I heart Marc Jacobs

Even if I can't afford him. I was in DSW with Bradley over the X-mas break and fell in love with these shoes (obviously; who else do you know who takes pictures of herself in shoes she doesn't buy?). Unfortunately I just couldn't justify buying them--even though they were on sale. It just wouldn't have been practical to spend $350 on a pair of shoes I won't wear all that often. My Michael Kors boots were almost that much--but at least I wear those a couple of times a week. Still. They are beautiful...

The Black and White thing...

The black and white thing is rampant in NYC this summer and I say bravo! It looks cool and chic and is really difficult to mess up. Yet. People manage (they always do somehow, don't they?). This is what I saw as I was trugging through the incredibly hot Times Square Subway Station this past Monday as I was switching from the 1 to the R to go downtown. Picture it--lovely blonde lady, early 30s, hair pulled back into cute pony tail (it was quite the humid day yesterday), fabulous full skirt, just below the knee, black and white large floral print, paired with a fitted black cap-sleeved jersey knit t-shirt and matching cartigan over her shoulders. And then there is the kicker. Her kickers. She's wearing red pumps. Red pumps--"Okay," you're saying to yourself, "black and white outfit, what's wrong with making it a little fun with red pumps?" Nothing, I'd normally say, if she hadn't been carrying a giant fushia handbag! I mean come on! One or the other. Fushia bag, black or white shoes. Red shoes, black, white, hell, even gold or silver handbag. But to throw red and fushia together (not even pink mind you--fushia--like the cheap trannies wore that used to walk 12th Ave. after midnight before the city was turned into Disneyworld by Gulianni)--it's beyond me. Maybe she's colorblind and got the labels mixed up, because honestly, I cannot fathom how such a gross fashion mishap could happen to such an otherwise throughly pulled together outfit.

Wristbands Are Making A Comeback? Why, dear God, why?!

I’ve noticed that wristbands--not leather gauntlets a la Judas Priest, though those are pretty bad too--but wristbands (the ones that are supposed to be worn when working out or running or whatever) are making a comeback, and I can’t help but ask why? I’ve noticed them in lots of places--on male models, 12 year old boys, and cheesy pseudo 80s/emo bands (I think the singer or guitarist from Taking Back My Chemical All-American Fall-out At the Disco or something wears them). Who said wristbands are cool? Can I ask those same people if they’ve ever seen the video for “Let’s Get Physical” from Olivia-Newton John--only the most wristband-laden video ever made? I cannot fathom how someone could look at a wristband and think to themselves, “Gee, this is a nifty accessory, I think I’ll put it on and sport it like it’s 1983!” Wristbands are not cool. They have never been cool. They made an appearance in the 80s, God help us all, and for some reason, people have been thinking that 80s fashion was a good idea again. I know that these people that made this decision never actually wore the bad 80s fashion themselves, or they wouldn’t keep trying to shove it down our throats now. I mean, come on--leggings? Rubber bracelets? Bubble-skirts??? Next thing you know, girls are going to be wearing those annoying chain-link plastic necklaces and attaching large tacky plastic charms that look like a lipstick or a high-heeled shoe and guys are going to bust out the Skidz. And if that is going to happen, well will someone just shoot me now, please? I don’t think I can live through another decade of that.

So, if you really care about your loved ones, friends, coworkers, hell, even someone you find mildly interesting or entertaining, beseech them to abandon their wristbands, discard the leggings, banish all neon clothing in sight--because God help them (and you, for having to look at the atrocities) the pictures they take today will come back to haunt them later in life.

G is for Goth

My friend Melissa posted about this store Sugar Baby in LA, where their motto is "Rocker Moms Not Soccer Moms." Do I need to tell you that I love this store? My favorite item (thus far) are these adorable G is for Goth t-shirts. I want one right now!

Go fug yourself...

My latest blog obsession...I read this one religiously and constantly kick myself because I didn't think of it first--what with my obsession with fashion and whatnot. I don't, however, usually give a flying fug (to paraphrase the GFY girl's use of the word) about celebrities, except for when the GFY girls are making me laugh about them. Scathingly funny bitches. I love it.

You know you're doing something right...

When you go bathing suit shopping and you don't want to kill yourself. It's a good feeling. All my dieting and watching every single thing that I eat is definitely starting to pay off.

Brad and I headed out to the Tanger Outlet Malls this past Saturday in a effort to spend some time outside, but also pick up a couple of things that we needed. It was a beautiful day for a drive, we spend way more time outside than inside (even enjoyed the first Italian ices of the year!), and I managed to snag an awesome Juicy Couture tankini with matching board shorts--and I thought it looked pretty darn cute. Here's a picture--though the top is slightly different (it has a little tie thingy) and the suit is in lime green! The shorts are pink with green and white detailing...super, super cute. And it is an awesome feeling to not be totally self-conscious in your suit. Whoo-hoo!

Coach saga continued...

Coach got back to me about my purse today, and even though they sent the bag to their master repair person in New Jersey (where I could go and pick it up if I wanted to) they are sticking with their original assessment and have decided not to repair the bag. However, since I absolutely do not want that bag destroyed, they are sending me a 50 percent off coupon for my next purchase.

I've got to tell you, I'm still not happy. Why can't they just fix the purse? I really don't understand. It may not look 100 percent perfect on the inside (because they'll need to cut the lining to get to the leather and all that jazz), but at least the purse would be useable. Now I have to take the purse to get repaired on my own. I really only wanted that purse anyway. Even though I told the woman to find me another purse, I really just wanted my purse--the one that was will me through all that nonsense. I've got proof! Check it out:



See in the lower right hand corner? There's the purse. That's us in the Louie Armstrong Airport in N.O. right after Hurricane Katrina. I mean, that purse has been through a LOT with me. It's more than just a purse to me. If it had been any other purse (with the exception perhaps of the first one that Brad ever gave me), I would have taken the credit.

I'm just happy that I'm gettin my purse back. Even if I only use it occasionally, I would rather have it than not have it.

Coach update...

I just got off the phone with Snotty Bitch (a.k.a. the Coach Rep down in Jacksonville, FL) and apparently, after she tried offering me just about every freaking purse in a similar style or size that Coach had produced in the last two years, she told me that they absolutely do not have any other of the black patent leather gallery totes in that size and they would send it up to New Jersey, where their master repair person would attempt to fix it. Hello! Isn't that all I really wanted to begin with??? I just wanted my freaking purse fixed. I didn't want a new one. I wanted that exact purse--the one I sent them, the one that I dragged with me through god only knows how many dramas, the worse of them being Hurricane Katrina. I wanted my purse. It reminded me of Apple just a teensy bit--it's easier and cheaper to replace than repair, so replace whenever possible. So honestly, if that was what was going to happen, why couldn't they just spare me the drama and asked me outright from the get-go if I would rather have a new purse or if I absolutely wanted this one repaired? Because in every other case, I probably would have taken the credit, but because it was this particular purse, I wanted it repaired. It has sentimental value. I can't help it. I'm a sap like that. Well, I'm getting a phone call from the supreame bitch tomorrow to find out the outcome of the purse drama and I shall let you know what is going to happen. One way or another I'm writing Coach a very, very nasty letter.

At War with Coach

On Friday I received a letter in the mail that my beloved black patent leather gallery tote bag was received by Coach and deemed “not up to Coach standards” and that they have decided not to repair it. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! I was distraught. How could they do this to me? My all time favorite Coach purse-—not up to their standards? They won’t repair it? They’re offering me a credit for what it cost me back then??? Say it isn’t so! Oh say it isn’t so. Brad promised to call them for me on Monday and make my case. He has a golden tongue and I often say that he’d be able to sell the Pope holy water, so if anyone would be able to get some satisfaction from Coach, it would be Bradley.

Brad called me a little while ago, and needless to say, he wasn’t happy. Apparently the woman that he was talking to was a real bitch and wasn’t willing to do anything to make us happy. She also wasn’t willing to talk to Brad. So I called her back, bitch that she was, and the snotty bitch came up with three options—she’d send it back to us and if we could get it repaired, then Coach would foot the bill for the repairs (as though I’d want anyone besides them to work on it—come on now. Why else would I have mailed it to them?), I could accept the freaking credit for exactly the amount that the bag was worth two years ago (hello—the bag was $400 back then—and it was a limited edition tote bag. All their limited edition stuff in that size is now $600 and more—why would I accept a credit if I can’t get something comparable? It needs to be in leather, not that canvas or nylon bullshit, and the same approximate size), or they could send me the bag back and they could give me half off on another purse (still not acceptable—why do I have to fork money over for their poor workmanship?). I told the snotty bitch (because she really was snotty) that she could only make me happy two ways: 1-Find another purse. I don’t care how she finds it, where she finds it, or who she has to kill, but find one, and find it fast. Coach is notorious for saving stock of all of their purses for just these occasions. I told her that I simply refuse to believe that there is not another purse in existence somewhere in the world. There is—she needs to make it her business to get it and then get it to me. 2-Issue me a credit for the amount of the purse, along with 25 percent off (and they can be used together) so I may get a purse of equal value to replace the one that is going to be destroyed.

I think that I’m being pretty darn reasonable if you ask me. And considering the snotty bitch gave me bs excuses like “Well I haven’t had much time to work on this yet,” and “I am the supervisor on the floor right now” and “I’m sorry, but I can’t repair the purse even though I know that is what you really want,” she’s lucky I don’t fly down to Florida and rip her throat out with my bare hands. Not for nothing, but I spend a sick amount of money at Coach every year. I buy, on average, 4 to 5 purses there per year. Not to mention the scarves, gloves, key chains, and presents that I buy for other people. The least they could do is make a very good customer happy. All I have to say is that if they don’t, this will be the last time I ever deal with them, and Gucci and Kate Spade are going to be very, very happy.

Project What?

I am a dedicated Project Runway fan and have never, ever missed an episode of either this past season, or last season. And you know what? I'm disappointed. Watching the runway shows last year got me excited--I wanted Jay to win and was so excited to see the amazing and innovative clothes that he came up with. Kara San's line was great, though a little too bling for my personal taste. Even Wendy's line was cohesive in cut, color, and fabrics.

Last night's show was a mess. Daniel V. was a mess. Chloe was a mess. Santino wasn't a mess, but it sure was boring. I wasn't impressed--with any of them. I cannot believe that Chloe won--what the hell was up with the fabric she chose? All of the materials she used looked like they could have been turned into upholstery or drapes. Yeesh. Yeah, her clothing was impeccably put together, but innovation? I don't know what the judges were looking at, but I didn't see any. And Daniels line was so safe. Those purses were a nightmare (woodshop 101, hello?), and what the hell was up with the tassels and gold buttons? Eeeew, ewwww, EWWW. Santino. Oh Santino, did you disappoint. Your maturity squashed the raw talent we saw so much of this past season, and we were left with such lackluster pieces. Even the colors were drab.

After hearing all the buzz on Kara's line--that was the one that I really wanted to see. I was pissed that she was eliminated anyway since I thought she should have won both the flower and makeup challenges, and thought that her evening gown was infinitely better than Chloe's. Take a look at the New York Metro pictures of her show here: Kara Janx 2006 Collection
I thought her collection was definitely the most inspired and interesting. Though I didn't love every single thing in it, it was still, by far, the most interesting.

I'm left with a sour taste in my mouth from Project Runway this season. Last season, I couldn't wait for the next show to start. I fooked forward to it all summer. This year? Let's just say Lost is still going to be the only reason to keep Wednesday nights free...