Links à la Mode: February 11th

The news that Alexander McQueen has killed himself is particularly devastating because it always felt to me like he’d be the last man standing. He was restless, but so pragmatic with it I assumed he had what it took to endure the extreme situations he placed himself in. He was also an arch romantic with a pessimistic streak. It produced some of the most beautiful, shocking images in the history of fashion, but it’s a state of mind that can lead to endless disappointments. The death of McQueen’s mother last week would have validated his pessimism. It would undoubtedly have taken away his most vital support. It’s awful to imagine him trying—and failing—to cope, and one can only hope that, if he was looking for peace, he found it. For everyone left behind, there will eventually be consolation, however scant right now, in a body of work whose power will never die.

—Tim Blanks (via Style.com)

So goes the plight and fall of the tortured artist.  Long live McQueen.

Gold Fang necklace

Stoned and Hammered (v.3) necklace

Describe yourself in 5 words.

“An ejaculation of lifestylizations, DAAAAAAAAAArling!”

…anything to continue the momentism of the glorificationalisation…. More is never enough!

As usual, I’m late to the fawning over ___ party, but damn if I didn’t nominate this woman as my new (well, only) style guru.

Catherine Baba is rocking my world.  So much so that I made myself a turban-esque head dressing and threw it on along with my printiest of print dresses, a kimono/haori, three gold necklaces, a fuzzy jacket and heels.

Wearing:
DIY turban
gifted jacket
vintage haori and dress
Refuge jeans
Aldo shoes
Stoned & Hammered necklace & White Fang necklace (both available in the etsy store!), vintage necklace of ridiculous proportions

I felt right wearing this today…I felt right.  Basic jeans and a draped tee just seem so boring now.

The headgear DIY tutorial is forthcoming.

I still get a little misty-eyed when I hear her music and marvel at the choreography that I tried to learn many times over.  I actually learned the first sequence to “Try Again” one summer and flipped “Are You That Somebody” for a cheer routine.  Man.  Those were good moments.  They make  me wish that I’d seriously taken up dance. 

Aaliyah didn’t need to throw on a leotard and shake her crotch at the camera to be entertaining.  Interesting choreography, a bare midriff, baggy pants, and boots were her steez.  She came from an era where the industry didn’t put as much pressure on artists to conform to a certain standard the way they do now.  When they didn’t need huge boobs and an ass hanging out to sell albums…ugh…

I miss that…I really do. 

R.I.P.

Back in May of 2008, the BBC aired three short series centered around illustrating the human costs of today’s throwaway culture.  In each, six Brits are sent throughout Asia to experience the lifestyles and working conditions of the people who are responsible for manufacturing the things most often taken for granted in the Western world.  Those series are now re-airing on Planet Green.

Compelling reality television does exist.

The first of the three, Blood, Sweat & Takeaways centered around food culture, has already concluded.  This time around, it’s Blood, Sweat & T-Shirts.

Yeah.  The monster that is fast fashion.

(the guy on the left is a COMPLETE ASSHOLE.  Seriously.)

Sure, we’re all (vaguely) aware of the (nebulous) concept of sweatshops and poor working conditions.  After all, sucky treatment of workers in poorer countries = cheap, largely disposable clothing and we’re fine with it because we’re saving a few dollars and can remain gleefully ignorant about where it all comes from.  This series, however, puts faces and names on the people working to make that cheap and chic shirt; it examines factories with tightly-packed workers making less than $2 a day and sweatshops where workers don’t even go home…they sleep, eat, and work in a dank room with nothing more than a garment on a mannequin and a quota to meet.  The show’s subjects are thrown in the thick of it, tasked to work alongside the same people who, in earlier interviews, they couldn’t care less about.

It’s hard to not feel something while watching.

I was already a bit ambivalent about shopping at places like Forever 21 and Urban Outfitters, but after seeing the first episode, I’m ready to swear it off for good.

Seriously.

The next show airs tomorrow on Planet Green at 10pm EST.  For those of you without the cable, here is the second episode…it’s a grainy filming of someone’s television and subtitled with a language I can’t recognize, but you’ll get the point.

Now…be honest…after watching this, how do you feel about shopping at Forever 21/Topshop/Urban Outfitters?  Seriously.  Let’s discuss.

—

Side note: I also caught a movie featuring two of the most adorably precocious pre-teens called What’s On Your Plate? on the same channel (GO PLANET!).  If you can catch a local screening, please do…or you can take my route and scan the guide to set a reminder the next time it shows up on TV.

From the O.G. Lipstick Bandit:

Hi Beautiful People!
The event we’ve been anticipating is here! DaLipstickBandit Cosmetics Launch Party is tonight!

Location: Madame X Lounge, 94 W Houston St. NYC
Time: 6pm – 10pm
Cost: Free
Must be 21 and over!

There will be giveaways, raffles, good music, cupcakes and $5 Happy Hour drinks until 9pm.
Giveaways will be scattered about,  so get there early before they’re snatched up!

See you soon!

Besos!

Wearing
Target Hat
Self-designed necklace
thrifted Gap vest
Colonial Madness boots

Someone told me I was giving them Borderline meets Karma Chameleon vibes…I think it was the hat.

As mentioned in the previous post, the necklace isn’t really that obnoxious.  In fact, several people seemed to like it.  I think I’m going to need more chandelier crystals…

I like to call it serendipity when someone I’ve admired in random blog posts here and there ends up on StyleLikeU.  It’s almost like meeting them…almost…

Domonique from Stylelikeu.com

Domonique, you fucking rock.  I’d totally go with you to the grocery store wearing crazy not-costumes, flipping the bird to people giving us side-eye.  TOTALLY. 

FIDs* KIDS UNITE!!!

After seeing this, I was…inspired (I’m really getting sick of that word)…to make something of the mound of vintage chandelier crystals that I’ve been hoarding collecting over the past several months.  I mean, who doesn’t want a chandelier hanging from their neck?  I know I want a chandelier hanging from my neck.

I thought it looked more obnoxious on my table than it actually is.  I am sad about this.  Needs more crystals.

*FIDs is what I call FIDM…because it rhymes with kids.

New jangles.

Stoned and Hammered.  2-D. 

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