contact: alexandramariecarelli@gmail.com

    20090430

    20090429

    [PIRATE] Mask Chic.

    While the surgical masks are hot and all- I guess- I prefer the edgier gas mask look that LV and Gucci concocted. They are kind of old news but def fitting in the moment, ya know, with the pandemic swine flu and all. 

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    Gas Masks- don't leave home without them in 2009.

    [DOSE] Swine Flu Style?

    Pictures from various places on the interweb.

    Surgical-mask chic: a hipster's guide

    'Viral fashion' normally refers to an obscure trend that affords those in the know a chance to be snotty about the mainstream. And catwalk innovators and style luminaries have been all over the surgical mask like, well, a rash, for ages.

    London-based designer Dr. Noki (real name JJ Hudson) has been wearing a face mask in public for over a decade now. "My mother detests it," he admits, "but it's an arresting image. It may not be attractive, but it's my own form of branding." Vogue calls both Hudson and his designs "apocalyptic"; in fact, it's fairly hard to tell him apart from his catwalk models, because he makes them all wear surgical masks too. "My favourite is a Spiderman one," he reveals, "customised from an old T-shirt.
    "

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    Dr.Noki Spring/Summer 2008

    Forget Michael Jackson - in Japan, where fear of pollution and hayfever have long driven mask sales, you can buy leopard print and even delicate lace masks. At this month's Japan Fashion Week, Mint Designs sent models out in masks moulded to the contours of their faces and covered in thorn prints. In Tokyo, it's impossible to tell the hipsters from the hypo-chondriacs, and where other countries have fresh-faced Pop Idols, the Japanese have the TV starlet Mask Idol, aka Anna Nakagawa, who is known for the incredible beauty of the upper two-thirds of her face.

    So, ladies, though we might be doomed by a pandemic, don't let the side down; when wearing your mask, aim for inviting eyes glinting above a hidden, but luscious, pair of lips. Set them off with smoky eye make-up - just remember to use a tinted moisturiser, lest others mistake your interesting pallor for wan sickliness...

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    Mint Designs RTW 2009

    [END].


    More on Swine Flu Style...

    The Moment (NYT Fashion Blog) Did an Effing Awesome Slide show of Runway mask styles

    Mexican's decorate Masks in an effort to make some light of the situation

    And Again..

    The Swine Flu Mask Gallery


    [FP]

    20090421

    [PIRATE] Decay

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    AA tank, DIY cutoff levi's, Keep boat shoes, random beaded bracelet, UO blue nailpolish

    20090418

    [MUSIC REVIEW] Asobi Seksu

    Asobi Seksu is not just a NYC pop/shoegaze band, its also Japanese for "Fun Sex"! And honestly, they make me think of a good ole' hot, sweaty, 80's romp in the sack with their dance pop beats and Yuki Chikudate's dainty porcelein voice. What better thing can you possibly think to do on a Friday night than fun sex? None. GO SEE THEM!

    [MUSIC REVIEW] M83

    PLEASE VISIT LOUDFARM, YOUR BAY AREA MUSIC CONNECTION.

    The work of a solitary artist, Anthony Gonzalez, is manifested as the French indie/electronic/shoegaze noises of M83. He flaunts a blatantly 80's synth sound juxtaposed with sultry whispered lyrics to create electronic dance beats that evoke a Boards of Canada meets Pat Benetar feel. M83 has been featured in two film trailers, the Russian flick "Night Watch" and the 2006 adaptation of "A Scanner, Darkly." He has also made appearance on and in the albums of various artists such as Bloc Party, The Deftones, and Snow Patrol. These collaborations have garnered moderate success and attention since M83's formation in 2001 and all five albums have been well-received by an increasingly larger audience. If you like pop/electro/indie/or just like to dance then this tripped out pop-culture sound is right up your alley.

    20090417

    [PIRATE] mimosas in the backyard.

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    Today was the most beautiful day of the year thus far. Absolutely beautiful. Alexis and I drank mimosas with pineapple juice all day. My yard looks amazing after my gardening project last weekend. Oh, how I love summer. A simple AA tank with DIY cut off shorts and an H&M bow headband was perfect for the occasion. Beach this weekend, I cant wait. <3

    p.s. drunk.

    20090414

    [DOSE] amALgamation.

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    Have you ever found a picture or a look that you just FEEL epitomizes you and what you are going for, conciously or subconsciously? This picture and quote are that for me; Girly with a tomboy twist. I can't say that I intentionally go for the tomboy look, nor do intentionally avoid looking girly, but who the hell can honestly WALK around all day in a pair of 5 inch heels? Maybe some of you die-hard fashion-istas with a car can, but my lifestyle of walk/BART/BUS just doesnt allow for it, therefore dresses and combats have become a new uniform for me. This also touches on those of us that don't do the black or die thing, granted today is an exception in my almost fully head to toe black ensemble, but on a regular basis I mix it up with lighter colors. I am not goth, and I am not uber-girly, I am an amALgamation. hm.

    [PURCHASE] In the mail.

    Inspired by the you-know-what look of the season (psst, balmain)
    I ordered THESE jeans from FreePeople. 
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    Wait till I rock them with my Christian LaCroix military coat.

    20090413

    [MUSIC REVIEW] Kimya Dawson

    Kimya Dawson, a prominent member of the anti-folk movement and one half the Moldy Peaches, made herself a household name (er, at least in indie circles) after the widespread attention received from their involvement on the soundtrack of the 2007 flick, "Juno". Her lo-fi acoustic sound and raspy catchy lyrics tell childish tales of love, heartbreak, and any other random topic imaginable from books to bicycles to roadtrips with a happy-go-lucky innocence. But beneath the surface naivate lurks the artistically soulful struggle for meaning, love, and carpe diem we all know so well, which is what keeps us interested and keeps us coming back for more. Dawson encapsulates and regurgitates a time, an era, and the feeling of our collective lives.

    [COVET] PURCHASE?

    Go get em ladies, and try not to kill each other on the way to Payless.

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    Alice & Olivia for Payless $38

    20090410

    [EVENT] Thursday Nights at the Academy of Sciences, San Francisco


    Last night, Daniel donned a blazer and I dragged him out to the city to see what Thursday Nights at the Academy of Sciences in San Francisco are all about, and I am happy to say that $10 ticket did not disappoint. Since we live in the east bay and are victims of the mess that is Bay Area public transportation, it took us almost 2 hours to get out to Golden Gate Park, and I was effing miserable by the time we got there. But alas, it was nothing a couple over-priced cocktails couldnt fix, which were available for purchase at a multitude of "bars" located throughout the museum. Luckily all of our friends easily met us right out front, with tickets in hand, and we sashayed through the doors at 8 pm to be confronted with a PACKED science museum & bumping DJ's. After two hours of gazing at fish tanks, giant spiders, an albino alligator and burners dancing their sinewy asses off, I was ready to hit the Haight for an interesting- to say the least- burlesque show. But all in all the experience was good. The atmosphere was relaxed and there was plenty of people watching (one of my favorite hobbies, next to shopping), not to mention a DJ set up in front of the cylindrical fish tank, sick. I will definitely be back. If you are thinking about attending a Museum Nigtlife event in the near future, here is a little advice; buy your tickets in advance to avoid either A. being shut out, or B. waiting the most ridiculously long line you can possibly imagine, and don't forget to stuff a flask in your blazer pocket, you'll thank me later.

    I was too distracted during the event to take pictures inside the museum, but we snapped a few outfit shots while waiting for the BART.

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    He got hit on so much, it was ridiculous.

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    He looked so cute in his vintage blazer.

    FP.

    20090407

    [PIRATE] other amazing people & things out there.



    Meet Cocorosa.
    She is brilliant, amazing, inspirational...etc.
    Not to mention, she lives in NYC.
    My future home.

    I want to wear this tomorrow.
    It is perfect, and definitely in my wardrobe.
    I'll show you what I come up with.
    I will either wear my Alexander Wang inspired Express white-T
    Or
    a UO white super low V-neck.

    Thoughts?

















    Her Look here reminds me of
    Acne's spring/summer 2009 line (seen in Elle)
    New Standard.
    Lykke Li is their unofficial spokesperson. ------------>

    [COVET] Obsessed.


    Anyone with some extra cash want to buy me an easter present? What goes better with black, gray and navy than pink? This jumper would be the perfect addition to my wardrobe. Alas, I am not made of money, if you see a knock-off, please let me know. As for the AA Harem Pants, at $40 you will certainly be seeing them in my wardrobe soon. I already own 2 pairs but i love the simple black high-waisted look.

    What? I have an addiction.

    <-- p.s. hot pink jumper shorts
    net-a-porter $345

    20090406

    [PIRATE] Accepting donations to support the lifestyle of a clotheshorse.

    I spent all my money on clothes, I'm eating kettle chips for dinner.
    But today I bought an AMAZING jumpsuit at H&M (inspired by renee) and a perfect pair of harem pants.
    sigh.

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    This is my uniform, dont hate.
    Thrifted black blazer, Vintage black silk blouse, Era of Chaos navy cordurouy shorts, black tights, Vintage oxford heels

    20090405

    [MUSIC REVIEW] Franz Ferdinand

    See Review at LOUDFARM

    Are you into the Strokes? The Kooks? The Killers? Other bands beginning with "The"? If so, this is the band for you and you probably already know about them. Living up to the massive connotations of their name, a reference to the Austrian Archduke credited with igniting WWI, Franz Ferdinand's critical success the past 5 years has cemented their status as an influentially significant band in the post-punk revival. If you somehow missed the incessant radio-play of their UK top 10 single, "Take Me Out", and havent heard of them since their self-titled debut in 2004 then you have likely been living under a rock, or without electricity. They are playing Oakland's Fox Theatre, a renovated bay area landmark that just re-opened it's doors this past February, and the combination will definitely inspire a historic show or at the very least a fun-ass party with some upbeat head-bobbing music and popular sing-along tunes.

    [MUSIC REVIEW] Vampire Hands

    See Review & Show info. on LoudFarm

    Textured, melancholy melodies, hints of tribal beats and dreamy spaced-out guitar juxtaposed with lyrical chants reminiscent of a Monastery in songs such as "Cathedral Blues One" and a Catholic church in "Statuettes", are elements of the mystical and mysterious Minnesota-bred sound of Vampire Hands. The desolate, depressing depictions brought forth through somewhat inaudible stories of love and life are a musical manifestation of what one would imagine life in Minnesota is like; cold, simple, yet beautiful. Citing influences such as Royal Trux, Neil Young, and White Noise, they bring something chimeric to the table by transcending the boundaries of what is rock and what is psychedelic to create a synthesis of genres. Vampire Hands utilizes lo-fi effects to create a consistently 60's sound- think 1950's War of the Worlds in music form- that works. They come off as an intriguingly vintage masterpiece begging the audience to wonder, what year is it?

    20090404

    [MUSIC REVIEW] Friendly Fires

    See this preview published on Loudfarm

    Ed, Edd, and Jack of Friendly Fires from the UK are sweeping the states throughout April delivering an upbeat arsenal of edgy danceable beats, catchy lyrics, and an Elvis-esque stage presence, hip-swivel and all. Think Late of the Pier and Klaxons had a baby that was raised by MGMT and the Talking Heads and grew up with it's Emo cousins doing LSD. It's weird, neurotic, spastic, even schizophrenic, and mixed with a dark club, flashing brightly-colored lights and sweaty twenty-somethings, they're sure to create a ridiculously raucous party. The amalgamation of sounds that make up the eclectic modge podge that is Friendly Fires - Was that a cow bell?- is nothing short of a psychedelic atrocity meets strobe light dance party. You're sure to hear their new, hard-hitting single released last month, Skeleton Boy, an electric dance-beat urging you to close your eyes on the dance floor and lose yourself in the flashing colors, need I say more? So before they take their act back across the pond get up, get down to Slim's, and DANCE DANCE DANCE!

    20090402

    MUSIC REVIEW: Headlights

    See this review published on Loudfarm.com

    Headlights infuses the air and mind with visions of grassy fields filled with daisies and long hair, complemented by undertones of a dark smoke-filled basement crowded with skinny jeans, flannels and graffiti soaked concrete. An echoic sixties throwback sound evokes a simpler time spiked with modern electro-pop samples, dream like guitar riffs and short subtle jams. Paying homage to their farmhouse roots living on the edge of town where industry meets the farmlands in pseudo-rural Illinois, the band created the carefree songs on their latest album, Some Racing, Some Stopping, as a musical refuge from the chaotic nature of urban and American living, “We just wanted a few opportunities for people who are listening to the record to have a break and have a little bit of small space and a little bit of small sounds happening.” Yeah, they’re that amazing.



    Go See Them!!

    4.10.09
    Bottom of the Hill, SF
    9pm

    PIRATE: COVETing, oh so bad.

    If I wasnt broke, Here is what I would buy (i.e., possible next purchases):

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    TopShop Balmain-esque jacket, like I need another coat. (psst, I found a beautiful vintage 1980's military inspired Christian LaCroix at a resale store up the street a few days ago, I will post a picture of it soon.)

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    TopShop hareem pants, $65 in gray and navy blue. I read somewhere that Zara is doing a good job with the Harem, and I am doing a great job with wearing them so you will find me at the WestField shopping center after 20th century Literature.

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    Nine West strappy heels, perfect. I found a similar pair in Tan on College the other day, on sale for $50 bucks, why did I not buy them? I'm going back.

    STYLE: icon.

    mary kate white blazer Pictures, Images and Photos

    Just a reminder.

    PIRATE: school Girl.

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    AA white oxford shirt, Samantha Treacy black ruffle dress, Random Shop in Venice green and black houndstooth tights, Thrifted brown oxford flats, Thrifted Navy blue blazer, Thrifted black belt