The Mirror

I downloaded "Pomp & Circumstance" a few months ago when I heard that they used it in Alexander McQueen's Fall 2010 Fashion Show. I always loved that song as a child, and I thought that was so fitting and emotional that they would use it to show the first collection, that were half his designs, after his death this spring. And the music has since inspired and stirred me. But back to this in a moment.

I spent the morning at MCC in the sewing lab, and being on MCC's campus took me back to a few years ago when I decided to pursue fashion, design, Parsons and New York City.

Then I met Bob for lunch to go over remodeling plans and discuss cabinetry. After that it was off to ASU to do some research at Hayden Library. Being on ASU's campus was a "total trip". Hayden Library and the Business School felt haunted with memories of a time long gone, and a life that was so utterly different!

As cliche' as this sounds, when I stood in the bathroom -- one of which I had used on a regular basis ten years ago -- and looked in the mirror, I thought about how the girl looking back at me is so different. Of course that would be very scary if ten years had gone by and I was that same girl! But still it was an odd feeling being in that same bathroom, looking in that same mirror and comparing the life I had then, and the life I have now.

Prototypes, home remodels, some of the same dear friends, and several wonderful add-ons...there was a lot bouncing around my head. And I used to stand in that bathroom and compare finance and management notes with Kristin Horton, and then head to the "tables" to chat with the UKAZU crew and convince Brian Lutz that we should plan a trip to Thailand.

And than what was even more of a trip was the fact that as I dug around for fashion articles and statistics at the library for my latest endeavour, the more I came across articles written by people I have interned with, worked for and know because of my time in New York City, Parsons and the fashion industry.

Talk about closing out the circle...no wait, that would be when Pomp and Circumstance came on my CD player and I contemplated the day, the past ten years, my life and where I am going next...

Leather words and sentences

Back when I lived with Brian in the West Village, we flew out to San Francisco to visit Paul and Kelly and go snowboarding in Tahoe -- can you tell we are "West Coast Kids" we dragged our snowboards across the entire country to snowboard, when Vermont and other east coast snow spots were just hours away! Anyway, back to my story, so Brian leads me to his all time favorite boutique, ever, AB Fits, which is right near Union Square in SF. Granted we lived in the West Village steps away from Bleecker Street, SOHO and just a couple of subway stops away from Fifth Ave and Madison Ave. But no, Bri-Bri felt the need to splurge in California, and I wasn't going to stop him.

The girl at AB Fits was very snotty and I was determined to not give them any of my business. But then I melted when I tried on a distressed leather jacket with a hood by Mike and Chris. It was very rock and roll and the fact that it had a hoodie was beyond amazing. I whipped out my credit card and I did not look back, and ever since I have been drawn to little, leather jackets.

Fashion is a form of expression, and someone at Parsons once mentioned that clothes are merely external words and sentences...so even though I already own one great leather jacket, oh wait, make that three, I am looking for a few more words and sentences for the fall!

Couture Water

I had lunch with several of of my creative & artistic friends yesterday at Oakville Grocery in Scottsdale. It was cute place to meet. It felt like an expanded La Grande Orange. They were selling Christian Lacroix Evian water bottles, and I of course had to have it! I am always a sucker for cool packaging design - ALWAYS! Christian Lacroix is one of the few remaining haute couture designers left. He is a master and a genius!

Moreover, the intricate lace-like pattern etched onto the bottle reminded me of dollie-placemat I found at the New York restaurant Falai. Brian suggested Falai when I was in New York last week. It is in the lower east side and it is marvelous! I highly suggest going if you are in the lower-east side and of course New York. It is a very design-savvy, modern-Italian-fusion restaurant. Small portions but everything is art! The platting, the presentation, etc. I asked if I could take the placemat because I had ideas of using it as a stencil.

Last night I spray-painted the placemat onto the back of a black hoodie. It is a work in progress, but it is on its way to being a pretty cool hoodie!

So from couture water bottles to placemats, some of my best inspiration comes while socializing over food or over everyday items!

Unwritten

I know I blog a lot about songs and song lyrics. But to me, song lyrics are my poetry. I have so many songs that I feel "fit me" are or "my song". I guess there are a lot of artists out there who are able to capture the thoughts and feelings inside my heart and my head.

2009 set me on a new path and led me to experience some really incredible adventures. When I started this blog I was gearing up for Henri Bendel's "Open See", and all that has transcribed since then is at times mind boggling.

Kelly made me a picture slide-show set to music four years ago when I left Scottsdale for Manhattan. The very first picture on the cd was a picture of when we went to New York to look for apartments, I was standing in front of Parsons. Kelly set that picture to Natasha Bedingfield's song "Unwritten".

And then Brian would play "Unwritten" over and over again on his computer because it reminded him of the opening scene of "The Hills" which made him think of a happy, sunny place -- I know, I know ;-) So the song reminds me of both of my awesome roommates and of course as I re-listen to the lyrics I see how fitting they are for this next adventure and for the fact that it is a new year...

I am unwritten,
Can't read my mind
I'm undefined
I'm just beginning
The pen's in my hand
Ending unplanned

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words
That you could not find
Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions

Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten, yeah

Oh, oh

I break tradition
Sometimes my tries
Are outside the lines, oh yeah yeah
We've been conditioned
To not make mistakes
But I can't live that way oh, oh

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words
That you could not find
Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions

Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins

Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
drench yourself in words unspoken
live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
the rest still unwritten

(Gospel)
Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words
That you could not find
Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions

Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open *****
Today is where your book begins

Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open *****
Today is where your book begins

The rest is still unwritten

Oh Beautiful Barneys!

The past few weeks my entire focus has been helping Cathy Jahnke with the grand opening of the east wing at Scottsdale Fashion Square. The east wing houses Barneys New York, a 6,000 sq foot H&M, Forever 21, a concept Banana Republic store, and Sam Fox's latest restaurant Modern Steak, among a slew of other stores.

Cathy came up with the concept "The Mannequin Is Our Muse" and we reached out to valley locals (designers, artists, architects, vendors, and merchants) to create mannequins. We ended up with 123 mannequins! Simon Doonan, creative director of Barneys did a mannequin, and we even had mannequins flown in from NYC and California artists. The Armani Exchange mannequin had to be flown to Milan for Mr. Armani's final approval!!!!!

I collaborated on a mannequin with my architect friend Bob Wilkinson. We used floor mats from the 99 cent store. There was a bit of controversy with our mannequin, but I'll save that for another post. She is now standing in my kitchen -- she is a bit freaky but I am pleased with our final product.

It took an insane of amount of work to get the project off the ground. But Cathy is amazing, and she always pulls out all the stops and it comes together quite grandly. During the grand opening weekend we had live entertainment, pedestal modeling, and a huge breakfast. I was at the mall everyday from sunrise until way past sunset. Besides just overseeing the mannequins we had to direct the entertainment and models. Valarie Schad, who also worked on the event, and I nicknamed all the male models "CMs" for Couger Meat, they were all quite delectable but probably at least 10 years our junior ;-)

Everybody kept asking what I thought of the new Barneys, and the event was such a circus that I barely had more than two minutes to whip through the store. I loved going to Barneys in NYC. Kealey and I once ran into Cameron Diaz at the NYC Barneys and she even stopped to chat with us. Going to that store was something that I always did with Brian. Brian and I would never miss the Barneys wharehouse sale. He would always hold my bag so I could dig for Prada platforms or Michael Kor boots. It was always a madhouse but we would come away so proud of our purchases. Sigh, I do miss that boy...

So yesterday Jaime , Marleigh, Blake and I went to the mall for brunch and shopping. I love the store! But then again I love well designed products and clever visual merchandise, and Barneys satisfies both those credentials.

And how can stairing at a pair of Christian Loubutins or Giuseppe Zanotti over-the-knee boots ever put you in a bad mood? Oh beautiful Barneys, I am glad you have come to Scottsdale...