The Dream Team

Ever since i started my magazine internship, I've been dying to see a few famous editors around the Hearst Cafe. I'll have to keep my fingers crossed and my eyes open when I reach for one of those delicious red velvet cupcakes at the dessert buffet.

The ever elusive Nina Garcia, rumored to now work at Marie Claire.

The queen of all things Cosmopolitan, Helen Gurley Brown.

The redhead editor-in-chief of Harper's Bazaar, Glenda Bailey.

Swept Up and Away

Even though I should be conducting research for my master's thesis, I can only think about one thing: how I'm going to wear my hair for the wedding the next weekend.

I want to put it up, but I'm not sure of the exact style. A french twist is so expected. Pin curls and wandering wispys evoke high-school prom sensibilities. For some reason, a slightly messy side bun keeps coming to mind. It could provide the perfect answer to a traditional conundrum.

Next on my get-ready list: jewelry.

57 Dresses, or Just One Good One

Nicole – previously of Le Fashion Blog fame – is getting married next weekend in San Diego! Congrats to the happy couple.

Now, getting down to business, this is the dress she chose for me to wear along with my choice in strappy sandal. I think the combo works pretty well, but I'm having a hard time deciding what jewelry to wear...

Bejeweled and Befuddled

I almost bought one of these jeweled headbands about a month ago when I was in California. But I couldn't decide if it was a good purchase, or if the trend was played out. What do you think?

Animal Planet, Step Aside

Now that I live in New York City, I see the most hideous t-shirts everywhere. Maybe they existed before in my Napa Valley country - bumpkin life, but they just didn't seem as prevalent. (Probably because all those vineyard owners could afford more than a $3 t-shirt from a street vendor on Canal Street. Just a thought.)

So I would like to share this gem of an online t-shirt retailer – Foe Paws – with the inhabitants of Gotham. At $18 each, they're worth the step up from street-urchin style. I already bought the Bear shirt for a friend's birthday, and it was a big hit to say the least.

Happy shopping. And P.S. you're welcome.

Come One, Come All

My friend Judy Park is selling her DELICIOUS baked goods at California Soul this Friday (the 13th!) If you happen to be in the downtown L.A. area that evening, you should stop by. You've never tasted anything as satisfying as one of her Hey Cupcake! creations.

Give me the Gossip

This is about the best news I've read all month (but it is only the second week of June I guess)...

From The Hollywood Reporter:

The makers of "Gossip Girl" are planning a spinoff series set at a girls boarding school. Producers are hoping to expand the popular CW show by either giving co-star Taylor Momsen her own series or by introducing a new character in the fall who is later spun off. Regardless of which actor is used, the story would likely draw on the arc of Momsen's character Jenny Humphrey in the "Gossip Girl" book series for inspiration.

Humphrey is a self-esteem challenged outsider who struggles to fit in. In the books, a series of public embarrassments (such as appearing in a teen magazine wearing next to nothing) results in Humphrey having to either repeat ninth grade or find a new school. She elects to enter a boarding school and reinvents herself as a popular girl. Her story is told in a series of six "Gossip" spinoff novels called "The It Girl."



Is it just me, or is anyone else as excited to see what types of colorful costumes the new show might bring? Blair and friends have already brought back prep-school chic to the forefront of all that is trendy. But maybe with little Jenny Humphreys reigning as Queen of the Cool Kids, the styles could take on more downtown street cred. The girl is from Brooklyn, after all.

If you give Hamas a cookie...

This post on Gawker is about the funniest thing I've seen all week. It definitely reminds me of my grade-school teacher reading our class picture books during story time. But just more political.

Flipping everything upsidedown

After Lifetime stole Project Runway from Bravo earlier this week, I thought things couldn't get any crazier for one of my absolute favorite reality shows of all time. Now, I read that Nina Garcia, co-judge with Michael Kors and Heidi Klum, left Elle magazine today.

What does this mean for the future of PR? Will Nina still continue to give her harsh critiques of hem stitching and color choices next season? Or will this be the end for Nina at both the show and the mag?

More importantly, will the world find any more ways to screw with my head this week?

Japanimation

Interesting news from WWD: avant-garde Comme des Garcons designer Rei Kawakubo is teaming up with inexpensive-retailer H&M. The Swedish chain has successfully linked themselves with big names in the past (Karl Lagerfeld, Victor & Rolf, Madonna), and I'm sure this wacky pairing won't disappoint the masses.

Breaking Up is Hard to Do

Last night I was very sad after reading about Marc Jacobs' break up with Jason Preston. But I was also very disappointed in him for using his Facebook page to declare his relationship status. It's the surest way to get ridiculed publicly, or within any circle of friends.

Lesson learn, eh MJ?

P.S. Even if you couldn't care less about Marc Jacobs' love life, the article linked above is a hilarious commentary on Facebook relationships. Highly recommended.

The Green-Eyed Monster

I'm definitely feeling the color green for upcoming spring and summer. Green skirts, shoes, headbands, handbags – you name it; I want it.

In photo: Kooba, "Callie"

Way to go, Nance!

Love this quote from the former first lady:

"A woman is like a tea bag; you cannot tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water."
- Nancy Reagan

My Girl

This morning, while working through the towering pile of magazines next to my bed, I read a poignant article in February's Allure, "Girl of my Dreams" by Jean Thompson. In it, Thompson describes seeing "The Girl I Always Wanted to Be" – something I think we've all experienced. Her Girl stood in line in front of her at an airport coffee shop. Even though traveling can be hectic and tiring, this Girl looked like a summery dream, while Thompson looked like a haggard mess.

The year I worked in France as an au pair, I watched my Girl every day, while we waited to pick our kids up at school. On my first day standing with the mothers by the playground gates, I wore shorts, a tank top and flip flops – true California style. All the mothers looked at me with disdain. My Girl wore skinny jeans, a white button-up, leather sandals, a straw tote, her hair back in chignon. Effortless. When I got back to the house, the dad asked me if we had been "out playing sport." I knew I needed to make some wardrobe changes.

For the rest of my time there, my Girl looked perfect every day. In the fall, she wore a classic khaki trench and black cigarette pants. In the winter, a long black coat and a red handbag. When the weather got warmer again, she pulled out knee-length walking shorts and gold bangles. Her icon status solidified for me the day her husband came with her to pick up their kids. He was tall and good looking (although not as perfectly dressed), and with their children – an older boy and a younger girl – they looked like the perfect family.

At the end of Thompson's essay, she realizes that sometimes "The Girl I Always Wanted to Be" is actually "The Girl I Could Have Been If I'd Wanted." And she sees that she probably didn't want to be that girl in the first place.

Nothing ever broke the spell my Girl cast on me. But as Thompson rightly points out, our Girl "changes over time, mutates along with our chronological age and the prevailing culture." Maybe I wouldn't be as entranced with my Girl if I saw her now, at this stage in my life – finishing up graduate school, finding a job at a magazine, moving to the City. Maybe I would. Or maybe, instead, she would fall into the category of "The Girl We Hope to Be a Few Years Down the Road." And that wouldn't be such a bad thing either.

New Kid on the Block

Did anyone else notice there's a new Style Blogger at Teen Vogue?! I'm not sure what happened to Kimball Hastings (in photo, right), but I miss him already. Not that newbie Andrew Bevan did a bad job, but I just love the name "Kimball."

"Smile with your eyes!"

Every season my friends and I bet on the girl we think will win America's Next Top Model. So far, we haven't made our predictions this cycle, but I still have my favorites. At the tippy top of my list: Anya. Sure, her accent is a little weird, even for a Hawaiian. But her pictures are amazing, plus the girl can walk!

Runners up: Lauren, Aimee

Go home: Dominique

Loves It

Last weekend, I visited a friend in Philadelphia. We were going through his DVR, and he told me I should watch this movie, Slackers. Actually, I think his words were, "This is the greatest movie no one's ever seen." Well, the movie was alright. But it did remind me how much I absolutely adore the supremely talented Jason Schwartzman (a.k.a. Cool Ethan). Why don't people talk about this guy more? Maybe I just love short Jews with big beautiful eyes, which I do. Or maybe Jason S. is the greatest thing since sliced bread – he's musical, he can write, he can act, he can dress. What can't he do?

I'm smitten.

The Ultimate Quest

On the path to Marc J., mark this as step no. 2: I just scored an internship at Glam.com! According to my new editor, I'll be doing a lot of fashion writing – not unlike the lovely blog you're reading right now. So somehow, with working in fashion and living in NYC, I can't help but think that I'll be that much closer to the lovely Monsieur Jacobs. Only time will tell...

A Handbag Holiday

Great news on St. Patrick's Day: Botkier just signed a deal to do a line for Target! Now we'll all be lucky enough to have a chance to own a bag that normally sells for $600 plus.

Teens love Avril? Seriously?!

Avril Lavigne is going to partner with Khol's to produce a junior's line for back-to-school? You've got to be joking.

I've never had an issue with Khol's before – Vera Wang's line was intriguing – but this absolutely kills me. Whoever thought that Avril should be some sort of role model / selling point for teenagers should be slapped. Or fired at the very least.