Alexander McQueen, Savage Beauty

One of the last things I went to while in the city was the Alexander McQueen exhibit, Savage Beauty, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I wanted to wait as long as I could to see this because I knew it would be so crowded towards the beginning. Alexander McQueen was one of the most loved fashion designers in the world and when he died last year, the entire fashion community was devastated. He is known for his wild, extravagant, out of the ordinary runway shows at fashion weeks. Here is a link that YOU NEED to see that shows some of his work. http://blog.metmuseum.org/alexandermcqueen/video/ You really only understand him until you watch the intriguing videos on that site brought to us by the Met.

Pink ponytail McQueen

It was an amazing exhibit with a great variety of his pieces that really showcased his entire career. The audio guide was also very insightful with a lot of fashion moguls speaking about him and the pieces. Sarah Jessica Parker was the most featured which was interesting to hear. It is really hard to pick a favorite, but some of them are at the bottom of this post.

As you know, I am a huge Lady Gaga fan. A lot of her inspiration comes from McQueen’s work. While the head of the Haus of Gaga is Nicola Formichetti of Mugler, the McQueen fashion house still plays a large role in Gaga’s creations. Most obvious would be the incredibly high platforms she wears, but also a super-long pink pony tail, red lace covering her face, and his overall extravagant style. In fact, her entire Bad Romance music video contains almost a complete McQueen wardrobe. So this exhibit was fun for me to understand the references. In her new Born This Way album, there is actually a song about him titled Fashion of his Love…in case you were wondering.

I bought a giant, overpriced but totally worth it, poster containing breathtaking images of one of his last works. It is currently hanging over my bed, and inspired me to update my room a little with some other great photography and posters I framed including my Gaga Monsterball poster, NYCB Darci Kistler in Central Park poster, and a giant black Chanel shopping bag I found at my internship and framed. Also, thanks to the Beyonce (House of Dereon) bedding I got from my internship, it is even MORE updated. Hooray for cultured Kristie! Haha…but seriously…

                     

Kelly Cutrone: Normal Gets You Nowhere

Since my internship ended in late April, I was able to spend a few weeks preparing for finals (yes…can you believe I actually go to real college?) and also exploring the city and doing things I would not normally have time to do. 

That's us...together




An exciting event for me was the book signing/Q&A with Kelly Cutrone at Barnes and Noble Tribeca. If you do not know who this is, you don’t have to feel ashamed. She is a fashion PR SUPERSTAR because her company People’s Revolution is the biggest in the country. Her name is known to the public because Whitney Port and Lauren Conrad worked with her on The Hills and even more closely on The City. She has a new book out, Normal Gets You Nowhere. She already has one book out that was a huge success, so even though I didn’t read that first one, I am still a huge fan! So I went and ended meeting up with some of my intern friends, their school friends, and some other random fashion queens that had been waiting for hours just to see her! So this was a fun event where I actually met five or six new friends that I have stayed in touch with! Who knew!?

What was most interesting about the whole thing was the way Kelly was SO NICE! She is so genuine and spiritual and on television they made her look absolutely horrible I thought. I mean…her own show was called Kell on Earth. She really connected with us about some issues in her book and her life and it was really a great night. She convinced me into getting her book, so I did and she signed it too. All of my friends/new friends went out to dinner at Kitchenette afterwards and we made it a fun evening. One of my new friends, however, had one of the best nights of his life. He had waited over ten hours to see her because he was worried it would be too crowded for him to get in. Barnes and Noble workers told him he had to leave if he was homeless…haha so hilarious. When he told Kelly this and also how he read the entire book while he was waiting, Kelly said to wait afterwards so they could exchange numbers for lunch. Well turns out, he got in her car and went to dinner with her! So happy for him.

I recently purchased her first book that I will read before this one so I will have to let you know how it is. First though, I will be reading the new Chelsea Handler book on my new Kindle. I have to stay loyal to my girl Chels…and also looking forward to trying out my cool new gadget.



Me with my new friends and Kelly

Mission Fashion Magazine Internship: Completed

Gayle King coming out of Hearst Building

So a few weeks ago, I completed my semester at unnamed fashion magazine. (Thanks everyone for understanding my need for confidentiality.) It really was an amazing experience I will never forget and it changed my life in a big way. For one, I am already missing fashion itself. I didn’t realize how much it was taking over my life! I love clothes. I really do. I love luxurious, expensive clothes and I wish I had money to spend on them. Just being honest here…


I have always been really picky when it comes to shopping, but since this internship, I am even pickier and shopping is almost not fun for me anymore. I literally can hardly ever find one thing that I like! It takes me hours to actually purchase one thing. I guess this is good for my wallet, but it is definitely frustrating. Seeing all the editors dress so nicely just makes me want to have a wardrobe like that! I mean, they are making a real salary so one day when I have a great career, I will be able to splurge every once in a while on a fun piece, but ugh I really just cannot wait. So for now, I will stick to Anthropologie sales room, Top Shop, Zara, H&M, and Forever 21…making it work. Anna Wintour, don’t hate me.



I have told you guys all about the highlights of my time here. One of the greatest things was seeing Kim Kardashian in the closet. Going down to lunch every day was a hunt for me to find the celebs. Tim Gunn, Jill Zarin, Nina Garcia, Gayle King, am I forgetting anyone? Also, every day when I would walk to the restroom on the opposite side of the office, I would pass  the editor-in-chief's office and look to see if there was an updated cover shot. I would see them switching them around and decided which one was best. And oftentimes, I would be one of the first people to see who exactly the cover girl is! One of the Lady Gaga shots is the background on my laptop. I am excited for you guys to see this upcoming month’s issue! I won’t say who it is yet, but it isn’t Gaga or Beyoncé…it is my other favorite pop star. Yeah…you know it ;)


There definitely were a lot of random things we had to do to help out the editors. Honestly, it was almost as intense a work environment as we all witnessed in the movie Devil Wears Prada. Every little thing had to be just so, or you WOULD know when you messed something up or missed one little step in the directions. Whether it was to run downstairs to grab a snack for them, pack up trunks of clothing and accessories for a photo shoot in Paris, or cut out some pictures from a lookbook, there was never a dull moment. Something that I will really miss is the fact that I was one of the first people to actually touch and see clothing that has not even come out into stores yet. If I do decide to go into fashion, this is the kind of thing that is invaluable. Right when I was finishing the semester up in April, we were all working on the September issue. We work so far ahead in order to get the publication out in time, so it is essential to be on top of any trends that readers will want to know about.

I learned that all of these trends start on the runways during fashion weeks. I can now tell you that you are seeing colorful stripes and color blocking everywhere due to Prada’s Spring/Summer collection that was shown last fall, and is now being featured in magazines. White lace is everywhere when you walk into H&M because of Dolce and Gabbana’s Spring/Summer collection that was also shown last fall (Style). Seeing these trends coming in first hand really was an experience that was priceless. Obviously, I knew something about fashion to get this job, but I had no idea how much I did not know when I came here. I learned so much about the fashion industry over this semester that will stay with me forever.

Joanna Hillman (wearing Lady Danger MAC lipstick)



Besides communication skills, organizational skills, and fashion knowledge, perhaps the most important thing I got out of this experience is a sense of humility. This is kind of ironic considering how extravagant and fierce these fashion people are, but as an intern, it is all about humility. The editors at top fashion magazines were once interns who were slaves to their career role models. For example, Joanna Hillman, a style icon I admire. She is famous for her bright blonde hair and Lady Danger (red/orange) Mac lipstick. Yes…that is the name of the lipstick. And yes…I already purchased it and am DANGEROUS so watch out! She is beautiful, has a job any woman would love, but is also ferocious, similar to Meryl Streep’s character in Devil Wears Prada. She was once an intern! It takes time and hard work to rise in any career. I am just getting started, so of course I will be at the very, very bottom.



It was really hard at times, and it was really physically demanding from running all around the city with no kind of desk or chair to come back to in the office. But one day, whether it is in the fashion industry or not, I will get to Ms. Hillman’s position. Sometimes you have to be shoved around a little to know what it takes. I have become a stronger, more humble person because of this experience and I am looking forward to completing many more internships in my future.



Reese Witherspoon in Vogue with
Valentino rhinestone heels



Oh and one more thing that was cool...when I was reading Vogue last month with the Reese Witherspoon cover, a pair of Valentino heels caught my eye. They were in our closet a few days earlier and I knew they were the ones because I was organizing them by size so I kept having to move them all around. I am not exactly sure how accessories does there samples, but if it anything like clothing, there are only one or two samples for the entire world to use! So assuming Reese has a normal shoe size, I held shoes that had been worn by Reese Witherspoon. Ok I know I am a dork but I think it is cool...here is the picture of her in the heels on the left.

Nightmare on Spring Street aka Marc Jacobs

Probably the craziest thing that I experienced during my internship that I never got to share with you guys would be the extravaganza nightmares that went along with Marc Jacobs runs. If you look at their Fall/Winter collection on Style.com, you will notice a lot of plastic clothing and hats and chunky plastic wedges. Well let me tell you, they were VERY particular about the way those garments were handled. Each piece came with distinct packing instructions for us and all of the plastic things could not be folded over your arm in the garment bag or it would get creased and ruined. This makes it impossible to travel around town with this stuff.



These were the pants...hung on a shirt
hanger. Marc Jacobs FW11 Style.com



One day, towards the end of my time there, I was sent on a Marc Jacobs run. I was thinking positively and always hoped that when I went I would maybe see Marc himself…nope…never happened. I got there and was greeted by the same young man always at the desk. Told him I was picking up for (unnamed), so he went back to get the stuff. He brings out one garment bag with one item in it. He said it could not be folded over my arm so I would have to walk around the city holding a long garment bag straight up and down. Can you say ARM TONING?! Ok well…that isn’t that bad. Oh…no wait…he has one more thing. He goes back to the closet, and comes out with what looks like a body bag stuffed with a person and other things protruding like hat boxes and shoes. You have GOT to me kidding me. He was like…sorry…couldn’t they have told us to send two people!? He handed me this thing that was heavier and wider than a small child and I already felt the pain in my arms. Also…I had to figure out how to get that plastic item so it wouldn’t bend. PLUS I realized (once I was playing around with it, adjusting to see how to carry this stuff) the plastic pants were hanging on a shirt hanger because they could not have clamps around the top. So it kept slipping off the entire time, therefore folding up at the bottom of the bag.

I was NOT taking the subway with this stuff because I would feel nervous someone would try and mug me or something. My boss would understand when I would walk in the door with this huge amount of stuff and would have to reimburse me for a cab. So I walk over to Broadway in SoHo…PLENTY of cabs coming…NONE stopping. All of them were off duty or full. Apparently it was shift change time. I waited on the side of the road with the roughly 40 lbs of stuff, for about ten minutes when I just couldn’t physically hold it anymore. My arms were completely shaking and my back was starting to give out. So I got down into the closest subway, had to enter the handicap entrance that took even longer, and finally was able to set the stuff down on the bench.



72 Spring Street-MJ Showroom



People were STARING at me on the subway. Probably because it looked like I was smuggling two dead bodies. I am actually surprised no one stopped me to ask what was in there. Good job NYC/MTA security! Finally I had to get off the station with the stuff and when I made it to ground level, I had to call the closet for someone to come help me. Luckily someone did and it helped, but it didn’t help the spasms in my biceps. Sweat was dripping down my forehead and honestly, I didn’t even try to clean up when I entered the office because THEY SHOULD feel bad for me! This was definitely one of the worst runs I ever went on, but an adventure I will never forget. At least I got some good workouts along the way.

I walked past the Marc Jacobs showrooms the other day while I was shopping in SoHo and thought about that nightmare. If I work there one day, I will make sure I tell companies to send more than one intern.

Experience at Ground Zero and Opinions on Bin Laden's Death

Hey everyone! I am really, really sorry I have not been writing. I have been SO BUSY that no one seems to comprehend what exactly I have been up to.  I PROMISE to fill everyone in VERY SHORTLY and I plan on writing all through the summer about things I have missed over the past month, as well as plans for the future. Sorry :( Believe it or not, I actually do go to real school and have finals just like most of you. The past weeks have been about my education which always comes first ;)

Yesterday, I had the privilege of living three blocks away from Ground Zero, and participating in the celebrations of Osama Bin Laden’s death.  I found out about it while I was sitting at my computer, working on a paper for my online history class, when someone screamed in the hallway, “Turn on the news! Bin Laden is dead!” Maybe I am horribly pessimistic, but the first thing I thought about was my safety in New York City, the prime target for terrorists. There is nothing we can do but be aware of our surroundings, and I know security has been bumped up, so all we can do is think positive thoughts and pray.  Just because Bin Laden is gone, doesn’t mean the rest of them are.  This event will only cause them to retaliate even more.

On another note…as soon as I saw this on the news, and that people were starting to crowd the White House gates, I knew it would be a similar sight at Ground Zero. My friend encouraged me to go over and witness history, and I am truly glad she did.  It was an incredible feeling.  Mostly there were college students.  After all…it WAS after midnight.  I was in 4^th grade when September 11^th occurred, but I remember it like it was yesterday.  There were some people crying for remembrance of their lost loved ones and the fact that justice was served.  The majority of people were celebratory and chanting USA and the Star Spangled Banner and my favorite, “We Are the Champions”.

The highlights of the experience included the moment of silence where everyone had their “peace” symbol in the air.  It was a real awakening.  Secondly, these random guys were climbing up the lamp posts basically hanging on the traffic lights.  They had a sign that said OBAMA 1 OSAMA 0. Also, they had a flag, and two bottles of champagne they sprayed everywhere. I got a great video of this moment that included some spirited chants.  I posted it on YouTube that night and 24 hours later, it has over 50,000 views! Kind of crazy…so glad I went though.  I feel like that moment reminded me of footage I have seen from the destruction of the Berlin Wall. I feel like I witnessed history and felt a sense of unity that really is indescribable.  Perhaps ALMOST comparable to the Pittsburgh Steelers winning a superbowl ;)

To get into politics (risky I know)…I have been watching all the news coverage because I am fascinated by the level of intelligence and courage that went into this event.  I watched President Obama’s speech, which I believe was very well done and will most likely be the thing he is most remembered for.  There is some controversy about his tone, however, that implies he should take all the credit.  The government literally spends billions of dollars in organizations in order to gain intelligence so detailed as the information concerning where exactly Bin Laden was hiding, and ultimately, it was the incredibly brace soldiers who fought for their lives.

While all this is true, I believe people are taking it too far with the accusations that Obama should not take ANY credit.  There are so many people posting Facebook statuses about how this is not a victory for Obama at all and how it is all luck that he is in office.  If people are watching the news at all, they would not speak so quickly because this is just ignorant. Highly respected government officials have made it clear that Obama was the one to make the “gutsy decision” to start this operation.  This clearly has been the number one priority of the National Security and Obama and his team have been working on it.

The president is the highest official of the executive branch in the government. I believe we learned all about this branch of government in 7^th grade.  He oversees everything and makes final decisions.  How can people say Obama has nothing to do with this when HE was the one who risked his entire presidential career that is already suffering horribly, by making the call to go forward and make this attack?  Would other presidents have had the courage to do this? I do not believe so.

I am not saying this to take any attention off the incredible soldiers who executed this task flawlessly. With their determination, courage, and practice, justice was served to Bin Laden.  I just do not understand why everyone has to give Obama such a hard time about everything.  Obviously, as the President of the United States, you come into this position knowing the strength and confidence needed to just get through the term alive.  While all this information was coming at him concerning the number one most wanted man in the WORLD, Donald Trump was harassing him about HIS BIRTHPLACE!?! SERIOUSLY!? He must feel like a real idiot now realizing he was, indeed, interrupting very important business.

Obama’s speech at the White House Correspondents Dinner has also been under scrutiny. Personally, I thought it was perfect. The nature of the event allows certain guards to come down, and I think it gave him the perfect opportunity to give Trump a little dose of his own medicine.  Poor Trump…loses sleep thinking about who should be fired on The Apprentice.  Meatloaf, Lil John, or Gary Busey? Who knew Obama was such a comedian? Much better than Mike The Situation, that is for sure.

Overall, I feel so blessed to have witnessed such an amazing feeling of unity at Ground Zero.  I think people need to give Obama credit because he showed amazing courage himself.  At the end of a big dance recital, dancers always come out with huge bouquets of flowers to give thanks to the choreographers and directors to show appreciation for all their doings.  Obviously this is on a completely different scale, but when, as citizens, will we ever be satisfied with a president? Especially at times like these, when we have a huge victory on our hands, we need to pull together as a nation.  A nation that INCLUDES the President of the United States.   

Here is the video I took with my handy dandy HTC Thunderbolt.  These HTC droid phones really are amazing for capturing great pictures and videos...