proust questionaire

Two things that I love very deeply include literature and YSL. And since YSL had an intense fascination with Proust (so much so that the house he lived in, when he died, was redecorated with each of the rooms designed and named after famous Proustian characters), and I've been wanting to do something unique in a post, I thought it would be lovely to complete the famous Proust questionaire (I also have a weird love for filling out surveys, questionaires, etc.). Although this questionaire was not originated by Proust, it was made famous by the remarkable answers he submitted while answering the questionaire as a "social game" at when he was 13 and 20 years of age.

I'm not Proust, but I have some strong ideas about things ;).

Proust Questionnaire.

Your most marked characteristic? stubbornness, perseverance, sense of humor, intense sass

The quality you most like in a man? intelligence, sense of humor, loyalty, spontaneity

The quality you most like in a woman? sense of humor, passion

What do you most value in your friends? sense of humor, spontaneity, passion, loyalty, trustworthiness, an appreciation and love for doing and constantly learning

What is your principle defect? i'm too hard on myself

What is your favorite occupation? fashion journalist, stylist, most things independent and artsy that aren't 9-5. i can't handle a routinized schedule

What is your dream of happiness? being a successful fashion journalist, loving someone who loves me, and being constantly surrounded by dear friends and lots of activity. i'd love for all of that to be highlighted by an amazing wardrobe, lots of travel, and ever-changing new experiences

What to your mind would be the greatest of misfortunes? three things:

1. working a job that you hated

2. never being in love with someone

3. not having a strong relationship with your family, and not having at least one best friend/soulmate

What would you like to be? happy, loved and successful

In what country would you like to live? france

What is your favorite colour? black, cerulean, coral

What is your favourite flower? gerber daisy

What is your favorite bird? mmm, ravens. and seagulls, because i was really surprised by them when i moved to chicago they were everywhere (there are no seagulls, or beaches, in iowa)

Who are your favorite prose writers? haruki murakami, ernest hemingway, oscar wilde, john irving, stephanie meyer (i knowwwwwww, twilight. it's fine)

Who are your favorite poets? allen ginsberg, sylvia plath, oscar wilde, william shakespeare, edgar allen poe

Who is your favorite hero of fiction? edward, zooey, dorian gray,

Who is your favorite heronine of fiction? franny, esther, ruth

Who are your heroes in real life? my mother, ysl, kate

What is it you most dislike? dishonesty. and i really, really dislike any decision that favors "playing safe" over going for what you want. always take risks.

What natural gift would you most like to posess? ever present charisma, fearlessness

How would you like to die? peacefully, or something terribly romantic

What is your present state of mind? content

To what faults do you feel most indulgent? shopping, eating

What is your motto? everything is relative

Your name or Pseudo? amanda, barb, man man, barbsy, peanut

And because I don't think a fashion blog post is complete without images...here are some images I've come across in my blogging recently that I found delightfully spectacular:

nothing wrong with a little sex and kate moss

I am quickly weakened by things and people that seduce. I adore seduction, especially in fashion, as I believe that fashion and sexuality are inherently connected.

Perhaps its all the press surrounding the Topshop opening in NYC, but I've been seeing a lot of photos of Kate Moss circulating recently. And, frankly, if she's not the epitome and fashion AND sex...I don't know what is. She embraces confidence and seduction in every move she makes, and I adore her bare-all, no-bullshit attitude. A true rarity in the fashion/celebrity world...she has no stylist, and no qualms about embracing nakedness (which does not equate to porn, thank you), beauty, vices, and a desire to exist spontaneously.

W did a tribute editorial to Ms. Moss in 2003 (can you tell that I have a deep weakness for W editorials?), and I'd like to share. Sex and fashion. It doesn't get any better than that.











A 2007 "Dreamgirl" photo shoot:

friends who love fashion

Seeing these photos of models Magdalena Frackowiak and Olga Sherer on Jak and Jil this morning, as well as the photos in the following editorial, reminded me of all the time I spend with my dear fashiony girlfriends, discussing the importance of the perfect piece of jewelry, which color of jacket to wear, who we saw wearing what in our daily blogging, the bags we die for, what nail colors we want for spring, and many many many conversations about our love of it all over many many many bottles of wine.

Outside the Louis Vuitton show. Don't they look absolutely adorable? I LOVE this photo. The energy that best friends can project photographically is so powerful. Kate (Barb) and I could provide scores of evidence in this regard.




And then there are these photos from Ten Magazine. A delightfully childish shoot, featuring models Karmen Pedaru and Charlotte Hoyer, shot by Magnus Unnar.




I love interactive photo shoots. It's like doing a scene in theatre, versus a monologue. Individuals can be very powerful, of course, but there's nothing like the energy of working off someone else, and how that influences you.

Recently, I've been paying a lot of attention to the energy of those around me, and how it makes me feel. No need to waste time around those who don't empower, inspire, or contribute positively to your life the majority of the time.

I like these photos. They have good fashion and good people energy.

a love affair with rodarte

On the whole, I prefer pieces and designers that embrace a unique point-of-view, one that is recognizable, statement making. And while I don't personally expect, and nor do I expect other people, to always identify and strongly respond to a designer's concept, or the perspective from which their collections derive, I have immense respect for any designer or design team who really owns their own vision and works to communicate that in every piece they create.

Now, we all love Rodarte, but the Mulleavy sisters are stand-out examples of creating collections that have a focal point, ardently embracing a personal aesthetic that immediately communicates "Rodarte" in everything they create.

I found this wonderful interview in Gravure Magazine with Kate Mulleavy, where she explains how she and Laura developed their line, and from where they draw their inspiration.

"Laura and I are very tied to this idea of creating clothes that we felt like were very thought out and meticulous and also reflective of what our inspiration and interests are, but I wouldn’t tie it to one philosophy or the other."

Kate Mulleavy


Laura Mulleavy


"To me the thing that we seem to be drawn to doing is a balance between something that is very fragile and delicate but also beautiful but also slightly strange. I feel like that tight rope act, between doing something that has such delicate beauty but that is also slightly off kilter or weird, is the balance that I hope people associate with our work."

Current collection images



"I think the thing that we would hope that people would describe about what we are doing is that it felt like it somehow belonged to us, in a sense that there was something that was unique enough about it that it looked like our vision that was a specific voice and that we had a place among the designers that have done something that is recognizable to the designer."

SS06

FW06

SS07

FW07
SS08

FW08

SS09

FW09
Although there's obviously been a distinct evolution in their vision and creativity, the through line is the incredible texture, movement, layering, mixing of patterns and shapes. The artistry of their clothing is one of a kind, without question. Can you imagine the thought that must go into the draping, the pleating, the ruching of each individual piece? The Mulleavys are true artists, in every sense of the word. I think they're utterly sensational.

swash

I really, really do not love summer clothes. I'm a layering girl, made through and through for fall and winter. And because I have such a distaste for summer clothing, I really want to work on developing my "summer style," if you will. Preferably by wearing lots of oversized, printed dresses with excess jewelry and overly oppressive shoes.

I adore these dresses from Swash, a relatively new label based in East London, designed by Sarah Swash and her boyfriend, Toshio Yamanaka. If any of you are planning on visiting Paris this month, you should check them out at the French Hyeres fashion festival (this is a link to the programming for last year's festival...apparently they're poor updaters. But archives are available), where they will have a four room exhibition displaying their scarves. Check out their photos for Spring (which are protected, leaving me unable to post them here) as well as the scarves that will be featured in their exhibition. Beautiful pieces with an amazing point-of-view.

Isn't the print of this dress just wonderful? I love chain prints...very vintage Gucci.

thigh highed seduction

I love finding new lookbooks. New lookbooks mean new designers, new ways to style, new photos to ogle. So much goodness all around. I discovered Erin Kleinberg on Refinery29 this morning, and fell hard for the super seductive photography, and her pairings of sheer thigh highs and oversized jersey tops. I think innate, unproduced sex appeal is the sexiest thing in the world, and the aura of Kleinberg's lookbook projects that well. I especially love how the model is barefoot in each of the photos, like we're seeing her seductive little self in her own home. Sooooooooooo good.



















I'd also like to wish the happiest of birthdays to my very best and dearest friend in the whole wide world, my little Barbsy! She is the most fabulous person I know, and has taught me more about style, art, culture, music and everything than anyone I know (and she's scoffing right now as she's reading this, I guarantee you).

We love sass photos (she's the blonde, I've the black bob):


We also loved doing a photo shoot with this stone lion:


I love you, my little muffin nut! xoxoxoxoxoxoxo, jillzaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarin