BillaBob

Here's one of those fashion moments that I can't let pass without a little racial commentary. Fashion has always had a somewhat tenuous relationship with people of color. Women of color are seen as exotic oddities (or overlooked), our icons are seen as commodities and our culture is often ripped apart in the name of fashion. With all that, it's little wonder that I cringed a bit when seeing the news of Billabong's new Bob Marley collection (I'm not even going to comment on the "Rasta Monsta" title of NYLON's article about it).

Retail Therapy

Sometimes when I'm strapped for cash I feel this fatalistic need to purchase clothes. I call it The Becky Bloomwood Syndrome. The great thing about those Shopaholic books is that you can scoff and say "That'll never be me". The bad thing is it always seems to work out for Becky and it's hard to remind yourself that not everyone has a Luke Brandon to save them.

On top of that I subscribe to A LOT of online discount shopping sites. I use Rue La La, ideeli, Daily Candy, Revolve Clothing ... and now most recently StyleMint. StyleMint is in the vein of ShoeDazzle in that it is a clothing subscription where items are curated by your personal style and then you have the option to buy or not buy an exclusive item that month. If you don't tell them that you won't be purchasing something that month, you are billed  and you can earn credits towards future purchases. The concept is simple and alluring. You can buy or not buy. The items are exclusive. For a low cost you can by something new each month. It's pretty tempting. And given my current personal drama, the thought of flitting my cares away with a quick purchase is enticing. It's appealing because the risk seems low at the time (this is the justification phase of The Becky Bloomwood Syndrome). But later, after you've placed the order, the doubt begins to creep in. I could've have bought groceries with that money! I was supposed to take my friend out for her birthday! My mom asked me to buy a ticket to her charity event! And now you can't afford it.

So what do I do? Indulge in some retail therapy*? Toss my cares aside and deal with the guilt (and eat a shit-ton of ramen). The jury's still out.

*I wonder how much regular therapy costs. 

The Roaring Tiffany's

Great news! Tiffany & Co. is teaming up with the producers of the new Great Gatsby film to be the exclusive jeweler for the production. Can't you just picture the decadence. The great thing about any movie set during the 20's is the romanticism of that time. Tiffany's through their intense marketing has made themselves synonymous with romance and falling in love so who better to exemplify one of the greatest tragic romances of all time than Tiffany's. It's gorgeous glamour with a trace of ennui.

Le Train Bleu & Honey Kennedy

Honey Kennedy is the blog I would have if I actually updated this blog all the time. Le Train Bleu is the site that I most often peruse when I dare to open up the piggy bank and splurge on myself. So it's auspicious that they are working together to giveaway a $100 gift certificate. Seeing as how we're (always) working with a budget, here are my suggestions:

Michelle Williams Tackles Marilyn Monroe

Michelle Williams is taking on a role most women in Hollywood will kill for (and some have decided to play out in real life) as Marilyn Monroe in the film My Week with Marilyn. The film focuses on Colin Clark, who during the filming of The Prince and the Showgirl escorted Monroe around Britain. The film stars the delectable Eddie Redmayne as Colin Clark and a post-Harry Potter Emma Watson who looks right at home in the 50's fashions. But it's Michelle Williams who really seems to embody the coquettish style of her character as well as filling out some of those famous outfits.

You Know You Love Me ... xoxo

The Louis Vuitton spring/summer 2012 show debuted in Paris this week (thank god for the internet because unfortunately my invitation got lost in the mail. What's up with that Marc?). While the overall show was impressive featuring a carousel, frothy white garments and tiaras, the show seemed very season one of Gossip Girl to me.

Kan-"Yeezy" Goes to Paris

This weekend Kanye West debuted his fashion line in Paris and the interwebs went crazy (I guess I can include myself in that now). West has been both panned and praised, with stars like Ciara calling his show "monumental" and fashion insiders using air quotes at his "designer" status while others were a bit more even-handed. Personally, I viewed Kanye's debut like a Project Runway fashion show. The ideas were innovative and fashion forward, while the execution left something to be desired.