Helmut Lang, Gold Sequins, and Jazz

This turquoise Helmut Lang top is probably one of the more unusual garments that I own, though, that statement is perhaps a bit of a generalization and may be a stretch from the truth. It has a deep front, which is a bizarre hybrid between a v-neck and a scoop neck, a rather inelegant progeny. It also features understated, not prominent shoulder pads, which make me appear as though I perhaps played some rugby at some point. Still, despite these arguably flawed elements in construction, it is, nonetheless, interesting and a beautiful color. Pairing this top with a metallic gold sequin shrug, I in some ways concealed the shoulder pad dilemma, which at moments I am inclined to embrace, awkwardly. Unfortunately, it was only after these photographs were documented that I realized I should pull the bizarre collar up and out from behind the shrug, which allowed all the pieces to fall much more smoothly.



Last night, the filmmaker and I journeyed over to one of our favorite neighborhood joints, a jazz meets Chinese cuisine bar and restaurant called Shanghai Jazz. We sat at the bar and split a few dishes, while enjoying some relaxed music, a duo on the stand-up bass and the piano. Since I live in an area where there are a number of small colleges, bars on the weekend are often crowded with throngs of students, stumbling in stilettos and seeped in cheap perfume and cologne, displaying and flaunting for the opposite sex. A veritable breeding ground. When we find a place that is casual and is frequented by a more sophisticated crowd, it quickly becomes a favorite.


I love this orange patent leather bag; it is the perfect summer purse, but I still cannot help but bring it out and about in the winter. Turquoise, orange, and gold are stunning colors in combination.



After the jazz, sesame chicken, and some cocktails, we sauntered home and sampled this new, at least to us, Japanese beer. The local wine shop, which I visit often, offers not only an excellent array of wines, domestic as well as Old and New Worlds, they also carry a variety of unique brews. This one had a medium caramel hue, a sweet taste that was not overtly saccharine-like, smooth and bold, without being bitter or pungent. Admittedly, I am not a casual beer drinker, however, I enjoy tasting genuinely well crafted beers that are complex in flavor and texture. For only 5$ or so a bottle, I would definitely pick it up again.

Saturday afternoon manchego feast soundtrack: Bird at the Roost Charlie Parker