New PULP and LCD Soundsystem Music

Santa, you DID get my list! 

A little late, but I'll look the other way on that one, fatty.

Xmas 2012

                                       

'Twas all I ever wanted! 

And I'm Off...

for the Santa Claus times

I''ll be back Wednesday. 

Unless I get that Billion dollars and trip to Turkey I asked for and then, cheers and ciaos. 

Merry Christmas EVE

               

It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas

In our Park Slope home 

The Best End of Year List Yet

It's that time of year when people reflect on the past 12 months and every smarmy face journalist with a beige office writes some tepid greatest hits list of the year. 

But GQ Magazine got it right, sending off the celebs that made 2012 a bit more meh.

http://www.gq.com/entertainment/celebrities/201212/least-influential-people-2012#slide=1

Total Ouch on that Madonna rip, although whaever stings the most, I guess. 


Oh, and Goyte is Belgian? Who knew they make dirty, hipster sad sack whiners as well as waffles?

It's a Gift: Let's Go Gay it Up in Colombia!

(Columbia: Next on the Pink Agenda?) 

This gift is pointed right at you, Miss Ciara. You know you love you some South and Central America and it appears that Colombia is on the path towards legalizing gay marriage

Maybe all dem dollas comin' in from us gays who've anointed it a nouveau gay travel hot spot are speakin louder than hate. 

Funny how that works. 

So this May, let's andale, andale down Columbia's way and whoop it up Mac-Ci style! 

All I Wanted for My Birthday

was to beat that infuriating pretzel level in Ms. Pac-Man! Arggh! 

Happy Birthday Christina Aguilera!

            

Oh yeah, and ME!

Holiday Party in Red Hook

Mr Taurus' co-worker and our friend, Rebecca, invited us over the weekend to her beautiful loft in Red Hook, Brooklyn to celebrate the season.

And the good life, honey.


The happily married couple had a splendid spread of food, friends, books piled high from lands visited and Brent, the sweetest dog around

We Made a Copywriter Tree, Honey

When is a Raven Like a Saks Fifth Avenue Mannequin?

Raven may have come in runner up on 




RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars








             

But wipe those tears, my dear, 





with the check Saks just sent 





for live window modelling

 (Raven in the middle, serving face, baby, face?)

Proenza Schouler Rock Candy Realness

"At 88, having worked with Richard Avedon, Diana Vreeland, Carmel Snow and Helmut Newton, what's on your bucket list now, Polly Mellen?"

"Christmas" 

- Fern Mallis gets Ms. Mellen's insight (and loud laughter) at the 92Y last nite 

Don't I Look Cute Today: Dressing for Ms. Mellen

• Borne Glen Plaid double breasted coat
• H&M grey shirt
• Vintage tomato print tie
• Vintage red knit and leather gloves (on hands in pockets)
• Tickets to hear Polly Mellen at 92Y (in pocket) 

“See now it’s almost impossible to have any style at all without the right dogs, I think”

-ISAAC MIZRAHI,
(Watchin “Unzipped” for the Umpteenth time, preparing for Polly Mellen speaking with Fern Mallis at 92Y tonite)

It's a Gift: Vintage Balenciaga at The MET Poster at Housing Works

Housing Works is having a special Vintage blowout on their auction site just in time for holiday shopping

 

and child this little lovely would look divine in our bedroom between the antique bar mirror and the needlepoint galleon 

Cha cha on over to Shophousingworks.com and put this poster from the Diana Vreeland currated 1973 Balenciaga exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute in your cart. For me. 

Let

the holiday party season

begin,

boo!

Odd Twin Vintage Holiday Party

Tonite! 

Free booze and curated vintage and a certain Lady Lola? 

DOIN' IT! 

It's A Gift: Sneaky Day Drunk

It's Friday and daddy ready to get his drink on. But - ugh - there's this pesky work day in the way. Perhaps if I only had some rye toast and jam that somehow sneaky snuck schnapps....

Or whiskey! 

Oooh, even better, Red Camper Picnic Supply Company! 

(RedCamper Colorado Whiskey Peach jam, $9.95 for 12oz at Etsy , http://www.etsy.com/listing/112871122/whiskey-peach-deliciousness-not-your)

Pantone Makes Cerulean and Cerise Green with Envy

" [Emerald Green] will be seen over the next 12 months across the fashion industry, beauty, interiors, plastics & packaging, print and graphic design," according to Pantone 

Sorry Tangerine Tango, you're so 2012 ...

I'm Not Classy, Nor Refined

Our 3rd floor neighbors are a class act. We just started to get to know them. Turns out one of them is a classically trained baritone and we had the pleasure of recently attending his vocal performance at the Brooklyn Conservatory. 

When we got home after, they stopped by with flowers for us! 

Wow. Classy. Hope we can keep up. 

See it pays to get to know your neighbors.  

(*The above headline comes from the one and only Miss A)

My Thoughts on Wang-ciaga

"Alexander Wang on Monday became the first designer of Asian descent to enter the highest ranks of Parisian high fashion when he was named creative director of the storied house of Balenciaga. "
                                                                                            -NY Times

Ok, first off I guess we'll ignore Kenzo,  a Parisian high fashion label founded in 1970 by a Japanese designer, Kenzo Takada, and recently rejuvenated when LVMH (who owns the line now) brought in Opening Ceremony prodigies, Humberto Leon and Carol Lim, both of Asian descent to be the new creative directors. Oh Grey Lady. Fact check much?

But more importantly, how did this pairing come to be? Many industry insiders are grumbling that this a thinly veiled attempt to bring in a designer who can craft an 'It Bag' since most houses depend on handbags and shoes to make money. Balenciaga currently has none of those but behind Alexander Wang is the widely popular 'Rocco', 'Diego' bags and 'Anouk' and 'Amber' shoes featured all over street style blogs. Make no mistake PPR, which owns Balenciaga, is betting the house on proven accessory cash cow know how

           =

















Nicolas Ghesquière left Balenciaga on such a high note built on seasons of pushing silhouettes to new limits. Volume shouted with striking, architectural constructions of shape that seemed other-worldly. Funny, the same was said for Cristóbal Balenciaga when he freed women of classical silhouettes, crafting instead volumes for women to utilize like armor

(Nicolas Ghesquière for Balenciaga, Fall 2012)

In stark contrast, Wang had popularized the street urchin chic of slouch and burnout stretch jersey. How will this translate to the house the cocoon coat built?

(Alexander Wang, Spring 2012)

Finally, and it needs to be said, especially with Wang entering "the highest ranks of Parisian high fashion", there's a quality issue giant white elephant in the room. Balenciaga under Ghesquière was made in France, Italy or throughout Europe. Wang's line is made in China (or possibly US sweatshops?) Will clients be willing to ante up for inferior products rushed to increase margins?

 (Above Wang Photo Credit: Flare.com)

Good Advice

     "Stop staying up late and watching 'Dancing with the Stars' and 'The Voice' people!" 

-Homeless man at top of subway steps Monday morning advice