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

glamour kills days four: bearly human

Depending on your definition, I may or may not be an actual human being... which makes this polyblend muscle tee terribly fitting. In the figurative sense. The way it physically fits isn't terrible at all, it's flattering and designed for desert heat and shows off my toned upper arms (holla new gym membership). But back to my main point: I'm only like 1% homosapien. I say this because all of my behaviors suggest that I am actually a sloth-bat-possum hybrid. Extremely lazy, live in a cave, play dead when intimidated. That kinda thing. So the graphic "bearly human" is suspiciously spot on.

Glamour Kills inspired me to channel my grunge goddess spirit animal (probably a bear) and pair this tee with faded denim and a plaid flannel. Like the good old days. And good new days to come. ^_^ 



Glamour Kills Bearly Human muscle tee, 80s Purple sunglasses, secondhand shorts and boots, Ralph Lauren plaid flannel

Everything is infinite,

Bebe

FOR THE FEATHER

It's been a while since the last time I visited an earthy, borderline bohemian look. Been sticking to black and white since it's clean, practical, and easy to mix and match. Now that I more or less live out of a suitcase, minimalism plays a pretty major role in my decision making process. But this look came from a different place... somewhere careless and peaceful. Channeling the feather print. Channeling the distant spring. 



FROM TOP TO BOTTOM:
Leopard hat - Scoop NYC
Leather jacket - Diesel
Feather print crop top - Starling
Chartreusse harem pants - Yes Style
Boots - Secondhand
Bag - Rebecca Minkoff

Everything is infinite,

Bebe Zeva

SHAKA

In December, I coordinated a full turquoise look for my debut night in LA when I attended PacSun's "Common Threads" event. It was a wild evening -- Snoop Dogg, open bar, photobooth, and a reunion with my friends Bethany, Peter, Olivia, and Adam from Lookbook. I don't even think I slept that night, opting instead for a warehouse party and eventually breakfast (delirious, and at the crack of dawn) at Fred 62. By the next morning, my suede turquoise wedges were hopelessly tarnished by pools of mud and rain through which I had apparently trudged en route from event to cab to party to cab again. So, reluctantly, I resigned those shoes to a box of other wearable keepsakes that symbolize the genesis and finality of phases in my life marked by sartorial signatures. Turquoise did me well in 2012. Initiated many friendships, undermined ones that weren't worth nurturing, and gave the internet yet another reason not to take me seriously... jokes. Not going to retire my penchant for blue in 2013. Gonna take it to other levels.

FROM TOP TO BOTTOM:

Beanie - DIY

Turquoise blouse - 9 CROW STREET

Fur coat - Secondhand

Tropical pants - OASAP

Spiked heels - BOOHOO

Bag - Rebecca Minkoff

I remember the night this cyan cap from the 99 cent store became my staple "SHAKA beanie" instead... I was looking down at its dazzling hue wondering how to make it even more ""branded."" That's when the turquoise puff paint came out. Some of you have asked "why #shaka?" and since I"m exhausted explaining THAT dated cultural prophecy, I'll just forward you to this tweet and leave things there. Mysteriously.

My vintage top is from 9 Crow Street -- still my jam for hand-picked secondhand pieces thrifted in Ireland and for sale worldwide! Ya can check out three collages I made inspired by their stock a few months ago. The floral pants are an absolute MUST (as in, you physically require them) for anyone who dares self-identify as a 'tropicunt' (me, three months ago, but you know... I still #respect). I'm wearing spiked heels from Boohoo instead of my aqua wedges in this look -- and I love them both equally. The spikes and oxford platelet give the ensemble a hard edge with uptown sophistication. It works for an outfit that's otherwise overflowing with motif excess: rhinestone bindis, gold chains, foliage print and faux fur. You can really seriously always expect me to "go there."

Everything is infinite,

Bebe Zeva

STREET AND SOUR

This outfit might be the best representation ever of my winter 2012 look. Loose, black pants or sweats, lace-up boots, gold chains, beanie, and reflective sunglasses. I threw this on hoping I'd channel that urban street style vibe. Feels good to dress in clothes as comfortable as they are hip, especially after days of designer coats and handbags so posh-stentatious passersby assume you're a flaming bourgeois capitalist even though behind the interlocking C's is a very confused 19 year old who doesn't believe in privatization. There's a word for that life: Neiman Marxism. Anyway, so this outfit is more than an outfit for me. It's a breath of freakin' fresh air. That little "LOL" pin on my beanie is a tiny reminder not to take myself seriously every time I catch a glance of it in the reflective surface of my iTouch. Hehe LOL it's already working.



FROM TOP TO BOTTOM:
Beanie - H&M
Sunglasses - 80s Purple
Sleeveless blouse - ROMWE
Belt - Vintage
Pants - YES STYLE
Boots - YES STYLE
Snakeskin messenger - Marc Fisher

A few things: just because it's winter doesn't mean you need to stop hoarding sleeveless blouses. I have millions and it's A-OKAY because thankfully fashion designers make these things called "jackets" that you can layer over garments to keep yourself from freezing. I've experimented with them and can testify that they DO prevent frostbite.  Another thing: these pants. I know I've already introduced you to 'em in my Retro Luxe post, but uh, I don't think I said ENOUGH about how grossly perfect they are. Cottony, baggy, soft. They look great, feel better, and make getting dressed on lazy days infinitely EASIER. I'm almost positive that if everyone in the world bought a pair and wore them daily, we wouldn't have wars because we'd be too happy and comfortable to get mad at each other over God and country. REAL TALK.

OH YEAH, and my Marc Fisher messenger bag. It's bleepin' HUGE!!!! I can fit EVERYTHING in this giant pouch... a composition notebook, all my makeup, wallet, two Monster energy drinks, and my gym shoes. WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN. 

Other cool news: Goodnight Macaroon is offering up to 50% off all stock from now until December 9th! You'll be seeing some of their goodies on FTBH in the near future. Goodies of the futuristic floral variety. ;)
                                                                                                                                               
                               
                           


BUT WAIT I SAVED THE BEST NEWS FOR LAST... I'M COMING TO LA TODAY. In fact I'm hitting the road in a couple hours. My favorite part of the trip is for the sure the skylight in the third stall of the upstairs women's bathroom next to the ice cream parlor at the Barstow Station public rest stop.  HOLLER AT YER GIRL IF U WANT TO EAT HELLA LITTLE CAESAR'S PIZZA WITH ME N MY BUDS :-)))))
And if you see someone wearing full turquoise while walking down the street with a suitcase, it's me. It's always me. 

Everything is infinite,

Bebe Zeva

PEACHY KEEN

Surprise! I haven't worn peach since the last time I wore peach! So I'm doubling up... compensating for its absence. You know. Everything just meshed (but sadly not mesh) so well together: the peachy pink sunglasses, the floral print top, the paperbag culotte shorts, the creamy rockstud bag. It's a look that meets all the requirements of one very extreme end of my style spectrum, that being EXTREMELY uptown. No ripped jeans and platform boots today. Instead, bare legs and iridescent pumps.



FROM TOP TO BOTTOM:
Knit floppy hat - Vintage
Sunglasses - 80s Purple
Blouse - ROMWE
Culotte shorts - YES STYLE
Rockstud bag - Valentino
Pumps - Ralph Lauren

Since peach garments have pretty much monopolized my closet, I'll have to stock up on more Cosmopop lipstick from Lime Crime to match my fall/winter look! Normally I get crazy with the Countessa Fluorescent. It's still my favorite color, but shades of orange are much more inspiring to me these days. Peace n love n peach.

Everything is infinite,

Bebe Zeva

HAPPY GO LUSH

Today's look is actually from summertime, which explains my bare arms, legs, and chipper disposition! I guess I lose a little bit of that lust for life as the days grow shorter and nights nippier. When it's cold and dark, there's fewer opportunities to get out and travel. You gotta attend to the chilly weather with more clothes and schedule your day to get everything done while it's still light out. So there's not as much time to relax, and on top of that, the biting air makes outdoor fun near impossible. I'm sure plenty of people look forward to winter for the holidays and hot beverages, but as I celebrate neither, I'm outta luck! My glory days rest between May and August. Long days, hot breezes, all the time in the world to hit the road... untethered to any obligation at all.

FROM TOP TO BOTTOM:

Glasses - Flea market

Medallion necklace - Oscar De La Renta

Faux fur vest - CHICWISH

Baroque print dress - ROMWE

Wedges - Jeffrey Campbell

I found this baroque-print, retro style dress on Romwe. Elaborate gold patterns have made a huge resurgence all over the blogosphere, and I'm especially happy to see them in the inventory of retailers I frequent most, like Akira, Lulus, and 80s Purple. That vivid, vintage Versace look is what I'm ALL about, no matter how trendy and fast fashion it seems at the moment. It's an aesthetic with a sense of humor. Exaggerated opulence. Sartorial sarcasm. This dress is only a subtle nod to said theme, but let it be known that it is only a teaser to the ornamental gold details I'll be sporting in the coming season. ;)

Everything is infinite,

Bebe Zeva