Reward to Self

Marni Patent Leather Runway Sandal (my color scheme is slightly different w/ beige sole and dark/light brown straps)

Every time I get a new job... or A+ an exam or paper... or, really any achievement that gets me stoked I go out and reward myself with a little happy. I hit up the half-yearly sale at Nordstrom today and found these babies. My friend Jordan brought up a good point when I asked her what could I possibly wear these with, she responds: "Those are so strange that anything you wear them with, they'd look awesome!". She's right. Wheee.

Get yourself a little happy at 40% off, Nordstrom

NARS Highlight Blush Powder in Albatross

One of my most versatile, and most often used cosmetic, NARS Highlight Blush Powder in Albatross is absolutely fabulous. You know how many attempts I've had to try and achieve that dewy look? So many. It was attained, though, when the sales lady at Nordstroms recommended this product to me.

This powder can be worn alone, under, or over make-up. It's great for highlighting and adding dimension to the cheeks, eyes, and body. What I love about Albatross is its color's complexity; when applied one can see subtle gold and purple shimmer that's beautiful enough to be worn alone.

I usually apply to my cheeks and sometimes my eyes when I'm not wearing shadow. I highly recommend it for any skin tone.

If you enjoy this product then I'd also recommend the Multiple Stick (ha...) in Copacabana, $37

Can be found at Nordstrom or NARS website, $25

3.1 Phillip Lim Fringed Halter Dress

Oh, Phillip. How you never cease to make me weak in the knees. Love.

On sale here, $325

Complex Geometries

Square Hooded Tank Dress

I spotted an acquaintance sporting this in black at the Apparat show and had to know where she found such a cool piece. A small label based out of Montreal, Complex Geometries specializes in creating loose-fitting, fabric-heavy pieces that drape the human form in the most cleverest of ways! I had to have it, so I got it in white. Hope you don't mind, Patricia!

I was only able to find two online shops that carried this label, Oak (NYC) and Reborn (Montreal). I'm guessing they're affiliated with each other for they carry many of the same labels. Check it!

Voodoo Doughnut

After five months of being an unemployed, idle piece of doo-doo I am finally working again. I went from working in high-end retail to now working with cult-status doughnuts. Come visit me at Voodoo Doughnuts and try the bacon maple bar, or maybe the butter fingering, or the triple chocolate penetration-- whatever tickles your pickle.

Gimme Doughnut

Really, what's classier than a dong-shaped, cream-filled doughnut? Mmm.

22 SW 3rd, Portland OR 97204

24/7

Apparat

One-man-band Apparat, Sascha Ring, will be gracing us with his presence tomorrow evening at the Holocene. I encourage anyone whose even remotely curious to check him out. Ring is an incredible electronic/experimental musician and has not released anything that I didn't love.

Apparat has released all three of his LPs on Shitkatapult Records and collaborates with a couple Bpitchcontrol Records (founded by Ellen Allien) artists on the side. He and Ellen Allien released a super fantastic full-length together in 2006 titled Orchestra of Bubbles. He also recently formed a band with Modeselektor called Moderat. They currently have a 12" out titled Auf Kosten Der Gesundheit. 

Here are some tracks/videos to whet your appetite for radicalness:

Apparat - Fractales Pt. 1 & 2

Apparat & Ellen Allien - Way Out

You can also check out some other tracks here.

1001 SE Morrison, Portland OR 97214

$8 @ 9PM

Rodebjer

I discovered Rodebjer while shopping at Una a few months back and remember almost creaming my pants because it was so good. Rodebjer was founded by Carin Rodebjer back in 2003. A Swedish native, she studied at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York and was caught sight of and recognized when wearing her pieces on the streets. Today her collections are available all around the world-- from Finland to Singapore.

What I love about Rodebjer are her choices in textured fabrics, color, and silhouettes. Her label showcases glamour and wickedness; a collection may consist of pieces that possess polar opposite qualities but can be paired well together. I really appreciate Rodebjer's diversity in design and her ability to maintain a common mood throughout. The sophistication of her garments remind me of a mix between Balenciaga and Jil Sander, so it's great that her unique and cutting edge pieces of this high a caliber is accessible to the average shopper.

Here are a couple pieces from her Spring '08 collection that I'm lovin':

Rodbjer can be found at Una.

BBQ Mix

Portland's weather has been nothing short of incredible these past few days... and what does good weather call for? A BBQ, of course. I went to a friend's BBQ and made a fun mix to listen to and thought I'd post it. If anyone wants a copy let me know!

BBQ Mix:

1. Antipop Consortium - Ghostlawns (LFO's Rik Waller mix)

2. Morgan Geist - Lullaby

3. Young Jeezy & Bun-B - Over Here (Ratatat remix)

4. Guilty Simpson - Supreme Beings

5. Outkast - ATLiens

6. George Baker - Little Green Bag

7. Kylie Minogue - Can't Get You Out of My Head (Soulwax Kyluss Remix)

8. Kelis - Sugar Honey Iced Tea

9. King Gheedorah - It's All About U

10. UGK feat Outkast - International Players Anthem (I Choose You)

11. TLC - Creep

12. Neon Neon - Raquel

13. Snoop Dogg feat. Pharell - Beautiful

14. J Dilla feat. Pharoahe Monch - Love

15. Erykah Badu - Soldier

16. Ghostface Killah feat. Raekwon - Shaky Dog (starring Lolita)

17. Ghost Town DJs - My Boo

18. Jay-Z & Notorious B.I.G. - Allure (Ratatat remix)

19. A-Trak - My Lovely Outro

Yves Saint Laurent Cosmetics

Touche Eclat, $40

One of my all time favorite cosmetics line is Yves Saint Laurent. They have great mascara and lipstick in an assortment of beautiful colors that you can't find anywhere else. But, what I love the absolute most is their Touche Eclat. Ya'll need this, I'm tellin' ya.

Touche Eclat not only hides fatigue and shadows from the contours of your face, but also gives the skin a natural radiance that's subtle and very natural-looking. I usually apply under the eyes, but it can also be used in the hollow of the chin, the contours of the lips, and at the sides of the nose. 

No extra tools needed, your fingertips will do the trick. It comes in pen form so it's super easy to bring around with you and to apply anywhere. I've had the same pen for about six or seven months now and I use it everyday. This small pen packs a lot of product and a little goes a long way so it's definitely worth your money.

Mascara, $27.50

Their mascara is great, too. They come in four different formulas: Infini Curl, Everlong Lengthening, Volume Effet Faux Clis, and a basic waterproof. Each formula varies in color selection but the overall available colors are high density black, rich brown, fascinating viole, burgandy (!), deep night, cobalt blue, petrol-blue, and green. I use the Infini Curl in viole and the color is very vibrant, as opposed to others I've tried that barely show at all. They're all most excellent!

The weather here has been very, very good to me lately, so now that my skin is darker and I'm wearing a lot less make-up, I just use these two products and am good to go! 

YSL cosmetics can be found at Nordstroms

Ps.

Updated my muxtape. A little erratic in variation, but whatevs. Unintended ghost theme going on in this new one, ha.

Hair Powder

So, I'm one among many typical Portlanders who washes their hair only when it's absolutely necessary (once stench becomes offensive to those around you, for example!). Before I discovered Bumble and bumble's Hair Powder I was only able to go for three or four days tops without shampooing, but now I can last about a week-- give or take a day. Not only does this stuff absorb grease, but it also acts as a volumizer and keeps style in place.

Comes in white, black, blonde, red, and brown. If you have dark hair, I prefer you use white because your scalp will absorb the colored powder.

Oh! Una (also visit her blog here) one of my most favorite shops ever, carries Lulu Organic's scented hair powder-- which is nice compared to B&b's because this'll mask stench whereas the latter does not!

Now you can go on living grease free!

B&b Hair Powder, $34, can be found at Magnum Opus, 805 NW Glisan Portland, OR 97209

Lulu Organic's, $40, can be found at Una, 2808 SE Ankeny St. Portland, OR 97214

Thought I'd give some love and support to my cousin, Lam Son, and tell all ya'll to check out his band Major Grace and the Hard Luck Chancers. His love for the classics (Leonard Cohen, John Lennon, The Modern Lovers, The Turtles, etc.), is super evident in his music-- making me appreciate them very much. On the surface, their sound has an element of levity and youthfulness. But beneath that effortless exterior lies substance and serious talent. Give 'em a go!

"Shut your mouth!"

Geren Ford Chiffon Insert Dress, $318

...was the first utterance that came out of my mouth when I first laid eyes on this Geren Ford dress. It comes in denim (which looks like black... or navy? I can't tell) or cobalt blue. Deep-V in front, chiffon window in back. Bid-ness in front, party in the back. I'm in love. 

It is now one of my many life missions to acquire this wonderful piece. I swear, you'll see me sporting this so soon.