Inflence: It doesn't suck!

Oh me, oh my

On Friday I went to the library in search of books on YSL for my French ISU. After finding what I went looking for, I decided to browse the stacks because a) I was bored and b) I had half an hour to kill. During my browsing what should I stumble upon but 'Influence', a book written by the Olsen twins, the girls who brought us such hits as 'Passport to Paris' and 'New York Minute' (well, maybe 'hits' isn't the right word). With a smirk, I checked it out, eager to see what these skinny rich girls who I didn't really think much of could put together. I was expecting a half-assed group of essays written by them with the help of several high-paid writers explaining their love of shopping or the downside to being billionaires. I expected the worse, and I was wrong.

The Truth

'Influence' is a great coffee table book. The interviews and personal without sacrificing relevance and the photographs are impeccable. The Olsens are clearly very well connected young women!

What stood out to me in this book was the survey that the twins filled out themselves. Titled 'The Proust Survey', its questions actually required some soul-searching and thought. I'll try to write it out, but for now, I'm too lazy.

What can I say? Buy it, borrow it, steal it. Whatever. Just read it. It has its appeals.



To the Olsens: I am sorry for misjugding you. Forgive me.

Topshop NYC (it's about time!)

Something wicked this way comes!

Whenever I go to Europe, I'm constantly on the lookout for a Topshop. Since my first visit (it was to the location in the Plaza del Sol in Madrid) I've been drawn to their selection of eclectic and feisty merchandise. The store just reeks of a youthful sass that is unlike anything else I've ever experienced. But it always made me sad that my only Topshop experiences were European because, sadly, they haven't opened any stores on this side of the pond. Luckily for me, that's all about to change.

After numerous delays, Topshop will finally be opening its first North American store on on April 2nd ie 9 days from now. Yes, it's in SoHo, NYC ie hours away from Toronto, it's a hell of a lot closer than their next closest location in the UK. Fortunately, I will among the first to break in the new store because I'm going to NYC for the opening! Yessir, in little over a week I will be lacing up my most comfortable pair of Chucks and strapping on my elbow pads to fight through the crowds of hipsters and fashionistas desperate to share part of the dream.

I'm terribly excited, but none of that means anything without you there to share it with me. Haha. Right.

xoxo

EDIT: God damn this recession! Won't be making the voyage down south due to lack of funds. Merde!

Finally!

University Bound!
Today I got into Ryerson Journalism School ie my first choice. I accepted the offer today so yes, I will be going there next year. Phew. This whole university process is out of my head - that is, until I need to apply for residence. Now, if only the scholarship fairy would come by...

Local Shit: Neogami Origami

Good Samaritan

So recently I was cruising on Craigslist and randomly came across someone's plea to have something translated into French. Seeing as I'm bilingual and the woman worked in fashion, I figured I may as well help her out. I quickly translated the text for her and emailed it back.


The woman in need turned out to be Maggie Krawczky, the Toronto designer behind Neogami Origami Jewellery. We've been corresponding for a bit, and I have to say, her stuff is incredible. Here line of necklaces, earrings, and even those cute things that dangle from cellphones are quirky and different, incorporating natural and at times surreal elements into unique pieces. Here's a small preview of her work. If you'd like to see more, check out http://www.neogami.com/.

Ay, joder...

Dios mio!

I'm having way more trouble than I would ever have anticipated finding a travel partner for this summer. I mean, I've found a few friends that can spend a few days with me when our paths cross, but no one with whom to spend 41 consecutive days. This is not good.

Maybe it's wrong of me to expect my friends to be able to travel. I mean, with university looming so close ahead, is it not reasonable for them to be trying to scrimp and save? Reasonable: yes. Convenient for me: not so much.

I myself am fine with the idea of traveling through Europe alone. I don't intend to be involved with any nefarious activities or stalk through the slums late at night. It's just that my father has absolutely forbidden me from going sans partenaires de voyage, alors je suis un peu fucked right now. Hopefully someone will turn up, and I will not have to enjoy Europe through the pages of a Lonely Planet book.

DADADADADADADADADADADADADADADADAD

This is a beautiful picture of Zurich, Switzerland: home of the Dada movement, and one of the cities that I hope to visit during my Epic European Adventure this summer.

According to www.coolcapitals.com, it's a pretty hip place to be. In fact, since the early 1900s, Zurich has been a significant hub for intellectuals and creative types looking to pursue discussion and thought. Unfortunately, it hasn't been a hub for fashion designers and fashionistas, but I can see past that. It's the history that I'm there for.

How else can I some up my feelings about Zurich? It is only fitting that I do so in a Dada-inspired poem.

Ahem:

Tall buildings of
Broken porcelain
Conversation hearts munching
Seedy cafes
The best
Fish in the big pot
We call
Zurich
On the telephone

Insert tongue in cheek now.

Ooo baby, baby b-b-b-baby

Yikes! Talk about unfaithful!

I've been so busy these past few weeks with my Ryerson Fashion Design portfolio that I've not had the time to update. Tres, tres desolee. But I'm here now, and ready to write, write, WRITE!

Well, not really. I'm quite sleepy.

University Updates

I've handed in both my Journalism and Fashion Design portfolios. Already, I am starting to think that I've made dozens of mistakes on both of them. I'm honestly on pins and needles...I think I included items in my journalism portfolio that don't count as journalism. I think I mislabeled something in my fashion portfolio. The anticipation of my rejection/acceptance is killing me softly.

On a brighter note, I was given an early offer of admission to Queen's!! Hazaa! I have somewhere to go now if Ryerson doesn't work out.

Summer

I have started planning my route through Europe. I will fly into Paris and take the train to Hamburg, Vienna, Zurich, Bern, Florence, and Rome in that order. It will be a trip of decadence and thrift. All I need to do now is find someone to go with because my father will not let me go without a partner. Grr! The life of a child is never an easy one.

Smells like School Spirit

So last week I went to my school's semi-formal. The music was terrible and the company wasn't on par to last year's (a lot of my good friends couldn't make it/were smart enough to save their cash), but I didn't let that ruin my time. Why? Because I was in one hell of a dress and would not let the crappy atmosphere rain on my parade. Here's a picture.

Dress by Betsy Johnson. Shoes by Guiseppe Zanotti.

Artsy Fartsy

Blurry evidence that awesome patterns and checks do go well together. 

All's not so quiet on the Ryerson front 

Today I finally got my letter in the mail telling me when my Fashion Design portfolio is due in at Ryerson. It's due on the 20th. This means I have 17 days to get everything finished (can't leave things to the last minute, can I?). I need to speed the @#$% up if I want to be done on time. Agreed? 

Every hot chick with a camera thinks she's a photographer 

Today I stuck myself into that box once again by taking profile pictures of several members of the Juice, my school's e-zine. I have to say, they were looking pretty incredible after I was finished editing them. I'll need to seek permission from my subjects if I wish to post them, but I don't see why they should object. 

I do love photography though. I couldn't care less for taking classes or learning all of the technical stuff though. I just like coming up with cool ideas for pictures and fooling around with my DSLR until I have just the shot I want. 

Writing News 

I got my short story back from Writer's Craft yesterday and, much to my pleasure, I received a near perfect mark (29.5/30 aint bad!). This just thrilled me because writing fiction is sort of my thing, so I was really worried that I wouldn't do well. I don't want to start tooting my own horn so I'll just stop now. 

No, Rodarte, I don't think you're sexy

For those of you who have been living under a rock for the past few seasons, this is Rodarte.

Now, am I the only person into fashion who does not consider Rodarte to be anything special? It's like everywhere I turn they're being lauded for their amazing fashions.

The designers seem adorable, the style is definitely unlike anything I've ever seen, but the clothing makes me want to gag myself with a toothpick.

Here's the truth: I hate Rodarte.

New project on the block

I went to Fabricland (Canada's source for commercial patterns and overpriced fabrics) in search of a fun pattern to work on. I mostly waded through page upon page of trendy garbage until I found this lovely pattern. I'll be making the blue one in the back. I bought this HAMAZING orange fabric (grrr...I can't remember what it's called). I hope to have this thing done by the end of next week. Why the end of next week? Because I'm lazy and busy: the worst combination for any wannabe seamstress.

The fabric wasn't cheap ($30/m? WTF??) so I'll need to be super careful and, more importantly, not waste any of it. This will be my magnum opus...or so I hope.

Frocks for Spring

Though winter shows no sign of ending soon in this God-forsaken country (I mean this jokingly--- I'm sure God's still kicking around here somewhere), I can't get on to a computer without browsing longingly at dresses that won't be practical until the warmer weather comes around. Here are some of the ones I was lusting after today...

Evidence that fashion is not just a way of occupying idiots

Fashions come and fashions go, but style reigns eternal. Or something like that. Ughh excuse this lapse in memory. I'm usually pretty good with quotes. Anyways, I'm all for the classics, but there's something so deliciously decadent about indulging in the passing trends that we all know are born to die. This is why there is a fashion industry, but no style industry.

I've read many a fashion blog, but very few have totally absorbed me. This is mostly because they individuals writing them usually spend all of their time critiquing different collections from a pretentious eye or carefully breaking down what's in style. Where's the fun in that? No where. Because it doesn't exist in these worlds. I believe that fashion, though temporary, is about more than what we see on the catwalk. Fashion is what you wear on your back, what you see in the streets, or, if you're in a position similar to my own, what you see walking past you in the school hallways. It shows a feeling, a mood, a statement. It shows a piece of you to the world without opening your mouth. Fashion is not just art or an expensive luxury. It's a part of life.

And herein lays my passion for fashion, if you will. Fashion is something artistic that carries you through life. Fashion is what people first see when they see you; what changes your mood when you're down; an integral part of your memories. Why else would first-day-of-school frocks and wedding gowns have to be so carefully selected? Fashion defines moments in our lives and, on a grander scale, moments in history. Fashion can tell one so much about different periods in time. The pencil-skirts of the forties remind of the rationing periods of WWII. The sack dress dictates the carefree sentiments that followed WWI. The bold patterns and extremes of the sixties weave the tales of rebellion, freedom, and change that shook the world.

So to all of you who believe that all of us who love fashion and want to dedicate our lives to it, think twice before you call us 'stupid' or 'superficial' because in calling us these things, you are only affirming your own ignorance.

xoxo
Allyssia

Never put off to tomorrow..

...what you can do tomorrow :P I'm sure you can put it off longer than that. But today I decided to something different. I actually did today something that I could off until February 2nd. Today I handed my application to Ryerson's School of Journalism early. Impressive, non? Bien que je sois contente de l'avoir fait, I can not help but feel a bit nervous. From what I've read, 1500 students apply and only 135 students get in. If this didn't make me feel nervous enough, I also found out that the number of applications to Ontario universities is up by something like 10% this year. Can you spell competition? F-U-C-K.

Silly girl in vintage pearls

From the minute that I got home this afternoon, all that I could think about was finding an internship for the summer. In both the fashion industry and the world of journalism, she who hesitates to intern is lost, so I figure that I might as well start interning as soon as possible. I actually have interned before though. Last summer I worked as a faithful, unpaid "assistant" at House of Spy, a Toronto clothing company. After a summer of cutting, cleaning, tracing, and sewing [on buttons], I really grew to appreciate exactly what it means to work hard!

As I interned at a fashion design place last year, I'm trying to find a magazine to intern at this year. The only problem is that in Toronto, fashion journalism internships aren't exactly springing up like dandelions and I refuse to work for any other type of publication. Luckily, I have family living in NYC (family who, might I add, I didn't know about until last month), so I can also apply for internships there. I know the odds of me getting accepted anywhere without a single year of university experience are slim, but hopefully what I lack in experience I can make up for with moxy (Do people still say 'moxy'? Is 'moxy' spelled 'moxie'??).

xoxo

A Year in Flats and Sharps: The Top 5 CDs of 2008

This year (well, last year) I picked up a ton of CDs. I'm actually not too sure why I continue to buy them, seeing as it's cheaper to buy them online and cheaper still to download them on Limewire. I guess I'm just a sentimental at heart, trying to savour these remaining days before they go the way of vinyl and Betamax. Anyways, here are the top 5 CDs of 2008 that, after listening to them, I think you should check out too.

Lykke Li - Youth Novels

I'll have to thanks iTunes' new Genius function for recommending this brilliant album. Lykke Li, who's real name is Li Lykke Timotej Zachrisson, has a voice unlike any other that I've heard. It's almost childlike with its vulnerability and purity. Youth Novels, her debut album, is unclassifiable. It's not quite electronic, not quite pop, and definitely not your typical indie album. Her sound is completely and refreshingly unique. There are songs to dance to, songs to cry to, and songs to just hum along with. I can't wait to see how this cute, little Swede will follow-up.

My top songs would have to be "Dance, Dance, Dance", "Time Flies", and "My Love", but her single "Little Bit" seems to be getting rave reviews across the board.

Cat Power - Jukebox

I was really hoping to get Cat Power's (nee Chan Marshall) The Greatest for Christmas, but this one made for a pleasant conciliation prize. I sort of expected that I would like this album before I even tore it out of it's plastic covering. I'd heard many of Cat Power's songs before, and had fallen in love with her lazy, breathy voice and minimalist style that reminded me of a matured Feist (though she's only 4 years Feist's senior). Jukebox, mostly a collection of covers, really makes for easy listening. I've listened to the CD from the first song to the last without once feeling bored. One thing I will say is that, after the first 5 tracks, the songs just start to blend into each other, which is a definite turn-off, albeit a small one.

I'd have to recommend "New York", and "Ramblin' (Wo)man" which are, funnily enough, the first two tracks on the album.

Lady Gaga - The Fame

Our hair is perfect while we're all getting shit-wrecked.

No, this isn't an obnoxious Paris Hilton quote. It's a line from Lady Gaga's "Beautiful, Dirty, Rich". These are the types of lyrics that characterize this first album from Lady Gaga, the voice behind last summer's mega-hit "Just Dance". The song topics are superficial and crass, referencing riding on a guy's "disco stick", making out in the bleachers, and getting wasted among other things. Anyone would assume that these would make for an awful album but, surprisingly, The Fame manages to be very listenable and even got me to sing along unabashadely with it's shallow lyrics. Maybe it was the awesome, pop-electronica melodies, but what I think made the album so bearable was the fact that the lyrics were so absurd. They were just fun and, in this world of deep, profound lyricists, they offer a welcomed escape. Oh, and Lady Gaga, or should I say Stefani Joanne Germanotta actually has a pretty good voice, something that is really rare in this day and age. Who knew?

Check out "Pokerface" (as if you haven't already), "Just Dance", "Boys, Boys, Boys", and "Money Honey" for some campy, decadent fun.

The Black Keys - Attack and Release

Top record all the way. Attack and Release, which is the band's 5th album (7th if you count EPs), delivers the same blues-rock sound as its predecessors while still differentiating itself from them. Lead vocalist Dan Auerbach delivers on every song with the same emotion, and skill that characterized their past recordings. You could put this CD on and not have to press skip once because, as familiar as the sound is, the songs are not all the same. There's a healthy mix of faster songs ("Strange Times", "Oceans and Streams"), slower songs ("All You Ever Wanted", "Things Ain't Like They Used to Be") and those songs that make you just want to drift off to another place ("Psychotic Girl" does it for me).

My top songs would have to be "Strange Times", "So He Won't Break", and "Psychotic Girl". This is an album that I strongly recommend to any music lover.

Cold War Kids - Loyalty to Loyalty

Robbers and Cowards was probably my favourite CD of 2007. For that year I was hooked on this indie rock band from California. So when I heard that they were releasing their sophomore album, I was both excited and hesitant. I was hungry for more from the boys from Cali, but I was worried that their second effort wouldn't live up to their first. Luckily, I wasn't disappointed. Loyalty to Loyalty is just as intelligent and, to put it simply, just as good as its predecessor, though it is markedly more raw in terms of vocals and melodies. The album's best quality is that it tells stories that aren't usually told is music, which is what I liked most about Robbers and Cowards.

Best songs? "Dreams Old Men Dream", "Welcome to the Occupation", "On the Night That My Love Broke Through", and "Relief". I must also give honourable mention to "Golden Gate Jumpers", which showed me that yes, it is possible to mention crabs "having their way with you" in a serious song. Poetry.

Honourable Mentions

Shad (rap) - The Old Prince
Hits: "Old Prince Still Lives At Home", "I Don't Really Like To", "Exile"

Britney Spears (pop) - Circus
Hits: "Womanizer", "Blur", "Kill The Lights"

Uh Huh Her (electropop) - Common Reaction
Hits: "Dreamer", "Away From Here", "Explode"

Fine in '09

Happy (belated) New Year!

I know I've been terribly unfaithful to thing blog and, trust me, nobody regrets it more than me. In the end, it's only my writing that suffers, and my credibility that gets questioned. I've never been one for commitments, but I'm trying.

University Update

Well, I've officially applied to university. It was tough deciding, but I narrowed my choices down to three programs: Journalism at Ryerson, Fashion Design at Ryerson, and French at Queen's. I was really considering applying to Waterloo as well, but in the end I decided that the whole "vibe" there was not for me.

Fashionista Diaries

My Ryerson portfolio has been coming along very slowly. Honestly, I had no idea how much work went into doing the simple things requested, like completing a garment or making good sketches. Like my internship over the summer, working on my portfolio has given me a greater respect for the fashion industry. Hopefully I'll get into the program and be able to learn how to do all of these things more efficiently and, ya know, better.

Absence makes the heart forgetful...

Hey there. Sorry about the long and certainly uncalled for absence. I've been terribly busy these days. So much has happened in the time that I've been away. Since I'm both lazy and not awake enough to write a cohesive summary, I'll just sort of write a list of major occurrences.

1. And the Award goes to...

Yessir! Yesterday I found out that I was chosen as a semi-finalist for the prestigious Loran Award, a scholarship program that recognizes students who have displayed great leadership and service to the community. It really came as a shocker yesterday because, according to a letter that I received from the organization, I should have found out on Friday. It turns out that they did try to contact me on Friday but due to SOMEONE'S forgetfulness, I never got the message. But no worries! I'm just pleased to have been accepted.

Becoming a semi-finalist is only the beginning of a long, competitive process. I mean, I'm up against some of the most accomplished high schoolers in Canada. I guess I'll just need to bring the charm and, more importantly, the confidence to my interview (it's December 6th, by the way) because if we're all so accomplished, it's probably character that they're using to narrow it down.

2. Working girl

So far I've done about 3 shifts at the Gap and earned about $114. It's not much, but it's a start.

The people at this place are wonderful. All of them. I met this very attractive and equally nice boy (let's call him G) there too. He's studying Journalism at Humber (he couldn't afford university), which definitely scores him a few more points. But it's just a silly girlish crush at this point. It's sooo not anything major, but it felt nice to write about him. I just hope that he never ends up reading this...

3. Fashion is for fashion people...

Since Saturday I have been in full out fashion mode. Wait, that sounds ridiculous. Let me try again.

Since Saturday I have been working tirelessly on constructing the garments for my Ryerson application. The dress that I've been working on for the last few days has been causing me some major headaches. I mean, between burning lace, fucked-up gathers, and thread shortages, I've just barely been able to keep my cool. The weird thing is that, no matter how many obstacles I encounter, I just can't bring myself to just give up. There's just nothing cooler than being able to bring my vision (err, design) to life. I'll try to post some pictures when I'm finished. That shouldn't take too long, but one never knows...

Oh, and did I mention that I blew more than half of my paycheck on fabric and notions?

4. New discoveries.

I'm totally loving The Black Keys. They are awesome. I will go buy their CDs.

5. University of Nevermind

On November 5th I registered to take the SAT Reasoning Test. It was a spur of the moment decision really, and now I'm starting to have second thoughts. I mean, even though I've been going through 4 hours of tutoring a week for the past 3 weeks, I'm starting to doubt that I'll have mastered the mathematical principles required to do well on the math sections. The other parts should be no sweat, but the school is taken as a total so my individual section marks don't matter. I don't know. I know that I should be more confidant, but I can't be. I've always sucked at math (well, maybe 'sucked' is a strong word).

I've rambled long enough. Take care y'all!

He did the Mash

Happy Halloween! Well, it would be were this not my first year without a costume. I'm devastated. I was just too busy to find one during these past few weeks. I even planned to whip something up quickly this morning but, as luck would have it, I forgot to set my alarm clock and ended up strolling into Law 40 minutes late (which wasn't such a bad thing...). But it sucks. I really wanted to dress up. I guess I should probably start looking/sewing now if I want to have a kick-ass costume for next year.

Inflated like a zeppelin

I'm feeling really confidant right now about my writing. I've been doing extremely well in Writers Craft and producing some articles for my school's e-zine (I'm the Editor, by the way) that I'm really proud of. I feel that over the past year I have progressed in leaps and bounds as an author and a journalist, which just makes my heart smile! I've been writing since the days when I bobbed around in cow-covered turtlenecks, so it's awesome to have finally reached the point where others are commending my efforts. But this is only the beginning. I need to focus on building a solid portfolio if I intend to a) work for Vogue and b) make a living off of my fiction. Baby steps, honey. Baby steps...

Do you hear the people sing?

My school is putting on a musical this spring and I could not be more thrilled! This is the first musical that my school has performed in something like 8 years! When I went to a performing arts school, we were all obsessed with musical theatre. I performed in a few myself and my CD collection has a great stock of musical soundtracks. The musical is actually one written by one of my school's music teachers. This would usually set off a few alarms in my head, but he's actually brilliant when it comes to producing brilliant arrangements and really knows how to bring the most out of the vocalists that he's working with.

Oh, and I totally plan to try out.

bisou!

Snow is falling all around...

Well, not yet, but it's bound to start up soon. Today was cold and it looks as though Halloween will be the same. Shit.

Competition

I'm competitive, but there are some things that I won't leave up to chance. It's stupid and crazy and will only end in disappointment. In this case, it's my trip to France. Both my brother and I want to go, but it looks as though my Dad will only be paying for one of us if we can't come up with a solution. And we'd need to compete for the spot. Which is ridiculous. Anything that actually matters or pertains to France or French, I could win. But instead, there have been suggestions that other totally non-France related things should be the deciding factor. This is ludicrous.

Snow is falling all around
Seven o'clock and the roads are blocked
So I walk downtown
There's no one around

The streets are dark and there's no one about
I wander home and all the, the lights are out

These are lyrics from the awesome song by The Specials (my favourite ska band) called Blank Expression. Look it up. It's brill.

New York, I love you

Guess who's back?

Canada's most beloved fashionista is finally back in her home and native land and is she ever glad!

Looking back on my last post, I was very, very unfair to New York City. I actually love it now. I think it's the fact that it was my first night that influenced my views so negatively. So NYC, I'M SORRY! You are a wonderful, albeit dirty and overpopulated city with a lot to offer. I hope to go back soon. I'm thinking of getting an internship there over the summer, either at a design studio or a magazine. We'll see.

Fashion U Recap

Okay. Here we go:

Tory Burch Seminar: Though she's stunning for a mother of three, she didn't seem very relatable, primarily due to the fact that she went on and on about her family's wealth yet tried to make it seem as though she had a long and difficult path to success. Also, I didn't like that when she began her foray into fashion, she did so with a complete lifestyle brand and retail store. Those kinds of things just seem like cash grabs to me, especially when the person heading the initiative has to extreme experience in the production of any of the goods that they're choosing to sell.

The Editors Seminar: Infinitely useful! They were all interesting and had distinct personalities. They answered questions frankly, never trying to get our hopes to high, or painting some sort of unrealistic picture. I even managed to get the e-mail addresses of two of the editors, in case I had any questions or wanted to apply for an internship.

Peter Som: I like him! He was so friendly and friendly. He walked us through the creative and production processes, showing his own sketches and garments as examples. He was also really funny, which I liked.

Proenza Schouler: Brilliant. They [designers Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McColl] were so funny and laid-back, not to mention very cute. They had a lot of cute anecdotes and gave great advice for people looking to get into the world of fashion. But above all, they seemed really genuine and fun. At no point did it seem as though they took themselves too seriously. I loved their designs, and now I love them too.

Okay, that's all for now. I have to go fulfill some domestic duties. I'll try to post pictures tomorrow. xoxo

New York New York: It's Hell in a town!

Them VS Us

My first night in New York has not been fabulous. If anything, it has made me appreciate my home and native land more than ever. Here are the top ten differences between New York City and the place that I'm from.

10. Our water is somewhat blue. NYC water is black.
9. Our city is busy. NYC is bustling.
8. Our Coke is sweet. NYC Coke causes diabetes.
7. Our sidewalks are fairly clean. NYC sidewalks are filled with the overflow of garbage cans.
6. Our bad Sales Associates are incompetent. Bad Sales Associates from NYC scare you.
5. Our bad drivers run red lights. NYC bad drivers almost run over innocent pedestrians with the right-of-way.
4. Our pedestrians j-walk when the streets aren't busy. NYC pedestrians j-walk to race with traffic.
3. Our cops look suspicious when they carry tasers. NYC cops DON'T look suspicious toting AK47s (I kid you not! They're right outside of my hotel!)
2. Our traffic moves slowly. NYC traffic doesn't move.
1. Our citizens are polite(for the most part, anyways)! NYC citizens...

Now please, don't think that I hate NYC. When I came to the city, I was hopeful as a bright eyed-child on her first trip to the zoo, or some other such place. I'm just totally bummed that it's not living up to my expectations. The movies are to blame!

Fashion U Day 1

The fashion show was unimpressive. There were only two designers that caught my attention. The rest were merely decent.

For some reason, I didn't connect with anyone there. I tried to approach this one blond girl, and was snubbed completely! So for the most part I just sort of kept to myself and enjoyed the concert (The Whigs were awesome! I bought their CD. It's called Mission Impossible. Be sure to check it out!). Overall, the event was boring and unmemorable.

Out in the streets

My brother and I walked home from the show, which was on 11th Street, between 3rd and 4th, back to our hotel, which is smack dab in the middle of Time Square. The walk didn't take too long, and was fun until we started to get back into the tourist part. That part was excruciating. I hated having to force myself through the crowds. It was as though I were trying to swim upstream.

Anyways, now my feet are killing me and I'm in desperate need of a cold drink. I'm hoping that tomorrow will be better than today.

xoxo