Top Five Fashion Moments of 2008

5. Tom Ford Gives Gucci the Finger
Well, I guess I should expect nothing less from the man who claims to not wear deodorant because he loves the way "human beings smell"(and by "human beings" we can only assume he means himself), and yet sells perfume to the masses. But in my number five favorite fashion moment of '08 Mr. Ford is at it again, this time opening his eponymous store directly across the street from Gucci (his former employers) on Rodeo Drive. Thanks Tom for continuing to be...awesome.

4. Marion Cotillard Owns the Oscars
Perhaps it's because we share the same name, but I think that Marion Cotillard, star of the 2007 movie La Vie en Rose, is just fabulous . She looked especially fabulous on the red carpet at this last years Oscars in this John Paul Gaultier mermaid gown.

3. Philip Crangi Wins CFDA Award
In a decision that was not entirely unexpected the Council of Fashion Designers of America awarded the Swarovski Award for Accesory Design to the totally adorable indie-darling Philip Crangi (who both Kelly and I have a little crush on). And men with beards prevail once again!
2. Steven Meisel Goes Black
In response to the very white world of fashion, photographer Steven Meisel shot an all black issue for Vogue Itaila and the effect was dyamic and totally gorgious. From super model Naomi Campbell to the fresh face of Jourdan Dunn the models did not disapoint.

1. I'm my own number one fashion moment!
I think I must put myself on here as my favorite fashion moment of 2008. A new chapter in my life began with my first quarter at FIDM and I'm beyond excited to see where all this is going. Here's to an amazing 2009!

xoxo,
marion

Old Year, New Year

Well, it's been great 2008... now I'll be feelin' fine in 2009. And what's a New Year post without lists, glorious lists?

So with that in mind here are my personal favorite albums of the last year...
1. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
2. Beach House - Devotion
3. MGMT - Oracular Spectacular
4. Shearwater - Rook
5. Anathallo - Canopy Glow
6. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
7. Baby Dee - Safe Inside the Day
9. The Presets - Apocalypso
10. Rodriguez - Cold Fact (I realize that this is a re-release, but I think an argument could be made for including it, and it was one of my favorite discoveries of 2008)

The official Melophobe list can be found on their website, as well as my review of the above mentioned MGMT album, and some other fun reviews.
More lists to come!

xoxo,
marion

The "Even You Can Afford This" Gift Guide

black and white gift guide by marionberry

From now until Christmas I'll be putting together some affordable gift guides to inspire us all in our Christmas shopping. All the gifts are available online and are in the $30 and under range! I hope this is helpful as everyone tries to make this a simple and affordable holiday.

xoxo,
marion


Satu Eau De Parfum Rollerball in Freesia - $14.00 @ Anthropologie

Striped Scarf - $34.50 @ Gap

Jesper Wool Stocking Cap - $29.00 @ Dunderdon

Tokyo 4-part Server - $19.95 @ CB2 (Crate&Barrel)

Kerouac Quote Magnate - $3.00 @ Etsy

Porcelain Snowflake Ornament - $14.00 @ Etsy

Find of the Day

We had a perfectly lovely time at the Felt Club today. The Shrine Auditorium was full to the hilt of crafty folks selling their goods. I was very pleased with the variety of merchandise, and the care and professionalism that was displayed. My absolute favorite find today is the local illustrator Catia Chien. She makes dreamy watercolors that remind me of the feeling of comfort and delight that I got as a child looking at the illustrations of Jessie Wilcox Smith and others of her era. Catia Chien's whimsical drawings are very differnt from those in A Child's Garden of Verses, but they evoke the same delight in me, which I find is not as common a feeling as an adult, and perhaps that is why I'm so excited to shaire my find. She has prints and other little gifts avaliable on her website so check it out!

xoxo,
marion

Art Avaliable online at www.catiachien.com

From 52 to 48 With Love

See if you can find me here!

It's Holiday Bazaar Season!

xoxo,
marion

An Open Letter to Vinyl Leggings

Dear Miss Leggings,

I've been seeing you around town a lot lately. It appears that the rumors I heard earlier this year about you going back to your day job were false, and you are still going out every night getting sweaty on the dance floors of Los Angeles. You've left your old friends back at the dimly lit, gay friendly goth club, and have ventured out onto the red carpet with a new entourage of B-list celebrities. But I know the truth about you Vinyl Leggings. I know why you only come in black and why only Rihanna looks even passably good in you.

You are a cruel mistress, Miss Leggings. Even smart and normally stylish people are drawn to hold their breathes, clench their asses, and attempt to pull you on inch by inch. And even though the results aren't pretty, you have pulled the vinyl over their eyes. Maybe it's because they have to continue to hold their breath while wearing you that your victims feel like you make them appear slimmer, but those of us who haven't fallen prey to you know the truth. You caress every dimple of cellulite of every ass that has ever met you and you highlight every inch of what would otherwise be barely perceptible fat with a ray of black molten light that is terrifying to behold.
And as if that weren't enough, your betrayal of your new friends doesn't end there. In your endless lust for attention you have convinced these poor souls to let every inch of you be seen. Instead of hiding you under a dress like your cousin Cotton Leggings, these acolytes of the cult of Vinyl are wearing you with little t-shirts and tank tops that further reveal the havoc you have wreaked on their posteriors.

You must have slipped something into the Vodka Redbulls of stylists everywhere because they are saying all sorts of great things about you, that you are rock-star chic, versatile, and great for pairing with sweaters for a great "mix of textures". Maybe I'm just not chic enough to understand where you are coming from Vinyl Leggings... is there something more to you that I just don't understand? No! I wont allow you to pull me into your web of deceit. You must go I'm afraid. There isn't room in this town for the both of us, and there isn't room in you for anyone.

xoxo,
marion

Dark Riders

I'm so sad I didn't find this in time for Halloween! But the line by Rick Owens, drkshdw, perfectly combines two of my favorite things: high fashion and nerdy fantasy. Perhaps the always too cool for school Mr. Owens would balk at me calling his designs "nerdy", but really... fur lined druid hoodies? Yeah, that's about as nerd chic as you can get outside of Comic-Con. Either way I think it's a fantastic concept that the designer pulls off with his classic rock star touch. And apparently others agree because the line is notoriously hard to find, and sells out even with it's "not for the average budget" prices. I don't know about you, but I think that this may inspire a little sewing project of my own...

xoxo,
marion

find drkshdw at OakNYC

Life in the City of Angels

Well, I thought I'd post a little picture blog of life in Los Angeles so far...

they love them some Obama here :)

kelly looking angsty with his Jens Lekman record he rediscovered

paint/table

me/curtain

my lovely big closet has it's own little window...

we left our computer desk... we brought our booze...

neighborhood

Leftenant Tibbins

we are the one on the right

this is our mailslot. you should send us mail.

We Miss You Guys!!!
XOXO,
Marion & Kelly & Tibbs

4554 St Elmo Drive

Terrific Traipsing Boots!

This time of year makes me want to go traipsing through the woods. Take the road less traveled if you will, maybe read a little Robert Frost on a convenient log. And to do this you really do need the perfect boots. Mine are a pair of brown leather, Oxford style ankle boots from J.Crew that I've had since high school. They are sturdy and worn and have the perfect forest green laces. However, if for some reason those boots were stolen, and the thief left 500 bucks in their place, I would go out and purchase the above pictured boots by Devotte. As far as I am concerned the mourning process for my much loved high school boots would be short lived if I could replace them with these babies! The perfect boots for women should ideally fall somewhere between Anne of Green Gables and Annie Oakley, and I think this pair does exactly that. *sigh* I suppose I shouldn't moon over these boots for too long, my actual boots might get jealous, and I wouldn't want to trip on that walk in the woods.

xoxo
Marion