Online Outlets for your Christmas List

Hello all! I've been blogging like a maniac lately (sorry for the spammage on Facebook). Maybe this is what happens when people try to make seniors study for finals...

Anyway, I've been spending a lot of my time on a few vintage clothing websites (making wishlists and what not). Although my personal Christmas list is miles long, mostly comprised of hyperlinks to various articles of clothing, I know a lot of people that haven't even started theirs! I want to share three fantastic websites to you, good for gifting, browsing, and procrastination (my personal favorite).

1. Etsy
Clicking on the above link will take you to a massively extensive treasure trove of not only vintage clothing, but wildly valuable vintage artifacts as well. If you click said link, be prepared to stay awhile. The site is arranged so that anyone can sell basically whatever they want. Merely set up a shop of your own, upload pictures of your inventory, attach some prices and watch the customers pile up! This site is a tremendous idea for gifts for anyone in your family. The meager prices appeal to just about anyone even if shopping has already burnt a hole in your wallet (as it has mine).

Some of my many finds on Etsy include:

An extremely rare issue of LIFE magazine from 1969. It features an exclusive interview with Woody Allen, one of the first reviews of Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse Five, as well as an article on Humphrey Bogart. Unfortunately, this beauty sold before I could get my hands on it.


Original signed "Beatlemania Lives On" photograph by Pocket Downey. Taken at a fan-crazed hotel in Louisville during a music festival. For a price of $7, this would surely make someone's day


The time has come for me to introduce you to my obsession. I found this vintage, 1960's dress about a week ago and have been in love ever since. Even the description pinpoints it as "very Audrey Hepburn"


There also comes a time in every post where I have to talk about shoes.. This is only one pair of the many I found within five minutes of online browsing.


2. Modcloth
I've been using Modcloth for awhile now. Most have probably visited or at least heard of this site before because it's advertised incessantly on Facebook (check your sidebar). This site can be pricey at times, but it's still a great place to look for retro and vintage inspired clothes made by independent designers. I've gotten a couple pairs of shoes (including my prom shoes) from Modcloth. Some of my favorites include:

The "Send Off Kiss" Dress

The "Deservedly Denim" Pants

The "Greenpoint" Heels

3. Nasty Gal
Nasty Gal is my newest discovery and has been eating up my time ever since I found it. This site is a steal because it not only sells vintage clothing, but also name brands at a reduced price. Among these brands are Jeffrey Campbell, MinkPink, Evil Twin, and BB Dakota. MAH FAVES:

Lilly Lattice Dress

Shredded Stripe Sweater

Overprint Drawstring Pants

I'm still racking these sites up! If you have a few that you'd like to share, comment on my page! It's greatly appreciated

On Sassy, Young, British Authors and Their Ironic Teeth Color Preferences

Make way, World, Zadie Smith is here and intends to blow your mind.



I picked this book up a few weeks ago when I noticed a trend amongst some of the more lit-savvy people I know. Everyone (yes, Ursuline seniors, everyone) has read this book, White Teeth. I had heard certain people speak volumes about this novel but never really got on board because I didn't recognize the author. After finishing Revolutionary Road, I bought this on a whim and, let me just say, once you get past the first page there is no going back.


Set in the suburbs of metropolitan London, White Teeth follows three families over a number of months. First presented separately, the book's plot escalates as all three groups overlap to form a hysterical, coming-of-age story about knowing your roots. The novel quickly grabs readers with one page-turner of an opening scene: a man seriously contemplating suicide. This man is Mr. Archibald Jones, the patriarch of one of the central families. The first third of the book takes you on a journey through the lives of the Jones's: Archie-- everybody's favorite straight man, rolling life right off his shoulder with a smile on his face, Clara-- a Jamaican goddess and ex-Jehovah's Witness that's spent her entire life running from an extremely fundamentalist mother that, during Clara's childhood, forced her to pass out leaflets and attend protests among other riotous foolery, and Irie-- a half Jamaican, half English pistol that carries the world on her shoulders as she attempts to make her way through her adolescent years.

Next we meet the Iqbals: Samad, the patriarch, is a painstakingly reverent Muslim and fought in World War II alongside his best friend of more than thirty years, Archibald Jones. Alsana: the jaded wife of a ranting, raving, religious mad man. She longs for a husband with more room in his heart and more patience in his soul. Her frigid demeanor makes for a tense marriage. Magid-- the first born twin of Samad and Alsana, a prodigy (to put it lightly). Magid lives only a few years in England with his family. Samad decides (without Alsana's knowledge or consent) that Magid's knowledge and potential would be more greatly harnessed back in India (where Samad would rather live anyway). Millat-- only two minutes behind Magid in his birth, but a lifetime behind in maturity, intelligence, and emotional capacity. Millat is the resident bad-boy of the story. Smoking marijuana at age eleven, having sex with the girls he plays tag with during recess, and joining a radical, dangerous, fundamentalist group of Muslims at age sixteen. Millat is a lost soul in pursuit of happiness but this only wins him cheap thrills. Irie Jones grew up with Millat and Magid Iqbal. She has been in love with Millat since childhood.

And finally we have perhaps the most indescribable familial eccentricity I've seen yet, the Chalfens: Marcus-- an esteemed, scientific scholar, father, and husband. Marcus has published countless compendiums of research concerning genetic engineering (his specialty). He takes noticeable pride in his intellect and leads his family in the practice of using their last name as an adjective, verb, or regular noun (Ex: Well son, what's the Chalfen thing to do? You sure Chalfened that last Biology test! I'm not sure if I like this new girl. She doesn't strike me as a Chalfen). Joyce-- a scientific scholar in her own right, Joyce excels in the study of plants (more specifically, gardening). A household name, Joyce has published many books in which she utilizes her tactic of relating gardening to relationships (check the self-help section, if you know what I mean). She is the epitome of the Overbearing Mother. Hysterically inappropriate and oblivious, Joyce's words made me laugh out loud in my room, by myself. True story. Joshua-- the lone Chalfen child. An extremely gifted kid, unsurprisingly interested in scientific fields. At the onset of the story, Joshua is the dutiful and loyal son, determined to follow in his father's footsteps. Later on, however, he rebels full throttle and is an integral part of his father's downfall (FORESHADOWING!).



OKAY DEEP BREATHS. That was a lot. If you were kind enough to read all of that, good for you! Brownie points have been awarded to you.

A word on the author...

Zadie Smith was born Sadie Smith in London in 1975. She was born to a Jamaican mother and English father (coincidence? I think not!). In her childhood, Smith enjoyed tap dancing and musical theater. For a few years she earned money as a jazz singer as well. She joined New York University's staff this September as a Creative Writing professor (LET ME INTO YOUR SCHOOL SO YOU CAN TEACH ME!!!!!!)


For those who enjoy...
Incredibly extensive character studies; Mysteries of Pittsburgh, anyone?

Because this is just nifty

Hello all. I just stumbled on a pretty interesting list of classic novels coupled with their almost-titles.


1. F. Scott Fitzgerald had dozens of ideas for the title of his now legendary novel, The Great Gatsby. Some that were in the running: Trimalchio in West Egg Among Ash-Heaps and Millionaires, On the Road to West Egg, The Gold-Hatted Gatsby, and The High-Bouncing Lover.


2. As my fellow AP English IV kids know, George Orwell's futuristic 1984 was, at one time, titled The Last Man in Europe.


3. One of the titles that Bram Stoker considered before arriving at Dracula was The Dead Un-Dead.


4. There's quite an amusing story behind the title of this acclaimed piece of fiction. At first, Heller wanted to call the novel Catch-11 but because the movie Ocean's Eleven was set to hit theaters around the time of the book's release, Heller's publishers nixed the name to avoid confusion. Later, Heller proposed Catch-18 but the recent publication of Leon Uris' Mila 18 kept him from the title (again, to avoid confusion). Heller finally arrived at the number 22 by simply doubling 11.


5. My last nifty installment concerns Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand's magnum opus. Rand referred to the novel as The Strike for awhile until she decided that the title gave away too much plot detail. Her husband then suggested Atlas Shrugged.



BIG PROPS to Stumbleupon for providing me with loads of incredibly interesting, procrastination-inducing information!

On Emma Watson's Untouchable Perfection

This post goes out to the short-hair-haters and the people that dare to scoff at Emma Watson's new pixie cut. I am not pleased.

Though I understand the stereotype that accompanies a hair cut like this one, I think the change is fashion forward, chic, and smart--just like Emma herself.



Now a sophomore at Brown University, Emma has come a long way since she starred in the first Harry Potter movie. Let's all remember what that looked like



Of course. Even with no make-up on and her hair teased Emma still looks adorable. But nonetheless, Emma is a grown woman now. Let's remember, also, how incredibly unique and stylish this girl is. She has her own British clothing line, People Tree, served as a model for countless Burberry campaigns, and never fails to look amazing walking down the streets of London, New York, or wherever she happens to be.



Minutes after cutting her hair, Emma wrote: "Dear all, Cut my hair off a few days ago… Feels incredible. I love it. I’ve wanted to do this for years and years; it’s the most liberating thing ever. Hope you like. Big love from Emma"

So to make a long story short, this girl knows what she's doing. She's adorable and perfect and haters will always hate. But you will always be wrong.

I gots the Oxford connections..

I'm just stopping by to share a new online shoe outlet I found today. As most of my close friends know, I am unhealthily obsessed with Oxfords. I have three pairs right now and I'm still collecting for my college days when I will definitely have no money.

The site is called Osborn Handcrafted and they specialize in pimping Oxfords and booties with hand embroidered designs.

Basically this is my new homepage. Hello Christmas list.

Here are some of my favorites! It was really hard to choose..





This shoe addiction is going to be a problem..

Frank and April Wheeler and How They Changed My Life

I was ecstatic a few weeks ago when, in a sudden rush of joy, I realized that I had
1. Applied to college
2. Paid to apply to college
3. Finished my Physics homework
4. Asked to borrow a certain novel from a certain friend entitled: Revolutionary Road

Though I hate myself for it, I had to take a rather lengthy break from regular reading. Applying to ten colleges took me several weeks and eventually sent me into a downward spiral of self deprecation and exhaustion but..ENOUGH ABOUT ME! I am here to write about the book that pulled me out of my rut and simultaneously pulled itself to the top of my Literature Favorites list:

Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates


April and Frank Wheeler live in a perfect suburb in the perfect state of New York. They are the parents of perfect children, the owners of perfect clothes, and the patrons of their perfect, 1950's inspired stereotypes. But April and Frank's marriage is far from the self deluded, cookie cutter of a perfect existence that they seem so fulfilled by. April thinks Frank never "found himself" when he was younger. Frank thinks April lacks the foundational discipline that a parent is supposed to instill in a young child. April thinks getting pregnant at a very young age kept her from being a famous actress. Frank thinks April cannot see anything outside of her own, overinflated head.

A truly honest story analyzing the emptiness of the American Dream, Revolutionary Road is startlingly realistic as millions of married Americans speak through the increasingly vulnerable characters. I am dangerously fond of this genre of strong literary humanism so, as of right now, I deem this novel my favorite.

A word on the author

Richard Yates was born in Yonkers, New York in 1926 and died in 1992. Revolutionary Road was Yates' first novel and a finalist for the National Book Award. He has been endorsed by authors like Kurt Vonnegut and Tennessee Williams. His parents divorced when he was only three and he spent most of his life as a nomad, moving to different residences. Yates taught a writing course at Columbia before his big break in 1961 when he published Revolutionary Road.

For those who enjoyed..
The Great Gatsby and Death of a Salesman




What do yoooouuuuuu think I should put on my list? Tell me! (Comment on my page, guyz)

P-P-P-Poetry

Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay. So I am bereft of current event, fashion, or even literary inspiration tonight. But I realized that I haven't shared poetry in awhile.

Here are two poems I wrote a couple of weeks ago.


--En Medias Res--

En medias res, at medium’s best

I talk too fast, I hit too hard

I see the ground, I hit it running

Before considering walking

En medias res, my medium’s test

I try to see what’s below me, not before me

I take the world and mold it, never thinking to behold it

To take it for what it is

En medias res, the truths I professed

Never did seem to have meaning

For I ignored so much, appreciated so little

Paid no attention to the world I was careening



--Walls--

We cling so desperately to the writings on walls

To the trough of a wave, never its peak

Clouds crystallize, becoming one with the weather

Even letters come together to make all the words sound better

While we stand, transfixed, in front of the wall

As nature forms a circle, showing us its power and unity

We won’t lift our eyes from the wall, lift our eyes toward each other

And as objects find the time to sync, the people don’t take time to blink

Enchanted, as always, by the walls

Paramount, pivotal, provocative, but oh so petty are the things we’ve written on these walls

For as every person lives and as every person fights, there exists a space to occupy it all

The walls tell our story, of our pride and reluctant downfalls

The narratives number by the thousands

But you can only see your own handwriting

Drop a comment if you like. Let me know what you think!