CinJ party

for my CinJ (Christmas in July, see previous posting) parties (aka weddings but I'm just going to pretend that all weddings that I attend this summer are really holiday parties, in which case I will make sure to carry around a mistletoe which is actually a really fabulous idea because everyone knows there are many quality, eligible single men at weddings, ESPECIALLY in Buffalo) I will be wearing this:


(even though i live in the world of pretend, i really will be wearing this tonight.)

but i kinda want this one too:


i think i'll save this one for the other holdiay party next month. or a trip to wegman's. because when you pick up something and say, "but where would i wear this?," my answer is always wegman's. people do NOT dress to impress for this shopping trip but they should. why is it any different for getting dressed up to go to the mall? or the bank? or Rodeo Drive? it's the same thing. you're no more invisible to the human eye at wegman's than you are anywhere else, so i beg of you, why the PJs in public? plus, i hear that many romances blossom at the grocery store. if you're already dressed for bed, you're going to give off the "easy" vibe to Mr. Right. i'm just sayin.

p.s. yeah, you've seen these dresses before. but you just needed to be reminded of their awesomeness. or i may have started this blog post two weeks ago and forgot to publish it.

Happy Holidays!

just sitting here, making my Christmas in July (CinJ) wish list which I'm sure you're all doing as well. I thought it was an awesome idea to publish it publically to make it easier on those who need to buy me a gift for this holiday.

CinJ comes but once a year and for those of you who don't know too much about the rules and traditions, I'm about to fill you in. I'm actually making up my own traditions. like right now. I've never technically celebrated CinJ before, but I feel like I need to be loved lately and what better way to do so than to accept gifts?

FIRST of all, don't bother googling CinJ because you'll come across pages that involve that a-hole up at the NPole and no one cares to see him until December because regardless of what you've heard, he's not flying his fat a*% around in a sleigh in 90 degree heat. if you think about it, how would he even air condition that thing? he doesn't because it doesn't happen.

anyhow, try to erase any visions that you have of crimson or clover or any other obvious holiday color because even though they're compliments of each other on the wheel of color, they kinda look uncomfortable together and should only be combined if you're an international flag. or anything Gucci. also, the cocktail of choice is vodka lemonade. yes, it's an obvious summertime drink but you'd be surprised how many bars do not provide lemonade as a mixer. like real lemonade, not that sour mix stuff someone tried to make my vodka lemonade with once. or maybe twice. I can't remember because as I've mentioned, I've never technically celebrated CinJ and I do NOT drink vodka lemonades on a regular basis.

speaking of Gucci, here's my list!:

1. Vintage Gucci!

yes, for realz vintage Gucci sunglasses. now I think this is an amazing CinJ gift. it's thoughtful for a few reasons. first of all, the concern for the shielding of the eyes from the hot ball of gassy happiness in the sky. second, they're VINTAGE so it looks like someone took time to rummage through Ester's estate sale, even though no rummaging was involved for these beauties. and third of all, I love them so it would be thoughful to buy them for me.

2.Vintage Dior!


hmmm. don't make me choose. I mean GUCCI vs. DIOR! what's a girl to do? that's like holding up a picture of John Stamos circa Uncle Jessie and a picture of David Bowie circa Labryrinth to me when I was 7 and making me choose who I would continue to have a crush on into my twenties (fine, thirties). I COULDN'T TELL YOU THAT THEN AND I REFUSE TO CHOOSE NOW! this one's being left up to my gift-giver. (p.s. I really love them both. oh, and two pairs of glasses never hurt anyone.)

3. an amazing handbag made from recycled leather parts that is almost like a circus pony because it actually does tricks:


isn't it magical? it can't decide if it wants to be fat or skinny. it's like a really great dress that looks amazing when it's all free and flowy in the wind, but then you cinch it at the waist with the emergency belt you keep in your handbag and it gives the dress a whole new look. this is the bag version of that dress.

4. I need these

sequins are year round embellishments and in the summer, what better way to include them than as a cutie little clutch that could also double as a makeup bag for the interior of the aforementioned bag. I could be so day-to-night! I'll show up at the office with my amazing magician handbag (#3 on my list) and then when Bri and I go heckle bar rats at night, I"ll amaze them by whipping out my sparkly number. they won't even know what hit them.

5. you're welcome

right now you're thinking two things. one being, "did Nikki take that picture? because it's eerily good." the second is, "thank you for adding such an affordable item to you CinJ list. even though I'm just the lady that sells you your cigarettes, I think you're wonderful and I wanted to get you something for this popular holiday." oh, and to clear the air, no, I did not take the picture of the amazing double-finger bird ring. Beth from Hero at 93 Allen did. she's amazing, you should know her. and I guess her husband Mark is pretty okay, too.

so again, you're welcome. I feel like I'm being ever so kind to my gift-givers because there's actually purpose behind all these possessions. AND because now the eternal questions of "what am I going to get so-and-so for CinJ?" is very simply answered here. enjoy the pre-holiday weekend!

the rain is not falling in Spain today

just another normal day here. i woke up, listened to Spanish guitar, took one of the mannequins for a walk down Allen Street. i was in NYC once and i saw someone doing this so i figured i'd bring a taste of the City to Buffalo. hopefully someone saw this and appreciated it just as i would if i saw someone taking a stroll alongside a dress form.

Spanish guitar makes me so happy, mi amigas. it reminds me of the time i didn't go to Barcelona and have a romantical midnight serenade by my 48-hour-5 o'clock shadow lover named Franciso. the music followed me around all morning and distracted me so badly that i forget to put on deodorant. that's how transfixing it is! and now it doesn't help that Spanish guitar is the only music that i decided i listen to until i become re-obsessed with Lady Gaga, which will for sure happen next week before, during, and after the concert in Toronto. more on that later. i'm too busy picking out my outfit for my midnight serenade.

this is me if it was 19th century Spain:


don't you love the dramatic angle that i have fashioned my left elbow? and also the suggestive way that i point my fingers and motion for my lover to approach so we can cut a rug, tango-style?

ok, but we must have a modern outfit for my lovers stroll along the promenade in Spain. and here it is:


girly-sexy, no? but i'm not sure this is going to make Francisco want to undress me. i think this might be more appropriate for my visit to the market where i will impulse purchase a parrot who speaks French, which will be very odd since i am in Spain.


adorable but i think i may save this one for tapas with las muchachas.



um, yes please. this dress may make Francisco want to skip the Spanish music and get right down to el love affair. but i will hold up my fingers as i did when i was in 19th century Spain and explain that patience is a virtue and being a pleasure delayer is what got Penelope Cruz's character hooked in Vanilla Sky just before Cameron Diaz busted up Tom Cruise's perfect life. but i know señor guapo is going to want to grab onto my sexy side chignon, rip the red flower out of my hair and have a passionate moment with me after we spend an hour gazing into each others eyes with Spanish guitar as our soundtrack.

wine/food/shopping/5 o'clock shadows!

you know what i was thinking the other day? i was thinking that i would love to join a group of fabulous women who meet once a month at a chic Buffalo restaurant to celebrate wine and shop local boutiques that have temporarily set up shop for seemingly my own personal pleasure, only to afterwards enjoy a delicious meal prepared by a fine chef.

you can probably guess what i was thinking next: i find such a club, i would totally wear this little ensemble:


obviously i'd bring a sexy lil jacket to put over it, since in my fantasy this shindig would be at Harry's Harbour Place Grille, which is right on the water and you never know with the weather in Buffalo. you also never know when you're going to need a belt to tie together an outfit, which is why every woman should carry one around in her giant suitcase of a purse for emergency purposes. let's take a looksie at what the marriage of this dress and a jacket and belt would produce:


wow, if this outfit doesn't scream Tuesday night-Ladies of the Vine-gala at Harry's-on the water-in July i don't know what does.



hmmm, this kind of this does too, so i have just proven myself wrong. well, if i had a friend, let's call her Gladys, that came to this dinner as well, this is what i imagine she would wear.




of course, Gladys needs a little something to put over her shoulders in case the wind picks up. this shrug does the trick, no? stylish and cozy at the same time. AND you can let the one shoulder slip down in a sexy manner when you wear it over your little black dress while having dinner at Fiamma with a hot international male model who has a 48-hour five o'clock shadow, which is NEVER not sexy.

let's have a drink to that, shall we?

from Texas to Memphis to Buffalo

so Janis Joplin pulled up to modern/nostalgia in her Mercedes Benz. she's turning over a new leaf and wants to add some pieces that are a lil more feminine to her wardrobe. at first i was so confused it knocked the breath right out of me...wha was Jan Jops doing in Buffalo? she quickly squashed my confusion upon showing me the amazing print of Elvis - head tilted back in croonsville with his delicious 'do wearing a white sparkly number with a deep v that is NEVER okay on a grown man but hey, I guess it is Elvis so we shall forgive - that she bought at the Art Festival this past weekend. but Jops was also bewildered...puzzled by the name of the store, as is the rest of the world, but pleasantly surprised upon walking in, which has been the case, i pointed her in the direction of a prize outfit that would win her many fashion awards on the red carpet in the afterlife:

http://modernnostalgiabuffalo.blogspot.com/2010/04/nikkis-picks.html

this is so her, no? but she wanted something a little more summertime. like something that isn't a jumpsuit with bellbottoms that was stolen from the museum of jumpsuit hell at Graceland (which is honestly very entertaining and enjoyable. but i bet it's only because we don't have to lust after men wearing that sparkly s%*# in the world known as today. but actually, i'm definitely lying...i've seen adult boys walking around Buffalo with bedazzled shirts. like recently.)

back to Janis. so she looked at me and said, "i want something that would take another little piece of my heart."

and so I came back from my mental trip to Memphis. and this is what happened:



she was like maybe.

and then i added this modernly nostalgic shoulder/handbag and some love beads and she started to cry, baby. (i know the title of the song does not contain a comma. however mama Jops said it was okay so we shall overlook).







me and Bobby McGee give it a thumbs up. and Elvis wants to know when to expect our men's shop.

dress discussion

Grey: "sup"
Blue: "ciao."
Grey: "nice dress."
Blue: "i was just about to say the same to you."
Grey: "look what my dress can do:"



Blue: "look what mine can do:"



Grey: "that has nothing to do with the dress. you just added a necklace. fine, look what mine can do:"



Blue: skeptical look
Grey: "too much?"
Blue: "Coco Chanel called. she's with you on both necklaces. but she says you went overboard with the belt."
Grey: "i don't care what she said. did she leave her number so i can call her back and tell her a thing or two about educating women on how not to literally take baths in no. 5?"
Blue: "where's that fame whore, Gladys, today?"
Grey: "i think she took off. something about a shopping cart and Florida."
Blue: "sounds like fun, um, you. what is your name anyways?"
Grey: "don't you worry about that right now. let's just stand in this window and look pretty, shall we?"

Greek Fest/Art Festival Sale( GreArt Sale)

Gladys (the mannequin) is so fond of her Greek heritage. she was just sharing stories with Bri and me about playing with her 23 cousins named Nick and Alex in the front and back yards amongst ceramic sculptures. every time she looks in the mirror and sees the porcelain skin on her headless body, she is reminded of these fun times. over a plate of baklava, Bri was inspired to do a sale in honor of Gladys' genetic origin. it just so happens that the Greek Fest is this weekend, but the inspiration does indeed come from Gladys, not from the festival. but i can see how you could be confused. i promise though, it's just a big coincidence. but thennnnn....Bri was thinking that since the Greeks are big art lovers, we should just extend the sale until after the Allentown Art Festival. you can see how the two tie together so well. the GreArt Sale is as follows:

*starts Friday, June 4th and ends Sunday, June 13th.
*sale merchandise (clothing and jewelry) is buy one, get one 50% off
*all regular priced merchandise is 10% your entire purchase

Opa!