Last Friday, I had the opportunity to attend the Younity “Heart & Soul” Exhibition and Book Launch at Alphabeta in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. The show is comprised of 60 women artists who came together to showcase their work. What I love about Younity is that it was founded last year by artists Alice Mizrachi and Toofly because they believed that urban contemporary women artists did not have a properly organized forum to showcase their work. So, they took matters into their own hands.
The show is great and I loved the range of art and the outside graffiti wall was KILLA!




I’m in love with these wooden rings by Kerri O’Connell!


Surrounded by all the great artwork and people, I spied a piece that seemed familiar to me somehow. As I got closer, I realized that it was in the style of uber-fabulous & uber-talented Nubby Twiglet and then I realized that it was a piece by the Nubby Twiglet.

“Harajuku Hijinks” is stunning and I finally got to see a Nubby piece up close and personal!!! Trust me these pictures don’t do it any justice.

If you can, check out this amazing exhibit before it ends on Nov 17th.
Alphabeta 70 Greenpoint Ave

♥ the alchemist

This year’s Williamsburg Fashion Weekend was a two-day extravaganza filled with independent designers with great aesthetics set in an amazing venue.
Secret Project Robot Gallery provided the backdrop for the event which added to the festive, creative energy in the air. Arthur Arbit, founder of Williamsburg Fashion Weekend, wanted to create an event for designers who are not necessarily eager to be mainstream and are willing to take more chances.
One thing that I loved was that all of these Brooklyn-based designers use eco-friendly and fair-trade materials. The designers who showed on the first night, Friday were SDN, Compai and King Gurvy. What I liked about the shows were the presentation of the designs, art meets fashion in a very installation type of way which made it all the more interesting to observe.
SDN by Marcus Hicks was a dark show with interesting silhouettes and a fantastic, edgy mood.

Compai by Faith and Justina Blakeney showcased their one-of-a-kind limited edition pieces made from recycled materials. I loved all of the quirky details in this particular show including the use of vintage gloves as embellishments.

Last but not least, King Gurvy by Arthur Arbit showed pieces that reflected his love of using recycled materials to create wearable pieces for both men and women.

The 2nd night kicked off with Untitled 11:11′s debut collection which I was simply blown away by.

The show was infused with a flight theme with the models acting like flight attendants and besides the beautiful designs, the styling of the show was perfection. There were some really amazing dresses that I drooled over as they passed by. The models helped to make the show interactive when they passed out in-flight treats to the audience. Honestly wherever designers, David Peck and Laurel Anderson were taking us I would follow in several of their amazing creations!

Next was Racecar, a new menswear line from designer Jeannette Tiso which is a collection of handmade vests. There were some great looks in there that would be perfect on those cool guys in your life.

The last show was a combination of three designers, Sodafine, Dear Birthday and Treehouse Boutique. All the models went to a picnic in the middle of the space and popped champagne and ate apples while wearing interesting pieces.

All in all, I was amazed by the scope of talent from the designers who while they all had their own unique aesthetic were united in their quest for bringing something new and fresh to the fashion scene.

Here are some behind the scenes shots:






for more pics of the event, check out the Williamsburg fashion weekend flickr pool

special thanks to Tom McAlister for all of his help!
♥ the alchemist

Hey guys, this week has been a little quiet mostly due to feeling under the weather. I didn’t want the whole week to slip away from me without posting anything so I dug through the archives and am bringing back this post from earlier this year. Don’t worry there will be new material and I have some great pics to share with you from Williamsburg Fashion Weekend.

ORIGINALLY POSTED 2/11/08

How To Write A Love Letter To Yourself

photo by mayr on flickr

February: The shortest month of the year is filled with so much extra goodness, celebration of black history, different international fashion weeks, glorious and exotic carnivals filled with revelry and of course, St. Valentine’s Day.

Now, there are some people who act as though Valentine’s Day is the only time to express to someone that you care about them which I completely disagree with. Hello, there’s 364 other days and add one more because 2008’s a leap year.

Then, there are those who cynically look at couples who celebrate Valentine’s Day and sneer their faces at the stupidity of it all. Again, this is something else that I completely disagree with. The idea of sharing love with someone is a wonderful sentiment.

Finally, there are those who don’t have someone to celebrate with and tend to feel bad about their situation. For these folks, I would suggest that instead of feeling cynical or bad that you should embrace the fact that you can always love yourself. Now, before you start rolling your eyes and thinking this is quickly slipping into cheesy territory, please hear me out.

There was a time several years ago that I was stuck in an emotionally draining relationship, the type that tugs at your self-esteem leaving you to feel completely helpless and vulnerable. During this time, when I felt lost and unhappy I took the opportunity to do something that instantly reminded me of my self-worth and that I was a good person deserving of a proper relationship. I wrote myself a love letter.

We’ve all been to that place where we have been filled with these intense emotions about another person that we want to sing our joy from the rooftops. You know, where you walk around in a daze with a goofy grin because life seems so wonderful. Or you inexplicably, start skipping down the street. This is an incredible feeling and a sliver of what connects all of us as a part of the human experience. This feeling is what I wanted to express to myself.

All of us deserve to feel like kings and queens even when we do and don’t get that from our significant others. Yet, once in a relationship, many of us forget about ourselves and when things head south we try to figure out what we did wrong and why things didn’t work out the way that we had anticipated.

This letter brought me back to the fact that I didn’t have to be in a situation that was not healthy for me. That I didn’t have to settle when there was so much more to experience in life. If gave me, much needed perspective.

So, I suggest to us all, that even if you have someone and are completely happy and even if you don’t and are content that it doesn’t hurt to reinforce what an awesome person you are.

First: You can use any paper that you want, a lined page from a notebook, parchment paper, a blank sheet. If you feel the urge to tap away at a vintage typewriter or try your hand at some lovely calligraphy: go for it!

Next: Find a spot to sit somewhere and spend some time with your thoughts and feelings. This is your declaration of love to yourself. Don’t rush it. Take the time to make it you. Make it fun.

Then: Write about all the lovely things that make you happy. Do you like your smile? Put that in there. Acknowledge that you are amazing. Put in anything and everything that you like about yourself.

Make it gushy, make it sentimental, make it straightforward. Just make sure to remind yourself that you are wonderful regardless of any circumstance. All of us deserve to be treated with a certain amount of respect.

Quick note: You’ll probably feel awkward and quite self-conscious but trust me push past these feelings.

Also, you don’t have to wait for a special occasion like Valentine’s Day to write yourself a love letter, whenever you feel like you need a reminder of the goodness that is you, take the time to do it.

To this day, I’ll occasionally pull the letter out and it makes me smile to think about that girl who had the presence of mind to not let what one individual had to say or made her feel dictate how she felt about herself. I’m not saying that this is the answer to all problems but it definitely helped to get me back on track.

What would you put in your letter? Would you even write one?

♥ the alchemist

Here are some pics from Boy by Band of Outsiders Fall 2008 collection with Michelle Williams. I wrote about them last year and declared them to be very preppy. I have not changed my opinion on that matter, in fact I’m going to dub them nouveau preppy. These pics make me want to put on my vintage blazer (which I have been wearing a lot of) and listen to Vampire Weekend. Maybe I should smoke a pipe??

♥ the alchemist

Hey lovelies!

I wanted to start this week off right with some humor courtesy of one of the funniest men on t.v. today: The Soup’s Joel McHale.

Here’s a snippet from an interview he did with New York Press magazine this past summer: (I love when he makes fun of Ryan Seacreast)

You were once a guest star on CSI Miami [in 2005 the role was “bank manager Greg Welch”]. Tell me, is there any person in the world who takes himself more seriously than David Caruso?
Oh, well, Flavor Flav, I think. I just think he really thinks he’s going to find love. Him or Bret Michaels. You know what? Let’s just say Tila Tequila. She is dead serious about finding love.

Out of Flavor Flav, Bret Michaels or Tila Tequila, which one would rather have raise your sons [Eddie, who is 3 and his newborn Isaac]:
Which one would I let raise my kids? I would just throw my kids off a bridge. Actually, I would rather have my kids raised by a feral cat, wouldn’t you?

Maybe they’d be much better off just being left in the woods to fend for themselves…
Oh, they’d be much better off. They’d have survival skills and a trade. They’d have skills that would actually be respected and from which they could make money.

If you stacked three apples, which would be taller, the stack of apples, or Seacrest?
Well, what kind of apples?

Macintosh apples are kind of squat, so maybe those?
Yeah, it would have to be those. If they were Golden Delicious then the apples would be taller. Actually, Seacrest is rarely in the office, he just floats around like a gas…like he’s Nosferatu.

For more of this interview click here

Here are some video clips that keep me smiling:
Whitney Houston’s “Kiss My Ass”

Nathaniel Yo Gabba Gabba dance

♥ the alchemist

Well, today was a successful day at the thrift store.

I found a couple of plaid shirts that just needed to be a part of my wardrobe, the darker of two is sofa king soft that I’m okay with wearing flannel!!
Then to complete my 90′s flashback, I wandered into the men’s section which is completely underutilized in my opinion and is one of my favorite sections to peruse because there’s so many items that you can adjust to suit my needs. You see that button down shirt can become a dress with a cute belt at the waist, ha!

So, while in this section I wandered into the denim area and found my boyfriend jeans of the moment. Well, not an actual boyfriend that would be weird and random. No, jeans that are not skinny but a little baggy, making me feel like I borrowed them. They sit at the waist so perfectly with the aid of a belt and they are roomy and comfy. I can wear it rolled at the hem or not.

I’m a girl about options!!

Then squished into the sweatshirt section was this awesome leather vest!

I can not begin to explain how much I have been looking for a leather vest and I plan on rockin’ it in so many ways: well that doesn’t really make sense, I mean there’s really only one type of way to rock a vest. Right? Right?
Whatever, the good times will still ensue.

Oh and finally, another vest similar to a marching band outfit which will be bad-ass once I get it tailored to fit.

Now, I think I’m gonna go listen to Pearl Jam and Nirvana.

♥ the alchemist

Tsk, tsk. New York Fashion Week occurred right here in my backyard and I didn’t feel the same excitement that I usually do.

I couldn’t even fake it enough, to muster up some enthusiasm. I didn’t head anywhere in the vicinity of Bryant Park. I didn’t even look at style.com to check out what came down the runways for Spring 2009. I think part of it, lies in the fact that autumn is just about to start over here and I frankly don’t care about what I should be wearing next Spring.

I’ll let you in on another secret, I don’t even feel bad about it.

Like, at all.

I only went to style.com today on a whim and saw some images from London Fashion Week and looked at Charles Anastase show and well, let’s just say I like it.

I like it very much.

So, this may be the only thing from Fashion week that I might post but I love some of the details, the quirkiness of some combinations and layers upon glorious layers.

So thank you, Charles Anastase for getting me temporarily excited about Fashion Week. I can’t guarantee its going to last, in fact I’m quite sure it won’t but thanks anyway.
♥ the alchemist

The last time I wrote about Mociun, I wanted just about everything I saw. Nothing has changed…I am continually fascinated by Mociun’s prints and I find that I want to own all of these incredible wearable works of art. Caitlin Mociun is a Brooklyn-based designer cranking out these highly covetable looks.

These geometric patterns in a cool, interesting palette of colors call out for many different outfit choices and I would love to have these pieces in my closet.

Seriously, I. luv. it. lots.

♥ the alchemist

I have to admit I don’t know much about Goldfrapp except that one song that was everywhere a few years ago, Oh La La. I am however aware of lead singer’s Alison Goldfrapp’s sense of style.

Here are some inspirational images. I have a thing for unusual headwear…

Also, letting you in on a little secret, I’m not a big fan of clowns, you know the white painted face, cherry red nose thing doesn’t really do it for me. 

I blame Stephen King’s IT for traumatizing me at a very early age.

But in these pics, Alison has managed to not look utterly ridiculous in a clown outfit and now I’m seriously coveting elements of the 2nd look… WTF??

Ah, the powers of good styling.

Here’s the video of Oh La La

Clowns (Super 8 version)

♥ the alchemist

This is our final day of posting 5 must-do items to tackle before Summer ends.  There has been some progress in checking things off but there is still more to do.  If you missed the first 20, clicky-click here, here, here and here.

The last 5:

Summer Lovin’

21. Take leisurely bike rides around the city, through the park, up the block, to a friend’s house…

22.  Scribble random, inspirational messages on the sidewalk with colorful chunks of chalk

23. Set up a lemonade stand for an afternoon. Whether you charge or not is entirely up to you. Interact with as many people as possible.

24. Go to the park and attempt to play bocce. Let the hilarity begin…

25. Eat ice cream outside as much as possible. A trip to an old-fashioned ice cream parlor(if you can find one) sounds awesome.

1. Reflections Of Amsterd@m – Bike Lady, 2. Casual Sunday, 3. Lemonade Stand, 4. Pastime Memories

Well, I will be crossing items off of my list and I hope that you will be doing the same. Please feel free to let me know in the comments if you have tackled anything on the list or if you have other ideas that sound way more interesting.

Thanks!! 

♥ the alchemist

Okay, I’m back with some more inspiring items to check off of our End of Summer list… 

Everyday this week, I’m posting 5 must-do items to tackle before Summer ends. If you missed the first 15, clicky-click here, here and here.

Shall we continue? 

Summer Lovin’

16. Go to your local coffee shop or cafe with an outdoor bench, chairs, etc. Sit there and people watch.

17. Amusement Park Time!! Tilt-a-Wheel, Bumper Cars, Roller Coasters. Try going to one after sunset. Sit on the Wonder/Ferris Wheel with the night sky above and all the twinkling lights below. 

18. Make a list of all the free outdoor shows left. Try to go to as many as possible whether you like the music or not. Proceed to dance…

19. Recreate the infamous Trevi fountain scene from La Dolce Vita.  Find the nearest fountain and jump in , make sure you have a Marcello around to complete the scene and to vouch for your sanity if its called into question by authorities.

20. Take a mini-road trip somewhere. Anywhere, pick a place within thirty miles and put the pedal to the metal and go!! Take lots of pictures!! Extra points if they’re polaroids.

1. Near Night Fair, 2. Envy . . ., 3. Untitled, 4. road trip 19792

♥ the alchemist

Everyday this week, I’m posting 5 must-do items to tackle before Summer ends. If you missed the first 10, clicky-click here and here.

Some more items to tackle: 

Summer Lovin’

11. Climb a tree or several. Have someone take a picture of you in the tree or if you’re coordinated enough take a picture from that vantage point.

12. Meander aimlessly around a semi-familiar neighborhood.  Enjoy the surprises you see…

13. Go to the market. Find the plumpiest, freshest fruit that strikes your eye. Devour it. Let the juice run down your chin and over your fingers.

14. Open all the windows in your place/room. Blast some classic summer tunes and dance to your own beat in your underwear.

15. Cupcakes! Bake them and share them. Decorate them and share them. Buy them and share them. Just eat them with others and let the laughter flow!!

1. Tarzan? Oh. He will follow., 2. Venezia, 3. 36 happy cupcake, 4. new techniques to dance your pants off

♥ the alchemist