Pleasure Notes

by Shutter Daddy / flickr

I’m off to a baseball game this evening. I know virtually nothing about how the game is played.

But there are Cracker Jacks and a time out for stretching. So what if I’m the only one who does a sun salutation at this point in the game.

I like how some of the athletes look in their little leggings, but appreciate that baseball uniforms are to men what skinny jeans and bubble skirts are to women – very few individuals actually look good in them.

I will be wearing my skinny jeans in solidarity.

Oh heavens, my lovelies, I just got the most gorgeous catalogue in the mail today! I don’t normally receive catalogues, and I have no idea how this one ended up with my name on it, but I’m ever so happy to have received it. It is from a British company called Toast, which specializes in women’s fashion and home decor. The clothes look absolutely perfect – much more classy than my yoga pants and hoodie but equally as comfortable. And the photographs to illustrate each item? Oh lordy, they just make me sigh in appreciation.

by Jenny Zarins for Toast

In fact, I barely got four pages into the Spring 2010 catalogue of clothing before I salivating and dreaming of escaping to some Mediterranean hideaway with a shoulder bag packed with choice pieces of linen, a good book and a feather.

by Jenny Zarins for Toast

I have no idea why I had the impulse to pack a feather, but that is how inspiring this catalogue is to me! Check both the Spring Line and House & Home catalogues for yourself, and let me know what you think.

by Jenny Zarins for Toast

The photographs are by Jenny Zarins, the wardrobe styling is by Lesly Dilcock and Gaelle Paul, and the design and art direction is by Lesley Dilcock. I think I’d like to have them all over for tea.

Is there any particular catalogue you’ve received, unexpectedly or not, that transported you someplace delightful?

I’m not exactly the most renown fashion maven in Los Angeles. In fact, putting me and “fashion” in the same sentence rarely occurs, unless “bad” is also somehow involved. However, every once in a while I surprise myself and everyone around me by actually putting together an ensemble that wouldn’t horrify my less fashion-challenged Hollywood compatriots. That being said, I’m basically a jeans and t-shirt kind of gal or, more accurately, a yoga pants and t-shirt kind of gal. And so I have an enduring love affair with the most awesome of wardrobe-providing websites: Threadless. Let me just highlight a few reasons I’ve fallen head over heels with something that might actually be considered – gasp! – hip...

From Threadless.com

OMG! Isn’t it the cutest thing ever? I mean, really, who wouldn’t be over the moon for this design by Budi Satria Kwan? I admit I’m extremely partial to the moon, and I’ve always thought cows get a bum rap, but really, doesn’t this Fail t-shirt just make you immediately think of milk and cookies? And what could be better than that, FROM A T-SHIRT no less?

by Budi Satria Kwan/threadless.com

Well, the stuck cow might not agree. I kinda feel sorry for him, don’t you? He looks like a “Bob.” Hope you find your way down, Bob. I’m rooting for you!

by Ross Zietz/threadless.com

I become even more impassioned about endangered species than cows, however. Surprising, I know. Which is why I adore Ross Zietz’ Pandamonium. Quite a profound little statement he’s captured with his design, don’t you think? It gets me all riled up, I tell you! And the panda is so damn cute!

by Lucas de Alcantara/threadless.com

Laughter is the best salve when my emotions get hot. I don’t think you even have to be a Star Wars fan to get a chuckle from Lucas de Alcantara’s clever creation. If only we all could be so transformed with a simple New Hairstyle.

by T.J. Zhang/threadless.com

Bangs may not bring about world peace, but flowers put a smile on almost anyone’s face, even the ones in those little tanks who are bent on hurting that poor panda above. You, my lovely readers, are already familiar with how much I love blooming things, so just image how giddy I was to discover T.J. Zhang’s Blooming tee. It about sent me over the moon all over again!

I swear, if Bambi’s mom had gotten a prom picture, this would have been it!

To be fair, I’ve just pointed out my favorite designs. There are plenty of other graphics on the site that might float your boat with more bounce, so go explore (if you are so inclined). The thing I like best about this company is that it is community-based, meaning the Threadless.com membership/readership creates all the graphics, and design decisions are based on community feedback.

Like a big ole Love-In commune for cool t-shirts.

Do you have a favorite t-shirt graphic, from anywhere? Do tell!

Available at Target

Whenever I travel by plane, I make sure I don’t have to check any luggage. It’s too much of a hassle. And normally I do a very good job of fitting everything I need for wherever I’m going into my trusty, old, beat-up, green carry-on bag. This time, however, I misjudged the weather. I checked the five-day forecast online and saw that it would be damn cold here in New Jersey – keeping in mind that I’m now a delicate SoCal creature who cranks up the heat when the mercury drops below 75 – so I packed a winter coat and some long-sleeve t-shirts. And guess what happened? A picture-perfect autumn day! So now it’s not cold enough for the winter jacket but too crisp for just the shirt. What is a girl to do? I went shopping. As luck would have it, my business meeting took place directly across from a Target, so I popped inside. Lo and behold, I found this adorable red-check vest and instantly fell in love.

Now, I don’t even normally wear vests – my arms feel so abandoned. And plaid tends to give me flashbacks to the 80s and lumberjacks – neither of which is a good thing in my memory. But this thing is actually flattering on me! (I’d include a photo of me modeling it but I didn’t pack my connector cable for my camera either – it’s been a hectic week, folks!) More importantly, it is warm in all the right places. No embarrassing headlights on this girl – woo hoo!

It comes in a bunch of different colors, though not black and grey which would have been nice.

I never would have considered purchasing a faux-fur trimmed, plaid vest if I hadn’t found myself shivering in the Garden State. Now, I’m going to rock it everywhere. In fact, I’m wearing it right now. And I’m utterly cozy and happy.

So this is my truly unexpected pleasure find of the week.

And I’m starting to like New Jersey.

Price: $29.99. Available at Target and Target.com.

About a month ago, I wrote about a Sudanese woman named Lubna, whose story I came across while reading Nicholas Kristof’s blog. Her trial was today. She did not win. She did not lose. She is now at a crossroads. As I sit here in my jeans and cleavage revealing tank top, I wonder what direction I would take in her position, secretly considering how I very likely would never have had the courage to be at this crossroads in the first place. Let me explain…

A few months ago, Lubna went to a cafe. She was wearing pants. She was arrested. Other women were arrested too. The other women accepted their punishment. Lubna did not. In the past month, Lubna has attempted to raise awareness about the punishment and, more importantly, about the law itself – a barbaric misinterpretation of Koranic Law resulting in Sudanese policy that women can not wear pants in public.

And Lubna has been successful, both in Sudan and abroad. She wants the law changed. Others agree. Her courage has inspired theirs. They showed up at her trial today, to lend her their support. Some of the women even wore pants (and were promptly arrested). Faced with so much attention, the judge decided to fine Lubna rather than force physical punishment on her.

And this is the moment.

This is the moment in which most people would see a straight road to freedom, accept the ruling, and run. For Lubna, however, this moment is her crossroads. She is refusing to pay the fine. She risks imprisonment, and potentially worse physical punishment than the initial charge conveyed, but standing by her charge that the law itself should be invalidated.

This has never been about Lubna not wanting to get hurt. She wants to change the system. And, as much as the idea that a woman could be brutally punished for wearing pants shocks me, the idea that one individual could have the courage to suddenly stand against the status quo, with a rallying cry of “NO MORE,” awes me.

Lubna isn’t the first person to do this. She isn’t even the first woman. And, I hope, she won’t be the last. I just wonder what mixture of nurture and nature made it so that she is one of the select few who step so far out of their comfort zone that they attempt to change the world for the rest of us, and enter the annals of history.

I do not think I am this kind of person. Perhaps I am, but I have yet to be tested. It’s possible. It is more likely, however, that I am one of the many who would have just accepted the flogging. I could easily have been the one to pee my pants in fear. Or, hell, I probably wouldn’t have worn pants in the first place. Fear is a powerful thing.

Thank god there are people out there, like Lubna, who remind me that, while fear may indeed by powerful, it isn’t ALL POWERFUL. It can be overcome.