"Pretty In Pink" Rachel Weisz photographed by Tom Craig for British Vogue

Hands down best fashion photography I have ever seen; the photographs radiate the essence of the 60's. These photographs are from British Vogue, I will post more as I look through the mag.



RP

Josie Grossie No More

I rarely wear prints or color because black and gray just seem to be easier but this dress from Pucci on Drew Barrymore makes me want to change my ways. I wasn't feeling the whole sparkle thing that's taken off everywhere, but this dress perfectly balances the print with the shimmer and the color palette. The cut looks great on her, although she can where anything, and I especially love the single open shoulder.


RP

Dear Alexa Chung, give me your style. K thanks, RP.

There's just something about the casual cool vibe that Alexa Chung radiates in all her photos. I don't watch her show, but I love her look. That lace motif is going to start showing up everywhere.


RP

Love of My Life, Rob Dyrdek

"Rob Dyrdek is beyond characterization; he is not a personality who can be simplified into a sound bite."

How true, how true.

I just re-watched that Guinness Book of World Records, "Knock 'Em Out" episode and literally cried with laughter. Rob and Big always cheer me up.

Rob: ""We're a world record setting team! World record hug."




Only Rob and John-O could rock those jackets - hil-lar-rious yet suave. John is like, "Thank you, thank you, I know I'm great" and Rob is thinking "Get me to the bar."


RP

Charlotte Gainsbourg

Tonight I watched Charlotte Gainsbourg in Yvan Attal's "My Wife is an Actress." She's up there with Catherine Keener as one of my favorite actresses, plus her impeccable, signature style constantly makes me wish I could just run out and learn French and move to Paris and start acting and smoke cigs at dinner while wearing a trenchcoat.





RP

Post-It Notes

I love Post-It notes. They are efficient, accessible, and never come in ugly colors. I keep pads of them near my bed, computer, and in my handbag so I never have to go without writing something down quickly. The array on my wall right now read as so, in no particular order:

"I think, secretly, it's what every artist wants to do, just to sit and paint and smoke and think" - Ragnar Kjartansson (Iceland's rep @ the Venice Biennale)

"Eligible for upgrade w/o discount. NOW, pay full retail price. iPhone $150.00. DROID by Motorola, $599.00."

"DO FINANCES MONDAY!!!!"

"Milton Resnick (1917 - 2004), Hydrogen, 1961, Oil on Canvas"

"Helen Frankenthaler, Springscape"

"Cecily Brown"

"Hurry Up and Choose by Mozella"

"The Dirty Projectors. Bishop Allen."


RP

Los Libros

I like to keep the books I'm reading straight in front of me on my desk so I can turn to them at any point to find that certain quote I underlined in black pen or pink highlighter. All my books are marked this way and I have a habit of marking books with little notes, or "ha", or stars which mark a point of resonance. I too read multiple books at the same time, which proves to be an interesting if not eccentric way of combining ideas. I am now reading "After Dark" by Haruki Murakami; the Taschen book on "Expressionism" by Norbert World; The $12 Million Stuffed Shark: The Curious Economics of Contemporary Art by Don Thompson; "About Looking" by John Berger; the latest Art Issue of W magazine; Brian Greene's "The Fabric of the Cosmos: Space, Time, and the Texture of Reality; and finally:

Painters on Painting
Selected and Edited with An Introduction by Eric Protter

Here is what I underlined today:

"The work of art is always based on these two poles of the maker and the onlooker; and the spark that comes from this bi-polar action gives birth to something, like electricity" - Marcel Duchamp

"A PAINTING MUST MAKE HUMAN CONTACT. If a painting does not make a human contact, it is nothing. But the audience is also responsible . . . Through pictures, our passions touch." - Robert Motherwell

Next on the plate: Thomas Pynchon's "Inherent Vice" and Joan Didion's "The Year of Magical Thinking."


RP

Saul Leiter at Knoedler & Company

I often find that when a work of art strikes me, it strikes me hard. I felt the same way when I first saw those of Joan Mitchell, Francesca Woodman, and Milton Resnick. The images linger after walking away and nuzzle up inside of me against that part of my brain that feels awe at such magnificence.

I forgot to mention this earlier but I felt this way the other day. I went to Knoedler Project Space with my fellow Visual Arts Administrators and I was blown away by Saul Leiter's work there. I have been trying to work small as of late, in little notebooks with vellum and watercolors. He does it so effortlessly and with such brilliance; I left feeling rigorously inspired and yet so inept.

The works seem to breathe iridescent colors, spellbinding in their suggestive weight. "Flower" in particular struck me:


I find myself using the same palette now, copy-cat (I know), but imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.


RP

Lily from Across the Pond

Though her music ain't that great, Lily is starting to work it girlfriend. I stumbled across the new Chanel Cocoon Handbag ads in like, oh, every magazine of late and I must say she hides her outspoken, cynical self well in black and white.





Let's not forget though that she did come up with the lyrics "So your daughter's depressed, well, get her straight on the Prozac, but little do you know she already takes crack." Whhaaaa?

Imagine that conversation between mother and daughter:

Mom (pointing her finger): Are you depressed?
Daughter (biting her fingernails): Yes.
Mom: You're going to start taking Prozac.
Daughter: But MOM! I already take crack.
Mom: Oh, I didn't know.
Daughter: Um, yeah . . .

Pause for reaction. I found it amusing.



RP

Bona Drag

I found out about Bona Drag from Daily Candy. I was perusing their glorious collection with a 60's vibe, I picked out the following must-haves:






I think only a certain kind of gal can pull off the lace pants, I saw similar ones in a Calypso window the other day.






As far as the earrings, well, Edie Sedgwick - my style icon - would have worn these most definitely. Sassafrass, a blog I've been reading lately, has a great post on Edie.







I can't pull off the whole jumpsuit thing, not tall enough, but this one is gorgeous even to look at just for the contrast between the tight top and loose bottom.







Love shoes. Love them. This funky yet sophisticated pair caught my eye.

Check out Bona Drag's blog.



RP

Practically Free

Just hit up a Free People sale at the Free People Upper West Side Store (1319 3rd Avenue). Got a black romper for $29.95, a charcoal silky blazer thing for $49.95, and amazing fancy-sweats for $19.95. OH YEAH.

Black Romper

Silky Blazer

Fancy-Sweats


RP

Roma

So I miss living in Rome, a lot. I miss the market in the Prati neighborhood, taking classes near the Piazza del Popolo, drawing in the Borghese Gardens in the spring. I miss late nights in Testaccio, touristy nights out in Campo de' Fiori at the Drunken Ship, secret bar nights at Led Zep, and sandwiches at Ristocampo. I miss wandering around on Sundays exploring the Jewish Ghetto, taking the 492 to Trastevere, the randos on the subways, saying Ciao, and Prosecco. I miss our Italian friends, Alessio, Andrea, Valerio, and Alberto. I miss meeting foreigners and then never seeing them again. I miss Michelangelo and St. Peter's and Bernini and Raphael. As far as clubs? Gilda, Piper, Micca, Goa, and Art Cafe. I miss Starbee's on weeknights. I miss being overwhelmed with things to photograph for photography class. And finally, I never thought I would say it, but I miss RyanAir.


RP

Dragons, Spaghetti, and Cigs, Oh My

Yesterday I went to my friend Ira's house to work on our group project for Exhibition Design "Breathing Fire: The History of Dragons in Art." After three hours, one cup of tea, one large coffee, a million hits of the keyboard, and some discussion regarding the differences between Eastern and Western dragons, we all decided we had had enough. Ira and I went to the balcony to have a cig and started discussing getting fat in Italy and the joys of traveling abroad. Ira related to me how his balcony reminded him very much of Hitchcock's "Rear Window." I agreed.

Topics that came up in conversation: trying to find Chinese food in Rome; the London tube; a 6 yr-old tree that was growing out of a flower box on the balcony; the Venice Biennale; the joys of being an intern; contemporary photography; the death of Jeanne Claude; the possibility of a wife-killer living amongst the neighbors' enclave; ice sculptures of the Parthenon; paraffin in pastel colors; transience and deterioration and impermanence and identity.


RP

Oh, Elizabeth and James

Brilliant (the skirt not the Hanes tank). Unfortunately . . . $395.


RP

What's up with John Mayer?

John Mayer: “I can’t even explain to you how terrible that feels, that I equate dating a woman with punishment, shame, guilt, disappointment, reproach, reprimand, persecution. It’s a nightmare.”("John Mayer Just Has to Please the Girls", The New York Times, Jon Caramanica, Nov 20, 2009)

RP: I can't even explain to you, John-O, how terrible it is that I equate you with the lyrics:

"I don't remember you looking any better, then again I don't remember, don't remember you"

What the hell does that mean?


RP

Coats and Mary-Kate

I find it to be a consistent pleasure throughout the winter to put on a coat. I love getting bundled up and I like how it makes it acceptable to cover everything you want covered. I just ordered this coat online the other day from Urban Outfitters because of the way the collar hangs, and the back will be flattering (I hope) to my ever-expanding ass. Give me a black coat any day, or a tweed coat, never a green one, and come on people, enough with the puffers - we are not Eskimos.

Here are some others I looked at:

I am wearing my leopard (or someone asked - Cheetah?) print coat by GOLDE from last year right now, with a black, thick, ribbed cotton collar and a big, jazzy gold zipper up the front. I love it. More importantly, I feel like I carry a little of Mary-Kate's style with me when I wear it.






Next on the list for outerwear? Legwarmers and a furry vest. I'm thinking Duane Reade for the legwarmers (pick of black or cream) and Zara for the vest.

Onwards.


RP

Smiling at Zachary's Smile

Wandered into a gem of a store last night on my way through NoHo, Zachary's Smile. This store is probably well known. As a non-native New Yorker, I am guessing that I am writing about something that has been covered before but . . . it gave me that buzz, the shopping buzz, the clothes buzz, the shoe buzz, the buzz where you suddenly rationalize to yourself that you need a complete new wardrobe and that this store has every look you want. I stumbled across this cozy, vintage abode because I dragged myself to Inven.tory for a sample sale only to find that they were turning people away with a pathetic, say it like-you-mean-it "I'm sorry, we're closed."

I wanted to get a vintage dress to wear for an art opening and stumbled across about ten that I coveted so badly that I spent ten minutes (they must have thought I was so weird) in the dressing room going back and forth in my head about what to get, how much my total would be, which piece could I live without, etc. I decided on none of the dresses and got a vintage romper instead, along with a navy blue and white striped loose fitting tee in a L so I can wear it with leggings and the softest big black sweater (never go without one). I want a boyfriend blazer from here . . . like, now. I'm going to go back and get a pair of gold chandelier earrings, for how much you say? Yup, $30.

If you want vintage boots for a reasonable price, go here. Or go to Brooklyn, your choice.

I want a grey pair that go over the knees like these from Intermix, I'm thinking about them. Are grey boots wearable?

Actually, I think I don't like the over-the-knee boot thing. It reminds me of Jessica Simpson, and no, I am not just saying that because it's cool to diss her right now. Please.


RP

Almost Catching a Thief in Barcelona for 2 Days

"I hurt the flower" - Russell Hammond

On a movie kick right now. I watched four over the weekend including Almost Famous which is one of those movies that you get something different out of it every time you watch it depending on your mood.

I love that scene where Kate Hudson looks at Patrick Fugit as he sits on the bed in his underwear about to lose his virginity to the three wild women dancing around him; Kate peeks through her hand, teasingly acknowledging his soon-to-begin venture into manhood then she waves goodbye, letting the girls do their thing with him.

I also watched To Catch a Thief, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, 2 Days in Paris (my favorite movie) . . .

Marion: Uggghhh
[Jack removes Marion's glasses]
Marion: I can't see you. I could be having sex with Gregory Peck or something.
Jack: Well, good for you.


A little trivia from IMDB: Adam Goldberg was in another movie with Julie Delpy, the role is listed as "Man Sleeping on Train." Ha.


RP

Pop Music in Moderation

I'm on a pop music listening spree and I just can't help myself. Then again, are Nelly Furtado and Timbaland considered pop? Kings of Leon? Sexiness. Enough Said. Then there's something too about T.I. . . . (and I'm a white girl from PA). I reinterpreted his lyrics to fit my current financial status:

"your finances are in disarray, prioritizing horribly"

It's become my mantra in the morning to set me off with moula-mindfulness for the day.

Here's the playlist I'm currently listening to:

"Quiet as a Mouse" - Margot and the Nuclear So and So's
"Brainy" - The National (saw The Long Count at BAM - amazing)
"Scream" - Timbaland feat. Keri Hilson and Nicole Scherzinger
"Minor Thing" - Red Hot Chili Peppers
"Hearing Damage" - Thom Yorke (that otherworldly song from the New Moon soundtrack)
"Hands" - Four Tet
"Everywhere" - Fleetwood Mac (check out the cover version by Vampire Weekend)
"Reckoner" - Radiohead
"Naive" - The Kooks
"Girlfriend in a Coma" - The Smiths
"Figaro" - Madvillain (damn good)
"Daylight" - Aesop Rock
"Writer's Block" - Just Jack
"Our Swords" - Band of Horses

Now that I think about it this list seems a little dated, but I'm one of those people that finds a song she likes and listens to it over and over and over and over until I find another.

RP

Bill Viola

The first piece of art I ever connected with was Bill Viola's video installation at the Tate Modern, "Five Angels for the Millenium." Currently, Viola has a show at James Cohan Gallery which I am dying to check out . . . (I can't right now because I'm in school studying art which affords me little time to actually go see art).

"Bodies of Light"

Any thoughts?

RP