Natalya says.

My friend Natalya left a message for me on facebook. It was grammatically incorrect and it said:

"I wish u could see my outfit right now. I think that u would either really like it or really not. I brushed out my hair and have a huge fro, am wearing massive gold earings, I am also wearing a high waisted black mini skirt with these bright gold buttons, ballet flats, and an american apparell tank. I am going out to this alternative dance thing. I wish u were here to give me advise."

or rather, yada yada yada yada. ;)

I was trying to imagine what this outfit looked like and I thought it would be funny/amusing to draw a quick amateur sketch of her based on her own description. I tagged her on facebook. Hopefully she won't be too embarassed:

I bought them. Remorseful thoughts.

I have just pushed a button.

aka I have just bought them online.

I feel incredibly guilty.

I just spent $128.

I saved $47 in comparison to OAK's ilse jacobsen boots.

But that is not that much of a savings really when you are like broke and working free at a nonprofit.

I had envisioned saving more than that, but ebay's weird coupon and cashback regulations screwed me over. [the coupon code didn't cover shipping, and the cashback wouldn't work for UK purchases]

I feel slightly disgusted and disturbed with myself.

But I felt bad not buying it.

Finally, I did it since action is more interesting than inaction.

I am a horrible person.

But I have the boots.

Well, it's more like I will have them in 4 weeks.

UK shipping aka delayed gratification.

This is the most I have ever spent on shoes, believe it or not. And I just spent much over $100 for rainboots. I am retarded and crazy. (no offense intended to the retarded and the crazy)

I have never ever even spent that much for my Stella McCartney's. I would never ever normally even CONSIDER purchasing shoes for more than $100.

I am not quite sure what has happened to my mentality regarding these boots.

And even though I'm already kicking myself for having bought them in the Nutty Caramel color, in the back of my mind I am thinking how nice it would be to have the Orange ones and Black ones as well. . .Ilse Jacobsen, I really don't like you right now. You suck for making such obsessive boots that make a girl make decisions that lack both sense and sanity. That's right.

Ilse Jacobsen's (rain) boots

I have decided I am in love with Ilse Jacobsen's (rain) boots.


photo: oaknyc.com


It started off innocently enough.

I saw them on OAK's website. Curiously cute things. Militant and spunky.

The next day I did some more googling on them.

The following day I was obsessed. I passed up pair of nicely priced Hunter's that happened to pass my way (I have always lacked rainboots).

The following following day I was still obsessed.

Today I drew a picture of them.

They come in all the colors of an appropriately edited rainbow.

They look like- what? Doc Marten's without the clown-like bottom.

Who doesn't want that?

I can imagine many happy outfits around these boots.

I cannot get them out of my head.

Of course- they are far too elusive and expensive at present ($175 on OAK) and I will need to patiently wait for the best opportunity to buy them. The best option of which may be ordering from the UK. Bullocks.

www.ilsejacobsen.dk

Finality..[?]

I will be blunt. Basically Love Life Love Style has turned into a sort of deserted town...

I feel like I owe an apology to readers who would come back and all they would saw for the past couple months was an outdated excuse (and lame): "Hey, I have tons of work!"

I kind of just let it drag on because I did not know if I could really just stop it. Just stop the blog. Obviously, I wasn't having time to do upkeep and all those sort of things one needs to do to keep a blog well, alive; including garnering traffic, blah blah blah, etc. But I guess I was kind of dreading to completely close off this part of... well, whatever this is a part of. I did not want to accept that maybe the blog was slowly chugging to a stop (due to me).

I don't like any sort of finality to anything-- and if there were enough hours in the day I would keep writing. However, I do apologize in case anyone ever winds back here again by chance: I should say I think I was perhaps sort of "méchante" (mean) in just letting the poor blog kind of fade away knowingly and not saying a thing. I had been having a tough couple of months and struggling with a lot of things and about myself and my identity and my capabilities- or lackthereof. Just really doubtful and discouraged about reality. I try to express things as they are, and for me it was also very difficult to just have this blog- where I'm supposed to maintain this sort of "professionalism" (however casual), and completely separate "my real life" so to say. To keep out things not as obviously related to the subject matter.

Sometimes I find myself wishing that I could document all of it. I find art and beauty in everything. In thoughts, in ideas, in feelings, in moments that don't seem important at all but there's some sort of nugget of truth in them.

To close, this isn't a note to send this blog to the grave. I believe Love Life Love Style had a very good mission and communicated important ideas. I basically tried to fill a large need that I thought I saw: a fashion blog with an ethical outlook towards animals. Maybe I wasn't able to do it as well as I wanted, but I put forth a good amount of effort and I think some good discussions were facilitated here and around the fashion blog community.

I still get a steady flow of passerby traffic- I think it is great that people may be using or gaining information from past articles I've written, etc., so in that way this blog has a steady stream -a current- of life running through it. I would best consider it as that the blog, as of now, is just in a deep deep sleep. A hibernation, if you will. Dormant.


Who knows? One day I might pick it back up- send a jolt into this place. Maybe one of these days I'll be struck with some intense spurt of energy or perhaps be hit with a fresh new perspective or approach to which I will have sufficient time to dedicate. Or maybe some days I'll just sproadically put up a post.


+ + + +

Finally, one might be curious as to what I'm doing now-- a tiny update as I am at it I suppose-- well, I do owe something, don't I?


I am currently polishing off my 3rd year in college- and this semester I have been abroad...in France. I've been studying in a lovely historic Alsacien town called Strasbourg. It's the first time I've ever even been in Europe and though there have been some trying/stressful times, it's really been one of the most positive experiences of my life. I can't even begin to describe it. Now, if only if only a couple french friends would just fall into my lap!


To be honest now that I think about it, it kind of seems criminal of me to be in France - known to girls worldwide as a place of chicness and sophistication - and not be blogging about it. But to be honest, Strasbourg isn't too remarkable style-wise. Sure, a 60 second walk would bring me past Louis Vuitton, Sonia Rykiel, Hermès... just to name a few- but the girls typically do this unassuming casual rocker thing, and the guys do the leather jacket and skinny pants thing.


Some highlights, fashion-wise:
I went vintage shopping in the Marais, visited the Sonia Rykiel Exhibition at Musée des Arts Décoratifs [amazing], stumbled upon historic fashion at "Sous l'Empire des Crinolines" at the museum of fashion- Galleria (only ever open for temporary exhibitions), and even was at the opening night party around fashion week at Thierry Mugler's Parisian boutique for the debut of their 2 week capsule collection there- champagne (best ever), hors d'oeuvres- it was fantastic- like I stumbled into some strange dream with all these really mind-numbingly important french in the fashion industry just happening to be there.


Hey okay, so it's really not much, but here are some random photos:

I know

I know I suck for not updating. I have a lot of workkk :(

Olympics: "The Athletic Image"

It's been a long time coming! These Olympic-inspired shenanigans:

I. "The Athletic Image"
Sports Covered: Swimming, Gymnastics, Volleyball, Beach Volleyball, Track, Soccer, Softball

[all olympic photos are Getty Images unless otherwise mentioned]

So here is my confession: I have been being a total Olympics junkie. In the first couple few days of the Opening Ceremony, I was fixated on the TV like a madwoman. At first it was just at night, then it grew to day and night. If you know me, you know this is not normal. Just as the Olympics has a long and rich history, I have a long and rich history of being uninclined towards athletics...save for the monkey bars when I was a child. I have always been the girl who you'd pick last on your team in gym because I am just not as athletic and as a kid unfortunately I wasn't the most confident so I didn't reallly have the assertiveness and boldness that people need to do well in sports. I think that's the biggest factor but it also didn't help that my heart has some irregularity.

The Olympics are just infectious though. It's so strange because normally I do not watch sports games at all. It's just hard to get into (like, whoa, what's going on here) or understand or know which team to root for. Dad took us to a few baseball games as a kid, but it was just difficult to get into! It was just 'hit hit, strike strike'. But the Olympics is just for a certain period of time though so you're pretty well-covered already, and it's on a world stage. Plus you feel some connection to the players because you're of the same nationality and they're representing your own country which of course, you would like to completely dominate. =p

It's strange cause I don't consider myself even that patriotic at all.

So I've watched some of EVERYTHING. I even had a list of sports I liked and disliked watching: The ones that move a little slow for me are Badminton, Tennis, Cycling, Table Tennis, Water Polo, Equestrian (though I love horses), Diving, Rowing, and even Softball. I was addicted to Swimming, Beach Volleyball, Volleyball, Gymnastics, Track, plus a little bit of Basketball (USA vs. China).

I am so sad that the Olympics ended yesterday! But why did I watch the Olympics in the first place when it's so uncharacteristic of me? Well, the Opening Ceremony itself was a req and to die for...I watched all the countries walk by... and idk, it's just the feeling and that sense of unification and I think some of the games just really draw you in and the athletes are just phenomonal as well like 41-year-old swimmer Dara Torres. Can't believe she got the silver in her individual race, beating out girls half her age, but missing the gold by 1/100th of a second. And the swimming medley relays? On the edge of my seat! Don't even talk to me about Phelps (dubbed as "magical")-- the race between him and Cavic where he won by 1/100th of a second, and the down-to-the-wire relay race to the finish with the trash-talking Alain Bernard and US anchor Jason Lezak. Unforgettable!

Anyone notice how Phelps looks 10x hotter with the cap on?

How about the Women's Gymnastics All-Around? A total nail-biter to me. Some of the scoring had been a little biased towards China in Women's Gymnastics overall (both Nastia and Shawn were gyped there in different places I'd say-- Nastia's floor excercise was completely better the 2nd time around and yet she got graded lower, how she got the same score on the uneven bars as someone whose program wasn't as good as hers...) but loved every minute of Gymnastics... and Russia's Marina Semenova? So cute and so bright-looking! Thought Russia should've gotten a medal somewhere. Also, for the record, Shawn Johnson is the most adorable 16-year-old in the world. And Bela Karolyi himself was fascinating to watch.

Usain Bolt's breaking of three world records? And that Baton race at the end with Asafa Powell? WOW. Then USA Volleyball was so edge-of-the-seat it wasn't even funny and Ogonna Nnamani was top-form. Plus, May and Walsh in Beach Volleyball---!!! I was wide-eyed in the beginning with them against Beligum, and how they ended up totally sailing over the Chinese in the gold medal finals. Just great.

Of course there's the ones that tug at you too and you feel the athlete's own disappointment like Doc Patton and Tyson Gay dropping the damn relay baton and and US women also dropping the baton on their run. And when dear dear Lolo Jones was ahead without a doubt, but then caught the edge of one of the last hurdles, and tripped, completely lost her lead, and frustrating collapse on the track.

Have I gotten those of you unmoved by the Olympics, excited yet? Or those of you as addicted pumped up again by sheer memories? Well, typically uninterested me was completely consumed! If you haven't seen any, youtube any of these specific events mentioned...they're just exhilarating!

The Olympics in general are just really inspirational, but watching all the female Olympians and how they all differed in body type-- from Shawn Johnson who's a tad stockier with thicker thighs, to Misty May-Treanor, to Jennie Finch, to Dawn Harper --but all having in common a great physique, made a really positive impression. For example, I've always been really critical of my calves, which are as wide as anything, but but watching girls like gold-medalist Shawn Johnson with a rigorous training schedule having wider but muscular calves makes me feel better and not as critical. We all have parts of our body we'd like to change, but sometimes it's just our build, and all we can do it is to put it in the best form we can like these athletes.

dawn harper is a powerhouse.

I've always envied the quickness and strength and well, hand-eye coordination of those more athletically-inclined. There's a certain level of toughness and coolness there in say, like the "athletic image" like in the sporty Nike or Adidas ads and well, respect there too. This tough "athletic image" isn't really taken into consideration as much when it comes to fashion...unless you're Yohji Yamamato or Stella McCartney for Adidas. I mean, sometimes there are the "sporty magazine shoots" but they doll it up or layer and prissy it up so much. The athletic woman to me is a raw thing. It's raw and commanding. And that's what you should feel when you try to attempt that feeling and that image. And to stress that--- it is a feeling... a feeling of empowerment of striving, determination, and pushing yourself and pushing your body to the best that it can be.

Mia Hamm VS Kate Moss

And of course the all-telling: Who would win in an arm wrestle? Maybe Kate would pull out her 5-inch razor-sharp Fendi heels but quick-thinking and stronger Mia would win every single time. What it boils down to is that Kate is weaker. And I'm not just picking on Kate (I mean as long as you're healthy right?), or people who are skinny, but too-skinny models really. I think in comparison- these Olympic athletes just command so much respect! They put their bodies in the best form they can for the sport they are in. But all across the board: rowing, basketball, and even gymnastics-- all these women are fit as anything. Hey, you need a lot of strength to work that balance beam or launch yourself through those uneven bars. Nastia Liukin -the all-around champion this time around- holds herself like a model, is lithe like a model, but is probably in 20x better shape than any model on the catwalk. [she's even mentioned she's interested in modeling. I think she can do better than that, but if she were to pursue modeling, she'd definitely give the industry a challenge with her athletic physique]

Where the problem comes in is that it's about being leaner and thinner in the world of fashion. What do girls want to be? They want to get thinner. Everyone wants to cut out the fat from their diet and get a little bit skinnier. Even I was like that and I had my own personal little revelation that I'm partly sharing here. You don't hear so much, "I want to be in shape and fit. I want to be stronger." Put the US Women's Soccer Team with the catwalkers. Who's more fit? In a game of survival, the catwalkers might not do so well.

So why is it that we all want to emulate the frames of catwalkers and those in high fashion spreads than that of lean and powerfully dynamic Olympians? Their bodies are so much better and fitter and probably a lot healthier. As Kors said on PR: These women are like Wonder Woman! And if we take this to the extremes: Would you rather want to be a superheroine or a stick?

0r

When it's put that way, it's no question. The infectious Olympic spirit and determination nudged unathletic me to tackle the gym more than I would, have an immense appreciation and better understanding for sports, and spontaneously go hiking out of the blue. Now having that sort of athletic frame really is more of a goal than just "being skinny"... Plus, I mean, to be "superficial" about it, your clothes will look so much better, when you have a better frame to put them on. I Just think it's better to feel strong than to feel...thin. Some women have that idea, but some women, and young girls, don't I think. Even a few of my friends don't (don't whack me).

I think that those long thin models on the catwalk can most CERTAINLY be stronger an carry the same tall lithe frame, but there's also the issue that the industry wants lithe as in thin and bony and not necessarily as in "lean and strong". Don't give me the "They were born this way!" stuff-- it's a total copout; they could easily all go to the gym and pick up some muscle mass. Hello! There are tons of long and lithe and in-shape beauties like Maria Sharapova. She is incredibly fit, and as far FAR from beefy as you can get. Even Gisele IMO seems really fit and has that strong and healthy look.

Not to mention they're much more inspirational IMO and a really positive representative of their respective countries.

Onto the Sets!

Disclaimer: These were all rather difficult to do...since I don't really own any shiny Lycra or Spandex or Leotards or tight short shorts so you can see why it took me so long to do this. In the feel of the outfits, I tried to keep them so that they feel somewhat strong and athletic and somewhat have an aura of confidence and pride.

SWIMMING

I'm wearing: j.crew shorts, le tigre tank, 2 belts,
AA blue tights over UO black tights, + random ribbon

GYMNASTICS

I'm wearing: A/X red top, straps from H&M skirt
this one was actually kind of difficult. I ended up taking a thick red ribbon and wrapping it around my shorts so that it looked longer and more like the outfit.

VOLLEYBALL

(they have kneepads over their socks so I whipped out my hansel basel socks)

also a lot of my shirts aren't that decorative which is why I fiddled around with ribbons and belts and placement for all of these etc.

Look- I'm not that athletic but I did try with the poses though!
I'm wearing: Stella McCartney for Adidas sneakers, Hansel Basel Socks,
sweatshorts, elastic H&M belt, skirt suspender straps, le garcon tee.

TRACK

SOFTBALL

SOCCER