ruby wednesday

Hyperindustrial city livin' sure has made me a fan of garden motifs. Not because the Bellagio observatory renewed in me the sense of botanical wonder that slowly faded as I inched farther and farther from my New England homebase, but because in principle one always wants what they can't have. And I can't have plants. Okay, the occasional cactus and evening primrose on the rare chance that I'm driving through the desert. But besides that it's just artificially planted palm trees and potted shrub shit lining hotel walkways. So I compensate with flower-shaped Valentino purses, bejeweled Lanvin necklaces and vintage brooches in shades of jade and ruby. Paired with Ralph Lauren Rugby plaid, a floral halter and Armani blazer, I appear on the carefully pruned terrace a scholar of botany... vesting faith in the existence of chloroplasts and vascular stem tissues. Just philosophical axioms to me, a stranger to nature in this barren parking garage we call an entertainment capital. 

Kidding -- put everything I said except "Valentino," "Lanvin," "Armani" and "Ralph Lauren" under erasure. GOTTA GO.



Lanvin necklace, Plein Sud halter top, Armani blazer, Ralph Lauren skirt and heels, Valentino bag

Sous rature, 

Bebe Zeva

sequestrian

I was never on any sports leagues growing up and usually sat out of group activities in gym class, preferring to take a zero than one for the team. But for that I consider myself an athlete. See, I'm an olympian loner. I train all year for tournaments that no one knows exist because they don't. And I always come in first place. Isolation, solitude, withdrawal, social indifference... they're not games so much as they are tests of strength. They measure all the same qualities a traditional sport would: willpower, determination, passion, and for all intents and purposes cooperation - because who's to say the Self is one agent and not many working for and against each other at the same time? I don't need teammates to prove that I can make compromises or set up a winning play. For that I have states of mind; sovereign and nebulous, simultaneous and independent. In most cases I don't even play for the same team during the same competition... I play for both, all three, every and none at all. No hoops or hurdles necessary, no bridles, no bats, no balls. Only a court -- the one I inevitably take with me, that inevitably takes me with it. I don't really have a choice when it comes to participation. My only goal is to come out a champion -- by not ever coming out at all.



Forever 21 hat, Etro scarf, Sugarlips blouse, equestrian riding pants, Gucci pumps, Lanvin purse

Everything is infinite,

Bebe Zeva

snow leopard

I haven't been to the club since the last time I went to the club. Which was... 6 months ago? When you live in Vegas, avoiding clubs and lounges is a major feat. They seduce you. They enrapture you like Odysseyian sirens, except instead of singing gorgeous melodies they DJ infectious EDM and trap beats. It's as hard to resist as taking your heels off en route to valet after several hours of traipsing through a casino with a giant guitar shaped margarita container slung over your shoulder. But somehow, I manage. I sate my temptation by simply wearing an outfit I could wear to the club... but won't... because I am a responsible adult whose partying era ended before I was even legal to drink. 

The Bardot "Snow Leopard" bodycon is a heavenly fit for an evening out. I mean, it literally fits like an article of heaven. And it's fitting for a swanky situation. It just fits, okay? Check out the rest of this Australian line's collection. 



Bardot Snow Leopard dress, Lanvin necklace, Bebe clutch, Daily Look heels

Everything is infinite,

Bebe

LONG LIVE McQUEEN

I'd be lying if I said I looked crazy EVERY day... sometimes I mellow out and, to my mother's satisfaction, wear a classic ensemble that marries some of my favorite designer pieces, like this Alexander McQueen belt and Vertigo Paris blazer. This outfit is, without fail, a variation of the look I always go for when I'm in a rush and on my way to an important venue. Dress to impress. Dress like you're not easily impressed. Dress like you expect the world to impress, because you're already most impressive and it's you who sets the standard.



FROM TOP TO BOTTOM:
Hat - Zara
Necklace - Lanvin
Blazer - Vertigo Paris
Dress - Bebe
Belt - Alexander McQueen
Clutch - Miu Miu
Heels - Vera Wang

Really loving the silhouette of a padded blazer with the waist cinched by a tight belt. Reminds me that the other day my mom told me to throw a belt around the middle of a baggy Ed Hardy bomber jacket I was wearing. The silhouette came out pretty wonky because, hello, it's a baggy bomber jacket, not a tailored blazer. But I still appreciated the suggestion. Sometimes my mom really gets it right in the avant garde department. 

Everything is infinite

Bebe Zeva

BON VOYAGE

Since I live in Vegas, I'm not much of a world traveler. I can ride a bus down The Strip and essentially sight-see the wonders of Paris, Italy, Rome, New York City, Hollywood, Camelot, and Egypt. Why spend thousands of dollars on airfare when I can stand on my balcony, champagne flute in hand, admiring a cosmopolitan vision in one panoramic gander? I know there's a million and one arguments you could make in favor of actually immersing myself in the real cultures of the world, but for now... there's a Lanvin charm necklace to keep my wanderlust satiated. ^-^

FROM TOP TO BOTTOM:

Hat - Frank Olive

Sunglasses - Cobrashop

Charm necklace - Lanvin

Scarf - Chanel

Coat - Chanel (Cruise 2012 Collection)

Heels - Vera Wang

This look might represent a peak in my sartorial classicism. Rarely do I don Chanel on Chanel without feeling a bit cheesy. But a loose trench and scarf to match offered just the right amount of practicality to a sophisticate luxe ensemble on a Fall day. My mom, sister, and I found the coat (multiple, actually) at the Bellagio Chanel store this summer. We all tried it on, and even took photos in pairs of us holding pillows from the lounge area as clutch purses. Twas a real hoot for the sales associates. Happy to finally enjoy some coat-appropriate weather in the desert, as this piece was BEGGING for debut. It speaks to me sometimes from the hanger on which it exclusively rests, like a prized art collectible - which essentially it is. Designer pieces will last a lifetime. As for my other elements, I tied the attached veil that usually sweeps the floor around the center of my hat a couple times to save me from an out-of-place goth accessory. No need for a random, thematic flourish; subtle gold details and circle sunnies will do the trick time and time again.

Everything is infinite,

Bebe Zeva