Saturday, February 13, 2010

Online Fashion Inspirato

After getting back from a much needed dose of discount shopping (just happened to cruise into Van Jean to find all the items I chose from the back room were, in fact, on super-extra discount), I was wondering if I could find some photos of the 3.1 Phillip Lim skirt I just bought online to get some inspiration on what to wear with said skirt.

In the eternal beauty of the internet, I happened upon The Ensemble Project. Not only did I find inspiration for my skirt -- mind you, the actual skirt is not featured on her blog, but her creativity gave me enough to go on -- but I ended up getting some great tips all around. Fashion, interior design, you name it, this Philly-based woman knows her stuff! Go check her out.

Friday, February 12, 2010

She Bop

I love this video clip of Lady GaGa and Cyndi Lauper on their press circuit for their MAC lipstick collaboration for many reasons, but mainly because of everything Cyndi Lauper has on her hands. Check out the triangular ring, the fringe bracelet and the fingertip gloves. Love Love LOVE! I will spend the rest of the weekend searching for these items online. Plus, who can resist the faux hair bow GaGa is rockin? Look out, Hello Kitty.

The other reason I love this clip is that Cyndi is yackin' away. GaGa can't really get a word in edgewise, and maybe she doesn't really want to because (a) she's giving Cyndi her props as one of GaGa's many precursors, musically, but also because (b) she could very well be flat out knackered from the junket.

Tuesday, February 02, 2010

WWCD

Just yesterday, in response to this brief article in The State, @RileyComm asked, "what would you say?" It got me thinking about the tape loop of thoughts I have about this city and what I would do to improve it. In the spirit of the upcoming mayoral elections, here's what I would do to improve Colatown.

- I would increase parking tickets from $7.00 to $14.00.
- I would hire someone for Main Street development with experience in retail recruitment and have that person recruit some worthwhile retailers to Main Street. I might then consider blocking off Main Street on the weekends to be pedestrian-only.
- I would curtail housing development until there was more of an infrastructure in place to support people living here.
- I would improve the city's bus system and build more sidewalks (not just road improvement).
- I would increase cigarette and alcohol tax.
- I would improve the city's website SEO so that a search for "city of columbia event calendar" would pull up Columbia, SC above Columbia, MO.
- I would make sure businesses like City Roots were rewarded for what they are doing...meaning I would be sure there aren't any chemicals leaking into the ground surrounding the farm.

There are things that are out of government control that really irk me, like certain restaurants not being open on the weekend, and local boutiques not staying open during "after work" hours, and customer service in general around town. But in my experience living here, I've come to realize that unless the local government improves the machinations of the city, demand will not rise to the point at which these businesses need to meet it.