Thanksgiving Pants

Everyone should be familiar with the Friends episode where Joey eats an entire turkey all by himself. And if not, watch it real quick:

Unfortunately for most of the world, there is no formerly pregnant best friend Phoebe to lend us some maternity (Thanksgiving) pants.

I, however, have found a brilliant and chic solution to this problem. My dad recently had surgery on his foot, and when he came home from the hospital the doctors gave him some scrubs to wear since his jeans no longer fit over his cast. This past Saturday he showed me the massive blue pants, made out of paper and large enough to fit three of me in one leg.

All I said to him was, "These are perfect for Thanksgiving." I said it in a dry manner, like I say most everything to my parents. I was bemused, but at the same time a little annoyed that he hadn't shown these pants to me before Thanksgiving when I actually needed them.

When you think about them, they're the perfect Thanksgiving pants. Even better than Joey Tribiani's. They're way bigger, first off. Secondly, the pants have a nice drawstring waist making them more adjustable than elastic. Third, they're a flattering shade of blue not unlike denim, so they're bound to match everything in your closet. And lastly, they're made of paper: cheap and disposable. Wear them for one holiday and throw them out when you've digested all 20 extra pounds you ate that day.

Lesley wears an oversized thrifted leopard print t-shirt that she modified herself with a sheer black cardigan tucked into oversized paper bag waist blue paper hospital pants. She finishes off the look with some black booties.

Hit up your local hospital for a pair. It only costs one surgery.

xoxo Lesley

P.S. This is just a joke, never ever wear these in public ever if you know what's good for you.

Man On the Moon, Vol. II: The Legend of Mr. Rager (Album Review)

As notoriously huge Cudi fans (remember when Les and I waited for 6 hours in line for tickets to see him perform at BC?!) it's only natural that Rusted Revolution review the rapper's sophomore album, Man On the Moon, Vol. II: The Legend of Mr. Rager.  The 17-track album was released under GOOD Music and Universal Motown this November 9th, including previously-released singles "Erase Me" featuring Kanye West, "REVOFEV," and "Mr. Rager."  Man On the Moon II features famous guest artists ranging from Cee Lo Green, to Mary J. Blige, to Chip Tha Ripper.

As an avid lover of music and music journalism, I understand the extraordinary pressures placed upon contemporary artists by critics and the general public to maintain and even supersede their previous successes with the release of a second album/project.  There are always expectations to be vastly different and innovative while simultaneously remaining loyal to their traditional sound and style - to me, it seems like an incredible daunting and stressful task.

I personally jumped at the chance to take charge of this project because, having finally gotten the time to listen to the album in it's entirety, I've come to better understand and appreciate the massive artistic, technical, and stylistic differences between Man On the Moon II and the Kid's earlier work. When asking Cudi fans for their opinions on the new album, I received mixed responses; some were entirely turned off by the rapper's radically different sound, others showered him praises, but most were unsure of their feelings, expressing a like for some tracks but also a general dissonance and skepticism about the album as a whole.  I myself fell into the latter category.  I was initially familiar with "Erase Me," "REVOFEV," and "Mr. Rager," all of which he performed at BC, and I was moreso intrigued than enthralled by his new style.  Back in the day, I initially fell for Cudi's effortless ability to fuse soulful lyrics with mellow, yet uplifting beats.  In Man On the Moon II, Cudi experiments with genre and sound.  The rapper explains, "Man On the Moon II is dark by nature and instead of bringing you into my dreams like the first album, I'm bringing you into my reality, good and bad: It will explain more of who I am as well as pushing the envelope musically."

Essentially, the style and sound of the music itself speaks volumes for the artist's intent to shift his "Cudder" persona to a more modern, concrete image of self which he calls "The Revolution of Evolution (REVOFEV)" (originally set to be the album title).  If you are unfamiliar with Man On the Moon II, I recommend checking out "Ashin' Kusher," a hip-hop-fused classic with a bumping beat, "Scott Mescudi vs The World (feat. Cee Lo Green)," a blues-y track with smooth beats and a melancholy yet catchy chorus (very reminiscent of original Man On the Moon), and "Marijuana," a trippy, pensive and semi-psychedelic song sprinkled with hypnotizing bursts of piano and wailing electric guitar.

Most critics have praised Cudi for his ability to decorate the realm of rock and electronic-fused hip-hop with a deeply personal subject matter.  Charles Aaron of Spin recommended the album for "boldly reshaping Cudi's sound - with vivid production," explaining that "the dizzy friction between rap's grasping for control and rock's desire to lose it entirely give Cudi's confessions a dice-y, volatile edge."

In short, I highly recommend giving Man On the Moon II a listen.  While I can't promise that all Cudi fans will be satisfied, one has to appreciate the raw risks he takes for the sake of artistic and personal innovation.  This Cudi fan is extremely pleased and anxious for more.

xoxo
Lucy

PS - stay tuned for new Cudi track's on RR's Winter Playlist!

"She Moves in Her Own Way"

As temperatures drop, it's tricky to stay fashionable, especially when New England's chilly weather makes you seriously consider forgoing all fashion sense for wrapping yourself in a sleeping bag and waddling your way to class just to stay warm.  The key trick is reworking your favorite pieces in order to make them weather-appropriate via accessories and layering.  Lucky for us, Boston's recent "heat wave" has given us a sort of grace period during which we can resurrect our light jackets, tees, and shorts one last time before hibernating beneath heavy sweaters and scarfs.  Read on for Lucy and Lesley's take on Late Fall/Early Winter campus style.

Lucy wears Alexa Chung for Madewell's High Rise Denim Short with her favorite graphic tee from the brand.  She layers with fun accessories - Free People chains, a Madewell whistle necklace, and Aldo Wayfarers.  She makes the look fall-appropriate with black tights and brown leather boots from Target and a vintage men's Barbour jacket.

Lesley wears an oversized sheer button down shirt from F21, classic Levi's jeans, a lightweight army jacket, a cashmere blend leopard print scarf, and vintage leather lace up booties.

Sunset Grill & Tap.....I Can Haz Cheezburger?

Last weekend, Lesley, Danielle, myself, and our friend Dylan took a trip to one of Boston's greatest gustatory  haunts - Sunset Grill & Tap.  If you inhabit the greater Boston area, you're no doubt familiar with Sunset's incredible selection of beer and fried goods whether it come from personal experience or word of mouth.   The restaurant features the East Coast's largest selection of brews, including 112 taps, 380 microbrews and plenty of exotic imports.  In terms of culinary delights, Sunset is famous for its steam beer burgers, curly fries, buffalo wings, giant nachos, BBQ steak tips, grilled fish, homemade pasta, Yankee ribs, and sizzling fajitas.....hungry yet? Us too. Sunset's interior is equally as enticing as its menu, fully mimicking a "beer shrine." The restaurant walls are literally covered with beer advertisements, quotations, and photographs in a multitude of different locations and languages.  Magazine and newspaper articles are carefully framed and mounted, praising Sunset for its award-winning burgers and brews.  The bustling crowd itself speaks volumes for Sunset's popularity; one can pick out Allston hipsters, to BC undergrads, to Harvard professors, to suburban families.  Thus, the consensus is out: Everyone loves Sunset Grill & Tap.  

For the beer novice (or average drinker), the novel-esque menu appears overwhelming at first glance.  We felt no shame in asking our waitress for recommendations based on our individual tastes.  We all wanted to be adventurous, so we stayed away from anything that sounded familiar.  Lesley and I decided to go with bottles while Dylan and Danielle went with drafts.  I ordered a delicious Belgian golden ale called Leffe, and Lesley chose a classic pale ale from Flying Dog Brewery called "Doggie Style." While sipping on our first round, we enjoyed rocking out to an exclusively 90's soundtrack featuring classics by the Gin Blossoms, Smashing Pumpkins, Spice Girls, Aqua, Train, Britney Spears and many more.  We started off sharing an order of the famous giant nachos, and then ordered our respective dishes.  Between the four of us, I think we ordered all the award-winning dishes....I certainly enjoyed my cheezzzzeeeeburger!  Overall, I give Sunset 5 Stars.....I seriously couldn't find ANYTHING to complain about.....I actually plan on joining their beer club so I can start receiving weekly updates, discounts, and free samples.  CHA-CHING.

Mmmmm GIANT NACHOS

Lesley's turkey tips came with sides of mashed potatoes, green beans, and the very pleasant addition of a large hunk of cornbread

Danielle stayed true to her favorites, getting her classic steak and mashed potatoes

Dylan's chicken fajita with famous curly fries

My award-winning beer burger with curly fries (of course)

Sunset Grill & Tap is located at 130 Brighton Ave. in Allston, MA, 02134.  Phone number is 617-254-1331....open 'til 1 am! It's an easy ride on the T's Boston College B Line, closest to the Harvard Ave. stop.  Check out this link for more info! See you at Sunset.

Cheers!!

Thought of the Day

"Looking towards the future, we were begging for the past, well we know we had the good things, but those never seemed to last, oh please just last."
-Modest Mouse

Earth Spirit - LF Fall 2010

LF has an amazing fall Lookbook on their site called "Earth Spirit".....I'm literally salivating over these sweaters and soft knits mixed with sheer fabrics and unexpected textures.   The clothing is appropriately titled and themed; I'm definitely digging the tough suede, leather, and Aztec patterns of the Navajo, desert-essence, Wild West trend are softened by romantic touches of lace, ruffles and chiffon.  Everything from the braiding, to the color scheme, to the photography is exquisite.  And gahhhh I'm totally saving up for that faded black poncho sweatshirt!!!

Whattup Pocahontas....I'll take your outfit please!

Victorian goth strangely works in this Lookbook series

Dying for the arrow necklace...unexpectedly attracted to that weird fringe top

This page incorporates two of Fall's hottest looks: the chunky sweater and the maxi dress

The look on the left is perfection...bat sleeves give you wiiiiings!

Look on the left comes from the front page...dying for that tapestry-esque poncho

Prim, proper, yet totally casual

There's my sweatshirt!

Someday I'll attempt this braid...I might never be able to get it out though!

Structured hat + structured boots

So glad I already got myself some grey banded sweatpants (Psss - get 'em at F21 for cheap!) and layer with bold accessories

I never would have thought to mix sheer chiffons with suede or cutoffs. Fashion inspiration at its finest.

All she's missing is a Harley by her side.

I'm a sucker for button-down plaid shirts. I own at least five and my collection is growing. SO perfect for throwing over any outfit to keep things interesting.

LOVE the little feather pouches....is it just me or are feather everywhere right now?

OMG. Those braids!!!! They almost look like a coonskin cap from the distance!

Hope you enjoyed, and Happy Tuesday!

xo

Lucy

Ca Plane Pour Moi

Here's a little photo inspiration to wrap up the week......

xoxo
Lucy

A quickie

SO excited about the release of Lanvin's collection for H&M earlier this week. Cannot wait to spend all my hard earned cash on this. Get the items while they're still in stock!!



xoxo Lesley

Me Lykke

Lykke Li's new fabulous single "Get Some" has finally been released, and she's giving away the single and B-Side song "Paris Blue" for free!!! All you have to do is sign up for her mailing list.

The lyrics are blatantly sexual in meaning, but the song is anything but vulgar. "Get Some" is a heavenly mix of tribal beats, electric guitar, and haunting harmonies. The almost chant-like quality of the music mixed in with some primal hoots and shouts in the background give the song a natural, almost feral quality that makes you (or maybe it's just me) want to get up, do a little Native American yell, and completely lose all inhibitions and dance my feet off. While its sophisticated mixing makes the song modern, the elemental quality makes the song one that appeals to all senses.

I for one cannot wait for the release of her new album. Youth Novels was amazing, so I can only imagine how much potential her next songs have. I saw her in concert two summers ago, and I was just blown away by her fabulous sense of style and stage presence. She sung a bunch of songs entirely through a mega phone which gave her voice the coolest quality I've ever heard. She's definitely one of my favorite artists.

Check out the graphic viral video for "Get Some" here:



xoxo Lesley

RR x BC Art Club

Listen up readers! Lesley and I are proud to announce our collaboration with the BC Art Club as contributing bloggers for their supercool website.  If you guys haven't already seen the page bcartclub.com, I recommend browsing around for awhile.  Even though it's fairly new, it's pretty freaking cool and it's only going to get BETTER.  For starters, I'm obsessed with the layout; its very clean, simple, and easy to navigate.  Furthermore, the content offers something for every interest.  You can download cool new music (for FREE), browse through student photos, research upcoming events and activities on campus and around the Boston area, or read one of the specialized blogs ranging from various topics including athletics, photography, music, art, and fashion (US!).

So, click HERE and get reading.  We promise to offer you guys fun and interesting posts just like we do on the original Rusted Revolution, but with a bit of a stronger focus on fashion (think BC campus style, interviews, and trending).

Let us know what you think! What do you guys want to read about????

xo
Lucy and Lesley

Halloweekend Wrap-Up

Hi everyone, Happy Halloween! It's so weird to think that today is finally here after an entire weekend of celebrating (Lesley compared it to several days of Christmas Eve).  All-in-all, I think it's safe to say that Halloween was successful on several accounts: Our costumes, meticulously thought-out and constructed, turned out great and received ample attention from the BC crowd.  Party-wise, we enjoyed mod-hopping, dancing on tables, and socializing with friends.  We even won a football game against Clemson for the first time in a long time!

Thank God for Facebook....we've spent the whole day running through photo albums documenting this weekend's most clever costumes and priceless memories.  Thought we'd share a few with you guys to help reminisce:

Halloweekend begins on Thursday with JTree: Janine and Kelly dress as a sexy sailor and cowgirl

Add Shiva as Snooki, Danielle as a flapper, James as a lifeguard, and Lesley as a spider!

A better view of Lesley's homemade spider costume, complete with stuffed felt legs, fishing line, and a self-shredded white tank top for a web. Tough work lifting those legs up. 

Some clever costumes from Thursday night: Meghan as Eve, Mary as Madonna, and Sara as a loofah! 

For Friday, Lucy was Ke$ha. She wore denim shorts, ripped tights, big black motorcycle boots, a hand-shredded band t-shirt, and self-done feather wraps. The resemblance was uncanny.

Lesley as Davy (Daisy) Crockett in an authentic vintage raccoon hat, toy gun, handmade faux suede fringe vest, and Jeffrey Campbell wedge booties.

Cut to the mods: Les as Davy Crockett and Danielle as Ms. Marilyn Monroe

We found Ariel, the prettiest princess of them all. Molly, right, wore neon and glowstick-stuffed pants to cleverly portray a firefly.

Lucy as Ke$ha, Shiva "Snooki" Snickers, and Davy Crockett. Pickles, anyone?

The Lion King Crew starts Saturday off right: Danielle as Mufasa, Shiva as Pumba (and Timon), Lesley as Scar (with her prisoner Zazu), and Lucy as Rafiki.

RR's Best Costume Award goes to our friend Jason as Gandhi!

Scar and Rafiki looking surprisingly stylish.

We hope you all had a great weekend! It's never too early to start planning for next year!

xo

Lucy and Lesley