yiddish| #3

[begin thoughtful quote]

"Have you ever been in love?
Horrible isn't it?
It makes you so vulnerable.
It opens your chest and it opens your heart and it means that someone can get inside you and mess you up.
You build up all these defenses, you build up a whole suit of armor, so that nothing can hurt you, then one stupid person, no different from any other stupid person, wanders into your stupid life...

You give them a piece of you.
They didn't ask for it.
They did something dumb one day, like kiss you or smile at you, and then your life isn't your own anymore.
Love takes hostages.
It gets inside you.
It eats you out and leaves you crying in the darkness, so a simple phrase like 'maybe we should just be friends' turns into a class splinter working it's way into your heart.

It hurts.
Not just in the imagination.
Not just in the mind.
Its a soul-hurt, a real gets-inside-you-and-rips-you-apart pain.
I hate love."

- Neil Gaiman

[end thoughtful quote]

Damn homie.
Tell us how you really feel.
[via]

love is seriously everywhere

Today the concept of love is so meaningless. Yes...I said that. It's meaningless. I've heard people I've known for no more than 5 minutes proclaim their love for me without knowing who I am or what I'm about. The love between men and women is so complicated and messy, it's hard to think about the fact that there is one person for everyone. Especially when bouncing from person to person without even the smallest thought is "like..so in". Although it may seem that love is about as easy to obtain as a Big Mac, that doesn't make the concept of love any less enticing.

As Ewan McGregor once said in a little movie about a brothel: the greatest thing you'll ever learn is to love and be loved in return. [Brusse]

i cried.

Didn't get to watch the 'Hope for Haiti Now' telethon that aired last night, but I did get a chance to donate to help Haiti recover from their horrible earthquake. Justin Timberlake and Matt Morris outdid themselves and had the best performance of the evening covering "Hallelujah". I have so many covers of this in my iTunes it's hard to keep up, but this one definitely outshines them all. Speaking of iTunes, they have a album with all the performances from the broadcast for only $7.99 USD. 100% of the proceeds go directly to helping relief efforts in Haiti.

janet jackson for harper's baazar october 2009.

Janet Jackson hasn't watched the news in months. And with good reason. The media attention surrounding the greatest entertainer of our time, her brother Michael Jackson hasn't always been in warm regards. I pointed out to my Dad a couple of days after his untimely death how media sources would always start their tributes with his achievements, how he changed the face of music, but would end with by citing his bizarre behavior; mostly analyzing his unfortunate child molestation case. It all seemed shady to me, like people lived to see the underdog rise, but love nothing more than to watch that star fall.

Janet covers next months issue of Harper's Baazar shot by Tom Munro, and talks about her disconnect with the world after Michael's death, and how work has been the best way to channel her grief. She's working on Tyler Perry's second installment of "Why Did I Get Married?", as well as working on an album said to be released this spring.

I'm super happy to see her as public as you can possibly be after the death of a family member. This Sunday (September 13th) Janet will be headlining a tribute to MJ on the VMA's. Can't wait!

i will always love you...

The biggest girl crush of my 23 years of life has been on the Olsen twins. I SERIOUSLY love the Olsen twins. A lot. Sometimes I like to think we grew up together, it's just that instead of playing with me in the preschool sand box, they were inside my television as Michelle Tanner. They've grown up to become so stylish and smart women; so smart in fact, they've created two brands, The Row and Elizabeth & James, that are widely successful, even though just looking at the clothes costs more than what's in my bank account right now.

Ashley is my favorite. Although sometimes Mary Kate surprises me and doesn't look like she rolled out of bed in the back alley of some dirty club, Ashley and I are destined to be besties (and I say that, not as a stalker, but as a fan). In the face of tremendous pressure, the twins have grown to be such exceptional women. The exude confidence and cool. Most celebrities have a way of being TOO noticeable by being everywhere at once. You get sick of seeing them. But there's just something about these girls I can't seem to get enough of, maybe it's the fact that aside from the paparazzi basically stalking them, or a fashion show/event here or there, you rarely see them in front of a camera.

Right now I'm working on that thing I call the Olsen Smirk, where they stare down the camera, suck in their cheeks, and purse their lips. If you look at pictures of them long enough, you'll see it...Makes me laugh every time.

still brunette.

I still can't get over the fact that Lara Stone has brunette hair. Her editorial in the September issue of Vogue Paris is flawless. It was styled by editor-in-chief Carine Roitfeld, and shot by Mert Alas & Marcus Piggot. [fashiongonerouge]

lara? is that you?

Lara Stone: Karl Lagerfeld's girl pal, Carine Roitfeld's favorite cover girl, and my model girl crush. Aside from being the 'it' girl of the moment (and causing an uproar when it was discovered she wears a US size 6), Lara has been hard at work getting totally made over. It actually took a minute for me to recognize her, but I love love LOVE her brunette.

Which look do you like best for Lara?
(via tfs)

danny roberts.

I've been digging artist Danny Roberts' work for awhile now, I like to count myself amongst his most devoted fans, being that every painting he's made available I've dragged onto my desktop and uploaded onto iPhone. I even got the nerve to actually buy one of his prints. It's his portraits of some of his favorite bloggers is what got me hooked. He designed my Bloglovin button to your left as well as recently collaborated with Gwen Stefani's line Harajuku Lovers which is equally if not more impressive than all his other art. Such amazing work!

Check out his website Igor + Andre for more of his amazing creations!

wild thing. i think i love you!

Although my computer has been acting like it's dying a slow death, today I got the chance to see the extended trailer for Spike Jonze's adaptation of the children's book "Where the Wild Things Are" by Maurice Sendak. I'm really excited for this movie which is slated for release in October. The book was a staple in my household growing up, so much so that I'm pretty sure if I looked hard enough I'd find it amongst the other books around here.

Almost as good as the movie is this website I found a couple of weeks ago. Terrible Yellow Eyes showcases art inspired by Sendak's classic children's book. The above art work is by Alan Cook. When you get a second, check it out!

hellz bellz: style warriors.

My first love has always been the street wear industry of fashion. I know a lot of fashion followers cite big name designers as their favorites but my heart has always been in the streets. I live for indie labels that are raging against the commercial machine, because their products have the most heart. Hellz Bellz is one of those labels, and always has been very close to my heart.

Although I've been known to drop mad pesos on Hellz gear practically every season since 2006, my heart just isn't in this collection. Maybe it's because nothing really stands out to me like it normally does. Every season I have those one or two items that I MUST HAVE, and I can't see anything worth that much attention in this look book.

What do you think? Am I missing something?

when you need a smile: go givenchy.

Remember boys and girls: Givenchy NEVER FAILS!

(via Jak&Jil)

come as you are.

Greg Kadel shot this editorial entitled 'Come as You Are' for the 50th Anniversary edition of Vogue Australia. Styled by Naomi Smith, this is probably one of my favorite editorials of the last year. It features models Abbey Lee Kershaw and Cathrine McNeil in shots in a variety of colors with nature as the background. (via tfs)

i love you alexa chung

I love Alexa Chung. Although I've only watched her show a handful of times, I love her a little more every time I do. She's seems really sweet and down to earth, makes me think in another life we were friends who shared clothes and braided each others hair during sleep overs. Major girl crush brewing over here...

an open letter to katya & danielle.

So two of my friends are leaving me. Katya and Danielle are leaving me for greener pastures, gelato, and Italian men. Their going to Florence Italy for a semester abroad, and although I'm super excited for the adventure their getting ready to embark upon, I can't help but me sad because their leaving me behind. It's not jealousy (Ok maybe a little jealousy) but an intense sadness, because the prospect of me seeing them is very slim, damn near non existent. My first intention was to create a movie for them, telling them both how much they mean to me, highlighting the crazy ass events our individual cameras collect on a daily basis, but since the iMovie application on my computer is acting out like a bad ass child on crack, I looked too one of my strengths to express how I feel about them both. So I'm writing a letter...

*clears throat to sound/look/feel important*

Dear Katya & Danielle

I love you. You mean the world to me, no seriously, you do. During my last year at Kent, the year I affectionately call 'My Meltdown' you were there for me in ways not even my life long friends could've been. During sit downs at my house and on my porch, while drinking 40's and smoking illegal things (cough), you allowed me the opportunity to pour my broken and wounded heart into your hands with no judgment. That is something I will never forget and something that can never be replaced by anyone. Ever...

There aren't very many people I consider to be close friends. Dollabill told me once that if I can count my closest friends on one hand, I was much better off than the richest man in the world. He was right (as usual), I counted and I feel like the richest woman on earth by having you both on my one hand, Katya the middle finger and Danielle the pinky.

Even though we've been apart for awhile now, with the occasional once a year visit, I miss you both being constant objects in my life. There isn't a day that goes by where I don't miss your advice, your jokes, and your food card. And although that rift is about to become bigger, I'm confident with the help of a little thing called the internet, and his trusty sidekick Skype, I'll be in Italy with you both. So have fun. Make sure to live it up, eat lots of gelato, take loads of pictures, and Twitter me daily. I'll be waiting here in the U.S. for your safe return. Can't wait to be in NYC with you all for the Spring.

In all seriousness, I don't think even the best writer in the world could describe in words how I feel about both of you. You are some of my best friends. And I don't take that title too lightly...

Love you more than you both will ever know...
D'Onna

Katya is keeping a blog about her overseas adventures appropriately entitled Ambition is the New Black . The trailer for her video blog is to the left on the side bar. Check it out!

glitter & gold.

A Summer Blend - Vogue Italia May 09

stephane verdino.

It's back to school time already? Wow. Summer went by too quickly and very uneventfully to say the least, but at least I can act like a student by taking part in one of my favorite past times: Back to School Shopping. Yays!

First on my list are all the goodies listed above. I need nothing else.
via (saksfifthavenue)

and another reason to love miu miu.

Dearest Miu Miu.
How much do I love thee? Let me count the ways...
I'm love the selected color placement. I think it makes the clothes pop out and slap you a bit more. This campaign makes me want to buy everythinggggg! If only my pockets would allow. Sadface =/

Photography Mert & Marcus

ladylike grunge.

I've been trying to figure out in my mind a way to incorporate florals with the grunge pieces I'm finding on a regular basis, and this picture via Style Sighting gives me great ideas. The shoes, dress, basically the entire look is epic. Love!

dear chloe.

you make my heart flutter in a girl crush like manner. we should be friends....

MODEL CALL: Chicago's Go Green Vintage Fashion Show.

A friend of mine, designer Meena Osei Kuffor is involved in Chicago's first ever Vintage Go Green Fashion show, and is looking for models. Models will be compensated for their time and involvement in the show including FREE GIFTS! She's looking for men and women to participate, so if you or someone you know have what it takes check out the information below or go HERE for the scoop. Good luck!

Vintage Go Green Fashion Show
Monday, July 6th at Plush Lounge from 6-8p
1104 W Madison St # 1 Chgo.

Thursday, July 9th at Evil Olive from 9-11p
1551 W Division Ave. Chgo

Be sure to visit Meena on her blog Gossip Me Style and follow her on Twitter!