Sexless in Chi-City 13: Cool Ass Female

When my nerves are at ease and the atmosphere is chill or inviting I’m at my best. I tend to give off a goofy, down to earth vibe. I’m not really funny or anything but I’ve made people laugh, I read a lot and am into different things so I can weave my way in and out of conversations, so from just feeling good and being me, I got titled “a cool ass female.” Being viewed as the “Cool Ass Female” is pretty awesome. But it certainly comes with pressure. The need to keep that a general definition of how peers view you, make you think about things, sometimes just to damn much. Here's just a short example of how my "cool ass femaleness" was tested.

Almost two weeks ago (when I originally started writing this it was only two weeks) I got a text from an old college buddy (we don’t talk, hang out or anything but we have plenty of mutual friends and ever so often end up in the same place, and once a long time ago went on a date) invited me to a gathering at his house (my kind of fun) however the text started “ my old lady outta town.” now because as a cool ass female I automatically give the benefit of the doubt and think maybe he didn’t mean that like I’m invited solely because his wife is not there, maybe he meant in a general way like maybe she doesn’t like a lot of company or to many of his friends at their house. But as the average girl, I noticed the message didn’t come as a forward, likely meaning he didn’t send the same message to everyone invited. Plus I know that a couple months ago as well as in college he was trying to hit (hit means have sex with in the language of average Chicago Black girl or dude).

My cool ass femaleness, allows me to look at that situation as well as many others I find myself in, from a panoramic view. This married man wants to have sex with me because I have no interest in telling his wife anything, none of his friends can say they’ve had me, which gives me an alluring mystery,( I'm joking here ...um mostly) I don’t want anything from him i.e. money or a relationship and he’s comfortable being who he is around me and I’m pretty much a guaranteed good time because I’m cool as hell, automatically putting me in potential sideline hoe territory, if I was that kind of girl.
So what I did was simply ignore it, the message and the inference and just hung out with a friend. This way old college buddy and I are still cool, and I keep him were I want him and stay cool as hell. (Revised 9.30.10 10:40 p.m.)

1:08 a.m.

Yanga Festival

So yesterday I skipped over the dressmaking (I know I know) and decided to go outside and check out some arts and crafts festivals, but I ended up only going to one... I wanted to go to the Bucktown Arts fest as well, show the contrast between up north and the south side but Corey shot that down so maybe next year. Either way we ended up here... at the DuSable Museum for the Yanga Fest, formerly known as the Arts and Crafts Festival.
We (as in mostly he) passed out flyers, promoting the October 21st premier of the latest movie he's starring in, I posted the link to the trailer a few weeks back but if you missed it click here to catch up. For all the info on the movie go to GetaJobComedy.com or just click here.


... checked out some really great jewelry, not pictured because I want save that for later posts when I followup with some of the designers. I own the owl ring its H&M about $6 and the blue one I thought looked better in the basket.


I wore my Melody Ehsani piece, which I kept getting compliments on. Get your custom M.E. pieces here. and $20 discount store dress by a generic brand. I don't wear dresses often or own many but I'm really going to work on that.
I have to wear flat shoes when I don't really know what I might be getting into for the day.
and the perfect ending to a beautiful day, a visit from the nephews, the other one was sleeping : ) 11:49p.m.

Sneak Peak

So this is part of the reason why I couldn't work on the dress earlier, doing headshots, and a general mini photoshoot for a local actor. Corey Hendrix 1:00a.m.

Kryptonite

Starting a magazine, making dresses and clutches, designing things, taking great pictures, and writhing something down, are in my thoughts EVERYDAY without fail and have been for years, everyday.

Focusing long enough on one thing to accomplish any substantial action, or results has shown itself to be my biggest downfall.
Focus is my kryptonite. The hold back, the excuses, all steam from not having the courage (?) to give my undivided attention to any one thing. And so now I’m like this idea woman, great ideas never any action, this is the road to being the biggest loser. Trying to get off that path and I think the only way to do that is to focus on something. So I’m going to start with making a dress for someone. Committing to something, hmm maybe commitment and focus are my kryptonite.
Either way I chose making the dress because for one my sewing skills are getting rusty and if you don’t use it you lose it right? Plus committing to making this dress for someone else is a lot more motivating than making something for myself, I can always throw crap together for myself, I’m usually the only person around who can tell it isn’t that well made.
About two weeks ago a friend of mine who has been asking me for a while to make her a clutch asked me to make her birthday dress. Mostly because she wants something no one has and knows I can sew and it would probably be cheaper, not because she’s blown away by my design aesthetic. Her birthday is September 7. Now I wasted the last couple weeks trying to decide if I want to commit to this, which I still really haven’t, at least not to her but more so to myself (baby steps). Now this started with her wanting a little back dress (LBD) to ten minutes later her wanting a semi-copy of another dress... (this the photo she sent me, she is a stylist and this is one of her jobs so I'm not sure if I was supposed to share it but here it is)

The one she wants me to make has shoulder pads, with studded shoulders a 50’s style a-line skirt and boat neck collar, with caps sleeves and the back out. I came up with this. No shoulder pads or studs, because, well I just don’t want to do it.
I mean that would completely turn it into a trendy dated look plus I’m sure she’s not willing to pay for all that. Half up front so I could go get materials and then we’d have to coordinate fitting times and I still have to go to work everyday so I had to simplify it. The picture of the dress she showed me as her inspiration, inspired me to just in a different way. I kept the lace idea for the neckline and as an inset in the ¾ length sleeves, the a-line skirt is a bit more flared than stiff, the back is out and its just a bit more me.

My only issue is what kind of fabric. I was thinking some kind of knit with sheen, or at least knit for the top, and something satiny for the bottom. I have no clue and I just got back from the fabric store with some stuff so we’ll se how it goes. And though I’m off work today, I can’t use today to work it because my workspace is being obstructed, and the other reason, I'll post later. Wish me luck.1:03p.m.

Broke Black Bag

(Notice you see no zipper tab on either end of the zipper)






I bought both of these purses on Friday August 6 2010, on Sunday August 15 2010, the zipper on the black purse broke. On Tuesday August 17, 2010 I took these photos, drafted this post and Today, August 18, 2010 I am posting them, today I am still I was quite devastated, by the broke black purse. It was $30, cheap yes but I didn’t deserve that, now I have to get it fixed which chips away at it cheapness and in the meantime I will probably start carrying the amazing brown one but I wasn’t quite ready to do that, I used the black one first because I thought it was a perfect segue into fall bag. The brown one was only $20.
Notice the extra cool thing about the black bag is the triple inside pocket. Not only do you have the standard inside zip pocket, but it is slightly covered by the pocket with a zip pocket underneath. The handles are the perfect length for carrying on arm or shoulder and it’s an all around great bag, that I’ve been getting compliments on since the first day I wore it. Still devastated, now I think I’ll just carry it broke till it rains. 11:22a.m.

Videos-inspiration

There has been about five videos I wanted to post on this blog. A Will Smith viral YouTube video editied to perfection with him giving the most necessary information on everyday living, the Trailer to my friends movie Get a Job, a Beyonce video and a Rihanna music video just because of the styling and I also happen to like both songs, and the video that I am actually about to post, that has encouraged me to go ahead and eventually post the other videos I just mentioned. I never posted them though because I felt music videos or videos in general didn't have much of a place in the what I'm trying to convey in my everyday (okay every couple days) rambling about how I'm moving through my life trying to accomplish a goal. Plus I wasn't sure I wanted to promote people/celebrities especially that I don't know because that leaves room for all kinds of feedback that may not be so positive and gives people an outlet to judge you through. For example posting a Rihanna video could lead to discussions on how she can't sing isn't a great performer or anything other than how incredible the styling of the video is, and I don't really want his to be the place for any of that. I am a fan of Concreteloop which is a great place for that kind of media if you crave it.
But here is the video I came across today on Complex Magazine's website by Levi Maestro about Maestro and his journey. I've been following this guys vlogs for a while maybe a year now and though this is maybe not the most through of his work, its a great introduction to him if you've never heard of him and shows in a couple minutes how someone like him is refreshing to me and how he came to be considered one of modern societies influencers. I just made that up, but its true in my humble opinion. 7:09p.m.

Mags to Riches - Entrepreneur.com

Mags to Riches - Entrepreneur.com
Somehow this is my first time googling "starting a magazine" and this was the first thing I clicked on, frustrated and I need to go to sleep, what am I doing tomorrow making a dress or working on the website, the constant pull and push... 3:13a.m.


Oh and Im also upset I actually had to take the time out to scan this as opposed to just googling Express fall ad campaign, but the coat is to darn cute to stay on the magazine page... Campaign shot by Patrick Demarchelier, styled by Samira Nasr, art director was Doug Lloyd and the model is Caroline Trentini just fyi. goodnight for real now at 3:35 in the morning, what the hell is wrong with me?

JC Crazy!

I immediately thought PHOTO SHOOT when I saw these. Starting from this pair, I'm working my way down to the ones I crave the most, I have a thing for saving the best for last ; ).





As you can see I didn't even try them on, out of fear I wouldn't be able to take them off. These shoe's scream Ado, and photoshoot, and own me, and I love you, and all sorts of things. Saw all of these Jeffery Campbell shoes yesterday, at a shop up north called Lori's, in Lincoln Park. Love.Want.Need, them all! I had to buy myself some cute bracelets that were on sale there, to calm me down, you'll see them in a later post because now I have to get ready for retail hell, and possibly this after11:04a.m.

Static in the air

Lolla(polooza) has arrived and hipsters and non hipsters alike in Chicago are going crazy over this over priced festival, but don't get me wrong I'd go. 9:07a.m.

Come with me...

are we there yet???

It was free night at the Art Institute earlier and one of my favorite photographers is visiting until October 3rd.






These are some of the first photos I was shown by Henri Cartier-Bresson. The hour I was there before closing was not enough. I discovered so much more than I knew was there. Of course now I have to head to Amazon.com (well sometime in October when my money recuperates from the shopping I've done/am doing this month and the cruise I'm going on next month) to find the book of his work the Art Institute was selling for $75, for less, much less. I'm going back the next Thursday evening I have off before the exhibit is over and maybe I won't be to scared next time to sneak a camera photo of some of the photos that pause me.
Here is a cool one either taken or developed/published in 1951 of fashion photographer Richard Avedon, once editor of Harper's Bazaar Carmel Snow, and Marie Louis Bousquet 3:14a.m.

Picking up my own slack

So I didn't work on the dress, at all, I set up my space and pretended to myself that finally on Sunday I was going to spend the whole day until it was time to leave out to go to a surprise birthday party, working on it. I feel the disappointment as I type this, but I also know me, and when I'm not really in the clothes making mood, its pretty difficult to get started. I guess I should change the Will Work For Clothes label to Will work a bullshit ass retail job to buy temporary gratification to cover up my loser ways, just to be more descriptive.




Felt like a kid again when I saw this, bought it and thought about a career in industrial design for a split second. I mean packaging is so important, and I know its a big part of the reason I couldn't go home without this.





So this is what I wore to the surprise birthday party. I made my mom and little brother take the pics as I waited for my ride, they were afraid of and intrigued by the "big camera."
I'm wondering what happened to all that hustle and drive, I have to get my shit back together, In the meantime I'm off to the bullshit job, and I'm bout to buy some more unnecessary shit that I've been wanting all weekend on the way there 2:21p.m.