LOS ANGELES IS PRETTY

sometimes we feel like we need to travel somewhere new to find beauty (i'm guilty of this), but truth be told, there is beauty everywhere and anywhere. i took so many photos while in europe. i was that annoying girl snapping pictures of the street signs, street art, everything i found beautiful (which was basically everything). when i arrived back in the states i was quickly hit with the realization that i take los angeles' beauty for granted.

that's when i decided to start a little project. it's simply to shoot all the beauty i come across here in los angeles. the blue house that stood out from the rest, the shadows of palm trees, the cool street art, a pch sunset, anything that stops me in my tracks and pulls me in. every city is full of extravagant or simple beauty, but nonetheless it's still beauty. so, fall in love with your city all over again. i know i am.

i'm using the hashtag #losangelesispretty on instagram if you ever want to check it out.

THE CITY OF ANGELS

jared leto directed this short film about the city of hopes and dreams, los angeles. it's beautiful and tragic. it reminded of me of why i decided to make the move from orange county to los angeles. los angeles means hope, dreams, and endless opportunities .

here is what leto had to say about this film, "City Of Angels is a short film about this wild, weird, and wonderful land, Los Angeles, California. A place that has left its mark on the world’s imagination and a place where dreams can actually come true,” the band’s front man Jared Leto said in a statement. “I made this short film so I could share my thoughts on this incredibly special place and talk to others about theirs. It’s not so much about this particular city but more about the people who inhabit it. This is for the dreamers who know that sometimes the impossible is indeed possible.

CASS BIRD

someone whose work i admire is photographer cass bird. her work has a sense of youthful grittiness. she displays life in a way that leaves you wanting to rebel and live outside of your comfort zone. her portraits are raw and sensual almost as to make the viewer fall in love with an unknown face for even a moment in time.

she has shot many editorials and covers for great magazines as well as fashion campaigns. i could truly go through her work for hours on end and continue to be inspired. bird's use of color as well as use of black and white are very much a part of what make her stand out as a photographer. wouldn't you love to be around bird when she is shooting or even better, wouldn't you love to be shot by her? i know would.

click through for full post

MUSIC MONDAY NO.25

let me start off by saying how much i love this photograph from the series Isle of White. the long braids, white dresses, and the landscape...i am so totally inspired.

okay, now back to the real reason for this post. there is a new playlist for you to listen to! i'm pretty terrible at blogging and posting new mixes if you haven't already noticed. lately i have been listening to all sorts of music. i'll have to post a random mix soon, but this weeks is a little more laid back. i've even been listening to it when working out. random mix. good musicians/bands. nothing crazy. it has been just what i needed on my long drives. last week i put almost 600 miles on my car. in one week. how crazy is that?! so, i've needed music that's not going to drive me insane.

listen to playlist here



click through for full photo series

MOMENTS

the unknown has never felt so magical. so full of secrets and power. 

if i've learned anything in the past month and a half of living in los angeles it's that you are given one life and you must embrace the moments that surround you. the quiet moments, the hectic moments, even the stressful and painful moments. you take them in and you let them be. they are what make you up. i've grown to love them all. walking downtown has never felt so beautiful. waiting for the light to change. watching the people that walk by me. i'm taking it all in. those moments fill me. sitting on the side of the street at 3 in the morning in who knows where talking about heartbreak, ambitions, and traveling. those moments fill me. they change me. they are what inspire me. i've even grown to embrace the moments when i am driving in mad los angeles traffic stressed and with eyes full of tears. i'll look back and know that all of those moments changed me. 

it's not always about trying to fill your time with all these events and parties and so on. it's also about creating moments out of thin air. go outside more. meet new people. listen to people's stories. share your stories. don't be afraid to be anyone but yourself. don't be afraid of the judgment. there is freedom in not caring. say yes more. say no more. do what you are too afraid to do. remember that we are given one life and no one is responsible for your happiness but yourself.  embrace the tiny "insignificant" moments because those will change you just as much as the huge "important" moments will. i can promise you that. 

photographs by martina kovacevic

TAKE MY PHOTO // GUY BOURDIN

i have an incredible photography professor who has inspired me so much. we are kind of like kindred spirits in a way. we talk about photography, clothes (she ended up buying the same purse as me because she loved it), and random hilarious things. she quotes RuPaul and talks about how certain movies have changed her life. i am constantly learning in the class. 

something i love is that i had never met anyone before who didn't think it was stupid that i loved certain aesthetics when it came to photography. see, i love photographers like william eggleston, lewis baltz, joel sternfeld...the list keeps going, but what i'm trying to say is their work all is aesthetically similar. most people i had met thought that certain photographers work wasn't work, but just cheap shots. ouch! you'd be surprised how much work goes into every photograph. 

Bourdin was not a natural self-promoter, and did not collect his work or make any attempt to preserve them; in fact he refused several offers of exhibitions, rejected ideas for books, and wanted his work destroyed after his death (but since he didn’t keep so much of his work for himself, fortunately most of it was saved).

Since his death, Guy Bourdin has been hailed as one of the greatest fashion photographers of all time, and his son Samuel Bourdin released a book with the finest prints of his father's work, called "Exhibit A" in 2001 (co-edited with Fernando Delgado).

Fashion photographers like Helmut Newton and Jean-Baptiste Mondino talked about how Bourdin managed to shoot fashion photography in his own unique way

what i am trying to get at is that i have grown to appreciate every detail that goes into photography more than i ever have before. i have fallen in love with everything about it. the more i do research about photographers the more and more i fall in love. so, i wanted to share some great photographs by some incredible photographers. this post is all about Guy Bourdin. he was a French fashion photographer who passed away march of 1991. 

"Bourdin was the first photographer to create a complex narrative, then snatch a moment — sensual, provocative, shocking, exotic, surrealistic, sometimes sinister — and simply associate it with a fashion item. The narratives were strange and mysterious, sometimes full of violence, sexuality, and surrealism."

and hey, it's okay if these photos aren't to your liking, that's the awesome thing about art...we all have our own opinions!

JENNY HOLZER MARQUEES

jenny holzer took over the empty marquees that once advertised events at 42nd street theaters. Instead of coming attraction, however, the public found “truisms” – statements by holzer that had the authorities ring of proverbs. but instead of confirming accepted practices, these comments often seemed to come out of left field. holzer reordered the world along the lines according to her uncanny “uncommon sense.”

this project was a part of creative time’s 42nd street project (1993) which invited more than 24 american artists, architects and designers to transform manhattan’s historic west 42nd street into a dynamic, round-the-clock public art exhibition. participating artists took 42nd street on its own terms in both form and content, creating temporary, site-specific works in, on, and around storefront display windows, theater marquees, roll-down security gates, posters, commercial billboard spaces and sidewalks.

i really love this and i just had to share it. 

photos found here 

FOLLOW FRIDAY

it's friday and you cannot imagine how excited i am because i finally have a short break. well, not really since i will be working everyday this weekend. but it's a nice break from school. don't get my wrong, i love school because i get to learn from awesome things (i'm currently in school for media arts) but being behind a computer for 7 hours everyday working on new projects is currently killing my eyes and wrist. my brain has been on overdrive since monday and it'll be nice to have a few hours today all for myself. normally i would be in class, but thank heavens for holidays. 

this week i'm bring new things for you to check out. i hope you guys like them.

blog one of my most favorite blogs is Designlovefest. the brains behind it is bri emery whom i have a total girl crush on. since she is a graphic design major you better believe her blog is full of beautiful layouts and type. you can find anything from a great cocktail recipe to a style post. go check out her blog, i promise you will be hooked. 

movie For Lovers Only is a movie in black and white that is visually stimulating. there are so many locations in this film that i wish i could visit. the story is a bit sad in my opinion. it is about two people in love who haven't seen each other in years, but come in contact when both are in Paris for work. they travel together and that is all i will say because i think you should watch it. michael polish did a beautiful job in my opinion.

read i decided to change the book section to just plain reading material because there are so many magazines i feel people need to go read. yes, i did just write a whole post about some of my favorites. it's whatever. a magazine i think is truly a work of art is i-D magazine. it is filled with rich and beautiful photographs. the content always leaves me feeling inspired. what more do you need from a magazine? 

band  Fitz and the Tantrums is such a fun band. they are an LA band that were founded by lead vocalist michael fitzpatrick who has said that their musical style can be described as "soul-influenced indie pop." they are an interesting band and one i definitely want people to go check out. their newest single Out Of My League has been playing on the radio lately and i love when it comes. i'm that girl who has dance parties in her car by herself. how am i still single?

FOLLOW FRIDAY

this follow friday was meant for last week, but i had such a crazy and not so great week that i had no time to post anything after tuesday. oops. i hope you guys enjoyed the last follow friday from two weeks ago. did anyone check any of the recommendations out? let me know if you did. well, for this week i am bringing four more of my favorites.

blog i recently came across Shine By Three and i instantly fell in love with the beautiful photographs and the outfit posts as well as Margaret Zhang's way of writing. 

movie you can never go wrong with woody allen. am i right or am i right? if you have never watched Manhattan then i definitely think this is a film you should watch. the film is in black and white which is already a huge reason to watch it. but what i loved was that there's something so organic about this movie. i never wanted it to end. 

book Everything Beautiful Began After is one of my top favorite books of all time. it is beautifully written and i fell in absolute love with each character and i caught myself rooting for each character. it is kind of a love story. it's really more than that though. i don't want to give anything away. beware: you won't want to put this book down.

band Generationals are a band to watch for. i put one of their songs in this week's music monday playlist. they're a kick ass duo which catchy tunes that make me want to dance for hours. 


PS
i know i have sucked at posting lately, but you most know that my schedule is so busy and the free time i have i spend working, working out, or trying to have a social life. damn college life. 

READING MATERIAL

for those of you who follow my instagram then you are fully aware of my love for magazines because i feel like i am always posting photos of my them. i spend too much time in book stores with a massive stack of magazines sprawled all around me. this might sound stupid to you and it may not make sense, but i find such comfort and joy in going through my favorite magazines. i love looking at all the photographs, the interviews, the art. i love thinking about every detail that goes behind a magazine issue.

i ended my night last night at barnes and noble with a stack of like 10 magazines and just sat there next to my friend silently (occasionally i'd let out an excited comment like "look at how great this is!") going through these magazines and really admiring every single detail. i think because i am in school for media arts that i look at a magazine and notice the tiniest details and appreciate it so much. i was telling my friend how even the placement of each photograph is so critical and that the page can easily be less appealing if the placement of the photograph is even slightly off.

but back to the main point of this whole post. i decided i wanted to share some of my favorite magazines with you guys so that next time you are aimlessly wandering a book store you can check these babies out and hopefully they'll inspire you the way they inspire me.

these are just six of the magazines you will probably always find me reading and going through, but a few others you should check out are: STYLE.COM / DASH / W Magazine / numero / apartamento / MUSE / noi.se /
Hunger / Suitcase / MONKI


Oyster / i-D / BULLET / DANSK / FALLEN / RUSSH

FOLLOW FRIDAY

it's friday! i like fridays because they bring a sense of adventure and also it means i get two days of no classes. this semester i'm unfortunately going to school every day of the week and my four classes are all night classes. kill me now? i will say that i'm somewhat excited because i am taking some really fun classes this semester to finish off my media arts associate degree.

okay, back to this post, i always see people do follow fridays on twitter and decided to kind of copy that idea, but not really. instead of just sharing twitter accounts i will be sharing books, music (bands or songs), blogs/twitter accounts, as well as movies. i love all of these things so i thought why not share them with you guys!

blog i recommend checking out is Zanita. she is a photographer, model, and blogger. she is always posting beautiful pictures of her travels, other bloggers, or herself. i really enjoy reading her blog and seeing all the photographs she captures on her Nikon D700.

movie my all time favorite film is Almost Famous. i have watched it roughly around 100 times and i secretly want to be penny lane. everything about this film makes me happy. i think every person should watch it at least 10 times.

book haruki murakami is one of favorite authors. the stories he tells really hit home for me. my copy of South of the Border, West of the Sun is all highlighted and underlined. i treasure it dearly. it is definitely a must read.

music a band to look out for is Wardell. they are a brother sister duo and their only song on their bandcamp opossum is 3 minutes of great lyrics and killer vocals. it's catchy and i suggest you go take a listen and download the song. it is only $1.


happy friday, people!

WHAT A MUSE // DREE HEMINGWAY

muse of the week is dree hemingway. dree is a model and actress. her mother is mariel hemingway (the young love interest in woody allen's Manhattan) and she is the great-granddaughter of the wonderful ernest hemingway. who wouldn't love to be a part of that family!

i had seen the trailer for her latest movie Startlet a few times, but not until recently did i put two and two together. i didn't realize the model was also the main character in the film. i definitely have to watch the movie. dree was also in a french movie as well as a music video for The Vaccines.

what i mainly love about dree is her sense of style. she plays with masculine and feminine pieces creating her effortless and chic style. i think that can sometimes be hard to do for some people and it ends up looking unnatural or a bit off, but not with dree. i love how she finds a good middle point and can pull of chic and sexy without having to expose too much or dress in overly feminine pieces. there is nothing i like more than when someone sticks to the basic timeless pieces and makes them work in many different ways. i may sound like a broken record, but having a few basic pieces in your wardrobe are a major must. take it from dree who is a great example of this. a simple black blazer, a good fitted jean jacket, black skinny pants, and the good ol' striped tee shirt. they are necessities in every closet.

i'm a massive dree hemingway fan and i hope that now you are too.

JAMIE REARDIN // FASHION ILLUSTRATOR

jamie reardin is a killer fashion illustrator. some big names in the fashion industry have even shared her illustrations with their fans via different social media outlets. some of her clientele include V Magazine, Moda Operandi, and Via Los Angeles. there are some people i really see making it big and she is definitely one of them. her work is so detailed and i cannot get enough of it.

i was super excited when we got connected because i knew i wanted to share her work with you guys! i got to interview her and ask some questions about her work, the big move, and her inspirations. you guys should definitely keep an eye out for jamie's work because i totally believe we will be seeing it more in the fashion industry.

You are originally from Toronto, Canada, and now you live in Los Angeles how has that change been for you? 

I moved to LA just over four years ago, and it is probably the best change I've ever made for myself.  It's so exciting when you have the opportunity to start fresh in a new city, and I've been very fortunate to meet some amazing friends along the way. I find that I feel more inspired on the West Coast. I'm not sure if it's the ocean, the palm trees or something in the air, but I've definitely grown creatively since living here.

I see that some big names in the fashion industry (Derek Blasberg, Leandra Medine, and more) have posted your illustrations of them on their instagrams. I also saw that The Coveteur, KENZO, and IT GIRL Sofia Sanchez Barrenechea have tweeted you about your illustrations. How does that make you feel?

I'm always very delighted to hear from the people who inspire my drawings! Art is obviously very subjective, so I never really know what type of response my kooky style is going to get.  I genuinely appreciate it when anyone takes the time to acknowledge my work. It's a great form of motivation for me.

Social Media is so huge right now. So many designers, musicians, artists are being recognized and getting the word out thru social media just like you. Do you feel like without it, you wouldn’t be as far as you are right now?

I can't believe how much social media has impacted my career as an illustrator. Instagram, in particular, has connected me to fashion-oriented individuals from all over the world, and has allowed me to get in touch with the untouchables of the industry. I'm very determined, so without social media I'm sure I would have found other ways of contacting these fashion icons, however, I doubt that those means would have been as effective or instantanious as Instagram.

You've got V Magazine on your client list (congrats) what was it like working for a well-known fashion magazine?

My art was actually featured in V-Magazine as a result of a contest that I entered. Lady Gaga held several "Drawn This Way" contests in which fans had the opportunity to create themed artwork that could potentially accompany her column in the magazine. I entered once and didn't win, but I tried again for the following issue and was lucky enough to be one of the finalists. I was completely shocked when I saw the spread… it was very overwhelming.

Your illustrations make me think of Tim Burton gone Couture. What is the look/aesthetic you try to go for?

Thank you! That is my favorite compliment. I adore Tim Burton and his tragic characters. There's something about their sadness that I'm drawn to, and it seems to come across in my art whether intentional or not. I'm also extremely fascinated by fashion. I think it can be beautiful and powerful, and even moving at times. The presentation especially-- be it the composition of a photograph or a theatrical runway production--is what I find truly inspiring and special about the industry. I'm obsessed. 

SO much detail goes into each illustration. What is the longest you've ever worked on one drawing?

The longest I've ever worked on one drawing was about 30 hours. It's one entitled 'Presence.' 

What is it that constantly inspires you?

I'm inspired by lots of things… colors, shapes, garments, trinkets, love, loss, storybooks, rhymes, photos, imagery and my own imagination. 

I see that you had a position as a menswear designer, what was that like? Is designing something you could see yourself doing full time?

Yes, I worked as a Menswear Designer for about 6 months. It wasn't for me. I knew it after one week of creating technical drawings on Illustrator. However there were several contributing factors to my dislike for it, including 11 hour work days, a lengthy commute and a dreary atmosphere. I enjoyed some aspects of the job, such as creating vision boards and assisting with photoshoots, but overall, it was not the direction I wanted to head in. 

Best piece of advice you have ever been given? Worst piece of advice you have ever been given?

The best advice I've been given always comes from my parents. They've always encouraged me to go with my gut, and do what I love.

I can't recall any bad advice. If something sounds odd to me I make sure to forget it. Fast. 

And since we are talking about fashion…what is the most treasured item in your closet?

I honestly don't have any item in my closet that I particularly treasure… at least not yet. I tend to treasure books, art, and photographs … but if I were to receive a McQueen gown or a Chanel blazer, I would certainly treasure that.  

Last song played on your iPod?

Last song played on my iPod: Skyfall, by Adele.

I hope you guys enjoyed the interview! now i think you should go check out jamie's blog / portfolio / facebook / instagram / twitter

GIRLS

so, let's talk about Girls. strangely enough i have a few friends who have not watched the first season. i'm stumped on why these friends of mine who basically resemble the ladies on the show have yet to watch something that will blow their minds. no, i am not exaggerating at all.

Girls is a show about a group of twenty-something year old girls living in New York City and being confused, neurotic, and young. what makes this show so great is the fact that hannah, jessa, marnie, and shosh embody modern day girls in some way or another. i see some of myself in all four of the leading ladies and i applaud lena for that.

the creator of this show, lena dunham is something of a female version woody allen. her writing and story telling is something i felt was missing in the television world. it's witty, charming, and honest. i've never watched an episode of Girls and thought: man, that is so unrealistic. it's actually the total opposite. the reason for that is that Girls is inspired by some of lena's real-life experiences. for example: hannah spends a good chunk of season one in love with a guy who doesn't treat her the way she deserves. there is one scene where she tells him exactly how she feels. it was a long but honest speech. the thing that shocked me was that that speech is actually an email that lena wrote to one of her ex-boyfriends. that's how genuine and real this show is.

for those of you who have never watched an episode...get on it. like, seriously. it's on HBO and the new season starts on january 13. for those of you who are lovers of the show like myself...i'm so happy it's almost back!

i will definitely be having a Girls viewing party with some girlfriends while sippin' on some tasty drinks.

WHAT A MUSE: GIA COPPOLA

i've decided to occasionally post about some people i look to for inspiration regarding fashion, music, and art. the first person i'm writing about is none other than gia coppola. does that last name sound familiar? it should. her aunt is sofia coppola and her grandfather is francis coppola. if you have no clue who those people are then i don't know what to tell you. you are clearly doing life the wrong way. ha ha, i'm joking (kind of).

i would love to be gia coppola for a day. just to see what it's all like and to be behind the camera. she studied photography at Bard, but she got her start in the fashion world when she made a short video for Wendy Mullin. here comes the fun part...opening ceremony saw the video and then asked her to work for them. a couple of other designers that followed are some of my favorites: Zac Posen, Diane von Furstenberg, and Rodarte. pretty amazing.



can we talk about the fact that she is sitting next to rachel zoe, alexa chung, aaaand pharrell at a fashion show? like, c'mon. and there she is with her aunt sofia coppola.

her photography and her fashion videos are really great. her tumblr is definitely worth checking out. it is where she posts some of her photography and short films she has directed. her vimeo is also an easy place to find a few of her short films which are all clever and inspiring. another thing i love about gia is the laid back (but chic) look she is always rocking. she always looks very comfortable, but stylish and i wouldn't mind raiding her closet. overall gia is an awesome artist who inspires me.

here is a video she directed for opening ceremony. doesn't it make you want summer and to wear a dress while riding a bike? this video gets me excited for summer and for everything that comes along with it.

                       

DOCUMENTARIES AND POPCORN

i love movies. i love documentaries. my ideal sunday would be brunch with my girlfriends (you know who you are) and then coming home to watch movies in bed. i mean, who wouldn't want to spend every single sunday that way?! unfortunately, my life doesn't work that way and most of my girlfriends work sunday mornings, but i do try and watch a least one movie on sundays.

here are some documentaries that i think are totally worth watching while snacking on some popcorn. they are inspiring and filled with people who've worked so hard to get what they wanted. i really enjoyed watching these.

let me know what you guys think about these documentaries. i would also love some recommendations! i'm always up for watching new films.

Bill Cunningham New York /  The September Issue / Eames: The Architect and The Painter

FROM VIENNA WITH LOVE

i came across this video on bulletmedia and knew i had to share it. like i have said before in previous posts i am a very visual person and so videos like this one really inspire me. it's the music, the shots, the colors...it all really gets to me. i really enjoyed this video.

"Beneath the shadow of a baroque façade stands a woman unafraid. Framed by a pair of citrus Resurrection by Faang sunglasses, she click-clacks across Vienna’s cobblestone streets in a pair of purple Pradas as eccentric as her eyebrows. Patterns fail to intimidate her, and color is the new black. From her floral Marni tunic/collar/pant ensemble to her magnificent, billowing Marc Jacobs hat, most certainly a high fashion ode to Whoville, it is clear that this viennese is the bee’s knees, and then some."

LE CHAT CAMBRIOLEUR

i've decided to start posting a least one new video up every week. i come across a ton of random beautiful videos that i end up not really sharing. this blog is a perfect excuse to post videos i come across.

with that being said, here is a funny warby parker video. one of their collections channels the french new wave cinema and this video was released around the same time that collection was released. i really love this video. it's funny, it's in french, and i love the cute story line. enjoy!

A PAIR OF STAR-CROSSED LOVERS

we all know the story of romeo and juliet. it's truly one of my most favorite forbidden love stories so naturally when i found this short video remake of the romeo and juliet story i almost maybe wanted to cry a tiny bit? yes. don't judge me, but i almost teared up. i don't really know why, but i guess i loved the happy ending?

how cool are the montagues and capulets though? i want my wedding to be cool like this!
i loved everything about this video. it left me feeling nostalgic and excited for some crazy reason.

“Love is heavy and light, bright and dark, hot and cold, sick and healthy, asleep and awake- its everything except what it is!"

FROM ABOVE // FROM BELOW

isn't it cool when directors have a recurring theme in their movies? whether it be a certain way they shoot things or certain sounds? i found a couple of videos that show these reoccurring themes in some really incredible directors' films.

i really enjoyed watching these and seeing the themes all compiled in short videos. i really love these directors and all i want now is to have a movie marathon with some of their films. anyone wanna join?

we've got wes anderson and his famous from above shots. if you watched his latest film moonrise kingdom you will notice that he really is all about those awesome from above shots. quentin tarantino and his from below shots. i didn't really realize until after watching the video that he does the below shots a loot. stanley kubrick does on-point perspective shots which are incredible and darren aronofsky is all about sounds. cool right?