The Coolest People I Wish I Knew.

Some people are just born phenomenal.

I am one of them. Just kidding.. kind of.

But really though, regardless if a person is born in a small town and becomes a local celebrity for just being around (Arrow Grantham::SLO) or someone has super ritzy parents who help pave a way for them to stardom (Lourdes::Madonna), being super cool isn't that easy.

Storytime.

In 2003, I was a Freshman in high school and in the prime of my awkward stage. Just to enlighten you all who (fortunately) did not know me, I had braces, wore a double zero jean, and was as tall as I am now, meaning I wore bell bottom high-waters. Not to mention I was motherless and had no direction as to how to put on makeup, so I just did what I thought looked good.. It turns out I should have searched out a self-help magazine. But hey, I thought I was cool.. Fake it til you make it.

I would like to begin my rant by saying I am scared of fashion. Whether a collection was created in Paris with love or in a sweaty FIDM design studio in Los Angeles, couture makes me nervous. The first fashion house to give me sweaty palms was due in large part to a man I'm in love with named Nicolas Ghesquiere, the creative director of Balenciaga since 1997.

✔

In the words of Shae Savin, Nicolas is fierce. What I love so much about him is that you can see his inspiration in each collection. Coming from a family completely unrelated to fashion (his dad wanted him to be a gym teacher.. those would have been some fun P.E. clothes), he comes up with the most crazy/fabulous designs.. Some of my favorites of his throughout the years are below.


From left: Fall 2009 RTW (sophisticated glamour girl), Spring 2003 RTW (my favorite collection EVER-it's like, scuba inspired!), Spring 2009 RTW (I love how he incorporates shapes into his designs; see the heart?), and finally this year's Fall RTW (totally geometrical but SO much more fun than actually doing geometry).

Despite the fact I couldn't even pronounce Balenciaga until a few years ago, I am still extremely enthused by every runway show, and it doesn't hurt he's the last person on the catwalk.. I mean, hottie McFrenchman yes please!

Secondly, I would like to give props to my favorite blogger: Emily, better known by Ellie and I as Cupcakes. Cupcakes? Yes, Cupcakes. Short for Cupcakes and Cashmere.. Dot com for you dummies who don't already follow her.

She's adorable, right?

There are very few bloggers out there (trust me, I've done some research) that can put together an amazing outfit from anything super cheap to super classy. It's such a relief to see great outfits that don't cost 2 million dollars (no offense, Nicolas, but I'm on a budget right now). Also, she basically has my dream life: work at Teen Vogue, blogging daily, and amazing success. If only I could have more than 20 followers... and a photographer boyfriend to take my pics. Love you, mean it, super jealous of you Em.

Last but certainly not least, one of the most interesting people in the world: Iris Apfel. Not only do I have an obsession with fashionable old people (I have two amazingly fabulous grandmothers who completely passed on my shopping genes... and my color coded closet), but I also enjoy people with ridiculous styles like Iris. Did I say ridiculous? I meant brilliant.

See what I mean? Iris is da bomb..

One of the many reasons I find Iris so interesting is that she is her style. In an interview with Peabody Essex Museum this summer (one of the many museums who have exhibited her unique styles), she explained that her ensemble is incomplete if it doesn't scream IRIS! Whether this Iris touch is a pair of heavy matching bangles (one on each wrist), or her thick, round-rimmed signature eyeglasses, her style radiates her eclecticism.


Before I kick the bucket, I want to be cool.

"Dress gives you the opportunity to express yourself: who you are, who you think you are or who you want to be. So, take advantage of it. I hope that Rare Bird of Fashion will encourage you to be a bit creative, a bit daring and have more than a bit of fun." - Iris Apfel