SPRING FASHION IS IN THE SHEER

YVES SAINT LAURENT


CHANEL


JOHN GALLIANO


VALENTINO


ALEXANDER MCQUEEN

*All photos from Style.com (photographed by Marcio Madeira; Chanel pictures photographed by Alessandro Lucioni )


I recently read, in an article by Sylvia Rubin, in the San Francisco Chronicle, that Yves Saint Laurent was the first to show a model in a transparent blouse on the runway. What a fitting tribute then, that there was so much cheer about sheer on the Spring 2009 runways. Sheer fabrics add a sense of romanticism, sexiness, depth and dimension when layering, and mystery. If you are scared of looking a little too sexy, or ice skater-ish,



find nude colored undergarments that will allow you to show it off without showing too much, be careful about too much embellishment and colors, and play with different stages of layering.

GIVE IT UP!!!: NAMING ESTABLISHMENTS AFTER THEIR ADDRESS

The originality is killing me. This has nothing to do with the venues or their owners (I love going to most of these places), but I am so over seeing a club/bar/restaurant/lounge/etc. named after its address. To prove my point, check out all the establishments in San Francisco named after a street number and/or street name. Yawn.

1. One Market (1 Market St.)

2. Club Six/6IX (60 Sixth St.)

3. Balazo 18 Art Gallery (2183 Mission St. between 18th St. and Sycamore St.)


4. Cava 22 (3239 22nd St.)

5. Pier 23 Cafe (Pier 23)

6. 50 Mason Lounge (50 Mason St.) - CLOSED

7. 111 Minna St. (111 Minna St.)

8. Suite one8one (181 Eddy St.)

9. 330 Ritch (360 Ritch St.)

10. 415 Asian Restaurant & Lounge (415 Presidio Avenue) - CLOSED

11. Club 443/ Forty-Four 3

12. Factory 525 (Formerly Sound Factory, 525 Harrison St.)

13. Club 525 (Formerly NV, 525 Howard St.)

14. 540 Club (540 Clement St.)

15. 1015 Nightclub/Ten15Folsom (1015 Folsom St.)

16. 2223 (2223 Market St.)

17. Broadway Studios (435 Broadway)

18. El Valenciano Restaurant Bar & Grill (1153 Valencia St.)

19. Grant and Green (1371 Grant @ Green)

20. Octavia Lounge (1772 Market St. @ Octavia)- CLOSED FOR REMODELING



Perhaps the owners of Loft 11 (316 11th St.) felt the same way--they have since changed their name to Mist. I'm sure others have too, seeing that the novelty of having drunk, forgetful people remember your establishment because it corresponds with a street name or number, quickly wears off.

SEEING DOUBLE: EDIE SEDGWICK AND JENNIFER GARNER

Although Sienna Miller did a great job as Edie Sedgwick in Factory Girl (in my opinion, and from what I remember), imagine if Jennifer Garner would have played her!!! Their resemblance is uncanny--from the dimples, to their cute noses that scrunch when smiling or laughing, to their large brown eyes that do the same. Another similar quality is that they mastered cute, while also knowing how to be stylish and vampy (true women!!!). Garner was said to have shown interest in playing Edie in a 2003 play, Andy and Edie, so she must have felt it too.


In Sienna Miller's defense, she does have an essence of Edie:

BEFORE AND AFTER: AUBREY O'DAY

What fame will do to a person. Aubrey O'Day started off so cute, so girl-next-door-looking, and turned into a Christina Aguilera "Dirrty"-era wannabe (P.S. I love Christina, but you know what I mean.) . Very pretty to begin with, she felt the need to get fake boobs, bleach her hair, plump her lips (maybe even a nose job???), and throw on as much makeup as possible.

O'Day's musical talent has taken a back seat (no pun intended) to her public antics and hoochified photo shoots, such as the Complex one that supposedly drove Diddy over the edge, prompting him to fire her. I think this sends a good message to young girls confused about Hollywood's over-sexed image. It's OK and healthy to be sexy (at an appropriate age and time), but constantly running around wearing almost nothing and being way too forward about certain things (see Complex interview--ew), just ends up looking desperate and vulgar...and may cost you your career.

THE ALEXTHEARTISTE JAM OF THE WEEK: "LITTLE BOXES"

*This is the first of two Jams of the Week, since I left you without one last week. :(

MALVINA REYNOLDS "LITTLE BOXES" (WEEDS THEME SONG)

Thanks to our (my boyfriend's and my) friend Cris, we are interested in the T.V. show Weeds, and in love with the theme song "Little Boxes," sung by Malvina Reynolds. It's just so cute and dainty, but the message in this song is strong: don't be generic, don't be like everyone else, because life's routines try to make everyone the same. (Interesting note: "Little Boxes" was written about the houses in Daly City, that cropped up after WWII.) Below is the intro to the show, with the song sung by Reynolds.



After the first season of Weeds, different artists were invited to record their own version of "Little Boxes," for the opening credits. Here is a remix of some of those covers.

"LITTLE HOUSES REMIX"

Warning: You may all of a sudden want to bring back the word "ticky-tacky."

NETLFLIX IT: "FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL"

I didn't expect it to be that funny (with all the "funny" movies that have been coming out lately), but Forgetting Sarah Marshall was hilarious. (Judd Apatow never seems to disappoint.)

Although all the actors are good in the film, which revolves around a heartbroken guy who travels to Hawaii to try to forget his ex, the scene stealers are definitely lead actor Jason Segel (who also wrote the script!!!), Russell Brand, and Jonah Hill.

Judd Apatow has this cool, funny buddy system thing going. He casts the same actors in several films, which is great because they are all hilarious, plus you feel a sense of nostalgia each time you see them in a movie. Hill, who you know from Superbad and other Apatow projects, had me cracking up as a desperate and emotionally
insensitive waiter. Segel, who was in Knocked Up, was perfect in this movie as the sad, rejected ex-boyfriend.

Russell Brand may be a new, and refreshing revelation to you--no one was funnier. His mastery of that unassuming British humor and smart-assedness had my boyfriend and I laughing out loud throughout the film. We replayed Aldous Snow's (Brand's character's) musical performance several times.




Forgetting Sarah Marshall is a movie that you'll definitely want to rent, and probably add to your DVD collection. It's the funny nuances throughout that will have you cracking up big time.

LOUIS VUITTON'S NEW MONOGRAM ETOILE COLLECTION

What do you think of the new Monogram Etoile (French for "star") Collection??? No doubt it's called Etoile due to the star-shaped quilting, but is this a star in your book??? I, personally, think it's aaaiiight. The quilting adds something different, another dimension to the traditional monogram leather, but also looks a little distracting, pouffy and reminiscent of a quilted comforter. In all honesty, I'd rather get a regular monogram LV bag at a fraction of the cost. Besides, we all know the first name that pops into our heads when it comes to quilted leather handbags (Chanel, duh.) and it's not Louis Vuitton. Don't get me wrong; with all the fabulous traditional choices, and the great revamps Louis Vuitton has had (like Graffiti, Monogram Multicolore, and Monogramouflage

), I'm a huge fan, but this collection is just eh.

"HIP SIP: AN EVENING OF MODERN VINTAGE" IN CHICAGO

Many people are throwing big shopping events these days. Not that many throw vintage shopping events. "Hip Sip: An Evening of Modern Vintage" is doing this and more, throwing in swanky swag, makeup artists from MAC and Benefit, and a special fashion presentation by Tim Long, costume curator of Chic Chicago: Couture Treasures (at the Chicago History Museum). If you are chic in Chicago, you can't miss this event!!!

SEEING DOUBLE: TERRENCE HOWARD AND EVA MARCILLE (PIGFORD)

With almond shaped green eyes, caramel skin and rounded features, don't Terrence Howard and Eva Marcelle (Pigford) look like ridiculously good looking siblings???

THE ALEXTHEARTISTE JAM OF THE WEEK "IN DA CLUB"

50 CENT "IN DA CLUB"

There's nothing better than hearing "party like it's your birthday" when it is. Considering that it's my boyfriend's birthday this Saturday, and there will be much partying involved, I figured this jam was only fitting. Let the festivities begin!!!

DEAL OF THE DAY: NINTENDO NES WITH 12 GAMES

I came out like a bandit yesterday.

- Original Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)
- 12 games
- $40 on eBay!!!

I'm so freakin' excited about it; I've been wanting to get a NES for a while now, and can't wait to play Super Mario Bros. and Duck Hunt again (for those who love Duck Hunt, there's an online version to play below on this site!!!).



Snatch up your own Nintendo on eBay by clicking here. They even sell systems that play both NES and Super NES games!!!

Sure, nowadays they have teeny tiny handheld video game systems with graphics that look uber realistic, but nothing beats a super pixilated Mario breaking bricks, or trying to shoot that stupid dog in Duck Hunt that laughs at you when you miss the ducks. It's called kickin' it old-school.

SEEING DOUBLE: HELEN HUNT AND LEELEE SOBIESKI

This one's been a given for a long time. The similarities between actresses Helen Hunt and Leelee Sobieski had many wondering if they were mother and daughter.

BRITNEY'S NEWEST SINGLE: "WOMANIZER"

BRITNEY SPEARS: "WOMANIZER"

I told you guys Britney was back. Looking better than ever, this video is a big f-you to those who counted her out. Add me to the masses that think this song (and video) are for K-Fed. One hint??? She's constantly showing off and glancing at her dice tattoo that the two share. 

THE ALEXTHEARTISTE JAM OF THE WEEK: "TRUE BLUE"

MADONNA "TRUE BLUE"

How freakin' cute is this video?!?! I vaguely remember it as a child, as it wasn't as big or iconic as her other ones. It's a cute look at a Madonna in love, who wrote the song for then-husband Sean Penn during their first year of marriage and dedicated the entire True Blue album to him. Added bonus??? A young Debi Mazar is featured as one of Madonna's 50s-esque dancers.

HOW CUTE IS THIS?!?! CUPCAKE BEANIE

Fred Flare, the mecca of all things cute (I'll write a little more about them later) is selling probably the cutest hat ever. This cupcake beanie seems a bit much when you look at it by itself, but the restrained use of primary colors, white top and wide brown brim tone things down. Look at how cute it looks on!!! A cupcake hat is a fun way to keep yourself warm--a standout in a sea of drab options. How sweet!!!