Walking in Style

I never attended my graduation from FIDM. Having been a few years older and with a BA already in hand, my time there was mostly for study and much less social than my previous college life at Eastern. I don't regret the decision; I feel I received more than my share of ceremony the first time around.

HOWEVER...,  had I known about this tradition, I might have given the day a second thought. Someone finally thought to bring some style to the drab cap and gown.

These mortarboards are just a few my favorites. There were a hundred or so posted online from this year's class. This trim is definitely giving the Kentucky Derby a run for it's money. Kudos and congrats to the FIDM class of 2010!

Project Runway: New Season, New City

One of my favorite shows has relocated to my alma mater! In the words of Tristan, "FIDM, What?!?!"

Seeing the campus makes me homesick for LA on a weekly basis (not that I needed another reason). It's too soon to tell which designer is my favorite, there are a couple I'm keeping my eye on.

I also had no idea there's a Mood fabric store in LA... come to find out, it's only a mile from my old apartment. Hopefully soon they will improve their website for online purchases. Right now the selection online is minimal, but the design assistant is a great inspiration and feature. I can't wait to visit the shop when I'm in LA next month.

Mood Fabrics

The Big Show: Oscars Reviewed

While I'm watching the President's Address to Congress, I thought I would multi-task and review Sunday night's spectacle we like the call the Oscars.

Instead of reviewing some good and bad, I thought I would hand out awards of my own.

Best Dressed: Marisa Tomei. I know everyone is giving this honor to Anne Hathaway. She looked nice, don't get me wrong, but Marisa literally took my breath away. The pleats! The silver! The intricacy! The pleats! I love love love!

Honorable Mention: Freida Pinto. How unique is her dress? One shoulder styles are huge right now, and she is naturally so beautiful. She didn't leave me breathless, but I am loving her look!



Best Continuous Portrayal of a Movie Character/ Steamiest Man on the Red Carpet: Robert Pattison. Let me see, pale skin, slight hint of under eye tiredness, and oh so handsome? I smell a conspiracy. Perhaps ol' Patti really is a vampire. In which case, he has permission to bite me anytime.

Best Effort of a Great Dress, but forgot to Finish the Look: Jessica Biel. Love the dress and the oversized bow. The skirt is a bit awkwardly narrow, and the black shoes (not pictured) I question, but mostly I have an issue with the hair. Did the hairspray go flat? Did she decide to skip her salon appt for some snuggle time with JT (in which case, she is completely off the hook). It's the Oscars! Spring for an updo, please.

Most Overrated: Brangelina (did anyone see the cold shoulder they gave to Ryan? NOBODY should diss the Seacrest). I am so over both of them. And glad Jennifer showed up looking quite lovely, and somehow talked John Mayer into shaving for the occasion. As a couple they looked much better. Angelina's dress is especially bothersome. It's blah and underwhelming. a black chiffon gown, something a high school senior could wear to prom. You're losing your edge Angie.

Most Graceful: Kate Winslet. I was hoping she would give the speech her son suggested ("Mum, just say, thank you everybody"). This woman is so elegant. I think I am such a fan because aside from her amazing talent, she is real and relatable, with just a bit more poise than I could ever hope for.


Most Surprising to Impress Me/ Cutest Couple: Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens. It looks like someone finally got Zac to lay off the self tanner a bit. And how cute was their musical number together?

Celeb Presenter I am SOOOO over: Miley Cyrus. What was she even doing there? And she actually said she hoped to return next year after her new movie came out because it goes much deeper than the show ever did. Errrr.... Your character Hannah Montana decides not to wear her wig for an hour an a half. Unless the tween population takes over the Academy somehow, Miley, that will NEVER NEVER warrant an Oscar nod. I'm not a fan of the dress either.

Best Badly Dressed (I have to get around to this somehow): Tilda Swinton could once again win this one, except that she is very verbal about her not wearing makeup and all around look. For that, I am letting her off the hook this time.

However, these two don't get off so lucky - Sofia Loren and Philip Seymore Hoffman.

There are no words for this angel cake monstrosity. Moving on....

Philip: Is a shower out of the question? A beanie? It's LA! It's not even cold outside. I also understand that tanning is so passe, but we pale people have to compensate somehow. My suggestion, talk to Zac.

And finally, the Most Missed Celeb not at the Oscars, my love George.

He was off meeting with President Obama and Vice President Biden about the crisis situation in Darfur, hoping to make this a priority in their plan for international aid.

When asked how he felt after his most recent return from Chad, he humbly responded by saying he could not comment on "his experience" when the crisis was so much bigger.

Sigh

Grammy Dos and Don'ts

First, I'll start off with my favorites:

Kate Benkinsale. The train is my favorite feature of her gown, however her entire look is sleek, well thought out and elegant. Come to think of it, since she's technically and actress and presenter, she should probably be exempt from receiving props for being well dressed, as this seems to be less of a challenge for the non-musical sort.


Carrie Underwood receives my vote for Best Dressed. The gown is gorgeous. Well Done.

And Now... those less fortunate. I feel as though there are no words

And yet, I cannot hold my tongue, and so, I'll begin:

Paula, I'm not surprised. Only you would think wearing Roman soldier armor qualifies as vintage. Can't wait to see what you'll be wearing these next few months on AI...

M.I.A., soooo, you fly like paper and get high like planes. Is this "dress" (a term I use very lightly in this instance) a nod to your efforts in growing wings? p.s. peacocks don't hit the air too often.

Katy Perry, surprisingly, I'm impressed. Quite a classy look. I half expected you to be donning the getup next to you, minus the 9 month old bump.

If the red carpet look wasn't enough for the viewing audiences, this not so teenie weenie polka dot bikini was forced upon us all during M.I.A.'s performance. Do you think she commissioned Liz Lange to create this special number? And who says maternity wear is old fashioned and ultra conservative.

The jumpsuit comeback: currently featured at Target, H&M, and store windows across the country.

This:

just set my campaign back five years. I think I'll narrow my efforts back to overalls. They have to be on the brink of being cool sometime soon.

And finally, the most shocking thing to happen at the Grammys last night was a non-appearance. http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20257828,00.html

Isn't Chris Brown supposed to be a super nice guy? Guess actions speak louder than words on this one.

Man-ccessories

I'm not usually one for crude or potty humor. That road has long been inhabited by my new roommate. That said, there are always exceptions. Especially when those exceptions are given from the point of view of the the always hilarious David Sedaris and disguised as a bit about men's accessories



I found this on one of my favorite blogs, Dooce.com. Heather is another outspoken, over-sharing woman and former Angeleno (no wonder I can relate ;)

Dear Officer

I know nothing about the illegal use of road blockades to close off the corner of 6th and Detroit Sunday night. However, I will accept this parking ticket as a compromise to not look into the matter further.

Yours truly,

Hollywood Bowl

If someone had asked for my thoughts on the Hollywood Bowl this time last year, my immediate response would have been, "Ugh, the concert hall that makes my life miserable?" Hollywood Bowl is right off the 101 at the Highland exit. In order to get to West Hollywood or Mid Wilshire (i.e. my apartment at the time), sitting in an hour of summer concert traffic was unavoidable.

Thanks to Amanda and her adventurous ways, I now have a different opinion and can see why so many people flock to the home of the LA Philharmonic. The Bowl sits among the hills and canyons with views of the Hollywood sign, larger than life homes, and something especially rare... stars! (not the people kind)

We caught TWO concerts last weekend: Eric Idle/ Monty Python, and Reggae Night. Each was obviously very different but equally enjoyable!

Spotted:

Dulé Hill from Psych and The West Wing a few rows away at Reggae night with his BEAUTIFUL wife Nicole Lyn.

Unemployment Diary: Day I've Lost Track

What does one do with no job and a mission to fog the creepy crawlers out of the house? Hop in the car and drive to Los Angeles of course!

11 hours is a hop skip and a jump when it comes to deciding whether to spend the weekend in New Mexico or home in Hollywood. Yesterday Amanda and I hung up our Seafair hats (this year at least) for a "grown up" sailing adventure in Marina Del Rey.

We call this "The No Pants Dance"

Ahh, it feels so good to be home!

Labels and Love

After months of waiting I finally got to see Sex and the City: The Movie. Yes, I did get "Carried Away".

Even with so much anticipation, the movie did not disappoint. I didn't even get through the opening credits and I was already in tears from excitement (I managed to cry only 5 times, which is a lot less than I can say for others... ahem) What I loved most about this movie was that it felt more like a new season all wrapped up in one sitting. The fabulous styles and clothing were icing on the cake!

Product placement I'm afraid was a little overdone (Starbucks, Vitamin water, Bag borrow or steal). Although, I think I will be able to manage looking past this minor flaw.

I thought the show's season finale couldn't have been more perfect, I was wrong, this movie is.

Go see it! And then we'll chat a bit about coloring outside the lines ;)

Rant, Rant, Rant

I'm on a roll here, can't stop now.

I would like to introduce the small towns of New Mexico to this handy new invention called "the straightening iron." Similar to a curling iron, it is a heated styling product which works wonders for people with thick semi curly hair like mine.

THIS

is what I should look like when I walk into the salon... not out of it. I know it's unfair to apply my LA standards to the small town hair salon. All I'm asking for is a bit of product and maybe even a round brush blowout through the mess.

I figure this is about the best I can do with my own hair...

...as a professional stylist I don't think it's too much to expect a step up from my amateur efforts.

Sidenote: Am I the only one who sometimes thinks when you hit "instant fix" in photo editor programs your computer will come back with a picture of Heidi Klum?

That or display the message "Lost cause, good luck out there"

One Day, Two Great Discoveries

It's a well known fact that I'm challenged in the department of eating. Not in the sense that I'm crazy for junk food. Despite the fact that I truly believe I could live on a diet of pizza alone, most of the time I prefer water to soda, tofu to animals who used to have a face, and salad to french fries. I even went through a period of time last year where I somehow developed a serious phobia of contracting scurvy, and therefore ate more fruits and vegetables than a rabbit.

My issues are more specific to the act of eating. Simply stated, I'm a spiller. Hardly a meal goes by where some bite or crumb of food doesn't travel past my mouth and into my lap.

See exhibit A: Out to dinner with Kim. Notice her clean eating area. Then notice mine (I also seem to be eating 4x more than she is...)

Coffee, is a WHOLE other problem for me. I drink my Americanos with a straw not because my teeth are sensitive, or I care about keeping them white, but because I have a bad track record of coffee somehow finding its way onto my shirt.

Even carrying coffee is a challenge for me. It tends to spill all over my hands, especially if I'm carrying Starbucks for two. This leads me to my first discovery yesterday, the lid plugger. I'm fairly certain this isn't the official name for the contraption. I was also told they were relatively new, although since I've been living under a rock lately, I don't quite get out to the neighborhood Bux like I used to. Whether they've been around for months or days, I love them! One less chance to spill on myself is a great step forward for me and five year olds everywhere!

My second amazing discovery happens to also be food related (I'm on a roll). I found a frozen yogurt place about a block from Nick's apartment in Austin that is a solid Pinkberry knockoff! I'm almost positive it's illegal to live in the LA area and NOT be obsessed with this invention of deliciousness. The problem is now that I'm hooked, I have nowhere to get it! Pinkberry has strategically stayed in California and only recently announced it will go bi-coastal and open shop in New York.

The Austin version is still not the real thing. But at least for now, I have found a way to ebb the craving until my feet are firmly planted back in LA soil.

And the newest addition to catch the epidemic....

This just in... Ashlee Simpson is allegedly preggers. Stories broke this morning from US Weekly, Comcast, TMZ, and others. Although this has yet to be confirmed by Ashlee's party, fiancee Pete Wentz issued a statement that the story is untrue. I suppose only time and a growing baby bump will tell.

Ashlee is potentially joining peer Jamie Lynn Spears as the younger, less successful sister who has found catching the epidemic a great way to steal the spotlight (as if last week's engagement announcement wasn't enough).

I wonder what overly involved papa Joe has to say about this. Clearly, Ashlee didn't follow in bigger sis' virginity footsteps.

Amanda said it best: Unwed mothers must be the new pink.

(at least in Hollywood)

If found, Please return to ___

I'm becoming just like the Something Corporate song "I Woke Up in a Car" ... (not because I sleep in my car...ahem... that is SO 2006). There's a line in the song, "I met a girl who kept tattoos for homes that she had loved" I think they must have written the song about me.

Last fall, I was unable to make it back to Cheney for Eastern's homecoming. Since we have all spread out to different states after graduation, this is the time that my group of friends have an unspoken agreement it will be our annual reunion.

I knew there was a lot that I would be missing out on. Luckily, the girls had a chance to get together again last weeekend for Melissa's baby shower. I was quickly caught up on the things that I had missed in October. One, in particular, is the idea for all the girls to get matching tattoos. In concept, I think this is a great idea. We have all gone through so much together. We've shared laughter, tears, rooms, parties, boyfriends, break ups, marriages, babies, and the everyday ups and downs in life.

The thing is, since we all came together in living at the Trailer, and thus dubbed the "Trailer" girls, our options are a bit limited as to what the design of the tattoo will be. Clearly none of us want a picture of a trailer... Jamie came up with the idea of the address numbers 11414.

The idea is slightly Angelina Jolie meets prison branding. Although I admit, I have no better idea to throw on the table. The problem for me personally, is this will be the second location tattoo I have (http://cvanson.blogspot.com/2007/12/why-on-earth-would-you-get-tattoo-that.html).

Now, if I'm ever lost, these tattoos can serve as an ID tag. Please return either to Los Angeles or 11414 Fleming Drive. And hopefully our 4's aren't as crooked as the house numbers.

Les Don't

During my trip back home to Tinseltown I made the request to hit up a Hollywood hotspot one night. Anyone who has seen The Hills (or spent 2.2 seconds in Hwood) knows Les Deux has been the place to see and be seen for the past year. This seemed like the obvious choice for our "night out."

I should have been clued in when we walked right through the velvet ropes without even the smallest bit of schmoozing the bouncers. Past the velvet ropes, an empty club revealed itself.

It has been said that amateurs go out on weekends. Weekdays are for the pros. I still subscribe to this notion, and would argue that it takes good connections and intuition to know where to go on a weeknight for a good time. Clearly these days, those options probably do not include Les Deux. Stay tuned to People or Us Weekly for more information as to where exactly the new hotspot is...

In spite of my review from Wednesday night, Amanda is clearly having a great time

I Don't Get It

There is a hot dog stand just about a mile from my old apartment called Pink's. Supposedly it's world famous (congrats Vegas, you are set to get a Pinks of your own in the near future).

I have no idea if their food is good because frankly (get it "frank"ly) I'm not a fan of hot dogs to begin with. However, this little joint is constantly grabbing my attention. Regardless of the time of day, there is a line in front. Whether it is 9 am, 2 pm, or midnight, there are always people willing to wait for a dog. The line is of course much clonger around lunch and dinner times, yet weekends don't seem to play a factor.

I took this picture at 3pm today. The cab is actually blocking about 10 more people...
I wish someone would shed light on this phenomenon, I just DON'T get it.

You DO look fat in those jeans

This is marketing genius. These posters are ALL over LA.

Not only is this hilarious, I was actually curious enough from the posters to go the website. The marketing campaign is for the upcoming movie Forgetting Sarah Marshall.
www.ihatesarahmarshall.com
Check it out!

The Biggest Premiere in Town!

Is this strange to anyone else? An Urgent Care clinic hosts a "Grand Opening" sign out front of their offices.

Lose a limb? Catch the Bird Flu? You're in luck! We have a GRAND OPENING!!!!

Spotted

It has been quite awhile since I have been able to contribute to my "Spotted" section of this blog. Luckily, being in LA, it doesn't take too long for that to change.

Amanda and I dined at the Hollywood Katsu-Ya for dinner tonight. Aside from this being the BEST sushi I have ever had, (if you are ever in the LA area, I recommend this as a must visit!!!) this restaurant fulfilled my celeb spotting drought quite quickly.

Dining near us was the cast of Smallville and One Tree Hill together, and while we were signing our checks to go, Emily Rossum walked through the dining area.

Oh! It is so good to be back home!

LA!!!!

Have I mentioned lately how overly excited I am to go back to LA for a whole week??? I will be there in less than 12 hours!

I am asked almost too often what it is "exactly" I love so much about this city. I will save my "it's because of the beaches, weather, shopping, like no place on earth" speech for another time and focus on the main reason why living in LA is so wonderful.

With a roommate like this, how can you NOT want to be wherever she is??!?!

In case you couldn't tell, Amanda was replicated the statue of liberty...

Officially Done!

I took my last final today. I am officially done at FIDM!!!

It feels like just yesterday I was writing the posting about going back to school to finish my Professional Designation program.

http://cvanson.blogspot.com/2007/12/fashion-school-dropout-no-more.html

I admit it might have taken a "tad" longer than expected, but I relish the fact that at least I completed before my well known classmate Lauren, finished her Product Development degree (The fact that she has launched her own clothing line which already has store placement and has one of the highest rated shows on cable is beside the point).

Here's to a future of fashion event planning, launching my own products, forecasting trends, and becoming yet another well known FIDM alum.

FIDM What??!