These photos were taken underneath and around my library since it was raining. They were also taken by my friend Henry on super short notice — thanks Henry!!

I’m finally on my reading week!!!!!! I’m breathing a big sigh of relief because I’ve been feeling really drained and lethargic lately. It’s also been hard to blog because of the bad weather, but I’m determined to make up for the lack of posts this week… along with sleep, and a ton of readings.

Necklace and cardigan (Cotton + Candy) bought off Nasty Gal, tank top from Urban Outfitters, denim shorts from Uniqlo that used to be jeans, shoes from Joe Fresh, purse is Rebecca Minkoff

They spill from drawers,
from the pockets of my bathrobe,
the pages of my books. Still
she persists, reciting
the ingredients: smoked salmon,
a cup of cream, lemon,
green onions, garlic, and basil.
You’ll love it, she says,
and don’t hold back–
it’s the spices
that make all the difference.

Later when we’re home
exchanging stories about the party
before we go to bed,
he says her name out loud,
three times
in the course of conversation
as if he likes the sound of it,
as if he savours each
creamy vowel, each piquant
consonant on his tongue.

I am brushing my teeth.
I pretend I haven’t noticed.
At least, I tell my self,
I’ll know if he’s been with her –
the smell of garlic
where her fingers sweep across his belly
just below the novel
the oh so delicate taste of
basil on his skin.

– Lorna Crozier

I first came upon this poem a year ago in class and I loved the subtle accusations, the connotations, and the overall tone of the poem; so salacious. Also, Lorna Crozier is Canadian!

Sorry about the lack of posts. I’m finally into my Reading Break and pulled two all-nighters last week trying to get my papers in and studying for midterms. Hopefully it’ll stop raining so I can take some pictures this week! Hope you’ve all been more well-rested than me.

Here are some photos taken from my boyfriend’s personal film SLR, some of which are the last shots before his F-1 was stolen.

Perhaps I’m just a sentimentalist, but there really is something special about film photos.

His outfit: touque and t-shirt from H&M, coat is from Obakki, jacket is Adidas, chinos are Levis, shoes are Y-3

Meet my incredibly stylish friend Mike!

How would you describe your look for today?
- Urban Intellectual

What does style mean to you?
- For me, style is a very unique form of non-verbal communication. It’s an outward articulation of what’s going on inside your head/body/heart. It’s another medium for people to express their creativity or personality. It’s something to discuss, admire and aspire to. It’s a way of saying something, without saying anything.

Style is very important to me because it’s how I present myself to the world. We live in a very visual society where assumptions are made and opinions are formed about one another based on a glance or a look. When I put my outfit together, I think about the non-verbal messages that I am sending out. Clothes are the main part of that message, but for me, it’s not always about having the most expensive clothes: it’s about the final product from mixing and matching the right clothes.

What is your personal style?
- personal style is a compilation/mix-tape that takes inspiration from a lot of sources. I’m a big fan of Asian street fashion, classic English heritage and casual American style.

Tell me about your shoes:
- The shoes are Y-3, which is a collaborative brand between Japanese designer Yohji Yamamoto and German sportswear/lifestyle brand, Adidas. I bought the shoes because I thought that they beautifully represented the marriage between the two labels: Adidas, which is known for its footwear and urban sensibility and Yohji Yamamoto who is famous for his avant-garde/edgy approach to fashion. These shoes are definitely a statement piece and a favorite of mine.

Let me languish in the ecstasy of our love

With unbridled ravenous passion while youth allows discretion to withhold

Let me celebrate in the extremes of sentimentality before matured contentment begins to seep into the pores of passion

Let me love with the absence of time and retribution

Let me gorge in the inexhaustible bliss that knows no end nor rest

Let us be beautiful forever in the glories of enviable youth

And when time finally claims its victory and we succumb

We shall remain standing with wearied wrinkled smiles

I know it’s a little early, but I thought this poem would be nice for Valentine’s Day, especially since it has no title. I always have trouble coming up with titles for things, I mean, Shakespeare and Browning never gave their sonnets titles right?

These photos are of me and my co-host for our Valentine’s Day auction, and I think we’re rather adorable. Especially in the photo below.

Photo credits to Camille, again!

This shirt was my mom’s. It’s really great quality; the fabric is slightly heavier, the polka dots actually have the tiniest little stems so they’re what I assume to be tiny apples, and the gold buttons are detailed with their own added dimension. Remember those platform wedges I was raving about? Well, now you can see them a little better. They give me a little over four inches of extra height!

Fur coat from Banana Republic, shirt was my mom’s, gold jeans are from Joe Fresh, belt is from my dad (YSL), wedge heels are from Aldo, purse is Rebecca Minkoff.

School is getting a bit hectic lately, I’m behind on all my readings so I desperately need the upcoming reading break to catch up. I’m also helping to coordinate a dinner theatre production for one of the clubs at school and hosting a date auction next week (click here to see our promo video because it’s ADORABLE) but I’m definitely not complaining, I really do love school. Oh! Wish me luck, because I’ve also applied to go to the University of Manchester for Exchange in 2013!!

Men’s hat from Zara, scarf from Joe Fresh, men’s denim shirt from H&M, lace maxi skirt from Forever 21, purse from Club Monaco, oxford shoes from Aldo.

I took these photos on one of my days at school so I swapped my heels for some loafers and of course, am using my beautiful satchel!

I’ve become a little obsessed with coloured pants. I now own, aside from regular colours, these mint ones, hot pink, and gold. Some may be frightened away by how conspicuous they are, but I find them so delightful! Plus, they instantly add a touch of spring which I’m eagerly anticipating.

Trench coat from Japan, scarf from Joe Fresh, shirt from Paris, satchel from Peru, pants from H&M, loafers from Aldo.

And this Sunday’s edition of Sunday Songs comes from one I wrote myself, seeing as how the subject matter complements my pants =D

We sit, you and I, in the glory of the sun
Light penetrating, illuminating life in a beauteous golden glow
The air is fresh, new,  as if winter truly bore
Spring herself from the depths of her belly,
Waiting for time’s permission

I bought this cocoon coat way back in October and I love it! So comfortable and cozy, I just throw it on top of any outfit.

Every way ends, every road,
every foot-path leads at last
to the hill-crest–
then you retrace your steps,
or find the same slope on the other side,
precipitate.

I have had enough–
border-pinks, clove-pinks, wax-lilies,
herbs, sweet-cress.

O for some sharp swish of a branch–
there is no scent of resin
in this place,
no taste of bark, of coarse weeds,
aromatic, astringent–
only border on border of scented pinks.

Have you seen fruit under cover
that wanted light–
pears wadded in cloth,
protected from the frost,
melons, almost ripe,
smothered in straw?

Why not let the pears cling
to the empty branch?
All your coaxing will only make
a bitter fruit–
let them cling, ripen of themselves,
test their own worth,
nipped, shrivelled by the frost,
to fall at last but fair
with a russet coat.

Or the melon–
let it bleach yellow
in the winter light,
even tart to the taste–
it is better to taste of frost–
the exquisite frost–
than of wadding and of dead grass.

For this beauty,
beauty without strength,
chokes out life.
I want wind to break,
scatter these pink-stalks,
snap off their spiced heads,
fling them about with dead leaves–
spread the paths with twigs,
limbs broken off,
trail great pine branches,
hurled from some far wood
right across the melon-patch,
break pear and quince–
leave half-trees, torn, twisted
but showing the fight was valiant.

O to blot out this garden
to forget, to find a new beauty
in some terrible
wind-tortured place.

– Hilda Doolittle

http://blog.metmuseum.org/alexandermcqueen/dress-horn-of-plenty/

The above photo is from Alexander McQueen’s Savage Beauty collection from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. I think he would have understood this poem.

P.S.

Sorry about the tardiness for the Sunday Song post!

]]> http://amuseume.wordpress.com/2012/01/30/sunday-songs-sheltered-garden-from-the-sea-garden-collection/feed/ 0 lalalalainat amcqueen http://amuseume.wordpress.com/2012/01/28/intermission/ http://amuseume.wordpress.com/2012/01/28/intermission/#comments Sat, 28 Jan 2012 20:30:05 +0000 lalalalainat http://amuseume.wordpress.com/?p=287 Read More

Two days ago I went to go see a really wonderful production of Waiting for Godot. Unfortunately, while watching the play, my car was broken into and the camera I use to take these blog photos, as well as my boyfriends film SLR were stolen. I had already taken pictures that I intended to put up for yesterday, but they are no longer in my hands. In the meantime, here are some outtakes.

My photographer =)

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