2010 : A reflection on a blur (and not the fun drunk kind).

Alright, I have been terrible at posting. However, I'm feeling accomplished today. Not because I have actually accomplished anything today (other than feeding myself and a load of laundry) but because of how much I have accomplished this year. In a totally narcissistic move, typical of my generation, I am going to express my all important feelings about the year. Here it goes...

I completed the first year of law school. Barely. I got my ass handed to me. My previously successful academic ventures were creative in nature. Law school? Not so creative. I was prepared for the hours of studying, but not for the loss of confidence and the rise of self doubt. I have been torn down and I assume I will be built back up. Congrats law school, goal achieved. January through April of 2010 were some of the most stressed, strained, and grumpy months of life thus far.

During that hell, I planned an earth friendly, DIY, 200 guest wedding. Did I mention it was 5 days after my last final? Smart planning.

With help, I handmade and personalized 100 wine bottles as centerpieces. I created programs, favors, and other assorted wedding crap out of recycled and reusable goods. Our wedding was a major undertaking, but it was perfect. It was exactly how my husband and I imagined it would be and always wished it could be. I loved my movie star gown and his pinstripes. 2010 will always go down as great year because of that day and that day alone.


Thinking of the wedding showers and bachelor/bachelorette parties that were thrown for us still make me tear up. When I think of how much work other people put in for us, I get misty. I can't help it. My friend, and made of honor, Frances put in so much time and effort. Her work made my wedding "events" just perfect. My mother also played a huge part in pulling off our wedding. I couldn't have done it without her. We are so loved, and damn, our friends can party. I am so grateful that they were a part of our year. Not only our wedding, but our life, would not be the same without them. We're so lucky.

After our glamorous wedding my husband and I left for Mexico. Our honeymoon was exactly what I imagined a honeymoon is supposed to be like: perfect, picturesque, and intoxicated. I'll keep the details to myself, but I think this picture helps sum it up...


Two days after the honeymoon, I was over my hair. I mean, OVER IT. At Dove Shannon Salon I had a great experience donating over 8.5(ish) inches of my hair to Locks of Love. A change like that is so refreshing. For me, it was symbolic of the end of the first year of law school and the wedding being over. New school year, new hair.



Four days after returning from our honeymoon (two days post-hair cut) I moved to Virginia for six weeks. Alone. I had the amazing opportunity to study at William & Mary at their summer legal technology program. Frances drove out there with me (note the trend of her being one of the greatest friends ever) and flew home. This road trip led to our first ever interstate accident! We lived (obviously) as the accident happened at like 30 mph. Dealing with the Kentucky police department proved to be more complicated than the accident itself, but moving on... living in Williamsburg was trip. I enjoyed being around that much history and living somewhere alone for the first time. Every morning I could hear the revolutionary soldiers march and children in three-point hats were everywhere. I went hiking where George Washington marched, learned to cook seafood, and mastered the great art of eating out alone. I made it out to Norfolk and Virginia beach too. There I visited the naval station that my dad flew into during his Navy days and saw the famous Neptune statue. Most importantly, I learned how to say Norfolk the proper way: "Naa-Fuck" (no joke).

I also made some great friends, like the lovely Lycelle pictured below. Here we are on the Jamestown ships in like 200% humidity.


My mother came out to Williamsburg to travel home with me. She indulged my love of the horse races and we stopped by Churchill Downs in Louisville Kentucky. It was another historical highlight of my summer travels.


Another bright spot of 2010 was being a part of my friend Becky's wedding. She was an absolutely stunning bride. I cried like a little bitch when she came down the aisle. It was so awesome to be a part of a wedding I truly believed in. Their day was such a beautiful celebration of love... also, Becky is just funny. Case in point, this picture:


Since getting back from Virgina I have turned 25, been significantly more successful academically, went to a 30th birthday "prom", watched two friends welcome beautiful daughters into this world, and landed a gig as a law clerk at a state agency. I feel like I'm doing everything right, and I finally feel good about. 2010 was a challenging year, but all those challenges have reaped enormous rewards for me.

My 2011 Resolution: I don't need to be Wonder Woman. I have proven what I can do and what I am capable of. Now its time to keep on trucking but stop pushing, relax, and look around.

A week from today I'll be on a plane to Minnesota to go shopping at the biggest Mall of America with my best friend and our mothers. Clearly, life can't be too bad. Happy New Year!

Kourtney did a PETA ad? What? Khole?

Well, clearly she is auditioning to play the villain in the new Disney animated film: 101 German Shepherds and roughly 2 Quails.

Her brilliant take on the Cruella de Vil like role includes her being in a biker gang and a J.Lo video from 1997 - which explain the hat brim and the gloves. Duh people.

Florence + the girl crush

I have been waiting for the chance to talk about Florence Welch of Florence of the Machine and my intense girl and wardrobe crush on her. The woman has her own style and it is awesome. I'm working on this post for music blog, so I thought I would take a look at what Florence wears when she goes to a music festival. I mean, everyone talks about award shows and music videos, I want to see what she wears while enjoying some music.


At the Isle of Wight Festival 2010 Florence got slammed for this little outfit. While fringe jackets and John Lennon specs take me back to my dark experimental fashion days of high school, I think the girl is working it. The baby-doll dress, the bread box purse the bobby socks? All spot on adorable with out looking infantile. Without the questionable jacket and glasses she may have entered the “grown woman dressing like a 5 year old to be sexy” territory, and you can probably guess, I hate that territory. Playing with youthful looks – Hot. Pretending to “be a wittle girl” to pick up men – Gross.


Florence goes to Glastonbury in 2009, and me from 1995 falls madly in love. Its probably fair to say that this is Blossom, Courtney Love, and the first season of The Real World rolled up into one, but the bitch had me at the Ray Bans. I miss the textures of the 90s. Lace, sheer, beading, rubber, layering. There are so many textures and layers, its both over whelming and liberating in appearance. Florence wears this look well, and it is perfect for a music festival. Comfortable but flawless.

Photo by Simone Joyner/Getty Images Europe.
How many of you have a leopard print shorts suit? Yeah, me neither. This is at the Reading Festival on August 28, 2009 in Reading, England and the outfit is indeed quintessential British. The glasses aren’t working for me here and I could never wear a look like this. However, she makes this work. Somehow.

Last, I leave you with some clothing porn from MTVs write up of Florence for the 2010 VMAs.

Reliving her magazine moments

Apparently GaGa was all over her magazine moments at the VMAs - including her now infamous meat get-up.
Here she is on the cover of Vouge Japan:

And here she is at the end of the VMAs, accepting her award.



Her explanation was a bit weak - I think it was supposed to be a whole "I'm not justa piece of meat" metaphor. Honestly, I would have preferred, if when asked why she was wearing raw meat if she just would have said: "Because I'm Lady GaGa, that's why".

My favorite moment of hers was on a radio interview. She mentioned that sometimes she wakes up and feels insecure like any other 23 year old. To which I was annoyed, because HELLO honey, you ain't a normal 23 year old. She then went on to say then she isn't a normal 23 year old and says to herself - "Fuck it. I'm Lady GaGa."

Fuck it, I'm Lady GaGa she be her response to everything. Stick with that. It's the rockstar way to handle things.

Holy Gaga!

Its not shocking, but I'm watching the VMA pre-show. Holy Gaga. She is sporting the Alexander McQueen gown she wore in Vanity Fair, from his very last collection. She is escorted by military persons who have been discharged under Don't Ask Don't Tell. Swoon. Now, lets look at the dress:
From the VF shoot:

And here it is on MTV's "white carpet". She modified it brilliantly with a black crinoline underneath. She is sporting her regular McQueen heels - which God only knows how she walks in. Eat it up, and enjoy the show!

CoCo Crabby

I saw the film 'CoCo: Before Chanel' last year and as far as I can tell she was an unpleasant moody brat (assuming the movie accurately reflected her). Which, I suppose, is expected from a fashion icon - but it makes the "would Chanel have liked this?" game less fun. The answer would always be no. No, she doesn't like anything anyone else does.

But regardless, it's fashion week and Chanel opened a new store in NY (SoHo to be specific) so celebrities were wearing a shit ton of Chanel. Pretty!


Blake Lively looks fresh and delightful! Plus, there are no boobs or legs in this dress, which is a big step for her.


Maggie Grace looks adorably simple. A perfect LBD. Covet. Want.


Every time I see Liv Tyler I remember that Rachel Zoe is her stylist, and then I imagine them being adorable picking out clothing together and jumping up and down and squealing. Then, I see Liv on the red carpet and she's all serious sexy-face... I feel like she coyly hiding her inner bubbly girl for red carpets, but on the inside loving the shit out of her clothes and squealing. I love it.

My dreams want me to have a Stevie Nick's moment.

A few times through out my life I have dreamed of certain articles of clothing. Then, magically I would find them. First it was a nightgown - one I still own and love. Second, it was a pair of brown suede knee high boots - which I still own and love. See a trend here? These articles were both regulars and stand outs in my dreams. Meaning, I have cloths in every dream (mostly) but certain things stick with you, and these did.
Anyhow, my recent dream accessory is a yellowy/suede hobo bag with, wait for it: Fringe.

This is pretty close. I just found this on Google images, and it seems to just be a knock off of something. So I have no leads. The "bag of my dreams" was lighter, but this basic shape.

Here's the problem: Fringe. Really, dream-me? I'm not sure I can make this happen...

Tell Em' Kath.

Everyone's favorite Ginger, KG, knows just how I feel today. Today is labor day, also known as, the last day our pool complex is open for summer. We had plans of grandeur - laying and drinking. Now it is storming.

3:04pm:
...this is supposed to be a gif of Kathy flipping off the Emmy's. Hrumph. Why is blogger ruining gifs? Today=no fun.

4:15pm:
After looking into blogger forums I have discovered I now have to create a photobucket account for my gifs and use their direct HTML and photo URL. I can't even host the gifs on my own site.

4:16pm:
Too lazy to create a photobucket account. Kathy shall stay still.

Jacobs and the Lady.

LOVE THIS. I know there is a lot of GaGa hate out there, but I don't care. This the V Magazine cover for the "New York" issue. They have declared GaGa their muse... and then just added Marc Jacobs to cover. But Jacobs and GaGa make perfect sense together. Check out this description, from www.stylelist.com, of his Fall line at Fashion Week:

There were no bells and whistles this season, cardboard was literally stapled to the walls. The centerpiece was a large scale box, covered in brown paper. When the clock struck 8, exactly, Jacobs and his business partner Robert Duffy pulled the wrapping off to reveal the show's 56 models standing inside.The models walked out one-by-one to a romantic remix of "Over the Rainbow." The all gray opening looks (a popular shade so far this season) indicated that Jacobs wasn't going for his usual colorful hybrid mash-up, but intended to channel the menswear trend instead.
Initially serious, the mood shifted toward fantasy. It seemed almost as if a modern, professional woman was time traveling back to her childhood and her beloved games of dress-up as piece after piece became gradually more fanciful than the prior.

This was also briefly shown on Rachel Zoe this summer. VERY COOL. Check out some of his pieces from that collection.

I love the bow dress. How pretty!

Take a shot everytime Mad Men, Glee, 30Rock win something! (Get Drunk)

I have conquered my hangover via some well timed naps, water, and now wine - and it was just in time. The Emmys!! I LOVE me an award show. The gowns, the tears, the awkwardness, all of it. Amazing. So, lets talk gowns.

Here is Christina Hendricks in Zac Posen. Um. Well. I hate this, which breaks my heart because I love everything about her. I feel like it doesn't fit well below the waist... and then there is the poor bird puppet which had to give its life to be adorned onto her sleeves and train. Fail.

Then there is Mindy Kaling (who I highly recommend following on Twitter, @mindykaling, girl is funny). So I love that she took risks with this Aguri Sagimori. She isn't the star on The Office and mostly works as a writer so the risk is even more daring. But fail. Just fail. Sorry Mindy. I still want us to be best friends someday.


Slam dunk Kyra Sedgwick. I love the romantic look without being too mushy and obvious. Monique Lhuillier was the perfect choice. The hair is soft, which is fitting with the dress and its all very age appropriate. Also, props to her for finally winning!

...and this is how you do romantic badly. So badly. Jewel, really? Ew. I don't know who Zuhair Murad is, but I would recommend burning this in all its satin-bow glory.



It should be illegal to look as hot as Mariska Hargitay, but then its hard to fuck up a Vera Wing.

Prom goes to the bar.

Through my hangover I found a few pictures to show off.

Trailer Park Princess Goes to Prom - A Retrospective

There are three things that never fail to excite me:
1. Award Shows
2. The prospect of afternoon drinking, and
3. Formal Dances
I LOVE every last part of formals. My beautiful and fun friend Alicia is throwing a prom for her 30th birthday tomorrow evening. Needless to say I'm giddy (refer to list above). My husband will be DJing and a local bar has been rented. This has the makings of an amazing evening. I purchased a gown - and I use the term gown loosely - that no self-respecting 17 year girl would wear. I can't wait to debut what prom looks like at 25 (my age), but it got me reflecting on my past formals. I'm a bit known for my dance attendance records. I went to proms that weren't even at my school. Yep - I love them that much. Fortunately, my public school career was just on the cusp of affordable digital cameras and most of the film has been lost. I was however able to locate a few samples. I have selected the more embarrassing of the ones I dug up - because lets face it - those are more fun.

The Tailor Park Princess Goes to Prom - A Retrospective. The innocent have been cropped out or their identity has been protected.

Age:14
Dance:Promotion
Thoughts:OK, I hadn't quite lost all the baby weight yet, but I was already 5'10" with DDs. It is in no way shocking that 14 years old me opted for a python skirt and strappy heels.

Here is the whole lot of 14 year olds. Note that I'm like a foot taller. This ended in many issues - but props on showing some leg.


Age:16
Dance:Prom
Thoughts:Its hard to see here, but I'm rocking an eyebrow and nose piercing. I look quite angry here - probably because my hair is too tight and the girl next to me is 20 pounds lighter than me.


Age:17
Dance:Senior Prom
Thoughts:Note that the front strip of hair in my glorious up-do is bleached blond. That was a great look. I still like this dress, but its all sorts of nylon and poly-blend. I'm pretty sure it was from Vanity. I'm also reasonably certain that some partying happened before this picture was even taken.

E-Mail me your prom pictures and I'll post ASAP.
I can't wait from Bar-Prom tomorrow. I look forward to showing off my "grown-up" prom look.

Notoriously Voluptuous

Can we talk for a minute about this E Online Post about Jessica Simpson? A big F-U to E Online. They say,

"Fresh pics of the singer, looking, uh, very voluptuous, have been released—causing an uproar similar to the now notorious "fat pics" that were snapped of her wearing mom jeans at a concert in January 2009"

Let's take a look at the gigantic, ugly, obsess, whale that is Jessica Simpson:

Hold the phone. Girl is hot. I'll admit her hair is a bit of mess with this dress (shame on you Ken Paves), but va-va-voom - girl looks good. Her tatas are out in full force and her legs look amazing. But frankly, even if the dress was awful she is still hot underneath it. I would guess a size 8 or 10? Even in unflattering sweats she would look like a athletic and healthy person. So E, or whoever, back off.

Later in the E assessment they grant Miss Simpson an excuse for her "notorious" inability to stay thin: Men. She eats when in love. I'm going to go out on a limb and guess she eats everyday.

"Notorious inability to stay thin"... Everyone use that in a sentence today and report back.

Once More - With Feeling

Well, its been awhile. A year in fact. I am now a wife and 2nd year law student. I all but thought my blogging days were behind me - but alas I'm much too narcissistic to leave this behind me. I need the daily reprieve from law reading. So, with that out there, lets talk shoes. Tom and Lorenzo already did an amazing job covering the "Vivienne Westwood Shoes: An Exhibition 1973- 2010" show in London, but I wanted to share a few of my favorite pairs.

You're kind of a bitch if you don't like this shoe. It appeals to every 10-year-old part of myself.


Every pleated skirt I've ever worn has been crying out for this shoe:


I think the balls on the back really class it up:


Expect more from me!

BJ: Ready-to-Wear

The 2009 Betsey Johnson collection arrived awhile ago, and the term ready-to-wear is yet again used liberally, as it is with most designers. Although I'll admit it, I'm swooning. It's no secret Betsey is a favorite of mine and a few pieces I would wear straight off the runway... minus is bowler hat and bob wig.

But this? Ready to Wear?


This, however, is adorable and I would wear it today if I could.


Last - and I'm sorry to do this, but I've got weddings on the brain - two of her bridal pieces are beautiful and SO wedding ready. Betsey, make me one, please?



If you need me I'll be combing through the 2010 resort wear collections on style.com. Sigh.

Dear Branden,

Yay! Good for you! Love, Me.

Branden won "Make Me a Supermodel" last night. While both Sandhurst and Jonathon are beautiful men with futures in modeling (I have no doubt) I was rooting for Branden. He just looks... well, like a model.


Calvin Klein much? Actually, this kid screams Marc Jacobs to me but I'll get to that in a moment. First, how HOT did they all look together?


This is now pose my future hubby and groomsmen will be striking in the wedding photos. Drool. So fierce. Frankly, these boys blow just about anything Tyra's girls have ever shown us out of the water. I loved Mountaha, but the boys deserved to be there. Also Timothy Greenfield-Sanders, you're amazing. Best photographer they've had. Now, back to that Marc Jacobs thing...



Branden fits in here, no? Pale, slender (Jonathon and Sandhurst were too "built"), air of adorable cockiness. I realize this is Marc Jacob's 2008, but it's close enough. Branden looks right. He just does.

After disagreeing with Tyra cycle after cycle of ANTM I'm so pleased with "Make Me a Supermodel". Plus their judges seem to actually know stuff about fashion and modeling because, um, they actually still do it.

A. Maze. Ing.

Kathy Griffin will appear on the new season of Paris Hilton's My New BFF!! Not only do I have a fascination with Miss Griffin, but I have a mad fascination with Miss Hilton's "New BFF" series. Squee!

Eonline interviewed Paris about the upcoming season. In which she actually says "...because I'm not totally that airhead." I love that she says "not totally", implying that she is a little bit. I repeat: Love. It.

Last - is it me or is the dress she wore (pictured above) to last night's VMAs totally a ice-cream-cupcake-magic-fairy-land-Barbie mini dress? She is either a marketing pro who totally understands her niche or she has the intellect of a four year old. ZOMG!1! Pink Ruffles!!

The Real Housewives of New Jersey: Rode Hard & Put Away Wet.

These chicks look rough! Am I right? I'm thinking there's been a touch too much tanning and Xanax here.


(shown here with one of the NY gals)

Especially that little one in the blue all the way to the right - Teresa. That hair is hot MESS. It reminds me of how I wore my hair when I was 7 and wanted to emulate Shirley Temple.

Also, Jacqueline Laurita, FIRE YOUR STYLIST (or hire one). You are neither chunky or unattractive. In fact you are the most natural looking and pretty of the bunch. So whomever encouraged you to rock the short shiny hot pink satin, that is clearly too thick to rock as a wrap, should be shot. That is all.

I've always wanted a ginger friend.

Kathy Griffin. She's unfairly judgmental, hypocritical, and obnoxious. I totally want to be her friend. Can you imagine the 2am conversation out on the porch after finishing a bottle of wine? Fab-u-lous. What makes her even more alluring to me is that she is one of those celebrities I feel like I actually know. I'll read something terrible about Speidi or Lindsay Lohan and think, "Omigod, I should call Kathy and tell her!" It's then I remember that I don't actually know this person, nor do I have her number and I would probably end up with a restraining order. Yet somehow I've had this thought more then a few times. Like when her dad died on her "My Life on the D-List" show - I cried. Then when she went to Ireland to spread the ashes - I cried harder.

The last time, however, that I really wanted to call up Miss Griffin was when I saw her bikini bod in OK! "Omigod, you look amazing - congrats!"


Then I remember. I don't know this person. Congratulating strangers on their rocking bod is creepy.

Owning your sexuality doesn't mean "be slutty"

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Forgive me Father, for I have Zarined.

I like Jill Zarin, and while I'm not sure what sin that would be I have no doubt that it is one. She's totally my favorite Real House Wife of NY. Also, I love that she's publicly discussing getting a breast reduction and lift. I right there with ya girl - kisses! Her boobies look spectacular in the dress below.

Moving on, I'm pretty sure that the dress she wore to the Memorial Sloan Kettering's 2nd annual Spring Ball held, at The Plaza Hotel last night is also a sin. Yet, again, I love it. I would wear it. Sadie at Jezebel.com relates it to "Fonda-era aerobics" and several commentators say that it reminds them of a "bad sci-fi warrior alien princess". Luckily those are two descriptors that indicate I will most likely like the frock.

This is why we shouldn't let 4th graders dye their hair.

I stumbled upon this story, and actually laughed out loud.

An Oregon woman sued her salon because her hair snapped off an inch from her scalp after it was bleached. She says she is owed $50,000 for humiliation, depression, and the cost of extensions.
Sarah Jane Ward sued the salon Rumi Simone Inc., where she had her hair bleached three times to a platinum blonde. Ward said when she showered, she noticed clumps of hair falling out and thought she might have cancer. She said she has colored her hair since fourth grade, explaining, "My mother told me my hair was dirty blond, and it wasn't attractive." She claimed that an inept stylist was to blame for her hair loss. A lawyer for the salon said Ward teased and hot-ironed her hair, and used hair elastics, against her stylist's advice. After listening to three days of testimony, a jury concluded 11-1 that the salon was not at fault and owed Ward nothing for her bad hair.

First - Your mom is a bitch.
Second - You think a symptom of cancer is hair loss? Really? You never put together the whole chemo is actually the treatment thing?
Third - Since when is peroxide bottle blond more attractive then a natural dirty blond?
Fourth - Man, your mom really is a bitch.