Don't Dream It Be It

When I was a kid, one of my dad's favorite movies was The Rocky Horror Picture Show. This may sound odd for a Southern middle class business man, but hey-- everybody has their guilty pleasures, I suppose.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show - 20th Century Fox
Uploaded by Columbia-Pictures

The cast included Tim Curry, Barry Bostwick, Susan Sarandon, and Meat Loaf who all went on to very promising performing careers, but I often wondered about the rest of the cast. I knew Richard O'Brien, who played Riff Raff and wrote the musical, went on to write and perform in sequal stinker, Shock Treatment. The only returning cast members happened to be his good friend Patricia Quinn who played Magenta, and "The Lips" in the opening credits (See above), and Little Nell Campbell who played Columbia. Little Nell has proved to be the most interesting to me as I've traced her career.

After Rocky Horror, Nell tried her hand at a singing career where she had a moderately popular single in Britain called "Do the Swim", and then went back to acting. She was a groupie in Pink Floyd's The Wall (although I doubt you'd be able to spot her), and starred in several of Derek Jarman's movies-- most notably Jubilee.








From the mid-80's to 1998, she owned 3 nightclubs in New York City, most famously Nell's (oft mentioned in Bret Easton Ellis' American Psycho), and known for turning away A-list celebrities for fun. You may recognize the lounge in The Notorious B.I.G.'s video "Big Poppa", because not only did he frequent the place, but he shot the video here.  After being reincarnated as A through  C list celeb hangout NA, Nell's Nightclub became The Plumm in 2006, another club trying on the exclusive vibe, but I'm pretty sure the space has has already had its hay day. 

Here's a video of Nell being totally amazing (and probably under the influence of some unmentionables.)

In 2005, she had a kid, and returned to her home country of Australia after selling her Boerum Hill house to Heath Ledger, where presumably Michelle Williams still resides.

I Slipped I Tumbled I Fell

Major confession, y'all: Until the other day, I never really understood Tumblr.com! I have a blog and I have a Flickr account, so I really couldn't figure out what need I would have for another site for posting. But this was until the other day when everything changed! I actually looked at the site at the urging of my friend, Katherine, who told me she started her own Tumblr as an organizational tool of inspirational material. I guess that is really the reason for it, and what a good idea it is! I have a terrible habit of emailing web links to myself (only to lose them in my email), saving images that I like (only to forget where I found them), and this Tumblr thing really does a good job of getting all that in order.

Once my (ex)boss sent me a random email on a day off :

Do you know who shot this??

I'm sure she had the file on her computer, ran across it, and hadn't noted the photographer or origination. Had she had it all organized virtually on Tumblr, she could have easily figured out that it was taken by Mary Ellen Mark, and possibly noted why she saved it in the first place-- Not to mention linked back to where she found it!

So um yeah-- Anyway, I started one. If you have one too, lemme know and I'll link you up!

This is mine:
http://thehistoryofmyfuture.tumblr.com/

And Katherine's is:
http://practicalfancy.tumblr.com/

Baby Baby It's A Wild World

Just realized in addition to the ones I posted about the other day, this Georgina-Chapman-of-Marchesa-as-Marchesa-Luisa-Casati spread appeared in the March issue of US Harper's Bazaar.

I went crazy trying to find animals for this shoot-- especially the cheetah. The cheetah that ended up being used was a "plush cheetah sculpture" handcrafted and painted by artists at Hansa Toys. Before finding this life-size wildcat substitute, I was put in contact with a man named Larry Wallach who lives in East Rockaway and wrangles wild cats and other exotic animals. He literally has tigers in his back yard, and had even recently rescued an albino kangaroo from a coke dealing ring who were hiding blow in its pouch!

COKE-A-ROO!

Some may remember the national news story about the man who was keeping a 500 lb Bengal tiger in his apartment, and Larry the "Tiger Man" was the one who helped rescue the cat.

Here's a news story about Larry Wallach AKA "Tiger Man" and one of the biggest characters I've ever had the pleasure to speak with.

This kind of stuff is why I loved working at a fashion mag with a decent budget for shoots! Speaking of fashion, see below for some of the inspirational shots of Marchesa Casati used for the shoot. Just like the animals she so loved, she was a dangerous creature--Sadly most of all to herself.

Joseph Rous Paget-Fredericks (As seen on the cover of Marchesa's biography Infinite Variety)

At the Ball of Famous Paintings 1935 Man Ray

Paul Poiret with model

1922 Man Ray Portrait

1912 Baron de Meyer

Shoe Bee Doo Bee Doo

My friend, Catherine recently started a shoe company with her friend, Haley, and their website is finally up!

Please check it out!

MARAIS USA

Cute video alert HERE.

ME- RRROWWWW!!

In honor of Fall Fashion Week I found a bunch of funny old jeans commercials that are pretty amazing.









this is a newer one, but it's one of my favorite commercials

Hmm, now what should I wear today?

Ms. Christensen You're Trying to Seduce Me

While I was still at Harper's Bazaar, I helped coordinate this photoshoot with Chuck Bass-- I mean, Ed Westwick and Helena Christensen in the March 2009 issue. I thought it turned out pretty awesome! (In response to the much discussed SJP/Vreeland editorial and cover: The newstand cover is (and are always) a total collage made by the art department, and the photos of SJP were based on actual photos of Diana Vreeland. If your qualm is with SJP's age, well, she ain't gettin' any younger, folks!)

Now on to Bass:

Photos shot by Terry Richardson at the St. Regis hotel and Tom Ford store









Also worked on this editorial called 'Street Chic' shot by Peter Lindbergh that turned out so much better than I'd imagined! It was shot right before Halloween weekend and Catherine McNeil actually borrowed the bunny suit for her Halloween costume. Funny.



See the rest: STREET CHIC

Heart to Hand

Hopefully there will only be a few more frigid weeks to winter, but no matter the weather I always tend to constantly be wrapped in a blanket when couch-potatoing in front of the tube anyway. Rather than opting for the couch potato's BFF, the SNUGGIE (Gross!), I stick with an old quilt made by my mom's aunt. 

I've always loved old quilts and the stories they tell. Women used to make them from rags and ragged clothing to keep their family's warm when they had no other choices. They were also made from the clothes of different family members and gifted to new babies as memory items.

I have one hanging above my bed given to me by my mother, and sewn by an unknown person in my family. This one was just made as a decoration:

Recently, I ran across Julie Floersch's sculptural quilts, and found them to be really intriguing and beautiful. Her work truly makes you appreciate the art of the needle. You may experience her work for yourself and all its tessallated goodness at Jan and Aya in Greenpoint, Brooklyn until March 1st.



Remember the movie, How to Make an American Quilt starring Winona Ryder (pre-klepto days)? They were making a wedding quilt in that one.

OOOOH BONUS TRIVIA: A group of people making a quilt is called a quilter's bee!

Take Me To Bed Or Lose Me Forever

I made these delicious chocolate truffles for Mike for Vday. The flags note all the reasons why I think he's awesome.

RECIPE

Grenache (The Middle):
12 oz semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup heavy whipping cream
2 small chai tea teabags (I used orange and spice tea)
2.5 Tb unsalted butter
3 Tb alcohol or extract (I used Blue Mountain Mist, which is AMAZING, but I think you can only get it in Jamaica or online-- You can use Grand Marnier, Kahlua, Almond Extract, Peppermint Extract, etc.)

Coatings:
Cocoa Powder
Confectioners Sugar 

Place chocolate chips in a medium sized heat safe bowl. Set aside. Heat cream with tea bags to a low simmer. Remove from heat and steep tea bags for 5-6 minutes. Remove tea bags, and add butter. Heat again then bring to a boil. Immediately pour boiling cream over chocolate and allow to stand for 5 minutes. Stir with a whisk until smooth. Add liqueur. Cover and place in refrigerator until truffle mixture is firm (This will take several hours or overnight).

Once grenache sets, place powdered coating in a bowl. I used plain cocoa powder, and a mix of cocoa and confectioner's sugar. Using a melon baller, spoon, AND YOUR HANDS, form the chocolate into roundish bite-sized balls. Immediately roll the truffle in the coating and place on tray. Cover and place in the refrigerator until firm. Makes approx. 30 small truffles.

I also think this fingerprint jewelry by Imprint on my Heart is totally adorable without being too mush-mush.

HERS?

Sterling Silver Fingerprint Vertical Tag with Initials $375

HIS?

Sterling Silver Long Vertical Tag $425, shown with rough finish

See more HERE. 

Citizen Stain

Wife Swap used to be one of my favorite shows. My roommate and I used to DVR it each week. I'd lost interest in the past year though, until the REIGN OF STEPHEN FOWLER and the media frenzy that has surrounded him. 

For those who don't know, Fowler is a British expat living in San Francisco with his American-born wife, Renee, and two kids. The two claimed to be environmentalists, and were raising their kids as "citizens of the world". Renee ran a business as a weight-loss hypnotherapist. They swapped with Alan and Gayla Long of Missouri, a family whose diet consisted of fast food, and favorite pastimes were playing paint ball, and riding ATV's. Alan believed Gayla should handle the domestic responsibilities of the home, calling it "skirt work."

Real controversy began when the media began repeatedly showing clips of Fowler berating simpleton Gayla, failing to show the negative side of the Missouri family's lifestyle. While a sweet woman, Gayla is clearly undereducated, and Fowler took every chance he got to say terrible things to her calling her "undereducated, over-opinionated, and overweight" to her face. There is no excuse for Fowler's behavior, but Alan Long was pig-headed in his own rite, failing to care for the health of his kids nor their futures. The rules in which Gayla tries to implement in the home are not exactly the most valuable, nor the best way to approach Fowler-- especially in comparison to those that Renee Stephens brings to the Long home.

See rule change here:

By the end of the episode, the Longs do learn from Renee's rule change-- mainly that they need to change their diets, as well as concentrate a bit more on education for a brighter future, where as the Stephens/Fowlers come away with nothing. Alan Long surprisingly makes one of the most pertinent points at the table meeting when he tells Renee, "Your support system will mock your passion." This emphasizes for me that no matter the level of education, beauty, or well-roundedness, they may all be discounted by lack of kindness. I'm sure Stephen Fowler will be paying for his sins far after the media forgets. 

OCTOMOM: Eight Lies To Sell You

CLICK PHOTO TO VIEW LARGER

VDAY: What's the V stand for again?

I'm not one to really buy into the Valentine's Day hype of cheesy heart-shaped boxes of cheap chocolates, but I love to make things for people at any occasion, especially my most special person. I found these simple vegan Vday treats made by The Discerning Brute and Todd Oldham, and thought they were shareable (though I'd probably still put some real butter and milk in that cake! I come from the Paula Dean school of thought!)


DBTV Valetine Special: TODD OLDHAM HEARTS YOU from The Discerning Brute on Vimeo

After that I got to thinking about Todd and his House of Style days, but couldn't find any real crafty tips. I did find clips from his more recent show, the total snore, Handmade Modern, including this hilarious one where Amy Sedaris appears to be making Todd nervous while terrible muzak plays over their craftmaking:



Then this lead me to Amy's appearance on Chelsea Lately to promote her book, I Like You, where she (along with Todd) give Vday a whole new meaning.

BAILOUT BALL

Top Private School Tuition: $32,000 a year per student

Mortgage For a Park Ave Apartment: $96,000 a year

Nanny: $45,000 a year

2 Family Vacations a Year: Minimum $16,000

Chauffeur’s pay: $75,000 and $125,000 a year

Nanny: $45,000

Daily Frozen Hot Chocolates from Serendipity: $8.50

Realizing the President wants to cap your annual salary at $500,000: PRICELESS


PRESIDENT OBAMA WANTS TO CAP THE SALARIES OF THOSE BANK EXECS WHOSE FIRMS TOOK BAILOUT MONEY.

READ THE NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLE REGARDING HOW NYC BANKERS ARE USED TO LIVING, AND WHAT THEY FACE WHEN AND IF THIS HAPPENS.

Christian V. David

HAHAHA.

Deaf Combo

This is how I felt about the Grammys:

(That's Grace Slick abusing her baby with her moms for LIFE mag, btw.)

Why do they feel the need to "refresh" songs by forcing two artists that don't make sense to perform together???? Sugarland and Adele? I hate Adele. J.Timb and T.I.? Awkward. Stevie Wonder and the Jonas Brothers? Well, he couldn't tell who he was singing with so I can't blame him. Who let John Mayer sing Bo Diddley??? Barf. I kind of liked the marching band with Radiohead, but I'm so sick of Radiohead these days I could just die. Apparently Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift sang a song together. I'm really glad I missed that. Jay Z and Chris Martin?? Oy! Need I say more?

I'm bummed Lil' Wayne didn't win Album of the Year, but he got rap album (and performed with a very preggo MIA plus T.I., Jay-Z and Kanye), so everybody wins. Robert Plant's still kickin' around. I guess he deserves it. I listen to Houses of the Holy all the time.

Here's that Katie Couric interview where Katie talks to Wayne about smoking pot, and makes weird gestures implying that her butt is sizzling hot. Just watch if you didn't:

Gold Sledge Hammer? Really???

I know MC Hammer went bankrupt some time ago, but I didn't realize Ed McMahon was so hard up! I'm not even talking about their claims in the commercial either. I can't believe these guys would even stoop to the level of appearing in this commercial, but I'm so glad that they did! (So hilarious how they title MC Hammer as "Famous Rap Star"!) It originally appeared during the Super Bowl , so I assume they actually did receive quite a bit of compensation for this-- unlike Cash 4 Gold's customers. I did some investigating in this company in the past (Just for kicks, because it seems like such a crock, right? Wow. I have no life.). 

Here are what some actual real-life "clients" have said about the company:

" 88 days ago by Kathy [send email] 0 Votes
I received a check from Cash 4 Gold that was very low in value to the items I sent to them. I phoned and emailed customer service and told them I was not pleased with the check and asked to send my items back to me. At this point I told them I was contacting the Better Business Bureau regarding their ads beinng untruthful. I then got a call from them to call them back and I did tell them I did contact the BBB and wanted my jewelery back. The BBB contacted them but it took Cash 4 Gold a long time to respond and did not respond to the final response requested by the BBB. BBB closed the case but Cash 4 Gold has this on their record."

" 51 days ago by mary currie 0 Votes
Cash 4 Gold ripped me off! I wish I had done something when I had the chance. The small check they sent me was a joke! Everytime I see that commercial on TV it makes me sick!"

" 8 days ago by Kim 0 Votes
omg, i sent in my jewelry and they said they nevered recieved it, i should have know better. now i have to fill out a claim and who knows if i will every get any money from this bottom dwellers"

OTHER FUNNY (AND SOMETIMES SAD) SCAM TESTIMONIES: 

1.) Exstenze - http://www.infomercialscams.com/scams/extenze_complaints

2.)SNUGGIE!! - http://www.infomercialscams.com/scams/snuggies_complaints

3.) Velform Sauna Belt-  http://www.infomercialscams.com/scams/velform_sauna_belt

4.)Hair Club for Men and Women- http://www.infomercialscams.com/scams/hair_club_for_men_and_women_complaints

I Can't Hardly Stand It

R.I.P. LUX INTERIOR oct 21, 1948 - feb 4, 2009

While driving through California, Lux Interior, born Erick Lee Purkhiser, picked up a flame-haired hitchhiker named  Kristy Wallace AKA Poison Ivy. By 1976 the two married, moved to NYC,  and birthed the psychobilly sleaze band, The Cramps-- A sound that consisted largely of psych, garage, blues, country, and surf rock. Other members of the band have changed over the years, but the two continued to perform together until today when Interior sadly passed away of an existing heart condition. The Cramps were important members of the blossoming music scene of the 70's and 80's happening in the East Village and LES, namely at CBGB and Max's Kansas City. Interior was well-known for his Iggy Pop-esque gyrations on stage, flamboyant get-ups, and hiccuppy, growling vocals.  Music fans have already begun clogging fan sites with messages in remembrance of him. My heart goes out to his "bad girl vixen", Poison Ivy. He will be missed and remembered.

ON A PERSONAL NOTE: I remember the first time I heard The Cramps. I was in my ex-boyfriend's car (who was only a friend at the time) when we were living in the mountains in Boone, NC. He only had a tape deck in his car, so he would make tons of mixtapes that he would title "Coolsongs #". He probably had 150 of those tapes, plus the ones other people gave him. I had just gotten in the car, when I heard the opening clangs to "I Can't Hardly Stand It", and then the aching, hiccup of a voice (Reminded me of my beloved Elvis), "We-heh-heh-ll the sun's gone down, and you're uptown...I-i-i-if you don't know. I love you so. You got me all tore up." At the time, I was madly head over hills for aforementioned friend, and I couldn't believe how this song seemed to be coming right out my own soul! Such a cheeseball. So that weekend, I went on a trip to Chapel Hill and sought out Bad Music for Bad People. I can't even tell you how many mixtapes that song has gone on (Sorry dudes I've sorta liked and maybe loved before.)

Evening Weather Update

It's still snowy and cold outside.




If it doesn't stop, I'm a little worried for my sanity.

Oh no no nooo. Don't be silly, sillies! I don't have a job. It'd be nothing like that! 

Okay. Back to reading 25 Things About Me Memes. Ahhh.

NEVER LEGO OF NYC!

I LEGO NEW YORK By Christopher Niemann

During the cold and dark Berlin winter days, I spend a lot of time with my boys in their room. And as I look at the toys scattered on the floor, my mind inevitably wanders back to New York.

Moz Life Crisis

By the way, what in the Sam Hill is this??!?!?!
Even before I read The Guardian's own digs at Morrisey's art for the inner sleeve of his new single, I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris (What a barfy title!). The first thing I thought of was:


But then I thought of:


EWWW! GASP! SHUDDER! A good movie, but nevertheless, a real comedy! I've never been a fan of The Smiths nor Moz's solo work. Every time my friends wanted to go to Sunday nights at Sway, I'd revel in the few songs that were NOT Morrissey related. I still think he's a fine guy though. My roommate is obsessed with him, and sings his songs in the shower. HOWEVER-- I do not need to see this much of him, and ESPECIALLY not his band. Mid-life crisis much? C'mon boys! Fuck some models. Buy a McLaren. Do SOMETHING that does not require THE. WAXING OF. YOUR. BODY. HAIR!!!

The Fairest of Them All

Remember X-Girl, Kim Gordon's sporty sister clothing line to X-Large? 

I wasn't even a teenager when the first line came out, but around the time I clasped the hook on my third or fourth training bra, I remember ordering catalogues from the back of my Seventeen magazines alongside Delia*s all the way to my tiny town in North Carolina. (I really had a thing for adolescent skater boys.) After receiving one or two, they stopped coming, and I believe the store closed in NYC in 2006 or so. The brand, along with X-Large, is still insanely popular in Japan.

It's no lie that Kim has always had incredible style, and is one of the coolest chicks around. So it's pretty sweet that in the past 15 years her fashion sense has matured into a new 60's France-inspired collection called Mirror/Dash. (Little Known Fact: Mirror/Dash is also a Kim Gordon/Thurston Moore musical side project. See video HERE.)The only bummer is that it's being distributed via Urban Outfitters, but I'd brave a pack of NYU kids and even dumpy-butted tourists any day for Kim's garb. She's working with designer Jeffrey Monteiro, ex-head designer at Derek Lam on the line, and it'll be available in UO on Feb 16th. 

Only two photos of items of the Mirror/Dash line have been released:

The Hardy Jacket inspired by the ever-chic Francoise.

And this slouchy little dress

While you wait for the rest, here's a little retrospective of Kim's looks from the past.
(And read the interview BUST did with Kim regarding the line too!)