MET

Hi bloggsters!

Just a quick post before I hit the sack. I'm alive. Just incase you think anything has happened to me on the mean streets of New York -which by the way are more polite and friendly that yee old Irlanda. So I've had a busy few days with my internship and general city life, which seems to fly by faster than you want it to. But I luckily had a long weekend of exhibitions the weekend before last; went to see Yoshitomo Nara; Nobody's Fool at the Asia Society Museum which made me feel like I was in a creche (and I mean that in the most flattering way), or maybe more back at school doodling? If only I was able to doodle like that. I'll give it a proper few lines when I'm more awake. Leon Levinstein's photography journal at the MET was another cracker, came acoss it casually on the New York bible, Time Out, and knew immediately that I'd love it. But again, I think they both deserve their individual posts, so I'm just going to post a few photos of the pieces I liked at the MET -not that you could possibly venture around the MET in one day, it is so huge! I got lost at least three times, I trusted a french woman to point me towards the Exit and ended up at the toilets. So annnyway.




El Anatsui, African Sculptor, a recycled wall hanging completely constructed of aluminium bottle tops flattened, perforated and connected together with wire. Absolutely love this piece!



A 3D eagle anyone? Just a tad dark and mysterious, but that's not my favourite apect of the Robert Rauchenberg painting/ installation. In fact I was standing there for a good three minutes looking at this piece and wondering why I was standing there? But it's a taxidermy eagle after all. Really, I so love the different use of media and the collage technique. I want the work to be cut up into pieces and made into a sketchbook (or just given to me for an hour or so to figure out how many layers or paint, oil, pencil, fabric, metal went into it ).


A close up of abstract artist Conrad Marca-Relli, The Battle. Another collage piece that caught my eye for inspiration reasons. Patchwork quilt anyone? I'll get started right now! Oil cloth, tinted canvas, enamel paint, and oil on canvas. Just lovely.


Here's a fun one, which will soon be taking a spot on my (jumbo-sized) fridge once I get to a print shop. Looks like Napolean was around in 1978. Except his name is Mark, not Napolean, and the artist is Chuck Close. I think Mark looks more like a Chuck though.

More posts to follow bloggatron's! No more excuses. Sorry about the smaller photos, apparently I've exceeded my limit on my flickr account, I didn't even know that was possible?
Snogsxxxx

P-P-P-Purchases

Here are a few little purchases I bought since I got here, nothing too splurge-ful but loving them all the same.

Polaroid camera bought a few doors down at a stoop sale for $6, hello bargain central! Granted I'm not sure if it works yet as I need to get film, but if this was bought in London you'd easily be paying 20-25 pounds just for the body of it. I love the old-school chunky shape, and the push-up flash is possibly the best piece of technology I have ever come across.


Real leather satchel, $8, bought at the granny market. This hasn't come off my arm for the past three weeks. Absolutely love it! Perfect storage for all my pens and penny's. The arm strap is detachable so if I'm feeling a little 60's; it'll be shift dress, faux fur, knee highs and satchel! Ya-haw.

Knuckle-duster (as babz calls it) $12 prince street market. I've had my eye on this since I got here but I've been trying to do that; "Go away and think about it" mantra, so I did and bought it a week later. Love it on it's own, I know you can do that bulky build-up with other pieces but I don't really have the patience; y'know like trying to find keys, fixing hair, sewing etc. I'm also after mysteriously ripping off half my nail the other day so who knows what kind of damage could be caused by an immensely bling'd-up hand. eek!
Hope you like!
xxx

Forget all the things that I took with me..

Greetings bloggatrons!

So this week has been pretty hectic, I did a run through my cv and online portfolio on monday and tuesday -making sure it was all intact and looking glorious- e-mailed a few designers that I was interested in and scored an interview with a young and upcoming designer the following wednesday! Started work the next day in chelsea which by the way is V.fancy; already spotted Cynthia Nixon, Marilyn Manson and that extremely yummy r'n'b guy from gym class heros (not 100% sure it was infact him, but what the hell). Now I'm on the hunt for a paying job so I can actually support my glamourous NY lifestyle consisting of bagels, metro cards, underground gigs and v+t's. Oh and the best place for v+t's you ask? That would be Mars bar, a total dive! Literally. A minute walk from Spring St. exit, so cheap with the greatest juke box ever! Well granted it's our first dive bar jukebox experience, but I imagine it would be hard to beat (Bowie, Animals, MBV etc). However, the toilets are horrendous, Libster was brave enough to find the toilet flusher. -It really isn't a place where you want to touch anything. Can't believe I didn't take any proper photos of the place (let alone the toilets -seeing is believing), it's definitely one to record in the NYC archive!
This is from google; the daytime look..eh.. does nothing for the place.


On sunday Babz and I went see The Dust Busters, a fantastic southern band, in a venue called Jalopy, near carroll street I think? Lobster and I saw the violinist play on Shop St in Galway and were absolutely blown away by him. After a little youtube research, I found out he and his band were actually from Brooklyn and were regulars in Jalopy. What's even better; they not only perform in the tiny 40 seater theatre there, they also teach lessons and half of the venue is used by an instrument maker? (Not sure if that's the right word.) How tweedle di is that? I move all the way from Ireland to come across a band and a place that encapsulates Old Ireland. It was such a fantastic night, one might say Toe-Tapping Good! Maybe not.
The music is like a step back in time, not only with the musical instruments like the banjo, fiddle, harmonica, guitar but even their voices have that kind of scratchy off pitch sound. I'll definitely be going back.
Two photos so you can capture the atmosphere! And my bad photography.


Hiiting a local market near my street now, the granny one. Oh the joys!
Snogs and Blogs xxx

P.s. Can't stop listening to Groove Armada and Will young's History (hence the post title); so bad-ass. Most definitely recommend!

StyleBubble -Preen

I shamelessly nabbed a photo of Susie just outside Preen's show at NY Fashion wk. -Being a huge fan of her blog I couldn't-not-ask her, I mean it's susie friggen stylebubble! She was very cool about it, kinda like "..eh?.. ok!" The hairball beside her must have been someone she was intending to photograph coz he was working on that "just out of bed look". Luckily I have that every day bloggatrons. The photo doesn't justify the ridiculousness of her shoes, and I mean that in a great way, I spotted them before I spotted her!

Preen, Spring/Summer 2011

Morning bloggatrons! Here are a few backstage images from the Preen show that took place on the sunday of fashion week. Such a fantastic morning setting up the runway (steaming a gazillion ribbons that fell from the ceiling- but oh so worth it) and dressing models. It was such a great jump in NY fashion week after literally leaving the terminal! Well, you know not actually after leaving the termnial but you know what mean. So the show was held in MILK studios in NY- a very cool and very big studio space, which after a quick google tells me that it is infact a communal space shared by a group of artists whos work "stands at the crossroads of the fashion, photography, art and media worlds."

The collection itself was really impressive. A bit more sophisticated than previous, but definitely holds it's edge -not an Amy Winehouse edge, but that's probably for the best. Preen, who for me definitely stand out for their structured pieces, held strong to their roots but introduced a more minimalist, feminine (even bohemian vibe?) running through some of their S/S 2011 looks. The colour palette was squeeky clean, lots of camel tones, pale blues, whiter whites contrasted with a few LB pieces. The tile print, featured in a few floaty numbers, was absolutely yummy! Understated but with maximum effect. However, I think my all-time favourite pieces were the pelmets (little waist belts) which worked perfectly with the printed mid-max skirts and dresses, hence the London edge is given! And so easily. The beading was another hightpoint for me, unfortunetly I have no photos of that though. Have a google and see for yourself! Style.com describe it as caviar beading, which sounds too fancy not to mention.

Hope you enjoy the photos!


Kat the queen norwegian model who I was dressing, she was so nice and ridiculous cool. And beautiful. Can't believe she's only been modeling for six months. Best friends please!

Delicious tile print.



Ribbons and Runway.

Must run now, there are plenty of yard-sales to hit, lots of sewing machine and knitting machines to price! And, more importantly, lots of NY to see! It is ridiculously hot over here though, I can't understand it's september?! I hear the winter becomes brutally (a word a NYer used) cold so I should really enjoy it while I can. Wait up NEW YORK, I'm-a-comin!
Snogs and blogs xxx

Edun Spring/Summer 2011

So it's been two weeks since I've arrived with my two other fashionistas in tow, and what a fantastic start it's been! We moved into our apartment, bought beds, discount stored it up for the essentials and then hit Ikea for a table and chairs and rugs to cover a very 1970's lino floor which is actually kinda growing on me. On sunday we got our hands on a huge futon for $50 which was so casually thrown (yes thrown) on top of a passer-bys jeep and brought back to our little humble abode. He even brought it to our door! We live on the fourth floor people. Faith is restored in mankind!
Between all the moving in, cleaning and getting our lives sorted we've dined in delicious places and hit a fantastic street market a couple of blocks from where we live in brooklyn and bought a b.e.autiful leather satchel for $8- real leather. And a polaroid camera for $6! I just love the casualness of it all, mothers and grandmothers trying to clear "stuff" out of their closet, "stuff" that makes me a little weak at my knees and gives me a slight heart-attack when I see that it's priced so cheaply.
All in all, so far, so great.
And now fashion photos from Edun!
What a fantastic job Sharon Wauchob has done transforming a once dowdy brand into a effortlessly edgy label, with a definite attitude. Everything from the collection, runway location to the I Blame Coco diplo remix worked oh so brilliantly. The fabric mix was delicious; ranging from silk prints, laddered knits, poplin shirts and knotted embroidery. (If I got my hands on the collection I would definitely mix menswear and womenswear together pronto, the silk print and laddered menswear knit would be a treat together) There were hints of fairtrade through the collection but nothing too in your face, the beaded/braided accessories were a nice touch and kinda swayed between delicate and urban. -Note hot male model with it flung carelessly over the knit? Hello! Also, how fab are the chunky wooden wedges? The gravel runway drew just enough attention to the shoes for me to rightly fall in love with them.
It's definitely not a trend-driven collection, there are a few show-stoppers but I mainly love the contemporary looks which focused on key shapes layered to perfection. And the mark fast'esq laddered jumpers were fab and slotted into the collection nicely. The whole undertone of the show definitely had a cool factor- the grafitti scrawled walls in the abandoned warehouse under a subway station only added to the atmosphere. K gotta run but enjoy pics!

Landed. Landed! Landed!!!

Touchdown Bloggatrons!
Flew in late wednesday night after a long ear popping flight- Libster, Babz and I are now hotel residents for a few days while we apartment hunt... Which by the way is going much better than thought?! Security Deposit down on a fab place already eek!
Approval please Mr.Landlord.

Exciting weekend ahead; Edun fashion show today with babzer. Working backstage with Preen tomorrow. It's amazing what full stops can do to a sentence, isn't it? I think we need a little more of these guys !!!! NY FASHION WEEK!!!
Photos will be taken bloggatrons, even if I have to sneak into a dressing rail.

later bloggatronsxxx

New Yoik! New Yoik!

Bloggatrons!

My lack of posting is ridiculous! I can't apologise enough. I have reasons for my absence bloggatrons. First of all, my laptop crashed a month ago, which was beyond sad. The little guy got me through the long days and late nights at college, who knew a dodgy dvd bought in Thailand could end our three year relationship? Secondly, I've been working hard on my portfolio, taking photos of work, making it look presentable for interviews etc. Aswell as all that working hard to fund my visa to NY!

The adventure is starting tomorrow with babz and libster in tow, can't believe it's come around so fast. I will be updating my blog as much as I can, it may not be as much as I'd like but once I get a new laptop friend Bloggamonsta will be back on track! Must run now- more packing to do, more goodbyes to be said, Eek!

Oh Brooklyn Brooklyn take me in...
Snogs and blogs xxx

Supermarket Chic!

Tatty Devine window display looover.. Check out the frosties box! Could it get any better? Nah ah. xxx