I spend a lot of time in the nail polish aisle in CVS, comparing colors, escaping the security cameras in my insecurity that it doesn't seem right really seeing what the color is versus the bottle color - let's just say, I've seen a lot of nail color and now Musings from Manhattan doesn't seem to help this new obsession of getting just the right nail color that hits all the rules in my book.
1. Appropriate color for skin tone (olive skin tone)
2. Appropriate color to make my fingers a little shorter
and.
3. Appropriate color to make my fingers less boney
While I'm always on the hunt for new colors - here are the 5 uh-may-zing nail colors from my little summer collection.
Honeysuckle is the "it" color for summer, or so it was said in nail polish articles last December - and it's a happy color just like yellow with all the endorphins and chemicals that make you happy in the head. This is more like the honeysuckle lite - Essie's "Cute as a Button" which is a collision of pink and coral but a little more pink in daylight. Essie, despite finally giving up my nothing above three dollars deal with nail polish, is probably one of those every so-often brand purchases. Because let's face it, it holds up a lot better than Confetti.
My initial love for Essie came straight from the pages of Nylon... hmm.... that's surprising. But instead of getting "Absolutely Shore", which probably would have washed me out without even testing it first, I found myself buying "Turquoise and Caicos" instead which has done my skin color multiple favors. It's bright, but not too candyish that it distracts me from doing everyday tasks - that's why I can't wear extremely shimmery or glittery polish. But even though turquoise is kind of last summer's color I don't pay attention to nail polish trends too closely. Really I don't!
In terms of all durability rules, KleanColor is the best and I get it for three bucks at my favorite gift shop/local jewelry-accessory gallery otherwise known as Silver Spider. Unfortunately the color "Sapphire" is not as it shows up on image, but it has almost a denim blue-ish green look to it hence the appropriate nickname I have given it is "Mr. Little Jeans" in honor of Ms. Birkenes. Have I mentioned I love her lately? It's more than just a muted blue, it's a little green, a little silver but somehow it manages to look slightly denim. Hipster-approved.
It's a crazy thin polish and it takes about four coats to get it completely covered and candied-bright but... this type of color is worth it. Confetti isn't my number one favorite brand but if you're on a tight budget the two dollar polish is worth it ... but maybe a different color. However, I love the color mix that is a deeper turquoise (it's my birthstone after all...) and an ever so slight pale green shimmer. < 3
What Am I Wearing Right Now?
During my great grail search that is the perfect peach color has yet to come to a close but Revlon Top Speed Peachy is damned good right now. It's a little of everything - it's peach but not totally pink, it's orange but not totally citrusy. Plus, in sunlight it even looks a little gold. Perfect. Well... for now.
What's Next?
I'm always on the hunt for the perfect peach color, of course, but as I've been writing this I've updated myself at MFM... so possibly next is Essie's Lapis of Luxury. I love me a beautiful light cornfloral blue as long as it looks good with olive skin. Essie's Your Hut or Mine looks damn tempting as well. Who wants to buy me nail polish?
Over my maple-walnut scone and peppermint tea, I'm sharing at least under 10 things that have made me quiver in excitement or just in annoyance (I'm looking at you Katy Perry!) That should lead into criteria number uno...
An Open Letter to Katy Perry
Dear Katy,
I like you, I do I like your songwriting for making Darren Criss sound like the Zeus of all things music (of which thank you for putting him in your "Last Friday Night (TGIF)" video), but dear God, woman can't you lessen your personality down by two notches, especially when it comes to your musical elders?
In the May 11th edition of Entertainment Weekly where you and Robyn, your opener for your tour (which in my opinion is completely asinine) have a conversation about music and the tour, although everyone secretly knew it was you interviewing her - you have the audacity to not only do that typical American mindset that "if someone is from a small country, they must know this other person" but also... and I quote... "You've made it" on account of Robyn being excited of catered food on the tour.
Katy, I know you are a few years younger than Robyn but you should realize she walked away from the American scene for those exact consumeristic issues. When you said "You've made it" you pretty much landed your power over her just for being an opener. While I know that may not have been your intention but you really have to be careful when a 90s legend and an Indie inspiration is your opener and is far more experienced than you are and saying shit like that. People will misconstrue that.
(PS: "Last Friday Night (TGIF)" was a great video despite my dislike for you.)
A Perfect Edit Retaliation: Robyn explains her half, not so much the EW entertainment, but the same questions Katy must have been asked but didn't have the class and tact to answer how Robyn did to Mtv. Thank you Robyn for being the bigger woman... I know how it can suck sometimes.
bodyheART Campaign
Thank God for twitter sometimes - especially the twitter accounts that do more good and abuses the power of post-millenial media like @iamthatgirl who gives out quotes that make women feel good - but not in a random sort of way. @iamthatgirl did one better, (besides a great confidence boost of buying this kickass t-shirt) retweeting an account known as bodyheART, that after some research, is an LA-based educational program for women "devoted to liberating women from their body-punishment prison. Through workshops, coaching & presentations we help women have their best body & live their best life!" (or that's what their facebook says) I'm all for this cause, but y'know I am perfect - maybe - so there's not too much I can take from this other than handing over Madison's "Superwoman" to them and one of the ladies proclaiming a dance party all over my face. Hey, sounds awesome and a little erotic!
Taryn Manning does "The Manson Girls"
We all know I'm a sucker for covers and Taryn Manning, so when Taryn does something for the upcoming bio-pic based on good ol' Charlie Manson's ladies, I have to listen. While the original intention for the soundtrack was to have strictly 60s originals, Taryn is able to make it sound like it was made in the 60s with the help of Guy Allison of the Doobie Brothers - potiental 60sgasm.
Michael Cunningham's Autograph
As if I couldn't repeat this story anymore times this week because it never gets old. Saturday was the seventy-fifth anniversary of the University of Iowa's Writer's Workshop and as alums made their way back, as did Michael Cunningham - the author of "The Hours" and who could not be anymore queerling took part in a four person panel on "The Writer as a Public Figure." "The Hours" is in my top 10 so I had to take it and get it signed. I got much more than just it signed, I got my world rocked. Literally. The conversation went as followed although slightly paraphrased and my voice ten times shakier:
Me: "You don't mind if you could... sign.."
Michael: "Oh not at all" (signing) "Are you apart of the writer's workshop?"
Me: "Oh God no I'm a poet but I've already been published a few times without the workshop's help... What was it like snapping back into a postmodernist writing after writing The Hours? Did you find it easier or difficult?"
Michael: "Well I read Virginia Woolf for a year or so; read practically everything - "
Me: "Yeah, I'm a Virginia Woolf geek too..."
Michael: "Go Virginia Woolf geeks! Yeah I just stopped reading her and I just got back to writing in my own language." [On my part, looking back, was a major "ouch" moment]
Me: "Well, what do you think about the future of expressionistic writing like that? Will it make a comeback? Does it come across in your writing classes?" [Michael is now a creative writing professor at Yale]
Michael: "There is something about the beautiful sentence - it'll be back."
And me walking to the back of the auditorium, my mind blown by that simple sentence and crying because I was able to talk about my writing style - which is very underrated and past across in my writing class experiences - so openly with someone who if I had enough time to talk to him, would get it.
And it was just icing on the cake when I was standing with friends at the reception he came through the door and immediately saw me, smiled and waved. AGH! Be still my geeky little heart.
Wolverine vs. Dr. Horrible at the Tony Awards
There is just no words to describe this other than... they both win.
It's a horrifying thing to put Lady Gaga next to the awesomest movie of all time, but I had to for the simple effect that the one thing they both have in common is Roger Ebert's opinion. Personally, I'm all for the semi-dancing bassoon players.
Mr. Popper's Penguins
This would be an otherwise really painful movie if not for their one secret weapon known as the hot old bitch - no not Betty White - but Angela Lansbury. According to the May '11 Entertainment Weekly there was no other woman who could possibly play Mrs. van Gundy. But what about the changes? Mr. Popper is not the poor artist but a cooperate ladder man who, throughout the course of the movie, revives his relationship with his kids thanks to CGI penguins. Uhh doesn't this sound a little like The Santa Clause? Hopefully Angela can make this a little watchable because that's the only reason why I'm watching it.
I love clothes. And that's rather apparent - especially the way I shop. So I intend to give away a few of my "tricks of the trade," not in the way of taste as I have in previous posts, but in the technique of shopping. It's generally pretty simple and easy but some people really do blindly shop and think that something is perfectly proportionate to their body type. Which leads to the first bullet point, know your body, as stereotypical as that sounds in terms of self love - but you spend the most time in your body whether knowing your measurements or weight, or just knowing what you look good in without advice from Cosmo or Glamour.
Example? Only I can relate to personal experience - sometimes I "binge" on 2 AM google searches about current fashion trends I know what works or what doesn't work for me. This leads to the biggest rant about current trends I really dislike.
1. Tunic tops with heavy hip areas in shape of diagonal sides. I am lucky that I have a pure hour glass shape that I don't need that added weight but if I see a top I really like and I don't see the bottom shape right away, I get so amped up for nothing and end up disappointed. I hate that. You can always tell if a store is catered to certain body sizes by these kind of tunic tops.
Erratic hems like this can either shrink you to an oompa loompa or overemphasize the round of your lower stomach.
2. Shirts with butterfly sleeves. Please, just don't! I have put on these kind of shirts because I like the pattern or how it looks on the hanger. That's another good thing to remember when shopping without a dressing room. It won't hang on you like it does on the hanger. The sleeve starts about an inch under the armpit leaving it for women with smaller breasts to compensate to look more hour-glass with their wide hips. But with wide hips also comes over emphasizing the mid-section and curve, how thin do you need to look? I don't need it but when there's an amazing black t-shirt with a kitschy design of an animated owl... dammit Ragstock!
Only worthy if you have larger breasts and smaller hips.
If you do end up finding a top that seems interesting, is right for your body but you are still not one-hundred percent sure, the second thing to do after falling in love with a top is what I call"the tug rule" which involves discovering the proportion of the desired top to your body.
For beginners, put the shirt up to you, holding both ends (purse between feet of course) under the arm pit, tug slightly to the contour of your chest area making sure you will look boobalicious.
Yes?
Then check waist by the same way. The more you do this the more you are able to do it even without putting the shirt up to you, merely leaving it on the hanger and tugging, and you will know immediately if its the correct size for you. Sometimes you don't have to look at the size tag, especially if you go to secondhand stores where, if you look hard enough, you can shop for anything if its of interest. If it doesn't one-hundred percent fit even after waist size, if its half an inch bigger, bobby pins; if its half an inch smaller, buy a seam ripper or fabric scissors.
I live for this rule and have been able to buy many awesome tops and fixing them myself. You can even go further like a friend of mine and actively find similar fabric and seam rip then sewing it back up according to your body size. In fact, I would love to do this - Home Ec. teacher in high school said I had a good steady hand for sewing.
I mentioned a paragraph ago, "if you go to secondhand stores where, if you look hard enough you can shop for anything if its of interest." My favorite local secondhand store, Revival, I can get so much as a small to fit and I try never to question or analyze it, not even for this blog. I'm superstitious like that. You can tell what kind of stores are to your personality - which comes to the third - know the store - what is their size chart? If you're not able to know that definitely try one of every size on and relate it to your body. Never let the system that is the "every woman must be a size 12" get to you, because not every store is alike, especially alt-indie stores. So really, it's good to be a hipster about these things.
Shoelaces by the Submarines
Go Outside by the Cults
God Only Knows (Beach Boys Cover) by Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.
Bang by the Raveonettes
Alien Summer by The Toxic Avenger feat. ANNIE
Popsicles and Icicles by The Murmaids
Nice Day by Persephone's Bees
Swimming Pool by Freezepop
Kids by Sleigh Bells
Now someone go eat a popsicle for me!
To start off this "summer series" of a blog, reviews of special summer events around Iowa City, or the most random silliest things to occur, I thought I'd show off pictures of "Summers of Iowa City's Past" as a perfect first post. Enjoy.
2009
Visual Poetry, 6/15/2009
Gay Pride Day, 6/15/2009
Visual Poetry, my favorite, 6/15/2009
Visual Poetry, 6/15/2009
Grafitti, 6/15/2009
2010
Local Cover 80s Band The Jodie Foster Connection Gay Pride, 6/19/2010
Something Random on Clinton Street Date Unknown
Iowa City Jazz Festival, 7/4/2010
Gay and Random, 6/19/2010
Local Lovelies The Awful Purdies, Friday Night Concert Series
Nothing really has been tickling my interests lately, but however I was able to scavenge up some wonderful... needless two of them fall in the "what the fuck corner"... and a few film projects that sound very promising. Mostly video attachments so be prepared for a... if I may steal from one of my favorite music blogs, a royal aurgasm that will rock the very core of your sexual chakra... hopefully. If not just lay back and enjoy... (there I go again... *facepalm*)
Messina High
For all of you who died a little with the creation of "10 Things I Hate About You," rejoice! For we have a new teen adaptation of Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing," dare I say that it's about damn time? Cast with a careful eye, all cast members are basically unknowns unless you're a freak for Repo, back-up singer Kandice Melonakos, also including screenwriter Owen Drake as Benny Highcliff. Could this be a horrible mistake in the tradition of the 10 Things TV show or O... buuuut if it's both indie and with an unknown cast... who knows? It could almost be as good as Julia Stiles dancing on the table.Look for it this fall.
Lonely Island feat. Michael Bolton's "Captain Jack Sparrow"
I don't know why I have a little love for this - is it because Michael Bolton is slowly getting his groove back or is it because he knows how to make fun of himself? Or is it because this is so random and ridiculous it just works? Choose for yourself.
"The Untitled Raven Project"
Once penned as just "The Raven," this movie collides with the embellished non-fiction fantasy genre (think Finding Neverland or for book geeks, the Robert Poe duo books of "The Return of the House of Usher and "The Black Cat"... ((both fantastic, must-reads))) and the dull face that is John Cusack. Sorry. Where was Gary Oldman during casting? The next Batman movie? But after the reboot of both title and release date for May of next year, this looks promising at least for the "Bad Movie Defense Lawyer" like myself for both the supporting cast (Brendan Gleeson, or better known as Mad-Eye Moody from Harry Potter, also from The Secret of Kells; Alice Eve from Sex and the City 2...oy) and perhaps the aesthetics. Although better known for "V for Vendetta" and "The Matrix," James McTeigue best bring his best game - this is a genre that, by definition, can easily suck. Bring it.
Taryn Manning
Better known for her musical conquest, actress and fashion designer Taryn Manning has new songs all ready for an upcoming album coming out sometime in the future. But for now she does have a single "Turn it Up" available free at Nylon Magazinebut I'm not only plugging this - but also the fact she designed my "famous Gun Dress" but it now has an indirect sentimental value. Last Saturday had been not only the Rapture (thank you fender bender for taking a year off my life) but the one year anniversary of the death of my first best friend here in Iowa City and as a music freak herself, she introduced me to Taryn's first musical project she had with her brother, Boomkat, now looking back on that the gun dress was total kismet. Thank you Taryn!!
"3-Way" SNL Skit by Lady Gaga, Justin Timberlake, and Andy Samberg
Why? Who knows. I have no words for this other than a "what the fuck" ... Who knew Justin Timberlake can be THIS bad-ass? Although that's a pretty horrible innuendo to use in this situation.
Summer in Iowa City
... actually doesn't, if I may quote Regina Spektor, "means cleavage, cleavage, cleavage" but in this case of Iowa City, or more affectionately known as IC, "means epic, epic, epic." The students who bitch and moan that there's nothing exciting happening in Iowa other than "gravel-roading" and drinking are finally gone off to what they deem better than here - leaving all the local and international acts and events to us townies. For me personally, it's somewhere between work and pleasure for volunteering at both Summer of the Arts and the Englert.
Already next weekend, June 3-5 is the Iowa City Arts Festival and the first weekend of July, as per usual, is Iowa City Jazz Festival where you can unashamedly get both a gyro from the famous Oasis while simultaenously eating The Pit's sweet potato fries. Plus free music every Friday and Saturday night, that is, if they don't have the projector up showing Dirty Dancing on the pentacrest.
This year's already planned concerts include Haley Bonar as apart of the intimate series at the Englert, Lesbionic Dream Team God-Des and She at the Mill July 26, and locals Lipstick Homicide will be back in town melting people's faces on June 18. Reviews on "epic epic epic" will continue.
Your favorite list, just like EW's Bullseye and Nylon's Radar, is back... and double the "stimulation" (insert naughty giggle here). I really had to scrape my brain for the most ultimate greatest things that have happened in the last three months but despite personal issues as of late, it's been difficult. So lean back and enjoy... (noting how horrible that sounds)
Fortune Feimster
Feimster is at last getting great credit as a comedienne, and we all know that stand-up comedy and I have a strange relationship. But as soon as this ex-Last Comic Standing contestant stepped on Chelsea Lately with a dead-pan humor and a "yeah I know I'm a lesbian, let's move on [I'm not capitalizing on it]" I fell in love. I truly fell in love, love ...
While I am more interested in comedians who embellish on popular culture more, Fortune leaps on the ranks alongside Colbert and Handler in my book. But I'm looking as her employment on Chelsea Lately as another slow lurch forward to sex being next to nothing in pop culture.
Freddie Highmore's Back!!!!
"Little Charlie Bucket" is officially 18 and is a Sundance favorite.... and please make me feel better thatt I'm not the only one who did not forget him. Who could forget the way the six year old could have an emotional breakdown in both an uncredited role as "Young Arthur" in Mists of Avalon AND "Finding Neverland" getting misty eyed themselves in the process? Well, Freddie is back with two new projects ("Toast" which was supposed to come out last year as well "The Art of Getting By" which is speculated for this year) as the Sundance favorite "Homework" starring alongside Emma Roberts. This looks VERY promising! And he looks damn good!
Peach Makeup
This adventure of finding peach makeup is finally at a head - albeit it took paying five dollars for Revlon Top-Speed "Peachy." And this shade of makeup, be it nail polish or lipstick or eyeshadow, is like a natural tanner which seems to be a good middle ground for the latest "no makeup" campaign celebrities have been on. My opinion? People have forgotten the initial concept of makeup was made to ENHANCE and not make girls (or men) look like clowns. Since summer does bring out more colorful outfits, makeup should look more natural but pack a little colorful punch.
Peach Eyeshadow, I'm coming for you now!
Sweet & Sara Bark Rocky Road
Bread Garden does it again with the vegan dessert. First Liz Lovely and now Sweet & Sara's Vegan Marshmallows - dude... just... dude. There are literally no words for this magical concoction of Sara Sohn's vegan marshmallows and roasted almonds doused in a layer of Belgian chocolate. Read the About Section, shows that victory truly does taste sweet.
Save the Soaps Campaign
Yes, it is soap operas and presumably it's a "dying genre" according to those who make fun of fans like me that somehow fit the stereotype. Forget that and look into the recent news of the cancellation of All My Children (aired in 1970) and One Life to Live (1968, and also is a torch-carrying soap for being one of the first shows EVER in both prime time and daytime premiering social issues ... childhood abuse, rape, homophobia, AIDS, prostitution...) is highly unfair, not just because it's a fan ranting on soap opera.
Previously the president of CBS daytime, Brian Frons has been known to cut soaps thus far and employees in both Guiding Light and As the World Turns. Frons is now under the employment of "Mouse Ears" as the president of ABC daytime and he is cutting two socially prolific soap operas. So really it's not only that torch, it's including the execution in how he canceled the soaps.
There was the possibility for the longest time, speculation and rumors of OLTL and AMC's demises starting as early as last year... cast and crew didn't even know a thing until Frons's interview in April 2011's Soap Opera Weekly when he officiated it and then ABC put out the announcement. That is lowest of the low, even if you don't care for soap operas, at least assist in the sanctity of corporation and going against the machine.
So far soap fans along with myself have been able to pull Hoover's sponsorship from flooding their phone lines and email inboxes - and continuing to other sponsors such as Hershey's and now are targeting ad companies to hold ABC where their wallets are. So far DWTS has gone down in ratings, The Voice on NBC soars - One Life to Live has been number 2 in the Nielsen ratings. And yet that doesn't stop Frons from walking past a boycott to get to his office and was noticed laughing hysterically at the pissed off soap fans as well as simply ignoring his voicemails, no hate, but concerned soap fans managing to work past the emotion. It was unfair treatment on top of ruining daytime TV with "what Americans want" food and improvement shows - now, unfortunately it's personal.
While having drinks and uh-may-ziiiing four cheese bread with a friend, both of us overheard a waitress say, "If I had a guitar, I'd tell you all about it."
Classic.
Linda Medley's "Castle Waiting"
I have been singing the praises of this fairy tale and literature inspired graphic novel since I first read it just a few months ago. And in so lately, I picked up the library's copy today knowing I'll finish it by Saturday. It's that good. After Medora (Sleeping Beauty) leaves her kingdom "Putney" her legendary castle ends up becoming a legendary refuge for a small abbey of bearded nuns and multiple other characters, some of which are masked for mysterious reasons and a pregnant Duchess of Carrabas with an interbreed - the about 500 paged first volume is full of adventures and back stories, which truly reads like a Victorian novel at times. Just earlier this year, Medley put out volume 2 which is just as addicting, so much so you'll probably end up looking like a crazy person LOLing as you read. I know.
Andi Watson's "Paris"
If its possible to describe a graphic novelist as whimsy, Andi Watson is a God. Seriously. After falling madly in love with library read Glister (volumes 1 and 2 so far) then buying it on "Free Comic Day" at Daydreams Comics, I discovered a gem in "Paris," a very "lesbian-but-let's-just-say-it's-a-love-story-regardless-of-gender" graphic novel that blurs the lines of screenplay, graphic novel, and maybe poetry in between the lines with the assistance of Simon Gane's illustrations.
Stereotypical Bohemian artist living in Paris Juliet is assigned a new freelance project to paint a young British woman's portrait before an important soiree in two weeks, but has difficulty capturing what it is that allures Juliet to Deborah. There is a whole lot more here than just the love story, including allusions to Degas and Ingres but mostly it's just about the pursuit about art than two ladies with tension between them. Oddly just in black and white ink, Gane's is able to exude just that.
Madison - Superwoman
I found a new addiction and it's not last.fm recommendations. Even better! nylonmag.com has free music downloads and righteously so, I flock to it. And thank God for a woman who sounds like one ovary of Annie and the other of Mr. Little Jeans which only means that Madison is worth a listen... and then multiple listens until you vomit rainbows of joy.
There is a difference between covers and what Glee sings. Sorry, Gleektards for the brash comment - but a cover in a non-broadway with a story line sense counts as making your own sound with a much loved previous song. You will receive hate for it but at the same time you will gain a whole new following and respect depending on how good the cover is. Behold my top 10. (and in no particular order)
Mr. Bright Side
Original by The Killers
Cover by Le Kid
A common denominator in song covers, I find, is the closeness of the melody to the actual accompaniment, if a song can become sing-songy to a more complicated accompaniment or vice versa, that is a just cause in making it sound more original for the cover band. Le Kid succeeds with Mr. Brightside because of the more rocker sound to a, as a friend said, a more "DDR sound." Plus, I'm just obsessed with the song - gender switching is another one of my favorite cover denominators.
Womanizer
Original by Britney Spears
Cover by Lily Allen
It's the same case with this, a more rhythmic note to note by Lily Allen seems more effective to be sing-songy versus the danceable, yet always fun and classic, Britney Spears. Lily's version is slightly down a few beats and her tone of voice definitely sounds more wry and a little sarcastic than Britney's seductive delivers. It's so good I'm posting it a second time!
Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)
Original by Beyonce Knowles
Cover by Mr. Little Jeans
As if I need to plug Ms. Birkenes any further on this blog with almost under ten songs under her belt, she has to go and make this epic, lo-fi version of Beyonce. Lowering the beat doesn't so much make it more singable than it already is, but gives the song more of a chill sound than the hectic sound of the original.
Street Spirit
Original by Radiohead
Cover by Eliza Lumley
Sometimes all it takes is a really trained ear and great taste to cover something 90s emo and Tim Burton-ify it. That's what Eliza Lumley's goal was, somewhat, when she made the album "She Talks in Maths: Interpretations of Radiohead." "I was a choral scholar at Cambridge, doing Palestrina, Tallis and Byrd, and I think that style suits the Radiohead material really well. The lyrics are so fantastic; quite hard and angular - and the music is so beautiful when it's stripped bare. I think I've discovered other sides to the songs in the process." This is me not complaining considering her voice just soars during the "And fade out again" which feels like wind versus Thom Yorke's (as much as I have loved his musical contributions to Velvet Goldmine) angst. Is angst something that makes the soul slightly soar or grounds you in your misery? It's all personal choice. And according to my friends, this cover is even better than the original.
Toxic
Original by Britney Spears
Cover by CallMeKat
Again, this is so good it needs a repeat. Danish goddess Katrine Ottosen turns one of the most covered (and successful) Britney songs into a lo-fi tango. Every so often I need the maddening instrumentation of Britney, but the hipster simplicity of Katrine just feels right on a rainy day.
My Body is a Cage
Original by Arcade Fire
Cover by Sara Lov
Sara Lov's perfect dream pop, stripped down and airy, is the perfect contradiction to Arcade Fire's almost theatrical operatic angst of "My Body is a Cage." Sometimes all it takes is a pained singing voice and a piano versus massive accompaniment to get the point across. Oh, she gets the point across and if it made me a little scared and cry at first listen, it will make you cry.
Brand New Key
Original by Melanie
Cover by The Dollyrots
Kelly Ogden has a voice of summer, bad-assness and attitude ... blend that with a classic 70s single in Melanie's "Brand New Key" and yes, your face has indeed been imploded. There's not much else to say. IMPLOSION!
Plus: check out Kristine Tuna's cover of Tegan and Sara's "When I Get Up (I Want You)" free download at last.fm Such a beautiful voice is finally tackling the sometimes grating Quinn harmonies.
Dear Zooey Deschanel Dress I just Bought Today,
I have looked at you on the rack at Revival over many many months - I thought you looked over-sized for my new figure, the color a little off for my skin tone, and too thin looking being just an overlay. But I have honored the detailing of your retro button trim and bow tie which I do promise I will learn how to tie more effectively without looking lop-sided. On the upside, I'm happy I brought you home with me like a good puppy and that the girl at the register was happy it was finally getting sold - in a good way. I knew you were worth it although I could have bought an accessory building t-shirt dress but as a primary rule of shopping at Revival, one should focus on statement pieces. So really, you were the better option. wizard. You will be the first outfit I publicly hula hoop in. I shall wear you to work on Monday, I don't care of the dress code.
I'm yours.
Dear Amazing Biker Boots from Lorenz's
You were the most unexpected surprise, the only shoes that were close to good enough for my horribly disformed feet. I have always wanted biker boots... I have watched "Daria" far too much to know that you can do multiple things with biker boots, especially transforming everything somewhere between masculine and feminine. I have been waiting forever for you. But your "sister" the tan ankle boots are still waiting for me, your supervisor still has them on hold so hopefully you will see her very soon.
I'm yours.
Dear Neck-Tie earrings from Ragstock,
I have no words. NO. WORDS. Oh my Blog.
I'm yours.
One of the most common pieces in campus fashion around Iowa City and beyond is the screen tee, but to me the biggest problem about screen tees is that a lot of the slogans are downright stupid. Even my mother showed me the light (admitting is the first step...) after a few years of resisting this rule: a lot tees have the most immature phrases ranging from allusions to beer and boyfriends. I admit to being a little rigid about that sort of topic anyway. But de-revolutionizing proves one thing: will you be saving these t-shirts for the next five years? will you still be loving them?
Let's just say that screen tees are not the best "in the moment" buys think very slowly but maybe for the aging 20something looking for good taste, I hope I can shed a little subjective light to this subject.
On Sayings/Phrases
If you want to go with phrases, I think it's best to go with simple phrases if not pictures that delve slightly in with politicalness, a necessity in a liberal college town, or really, anywhere. But the trick is, for any tee shirt, is to go into the kitschy and slightly obscure. Especially decorated in images since images leave a larger impression on a t-shirt than just words. If there's a lighter shade of politicalness available, I would go with nature or charity themes. More contemporary styling such as "To Write on Her Arms" or "American Cancer Society" are a lesser evil compared to "My boyfriend is better than your boyfriend" with a diagonal lip stain. You won't be wearing that t-shirt when you're thirty.
Pout: Victoria's Secret, Revival $6
It wasn't until right now I realized the tank top of reference for this point is from Victoria's Secret of all places! Never been able to fit into a single thing there. But by the power of Revival, I found "Pout" 's "Do the Green Thing" simple, powerful, and yet feminine and quirky.
Most often it can be awkward in the warmer weather to not use the power of layering, but any image that brings across a punkish attitude with the right accessories (with this tank top I immediately think, studded cuff, a floral feminine slightly above the knee skirt and maybe a light solid color scarf). That's another great thing about screen tees is that you can take the smallest color from the shirt and embellish it in other areas.
I have this kind of love for my Penguin t-shirt from "Peace Generation" a brand that is common within the narrow walls known as Ragstock. I don't see myself ever tossing it out because this is the t-shirt that makes me, what people expect. And maybe it was also the only one and the medium fits me (the shock never dulls). Lately the animal craze is out anyways, from the thin light t-shirts of tigers and pandas (ooo... I want a panda t-shirt!) and while some people can do the actual animal print, this is definitely the lesser of the two evils.
Maurice's Clearance $12.00
Emerge World Wear from Gordman's $8.00
While still on the subject of the thin lighter tunic t-shirts, which land perfectly mid to low thigh, these more collage-styled images bring out a more vintage look, and this is what I see the most especially on a day like today either tied up slightly with those tiny denim shorts *shudders* or hung loose with half or full length leggings and the T-shaped sandals. With images that are in a blurry Monet design, this is a perfect chance to delve into the obscure, primarily I count on the key print above for this point. It goes into my slight fascination with a girly steam punk as well as green looks great with my chameleonic multiple shades of red hair. And what's quirky about this wonderful t-shirt from Gordman's is the fact that texture is also involved. While most often this type of tee shirts are built up really fine thin fabric, texture seems to add both a dimension and something almost better than an image. It's not showed in the picture (again I hope to have a camera soon to take better pictures so I apologize for the quality) but along the scoop neck there is a lace overlay from shoulder to shoulder and to layer above that, a darker shade of brown decorates the right side that punctuates another layer of image and texture.
Color
Zooey Greene's "Love" Revival $ 6.00
This is a singular rule, NEVER be afraid of color. especially the feel-good's: yellow in itself is known to be a therapeutic experience to wear, chemical balances both in yourself and others who see yellow are immediately relieved. I don't know why, I just read it once. So it would be sensical to have at least one tee shirt that is both flattering to your skin tone yet fluorescent enough to feel those happy rays of sunshine. I have a friend who is obsessed with orange and her attitude changes from crazy to... well... crazy by way of color alone. It wouldn't matter the content of the colorful t-shirt, but they should be simple, at best, and with large scale image or fonts to exude that feel good energy. (Why God, oh why, am I starting to sound like Richard Simmons?)
I'm relating to my Zooey Green's "Love" t-shirt, found proudly at Revival. Simple, with an interesting minimal font but with a little punctuation of a butterfly, I would pair this right away with a polka dot skirt, my bumble bee necklace and maybe a studded cuff. The t-shirt is always the focal point for designing a cohesive outfit. Go crazy! It's fun. It's good for the soul.
My initial love for Essie came straight from the pages of Nylon... hmm.... that's surprising. But instead of getting "Absolutely Shore", which probably would have washed me out without even testing it first, I found myself buying "Turquoise and Caicos" instead which has done my skin color multiple favors. It's bright, but not too candyish that it distracts me from doing everyday tasks - that's why I can't wear extremely shimmery or glittery polish. But even though turquoise is kind of last summer's color I don't pay attention to nail polish trends too closely. Really I don't!
It's a crazy thin polish and it takes about four coats to get it completely covered and candied-bright but... this type of color is worth it. Confetti isn't my number one favorite brand but if you're on a tight budget the two dollar polish is worth it ... but maybe a different color. However, I love the color mix that is a deeper turquoise (it's my birthstone after all...) and an ever so slight pale green shimmer. < 3
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