Your Life Disrupted

The University of Pittsburgh is having some issues.

After the shooting at the Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, many bomb threats have occurred all over campus. (I lost count after the 16th one.) People thought that someone just didn't want to take exams. But lately, it's become somewhat ridiculous -- I think we're over at a count of over 40, and multiple places are being evacuated all at once. And even worse is that dorms and even the library (read: sacred study space where no one should EVER be bombing!) have been targeted. I feel bad for the students there, especially since they've been forced to leave their beds before sunrise and after sunset. It's awful...

Stop the Pitt bomb threats has been doing a really good job of compiling information,
but I've gotten so nervous and paranoid that I am (sadly) suspicious of him/her/them.

 

At first, some people were laughing a little and treating it as a joke. "Oh. Another one? Why can't it happen during my class?" But now, people are getting really scared -- they think that it may be something like what happened at Columbine and Virginia Tech, where shootings were apparently heralded by bomb threats. At this point, everyone's starting to get on edge, and everyone's consensus is that the perpetrator needs to be caught -- if the threats just stopped, the unleashed hysteria would be terrifying.

This whole thing has gotten me really down -- classes are becoming empty, paranoia is catching like wildfire, and classes are cancelled.
But it's Easter, and I'm determined to raise up everyone's spirits.

In recent news, Pitt held its 11th annual drag show on Friday, and I got pictures for a photo essay. It's a great cause, and the Rainbow Alliance always gives its donations to the Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force, which is such a sweet thing to do.
Here are some of the photos from backstage:

Putting on the face.

After the face is on, it's time for makeup.

THE AFTERMATH
Queens never fall -- they descend with varying amounts of grace
and may or may not twist an ankle.

I have many more photos, but I need to edit them before I can put them up -- rotating, fixing the (awful) lighting, and such.
And I feel like such a tease since I'm actually prepping these for the next issue of The Original Magazine, which means you won't see the final pieces until the fall. But at least that gives you something to which to look forward, no?

Anyways, you can stay caught up on the news about Pitt's bomb threats through the University. Alternatively, you can keep up with the news on Stop the Pitt bomb threats and Pitt's reddit site, where people have been doing extensive compiling (and speculating). I'm not saying that the latter options are the most reliable, but you may find some useful gems here and there.

Photo source (for the bomb threat): Stop the Pitt bomb threats

New York Fashion Week Fall 2012

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week (Fall 2012) has started in New York!
Are you excited?

Today's line-up is as follows:
9 AM // Nicholas K
10 AM // BCBGMAZAZRIA
10:30 - 11:30 AM // Kaelen
11 AM // Richard Chai
1 PM // Honor
2 PM // Tadashi Shoji
2:30 - 3:30 PM // Candela
4 PM // Chadwick Bell
5 PM // Joseph Abboud

Here's the schedule on their website, so check it out!

Photo source: Merces-Benz Fashion Week

The Half-Time Report

I have to admit that I'm not big on TV. (I feel like I may have mentioned this before.) I, in fact, rarely watch TV since I always find other ways to distract myself, but big things like the Super Bowl are hard to miss when almost everyone else is discussing it.

Considering the fact that I have been enslaved by Milton's Paradise Lost for the past two weeks, my interest in watching the game dropped to a level lower than my usual apathy. So as my sister was watching the game, I was successfully ignoring it all since all of my attention was focused on deciphering syntax.

But then the half-time show came on, and I stared at the TV. Why? Because my brain went from well-done during the blank verse in the Miltonic epic to completely fried during Madonna's yoga performance. Err... I meant "half-time performance."

Let's get physical. Physical.
"This yoga pose is called the 'Pharaoh Pokes Your Eyes Out.' Do it with me."

I won't lie -- I got a little confused. For some reason, I started thinking of Olivia Newton John's "Physical" music video -- except trust Madonna to bring yoga into it, right? Of course.
It was really awkward, and I may or may not have felt really uncomfortable watching it.
But after a bit of confusion, things got okay because this happened:

Why, hello there, sparklies.

And if you're not amazed by that picture, then you just need to look more carefully. At the shinies. Look at the shinies. Look at them!
And look.
And look.
If you are still not amazed by the wonderful sequined choir robe on Cee Lo Green at this point but are scratching your scalp in confusion, then I'd still warrant that you might be doing it right. Maybe.

Anyways, more pictures and commentary below!
You know you want to read more!
(No, really. Do it!)

Versace for H&M Cruise Collection

Remember the collaboration between H&M and Versace last season? Well, rumors were that a second collection was to be released soon afterwards. But this time, the focus would be resort wear.
And now, proof is finally out. Here's a sneak peak:

You can see that there's a sort of fruit print going on. It seems to be the theme.
I'm personally not as excited as I was for the collaboration that was released in the fall. For me, I associate my ideal Versace with glamorous metallics, edgy leather, and luxurious prints. Though the cruise collection here has a print, it's not in the Ginanni-era style that I so adore.
I admit that it's whimsical and fun (and quite adorable, I'd warrant), but I guess I'm just not feeling this collection -- especially in comparison to the fall's collection The Very Best of Versace for H&M line (where I felt that Donatella was somewhat channeling Gianni, I daresay).

Speaking of which... I wonder how this resort wear will fare. I mean, I think it'll be hard to top what happened in November (the H&M site got so much traffic that it crashed; people unsurprisingly camped outside of stores two days before the collection released went on sale; some stores sold out in half an hour; and injuries resulted, including an incident in Hong Kong, where a woman reportedly sent two henchmen to beat up the security guards who had accused her of cutting a line of three hundred shoppers). But who knows? Maybe everyone will have a greater fashion fever over these pieces than the ones in the fall.

In any case, that's the new situation with Versace's affair with H&M.

What do you think?

Sources: Huffington Post

Video out for The Very Best of Versace for H&M

So. You all know how I've been freaking out about The Very Best of Versace for H&M (Winter 2011), Versace's team-up with H&M? Well, they finally released their promotional video a few days ago, so here you are:

The video's kinda weird and chilling (creepy, even?), but it's really nifty. I am especially a fan of the background music, which is just erratic and fanciful. The concept behind the promotional video is also really amusing and cool. FUN.
I still wish I had the opportunity to attend any of the recent promotional events or to even just buy some of the clothes, but I'm holding out because I am determined to get my DSLR (which will happen by the end of this month, yay! All of my hard work shall pay off).
But I guess there are other future H&M collaborations to which I can look forward, so I'll just have to suck it up and be patient.

But remember, all of you who are lucky enough to be near an H&M that will sell this line, that it drops on November 19th in America! Check it, yo!

Source: the Versace for H&M video on H&M's YouTube channel

Your Carine Roitfeld Update: The Client

Have you seen this?
It's Carine Roitfeld on W magazine's website!
It's a nice, little blurb about, The Client, the recent documentary on Carine Roitfeld, (recently resigned) ex-editor-in-chief of Vogue Paris.

Check it's out after the jump! (It's just 13 minutes, so you have no reason to watch it! I mean it -- watch it!)

RE: "The 40 Worst-Dressed Cities in America" (GQ)

Over the summer, I came across an article from Gentleman's Quarterly called "The 40 Worst-Dressed Cities in America." After seeing this title, I was bound to read it.

#40 Boulder, CO

For the list and more details, click away!
I think you'll be interested.

Catalog out for The Very Best of Versace for H&M

They have finally released the photoset for the Versace for H&M collection, The Very Best of Versace for H&M!

Here's a picture of Anna Dello Russo in a dress by Versace for H&M.
Mainly because I love this woman and secondarily because it's relevant.

But wait -- there's more! Click to continue read!

Polyvore with The Very Best of Versace for H&M // Mention from the Original Magazine

Here's a snapshot of the post:

Whoot! Check it out!

Click for more!

(Also, my apologies for the confusing title!)

Save the Date: The Very Best of Versace for H&M on November 19th

Over the summer, I found out that Versace was teaming up with H&M to release a line in the fall. Of course, I began freaking out and told everyone all about how excited I am.

OH, MY FRICK.
CUT ME A SLICE OF THOSE COLORFUL PRINTS, PLEASE.
GET IN MY CLOSET. NOW.

Click to read more!

New York Fashion Week, Take 1

Julia with my espresso and scone

As many of you know, New York Fashion Week has started. Unfortunately, I've been too busy to follow up too much (I know, I know -- what kind of fashion-freak can I claim to be if I haven't even been able to handle the rudimentary task of keeping up with Fashion Week? In my defense, I've been swamped with work from professors who are under the impression that I have no class other than their own.
(But I'm working on keeping up with NYFW! I just need some time to get there.)

But after a nice and rather productive trip to Shadyside with my friend Julia, I went back home and took a little break. Since my sister was watching some of the shows, I tuned in and saw the works of Jill Stuart, Lacoste, and Vivienne Tam. We also recapped Jason Wu's collection before I stopped, knowing full well that I'd never get any more work done if I just kept watching.

ZARA (A Very Important Notice)

The US shopping website for Zara is going up today. Not that you didn't know, of course.
I was perusing with my sister, and THE SITE HAS SO MUCH THAT I WANT. You know, no big deal or anything. I'm just DYING with anticipation -- that's all.
If you haven't had the chance, check it out!

Seriously, they have quite a few things of taste in the collection. Keep your eyes peeled for the men's bags and shoes, for instance; they have quite a few choice pieces! So pretty, so pretty...