dita von teese

flawless.

M'Obama

 

the first lady looks AMAZING in this marc jacobs fall 2010 dress. so great to see such a stylish first lady again--we all miss jackie o. michelle obama is no laura bush (thank god on so many levels) and she continues to impress me as time goes on. keep up the good work, mrs. obama!

NYLA

"I think New York women have such style, and it’s not about money, it’s just the look and the pace and the activity. And in L.A., they’re very beautiful and they all look exactly alike, which is good because if we go to war they’re all in uniform. " --Joan Rivers ♥

scalloped

Alexander McQueen Spring 2011 RTW

 

on february 11, 2010, the world lost a brilliant mind. nine days after the death of his mother, lee alexander mcqueen hung himself in his home in london. his funeral was attended by the likes of sarah jessica parker, bjork and daphne guinness. i found myself very emotional when i knew of his passing--almost as if i had lost a friend. maybe this makes me a headcase, but i think that it goes to show that clothes do resonate in emotions for some people who are passionate about them. sarah burton, mcqueen's long-time assistant, was named the new creative director after mcqueen's passing, and i can think of no way to better continue his essence than appointing someone who has trained and worked with mcqueen for many years.

mcqueen's tendency to evoke these kinds of feelings in people came from the magic that were his designs. his ability to construct pieces that simultaneously enforced structure while maintaining femininity is unrivaled by any other brand. i absolutely love the dresses he crafted, especially ones with impeccably symmetrical patterns. 

Rest In Peace Lee, you are missed more than you know.

decades

 

sometimes i really wish i could live in the 50's

Marchesa Spring 2010 RTW

 

beautiful.

fairytale

ooh my goodness i wish i could pull this off as a wedding dress or something. gorgeous.

kitchen galore

 

 

i am OBSESSED with this house. i love the spanish styling, and the kitchen is to die for. i have always wanted a large, open kitchen to entertain friends and family. and don't even get me started on this gorgeous backyard. i love outdoor patios so so much. now just to figure out how i can get this in manhattan....

Jimmy Choo

Jimmy Choo by AmandaQBerrill featuring chanel jewelry


while browsing the internet this afternoon in a feverish attempt to further procrastinate my internship paper (7-10 pages... wtf?!?), i came across a jimmy choo sky patent hobo bag giveaway. yes please! the requirement was to "like" the site's facebook page, and then post on their wall what you would pair with said bag. so to hopefully differ my entry from others', i opted for a visual description rather than a written one. i love love love this bag, i think it can go with so many things. i paired it with various jimmy choo heels, and i would rob someone for those embellished wedges. i also love vintage jewelry, and i was so excited to find this vintage chanel bracelet. i want this bag tremendously. fingers crossed everyone.

i have found my mission in life

this might be the most beautiful thing i have ever seen.


courtesy of http://diamondsinthefluff.blogspot.com/


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time flies when

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what a whirlwind these past few weeks have been. an extended thanksgiving break, PRII campaigns, and boyfriend visits have really filled up my blogging schedule. hardly ironic how my favorite season of the year is always the most hectic. we have some catching up to do, readers. but for now

i am in desperate need of a chunky knit jet-black scarf.

Untitled by AmandaQBerrill featuring tube scarves

blue dress

does anyone remember Zenon, girl of the 21st century?

yes the Disney movie...

smooth as buttah

oh man. there's nothing like the scent of new shoes in the morning. yesterday my mom and i were browsing the nordstrom shoe department for a pair of booties like these, where i came across the vince camutos pictured above. i tried them on and really liked them and, hooray!, they were on sale. however i told my mom i would rather have her spend the money on trendy shoes like these which i was in the market for and put the camutos on hold (you know, just in case).

so after scouring the mall for the perfect pair of military booties, we struck out, determined to venture to DSW the next day. in between shopping excursions i hunted shoe sites such as zappos and endless (both of which i highly recommend: fast deliveries and free shipping and returns! could not be easier) to find many pairs that i liked but could not afford. so i put my faith in the fact that DSW had many treasures in story for me.

DSW was uncharacteristically lacking the selection i had desired (even though they had a blow-out sale of gucci heels), so my mom and i returned to the mothership, otherwise known as nordstrom. it was then that i realized that i had been chasing a trend so intensely that i had forgotten to think about how often i would actually wear them. once, maybe even twice before the trend had passed? i also realized that i didn't own many clothes that would actually match these types of booties. i then came to my senses and admitted to my mother than i no longer needed the military booties.

long story short, after tracking down the heels that were hidden away in the cavernous room that holds the backstock of shoes, they were purchased and in a shinny silver nordstrom bag within minutes. i think the point of the story is that even though you may spend hours upon hours chasing the latest trend, it is important to keep in mind the functionality and practicality of the trend (two words that are shunned in the world of high-fashion). along with all aspects of your life, buy (or do) what you love! why invest time or money into something that won't bring you happiness and fulfillment? everything in life should make you smile, whether it be cooking, mountain climbing, or, in my case, the world of fashion.

Airport Blues

Airport Blues by AmandaQBerrill featuring tank tops

traveling during the holiday season never seems to go as flawlessly as you think it will. so in anticipation for my 2:29 flight out of newark airport, i had a car pick me up at 12:00 pm just in case i were to run into any gnarly security lines due to the recent TSA drama. i arrived at approximately 12:20 to encounter less than 15 people in line for security and it took me all of about 20 minutes to check my bag, get through security,  and get my soy chai latte at starbucks. at i plug in my laptop to get started on some schoolwork (or facebook stalk and listen to kanye west) i am notified that my flight is delayed and will not be departing until at least 3:49. oh joy!!! thankfully i was early enough to snag a seat by the electrical outlets and therefore succumbed to paying for wifi access. so i decided to take this forced down time to talk about airport attire.

we see so many celebrities in paparazzi shots leaving various airports in sky-high heels and blazers and other not-so-leisure friendly attire. while i do admire this, it is not for the everyday traveller that can't afford first class and people to tote your belongings for you. while i will admit to arriving in madrid this summer in platform wedges (yes, i was that girl), i generally try to stick to a casual-chic mantra when it comes to traveling. and no, this does not include sweatpants.

i tried to depict my current outfit at accurately as possible, and i think i accomplished it pretty well. i am wearing dark blue jeggings (so comfortable to fly in), a sheer black lace and floral shirt (more exciting than the one pictured), pretty much that exact sweater, and a charcoal studded leather jacket. my boots are very similar to the wood-heeled ones above, except they are about 6 inches taller (in shaft height, not heel!). in terms of baggage, i checked one bag and am carrying this marc by marc jacobs tote bag and the purse pictured above sitting on the ledge, which i bought in spain and is one of my favorites. it is important to wear simple (and sparse) jewelry when traveling, so i have three rings, my fossil watch, and my grandmothers earrings on, similar to the ones pictures with black accents and diamonds in the middle. now that i think about it, my jewelry isn't so sparse at all, however TSA said nothing when i neglected to take any of it off before walking through the metal detector. guess i should have brought my glock after all.

sometimes
it's the little things in life that make you smile


keep that in mind as you go about the rest of your week

Ariyoshi Japanese Restaurant Review

The first thing you notice about Ariyoshi is the adorable back entrance in the SOPAC parking lot: little paper lanterns and cheerful colored lights are strung up making it almost feel like Christmas year-round.

The second thing you notice takes advantage of another sense—smell. The delicious scent of tempura batter and sizzling meats and vegetables fills the restaurant and makes you immediately twice as hungry as you were before you set foot in the doorway.

My friends and I were seated quickly on an un-crowded Sunday night. While we were seated in the corner, we did have a view of the impressive 15-foot fish tank that occupies the middle of the largest dining room. Our waters were in front of us before we could even order, and the delicious miso soup that we did order also came out promptly.

The menu has a large variety, so those students who aren’t the biggest fans of raw fish—or even sushi in general—are guaranteed to find something to nibble on. Our waitress did not pressure us to order and gladly came back when we requested more time to ponder the vast array of menu choices.

The food came out relatively quickly, and all the sushi rolls were brought out at the same time. One dinner guest could not stop raving about her Mexican Roll, which consisted of shrimp tempura, avocado, carrots, and spicy sauce.

“It was so delicious, and the roll didn’t fall apart once!” said Lindsey Barber, class of 2011, who often has difficulties keeping sushi together.

Fellow Setonian writer Laurel Barbot described the gyoza she ordered as having a “light and crispy texture with surprisingly tasty filling—a great appetizer before sushi.”

The price range at Ariyoshi varies from a mere $2 miso soup to decadent $15 special rolls. The classic California Roll will set diners back $4.50, and there are many other choices to fit even a starving college student’s budget.

For our over 21 students, the lovely staff at Ariyoshi will supply you with wine glasses and even take your wine back to chill while you eat.

When dining with larger parties, try reserving the back room. This almost-hidden dining area features a large wooden table with raised seats and sunken floor space underneath the table—you can feel like you’re sitting on the ground without being uncomfortable. Make sure you take your shoes off, this room is set to mimic traditional Japanese style and customs.

Whether you’re craving vegetable tempura and rice or the Lobster Roll, there is something for everyone at Ariyoshi.

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

A year after the infamous Taylor Swift incident, Kanye West debuted “Runaway” at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards. Kanye also introduced the public to his G.O.O.D. Friday project, in which West has been releasing tracks to the public but tried to keep fans guessing about which tracks would make the final album cut.

In what some have called an effort to make the next “Thriller” video, the full-length “Runaway” film is visually stunning and simplistically intriguing. The film is a raw and organic look at Kanye West and a departure from his usual bravado, as we witness West fall in love with, well, a bird.

Nicki Minaj babbling in an awful attempt at a British accent introduces the full-length “Runaway” film, however it is quickly redeemed by the intense and determined introduction of “Dark Fantasy.” Kid Cudi’s soft voice makes a cameo next in “Gorgeous,” followed by a slightly modified version “Power,” which has a strong beat based on female vocals.

Next, “All of the Lights” (featuring Rihanna) comes to life in the video with a fireworks display and a Michael Jackson-themed parade, while “Devil in a New Dress” is the background to an elaborate dinner party in a warehouse with no lack of racial and societal commentary.

After a dinner guest points out that Kanye’s beautiful girlfriend is indeed a bird, the film segues into the actual performance of “Runaway,” featuring ballerinas clad in black dancing a mix of classical and urban ballet. The film then samples a snippet of “Hell of a Life” (which features Lil Wayne on the full album) and “Blame Game” featuring John Legend—a pretty, piano-laiden track with less than pretty lyrics. “Blame Game” is followed by “Lost in the World,” a beautifully lyrical and harmonious introduction which follows up with an energizing beat leading to the dramatic finale of the film.

We once again see a more aggressive and brash Kanye, not to mention a boastful and sexually arrogant Mr. West. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (out November 22) shows Kanye’s ability to constantly evolve and simultaneously be his own biggest fan and critic.

The Kanye we witness in My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is a Kanye which is much more reminiscent of his old days on the College Dropout and Gradation albums, rather than the slow, melancholy sounds of 808s & Heartbreak. His ability to combine snippets of soulful singers with steady raps and solid beats is nothing short of the comeback that Kanye’s fans were looking for. Welcome back Mr. West.