Women Work Harder Than Men

I stumbled across this article while googling "Women working in finance."

'As early as this November, it's projected that for the first time in US history, more women will be working than men..."It's just sort of this dramatic revolution that's taking place but nobody's really talking about it that much," said Kobliner. "Also, we're seeing that more married women have unemployed husbands than ever before, a record 21 percent ... so the question is: are we going to start seeing the real 'Mister Moms' -- men doing the laundry and taking care of all those household jobs?"'

The article goes on to say a big fat "NO." The truth is women are still the primary caretaker at home, and still do not earn as much as men in the workplace.

Of course.

Women Working More Than Men

Summer Weekend: East Hampton

It's almost the end of summer. It's consistently 86 degrees in my apartment even though it's only 75 degree out. Summer makes me wish I lived in a cool ground floor, but then again that's where the roaches like to hang out.

The weekend was eventful!

-Day One. Train to East Hampton aka "The Party Train!" Long Island kids are funny.
-Bike ride through the woods to the middle of nowhere. Too much quiet makes me scurred.
-Beach time with the Atlantic looking fierce from all the waves from Hurricane Bill hundreds of miles away. Dangerous and breath-taking.
-Bike ride past beach front properties like in the movies and plenty of trophy cars. Having a convertible out here almost seems neccessary.
-I called a woman a bitch at the grocery check out because she was being very rude to the cashier (After working years of customer service, I have developed a soft spot for other service workers). The woman bought rice pudding and triscuts. Immediately after calling her a bitch, I felt bad, but the woman seemed to enjoy the title. She took her Gucci purse and walked away looking satisfied.
-Day Two. Tresspass onto painter's Jackson Pollock's property in the woods. His backyard view is about three acres of untouched wetland. Imagine painting surrounded by that.
-Stella McCartney pop-up shop (Fall 09 in stores already!) and Agathe Snow installation. Free popscicles on Stella.
-Back to the beach. Watch surfers, sunbathe, play with the waves. I was so happy I couldn't stop screaming.
-Sleepy.
-Train back to Crooklyn.

ESPO's A Love Letter For You/ I'm Mural Crazy

I'm loving "A Love Letter For You," a new project ESPO's been working on along with the Philadelphia Mural Arts Program. I'm planning a trip to Philly to check it out when the mural project of 50 painted walls is complete. They're even holding sign painting classes! Frank has a few cans of sign paint at home, maybe I should give it a go. My first sign would say, "My Cat Loves Me." It's the truth.


I recently watched The Universe of Keith Haring on DVD three times and was amazed at how thoughtful Keith was about doing public art. Keith wanted to do something that would last, that the general public could enjoy everyday and not have to go to a musuem or art gallery to see. Here we are 25 years later, and his artwork still can be found in many major cities from public parks, to schools, to even Woodhull Hospital in Bushwick (NOT a nice place--the building looks more like a prison than a place you would go to get better. So genius that Keith would do a colorful mural there. The place needs it).

So happy about all the new murals from Anthony Lister and Os Gemeos. While the twins were painting the Deitch wall on Houston street last month, there was steady stream of onlookers, some were fans, mostly graf heads, and then random people walking by who had no idea who the Brazilian artists were.


I stopped by the wall almost every day because it was on the way home from work, and there was ALWAYS a group gathered around watching them paint and just chillin' on the street, taking photos and video. I always stopped by myself, too. This shows how there is a desire, maybe even demand (especially from other graf/street artists), to see the process of their work. It was a great and rare opportunity to see Os Gemeos use spray paint for the entire mural, to see how they do their detail work, use stencils, and have almost no pre-sketches (at least from what I could tell). Frank took some great detail shots of the mural along with Os Gemeos painting a truck. Maybe I'll put those up soon.

aloveletterforyou.com

Welcome Back

I haven't posted on here in over a year. I'm not going to explain why (but probably will reveal more in upcoming posts), but instead start where I last left off--because that's how good friendships work!

Bet you didn't know it's summer by the way it's been raining every single day.

Last week was full-moon weird. It was one of those draining weeks where you feel like your working too much, several family members are sick and need surgery, your relationship is falling apart, the landlord is trying to kick you out of your apartment, and all you want to do is say fuck you to everyone and take a nap.

Seeing this lemon dress by Phillip Lim cheered me up a bit.

3.1 Phillip Lim dress available at Bird

It made me remember that uhh...I like clothes. This sounds silly, but is important because I've been going through this guilt about liking fashion which is connected to my serious money guilt. I realized recently that I spent all my savings because I was so determined to live in New York and now I have nothing, except a few dresses by Isabel Marant and Tsumori Chisato--I worked at a very nice boutique and got the clothes free.

The phone calls I've received in the past week are from my real friends who care about my life and what happens to me and are always supportive. All the rest are fakes who only care that I live in New York, which by the way, has attracted way more new scumbags than usual. But that may have to do with the fact that their are few REAL men left. They all seem to be momma's boys or serious scumbags who live like they're still 17. What happened to real, hardworking men?

Who knew lemons could make me realize so much?

Summer in the City (Eco-Friendly and Carcinogen-Free Edition)

All I've been reading about lately in the media is how everything in my house could potentially kill me. Talk about consumer scare tactics. The modern lifestyle revolves around plastic. We rub out armpits with chemicals proven to cause Alzheimer's disease. And while the cancer stories may exaggerated, all those plastic water bottles I buy to keep myself hydrated and cool in the hot months are not good for mother earth. And frankly, Alzheimer's scares the shit out of me. So here's a slew of products I swear by to keep cool during those 90+ degree days that are environmentally sound and not bad for your body either.

Tom's of Maine Honeysuckle Rose Natural Deodorant. Light, botanically scented, and aluminum free! It may not keep your pits dry on those really hot and humid days, but natural ingredients like lichen and coriander help to fight odor when you need it. 

Klean Kanteen Water Bottle. The simple design looks good and is carcinogen free. Say good-bye to plastic forever. Carry it with you wherever you go and fill it up with good old NYC tap. Those Jennifer Aniston ads should have warned you, Smart Water is for yuppies.

Short shorts, preferably higher waisted. Or better yet, take a pair of jeans you don't like and make cut-offs. Even boys wear short shorts now.

Robert Geller + Den

Opening Tuesday is Den's newest installment of rotating designers featuring menswear by Robert Geller, whose spring collection proves to be utterly wearable hipster fashionings.

Geller gained cult status revamping the label Cloak with fellow designer Alexandre Plohov. Cloak shut its doors, but the clamor for Geller's designs grew louder. Robert Geller Collection was launched in 2005 and is currently found in only a handful of boutiques. Den will carry a broad collection of the line that includes many exclusives. The crisp grey sharp-shouldered blazers and slim trousers are perfect for any discerning satorialist.

Den is located in the East Village at 330 E 11th street, NYC.

Bjork's Visual Wanderlust

She's done it again. If you haven't seen it already, check out Bjork's innovative new music video for her single "Wanderlust." It's a 3-D (yes, get out your glasses!) visual menagerie directed by Encyclopedia Pictura. Filmed with a custom made stereoscopic camera rig and a mix of live action, puppets, scale models, and computer generated animation, the stunning video channels the folklore of the mountainous Alps.

The video premiered in 3-D at Deitch Projects Studio in Long Island City, Queens earlier last month. The official release date of the video was yesterday, but it's hard to find a good quality version in virtual world. The video will be released later on DVD.

In the meantime, I highly recommend viewing the clear 2-D version of "Wanderlust" on the Enyclopedia Pictura website here. Wow.

Designer to Know: Isabel Marant

Scrumptious natural fibers like plush cottons, easy linens, and washed silks have made Isabel Marant a rising star. She creates bohemian perfection in her own signature label and her diffusion line appropriately named, Etoile ("star" in French).

Her collection of short flouncy skirts, baggy pleated linen pants, and various voluminous tops mix well together--on the racks it is very easy to envision coordinated outfits. It's casual, unconstrained, and easy to layer in unconventional ways. It's this relaxed, just-thrown-together mix that is giving Marant notoriety. The perfect t-shirt is a linen Isabel Marant tee in a muted neutral color.

For spring '08 she appropriated the pattern from the ever-popular Afghan scarf and made it fresh fabric for sleeveless tops and dresses. Her flat boots are spot-on slouchy.

She's hard to come by (which makes her even more special). So if you can't stop by her boutique in Paris, try Jumelle or Hejfina. See Isabel Marant's spring 08 fashion show here.

Images from Isabel Marant Fall '08

Oh Fashionista Diaries

Yes, I watched it every damn episode of Fashionista Diaries on SOAPnet.com and i loved every minute of it. Why? Because Project Runway annoys me now (I am cable-free and happy--the internets is all I need!). I respect the work ethic of each of the assistants (except maybe Andrew). I can totally relate to working entry-level in a competitive industry 50 hours a week while having to look "fashionable" on a three-digit paycheck. Workoholics like other workoholics.

In the end, it was a show about doing what you want because well, it's what YOU want. And it's refreshing to see a few hard working and motivated gals learn the ropes and not some Orange County bimbos who want to be a fashion magazine editors because they "love" clothes.

I Heart Angelina

Well actually, she's okay. I just figured out that by simply posting pictures of Angelina on my blog I can increase traffic because people can't get enough of those big lips that kiss Brad.

On the subject of the blogoshpere, perhaps that's just what most blogs are: quick, sensational un-news. Irrelevant information for us to stuff our heads full with. In the blogging world everyone's a critic, and it's easier to give quick negative feedback then intelligent positive feedback. Gawker.com has made an a qausi-dynasty out of it. Although I do like to talk smack from time to time, I've been trying to cut down and be more positive on this blog and in the rest of life.

So here are some things I think are great and would like to share with you (positivity all around):
Baked bakery in Red Hook, Brooklyn. Yum
And this Mayle mini-billie bag

No apologies for getting getting all girly on you and posting about cookies and handbags.

If you like, read the other blog I've co-created and edit for. It's very um...masculine: upsetmag.blogspot.com

Tax Refund = New Wardrobe?

Tax time is here and luckily, I'm getting a refund only because I was in grad school last year. They sure do give a whole lot of tax credits for going to school, but then again a $700 tax return is measely when you owe $40,000 in student loans. Yikes!

Instead, what will you spend your refund on? Or have you spent your refund already? Are you disciplined, buying something small and saving the rest? Many gals I know look forward to their yearly tax refund and use it directly towards a new spring wardrobe. After all, it feels like free money--and that's the trick: get mid-income consumers to spend their refund (plus the extra $600 coming mid-year) to literally buy us out of recession.

While I also enjoy fashion, be smart about your consumer choices. Even I can rationalize spending $160 on the perfect Isabel Marant t-shirt I'll wear 50 times, but I try not to put myself into debt doing so (although I have put myself into debt in the past for such silliness). And remember, consumer waste inevitably equals garbage waste. How many things from H&M and Urban Outfitters have you discarded in the past few years?

One thing I've learned in working retail is how to spend wisely on clothing. I've worked at expensive boutiques were few of the customers could truly afford the lifestyle of luxury shopping. Most shoppers were just good at floating debt around, and to be honest, none of those women are particularly stylish, even though they spend thousands of dollars a season on their wardrobes.

If you are lucky enough to be receiving a refund, be smart. Buy yourself something new for spring you will actually wear the whole season (as long as that special something isn't a $1200 Lanvin bag) and put the rest towards paying off your debts. Am I channeling Suze Orman or what? Sheesh.

Above photo of Cheech the Cat doing her taxes.

Spring Clothes Okay, Sandals Yes!

I've had a huge obsession with spring shoes this season because so far I've found spring 08 in stores to be a little...uninteresting. I still have yet to find a dress that blows me away, maybe because I keep seeing the same rounded, bulbous silhouette as last spring. (Instead, I'm much more into separates, but I'll post about that later.) The dresses aren't catching my discerning eye, but this season's shoes and accessories are spectacular!

Take these Thomas Wylde skull encrusted sandals if you have $950 to spare. They're a great bottom anchor to toughen up a frilly floral dress. The rows of miniature skull-shaped studs on leather the color of metal are smart, more discrete and trend-proof than the typical black t-shirt will skull graphic.

3.1 Phillip Lim + Birkenstock

One of my favorite designers Phillip Lim has teamed up with Birkenstock Tatami shoes to create sandals for spring 2008. It's the perfect mix of Birkenstock comfort with Lim's easy feminity. The collection of 13 styles for women features soft suede fringing, multi buckles and patent leather accents on a classic Birkenstock footbed.

The Helen sandal in soft suede with a bit of bohemian fringe is my pick. Buy it at eluxury.com for $150.

The *New* Projects

I saw this ad on the back of the Onion newspaper and thought it was a funny joke. I called the number on the ad and checked the website. Turns out it's real. Flatubush Gardens are the projects for the new poor a.k.a. middle class.

Pay only $1025 a month to have your own one bedroom with new hardwood floors in the charming neighborhood of Flatbush, Brooklyn! Only blocks from Bed-Sty, and drug dealers available right on the corner! But to rent an apartment you have to pass a criminal background check first. Gotta keep the riff-raff out.

Let's talk Politics

I know it's been a while ya'll. Today's news of Obama's huge win in Iowa sparked excitement in my head. It was a glimmer of hope within my very critical mind and a genuine happiness that other young people out there (in corn-filled Iowa even!) care about things other than Britney's latest meltdown and are willing to make the effort to help change something that isn't working.

According to NYTimes the Euro is now at $1.47US and a whopping 25% of new condos in Manhattan are being bought by investors in Europe and the Middle East. It may be good for the foreign investors, but it's hard not to notice the fact that America's economy and American's confidence has slipped.

The urban dweller's current obsession with superficial environmentalism is a small start towards change. Carrying little canvas tote bags instead of plastic bags is a start. Not buying disposable, poorly made clothing you don't really need at H&M and Forever 21 is another entry-way. But what's next?

It has to be big change. And I HOPE it's political.