Lately, I have been having those recurring rock star fantasies again. It’s me, on stage in front of thousands of screaming fans, rocking it out fearlessly in any combination of leather catsuits, bustiers, Balenciaga shoes, tutus, fingerless gloves… I think that there’s a little bit of rock star in all of us just waiting to be unleashed (just ask Queen Michelle of Kingdom of Style who is obsessed with all things rock star, too). As an homage to all of the fabulous rock stars — past and present — I decided to pull a few images from one of my current favorite female rockers — Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. If you want to stand out on stage, you’ve really got to be willing to put yourself out there and Karen O does it EVERY SINGLE TIME. I just love a girl who has a definite sense of personal style and isn’t afraid to take some serious fashion risks. I mean, come on, if you’re not afraid to front a rock band, clearly you’re not afraid of anything!

My sister-in-law and her new husband just got back from an 8 month trip to India.  From the few stories I have heard and the beautiful gifts they brought back, I can’t wait to hear every little detail of this unimaginable trip.  My gift??  A scarf!!   To me, a scarf is the perfect gift.  To me, a scarf transcends…every season and almost any outfit from effort to effortless.  Scarves not only make me cozy and happy, but this particular scarf seems to also have the power to put me in front of the camera…yikes!   Yes, I am the terribly-camera-shy-other-half of twentythirtyforty.net.  Hi!  I’m Arlene.  I’m also terribly short on words, so to describe it would not give it any justice..I have to show you.

Thanks Tessie & Johnathan, I looove it!!

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!  I really have to point out, before it’s missed…. the Sonia Rykiel necklace and the heart-stopping white (trimmed in gold!!) trouser by Blumarine.. WOW

Chanel Iman from Lula Magazine

For the last few days I have been in Northern Wisconsin sans internet, phone, email, text….just some good family fun  So needless to say, I couldn’t wait to lay my eyes on some fashion!  First day back and nothing could make me happier than a great new fashion blog and a good dose of inspiration.  Check out this FANTASTIC blog Brandon happened upon and a new favorite of mine….EXTRASKINNY.com

I love a woman that understands the power of some solid basics and rocking out those favorite pieces in more ways than one…. great ideas here.

So, when Arlene and I launched this website we pretty much did it all by ourselves. Just the 2 of us — buying, styling, shooting, writing, selling, marketing, accounting, shipping, cleaning.  You get the point. Luckily, we came across this fantastic, sassy little sprite named Amanda (that’s the lovely Amanda, on the right)…

She was a recent performing arts grad from Loyola University and had decided to throw away the life of an actor and march forward toward a fabulous life and career in fashion journalism. She was dying to do anything in fashion and when we met it was clearly a match made in Heaven.  Amanda is a gifted and talented (and super-stylish, of course!) writer who has been a contributor on TWENTYTHIRTYFORTY.net since its launch.  Amanda is all grown up now and has spread her wings and started her own blog — sassafras (with Amanda, it’s all about the sass).  It’s a great blog.  And I say that with the utmost objectivity!  Here’s some random pics from her site…

Fabulous, no?  The girl knows her fashion.  And since she’s really a writer, her blog is thoroughly entertaining.  Very refreshing in the blogoshpere!  Get to know her a little better here.

all photos lovingly borrowed from sassafras

The magic of accessories. Check out our latest cover story.

Well, I have finally seen the new Valentino doc. If you haven’t, please don’t wait any longer. The opening sequence gave me chills. It’s sooooo glamorous. Glamour schlamour you may say, but no matter how ordinary our lives, how quirky or odd or avant-garde or casual our style, what girl doesn’t appreciate a little glamour?

Boys like a little glamour, too!

While the film doesn’t really highlight the early days of the struggling courtier, it does a phenomenal job of providing a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the workings of fashion today and the ways in which the business has changed. It’s amazing to see the way that the Valentino house runs (over 100 seamstresses and only 1 UNUSED sewing machine.) It’s fair to say that not too many young designers could operate that way. And not to dismiss Alessandra Facchinetti, but clearly she wasn’t up to the Valentino standard. But then again, who is??

The thing that really got me about the film is Valentino’s unmistakeable love for dressing women. An interviewer asks him, “Do you know what women want?” “Yes,” Valentino replies. “What do women want?” “Women want to be beautiful.” You’re absolutely right, Signore Garavani, we do want to be beautiful. And thank you for doing it so brilliantly for the last 45 years.

the designer with Princess Rosario of Bulgaria

all photos courtesy of Style.com

I think that sometimes people (those not really into fashion) forget that fashion designers are artists. For people like my husband, for example, there is nothing artistically intriguing about fashion. As I was flipping through the April/10th Anniversary issue of Nylon Magazine (if you’re not yet a subscriber, get on it!), there were pages and pages of birthday cards imagined, drawn, shot, and styled by various designers and design houses. I just love such obvious illustrations of the deep connection between art and fashion, don’t you?

all photos scanned from Nylon Magazine. Happy Birthday, Nylon!

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

photo from zoozoom magazine

During our last photo shoot, I realized our incredible photographer did not recognize or was familiar with Blythe.  Honestly, I think he was thinking “what’s up with the creepy doll pictures around here?”   If HE’S not aware, I knew I had to spread the love about Blythe….c’mon, there’s no better Art+Fashion than BLYTHE!

photos lovingly taken from Gina Garan’s book, this is Blythe