forget variety!

While I usually profess a love for variety, I think I could probably live on the bean&cheese Torta from Tortas de Mexico for the rest of my life. Or at least the rest of my life in L.A. In fact, when i raise this sandwich to my lips I no longer pity vegetarians! In fact I raise my glass to them! This restaurant in Pasadena is not actually a vegetarian restaurant, but the three best things on the menu most certainly are. In addition to the bean and cheese torta that I get, Kelly has developed an almost unnatural love for the chile relleno torta (pictured above in all it's glory) and when I do need a little variety I get the cheese and chile filled tamales. So if you find yourself hungry from all that shopping on Colorado Blvd. try to avoid the queue at The Cheesecake Factory and head down the street to Tortas de Mexico.

Tortas de Mexico
on the corner of Holly and Fair Oaks in Pasadena

Images from Spring RTW '09

So I want to share a few of my favorite images from fashion week this week! I just now got a chance to sit and peruse the merchandise, and while I haven't yet found any full lines that I like in their entirety there are quite a few nice pieces to reference for Spring. The color palate was very muted and cool for the most part, which some people made work and left others a little flat. Here are some of my favorites:

Beautiful full sleeves at Monique Lhuillier
Youthful mix of prints at Rachel Comey
Summer casual at Jenni Kayne

Frills at 3.1 Phillip Lim

Lovely evening wear at Carolina Herrera
Unappologetic glamor at Marchesa
I loved seeing a few more black models on the runway this season... two favorite new faces are Yordanos Teshager at Sophie Theallet (who featured all black models) and Lakshmi Menon at Carolina Herrera


Ok, and last but perhaps my favorite of this season so far, Chris Benz. Forget what I said about not seeing a whole runway that I liked, everything he sent down was totally inspired. I really think he is coming into his own as a young designer, and his spot on color pallet and intellectual yet wearable clothes are wonderful to see.



See Style.com for full coverage of the Spring runways!

xoxo,
marion

up to my ears

image borrowed from big fat rat on flickr

So I'm totally up to my ears with the move, and haven't had any time to blog. It's been fun finding little things that I didn't think I had anymore, and getting rid of some things that I no longer need. But in the midst of all of that I need to take a little break! So here's a quick little find...

The amazing Brooklyn based label Hayden-Harnett is having a little give away to usher in the fall line. They are a label that I can really point to and say that I would want to do something similar. The clothes are romantic, but edgy and full of perfect little details. So check out the website to see the gorgeous assortment of clothes and accessories for fall, and click HERE TO WIN!!

currently listening to: Sufjan Stevens

XOXO,
marion

new look

I had a very pleasant discovery today! Style.com, the online source for American Vogue, has done a site redesign that encompasses all aspects of their website. All in all I think it was a very timely and refreshing change, and it really showcases all that the site has to offer. Cheers guys! Great job!

xoxo,

marion

Find of the Day

My find of the day is not really fashion related. It's New York band The Parlor Mob. Sort of Jack White meets Wolf Parade. (yeah, it's that good!) The band features two of the members (former members?) of Wolfmother, and they have recently signed to metal label Roadrunner Records. Check them out on the myspace.

xoxo,

marion

I realize that not everyone is as crazy for Tilda Swinton as I am, and I admit her forceful fashion can miss the mark at times, but I think she is just fabulous. (delicious androgyny!) Since I am of that opinion I was excited to hear that she has a big fashion spread in W magazines September issue. And even more excited to hear that Juergen Teller (of marc jacobs advertisement fame) is the photographer. I think his raw, modern style perfectly suites her look and I can't wait to see the result in full glossy color! (hurrah for print mags! long may they prosper!)

xoxo,
marion

Into the Woods

band of outsiders

For fall this year I'm very inspired by a Northwest lumberjack sort of look. And not necessarily the obsequious buffalo plaid that all the kids wore last year. I'm thinking corduroy and fur and lots of shopping in the boys section of stores. I'm happy I never gave away my long plaid skirt that my dad got me from J.Crew when I was in high school. It may need new lining, but that thing is never going to go out of style.

Also, in celebration of the arrival of fall, I'm going to make delicious apple stuffed acorn squash for dinner tonight. I actually think I might like squash now after 25 years of retching at the mere thought of it! Shocking I know... Or perhaps it's the fact that I now control the amount of brown sugar in the recipe... :)

xoxo,
marion

Also...

I really want these plates. Boo to moving! Anywhoo... you can find them (there is another adorable pattern in the same set) at Rare Device.

xoxo,

marion

Friday Favorites

philippe petit walking a tightrope in sydney harbor

Fridayyyy!!! I started thinking it was Friday on Tuesday, so you can imagine my relief that the looked for day is finally here. It's been a pretty good week... Kelly is job hunting successfully, and I am slowly organizing the apartment.
We did manage to take a break from all that to see a movie, and I'm so glad we did. The documentary Man On Wire is about the fabled Philippe Petit who walked a tightrope between the two World Trade Center towers in 1974. It was an act of great human and artistic courage that film-maker James Marsh retells so gloriously on film. Go see it!! Really. You won't be sorry.

Now Showing at the Landmark Egyptian

xoxo,
marion

Mary Mary...

I love mary janes, I have since jr. high when I got a brown pair made from 100% recycled tire rubber. Those were the most comfortable shoes of all time, and I thought they were so cool. Now every fall when the sandals are going out and the oxfords and mary janes are coming back I always get major shoe envy, and this year is no exception. Here are a few of my favorites so far...

First of all, how often can you find a purple suede shoe? And this one is perfection since it's both comfy and cool. These are by Sofft and are available at Onlineshoes.com
I think these are the ultimate working woman pump. How appropriate that they are called "Women's Ability". By Franco Sarto, available at Endless.com

I am in love with these shoes by the new brand One of 2. Yeah... in love. Sort of contemplating a drastic financial move in order to acquire them. (sigh.) If you have more dollars than I do you can get them right now from Amazon.com ... without say, selling a kidney.
And last but not least, these t-strap mary janes by Fly London. These are fun and young but perfect for that new job with all the responsibilities. (and you might not even have to change after work for your less than responsible night life!) Find them online also at Endless.com


xoxo,

marion