Will The Real Rachel Berry Please Stand Up?

I'm so tardy to the Glee Party.  I'd watched clips of the Lady Gaga, Madonna and Britney episodes but had never really gotten into the show until recently, when I started Season One on Netflix.   I didn't think I would like it as much as I do.  It's so great in the way that it promotes self-love and acceptance of others.  I cried a little when Kurt came out to his Dad (don't judge).  And Sue Sylvester rivals Liz Lemon in the epic one-liner department.  Pausing the show until I finish laughing is often necessary. 

But of  all the characters, I feel a special bond with Rachel Berry.  Poor Rachel.  All she wants to do is bust out of her small town and everyone just hates on her.  She can't help it that her perfectionism is annoying to everyone around her (yes she can).  She just loves showtunes!  Okay, so, she basically equals Olive: The High School Years and our wardrobes are eerily similar. 

To tell the difference, you'll just have to ask each of us to sing.  I had to send a Blackberry picture to a Glee-loving friend yesterday with the caption "Rachel Berry Goes to Work".

To dress like Rachel/Olive, there are a few basic rules.  Bright colors and layering is key.  No button-down shirts unless you have a sweatervest to go over them or high waisted shorts to tuck it in.  Cardigans?  One is needed in every color.  Shorts and skirts must always be worn with bright tights or knee socks.  Occassionally ruffle bobby socks can make an appearance.  Jewelry is minimal.  While everything is cohesive, the ensemble rarely actually matches. 

The most important rule to remember?  Grape really is the best Slushee flavor.

Your Golden Girl,

Olive


Rachel Berry Photos courtesy of Luckymag.com, 2nd photo property of VisforOlive.  Do not resuse without permission and/or credit of site.

Coachella 2011

After deciding to pass on Coachella this year due to a less than stellar line-up, I wasn't expecting to be so sad the weekend of the actual concert.  Leave it to my awesome friends to make it happen the day of.  Though I'm a planner and normally find it anxiety-inducing to be spontaneous, when you have fun loving day trippers by your side, who could really say no?  Even I'm not that much of a curmudgeon.

The Glamourai noted that sometimes it's better to keep some memories for yourself and I wholeheartedly agree.  When you're at an event like Coachella, it's much better to relax and enjoy the music and the scene rather than be snapping pictures every moment and worrying about what you're wearing.  Thus, my lack of contribution to this particular photo essay.  Plus, if I read one more blog post on "SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVAL CHIC LIKE OMGEEEZZZ!!!! HEY GUYZ WEAR A MAXI DRESS!!!" I will really end it.  Just.  Stop.  Music festivals are no longer Woodstock, and they never will be no matter how many floppy hats you bring along.  They are a place for yuppies to go and listen to music in nature for a weekend at an extremely high price.  The sooner we can all accept this the better.  It doesn't make them any less fun!  Although I have to admit the security this year was a bit much - I definitely missed the old hippies that obviously snuck in pass free.

Coachella 2011 Photo Essay:

Your Golden Girl,

Olive


All photos taken by Natasha K and Monica Sherer.  DO NOT reuse without permission.  Please link and/or credit site.

Dress Hunt

Easter reminds most normal people of egg hunts, chocolate bunnies and ham.  But for me Easter always brings back a flood of sartorial memories.  When I was little, my grandma would have matching, super frilly dresses custom made for my sister and I and my mom would help us make elaborate Easter bonnets with lace and silk flowers.  Nevermind that we were literally the only kids dressed up for the egg hunt, I took delight in these customs and I keep the tradition alive to this day.  Come Easter Sunday, I'm in a fancy new dress with co-ordinating hat and scarfing as much pashka as humanly possible.  Mmmm, pashka.

Whether you're like me and you prefer a more traditional Easter dress, or you like to look sharp but not overly girly, there are several great options out there for your style this Sunday.  Here are a few from each side of the fence:

1.) Bandeau Printed Dress, Debenhams.com, $81
2.) Gathered Bust Dress, Nina Ricci, $1,790
3.) Mimosa Print Dress, D&G, $1,526.25
4.) Cotton Rose Dress, Suzannah.com, $570

5.) Boho Dress, AE, $20
6.) Lace Dress, Elle Shop, $330
7.) Tropical Whip Short Dress, Betsey Johnson, $118
8.) Printed Sun Dress, Delia*s, $44.50

Have a Happy Easter and when the little kids at your event start getting a sugar high, don't forget that a great trick is to casually slide a bunch of jellybeans and Cadbury Eggs into the bottom of your purse.  As long as they're encased in plastic egg containers, the inside of your purse will remain safe, the children will pass out within twenty minutes, and you'll double your candy stash!  Triple win!

Your Golden Girl,

Olive

All images courtesy of linked websites

Current Wishful Drinking: Azzedine Alia Platforms

Just when you think the perfect disco shoe couldn't possibly be topped (and I know that is what all of you spend your free time daydreaming about: disco shoes of Gucci past.  No, just me?  Okay then.), something like this gorgeous little number from Azzedine Alia arrives on your doorstep.

And by arrive on your doorstep, I of course mean: pop up on your Polyvore page. 

While I often dream of dancing the night away to 70's hits in a flowy, sparkly dress rarely do my fantasy shoes involve something as versatile as these.  Think about all of use you could get out of them - they'd go great with tap pants, high-waisted trousers, wide-leg jeans and wrap dresses.  Yes, every single thing I just decribed is disco-era dressing and most of you probably aren't planning on walking through a time warp anytime soon but I might just consider it in exchange for a pair of these.  At this price I'd have to figure out a way to not only wear them with everything I own, but live in them too.

Azzedine Alia Platform Shoes at Farfetch.com, $1,145. 

Your Golden Girl,

Olive

Image courtesy of Farfetch.com

Matumbo Goldberg

Friday night in downtown Los Angeles.  Well, the touristy part of it anyway.  The surrounding area probably has less multicolored outdoor lightshows and more guns. 

Leather jacket: Bebe, Dress: Vintage from Fairfax Flea Market, Earrings: Santee Alley, Ring: Gift from my Great-Aunt the Tzarina, Cross-body Purse: Thrifted, Tights: Target, Boots: Candies

Dance Dance Revolution remains an impossible feat for me.  If you couldn't tell by the laughing photobomb and my very confused expression, I got a score of less than 1%.  This is what happens if you don't allow your child to play video games growing up: a lifetime of embarassingly low scores and pointing-slash-laughing in party-type situations.

These pictures are from the wrap party last night for Matumbo Goldberg at ESPNZone.  The web series premieres on ComedyCentral.com on Tuesday, April 12th - make sure you tune in! It is soo funny! 

Your Golden Girl,

Olive

All photos property of VisforOlive.  Do not reuse without permission/credit of site.

A Day in the Life

I’m always so fascinated by “picture an hour” or “day in the life” posts on other blogs.  PinkBow springs to mind, with her beautiful photos, and a recent issue of GOOP, showcasing the hectic lives of very successful women. 

I thought this day is slightly more interesting than a typical work day which would read something like: 6AM – Gym, 8AM-8PM – Work.  Meetings, phone calls.  People yelling.  People laughing.  Lots of coffee.  9-9:30PM – Hunt for parking.  9:35PM – Get home.  Make pasta for dinner.  Snuggle with Clementine and read notes from day.  Attempt to write.  1AM -  Fall asleep.  Possibly on couch in clothes. 

See what I mean?  Not a whole lot of interesting photo ops there.  Not to mention I’d probably get fired if I started waving a camera in anybody’s face at work. 

So here is my super thrilling Sunday, March 27^th:

7AM: Attempt to sleep in, but Clementine and any hint of daylight won’t let me rest past about 7:30. 

            It’s cold and I don’t want to leave my cozy bed yet so I read more of Lolita, which I just started (do not judge The Shunning having a place among my current reads.  You should assume all future questionable literature choices are work related.  Especially if you ever see Jodi Picoult up there).

8:15AM: Get dressed.  Cold air and obsessive Skins watching has dictated that I dress as an Effy-Cassie hybrid today.  Scottish Wool Sweater: Vintage (Men's), Skirt: J.Crew, Knee-socks: 99 Cent Store, Booties: Santee Alley.

8:30AM: Off to the gym.

9:30AM: Body Factory for my favorite protein shake – the P, B & J (Peanut butter, Banana and Blueberry – not sure where the J comes into play).  Normally I’m not a fan of protein shakes (they make me feel like a body builder), but I don’t think I’ll have time to eat a healthy lunch and they’re a great meal replacement if you’re in a time crunch. 

10AM: Drop off laptop to be repaired.  A frustrating experience.  I hate Best Buy.  Next time I’m going Apple all the way.

11:30AM: Return home and attempt to get some writing done.  The sketches I’m working on now will be up on Heatherbrained.com in a few months! 

2:45PM: As this Spring is unusually chilly, I decide to peruse my local thrift in search of some baggy sweaters and flowy skirts (my new favorite silhouette). 

3:30PM: Success!  I leave with 2 wool sweaters and a horrid bridesmaid dress I plan on chopping up and converting into something cute.

4PM: Time to make a surprise blueberry crumble!

4:30PM: While waiting for the crumble to bake, I watch Blue Valentine.  What an amazing film. 

5PM: Crumble is done! (ignore my sadface - it is the result of Blue Valentine) 

5:30PM: Done cooling and soo yummy!  This cheers me up as I finish the movie.
                                           

6PM: Now that I am significantly tired from my lazy day, it’s time to pop in another DVD.  Never Let Me Go arrived from Netflix. 

8PM: Wow.  I watched two of the most depressing films today.

8:05PM: Tea time.  Peppermint with honey is my favorite. 

8:10PM: More reading.  The latest script and my new issue of Elle, which just arrived. 

11PM: Can’t believe I’m going to bed so early but I try to get sleep wherever I can these days! 

Your Golden Girl,

Olive

All Photos Property of VisforOlive.  Please do not reuse without permission/credit of site.