a shot of vodka, neat.

sequins and piercings.

2010-04-22T21:24:00.000-07:00

[ 80's sequin tent mini thrifted, black tights random, fringe booties f21, sparkly hoops f21 ]

Despite being a madwoman on a sewing spree today, I wasn't able to get a second for an outfit shot. So I ended up rampaging through my old photographs from last winter and viola! Though most 80's sequin dresses tent to be either mother-in-law long or RuPaul's next sexy showcase, I instantly fell in love with this sequined mini. Not only does it have a unique deco-inspired sequins, its also a relaxed tent shape because honestly when you just want to dance and not worried about your ladies popping out...it's a dream come true.

And dammit...I'm insanely temped to get my snakebites done again. I loved mine to death but parted because they were incorrectly pierced and still hurt like hell after 1.5 years. But the debate is should I prove that one can be 20-something and rock 'em or should I leave 'em for the Hot Topic tots?

a russian with a chinadoll.

2010-04-21T23:30:00.000-07:00

[ victorian chinaware mini thrifted, nude tights h&m, rings ebay, straw sunhat thrifted ]

As I had posted before, I'm a true Kubanskaya Russian at heart when it comes to seasons. I'm obsessed with rain. Seattle may actually become our next home simply because of the cold rainy climate. But due to V's pleading that I don't always dress like a displaced Russian or a high school goth, I forced myself to throw one something that definitely has more definition of spring than any other preferred item in my closet.

As a child, my Mama had always collected dishes of all sorts. Czech, Chinese, Russian...you name it. I've just always been fascinated with the delicate print and design of antique dishware, simply because I've always been a klutz and well that says it all. I fell in love with this dress instantly because of the delicate detail print and sheer sleeves. Ended up pairing it with a thrifted sunhat, nude tights and beige platforms. For a "psychological" goth, this was quite a venture that I'm glad I tried on.

two years of sweet and sour.

2010-04-20T11:22:00.000-07:00

[ spring floral dress thrifted, knee high socks h&m, nude tights f21 and red mary janes thrifted ]

Whenever V and I tell anyone that our anniversary date is 4/20, we always end up getting insane high-fives from the stoners and girlish "awww's" from the romantics. But what most don't know is despite adopting California and all of its majestic vegetables and herbs, we actually are more inclined toward brandy, white wine and butter. But yes it was what traditionalists would state as our two year anniversary. Dear holy deities, two freakin' years of a Grimm fairy tale with a pinch of Shrek and a dash of Love Actually. It's true love.

We honestly don't believe in celebrating anniversary's for just that one "special" day. Couples should strive to make every moment, whether its just another boring day or your 5th anniversary, to be breathtakingly meaningful [ teenage angst poet speaking here now]. We ended up grabbing 5 [liters] of cheap yet effective Chardonnay, tons of chedder/Swiss cheese, ricotta-stuffed shells, black cherry ice cream and watching our old videos/photographs/memories til we passed out [uncomfortably] in each others' arms.

Of course, we ended up annoying each other with snores, bathroom breaks, habitual tossing and unbearable churning that'll make anyone dream of their own loving rendition of SAW.

self-motivation with beer-handles.

2010-04-19T01:05:00.000-07:00

[ 60's Mod mini thrifted, black opaque tights Target, black mary janes Hot Topic, wool beret gifted ]

I've been kinda, well quite freakin' incredibly, shy when attempting to pose for outfit shots lately. It's ironic as well because naturally I never shied away from any camera, having been the daughter of two really charismatic Russian musicians who lived everyday to capture each and every embarrassing moment that their darling kids made.

As a teenager I became the typical self-conscious recluse: barely ate, head-banged to death metal, black eyeshadow galore, gaudy safety pin jewelry and a head filled with harsh life experiences that I translated into Russian rap. Eerily, as if a piece was noticeably stolen from me, I strayed from the cameras, gained a mountain of weight to 'protect' myself and hid from the world.

Five years later, I'm that girl again. Hiding from the camera, slyly offering to take everyone else's photographs. I haven't yet caught as to why I am behaving as such when, in fact, I should be embracing these vital and vulnerable stages in my sudden adulthood. Fuck yeah I'm not a size 4 right now, but how could I dare mentally postpone my happiness simply because of some dimpled cellulite and beer-handles? I need to smack myself upside the head, lmfao. Dolls and Kens...don't hesitate because of a few poundage, hell don't hesitate at all. There's more to life than just shying away from a photograph. If you can't see the value in that, then nobody else will. My lesson learned :D

food poisoning for the soul.

2010-04-14T00:11:00.000-07:00

Imagine yourself casually strolling through a crowded grocery store only to bump into a frantic brunette who suddenly vomits all over you. I'm talking about mad fuckin' projectile vomit. Needless to say I was the brunette and that was a memory V and I will never forget. Despite being plagued with an seemingly forever ailing stomach, this bout of food poisoning is unbelievably vicious. All I can do is lay in bed, fight the nausea, daydream about being able to drink chocolate milk and get started on replying to everyone's incredibly supportive comments and advice. Much, much, much love dolls!

a mad infatuation.

2010-04-13T22:42:00.000-07:00

Tiiu Kuik for Harper's Bazaar Russia

I'll be blatantly honest - I'm madly in love with these photographs. Maaaaadly. Period.

a palette of an emotional cynic.

2010-04-09T23:43:00.000-07:00

[fffound]

to the anonymous who try to be bitches.

2010-04-08T22:26:00.000-07:00

To the *Anonymous* girl who called me a rude bitch:

Huh?

I've nothing to conclude other than that you're [must be] such a war monger. Why can't we all just get along?

I am sincerely, whole-heartedly... confused.

Please, again, what happened? My intentions had to have been misunderstood.

This is my online diary. Such a diary liberates me, you, and EVERYONE to post as honest an opinion as could ever be conjured. Including an opinion as honest as yours. I applaud you, and salute the ovaries surely at the base of what can be none other than your rigorous spine

I love puppies, ice cream, poetry, photography. I bleed. I cry. I laugh. I smile. I sleep.

Anonymously yours,

Me.

a daily dose at your local meat-market.

2010-04-06T22:25:00.000-07:00

[ vintage indian dress trhifted, vintage suede messenger bag gift, thrifted granny boots, gypsy earrings gift from peka <3 ]

had a mili-second to snap a few windy shots before making dinner after running through an over-crowded safeway. i swear nightclubs have nothing on our safeway. meat-market galore right after five folks. the women are in painfully high platforms and the men in gucci knock-off loafers. add on that three out of four have alcohol ready for purchase, enough cologne and perfume to suffocate and a city notorious for its lack of romance and viola. hilarious to witness the action as you wobble around in second day sweats, fox fur coat and a bowler hat. so somehow dressing up to grab some seasoned pastrami was an accomplishment fit for the occasion. as you can tell, i'm definitely a madwoman for anything ethnic.

where's your local meat-market?

princesses with plastic crowns.

2010-04-05T21:52:00.000-07:00

harpers & queen.

gazing through these photographs made me long terribly for the atlantic ocean and long lost romance we all secretly leave behind when we make the painful decision to grow up. the enviously full lips, the bittersweet romanticism and the antique lace leaves me nostalgic for a time when fairy tales were reality and princesses had plastic toys'r'us crowns.

aaaaaand yes a little bit of a russian fairy-tale from alexander rybak.

america's disney sweethearts have nothing on him...nothin'!

a congested spring leopard.

2010-04-04T23:25:00.000-07:00

the weather around us in california is unbearably indecisive. its hot and humid one day, then suddenly chilly as hell and pouring rain. just when i was packing away my wool coats, it becomes insanely cold enough to grow frostbite on my jewish/scythian/greek nose. los angeles has nothing on us. not only is the weather miserably beautiful, my sinuses are congested like no tomorrow. happy freakin' easter hahahaha, i'm tell ya its god cursing me for sneaking gulps of brandy in between the prayers. but yes somehow i suddenly wanted to cram in as much winter items as i could before the california heat made itself permanently comfortable. plus i'm still madly in love with my leopard tights.

p.s. i CANNOT wait until all the peeps go on sale! my brothers and i have this tradition of stuffing our faces to see who wins the mini video-taped championship of the gore-worthy marshmallow pieces. seriously cannot wait.

she's so plaid.

2010-04-03T23:02:00.000-07:00

vintage tent dress (ebay), straw jaguar bag (gift from v) and beige granny boots (thrifted).

i am not a salad person and it sadly shows hahaha. but due to my latest promise to (slowly and silently) eliminate my thigh-fattening passions and replace them with a healthier menu instead of diving headfirst on the 'white girl diet'. so far i've forced myself to munch on a basic salad from safeway but i somewhat failed and added garlic croutons. agh i know i know! but alas we all need a little bit of cellulite in our step and i've got tons to flaunt.

oh and yes must have my strawberry wild smoothie. i was a jamba girl for the better part of my high school years. somehow i still can't get the sound of whirling blenders and the scent of 'boosters' outta my system.

californian matroshka.

2010-04-02T18:00:00.000-07:00

i've always been obsessed with vintage peasant tunics and handkerchiefs. its just a subtle change to hide the fact this adorable little bohemian is actually a hot-tempered boxer who nearly ALWAYS wears black, is in love with archeology and loathes beer. hahaha, gotta love it. there's just something earthly and subtle about hand embroidered motifs, ultra soft mexican cotton and neutral tones. had an incredible craving for authentic chalupas, so we headed over to uma mas!, where they have the most amazing array of grilled meat and condiments. must have avocado and jalapenos! oh i cannot wait for summer to finally arrive.

p.s. since i'm still quite a newborn to the blogging world, i'm always looking for amazing blogs and hilarious writers. please feel free to suggest your own or others that you cannot live without! my taste isn't limited to just fashion. i'll definitely let them know you suggested them. so please drop a line and let me check it out tonight.

slava zaitsev.

2010-04-01T00:17:00.000-07:00

like most little russian girls overseas and at home, i'm wildly anticipating the russian fashion week fw2010/11 which showcases not only many of russia's beloved designers, but also announcing my homeland's magnificent return to its rich and affluent past. yet there's one designer in particular who's creations never cease to leave me stunned, intrigued and inspired. none other than russia's dear own, slava zaitsev.

perhaps many prefer the violent cuts of the modern androgynous silhouette, but personally its the intoxicating cocktail of femininity and old world that wins me over. the opulence, the eccentricity, the glamour, the boldness of his pieces put me into a state of childish giddiness. a taste of the modern disowned aristocrat in her own fairy tale of expensive cars, synthetic techno and happy meals with stolichnaya.

i'm in love.

google, couture.ru.

a skinny fat girl.

2010-03-30T23:19:00.000-07:00

many are shocked when hearing that despite being a fat girl, i in fact, do not have a insatiable sweet tooth nor was i always this plump. frankly sweets are as potent as corny pick-up lines sung off-key by a fashionably malnourished english major with scraggly vegan-friendly shampoo washed golden locks and his second hand acoustic guitar. better yet, exactly a year ago i was a unhappy size 4. it's just somehow being sinfully enamored with all things alcoholic and buttery, living with a spouse who has the metabolism of a god, constantly either working or attempting to put my insomniac mind to sleep - somehow left me 50 lbs fatter.

still i wish i could slap my thin self upside the head so hard for being so unsatisfied when in fact i'd give a kidney (an alcoholic one, still works great) to be that size once again.

and though i wholeheartedly believe in supporting the beauty of one despite whatever state her waistline may be, i'm just unbearably tired of having to deal with the nauseating thin forever 21 sales-team when asking for a size large and they instead slyly retort by offering directions to torrid. not that i'm insulted, it's just this sudden delightful fantasy to sit on them and not let off a la jackass 2 has been bugging me.

they say we should be able to find beauty that's deep within, i must confess at times even i cannot find my own when it's in four inches of dimpled French butter insulated skin. make it five on the weekends. i've decided once and for all to shove away the rocky road ice cream or perhaps donate it to our local gang of eternally drunken pentecostal bums. it'll be a rocky road, no pun intended, but nonetheless one that'll test my ability to discipline my hedonistic floppy ass.

just some old mug shots (if only it were so) of my own to help re-re-re-inspire me. yes all re's. dammit inspiration is hard to find hahaha, but oh well. i'm excited and anxious to get started. give it a week of no vodka or garlic bread. you'll start seeing posts of butter drenched entrees and delicious glazed little piglets. wish me luck by gorging on the mashed potatoes for me.

a piece of humanity.

2010-03-26T20:41:00.000-07:00

deviantart, google, found.

nomadic nostalgia.

2010-03-22T19:23:00.000-07:00

having two bohemian dreamers for parents, my brothers and i had spent our childhood on the road. i never understood how people could live in one house, town, city, or country all their lives. for me every few months there were new suitcases, fresh gas station maps and a glint of poetic romanticism in my father's hazel eyes. we traveled from the ice cold pacific to the warm atlantic without any ties or boundaries. at times i furiously loathed having no roots or ties one would with a real home as defined in the movies and literature. yet somehow i am still seduced by the freedom that my ancestors of the steppes embraced. to roam the urban concrete jungle, the suburban plywood forests, the empty countryside deserts.

flickr, deviantart, found.

spring fever.

2010-03-21T06:01:00.000-07:00

though i prefer the dark and gloomy overcast of winter, there's just something about spring. whether its the thick cloud of chokingly thick pollen, the nonstop chirping of dateless birdies, the cellulite playing peek-a-boo with my shorter hemlines or perhaps the daily battle at the pharmacy line over alcohol or allergy pills. needless to say alcohol wins. but so can you.

we've added tons more inventory to RED SQUARE VINTAGE that'll make anyone ready for this spring. with everything from wild ethnic designs, intricate embroidery, insane floral prints, summery babydolls and the classic black cocktail minis. better yet - we've also included a wide variety of sizes from the enviously thin to the curvy gals (like myself) and every doll in between. remember all dresses start UNDER $20!

black and white.

2010-03-20T22:15:00.000-07:00

tumblr/found