Thrifting in Allston

Those who know me are well aware of my obsession with vintage clothing. Whenever I have time to myself I enjoy spending it going to some of my favorite thrift shops. Something about digging through piles and piles of clothing until you find that hidden treasure excites me. My style is greatly influenced by the 70's and 80's eras, so I tend to look for bold prints and anything that looks remotely ridiculous while out shopping. One of the things I miss about living in New York is all of my favorite thrift stores in Brooklyn and the East Village. I'm not a huge fan of the thrift stores that Boston has to offer, it's a hit or miss with most places. While I was out in Allston with my close friend we went into Urban Renewal where I found a floral wide legged jumpsuit and over sized padded printed blouse. Before heading to dinner we stumbled upon "Lola's Urban Vintage" I had never been in before, but I heard so many great things about it. The boutique is independently owned that has many hand made pieces and beautiful vintage pieces from all over the world. Greatly inspired by the 20's era, it's the place for upcoming designers to showcase their work. I was so intrigued by the shop I had to chit-chat with the owner Nicoletta while shopping. When I asked her what inspired her to open her own business, I was very impressed by her response " I'm inspired by everything, I wanted to show that Boston isn't the worst dress city. It was a chance to discover artists and to show the people in Boston that you can find unique pieces. In Boston no one supports each other. I wanted to create other outlets to shop". After speaking briefly I found an amazing over sized suede jacket with leather patches and a funky fuzzy crop top. Lola's is the go to destination for vintage lovers in search of unique pieces, everything in there is hard to come by. Nicoletta has a great eye for fashion and exceptional taste in picking the finest vintage pieces.

Anais Van Praet: L'Officiel Ukraine July/August 2011

Alexander McQueen: Runway Shows

In general fashion isn't just about pretty clothes. There are many designers who express themselves through clothing the same way a painter does on canvas. It can be political, social, artistic, psychological, illogical, you name it. Every collection has a story behind it, individuals like McQueen tell a strong influential story, with a different perspective. Not only did he make clothes but most importantly made statements. That's why it's wrong to say that fashion is shallow.

Anais Van Praet: L'Officiel Ukraine July/August 2011

Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty exhibition at the MET

On Monday I was in New York City for the day to see the Alexander McQueen "Savage Beauty" exhibit at the MET. The exhibit evoked what we are as humans, with each collection he told stories through religion, politics, and history. The exhibit rooms were packed and at times it was a little distracting to overhear some of the comments, but ultimately nothing could detract from McQueen's vision and work. I can't say exactly why other than that there was this primal and instinctual energy surrounding these collections. Something that speaks to the ancient emotional reptilian core of our earthly souls. This was one of the best experiences of my life, I felt overwhelmed with emotion and cried tears of joy. In that very moment there was a connection between myself and each piece of art. I walked away feeling honored to have been in the presence of his work. He left little to the imagination and was the true definition of an artist. It took nearly three hours to complete the entire exhibition. Before heading back home to Boston I spent some time thrifting in the East Village, had dinner with one of my best friends Jenny, Gabi, Emily and some familiar faces at "Cafe Habana" in Soho. There was a bar down the street called "Sweet and Vicious" that I've never been to. I highly recommend it to those who like pretentious hipsters, outdoor seating, and a smoking section.

Aline Weber & Suvi Koponen

Vogue Spain

August 2011

"CREEPER