Show-Off

Forever 21 cardigan and tee, Urban Outfitters scarf, Gap jeans, Aldo shoes

My friend told me that I was 'sooo LA' now because of this, but I was actually really excited, and I'm not going to let him rain on my parade. I guess I do dress well enough to do a "fashion" blog it's just that I'm too lazy to take funny pictures of myself. I did, however, take some of this outfit because like I said, I was really excited. I even posted it on Chictopia because that's how excited I was. I'm a dork, probably a big one because now I'm posting it again on here. I think that's what bloggers do though, right? They double post on their personal site and Chictopia, or so I've noticed. I'm just following in their successful footsteps. Haha! Ok, I'm going to get over it now after today, I swear.

Cheap Thrills

Necklaces from Maya

There's this store on Melrose called Maya that has the best ethnic jewelry and other ethnic things in general. I usually go there for the jewelry. Everything is super cheap and has that "vintage" vibe. They've got so many rings to choose from, which I eventually end up losing, but its ok since you're only paying between $5-$40 for cool rings that you put good use into for the time being. There's also a Maya on Hollywood and Vermont in Los Feliz, which I used to go to more often before I moved closer to the Melrose store. The cross necklace pictured was only $5 and the skeleton key was only $10, and they're pretty much my favorite new necklaces.

Rain, Rain Come Again

Burberry wellies/Hunter wellies

Sometimes I wish it rained more in LA, just so I could have an excuse to buy some wellies. I guess I could buy them anyway, but I wouldn't get to wear em as much, which defeats the whole purpose of buying them. Maybe I could move back to San Francisco so that I can have an excuse to buy them and then wear them. Let's revolve everything around wellies and move to a wetter climate. Better yet, I should move to New York.

What's a Rora?

Designed by: me

If you are one of the few who actually reads this, you are probably thinking, "What the heck is "Rora?" because if you know me, my name is Rose. Well for an explanation, here goes: Rora=Rose+Rachel. [You know, back like in high school when you and your friends combined your names together and how the tabloids combine celebrity couple names together, (i.e.: bennifer, speidi, brangelina) you get the picture.] So, I pulled one of those. Well actually my sister, Rachel, came up with it, and we decided that it has a nice ring to it; so it stuck, and there it is. Its our prospective apparel line, which someday, maybe not anytime soon, it will launch, and we will be rich and successful sisters just like the Mulleavy sisters.

By the way, I like punctuation, probably as much as I like looking up words in the dictionary, so I am aware of over-punctuating things, if thats even possible. Don't feel free to correct me because I'll probably get really annoyed.

Geometric

Alexander McQueen Resort 2010

(All photos: Style.com)

I was doing research today of prints since I'm working on the designs for the Spring/Summer 2011 line for our sleepwear brand Tokyo Rose, and fell upon these innovative pieces. I have this sort of affinity for geometric things because I like consistency and symmetry can be quite gorgeous, although asymmetry is giving us a run for our money these days. Anyways, in order to design repeated prints, there needs to be some sort of consistency and balance to make a print 'repeat' itself. The second photo with the insect-like print is just awesome. She looks like a man-eating fly with that thing on.

Designed by: me

So, last season I designed this swirly print, which I originally hand drew and inputted into the computer and diddled with it to make it workable as a repeat. It took me a very long time and eventually I gave up and scrapped the idea. This season, I decided to revive it and make a few color changes and what not, and as you may know, I've been highly inspired by the Woodstock era lately, which explains my choice in color. The lines are hardly rectilinear, but regardless, this is my ode to geometry. I hope you like it!

Last week I treated myself to some much needed new music. Well, not 'new' by album release, but new additions to my ever growing CD collection. The above is Healamonster & Tarsier, which I took a chance on buying since it was listed at the top of Amoeba's list of electronica music, and the last time I bought the CD on the top of the list, I ended up loving it and so did the rest of the world soon after. (It was Santogold, by the way) This time I like the CD, but I think it has an acquired sound that I am still adjusting to. It wasn't at all what I expected to be categorized as 'electronica.' There were a lot of acoustic flavors to its overall sound, but I know its something I'll end up loving. In addition, I bought Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Michael Jackson, Air, and Brother Ali (for the bf, not me). I love music.

Similar Aesthetics

Silly little piece of proof

Last week Vena Cava debuted their Spring ready-to-wear for next year, and I found some similarities in design aesthetic (theirs and mine). Check out this blouse I designed in January, which if I actually had the money to produce, it would be right on trend with Vena Cava's point of view. I design, that's what I do; I may not design for the right target market as a career, but I still know a thing or two about high fashion. If I had it my way, her tata's wouldn't be aired for the world to see; however, chiffon was still my fabric selection for the white sections of my blouse with solid black woven panels in between, and instead of oversized safety pins, I chose chains as the adjoining pieces.

There Was Then Before Now

Photo Cred: Helmut Lang via Style.com

Before Alexander Wang, there was Helmut Lang. And they do exist, still. With their architecturally clean cuts, seam details, and fanciful edgy draping they still know how to present a collection. (See above for latest collection from NY Fashion Week) For the modern and the bored, try Helmut Lang for a twist on classics. Leave it to Helmut Lang to stay safe on color choices by always sticking to the neutrals, another signature trait of Alexander Wang’s collections. I was actually taught how to draw by a former Helmut Lang accessories (or was it shoes?) designer while I was studying at FIDM. This is also probably another reason why I am quite fond of the brand.

Comeback Queen

Have you seen Whitney’s new look on the cover of her new single, Million Dollar Bill? She’s like the black version of Posh. I can dig it, and based on her new single, kind of excited to hear the rest of the new Whitney. Is that gayer than a gay man’s purse?

Season of Bloggers

Photo cred: style.com (Kate Moss and Alexa Chung @ NY Fashion Week)

New York fashion week is housing the elite this season at shows from the likes of BCBG to Peter Som to Marc Jacobs. Elitists of what, might you ask; no, not magazine editors, though they may be present, or department store buyers, fashion bloggers is what. The internet sensations take the front row seats at some of the biggest names in fashion, prancing around in their designer duds and newfound fashion acquaintances. These bloggers, who have all made a franchise of themselves, are the lucky chosen few which by experience of a simple internet blog and self portraits showing off their new rags, gets them the backstage pass to all of the happening parties in New York this week. According to blogs, such as ‘Luluandyourmom’ and ‘Karlascloset’, the lucky few were camped up by Coach, who so graciously hosted a party for the who’s who in the fashion blogging community. While those lucky few are overzealous at the thought of attending such high profile events, others who’ve worked hard in this industry making a minimum salary, actually use these runway shows as inspiration for future lines at in-house design offices for the mass market via Style.com for the secondhand look. Some of these bloggers, like Rumi Neely and THESartorialist have actually become the source for many high fashion designers and have become the inspiration. Mind you, the difference between bloggers and the rest of us is that they can afford Marni wedges and Chanel bags and Alexander Wang T-shirts and DSLR cameras to take sub-par professional photos of these things one can only wish for in their dreams. Who would have thought that bloggers are the new success in fashion? This new inane idolatry has become the biggest fad in fashion history, and for some it may be too late, but for the rest of us, you’ll never know when a newcomer will be the next to grace the pages of Teen Vogue. If you want to feel like you are a part of the fashion fun, follow these bloggers on their journey through fashion week on their twitter pages and get the up close and personal inside look at what they see firsthand via twitpics and the sorts.

Article by: Me

Hometown Glory

It's funny how the place where I grew up never seemed to be so appeasing. I never thought it could look this beautiful. After going back for labor day weekend, I found myself doing things I had never done before in all my 9 years of living there. Biking along the coastline: check. Nearly meeting the concrete with my face (a couple times): check. Eating a chocolate covered banana covered in peanuts: check (I've never had it covered in peanuts). Hanging out at lover's point: check. Although it was a 5 hour drive along the California coast away from home, it was well worth it, especially to see a few friendly faces again, including my boyfriend's. Next time I'll be sure to come prepped with a 'my size' bike to prevent myself from the previously mentioned mishaps.

Street Fair

Nico Vega and The Submarines

One thing I loved about SF was all the street fairs. In LA, they're kind of hard to come by, or maybe, I'm just not "in the know" yet. Either way, I miss street fairs, and last week I had the pleasure of attending the Sunset Junction street fair with a musical line-up to color me happy.

Penny is Bangin

first outfit: e-bay vest, h&m dress, urbn outfitters necklace
second outfit: patricia field faux fur jacket, kimchi & blue top, aa leggings, bracelet made by marlow fox

I decided to use my mannequin, who I named Penny, to do all of my style shots since I am incapable of taking a decent photo of myself. Although, I do dress Penny in things that I myself probably would not wear. Penny's body is bangin' so she can pull off anything that I am not ballsy enough for. 'Why do I have these clothes that I cannot wear', you might ask. I do wear them; I wear every piece I've got, but in a more conservative way. Ok, let's face it, I am not conservative at all when it comes to clothing, but I make it somehow appropriate for myself. I wish Penny was bendable, and I wish we wore the same size shoe because without the shoes, what is an outfit? At least Penny is sassy as hell. All matters aside, I introduce you to Penny.

The Real Deal

So, I did all the ground work except for the back elastic straps. I decided I should go to the store after work to buy myself a new invisible zipper so I can finish the darn thing and move on with the next side project. I bought really cool eyelash fabric that I cannot wait to use. While some friends get to go to pismo beach to enjoy the sunshine, I'll be at home satisfying my personal endeavors, and not to mention packing to move into my new apartment!

R.I.P. LBD

This is a sketch of the sweet sweet dress that I was making until the zipper broke. I had everything all sewn up, even the zipper, until the zipper got caught in the lining and warped the shit out of the zipper, making it now non-functional. I could easily revive the dress by just buying a new zipper, but now I don't really need the dress anymore, and therefore, am bored with it. Eh, I'll finish it eventually, just not today.

Sushi and samurai

Here is a sneak peak of one of next Fall's prints I designed. This one happens to be my favorite so far. Hope you like it too!

I Just Don't Know

As I spend the next few days pondering about what the perfect official 'first' post will be, I leave you with this blurb of my favorite poem and my next potential tattoo:

"The weight of the world

is love.
Under the burden
of solitude,
under the burden
of dissatisfaction

the weight,
the weight we carry
is love."

-Allen Ginsberg