Black Swan.

Tonight, I saw Black Swan with my sister and her friend Tim. My friends Charlie and Justine saw it opening weekend, so I've heard all about it for weeks. The movie is fantastic! Natalie Portman's character, Nina, undergoes an incredible transformation from the beginning to the very end of the movie and the audience is simply there for her roller coaster of emotions. Overall, the tone is dark due to Nina's tortured artist character (and it is rated R).
According to interviews, Portman started training for the movie about a year in advance, and she does most of her own dancing in the movie. It is also noteworthy that Kate and Laura Mulleavy of Rodarte designed all the exquisite costumes in the movie.

Spot Dessert Bar

I've been dying to go to Spot Dessert Bar for months! but I can rarely find anyone to go to new places with. Since it's my last week (and now few days) in New York for a while, I realized I can't wait for someone to go with! time is of the essence! So, I went last night and I was certainly NOT disappointed.
Spot is located on St. Marks between second and third avenue. I really like the interior—it's cozy, sleek in an earthy way (think wooden benches and tables) yet very modern.
I got the Vanilla Almond Coconut cupcake and a Thai Milk coffee (which has a layer of condensed milk at the bottom!), which were yummy and a perfect pre-dinner treat. I got my friend Van the Berry Berry Chocolate cupcake which he said was "crazy good!"
I'm already excited to go back. I definitely want the dessert tapas and the condensed milk ice-cream!

Vanilla Almond Coconut cupcake and a Thai Milk coffee

Follow Spot on tumblr and twitter!

Reem Acra s/s '11

I've been taking another look at the s/s collections in my spare time, and I love Reem Acra's collection. The pieces are so dreamy and perfectly fit for a princess!

(all images via style.com)

end of semester musings.

This is the worst time of the semester to be at school/in the dorms. Why? While I'm enjoying my last days in the city, everyone else is taking exams and is far too busy/stressed out to do anything but study and sleep.

sorting through my clothes.

suitcase is now 95% packed!

packing, and other end of semester joys.

I finished my last final yesterday around noon, so I've just been packing and sorting through my belonging ever since. I've been reading a lot of study abroad packing guides recently and I can tell that packing is going to be a huge struggle. I've pulled three blouses, five dresses, five cardigans, one skirt, two pairs of tights, a black blazer and a jean jacket so far. And I'm probably going to add one nice dress, two (maybe three) pairs of jeans, and two pairs of chinos (khaki and navy) in addition to a healthy dose of t-shirts. I'll probably add a few more blouses and maybe one more skirt. Shoes wise, I'm definitely bringing a pair of: flip flops, dessert boots, converse and tennis shoes. I'm also going to bring either oxfords, moccasins or loafers, and one pair of heels (potentially).
In more exciting news, Stephen surprised me with a going away present!! He got me a book from Taschen!

100 Contemporary Fashion Designers

I came across these shoes when I was looking at an online store for the first time. These are Jeffrey Campbells, which I have decided is my favorite brand of heels. Not only are they chic, but they are so incredibly comfortable for 5.25" I can't believe it!! I have two pairs right now, and these would make a nice addition. (click the pic for more info)

pre-fall '11 collections.

Here's a roundup of my favorite looks from the recent pre-fall collections (all images via (style.com):

BCBG: I like the unexpected color splashes

Burberry Prorsum: leather obi belts + military coats=very interesting

I like the contrast between the leather obi belt and the soft pleats

Chanel: the square buttons make all the difference

comfy chic

DVF: trench cape!!

Monique Lhuillier: gorgeous color and that tulle!

stunning color!

Oscar de la Renta: love the nude/sequined cocktail dress

a nice shock of electric pink

love the over-emphasized A line shape

I like all the different textures

Vera Wang: grown up schoolgirl chic

love the embellishments

J. Crew s/s '11 lookbook.

I've been a secret admirer of J. Crew and their creative director, Jenna Lyons, for quite some time now. I've never actually shopped there, but the spring lookbook is so pretty! Here are my favorite looks:

chic schoolgirl

chambray+sequins. so unexpected! so chic!

I wouldn't wear this as is, but I dig the cage shirt.

spring's version of the chunky sweater and A line skirt combo.

love the skirt's design.

LOVE the color eggshell and ivory combo, and the obi belt.

( all images from fashionising.com)

Performance 9: Allora & Calzadilla

MOMA lobby.

MOMA adventures.

I finished classes yesterday, and had no plans for today, so I decided to go to MOMA and check out their new exhibits. On the second floor, there is a wonderful performance art piece titled Performance 9: Allora & Calzadilla. Every hour, on the half hour, an artist plays the fourth movement of Beethoven’s ninth Symphony (Ode to Joy). However, there is a hole carved out of the piano, where the artist stands—forcing him/her to play both upside down and backwards! While playing, the artist simultaneously moves throughout the atrium!

I also really enjoyed the New Photography 2010: Roe Ethridge, Elad Lassry, Alex Prager, Amanda Ross-Ho exhibit. In particular, I enjoyed Alex Prager's work the most. I found his photographs to be very high glamor, even if the content was mundane. They also looked like advertisements, and bore a great resemblance to the Miu Miu print campaigns.

a still from Prager's short film Despair.

MOMA lobby

more performance art

incredible model of the NYtimes building, part of the architecture exhibit

semi diy project.

I saw a tulle skirt at Forever 21 the other day in dark gray, which I thought would be a great addition to my closet. The only problem? It was full length, and me being 5'2", full length is not ideal. But, I was inspired by my friend Madeline who is constantly cutting her skirts and dresses shorter, and decided to get the skirt, and cut it to a suitable length. Cutting it was a little trickier than I expected. It was hard to cut straight, and I had to go back and even out some parts. And the top layer of the tulle is pleated, so it was hard to cut that layer evenly, but I think it still turned out ok.

imagine this skirt, but in a dark gray, and without the tiers.

hello kitty pop up shop!!

I heard about a hello kitty/sanrio pop up store a while back, I think via twitter, and this week a nice salesgirl at the Times sq. Sanrio store informed me that the pop up shop is indeed happening! This week! Sanrio had/is having a nation wide tour to celebrate their 50th anniversary, and New York City is the last stop. I went around 1:20 today, an hour and twenty minutes after the shop opened, and the line was already really crowded—it crossed 36th st! After a frigid two hours, I finally got to step up to the kitty truck! While waiting in line, the workers handed out catalogs, so I knew exactly what I wanted! One hello kitty monopoly game, one my melody plush keychain and three (hk, keropi and my medlodi) memo cubes please!

the line

getting closer!!

lalalala

my goodies!