Because Your Love, Your Love, Your Love is My Drug

As this year comes to a close... I've been looking back on possibly one of my best years yet.
2009 has been a year of change for me. It's been the year I decided to and have grown up.
I've accomplished a lot this year and I can only imagine what's to come this decade.
No idea what will happen this year of 2010 - College acceptance? College rejection? Who knows?
So I hope that myself and everyone else in the world will accomplish what we want this year and more.
Happy New Year, everyone! 2010 all the way!

Last week, I discovered a show I'm now obsessed with: Chuck.
I had to purchase the 1st Season after watching the Pilot and a few episodes online and now I can't wait for the 3rd. (I'm currently watching the 2nd on YouTube).
Also, Yvonne Strahovski is insanely hot.



I decided to cover my macbook with stickers.
It's been over a year since I've had this precious thing so I think it's time to personalize it.
I ordered a Lady GaGa 'The Fame Monster' stickers and just won some 'The Fame' ones on eBay!
Other stickers will come from my job.

I'm close to getting my Nikon! My paychecks are getting bigger! Yes!



I would leave with "Bad Romance" but that's already on my player.
Looking at the nominees for the Grammys 2010 Song of the Year I decided to leave with this:

To Get in the Mood for Christmas...

Sessions Presents: A Peter Griffin Christmas

That's what they say

First and foremost today, Avatar is officially one of my favorite movies.
I saw it yesterday and fell in love with it. It's pretty incredible and mind-blowing.
The story is fantastic - James Cameron used the Native American vs. Europeans in a space-age way.
He made the connection between the Native Americans and Earth to be literal and physical with the Na'vi.
I'm about to go download it and watch it again.


Nextly (yes, not a real word), I haven't been keeping up with my fashion designers.
So I looked at Style.com and found some impeccable pieces by Alexander Wang and DKNY.
I love these ones.

ALEXANDER WANG




DKNY




And here's Alicia Keys.

Amidst all these flashing lights...

Ever since I saw Lagerfeld Confidential with Mr. Lagerfeld putting on his signature rings, I've wanted to do the same.
Looking for rings so epic was a challenge.
I felt almost out of hope until I remembered a little shop called Topshop (well... Topman).
How did this incredible discovery slip my mind? No idea.
I walked by the SoHo store every day in July and I forgot it existed because I've been stuck in my hometown.
Going into the store wasn't an option for me, either, because I was living on a college student's budget... $0.

So taking a look at Topman.com, I found some rings I am going to purchase when 2010 brings me my 3rd paycheck.
Or perhaps my 4th... I still want a Nikon D3000.






Oh yes, and this incredible performance.

In these past few weeks...

I've come to a few revelations.
- FIT doesn't want me, FIDM does. I discovered this fact when I participated in December 5th's National Portfolio Day and met with both colleges.
I was easily devastated to find out FIT's representative thought my designs are too much.
They teach and mold their students for jobs in the fashion industry.
That's all well and good but I want to become my own designer. I want a career.
The representative said my designs aren't marketable. That he couldn't see my design on the rack at Saks.
He said I could sell one to Cher and not to 2,000 people.
When he said that I thought to myself..."Ok, and that's bad?"
He wasn't mean or anything, he just didn't see what I wanted to do.

I want to create designs for the pop/rock star.
Designing like that allows me to break rules and be unexpected.
I'm a runway/show designer.
I can think of something generic and wearable in 2 minutes of sitting on my ass.
That's no problem. I just want to challenge myself and bring something new to the Fashion World.

After meeting FIT's rep, I headed to FIDM right next door.
At this point I was scared to death the representative from there would tell me the same thing.
I thought if he wasn't impressed either, I would seriously have to make my life about styling.
So when I came out with my disclaimer and allowed him to open my last-minute portfolio (I made it the day before) I was petrified.
He took one look at the 3 designs I had together on the 1st page and looked up at me with a quickness.
He asked me who I thought he saw in those designs. I was ready to say "Lady GaGa?" but he said something I hadn't expected: "Beyonce."
Now, for me, that's nothing short of stunning. Beyonce is my favorite singer and has been for years. To see that she exudes through me even in my designs was incredible.
He ended up spending a well amount of time speaking to me and told me everything I was hoping to hear that cold ass morning.
See, FIDM was on my radar back in August but I took it off because I didn't want to go to L.A.
So my revelation that day was: If there is a school that is excited to work with me and give me training to build an actual career and name, I have to go there.
My sights are set there now.
And since Parsons wants foundational artwork (paintings, drawings) that I don't have - that's out of my reach too.
I think I'll be happy at FIDM. It's a place that embraces creativity.

- Another revelation is that Lady GaGa is fucking incredible. I found out about her around July 2008 when everyone else had no idea who the fuck she was. So I'm nothing short of a GaGa Monster. Oh and add this to my revelations list - Monster is my new favorite word.

- Ivory and white is becoming kind of an obsession of mine lately.

- I've worn about everything I want to in my closet so I should purge some things.

- I forgot how much I loved Ke$ha.

- I could really give a shit about what people think of me or what I have to say. I say what I want to so fuck you.

I leave and love with this final picture of GaGa-ness.



OH
and I bought The Definitive Book of GaGa Thursday night at 12 AM after my shift at Zumiez (where I sold $1,000+ in 4 hours! Ah!). I asked my grandma to order it for me for Xmas so she just transferred the money to my account earlier that day. Fucking exciiiited to get it. Bet your fucking ass I'm excited. EXCITED!

I like Rihanna

Doc Martens?

I've wanted these for the longest time!
Friday should be payday... I need to double check though.
Could be on the NEXT payroll.
But my aunt can get me some for around $40 down in Virginia Beach because she knows a friend who works at Journeys.

So this is what I will buy with my first paycheck!

This is what helped my portfolio anxiety

All night I've been racking my fingers to make the perfect sketches for my portfolio.
I've changed the way I sketch so I couldn't use the croque(s) I made in July.
So I had to make a new figure just so I make sure they're all perfect.

Thankfully it worked out and I made one proportionate and one that pleases me.
I just watched the video to this song (embedding is disabled... ??) and it cured my anxiety.

My Journey to the Fashion Institute of Technology Begins

I've been wanting to enroll at FIT for college since... I don't even know how long.
I finally got a MyFIT account so that means it's all happening now.
I'm crazy excited but nervous as hell.

My portfolio and in-person interview have to be ON POINT!
As my grades from previous years of High School aren't great, I must impress with my design skills.
Time to pull out the GaGa-Would-Only-Wear outfits and sketch them with great precision.

I took two classes as part of the Summer Live Program at FIT this past July.
I was one in a handful of boys to attend but that really didn't bother me.
It was probably the best summer I've ever had but now that I'm thinking about it, it's saddening to miss walking to this building everyday.



I have to get in!

I Began to Work

It's not too well-known by most.
It's not XXI.
It's not a place where I'm going to shop 24/7.
But..
It's incredible.
- I get commission.
- I get to work with fun people.
- I get to be fun.
- I get to play my music.

Bad first job? I think not.

I'm a Cashier, I Change Girls

I recently decided/tried to change how I do my figures in sketches
and it's been working out really well.
... Another one of my sketches I did in the last 10 minutes of class this morning.
Portfolio piece? Maybe.


I want the piece to have a screen-printed image of Beyonce on it.
Something like this.

Balmain Rip-Offs and McDonalds for New Moon

Now I saw this shirt before walking around our newly opened XXI Forever as well as rip-off jackets... But this just pissed me off. In the middle of the store this is facing out promoting a obvious image stolen from Christophe Decarnin's legendary jacket for Balmain. Yeah, I got loud in the store and yelled that it was a rip.

My friend works there and I was with her at the time... I could've gotten her in trouble but I would've denied knowing her. I'm also a little bitter they gave me the run around when I tried applying for a job there but whatever.

Middle finger, XXI. Middle finger.

In other weekend news...

I saw New Moon with a friend Saturday night. Yeah, Friday we got our tickets for Saturday and the teller told us 10:20. Not until I left my house at 8:40 did I realize it said 10:20 AM. But we caught a non sold-out 10:50 PM :) I read the book back in August so I was critical on everything they didn't show/added. Pissed me off on some parts.

It was cold and my friend wanted McDonalds so we drove all the way across the street (Wow) to get some.
I copied what she got and here it is: $1 4-Piece Chicken Nuggets, a Large Fry, and $1 Sweet Tea. Random.

So we ate in line waiting to go in the theater!

Rihanna Takes on Leeloo

Last night Rihanna performed "Hard" and "Wait Your Turn" at the AMAs.

She rocked a re-creation of Leloo's (The Fifth Element) during the exciting performance by the classic Jean-Paul Gaultier. Gaultier also designed the costumes for the 90's movie WHICH is one of my original favorite movies! The bandage-suit was paired with a lovely neck/shoulder piece that looked like it sprouted it's own lasers on TV. I'm too lazy to look at pictures so we'll leave that up for interpretation.

I like Rihanna lots, now.
Her new album is pretty good; definitely better than her previous ones and I've been a fan since Pon de Replay.
Pick up Rated R!!

I Hope It's Not a Foreshadow

I don't like my sketches at all - I don't even want to post a picture of my finished Bad Romance inspired look because I hate it that much.
Mahhhhh. I just want to get into Parsons and/or FIT but I hate my drawings.

"Hurt" By Dirty Money Featuring Drake

I didn't expect to like Dirty Money after hearing "Angels." But after "Love Comes Down" came out I was hooked and this new song "Hurt" kept me stuck on said hook. Dawn Richard's voice in this song is just as lovely as the instrumental. I've known Dawn for quite a number of years so it's nice to see her continue working on major projects after Danity Kane; even if they're with Diddy.

I made her myspace layout earlier this year. She asked me to make a new one but I can't find the time to do it... Damn now I'm thinking I should.

Project Runway Season 06 Finale

Honestly, I didn't think this past season was great at all. None of the designers ever exuded their personal design style to me. There were some good pieces thrown down the runway during the season but nothing jaw-dropping. I didn't even pay attention to Irina (the winner) throughout the show until they started labeling her the bitch.

So last night's finale collections weren't as great as we've seen on the show before. Of course they are the best part of the season. We all want to see the best head on over to Bryant Park to show their potential. But eh... nothing was exciting or defining in their collections. I could've cared less about who won. It's hard to follow up Christian Siriano's finale collection.

May I post my favorite look of that one from almost 2 years ago?

Irina's was obviously the best. It shows more of a budding talent than the Althea Harper's or Carol Hannah's. I don't even think I've ever been a Carol Hannah fan except for the Christina Aguilera dress/challenge. Her finale piece was nothing short of my attempt to like Chloé: awful.

I enjoyed Irina's palette of black and black and black and black and beige. Her knits were great and so was the layering. I also liked her hats. They're not ugly but they're not mouth-watering (I crave fashion and would rather eat it than McDonalds). Another interesting concept was her weaved pieces. The finale dress is one big weaved gown. It looks pretty neat in a photo.

I did, however, dislike her t-shirts that got so much praise from Nina Garcia (Fashion Director for Marie Claire Magazine). They looked like '03/'04 cotton swabs made by Old Navy or the Gap.

I liked Althea's at first glance when they showed the pieces going down the runway. But when there's actually pictures for viewing purposes, I change my mind on how the pieces look. It's good but not great. I did pick out a few of my favorite pieces from each designer. I want to see tons more drama in future seasons of Project Runway; drama in the finale collections and challenge pieces. Season 07 must be grand.

Irina Shabayeva

Althea Harper

Carol Hannah Whitfield

The Best Dressed Male

I want this title for my high school yearbook's Senior Superlatives (best smile, most likely to take over the world, etc.). I don't want this because I think I dress better than the students at my school during the school year. I want it because I do. That might sound like a big-headed comment but I feel that I care enough about what I wear more than the majority of people at Hylton High School.

The odd thing is I don't care about what I wear to impress the students and faculty; I care because I love fashion. I might not care about impressing others with what I wear, but I care about showing my love to them. Honestly, dressing "well" isn't for them, it's for me. If I go out of my house not looking what I feel is great for me, I'm not comfortable.

But, I mean, it's not like I wear anything like suits everyday. I wear whatever's in my closet but... I put them together in a better way? I don't even know what I mean by that. What I'm trying to say is I wear the normal things - like jeans and converse. I think I just pair those simple things with better things on my upper-half. I've got to get my DSLR so I can start taking pictures. Lately I'm being more adventurous with what I'm wearing more so than in September/October. Tweeking this and that on my clothes from thrift stores a lot (thrifting ROCKS) and putting them to up-to-date use. It does bother me when I hear comments from stranger-students on what I'm wearing, though. Although I rarely hear anything negative, if at all. Since I'm an attendance aide for my school, I spend a period delivering early dismissal passes... Mostly to underclassmen. And when I walk into the classroom to deliver the pass and walk out there are always those who, I guess, like what I'm wearing that day or like my hair. Thanks? I'm a shy person, by the way.

So for the past 2 days, voting for those Senior Superlatives I mentioned earlier went on. I want Best Dressed. But nothing's guaranteed because I'm mean to a lot of people and don't like or don't know most of my Senior class. But I hear my friends voted for me so that's great.

Oh yeah, my Sociology teacher called me an 'Early Adopter' the other day. Which means I get the trends early? I don't know, there are lots of definitions to that word I suppose.

I Would Like to Thank Lady GaGa

... and Rihanna for getting me to draw this. I thank GaGa for making "Bad Romance" and Rihanna for her new album; which is what I listened to while I tried to perfect this look (you can see some differences from the smaller sketch to the bigger). I come up with random designs during the school-day because, well, school's boring. So I thought of this last week and just got the chance to draw it on my actual sketch paper. Coloring will be on tomorrow but I like the way it looks now - minus the legs. This is the first piece in my collection in my portfolio.

This Happened Sunday...

On Sunday morning my mom called me while I was in the kitchen. I hung up my phone and it fell out of my hand (face-first) onto the stone floor.

I'll be getting my godmother's 3Gs on Monday, though. So... No big deal. The weird thing is it works just like it did before except it's a little rigid and it's hard to see texts.

1st Post

I wanted to make a blog so I could write what I wanted to. My ideas, opinions, and my taste will be composed here. I've had a tumblr, well, I guess HAVE one... but it's filled with so many people that: people (including myself) don't want to read sentences on it, pictures of old things attract attention. Not hating on tumblr - I love the randomness of the postings.

I've been attracted to making a blog for the longest time so here it is. I hope people will enjoy what I have to post in the future. I'm only beginning this and I have no idea when I will end this.

It's pretty blank but it'll be filled up soon.

Nick