Making a lake of the East River and Hudson

How much do I love New York? A whole lot. Probably even more. It is my favorite city in the world, after all. I really enjoy the scent of melting, glittering asphalt. I love taking the subway (when it's running on time and everything and not out to just piss me off), going to Brooklyn for my favorite meal of all time, the random things you overhear, the hilarity and ridiculousness of the catcalls, and all of the strange encounters I seem to have EVERY time I go--even after having been 17 times in the past 7 years. My brother used to call Williamsburg home, and I have fond memories of walking through his quiet Brooklyn neighborhood alone at eight am. Waving hello to the old man who owned the meat store or stopping to smile and fawn over an adorable dog. Even though I know living there would be far different than any of the trips I've taken, I think I'm going to be damned well equipped with at least some of the skills I need when I move. And I will! I swear. I could never go against the pact I made with myself at age twelve.



I did my fair share of shopping (lots of florals and the BEST marc by marc shirt ever), saw Crybaby on Broadway from the 3rd row, ate way too much good food (papaya dog, Spice pad thai, mac and cheese and wine at DuMont, pizza, Good Burger, Pirozhki from Veselka etc...blahh), and likely killed my arches due to all the pavement pounding I did in heels for wonderful nights out. All well worth it and in great fun, though!

Decorative parrot in our hotel room.
Russian ELLE. I am such a Russian Nerd.
We're weird and we know that.

Light of my life, fire of my loins.

Nothing gets a person's attention like a title with the words loins in it, right? Well, being the self-proclaimed Russian nerd that I am, I am reading Lolita.
Doesn't this photo from the film (which I refuse to watch...yet!) make you want to go out and lie shamelessly in the grass in a retro-inspired swimsuit and giant hat? What is that one made out of anyways, any guesses? If I were thirteen, I could be spending my summer doing that, but instead I'll continue to busy myself indoors with the mountain of things I have to do (and should be doing right now). When I finally do get some time to bask outdoors, I may want to do so a la Lolita...in a way that is far more legal, of course. Swimsuit and sunglasses, Urban Outfitters

I am it (and the Russian side of Spring)

I have been tagged...the lovely Romany tagged me earlier in the week, and now I am finally following through!



Here are the rules:
1. Link the person(s) who tagged you.
2. Mention the rules in your blog.
3. Write about 6 unspectacular quirks of yours.
4. Tag 6 following bloggers by linking them.
5. Leave a comment on each of the tagged blogger's blogs letting them know they've been tagged.
So....I'm choosing to just write random facts about myself as opposed to 'unspectacular quirks.' I like it better this way...



1. I refuse to set my alarm at a time ending with a multiple of five. If I want to get up at 9:45, I pick either 9:42 or 9:47
2. I am strangely picky about meats. I will eat lunch meat turkey, but not a roast turkey. I will eat a corndog, but not a hotdog. I will eat glazed ham, but never lunch meat ham. I only eat chicken off the bone. And I just dislike beef in general.

3. I grew up in a town (or rather village) that consists of under twenty of my relatives. I played in fields and had picnics on railroad bridges. Actually, I still do that.
4. I HATE wearing heels under four inches. I feel anything less, even though I'm 5'8", makes me look stumpy.
5. I went to the same school, every school day of my life, for 13 years. And there were 32 people in my graduating class, probably over half of which I had been going to school with all of those 13 years.
6. I am in an eye-makeup rut. I have been wearing the same winged black eyeliner style for the past four years.



I tag...

EVERYONE. Seriously, if you're reading this...I just tagged you.



And, for your viewing pleasure, here are photos from an April 2008 Vogue Russian editorial featuring Sasha Pivavarova. I like to look at covers from Vogue Russia just to see how much I can actually read, but these photos really caught my eye. I love how even though the editorial is for April, they didn't feel the need to include obligatory (albeit fabulous!) neons, florals, or floaty dresses. I will always have an affinity for juxtapositions! I seriously want that USSR shirt, slick little leather jacket, sheer black dress with hardware embellishments, and of course those amazing heels that incorporate rope, wood, and metal studs. I also feel the need to find a deep crimson lipstick worthy of a 40's screen siren, smudge my liner and muss up my hair a bit. If only the outcome would look half as cool as Sasha's!

For more Russian Fashion check out the Facehunter! He's in Moscow right now!

photos, The Fashion Spot