I'd say it's too early to smile I haven't done that in a while

Nylon Magazine music issue party presented by Myspace and Rockband last night in Hollywood was fun. This is my first time going out after the tragedy. I kinda needed it. I had fun. Me dancing, Brent spinning. Here are some pictures just to show you the mood and atmosphere. The Newno2 and The Like performed. Awesome.

Are you well in the suffering

I am dealing with the loss of two coworkers who were killed in a terrible hit and run accident. They were hit while walking on the sidewalk right outside work last Friday evening. I can't believe it's been over a week now. Absolutely heartbroken and sad. Doesn't make any sense to me. The shock and sadness have faded, and now I just don't understand anymore. And I'm also very angry. They were both humble hardworking beautiful people who were designers as well, aspiring and working hard to see their time to shine. Don't feel like posting anything, or doing anything creative at the moment. Just dealing.

All I know is that I've got frustration frustration

I had one of the most stressful hard weeks at work this week. It was pretty bad. It got to the point where I wasn't even talking about it. Like I didn't even wanna get into it or explain all the things I had to do, all the responsibilities stressing me out. Wednesday was the worst. Fighting the clock, and trying to get things done in time to ship out for a meeting in NY. Omg, seriously. So Thursday morning, before getting into my daily grind, I checked out losanjealous.com and read a post that Hot Hot Heat was going to play the Grove that evening! I had to contain myself, it was hard. Didn't want to scream in my cubicle. No, wouldn't want that. I was so excited and overjoyed. I felt rewarded for all the hard work I did that week all by myself because my team was in NY. I was so happy to see Hot Hot Heat again. It was a free show to promote Canadian tourism. Thought they would do a short set, but no! It was a full set, about an hour I think. So happy. What an unexpected wonderful surprise. You don't even know how much I love them. **Forgot to add that when I first saw the stage set up, I was like, oh no, the water. I thought I might have to jump in there and yell out "Steve!" (a la Jenny in Forrest Gump at the National Mall scene).
Hot Hot Heat @ The Grove 5.8.08






Last weekend, I did a little cleaning again. These are things I did in my drawing class in high school. I've been holding onto them for a long time, but I decided it's time I let them go. I just don't have room any more. Even if I did, I don't think it means that much to me. So I just threw them away. It was mostly charcoal portraits of classmates, drawing exercise, or color pencil crosshatching.





**In other news, I hope everyone is celebrating Mother's Day! This morning, I hurt my toe. Really bad. Thought it might be broken, but I was able to move it. It immediately started to get swollen. Now it's swollen and purple and painful. Can't really walk on it either. :(

**The Dhamma Brothers. My mom wanted to watch it so I took her to see it yesterday. It's showing for one week only at the Sunset Laemmle. I enjoy watching documentaries. You should watch it. It's about Vipassana Meditation as treatment in prisons. Needless to say, I cried a lot. My mom was like "this girl just started crying in the beginning of the film." Watching the film got me depressed.

sorry guys...

My home computer is sick and at the hospital. It's been over a week now and it's so frustrating! I just hope all my files are safe and it's nothing huge. I've had so many things I wanted to post here, but it'll have to wait!

**In other news, I checked out the Americana. It's okay. I can tell they rushed to open because they are missing a few important details here and there. The worst part is that it was so ridiculously crowded!! You're not missing out on much, I'd wait til all the crazy crowds die down a little. Katsuya looked amazing. Barney's Co-Op is a dream. I love H&M but I didn't like this one. Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters are really small and disappointing. Not as much selection as the Grove or Santa Monica. I saw a really cute thing: Good Humor ice cream truck with the classic ice cream man in uniform and all.

Just because it's real don't mean it's gonna work

*Drew this on Illustrator about a month ago.
Yesterday, for work, we went to the LA Textile Show. I was sad to see how small it became. I blame it on imports and overseas production. Felt so many things yesterday but I'd rather not pour my heart out on a blog. Saw lots of familiar faces that helped me through my early assistant designer days. We also saw Santino hanging out. The bookstore there was having a huge sale. I scored some amazing books for ridiculously cheap prices. Including a book about Edie Sedgewick with so many wonderful pictures in a beautiful hardcover book. I love fashion/art/culture books. They are just too expensive and I am already struggling with space for my magazines. This made me happy. Then we all got smoothies. There's nothing like wearing "buyer" badges, carrying a bag full of new books, tons of new business cards, and walking down the street to the parking lot in the warm California sun.

All you need is me

After being sick all last weekend, and always working so many hours, it's hard to get anything done around here. I'm usually exhausted by Friday. Then I have only two days to run errands and stuff. I woke up early today and got a lot done. It was so hot today that the combination of heat and then indoors full blast AC gave me a major headache. Took a trip to the fabric store, which is always inspiring and overwhelming for me. It sucks to go fabric/trim shopping on a Saturday because my favorite trim store is closed during the weekend. Still didn't get as much done. Tomorrow will be another hectic day.

Everything I deserve today is going to come true

The first time I ever saw Louis XIV was at the Troubadour in 2004, opening for The Killers. I really liked their sound. After the show, I saw them hanging out outside so I walked up to them and told them they were good. I remember them giving me this sampler CD. (The pictures were taken with a disposable Kodak camera! Sadly, I have no idea where the film is.)

When I took this out to reminisce, I noticed it had "Hopesick Music Publishing" printed on it. As you may know, their brand new album has a track called "Hopesick", and a very good song may I add.


Earlier this year in February, I saw them twice. Then they did a headline show at the Avalon on April 4, 2008. It was a super fun great amazing show. The most important thing I can say is that their live performance and their music are awesome. Every time I see them, it makes me want to see them more and more. That's when you know the band is really good. And I used to (yes, used to) go to a lot of shows. Only a few bands leave me with that feeling. So, yes, Louis XIV is probably my new favorite band. I would've taken more pictures but I was too busy dancing. Aren't they just super sexy?










...and some cell phone pics from the Wiltern Feb. 2008

My jacket wasn't meant to be touched, so don't touch it

*I've been drawing mostly on Illustrator because my studio desk is still a mess and I'm just like too busy to clean it up right now. But I really want to do marker illustrations again. Soon. I want to start illustrating musicians for Spin or Rolling Stone.

You've been chosen as an extra in the movie adaptation of the sequel to your life

I want that bag. Actually, I want everything shown above. It's the spring/summer look I've been daydreaming about. Drew the girl on Illustrator. I have this whole scenario in my head to tell you the truth. Who I would run into, where I would be, and how perfect everything would be.
1. Bag, Marc by Marc Jacobs 2. Sunglasses, Ray Ban Aviators 3. Shirt, Old Navy 4. shorts, Top Shop 5. gladiator sandals, Matt Bernson

We're fated to pretend

Some outfit sketches.

Le Petit Prince

Did you know this was coming? This is a montage of my favorite parts from Antone de St. Exupery's The Little Prince that I created with Play-doh and watercolor background paintings. My fourth stop motion film.

Clash City Rockers

Several weeks ago, PBS aired the Clash special. I watched it on Saturday on KCET and Sunday on KOCE. It was very inspiring to say the least. When you look at punk rock (or any other pop culture movements), it's amazing to think "wow, they came up with that!" To think that they began a whole new culture. Of course, and not just the Clash, but The Ramones and The Sex Pistols. Their onstage antics. The fashion statements of punk rock. You look at them and see how incredibly stylish they are. Saw this clip where he was wearing all white, black vest, and a red handkerchief hanging out from his right back pocket. Or the way they just like spray painted their clothes, and stuck to a palette of black, red, and white. I mean, you see that everywhere now, but think of the beginnings of punk rock. It never ceases to amaze me, thrill me, and excite me.

So, I ended up wearing an outfit inspired by the Clash.

And so it seems, only in dreams

Happy First Day of Spring!!!
I've been waiting for you. I can't wait to wear all my frocks again. If I could afford them, I'd buy the whole D&G collection for Spring 08. It's beautiful, and right up my alley. Obviously, this illustration is a version of the D&G floral tiered chiffon maxi dresses.

I heard someone say that I'm much cuter than your ex

All-girl bands and front girl bands are so kick-a. But that doesn't mean I like just any girl band. They have to have that something. I love the way Jemina moves. Rocket pretty much has it down. Nico Vega's voice is amazing. Debbie Harry is queen. I don't like girls that try too hard. I love it when they look all crazy. But cool kind of crazy that is.
Rocket @ Safari Sam's Hollywood, CA

You can never want me the same way I want you.

I drew a quick sketch on Illustrator of this very stylish couple that I spotted outside the El Rey while waiting for our cars in the valet section. Normally, I could tell what brand the denim is by looking at the rivet or stitching on the back pockets, but I really had no idea what they were wearing. The guy was wearing red patent leather oxfords and the girl was wearing white oxfords. The girl's shoes are from Ben Sherman. I would know because I've been drooling over them since it first came out with Ben Sherman's new women's shoe line. I never got them.


I love Be Your Own Pet & The Raveonettes. So I was stoked when my friend bought me a ticket to the show. I've been wanting to see them for a very long time, but it just so happened that every time they were in town, I was depressed and not going out. Anyways, Jemina is so cute and fierce. I love how she moves. I am very particular about that when it comes to front girls. But she was definitely born to rock out. I love her. OMG. Anyone else notice her cute little makeover? Mostly black and white with lots of high waisted bottoms. Love it! She was wearing polka dot tights! Agh!!! She's perfect!


Halfway through BYOP's set, I noticed blood all over Nathan's bass. I guess he cut his right hand somehow. It was all bleeding but he kept playing anyway. How punk is that.




The Raveonettes are so good live. They sound exactly the same as their recordings. I like their drummer. How she has no kick drums! I decided I want that at home. Because I wanna play drums but the kick drums are always throwing me off. Sharin is stunning. She wore a black sequined dress that looked vintage. Sune was very hot with his cuffed up shirt sleeves. I love that look. It was a sold out show at the El Rey Theater. Had a great time thanks to my sweet cool stylish friend. :)

You don't have to say you love me just be close at hand.

How amazing is the new Christian Dior collection for F/W08? How incredible is Pat McGrath and John Galliano? I'm in love. I want to wear EVERYTHING and I want to wear my hair and makeup like that everyday. Well, not maybe everyday, but you get the point. You see that orange party dress with the bowtie front and sequins? If I were a senior in high school, I'd probably have run out to the garment district, and have bought orange taffeta or shantung silk, tons of huge paillettes, and made that for my prom! In love with that dress. Oh, and the dress that Irina is wearing, how Dusty Springfield is that? This whole collection seems custom made for Dusty.

You ain't born typical

I have an obsession with stripes. Especially vertical stripes. It screams rock and roll without being literal. (You don't need to wear a tee with guitar graphics on it to get a rocker look. That's almost cheesy.) I love those stripes in skinny pants, flares, and, of course, blazers. I have 2 blazers. I wish I had more, but it's really hard to find the perfect one. Or should I say, hard to find one that I can afford! So here I go again with why I should petition for TopShop to come to LA, or just move to the UK. Here are three jackets from TopShop. Peter Max rules. Oh, and I also "Yellow-Submarin"ed myself in illustrator. I wore that when I saw Interpol (blue/black verti stripe skinny pants with a Ben Sherman vert stripe blazer).

I usually freak out when I see a really good vertical stripe piece. I still clearly remember Steve Bays wearing this vertical stripe blazer back in 2005 at the Long Beach Arena when they opened for Weezer and the Foo Fighters. I literally freaked out over his jacket alone. The next day he wore this military-esque black vest. *sigh* Think he is my style soul mate.

**Last Saturday, I watched all the Oscar nominated animated short films at the theater. I absolutely loved it and was amazed at how wonderfully creative they were. I totally got "Madame Tutli Putli" but as soon as it was over, this woman said out loud, "Strange!" I beg to differ. "Peter and the Wolf" was so entertaining and so well made. I enjoyed it so much, I was screaming and laughing and almost crying. I was so happy it won. I totally agree. Go watch.