WR2BAM: Holy Shirt!

Recently I've been asked by a few different people whether I ever plan to do a WR2BAM t-shirt. I certainly don't deign to think this little blog is big enough of a deal to warrant its own merchandise, and I don't want you guys to think I'm getting too big for my britches, but it might be fun. People seem to be into WR2BAM's graphics scheme, and I started thinking -- if I could put out something cool-looking that people would actually wear, why not?

So I'm putting this out there to see what you guys think. I think it'd be fun to do even just a limited run of WR2BAM tees, and rather than have them be about promoting this site, I'd like them to sort of embody the whole concept of WAITIN ROUND 2 BE A MILLIONAIRE, because it's a philosophy that I think goes beyond this blog. If I do this, I want to put out badass t-shirts that are super affordable (there are few things that grind my gears more than blogs having the balls to put out $50 tees!) and that look cool whether you know what WR2BAM is or not.

I've come up with three potential designs. If you guys actually think you would be into rocking a WR2BAM t-shirt, for the love of all things heavy metal, comment on this post and let me know what design (or designs) you like. If I get a healthy enough response, I can make this happen. All designs would probably be printed on American Apparel deep V-neck t-shirts and would be between $15 and $20.

Design #1: WR2BAM Icons

Click for full size or view front and back graphics.

Based on the header design. Front collage of Bon Scott and Angus Young of AC/DC, knife-wielding Mia Farrow in "Rosemary's Baby," Exene Cervenka of X, Rob Halford of Judas Priest, and Jane Birkin in a see-through dress. Back collage of Stiv Bators of the Dead Boys, Twiggy, and Nico with the WR2BAM logo.

Design #2: Ain't No Fun

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Pretty straightforward "Ain't No Fun" graphic done in a pyramid stud print with an overlap logo on the back.

Design #3: Champagne Taste, High Life Budget

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The WR2BAM credo in an acid wash print on the front, extra-large acid wash WR2BAM logo on the back.

So, what do you guys think? Should it happen? Would you wear one? Got any suggestions as far as the graphics? Any feedback would be awesome.

LTK: July 12, 2009

Here's a super-casual weekend outfit -- this is what I wore to Exposition Park in L.A. on Sunday to see a friend from out of town. It was 89° out, so I was definitely more about function than fashion, but I think I pulled together a pretty decent hot weather look:

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Shorts + cami + sandals might be the most basic formula there is for summer dressing, but I tried to amp it up a little bit by choosing pieces that don't feel run-of-the-mill: high-waisted sailor shorts instead of cutoffs, a pintucked cami with lace detail, and fringed suede T-strap sandals.

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Cream lace pintucked cami: $14, Forever 21.
High-waisted denim sailor shorts: $16, Forever 21.
Cognac suede fringed T-strap sandals: Urban Outfitters, scored from my friend Kristin at a clothing swap!
Wood and metal bangle bracelet: $26, Randy Boutique, Laguna Beach, CA.
Tortoiseshell sunglasses: Mossimo for Target, $15, Target.

LTK: July 13, 2009

It's getting so hot out! It's becoming a challenge putting together outfits that are OK for work but that won't reduce me to a puddle of sweat once I step out the office door. Here's today's look; pretty basic, but I like it:

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Kept everything pretty simple because the shoes and the bracelet both make serious statements. I picked up this badass wood-and-metal bangle in Laguna Beach this weekend; I'm obsessed:

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So good. All my girlfriends think it's amazing; my boyfriend and guy friends find it perplexing. (More proof that we really don't dress for men.)

Oatmeal puff-sleeve blouse: Vintage, handed down to me by a friend.
Black linen miniskirt: Forever 21, $16.
Tortoiseshell sunglasses: Mossimo for Target, $14.99.
Python-print gladiator platforms: Sam Edelman, courtesy of Solestruck.com.
Wood and metal bangle: $26, Randy Boutique, Laguna Beach, CA.

On My Radar: July 10, 2009

A few things I can't stop thinking about lately...

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1.) Now that I'm lugging my new titanium Macbook everywhere, I need a laptop case. This is the first one I've spotted that isn't totally fugly, and I'm obsessed with it. Who says function has to come before fashion? Blond acid denim laptop bag, $62, Pixie Market.

2.) This is totally out of my price range and totally out of keeping with the usual things featured on WR2BAM, but I can't stop thinking about it how absolutely incredible this Miu Miu goat hair collar is and how good it would look with everything. I think I'll put it on my birthday list and hope that someone loves me a lot. Miu Miu goat hair collar, $350, Net-A-Porter.

3.) I just ordered this belt today (of course I did). Can't even get over how sick it is and how good it's going to look with girly dresses. Love the slick black-lacquered pyramid studs -- I'm getting burnt out on my metallic studded belts. Elastic pyramid interlock belt, $15.80, Forever 21.

4.) Okay, okay, I ordered this today too. I love bodysuits, especially for wearing with high-waisted stuff, and this zip-front one will look so good by itself or worn under things as a layering piece. Zipper front bodysuit, $13.80, Forever 21.

5.) Following a prolonged dalliance with super pale shades, I'm currently back on the ultra-dark, vampy nail polish train, and I really want a deep purple shade to round out my color spectrum. I'm really keen on this rich eggplant color. OPI nail lacquer in "Louvre Me, Louvre Me Not," $7.32, Nail Polish Diva.

6.) After work these days I usually like to slip into jeans and a t-shirt for all my evening kicking around, but the look feels so tired. I really want to get some wild jeans to inject some freshness into casual outfits -- these intensely bleached-out ones are amazing, and I have my eye out for something in snakeskin. Levis 631 Skinny Premium jeans, $68, Urban Outfitters.

7.) I knew if I waited long enough, a mega-affordable approximation of the YSL Tribute would show up on GoJane.com and its ilk. Here they are -- matte and high and almond-toed and not even twenty bucks. As good as the real thing? Not nearly. A reasonable substitute? Duh. Hidden platform leatherette pump, $18.50, Go Jane.

Runway Roundup: Fall 2009 Couture Part 1

When I said last week I couldn't wait until fall to start checking out the spring collections, I totally forgot that Fall 2009 Couture hit the runways this week!

For obvious reasons, Couture is a different animal than Ready-To-Wear. When I look at the RTW collections, I'm constantly thinking about how I can interpret this look or that look with clothes I can afford, or whether this trend or that will make it to the mainstream. Looking at Couture, on the other hand, is an escapist fantasy for me: everything's so ornate, outlandish, and out of my reach that I can just sit back and enjoy the show.

Here's the first batch of collections that really caught my eye this season.

Alexis Mabille

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Mabille's collection has a super romantic, luxurious vibe; the materials used -- satin, chiffon, eyelet, and lace -- bring to mind elegant sleepwear, but the shapes, though still sweet and high femme, are chic enough that no one would mistake these clothes for nightgowns. My favorite pieces, though, were the ones that didn't so clearly invoke the bedroom feel: the black cutout minidress and white jacket with the high, asymmetrical ruffled collar. Gorgeous.

Chanel

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I couldn't narrow my Chanel favorites down to six looks so I went for a full dozen. I loved how the first half of this collection concentrated on variations on the classic Chanel wool suit -- the slashed-sleeve version and the one dripping with embellishments were two favorites of mine -- and the second half was totally fanciful. The bursts of sequins are incredible (just look at this close up -- breathtaking). Karl Lagerfeld truly is the mad scientist of fashion -- he makes everything work.

Christian Dior

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Loving how this collection manages to be both eye-poppingly racy and completely true to the Dior name -- leave it to John Galliano, of course. Every single one of the looks has echoes of the '50s Dior "New Look" that made the label famous -- cinched waists, elegant hats, and skirts that look like they would be full if they didn't stop two inches after the waist! The color palette is totally delicious and I love the use of animal prints.

Christian Lacroix

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You may or may not know about the turmoil currently surrounding the Lacroix label (long story short: the house's owners put the business into administration and laid off all but 12 workers, leaving Christian to create this collection on a shoestring budget and the help of his loyal seamstresses, milliners, and other craftspeople). Unless this collection inspires a new backer to come forth, it'll be the last we'll see from Christian Lacroix. If the looks are to be his swan song, they're appropriate -- impeccable, elegant pieces that show considerable restraint without sacrificing craftsmanship and sheer beauty. If someone doesn't step forward and rescue this label on the merit of this collection alone, I'll be very surprised and not a little sad.

Givenchy

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Ooooh, the Givenchy girl this season is a mean underworld bitch goddess with a bone to pick, and I like it. According to Style.com, "Morocco, Berber tribespeople, and equestrianism" informed Riccardo Tisci's designs, but all I see here is cold hard heavy metal. I love the white pieces covered in supersized gold studs, and the body hugging black gowns are ethereally sinsiter. So, so sick.

Jean Paul Gaultier

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You only need look at that sexy sailor siren in the floor-sweeping chinchilla coat to know who designed these clothes. To look at his models, it's clear he was inspired by Brigitte Bardot, but the collection as a whole's only real consistency was its inconsistency, which would be a problem for a lot of designers -- but not for Gaultier. He revels in looks that are wildly sexy, super tough, and just a little absurd. I adore the silver oragami bodysuit, the ultraluxe furs, and his profligate use of geometric black mesh.

Valentino

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Valentino is a classic, to be sure, but often the label's collections feel too heavy handed for me. This season, though, is a total delight, rife with the mini-est miniskirts, beautiful black lace gorgeously layered over nudes, dramatic feathers everywhere, and lots of sparkle and flash -- just take a look at those amazing headpieces! Still, it doesn't feel overwrought or out of character for the house, just a little more youthful. The metallic pieces are my favorite, making me desperate for a few things dripping in shine of my own.

What's your take on the couture collections so far? Are you more of a ready-to-wear fan? More to come next week! Follow the collections as they come out on Style.com.

LTK: July 9, 2009

Do you ever put together an outfit that you just know is a little bit wrong, but you just can't shake it? That was kind of how this look came to be.

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My head kept telling me that these gold wicker platforms are all kinds of wrong with this dark boho-print chiffon dress and doubled-up gold-studded belts, but when I tried the outfit with other shoes that you would think made more sense (black strappy cage booties, vintage-feeling platform T-straps, and so on), nothing felt as right to me as these, so I just went for it. Sometimes totally discordant styles work together -- though it's a matter of taste, I'm sure!

Doubling up wide and skinny gold-studded belts adds interest to the dress and cuts the need for jewelry down to a minimum -- I just wore little gold rings on my index and middle fingers.

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And my favorite barista at Starbucks complimented my sunglasses this morning, so here's a shot of them as well:

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They remind me of a pair my mom had in the '70s.

Printed chiffon strapless dress: Lush, $24, Red Apparel, Long Beach, CA.
Black cropped cardigan: $16, Forever 21.
Wide gold-studded belt: $10, Forever 21.
Skinny gold-studded belt: $12, H&M.
Gold wicker platform slingbacks: Steve Madden, $60, Cutesygirl.
Dimpled gold rings: $4 for two, Forever 21.
Oversized red sunglasses: KISS, $5, the OC swapmeet.

LTK: July 7, 2009

Experimenting with layers today.

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I like how belting a long tank over a slightly longer skirt creates kind of a cute peplum effect. I usually tuck things in, so this is a nice departure for me. I like how it turned out -- I think the tooth necklace and lace-up gladiator platforms are what take the whole look to the next level for me.

Here's a close-up of the necklace, which is another vintage piece I picked up at Scuda this weekend. I was so stoked to find it -- I love the rhinestone and bead hanging from the hoop. Makes it a little more unusual than the ones at Urban Outfitters and Forever 21 (not to mention real bone is so much cooler than plastic!).

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Love it. It'll look sick worn with other long pendant necklaces as well.

Gray burnout tunic tank: $16, Forever 21.
Dolman-sleeve zip-front jacket: Covet, $19.99, Urban Outfitters.
Faux-leather waist belt: Forever 21, came attached to a dress.
Acid wash bandeau bra top: $4, Forever 21.
Black denim pencil skirt: $25, H&M.
Lace-up gladiator platforms: Delicious, $20, GoJane.
Tooth necklace: Vintage, $22, Scuda in Long Beach, CA.

Fantasy Outfit: July 7, 2009

Here's another fantasy outfit centered around the idea of non-offensive work pants, similar to yesterday's take. I drew from Moschino's Resort 2010 collection in putting this look together -- the carrot pants, roomy up top and slim at the ankle, were what got me thinking about slacks in the first place. The end result feels grown-up and sophisticated, but it still has a cutting-edge bent that's a vampy and a little androgynous.

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1.) Serious shades in an '80s shape project confidence and call to mind the era's power dressing without bringing shoulderpads into the equation. "Freddie" sunglasses, $11, Fred Flare.

2.) Just like with yesterday's fantasy outfit, a casual tank underneath is less expected that a stuffy button-up, and the slubby feel keeps the whole look fresh and chic. "Patsy" striped racerback tank, $9.90, Heritage 1981.

3.) This blazer's cropped, fitted shape and serious masculine tailoring up the whole outfit's ante a little bit. Silence & Noise menswear blazer, $78, Urban Outfitters.

4.) I've shied away from harem pants in the past -- even though I like the look when it's done right -- but these ones are perfect. Not too roomy up top or too tight around the ankle, a crotch that isn't dropped too low, and, perhaps most importantly, a more structured construction than the ubiquitous loose knit styles. Until I can find a real pair of Moschino-style carrot trousers, these will do fine. "Turkish Delight" harem pants, $34, Lulu's.

5.) A huge reflective cuff adds dimension and edge. Faceted mirror cuff, $16, Nasty Gal.

6.) With black and navy, a blue-toned true red nail lacquer is the obvious choice -- sexy and classic peeking out of a black satin peeptoe. OPI "Got The Blues For Red" nail polish, $7, Nail Polish Diva or check your local beauty supply.

7.) Another page I took from Moschino's book -- a pop of blue patent looks so good against a mainly black palette. Warehouse "East West" zippy shopper, $35.91, ASOS.

8.) Love these ultra-sexy black satin slingbacks -- the substantial platform and bow detail take them to the next level, making them unexpected for the office and so right with these pants. "Mariah" satin slingbacks, $139, Bebe.

LTK: July 3, 2009

As promised, here are some more low-quality Photobooth pictures of another weekend outfit. I know these are super blurry, but you get the idea. This is what I wore Friday night to see Pentagram (truly killer '70s doom metal pioneers, check them out if you haven't already) at the House of Blues on the Sunset Strip:

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Sorry again for the unclear photos. I think you get the cut of my jib here. (I wore this with my vintage black cowboy boots.)

The necklace is the real crowning glory of the whole outfit -- I spotted it at my friend John Boy's amazing vintage shop, Scuda, and resistance was futile. I'll post clearer photos of it next time I wear it, but until then:

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There's been some debate about whether it's a bull's head or a demon's face, but if you know me, there's only one answer to that question -- it's clearly Satan, and thus clearly right up my alley. It's made up of slivers of stone covered in lacquer and the label on the back says it was made in the Philippines. I'm no expert on vintage jewelry, but I would wager it's from the 1970s. Had to have it. I'm obsessed.

Black dolman-sleeve zip-front jacket: Covet, $20, Urban Outfitters.
White deep-V-neck t-shirt: American Apparel, $8 via Trendyblanks.
Denim cutoffs: DIY'd from an ancient pair of Earnest Sewns.
Black tights: Target, $6.
Devil's face necklace: Vintage, $38, Scuda in Long Beach, CA.
Black cowboy boots (not shown): Vintage, $50, The Clothing Warehouse in Jacksonville, FL.

But the award for best outfit of the night, hands down, went to Bobby Liebling, the singer of Pentagram.

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Metallic silver leather pants, green leopard-print biker jacket, no shirt, and so much great jewelry. Why do aging metal dudes have the best style in the world?

On My Radar: Last of the Resort 2010 Roundup

Here are the last of my favorite looks from Resort 2010.

Moschino

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Moschino is a consistent favorite of mine. I love this collection's cool sensibility -- some of the looks have an '80s adrogyne vibe. I'm into the pieces' structure and the sweet pops of royal blue, and those perfectly-cut carrot pants are killing me.

Matthew Williamson

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After being generally underwhelmed by Williamson's capsule collection for H&M, I was pleasantly surprised by his resort looks, which maintain his penchant for prints and poppy colors that manage to be both playful and grown-up. Loving the unusually-hued biker jackets here as well as the fun belts.

Costume National

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If this collection is anything to base an opinion on, Ennio Capasa's Costume National girl is not to be fucked with. I love it when a resort collection seems fine-tuned with urban toughness, resort for those who won't be leaving the city. If only I could get my hands on that black maxi dress -- it's perfect.

Sonia Rykiel

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With Sonia herself (with daughter Nathalie) back at the helm of design for the label following the departure of Gabrielle Griess, the resort collection seems tapped into the classic Rykiel aesthetic of youthful, anything-you-can-do-girls-can-do-better sexiness. Love the expertly mixed prints and clean lines, and I always love when a designer incorporates into their collection an unexpected accessory that anyone can draw from -- in this case, the fishnet ankle socks. Who knew those could look so cute?

Pucci

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Hardly what I was expecting for Resort from Pucci of the famed ultra-bright psychedelic prints, but I like it! Peter Dundas' black/white/blue color scheme is right up my alley and I love the zig-zag prints (a callback to Pucci's 1957 "Palio" collection). Beautiful, and equally at home for vacation or the city.

Moschino Cheap & Chic

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Even though I kind of loathe its name ("Cheap and Chic" -- oh really, now? I'd call it "Still Outrageously Expensive and Chic"), Moschino Cheap & Chic, like its big-sister label, is consistently one of my favorite lines. I like the Twiggy vibe of the model and the swingy shapes of the clothes -- this is a collection from which to draw inspiration when putting on the clothes you already own.

Marni

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Oh, that kooky Marni girl -- don't we all just want to raid her closet? I don't condone a kitten heel under any circumstances, not even in the collection of one of my favorite labels, but heinous heels aside, I love this loose, easygoing collection and the way it plays with proportion. Makes me want a pair of brown pants and some whimsical statement necklaces.

Giles

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I'm lukewarm on model Pixie Geldof, but Giles Deacon's first resort collection is easygoing perfection, making me desperate for a louche white suit and a coral doll wig.

That's the last of my resort roundup -- can't wait until fall hits and I start delving into the spring collections!