd really like to get all 3, but the practical part of me says just splurge on the last ones...

Army Chic

2010-05-28T19:17:00.001-04:00

i didn't spell check, so if you actually read that, there are probably tons of typos....

Bad Rain

2010-05-27T20:39:00.000-04:00

Sorry for my absence. Thank you for the birthday wishes.

Queen of Mayhem

Bad Reflection

2010-05-13T22:23:00.001-04:00

Bad Reflection from Marcus K Jones.

Ugh, sorry I haven't been updating! I've been working 8-10 hours a day since I got back. Today I made pasta from scratch and am currently waiting for a pear tarte to cool. Very exciting.

If you haven't yet, check out the new Tokidoki Sephora line because it's suuuuper cute! Oh, I also got 2 new pairs of flats yesterday. Photos later. ;) I turn 21 in 8 days!!

Jello Bricks

2010-05-03T11:31:00.001-04:00

I ran a half marathon in the pouring rain yesterday after 2 months of not running at all. Let's just say my legs simultaneously feel like bricks and jello. Today I study for a final I have at 5:30 PM tomorrow. Then I'm done and I need to spend the rest of the week packing my things to move out. Here's a cool photo for you, for I'm far to busy to post anything truly worthwhile today.

Cya

Headwear Inspiration

2010-04-30T11:59:00.002-04:00

Russian Vogue May 2010. A serious headgear inspiration. I love the make up.

Sabotage

2010-04-29T11:14:00.004-04:00

Seriously, how freaking awesome are these? Sabotage sunglasses by a-morir.

I can't wait to go home (1 more week and 2 more finals to go!) and start doing a bunch of DIYs! I think these are definitely on my list. I'm also on the lookout for some cheap flats so I can stud them.

In other news, I'm going to be putting up a bunch of jeans, skirts and shirts for sale! Think Free People, Banana Republic, H&M, and a handful of vintage items. Prices will start from $5! I can't wait until finals are over so I can start photographing stuff. Also, I believe I will be hosting a giveaway soon... ;)

On Moving Blocks

2010-04-25T17:45:00.005-04:00

Scarf gift from Egypt, Cardigan Express, Tank Top Free People, Skirt French Connection, Shoes We Who See

The colours got washed out, oh well. I probably made typos. Photoshop doesn't I don't have highlighting on.

Now for a little life update... I only have 2 weeks of school left which is super exciting and yet super stressful. I'm moving out of my current house early May and into another one (just after my finals), which I am dreading just because over 2 years of living in my current house, I've accumulated so much crap!! Once I'm done moving all my stuff I am going home to New York to work and take classes. I'll be taking some fashion classes at the Fashion Institute of Technology which I am very excited about. As for vacation this summer, I hope I have the chance. If any of you bloggers are going to be visiting NY this summer let me know!

don't call me a pighead

2010-04-20T16:10:00.001-04:00

The colours got washed out, but I think you got the point. Yeah, a whole week without posts... I know, I suck.

run away west

2010-04-12T15:40:00.001-04:00

Text via Wikipedia, everything else by me.

Casual Cool

2010-04-07T14:44:00.000-04:00

If you asked me what I was doing right now, I'd probably say nothing. We all know that's not true, but instead, a simple way out. Because, let's face it, most people don't want to hear about all the little details of your life. Or at least that's what we assume. Yet, somehow it's interesting, or even comforting to hear about the little details of people's lives. It makes us feel more human, more sane.

So, what am I doing? Well, I just got back from class. I biked home from campus so that I could change out of my shorts, and outfit I've gotten a handful of compliments about today, and put on something more casual. I don't think casual is the right word. Comfortable would be closer, because my campus feels the need to blast AC despite the temperature only being a beautiful 80°F. It's freezing indoors. So, I find myself putting on on a pair of jersey harem pants and a t-shirt. Honestly, what could be more comfortable for 80°F weather when pair with flats? Nothing.

Nail lacquer from Butter London in "Billy No Mates".

packages + shopping

2010-04-03T13:38:00.003-04:00

Cynthia Vincent for Target

2010-04-02T11:48:00.000-04:00

I'm really excited about this Target collaboration! I'm loving the ethnic prints on the last 2 pairs of shoes. I don't really like the small strappy sandals, but I do like the first 3. My only problem with these collaborations is that they always look way better in photos. In person they tend to look cheap. We'll see how this one turns out!

Happy Friday!

Sadotna FW 2010

2010-03-31T13:02:00.000-04:00

I think evocative is the only word that I can think of to describe this collection. The silhouettes are playful, albeit black. It's like a twisted shadow, or if Viktor and Rolf got slammed into Gareth Pugh. I hope you like it as much as me.

I'm especially fond of the fourth photo.

Queen of Mayhem

Chanel Summer Cool

2010-03-30T19:20:00.001-04:00

image style.com

Hellllooooo Chanel. I can already see how tacky the green shade will look on my nails. My yellow based skin tone will clash like a charm. Chanel, thanks for making elementary school colours classy again. These lacquers hit the stores in a month. I can't wait!

Heavy Machine

2010-03-30T17:05:00.003-04:00

I'd really like the red pair. Shoes by Heavy Machine, available at Babel Fair where you can also find a lot of other awesome things.

Yumumu

2010-03-30T12:32:00.002-04:00

I stumbled across this Singaporean designer Yumumu just this morning. The 3 collections on the website are seriously stunning. This is just a sampling from one of them. So far I've only found one stockist that ships to the US (listed on the Yumumu website).

images yumumu.com

Go check out the other collections! I'm really feeling like I need to do a giveaway, I'm just trying to decide WHAT to give away!

Wang

2010-03-29T20:58:00.001-04:00

Alla wedge mule

I'll let the simplicity speak for itself.

weekend musings

2010-03-28T19:26:00.004-04:00

I have a thing for warm colours and scarves. I really do. I always try to coax myself into buying shades of blue but always gravitate towards that orange fabric. I also feel quite empty if I don't purchase a new scarf every year. I think I have about 50 scarves that vary from silk, to wool, cashmere, acrylic, cotton, and a handful of blends. It's really quite an obsession.

Anyway, I figured I'd share some goodies I've come across this weekend. They're really just a small sampling of wishful purchases.

multicolor tribal scarf new at oaknyc.com

sophomore double zipper skirt on sale at shopacrimony.com

UME body jewelry from armorjewelry.com

Oh, I did buy 3 new nail colours in warm neutral tones from Butter for 60% off! I can't wait for them to arrive, but I have yet another week for them to reach my doorstep.

That's all for now.

the mime in the woods

2010-03-26T13:29:00.000-04:00

Photo Dominic Dagradi

Happy Friday!

summer heat

2010-03-24T12:53:00.001-04:00

I hope the valley girl look isn't coming back... But these photos are oddly alluring! Fake bake anyone?

images Vogue Paris • models.com

walking on the dark side

2010-03-23T11:46:00.002-04:00

Photos by Dominic Dagradi
dress Gap • tights ? • shoes Nine West • belt cut up t-shirt • necklace DIY

You guys asked for more outfit posts, so here's one! I took these photos with a friend 2 days after I got back from California. If some of you remember, I was sick the, so I guess, just ignore my face. :)

into the looking glass

2010-03-22T13:28:00.000-04:00

I foresee myself creating a collection based off of this image. It's terribly lovely. I found it in a book last night while scanning images for a project.

Mademoiselle Duplant (1793) by Francois-Andre Vincent

McQueen Pre Fall 2010

2010-03-18T16:53:00.000-04:00

This collection is genius. I'd recommend seeing it in full. I still like me some Balenciaga though. ;)

photos: fashionising.com

FW 2010 Shoes of Balenciaga

2010-03-17T12:36:00.001-04:00

If you haven't checked out the Balenciaga FW 2010 collection yet, you MUST. It sports signature Balenciaga shoulders, but bold colours that have only been a feature of the past few collections. His colours in this collection go from electric blue and teal to orange. It's a collection that I'm in love with again. It reminds me why I ALWAYS keep Balenciaga at the very top of my list.

Because I would most likely post the ENTIRE FW 2010 collection on here if I was selecting pieces, I decided to restrict myself to the shoes. Enjoy. I think they are exquisite!

Remember this post? I think teal is going to be hot this fall.

Thank you all for the well wishes. I really, truly, appreciate it.

Queen of Mayhem

Natural Rocker

2010-03-16T16:49:00.001-04:00

For the lack of better words, Assad Mounser is awesome. I'm the type of gal that is a little bit obsessive about necklaces. This SS10 collection totally hit the spot. Almost every piece is everything I'd look for in a necklace.

I just love how Assad mixes bright natural stones with hard, punky shapes. The colours range from subdued silver to rockin' lime green. You have to admit, these are the perfect way to kick the winter blues in the butt. I'm especially coveting the first two pieces. ;)

images: assadmounser.com

Let me know what you all think!!

MINE: Costume Design!

2010-03-15T00:24:00.001-04:00

So, as I promised, here is the video of some costume design related things in my portfolio. I hope you enjoy it because I enjoyed making it. The photo is just a collection of some still captures from the video.

I did my first real photo shoot today. It was quite wet out and I think I destroyed a pair of heels, but I just REALLY needed to get out of the house and have been looking forward to doing something like this for a long time. It was totally worth it and I had tons of fun. I can't wait to get my hands on the photos so that I can share them with all of you. ;)

On another note, thank you for all the well wishes about my sickness. I'm kind of hitting a crappy bump in my life right now so bear with me. I hope it'll all be smoothed out soon... :/

Lady Grey

2010-03-13T16:05:00.001-05:00

This is such a wonderful editorial. It's so soft and whimsical! I don't know if any of you have seen the Girl with the Pearl Earring or Marie Antoinette, but the photos remind me of both. :)

They really take you to a different place, which is just what I need right now.

photographs by Tim Walker for Vogue Italia

I will have a video talking about/showing some of my portfolio/design going up either today or tomorrow. I just filmed it today.

LOVE

2010-03-11T14:31:00.002-05:00

film: thelovemagazine.co.uk

Thought you guys would enjoy this short. Watch it on full screen!!

Gareth in Wonderland

2010-03-11T01:00:00.002-05:00

Since Gareth Pugh's first major collection, I've been in love with his dark creations. From skulls and bondage reminiscent pieces, he's never failed to captivated and pique the audience's interest.

He has always played with silhouette and geometric figures, but this season he's introducing a whole new level of shape and volume. His pieces, black as usual (although replacing white with a softer grey), vary from very strict chevron shapes to large flowing and soft pleats on a a seemingly airy wide legged pant. This collection certainly has Asian influences.

His Fall/Winter 2010 collection definitely showcase his growing maturity as a designer. Although he has not strayed far from his dark origins, his pieces seem more wearable, and dare I say, tailored to branch out to an older audience.

All in all, this is a truly stunning collection in my book. And he might just be stealing first place in my heart from Balenciaga.

images: models.com

I'm really liking the body chains. If I can get some close up shots of the type of chains he used, I might just make one of my own (really, It's not that hard, just boring). :)

I fly back to Pittsburgh on a red eye tomorrow night. Sadly, California has been cooler than Pittsburgh this past week, and I've managed to get sick with bronchitis, an ear infection and a very, very raspy voice. :(

The First Alice

2010-03-08T11:25:00.000-05:00

The first Alice in Wonderland film circa 1903.

California!!!!

2010-03-05T11:51:00.001-05:00

I tried to film this video blog 5 times, and my computer ultimately kept on freaking out. So I forgot to say stuff because I just woke up (so excuse my appearance). If you guys are long time followers, you will remember that I was here last summer and put some photos up on my blog.

Watch my video so you can see all the strange faces I make. :)

Time for a run now, see you guys!

The Neckline, the Colour, Discuss!

2010-02-28T21:34:00.000-05:00

Francesco Scognamiglio Fall 2010 RTW • image: style.com

I LOVE this neckline. I know it makes no sense, and I have no idea how one would wear a coat over it, but it's wonderful! The green is so gross that it's alluring. Okay, I do admit that matching the shoes is going a bit too far...

What do you think?

I've got the most dreadful 3 days coming up. 2 midterms, 2 assignments, ugh! But then it's off to California for a week.

michael angel + vote for me!

2010-02-26T15:09:00.000-05:00

If you've never heard of Michael Angel then you're missing out. Scroll down and check it out! Images blatantly stolen from his website. Oh, and scroll to the bottom of the post to learn about voting for me. (I know, I'm shameless). :)

Thanks to a friend, I've just found out about United Colours of Benetton's "It's My Time" casting. I've decided to enter. And although I don't think I'll end up getting anywhere, I'm tactlessly advertising my blog. Haha, so do take a look, and vote if you like!

killer boots, killer dress

2010-02-24T08:42:00.000-05:00

found via fashionising.com

Marchesa F/W 2010

Backstage with Alexander

2010-02-16T21:30:00.001-05:00

models.com

Backstage at Alexander Wang F/W 2010. There were so many great photos, but I decided there is nothing like a lineup.

a little something

2010-02-16T12:48:00.003-05:00

I hope you all enjoy this video. I found it captivating. Vanessa Paradis for Rouge Coco by Chanel.

off into the dark

2010-02-15T21:14:00.000-05:00

colour photo as requested by so many of you :)

Hey guys! I really appreciate all the wonderful comments you've been leaving. The last thing I want to do is stop posting consistently, but I've got a seriously stressful and busy week ahead of me. I'm sure you all know what that's like! So I'll be lacking in posts, but hopefully will resume posting by the end of the week. :)

backwards

2010-02-13T00:13:00.000-05:00

SKIRT H&M

I'm definitely feeling the crunch of school, ugh. Less than a month until spring break! I can't wait!