ALL BLACK

ALL BLACK! 

Some days I go with no black, other days, it's all black. Today was one of those days. I'm like a modern goth cowboy. Oh well, it's no problem! 

But the semester is now over. Fall 2011 was great, but academic wise, I was so sick of it. I'm ready to just get to sit in front of my t.v. for hours and play playstation and not have to go to some of my dumb redundant courses. I'm actually looking at my bed right now, and it's calling my name. 

Adios.

<3 Jo du Jour

Tucson Street

One of my good friends just started a street style blog for Tucson! It's quite a hit so far, do not hesitate to follow:

http://tucsonstreet.tumblr.com/

One thing to point out about this outfit is NO BLACK. Actually, there really isn't any presence of dark or fall looking colors in this look. It's fun to play around with fall clothing that's not just your average leather jacket. 

<3 Jo du Jour

Post - No Shave

I had no clue what I was going to look like after my no shave phase. Beginning in October and only doing two or three minor trims I feel safe saying I participated in not only No Shave November, but October as well. Just was perfect timing, sí?

So what's next for me? A book about proper mustache maintenance. Any recommendations? Send them my way.


<3 Jo du Jour

Summer in October

What is it about the middle of the semester that's just so 'ughhhhhhhhhhhhh' ?

Trying to bring some fun/ playfulness to my life by mixing spring with fall. Especially with these temperatures, 94º in October? It may as well still be the spring/summer season.

I picked up both the shirt and hat from Goodwill. Trying the shirt on was kind of weird because it was next to all the grandma blouses but, whatever, it's nice being able to shop the WHOLE store instead of just the mediocre mens section.

Also, I should give basically all credit to this look to the Brazilian band, Banda UÓ. The band mixes a lot of popular songs and changes the words to Portuguese. The music style is called Electrobrega. Definitely check them out. Both their music and fashion style have been really influential in my life right now and I'm so excited to go study abroad in São Paulo next Fall! Hopefully my life can just straight up look like all their music videos. That'd be great.

Here's one of Banda UÓ's videos, O Gosto Amargo do Perfume!

Post-Modern Punk

Happy Monday // Halloween Week!

This past weekend was crazy. I was all over the board with my gender, emotions, and activities. My outfit today resulted from the weekend's influences.

MOCA Tucson, the museum I intern at, opened up a new exhibit with hundreds of flyers and designs by Raymond Pettibon, highlighting his work with the punk band, Black Flag, and Pettibon's influence to punk culture during the 70s and 80s. After a weeks worth of helping with installation, I think the constant exposure to punk culture made me feel like dressing in Doc's and this black Diesel button up. Yeah, so punk right? Not really, hence the post-modern.

Raymond Pettibon Flyer:

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

On the other hand, I also feel like simplifying things lately. God, the semester started off on a great foot, then fell into the garbage disposal. Now I'm trying to make get my act together again. Minimalism and less clutter in my outfit, space, and life will hopefully help me clear my mind a bit. So a button up, jeans, and boots couldn't be a more perfect and simple October outfit.

Have an amazing week! I know I will because it's Halloween, duh.

Ps. Doesn't this Raymond Pettibon print look like me?

LOLOLOLOLOL

I love being ironic

I mean this is pretty preppy.
With a gangsta twist.
LOL

@nine_u's necklace

& @phonograph's sweater

Friday; dressed up & down

Whether I'm in class or working or partyin' on a Friday, here's how I make it through the day without having to change outfits. 

△ DRESSED UP & DRESS DOWN ▽

shirt; Burberry

shorts; Ralph Lauren

socks; Italian wool from Dillard's

shoes; thrift

Why I was late to class yesterday

& usually why I am constantly late for class.

Summer mornings always have the best lighting. So right as I am walking out and feeling like dynamite I set up the camera and take some pretty quick shots. I mean, most people do that right? It helps me make sure that I like what I am wearing and later I use it for the blog. Does it make me late sometimes? Sure, but yesterday I had an actual excuse. The wolf dog kept intruding. 

But seriously. You can't be mad at a puppy. He's my current roommate's wolf-hybrid named Oberon. How fitting. His name stands for King of the Fairies. However, to me he's Obi-won. 

I guess the lesson here is time my mornings out better and don't let the wolf leave the pack.

I hope everyone's having a great week. I have such a busy one a head of me. But I plan on getting so much done! Wish me luck. 

Prada A/W Campaign Video

Untitled from LOVE on Vimeo.

Romantic, trendy, but always lovely, Prada delivers yet again. The last model, at around 0:46, Kelly Mittendorf is an Arizonie! Landing Prada's a huge deal, congrats to her. Hopefully we can see more fashionable people come out of Arizona because frankly, Arizona's NOT a place for fashion. My plan since high school has been to defy that.

No matter how hard we try, fashion will always go back to the basics

Beige Polo, Thrifted

Black Shorts, Ralph Lauren, Thrifted 

Back to Black

The summer's ending very soon. People are counting down the days to when they are going to be back in Tucson already. I can't believe how fast it all went. It definitely had it's ups and downs. This past week has been a pretty slow posting week for me because it's been so full of stress. I've unfortunately been having issues left and right and have had to make some really hard choices, but hopefully with this season coming to an end, my stress level will too. 

I took this look back when I was in Philly. I woke up that day at such a speedy rate that my mind just defaulted to wearing a nearly all black ensemble. Nothing wrong with that... Except for maybe that it was freaking hot! But it's nothing that a Starbuck's BTL can cure. After looking like a candy store this past season, I think my wardrobes ready to settle down a bit into the crisp and dreary colors of fall and winter. But first we have back to school. Argyle anyone? 

Anyway, I hope everyone's doing well! More outfits here in the future. 

Ps. what do you think of my extra-touristy pic with Oldenberg's giant Clothespin? Personally, it's one of my favorite works of pop art. So interesting and obvious. 

Sonoran Surprise

to ->

So this is how I got to New York. 

Ever flown stand-by? Well, basically it's a ticket for an airplane where if there is room on the aircraft, you get on. My original plan was to take the red eye flight from Phoenix to Philadelphia but come nightfall (after a long day in class and at work and driving from Tucson to Phoenix), I check the flight one last time and there is only one seat left! So what's the next best option? Well seeing that I currently had some friends in New York, I decided to switch up the listing and just go to New York City. I had nothing to lose, but I was able to gain a morning and afternoon in the city! What a change from the desert to the tall concrete jungle that is New York. 

Sadly though, after a posh morning walking around SoHo and the lower part of Manhattan I had to board a bus and eventually got to Philadelphia where I am now. Although it's no New York, I'm still having a great time here with my fraternity and getting to meet a bunch of my brothers from all over the country. Plus, Philadelphia has some pretty chic flavors to it. 

I'll be back in the city on Sunday night, Monday, and then flying back Tuesday. I'm glad that I'm beginning to figure out the system there though. Just got to hop on the J-train and head to JFK airport and be good to go. I'm already feeling like a local! 

<3 Jo du Jour

Sucked out of the desert to the streets of New York City

So these past 24 hours have really taken a huge turn. Guess where I am? NEW YORK CITY BABY! :D Currently, I'm uploading this from a Starbucks somewhere in Chinatown and just sitting here, waiting to build up the courage to go get a cab haha. 

More in-depth story of how this all happened later. Stay put! Sorry for such a blurry picture of some muggy street in New York. Will get more soon! :)

Fashion Homework

Late last night when my roommate and I began talking about fashion and I came to the realization that fall 2011 lines are really close or if not already on the market. We have back to school in only a matter of weeks and then it's pretty much full blown Fall/ Winter time (in the fashion world, not in Arizona). Regardless, I've been so obsessed with what went down the runways this Spring and Summer, I haven't really put much thought into what I'm going to do this fall. I mean, where is my game plan? What is the one item from these lines that I am going to get? What is the one item from these lines that I will dream about, drool over, but most likely will never get? So many tough fashion questions... I have my homework ahead of me. 

But for now, here's the behind the scenes of Prada's Menswear campaign featuring Toby Maguire. Came across it on men.style.com when I decided that now (1:03 a.m. in the morning) would be a good time to take on all these questions. Maybe I'll just let some Paris couture shows lullaby me too sleep. I hope that everyone has an amazing Wednesday. I have an extremely long day ahead of me. Wish me luck!

Look at the Stars

My summer's literally just about over. How sad :( Yesterday was my first day of my summer class and honestly, I know I'm not a science guy, but I would have never thought that Astronomy would have been such a tough subject. Our galaxy is freaking complicated. Not to mention that the class itself is about 4 hours and 30 minutes long, 4 days a week! It has a 5 week duration in which each class is about a weeks worth of work, but I already plan on missing 3 days this weekend. Basically all these numbers sum up to me dying, so wish me luck!

I picked this rockin' ensemble as something kind of different for me. I've never worn so many buttons/ two collard shirts. I think it worked really nicely though. It just gave the whole look some depth and a different spin. Plus, I think I gave off a good first impression, except for maybe when I told the class that the sun rises over the Pacific in Panama City... I swear that it does! It's the way it's positioned! Look at a map...

This weekend however will be great! It's finally time to venture off to Philadelphia with my fraternity! So excited to go to, in my opinion, a very underrated city. I had fun the last time I was there, so hopefully it's not all business because I'd really like to play. But, if not, I'm driving up to New York City for a short second to enjoy myself, and I'm so thrilled! Even if it is a short 2 nights and a day there. It's so hard to pick what I want to do. There is so much. I feel like Carrie Bradshaw who would always have this problem. Oh New York ;)

Henley from Urban Outfitters

White button-up from Old Navy

Black button-up from Diesel 

Jeans from Levi's

Shoes Alfani Italian leather 

Proenza Schouler D.I.Y. Bracelet

I finally did this project. After seeing so many D.I.Y. tutorials on this awesome idea for a bracelet, today I decided to go to home depot and just buy everything that I needed. This was actually very easy once I got the hang of it. Took me about two times to get it just right. So I cranked up the Animal Collective radio station on my Pandora, sat down and followed this video's instructions: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrVhj54WP8w]. I just love how much that the contrasting colors make this simple bracelet stick out. Plus, now I have a pretty sweet replica of the very expensive and very much in demand Proenza Schouler bracelets. I feel pretty accomplished :D

I have one more D.I.Y. bracelet idea that I stumbled upon, but boy has that one been really hard. Hopefully I'll get the hang of braiding twine soon! Wish me luck.

Happy 4th of July everyone!

<3 Jo du Jour

Keith HarIndependence

I am completely obsessing over these prints right now. Keith Haring's playful and optimistic cartoons are exactly what always needed to be on a swimsuit in my opinion. I just ran into these online after a friend of mine recommended Joyrich to me over facebook. These picture's are coming from the store's blog on their website. 

Isn't everything about these images so appropriate for the July 4th weekend? 

I really want that backpack too. Even if it is just a Keith Haring print, it's one step closer to owning a real Haring. My modern art collection does need to start somewhere after all. 

Ambitious

Thinking happens the most when nothing is happening. Thank goodness that the free time I spend staring at the wall (cause there's barely anything else to do) actually results in something forward and ambitious. I have a goal set for the next summer that is going to be hard to reach, but is going to be a rewarding accomplishment. The details to my next summer's journey are still up in the air, and the game plan is still unclear but this goal is manageable! I have my sights set to move for the whole summer out of the country and finding a seasonal job at a magazine hopefully somewhere in Latin America. I have a huge scope and variety to pick from and I know exactly where I am starting...

But now I'm in Arizona and it's gotten to that extremely unfortunate hot time of year. But weather's starting to change here! I left Arizona to the humidity (Panama), came back to the dry (Arizona), and two weeks later I'm in humidity again (Arizona). But this time it's much better because it's not just daily boring humid hot weather, it's monsoon season! Time to sit on the porch and watch the rain, lighting, and hear the thunder. Basically it's the only time I find enjoyment in Arizona's summer weather climate. The rest of the time though, it's just a very unmerciful oven.

And in other news, I found out today that after my convention in Philadelphia, I'm going to get to go to New York for a few days! I'm so excited, it's now been over three years since the first weekend that I went there. I'm going to be so much fun. 

Now, I have to run off to my important business. And by that I mean, should I play playstation, or watch netflix?

Panama Canal

Just knocking off another wonder of the world from my list. These photos are from two weeks ago when I was in Panama, and this day we did the whole touristy thing. The Panama Canal was pretty cool, I've never been much of a sailor (except for Spring 2009) but I really thought that this huge water bridge was just surreal. It's so neat that a boat can just make a short cut right through a piece of the continent. I feel that this is the symbol for Panama as a country just like how France has the Eiffel Tower.

But, not unusual for me, and especially in this country, I stood out quite a bit. In the crowd of all the tourists and workers you could definitely tell the flamer of the bunch. Plus I was complaining about my hair that day about 70% of the time. Actually, so much so that our next destination was the barber shop! Haha! 

In the end, as a traveler I had a great time seeing what thrives the country of Panama, but as Jo I was dying to give those curls some locks again! Thank god the mall was 15 minutes away! :)

<3

Jo du Jour

Brown A-Line

Summer's been all about work and play. Today was honestly probably just another summer day. Wake up, get ready, then off to work for about half the day. Come back and hang out all day, watch movies, discover obsessions (most recently Ugly Betty on Netflix), and online shop your heart out. Sounds like SO MUCH fun though right? Eh, it's not bad - it's just vacation.

Burberry Prorsum SS 2012

Seeing as though I'm not a math wiz, I'm glad to say that I understood this geometric collection. Immediately, the patterns that walk down the runway reminded me of math. And then, the shirt with the applied plastic-looking designs around the neck only further enhanced the volume of the geometric theme. The Santa Fe themed colors like the cranberry on the moccasin/creepers and clothing gave the collection a taste of tribal also, which when done by Burberry, is done right. But the heavy looking sweater, and some of the looks really look like they are meant to be an outfit for the fall.

Although, Burberry is known for it's warmth and weather ready clothing, I just can't grasp how the colors that we saw for the spring shows in 2011 no longer exist in the new spring's vocabulary. Fashion moves quickly, but dang! Time to put away the bright sky blue pants I own. Rewinding back to the winter looking clothing for spring, I think that these clothes were designed to be geared for versatility all year round. Pieces from the show that I want to openly ridicule are the large canvas totes that look Jack Spade-eqsue with a very large stamp on them saying "Burberry." I love the brand, but really, exploding a company's name on a piece of clothing stopped being sexy years ago... Ask Abercrombie and Fitch. I just have a pet peeve where if I'm buying something designer, finding out where it's from is only a men.style.com away. 

Lastly though, I do have to say that I want to buy about 70% of this collection. My favorites are the patterned short-shorts, the showy striped trench, the trench coats with bright neon lining, the moccasin/creeper shoes and the shirts that have the triangles, squares, rectangles around the collar. 

<3 Jo du Jour

DOLCE & GABBANA SS 2012

One of the world's biggest  names, Dolce and Gabbana, has managed to again serve menswear  the timeless sophistication gentlemen want. But the Italian's are always a step ahead in the fashion world, and the trends that come from Milan take over not just in the boot-looking country, but internationally. The fishnet look with the ribbed fabrics was a definite focal point for head designers Stefano Gabbana and Domenico Dolce. Dolce and Gabbana's menswear cohesive line brought slate colored clothing back into spring. The rich reddish/ purple color seen throughout the show definitely changes the trend from this year drastically. Apparently color blocking is so 2011. And, while we're talking about something new, probably there most avant-garde look(s) had to have been those jumpsuits. I couldn't tell if they were going for mechanic meets menswear or inspired by Dickies, but even so, I wouldn't be opposed to trying it on. Us fashionista/os have those days when we're feeling extra confident and decide to wear something a little out there. But I can tell you the absolute hit of this show, for me, aside from the fish nets had to have been the sunglasses. Oversized wayfarer pointy lenses of perfection in several different colors. By the time they are released, it will probably be the time of year when new expensive sunglasses are in order. As of now, these are at the top of my list, sunny-side. Other items that should be taken into account are the saddleback shoes, the oversized tote, the shorts, and if you are like me and plan on re-watching certain parts over again, then quite obviously the men of Dolce and Gabbana. Impeccable casting for the show... It's because gays know how to do it right ;)

<3 Jo du Jour  

¡Adios Tucson, Aló Panama!

FINALLY! I can officially say that I'm Panama bound. In only a couple of hours I will be going back to Phoenix for the night to fly to LAX to connect to Panama City (got all that?). I really could not be more excited to just get somewhere different. 

After a very long week of work and play, this vacation could not have come at a better time. When I come back I will be a shiny bright and happy relaxed person that will be a bit different than before. I find traveling to be some sort of passage. Each time you go somewhere new, you learn so many things, and you see the world just a little bit different. This will be my first time in a Central American country and I could not be any more thrilled! Trust me, I will have 2,000 photos from this trip and hopefully many looks as well. 

This particular day, I was already feeling the vacation mood so I color blocked some pretty cheerful colors together. I think I'm getting good at this. I used the red shoes to kind of throw the look off balanced but still cohesive, especially in terms of the belt. 

 I'm ready for the beach and a margarita now please!

Just A Morning Walk

Anyone else getting warmer by just looking at these photos? You can sooo tell it's summer by the awful contrast within theses pics from my cheap and unfortunate lense. But, I'm so happy that it'll only get hotter from here!

This look was practically a gift from my roommate that graciously donated his Burberry shirt to me because it was just a little too large on him. The craftsmanship behind the shirt is phenomenal and even though it's actually not an exact fit for me, the tailoring alone still makes it work. Now this is how you tell the difference between designer and H&M. 

But, oh god I need to get my game together! A big, well a minor decision was made today. After realizing that I could minor in Journalism, I decided why the heck not. Thinking about all the perks just got me really excited! For instance, I won't be limiting myself from when it comes down to finally deciding on where I want to Study Aboard to just Spanish speaking countries. Plus, I find it overall more relevant towards my future because if I one day want to be in book or magazine publishing as an editor, I need to have some sort of media background. Plus, I'd so much rather be writing news stories over Spanish essays, I mean let's be real... 

So, today was a great day minus the fact that I haven't started packing for my two week trip that I'm leaving for on Friday. Whatever, I still have Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at 4 a.m. in the morning! Whoooo! So excited, paradise this weekend baby! 

<3

Love

Jo du Jour 

I'm as Free as My

Ever worn an outfit that's feeling as bright as you are? This summer I'm finally stepping up the color scheme and beginning to color block like an obscure minimalist painting. I'm beginning to realize that colors have certain connotations, but not so much when juxtaposed with one another. Here I've done two different shades of blue, black, and white. I look like a blue lollipop! 

Fashion is all about fun now that the temperature's up again and the sun's challenging the fashionistas to find a way to stay cool and look cool. So, everyday's a new day to try something new! 

I just hope that this is a step towards Prada Spring/Summer 2011 wannabe attired person. 

This weekend however, I get to finally get the heck out of the United States and go to Panama! It's a family vacation but there's going to be so much to do there for the two weeks I'll be spending. So, as long as I find myself some place with Wifi, you better bet Jo will be coming at you du Jour when in Panama! So excited.... 

<3 Jo du Jour

The Difference Between Fancy and Comfortable Attire

<3 

Jo du Jour

MORE POSTS SOON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SHOPPING SPREE

As always, I find so much inspiration from other bloggers and fashionistas and today I'm going to go on a shopping extraveganza in hopes that I look like everything in Bryan Boy's post from when he went to Marrakech! Time to wear an overwhelming amount of color and get ba-booshy! Wish me luck today!