My Summer Soundtrack: Belle & Sebastian

Ok, I'll admit I have been hooked by the omnipresent disco 2000 sounds of Daft Punk's "Get Lucky" and the H+M ready soundtrack of Selena Gomez's "Come and Get It" (the former being banned from my office as it is the earworm of the century, darlin'!), but when I get home from a long Summer day of describing stretch jersey dresses and rubbing elbows with the girls who wear them on the crowded R train, I run for the soothing sounds of Belle & Sebastian. Their best work, in my opinion, is the opus known as "The Boy with the Arab Strap" 



The titular track reminds me of younger times dancing in a crowd of friends on The Ottobar stage (here's looking at you J) but each song somehow melds that twee vibe with soft Summer swaying without being cloying. How'd they do that??? Normally I am not a fan of that whispy white girl voice floating in the background that B+S have since begot, but this album really did still bring in the fun. It wasn't dippy. It was Summery. And years later, it still is. 

Beyoncé Loves the Ladies

Beyoncé, I loved your halftime show last nite and I love your sisterly love even more. 

Doin' it. 

Baltimore is for Winners, Baby

I'm not a sporto, but my hometown did good last nite

So proud! 

And it'll be nice for Baltimore to be known this coming year for something other than John Waters and The Wire. 

THIS

Ms. Kelly Rowland, when you and your blunt bangs popped up from under stage 

and then you threw that toned arm on that perfect hip... child! 

I gay gasped! 

Everything. 

While I was in Baltimore....

This happened....



Michelle Obama wore a Thom Browne coat to the inauguration and shut it the F down! 

(Stride of Pride)

Choosing a designer most widely known for his menswear and the reinvention of men's suiting proportion (don't believe me, check out the Fall 2013 men's lines in Milan and Paris. It's all about the Thom Browne-esque cropped pant and fit) is a bold fashion leap. This coat says "authority, risk taker, structure and strength." LOVE LOVE LOVE 

The accessories were perfect pops of feminine contrast and I liked how the slim raspberry leather gloves shout back to Sasha and Malia's coats. Perfection, Shelly. 

However, not everything was sartorial bliss. The Spring 2013 Haute Couture shows started in Paris this weekend and THIS happened: 

Look I know this is gonna be a controversial stance since the rest of the fashion press seems to have drank the Kool-Aid or is too frightened to challenge the favorite son of LVMH's Bernard Arnault, but this is BAD

Why must Raf Simons take my beloved Dior and make it look like 90's polyester nite out looks from the Deb? 

Oh god, tonal stockings, really?????

and sheer netting right at your junk, that's what upper crust couture clients want, right? 

Raf, get it right, please! This 'New Look' is making M. Dior spin. 

I've Been Lookin' for Some Natty Boh on Draft

Perhaps this Little Italy bistro on Mulberry Street is finally pouring some heady Boh!

A Perfect Weekend: My Kinda Restaurant

(Oh child!)

Mr. Taurus knows me so well. For our date nite this weekend, a cozy corner of West Village restaurant, Cowgirl, was ours and as if sweet potato tater tots with creamy pecan mustard weren't enough, the whole damn place was Halloween-ed out its damn mind! Hell there even was a whole Halloween menu!

And when Mr Taurus ordered a Halloween themed Blue Lagoon cocktail, what little plastic creature accompanied it but a tiny azure bull

Even mean old Taurus got a good chuckle out of that

So kitschy and Baltimore this place! How did I not know about it?

Wait there's a Baltimore Fashion Week?!

(Photo of Isis doin' her thang from Patrick McMullan)

Every fashion blog is reporting how Isis King from Top Model walked in Baltimore Fashion Week, but the real news here is there's a Baltimore Fashion Week and I wasn't invited?!

How is this possible? Baltimore, what other New York journo gives you more love than me? I'm a little tiffed. I'll be in my room. Hmph.