Showing posts with label Shopping. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shopping. Show all posts

25 November 2009

My Embarressing Weakness

Forever21

I never feel more self-conscious than when I walk into a Forever21 store because I'm no longer 21. Plus, everyone in there is aspiring to be 21, so I'm like the fucking crypt keeper. I'm terrified of super girly, trendy, popular teenage girls, but I also love Forever21's cheap-ass designer knock-offs, so I fight my crippling shopping anxieties and plow into their rows of sweet, sweet deals.

Anyway, I feel like Forever21 inspires everyone to be whorish. I would never, ever say to myself, "Hmm, a silver sequined, boobies-bearing, mini-dress with a satin ribbon sash sounds like the PERFECT ensemble for me!", but as soon as I step inside Forever21, I find myself drawn to that exact item. And not only drawn to, but actually convinced of the fact that I'd look crazysexycool in it. Catholic confessional moment: I almost bought previously described whore-dress today. I spent a good ten minutes in the dressing room deciding if I wanted to throw away $27.80 on a dress that would just sit in my closet (although just having it in my closet would make me feel cooler, as every time I would look at it I would think, "I can't wait for the fabulouscoolsexytimes party that will someday occur that I will wear this to", and then fantasize about the hot foreign man who will sweep me away in my cheap sequin dress--I know all this because I already own a silver sequin sheath dress from Forever21 that I always meant to wear for New Year's but haven't and just sits in my closet). They don't have a picture of this sequin dress on the Forever21 website, but here are a few other items that caught my eye, but that I didn't purchase because I was showing self-restraint and was only at the mall to buy my best friend a birthday present and nothing for myself. Actually, I did buy a two dollar black fabric braided headband. Headbands are my kryptonite, what can I say.

Junk That Only Me and The 8th Grade Sluts from St. Cecilia's Like:

Sequin Craze Mesh Tunic: $22.80. I try not to buy items that have "mesh" in their title, but LOOK at this. How perfect would it be...if I were a totally different person who lived in LA and partied in hot nightclubs with slutty celebrities on Tuesday nights, right??! Anyway, it's sparkly and caught my attention momentarily. Forgive me.

Double breasted wool dress: $32.80. OMFG it's a Peacoat dress! I'm sure all of you know that I am obsessed with woolly winter coats, so this is pretty much the greatest fucking dress I could ever imagine. If I had any sort of design sensibility (and sewing dexterity) whatsoever, you better believe this is what I would have come up with. Except maybe in grey.

Fab Shoulder Sequin Dress: $15.50. Wait, what--$15.50 for a dress??? Do you get the whole dress, or just like, the front half? Actually, upon closer inspection, the price makes sense, as I'm pretty sure this is what a young tranny ice-capades skater would wear. Furthermore, it makes skinny-ass model girlfriend look pregnant, so god help any non-13 year old, 87 lbs. Forever21 customer who tries this on. I threw this one onto the list for price and my inexplicable attraction to and desire for any sequined, New Years Eve-style dress.

Ruched Front Knit Dress: $27.80. Okay, first of all, you're not fooling anyone with this dress' name, Forever21. Let's call a spade a spade: this is a Herve Leger knock off, and actually kind of a bizarre one, as the "bandage dress" stops at the waist and then becomes like, an empire waist thing, instead of the low, boobie-alert cut of a real Herve Leger. And yet...me likey. I doubt I would actually look good in this, but it intrigues me. And it's $27.80 for god's sake.


Linen Tank Dress: $22.80. I like it's Maria Von Trapp vibe, and you know that as soon as I got drunk I'd be acting all cutesy and swinging the skirt out in the exact manner of this model.

Symbol DB Coat: $47.80. This is a little steep for Forever21. When the prices get above $25, I tend to think, "Why not just go to Gap and something that costs three dollars more, but will last for longer than 3 nights out?". However, this is a really cute coat. In reality, I look shit in lipstick red, but I always delude myself into thinking I'd look killer in it. Sadly, no. I tried this coat on today and, as usual, looked super washed-out in it. Also, what does "Symbol DB" mean? Is it a reference to the symbology in Dan Brown's thrillers?

17 September 2009

Suburban Tourism

I was brave today. I took the #41 bus from the downtown bus tunnel to Northgate, where I endured the chitchat of high schoolers for several hours while browsing Forever21 and Target. I don't know why I've never bussed it out to Northgate before. It's surprisingly quick and easy! You'll be happy to know that my bravery paid off: I found a dress for under $20 at Forever21, and at Tarjay I got a pair of heels on sale, lipstick, a black tanktop, and tights.

03 April 2009

Springing

Rarely do I experience spontaneous, carefree, warm spring days in Seattle. But today I did. I got up at 8, had a leisurely breakfast, went to Copymart to buy course packets, worked for a few hours, and then napped for the first time in weeks. When I fell asleep it was sunny but not that warm, but upon waking from my slumbers it was at least 60 deg. and gorgeous! So I pulled on a hoodie and walked to Twice Told to browse and play with cats. Going to bookstores is one of my favorite past times, but I hardly ever do it in Seattle. I had no plan to go to bookstoring when I woke up this morning; the plan just unfolded and who am I to say no to such an enjoyable outing?! After Twice Told I walked along Broadway and had fro-yo at CrazyBerry, and then I stopped in at QFC to buy yellow peppers, toilet paper, salmon, toothpaste, pasta, English muffins, and, on a whim, red tulips! Buying flowers is another thing I always want to do, but never actually do. At QFC I ran into Garrett, and then on my way home I saw everyone and their mother walking through campus. Some Bro-Freshmen skateboarding on Upper Mall were dressed in Pooh and Tigger Halloween costumes and made my stroll home more enjoyable (and more surreal). Then I made a delicious dinner, watched TV, and took a shower--and it was still light and sunny outside!! Days like today are why I love Seattle and college.

08 February 2009

Nice Stuff from Late January-Early February

I've been busy the last few weeks, and here are the activities I want to give a shout-out to:

The Siena study abroad photography show
Getting funding for Italian Club
Italian conversation group
Housewarming parties
Meeting with Signore Giuseppe
Shopping
MLK weekend
Meeting Rick Steves for the 2nd time
Happy hours (and hours, and hours)
Hanging out in Chardin and making a dinosaur-land scene
Watching one of my best friends kick ass in a rowing competition
Learning to make Panini on my Foreman Grill
Cleaning my room
Making Elephant Ears using tortillas
Going to the Frye
THE INAGURATION/drinking champagne at 9am on a Tuesday and then giving a presentation on Indian politics at 10am
Celebrating Kelsey's 22nd birthday by dressing up as a jungle creature
Brunches
Dinners
Reuninting with Kat
Getting 8 hours of sleep
A couple of great new YouTube videos
Drinking an entire bottle of red wine while watching "The Dutchess"
Doing Crossword puzzles
Compleating my "25 things" survey on Facebook

Yes, all in all, it's been a good few weeks! Jan and Feb are so gray and gloomy that it's easy to forget all the fun things that happen at the start of the quarter. Yay for the start of the quarter, boo for the middle of the quarter, and I hope the end comes soon!

17 December 2008

Things I Like #3

Riccardo Marzi collections



Riccardo Marzi is this sort of expensive/kitschy, faux-high art decorative dinner-ware from Tuscany. When I get married, this is going to be at the top of my gift-list. I saw his stuff in Italy (they have a baller outpost in Florence that lets you see how they--along with other local artisans--make all the stuff: http://www.maestridifabbrica.it/), but they also sell it at Mamma Ro/La Vita Vera, a FABULOUS Italian ceramics importer on Portland's NW 23rd: http://www.mammaro.us/store_locations.htm. Back to Riccardo Marzi. The charming English translation of the Italian website says that Signore Marzi was "grown among craftsmen" in the artistically fertile hillsides outside Florence, but basically he just tweaked the centuries long Tuscan ceramics tradition by "floating" natural objects in high-quality resin platters, bowls, picture frames, lamps, vases, napkin rings--you name it, Riccardo makes plastic molds of it.


Anyway, judging by the Italian website's layout and flowery language, it seems like Marzi might be the Thomas "painting with light" Kincaid of Italy, but whatevs, I loves me some resin platters! And so does the Museum of Modern Art: http://www.momastore.org/museum/moma/ProductDisplay_River%20Stones%20Bowl_10451_10001_24373_-1_11515_11518_null__6H101


If anyone is curious, here are my favorite pieces:

Summertime













Wild Flowers














My all-time favorite is the Wheat and Oranges. Please, someone who loves me, buy me this collection!





OMFGGGGGG, I want it!! Can't you just imagine hosting amazing dinner parties with all this stuff casually displayed on the table or hung on one of the dining room walls? Someday my dream will come true! Even better, perhaps I will marry into the family (he has a son named Andrea) and I will kill two of my dreams with one stone: marring an Italian man and owning a full set of Marzi decorative wear.