TV Obsession: Parks and Recreation

I am in love with the NBC show Parks and Recreation. I started watching it when it premiered two seasons ago, watched the first season and then missed the entire second season because (and I am now ashamed to say it) I sort of lost interest in it. It just wasn't really living up to its humor potential. Then I caught the season 2 finale, which ended on a bittersweet note and kind of left you wondering if the show would be coming back. Well, it's back for its third season and I gotta say... I think it's found its place in the world. It's probably one of the funniest shows on TV and definitely the bright point of my week. Everything about it is completely sweet and adorable. 

Amy Poehler is completely awesome as the idealistic Leslie Knope, who works in the Parks department of Pawnee, Indiana. Her boss, (Captain Mustache) Ron Swanson, played by Nick Offerman, is a libertarian whose entire reason for working in the Parks department is to ensure that no parks get built, so that the taxpayers money will not be spent. The show also has Aziz Ansari, Aubrey Plaza, Rashida Jones, and recent additions Adam Scott and Rob Lowe. I love everything about this 

show. 

My Favorite Parks and Rec quotes from this season:

“Just give me all the bacon and eggs you have.”

“Sky writing isn’t always positive.”

“I’m going to type every word I know! Rectangle! America! Megaphone! Monday! Butthole!”

“Pawnee: First in friendliness, fourth in obesity.”

“Now, I know I’m not going to find somebody that’s both aggressively mean and apathetic. April really is the whole package.”

“Leslie, I typed your symptoms up here, and it says you have network connectivity problems.”

“Cool kids make the rules, they don’t break the rules. And if those kids want you to break the rules, they’re not really your friends.”

And any show that has the perfect rant below is therefore a perfect show.

Little Black Dress Show

The LBD fashion show was tonight at KSU, and it completely rocked. It showcased some of the dresses that the sophomore fashion students made for our Flat Pattern classes. Each student got the same amount of the exact same fabric and was free to design whatever they wanted. Everyone's dresses looked amazing, the models did a great job and the jewelry designed specially for the show was beautiful. Congrats to everyone!

Back of JJ's dress, Claire's dress and Joslyn's dress

Andrea's dress, and Mine!

Last looks

Isn't it cute?!

London Fashion Week: Topshop Unique

I love everything the British company Topshop does. I completely fell in love with them when they started Topshop Unique, which is their high end version of their mass-market in store collection. Last fall's collection had the coolest styling I've ever seen, with models looking like creatures that just walked out of the woods, so I've been holding my breath waiting for their show this year. I was not disappointed.
Drawing inspiration from Disney's 101 Dalmations, the looks, hair and makeup and accessories were all adorable and fun. Who didn't love the hair styled to look like Minnie Mouse ears and the tiny dog noses? There was a lot of American inspiration in the Art Deco and old Hollywood details, but all with a classically English eye. Here's some of my favorites. I would literally wear anything they make.

Firefly Back?

I am a die-hard Firefly fan. I have the box set that I bought about 6 or 7 years ago and the discs are beginning to show their age. After Firefly was canceled in late 2002, it looked like it was never going to come back. Then, Joss Whedon gave us the gift that was Serenity and it was amazing. If anything deserves a second chance in this world, it's Firefly.

Which is why I'm feeling kind of hopeful right now. The Science Channel just got the rights to Firefly and they're going to begin re-airing the show in March. When Nathan Fillion was asked if he'd ever like to play Mal again, he said he would, adding then, "If I got $300 million from the California Lottery, the first thing I would do is buy the rights to Firefly, make it on my own, and distribute it on the Internet." Enter the most excitable and eager fanbase in the world; the Browncoats. There are now pages devoted to getting Nathan his money to buy Firefly's rights. Check them out at the Help Nathan Buy Firefly Facebook and Help Nathan Buy Firefly website. 

After Nathan said that he would return to the project if asked, two of Firefly's former writers jumped on board, saying they would do the same. Of course, we have to wait for Joss Whedon's word as to if it is even possible. I'm sure he's a little hesitant to work with Fox again, to say the least, and he's also working on the Avengers right now (!). But a girl can hope, right? Maybe in a few years, it'll come back and be better than ever. 

(PS=I've been on a wallpaper kick. Here's two that I made last week, before all this excitement.)

NY Fashion Week 2011 part 3

Proenza Schouler's Fall 2011 collection could not have come at a better time for me. I just started a drawing project, childrenswear inspired by Native American motifs. After spending the better part of last week looking at some pretty uninspiring outfits, Proenza Schouler's collection appeared like a comet. I am completely in love with their creativity. Their textiles are unique and what they've done with those textiles is fascinating. Their Native American influences are evident, but not literal and used in a way that is very modern. Plus, the use of blue and orange never can hurt in my book. I am very inspired by their looks.

New Book!

Just got the first of two new books in the mail! This one is Italian Backgrounds by Edith Wharton. Wharton was an American novelist in the early 1900s, but she had many passions, including garden and interior design, and traveling. I love the prospect of looking at traveling through a novelist's perspective, especially one like Wharton. First things first, though. I'm in the middle of re-reading the Hobbit, in my excitement for the upcoming movie (which just started filming, so I have a while to wait). Once I'm finished with that, then I can get to my new book.

NY Fashion Week 2011 part 2

Anyone else loving the 70s revival right now? Not my favorite decade, but the best thing about fashion now is being able to cherry-pick the things we like most about past decades. The majority of designers have drawn from the 70s disco era and Studio 54 inspirations.

Looks from Diane Von Furtsenberg's show were colorful and glamorous. 

Halston, which is seeing a revival thanks to Mario Schwab, stayed true to its roots.

At Marc by Marc Jacobs, the looks were fun, as always, and very decadent.

However, not all designers drew from the glitz of the 70s. The prairie dress came back in a big way, thanks to  Laura and Kate Mulleavy, the sister duo behind Rodarte (!).

Two looks from their collection, which drew inspiration from the west and prairie life (I love the wheat that popped up on the bottom of several dresses). You can see the elements of country living (paneled pieces that reminisce handmade quilts, embroidery and lace, the color palette that looks like a Midwestern morning)  in their clothes but without it seeming silly.

Other designers who picked up on the prairie revival and definitely made it modern were Tory Burch (left), and Vena Cava.

NY Fashion Week 2011 part 1

Happy New York Fashion Week, all!

I am like a kid at Christmas.

Here's what I'm loving so far from the Fall 2011 runway shows. And it's only Tuesday.

Marc Jacobs and all his polka dots. Seriously, how many different ways can you use polka dots? It's apparently infinite.

Sheer shirts at Alexander Wang.

20s silhouettes at Alice+Olivia and 50s silhouettes at Barbara Tfank.

Agate accessories at Complex Geometries. (I know certain people who will love this, lol)

Models on ice (including Johnny Weir) at Elise Overland.

RED, spotted everywhere, seen here at Prabal Gurung.

My favorite complements, blue and orange, looking awesome at rag & bone.

Photos courtesy Fashion & Style on New York Magazine. Check in later, I will have more updates as the week goes on.

The Black Keys.

Anyone else completely love the Black Keys? 

They released a video for their song "Howlin' for You" last week, and it's an awesome homage to grindhouse-style movies. A bit ridiculous (Shaun White and Sean Patrick Flannery?), but also awesome. Check it out. 

Also, check out the video for their other single from the album Brothers, "Tighten Up." It is adorable.

Their vid for "Next Girl" is also pretty awesome, but I'm... not gonna put it here. Look it up yourself. But the lip synching dinosaur puppet and disclaimers are definitely worth it. They have the best videos.

Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day, lovelies! I hope you all have a great one. I hope to spend it watching Pride and Prejudice and hiding from the wind and rain.

Remembering McQueen

It's really hard to believe that it's been a year since the abrupt death of one of the most visionary designers, Alexander McQueen. When I first decided I wanted to pursue fashion design as a career, a large part of it was because of this man. I saw photos of his fall 2008 collection in an issue of Vogue. I can't remember a moment where I was more inspired by clothing. Everything that McQueen made was artwork. The level of skill in his designs was breathtaking. His loss was devastating to the fashion industry. Now, designer Sarah Burton heads the label. From the images we've seen of her work, she brings the same level of craftsmanship and graceful designs as her predecessor.

       

Looks from McQueen's Fall 08 collection, inspired by the tree in the front yard of his house (pictured above).

 Sarah Burton's new designs for Alexander McQueen