F/W 2010: Bests Of (according to me)

Hilo! "Where are those travel posts?" you are probably thinking. Well be patient. They're forthcoming. Now, though, are my long overdue thoughts on Fashion Week.


The influences of Pheobe Philo's Spring collection for Celine were felt on more than a few runways this season: an emphasis on neutral colors, separates, and clean lines. I won't be surprised if her Fall collection resonates through other collections next season--it was near perfection. Everything was so polished, but not in an uptight, stilted way. There was lots of leather, more separates than dresses, and one of my favorite color combos (navy and black). I think we're all excited to have Philo back and I can't wait to see what else she does for Celine.











Marc Jacobs saw a return to simplicity, femininity, and unabashed prettiness. The new, below-the-knee length and the prettiest shades of yellow I've ever seen (and I am not particularly fond of yellow) were only small parts of a beautiful collection.















Alber Elbaz is not my favorite designer for no reason.














Next up: Louis Vuitton, Proenza Schouler, Erdem, Rodarte, and why I thought Prada sucked.

Hello!

Hiya!
It's been a while, hasn't it?
Well. Kelsey and I are even BUSIER this semester than last, so frequency (haaaaa) in posting will probably be once again low. But! We shall not give up entirely. I've decided to introduce a new category of post--The Travel Post!

This will be a semi-regular post about the places I wanna see!

And, once again, Kelsey and I are planning a cross-country road-trip this summer, so if you have any must-see cities, feel free to leave suggestions in the comments.

First travel post coming soon!
For now, I'll leave you with Os Mutantes and some music and scenes from In the Mood for Love.

For 2010, A Stream of Consciousness Letter by R and K

Dear Vinny,

Why do you always hurt me this way?

I mean, I know I stood you up that day.

But hey.

La Plaza Mall just isn't a date.

I don't care what you say.

Auntie Anne's pretzels aren't dinner.

Casa de Cambios isn't a hang-out spot.

You asked, "Why not?"

Aren't places of cultural monetary exchange a turn-on for you?

"No!" I said. "No."

That's because when I was little, my parents bought me for money they had exchanged at one.

You thought I was white. Well, I'm not.

I'm not.

Okay?

It's not like SHE gave you a good time at Whataburger, bellies full of A-1 Thick and Hearty's.

They are not good for your heart. Neither are you, Vinny.

"I'll take you places," you said.

I expected the moon. Not Donna's Corn Maze.

I spent hours in that maze, and later saw my slam poet ex-crush working at P.F. Chang's.

That did not make me feel good.

YOU don't make me feel good, Vinny.

You're like a sickness. A sinus problem that Zycam can't burn out.

A woman lost her olfactory sense with Zycam once.

I wish I lost my heart senses.

Shut up, Vinny!

I can hear you now.

Laughing. I always hated that laugh.

Sorry I stared at my vaccuum when you were telling me you loved me.

You vaccuumed my heart, and now only my RLS will take me places. Literally.

They can't rest.

That skirt you bought me was the wrong size.

And it didn't flatter my thighs.

Why do you tell me these lies?

I hope to never find you on my duplex doorstep, Vinny.

The Holidays are Coming!

I officially washed my hands of the Fall 2009 semester yesterday, at 8:11 p.m., when I exited my biology test, confident that I had earned my mediocrity in that class (a C+ is probably what I'm going to get out of it.

Now is the time to sleep, watch movies and television, read books, catch up with semester-forgotten friends, take walks in the cool evenings,decorate for the holidays, sing songs, take extra-long hot showers, drink eggnogg, eat Mother-baked treats (the secret ingredient is love), and just...remember why you enjoy life again.

It's also the time to go HOME. I haven't been home all semester,mostly because I'm pretty good at NOT being homesick, and something tells me a trip home would make me want to be 10-years-old and parent-dependent again.

I'm also not too fond of home. Deep South Texas, locally known as the Valley, is, simply put, not a very exciting place. It's suburbia, but without a city to ebb away suburbia blues. It wasn't until I left and my teen angst started to turn into jaded adulthood that I realized this is the place that knew me when I was young, that saw me grow up. It was home. Everything I hated about the Valley turned into nostalgic appreciation.

Unlike this song, my home still is with my Ma and Pa, and not in a significant other, but I'm still young, and this song fucking jams. Go home, hug families and friends, and enjoy the short window that comes once a year when people are usually in a happy and loving mood.



-Rachel

pump it up?

I have two tests to go, a dead week, and then finals, and then winter break will finally be here, and I'll probably have time for, if not more consistent posts, more varied ones. Not just all pump it up posts, though those can be good as well.

Like today's Weekend Jam--Gilberto Gil "Bat Macumba." Cut a rug to this thing! You can bet I'll be playing this on the radio tomorrow morning!



I'm not really sure who our audience is, or if people really even read this blog, but if you do, we'd love to get to know you! Feel free to post in the comments a little bit about yourself: favorite food, current obsession, song that consistently gets stuck in your head, favorite poetry, favorite places to take a walk...let's be friends! Post suggestions/complaints/etc, as well! We want some feedback!

PUMP IT UP...

...or just put up those headphones and listen to this quietly. Alabama Sacred Harp Singers, Y'ALL, from the Smithsonian Folkways comp. Nice number for a Sunday. It's the start of yet another painful week, but rest in the fact that my birthday is Thursday, Thanksgiving is next week, and then the hap-hap-happiest time of the year will be upon us. And also cold weather should FINALLY be moving in to Austin this next week.



Hope everyone had a good weekend.

-Rachel

p.s. Kelsey and I are planning a cross-country road trip for summer 2010. Any tips? Any must-see places? Any estimates on costs? We'd appreciate your help!

PUMP IT UP

I've had an incredibly busy past few weeks! And there's still so much to do...feature articles, bio tests, French essays...I wish there were more hours in the day!
Unfortunately, the unbearable size of my work load is making me skip work today...what a shame.
Anyway, I need something to pump myself up, so here are some jams for you to thrash around to!

The Descendents-"Suburban Home" YES.


Zero Boys-"Civilization's Dying"


Cap'n Jazz-"Olerud" and "Forget Who We Are"


The Misfits-"Bullet"