You'll Come Visit Me, Won't You?

Here goes {deep breathe...}: this will be my last post here at Nothing Elegant. I know this might seem as though it is coming out of nowhere, but it is something I have been thinking over for the past few weeks. I have loved this blog so much-- it has given me much more than I ever imagined. It has given me new friends, a keener eye, a place for creativity and expression, and a stronger voice. But, as my dissertation looms, I feel as though I need to focus my attention more strategically. This blog has allowed me to explore and open up about all of my varying and divergent interests, but now I feel the need for something a bit more specialized. That is why I am starting a new website: The Fin de Siecle, devoted to late Victorian art, literature, and culture. I have a feeling that most of my readers here at Nothing Elegant will like the new site (I hope!). And I truly hope you will stop by, check it out, and visit often. I also have a new Facebook page and Twitter page for the site -- come visit me there, too!

I want to thank all my readers and fellow bloggers who have encouraged me, inspired me, and made me feel like part of a vibrant, intelligent, creative community (you know who you are!). I truly hope you will follow me on my new venture....

::Check me out here now! Tell me what you think. (And I will still be checking the comments here from time-to-time, too!).


Cheers!
Tara

New Dress...New Blog?

My dear, long-lost readers!! I'm certain by now you imagine I have been buried alive under a tumbling mountain of books. In fact, I just needed a bit of time off to think about life, writing, blogging, etc. I hope you won't be completely disappointed if I tell you that there are going to be some big changes...involving the start of a new blog and the end of this one. But, you must stay tuned until my next post for all of the details -- ha, the suspense!

Just to give you a hint: my next blog won't be as "personal" as this blog has been...and it won't be as fashion/shopping related as this one (ok, there will still be fashion...I can't completely give it up!) So, I kind of wanted to leave off on a personal (and fashion-related) note by posting this series of photos that my sweet boyfriend took of me at the park today...showing off the new summer dress I got from Eshakti.

It has been such a fun, wonderful ride my dears! I think my new favorite dress is sort of symbolic of a new start -- I truly hope you will continue on this journey with me.

::OK, over the two year span of this blog, I rarely did product reviews, but this is one I'm thrilled to publicly swoon over -- seriously, Eshakti is my new favorite place to shop!! If you haven't visited their site, you must check it out. The prices are reasonable, the dresses and skirts are so cute, and they make the clothes to order...which means they take your measurements and make the clothes to fit you! Genius. I also love the fact that their dresses are stylish and slightly vintage-inspired, without being overly trendy. And they have caftans for poolside lounging!! Glamorous, darlings.

An Ode to Frida's Eyebrows

{by Iris Schwarz}

One of Frida Kahlo's most striking features was -- without a doubt -- her full and fearless eyebrows. It always bothers me when I hear people say: "Oh, she would have been pretty if she had done something about those brows." What??? No way. Her eyebrows were a part of unique beauty, and honestly, I've been feeling a little jealous of her thick mane of of eye-hair lately. Alright, I would never have the confidence to pull off a full-on monobrow {nor does my hair even grow between my eyes}, but I could really use a little oomph in the eyebrow area these days. During my many years of plucking, waxing, and torturous string treatments, I never once stopped to consider the fact that one day thick brows would be back in fashion...and that all that hair pulling would eventually make them stop growing. I don't care about any of these new-fangled eyelash growth treatments, I want something that will make my eyebrows come back!

::Where do you stand on the eyebrow issue? Is anyone having this dilemma?? What I wouldn't give to have this America's Next Top Model contestant's brows! Oh well, Here is a bit of Frida to make you smile...

The List: 5 Things to Get This Slimy Jellyfish Off My Head

{image by Zhou Fan}

Folks, I'm in a hardcore rut {otherwise known as a funk} right now. I think this dilemma is fairly normal for people who read and write for a living. Does this ever happen to you? I start feeling guilty for not reading or writing the "right" things {i.e. for my dissertation}, so I just stop doing anything -- I feel guilty for not doing what I'm supposed to do, so I just stop doing all the things I like. What a bad idea! It's a bit like having a big jellyfish sitting atop your head and sucking all of the motivation out. Slurp! I think I need to change up my routine and try some new things for inspiration. One cannot go around bound by a sea creature. Here are a few rut-fighting activities I'm going to try:

1. Costume movie night! After watching the Oscar's, I decided I needed to see every film nominated in the costume category. I am going to try and watch all of them over the next several weeks...and maybe write some reviews here? The nominees are: The Young Victoria, Coco avant Chanel, The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus, Bright Star, Nine...and I'll add A Single Man for good measure.

2. Eat at a new restaurant. There is a new Indian restaurant {Kolam} here I've been meaning to try.

3. Go on a hike. If you know me, this might sound a little...out-of-character. But, seriously the weather is so lovely, and I'm just dying to wander through the woods. OK, so maybe it will be less of a hike and more of a stroll.

4. Go to free yoga. The Yoga Room here in Tulsa has free yoga every Monday. Ask me why haven't gone. I have no idea!

5. Write my F*cking dissertation prospectus! There, I said it. We all know this is the real reason I'm in a rut. My boyfriend compared my dilemma to the Clash's "Guns of Brixton" lyrics: "How you gonna come?/ With your hands on your head / Or on the trigger of your gun?" In other words: I need to decide if I'm going to come out fighting or just give up. The fighting option sounds much more exciting {and yes, my boyfriend makes strange, wonderful music analogies}.

Readers, please share, what do you do to get out of a rut??

To-Do Lists: Works of Genius?

A detailed, color-illustrated packing list?? If I could draw worth a damn, I'm pretty sure this is the direction my obsessive list-making habit would be headed. For all of us who who understand the cathartic and relaxing effects of a good list, the new exhibit entitled"To Do" at The Archives of American Art in Washington is a revelation! Apparently we are in good company: Picasso is just one among a number of artists who were avid list-makers. Dare I say list-mania is a sign of brilliance? Despite the fact that some psychologists believe list-making is an illusory and pointless attempt to control our chaotic lives, I prefer to believe the words of the American abstract artist, Charles Green Shaw: "Real happiness consists in not what we actually accomplish, but what we think we accomplish {via}." I think I can accomplish a lot! Just let me live in this illusion for a while...

Blog it Forward: What Inspires Me?

French fashion bloggers! Pandora and The Cherry Blossom Girl use fashion as an expression of their love of history, art, and their beautiful city -- Paris.

It's time for the "Blog it Foward Mashup." This project was started by the talented San Francisco Girl by the Bay as a way for bloggers to share what inspires them. It's a bit like a chain letter for blogs, and today it's my turn. Check out the links at the end of this post to see who is coming up next...I'm pretty sure you'll be addicted {like I am!}. Or, you can find your favorite bloggers on the full schedule here.

Traveling to strange, out-of-the-way destinations. I've visited some bizarre places, like the Surrealist Folly Gardens in Xilitla, Mexico, and the desert art communes in Marfa, Texas, but there are so many unusual spots I'm dying to explore: the Absinthe Museum in New Orleans and the Seti satellites in Puerto Rico are at the top of my list.

Strong, eccentric women with a flare for the dramatic. Tilda Swinton is always unflinchingly original {left, dressed as the Marchessa Casati}, and Anais Nin lived a life more fascinating than even her books reveal.

Art, both new and old. The brilliant Hayv Kahraman is a recent discovery {left} and decadent artist Aubrey Beardsley is an obsession that will never fade...

Books that move, challenge, disgust, and inspire in equal parts... these are two books that changed my perception of literature forever.

Eating...and cooking: the ultimate creative act. It inspires and nourishes. Since discovering my love for cooking, I have come to realize that making food can be as fulfilling {and filling} as making art...corny but true. {Images via Canelle et Vanille}.

Vintage magazines and vintage advertising. I would wallpaper my apartment with vintage ads if I could! I think vintage ad designers are truly forgotten artistic geniuses...

What inspires you, dear readers??

And coming up in the Blog it Forward Mash-up:

• not your average ordinary 3/3 • occupation housewife 3/4 • oh hello! 3/5

• oh, hey great 3/8 • oh, mishka 3/9 • oh so beautiful paper 3/10

• old sweet song 3/11

The Crisis Magazine

Just thought I'd share a bit about a new project we are starting at my other-other-other job at the Modernist Journals Project: we have begun digitizing early issues of The Crisis magazine, which was published in association with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People {starting in 1910}. The magazine was edited by the brilliant W.E.B. DuBois, author of the The Souls of Black Folk. Du Bois campaigned against racism, lynching, and segregation in the U.S., and the magazine takes up these topics, as well as addressing women's rights, democratic ideals, and fair access to education. For me, the visual elements are always as interesting {if not more} than the writing, so I thought I would share some of the early covers with you...the ones from the 20's are incredible, and you can really see the African/Egyptian influences on the art from that period. I'm looking forward to browsing some of the earlier issues, as well -- most of which have been hidden away in archives for decades!

::P.S. The Crisis Magazine is still being published today -- more than 100 years after it began! Check it out here.

Happy Valentine's Day!

I love you J.B.!!!! You have the uncanny ability to make even the smallest moments sparkle with laughter, irreverence, and fun...

"I am like a falling star who has finally found her place next to another in a lovely constellation, where we will sparkle in the heavens forever.” ~Amy Tan

A Friend Who "Feels" You

Reading Daniel J. Siegel's inspiring new book Mindsight, I was struck by his notion that "feeling felt" emotionally by another person is crucial for healthy childhood and adolescent development. Everyone has their share of difficulties growing up {some more than others}, but Siegel argues that as long as we have a person in our life we feel a connection with, be it a friend or a family member, our chances of becoming strong, resilient, happy adults increase exponentially.
Siegel says: "Being close to someone early in our lives gives us the clarity to know how we feel, and the ability to feel close to others."

This concept made me think of my oldest friend: Sara. I realized that in great part I have my precious friend Sara to thank for my relative balance and happiness as a "grown up." Sara and I both dealt with some rather difficult and traumatic experiences as teenagers, and I truly believe if it weren't for her love, support, and humor through those tough years, that I would probably be a terribly cranky, pessimistic, and downright antisocial person these days. I think I can safely say, more than any other person in my life {then or now}, Sara truly "felt" me! I hope I gave her at least a fraction of that experience, as well. Thanks so much dear Sara.

::Tell me readers, who is the person who has made you feel "felt" the most in your own life?? Don't forget to send them some love for Valentine's!! ♥♥♥

{And aren't these vintage lady friends super-cute in their jodhpurs??}

Blog It Forward...

Hello, my peaches. I wanted to let you all know about a fun project I will be participating in -- and you should, too! The Blog It Forward Mashup is headed up by the talented lady behind sfgirlbybay. Check out the details on her site, and drop Victoria a line if you want to take part. We’re going to share a connected stream of blogger posts on ‘what inspires us the most’ on our individual blogs, but link back & forward to the other blogs participating, a bit like a chain letter (but, hopefully a lot less annoying!).

This should be fun...

Discipline Me!

Let's talk about discipline. No, not that kind of discipline you naughty monkeys! I'm talking about self-discipline: an evil little hyphenated word with seriously un-fun connotations {and no Bettie Page in sight to make the pain seem like a party!}...

Here is my question: how can you improve self-discipline without turning into a gloomy workaholic?? I have a ton of stuff on my plate: teaching, researching, "writing" a dissertation, volunteering, blogging...and still trying to have a life, keep my toilets clean, and pay attention to my pets {oh, and my and boyfriend}. There are just some days when I have a hard time prioritizing all of this and keeping my projects in perspective. For example, my dissertation seems so huge and overwhelming right now that I find myself ignoring it and putting it on the backburner, rather than facing it head-on.

::Do you have any tips for getting motivated on big projects? Training yourself to manage time more wisely? Stopping the excuses and just doing the work that needs to be done?

Where is beautiful Bettie and her whip when you need them most??

Blogger Manifesto Project, Part II

Manifesto#1
A BEAUTY MANIFESTO
by Tara

Beauty is paradox.
For everything you believe, you must first realize you believe the opposite.
Beauty is a rush of sensation: a sweet, unexpected taste that forces you to close your eyes in order to fully savor it.
Then beauty is rich, demanding, heavy in the stomach.


Always question your bodily response. But never let the question destroy the spontaneous pleasure.
Cast your net, savor passionate reactions; for all things worth keeping are fleeting and ephemeral. Digesting beauty is a life's work.


Analyze your affinities. Do not espouse empty words about your fascinations, unless you crave emptiness.
Sometimes the facade can be prettiest.


But know you are more than this.
You are also a paradox.
Beauty is both perfectly clear and always just out of our line of vision. We are so certain of our tastes, our way of seeing. But can we ever really be?
What you love perplexes me. Please make me understand, so I can seal my loathing shut or set it free.


Beauty is never a given.
It can terrify and inspire in different measures, in different eyes.
One set of eyes perceives a phantom, a shadow passing at the top of a staircase, and is convinced this is all and everything.
While others choose to follow a ghost.
Is it the thing or the idea you want?


Decide at every moment what makes you feel most like yourself. Or the you of your dreams. They are the same.
And then challenge it. Never grow too complacent in your perception.
When you hold something beautiful, does it make you whole, remind you of your own materiality: a jewelry box of flesh?


Love things, really love them. Have a reason. Or don’t. But love them. They have value beyond their price.
They are you.
All beautiful things are borrowed.
All things, both beautiful and ugly, are made by skillful hands. All objects have value to someone.

Consider whether beauty equals love.
Ask: What sweet morsel will I place on my tongue?

{::Read more about the project here / e-mail me if you would like info on participating!!}

Next Stop: Rabbit Hole

This week has been altogether crap-tastic, if you ask me. The holidays are over and real life has started again. I have a student in the class I am teaching who seems unable to hide his disgust at having to be there {and tripping me up during lectures when I catch him rolling his eyes}. And the situation in Haiti is saddening and terrible. It's times like this that I feel a little like falling down a rabbit hole and getting lost somewhere for a while...

::On the upside {and speaking of rabbit holes} Alice in Wonderland comes out in March.

{photos via FFFound}

List Love!

List-making is like a glorious disease: you are compelled, driven mad by the gnawing desire to makes lists for everything from "All the Food I Still Need to Eat Before I Die" to "Movies I Have Seen That Made Me Want to Remove My Eyeballs." I make lists for the esoteric, the inspirational, the everyday, and the mundane. One of my favorite newer features on this blog is...you guessed it: "The List."

What kind of lists would you like to see more of here on Nothing Elegant? Personal, art-related, books, fashion-focused, local tid-bits?

...stay tuned for lists I already have up my sleeve, such as: my favorite dirty poetry; the best stop-motion animation films; women rockers whose style I want to steal; weird vacation spots; concerts to put on your calendar this year...and more.


::More links for the list-related: A place to indulge your addiction / Airam also shares my penchant for lists / List-makers with a twist / A secret society / My all-time favorite place to buy list-making materials.

Okie Blog Award Nominations.

I feel a bit like I'm running for office {which is ironic, because I hate politics}, but I would like to make a self-serving request: if you enjoy my blog, and you have a moment...or the inclination, I would be honored if you sent a quick e-mail nominating me for the Okie Blog Awards {this is Oklahoma's annual blog recognition awards}. Just go to this link, choose a category {the best match might be "culture blog"} and send an e-mail with the category, name and link to my blog.

Also, if you are a follower of other inspirational and hard-working Oklahoma bloggers, like the ladies behind Progress on the Prairie, Greedy Girl, or Design Crush, you might consider giving them a nod in the nominations, as well!!

**The deadline for nominations is Feb. 3rd! A warm thank-you in advance!

Happy New Year: Bonne Année 2010!

This year, in the tradition of the French, I am going to make a wish or two {a voeu} instead of the usual stringent resolutions I have made...and often broken...in years past. Doesn't it just seem more romantic and less puritan to send a wish out into the universe, rather than setting yourself up for punishment when you fail? Author Debra Ollivier says:

"...a wish is a mutable thing that can be blown away by the wind. A wish is like a cloud that might drift your way but cannot be forced to do so. It is langurous and fanciful and who knows where it will end up. A resolution, on the other hand, is a firm, concise obligation. It's a contract between you and your conscious that is deep-fried in moral values. A resolution has edges and they will menace you forever if you don't pay attention to them. A resolution, in short, can become one of those deadly virtues if it conspires too radically against the Gods of Pleasure."

This year, despite loads of work and obligations, I wish for the "Gods of Pleasure" to stay front and center in my life...good food, good drink, good books, good love, good adventures, good growth, good living.

** Happy New Year, Mes Amies!!! May pleasure visit you often this year...

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today, I just want to take the opportunity to say "thank you" to all of my wonderful, kind, intelligent readers who keep this blog fun and always inspire and challenge me! If you are celebrating Thanksgiving today, I hope you have a wonderful day with family and friends, plenty of yummy food, and lots of laughs. What are you thankful for today??

{To see more of Benny Horne's Pilgrim-inspired photo shoot, visit Foto Decadent}

The Joy of Gossip

Barbara Walters once said, "Show me someone who doesn't gossip, and I'll show you someone who isn't interested in people." Gossip's got a bad name, and I think it might be high-time to rescue it from the realms of tawdry tabloid nonsense and mean-spirited fibbing. Is it crazy to think that gossip might actually be healthy when practiced in moderation? In her book, The Art of Conversation, Catherine Blyth suggests that good, old-fashioned gossip is a balm to society's increasingly alienated sense of community and intimacy. She says:

"To me, gossip is a growth industry, ever more essential in atomized urban society, as family ties weaken and networks grow wider, looser, and diffuser...While monitoring a virtual crowd of internet pals can accentuate loneliness if you're not truly in touch, gossip remains frienship's primary medium...{103}"

I think of gossip as a form of social analysis -- like talk therapy, minus the person who probably needs the therapy. People are fascinating. I want to know what makes them tick, why they say and do the things they do {I'm also a bit obsessed with self-analysis, but that's a subject for another time...}. You will rarely find me gossiping about people I don't like, or who, at the very least, I don't find interesting. You will also never find me making something up about someone out of boredom or animosity. People are far too interesting for this to be necessary!

Here are some more reasons why we could all use a dose of healthy gossip:

• It makes us feel better -- it allows us to see that things could be worse; at least we don't have that habit, problem, or compulsion!
• It gets us excited. Have you ever noticed how animated people get, how their eyes light up, when you tell them you have a juicy tid-bit?
• It's an amazing conversation catalyst. Is the discussion creeping to a halt? Mentioning a mutual friend's latest faux-pas usually gets things animated again.
• It creates a bond. Any time friends can get together and analyze, relish, question, ponder, or simply laugh at something {or someone} together, intimacy and understanding grows.

I certainly hope I've given others occasion to gossip about me from time-to-time. How awful to think I've never done anything shocking enough to merit being gossiped about!

::What's your stance on gossip? Is all gossip bad gossip?

{P.S. I hope you didn't mind the crass, but hilarious, MikWright image above!}