Where to even start?  I guess the beginning is always best.  The anticipation for Lady Gaga’s new video Telephone featuring Beyonce was huge.  I have already read lots of comments saying Telephone doesn’t even begin to compare to Bad Romance, but what videos can these days?  Lets judge it merely standing alone.  When doing so, you’ll quickly recognize its greatness.

The highlights
1. Lady Gaga going to a “Prison for Bitches”
2. Cigarette glasses
3. Gaga as a brunette! w00t!
4. Kissing butch lesbians, that never gets video screen time!
5. BEYONCE! – I surrendered my love to her in 2009 and every time I see her, I’m reminded why!
6. Phone hair
7. An homage to Thelma and Louise

Thank you Lady Gaga for keeping things interesting in 2010.  Watch the video here.

I thought this would be the perfect sweatshirt for my 1/2 marathon training.  Thanks to my friend Diana Q. who recently ran 13.5 miles around the city of Pasadena for inspiring me.  Also, I live and die for playing sports, so anything that can make me look more stylish while sweating is my kind of workout.

You probably didn’t know this about me, but I played softball and soccer for 15 years [since a wee child] and never did I have anything this cute to workout in!

Rodarte “Radarte” Hoodie for Opening Ceremony, buy here.

“Everything I do, I do for Ava.  I want Ava to have the best life I can give her.  I want my daughter’s thoughts to be her thoughts.  I want her feelings to be her feelings.  I want Ava to be creative and I want her to trust and listen to herself.  That means I want my daughter to be autonomous.  I want her to be the empowered young woman.  That’s what I want for her.”

Kelly, as if you already didn’t garner my love with your collecting of crystals, talking astrology and buying sex toys at one of my favorite sex shops, Babes in Toyland. Now you’re discussing the empowerment of young women and the importance of autonomy.  I cannot believe this is even being aired on television – thank you!

If you’re not watching Kell on Earth, then what are you doing?
Watch a clip of Kelly shopping at Babes in Toyland and her Q&A with the shop here!

If you read my twitter page or have ever heard me talk t.v., you know that I’m obsessed with everything The Wire. I’ve been holding onto these images for a couple weeks now, waiting for the moment where I saw my Wire frenzy coming to an end.  It would be a lie if I said I cannot believe Asael and I finished 5 seasons of a show in a month and a half.  When I’m focused there’s nothing that can stop me.

We’re nearing the end of The Wire, and I’m not ready to say goodbye.  We’ve got 4 discs left of the final season and my heart just wont stop sinking.  I don’t think these photos of OMAR with Terry Richardson will be enough to fill me addiction to all things The Wire.  As happy as I was to see them, it doesn’t meet my daily quota of Omar.  If you have no idea what I’m talking about, then you obviously haven’t watched the BEST show to have ever been made for television.

See Terry Richardson’s Diary here.

This week was a little too nuts for me.  I’m going to leave it at that for now.

1. Mr. Baguette might have bumped off Bahn Mi Che Cali for iced coffees.  I cannot believe I’m saying this, but it just might be true.  Stay tuned for my final decision.

2.  I’m always on the lookout for tiny grocery stores that bring me the best products from all over the world.  I was so happy when I stumbled upon a cool spot in Monrovia where I can get the hook up on Ukrainian chocolate.  Can I get a what what?  Throw in some amazing cheeses, fruit nectar, and Zergut eggplant caviar and I’m set.

3.  My friend Alex celebrated her 24th birthday last weekend.  Upon entering the door to her home I spotted a table full of these delicious tiny cheeseburgers.  Guess what?  They’re cupcakes!  I nearly jumped out the window because these tiny treats were too overwhelmingly awesome!  Her roommate Rachel made them and we could only be so lucky to have her make something as great as this again.

4.  His name is Pocket and he’s one of the world’s most cutest dogs.  Look at all these Cal Arts girls going bat shit crazy over him. OK, I went the most crazy.

5.  I’m bringing these lucite heels back into rotation.  It makes me sad that I was harassed every single time I wore these shoes.  Eventually they just started collecting dust in the closet.  I might have to start cracking skulls in these because I’ve had enough!

Last  night my friend Cathy sent out a text to all her friends to meet up with her at the El Perro Del Mar show at The Troubador.  I wish I wouldn’t have been too exhausted to go because I would’ve love to heard her play live.  What is up with these amazing young women from Sweden right now? I’m so happy they’re making music and even making it together!  Check out her collaboration with Lykke Li – who I also love, of course.

If you haven’t bought or listened to Love is Not Pop, please do yourself a favor and get on that.  Visit El Perro Del Mar’s site here.

Dear Vogue Paris,

We need more magazine covers like this, por favor.  Love Dominicana model Rose/a Cordero.

xoxo
Fashion Intel

You might have already guessed by now that I live for finding delicious food and spend much of my time whipping things up in the kitchen.  Food in my family and my culture has always meant a time of pleasure and without a doubt a time to connect with people.  I drive all over L.A. county looking for the best this and that.  Asael enjoys the adventure and I know my friend’s always count of me for a recommendation, which I love.

Since moving back to the SGV not only have I been frequenting my childhood spots, but I’ve been compiling a list of all the new amazing places that have been popping up across this gourmand paradise.  Cloverleaf Bakery is probably my new favorite place.  The building used to be a Winchell’s and I cannot say I know anyone who is missing it;  I’ll take an abundance of Asian baked goods over lame donuts any day.

See that whole tray of baked goods? $9 and absolutely delicious.  I highly recommend the rose blossom cream cheese and purple wheat health loaf.

Cloverleaf Bakery
9475 Las Tunas Dr
Temple City, CA 91780

I like to get out.  If I’m not at work than I’m usually frolicking around town with Asael looking for delicious food or drinking a coffee with friends.  We’re nothing without our friends and family, right? How about a heard of lambs?

1.  Women will not stop asking me “are those shoes comfortable?”  and men won’t stop grossly saying “nice shoes” whenever I slip these 6 inchers on.  Freud once wrote that the shoes women chose to wear are a reflection of their genitalia, but I’ll save that conversation for another time. For the record, these shoes are incredibly comfortable.  In fact, I ran to the grilled cheese truck in the rain wearing these.  That truck has some amazing tater tots.

2.  My friend Akina held the amazing Eternal Telethon which I was so happy to attend.  It was filmed in an artist loft in downtown and offered non-stop artist entertainment.  Upon the grand tour of the facility, I fell in love with this work of art.  What is it you ask?  It is a piece of carpet cut into the shape of a dog that looks like a Japanese Chin.  She mentioned it was another breed of dog, but I cannot remember which one.

3. I love animals.  Don’t you just love my sheep?

4.  Ramen, delicious ramen.  When you find the best ramen within a 15 mile radius how can you go to the others.  I felt ashamed eating at Naga Naga, Mr. Ramen and Daikokuya when I can take a 5 min drive to Shen-Sen-Gumi.  I tweet about this place waaaaay too much but it is only because I want YOU to go so badly.  The deliciousness is in the broth – which you can smell down the street! Also, I have a boyfriend named Maru who works there.  Just go to see how hot this guy is.  Sigh.

Saw this image on Lurve’s blog this morning and just flipped!  If you haven’t been reading Lurve, then you haven’t been lurving!  Please check out their magazine here.

A brass necklace molded by Alexander Calder in 1940, titled “The Jealous Husband”
Worn by Angelica Huston in 1976, photographed by Evelyn Hofer.

Yesterday I was reading one my favorite blogs, Thread Bared, and they had linked an article from another one of my favorite blogs, Jezebel, and the itch I always have to scratch reared it’s ugly head – the lack of diversity on the runways.

I thought to myself, how can I make someone understand with just an image how the fashion industry is severely lacking?  I’m not even touching on body politics because that is another conversation entirely, but when you look at 40 faces and only 4 are non-white, that my friends is a problem.

I love Alexander Wang – not the collection this time around – but you must ask more from the people you admire.  Wang attended Cal State Long Beach if I’m not mistaken, a very diverse university here in Southern California.  Surely he can remember what it is like to be part of a multi-ethnic community. Obviously he’s not the only designer to perpetuate this runway crime, but as I mentioned, we must start expecting more from people we’ve helped catapult into fame.

One of my dearest friends, Phuong, recently mentioned to me that she wanted what she called an “Asian Afro.”  When I saw this editorial in the March issue of Marie Claire I immediately thought of her request. Phuong, I think you could totally rock this!

As much as I love these photos and applaud Marie Claire’s effort to use more diverse women in their pages, I cannot help but reflect on the absence of curls in popular women’s magazines.  When curls do appear, they’re almost treated as a novelty and rarely shown on people who are born with naturally curly hair.

I’d love to hear your thoughts.

more images after the break

Fashion Intel as seen in Vogue Magazine.  That sentence has not stopped running through my brain and spewing out as laughter.  I got an email 2 nights ago from gorgeous blogger Mary Tomer, of Mrs. O – check out her blog – fame, letting me know that she was featured in the March issue of Vogue and named Fashion Intel one of her favorite fashion blogs.  Needless to say there was lots of squeals on my end. I was completely surprised to be on Mary’s reading list; saying that I was flattered is an understatement.

Vogue is read by millions of people all over the world and having my blog printed in its pages is one of the most amazing experiences in my life.  It is the magazine my parents bought me as a child when I wanted to be a fashion designer and is considered to be the “fashion bible”.  I live for fashion editorial, critical thinking and culture – this moment not only validates my loves but inspires me to work even harder at my goals.

A GIANT thanks to the readers for helping make this blog what it is.  I’m nothing without my friends!

P.S.  How even more psyched am I that feminist icon Tina Fey is on the cover? This rules hard.

When I got word that a French patisserie opened in Monterey Park, I released a heavy sigh and gave an audible thanks to the universe.  Don’t get me wrong, I am thankful for the Vietnamese coffee and baguettes at Banh Mi My Tho, Bahn Mi Che Cali, Mr. Lees, and Mr. Baguette, but I’ve been dying for a place in my community where I can sit down with a fresh croissant, meringue and vanilla latte.  Bon Appétit!

As you can see by the photos, this is the cutest little spot on Atlantic Avenue.  Can you believe this was once a janky hair salon?  True.  The afternoon I dropped by (thank you furlough Friday) the patisserie was probably at its calmest hour which proved beneficial for someone like me who examines every single inch of a new space.  The staff was friendly and knowledgeable and I couldn’t help but notice the black metal tattoos on one of the bakers.  They make everything in house, and if you so desire, you can watch through a large window in the wall.

Fleur de Lys Bakery (visit site)
440 S. Atlantic Blvd.
Monterey Park, CA 91754
(626) 282-4040

There was truly only one show I was anticipating this NYFW and it was The Row.  I’m glad I held my breathe because it’s like Mary-Kate and Ashley took perfection and spun it into soft black fabrics that have the ability to sway with every step.  Anticipation is an understatement for the show that many have been begging for over the years, and yesterday these powerful, creative, and intelligent young women brought it.

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen design clothes that I want to wear every single day.  Maybe even where to bed.  In fact, if you saw my wardrobe, you’d notice that much of my rack revolves around pieces similar to these.  Silk black pants, black blazer, large black coats, slouchy black shirts, and a trade off between 6 inch platforms and masculine sandals.  Fuck yeah, this collection will be filed under amazing in my brain forever.

Backstage the sisters said, “We wanted to do something low-key and straight to the point.“