de la mode

today was successful, in the morning i shot some photos for my new "false characters" collection and hopefully will be able to get them up on the site for sale soon. wrapping up another rather simple collection means I can move onto my next which is going to be something much diff rent, same style and taste just rocked a little bit differently. I'm currently working on a few things for a small men's collection and then a few things for the metrospace fashion show. Although I need to save my money for materials, I did manage to buy myself these today :

costume dept leggings

preisthood necklace

mustache necklace

eeek the mustache is my favorite, haha i'm such a dork!
hugs && kisses

im breaking my back but its alright

I've finally finished all my orders for the cross bones collection. I've actually been sowing/working everyday just to keep up. The success of the collection has been mind blowing. its only three simple pieces but they've sold very well. As well as working on all the orders that I've been receiving I've designed my new collection. It was inspired by the parsons' challenge and the question.. "what have you overlooked?"... crazy how one question can get me to a million more questions and a few good designs. The next collection will feature far more detailed dresses and Andy Warhol-esque hand stitched graphics. My mind has been going wild over a few last minute details etc before a shoot of the dresses this week. I really want to get these dresses up and available so that I can possibly start working on my 12 piece collection for the fashion show. Its going to be a number of vintage inspired shorts, vests, loose tees and of course a few baby doll dresses. The January shoot in Los Angeles is going to be rescheduled for February because I have a photo shoot and a couple other things to do out in LA that month. And now I understand why my father wouldn't let me go to LA for new years. My Christmas gift is a few lessons with one of the woman that work with Betsy Johnson. I'm so so stoked beyond belief. I couldn't ask for anything more. So the first week of January I will get to be at Betsy Johnson headquarters with some kick ass designers, hopefully learning more than I can process.

cross bones collection

illegal tender's cross bones collection is now available.

The collection features crinkled chiffon dresses in a lolita color pallet. Carefully crafted nostalgic wear, each little baby doll dress is a magic piece.

illegal tender clothing is for thoose willing to take a walk on the wildside. Designed for an era of maximalism, illegal tender thinks laterally. Clothing only for the wild at heart steeped in ecclectic nostalgia giving way to the rock n roll spirit. Reality bites, so we bite back with our outlook on fashion. Getting real is the new cool and voices like ours are loud and clear. Looking Forward, Looking Back, its like nothing you've ever seen...
watch your step.

"fear defeats more people than any single thing in the world"

I've been working very hard to create my next line. Recently, I've been inspired by so much., Everything from Camilo Egas to Luella and her pagan-inspired winter collection. I've decided to come up with five iconic looks, I will be making everything from hair pieces, to jackets, to dresses, to necklaces, to ankle bracelets. I've really got a lot to do but I'm so excited. February is when I turn in an updated portfolio and know for certain if I have a scholarship to Parsons and Columbia. Tomorrow, I'm hoping to complete my black and cream romantic dress and figure how to adjust the neckline on a jacket.

This weekend was soooooo good, even though I probley should have gotten a bit more work done. But, in a way I've come to realize that if you spend your whole life trying to be an adult, a sucessful adult, then you'll be sick of working by the time your old enough to drink. Even since I joined a professional dance company I've always been with this panicy need to do somthing, acheive somthing, help someone. I guess its a blessing and a burden. You'll never find me sitting on my ass, sleeping, playing video games or relaxing. I'm always working and if I don't seem to want to do any work of my own I find someone else to help. In any case, It was fresh to have a little break from all that this weekend.

I sold merch for my friends band, and now I will be their full time merch girl which is awsome. I had an insane weekend filled with late nights, music and kickbacks. Certainly, enjoyed myself.

"i wont rest my pretty head till I'm dead'

I've worked myself into a week long cold/fever. Today is the first day I've actually woken up and not felt like I was going to fall over. Being sick for so long has resulted in me losing a fair amount of weight, which I guess is a good thing. Winter makes me numb and dulls my cravings for everything. The past two days have consisted of overworking myself to get everything done before break, really good conversations on post-modernism and a lengthy Shakespeare paper on questioning the morality and motives of politicos. I'm actually pretty proud of the work I've been doing.
When I design a piece of clothing I'm really inspired by history, politics, religion, art and the people around me. I don't necessarily spend my day with my nose in a fashion magazine (okay, maybe french fashion magazines), but I don't really draw inspiration from that type of media. To me, designing is my release and my eclectic nature. I get to bring everything together and let everything go all at once. I love the complete feeling of putting a piece together and I hate the empty feeling you get when its all done.
There is going to be another editorial shoot for my post-winter line the first week of January in Los Angeles. There is a lot to do for that. Its going to be nothing like the first because after all, I've become another diff rent person. Its almost as if each collection is a celebration of a new self. In any case, the dresses are going to be steeped in deep romanticism and nostalgic nature. It will be like nothing you've ever seen before.

All life is an experiment.

Ad maiorem Dei gloriam

"All I know is I'm losing my mind," Franny said. "I'm just sick of ego, ego, ego. My own and everybody else's. I'm sick of everybody that wants to get somewhere, do something distinguished and all, be somebody interesting. It's disgusting - it is, it is. I don't care what anybody says." -- J.D. Salinger.

"come child, in a cross bones style"

Chicago was fantastic. Columbia College of the arts was like a dream land, I really adored it. First, I met with the head proffs of the fashion retail dept on the 7th floor of a beautiful vintage building in the middle of the city. They were really kind and I got to see the study collection of clothing that was simply to die for it. Its a collection of clothing from every single era. The classrooms are beautiful, walls sided with glass windows so you don't even feel like your in a room. Later, I went over to the fashion design dept and met with the head proff. He was one of those "Italian vouge" men and he said I was a "living doll". He looked at some of my recent work and is going to give me a scholarship once I show an updated portfolio in feb. Sadly, I don't really want to live in Chicago all that much but this school and the scholarship are awfully hard to turn down.

On the days when I wasn't making nice with the professors, I layed in bed looking out at the view, rolling around in white sheets, and brushing my hair while seated in an old fashioned vanity. I've become a dreamer, a really nostalgic dreamer.

xoxo, panda

In about a half hour I'll be off to Chicago. Tomorrow morning I have a meeting with some people at Columbia. The school is pretty fantastic but I don't exactly see myself living in Chicago. Oh well, I at least owe it a chance. Especially, because I might be getting a scholarship there. They special in media, communications, and fine arts. It seems like there would be a lot of people to collab with and many new friends to meet.
Monday I have a photoshoot for an energy drink. I'm suppose to be like the bad rock n roll esque girl and the girl next to me is going to be like a classy blonde. Should be a good time, I'm excited.

On that note, last week I did a photoshoot for my new winter collection entitled "Cross Bone Style", named after the song, of course. Its three dresses that I wanted out for the holiday season but I won't be finishing my main winter collection till the begining of december.
The winter collection is going to be really dark, and sort of will scream "NUCULAR FUCKING WINTER"... in a good way, haha.

Anyways, I've got to pack...
lots of love,
clevergirl

the lion's den

from the morning when I rise, till the late night when I lay my head in slumber,

I remember...

Oh, the loss of you does wreck my days.

sleepy tigers

So today I was sitting in the bathtub, lights dim and my favortie indie tracks on repeat. I'm relaxing in a bubble bath, sketching book nearby and I begin to mess around with paints and colors. My mother opens the double doors and glaces over to the foggy mirror while saying, "You know, art is just a way to escape responsibility, its not real". I replied, "And your harvard law degree is just a piece of paper that makes you feel better about youself". She scoffed as she slammed the door. My father bought me a card today and one of my old favortie movies. He complimented my sketches and kissed me on the cheek. They both view life so very diffrently, I find it crazy that they have kept a relationship for so long. In any case, I've got one kiss on the cheek and a bag full of insults. What to do with it all, what to do...

Mother yelled at me for painting on the wall in the back garden. I said ‘It’ll be something to remember me by when I‘m dead.’ She went back inside.
Soon i'll become within the walls of my own home. A voice no longer heard along with footsteps, deep breaths, and tantrums. The sounds i put into the house no longer contribute to the foundation. I might as well have died and had the remainder of my flesh and soul cemented into its walls, so at least i could be there to watch them live on without me.

hands

If I was there with her, I would tell her that you don't have to be anybody, I would know..

because being somebody dosen't really make you anybody at all.

somebody

Once upon a time there was a pretty girl who lived in a beautiful house and

all the town's people loved her. But, the town's people were very very

greedy. So every night when the girl went to sleep, the

town's people would come into the girl's room

and steal a piece of her golden hair, until

she had no more.

parisian blues

"so, what do you want to do in life?"

move to europe & live upstairs from dusty cafes.

"oh? where in europe?"

everywhere. paris, prague. anywhere.

"isn't paris a bit gloomy?"

oh, i'm sure i'll fit right in. i always look like i'm on my way to a morgue.

"you know, a lot of students say they're moving to europe.."

mhm?

"but they don't mean it. i think you really do, i think you will."

yeah.

"will you ever come back?"

no.

Respuesta

strength in these times is the name of the game, if you don't have that then you don't have anything.
This weekend I have to finish my applications for Columiba and NYU, everything is just around the corner. 1st quarter will be finishing next week and I can't believe how fast it went by, oh wait... I was in LA half of the time, haha.

currently working on my spanish, I'm getting pretty good, so drop a line en espanol
xoxo

gracias bellas

trilingual

Focusing on languge is not an easy task, but i love it. Everyone at my school thinks I'm so crazy for taking two languages but I can't help it. Spanish is so much fun and French is of course my first love. I've been studying it for four years. I know I will be very flunet for my study abroad in Paris this comming march. Recently, I've been given advice to pick up a third language. Which I'm most likely going to go ahead and do. My professor said I should pick somthing non-western.. Like arabic or chineese. So after Christmas Break, I will begin to pick up a third (fourth if you count english lol), languge. I honestly want to be able to speak as many languages as possible, and this is one of my gifts. I'm blessed to be able to hear and understand with ease in another languge. I love it, I just love it.

ce jeu

today I've been working on my college essay and studying for tomorrow's exams. I get to teach french to 8th graders tomorrow, I think it will be fun && its my favorite subject so why shouldn't it be great?
everything is comming at me so fast, this is really such a trasitional year.
so many lessons to be learned and choices to make.

country first?

This week has been busier than any week before by far. Yesterday I took the SAT and I'm so glad to have that over with. I've been burried in make-up homework and practice tests. Thursday was just an amazing time. My friends and I went to see Barack Obama speak. So many crazy college kids, I just loved it. My High School was empty that day because everyone left to go see him talk. It got me so pumped up, despite the colder temperatures. I wore a big white coat, a white hat, and little black mocassin boots.

Oh, and now you can buy illegal tender clothing products through ebay --
http://stores.ebay.com/illegal-tender-clothing


good things comming,
xoxoxo

illegal tender video

check out the video done by Hebert Lucio for the first illegaltender editorial shoot .. so badass <3>

xoxo

californiacation

I am offically so down to be in Los Angeles in 9 months for good. I really didn't want to leave, mostly because of my little rock star and because we've been having the time of our lives. I've been away for a week now and sadly had to catch a plane back to the east coast last night. Everything from waking up next to my baby to cigarettes from foreign doughnut shops was amazing. These days always go by in a sultry wink and they never cease to amaze me. Lots of laughs and roaming around hollywood kept us busy. Getting stared down on melrose by Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Rohnson was hillarious as fuck. I'm going to miss getting all decked out and being a little head turner with him. I love our down to earth conversations and late night walks in stud jackets and little moccasins to get hairspray and sour patch kids. Every day was magical and saturday's shoot was crazy and bad ass. Every night my baby and I hit the streets kickin plenty of ass and having a good time, I hate to go back to school and everything. Oh well, there is plenty to look forward to and we already started planning the next illegal tender shoot. You best believe we keep it fresh.

xoxo

Hebert's 18th bithday date night, taken on Hollywood Blvd:

Before we went out clubbing on tuesday:

+ oh, expect videos from the shoot soon xoxo

editorial photoshoot

I've been in hollywood for about a week now and of course, saturday was the editorial photoshoot for illegal tender clothing. It went well, nothing like anyone who have expected, espeically me. So many random happenings and unexpected friends, it was such an experience. Too many cute dresses and friends I finally got to hangout with. First we walked down to a few streets off of santa monica blvd and shot a few pictures while a few skateboarding boys were blasting punk music from the late 90's . Most everyone was really timid at first and jordan was earger to get his camera skills to work. He did a kick ass job and snapped over a thousand photos that day. So many to pick from and so much variety. Once iris showed up, we headed back to the apartment to get decked out for hollywood blvd photos. Everyone looked kick ass in their "littlest rebel" tee dresses and rebellious as fuck. We went down some random street to try to get some action photos. We stopped traffic and kicked ass. After comming back to the sidewalk a man from a record label/producer of a reality tv series spotted us and gave his number and all this contact information. Basically, he thought we were some up and comming band and wanted us to try out for his show. It was actually crazy and stephy's wild mouth started the whole thing. haha, that adorable girl! Afterwards, we asked this random man if we could borrow his motercycles for a few shots. He happily agreeded and stayed to watch, haha. they ended up looking great and we took some really good group shots. Overall, its not like everything went as planned... this photoshoot was anything but perdictable, thats for certain. But, all and all we got some really kick ass pictures and had a fucking good time.

welcome to hollywood, haha.

check out :

www.myspace.com/illegaltenderclothing

and i'm ready to go

so little time, so much to do. Three days till I take off for Los Angeles and then i'll be missing a week of school. That will be a shit-blizzard to the face when I get back. Oh well, I'd rather be out and about. Yoga in the morning will hopefully keep me sane. Although, some make think my chance at sanity was lost a while back, lol. I just want to curl up under my beauty and the beast covers, turn on factory girl and sip a warm cup of tea.



but, the world dosen't sleep.

the littlest rebel

have you ever felt like things are going too well? Like everything is working out and you feel as if somthing bad is going to happen to you any second, just so that life can be fair? I don't know, but everything has been more than wonderful lately. I can't seem to be brought down these days, everything is going good from school to working on designs. Today is friday and that in itself is a beautiful thing. Tomorrow is saturday.. TIME TO KICK SOME ASSSS.

xoxo

"whatever souls are made of, his and mine are the same"

Today is the 10th of September. Which means an anniversary with my baby. I'm so lucky to have him in my life. I've never been the type of girl, before I met him, to get all hung-up on a guy and such but this boy makes my heart flutter. He's got taste like no other and the most beautiful personality in all the land. Together we make it happen. Our latest project, illegaltender clothing, of course. I couldn't have done any of it without him. Much more comming from us in the future, you can bet that. My partner in crime knows how to work hard and have a good time. His hustle and stregth are somthing I've always wanted in a man. Basically, these past 15th months have been the greatest of all time because of him. I'm so stoked for next year, living in a little apartment in Los Angeles with him. It's going to happen so soon. Life has a lot in store for us, and I'm so glad I've found someone to take on the world with.

editorial photoshoot

This weekend, I worked my ass off making dresses for the illegal tender up and comming editorial photoshoot taking place in hollywood on september 20th. Only four dresses left to make and I'm thankful to be almost done. I've pricked my finger so many times with needles making these dresses, you'd think I went to battle. I gathered all the shoes and jewlery and thats right, you guessed it, leather jackets! Too many cute jackets, dresses, kicks and of course, models, are going to be featured in this shoot. I'm way stoked and everyone who is going to be a part of it seems to be also. Although I have loads of AP homework, I'm hoping to squeeze in some time to draw up the photo ideas and maybe manage to find a makeup artist. Six dresses down and four to go.

lots of love & swagger,

clevergirl

just one frickin day

Six of the fashion industry’s most influential rising stars have come together with one voice, with one heart and with one common goal…bringing us together through art & design in order to breathe life into the first solar powered hospital in kigutu, and subsequently, the people of burundi. All t-shirts are 100% organic cotton and were designed and made exclusively for just one frickin day in a numbered limited edition of 100 only. I bought the "Lets turn on the lights" tee.

It's not like i feel like I'm making a big diffrence by donating to the fund, I just think its so amazing that people can take somthing they love, such as design and fashion, and use to to benifit so many people. I'm so down to someday do somthing of this sort, It's just the begining.

check out and get a teeshit at:

http://www.justonefrickinday.com/

i know how i want to do it

i know how i want it to be



to sum it all up, im a little crazy, a little sick and a little late for dance class.
xoxo

the paramour of me

As long as I continue, I plan on being exactly who I know that I am. I've grown tired and weary of others telling me who to be and how to act. Sometimes I don't say a lot because I don't feel it necessary to waste my breath on thoose whom I will never have an onuce of respect for. I don't judge, and quite frankly, I'm usually drawn to the obscure qualities of one's nature. But, when someone judges me before they've even heard what I have to say or who I am, I don't feel it necessary to have to explain myself. Your only worth my time if you have somthing to say that dosen't invovle gossip and rumors about so and so. Gossip is petty and highly untasteful in my book. Don't waste your breath on rumors about me because chances are, its false.

On another note, I've been reading a lot of Plato's works lately. Very heavy words, as some of you may know. It's amazing how he contanited this capacity to understand the human in all of its faults and natural tendencies. I've been fasting for three days now, trying to clean my body and my mind so that I may function more clearly and reach a deeper state of being. Unfortuantly, I woke up ill today with a horrible fever. I stuck out school but crashed the minute I got home. I know that this is just my body ridding itself of the toxins, so there is no need to give up now. If there is anything I've learned from Plato so far, It is that you have power over your body and your senses if you practice it.

elected on saturday, assassinated on sunday....

School has been really wonderful, piles of good disscussions going down in every class from 2nd hour philosophy to 6th hour goverment. A lot of talks about 9/11 theories and consperiacies are making my brain spin like mad. I've been watching lots of the democratic convention lately and its intresting to see whats up/ what is planned and fake. Today I finally set up the paypal for my clothing site and I'm way excited to put up the final dresses. September 20th is the shoot on sunset and I have so many dresses to make for it. Tomorrow I'm going on a five day hibernation with my family to a house on the water. I'll hopefully get all the dresses made for the shoot during that time and catch up on sleep in a big white bed.

these were taken after school today:

my personallity and constant good moods all in one photo: