thechicnerd

2009: The Year of the Chic Nerd

2009-01-01T18:35:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it's already 2009! Though I must say, given the magnificent events that occurred in 2008 I'm looking forward to this new year. Just before Christmas, Ryan Stewart of The Boston Phoenix proclaimed 2008 The Year of the NERD. From the dorky tastes of our wonderful President Elect, to the astounding success of comic book movies and the rise of obsessive twittering, 2008 has been great for the nerd. While I join my fellow nerds and bask in our rising fame, I know that the world won't abandon it's long-time stars so easily. No matter how nerdy the world gets beauty and style will never go out of fashion. The nerds who've made it to the top have either started with style or picked it up along the way. Barack Obama looks immaculate in a suit. Tina Fey, who looked charming before, morphed into that fabulous creature on the cover of Vanity Fair. Even twitter has a wardrobe full of cute skins to personalize its pages.

Stewart mentioned Seth Rogen in the section of his article titled Freak Love, observing, "Rogen, the frizzy-haired, chubby comic-book nerd that he is, not only co-wrote and co-starred in Pineapple Express, but with his comedy golden touch also established himself as the poster boy for Nerd Chic." I agree, but let's take a look at Seth Rogen, shall we?

Old and busted........................................New hotness.

At the premier of Superbad in 2007 he looked nice, but he could have done better. His striped gold tie was too wide and it matched his personal coloring, but not his grey suit. Rogen's girlfriend, Lauren Miller, also looked lovely, but the structured black belt was too severe for her white summery lace dress, which wasn't entirely flattering to her midsection. At the premier of Pineapple Express in 2008, however, we see some changes. Rogen's haircut makes his jaw appear stronger, his suit has much better tailoring- its shoulders are sharp and its two button closure accents the taper from his shoulders to his midsection. Miller's dress hits her at the narrowest point on her body and supports her chest. It's pattern, combined with her hair and makeup, showcases her complexion. Plus the yellow necklace adds a fashion forward punch to her black and white ensemble.

Rogen, Fey and Twitter are nerds through and through, but to survive in the land of it bags and paparazzi they had to beef up their sartorial sense. Enough with socialites whose greatest achievement was being born rich. It's time for the clever to rule with java, anime, and a fierce pair of Christian Louboutins- Style & Substance 2.0. If 2008 was the year of the nerd I decree 2009 The Year of the Chic Nerd. It's the dawn of a new era, ladies and gentlemen, and we're on top this time :-)

Image Credits:
http://uk.movies.yahoo.com/s/Superbad/photos-4752987-2932289.html
http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2008/08/06/Rogen_I_make_movies_Id_like_to_see/UPI-93091218049762/

Lego Fashion Show

2008-11-26T14:44:00.000-08:00

Designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac presents his SS2009 collection in LEGO. The show is titled "Plastic Architecture" and is a refreshing break from the standard monochromatic runways. Sure you lose certain features like observing the motion of clothes or draping of fabric as a model moves, but the show makes up for it with overall fun and creativity...and LEGOS. I think it's a worthy trade-off.

JCDC Versus LEGO from Four H on Vimeo.

Before & After: The Gucci Superteam

2008-11-23T20:25:00.000-08:00

Talk about a transformation! Lately it seems photoshop is the topic of discussion when talking about models in magazines. I often marvel at the power of new technology to alter our outer shells for better or for worse; I love Jezebel's Photoshop of Horrors posts. Just remember that before the image touches a computer models already go through major metamorphoses. It took three hours per girl to properly prepare for Gucci's runway show in Milan. Fashionista posted these photos from The Look two days ago and they continue to awe me. Given the Gucci hair and make-up entourage and enough time to watch an LOTR movie I bet everyone could look like an ultimate dime. Click on the pics for larger images.

* Although vaguely irrelevant I would now like to take a moment to proclaim my undying love for Chanel Iman. I smile every time I see that girl on a runway <3

Sartorial Space Cowboy

2008-11-16T18:26:00.000-08:00

In a procrastination session a little while ago I frolicked about fashionindie.com and found a post called A Must For Fall: Leather Boots, written by Corey Moran. The collection of boots was very impressive- each looked like a stylish upgrade of your standard 90's grunge Doc Marten. But something was bugging me with each shot- I just couldn't place it, who did those boots remind me of? Then it hit me.

Spike Spiegel.

If you don't know who I'm talking about you need to click here and familiarize yourself with the futuristic interplanetary bounty hunter that is the animated love of my life. Cowboy Bebop is one of my favorite things in life: it's jazzy, explosive, emotional, and has some of the best illustration I have ever seen. I can't tell you how much time I spent watching that series in anime club (don't judge). Mind you I never tried to marry him (only in Japan, ladies and gents) but I always thought it'd be pretty cool if he were 3D.

Two dimensional love aside, Spike's fashion sense is pretty cool. Who do you know that can rock a skinny suit like it's a pair of sweatpants? The part of his outfit I always found most fascinating was his jacket. I can see the two clasp wrap style being very slimming and just fashion forward enough to catch the eye. I have yet to find a suit jacket like that in real life, but Hyden Yoo's chelsea sweater comes close enough to get the job done. I first learned of Hyden Yoo this summer while working for Gen Art. He was one of the designers featured in the Fresh Faces in Fashion runway show this past September and his work is fantastic. Click on the picture of the sweater for a link to it on Oak.

Now that I have to watch the entire series all over again, there's only one way to sign off on this post.

See You Later, Space Cowboy ;-)

Steve Urkel Swag

2008-11-13T04:45:00.000-08:00

Ok so it's been a looooooong while since I updated my fair blog and I realized in an improptu sartorial rant that left the other party in the conversation dazed and confused that I missed thechicnerd. So here's a little ditty I wrote a while back, just something to get started agan. Please bear with me for a moment* while I get back into my groove.

Often the most unsuspecting people are the ones who become the fashion icons of an era. Sure, there are plenty of Hollywood starlets styled by Rachel Zoe who plan every detail of their just-rolled-out-of-bed ensemble in preparation for the daily paparazzi feeding frenzy. These girls are snapped, photoshopped, and quickly plastered on the pages of People magazine, where they single-handedly sustain the health of the leggings industry. However the best street style does not begin with these girls, it starts in tiny cultural crevices unaffected by the fashion world where only the boldest individuals dare to tread. Today’s icon is so removed from fashion he has unknowingly founded his own sartorial school of thought.

Surely you’ve noticed that the current cool kids bear an uncanny resemblance to a certain bumbling nerd from the sitcom Family Matters. Yes, I am talking about Steve Urkel. The impossibly clumsy, Laura adoring goofball with that nasal catch-phrase- Did I do that?. He stumbled onto the scene halfway through the show’s first season in 1989 and swiftly stole the show. In spite of all the ridicule Steve still dared to be different, which is why he’s made another great comeback and become the most stylish kid on the block.

I first noticed Steve’s influence on a humid summer night in Brooklyn. In every charmingly grungy restaurant in Williamsburg or seductively lit bar in Fort Greene I found at least two hipsters sporting thick plastic glasses. Their scale far exceeded the largest eyewear I had ever seen; even Mary-Kate’s visage-blocking shades couldn’t stand a chance against these facial wind-shields. They come in a variety of colors, from the standard coke-bottles in black to lime green, burgundy, gold, and even zebra prints. At the 55DSL event in August featuring the legendary DJ Pete Rock, a living breathing instant sign of cool-ness, I spotted no less than six pairs of these plastic frames. I have yet to see anyone rock a big wad of masking tape right on the bridge of their nose, but be patient- the more extreme disciples of Steve will appear in due time.

Monsieur Urkel has sparked trends in more than just eyewear. Plaids and tartans of all colors and sizes have been exceedingly prevalent on the streets. Many are continuing with traditional patterns like your standard lumberjack red and black for a low-key, vintage feel. Even more are branching into shocking colors like turquoise and tangerine, or updating classic picnic table gingham to edgy status with the severe palette of black and white. Oversized men’s shirts are usually an easy find in your local thrift store, but for a more tailored fit Urban Outfitters has some excellent plaid shirt-dresses.

Steve’s next step? Tuck your plaid shirt into a pair of high-waisted jeans. These polished cuts are still proving to be fierce competition with underwear-revealing hip huggers. Ultra-high waists have made an appearance on both shorts and pants often with decorative five-button fly’s or elaborate stitching to spice up those extra inches of denim. Though please be careful, not to have too much fabric around your middle, lest you suffer a repeat of Mischa Barton’s camel-toe mom jeans catastrophe. Keep the fit close to your body and all will be well. If you want to be a hard core urkelian take the legs up a few inches and taper. Hedi Slimane claims to have inspired this fit, but true believers know it's all Steve’s doing.

People keep fooling themselves, denying Steve’s role in their fashion lives. Don’t they know who rocked suspenders all day every day? I do hope that the every adorable hipster in a fedora and suspenders can take the time to recognize Steve Urkel’s contributions to their outfits. Even though his pants were certainly tight enough to stay up on their own, Steve pushed the envelope with a courageous and bold accessory. He could emphasize the best points of his quirky rants with a tug of those rubber band tight straps, delivering his final point with that gratifying snap and a knowing brow raise. No one can gesticulate with a suspender the way he can, but with varieties in all colors and prints we can all try and look great doing it.

Last but certainly not least, to live up to the great standard set before you, you need one thing Steve always has with him. Swag. In spite of being constantly mocked and rejected, Steve Urkel never changed his super smooth ways. He always maintained such an energy and proudly rocked his nerdiness, something us Stanford students can all understand. Steve Urkel sparked the original nerd chic that has Kanye West, Pharrel Williams, and legions of cool kids everywhere rocking his style daily. Ever so humble, he’d ask: did I do that? The only reply is yes, Steve, you did.

*PS: I can no longer say "bear with me for a moment" without thinking of this xkcd comic. The nerd is back!

Harajuku!

2008-05-14T23:28:00.000-07:00

I only got to spend a few hours there, but I found some amazing people in that short time.

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friends....how many of us have them? :-P

2008-04-19T23:30:00.000-07:00

nihon no chicnerd

2008-04-06T23:46:00.000-07:00

Terribly sorry all, this hiatus has been far too long and because of it I officially suck as a blogger. However I'm striking back with a VENGEANCE. thechicnerd has relocated to Japan, and hilarity, dudes who look like ladies, and incomprehensible cuteness will undoubtedly ensue! I'm centered at Doshisha University in Kyoto- the sakura are in full bloom. I have yet to figure out how to ask for people's photos in Japanese without seeming like a total gaijin (foreigner) sketchball, so until then please enjoy these secret agent style pics.

Happy Valentines Day! <3

2008-02-14T23:22:00.000-08:00

Happy heart day everyone! Or celebrate Singles Awareness Day (SAD), whichever suits your current situation. Either way you should appreciate all things red and heart-shaped, as the Saudi Arabian government has banned Valentine's Day. There's even a black market for roses! But I digress.

Take this opportunity to walk outside
spot the one you love
ask that crucial question
and who knows?

..might even get some cute breakfast out of it too :-)

oversized bows, colorful plaids and...trippy animation?

2008-02-10T22:46:00.001-08:00

so I checked out the Prada website today...

Photo credit: jezebel.com

I was expecting to go through my usual stare, wish, hope, and pray routine, but no. This time instead of being filled with longing I was just freaked out. The site currently opens with Trembled Blossoms, an animated short that you might see if a mannequin came to life and fell through the rabbit hole as Alice in Thelionthewitchandthewardrobe-land. Bugs turn into shoes, fish into purses, clones into suits, and on top of it all the girl's blank eyes give me the creeps.

I normally enjoy fashionable animation, but this...it just doesn't do it for me. If trembled blossoms left a bad taste in your mouth, wash it out with Superflat Monogram, Takashi Murakami's animation for Louis Vuitton. This guy did the album art for Kanye's Graduation, I absolutely adore his work.

1/8 debater, blue coat from korea, rounded jacket red flats

2008-02-09T23:55:00.001-08:00

"I'm from Utah, I'm here for the debate conference"

I don't understand why all you beautiful people keep wanting your heads cut off, but if you insist.

"I pretty much just rolled out of bed"

safe sex or no sex

2008-02-07T23:23:00.000-08:00

Talk about a fashion statement!

Photo credit: jezebel.com

Two ninth grade girls were suspended from school after protesting their school's abstinence only sex education. They wore home-made tank tops liberally sprinkled with condoms that said "SAFE SEX OR NO SEX". Props, girls, for standing up for what you believe in. I only wish they'd had one of these dresses available to them.

4th China Reproductive Health New Technologies & Products Expo in Beijing July 11, 2007
Photo Credit: http://ahboon.net/2007/07/19/condom-fashion-show-in-china/

thechicnerd in The Stanford Daily!

2008-02-07T01:14:00.000-08:00

Today (wed.) thechicnerd got some positive press in The Stanford Daily. Joanna Xu hosted the interview with me and Leia, the fashionable female above and the mind behind StanfordStyle. Definitely keep an eye on Leia's blog- she's snapped a lot of great finds. We spoke casually about our inspirations and our opinions on fashion and style. Plus Leia hails from my hometown, which automatically makes her amazing.

peep the article here!

1/26 perfect print trio, neighborhood watch and purple striped tie

2008-02-03T03:57:00.000-08:00

"I try my hardest not to match"
"be"

1/ 25 hot shorts and purple pumps, double collar action

2008-02-03T03:52:00.000-08:00

1/26 sparkle leggings and plum jacket in TAP

2008-02-03T03:46:00.000-08:00

"I am very cheap"

The Wiz

2008-01-30T21:31:00.000-08:00

Blackstage's The Wiz was absolutely amazing. Aside from the compelling acting, astounding vocals, perfectly timed humor, and general feel-goodyness of the production, the costume design blew me away.

At the risk of sounding like Tim Gunn, the styles were innovative, especially considering the typical size of the costume budget for university productions. The brilliant color combinations and the use of textured materials convinced the audience of the strange origins and unique personalities of each character. The scarecrow had all the appropriate tears and patches, uneven pant legs and straw in his hood. Disheveled worked well- not to mention his glow in the dark kicks.

The tin man was...shiny. Very shiny. The metallic strips along his legs and the hat were the perfect touches. I'm still most puzzled by the coils above his elbows and below his knees, I wanna know how they did that.

Loved the texture of the Lion's outfit, it almost looked like a patterned carpet was magically cut and sewn into a well-fitting coat and pants. The fraying at the edges plus the animal fluff at the ankles made great fur, scraggly yet soft.
Dorothy's pink gingham jumper was the cutest thing I'd ever seen, yet somehow even the puff sleeves didn't infantilize her too much- maybe it was the heels.

The designers even paid attention to detail in supporting cast costumes! In the group photo you can see the yellow brick road, that brick house trio of sassy songbirds, the green citizens of the emerald city, and my favorite, the Witch of the North, I LOVED her and her orville redenbacher popcorn. That color explosion, those little scrunchies, and those heels! Sheer brilliance. But, of course, nothing like the iconic silver slippers:

Sadly, clicking this picture three times won't get you a clearer image, but trust me they shone like discoballs of joy.

Great job, Blackstage!

1/26 Fun in Building 200

2008-01-26T19:19:00.000-08:00

(note: the next few images are blurry for some reason, but if you click on them larger, clearer photos pop up)

1/25 boys! graphic print hoodie, orange ensemble

2008-01-24T23:04:00.001-08:00

Trendy Totes

2008-01-23T21:35:00.000-08:00

The walkers around here don't seem to enjoy backpacks anymore- I thought messenger bags were good enough but now they aren't even making the cut! These three are already putting my targus messenger to shame:

If you wanna follow suit check these out- just make sure you get a nice thick strap. Style is always crucial and you won't look good grimacing as your laptop cuts into shoulder all day.

Coach Hamptons Vintage Leather Large Carryall- $798,
Target Loeffler Randall Large Tote- $39.99

1/15 woojin and friend, brown tote cute haircut

2008-01-15T21:07:00.000-08:00

wear palettes

2008-01-13T20:38:00.001-08:00

a lil shout out to all my product designers :-)

wear palettes is a blog operated by a graphic design student who takes the photos from ultimate street fashion blogger, The Sartorialist and constructs color palettes for the outfit. The student sometimes includes elements outside the clothing itself, such as the wearers hair or surroundings, that add to the richness of the image. For anyone who is into design, has taken Art 60, or just likes color compositions, this site is a dream come true.

1/12- angelica, leather and plum

2008-01-12T16:48:00.000-08:00

Angelica
"Accessorize! And don't be afraid to buy things out of season, you can get simpler items and pair them with trendier pieces. And use good timing to get good sales"

"I like it when people look like they might be famous..."

1/10- paris, eric

2008-01-10T22:46:00.000-08:00

"Style inspirations? Well I just got back from Paris..."

Eric
"Make mistakes while you're young"

1/9- greyscale, brights

2008-01-10T02:13:00.000-08:00

"I like preppy basics with neutral colors- navy, grey, black, white."- Patti

"As bright a color as you can possibly wear"

no one cares about who wins the emmys...

2007-09-17T19:49:00.000-07:00

Seriously, there are very few people who give a flying rat's patootey about who actually wins the awards, which is actually the reason for the show's existence (think of the awards as Jesus during Christmas- we mean to care, we really do, but most people get sucked in by the super-cute packaging and novelty light-up singing santas). That said I might as well indulge in the fashion criticism and add my two cents:

Noteworthy pieces:

Katherine Heigl stole the show in a flawless ensemble. The flutter cap sleeves, the updo, the curves, and the clutch were all perfect. Bravo! Now Vanessa Williams' gown has been the only other dress to stay on my mind with such a vengeance. When I first saw it I squinted, leaned in, then tilted my head like a confused puppy. Vanessa is radiant, love the hue of the dress and the gold band to flatter her decolletage, but my mind keeps gnawing on this gown like it's a piece of design jerky. I swear it's this year's awards show rubik's cube.

Ali Larter and Kristen Bell both used draping to their advantage. These gowns are fantastic- they summon the elegance but tastefully leave out the gimmick factor of the Greek goddess look, which was so popular last summer I had to restrain myself from screaming TOGA! TOGA! every time I walked around Georgetown.

With my favorite redheads it was close, but no cigar. Everyone was crazy about Kate Walsh's dress and I must admit I loved the color and fabric, but I could play a elevator music on her bones. Stick thin thigh, ribs protruding and gotdang woman since when did bras go out of style? That goes for you too, Felicity Huffman and Jaime Pressly! And Marcia Cross- you have beautiful earrings and your dress is certainly cut to flatter you, but you are white as snow and therefore need some color somewhere. I halfway expected you to light up a la Touched By an Angel and say "God loves you and would never leave you alone!" as Della Reese sings in the desert and a floating cloth turns into a dove.

There were plenty more outfits to critique but those were my top picks- I didn't do a feature on the worst because that would keep me here forever and ever. But I will point out that Ellen Pompeo's hair scared me- though her necklace brought me such joy that I squealed like a little girl when I saw it. Also for the men: rugged, scruffy hair is hot but it has it's place. This is a classy event, Clark Gable should pimp-slap you all with his comb!

Wisconsin Avenue

2007-09-16T20:29:00.000-07:00

Or at least right off Wisconsin- I say if you can reach it with a metro stop between Tenley and Bethesda and a 30 bus I can call it Wisconsin Ave. Anyway I had an adventure on my favorite street this weekend starting with a talk at Duke Ellington School of the Arts. I met the three students in the pic to talk about school fashion show production- after CFS and The Movement apparently I was some sort of expert worth consulting, like the chemical engineer suddenly summoned for the case against big tobacco- I met him once, he's a really cool guy. But I digress: the pink suede orange cap-toed flats were darling and I never get tired of a British flag on a boy- you'd think I'd find it cliche by now. Chyna hit the nail on the head with her high waisted jeans and white cropped sweater. That outfit could have been seriously disastrous, but the proportions and the pockets made it work Tim Gunn style.

I found these two lovely ladies whilst traipsing about Friendship Heights. The first mastered casual chic with her black zip-up, gray skirt, matching gray leggings, and adorable black ballet flats with the delicate yet stark mod white trim. It's a comfortable outfit I would be ok shopping in, eureka! After that I had the fortune to find the woman on the right, a lovely sales associate at Lord & Taylor. From her spunky short haircut to her ankle-strap peep-toe shoes, this woman had it down to a science. Her white shirt had the perfect details like that short collar- and the striped waist-band and textured print of her skirt, brilliant! Check the black earrings too. What do you think?

consider the lobster

2007-09-15T19:28:00.000-07:00

Could you please? The lobster is so often neglected. Won't someone think of the lobster? David Foster Wallace sure did- doesn't his name sound official and sarcastic? I found this baby while browsing the shelves of the amazing Kramer Books. That night there was even a dude playing the guitar in that little nook above the store right next to the enormous monty python-esque hand of god. When I grow up I'd like to be him for exactly one hour- no more, no less. Ceiling nook guitar dude is yet another wonderful thing to love about Dupont Circle.

It being the center of those energetic gay parades where those results gym boys shake their stuff to music that vaguely reminds me of Duffman, I was surprised to find a gaggle of straight men congregated in the circle. I ventured closer to find that they were watching *gasp* a hula hooper! She and her friend swirled about and used many traditional bellydance moves in dangerously skimpy outfits.

Add a little length and I'd consider the plaid skirt, those preppy separates are working this season (like this light blue one from nordies for $38- click on the image for details) the combat boots though? not so much...for me at least. The girls had some fierce moves and used $300 light-up professional adult hula hoops- I tried one, I wished it had those little beads inside to make the swooshy noise as you hula. I heard hula hooping was now a new way to lose weight...I kinda like this grade school exercise craze, can't wait to see what they come up with next- maybe EXTREME HOPSCOTCH. Tone those cottage cheese thighs, children, TONE THEM NOW!!

ドラえもん！

2007-09-01T14:31:00.000-07:00

wrongwroks doradimon- $30.00

I am a huge fan of Anime- especially of Japanese kids' cartoons. I've already got an Astroboy background for my computer screen and even some Anpanman earrings, but this one takes the cake. The shop for wrongwroks blog has DORAEMON GOODIES! The series is about a robotic cat named Doraemon, who travels back in time from the 22nd century to aid a schoolboy, Nobita Nobi. Among the extraordinarily unique garb with Kate Moss, Scarlett Johansen, Paris Hilton, Hello Kitty, Winnie the Pooh, and some borderline sacramental Jesus imagery, wrongwroks mainly features sick Doraemon merchandise. I'd like the hat and t-shirt atm.

First episode- check it!

Seen the Sleeves?

2007-08-28T17:50:00.000-07:00

So Style.com has a feature up showcasing a trend in coats this fall. "Don't call them turncoats, but designers weren't loyal to just one material when crafting a jacket or other topper this season", Laird Borrelli-Persson recalls, citing Phl, Proenza Schouler, Christian Dior, Lanvi, and Marni's FW07 collections (the look to the left is from J Mendel). It's a good feature, but all I could do was snicker cause it reminded me of this shirt from busted tees.com:

Do I detect the scent of a high fashion & NRA collabo in the air? They both support your right to bear arms- ba dum bum shish!

Image credit- www.style.com
Busted Tees second amendment- $15.99

you are an obsession

2007-08-24T10:44:00.000-07:00

For a while it was my ultimate dream to rival Imelda Marcos, the former Philippine first lady known for her magnificent shoe collection. Hopefully my subjects wouldn't be living in extreme poverty as I indulged myself, but that's a discussion for another day. I wanted to join my kindred 8 1/2 size spirit in shoe heaven, prance through fields of pumps, bound among boots, frolic with Ferragamo, and cavort with cap-toed Chanel.

My shoe dream isn't over yet, but now it's got some fierce competition. Jeremy Mehrle collects Macs. As of yet he has 100 in his home, ranging from the original old-school floppy drive 128 to the $10,000 20th anniversary edition hand-delivered to your home in a limousine...Jeremy got that one on eBay for $800. It's bad enough that the commercials spin the new iMac so slowly it tantalizes like a pair of Christian Louboutins dipped in chocolate- must Mehrle add insult to injury and heighten my desire so?

Check out the video documenting Jeremy's collection here, and enjoy this bit of eye candy too :-)

Imelda Marcos info from BBC.com
iMac image credit- www.mobiletechreview.com

No Longer Krazy for Kewpie

2007-08-20T17:20:00.000-07:00

The Kewpie doll started as an illustration in the Ladies Home Journal in 1909. It became incredibly popular the early 1900s, sold in plastic in 1949, and has apparently assumed human form in multiple fashion icons of the early 2000s.

I just wonder: is the kewpie going out of style anytime soon? I miss the good ol' hourglass days and am waiting for this eerie baby to become a thing of the past. Sure if Barbie was alive she couldn't walk upright or survive really, but she at least resembled a happy grown woman. I want Kewpie gone for a little while, however if you're down with the creepy baby here's a shirt from Urbn you might like:

Urban Outfitters Doll Heads Tee- $28.00

The King, Elvis Presley

2007-08-16T19:43:00.000-07:00

Elvis Presley, known as The King of Rock 'n' Roll, died 30 years ago today. Sampling from the genres he grew up with- blues, country and gospel- Elvis created a unique sound and an electrifying performance. He gyrated so fervently on stage that at some points TV cameras would only shoot him from the waist up (Robin Thicke provoked the same censorship during his tour with Beyonce this summer). Elvis' popularity continues to flourish around the globe- last year Japan's Prime Minister Koizumi visited Graceland with President Bush, a trip that delighted the 5,000 members of Presley's biggest Japanese fan club.

Long before he became known for the iconic white gold pantsuit, Elvis had fantastic style. EvanRapoport.com chronicles his controversial fashion sense on the website Elvis & Fashion.
Elvis performed in slim pants and sharp shirts that enhanced his striking dark features. More noticeably, he would add an eye-catching accessory to an otherwise conservative outfit- a scarf, tie, belt or hat to add that extra oomph. Here in this promotional for Jailhouse Rock the collar and stitching on his inmate-inspired jacket exude the seductive cool his gimmicky Las Vegas caricatures can't seem to capture.

I may not be able to harness Elvis Presley's vibe either, but I can provide you with a pair of blue suede shoes to honor his soulful life.

Two Lips Sheryll, $74.99

Freegan Fashion

2007-08-15T13:05:00.000-07:00

Fashion has been criticized as an obscenely wasteful system, churning out new trends every year and calling its constituents to trash last season's garb in pursuit of the new and improved. This aspect of the industry has been satired by many- the movie Zoolander showcases Derelicte, a line of bum inspired clothes that literally look like garbage. Designers even poke fun at themselves- in his fall 2007 show Alexandre Herchcovitch sent models down the runway in trash-bag t-shirts. The outfit seemed to be a designer's equivalent of rapper Mims' lyric, "I don't gotta rap, I can sell a mil saying nothing on the track," a bold audience-taunting.

Though the Freegans aren't laughing. Freeganism promotes dumpster diving, good trading (as opposed to buying and selling) and even squatting to declare these amenities an intrinsic human right rather than a privilege for the wealthy. Recently graduated law student Lauri Apple runs FoundClothing, a blog showcasing the discarded clothes she and her readers discover. I'm not sure if she subscribes to Freeganism, but her Gap jean jacket, A&F sweater, and Express trench coat stylishly support its points.

However honorable it seems, I'm not sure if I can hop on this bandwagon just yet. Yes I thrift frequently and often doubt the cleanliness of retail stores, and yes Apple's August 8th post on hygiene made a fantastic case for her searching, but I'm still not comfortable with the concept. It's like trying to drink from the toilet-shaped water fountain in the San Francisco Exploratorium- the mental block just won't go away. I could change my mind one day. In the meantime kudos to Lauri and all Freegans, enjoy your 100% discount!

Traveling

2007-07-22T19:27:00.000-07:00

The airport has to be one of my favorite places in the world. I love the feeling of being in transit, carrying only the bare necessities in a cute carry-on. This past Thursday I didn't get the joy of traveling myself, but I did get to people-watch when I picked my sister up from Dulles and it got me thinking...
Airport style is pretty tough- you've got to be comfortable enough to remain in those cramped seats, you must have easily removeable shoes for security, and you need to keep warm in the cold cabin, even when it's over 100 degrees where you land.

This woman pulled it off flawlessly: Patterned tunic top with longer sleeves to keep warm, but a light-breezy fabric for the humid DC summer. Cuffed denim capris are always good choice and the black flats add the perfect touch of classy comfort. Even the bag is ideal- great details, large enough to hold your books, headphones, and tiny 4oz. toiletries, yet not big enough to impede that final sprint to the gate.

There were a few other perfect outfits, though they ran from the baggage claim so fast I couldn't procure evidence of their existence.
The business women found the perfect shoe, a black, fabric top espadrille- basically a standard black pump with a summery feel and the support you need for storming terminals. These options from Steve Madden definitely do the job, the slingback canter could dress up any holiday ensemble, and the natural trim on the Kenna's canvas top keeps the warmth of summer in a traveler's outfit.

Steve Madden: Canter-$59.95, Kenna-$79.95

My crowd favored printed hoodies. As if hoodies weren't already perfect (especially for hiding headphones in class heehee), bunching up the hood makes a great neck-rest.

Volcom Miso Kitty Zip Up Hoodie- $39.99
LRG The Big Youth Zip Up Hoody in White-$88.00

The Simpsons in Bazaar

2007-07-17T13:53:00.000-07:00

As if I needed any more reason to love The Simpsons. They've appeared in the August issue of Harper's Bazaar in full-blown fashion glory! Trotting through Paris with Linda Evangelista, they animate the biggest names like Karl Lagerfeld, Donatella Versace, Alber Elbaz, Victor & Rolf, Jean Paul Gaultier, and one of my personal favorites, Marc Jacobs. The editorial pokes fun at everything- Marge holds Donatella's trademark champagne flute, Maggie takes a ride in one of the idiotic dog carriers I so despise, and Homer mimics Lagerfeld, which I find especially hilarious given Karl's recently-exposed Taco Bell fixes. He and Fergie should do a collabo.

Transformers

2007-07-15T14:52:00.001-07:00

MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE, TRANSFORMERS, ROBOTS IN DISGUISE!

...There's a reason I called myself the chicNERD. Yeah, that's Optimus Prime for you in living color. I saw the movie Friday night and it was the cheesiest thing ever; they kept trying to squeeze the "more than meets the eye" line into random moments. In spite of the typical action movie cliches (neverending explosions, secret government plots, a lengthy monologue and Linkin Park soundtrack at the end, and well-endowed teenage girls on the sidelines) I loved Transformers and I aim to own the movie one day.

I must say- every time I saw a Bumblebee transform from robot to car and back again I thought about Hussein Chalayan's groundbreaking SS07 collection. The entire show is amazing, but the real transforming action starts at about 40sec.

Do the Hustle!

2007-07-14T16:34:00.000-07:00

Disco Stu must be thrilled. This season fashion is just jumping around the the time-line like a spastic kangaroo. Along with the high-waisted pants trend of late, several psychadelic late 60s early 70s trends have surfaced. Chloe handled it incredibly well in their latest SS07 collection, using shocking solid colors on pieces with era inspired cuts, while utlizing muted shades on trippier patterns to avoid giving everyone migraines.

Chloe SS07 RTW

If you're like most of us and can't afford Chloe just yet, Target follows the trend pretty well in my humble opinion:

Mossimo $19.99

Hairspray!

2007-07-10T14:59:00.000-07:00

The movie releases in 10 days and I'm excited to see how it turns out- I adored the 1988 original with Ricki Lake as Tracy Turnblad and I hope the Nikki Blonsky does her character justice...well she's on the right track, she's already got the name for the job. Now before setting foot in the theater you've got to be groovy enough for the Corny Collins Show, so time to propel ourselves (and our hair) to new heights.

As you can see, we're going to need a few items to match hairspray's glory:

A headband with a cutesy bow

Forever 21, $3.80

a head-turning blouse (the color and sleeve details will keep this one from looking too old-fashioned)

Banana Republic, $58

a chicly prim pencil skirt

Theory, $195

and hairspray, of course! Don't hold back!

Frederic Fekkai Sheer Hold Hairspray, $23-$35

the black cat 7-6

2007-07-08T13:18:00.001-07:00

went out to the black cat friday for a night of britpop and 90s hiphop throwbacks. red was definitely the color cf choice tonight, in clothes, shoes, and make-up.

many sported nostalgic lady-like trends- 50s-esque shirt dresses and pencil skirts with ballet flats. several others, in the club and around the city in general, have been rocking super-low back shirts with visible bra bands, bright colors and lacy details upgrade them from undergarments to accessory status.