Balenciaga! "Insanely handsome, down-to-earth, but somehow still unattainable chic" is the best I can do to describe the latest collection. I have no words. Only desire.
Saturday, February 03, 2007
Men's Top 5 for Fall 2007 - # 2
Balenciaga! "Insanely handsome, down-to-earth, but somehow still unattainable chic" is the best I can do to describe the latest collection. I have no words. Only desire.
Top 5 for Spring - # 5
Hussein Chalayan! Wow. Saving the best for last. This show was mind-blowing. I can't even describe. You just have the see the videos for yourself on YouTube or Style.com. The technical wizardry was done by the same guys behind the hippogriff and other creatures in the Harry Potter movies, so it should be no surprise that they're indescribable. I won't spoil the surprise of the finale, but here are my favorite looks that are actually going to hit the stores.
Men's Top 5 for Fall 2007 - # 1
Marni! I know, I know, I haven't finished my Spring top 5 for women, but the men's shows are out, and some are spectacular. So here's are my five favorite looks from the first men's runway show for Marni. The same insouciant sophistication is just as present here as it is in the women's line. Both are designed by Consuelo Castiglioni, which explains it. I'm guessing Thom Browne ankle-cropped suits will soon be all the rage, especially since Brooks Brothers is coming out with Thom's capsule collection this year. Enjoy!
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Top 5 for Spring - # 4
Anyways, her show for Spring/Summer 2007 was amazing. As if she were still auditioning to revive Madame Vionnet's design house (which, natch, is already underway), she showed the most chicly modern goddess dresses I've seen all season. Cropped and swingy, she showed frocks more refined than any of the other trapeze dresses out right now. Unlike Marchesa's cheap and frothy unfinished hems, these showed much better attention to detailing. Hemlines resembled the waves crashing upon a Mediterranean beach, silky and irresistible. While dresses were the main focus, there were certainly a wide assortment of easy walking shorts for every shape and size. Summer, here we come!
Random Discovery of the Day
I got really confused watching the music video for Silversun Pickups' "Lazy Eye". Why in the world is that young thing styled so androgynous? It took me a full two and a half minutes to figure out that thing was a girl. I didn't even get it until her t-shirt dress tipped me off at the end. I absolutely despise ugly, short pixie cuts on girls. They look like drab, uninteresting versions of prettier girls.
I can't say it enough. Paolo Nutini, Paolo Nutini, Paolo Nutini. Well, there you go. Anyways, listen to his CD in its entirety before it comes out on Tuesday at VH1.com. Sweet!
Random Discovery of the Day
When I was little, one of the movies I never forgot was A Little Princess, from 1995. It was a pretty emotional affecting movie by the standards of children's fare. Looking back at the movie, I've learned three little facts:
1 - Camilla Belle was actually one of the little girls in the movie
2 - It was directed by Alfonso Cuarón, the amazing director behind Children of Men, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and Y tu mamá también
3 - The title character was played by Liesel Matthews, whose real last name is Pritzker, as in the family that is consistently in Forbes' Wealthiest Families list. They founded the Hyatt hotel chain, as well as Royal Caribbean Cruises and TransUnion Credit Union, among other entities, raking in a net worth of some $15 billion. She and her brother sued their parents for withheld assets from their trust funds, netting each of them $500 million, making them two of the richest young people in America. And now she goes to Columbia. Blegh!
When I was little, one of the movies I never forgot was A Little Princess, from 1995. It was a pretty emotional affecting movie by the standards of children's fare. Looking back at the movie, I've learned three little facts:
1 - Camilla Belle was actually one of the little girls in the movie
2 - It was directed by Alfonso Cuarón, the amazing director behind Children of Men, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and Y tu mamá también
3 - The title character was played by Liesel Matthews, whose real last name is Pritzker, as in the family that is consistently in Forbes' Wealthiest Families list. They founded the Hyatt hotel chain, as well as Royal Caribbean Cruises and TransUnion Credit Union, among other entities, raking in a net worth of some $15 billion. She and her brother sued their parents for withheld assets from their trust funds, netting each of them $500 million, making them two of the richest young people in America. And now she goes to Columbia. Blegh!
Fall in Love With...
Camilla Belle! Actually, I'm not sure how much I like her. I know she's absolutely stunning in a completely modern, unconventional way, slightly exotic with her mother's Brazilian features. However, she looks like some odd slice of Midwestern outsider, who desires to be completely original and taken oh-so-seriously with absolutely no merit. Her look simultaneously familiar and fresh, haughty and desirable, quirky and tasteful. She certainly knows how to wear a dress better than anyone I know. I have to admit, I haven't seen any of her movies, most especially not When A Stranger Calls. She was in The Chumscrubber, which I always wanted to watch, as well as Rip Girls, the Disney Channel Original movie from 2000 that I never really got into. She was in the Miu Miu ads with Kim Basinger last year, and she's currently the face of Vera Wang's new fragrance Princess. She's in Vogue's Best-Dressed 2006 list. She can be either absolutely stunning or slightly off-kilter. I think that's what makes her worth watching, I just need to learn more about her acting skills first.
Camilla Belle! Actually, I'm not sure how much I like her. I know she's absolutely stunning in a completely modern, unconventional way, slightly exotic with her mother's Brazilian features. However, she looks like some odd slice of Midwestern outsider, who desires to be completely original and taken oh-so-seriously with absolutely no merit. Her look simultaneously familiar and fresh, haughty and desirable, quirky and tasteful. She certainly knows how to wear a dress better than anyone I know. I have to admit, I haven't seen any of her movies, most especially not When A Stranger Calls. She was in The Chumscrubber, which I always wanted to watch, as well as Rip Girls, the Disney Channel Original movie from 2000 that I never really got into. She was in the Miu Miu ads with Kim Basinger last year, and she's currently the face of Vera Wang's new fragrance Princess. She's in Vogue's Best-Dressed 2006 list. She can be either absolutely stunning or slightly off-kilter. I think that's what makes her worth watching, I just need to learn more about her acting skills first.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Good News!
For us non-Europeans, getting ahold of Paolo Nutini's hit debut album, These Streets, involved buying an overpriced import CD. But no longer! Out January 30 on our side of the Atlantic, the CD is gaining well-deserved notice, with the dreamy young thing being compared to everyone from James Blunt to Joe Cocker to Al Green to Rod Stewart. I certainly agree that he's worth listening to. Get a sneak peek here.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
China Men
For my Topics in Asian-American Literature class, we're reading Maxine Hong Kingston's China Men, a fascinating look at the experiences of three generations of Chinese immigrants. Definitely worth reading! Check out more about the book at this BookRag:
BookRags: China Men Summary
For my Topics in Asian-American Literature class, we're reading Maxine Hong Kingston's China Men, a fascinating look at the experiences of three generations of Chinese immigrants. Definitely worth reading! Check out more about the book at this BookRag:
BookRags: China Men Summary
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Color Watch
In addition to International Klein Blue being one of the most amazing colors for this year, I'm sniffing out that eau de nil is going to have a big year too. It's the most gorgeous "pale yellowish green colour" that's reminiscent of the water of the Nile. Or so it says. I've never seen the Nile, so I can't vouch for that. But it's certainly undeniably pretty!
In addition to International Klein Blue being one of the most amazing colors for this year, I'm sniffing out that eau de nil is going to have a big year too. It's the most gorgeous "pale yellowish green colour" that's reminiscent of the water of the Nile. Or so it says. I've never seen the Nile, so I can't vouch for that. But it's certainly undeniably pretty!
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Top 5 for Spring - # 3
Miu Miu! Ignore the fact that the ad campaign for this season is surely a regrettable one. The show was truly amazing, continuing Miuccia Prada's crusade to evolve the brand into something other than just Prada's little sister. The show had such an entirely distinct personality - still very Miuccia, but so strong and powerful and chic all the same. The jewel-toned satin-for-day theme continued Prada's Milan message, except this time with skinny-legged, blocky-topped power suiting replacing Prada's super short shorts. There were also new pencil skirt silhouettes, now longer and skinnier than what's been on the runways this year. The look was flawless, making silhouettes that should feel outdated and familiar now seem entirely fresh and unpredictable, something only Miuccia could pull off. The best part of the show? The most covetable shoes I have seen in years. Fantastic!
Saturday, January 20, 2007
The Office
I admit. I am entirely addicted to The Office. But not the original British version. I love the American version so much more. Maybe it's because I draw too many comparisons between the two. I've seen every American episode so far at least twice, some as many as 7 or 8 times, so I've probably got the that version burnished in my mind a little too deeply. But really, the problem is that the British version is, well, British, and I can't seem to fully understand their accents for more than a minute or two at a time. I always know what's going on, because the storyline was derived from the American version, but I just haven't gotten into it as much as I have for Steve Carell's drab perfection.
I admit. I am entirely addicted to The Office. But not the original British version. I love the American version so much more. Maybe it's because I draw too many comparisons between the two. I've seen every American episode so far at least twice, some as many as 7 or 8 times, so I've probably got the that version burnished in my mind a little too deeply. But really, the problem is that the British version is, well, British, and I can't seem to fully understand their accents for more than a minute or two at a time. I always know what's going on, because the storyline was derived from the American version, but I just haven't gotten into it as much as I have for Steve Carell's drab perfection.
Sunday, January 07, 2007
Top 5 for Spring - # 2Undercover! Jun Takahashi made what I considered his best collection yet. Bringing together masculine tailoring with acid green, deep navy and violet in very spring-appropriate lightweight silks and floaty chiffons is a difficult enough task to take on. But Takahashi went one step further and imbued the collection with a sweetly gothic sensibility, with sly satin skulls used on everything from trims to hems to entire coats. Particulary gorgeous examples include the chartreuse baby-doll dress and black shirtdress at left.
Saturday, January 06, 2007
Top 5 for Spring - # 1
Balenciaga! Sleek, futuristic, ultramodern, and techno-chic were all buzzwords used to describe Nicolas Ghesquière's latest collection for Balenciaga, quickly pushing him into the leader position of the "new guard" in fashion. That elite group (with such members as Giles Deacon and Yves Saint Laurent's Stefano Pilati) deserves all the recognition they get. As for Nicolas, his vision for spring is neither clean nor fussy, neither retro nor robotic. It just feels like something entirely unexpected, delivered in a manner only somebody as respected as Nicolas could ever get away with. It was almost sweet, not nearly as bluntly sexual as all the patent leather and metallic gleam would suggest. The masculine pieces were reduced into something intensely silken and delicately floaty. Everyone will be clamoring over those sunglass goggles come February!
Friday, January 05, 2007
What I'm Looking For...
Really, it's not hard. I just want somebody who likes the same things I do. Really, somebody who wouldn't mind doing these:
- Spending the afternoon browsing through used bookstores.
- Making late night trips to 24/7 grocery stores.
- Sneaking dark chocolate into the movie theatre.
- Falling asleep at the beach.
- Absorbing all the new magazines at Barnes & Noble.
- Searching for a sushi joint that makes good spicy salmon rolls.
- Patronizing tasty and cheap teriyaki joints.
- Playing board games.
I also like nerds in glasses. Blame on watching 'The Holiday' and 'Ugly Betty'. I can't help myself. In other news, isn't it creepy that Comcast now has On-Demand video dating profiles? I find that so bizarre...
Really, it's not hard. I just want somebody who likes the same things I do. Really, somebody who wouldn't mind doing these:
- Spending the afternoon browsing through used bookstores.
- Making late night trips to 24/7 grocery stores.
- Sneaking dark chocolate into the movie theatre.
- Falling asleep at the beach.
- Absorbing all the new magazines at Barnes & Noble.
- Searching for a sushi joint that makes good spicy salmon rolls.
- Patronizing tasty and cheap teriyaki joints.
- Playing board games.
I also like nerds in glasses. Blame on watching 'The Holiday' and 'Ugly Betty'. I can't help myself. In other news, isn't it creepy that Comcast now has On-Demand video dating profiles? I find that so bizarre...
Guilty Pleasure...
What's absolutely gorgeous, has four doors, and may be the sweetest choice ever for a sunny day?
Hint: Look to your left.
Answer: The upcoming 2008 Mercedes-Benz Ocean Drive, which is apparently the first four-door convertible since dinosaurs ruled the earth. It blatently crosses the line between absurdly expensive and obscenely expensive, but, goodness gracious, it is gorgeous.
Thursday, January 04, 2007
My Favorite Jeans
I am a big fan of wearing jeans. I adore jeans. I could live in the right pair of jeans for a good year or two. Thus, I will share with you my favorite jeans, the jeans I actually do live in right now.
1) Earnest Sewn - Fulton #50 in Line Dry (about $210, but I certainly got mine for a helluva cheaper than that from Frankey's) - Cut with a straight leg and made from Osaka selvedge denim (Japan and Italy loom the best denim), these jeans are neither bootcut nor stick-skinny. The dark, raw wash is also perfect for both more formal and more casual occasions. Literally, these jeans can take you anywhere with the right styling. I absolutely adore them, and you can smell...I mean...tell. Kidding!
2) Cheap Monday - Tight in OD Black ($65 at Barneys, Riveted, or Blackbird) - Very reasonably priced and absurdly comfortable, with 2% spandex for a surprisingly stretchy and liberating fit. They're better than wearing girl's jeans, because they're cut for a guy and they stretch so deliciously. I could wear them every day, but I won't, because they'll smell bad.
3) Diesel - Preslim ($99 at Nordstrom, but I got mine for a price so low I don't think I will mention it) - My dirty little secret: boy's jeans in my size are so much cheaper than men's jeans (mine are a boy's 16). Plus, they seem remarkably cut so much slimmer and slicker than any of the men's Diesels I have. Thin cotton makes them perfect for summer.
4) Kasil - Whitman in Atlantic ($165, but again, I got them so much on sale, it hurts) - Very slimming straight leg jeans, made from very sturdy denim, with remarkable detailing in every button, rivet, seam, and whatnot. Good for daily running-around-campus.
In other news, I just got a perfect score on today's Scrabble Grams. Score = 224! Kickass.
I am a big fan of wearing jeans. I adore jeans. I could live in the right pair of jeans for a good year or two. Thus, I will share with you my favorite jeans, the jeans I actually do live in right now.
1) Earnest Sewn - Fulton #50 in Line Dry (about $210, but I certainly got mine for a helluva cheaper than that from Frankey's) - Cut with a straight leg and made from Osaka selvedge denim (Japan and Italy loom the best denim), these jeans are neither bootcut nor stick-skinny. The dark, raw wash is also perfect for both more formal and more casual occasions. Literally, these jeans can take you anywhere with the right styling. I absolutely adore them, and you can smell...I mean...tell. Kidding!
2) Cheap Monday - Tight in OD Black ($65 at Barneys, Riveted, or Blackbird) - Very reasonably priced and absurdly comfortable, with 2% spandex for a surprisingly stretchy and liberating fit. They're better than wearing girl's jeans, because they're cut for a guy and they stretch so deliciously. I could wear them every day, but I won't, because they'll smell bad.
3) Diesel - Preslim ($99 at Nordstrom, but I got mine for a price so low I don't think I will mention it) - My dirty little secret: boy's jeans in my size are so much cheaper than men's jeans (mine are a boy's 16). Plus, they seem remarkably cut so much slimmer and slicker than any of the men's Diesels I have. Thin cotton makes them perfect for summer.
4) Kasil - Whitman in Atlantic ($165, but again, I got them so much on sale, it hurts) - Very slimming straight leg jeans, made from very sturdy denim, with remarkable detailing in every button, rivet, seam, and whatnot. Good for daily running-around-campus.
In other news, I just got a perfect score on today's Scrabble Grams. Score = 224! Kickass.
Technology Hates Me...
Yikes, Sara and I have had the worst luck with technology as of late. Her laptop died in November, and as of a week or so ago, mine appears to have done the same. Sara's cell phone doesn't seem to like being unplugged from the charger. Mine likes to restart any time the battery charge goes down a bar or whenever I write a text message too quickly, and it's apparently the only phone tha doesn't work in the mountains. Sara's iPod has severe mental disabilities. Mariah Carey's CD won't eject from the car CD player. I could go on, but I'm afraid this computer will explode or something like that.
On that note, what I'm not listening to is anything on my laptop, because i have no access to my iTunes collection until I find a way to turn the damn laptop on. What I am listening is a selection of lovely music that I've scoured online, mostly from YouTube, as well as the wonderful musical stylings of Movin' 92.5 FM, which has transformed into something I'm actually excited about listening to. It's all quite charming, really.
Yikes, Sara and I have had the worst luck with technology as of late. Her laptop died in November, and as of a week or so ago, mine appears to have done the same. Sara's cell phone doesn't seem to like being unplugged from the charger. Mine likes to restart any time the battery charge goes down a bar or whenever I write a text message too quickly, and it's apparently the only phone tha doesn't work in the mountains. Sara's iPod has severe mental disabilities. Mariah Carey's CD won't eject from the car CD player. I could go on, but I'm afraid this computer will explode or something like that.
On that note, what I'm not listening to is anything on my laptop, because i have no access to my iTunes collection until I find a way to turn the damn laptop on. What I am listening is a selection of lovely music that I've scoured online, mostly from YouTube, as well as the wonderful musical stylings of Movin' 92.5 FM, which has transformed into something I'm actually excited about listening to. It's all quite charming, really.
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Happy New Year!
May this year be memorable for all the right reasons! I turn 20 so soon! So that's it. I henceforth announce my resolutions for 2007!
1) Reduce waste. Of all sorts. No more wasting time, no more wasting money, no more wasting energy, no more wasting electricity, no more wasting food, no more!
2) Increase all that is good. Increase time spent with family. Increase time spent with friends. Increase GPA. Increase credit score. Increase sanity. Increase everything good!
More to come...
May this year be memorable for all the right reasons! I turn 20 so soon! So that's it. I henceforth announce my resolutions for 2007!
1) Reduce waste. Of all sorts. No more wasting time, no more wasting money, no more wasting energy, no more wasting electricity, no more wasting food, no more!
2) Increase all that is good. Increase time spent with family. Increase time spent with friends. Increase GPA. Increase credit score. Increase sanity. Increase everything good!
More to come...
Monday, December 25, 2006
Out With The Old...
For the past year or so, my favorite shade of blue has been Moroccan blue. But that's old news. In with the new! And for this coming year, no color is more amazing than International Klein Blue, as in the shade made popular by the infamous Yves Klein. Hopefully, this color will be everywhere, because it's sinuous and bright, silky and strong. It's the perfect shade of blue for everything from dresses to running shoes to cars to anything else you could imagine. Merci Monsieur Klein!
For the past year or so, my favorite shade of blue has been Moroccan blue. But that's old news. In with the new! And for this coming year, no color is more amazing than International Klein Blue, as in the shade made popular by the infamous Yves Klein. Hopefully, this color will be everywhere, because it's sinuous and bright, silky and strong. It's the perfect shade of blue for everything from dresses to running shoes to cars to anything else you could imagine. Merci Monsieur Klein!
Sunday, December 24, 2006
Fall In Love With...
John Krasinski! Not only is he the insanely witty Jim from 'The Office', but his voice can be heard everywhere from Ask.com commericials to 'American Dad' guest spots. Extremely hilarious, and who doesn't want him to end up with Pam?
John Krasinski! Not only is he the insanely witty Jim from 'The Office', but his voice can be heard everywhere from Ask.com commericials to 'American Dad' guest spots. Extremely hilarious, and who doesn't want him to end up with Pam?
Fall In Love With...
Andy Samberg! This Lonely Island alum along with comedy cohorts Jorma and Akiva, joined Saturday Night Live last year and instantly hit it big with a bunch of digital shorts that I'm sure everybody on the face of the earth has seen, namely "Lazy Sunday". He'll soon be seen on the big screen in Hot Rod with Isla Fisher, and it seems he's come quite far from his roots in no-budget online comedy skecthes and unloved Fox sketch show pilots. Dan Savage (of Savage Love) surely agrees that he's definitely someone to look out for...
Andy Samberg! This Lonely Island alum along with comedy cohorts Jorma and Akiva, joined Saturday Night Live last year and instantly hit it big with a bunch of digital shorts that I'm sure everybody on the face of the earth has seen, namely "Lazy Sunday". He'll soon be seen on the big screen in Hot Rod with Isla Fisher, and it seems he's come quite far from his roots in no-budget online comedy skecthes and unloved Fox sketch show pilots. Dan Savage (of Savage Love) surely agrees that he's definitely someone to look out for...
Fall In Love With...
Hilary Rhoda! It's a little crazy to think that she's my age, considering how many times you can see her while flipping through nearly any magazine. She's the prettiest thing to come out of Maryland (well, maybe even America for that matter) in ages. Google her. She's incredibly gorgeous.
Hilary Rhoda! It's a little crazy to think that she's my age, considering how many times you can see her while flipping through nearly any magazine. She's the prettiest thing to come out of Maryland (well, maybe even America for that matter) in ages. Google her. She's incredibly gorgeous.
Monday, December 18, 2006
Sunday, December 17, 2006
Fall In Love With...
Ryan J.B. Taylor. Or is it in lust with? Well, whatever. Because everybody's talking about him. He's the next big thing. Blah blah blah, that's all fine and all. Well, while everybody's falling in love with him, most people are forgetting the fact that he's 16. He sparks debates. He's absolutely gorgeous. All that aside, I was struck by how closely he matched my mental picture of Jon-Michael Barthé/Metro from Melvin Dixon's Vanishing Rooms. Eerie!
Ryan J.B. Taylor. Or is it in lust with? Well, whatever. Because everybody's talking about him. He's the next big thing. Blah blah blah, that's all fine and all. Well, while everybody's falling in love with him, most people are forgetting the fact that he's 16. He sparks debates. He's absolutely gorgeous. All that aside, I was struck by how closely he matched my mental picture of Jon-Michael Barthé/Metro from Melvin Dixon's Vanishing Rooms. Eerie!
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Color Systems Final Project!
My biographical movie poster on Hubert de Givenchy...
My biographical movie poster on Hubert de Givenchy...
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| From Givenchy Poster |
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Gift Idea!
What better gift to give your budding shutterbug than a Leica? In particular, the new, beautiful, well-reviewed Leica M8 Digital. It has all the control you could ever want, thanks to those legendary Leica lenses. This isn't one of the silly, rebadged versions of some cheaper camera. It's genuinely Leica, through and through. The digital screen isn't for viewfinding. That wouldn't be Leica! It's only used to reviewing photos taken through the old, hold-the-camera-to-my-eye-and-pray-I-don't-run-into-anything viewfinder. The only hitch? It costs around $4500, which doesn't include the myriad of lenses and accessories you'll be sure to want. A Leica M7 is about $1000, so consider how much you might save on film and developing maybe? Haha. Well, someday, maybe...
Less expensive is the Holga camera, which comes with a bunch of extras, padding the initial $15 or so price. Either way, the results of the camera seem kinda surreal, because I guess the camera is super-cheaply constructed and leaks light, making it kind of a cult favorite among those who like their work "dreamy". Or "steamy," I suppose. Check out some of the prints here.
What better gift to give your budding shutterbug than a Leica? In particular, the new, beautiful, well-reviewed Leica M8 Digital. It has all the control you could ever want, thanks to those legendary Leica lenses. This isn't one of the silly, rebadged versions of some cheaper camera. It's genuinely Leica, through and through. The digital screen isn't for viewfinding. That wouldn't be Leica! It's only used to reviewing photos taken through the old, hold-the-camera-to-my-eye-and-pray-I-don't-run-into-anything viewfinder. The only hitch? It costs around $4500, which doesn't include the myriad of lenses and accessories you'll be sure to want. A Leica M7 is about $1000, so consider how much you might save on film and developing maybe? Haha. Well, someday, maybe...
Less expensive is the Holga camera, which comes with a bunch of extras, padding the initial $15 or so price. Either way, the results of the camera seem kinda surreal, because I guess the camera is super-cheaply constructed and leaks light, making it kind of a cult favorite among those who like their work "dreamy". Or "steamy," I suppose. Check out some of the prints here.
Monday, December 11, 2006
Spring Ads!
So, apparently, after getting cut from the Louis Vuitton ads, Lindsay Lohan is set to star in the spring/summer ads for Miu Miu. Taking over Lohan's spot at Vuitton is Scarlett Johansson, which is shot by Mert & Marcus (I'm pretty sure, correct me if I'm wrong...). Those ads look gorgeous, keeping the airy spirit of the Marc Jacob's nymphs and translating it into something the whole accessory-loving world can enjoy and desire. The creepiest of the season's ads? Marc Jacobs, hands down. Dakota Fanning was shot by Juergen Teller in what I have to say may be the creepiest ads for Jacobs yet. And that's saying a lot.
So, apparently, after getting cut from the Louis Vuitton ads, Lindsay Lohan is set to star in the spring/summer ads for Miu Miu. Taking over Lohan's spot at Vuitton is Scarlett Johansson, which is shot by Mert & Marcus (I'm pretty sure, correct me if I'm wrong...). Those ads look gorgeous, keeping the airy spirit of the Marc Jacob's nymphs and translating it into something the whole accessory-loving world can enjoy and desire. The creepiest of the season's ads? Marc Jacobs, hands down. Dakota Fanning was shot by Juergen Teller in what I have to say may be the creepiest ads for Jacobs yet. And that's saying a lot.
Men's Stores in Seattle
I'm just gonna finish off the list for now, because I feel like it. I was reading about the Seattle Premium Outlets and I just couldn't stand it. The Seattle Premium Outlets stand as the shiniest and newest outlet mall, although it's nearly 45 minutes or more north of city limits (which could be several hours when there's traffic...and there's always traffic) and half the time it's rather full of Canadian tourists getting helped at stores by silly hicks that dress horrifically and don't really know what's going on, but still feel the need to be snotty because they work at an "upscale outlet". God forbid. But they do have Burberry, Cole Haan, Polo Ralph Lauren, Movado, and all that good stuff. None of it is really amazing, nor a very good deal.
I'm just gonna finish off the list for now, because I feel like it. I was reading about the Seattle Premium Outlets and I just couldn't stand it. The Seattle Premium Outlets stand as the shiniest and newest outlet mall, although it's nearly 45 minutes or more north of city limits (which could be several hours when there's traffic...and there's always traffic) and half the time it's rather full of Canadian tourists getting helped at stores by silly hicks that dress horrifically and don't really know what's going on, but still feel the need to be snotty because they work at an "upscale outlet". God forbid. But they do have Burberry, Cole Haan, Polo Ralph Lauren, Movado, and all that good stuff. None of it is really amazing, nor a very good deal.
My favorite places to shop are:
- Blackbird, although it's in Ballard, about 10 minutes from downtown, has a great selection of everything from A.P.C. to Filippa K to Trovata to Cheap Monday to whatever slick brand might want.
- Nordstrom Downtown, which surprisingly has an amazing range of designer clothing for men. The selection rotates, but the men's designer section this month has Marc Jacobs Collection, Mason's, Neil Barrett, Marni (for men! yay!), dsquared2, and the like. As for more traditional wear, they have all that, from Armani Collezioni to Zegna. The Bellevue one is good too.
- Made-to-measure Giorgio Armani, Vestimenta and Ermenegildo Zegna is available at Butch Blum on 5th, next door to Barneys. Butch Blum also has a bunch of really great clothes for someone who wants to be very understated, including Ann Demeulemeester, Jil Sander, Nicole Farhi, Yohji Yamamoto, and the like.
- Barneys New York is extremely small, but they have a decently edited collection of everything from Trovata to Costume National to Dries van Noten.
- Anyone looking for something loud and proud can find it at David Lawrence on 4th, which has everything colorful and unsubtle, along the lines of Cavalli, Versace, D&G, dsquared2, Moschino and all that.
- Oslo's on Queen Anne is notable for the incredibly charming feel of the shop. They have what any guy can expect to wear on the weekends, from Earnest Sewn jeans to well-cut jackets. I love how they have a barber on Fridays and Saturdays. He seems to give a lot of hot shaves. And Oslo is the name of the lovely ginormous golden retriever that the owners keep around the store.
- Mario's on 6th feels like a cross between Barneys and Nordstrom. They have a ton of Prada, plus plenty of Kiton, Brioni, Loro Piana, Etro, Paul Smith, Dolce & Gabbana, and anything too expensive for my blood. Surprisingly nice people for the most part.
- Ian also has a location downtown on 2nd, which also has Trovata, Loomstate, Rogan, Duarte, rag & bone, and all that.
Listen!
I've been listening to Bishop Allen pretty much all year. Not only was their debut LP, Charm School, about as charming a record as any I could ever imagine, but they've also taken on the immensely ambitious task of creating an EP for every month this year. Each one is named after the month it was made, starting with January, up through to December. Each one has an entirely different charm and mood, but the same Bishop Allen thread runs through each and every song. That takes skill. And they've definitely got it. Yay! Don't miss "Corazon", "Things Are What You Make of Them", "Busted Heart", "The Monitor" and "Eve of Destruction", among many others.
I've been listening to Bishop Allen pretty much all year. Not only was their debut LP, Charm School, about as charming a record as any I could ever imagine, but they've also taken on the immensely ambitious task of creating an EP for every month this year. Each one is named after the month it was made, starting with January, up through to December. Each one has an entirely different charm and mood, but the same Bishop Allen thread runs through each and every song. That takes skill. And they've definitely got it. Yay! Don't miss "Corazon", "Things Are What You Make of Them", "Busted Heart", "The Monitor" and "Eve of Destruction", among many others.
Fall In Love With...
Eva Green! As far as Bond girls go, she was definitely a major upgrade from Denise Richards. She actually appears intelligent enough to make it work. Besides being in the new Bond film, she was also in Bertolucci's The Dreamers and Ridley Scott's (horrifically terrible) Kingdom of Heaven. She could be the next big thing (in France, at the very least).
Eva Green! As far as Bond girls go, she was definitely a major upgrade from Denise Richards. She actually appears intelligent enough to make it work. Besides being in the new Bond film, she was also in Bertolucci's The Dreamers and Ridley Scott's (horrifically terrible) Kingdom of Heaven. She could be the next big thing (in France, at the very least).
Sunday, December 03, 2006
Gift Idea!
Just about the coolest coffee-table book ever, Flip the Script is filled with old movie posters re-imagined by some amazing graphic designer, painters, and other crazy artists. My favorites are the ones for 'Cinderella', 'A Clockwork Orange', 'Suite Habana', 'Captain Harlock', 'The Dark Crystal', 'Le Monde Sans Soleil' and 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre'. Two small problems: the book is actually as large as a movie poster, and it costs $1,250. Yeesh!
Just about the coolest coffee-table book ever, Flip the Script is filled with old movie posters re-imagined by some amazing graphic designer, painters, and other crazy artists. My favorites are the ones for 'Cinderella', 'A Clockwork Orange', 'Suite Habana', 'Captain Harlock', 'The Dark Crystal', 'Le Monde Sans Soleil' and 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre'. Two small problems: the book is actually as large as a movie poster, and it costs $1,250. Yeesh!
Saturday, December 02, 2006
Arty Arty Art Art
Look at this craziness by Dan Mihalyo. Google him and you'll learn more about this crazy cat.
Look at this craziness by Dan Mihalyo. Google him and you'll learn more about this crazy cat.
Listen!
Give Paolo Nutini a listen. He's really quite good, and it's amazing that he's only 19. Although his vocal inexperience sometimes shows through, resulting in an almost nasal Adam Levinesque type of wail that doesn't exactly work. But for the most part, very enchanting.
Give Paolo Nutini a listen. He's really quite good, and it's amazing that he's only 19. Although his vocal inexperience sometimes shows through, resulting in an almost nasal Adam Levinesque type of wail that doesn't exactly work. But for the most part, very enchanting.
Noticed...
After work, I had the sudden urge to run home, get my camera, and take pictures of the frigid wonderland that was cast upon the trees and sidewalks by the absurdly blinding sun. Unfortunately, running home, I saw ten or twelve people doing exactly that, and it sort of killed the mood for me. Go figure.
After work, I had the sudden urge to run home, get my camera, and take pictures of the frigid wonderland that was cast upon the trees and sidewalks by the absurdly blinding sun. Unfortunately, running home, I saw ten or twelve people doing exactly that, and it sort of killed the mood for me. Go figure.
Friday, December 01, 2006
Artist, Artist, Artist
I'm really tuned into the work of Egon Schiele, who was really quite good at that repetitive, scratchy nature that I tend to overuse. But I really do like Egon's work, especially his self-portrait. Check it out.
I'm really tuned into the work of Egon Schiele, who was really quite good at that repetitive, scratchy nature that I tend to overuse. But I really do like Egon's work, especially his self-portrait. Check it out.
Pearls Before Swine
My favorite comics right now are 'Brevity' and 'Pearls Before Swine'. Why? Because they're actually funny. Simple as that. 'Pearls' simply has all the surface cutesy charm and quick wit of several other comics, but it also has a surprisingly sharp tongue that all the best comics are made of. Sometime it can get a little too confusing, especially with the meta-comic idea of adventuring outside the boundaries of the strip, acknowledging its creation, and so on. But it's all good. Check it out here.
My favorite comics right now are 'Brevity' and 'Pearls Before Swine'. Why? Because they're actually funny. Simple as that. 'Pearls' simply has all the surface cutesy charm and quick wit of several other comics, but it also has a surprisingly sharp tongue that all the best comics are made of. Sometime it can get a little too confusing, especially with the meta-comic idea of adventuring outside the boundaries of the strip, acknowledging its creation, and so on. But it's all good. Check it out here.
Listen To...
Right now, I'm listening to Augustana's 2005 CD All The Stars And Boulevards, which only seems to be getting recognition right now. Some songs, especially "Hotel Roosevelt," are reminiscent of Our Lady Peace, except a little lighter, brighter, and, that most damning of words, dare I say it, commercial. But that's in no way an insult. In fact, lead singer Dan Layus makes the sometimes pointlessly angry reposes of OLP's Raine Maida seem so much more appropriate and approachable, in a way that still doesn't entirely cater to adolescent girls. Just give it a listen.
Right now, I'm listening to Augustana's 2005 CD All The Stars And Boulevards, which only seems to be getting recognition right now. Some songs, especially "Hotel Roosevelt," are reminiscent of Our Lady Peace, except a little lighter, brighter, and, that most damning of words, dare I say it, commercial. But that's in no way an insult. In fact, lead singer Dan Layus makes the sometimes pointlessly angry reposes of OLP's Raine Maida seem so much more appropriate and approachable, in a way that still doesn't entirely cater to adolescent girls. Just give it a listen.
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Things I Like
Beautiful coincidences! One of my favorite songs, Boy Least Likely's "Be Gentle With Me," has an awesome video that I just discovered (I'm rather behind, I know). What makes this video all the more wonderful is that the girl in it is Rashida Jones, one of the lovely new additions to 'The Office.' Check the video out here.
Beautiful coincidences! One of my favorite songs, Boy Least Likely's "Be Gentle With Me," has an awesome video that I just discovered (I'm rather behind, I know). What makes this video all the more wonderful is that the girl in it is Rashida Jones, one of the lovely new additions to 'The Office.' Check the video out here.
Monday, November 27, 2006
Seattle Shopping ABCs
Where to find the brand you want in Seattle? Look here for updates!
A - Alexander McQueen
Nordstrom Downtown (handbags and ready-to-wear)
B - Balenciaga
Nordstrom Downtown (ready-to-wear)
Barneys New York (handbags, shoes and ready-to-wear)
C - Chanel
Nordstrom Downtown (handbags, shoes, ready-to-wear)
Also check Saks Fifth Avenue in Portland for a tax-free selection. If you can't find what you want at either place, the Chanel Boutique at 900 West Georgia in Vancouver, BC, might do the trick.
Where to find the brand you want in Seattle? Look here for updates!
A - Alexander McQueen
Nordstrom Downtown (handbags and ready-to-wear)
B - Balenciaga
Nordstrom Downtown (ready-to-wear)
Barneys New York (handbags, shoes and ready-to-wear)
C - Chanel
Nordstrom Downtown (handbags, shoes, ready-to-wear)
Also check Saks Fifth Avenue in Portland for a tax-free selection. If you can't find what you want at either place, the Chanel Boutique at 900 West Georgia in Vancouver, BC, might do the trick.
The Best Women's Stores In Seattle
Considering how few designer boutiques there are in Seattle, it's surprising to note that virtually every worthwhile designer brand is available somewhere in the area. Here's my first installment of the best shops for women in the Puget Sound region:
1) Barneys New York - downtown
Everybody knows Barneys. While not a flagship location by any longshot (it's a measly 20,000 square feet), it's certainly not short on style. Every chic girl in Seattle can find something to satisfy her cravings. Fashion includes Lanvin, Prada, Jil Sander, and Dries Van Noten in the designer section, while the co-op features Diane von Furstenberg, Hanii Y, Wyeth, Marc by Marc Jacobs, and Trovata, with a glorious selection of denim. Particularly of note are the shoes and handbags, most of which aren't available anywhere else in Seattle. Balenciaga reigns supreme, as does Lanvin, Marc Jacobs, Mulberry, Prada, and Miu Miu. While Christian Louboutin and Manolo Blahnik are both available elsewhere (namely Nordstrom downtown and Mario's), the selection are Barneys is unique.
Rating: 7.5/10
Considering how few designer boutiques there are in Seattle, it's surprising to note that virtually every worthwhile designer brand is available somewhere in the area. Here's my first installment of the best shops for women in the Puget Sound region:
1) Barneys New York - downtown
Everybody knows Barneys. While not a flagship location by any longshot (it's a measly 20,000 square feet), it's certainly not short on style. Every chic girl in Seattle can find something to satisfy her cravings. Fashion includes Lanvin, Prada, Jil Sander, and Dries Van Noten in the designer section, while the co-op features Diane von Furstenberg, Hanii Y, Wyeth, Marc by Marc Jacobs, and Trovata, with a glorious selection of denim. Particularly of note are the shoes and handbags, most of which aren't available anywhere else in Seattle. Balenciaga reigns supreme, as does Lanvin, Marc Jacobs, Mulberry, Prada, and Miu Miu. While Christian Louboutin and Manolo Blahnik are both available elsewhere (namely Nordstrom downtown and Mario's), the selection are Barneys is unique.
Rating: 7.5/10
The Best Men's Stores In Seattle
Where are the best places for guys to shop in a city more traditionally known for flannel and Birkenstocks? I'm starting to compile a list of my favorite places and the labels they carry:
1) Nordstrom - multiple locations
Yea, this seems like an obvious choice for any Puget Sound male. But of particular note are the downtown and Bellevue stores, which carry a better selection than the rest. Bellevue features sweet suits and dressier attire from Armani Collezioni and Burberry, but they really shine in The Rail department for young men. Highlights include a wider selection of denim (from Kasil to 575 to Earnest Sewn) and a whole slew of shoes. The downtown flagship takes it all one step further, featuring a men's designer department, often overlooked, but stocking some of the sharpest brands available in the city, including Marni, Marc Jacobs, Neil Barrett, dsquared2, and Mason's. The Rail department has a hoard of denim, the accessories department stocks sunglasses from virtually every designer brand you can imagine, and there's plenty of Gucci accessories that seem to sell well with Asian tourists. The shoe department also carries Gucci, as well as Prada, Ferragamo, and more. All in all, more amazing style than you would ever think Seattle men could handle, all with an amazing return policy and (usually) exceptional service.
Rating: 9/10
Where are the best places for guys to shop in a city more traditionally known for flannel and Birkenstocks? I'm starting to compile a list of my favorite places and the labels they carry:
1) Nordstrom - multiple locations
Yea, this seems like an obvious choice for any Puget Sound male. But of particular note are the downtown and Bellevue stores, which carry a better selection than the rest. Bellevue features sweet suits and dressier attire from Armani Collezioni and Burberry, but they really shine in The Rail department for young men. Highlights include a wider selection of denim (from Kasil to 575 to Earnest Sewn) and a whole slew of shoes. The downtown flagship takes it all one step further, featuring a men's designer department, often overlooked, but stocking some of the sharpest brands available in the city, including Marni, Marc Jacobs, Neil Barrett, dsquared2, and Mason's. The Rail department has a hoard of denim, the accessories department stocks sunglasses from virtually every designer brand you can imagine, and there's plenty of Gucci accessories that seem to sell well with Asian tourists. The shoe department also carries Gucci, as well as Prada, Ferragamo, and more. All in all, more amazing style than you would ever think Seattle men could handle, all with an amazing return policy and (usually) exceptional service.
Rating: 9/10
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Breaking down the mass-retailer designer collaborations for the season!
1) Behnaz Sarafpour for GO International at Target: Predominantly lace-trimmed, youthful and sophisticated clothes, from cardigans and tees to skirts and bags. All in all, a pretty decent affair. But I'm still more excited for the Proenza Schouler collection coming early next spring.
2) Viktor & Rolf ♥ H&M: Slick collection for men and women, with dressier work-appropriate attire - think blouses and suits, dresses and shoes, all with the same romantic aplomb and slightly quirky details typical of Viktor & Rolf. The wedding dress is of particular note (and only $350!)
3) Roland Mouret for Gap: Ten plain dresses. Yay. But really, the three red dresses support the (RED) initiative, so that's all for a good cause. They're very basic, very simple and clean, very watered-down Roland Mouret.
4) Rafe for Target: Horrifically cheap looking PVC bogs down these otherwise wonderful accessories. The clutch isn't bad, but the scale of the big totes just emphasize the low-grade material.
1) Behnaz Sarafpour for GO International at Target: Predominantly lace-trimmed, youthful and sophisticated clothes, from cardigans and tees to skirts and bags. All in all, a pretty decent affair. But I'm still more excited for the Proenza Schouler collection coming early next spring.
2) Viktor & Rolf ♥ H&M: Slick collection for men and women, with dressier work-appropriate attire - think blouses and suits, dresses and shoes, all with the same romantic aplomb and slightly quirky details typical of Viktor & Rolf. The wedding dress is of particular note (and only $350!)
3) Roland Mouret for Gap: Ten plain dresses. Yay. But really, the three red dresses support the (RED) initiative, so that's all for a good cause. They're very basic, very simple and clean, very watered-down Roland Mouret.
4) Rafe for Target: Horrifically cheap looking PVC bogs down these otherwise wonderful accessories. The clutch isn't bad, but the scale of the big totes just emphasize the low-grade material.
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Thursday, November 09, 2006
Saturday, November 04, 2006
Friday, October 27, 2006
Thursday, October 26, 2006
There are 59 Starbucks within a 2 mile radius of the center of Seattle. There are 437 within 50 miles of Seattle. There are only 52 within 50 miles of St. Louis.
There are 17 Costco locations within 50 miles of my house. There are only two within 50 miles of St. Louis.
Sad. Oh, so very sad. For St. Louis!
There are 17 Costco locations within 50 miles of my house. There are only two within 50 miles of St. Louis.
Sad. Oh, so very sad. For St. Louis!
Seattle vs Bellevue - Round One
Seattle and Bellevue seem to be competing for the fastest growing skyline. In fact, there is a severe crunch to get buildings up. The funny thing is, a construction boom like this hasn't taken place since the tech boom of the 1990s. And even funnier? The only thing constricting construction isn't the lack of investors or interested buyers or anything like that. It's a shortage of high-rise construction cranes! The company that builds them is based in Salem, Ore., and there are apparently only 60 or so allotted for the Puget Sound region. Unfortunately, there are more than 60 high-rises that want to be built, so companies have to reserve them at least a year in advance before they plan to start even breaking ground. It's simply ridiculous, but in a simply delectable way.
The astounding wealth of this area is becoming as big of a concern as it was during the tech boom, and it's strikingly evident in the area's retail landscape. While we have typically been known to be stuck in our North Face jackets and our silly Birkenstocks (with a flash of flannel for good measure), there are several developers who are trying to change that. Two of the biggest are Kemper Freeman Jr. and Schnitzer Northwest. Kemper's family is the original developer of Bellevue Square, and it remains one of the few good shopping malls in America not owned by a development trust (all of the others are also upscale, including South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, CA, and The Somerset Collection in Troy, MI). His Bellevue Collection is the most exciting thing to happen to the Pacific Northwest retail scene in, well, forever. However, he has had his fair share of setbacks. He has tried to land Saks Fifth Avenue as a tenant for the longest time, but negotiations in 1992 fell through. In 1999, at the height of the tech boom, he came extremely close, enough to talk about it to the press, but I guess the bubble burst and it fell through again. Now the rumor is that they're looking at one of the parking garages, seeing about tearing it down and building a fourth anchor department store at the mall. The other rumor is that J.C. Penney is leaving and Saks could take over, but I highly doubt that scenario. We'll see how that goes, but in the meantime, he has been consistently criticized for not matching the interior of the mall to the caliber of the stores, which he rebukes by saying he wants all the attention on the stores themselves. Further criticism has been raised after he started raising the rent, driving out local tenants and leaving only large national chains to survive. However, considering that the Nordstrom there is one of the top locations in the nation, and the Abercrombie & Fitch is within the chain's top three, it's hard to argue with the rising rent. Smaller local retailers have been forced to move elsewhere, but I guess that's how things go. Apparently, if people aren't buying it, it won't be staying at Bellevue Square! The center has consistently had averages much higher than the national numbers in terms of sales per visitor, length of stay per visitor, and sales per square foot. I honestly love Bellevue Square, and especially the Lincoln Square Cinemas. I'm just waiting to see how things develop...
In the meantime, Kemper has a lot of competition on his hands coming from Schnitzer Northwest, a developing firm intent on taking full advantage of all the Eastside's abundant wealth. In fact, pointing out this abundant wealth was how Schnitzer Northwest was able to land their anchor tenant, Neiman Marcus, for their new two tower development, the Bravern, right next to the Meydenbauer Convention Center. Their developer was originally planning an upscale shopping center and was trying to court Kate Spade to open a boutique there. That fell through, but Neiman Marcus (which owns Kate Spade) was intent on coming back to the Seattle region after their failed Galleries of Neiman Marcus concept failed miserably from the time it opened in Westlake in 1999 to the time it closed in 2002. Neiman Marcus does extensive research before they open new locations, and they were looking at places like Rainier Square and Seattle City Centre before Schnitzer pointed out that, according to the Puget Sound Business Journal, 9 of the 10 wealthiest zip codes in the Puget Sound region were located on the Eastside (the tenth, surprisingly, is in Snohomish). Convinced, Neiman Marcus agreed to anchor the mixed-used development, opening March 2009. Personally, I think Seattle's vast tourist base would have been a healthier option for the store, but what do I know? Now The Bravern is hoping to use Neiman Marcus' symbol of wealth to attract similarly upscale retailers. By the time I graduate from college, I'll be able to see how that turns out!
Across the lake, downtown Seattle has had a relatively upscale retail history. In the 1980s and 1990s, there had been boutiques for Hermes, Gucci, and Burberry, as well as high-end department store I. Magnin in the retail core. Those have all since closed, but others, namely Escada, St. John, Louis Vuitton, and Barneys New York, have all found enough business to survive. In fact, Barneys has found business so good that they are moving to Pacific Place next year, taking over Pottery Barn, which is about to close. This is a strategic move that puts them directly opposite the Nordstrom flagship, and right next door to Tiffany & Co. and Cartier. Their old spot in Seattle City Centre mall along 5th was somewhat less visible, only pedestrians walking towards the "luxury" intersection at 5th & University would have seen it. Interestingly, their new spot in Pacific Place isn't actually too much larger in term of square footage, but it does command a lot more foot traffic, which is what Barneys wants, considering Seattle's influx of Asian tourism. Supposedly, fast-fashion retailer H&M is looking into the old Barneys location. Now that could be exciting!
Seattle and Bellevue seem to be competing for the fastest growing skyline. In fact, there is a severe crunch to get buildings up. The funny thing is, a construction boom like this hasn't taken place since the tech boom of the 1990s. And even funnier? The only thing constricting construction isn't the lack of investors or interested buyers or anything like that. It's a shortage of high-rise construction cranes! The company that builds them is based in Salem, Ore., and there are apparently only 60 or so allotted for the Puget Sound region. Unfortunately, there are more than 60 high-rises that want to be built, so companies have to reserve them at least a year in advance before they plan to start even breaking ground. It's simply ridiculous, but in a simply delectable way.
The astounding wealth of this area is becoming as big of a concern as it was during the tech boom, and it's strikingly evident in the area's retail landscape. While we have typically been known to be stuck in our North Face jackets and our silly Birkenstocks (with a flash of flannel for good measure), there are several developers who are trying to change that. Two of the biggest are Kemper Freeman Jr. and Schnitzer Northwest. Kemper's family is the original developer of Bellevue Square, and it remains one of the few good shopping malls in America not owned by a development trust (all of the others are also upscale, including South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, CA, and The Somerset Collection in Troy, MI). His Bellevue Collection is the most exciting thing to happen to the Pacific Northwest retail scene in, well, forever. However, he has had his fair share of setbacks. He has tried to land Saks Fifth Avenue as a tenant for the longest time, but negotiations in 1992 fell through. In 1999, at the height of the tech boom, he came extremely close, enough to talk about it to the press, but I guess the bubble burst and it fell through again. Now the rumor is that they're looking at one of the parking garages, seeing about tearing it down and building a fourth anchor department store at the mall. The other rumor is that J.C. Penney is leaving and Saks could take over, but I highly doubt that scenario. We'll see how that goes, but in the meantime, he has been consistently criticized for not matching the interior of the mall to the caliber of the stores, which he rebukes by saying he wants all the attention on the stores themselves. Further criticism has been raised after he started raising the rent, driving out local tenants and leaving only large national chains to survive. However, considering that the Nordstrom there is one of the top locations in the nation, and the Abercrombie & Fitch is within the chain's top three, it's hard to argue with the rising rent. Smaller local retailers have been forced to move elsewhere, but I guess that's how things go. Apparently, if people aren't buying it, it won't be staying at Bellevue Square! The center has consistently had averages much higher than the national numbers in terms of sales per visitor, length of stay per visitor, and sales per square foot. I honestly love Bellevue Square, and especially the Lincoln Square Cinemas. I'm just waiting to see how things develop...
In the meantime, Kemper has a lot of competition on his hands coming from Schnitzer Northwest, a developing firm intent on taking full advantage of all the Eastside's abundant wealth. In fact, pointing out this abundant wealth was how Schnitzer Northwest was able to land their anchor tenant, Neiman Marcus, for their new two tower development, the Bravern, right next to the Meydenbauer Convention Center. Their developer was originally planning an upscale shopping center and was trying to court Kate Spade to open a boutique there. That fell through, but Neiman Marcus (which owns Kate Spade) was intent on coming back to the Seattle region after their failed Galleries of Neiman Marcus concept failed miserably from the time it opened in Westlake in 1999 to the time it closed in 2002. Neiman Marcus does extensive research before they open new locations, and they were looking at places like Rainier Square and Seattle City Centre before Schnitzer pointed out that, according to the Puget Sound Business Journal, 9 of the 10 wealthiest zip codes in the Puget Sound region were located on the Eastside (the tenth, surprisingly, is in Snohomish). Convinced, Neiman Marcus agreed to anchor the mixed-used development, opening March 2009. Personally, I think Seattle's vast tourist base would have been a healthier option for the store, but what do I know? Now The Bravern is hoping to use Neiman Marcus' symbol of wealth to attract similarly upscale retailers. By the time I graduate from college, I'll be able to see how that turns out!
Across the lake, downtown Seattle has had a relatively upscale retail history. In the 1980s and 1990s, there had been boutiques for Hermes, Gucci, and Burberry, as well as high-end department store I. Magnin in the retail core. Those have all since closed, but others, namely Escada, St. John, Louis Vuitton, and Barneys New York, have all found enough business to survive. In fact, Barneys has found business so good that they are moving to Pacific Place next year, taking over Pottery Barn, which is about to close. This is a strategic move that puts them directly opposite the Nordstrom flagship, and right next door to Tiffany & Co. and Cartier. Their old spot in Seattle City Centre mall along 5th was somewhat less visible, only pedestrians walking towards the "luxury" intersection at 5th & University would have seen it. Interestingly, their new spot in Pacific Place isn't actually too much larger in term of square footage, but it does command a lot more foot traffic, which is what Barneys wants, considering Seattle's influx of Asian tourism. Supposedly, fast-fashion retailer H&M is looking into the old Barneys location. Now that could be exciting!
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Friday, October 13, 2006
Thursday, October 05, 2006
The newly edited version is now up here The Lovely, Lonely Polar Bear.
And here's the story:
And here's the story:
The Lovely, Lonely Polar Bear
Once upon a time, Clif was just a regular, lovely polar bear. His coat of fleece was the brightest, most beautiful white. Sadly, as the years passed, more and more of his fellow arctic dwellers found themselves meeting tragic ends. Melting arctic caps led some to drown, while others met their fate at the hands of intrepid, idiotic explorers. One day, feeling lonely and confused, Clif decided to try his luck at the city life. Unfortunately, he found himself an alien in a confusing, deceiving world. There was no room for this tundra-roaming beast amongst all the celebrated penguins. Loneliness and insecurity consumed Clif. Where was his arctic utopia?
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Sunday, October 01, 2006
In the simple scheme of things, everything is as it seems.
So, the world will arrange itself justly. Tonight, I watched The Science of Sleep. It was truly something to appreciate. Gael Garcia Bernal (pardon my lack of accents) is a marvel, from Y Tu Mama Tambien to The Motorcycle Diaries. Charlotte Gainsbourg, for those of you who don't know, has been famous for quite a long time. She was in 21 Grams, but most don't remember. She's the daughter of Jane Birkin (a famous, impossibly chic French chanteuse et actrice) and Serge Gainsbourg (a big French songwriter). She's been in movies since she was much younger, has been beloved across Europe, and only recently started catching American eyes in very recent years. She, like her half-sister Lou Doillon, has also been capturing la couer de la mode in recent years. She's quite amazing, really. It's all in the effortless way they put their pieces together, so much ease and refinement. But anyways, the leads in the film were spectacular to say the least.
Did you know that, back when London was the biggest city in the world, all the crossbeams on all the electrical posts were constructed so that they faced London, so that travellers would always know whether they were going towards or heading away from town?
Whenever I'm homesick and/or bored, I go home shopping for houses in the Seattle area. And I've realized that it'll be difficult to afford a house around there once I graduate. The housing market continues to boom, and will do so until midway through 2007. Then it's expected to slow down, but that's a relative term. But there are truly some fantastically gorgeous homes in the area! Ah, if only I had a few million to throw around...
So, the world will arrange itself justly. Tonight, I watched The Science of Sleep. It was truly something to appreciate. Gael Garcia Bernal (pardon my lack of accents) is a marvel, from Y Tu Mama Tambien to The Motorcycle Diaries. Charlotte Gainsbourg, for those of you who don't know, has been famous for quite a long time. She was in 21 Grams, but most don't remember. She's the daughter of Jane Birkin (a famous, impossibly chic French chanteuse et actrice) and Serge Gainsbourg (a big French songwriter). She's been in movies since she was much younger, has been beloved across Europe, and only recently started catching American eyes in very recent years. She, like her half-sister Lou Doillon, has also been capturing la couer de la mode in recent years. She's quite amazing, really. It's all in the effortless way they put their pieces together, so much ease and refinement. But anyways, the leads in the film were spectacular to say the least.
Did you know that, back when London was the biggest city in the world, all the crossbeams on all the electrical posts were constructed so that they faced London, so that travellers would always know whether they were going towards or heading away from town?
Whenever I'm homesick and/or bored, I go home shopping for houses in the Seattle area. And I've realized that it'll be difficult to afford a house around there once I graduate. The housing market continues to boom, and will do so until midway through 2007. Then it's expected to slow down, but that's a relative term. But there are truly some fantastically gorgeous homes in the area! Ah, if only I had a few million to throw around...
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