Music Monday/Cause in the daylight anywhere feels like home

The sun is shinin', the birds are singin', the sky is blue. It's a beautiful day on the Central Coast! I must savor these last few sunny days before colder weather rolls around. Perhaps I'll go for a bike ride, or take Charlie to the dog park. Or maybe I'll just drive around town rocking out to awesome music, whilst I smile like an idiot because this song makes oh-so darn happy!

Matt and Kim- Daylight

P.S. Why is it that every time I don't have a job or money, ModCloth decides they're going to have crazy awesome ridiculous sales? *Le sigh*

Major Score!

We have two Goodwills in my hometown. The big main store is downtown, but there is also a smaller one only a couple of blocks from my house. While the latter isn't the best source for vintage clothes(it's mostly newer clothes in really good shape), they have a great selection of vintage knick-knacks, and one the best collections of vintage books I've ever seen. Today after a visit to this tiny little thrift store, I walked away with some amazing vintage fashion textbooks. In fact, so amazing that I felt the need to share them with you, dear readers.

 1. A consumer psychology book focused on family apparel; A history of costume book; A vintage lunchbox I found a couple of weeks ago
2. The arts and Man. A world view of the roles and functions of the arts in society
3. The Fashion Book. An A-Z guide of influential fashion industry members spanning 150 years. Not vintage, but still amazing.
4. The 1st and 2nd editions of a fashion psychology textbook. 
5. An awesome vintage plaid tunic(It's not a dress. The sides are completely open!)

I love finding cool treasures at thrift stores. It's so fun to discover old and unique things. I'm very excited about reading my new books. Even if the information is outdated, I'm sure they will still be really interesting and I know I'll learn some new things(always a plus).

What awesome vintage finds have you come across recently?

Bold and Sweet

Bold and Sweet by linzypanda featuring a circular skirt

Music Monday/You show the lights that stop me, turn to stone

I was out of town all day so this is more like a Music Tuesday. Sorry. Anyways, I love this song(as do most people) and the music video is also pretty f-ing amazing.

Ellie Goulding- Lights(Bassnectar Remix)

This song is also featured in the Tempest Free Running Academy's promo video. This video is ridiculous, and I want to learn how to do this!

Academy of Art University: Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week

I just wanted to share with everyone the Academy of Art University's Spring 2012 Graduate Collection. They are the only fashion school in the country to debut their graduate's collections at New York Fashion Week, and I couldn't be more proud to be attending such an awesome school! Every time I watch their shows I get more and more excited to start my classes this spring. My favorite was Dipti Irla's Indian inspired collection. She used vintage sarees and dyed them in a soft gray palette with metallic touches, and the result is very stunning! Meredith Acton's use of soft, silky fabrics combined with stream-lined silhouettes is also very inspiring, but the whole collection is great! If you have an extra 20 or so minutes of free time, definitely check out this video!

Academy of Art University: Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Lincoln Center -September 9, 2011 at 5PM (Pacific Time)

P.S. Which collection is your favorite?

Music Monday/A friend in need is a friend indeed

I'm not feeling remotely creative today. So, for these week's song I grabbed my iPod, put it on shuffle and picked the first song that came up. Enjoy!

Placebo- Pure Morning

P.S. This is the first time I've seen the music video for this song. Not sure what's going on here.

Remember, remember...

Ten years ago I was 11 years old. I had just started Jr. high, and I was embarking on a new chapter in my life. I was excited for the future. That Tuesday morning in September looked like any other. I woke up early for school, but right away I could tell something was off. I could hear my parents talking anxiously in the other room, and the T.V. was on. They were watching the news. I went into the room where they were and stared at the screen, groggy, tired and confused. They kept saying the same thing, "It's the towers. They crashed into the Twin Towers." I didn't know much about the World Trade Center at the time, except that it was the tallest structure in the world. I was so young. I thought that wars were only fought by soldiers, I just couldn't grasp the idea of hurting innocent people for no reason.

At school during the morning announcements our principle was solemn as he talked about the tragedy and we held a moment of silence. It was all anyone could talk about for the rest of the day. My friends and I exchanged theories on why we thought it had happened. The air around us was full of confusion and fear.

Ten years have passed and I still can't read or watch anything about that day without crying. As I was doing my history homework today, I flipped to the back few pages and read an unemotional account about the attacks. Even though it's written in my textbook, it doesn't feel like history to me. People are still recovering, still missing their loved ones, our nation still anxious. I've heard many people say that they remember everything about that day. What they were doing, where they were,what was said to them. It's all a blur to me, and I remember only a few things. What I do remember is how everything felt. It was strange and different, and even at my young age I knew life for many Americans was going to change drastically. Some people were confused, many people sad and hurt, most people afraid, and every single person angry.

I found an old t-shirt from my childhood a few weeks ago. It has a picture of the New York City skyline at night, with the World Trade Center right in the middle. Many things crossed my mind when I found it. I thought about that day, and remembered that the 10 year anniversary was quickly approaching. It's hard to believe it's been so long, when it feels like it just happened. Our nation was affected in so many different ways that day, and a little girl from California learned a very harsh lesson about the realities of our world. My thoughts go out to every person who lost a loved one. To the people who risked their lives to save others, and those who continue to. To the people whose lives were stolen from them. This day is for you. We will never forget.

Music Monday/I woke up one morning, all my fingers rotten

Silly me, I almost forgot it was Monday! Oh well, better late then never right? This week's song was chosen for no particular reason other than I really like it. I have a bit of a soft spot for folksy type music(NOT country). I wonder if it has to to with the fact that my dad was a hippie. Hmm.....

Fleet Foxes- Battery Kinzie

Fashion is not for the serious

I love fashion, but sometimes it takes itself way to seriously. Dressing up is supposed to be fun, and express who you are. So why is it, that every fashion campaign is filled with tight lipped, brooding models, who look like they're about to kick your ass? I don't get it! I'm going to be going to school for fashion design, and I planned long ago that at my debut runway show, the models were going to dance down the runway. That's right dance! And I don't mean awkward 7th graders in a gym kind of dance. Real, awesomely spectacular dance! The fashion industry won't know what hit 'em.

The reason for this ridiculous rant? I came across the Lanvin Fall-Winter 2011 ad campaign, and I laughed my ass off. I love that they broke away from tradition, and it's just so goofy. The clothes are also pretty fantastic.

While I was writing this, I was reminded of another great video showcasing Moncler Grenoble's Fall/Winter collection as well as their refusal to conform. It's probably the greatest fashion show ever, even if it is a tad long.

I crave the unconventional :D