Trick or Tweet; Chanel 2011 + the envy of actors.

"You know what keeps me from acting?...fuckin' auditions" -Mitch Hedburg

This line from one of his sketches popped into my head today while I was sauntering along on my walk. Even though I was listening to music and not comedy. I love Mitch Hedburg; that perfect stoner mentality and his unique delivery method. It got me thinking about acting and creating and building a character that fits the part like a god damn puzzle piece. Then it made me, once again, realise that actors have the best job in the world. I feel like actors are empty vessels waiting for the next role to fill, the next person to create, the next figure to portray. I think about this often (particularly at a certain part in my drive to work). However, it takes a certain something in someone to be a very good creator of character. I think it would be so fun to step into another life and be someone else for a short period of time. To wear clothes you wouldn't normally wear or be made up in a face you would normally never have. It seems like it would be quite the day to day agenda, but I guess it looks perfect from far away.

This thinking about acting sparked the idea of costume and character, and with the frigid air grazing my showing skin, it all made me think of Halloween. My thought flow will always take me to interesting waters... So really, I was wondering why I don't get more into the whole dressing up thing. It's rather peculiar since I'm such an avid fan of the idea of stepping into another person for awhile and carrying different mannerisms. I would really like the idea of being Margot Tennenbaum this year. Since, after all, I am sporting the hair and could smoke a few cigarettes throughout the evening and blow smoke past my thick black eyeliner. The unfortunate downfall occurs when I became aware that I do not have a perfect mink coat like the one she sports throughout the movie as one of her trademark essentials (what a perfect essential). I also have so many coats hanging all over this house and don't want to necessarily have another, but if I see something before Halloween, it might just be way too hard to resist. And yes, I hope something comes up.

I have been in love with this weather lately. When the high for the day is 57, it is a good one. A day that calls for shorts, but only if paired with a pair of outlandish tights!- my favourite spring/summer/fall addition to outfits. Ah fall, I love you.

All the tweets poured in this morning of people gushing over how fabulous the Chanel show in Paris was. That would be one show I would have loved to attend. The gift bags looked pretty rad, too. All in all, I was way to early to judge the little blue bird that is the logo of the twitter world. I love getting hot of the press information, especially when it regards Fashion Week. Sadly, all this "awesome, hip, totally cool" technology makes me long for the times of handwritten notes to friends folded strategically and passed along in the halls and phone calls to friends houses where you had to ask their parents if your friends were able to speak. Those times are gone, unfortunately, unless you're in fifth grade, but even then so, you probably still have a cell phone. But, I shall bow down to my Evo 4G that fetches information at the drop of a hat and keeps me informed on all that is going on around the world, whether that refers to Karl Lagerfeld's latest creation or Time's informative article, I just have to be lucky that I get good news quick.

Speaking of Karl Lagerfeld...

I checked out this 2011 Chanel spring collection and it looks like there are so many inspirational pulls, but they are all so different, but work together really well to create a really bold look. Most things were able to strike a certain character to me, in a way that's like "Oh, so and so would wear that dress". I love that there was a 90 piece band present at this show. I can just imagine how wonderful it was--how powerful. Hans Zimmer style, although I doubt it was as dramatic. I had a lot of fun looking at it. However, I wasn't a huge fan of the models or the make-up. I just thought that some outfits were so light and pretty and then the model was so dark and made for a juxtaposition that I did not like. I know that models are more so hangers than anything else, but sometimes they can really make or break the look. Enough babble, I will slap a few pictures up;

this looks like something Dorothy would wear if Oz produced couture

M.I.A meets J. Lo.

this would be Wednesday Addams wedding dress

makes me think of what would happen if Gwyneth Paltrow's 1999 Oscar Dress fought with her 2002 Alexander Mcqueen pick and then threw in some western flare.

I think Florence Welch would wear this to an award show.

High end version of Pocahontas meets up with Proenza Shouler

Jaqueline Kennedy-esque.

On one last note...

I think Starbucks is so extremely overrated and if their coffee doesn't make you feel extremely janky after you consume it, then you have a stomach sewn together by the gods. That is all. Have a lovely day! Go Caribou!

arousal of autumn and all of it's inspiration.

Today I got my first "real" taste of autumn. We woke up to grey skies, winds gusting, and rain streaming down the windows. It was beautiful. I love overcast weather and in fall it just seems so appropriate. It seems appropriate in spring as well, but it's more of a nuisance since you just dealt with the onslaught of winter precipitation. I had to wear not one, but two sweaters with my jacket to keep me warm today. The Chicago winters are brutal to my body, but for now it is fall so I'm inspired and ready for change, not only weather wise, but wardrobe wise. Fall is my favourite season to dress for since you don't have to be totally layered up, but people aren't expecting you to be clad in next to nothing (I hate the expectations of summer). Plus I get the same excitement about pulling out my fall boots as people do over their stupid flip flops in the late spring time (I hate "flops", as I call them--get some self respect).

The arrival of autumn also inspired another great change; that would be me cutting off all of my hair. For the past four years, I have vested great interest in me growing my hair to my waist so I wouldn't have to "wear shirts anymore" (I was joking, people). I wanted to "Rapunzel that shit". So once my hair finally was super long, I cut it all off. That is so like me.

It was like, I put all my pride into my hair and I loved brushing it and "wearing it". Then one day I woke up and decided I hated my layered mess. I was sick of my hair hiding my clothes and hiding that edgy-ness that short hair brings upon me. When I was in high school I cut all my hair off with a razor blade, and what is even better was one of those change-able Gillette style razor blades. Heh. I mean..I cut it ALL off and it totally worked for me. Of course, I would never, ever go this short again. I like it right above the shoulder or longer on me. It's just too thick.

Me my senior year of high school.

But I loved what it did for my style. This was kind of like that, my hair provokes my outfits these days. Of course, wanting only long hair for years and then once I achieve the dream I cut it all off into a perfect just above the shoulder bob. Yes. I will eventually post a picture. I am in love with it and it is perfect for me right now.

When it comes down to it, that is what it is all about. It's not picking up a magazine to see what is "in" right now, it's about looking at the past three years of your Vogue collection and gathering inspiration from all of them to create your own look. You just have to do what works for you and what makes you feel best. I disdain when people say "I can't pull that off". Although, I have to admit, I'm probably guilty of throwing the five words around myself. It's not about pulling anything off, it is about taking it and making it your own. Of course, you have to allow the right for people to deny clothes they know will not be most flattering to their shape or personality, even. I have to respect when people know what works best for them, but when someone says "I can't pull that off", it sounds like they aren't even bold enough to try. In the end, if you're asking Leo Tolstoy anyways, he will say that art is considered art if the creator is able to transcend the same feeling to the viewer as he felt when he was painting it. That's what fashion is like. It is about being able to make a statement or hopefully transcend a feeling through your clothes, and hopefully that feeling is the same one you had when you put that outfit together. It's about walking through the door and knowing that you feel perfect in your outfit and getting either the intrigued stares or the glares.

I don't know how my haircut story turned into a "pulling it off" broadcast...but it did.

So now that fall has been here for a little over a week, I'll post other things that are provoking my style and latest wants. In the colder months, I always prefer all black. On the contrary, I like to throw some crazy patterns in the layered mix or wear wild, colorful jewelery, or wear layers of colours or prints, but there is something about the classics. But my favourite fall accessory are probably funky print nylons/leggings. They always bring the funk to the outfits. Here's some juice to getcha goin for fall...

I came across this really cool site. Thought this doll was snobby in all the right ways.

Laura Kranitz Headband. Awesome accessory

YAY! It's autumn!

Mary Janes. One of the best shoes you can own in the fall months.

I need a pair to feel like I am six again.

Perfect tights! I love them.

(Left to right) Topshop.com, Urban Outfitters, Miss Sixty.

Black roses are my favourite flower.

Dolce & Gabanna

The girl on the right reminds me of the young Margot Tenenbaum

Love these tights, too.

(L to R) Express, Scout LA, Wolford Shade

Love this Delfina Delettrez Fendi piece.

I am in love with these Dr. Martins. I love how big and chunky they are but even better because they have a great pattern. I want.

xx

nineteen fashion tracks; musical Inspiration.

Sometimes I see something that was created and think "Hm. I wonder what they were listening to when they did that." It's like that when I see a designers new line. It's like, what were they inspired by? Who have they seen? What new album did they get? What movie did they watch? What is even better is that it's most likely a mix of all of that. Some lines you see have a certain theme, something repetitious found throughout and some lines are all over the board and seems to be a result of various inspiration. Music has such an impact on my life and it moves me in so many ways and is often present when I conjure up some of my best thoughts or ideas. Whenever I hear a song, I always create the storyboard for it in my head, something to bring to life while I listen. Depending on what song I'm listening to, it will determine the outcome of clothing or makeup.

I decided to gather together some of my favourite songs that inspire me to dress a very certain way. They either put a specific decade in my mind, or a mood, or a scene where people are dressed have a particular style. So get in your closet and listen to these tunes

http://8tracks.com/tessaabee/fashion-inspiration

Enjoy.

Spring Mix: The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly.

PLUS

PLUS

EQUALS

Some of the ingredients for an amazing past few days!

(my boyfriend played the biggest role in making it awesome!)

So many ideas have been bouncing around my head for quite awhile now. While being immersed in the Portland culture for the past four days & five nights I have had countless things I have been wanting to delve more into. Luckily, the new October issue was on stands for me to grab before I got on my flight.

My tweet deck had been sending countless reminders of new lines that have been making their way down runways in Milan during my stay. Needless to say, I've been busy in between seeing the wonderful, wonderful sights that Oregon & Washington had to offer us.

Before I start getting into designer lines, I'll speak my mind about the fashion vibes in Portland. Wow, what a great city! Not only when it comes to funky fashion, but the people are just down right awesome. One of the first stops I had to make was Goodwill. I LOVE thifting. I think it is the best ways to create your outfits and you can really make something your own with what you find. It's like going shopping in 1,000 closets of people of all decades with different styles. I lucked out immensely with this particular one. Almost everything on the hangers was designer. I ended up with a divine purple polyester BCBG top with a long tie-wrap around the waist (reminds me of something you would find in the Ralph Lauren 2010 fall line) I got another top as well. I will have to post a picture;

...but the real winner of the bunch was a beautiful Pendleton coat (made in Oregon) in a deep red. I was absent minded and forgot my coat for the voyage, but knew that I would get to buy one whilst we were there. When I tried it on in the store, three people came up to me and said "You need to buy that coat, it's simply gorgeous and in perfect condition." I snagged this little luxury for only fifty dollars! I couldn't believe my luck, especially since I did not have the desire to spend more than that since I have plenty of coats floating around the house. "They" say never buy a red coat, but "they" can go to hell, it's perfect, especially for holiday time.

I actually just chopped even more of my hair off.

Professional shears are dangerous for me to have.

It more so resembles a longer bob now.

With such fabulous thrifting, so many people are decked out in the coolest threads. I loved that about Portland. Sort of that "Let your freak flag fly" mentality. Which of course, is my favourite.

On to the designers.... I checked out a few collections this past week as the updates rolled in from all over via fashion tweets. heh (this all sounds quite lame to me. I never. ever. ever thought that I would have a twitter, but I do and I love it. dammit.) A few stand out to me; for reasons good and bad. Jil Sander is one of those. I normally like things by Jil Sander. But only through ads I've seen in Vogue over the years. I actually saw one of her dresses in the September issue and I loved it. When I saw the tweet about the latest Jil Sander line, I tapped the screen with a finger and wasn't exactly "in love" with what I saw. I saw big horizontal stripes across the body, unflattering, no shape, etc. But to be fair, I came back to the spring 2011 line multiple times to see if my mind would change the more I saw it. You know, like music, the more you hear it, the more you like it (sometimes.) So here we go; half of page three & page four is probably their only highlights and that is mostly in reference to colour. A lot of it is used here and I love that, I just disdain the shape of the clothes.

This is really the only thing I liked.

Some of the ones I did not like. At All.

see?! no shape!

These clothes are so expensive. They are supposed to make a woman feel wonderful about herself. I cannot see myself ever paying a lot for these garments. The female form should be celebrated and or at least silhouetted in some way. This line didn't do it for me.

On the other hand...we have some lines that I will be lusting over for a long, long time. Hats off to Aquilano.Rimondi & Versus! I love the patterns, the colours, the plaid, the line...really everything! It was hard to only pick six from each that I loved. They just make me gush!

.VERSUS.

mmm. mmm. mmm.

Excuse me, plaid just became extremely sexy.

I have admired the plaid look going around for the past few years, but I was never really into the grunge look so I always hesitate with plaid. I think sometimes it looks dashing and sometimes I hate the look so much. It's all about the rest of the outfit and the occasion. This looks like 'Little
House On The Prairie' all sexed up. I want this whole line.

.Aquilano.Rimondi.

Just PERFECT for spring. This line gives me such a good vibe. It looks like something Margot Tenenbaum would wear if she were 30 years old in the 60's hipster era. However they look like things I would wear now. I also love the one length long hair on these models. It goes perfectly with the clothes and the mood of it all.

But I cannot get too caught up in spring clothes just yet. For the time is coming for tons and tons of layers for me, simply because my body cannot handle these Chicago Winters. It's a season for me where my whole closet gets to jump in the mix. The Versus line holds more inspiration for me now because of the plaids. Plaids have always gotten me into fall, whether or not I wore them or not. They just remind me of the leaves changing colours and the crisp fall air. I am SO EXCITED.

Ah. My thoughts are finally put in their place for now.

This sunny day is making me chipper! Normally it's the opposite.

Hope you all tuned into Dexter on Sunday.