Turbans Go Waaaay back

Another thing from LACMA. . .yep girls did rock turbans back in the day. By Poiret none the less

Darling, let me just throw on this feather

Love the turqoise stone



Can a time machine be invented so I can attend this party?



-M

LACMA and other endeavors

Before I show you some of my favorite things from LACMA, I would like to share a little unrelated anectdote. . .We (my mother, sister and I) were driving along Beverley Boulevard trying to get to Milk restaurant before venturing to the museum and I found myself idly looking out the window. And then all of the sudden I saw a building that looks exactly like Rachel Zoe's studio whiz past me. After some minor hyperventialtion and smacking of the car window, I recovered myself and managed to communicate to my fellow passengers that yes, we did just drive past RZ's studio. So after lunch at Milk, we walked to the corner of the street and I took some stalker/paparazzi pictures. . .Basically I had a moment.

Anywho, back to the greatness that is LACMA. I was uber excited to witness the Fashioning Fashion Exhibit that I mentioned earlier and to see the photography exhibit featuring William Eggleston. Both did not dissapoint.

The rocky road ice cream sandwich I inhaled in under 3 minutes

My sister concentrating on the task ahead of her

Lime green/puke yellow but in a good way

 


How much do you die for this embroidery?



Mr. Darcy's cardboard/paper mâché twin



Where can I get this in my size?

Here are my faves by Eggleston. . .







 









 

 







Rambling Is What I Do Best

So I was majorly excited to post about my trip to LACMA (the Fashioning Fashion Exhibit was killer, here's the link for more info http://www.lacma.org/art/ExhibFashioningFashion.aspx) and this restaurant Milk that happened yesterday. . . . but alas my camera (yes that's right I recieved a gorgeous Nikon for Christmas thank you parental units) is being slightly dysfunctional by not loading pictures onto my computadora so my thoughts on that will be coming soon. For now here's what excites me.

1. Turbans/headbands. I tied this one in a backwards/weird way but me gusta anyways. The hilarious tutorial for figuring out how to tie a turband as she calls it is from http://www.manrepeller.com/. Yes that's a statue of a dog in the background. . .no explanation neccesary. The mysterious blurred-faced child to my left? My almost 5 year old sister (her bday is verrry soon).

Keeping things casual as usual

2. Ombré hair. Could I do it? Without going peroxide/chola? Are you sure? Ok sounds good let me whip out the at-home hair dye. This girl from http://lookbook.nu/#more has got it down.



Love her shorts too

3. Yves. This almost unbearably chic YSL head to toe look. How come YSL always has to be sooooo great? The lipstick walks the line of coming straight from Twilight, (gasp I did just make a vampire reference) and yet it works so well I think.                                          



Spring RTW 2011 from http://lookbook.nu/#more



4. Clubmaster Ray-Bans. Especially when worn by Vampire Weekend drummer Chris Tomson. Sigh. (Again with the vampire reference)

From a fan tumblr of which I cannot put the name because of its use of foul language in the title. Sorry kids.

Thank you for reading/skimming/looking/absorbing/stopping by.

-M

Polka Dot It.

I'm heading off to Mammoth tomorrow morning with the girls and I can't help but feel especially joyful at the moment. I feel like in recent years winter break trumps summer break simply because it's... 

A) one of the best times of the year fashion wise with scarves, coats, booties etc. (duh).

B) the purest bliss when you most need it, christmas/new years and all it's festive glory just make everyone happier and more loving. 

C) only a week. Having less free time only makes you want to enjoy it more by doing the things that you love (hence the spontaneous getaway to the snow this week). 

ANYWHO, this giddy mood I am rambling on about has definitely rubbed off onto my style lately that is for suresies. I have been shopping non stop for the past week as is expected during December (I am a product of American culture, blame mass media, not me)  and have literally bought nothing but playful skirts, sequined jackets, and  flowing dresses... all of which are anything but bland and simple. This polka dot dress Marisa wears below is just that, ultra girly and classic with a fitted bust while still remaining modern with the short short/tight bottom and blatant print.  I feel like polka dots are always to be worn in the best of moods, and with the navy sheer top over it and a metallic pink belt to wrap it all up, it seems to just work in quirky way.

Hasta la vista ladies of the world,

Gabriella

Answer to the World's Problems? Great Shoes, Great Brows

I have 2 questions for you interested readers.


Q Numero uno. How badly do you want these wedges from Anthro? (suede in that lovely olive shade, cool criss-crossing detail and yes, a zipper on the back)




Via Cardorna Wedges from http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/index.jsp



A Mmhhm. More than you want Scott Schuman from the Sartorialist to come knocking at your door asking you if he could shoot you, yes you for his blog. Well, I suppose that’s a little much.

Q Numero dos. How much do you NEED this woman’s eyebrows on your face right now? (Perfectly strong/thick and yet tamed)




from http://fashiongonerogue.com/pauline-van-der-cruysse-derek-kettela-black-13/#more-42193

A Yep. More than the oxygen in the air and the food in your fridge. Yeah, I guess I do have a flair for the dramatic, but this is a style blog. . .halo.







I have always paid attention to people’s eyebrows probably because I am continuously struggling with finding the balance between a lunch lady who shaved hers off and Groucho Marx. With my Hispanic background, hair maintenance is a recurring issue. I truly believe that a woman’s eyebrows define not only her approach to grooming, but also her approach with regards to her overall appearance. I equate eyebrows with almost any other style decision . . . wrongly or rightly my friends.

P.S. I feel as though lately I have been tying in the most obscure topics to this blog by holding them down with mentions of shoes. Alas.
-M

                                           

Influence

A few Christmases ago, I received a gift from my dad that would be, and still remains to be, one of the best gifts I have ever gotten in my life, Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen's book Influence. Being a kid born in the early 90's and raised through the 2000's, I had grown up with the Olsen twins (from the days of Full House, to Passport to Paris, to New York Minute, I was a loyal fan) and had always had a place in my heart for the twin blonde girls with the mega mogul empire. However, by age 15 I had begun to lose track of their recent endeavors as they moved out of the fame spotlight and towards fashion, starting ultra chic lines of their own such as Elizabeth and James and The Row. I saw the book in an Anthropologie store and quickly looked through it, finding the photos interesting, and then later unwrapped it under the Christmas tree as a gift. This book was literally my light in the darkness.
I had always loved fashion since childhood, there's no denying that fact, but the knowledge that Influence gave me surpassed all of that. Essentially, it's a collection of photos and interviews that MK and Ash have published spotlighting all of the people who have influenced them creatively throughout their lives. The book contained detailed interviews and autobiographies of some of the greatest legends of our time, Von Furstenberg, Galliano, Lagerfeld, Louboutin, Valli, Colacello, and more in every field of art, fashion, and design. For the first time in my life, I truly understood the fashion industry and the hard working and truly inspirational people that make it what it is. I began to find my own influence. 
- G (I swore I'd never do posts this lengthy, but it's that worth it)

 The front and back covers

Left: Though the cover is worn, I keep the book front and center on my book shelf.

Right: The polaroids (pre-banishment from the world)  of all those featured in the book.

 

Two of my favorite photos taken by one influence, Terry Richardson

 MK's glasses collection, I adore the Chanel ones

I collage spread of Ashley's favorite things

 Mary Kate's version of the above

Halo is that you? Yellooooow, yes it is I

Definitley an entertaining Christmas with my relatives. . .one of whom is Cuban (My grandpa).Which means that he has the best accent/expressions ever. Let me elaborate:
1. "Halo" : translates to Hello
2. "I don't want any pancakes!" : roughly translates to I don't want any funny business/controversial topics
3. "They are living in Disneyland." : roughly translates to Those people are crazy/living in a crazy house
4. "What is this Mickey Mouse?" : What is this craziness?

So by now you are probably asking yourself what this nonsense has to do with fashion/style/clothes. Ladies and gentlefolk, I'm here to tell you that it kind of does, kind of not really.

The day before last on our (Gabriella and I) shopping endeavor in Santa Barbara I scored these unreal yellow wedges. . . for $20 from Urban Outfitters. I know right? They are not only an unexpectedly yellow (yes I know you have eyes but I like to reiterate) but also super stable and easy to walk in. Do I have the slightest bit of yellow in my closet? Nope. But they are so versatile and are surprisingly wearable with a variety of colors/patterns.





Sorry for the scratches on the right front due to my ungraceful walking/kneeling in church

So you are probably still asking yourself the question mentioned earlier. Well folks, yellow kind of ryhmes with halo. There you have it.
Hope I haven't bored you to tears with my familial antecdote.
-M

It's Snowing in Santa Barbara!

Hahaha... Gotcha with that title didn't I? If you have any knowledge of the world you know that sadly, the beautiful city of Santa Barbara has not and will not ever receive the beauties of a fresh winter snow or the excitement and joys that a brisk winter entails. However, despite it's lack of a classic "winter wonderland" feel that the rest of America has at this time, SB does make a wonderful day trip of shopping outdoors in the middle of December. Not only did we score some major steals on State Street as usual (especially during the holidays... so many sales I couldn't resist), but we also discovered a new favorite lunch spot, The Live Culture Lounge. Marisa and I had passed by it before, remembering how quaint it was, and decided it was a must for lunch today. Not only did it reach all of our expectations, but it went above and beyond. The restaurant was cozy and comfortable inside, with high top tables beside large leather seats with dangling lights and a gorgeous bar area, the service was exceptional, and the food was beyond. It was so much better than the CPK across the way that we chose instead last time around, and with live music on weekends, I've already decided that it's one of my favorite places.

 Marisa's chai tea latte made to perfection

the gourmet grilled cheese and greens we both ordered and loved

Turband clad Marisa

The apple brie panini our friend Ally ordered, looked amazing

Gilded Style christmas card?

-G

Firey Crackliness (I seem to coin new words everyday)

While perusing Anthropologie's website I came across these really great "crackled" metallic heels. They are totally suitable for a New Year's Eve party (I wish I was cool enough to be able to actually attend a legitimate New Year's Eve bash instead of the apple cider/Dick Clark's Rockin New Year's Eve/hors d'oeuvres family gathering which always ensues on December 31st) and on into the spring. I love the imperfection of the "crackled" surface and the cut-out aspect.

click here for the link
http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/category.jsp?popId=SHOESBAGS&navAction=top&navCount=15&isSortBy=true&pushId=SHOES-HEELS&id=SHOES-HEELS

-M

Inspiration Board

Below are just some of the things, people, and places that I adore. I'm kind of all over the place, but I like it that way.

captions...

Sassy in silver, prada ballerina, my illusions/obsessions with the french, aqua suede Loubs. to. die. for, the sex appeal in that stare,  there is nothing like suspended glitter,  perfection of the strong brow and red lip, modern Mary Poppins,  soft brushed curls. 

- Gabriella la la la

Bow Down, Bow Down to the Greatness that is Alexa

A little video I found on  http://www.style.com/ with the beyond cool/charismatic It Girl Alexa Chung. What I love most about her is the fact that she never takes herself seriously. . .besides her insane ability to wear the most tomboy-ish tuxedo getup and still look super gorgeous/cute/cool.
here is the link to watch the video:
http://www.style.com/video/fashion-moments/fashion-moments/1896809784/alexa-chung/692722559001

Going along with the tomboy thread. . .I am enthralled with this Madewell jumpsuit. Its made of silk crepe which makes it dressy enough for any lingering holiday get-togethers but breezy enough to pull off in the spring/summer.

Definitley not the eptitome of that attention-grabbing "attractive" stereotype but that makes it all the more desirable and different. Why would anyone want to represent themselves in a way that's at all separate from who they are simply to attract a member of the opposite sex? Boys are so behind girls anyways.

P.S. Apologies for the slightly feminist rampage. I can get a tad carried away!
-M

Ballet Beauty

     I saw the acclaimed Black Swan yesterday and can't even sufficiently express my reaction to the film. Cinematography wise, it was one of the most beautiful movies I have ever seen, wether she was drugged in a club or on stage as the white swan it was very well done (on top of that the score was beyond phenomenal, I'm considering buying it for myself for christmas...). Despite these good aspects however, some of the gruesome, violent, and sexual parts could have been toned down a bit and I definitely had to close my eyes and cower in my seat with Theresa during a lot of the movie. Natalie Portman shined as usual and was just as brilliant as ever, so deserving of that Oscar nom, and I could not have been more inspired by her wardrobe. Her looks all consisted of loose, lightweight,  and neutral dance pieces, yet they all looked impeccably chic and effortless on her. All I want to wear now are jersey skirts and little slippers, and below are some of my favorite renditions of the outfits worn in the film.

-G

Pucci ballet flats, $156

Calvin Klein flats, $149

Bassike skirt, $42

CLU dress, $53

Forever21 skirt, $17

Alice + Olivia cropped shirt, $38

Unisa Blondie flats, $30

Jack BB Dakota skirt, $38

A photo of Natalie Portman from the film (IMDB)