Rusted Revolution

Wasted Youth

2011-06-13T10:19:00.001-07:00

Wasted Youth by RustedRevolution featuring welted shoes

Insight 51 pocket dress
$72 - shopbop.com

Sass Bide long sleeve top
146 GBP - net-a-porter.com

American Apparel sweatshirts hoody
$19 - americanapparel.net

Free People scoop neck top
$38 - freepeople.com

Denim vest
$5 - senseofashion.com

Wildfox Couture high rise shorts
$147 - revolveclothing.com

Joyrich
$77 - revolveclothing.com

Jansport
$35 - rockymountaintrail.com

Free People welted shoes
$228 - freepeople.com

Wide shades
$12 - fredflare.com

Yves Saint Laurent - Rouge Personnel #23 Irrestible Violet
$25 - yesstyle.com

Nirvana - Shop By Artist
$16 - hottopic.com

BREAKING NEWS: RUSTED REVOLUTION HAS MOVED!

2010-12-19T11:37:00.000-08:00

Attention to all of our precious subscribers, readers, lurkers, creepers, and fair-weather fans....Rusted Revolution has found a new internet home! Don't despair, the new RR layout is much more professional, organized, and easy to navigate. Wanna browse through the archives? They'll still be available. We hope you enjoy.

Visit the new site now @ http://rustedrevolution.com/

Cheers,
Lucy & Lesley

I know you can straddle the atmosphere, a tiny storm in your teacup, girl

2010-12-18T11:57:00.000-08:00

Good luck with finals everyone! If you're already home, we're jealous.

xoxo Lucy

Take it Easy

2010-12-15T22:43:00.000-08:00

There is something so easy about VPL's pre-fall 2010 collection, as if Victoria Barlett just happened to design the line in her sleep and have it somehow come out amazing. Her pairing of loose shapes with more loose shapes seems like it would be unflattering, but it's not. The contrasts of sheer silky fabrics with nylon and spandex could come off tasteless, but they don't. And the strangely and strategically cut clothing reveals parts of the body in a way that sounds awkward, but looks sexy. Everything about the collection seems a little off which is exactly why I like it so much. It's edgy and has hints of athleticism, but still manages to look soft and feminine.

The British designer opened her first NYC store last month. I, for one, cannot wait to make a trip there and try some things on.

xoxo Lesley

Ra Ra Riot/Neon Trees/Broken Bells Review

2010-12-12T11:40:00.000-08:00

For some of us, going weeks without live music is like going weeks without water - if not that drastic, the feeling is certainly strange, like something is off-balance. Thankfully, our lovely friend Jen Yi is always in-the-know when it comes to Boston's music scene. She was the coordinating force behind our Ra Ra Riot outing at the Royale and also alerted us that they were coming back to Beantown at the Orpheum Theater on December 2nd with another one of our favorite banks Broken Bells, in addition to Neon Trees - about whom we knew nothing.

Unfortunately, I had a night class, so Lesley and I got a relatively late start heading into the city. Although we were cutting it close, we figured that Neon Trees would be the first band on-stage because they weren't the headlining act, but sadly we were mistaken. We caught Ra Ra Riot's final songs and a satisfying view of Wes Miles's beautiful bod before the band exited the stage. Now what we were about to experience in the next hour was unlike anything we could have ever anticipated, let alone conjured in our wildest dreams. In two words, ladies and gentlemen, we give you: NEON TREES.

Lucy's Review:

I had arrived at the concert expecting at least a full hour of Ra Ra Riot, so I was obviously irritated at having missed one of my favorite bands. Even though I was not familiar with Neon Trees, I try to keep an open mind when it comes to experiencing new artists; after all, what better way to broaden your musical horizons and judge a band based on a purely raw, unbiased review of their live performance? Lesley was however, familiar with "Animal," one of their singles - which I'll admit isn't terrible. When Neon Trees took the stage, I instantly knew that I was in for either a huge treat or a serious misfortune. The lead singer Tyler Glenn, who was clearly on acid, pranced out in full-fledged fabulosity. For the most accurate image, consider a physical and stylistic mashup between Michael Jackson, Johnny Ramone, Prince, and David Bowie. Tyler's outfit choice was in a word: spectacular; he adorned his skin-tight pantsuit with a skinny red sequined scarf which he proceeded to lasso like a cowboy on ecstasy and playfully whip himself with like a sex toy. Tyler's dance moves were truly extraterrestrial; I will openly admit to enjoying the spectacle that was Matrix body-bending, stage-humping, and high-kicking, but Tyler's practically tyrannical need to dominate both the stage and audience completely overshadowed the presence of the other band members. I could hardly focus on anything other than than him, which made for a dramatic performance but negated the concept of a band. One redeeming quality to Neon Trees was their female drummer, Elaine Bradley. What encouraged me to give Elaine a second glance (and see past the blinding display of crazy that was Tyler Glenn) was her spritely enthusiasm and adorable punk-rock-femme persona. I've always had a great respect for female drummers (Meg White from the White Stripes, Kim Schifino from Matt & Kim) and Elaine's musical talent, as well as her badass stage presence, was undeniable. To be perfectly honest, Chris Allen and Brandon Campbell on lead guitar and bass blended into the sound equipment like unenthusiastic techies scared of overpowering their lead singer. It is difficult to describe the band's sound because each of their songs was so different; some were screamo metal rants adorned with pounding percussive intervals, others were punk-rock-inspired with a pop vibe. Tyler, a self-proclaimed "80's fanatic," professed his love for vintage icons and admitted to being a crazy dude on drugs, all while encouraging the crowd with motivational blurbs such as "don't let anyone tell you who to be" and "fuck the haters." In conclusion, while you won't find Neon Trees in my Top 25 Most Played on I-Tunes, I have to congratulate the band, mainly Tyler Glenn, on being true to themselves as artists and defending individuality and self-expression in a world all-to-often consumed by conformity and persecution. Rock on, Neon Trees, but I think I'll stick to Ra Ra Riot and Broken Bells for now.

We were SO ready for Broken Bells by the time they took the stage; the stylistic difference between them and Neon Trees is so drastic, it's almost comical. If you're not familiar with Broken Bells, look them up NOW. The band is fronted by creative duo Brian Burton and James Mercer (of The Shins), but they're joined by a full band when performing live. Lesley and I are obsessed with BB's trippy and dexterous yet rhythmic melodies (check 'em out in our RR Study Playlists!). Every time I listen to their music, I become lost in their songs - literally. Their sound is slightly reminiscent of Coldplay's Chris Martin and Neil Young on vocals mixed with a little bit of Spoon's Britt Daniel and some MGMT instrumentals; The Shins connection is audible, but hardly distracting. The electronic variations facilitate a smooth transition from one song to the next; the sounds are hypnotizing, and obviously even more captivating live. After the headache-inducing chaos of Neon Trees, I really appreciated BB's simplicity; they opened while standing in a simple line, jamming just as casually and passionately as if they were making a studio recording. Not one band member surpassed another - it was clearly about creating and sustaining a musical connection between audience and band. Again, if you are unfamiliar with Broken Bells, check out "October," "The High Road," "The Ghost Inside," "Sailing to Nowhere," and "Meyrin Fields." You'll thank us later.

Lesley's Review:

After dashing out of my evening class, throwing a concert-appropriate outfit together, grabbing some trusty Jack Daniels for the road, and running in the bitter cold to the bus stop to meet Lucy, I could comfort myself in the fact that in just a short T ride, I'd be swaying to the heart-wrenching sounds of the amazing band that is Ra Ra Riot. Too bad I was mistaken. I figured Neon Trees would be opening the show, but apparently they switched it up on us and Ra Ra Riot played first. We caught the tail end, so at least I got to hear a couple of my favorite songs, but I was disappointed. Granted, I've seen Ra Ra Riot twice already, but still... kinda upsetting. At least I had two more bands to look forward to.

I wasn't familiar with Neon Trees, aside from their single "Animal," but like Lucy, I'm open to anything, so I was excited to hear a new band for the first time live. I have no idea what song NT opened with, but all I remember is that it was loud. And off-key. And all around a horrible opening song choice. I laughed so hard when our friends Jen and Erica almost immediately got up and left. I chose to stay, however, out of pure curiosity. The scene that enfolded before my eyes was like a car wreck -- gruesome, but at the same time so fascinating that I couldn't look away. I actually started writing my review -- well actually, more like a list of adjectives to describe the lead singer, Tyler Glenn -- on my Blackberry as I sat there, watching with wide eyes.

The way Tyler was behaving as he performed was unreal. I could only assume that he was either on a lot of different drugs (I’m thinking a mix of a hallucinogen and an upper) or he was possessed by demons (evidenced by his constant alternate mumbling and shouting into the microphone in-between songs as he addressed the audience). Aside from his use of words like “tomfoolery” and what must be his favorite, “douche,” he could have been speaking in tongues for all I know. He started off his hour-long dance performance with a classic move, the can-can, except that he looked like a Rockette on Ecstasy. Tyler has super long legs and is apparently quite flexible so it was mind-boggling how high his kicks went. In general, his moves were the most bizarre I’ve ever seen. He simultaneously managed to resemble a sea creature (with his swirly arm movements), a broken Elvis (with awkward and erratic hip twists and swivels), and a chicken (with jerky head bobbing and neck thrusting) all at once. He also at one point started rocking back and forth on his heels in a squatting position like a mental patient as he sung, clearly very moved by the lyrics of that particular tune. He also managed to pull off a very-Akon like move and started dry humping the stage very energetically. And ladies, lemme tell you, part of me was attracted to his tall lanky frame and mohawk, but word to the wise, I can only imagine him being terrible in bed. I did really enjoy he flamboyant style, so props to him for that. He wore a red scarf, black skinnies, an embellished black blazer that I’d love to have in my own closet, and these amazing black glittery oxfords. He did however ruin the fashion aspect of the show for me as well when he started slowly stripping. And then when he somehow pulled out another glitter scarf out of thin air and started using it as a headscarf like some European peasant woman from the middle ages. The whole performance, from beginning to end was basically a joke. I give him credit for putting on a unique and attention-grabbing performance (he also was fond of smashing his head against the drum set cymbals) and I did get a lot of great laughs out of it, but I just couldn’t take NT seriously as a band. The drummer chick was really cool, but she, along with the other band members couldn’t compete with Tyler. Tyler stole the show and spent the whole time trying to be outrageous and different instead of delivering a good musical performance. They only had one good song, their popular single “Animal,” with the rest of their performance sung (i.e. shouted) relatively off-key, making me question if NT will ever be more than a one-hit wonder. Would I pay to see NT again? Not a chance. But if they happened to be opening for another band I was seeing I would stay and watch for a little while, and maybe, just maybe with some more good hits and a the help of a professional choreographer, I could begin to take them seriously.

As for Broken Bells? They were a drastic contrast to NT’s performance in all ways. They were calm, they were quiet, they didn’t dance, and they were AMAZING. I was blown away by how beautiful they sounded live. And also impressed by the talent of the band. Almost every band member could play more than one instrument, and so they seamlessly switched from instrument to instrument for each song. I loved it. Here was a band that sounded just as good live as in their recordings. There’s not much more to say about Broken Bells, aside from that they left me speechless, unlike NT who I could probably have gone on about for pages and pages more. Trust me, being left speechless is a desirable thing.

Our view of The Orpheum's stage

NeonTrees. Tyler, the red and black blur to the far left of the picture, was difficult to capture due to stage lights and his fast and erratic dance moves.

The Orpheum Theatre is so amazing. It was strange seeing a concert in a place that looks more appropriate for an opera, but also really neat. The ceiling was gorgeous.

Broken Bells, playing in the dark. It was such a refreshing contrast to watch a band play with subtle but amazing skill and style. The lighting and stage effects suited the mood of their music.

And of course, our style shots from the night!

Our friends Erica Shubin and Jen Yi looking concert ready!

Lucy pairs Alexa Chung for Madewell seamed skinny jeans with homemade studded Converse, a deep armhole tank, a black Free People bra, and and H&M leopard cardigan

Lesley layered a thrifted black and white checkered flannel shirt over a t-shirt dress from H&M paired with American Apparel micro-mesh two-sided leggings and black Nine West American Vintage Collection combat boots. She accessorized simply with a few silver rings, a floppy black beret from Akira which is her favorite Chicago boutique, and a cascading black feather headband from F21 underneath.

2010-12-11T08:27:00.000-08:00

"And it was hard, like coming off the pill that you take to stay happy."

-Belle & Sebastian

How to Study, RR Style

2010-12-10T09:27:00.001-08:00

Friday marks the first official study day here at Boston College. I'm sure almost half the student population is still in bed hungover from last night's celebrations of the end of classes, and I'm sure the other almost half has been up since 6am and gone to the Plex, done laundry, and is now holed in Bapst with five gallons of coffee, adderall, and a pile of books so heavy, it is threatening to break the table. But if you're anything like us... you're doing neither of these things (i.e cleaning your apartment/dorm to avoid studying, painting your nails to avoid studying, watching Dexter to avoid studying, posting on your blog to avoid studying, and so on).

I don't have an exam until Wednesday, and then I don't have another until Saturday. Between now and Sunday when I leave I have to turn in my creative writing portfolio, but it's already nearly finished so I'm not too worried. I've got my schedule of studying and study breaks already mapped out in my planner for the next week. I've already gotten a bit of a start on my study guides. And I've made this playlist, for myself, and for you, to help you get through the agonizing tedium that is jamming your head with information that you'll make every effort to forget as you kill brain cells this NYE.

This playlist's got a bit of everything on there, but the general vibe is chill... I love dancing to my music as much as anyone else, but the other studiers in the library may kill you if you so much as flip a page too loudly this weekend. So, plug in your headphones, turn the volume all the way up, ignore those page turner-haters, and do not (i repeat DO NOT) take a break until the playlist ends.

And voila! You just got 2, maybe 2.5 good solid hours of studying done.

Assuming you actually stuck to the plan.

Now take a deep breath, get up, take a walk and stretch a little, get some food, socialize, re-activate your facebook to check for important notifications (mainly invites to holiday parties), de-activate Facebook once again, and get back to work.

xoxo Lesley

P.S.: Now that you're settled back in your chair, I'll hand my study guide duties over to Lucy, whose playlist is more than capable of getting you through the next couple of hours:

Okay, after that study break, I hope you've regained some focus and are ready to return to those books. My playlist, much like Lesley's, has a casual vibe but contains some upbeat classics to keep you engaged and awake. Let's just say there's something for everyone!

For those of you who know me well, you're aware of the fact that I'm pretty sketchy (i.e. you rarely see me walking around campus). The reason for my shady ways is actually academically tactical. I spend most of my time between classes in the Social Work Library (in the basement of McGuinn). Am I a sociology/psych major? Nope, I just like the chill setting and widely available seating. If I'm not in McGuinn, you can find me on the computers in the Language Lab on the third floor of Lyons.....if you care to find me. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to hate on O'Neil or Bapst, but whenever I go there I run into EVERYONE and never get any work done. The same is true for Hillside; unless, hypothetically speaking, you would find it relatively easy to read a textbook in the middle of an African stampede, I don't recommend going there to study.

Lastly, I understand that snacks and refreshments are highly necessary for physical and mental sustenance. I recommend picking up a baggie of sour candy like Skittles or Sour Patch Kids (they always keep me awake), and large quantities of CAFFEINE (don't forget to hydrate). Good luck, and enjoy the tunes!

xoxo Lucy

Amore Eterno Per La Città Eterna

2010-12-07T18:01:00.000-08:00

Allora.....senti....lately I've been nostalgic for Roma, where I spent this past spring semester living and studying at the American University of Rome. When I think about the city, strong senses come to mind. I miss the way the sunlight hit the building facades, the crystal clear azure blue sky, the colorful and creative anarchist graffiti, the constant smell of orange trees, "Stereo Love" ringtones going off left and right....

I distinctly remember myself at this time, one year ago, stressing about finals and simultaneously scrambling to organize all of the documents necessary to obtain an Italian Student Visa....I actually ended up getting swine flu and missing the deadline, but everything worked out (hahaha shout out to Rita P). I envy the juniors who are now in the process of preparing to study abroad/are doing it now. If living in Rome taught me anything, it was the surprising exhilaration of spontaneity and the power of fearlessness....a mentality I've tried to carry with me since I've come back in the States. My life in Italy was an educational, exhausting, adventure - a wild ride that I wouldn't have changed a second of. In fact, I kind of think I dreamed it. Here are some snapshots of people and places from my time in the Eternal City:

Some photos are snagged from the albums of lovely ladies: Maria Grinko, Anastasia Berg, Chrissy Farrell, and Jaclyn Palermo

baci xx

Lucy

A Night Out

2010-12-06T09:07:00.000-08:00

After a hellish week of late-nights spent in the library slaving over pre-final papers and projects, Lesley and I were seriously anticipating a weekend of fun. After Thursday night's concert and a (relatively) good night of sleep, Friday evening we ventured into chilly Boston for a BC Ski & Snowboard Club-sponsored event at the popular BC bar and dance venue An Tua Nua. This was my first time ever at An Tua, and I have to say I LOVED IT! Good music, good drinks, fun people, and lots of space. I can't wait to go back. Read on to see what outfits we rocked for the night...

As self-described "goths" with a semi-girlie flair, we rock some serious ring collections. Right now, we're digging matte colors like Sally Hansen's Hard As Nails XTreme Wear in "Wet Cement." Clockwise from top left (Rings: black bar ring by Biji for Urban Outfitters, double cross ring from Etsy, silver thumb ring from a Montauk surf shop, hammered silver ring from Free People, gold triple-finger bar ring from F21, B ring from middle school jewelry sale).

I realize that I look topless in this picture, but that's always been a problem when I wear backless American Apparel halter leotards with my hair down. I dub this look "Lady Godiva." Usually I try to wear my hair in a high ponytail so I at least look like I have some kind of a shirt on, but I wanted to wear my new headband with an attached gorgeous cascade of chain and black feathers, so I had to wear my hair loose. Unfortunately the feathers blend in with my hair in this photo (which makes for a nice subtle headpiece I can actually wear to class without looking ridiculous), but stay tuned for another post on feather hairpieces in the future. Anyways... I'm wearing a F21 feather headband, an AA halter leotard, navy blue silk high-waisted shorts from F21, a wide black belt, black tights, and black ankle boots.

I did a modern take on the "Lingerie-Inspired" trend with a dropwaist chiffon chemise thrown over a black bodycon slip, both by Free People. Unfortunately in these frigid temperatures, tights are a necessity, so I paired 'em with my favorite Free People heeled hiker boots. In natural Lucy fashion, I added tons of silver chains and finger hardware (see above).

***Special thanks to Shiva Moshtagh for being our personal RR photographer for the night. Love you babe!

XO Lucy & Lesley

Thanksgiving Pants

2010-11-28T21:27:00.000-08:00

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)

2010-11-26T10:10:00.000-08:00

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"

2010-11-15T15:21:00.000-08:00

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?

2010-11-14T13:56:00.000-08:00

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

2010-11-11T15:26:00.000-08:00

"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

2010-11-09T14:23:00.000-08:00

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!

Lucy

Ca Plane Pour Moi

2010-11-07T12:13:00.000-08:00

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

xoxo
Lucy

A quickie

2010-11-06T18:20:00.000-07:00

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

2010-11-02T21:32:00.000-07:00

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

2010-11-02T12:14:00.000-07:00

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

2010-11-01T16:05:00.000-07:00

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!

Lucy and Lesley

Confessions of a Halloween-holic

2010-10-30T13:48:00.000-07:00

I don't care what anyone else thinks, I will still be taking Halloween seriously at 26, and at 47, AND at 93. It's my favorite holiday of the year (I still think we should get a day off of school for it) and no matter how uncool it gets to wear a costume, I'll be doing it.

I think my addiction to Halloween is the result of my childhood. From a young age (infancy, perhaps?) my parents always made sure I had a memorable one. To this day, I have never worn a store-bought costume. My mom used to spend hours making authentic (and sometimes historically accurate) costumes for me, and as I got older, I would put my costumes together on my own, whether it be by using items in my own wardrobe mixed with vintage pieces from my mom's closet or a thrift store, or by neglecting my fall midterms to sew elaborate and often over-ambitious outfits in college. Not to mention, from pre-school through senior year of high school I was involved in several forms of dance, countless plays and musicals, figure skating, and so my love of playing dress up extended far beyond October 31st.

As Zorro at my first ever ice show.

I was the most historically accurate pioneer girl in the history of Halloween. I was a Dutch girl one year too (with a handmade lace hat and authentic wooden clogs) but unfortunately I cannot find any pictures.

From a Filipino dance recital.

The year I did a number to a Greek ethnic song. Opa!

Randomly dressed up in luau gear at my neighborhood block party. Laddie, my dog, wanted to dress up too.

Trick or treating as the devil with some friends.

No, this is not a Halloween costume. I used to enjoy dressing like a beggar woman on random days and going around to my parents asking them for money. Some things never change... as a college kid, I still beg my parents (just in a better looking outfit).

I love Harry Potter, if you can't tell.

My favorite ice show costume ever. Probably because I picked it out and it actually was pretty.

Senior year of high school, we all managed to stay within our preppy dress code while still dressing up for Halloween. Almost every senior that day was an emo kid. Can you spot me in the crowd?

David and I as William Wallace and Pocahontas (Pocahotass) for our first Halloween as college students.

I took being a flower child literally... spent days and days sewing individual flowers onto a dress-shirt-scrap of fabric. Excuse the awk pose, I'm pretending to hug a tree.

With Danielle, as Alice and a cave woman.

As Bjork. Looking like a mess after too much sweaty dancing.

Usually, I just spend all my time working on one really great costume for Halloween, but this year -- god knows why -- I've decided to have three. Granted, none of them are as mind-blowing (if I do say so myself, but hey, it was a runner up in Rackk and Ruin's costume contest last Halloween) as my Bjork swan dress from last year, so I guess I'm making up for it by having multiple ones:

1. Spider

2. Davy Crockett

3. Scar from the Lion King

I've wanted to be a spider since last year, so I only hope I can pull this off as well as I'm picturing in my head. Davy Crockett was a last minute idea -- I've been noticing the fox tail key chains hipsters have been clipping onto their bags lately, and drew inspiration from that. As for Scar, my roommates and I decided to do a group thing one night, and I cannot wait.

Stay tuned for a post-Halloween pic post and DIY costume tips!!!

The Ghosts of Halloweens Past - Lucy

2010-10-29T16:46:00.000-07:00

I love looking through old pictures.....the photos remind me just how much of a creative and fun childhood I had. Luckily, my super-organized and camera-savvy mother organizes snapshots in chronological, seasonally ordered albums. When I proposed pulling a few pics of past costumes for a blog post, she happily obliged.

My parents were always SUPER involved when it came to helping me and my brothers with our costumes. I have flashbacks of my dad sketching, tracing, measuring, and slicing into styrofoam until 2 am, only to wake up the next morning to some sort of structured masterpiece (to give you an idea, he once created "LaGuardia Airport" for my brother Keenan, who literally wore a layout of the control towers, buildings, and runways). My mom would drive miles to get me the perfect accessory to complete my look, following up with extravagant front-lawn photoshoots.

I'll admit, some of these costumes I'll boast about to strangers (Tamagotchi - I mean....come on, how creative is that?!), others I had forgotten about completely. So on that note, let's reminisce....

Blue Fairy - blue is still my favorite color

Shirley Temple - it took 2 hours to curl my hair which fell straight 2 hours later!

Tamagotchi - my personal favorite, this costume helped me to win a costume contest in my town and landed me in the paper!

My pirate obsession is still going strong 10 years later

Miss Frizzle! My mom is a science teacher, so she loves this one

Medusa - I had totally forgot about this one....my mom spent hours pinning rubber snakes in my hair....I remember coming home from school and wanting to take them out at the end of the day!

Christopher Robin and Piglet - my mom tells me that I kept running away from her while she was trying to put on my stripes

Anchorman was my ALL-TIME favorite movie in highschool (it still is one of my faves)...my friends Ann, Paola, Nina and I won a school costume contest as San Fran's favorite newsteam

Also from my high school years was an award-winning costume ensemble as the Breakfast Club. This picture isn't great, but I'm in the front as Andrew (Emilio Estevez)

Hope you enjoyed the pics! Which is your fave???????

Have a happy and safe Halloween!

xo
Lucy

Facebook Dominates Cinemas

2010-10-26T12:45:00.000-07:00

No matter the season, genre, or company, I always enjoy a good film. What constitutes "good?" Quite simply, a "good" movie is one that keeps you thinking hours after you've left the theater...one that prompts you to read about it further...one that sparks discussion and debate. Movies are such an integral part of culture in its social, aesthetic and historic sense. Like music, fashion, and art, movies cross oceans, change time zones, and break linguistic barriers. While movies obviously hold a traditional charm in their entertainment purposes, their cinematic and artistic power lies within the fact that they subconsciously force the audience to relate what they see on the big screen to their personal lives. In today's post, I'll be doing two movie reviews with subject matter very relevant to everyone, especially if you are between 12 and 30 years old: FACEBOOK.

I'll bet that about 75% of you reading RR right now have Facebook open in your browser. And why wouldn't you? You're probably going through photo albums from last weekend and creeping on that hottie while simultaneously trying to type a paper. In the past five years, Facebook has gone from a college networking site and expanded to include high school networks, regional networks, and international networks. It has transcended it education origins to include businesses. Everybody is connected, and almost overwhelmingly so. As of right now, Facebook has over 400 million active users with 50% logging in on any given day. There are more than 60 million status updates per day, 3 million photos uploaded each month, and more than 3 million active pages. With technology practically conducting our social existence, Facebook seems to make the world a little smaller. To only add to its fame, this fall's movie selection included two very different films both centered around the concept of Facebook. The first, Catfish is a documentary about an internet relationship while the second, The Social Network, focuses on the story of Mark Zuckerberg (one of Facebook's founders) and his rise to fame.

Over Columbus Day Weekend, I had several friends visiting me and thus the perfect opportunity to suggest a film as a group activity. While we were in Cambridge catching up some Harvard friends, we decided on Catfish, which was on my "must-see" list. I had seen several previews for the film, both in theaters and online, and the documentary looked so curiously strange, scary, intriguing and endearing that I felt an almost overwhelming compulsion to see it.

Before you read on, check out the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFKe75Q6eVw

Catfish is produced by Ariel Schulman and Henry Joost, starring their friend, family, roommate, and co-worker Yaniv "Nev" Schulman. As you can infer from the trailer, Nev is a NYC-based photographer who becomes involved with a family via Facebook, and particular the young and beautiful Megan. I'm obviously not going to reveal the end of the movie, but I will admit that it will leave you perhaps with a greater regard to the power of the internet in the Twenty-First Century, and more specifically of social networking sites such as Facebook. As a character, Nev and his friendly are extremely likeable. They almost reminded me of those MTV guys who go around filming things they want to see and experience before they die, but with a little more maturity and hilarity. While some documentaries are choppy and semi-confusing, Catfish flows; the spectacle of making discoveries keeps you on the edge of you seat while Nev and his friends' humor keep you in good spirits. Three and a half stars from me.

This past week I journeyed home to good old Long Island for some rest, relaxation, and real food (thanks Mom). On Sunday, I took my little brother Liam (my go-to movie partner - he's a tough critic but will see anything) to see The Social Network. Unless you've been hiding under a rock, you've heard of this movie.

If not, click here to watch the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lB95KLmpLR4

With a screenplay by Alan Sorkin, director David Fincher brings us a film about a young Harvard tech genius who develops the concept of Facebook as a technical internet program to foster, promote and maintain social connections between young people. While he achieves enormous popularity and success, legal debates arise over financial and authenticity issues. I had heard that the movie was excellent, and I definitely wasn't disappointed. As with every film of a biographic nature, it was equally interesting as it was sad to learn Mark Zuckerberg's story and his turbulent relationships with other members of his team, more specifically Eduardo Saverin. As the role of Mark, Jesse Eisenberg's performance is entirely authentic - he nailed the prototype of the "socially awkward yet academically equipped and business-savvy" Harvard undergrad. I enjoyed the film immensely and I left knowing a lot more about the historic and economic origins of Facebook. Four stars from me, it's a must-see.

Hope you enjoyed the reviews and are making plans to see these film if you haven't done so already! I promise to be back with more, because watching movies is a real treat for me. Have a great day guys!

Lucy

le chats

2010-10-20T15:05:00.000-07:00

Tangerine, bright yellow, and shades of pink graced the runway as the ready-to-wear line for Paul & Joe made their much-awaited arrival. A variety of jumpsuits, button dresses, textured shorts, and cropped jackets made sure to make everyone in the audience want at least one piece from the show.

Of course floral showed up on floor-length dresses and so did brocades (a must for the upcoming season), as well as on extremely loose, high-waisted pants. Watching the collection, one got a sense of the seventies with the slouchy silhouettes. Looks like it’s going to be a relaxed and flirty spring ahead of us.

All in all, I can’t wait to seek out stores that sell Paul & Joe and make a couple of purchases (if affordable). What makes the collection even more wonderful is being able to see it be paraded in front of me and see the beauty of the garments on models instead of hangers. When the lights came up and the music ended, hearing the applause arise from the audience when the designer made her quick bow, anyone could tell the amount of respect given to her.

Thank you to Christopher Parente (website) & Christopher Cosgrove for the photography!

xoxo
Paulina

photograph © Christopher Cosgrove

photograph © Christopher Cosgrove

Paris Fashion Week - Paul & Joe Spring 2011 from Chris Parente on Vimeo.

Une madeleine du matin, éloigne le médecin....

2010-10-20T08:22:00.000-07:00

A madeleine in the morning keeps the doctor away....

Bonsoir tout le monde! If you don't understand a word of French and/or have never experienced the edible nirvana that is "une madeleine," then please, allow me to clarify....

I'm fresh back from an evening with La Maison Française de Boston College spent baking madeleines, sipping tea, and enjoying friendly conversation (en français, bien sûr!). As a registered French major and ardent cultural enthusiast, I receive a slew of e-mails from La Maison, BC's official French Society. The Club is actually more of a membership - every student enlisted in a university French class is invited to attend the events hosted by La Maison over the course of the school-year. Depending on the month, events range in subject and variety; they offer movie screenings, conversation hours, group dinners, instructional speakers, exhibitions, field trips, and my personal favorite: cooking classes! Though I am genuinely interested in attending these events, I usually find myself making excuses or caught between the demands of juggling a job, schoolwork, and social life. However, being in my senior year, I vowed to make time for one such event that seriously piqued my interest: making madeleines.

A madeleine is a pound cake-esque cookie baked in pans with scallop-shaped depressions. These iconic French culinary delights are equally delicious as they are aesthetically pleasing. They're relatively easy to find, being sold at most American bakeries and even pre-packaged at Starbucks counters. While I've enjoyed the packaged cakes with coffee or tea, I've never actually tasted a "freshly baked" madeleine. You can probably guess how this story ends....

Upon arriving in Vouté, I felt somewhat intrusive, disrupting a group of already acquainted individuals deep in conversation. However, my obvious love for all things French (and culinary), combined with a warm welcome from Ana, La Maison's head coordinator, soon put me at ease. Cindy Bravo, director of BC's Language Lab, was our resident chef-directrice for the evening.

Cindy first gave us a brief history of this iconic French pastry. The madeleine originated in Commercy, a small village in the Lorraine region of northeastern

France

. There are actually several stories concerning how the small cake gained its fortune and fame, but its widespread popularity and cross-cultural renown is indisputable.

The preparation of the dough was extremely easy! The only ingredients used were flour, eggs, sugar, butter, and vanilla extract. While we discussed the many different variations of the madeleine (ranging from chocolate-dipped to citrus-infused) Cindy, as a self-titled "puriste," assured us that the original recipe was best. She called upon various members of the audience to assist her in preparation; some people mixed, some melted, some scooped, and some taste-tested to ensure that everybody got the opportunity to lend a hand.. While we waited for the madeleines to achieve their perfect golden shell, Ana read to us an excerpt from mid-20th century Marcel Proust's famous autobiographical novel À La Recherche du Temps Perdu (The Remembrance of Things Past), in which the famous writer/philosopher describes his sensory experience of biting into a madeleine:

"She sent for one of those squat plump little cakes called "petites madeleines," which look as though they had been molded in the fluted valve of a scallop shell … I raised to my lips a spoonful of the tea in which I had soaked a morsel of the cake. No sooner had the warm liquid mixed with the crumbs touched my palate than a shudder ran through me and I stopped, intent upon the extraordinary thing that was happening to me. An exquisite pleasure invaded my senses …

And suddenly the memory revealed itself. The taste was that of the little piece of madeleine which on Sunday mornings at Combray … when I went to say good morning to her in her bedroom, my aunt Leonie used to give me, dipping it first in her own cup of tea or tisane …. and the whole of Combray and its surroundings, taking shape and solidity, sprang into being, town and garden alike, from my cup of tea."

I must admit that the experience of eating a freshly baked madeleine for the first time, was in a word: magical. If you are ever hosting an event or want to reward yourself with a sweet treat, these little cakes are SO easy and quick to make. I promise you won't be disappointed; your senses may be ignited as Proust's, but if nothing else, you will enjoy the gustatory pleasure of this famous French dessert.

Before we left, Cindy handed us each the official typed recette for concocting our own madeleines. I know that I'll be whipping these up for family and friends at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and beyond!

Madeleines (Makes 24)

Ingredients:

-1 ¼ cup sugar

-1 ¼ cup flour

-1 ½ tbsp vanilla

-2 eggs

-4.4 oz. melted margarine (one stick + 1 tablespoon)

Directions:

Mix together eggs and sugar. Gradually and alternately blend in flour and melted margarine. Add vanilla. Mix well.

Thoroughly grease (with Crisco) and flour madeleine pans. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees Farenheit. While pre-heating, chill batter and pans in refrigerator for a few minutes. Drop generous teaspoon of batter into each madeleine mold. Bake at 350 degrees Farenheit for 10-12 (maybe even 15) minutes, or until edges of madeleines are golden brown. Remove from oven. Let stand for 5 minutes, then remove each cake from mold (use the reversed tines of a fork to “nudge the madeleines to freedom”).

Cindy explains the baking process

The making of the batter commences!

Greasing the special shell molds...is there Crisco in France??

A volunteer helps to grease the pans

Into the oven they go!

Almost ready......

It's all about the presentation....aren't they si belles?

Bon appetit!

Je vous verrai dans la cuisine!!!!!

xo Lucy

Romanticism

2010-10-17T17:24:00.000-07:00

Who knew we would be just lucky enough to be in Paris while Fashion Week 2010/2011 was going on? It would have been silly of us not to try to attend a show (or two) while there. I mean, how often can you scope out first hand fashion and style before it even hits the Internet for the rest of the world to see? After an appointment at the Bibliothèque Nationale de France, we quickly hopped on the 6 metra and made our way to the epicenter of where this was all supposed to go down.

Although we knew we would be late to the show and miss everyone entering, we decided to wait and scope out all the other eager fashionistas, hoping to get glances of Valentino’s work, peer at other well-dressed beauties, and snap pictures for the blog, too. Before we knew it, we could hear the music pumping from behind the doors and within fifteen minutes, the show was over and the crowds were rushing out of the door, probably onto the next show.

There was a massive flood of beautiful clothes and shoes, and we caught a glimpse of what is definitely the It shoe of the season – the new pointy-toed Valentinos. These bad boys dominated the Valentino show like no other. Easily enough, we spotted seven different women wearing them, either the flats or the heels. Though personally I’d never wear them, they are still beautiful.

Before we knew it, models were streaming out from the back door entrance, of course then being swarmed by a massive amount of photographers. Some were kind enough to take a moment and pose, while others were in a rush and wanted to be left alone. Not only did we get to see some models, but Alexa Chung decided to surprise us as she rushed from the back entrance to her town car.

With people swarming the models, it was the perfect opportunity for Valentino himself to make a run for his limo and be whisked away. But those pesky photogs were more then ready for it. We were lucky enough to be close to him and get a good snap of the orange-faced genius behind this year’s gorgeous collection.

Any other person would see that the show was over and that all the VIPs had left, and assume it was time to leave too. But not us. We figured, why not sneak past security and see the runway itself and hopefully get some glimpses of the clothes. And that’s exactly what we did. Right into the room where we did our very own strut down the runway and sat in the same seats as important editors. Symmetrically designed in all plush white, the runway was the perfect setting for Valentino’s beige, black, salmon, and red French-romantic garments.

When we got our fill of runway walking, we decided to head out and it turned out that it was the exact moment they were bringing out the clothes in the racks. Multiple racks came out holding the garments and we managed to peer through the plastic lining. Seeing the clothes up close in person was unbelievable. Seeing the actual fabric and tiny miniscule details in the work, I realized why this man is so famous for what he does.

I’d have to say, Valentino definitely stepped up his game with this collection. For a while I really wasn’t too impressed with what he was putting out there but this blew me away (or it could have just been the adrenaline rush of being at fashion week). But all in all, I’d say this was a successful adventure in Paris.

Much appreciation to Alec Bastian for taking all of the photos in this entry and being so kind when commanded to snap pictures of shoes, bags, etc. Check out his photography here.

xoxo

- Paulina

all photos © Alec Bastian (www.behance.net/alecbastian)

The Queen Lives On

2010-10-17T16:00:00.000-07:00

I literally did a double take when first watching a video of the Alexander McQueen Spring 2011 Ready-to-wear show. I could have sworn I saw Lee in every one of the designs from this collection. But then I remembered, with a little sadness, that this was the first collection from his label not designed by him.

This season marked the transition of Sarah Burton from partner of McQueen to creative director of the label. It’s hard to imagine a more difficult task than continuing the artistic vision of a fashion genius without him there to chip in his two cents. But Burton met the challenge head on and I think she did a exquisite job of channeling his aesthetic into a great tribute to the designer.

She incorporated his signature looks into her designs – the elaborate gowns and the tailcoats being two of the most recognizable – but the greatest difference this season was the femininity and lightness she injected into the collection.

While McQueen’s concepts were often haunting and dark, she added a little bit of contrasting softness. This was evident in the way she incorporated lace and knitwear into his Victorian-like silhouettes, and how she took away some of the hardness of his designs by crafting leather into little butterflies and slashing open the defined shoulders on many jackets and dresses without diminishing any of the strength and fierceness that defined a McQueen woman.

Despite the differences, Burton did a lovely job staying true to McQueen’s spirit. The show was just as fantastical as his former ones, and the clothes just as elaborate. I, personally, am already counting down the days until Burton’s next collection shows.

R.I.P. Lee Alexander McQueen

xoxo Lesley

Long Weekend Looks

2010-10-12T09:12:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone, sorry that Rusted Rev has been MIA for the past few days, but we have a legitimate excuse! Like most overworked college students in much need of a fall break, Lesley and I took full advantage of the 3-day weekend by enjoying the fantastic weather as we socialized, ate, shopped and entertained guests. It was a fantastic siesta but now it's time to hit the books again as midterms and paper deadlines fast approach. We promise there is lots coming your way, and very soon. Need a sneak peek? Think Paris.....enough said. In the meantime, enjoy some Columbus Day street style. Cheers!

Chick, c'est chic.

2010-10-06T18:39:00.001-07:00

Outside of her native France, Clémence Poésy is probably best recognized for her role as Fleur Delacour in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, as Chloë in In Bruges, or most recently, as Eva in the Gossip Girl television series. A child star of French theatre and fashion model (she's a face of the Chloé fragrance), she's made a name for herself in the entertainment industry, not only as a talented model and spokesperson, but as a quirky and lovable personality and effortlessly Parisian-chic style icon.

She's definitely in my top ten best dressed female celebrities. I love the way she combines menswear with feminine pieces, and balances trendy items with vintage ones. Her elegant but paired down style makes it look like she got dressed without trying. And she's definitely a gal that follows Coco Chanel's cardinal fashion rule to a T: before leaving the house, remove one item from your outfit.

xoxo Lesley

Site to Check Out: Lookbook.nu

2010-10-05T14:17:00.000-07:00

Whenever I'm feeling lackluster in terms of fashion inspiration, or just want to look at some cool photos of the world's most stylish and creative people, I direct my mouse towards lookbook.nu. Lookbook is "The internet's largest source of fashion inspiration from real people around the world." I stumbled upon the community site one day while Google-searching "international street style." Photos of people with real, everyday style (i.e. street style) have substantially helped me to develop my fashion preferences and spark creativity consciousness. I soon discovered that Lookbook takes itself seriously. Every member must receive approval to join the site before posting pictures. Although Lookbook is an open community, the application involves a brief written response and photo submission; it helps if your credentials include a personal website or blog (Celebrity members include Rumi Neely from fashiontoast and Louise Ebel from Pandora!) I applied once and never received admission, but that has never deterred me from stalking the website several times daily. Lookbook enables members can "hype" (vote) looks of others which boosts the most popular photos to positions at the top of the site page. Members are also able to comment on and share looks. If you're no stranger to street fashion blogs, you are probably familiar with Lookbook. If not, you need to check it out STAT! It features guys and girls hailing from Texas to Sydney to Milan and beyond. If nothing else, the photographs are beautifully done; many of them look like magazine spreads. Lesley and I will be making frequent posts featuring some of our favorite Lookbook photos to showcase some of the season's best trends and get you guys inspired to get creative with your own wardrobes. Read on for some sartorial eye candy to brighten this dreary Tuesday.

Free People October Catalog 2010 is here!

2010-10-04T15:49:00.000-07:00

I've been eagerly awaiting Free People's October catalog because I heard that, for the first time, the brand was featuring three very lovely model-bloggers: Rumi Neely from fashiontoast, Natalie Suarez from Natalie Off-Duty, and Georgia Larson from Dora's Fur. The three gorgeous gals have a very personal, distinct sense of style and self which translates through their respective blogs. The ladies chose to model their favorite looks and were allowed photographers of their choosing. In my opinion, the catalog is much more impressive than the September shoot; the looks are beautiful and casual blend of fall's bohemian, romantic, and grunge trends. Here are some favorite shots from the catalog, enjoy!

Rumi wears the Scandalous Lace Top in Black ($48) under a vintage Levi's Denim Vest ($265) with the Band of Fairisle Tall Sock in Black ($28) and the Great Expedition Hat ($58)

Natalie goes romantic bohemian with the Dolled Up in Cashmere Tunic in Mauve ($198), the Noble Engraved Pendant ($28), Slouchy Sweater Tall Sock in Charcoal ($28), and Frye's Celia Tall Boots in Brown ($348)

Natalie looks like a grunge goddess in the Super Stripe Tee in Navy Combo ($68) with the FP Skinny Knit Pant ($68), Raymi Hobo ($398), and Rogan Tall Hiker Boot in Black ($398)

Natalie looks breezy and beautiful in the Centered Laced Buttondown Tunic in White ($108) and Mesh Roses Tight in Pink ($28)

The October catalog items will begin to make their way into Free People Boutiques across the US....but I recommend ordering something offline if you love it because we never get everything in the stores. Here are the items I can't wait to get my hands on, though I'd love it all!

Shredded Seamless Tee in Black ($98)

Vintage Florals Caftan in Tea Combo ($118)

Read Across Maxi Dress ($198)

Collected Lace Mesh Top in Ivory ($128)

We The Free Motoring In Fleece Jacket ($198)

"I Wouldn't Like Death If Death Were Good"

2010-10-03T11:32:00.000-07:00

Fresh back from an incredible evening in Boston's Boylston Theater District, our heads are still spinning with the haunting melodies and rhythmic twangs of Ra Ra Riot. While our expectations were high, the vote was unanimous - the performance was phenomenal from start to finish. The venue, The Boston Royale, is a nightclub which every week features an assortment of bands and artists ranging from M.I.A., to Deerhunter, to Steve Aoki, to Jersey Shore's very own DJ Pauly D. Located on a strip dotted with Boston's most popular hotels, bars, theaters, and concert halls, The Royale allows for an intimate and comfortable concert experience.....quite contrary to the suffocating push-and-shove of the typical live performance.

We started off the night with a tasty dinner at Fajitas and 'Ritas a popular Mexican joint around the corner from The Royale. Us and a bunch of friends shuffled in from the torrential rainstorm (Thanks, Hurricane Nicholas), looking to warm our bodies with some spicy food and strong margaritas. We were seated right away, just barely evading the dinnertime rush. We started off with two margarita pitchers and the standard chips and salsa. Our chicken and steak fajitas arrived soon after on sizzling skillets. Overall, the meal was tasty, the ambiance was fun, and the prices were great! In terms of food quality and taste, I have definitely had better Mexican, but this place was perfect for a quick dinner before our final destination.

Gordon, Lesley, and Lucy at dinner.

Jen, Liz, and Hube.

Lesley and Lucy braved the frigid rain and wind to take some quick style shots. They came out grainy and dark (i.e. "artsy") unfortunately, but the city lights look cool in the back ground.

Lesley wore body con black lace tank under an oversized black J. Crew cotton slip. She layered a vintage Ralph Lauren denim shirt over the dress and accessorized with a wide knit headband from Wet Seal, some funky rings, tall black socks, and Nine West American Vintage combat boots.

Lucy wore an army green jacket over an edgy lace tank and denim shorts. She finished off her outfit with black thigh high socks and motorcycle boots.

Ra Ra Riot was actually preceded by two other bands: Chikita Violenta and We Barbarians. We really didn't know anything about the opening acts (Lesley knew a bit more about We Barbarians than myself), and we were short on time, so we didn't end up making it over to the venue until around 8 o'clock. We explored the ground level of the building, which actually included a bar segueing into a hotel lobby. We stopped for a few quick (and way overpriced) drinks in the bar before heading upstairs to the "ballroom." There seemed to be a considerable amount of people in the space, but surprisingly, there was ample room to move, walk, breathe and converse. We weaseled our way to the front by the first song.....it actually wasn't that difficult considering Wes Miles is a Golden God.

For those of you who aren't familiar with the band, Ra Ra Riot hails from Syracuse, NY. The 5-member university band formed in 2006, gaining rapid recognition and popularity due to their energetic and upbeat live performances. The band consists of vocalist (and our future husband) Wes Miles, bassist Mathieu Santos, guitarist Milo Bonacci, cellist Alexandra Lawn, violinist Rebecca Zeller, and drummer Gabriel Duquette. The group released a 6-song EP in July 2007 and their debut album, The Rhumb Line, dropped in 2008. Their sophomore album, The Orchard, followed in August 2010. Read on for our individual reviews of the show, and check out the pics!

Lucy's Review: Ra Ra Riot has been one of my favorite bands for the past two years. I first heard a bunch of their tracks from The Rhumb Line at work (Thanks Free People!) and knew I had to hear more. What I love most about the band's music is the purity of sound that resonates through their upbeat rhythms, mixed with the melancholy wailing of the string instruments. Furthermore, the lyrics are equally quirky and deep. I had never seen the band perform live, and Lesley (my little Chicagoan concert aficionado) assured me that they were excellent. I WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED, THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST LIVE MUSIC PERFORMANCES I HAVE EVER SEEN. Sorry for the caps, but I am still on Cloud 9 after seeing this live performance. It certainly helped that I was so close to the band, had ample room to move, and was looking straight at Wes Miles, but RRR's energy and passion would have been just as obvious had I been standing a mile away. The band played a good assortment of crowd-pleasers, opening with "The Orchard," and rounding the show off with "Can You Tell," "Too Fast," "Dying is Fine," and "Shadowcasting." Wes was very attentive to the crowd.....he high-fived everyone he could reach in the first few rows (including us!). Naturally, the fans screamed for an encore and the band obliged. Bassist Mathieu Santos returned wearing a Boston Bruins jersey and RRR finished the show with "Massachusetts" and "Run My Mouth." The icing on the cake? Wes Miles threw the band's setlist into the crowd and I CAUGHT IT (well, I like to think that he "handed" it to me). I think I can speak for everyone when I say, we were left equally satisfied yet wanting more. If RRR is ever performing the the NY or Boston area anytime soon, you can bet on finding me in the audience.

Lucy and Jen in the front row!!!

Wes Miles - A God on Earth

Wes and guitarist Milo Bonacci

Milo Bonacci

Gorgeous and stylish cellist Alexandra Lawn

Lucy and Lesley - showtime shot!

Violinist Rebecca Zeller

Lesley's Review: I first saw Ra Ra Riot live at Lollapalooza 2009. It might have been the circumstances -- it was a bright and sunny August Sunday afternoon in summertime Chi, and my then significant-other-boy-whatever-he-was had just taken me out on a nice breakfast date to a cute little downtown diner. It was so hot I could feel the sweat dripping off of me, and maybe I was a little delirious from the beer, hand-holding, and heady music festival atmosphere, but seeing the band perform live -- I was instantly in love. And now having seen them again this weekend, I'm even more in love than I was before. I literally teared up when the first bittersweet, shiver-inducing notes of "The Orchard" left the violin and cello on Friday night. It was seriously the most haunting and beautiful sound I have ever heard. They were even better sounding than the first time I heard them, and both times I thought Ra Ra Riot sounded better live than on a record which tells a lot about just how talented this band really is. Song after song I continued to be blown away, both by harmonious instruments and by the sweet voices of the lead singer Wes Miles and celloist Alexandra Lawn. The group's energy was high from beginning to end and the set list was the perfect combination of new material and crowd pleasers like "Too Too Fast" and "Dying is Fine." And the best part about this whole experience? We managed to work our way to the front row. I got to feel the bass in my chest, got to set my empty drink glass down on the edge of the stage, made sex eyes with Wes Miles and got to touch his hand for one second (let's get real, we basically held hands), and managed to snap some incredible photos. Definitely one of my favorite concert experiences to date. So good, I may just become an official groupie.

Alexandra's sassy singing and fashion sense is enough to make any girl want to be her, and any guy want her.

Lesley, Lucy, and Jen smile for a Myspace concert pic.

Loved how happy the drummer looked the entire time.

The back of Jen's head. Proof of just how close we were... she literally was resting her hands on the stage.

Tambourine-playing sex god.

Encore performance.

Rusted Revolution Makes Headlines!!!!!

2010-09-30T08:56:00.000-07:00

Listen up readers! Lesley and I are featured in BC The Height's Campus Style Fashion Section today. In the midst of applying for a position to blog for the BC Art Club's website, club board member and photographic genius Kailey Kramer approached us about doing a piece on our personal style and blogging ambitions. After a brief interview and makeshift campus photo sesh (Lesley and I tossed and turned all night trying to narrow down outfit choices, only to show up with two suitcases full of items) the article debuted today, and I must say it looks fab. Kailey did a great job with the photos.....she was so easy to work with and has an incredible sense of style and self.

Be sure to check out Kailey's blog, DORM, right here. Her photos are TO DIE FOR.

And here are some photos from the shoot!!!!!!!!

Check out the article in its online entirety right here!

http://www.bcheights.com/arts/the-scene/chronicles-of-campus-fashion-1.1656423

XOXO

R.R.

The Sweet Life

2010-09-29T13:46:00.000-07:00

This post is a bit impromptu, but like a piece of dark chocolate or a glass of Merlot, I simply couldn't resist. Ever since we started RR, I've been dying to do a piece on Sweet, my favorite Boston sugar-stop. When it comes to edible excursions, I admit to having a ravenous sweet tooth. I'm the girl who gets irritated when people casually vote to skip the dessert course at a restaurant and what's more, I'd be completely content to spend the rest of my life eating ice cream as my sole source of nourishment. But frankly, a sweet treat is all-the-more sweeter due to its rarity.....perhaps that's why we crave sugar.

Sweet is located at 225 Newbury Street between Fairfield Street and Exeter Street. It's conveniently located just blocks away from my place of employment, so I'm quite a regular. Sometimes, after a long work shift, you really need a treat. While most might spring for a beer or a slice of pizza, I'd rather have a cupcake. Those of you who know me are well-acquainted with my obsession over red velvet cake. My addiction to this cocoa-cream cheese concoction prompts my mother to make it every year on my birthday; moreover, it has inspired me to find THE BEST TASTING red velvet cake known to man by means of trial and error. While this challenge is in fact as daunting as it sounds, living between New York and Boston has enabled me to sample some pretty delicious bakeries including Magnolia, M Cafe, and Buttercup. My consensus? Sweet's Red Velvet cupcakes are on par with my mother's own Red Velvet recipe.....which I may have to beg her to reveal to you (and will most certainly include in this post if she does).

Anyways, I highly recommend stopping by Sweet. Upon walking in, its white-washed walls and pastel interior designs literally make you feel like you are stepping inside of a giant cupcake. The glass display of flavors, I'll say, is something else. While you will find all the classics including Red Velvet, Dark Chocolate, Carrot, and the bakery's signature Sweet Cake (with a buttercream vanilla or chocolate frosting), you will marvel at the other, seemingly odd flavors such as Bubblegum, S'Mores, Caramel Apple, Molasses Ginger, Cappuccino, Pumpkin Pie, Salted Chocolate, Boston Cream Pie, and Green Tea. But wait, there's more. Most of the flavors are available in miniature sizes, just perfect enough to satisfy a craving. It gets even better. If you just want a tiny taste of something sweet (or it's your second or third dessert of the day), try one of the Frosting Shots - tiny paper cups filled with deliciously rich and decadent frosting in flavors such as Cream Cheese, Buttercream, Dark Chocolate, and Cappucino. And there truly is something for everybody. If your dog is looking longingly at your cupcake, get him a Pupcake filled with applesauce and oatmeal for just a dollar.

Click here to get a full look at the menu, which varies by season!

If you are not already hopping on the next T to Hynes Convention Center, I suggest you do so now. I'm certainly considering clearing my afternoon schedule....

Having a red velvet moment.....

Symphonika

2010-09-28T21:45:00.001-07:00

This Friday, Lucy and I are going to see Ra Ra Riot at Royale in Boston and we are so excited! We Barbarians and Chikita Violenta are the awesome opening acts for the American indie band hailing from Syracuse. I've seen Ra Ra Riot before in Chicago at Lollapalooza 2009 and I was blown away by their energetic performance. This time around, I get to savor their performance, rather than have it overshadowed by the ten or so other bands I saw that day at Lolla.

Here's a sampling of all three bands' music:

"We're Only Young and Naive Still"

2010-09-26T18:27:00.000-07:00

Happy Sunday Funday everyone! It's time to some new music. I am LOVING this single from New Zealand's pop rock band The Naked and The Famous. I first heard the song at work (we at Free People get a couple of new CD's every month featuring everything from oldies classics to new stuff). I love our monthly soundtracks because I'm constantly being introduced to new tunes and consequently new bands. Because in retail there's rarely ever a moment's rest, I usually end up scribbling lyrics on a piece of receipt paper and shoving it in my pocket - usually to lose it or find it later on. When "Young Blood" came on between a Mariah Carey throwback and an 80's classic by Outfield, my ears instantly perked up. I ran home thinking it was Tegan & Sarah, but relentless Google searching yielded zero results. Only after I had pursued several managers to show me the written store playlist did I discover The Naked and The Famous. I had never heard of them before, but I was intrigued. It turns out the New Zealand rockers are fairly new to the music scene; following the release of their first single "All of This" in 2009, the band dropped their first album Passive Me, Aggressive You on September 6th, 2010 which included "Young Blood." "Young Blood" was an instant hit, topping the New Zealand charts for a while. Strangely, the band is still very much unbeknownst to the international community. The CD is not readily available on US iTunes, but you can find the songs on Youtube. Here's the video for "Young Blood"....I think it's pretty cool and well-edited. Stay tuned for more new music from RR! Also, check out the band's website. It's got some cool information about the group and features a fun blog! Enjoy.

...lovelier now, but dressed for funeral

2010-09-20T13:46:00.000-07:00

Saturday night was the LMFAO and Kid Cudi concert at Boston College. Obviously a big night to make a fashion statement.

Here are our outfits from that night. We interrupted our pregaming to snap these before heading down to Conte Forum where the concert was held.

Lesley paired an American Apparel cropped tank top in Oyster Piqué with quirky Ecoté high-waisted leopard print culottes. She also wore a vintage silver necklace inherited from her grandmother's extensive costume jewelry collection, a woven leather belt, and edgy biker-inspired black heeled ankle boots from Forever 21.

Lucy put a twist on classic black and white by pairing a Free People lace bandeau under a Free People tank worn backwards to show off its cool crochet/lace pattern. She included a tribal bodycon mini skirt from American Apparel, and finished off the look with a simple black Goody headband, an assortment of silver rings, and vintage Bagatelle leather boots.

After waiting in line -- actually, more of a giant blob of pushy drunk people -- we finally made it inside Conte. We caught the tail end of the opening act, a BC student DJ competition winner called CoastConnect. LMFAO came onstage pretty soon after. Their energy was high and their outfits were ridiculous. We especially loved one bandmember's green sequin harem pants and another dude traipsing around with a robot box over his head....SO bummed we didn't get a pic!

Lesley's Review: As big a fan as I am of Cudi -- he seriously is a musical genius in my opinion, whoever would have thought Band of Horses and hip hop would go together? -- I was pretty disappointed in the concert as a whole. For having waited so long to get a ticket, it just wasn't up to par with my expectations. LMFAO had a very peppy performance, but it was almost too peppy. They kept jumping up and down that their voices sounded winded. Also, I was unfamiliar with a lot of their songs and a lot of them blended together and sounded the same to me. I'll admit though that I went wild for "I'm in Miami Bitch," and "Shots." Definite crowd pleasers. As for Cudi, I felt that he didn't play enough of his catchy, upbeat hits to keep the crowd's attention. First off, the speakers blowing in the middle of his song was a giant buzzkill, not to mention I was afraid he'd get pissed off at the booing crowd and just decided to end his set early. Thankfully, he came back onstage after a tense wait, and continued giving a relatively entertaining performance. The biggest issue I had with his set is that he spent too much time singing his less-upbeat, newer songs. Not to say that those songs aren't great, but it's not the kind of music I want to hear at a concert. I got kind of bored half-way through, to be honest. The only very chill song that I actually wanted to hear, "The Prayer" wasn't even performed. I guess overall I had a good time at the concert -- just being in that kind of atmosphere is fun in and of itself -- but had I known that I'd have to wait 6 hours in line for a ticket to a so-so show, I wouldn't have wasted my time.

Lucy's Review: I'll be the first to name Kid Cudi as one of my favorite contemporary artists; I think he is incredibly talented as a lyricist and producer, not-to-mention his ability to effortlessly blend an urban hip-hop and retro hipster style. As such, I'm giving this show a mixed (and somewhat biased) review. After LMFAO left the crowd craving shots, Cudi made a less-than-spectacular entrance onstage; it seemed that his enthusiasm for the performance was somewhat lacking in that he wasn't quite so passionate about being there. When the mic cut out during "Soundtrack 2 My Life," the rapper swiftly left the stage, not to return to the crowd for at least 30 minutes. I had heard of Cudi's diva-ish behaviors from friends and celebrity sources, so this course of events didn't exactly fare well for my concert review. I'll be honest, when Cudi returned after the technical difficulties, he finished strong. "Up, Up & Away (The Wake & Bake Song)," "Cudi Zone," "Memories," and "Pursuit of Happiness" were definite crowd-pleasers. I was pretty disappointed that he didn't include mixtape classics such as "Mauie Wowie," "Cleveland Is the Reason," and "The Prayer," but I think it's safe to assume that problems with the soundsystem caused him to have to cut his set short. In conclusion, I'll say the show was a success. Was it worth the 6-hour wait in line for tickets and body-crushing mosh pit-style entry? Ehhhh....I dunno if I would do it over again....but I certainly enjoyed rocking out to the Kid for a night. I'm still pretty starstruck.

Pregame in Edmonds (Left to right: Shiva, James, Lucy, Katie)

My favorite diva rocking the shades

At the concert (Left to Right: Danielle, James, Shiva)

Shiva, Lucy, & the two Danielles!

Rockin' out to LMFAO with James & Sheevs (had to whip out the wayfarers)

That look of disgust is really one of love!

More pregaming in Edmonds! (Lesley, James, Shiva, Lucy, and Katie).

James singing along while Shiva and Lucy cheese it up for the camera. Favorite thing about this picture? The smiling freshman in the background.

Zareen and Lesley smiling big after hearting "Shots," Z's theme song.

Also, check out Cudi's new video for the catchy song "All Summer" featuring Best Coast and Vampire Weekend's Rostam Batmanglij. The artists are seen wearing big caricature heads of themselves, which makes for a strange but entertaining sight.

Alexa Chung for Madewell Available Now!

2010-09-19T19:53:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! Lucy here. This post is somewhat delayed but I've been extremely excited to blog about Alexa Chung's new collaboration with Madewell. The line features twenty-six ready-to-wear pieces, each which reflect the Brit's quirky yet feminine personal style.

Born to an English mother and a Chinese father, the 26 year-old first made her way into London's fashion scene after being scouted at age 16 by Storm Model Management. Chung was featured in some local print and television advertisements during her teenage years before leaving agency and turning her attention to the study of art and fashion journalism. The icon returned to the fashion world in 2008, walking for Vivienne Westwood at London Fashion Week and serving as the face of contemporary British retail chain New Look. Ever since, Chung's modelling career blossomed; she was featured in DKNY and Pepe Jeans ad campaigns and graced the covers of Harpar's Bazaar UK and Vogue UK. Chung also made a name for herself in the world of fashion journalism, documenting her daily fashion and style choices for Vogue.com. Additionally, she co-hosted several British music television shows, served as a radio talk-show host, and made consistent public appearances. The Brit made a serious career leap across the Pond with her MTV talk-show It's On With Alexa Chung. Having gained a more international notoriety, Chung achieved "It Girl" status with constant features in celebrity and fashionista blogs, sites, and editorials. She was recognized for her unique preppy-Victorian style and her ability to look polished without ever appearing "overdone."

Alexa Chung for Madewell includes a number of pieces ranging from girly frocks, to graphic tees, to retro jeans. I am especially lemming the Iris Blouse ($110), the Sketchbook Tee ($48), the Pamela High-Rise Jeans ($125) and the Billie Velvet Shorts ($88). The line is available now at Madewell stores and madewell1937.com. Get the goods while they last because they're selling out like mad! I frequent the Madewell on Newbury street quite often because it's on my way to work, and I've seen the line in person. The quality is phenomenal, and well worth the prices. Read on for the lookbook: What are your thoughts???

New Matt & Kim Single

2010-09-19T19:06:00.000-07:00

Matt & Kim's new single, "Cameras" was just released and it sounds amazing. It was produced by Ben Allen, a collaborator for Animal Collective. It's syncopated beats and funky electric-pop melody makes it a treat for the ears and makes you want to keep hitting the replay button.

Cameras by mattandkim

Here's the tracklist to their upcoming album Sidewalks:
1. Block After Block
2. AM/FM Sound
3. Cameras
4. Red Paint
5. Where You're Coming From
6. Good for Great
7. Northeast
8. Wires
9. Silver Tiles
10. Ice Melts

Sidewalks drops November 2. Til then, we can't wait for more leaked tunes!

Flash Forward to Spring at NY Fashion Week

2010-09-18T09:49:00.001-07:00

Autumn is just approaching, but as usual, fashion waits for no one and is always a step ahead of current styles. Mercedes Benz Spring/Summer 2011 Fashion week in New York was this past week. In 2011, designers are making a conscious move away from recent trends. Here's a quick recap of what went on.

Menswear-inspired:

Whether sporty or preppy, menswear translated into women's clothing has been a recurring theme and there's no end in sight. The mix of structured and athletic elements with delicate fabrics and sexy styles gives the female image a source of strength.

Alexander Wang is known for his ability to translate casual sportswear into something feminine and wearable. This year, it's no different, though his divergence from dark colors and heavier fabrics makes his designs fresh and youthful.

Diane von Furstenberg renews the dressy shorts trend by lowering the waistline and making the fit looser and the cut more casual.

Jason Wu updates the oversized blazer trend by literally transforming the blazer into a dress. This quirky style is entirely appropriate for work or play.

Jill Stuart's pantsuit is all clean, crisp lines, and severe contrast. The slim cut and styling still leave the edgy suit feminine.

Ohne Titel gives the athletic one-piece swimsuit a sexy twist by creating it out of a dark, leather-like spandex, but keeps it light and feminine by paring the bodysuit with a flowy pleated skirt and funky shoes.

Tommy Hilfiger, ever the all-American brand, plays up traditional preppiness in his line this season. The sheer skirt, yellow bucket hat, and bandeau top add some intrigue to the otherwise classic look.

Vera Wang's collection is beautifully dark, a lot of the pieces Asian-inspired. This particular look stands out as a sportier look with the casual dark pants and moto-vest top.

Michael Kors manages to create something very beautiful, sexy, and feminine out of essentially a giant sweatshirt. This look is both timeless and versatile.

Youthful but Sophisticated:

90's inspired grunge styles are on the way out. While certain styles (tough boots, maxi skirts, and dark colors) still remain prevalent, overall, designers are starting to clean up their act. They're making a move to more conservative, elegant styling.

DKNY is staying with the sleek 90s-era maxi skirt trend, but when paired with a clean white blouse and lady-like heels it gives a whole new spin on the look.

Jason Wu, again gives a twist on business attire, the ruffle bandeau and straight seaming down the front of the pants adding some modern interest.

Jill Stuart's collection is all about timeless sophistication with a modern and youthful edge. The button-up blouse is classic with a bit of school girl charm, and the shorts are cut loosely, almost resembling a skirt.

Simplicity, a subtle sexiness, and a neutral palate were all key to Donna Karan's spring looks. The mixing of different shades of nude and various materials added youth and life into a very clean and grown-up image.

Oscar de la Renta, as usual, has created the most feminine and elegant clothing seen on the runway. The loose, wide-legged pants in this look add a youthful edge to a rather sophisticated look.

An otherwise ordinary LBD, Proenza Schouler keeps things hip with sheer black on top and a fun, colorful ruffled skirt.

Rodarte has the unique capability of transforming something ordinary into something extraordinary. The chartreuse color of the fabrics, combined with the unique draping make the collared blouse and skirt combo into something fresh and new.

J. Mendel gives us his take on old Hollywood glamour in this collection, with many Grecian gowns, red lipstick, and fur stoles. But the red ballet slippers are the real show stoppers.

70's Glam:

Designers often draw from different eras in fashion, and for this season the 1970s are dominating. From the distinctive cut of the clothing, to the graphic and ethnic-bohemian prints, the hippies and disco divas are back in action.

Derek Lam's collection is so simple and chic. He plays around with many 70's trends, but still keeps it minimalistic. This all denim look is easy and comfortable.

Diane von Furstenberg captures the spirit of a strong and elegant woman, while drawing from the glam-cool disco days with this silky jumpsuit.

Philosophy's spring line features very bold colors and graphic prints, and channels an Asian vibe with the kimono jackets and wide rice farmer-inspired hats. But the mini skirts and dresses, the wide sleeves, and tall boots suggest a 70's era vibe as well.

Tommy Hilfiger, while the main focus of this collection is preppy-chic, incorporates elements of the 1970s as well with the cut of these wide-legged pants and the subtle plaid print.

From the big, soft hair to the easy jumpsuits and wide-legged pants, Marc Jacobs demonstrated 70's luxe with ease and a modern viewpoint.

Anna Sui's signature style is back again, this time with 70s-inspired clothing and accessories.

Minimalism:

The most prominent trend this season is bare simplicity. Printed pants, sequins, embellishments of all kinds, and mixed patterns were all very much in style last year. In 2011, while prints have not been eradicated entirely, the focus is on minimalist trends.

Alexander Wang's new spring collection as a whole is very clean and white. The intrigue in his clothing is not the heavy colors or prints, but in the layering, cut, and texture of his clothing. He manages to make the simplest tops and pants look very unique and futuristic.

BCBG's line is the most simple I've ever seen from the designer. The cuts of the clothing are sexy without being overly revealing and moving in them seems so easy.

Derek Lam proves he knows the meaning of minimalistic. This dress would be almost boring, but the drop-waist (something very prevalent in many designs this season, a welcome relief to the high-waisted trend) and the brown belt emphasize the elegant long and lean quality of the dress.

Known for intricately woven bandage dresses, Herve Leger doesn't disappoint, even with a more minimalistic take on his designs this season.

Calvin Klein, one of the forerunners in the minimalistic movement of the late 1990s, is once again the perfect example of simple-chic.

Cutie Patooties

2010-09-17T13:01:00.000-07:00

Nothing makes me happier than the song "We Are Family," except for maybe beautiful boys and girls dancing around to it on camera.

Boys & Girls of New York Fashion Week SS2011 from Justin Wu on Vimeo.

Lesley loves Fashion Week <3

Tight and Bright is Not Alright

2010-09-16T12:50:00.000-07:00

What are the first things that come to mind when someone says "college theme party?"

Togas, obviously. Or CEOs/Secretary 'Hos. Right?

Wrong.

In this day and age, the number one college theme party sweeping the nation is (gag) Tight and Bright.

But seriously, who thought of this brilliant and extremely tired idea? Bros, obviously. The bros get to wear obnoxious nylon jogging jackets, flamboyant short-shorts that expose too much hairy thigh, and crazy-colored Nikes. And of course, the girls are as usual, dressed in tight gold lamé and 80s work out tights. Genius.

Not really.

First off, I Lesley, as a girl, protest this theme. I love rocking the body con trend as much as anyone else -- nothing gets me more excited than a newly released, scandalous body suit from American Apparel -- but this party takes the fun out of leotards for me. Plus, I hate any color that's not black, so this automatically makes the "bright" aspect of the theme a challenge. And honestly, has anyone ever sweated to death in spandex before? Not pleasant. For some reason, guys like looking at half-naked, slick with sweat girls whose hair is a knotted mess and whose mascara is running down their faces. Not to mention the smell all the hot dancing bodies make. Ughhh.

And as for the bros, you do realize all these tight and bright clothes come from hipster-central American Apparel, right? You claim the hipsters as your worst enemy with their flipped hair, skinny Gollum-like bodies, and penchant for wearing flannel, carrying back packs full of PBR, and dissing any lifestyle choice you might make (particularly music and drinking Smirnoff Ice). And yet with this obsession for the Tight and Bright theme, you're putting thousands and thousands of dollars into the hipster-making machine. Smart.

vs.

So if I may make a suggestion, leave American Apparel to the hipsters and fashionable few who actually can wear a leotard without looking like a complete moron. If you throw a party, girls will wear tight clothes anyway. In fact, if I were a guy, toga parties would be my favorite. Come on, half-naked girls wrapped in bedsheets that are most likely going to fall off?

I'm all about being current and trendy, but sometimes, it's best to stick with the classics.

Celebrate National Yoga Month

2010-09-16T12:03:00.000-07:00

Good afternoon RR readers! Lucy here with our very first Health & Wellness post. I hope you have enjoyed our first few posts and are ready for more, because we promise there is TONS coming your way!! For this Health & Wellness post, I’m writing to remind you all that September is National Yoga Month. The purpose of the National Yoga Campaign is to educate people about the many benefits of yoga so that they may lead happier, healthier, more balanced lifestyles. As a self-proclaimed “yogatic,” If you’re not already hooked, now is the perfect time to try! Most gyms and fitness centers allow you to join a class free of charge for your first time. There are many different types of yoga to choose from…you might be familiar with names such as Iyengar, Ashtanga, or Vinyasa. While each type of practice differs in intensity, variety and flow, you will always be left with a sense of energy, vitality, and expansiveness. Here are some tips on getting started! Namaste.

If you are in the BC Area…

If you attend Boston College or live in the surrounding area, I’m sure you are well aware of the fitness programs offered in the school’s Flynn Recreation Complex. I’ve tried nearly every class available and come to the conclusion that their selection of classes, frequency of times, and skilled instructors is unparalleled, thus making for a pleasant workout experience. My personal favorite class is Iyengar Yoga at 12 pm with Lee. While Lee’s subtle sense of humor (only exacerbated by his thick German accent) leave me smiling, his thorough explanations, constructive criticism, and evident passion for the practice always leave me in a positive and enlightened mood. Be sure to check the Flynn Rec website for the class schedule: http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/ath/plex/groupfitness/schedule.html

If you are elsewhere…..

Check yogafinder.com to find a studio near you!

New students can get one week free yoga during National Yoga Month which can be redeemed at over at 1,000 participating yoga studios nationwide in September and October! This is for new students, but all you need to do is take this card to your local studio anytime this month!

For the Love of Cudi

2010-09-13T20:37:00.000-07:00

Every fall and spring, UGBC (Boston College’s Student Government) organizes an on-campus concert for students and friends. Thankfully, these concerts are far from humdrum; the student group has managed to snag some of the biggest names in the music industry ranging from Hellogoodbye, to Girltalk, to Akon, to Lupe Fiasco. This fall, to every student’s incredulous excitement, UGBC announced Kid Cudi as the fall performer, with LMFAO as the opening act. Needless to say, everyone was abuzz about getting a ticket. Cudi and LMFAO have released some of the highest grossing albums of the past two years. You’re probably familiar with Cudi’s electro-base single “Day ‘n’ Night” or LMFAO’s fist-pumping party anthem “Shots.” Lesley and I are HUGE Cudi fans; not only do we adore his quirky hipster style, we see his lyrics as modern poetry to which many young adults can relate.

Since tickets went on sale this morning at 8 am, Lesley, myself, and our friend Danielle rose at 7:30 (the crack-of-dawn for the college kid) to trek down to the Robsham Theater Box Office. We figured that we would wait 10-15 minutes, pick up the tickets, and swing back to our dorm room to get in a quick catnap or do some work before our morning classes. As we trudged through lower campus, unusually long lines at every passing ATM should have been a telltale sign as to what was in store for us. When we arrived at the box office, a thick line of people was already snaking its way around the building, down the sidewalk, and into the adjacent parking lot and into the mods (senior housing). We were equally horrified and astonished as we shuffled to the back of a line which seemed to resemble a procession of semi-solemn and super-sleepy kids. Needless to say, we were screwed. The people at the front of the line must have been here hours before us. Nevertheless, we refused to admit defeat and began the torturous wait, each taking turns to make coffee runs, replenish our empty stomachs, grab reading materials, and do some quick primping before the classes we would eventually end up missing. Flashforward 6 and a half hours later. We were hungry. We were tired. We were crabby. We were woozy. We were sick of watching freshmen cut the line to meet their friends and prance out of Robsham with their bright red tickets, flashing them to the back of the line and occasionally attempting to sell them at twice their original value. By the time we entered the box office, we had missed about two classes each and we barely awake enough to speak. Only after we had snagged two tickets each did we realize exactly how much these tickets would be worth. However unpleasant the wait, we’re sure Cudi and LMFAO will live up to our high expectations. We’ll be there, dressed in our finest concertwear, so stay on the lookout for pics from this coming concert weekend! In the meantime, rock out to these tracks in preparation for the weekend!

Tucker by Gaby Basora for Target Available Now!

2010-09-12T09:21:00.000-07:00

Hello lovely RR readers, and happy Sunday! While end-of-weekend blues weigh upon us, we provide the ultimate cure: a little fashion candy to tickle your tastebuds. You might be familiar with Target’s GO International designer collaborations; for the past six or seven years, the megachain has featured a plethora of famous names ranging from Zac Posen to Anna Sui to Erin Fetherson. The lines typically include about 20-30 women’s pieces and range from 20 to 200 dollars. Because here at RR we are all about affordable fashion, we promise to keep you updated on these exciting Target releases from here on out!

The most recent Go International for Target release comes from Gaby Basora, a New York-based designer whose “Tucker” line features an assortment of drapey button-down silk blouses and dresses with bright and colorful prints that evoke a retro vintage vibe. Although fairly new to the fashion world, Basora’s refined yet quirky personal style enables her to convey a unique yet niche look for her audience through the “Tucker” line. When asked what inspired her looks for the Target collaboration, Basora references the “easy vanity” of iconic screen sirens such as Sophia Loren and Francoise Hardy. Most notable and refreshing about Basora is her strong sense of self. “I wear whatever the hell I want,” she once replied. Tucker by Gaby Basora for Target is available at stores nationwide September 12th through October 17th.

Take a glance at the Tucker lookbook below, I am especially loving that teal silk blouse and camel hooded jacket! What do you guys want from the line?

(L) Signature Dress in Lawn Bird Print, $39.99; Sweater Vest with Pockets in Brown, $39.99 | (M) Back Ruffled Dress in Navy, $39.99; Button-Down Blouse in Butterfly Print, $29.99 | (R) Boucle Dress in Black, $59.99

(L) Hooded Wrap Jacket in Orange Herringbone, $44.99; Tunic Sweater in Brown Stripe, $44.99; Ribbed Sweater Dress in Orange, $39.99
(R) Reversible Quilted Vest in Patchwork Print, $24.99; Camisole in Orange, $22.99; Shorts in Green Herringbone, $34.99

(L) Fleece Jumpsuit in Gray, $44.99 | (R) Trench in Green Herringbone, $59.99; Signature Dress in Lawn Bird Print, $39.99; Camisole Dress in Butterfly Print, $34.99

(L) Signature Blouse in Cream, $29.99; Tunic Dress in Orange, $39.99 | (R) Tie-Front Blouse in Orange Polka-Dot Print, $24.99; Skirt in Orange Herringbone, $34.99

(L) Ribbed Sweater Dress in Orange, $39.99; Sweater Vest in Floral, $34.99 | (R) Woven Tee in Magenta, $24.99; Shorts in Green Herringbone, $34.99

(L) Camisole Dress in Halo Print, $34.99 | (R) Halter Top in Floral Print, $24.99; Brocade Skirt in Gold/Navy, $39.99

(L) Velvet Dress in Burnout Print, $49.99 | (R) Signature Dress in Floral Print, $39.99; Reversible Quilted Vest in Mosaic Print, $24.99; Camisole in Navy Floral Print, $22.9

(L) Button-Front Dress in Little-Flowers Print, $34.99′ Tie-Front Blouse in Lawn Bird Print, $24.99 | (R) Signature Dress in Diamond Print, $39.99

(L) Button-Front Dress in Painted Flowers Print, $34.99 | (R) Persian Bomber in Black, $79.99; Camisole in Butterfly Print, $22.99; Brocade Skirt in Gold/Navy, $39.99

(L) Back Ruffle Dress in Electric Bloom, $39.99 | (R) Signature Blouse in Mosaic Print, $29.99; Camisole in Burnout Print, $22.99; Shorts in Green Herringbone, $34.99
Photos courtesy of Target

First Day

2010-09-08T17:47:00.001-07:00

Since day one, mother always told us it was important to make a good first impression. And thus it began -- the frantic annual search for the perfect first day back to school outfit. As seniors in college, yesterday was our last ever first day of school, and our last chance to make this type of fashion statement.

Lucy rocks a modern schoolgirl look by sporting gunmetal chains and a bodycon skirt with classic nautical stripes. She keeps the outfit timeless with Ray-Ban aviators and Steve Madden oxfords, out of which peek one of the season's hottest accessory accents: the ankle sock.

Lesley rocked the minimalistic neo-goth that's hot for fall 2010. She wore a basic black tank tucked into a black Forever 21 maxi skirt. She finished off the look with a Levi's denim vest for a casual vibe, and simple black flats.

Fall 2010 Picks: Lesley

2010-09-08T17:43:00.000-07:00

1) American Apparel Long Sleeve Crop Top - $28

I have a serious love affair with crop tops. They're so versatile -- wear them with denim cutoffs and rock out at a summer concert, or pair them with a slim high-waisted skirt and, voila, instant party outfit. They're loose, they're comfortable, and most importantly, there's a way to make this trend look good on anyone. American Apparel's t-shirts are the comfiest I own, and I'm glad to see I'll be able to wear this trend in colder weather now, too.

2) Cheap Monday Debbie Sweater -- $69

Nothing is sexier than cut-out clothing. Teasing without really revealing anything at all. The casual baggy cut of this sweater is grungy-cool and makes any outfit look effortless. Pair this top with skinny jeans, or tuck it into a full skirt and wear with some cute wedge booties. Wear a bright colored long-sleeved t-shirt underneath for a subtly funky pop of color.

3) Textured City Shorts -- $78

These pleather shorts are the perfect transition piece from summer to fall to winter. Wear them with an oversized blazer and black over-the-knee socks for an edgy take on a school girl look.

4) Forever 21 Mock Slub Maxi Dress -- $19.80

If 2010 was the year of an early 1990s grunge revival, 2011 will be the year of late 1990s throwbacks. More and more, dark and sleek silhouettes are coming into style, like this long and lean minimalist maxi dress from F21. It elongates the body and is an easy way to look super fashionable without even thinking about it.

5) Jeffrey Campbell Ticket -- $168

Jeffrey Campbell shoes are to die for, and it frustrates me to no end trying to buy a pair, because my size always sells out like hot cakes. These studded wedges are the must-have shoe of the season and go with everything. And literally, everything. Short frilly dresses, maxi skirts, jeans, a pencil skirt and blazer... you name it and you could probably wear these shoes with it.

Fall 2010 Picks: Lucy

2010-09-08T10:35:00.000-07:00

Hello lovely ladies (and gents - love you guys too!).....I thought that I'd start off hump day by posting some of my favorite fall pieces. While today's weather keeps me guessing (I've already changed my outfit twice), I'm absolutely certain that I want to snag each and every one of these items. I hope you dig 'em too!

1) Free People Tulip Hem Quilted Jacket - $168

This quilted jacket will be your fall wardrobe staple…it evokes the equestrian look spotted time after time on the runways of Burberry and Hilfiger. Throw it on over an earth-toned bodycon dress or rock it with skinny cargos and riding boots to create a slim and structured silhouette without looking like a Ralph Lauren wannabe.

2) Free People FP-1 Godet Maxi Skirt - $128

One of our favorite Fall 2010 trends is the maxi length, simply because it is so unsuspected. In recent spring and summers past, designers have constructed these floor-length dresses and skirts in vibrant hues from breezy fabrics. The maxi trend has since made its mark as a fall staple, turned autumn-appropriate with darker hues and thicker fabrics. The FP-1 Maxi Skirt is one of my favorite fall pieces because of its exquisite hand-made construction as well as its versatility; its fitted elastic band allows you to wear it as a strapless maxi dress or pull it down as a skirt. With changing temperatures, however, layering it key; experiment by wearing it thermals, woven button-downs, lace camisoles, or even a denim or suede vest.

3) Evil Twin Blue Velvet Drape Vest - $78

Velvet is a cold weather staple! Create a luxe layered look by throwing this vest over a bodycon dress or a tank with leather-panel leggings. Don't forget to add tons of silver chains to complete the outfit!

4) Shape Shiftr Silk Tail Blouse in Black - $188

There is nothing - AND I REPEAT, NOTHING - more chic than a semi-sheer black button-down paired with stovepipe skinnies and killer wedge booties. I especially dig the asymmetrical hemline on this one. Add statement jewelry to highlight your look and create a juxtaposition between the background of a dark ensemble.

5) Mink Pink Wild Things Button Tank - $62

For some reason, animal prints (leopard especially) keep weaseling their way back into fashion lines….and we sure don't hate it! This tank makes nailing the jungle trend super-easy. We love it tucked into a black bandage skirt or paired with skinny jeans, heels, and a structured blazer.

Blog Lovin'

2010-09-07T05:31:00.001-07:00

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