5.27.2011

come to me: American Apparel Leotards

Summer weather is heeeere and, as always, I'm reminded that when it comes to potential outfits and looking cute...I FUCKING HATE THIS SEASON. There, I said it. I'm an autumn/spring girl - I love layers, I love options, I love being able to wear insoles in my boots to keep my back happy. Ugh, how do I plan on handling the heat this year? I think there will be lots of long chiffon dresses and skirts...but also...


I thiiiiiiiiiiiink I might be getting down with some leotards!!! With a high waisted skirt or shorts? The one above is from American Apparel - the Lame Matte Black Leotard. Oh and there's also the Cotton Spandex Micro-Mesh Gloria V Bodysuit, that I might have to buy if for no other reason than the model who is selling it soooooo righteously:


Enjoy the long weekend my lovelies!

5.26.2011

Bloggers Wear: American Flag Everything


"Bloggers Wear": Highlighting items that bloggers wear, how they wear them, and what they're thinking while they do. Today's edition: American Flag Apparel.

what is reality anyway, the little black list, vintage virgin, scene of changery, (at top: hal-coholic)

I am FREE...
Free to let my hair get dirty, free to get wrist tattoos, free to make out in dark corners of dive bars, and free to eat greasy barbeque ribs and suck on the bone. I'm free to put on short shorts and call out sick from my part-time gig at Urban Outfitters to smoke weed with my girls out of a bowl at an outdoor music festival. I listen to Johnny Cash and The Eagles...or Joni Mitchell when I'm feeling sad. I lean against walls with one foot up against it, I walk slowly to enjoy the scenery, and when music plays I sway rhythmically to it.

Don't try to put me in a box. I'm not a girl next door, I'm not a rebel. Yes I like to stay in and knit beanies for my boyfriend, but I also paint my toenails in moving cars and hang them out of the window to dry! I listen to my music loud - I like my kisses soft - I live life in the moment. I'm here. I'm happy. I'm American.

To read more from the Bloggers Wear series, click HERE.

Disclaimer: If you are a blogger who has been featured on this, or any Bloggers Wear any post, please know it is with respectful sarcasm that I post and poke fun at you and your garments. All is fair in love and blogging. Peace out.

5.24.2011

this thing...


I did a "this thing..." post a couple of weeks ago with a vintage corset/bra/shirt purchase. I suppose it's what comes to mind when dealing with thrifted/vintage/antique things...they never quite fit into one category.

I bought this necklace/pendant/antique on ebay and it's a fossilized horse tooth that was recovered in the Gorge River in Florida, strung onto a piece of leather. At least that's what they tell me...


It's really heavy and smells like a dead horse's mouth (I kid...). It's big, bigger than my middle finger, and it sits right above my belly button when I have the leather band extended all the way out.

The seller has all antiques, like clay pipes, necklaces clad with buffalo teeth, a turtle shell pendant, etc. Not to give away my tricks of the trade or anything, but if your interest is piqued and you're inclined toward weird shit, visit his ebay sit here.

5.23.2011

Bloggers Wear: Copious Amounts of Bracelets


"Bloggers Wear": Highlighting items that bloggers wear, how they wear them, and what they're thinking while they do. Today's edition: lots and lots of bracelets.

***Disclaimer: My bud Kadeem Johnson (pictured above and below) ok'd the theme of the post. Since I consider him one of the godfathers of the resurgence of this trend (last seen in the 90's on young white hippie kids like myself), I feel that gives me free reign with this, and all subsequent "Bloggers Wear" posts ***

cheyenne meets chanel, bobby raffin, le happy, k.john lasoul

I am a forever evolving sentient being. Whether I'm buttoned up and suited, or sitting on a log in a Native American headdress...I possess an inner tranquility that guides me through my life as an enigma...as a chameleon. Like sister Erykah Badu said: my cipher keeps moving like a rolling stone. I have no limits and I have no fear - in fashion or in life. If you ever doubt just how much peace and positivity I possess, simply take a look down at my wrist...and the many, many, many many bracelets adorning it will remind you.

As the sun shines on my face and I move softly yet deliberately through this world - the leather, hemp, string, beaded and silver delights on my wrist keep me true and alive.  They are personal tokens of my love and connectedness...to myself...to all people...to the earth.

To read more from the Bloggers Wear series, click HERE 

Disclaimer: If you are a blogger who has been featured on this, or any Bloggers Wear any post, please know it is with respectful sarcasm that I post and poke fun at you and your garments. All is fair in love and blogging. Peace out.

iChat, uChat

Dushane, crashing at the Ace Hotel for the night...me, flossing - per usual.


Why was he at the Ace? He was directing a badass event for Delta at a park nearby. I stopped over to hold a baseball bat...
(No I'm not wearing sunglasses at night, it's a fake backdrop). 

Also, I just spent the last 2 hours taking those braids out of my head...good riddance *scratch scratch*.

5.19.2011

Bloggers Wear: Brothel Creepers (aka Creepers)


"Bloggers Wear": Highlighting items that bloggers wear, how they wear them, and what they're thinking while they do. Today's edition: Creepers.

kingdom of style, tribande joyce, fabio nugs, where did you get that

I can't be bothered by the system. While you listen to Beyonce on your ipod, I'm listening to The Clash on my discman - while you drink your coffee with a bit of cream, I drink mine black and a day old - and while you're caught up in the stilettoed hype of Louboutins and Blahniks, I can't be bothered...so I  tread around the city in my creepers. Yes, I saw that Prada came out with a pair - fuck that. Yes, I know other bloggers are wearing them - I started it. I'm the goth kid you made fun of in high school. My walls are black, my windows are painted over, and I chainsmoke while I look up flights Thailand...or anywhere but here. No I don't shop at Hot Topic or Trash and Vaudeville, my creepers are from a shithole vintage store in London. Fuck you and all your poser blogger friends...I wore these before you knew what they were, and I'll keep wearing them long after you've moved on.

To read more from the Bloggers Wear series, click HERE 

Disclaimer: If you are a blogger who has been featured on this, or any Bloggers Wear any post, please know it is with respectful sarcasm that I post and poke fun at you and your garments. All is fair in love and blogging. Peace out.

5.18.2011

Patti Smith Serenades Sotheby's


Last night, 70's rock n' roll legend Patti Smith performed at Sotheby's in NYC and I was there to witness the glory firsthand. Accompanied by guitarist Lenny Kaye, Smith's performance was to benefit the Smithsonian's Archives of American art. She performed original material, a few covers, and read artists' love letters from the Archives' collections, as well as from her own book (Just Kids). "Even though email gives us immediacy, the letter gives us proximity," Smith mused, urging us to continue to write letters. "The Smithsonian has 16 million letters, and if we don't keep writing letters, and only write emails, that's all they'll have 20 years from now too."


Patti Smith sang with all of the strength, agony and sincerity that I expected from her - and though most of the love letters she read weren't her own, she was filled with a sense of romance and charm as she recited them. "As a girl who loves being in love, I don't read these [letters] tongue and cheek or with anything but delight." Smith assured us.  

In moments of transition, Smith loosened up what appeared to be a pretty stiff Upper East Side audience with stories of her ex-husband, her allergy to scotchgarded carpets, a history lesson in - and her love and appreciation for - the man who created glasses, the list goes on. "Digression is part of my business," Smith admits with a giggle, "if I had a business card it would say: Patti Smith, Digresser."

Below is a snippet of her last song of the night "Because the Night" - which actually got some of the audience singing along...guess you can't judge a rich philanthropist by her Chanel skirt suit:


5.17.2011

Bloggers Wear: The Ubiquitous Denim Shorts

This introduces a new segment called "Bloggers Wear" - highlighting items that bloggers wear, how they wear them, and what they're thinking while they do. Today's edition: denim shorts.

(fashiontoast, trop rouge, cocorosa, karla's closet)

My denim shorts are an extension of me. Content and secure, feminine yet tough...empowered, naughty and adorable. They're Levi's because I'm classic, they're torn because I've worn them that many times, and they're vintage because I said so. Yes, they're very short - but don't bother checking for cellulite because I don't have any. Don't bother checking for stubble either, I shave every day. I like to lay in fields with them, but I also have an affinity for desolate industrial areas. I can hang like a rag doll or strut like a horse, I can giggle and socialize, or put on my Ray Bans, smoke a cigarette and not care.

Yes, I will constantly talk about getting a new pair because these ones are nearly destroyed - but pay me no mind. I love my ratty denim shorts, they are uniquely me, and my summer style is unique to the world.

To read more from the Bloggers Wear series, click HERE

Disclaimer: If you are a blogger who has been featured on this, or any Bloggers Wear any post, please know it is with respectful sarcasm that I post and poke fun at you and your garments. All is fair in love and blogging. Peace out.  

5.16.2011

[Interview]

 

The Lifestyle of Style: An Interview with Karl-Edwin Guerre of Guerreisms 


I do most of my interviews in a coffee shop near Union Square. I get there early, set up, sound-check my voice recorder and wait. When my interviewees arrive, I treat them to a drink -- coffee, green tea, soy cappuccino, whatever. I try to read people by their drinks of choice. I met Karl-Edwin Guerre of street-style blog Guerreisms (formerly Swagger 360) on a Sunday morning at Joe the Art of Coffee. He arrived as dapper as anticipated -- a man who has probably been the subject of as many photographs as he has taken. We did the smile and handshake, and I offered my usual beverage treat. "Tea, please," he said with a humbled smile. "What kind of tea?" I asked. "Your choice," he responded. I was thrown -- too many options to process on my feet: black, herbal, green... milk, honey, size?! Moreover, how was I supposed to pass proper judgment on him? I decided to go with chamomile. He seemed pleased -- or at the very least, gracious -- because he drank it.

2011-05-15-karledwinguerrenew.jpg


 
Karl-Edwin Guerre wears many hats. Metaphorically, but also quite literally. That is to say, this gentleman owns a lot of beautiful hats. Fedoras, newsboy caps, boaters, you name it. Figuratively, Guerre is a modern renaissance man. "I've been called a blogger, a photographer, a writer, I've directed a short film -- I've been called a couple of different things, I leave that up to the public to decide what they want to call me," Guerre says evenly. "I don't want to insult a photographer or the craft of photography by calling myself a photographer -- I don't know the technical side of photography." Hm. Interesting -- considering that his work has been featured by the likes of Vogue Italy, Essence, Details, The Fashion Spot and more.

Regardless of title, Guerre's artistic focus lies in the depiction of style and the stories behind his subjects. His blogging began as a platform to honor great style in both men and women, but it evolved after some time. "Now my niche is men. I used to photograph both men and women, but people would comment -- saying things like 'wow your men are fantastic -- your women are just ok.' My ego wanted to keep doing women, but a point came where I checked my ego and decided to do what the public told me I was better at."

So what makes Guerreisms different from other street-style blogs? "[All bloggers] have their own personalities in what they do, and that in itself makes us different from one another. I live what I have on my site. It's more than just images -- to me it's a lifestyle. There are styles that I'm not necessarily crazy about, but I post them because I respect style. Style is style -- if you got it, you got it."

inspired by christina

Who would have thought that Christina Aguilera's hairstyle (circa 2002) would have inspired this girl?!
No, it's not a permanent venture in style (WHAT IS??!!). Yes, it hurts. Yes, I kinda hate it. Yes, I kinda love it too. We'll see how long I/it lasts...

5.15.2011

IDENTITIES installment 3, I'm all up in it

Photog Rog Walker put together his 3rd chapter of his IDENTITIES project and your girl Mihal is in it. I'm featured beside my buddy Gordon Voidwell, as well as several talented folks like singer Jesse Boykins III, poet Joshua Bennett and rapper Melo X, among others. Here are some shots of me:


Shoot on over HERE to view the rest of the spread (click chapter 3).

5.10.2011

makeup how-to's with jane feltes

The Hairpin is one of my daily go-to's for snarky little news stories. What they also do, which I LOVE, are makeup tutorial videos with Jane Feltes.

I'm not a hardcore makeup girl by any means, but Jane makes me wanna spend my life in Sephora, buy every single product that she has, and live the glam life. Her videos are totally charming and kind of oddly entrancing. This first one is for eyes, the second is for skin...




You can find more videos HERE.

Jane Feltes is an award-winning producer of the popular public radio program and Showtime television series, This American Life. You can follow her on Twitter HERE.

5.09.2011

this thing...


I found this thing at a vintage shop in Oregon - it's part bra, part corset, part undershirt, part other things I'm sure. It involves velvet and lace and flawless stitching and beads and sequins, as well as many complicated buttons. Here it is from a few more angles:


I plan on making this thing look awesome under sheer tops mostly - probably with something high waisted since it's pretty cropped - a la Cher in Clueless:


If you care to visualize it on me, I have put together a gif for your enjoyment:
make avatar

5.06.2011

mihal & sian-pierre take over tuesday

A few days ago I met up with my bud Sian-Pierre Regis (creator of SwaggerNewYork) in the East Village to go to a party for Bar iii. I'm still not sure what the party was celebrating, but regardless I enjoyed myself. It was in the penthouse of the Cooper Square Hotel and the view was insaaaaane - we couldn't help but act like kids who have lived in caves our whole lives. There's no point to this video...unless you really like Courtney Love, because I'm using one of her songs. Enjoy!



Don't forget to check out Sian-Pierre's site HERE, follow him on twitter HERE

...while you're at it, follow me on TWITTER too!!! I'm very enlightened.

5.05.2011

macrame me

Are you there, God? It's me, Mihal...


Oh, I guess you are there. Thank you for answering my fringey, macrame vest prayers. 
Amen

Sweating with New Balance - Fall 2011 Preview

On Tuesday I went to a press preview for New Balance's Fall 2011 line...only this one was a bit different than the standard presentation. New Balance provided our outfits head-to-toe, and, with the help of a few sprightly trainers from Crunch Fitness, they put us through some circuit training to test out the goods. (Thank God I had the sense to shave my legs that morning!). I'm an exercise enthusiast, so for me it was ideal...for others it was kind of a mockery of their lack of coordination. Everybody, however, took it in stride, and there were smoothies and snacks to enjoy afterward. Plus we got to keep the outfits - so generous!!. Made a video, enjoy!


New Balance Fall 2011 from Mihal Freinquel on Vimeo.

5.03.2011

kingston rossdale - my soul (hair) brother

Normally I don't pay any attention to celeb kids, but this little tyke has always made me swoon.

Kingston Rossdale: the son of Gavin Rossdale (former lead singer of 90's rock band, Bush) and Gwen Stefani (lead singer of ska/pop band, No Doubt). I saw little Kingston at the Edun runway show 2 seasons ago with daddy Gavin...double swoon.


I saw this recent pic of him and hey guess what? We have the same hair:


Obviously his is longer and he's way cuter than I am...but I feel bonded nonetheless. Way better than having the same hair as Kramer.