i.d. mystery

i heart egon shiele (creator of above painting). so gnarly.

sooooo, time to get fussy about clothes clothes clothes.

thought du moment: how much does clothing really reflect a person's lifestyle?  or rather, what does it really reflect, if anything?

i know, deep.

having worked at thakoon for the past 3 months in production (wheeee), i've been noticing how my style has changed to adapt to my "daily" life.  these days it's more function over form...the layered pieces of t-shirt, cardigan/outer piece, jeans, motorcycle boots, minimal jewelry and makeup are my Uniform. all i have is my wavy 'do to instill some oomph.   it's about feeling comfortable and not wearing fussy details like ruffles, sequins, and heels, that allow me to focus more on work than my outfit. it's kind of empowering, yet necessary and appropriate. i'll call it the 'tomboy' effect.

it just wouldn't feel right to wear a darling dress and heels when i have to run around to factories every day. i'll save it for the weekends, but of course.

but maybe that's just me.  i know lots of fashionistas who run around in heels, pretty clothes, designer bags, and are able to pull it off while doing their thing. i would love to do the same, however i can honestly say that i wouldn't be comfortable wearing that doing my job.

perhaps these days it has everything to do with personality....if one is a chameleon, then it makes sense that the clothing would reflect as such, adapting to the environment of said job. it has nothing to do with whether the person is truly into fashion or not...the Uniform is simply justified by the environment. by the same token, if one is a fashionista at heart, then nothing will stop her to wear Fashion pieces. 

Fashion can play a big role, nonetheless, in identifying the role one plays during the day...a stylist/photographer is usually pretty edgy or refined prep; designers are minimal/black/ironically repetitive; the CEO and sales teams are generally the best-dressed; production is practical, refined.  

....and it goes beyond defining one's job...it can define the "type" ie: hipster, prepster, consultant, finance advisor, Mom, etc...each social group, if one belongs,  generally inherits a certain aesthetic on the inside and out.

but alas, i categorize, when really Fashion is about the experimentation and chameleon-esque empowerment for any individual, should one choose to embrace it.

that's all.

yay-ahz

so i was at the jazz club Iridium on friday nite, totally inspired.

afro-cuban jazz was the music du nuit.

it.was.amazing. 

my friend levy schooled me in the lay of the stage, left to right: piano, bongos, congas, timbales (!!!), electric bass, and vibraphone. a percussionist's heaven of sorts.

each musician was an 'expert' at their instrument, and in total control in relation to the cohesive sound of the band...nobody was out there for themselves to be heard...they knew when to recede for the soloist or play just loud enough...and obviously respected each's talents as they smiled and grooved with the music, just as we did in the audience.

my fave was the piano player, perhaps a biased opinion, but he was a surefire talent.  there was a song where his wrists were sharply angled while he struck the keys.  i asked him post-show why he did that...apparently it was intentional so the sound would be loud enough. his solo parts were also complete ideas...part rachmaninoff meets gershwin meets debussy...thrown in with classical jazz scales and glisses...he even looked like the jazz version of evegny kissin, curly hair n' all. 

my second fave was the timbale player (timbalist?)...he just had this...control and consistency in his playing that i could appreciate...such a pro.

what was also inspiring was the "flatness" of the band's sound, and how it stayed exciting and vibrant under that ceiling of flatness. all the elements of the venue (stage, instruments, the way the instruments were played) contributed to this musical aesthetic...it's just, interesting.

the nite made me truly appreciate jazz music...as a classically trained pianist, i used to perceive jazz the way someone would compare pastry chef vs. chef...you're either good at one or the other. and usually the crossover isn't successful simply because you're more made for one. 

but now i see it as....even if i won't achieve in jazz the same level i've achieved in classical music, it can only help. and well, it's just cool to know jazz, no?

i was never great at improvising, nor was i comfortable improvising in public, on the spot. perhaps learning jazz would release that personal constraint, especially if it's just a mental one, and further challenge and enhance my musicianship. i find that it's very powerful to know both classical and jazz techniques and chords, because you can tie in elements of one into the other... being in a rock band, my classical background has already played a great musical influence on the parts i write. i'll pull some chopin here, david bowie there, muse elsewhere...

it's like when i took opera lessons for a year...who knew that would come in handy in a rockband when it was my turn to sing!

play on.

color me pretty

10 days into the new year...and i'm moving into a new apartment. 

new year, new view.

but first, i need to paint over the white walls. i might as well, since i have to spackle a bit before moving in anyway.  i never knew choosing a bedroom color could give me such a feeling of commitment-phobia. !!! i'd like to think i'll be living here for longterm, therefore i'm staying away from the bright and bold and trendy. i love reds, however that might give me an unwelcome jolt of color on some days. i also want to stay away from the 'classic' ivory and beige and putty, since i've lived with that for a while now and am ready for something different...yet still soothing and livable and inspiring. handsome yet feminine. sophisticated but not stuffy. tasteful, classy, but not commercial or boring. it's like finding the perfect man....i kid.

interestingly enough what i'm feeling right now is the concept of chalkboard paint, or at least the finish of (matte)...makes a statement, yet hopefully still inviting to me when i come home late nite looking to pass out, or just to hideaway. or to sleep in. Slate Gray...or Charcoal...or putty mauve. something vintage/modern. Both look good with chestnut and pine colored furniture.

do i want all the walls to be a darker color? or just an accent wall? if i'm going to go there...i should go there....all walls perhaps?

it's a small room, but not tiny.  and great, fabulous natural light. high ceilings. 

it's kind of a lot to think about, since i'm not the type of person to continuously change up the color of my walls (who has the time?). 

oh, the drama.