I Might Be Needing One of Those...

I will be on a week-long vacation beginning Thursday, and I'm taking Cuffington with me! Please feel free to visit any of my lovely linked sites on the blogroll, or my sponsors if you get really bored.

Where am I jetting off to? Here's a hint. Where I'm going, I am definitely going to need an umbrella. Also, the city starts with "P" and ends with "ortland."

I love all of you!

xoxo
Catie

I Go 'Eek!' for Iek

I love Iekeliene Stange. I seriously do. She's one of my favorites working in the biz these days. And her "off duty" outfits are just the best. She just comes off as so incredibly charming and laid back and fun.


The New York Times has a super-quick interview with her here about her personal style as well as life after modeling inevitably comes to an end. Check it!

Oh dear.

It's been exactly a year since I moved to California and these past twelve months have been a whirlwind of new opportunities and experiences. I always told myself that I'd never fall into the stereotypical Cali girl hang-ups (Uggs, dying my hair blond, tanning, buying a car, abbreviating everything) and thus far I've stayed away from such over-played trappings, not just because I find them tired and overdone but because they're just not me. If that makes any sense.

That said, yesterday I did something that in my wildest kismet I never thought I'd do:

Birthday Babe

The most glamorous and amazing woman in the entertainment biz celebrates her birthday today. Ladies and gentlemen, today Cher turns 62 and if I ran things today would be a national holiday. No work or school! Put on your favorite wig, have a popsicle, and dance the day away.

What can I say about Cher that we all don't already know? Who do I gush about more on this website? Liza? Madge? Nancy McKeon? Natasha from Cycle 8? It's a tough call.

Oh, and speaking of wigs, here is a totally embarrassing photo of myself karaoking a Cher song during this past New Year's Eve. The gentleman in the wig (a Neil Patrick Harris look-alike if there ever was one but in this photo you can't tell) is my friend Jason, an even bigger Cher fan than me.

Bay to Breakahs S/S 2008 Lookbook!

So! Some of you may be familiar with a little footrace here in San Francisco known as BAY TO BREAKERS. It's a combination of Mardi Gras, Halloween, and any old competitive 12K race you may care to mention. The serious athletes are off and running before 7:00am, but everybody else (we're talking tens of thousands of people) prefer to don their most glamourous and tasteful ensembles and work their pageantry and liquid intake while still actively running the seven and a half mile race.

This was my first Bay to Breakahs experience, and so instead of being an actual participant, I opted to take photos of the best oufits I saw. What you see below is a tiny fraction of the creativity and costuming that was actually there. So, start some runway music, and get ready to watch the people weeeerrrk!

Mario and Luigi show us that those horrid "ironic mustaches" are here to stay!

Why so serious?

You know you're in San Francisco when Elvis is singing karaoke at the DMV!

Short shorts for boys? It's a DO! Icky farmer tans? It's a DON'T!

We've got the sixteenth president UP IN HERE!

One of the many It Couples we saw along the way.

These ladies were rockin' some mad hot outfits!

We found Waldo! He was dancing to Madonna!

These two are rocking the metallic and Grecian draping look!

Leaving the house without clean shoes? It's a DON'T!

Papa Smurf is looking BEAT!


Hey! Who's THIS guy?

Oh yeah! "Disco Stu don't advertise!"

The two hottest non-costumed ladies right here!

This party girl was rocking some Chanel sunglasses and a t-shirt that reads "Hot Mess."

Saying 'no' to carbs is SO last season!

Reno 911!

These ladies are riding the 80's trend for all it's worth!

A Ghostbusters army, anyone? Anyone?

Sometimes it's SO embarrassing when you wear the SAME outfit as someone else but these two made it work!

Chewy says, "Why wax? Go natural!"

But this guys says, "Strategic waxing is best." Ewww!

Iron Man

Okay, so I saw Iron Man this weekend, and now I have the Black Sabbath song of the same name stuck in my head. What this outfit actually has to do with Iron Man I cannot say.

Blazer - Elizabeth & James
Pants - Helmut Lang
Tank - Banana Republic
Flats- Lanvin
Necklace - vintage

Saturday, in the Park...

...everyday's the fourth of July.

T-shirts - American Apparel
Cardigan - Burberry
Skirt - vintage
Belt- Anthropologie
Flats - Yves Saint Laurent
Necklaces & brooch - family heirlooms

Josh! Whatchu Goddamn Doing?

Well, I guess he's unleashing his wrath on hipster eyewear.

My old pal Josh (but not, you know, that Josh) recently passed around this rant. I mean, that's why the internet was invented, right?

Here's what Josh has to say:

"IT'S NOT 1982!!!!!!!!
IT'S 2008.

Just thought you neon sunglasses wearing motherfuckers should know.

Please, try not to take this too personally and I'll try not to notice your complete inability to conduct yourself in any type of original manner. Nu rave on!"

So What Happens Now?

Unless you've been living under a heavy boulder, this breaking news has been the talk of the town here in the Gayborhood.

Of course I'm elated, but am curious to know whether or not this will be another short-lived fix. Those on the opposing side are already gearing up to fight it. Will this start a chain reaction of other states following suit, or will it be a re-visit of what happened in the spring of 2004?

This time, I truly hope things stick.

ANTM Cycle 10 Finale: Big Deal?

Oh wow. A first ever for ANTM went down last night. Size 10 model Whitney took home the crown, leaving the lovely but not overly personable Fatima and the arguably more talented but wonky-mouthed Anya in her pink chiffon Versace wake.

Already the internets are a-blazin' with Whitney-related conspiracy theories. Not since Saleisha (such a long time ago, I know!) has the legitimacy of a contenstant come into such heavy questioning.

I say, it all comes with the territory. You can't really argue with the validity/realness of a television show, even a "reality" show, because the simple fact that it IS on television already lends itself to a world of fakery. Did Ty Ty finally want this year to be the year of the plus-sizer, and planned for Whit to sail on through from the very beginning? Perhaps. I really don't care. TV was created to amuse, distract, and sell product. Does this show even come close to an accurate representation of the modeling biz to begin with? Fakery begets fakery. Check and mate.

That said, I was thrilled that my girl Whitney won. As you may recall, her, Marvita, and Katarzyna were my favorites. Sweet sweet Anya, as the runner-up, will not have to deal with the curse of being the actual winner, and will do just fine forgoing those cheesy My Life as a Cover Girl promo spots.

Well done, Whit. See you in Times Square?

They Say It's Your Birthday

It's my birthday too, yeah.

For real, my birthday is this week and I will be away from the computer for a few days. Life as we know it on Cuffington will resume on Thursday.

Then and Nau

So very often in the apparel biz, even a company that seems to have everything and then some going for it folds after only a short while. Take Nau, a label based out of Portland, OR (I was living there when it launched and remember all the hype and press very well) that is now going out of business.

Three short years ago, right out of the gates, Nau seemed to have it all. Founded by former Nike, Adidas and Patagonia execs, it had solid financial backing, good design and quality, and tons of media exposure perpetuated by a unique business model that was at the forefront of the now ubiquitous 'green' movement. So what happened? This article tries to piece things together, saying that sometimes even when you assemble the ultimate dream team, that is not always enough, because the consumer has to be into it as well.

I can only speak for myself when I say that I am not a fan of the 'sporty' look, no matter how chic it appears (think Stella McCartney for Adidas, etc.). You will never catch me wearing sneakers outside of the gym (I do all my exercising indoors, thank you) or a rain jacket with a drawstring hood (a trench and umbrella works fine for me), but even though that all is true I distinctly recall seeing Nau's designs and thinking, "Wow, that is so different, I think that is actually very practical and aesthetically pleasing as well."

But in the end, I did not buy. And that, as Robert Frost said, has made all the difference.

ANTM Cycle 10, Episode 12

I now recap episodes of ANTM in haiku form. It gives me a sense of peace amid the thundering madness of that show, and since brevity is the soul of wit....

I.

Whitney is worried
How many times came can one be
In the Bottom Two?

II.

Capture Paulina!
Anya's brain functions are that
Of a hummingbird

III.

Snark, bitch, moan, complain
Dom found candy in her bed
At least she's happy

IV.

Sexy leopard prints,
Staircase, pissy male models
Dom has a "strong face"

V.

Anya called first - duh!
Whitney and Fatima - spared!
Later, Dominique!

A Statistical Analysis

I'm always the last to learn about these things, but have you ever seen the amazing graphs and charts over at Graph Jam? They inspired me to create the following pie chart:


If you are in need of a cheat sheet, click here.

Chantal!

Seriously. I walk into the gym, glance at the latest issue of 7x7 (that's an SF culture/nightlife/arts magazine for you non Bay Area-folks) and who is the hot piece on the cover?

Clickety click click!

Well done, Cosmonaut Barbie. That IS chu!

ANTM Cycle 10, Episode 11

Since last week's haiku recaps were such a hit, the trend shall continue.

Intro

My dear Whit and Kat
So much is focused on them
This does not bode well


Challenge

Fighting with wood swords
Dominique knows "she's the best"
But OF COURSE she is!


Enter the Gladiator!

It's not Russel Crowe
Whitney wins the challenge, but...
Kat is sex on sticks!


Photo Shoot

Tyra's the photog
Tells Whitney, "Be less hoochie."
Anya's perfect. Duh!


Panel

Wow! Dom didn't suck.
No one cares for Katarzyna.
Tyra's out for blood.


End

Fatima called first!
Whitney is spared yet again
Poor Kat...I'll miss you.

Back in Business

t shirts - American Apparel
vest - vintage
jeans - Earnest Sewn
belt - vintage
flats - B.P.

Coco Rocha Gets Pwned!

Leave it to the beautiful geniuses at Jezebel to caption the weird, wonderful, superhero-themed photoshoot in the May issue of Vogue in LOL speak. For a primer on what that means, click here. To behold the glory of Coco Rocha with the best captioning around, scroll down.

X-Acto Knives and Margerine

Want to read an encapsulated slice of life of the maddening (yet somehow, at the same time, hilarious) goings-on at the Christian Louboutin boutique on the Upper East Side? Try this on for size.

That is, if it's available in your size.

Birthday Wish List

A bit aspirational, a bit ridiculous. But we can dream, no? Only a couple more weeks until my burfday!

1. These cute birdie bowls from Jonathan Adler.

2. Simon Doonan's new book.

3. This wallet. I somehow always prefer the men's wallets, always.


4. Elle by YSL. I finally got to try it and I love it! Great for day, goes on like a floral but a few minutes later has a light, powdery scent. C'est si bon!


5. This swim suit, from Missoni.

6. A few more of these Kartell Louis Ghost chairs.


7. These Sigerson Morrison sandals, size 40.

8. Tix to Dolly and/or George Michael, both coming to the Bay Area later this summer.

The Swim of Things

Bathing suit shopping season has taken hold of me. Seeing as I have not purchased a new suit in eight years, I sat and thought about what to get and how to procure it.

I decided on a simple, boring, cheapie-cheap, zero-bells-and-whistles white two piece from any old place, and also a wild and kooky print bikini from Missoni or Pucci or something along those lines. Surely, in a city as large and San Francisco, this would be a fairly simple request, right?

Nevermind the fact that I went to no less than eleven different stores and found neither Missoni, Pucci, nor a plain-Jane white two piece. Did you know that neither Barneys, nor Saks nor Neiman Marcus (which I figured would have my Missoni/Pucci options) don't even carry swimsuits? On their websites yes, but in their stores, no. How am I supposed to know whether or not the size is right without first trying it on? By the way, websites like eluxury also carry those suits, however there is a "no returns" policy for what they call "hygenic reasons." Ewww. Said another way, if you order that suit online and it doesn't fit, you're out of luck and quite a few dollars as well.

It was not until the end of the day when I walked in to Old Fawking Navy and saw the perfect picture of perfection in a simple, white lycra bikini dangling on a plastic hanger. And moments later it was mine, for about the price of what you'd pay for a gourmet pizza these days. Old Navy. Who would have thought. I should have gone there first and saved myself both time and shoe leather.

Here's some bathing suit shopping tips from me to you:

1. Wear flats, or shoes that are easy to slip in and out of.

2. Don't wear a complicated top or bra. If you can swing it, wear no bra at all. Red marks from bra straps on your shoulders whilst wearing the swimming costume might distract you from what you should actually be looking at.

3. Seriously, please wear your teeniest pair of non-obtrusive, flesh-colored underwear. I won't go into detail on this one, but let's just say I've learned from my mistake this time around.

Doe, a Deer, a Female Deer

I swear, it didn't feel like I was wearing an apron dress when I put this thing on this morning. Perhaps I am destined to play the ukelele in the Alps in my elderly years.

Shirtdress - Piazza Sempione

Pants - Helmut Lang

Vest - vintage

Heels - Jimmy Choo