i dream of things that never were

in no particular order, some of my california memories.

i'm kind of still sorting through the shots, so these are just a mismash of idiosyncratic moments that made me smile. looking back, i was smitten by the noisy city filled to the rim by irreverent passerbys consuming copious amounts of starbucks. funny thing, isn't it ? as i sauntered through the labyrinthine streets, i couldn't help but admire things that were probably all too common to most locals. i suppose that's the true beauty of being a tourist.

what i loved the most about my trip was the vast array of neighborhoods i visited.

laguna beach was an artsy community where i witnessed many attention-craving middle-aged women window-shop for exquiste hand-made birthday cards or brightly painted pottery.

on the way to dodgers stadium, fiesta music flooded my ears in what seemed to be mexican neighborhoods that were real & gritty.

i was baffled by the wealth at newport beach, where families of all kinds filled beach houses worth millions, equipped with outlandish accessories that have no use in such a serene environement.

the grove was slow-paced and tranquil, as shoppers nonchallantly swayed designer handbags to the beat of street musicians playing acoustic hits.

the curlicued streets of downtown los angeles were most busy, and also the most likely location to witness fashion daredevils making prompt exits from tattoo parlors or wig shops.

fans of all sorts rejoiced in the thematic arrangement outside of kodak theatre, as mimes are replaced with movie stars and men in disguise sell maps to the stars.

i just can't stop thinking about it.

an don't think i'm even close to finishing the tale of my west coast adventure.

zoë

pleasure island.

the perfect summer sequence.

courtesy of icanteachyouhowtodoit.

zoë.

take me to new york, i'd love to see l.a.

the countdown is on.

only twenty five more days until los angeles.

before i depart, i'll need to purchase some swank luggage. i also wouldn't mind a nars eyeshadow duo in charade (muted mauve & smokey plum) or mediteranee (muted gold shimmer & burnt orange shimmer), tinted moisturizer, an eyebrow waxing appointment (which is actually upcoming in early july), tooth-whitening mouthwash, opi nail lacquer in russian navy, a formal-themed party, tortoiseshell aviators, a chandelier & dirty blonde hair.

& before i go ...

" i wear weird things sometimes. i like to drink coffee. neither of those things have anything to do with who i am. " - mary kate olsen.

zoë.

darling it's better down where it's wetter, under the sea.

the first few days of summer are always adventurous, to say the least. rife with late night escapades, frigid and damp park benches, bright skies, and leaping about playfully.

x.

jessica

easy living killed the young dudes.

the funny thing about summer is that it's almost as busy as student life itself. what with friendly get-togethers, parties, afternoons on the town and rainy days spent inside watching brilliant comedies such as hot rod, you barely even have time to lay back & relax.

[photos courtesy of icanteachyouhowtodoit.com, which is basically the new cobrasnake]

i'll admit, this is the first time since thursday - the day which concluded 2008's school year - where i've had the least bit of time to even think of posting. and while resortwear is at its peak, and new itgirls are soaking up the sun in the most flattering of styles, i still see no need to write anything fashion-related just yet. it is quite possible that my mind has taken a permanent vacation away from karl, mary kate & the like, but i'm convinced it won't last too long.

in the meantime, i advise you to a) parade around town with your bestest of friends, b) host a party that will be worth remembering & c) cool down by the pool when it's all done. life's short, but summer's even shorter.

zoë.

make me better.

summer: hot planks of wood tickling your feet, sunshine peeking through lush greenery, bleached denim dangling from the clothesline, dainty florals, afternoons in bikinis & the infinite sky.

zoë.

chasing seafoam dreams.

summertime.

i spent the day snacking on grapes poolside.

& if that isn't a sure sign of summer, i don't know what is.

zoë.

hey rich girl.

epitome of summer.

carolina engman; woodstock; almost famous.

[from fashionsquad.com, & flickr]

x.

jessica.

i had to jump town & my money's all spent.

m.i.a. (amongst many many many others at the coachella music festival).

obviously the performers didn't disappoint - and neither did the spectators, for that matter. for the most part, the coachella pictures are a polyvore of bare legs, gladiators, high-waisted anything (shorts, skirts, you name it), sunnies & scraggly locks.

ah, without a doubt my most recent inspiration for summer.

zoë.

wake up, shake it up.

summer is undisputedly the season where makeup is of lesser importance: it's not a novelty to witness free-spirited girls sporting scraggly locks and a squeeky-clean visage during that time of year. however, a lancome case-full (or should i saw ziploc bag-full, ever since my four-year-old brother decided my makeup bag was a necessity for lugging around his crayola paraphernalia) of basics would probably still go to good use in a season where the hippie-chick look is much more valued than the glamour-puss.

nars eyeshadow for night, crest whitestrips, bright pink blush for rosy cheeks, a light fragrance like vera wang's princess, an angled brush, all-over shimmer and sephora's strass monoshadows for experimenting.

simple & efficient is key. after all, wouldn't you rather save valuable time for cannon balls & picnics rather than waste it in front of the mirror ?

zoë.

market your pills away.

i have my very own pair of seven for all mankind jeans. they were a gift from my cousin & they fit to a tee. luxury denim really does have its benefits: the fit, the wash, the elasticity, the comfort. all in one pair of blue jeans.

anyways, expect pictures soon, they're already taken, they're just residing in my camera for the moment, but uploads are upcoming.

and before i go, my dream summer hair;


i just have to figure out how to do it, & how to make it stay in place. trust me, not an easy feat.

zoë.

meet your new beau.

I think I'm going insane. While taking my shower today, I found myself daydreaming about beaches while singing along to Feist's "Sea Lion Woman" which was loudly booming on the radio. In my mind, there I was, laying on Malibu beach (or was it Laguna?), eyes shut, gentle beads of sweat making their way from my eyebrow all the way down to my neckbone, due to the warm sun beating down on my golden skin. I sit up on the lounging chair, tuck my coral-painted toes into the heated sand, acting like an oven against the smooth arch of my foot. As I cock my head to one side, I slip off my eyewear & catch a glimpse of the waves crashing against the white shore, suburban families & Rodeo Drive afficianados prancing along against the pictueresque backdrop.




As rainpours & snowstorms are all I have to look forward to here in Canada, the comforting month of July is what I now live for: Los Angeles, here I come.

At the moment, I'm already mentally preparing my suitcase. If I could get my hands on a vintage Fendi carrier, worth at least two grand, that would indubitably be my luggage of choice, but suffice that I don't have the money to accomodate such a purchase. Besides, it's the inside that counts.

Of course, I'm not only seeing LA. I'll also be spending a week in Palm Springs, and we may swing by Tijuana just for the fun of it. But personally, the City of Angels will be my highlight. All of those pictures I'm constantly browsing through on the internet, of Ashley, Cory, Rachel and Lindsay, that's where they are. They're perusing shops or sipping Starbucks - and soon, so will I. Needless to say, the Hollywood girls I've been eyeing for years are my inspiration for this trip.



zoë.

ps: expect a post in the near future featuring the articles i plan on packing & details on my voyage.