Ska Style

I'm a long-time fan of ska music--not to mention a singer in a ska band. So...what's the history behind ska fashion? Check out my video.

In the jailhouse now

Look what I found on flipgloss.com, Prison Hotels! I love 5-star, boutique hotel, Malmaison in Oxford England. The former cells have been converted into chic rooms that still have steel doors.

Oh to be wealthy! And to stay at former palaces of the poor!

Green is Sexy

In honor of earth day, I thought I would highlight the growing trend of eco fashion--clothing made out of recycled materials, or from organic cotton grown in a sustainable way.

Ecofashion World is a great place to start if you got a green streak. This website and print magazine is chock full of designer duds that are easy on mother earth. It even has a guide to all the eco-concious clothing outlets online.

How about these fantastic heels made from vintage fabrics by Kitty Cooper in London. You can choose the fabric you want from Kitty Cooper's selection of old fabrics collected from thrift stores.

The Constant Gardener

So, everyone's abuzz about the new Jessica Lange/Drew Barrymore bio-pic, Grey Gardens, airing on HBO this Saturday, April 18. Drew plays Jackie O's eccentric cousin, Edith Bouvier Beale who lived in ramshackle, falling-down mansion in the Hamptons with her mother. Both mother and daughter had a very eccentric fashion sense: thriftstore boho chic, complete with Greta Garbo turbans and headwraps (to hide bald patches due to illness).

The movie is based in part on a documentary made by Mayseles Brothers in 1975. Here's a classic scene from the original documentary where Edie describes her unique sense of style.

Mother Russia is calling? Do you dare answer?

So, I was cruising one of my favorite fashion blogs, Trend de la Creme, when I came accross a couple posts about matryoshka-influenced clothes and accessories. As you may or may not know, matryoshkas are Russian stacking dolls (one doll inside another, inside another, inside another...you get the point). Sales of wooden matryoshkas to European tourists makes up at least 40% of Russia's GDP. They come in all sorts of varieties.

Stevie Nicks: Rock Goddess and Fashion Icon

There's an interesting story today in The New York Time's Fashion section about the dark, mystical princess, progenitor of goth, Stevie Nicks of '70s supergroup, Fleetwood Mac. Stevie, now 60, inspires devotion in her fans--mostly women--who often come to shows dressed like her: in flowing peasant skirts, fringed shawls, and ubiquitous top hats. Stevie has a look and it really hasn't evolved. We love her for it.

The article cites some interesting online clothing shops that cater to the Nicks' style. Check out gypsy moon, a company that unveils a new quirky, goth line every season. Check out this ballet-inspired French mime look. It's kinda appealing in a old-timey way.

Utica Sucks

Sorry, Utica, but you suck royally. My man-friend and I were driving back to Syracuse from Holy Trinity Russian Monastery in Jordanville (usual Sunday activity). Since we were starving after being fed a lent-friendly meal in the rectory consisting of boiled macaroni, canned fruit salad, and cabbage soup, we decided to stop in Utica, "The Rennaissance City," for lunch.

Big mistake. Man, this place is horrible--a decaying hell-hole off of I-90. We drove around for 40 minutes looking for anything that wasn't a Dunkin' Donuts or rundown convenience store to no avail. Everything was boarded up or closed. The streets were empty. There seemed to be a large number of law offices--so we suspected that most city residents are in jail or awaiting trial.

Finally, we stumbled upon a block near the Saranac Brewery that looked like it might have been kickin' about 20 years ago, but it's not even on life-support at this point--looks like the city just pulled the plug. Tell me, people of Utica, is there a single restaurant in your fair city?

We ended up eating at a "Macaroni Grill" called Babe's (I kid you not)--a sorta homegrown rip-off of T.G.I Fridays. The patrons looked sad in their tight jeans and cowboy boots. Our waitress had recently moved back to Utica from Arizona (for reasons unknown). We sipped on a rootbeer float, listening to hits from the 80s' (back when Utica was a happier place). Syracuse feels like Paris compared to Utica. I was happy to return.

The First Lady of Fashion

Michelle Obama has been getting lots of good press for her fashion choices lately. It is refreshing to see somebody so young, vibrant, and stylish (not to mention accomplished, articulate, and intelligent) at the president's side. She obviously feels comfortable in the spotlight--even if she made a faux pas touching the queen last week in London. The horror!

Michelle mixes up designers like Jason Wu and Thakoon with shopping mall staples from Talbots and J. Crew. She's on the cover of Essence magazine this week with her mother wearing a $169 (recently marked down to $126) dress from Talbots, proving that even middle class girls can dress like true ladies.

The internet was abuzz with the fashion showdown in Paris between former supermodel, singer and wife of French president Nikolas Sarkozy, Carla Bruni, and Michelle Obama. Michelle held her ground and rocked her sophisticated look in the capital of fashion.

Ooh La La! My Weekend in Montreal.

P.T. Cruisin!

So, I just breezed in from a romantic weekend in Montreal. I had to drive all by my lonesome (I haven't really driven in years--at least not long-haul). For the four and a half hour journey from Syracuse, I chose a Chrysler P.T. Cruiser.

Many people laughed at my selection in Montreal--I mean, it was bright blue. But, I enjoyed the car. It's got a comfortable interior, decent cd stereo, a quick pick up, and a very stable ride on highways. I couldn't actually ever figure out how to turn on the interior light--kind of a bummer, since I had to read directions in French in the dark; and the window controls were located in the center of the dashboard--talk about counterintuitive! However, I was happy with this cartoon, technicolor-blue Cruiser. It's not a car for those who want to blend in (I do not). It's a vehicle for someone with a wacky sense of retro style and no self-consciousness.

In blue, it's so ugly...it's actually cute.

Bootilegs?

Okay, one thing I just don't get are these open toe boots that you're seeing all over the runways. When are they appropriate? What season? You really can't wear them in the winter, and then in the summer they're too hot. But, these Bootilegs are even weirder. They're fabric legwarmers you wear over sandals for that open-toe boot look. They cost around $100. Pretty hideous.

Zen and The Art of a Good Manicure

I love manicures. I started getting them regularly when I was living in Russia. I was a performer, and my hands had to look good. However, in Syracuse, I've kinda let my nails go.

This morning, I finally made an appointment at the elegant Spa Zend on E. Genesee Street. Spa Zend offers a variety of services from massage, facials, waxing, and, of course, manicure/pedicure. It's in the same stone building as Strong Hearts vegan cafe and the Onondoga massage school.

The aptyly named Spa Zend has a "zen" quality: eastern ambiance of waterfalls, zen gardens, bamboo, new age music. They served me green tea upon arrival as I waited in a relaxing, candlelit room.

The spa's services are not particularly cheap: $26 for a manicure, $42 for pedicure. But, the experience is pure pampering. The esthetician, Dava, did my nails. She was friendly and professional. My only complaint is that the spa has only about 25 different nail colors to choose from and I couldn't find the color that I wanted. I would bring my own next time.

I got a good quality manicure at a lovely place. I'd definitely return.

$200 Buys A Lot of Class

more about "$200 Buys A Lot of Class", posted with vodpod

A Forgotten Classic

My brother, Adam Davis, has got a new car: a 1987 Cadillac Brougham d'Elegance. The big, brown boat goes with his overall retro style.

"My style is bold, comfortable, and cheap," said Davis smiling sardonically. "But I also like things tight, like my pants. This car fits tightly into each lane."

"The anachronistic modernism of the 80s' really shines. From the door handle to the vanity mirror."

Davis' mother, Mariann, describes the car as "tasteless but gaudy."

Bright Lights, Big Airport

So, I flew in to Indianapolis yesterday. And, lo and behold, there's a brand new airport. The Colonel H. Weir Cook Terminal completed in mid-November is impressive--all gleaming glass, steel, and natural light. Actually, it's very stylish, even European--similar in ambience to Amsterdam's Schiphol airport.

The previous airport was rink-a-dink and sad---appallingly Midwestern, with its low ceilings, brown color-scheme, and industrial, white floor tile.

The grand atrium is filled with designer stores like Brooks Brothers or inviting boutiques selling silver jewelry and imported Indian scarves. Great local restaurants and cafes, like Patachou, have opened satellite locations there--so now there's no reason to eat McDonald's and Sbarro pizza.

Indianapolis is trying to establish itself as a new hub with an airport like this. Here's some photos from Indianapolis Monthy.



Now, if only all passengers looked like this.

Pretty Pictures Ease the Mind

When I need a break from day and I want to look at something beautiful, I check out El Beso, a bi-lingual blog by an Argentinian writer, Karina Manghi. She takes beautiful photographs of clothes, accessories, interiors, fabulous beaches, nature. Inspirational.

Marni Makes the World Go Round

Along with Marc Jacobs, I like Marni (the site's pretty awesome too). Designer Consuelo Castiglioni creates clothes that are funky, vintage-style, and boho with interesting fabrics and great shape. Her pieces are mix and match and can stand on their own. So, when I read Cathy Horyn's blog on NYTimes about her trip this morning to the Marni studio in Milan, I was excited to see the new fall 2009 collection. I finally found a few shots on London's Telegraph website. Enjoy!

And the winner is....

Oscar blogging, baby!

8:03 Watching the red carpet. Amy Adams looks gorgeous in red. Tim Gunn interviews Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Brodrick. Sarah Jessica Parker is in some sort of cinderella gown. Neutral colors. Somebody in the room says neutrals are the color of the recession.


8:04 Tarij P. Henson from Benjamin Button looks sparkly in white.

8:05 Brangelina.

8:13 These stars are coming out to fast. Mickey Rourke looked terrible as usual.


8:15 Miley Cyrus. Looks like Fairy Barbie. "She's just being Miley, alright?" (chatter from the room.)

8:15 Anne Hathaway. "She has giant teeth!" (from the room) Beautiful Dress.

8:22 Penelope Cruse looking elegant in a dress fitting the the general "princess"theme of the evening. Prettier than SJP.

8:23 Marisa Tomei is wearing a risky Versace dress. Very dramatic. Stunning. Though, I'm not crazy about the hair. The color is pearl and neutral. Everyon seems to be wearing neutrals tonight--or silver.

Almost showtime!

8:31 Hugh Jackman takes the stage. Does a broadway number satirizing all the best picture nominees. Cute. One of the best opening numbers I've seen. All of the sets are cobbled together and homemade. Sets from a gradeschool play.

8:39 Presenting oscar for Best Supporting Actress. 5 presenters for 5 actresses. Clever. Loving Tilda Swinton's hair and gown. Penelope wins for Vicky Christina Barcelona!

8:53 Screenwriting Awards. Tina Fey and Steve Martin present. Fey is dressed in the ubiquitous silver. Lovely dress though. Very 40s. Dustin Lance Black (a former Mormon) wins for Milk. Great Speech.

8:59 Tina Fey and Steve Martin roll right along with Best Adapted Screenplay. Simon Bufoy wins for Slumdog.

9:04 Jennifer Aniston and Jack Black present for best animation. Jen's wearing the strapless, pinkish silver style favored by all the starlets tonight. Wall-e wins. no suprise. Why did they just pan to Peter Gabriel's face?

9:08 Best animated short film. Les Maison en petit cubes. Domo Origato, Mr. Roboto!

9:16 Sarah J and Daniel Craig present for art direction. Benjamin Button. These guys aren't wearing dresses...boo.

9:19 Best Costumes. Dutchess won. I chose correctly.

9:23 Best makeup. Benjamin Button won.

9:25 I don't know who these people are. People are yelling Twilight and Mama Mia at me. Why such a long montage of falling in love, fighting and making up.

9:32 Ben Stiller as Joquin Phoenix and Natalie Portman present for best cinimatography. Slum Dog Millionaire takes the cake.

9:38 Jessica Biel is wearing the drapes. In silver. predictably. Technical award went to some guy who does CGI.


9:45 A salute to comedy 2008. Seth Rogan, James Franco, some polish guy present live action short. German guy wins. But does anyone care?

9:52 Hugh Jackman is back for another dance number. With Beyonce. This is unnecessary. It's not even a medley about this year's movies. Grease, West Side Story, Mama Mia. Why? This is stupid.

9:58. Ryan Reynolds! Ryan Reynolds! They're yelling at me in the room. Because I don't know who he is.

10:01 Best Supporting Actor award! 5 presenters for 5 awards concept again. Love it. Kevin Kline, Allan Arkin, Emcee from Cabaret, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Christopher Walken. I'm betting Heath will win. Heath does win. His family accepts. Everyone's got their sad faces on.

10:11. Best docmentary features. Bill Mahr presents in a 60s sharkskin, mod suit. Maybe a little to edgy for him to pull off. Man on wire wins. Actually saw it.

10:17 Documentary short. who won? mised it. Smile Pinki. Megan Mylan. She's talking alot.

10:22 visual and sound effects montage. I'm gonna take a break. Drink some wine, and return when it's best actor time. cheers!

10:58 Presentation of oscar-nominated songs. Alicia Keyes presents in pretty pink/purple dress. Yay for color. John Legend sings Peter Gabriel's song from Wall-e. slumdog millionaire wins for millioneth time.

11:06 Frida Pinto and Liam Neison present for best foreign film . Frida in beautiful, midnight blue sari-inspired lace dress.

11:10 Queen Latifah in blue satin. celebrating the ones that passed away this year.

Move over Hollywood, hello Bollywood. (comment from room). AA is dominated by foreigners this year.

11:19 Reese Witherspon also in a midnight blue gown with black trim. Best Director to Danny Boyle for Slumdog, so that will be best pic too.

11:25 Best Actress. Sophia Loren looks smokin'. Oops on second thought, not so great. Beautiful gown on Marion Cotillard. Dark blue again with black belt. Nicole Kidman looks fab. Great dress and hair.
Kate wins, of course. Kates wearing a rather elegant grey/bllack satin thing with Katherine Deneuve-like hair.

11:36 Best Actor. Sean Penn. yay.

11:49 Best Picture. will be scumbag.

Fashion's Biggest Night

Yes, it's a really big week for fashion: NY Fashion Week and The Oscars on Sunday. The host of the biggest and best Oscar party also has the best blog. Prepare with Vanity Fair!

I'll be live blogging Oscar night from my friend Mike's annual Academy Award Shindig.

Marc Jacobs: Hit or Miss?

Fashion superstar Marc Jacobs showcased his Fall 2009 collection this week to mixed reviews. Some like Woman's Wear Daily loved the bright, puffy, 80s glam look. Others, like the New York Times fashion writer, Cathy Horyn, dissed Jacobs for his electric colors and "forced" aesthetic. I'm a Marc Jacobs fan (especially fond of his new Daisy perfume), and this collection features a few of his signature boho looks that I love, and a few aggressively big-shouldered poofy things that I don't.

Hits:The color is a little bright for the average human, but I love the Russian scarf and the black opaque tights. Okay. I like that he used 80s gold lame and gave it a sweet 50's-style cut, black tights, and a chunky necklace.

Misses:
Joan Collins sure looks good for her age. Ugh. Horrible!

The only excuse for this could be costuming for a 80s sci-fi flick starring Olivia Newton John.

Mid-February again? It must be fashion week.

So, once again, it's fashion week in New York City, when the best and brightest designers showcase their Fall 2009 looks. The tents are up in Bryant Park; the audiences are thick with celebrities; supermodels air-kiss each other; fashion editors ooo and ahhh over the latest new designers.

Of course all eyes were on Jason Wu, the twenty-six-year-old who designed Michelle Obama's innaugural gown.Pop stars and Hollywood actors are out are in the front rows:
Kanye looks perplexed (at Preen).

Sean Lennon (offspring of John) at the Charlotte Ronson show. Oh, the red-headed spitifire who's dating that other Ronson also made an appearance.You wanna see some actual clothes? Okay, here's some Wu for you..

Wu's clothes are pretty sedate in general. But I love this midnight blue flow-y, on-the-beach, sand-in-your-hair, Moroccan-style gown.

Rock n' Roll Inspiration

I loves me some rock n' roll music. And, I guess, fashion is alright. I found this website called The Look, which features photos and info about various retro rock n' roll heroes, fashion icons, influential boutiques, infamous scenes, compiled by British journalist, Paul Gorman. The following bands/musicians are my top, most fashionable picks. They are remarkable, inimitable sources of inspiration for us all.
Keith Richards circa 1969-1975 and his lovely ex-wife, Anita Pallinberg. Keith is rock n' roll incarnate and Anita loved clothes like nobody's business. The photo in the upper left-hand corner is of Anita with fellow rock Goddess, Marianne Faithful (Mick Jagger's partner for many years).



The Who! This photo makes me unbelievably happy. The quintessential Mods with Keith Moon leading the pack. I just post a photo of a tricked out Vespa scooter for good measure.


Chrissy Hynde of the Pretenders--the punk princess shows off her softer side.

Stop. Grammy Time!

The stars are out tonight. Big and Bright. Dressed up. Dressed down. Flesh, diamonds, ambition. It's the Grammys. There's a big show tonight and CBS is pulling out all the stops to create a celebrity fest with performances by U2, Coldplay, Lil' Wayne, Radiohead, T.I, Jay-Z among other big names. Last years ratings were the lowest ever.

7:42: Watching Ryan Seacrest interviewing Will. I. Am on E Network. He's such a bozo. MIA is 9 months pregnant and might go into labor at any minute. She's dressed in a fun blue print party dress. As of now she's still not sure if she's performing.

7:49: Quincy Jones, legendary producer, arrives in a stretch limo. Newsflash. Rihanna is not going to make it. She's not in good shape (whatever that means). Chris Brown is also a no show and will be replaced by Al Green or Justin Timberlake.

8:00 U2 Kick off the show. Man these guys are old. And the song is like some sort of "Subterranean Homesick Blues" with the lyrics flashing behind the screen..like the beginning of "Don't Look Back." U2 is still huge because, like Bruce Springsteen, they were huge before the advent of digital downloads. Nobody can attract the same kind of following anymore because music has splintered into so many "boutique" genres.

8:05 Whitney Houston announces the nominees for best Rn'B album. Whitney looks like she's had some work done. Jennifer Hudson wins. Her dress is stylish. The top is cute, but I think that the skirt could have been longer.

8:10 Justin Timberlake takes the stage in tight-fitting, shiny mod tuxedo. He waxes on about Al Green. And then the Rev. appears with an eclectic backing band of Boyz 2 Men and Keith Urban for a stylish version of "Let's Stay Together." Boyz 2 Men either missed their cue or JT sang over their 30 seconds to shine.

8:21 Coldplay. Chris Martin in Sergeant Peppers' inspired shirt with the Union Jack. Enter Jay-Z in black/white and dark shades. I miss his Geek Chic look that he sported at the inauguration. The whole band is in the Sergeant Pepper get up--kind of deconstructed, street urchin version--playing La Vita.

8:28 Carrie Underwood. in a flow-y rock n' roll bondage meets Elfen princess mini-dress.

8:32 Leanne Rhimes and Cheryl Crow present lifetime acheivement award to Brenda Lee--a half-hearted moment. Then comes best Country performance by a duo or group. Sugarland wins.

8:42 Duffy and Al Green present song of the year. Coldplay for La Vida. Big controversy over this song. Joe Satriani claims that this song sounds exactly like one he wrote.

8:44 Kid Rock plays his American Anthem, Amen. Sounds like his attempt at Bruce Springsteen. Segues into All Summer Long. He's rockin'. Rock n' Roll Jesus!

8:35 Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus. At 15. These gals are young. Kind of a sweet song. I've missed the whole phenomenon of Miley Cyrus living in Russia all those years. They present nominees for Best Pop Collaborations with Vocals. Robert Plant and Allison Kraus win. I love Allison.

9:00 Jennifer Hudson takes the stage. Costume change. I like this one better--sparkly black sheath with a gathered scoop neck that hugs her curves and hits below the knees.

9:09 Jonas Brothers and Stevie Wonder!?! perform "Burnin' Up." Stevie Wonder does Superstitious. Sigh. so predictable. "this is an inappropriate usage of Stevie Wonder. Sacrilege." These are the comments in the room as we watch. "Comparing Stevie Wonder to the Jonas Brothers? What?".

9:15 Blink 182 presents Rock Album of the Year. Coldplay. Of course.

9:22 Craig Furgeson. Love him. He's got a all black tuxedo, with silk lapels. he introduces Katie Perry. She sings her hit "I kissed a Girl" in a Chaquita Banana/Charro vegas showgirl costume. At least she's not lip synching. But geez, a little playback wouldn't have hurt.

9:26 Kanye! Performs American Boy with Estelle. He's in a silver glittering tuxedo jacket. Her silver dress is bizarre. Jetsons meets Hefty trash bag. They present Best New Artist, which Kanye points out doesn't include "us". Adele wins! Yay. She's charming and an icon for the big girls out there.

9:39 Boring. Kenny Chesney. Don't these country guys have their own awards show?

9:41 Record of the Year being presented by Natalie Cole, Herbie Hancock and Diddy. Great combo. Allison Kraus and Plant win again.

9:48 Queen Latifa. Yay. Looks great. Love the earrings. Introduces MIA, big as a house in a cute sheer black thing, with black and white polka-dot patches over the belly and butt. And the Rap Pack: Kanye West, Jay-Z, Lil' Wayne, T.I.

9:54 Kate Beckinsdale introduces Paul McCartney. Dave Grohl on drums. They perform "I saw her standing there." I saw Sir Paul perform in St. Petersburg, Russia on Palace Square in Summer 2005. There were about 50,000 fans there.

10:05 Jack Black and Charlie Hayden present grammy for Best Pop Vocal to John Mayer, who's wearing a really weird silky suit with a Mandarin-style collar. Ugly.

10:07 Sugarland and Adele? so much country tonight. I guess it's popular. Sugarland plays Stay. This lady can sing. If it's live, she pretty much beats everyone tonight. Adele is next. Fab. That sugarland girl comes up to sing a duet with her on "chasing pavements". She won me over. She's a great singer!

10:16 Damn, this show is long.

10:19 Gwynneth! In a beautiful, disco ball dress with gray tights. My favorite dress so far. Introduces Radiohead with with the USC Marching Band. How come I end up where I started? me like.

10:29 Samuel Jackson introduces JT and T.I. who perform Dead and Gone. I like T.I.'s black trench jacket with leather trim. Something British about the look. Justin is wearing a similar jacket but with a wool scarf as it's obviously quite cold on stage. T.I.'s wearing a ski cap to prove my point.

10:37 some grammy guy blathering 'Yes We Can." About creating a cabinet position for Secretary of the Arts.

10:38 Smokey introduces the "Four Tops". Only one remains: Abdul "Duke" Fakir. The other tops are filled out by Smokey, Ne-Yo, Jaime Foxx.

10:47 Neil Diamond. Why? Sweet Caroline? Do we really need this? Music Cares but we don't. "He's probably given a lot to charity and that's why they honored him." comment from the room.

10:55 Kinda pathetic tribute to Bo Diddley.

11:02 Newsflash. Chris Brown beat up Rhianna on an LA Freeway and that's why they didn't make it to the Grammys, according to sources.

11:04: Lil' Wayne introduced by Gary Sinese. CBS is bringing out all their stars from CSI. Lil' Wayne and Robin Thicke (Alan Thicke's son--apparently he's famous for singing Rn'B. Okay.) perform together. Now we got Alan Toussaint and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band doing Big Chief. It sounds like a museum piece--no life at all.

11:09 T-Pain and Will.I.Am. present Lil' Wayne with best rap album. Short but sweet acceptance speech.

11:18 Zooey D. introduces Robert Plant and Allison Kraus who play their singles, Rich Woman and Gone, Gone, Gone.

11:22 Green Day present Album of the Year. It goes to Robert Plant and Allison Kraus. Predictable. Nobody in the crowd seems that excited.

Good Night! Off to Bedfordshire.