GAY MARRIAGE!

It's so exciting that Californian gays can now wed as they please!

CONGRATULATIONS!

so I'm back

in the sweltering bosom of Florida.

Actually it's been raining fairly regularly, at all times throughout the day, so the temp will climb and then fall when the rain hits...not bad at all really. Average I would say like 85?

It was so weird coming home. First, I had been traveling for a collective 24 hours...never good for the contacts or the skin. Arriving in Minneapolis-St.Paul International Airport was thrilling...mainly due to excessive turbulence on approach, and the giant group of youth-groupers who were hustling through customs and security to connect to another flight. Me, I had a good 2 hours before my connection, so I sat and watched people. It was rather unsettling how different (and NOT in a good way) the people of America are from Europeans. Yes, I know I've spent 5 months bashing them, but at the very least, most Europeans have the decency to treat air travel like a respectful, dignified occasion. Anyway, I won't go into great detail...only to say that "middle-america" is just as scary as ever.

Anyway, onwards to Tampa. Got in Thursday night, late. Friday got up, puttered around. The weekend was fairly lazy, with the parents out of town and no real list of things to be done. Hit the saks sale (couple of nice finds, nothing big though), and hung out with Blair.

I find Tampa to be such an interesting place. First of all, I had no trouble falling back into my routine, with the gym, with driving, with calling Blair and arranging dinner. It was all very easy...as if I'd never left.

Otherwise, I remark upon how...mainstream many formerly exotic things have become in Tampa. Allow me to elaborate: 10 years ago, there was no big fancy mall. No Saks 5th Avenue, no Neiman Marcus. No Louis Vuitton or Gucci. Certainly fewer Mercedes and BMW. And most of all, fewer 20 and 30-somethings hanging around South Tampa.

Now I know all cities grow up sooner or later, gain more worldly appeal, etc. I guess with Tampa I still consider it to be a B-city, a younger sibling to Orlando...a place relatively quiet. And certainly not a hot place for under-30s (although now I believe the city is rated something like #1 or #2 in nightlife by Maxim magazine, but don't quote me).

But, drive around a bit here, and you could prove me wrong (as I do myself every day). Every other blond post-college female has a BMW 3-series or Audi A4 (if I had a dollar for every...)...and authentic Louis Vuitton bags are in great popularity. There is a full-fledged LV boutique as well as a concession counter in Saks 5th Avenue. And Chanel has opened 2 concession store-in-store boutiques, one in Neiman and one in Saks.

I guess the point of all my feelings and observations is that, so many things are no longer exclusive or special. To see a Bentley on the street here isn't all that rare, and seeing women with real, $1200+ handbags is almost expected. And the percentage of patrons under 30 at restaurants, clubs, and gyms has to be in the 60-70% range. Tampa is turning into a real, international city, with wide appeal and praise. I'm not sure I like it :)

YSL

The death of Yves Saint Laurent, a lauded french-algerian couturier, has put a somber mood on France and Paris the last week. I just wanted to say something about him...

I didn't grow up in the 1970s, when he was at his greatest height...but in recent years I have come to really like the YSL menswear offerings (and the womenswear hasn't been half-shabby either). However, I recently read a book written by Alicia Drake called The Beautiful Fall which chronicled the life and happenings of both YSL and Karl Lagerfeld, from adolescence up to the most recent years, and as much as I respect and applaud his everlasting effect on fashion, I must say that I don't think he and I would have gotten along. He was emotional, unpredictable, addictive, and overly fixated on beauty and youth (both of which I find to be overrated).

Anyway, I just felt like making a word about him. It is very sad that he is gone, and I think the world of clothing is forever changed because of him, I just didn't like him much (from what I can tell), as a person...

That said, Karl Lagerfeld isn't much better. Nor is Tom Ford. Or Marc Jacobs. Visionaries, yes. Geniuses, probably. Pleasant/enjoyable to be around/get along with, probably not.

If I had to pick a designer who I feel would be most down to earth and pleasant to spend time with, I would have to go with Miuccia Prada. Or Vera Wang. I also read an insightful article about Barbara Tfank. And maybe Peter Som.

insatiable appetite

for all things leather and exclusive. It honestly feels like a disease...an addiction. I find myself replacing the act of buying with food or doing homework...to distract from what I really want, which is more MORE M.O.R.E!!!

I really don't like feeling like this. It isn't pleasant, and frankly, puts me right into a demographic of self-centered, superficial, "fashionistas" whos only interest in Goyard or Prada or Hermès is to show it off, exude some sense of wealth and sophistication, or obtain what is "hot." Or to make others feel bad for not having had the connections or endowment to purchase such things. (Or, what I secretly believe, is false enthusiasm for brand history or construction techniques, both of which mean very little in today's fashion game).

The only problem is that most of those "states of mind" could be achieved 10 years ago...but not today. Louis Vuitton has stores in almost every major- and medium-sized city in the United States, some cities with 2 or more outlets. (And no offense to those residing in the following jurisdictions)...for example - Nashville, Sacramento (coming soon apparently), Charlotte, Jacksonville, Austin...all of which are hardly known as fashion capitals. What this means to everyday life is that Louis Vuitton (as a brand) is in every car, on every plane, in every restaurant, and in every office building...every day...around the world (and in the cubicle next to you). "Exclusivity" has become an abstract term used liberally to describe an industry that is over-exposed and excessively commercialized (the exact antithesis of exclusivity).

But, back to my original rant :)...

Unlike the need for a sense of superiority or betterness, my motives are entirely different (in my quest for all things lovely). I want to clothe myself in beautiful, well-made things that define my style, that are tasteful and elegant, and artful. Colors, textures, smells. OH LORDY, the smells. Any non-believer in the overpriced leathergoods realm just needs to take one whiff of an Hermès Togo bag. Trust.

So, my point with this post is to complain a bit, to vent some frustration...as I can't wait to get back to Florida and work so I can afford more of this amazing stuff. (Just in time for a price, increase, right?) hahaha. Jeez.

Pictured are a couple of things I have been wanting/lusting after (which like I mentioned, will probably be different next week).

another thought on whims

As I said, I tend to fixate quickly and with intensity and then lose interest. That said, because my disposable income is so small (compared to my "wish list"), I painstakingly ponder and consider and debate possible purchases...and end up with (if I may say so myself) a fairly well-edited repertoire of items that I feel quite accurately define my style and taste. It's horribly stressful when considering the choices and trying to decide where best to allocate funds, but when the process is over...usually I am very satisfied with the end result.

Occasionally I have made mis-steps, based on sales or, as stated, on whims.

Some of those missteps include:
-Gucci brown leather boat shoes, Christmas 2006, sold on Ebay Summer 2007
-Bally tan canvas messenger bag, Summer 2004, sold on Ebay shortly thereafter
-Louis Vuitton blue epi card case, Summer 2005, sold on Ebay Summer 2007

and others...

Overall I think I've learned a lot from those experiences. The gucci shoes were the worst though...I think I felt so guilty for having bought them right after christmas, like what I had gotten from my parents wasn't good enough or something...it just seemed wrong at the time. And the Bally was a sale purchase. I was defying my inner brand whore, and decided it was too subtle for my tastes. These days I would probably have liked it actually...

I'd say this whole post illustrates the one good part of not always having money around. Luckily I tend to come into it once in a while...so I can follow through with my careful editing.

ps - photo just pretty :)

whims

I always say, although it would be lovely to have gobs of money, and be able to buy whatever whenever, I have ever-changing "current wants" and if I was rich, would probably have stacks of stuff I really had no interest in (beyond the first 3 days of ownership). Nonetheless, it would be fun (once in a while) to make such an impulse buy.

Currently, I am feelin' the following items:

Louis Vuitton Monogram Multicolore 22" x 22" Cotton Bandana - $160
explanation: my friend "N" has one (from like 7 years ago), and I put it on randomly at her house yesterday...and it actually looked really fun. I mean, it's never something I could wear in public, but it would be a novelty for sure (in private, at home, cleaning or something)

Prada tartan/jewel/grosgrain/crocodile evening bag (c. 2004?) - $150 current bid, ebay
explanation: this is just such a classic, timeless piece of Prada history. I was in high school when this season was happening...and I remember going to Neiman Marcus and touching all these gorgeous bags. Ahhh, memories!

Prada gold plexi/gold saffiano leather watch (c. 2007?) - $399, ebay
explanation: I actually found these to be quite boring when they came out, but now I think they are really sorta fun and chunky and (relatively) cheap, for a watch.

end of semester

As my semester in France comes to an end, I am fairly satisfied with the experience and the outcome. I am older (21!), wiser, and a bit more savvy about establishing a life in a foreign country. I had to open a bank account, pay my rent at the post office, walk/tram/bus to and from downtown (the only place to do anything)...and I learned how to cook using only a frying pan.

The time spent actually in Bordeaux hasn't been the most exciting or most relaxing, but certainly has allowed me to appreciate America and Florida. Being at home has never felt as good as it will when i return (~1.5 weeks).

And really, I have no qualms about being the only person I know that went to France and really didn't like it. On a whole, the country is gorgeous, the beaches are heavenly...and of course, it is the capital of all things decadent and lust-worthy. However, the people...the people make the country, and if I was to pick based on who I meet...then France would be at the bottom of the list. Spain, sure, Italy, certainly, but France...? Aside from several very genuinely kind, gracious people, the general populous has been rude, standoffish, unfriendly, and incredibly un-helpful. In comparison, shopkeepers and train attendants in Spain and Italy were much much more gentle and open to foreigners.

My personal opinion is that it is a mindset problem (or an attitude problem). So much of France's overall esprit is based on superiority complexes...in cuisine, in language...in fashion. And no one likes an arrogant guy or girl. As my dad expressed in a conversation about this very subject..."almost all of Europe (including Italy and Spain) are loved and have been loved for years by the Americans...and they love that we love them...they accept our love. Americans love France but France resists our love...they shun our love." I think he is right.

Anyway, it annoys me a bit that France has been such a let-down...as I was hoping to master my language skill, but instead, almost every person who senses my non-native French wants to switch to English (if they can). I mean, I'm trying to learn, and it's not like I can't speak the language...I just need time here and there to formulate responses!

Anyway, this is a picture of Paris from the Montparnasse Tower.