I'm not going to say much, because it'll ruin the story. But see this girl. She looks somewhat surprised, but not in a "I'm going to kill myself because someone shaved off all of my hair" kinda way. Well. This photo could have been me....but with a VERY different expression on ol' One of 365's face. Seriously---don't ever fuck with my hair.

Dear Ethers, 

OH MY GOD.  I have the CRAZIEST story to tell you.  Right.  So, you know how I’m always going on about my hair and its length.  I mean, by this time you know the diameter of each follicle.  But you also know how much I treasure it.  I swore the only way I would ever cut my hair is if I became destitute and it was the last thing I had to pawn to eat that night. 

So, I had straightened my hair for an event and had been wearing it down because I usually don’t take much care to make a fuss over it (you know, tying it in a messy bun etc…) and wanted to work my “do.”  I’m walking down the street and this woman comes up to me and says, “You have the most beautiful hair.”  Well, of course I was pleased and thanked her very much.  But she went on.  “Is that your natural color?”  I politely responded, “Yes, it’s my own.”  “So you don’t use any dyes at all?” Okay, now not only was I getting annoyed, but I was getting weirded out.  I said, “Look, I’m real busy…” and she cut me off and started telling me that she worked for this charity called “Locks of Love” and they were really desperate for donors because all of the salon owners were paying a fortune to girls and it was the recession. 

Now, I’m not saying I’m the most benevolent person in the world, but I do give to certain charities.  But they are ones that I choose and that I approach.  I make it a policy NEVER to give to charities on streets or on the phone.  I like to do my research on the net and donate via e-mail.  But regardless, where was this woman’s badge?  Who the hell was she?  And I’m sure “Locks of Love” didn’t have a bombard you policy that freaked young women out on the street.  

I calmly told her that I had no intention of cutting my hair and that I would appreciate her leaving me alone as I felt this was very inappropriate.  Now, a normal person would walk away.  Oh no, this lady got PISSED.  “Don’t you care about kids with cancer?  Women who’ve been burned and lost parts of their scalp?”  Did I mention I’m standing on a street where there were cafes and people were staring at us?  I just started walking away—but she followed.  I started to reach for my cell phone and my keys. 

And then I felt a tug. 

My whole body went numb and I swear to god for a second I thought she took out shears and lopped my hair off. 

I spun around and screamed at her to never fucking touch me again and that I was dialing 911.  I’ve never seen a skinny woman with a bob-cut run so fast in my whole life. 

When I got home I called “Locks of Love” and told them my story.  And Ethers, I’m not joking (and you might think I’m a pussy) I was crying.  I think they were afraid I was going to sue for assault charges.  But the truth is I didn’t have the woman’s name and they said they have so many volunteers that even with my description of her, it was hopeless. 

I think “Locks of Love” do a wonderful thing and I do not want to incriminate them for one woman’s insane breakdown.  But I have to tell you that I will never forget that moment.  I did wonder if that woman was really from “Locks of Love” because they told me that dyed hair WAS acceptable though bleached wasn’t.  And if the lady had cut my hair without it being in a braid or ponytail first she would have done it for nothing—they can’t accept it loose.  Oh and FYI, if you ever DO want to donate, your hair needs to be 10” tip-tip minimum (and they do request it to be clean, thank you very much).  

Later that night I took a shower, used my special Kerastase shampoo that I pull out for special occasions and my Redkin conditioner that is for VERY special moments, and lathered up grateful for something to still be attached to my head.  My waves re-appeared, and as my hair dried, up it went into its lazy bun happy to be protected.  I was just so happy to have given my OWN locks some love that night when it all could have been snipped away by some nutter with a bad bowl cut.  Sheesh.  Only in L.A. 

Dedicatedly yours,

—One of 365

I know this is a pretty horrible picture. But when you read my story you'll understand. Almost 12 years later and I feel like I can't wash my hands free of this horrible memory I'm going to share with you. Like Macbeth, it's like a bloody mess that I keep on visualizing that I know logically isn't there, but I keep seeing because of my paranoia. It will also make sense to you why hands were chosen. Oh those hands......

Dear Ethers, 

When I was in High School I took a class called Physiology.  It was my senior year and it was considered a privilege to be chosen for this course.  The class was intimate.  Only 13 students were enrolled and we were warned before signing up that it would be graphic. We would have to do things we weren’t normally used to so we would need parental permission.

Other kids who had taken the class told old wives’ tales of its horrors, but I was really interested in the human body.  I’ve never understood why we had to grow old.  How we were created.  Why we got diseases.  I was hungry for information.

The class was very raw.  We had our blood taken for samples and then shared our vials with the class.  Strands of hair were plucked and sent to labs and given a DNA check.  We urinated in cups for drug tests.  We were  only 17 years old.  I’ll never forget when a guest doctor told me that with my lifestyle I could make it until 90.  It felt like “Gattaca.”  Others were told by this same doctor they might not see 70.  Can you imagine being that age and hearing you have 20 less years than the girl next to you?  Our genetic future was being told and we hadn’t even lost our virginity yet.  

The final act of this slightly macabre class was a visit to the morgue.  I have been terrified of my mortality since I knew what mortality was.  I’ve been afraid of aging since I was a little girl.  I will, Ethers, eventually face this demon and write about it.  Death and aging=my Achilles Heel.  But Christ!  The morgue.  I would be dealing with the inevitable.  

We piled into a yellow school bus and were all very quiet.  When we arrived, they had scrubs waiting for us and face-masks.  The face-mask was to hide the overwhelming stink of formaldehyde.  Before even seeing a body, the stench made me woozy.  The room was lit by yellow lights.  The types you see in a parks—the ones that cast an eerie glow.  There were bottles with specimens in them.  Blackened lungs, an embalmed fetus, a damaged heart.  This I could handle.  This was like a set of a movie.  (I kept saying that to calm me).  But then a silver gurney was wheeled out.  It was odd as it didn’t seem to carry a full body.  A blue sheet covering a very small area was sitting in front of us.  Was it a child? 

And then they removed the cloth and all that remained was a breastbone, arms and hands of a woman.  She was as yellow as the lights and I remember her fingernails were perfectly manicured and she had long, elegant hands.  

We all wore latex gloves and were encouraged to touch “it” and study the forever frozen pose.  They didn’t consider “it” as a “her” anymore. But those hands. She was so human to ME. I couldn’t touch her.  I couldn’t fathom that she was once whole.  I asked the man who she was.  He said she was a homeless woman that was never claimed and therefore donated to science.  Can you imagine?  No one wanting you in this world and then being cut apart and being groped as an experiment? 

My classmates were extremely involved with the remains, but I couldn’t bear it.  The lights, the smell, her fingernails.  I had to leave the building.  When I walked outside and it was sunny with trees humming in the wind and an airplane passing in the sky, I couldn’t believe that there was a body in there who was once able to see what I was looking at.   That one day, I too, would be like her.  The sun felt awfully vibrant.  Such a juxtaposition from the deep yellow of the morgue.  When I went back in she was gone, but I noticed a refrigerated room.  The door swung open and I saw the stainless steel shelves stacked on top of one another.  Hotels with toe-tags as their room-keys.  

I think I was the only one who was really devastated by that corpse.  I kept seeing her damned hands.  When I wrote my report on the experience, I said that death was far uglier than I had thought.  The year ended and we finished the course.  I don’t remember much else besides what I told you about the class.  But that visit to the morgue.  I wonder if I was too young?  Because it left such a imprint on my brain that a decade later I still shiver when I think about it.  While I’m writing this, I see her arms on that metal gurney with those glassy nails—I will never get that image out of my mind.  

Death is hideous.  And some would say “Sometimes you’ve got to learn the hard way.”  But I don’t think I was ready.  I think it just solidified my fear.  I never thought I’d live to be almost 30 when I was 17.  Yet here I am.  And one day I’ll be on my death bed and I swear to you, I’ll wonder how this happened to me.  But, alas, the Grim Reaper has a date for me.  He certainly had a date for that woman on that metal slab. 

My god.  Those hands.  So yellow.  And so am I–especially about death. 

Dedicatedly yours,

—One of 365

Dear Ethers,

As you all know, I’m a lover of all things vintage.  I treasure finding a one-off piece that no one has and that was worn by someone before I was even born.  And I love the feeling when your heart starts to race when you see a designer label in a great style, in your size, that is actually affordable.  That’s the ultimate triumph in vintage shopping.  The best I’ve ever done is a YSL Rive Gauche black velvet jacket–but it looks almost like  a cape that an aunt gave me when I was only about 12. It sat rotting in my closet for about 10 years and when I was going through stuff after coming home from college, I discovered this masterpiece!  Really heart stopping.  Unfortunately, vintage shops, due to eBay and other outlets know brands—so it is rare to find a deal any more.  But when you do discover a gem……..heaven.  One lady who can appreciate this is Sharon Rose.  Check out her website and drool over her fashion designer finds! 

I decided to pay homage to the king of vintage, Maestro Halston.  I mean, could Studio 54 have BEEN without his amazing dresses and slinky fabrics hugging the girls dancing and probably snorting coke in the bathrooms?  I can just see the tall blondes sashaying into the disco’s in his designs, heavy make-up, red lips, and just looking like goddesses.  To me, Halston WAS the 70’s and if you are lucky enough to find a vintage piece, be prepared to pay an arm and a leg.  

He has a lovely collection out today but what’s great is it still pays homage to his time in his heyday.  The column dresses with the layers, the one-shoulder Roman-goddess gowns, the well-cut shirt dress.  Everything of his is a modern version of what he’s always done.  I love when fashion houses stay true to their roots.  You can still, today, see a Halston from a million miles away, even if it’s from a 201o collection.  

I went with a really classic Halston evening gown in a lovely color–a canary yellow.  I love the tiers.  I just think this is so now, but yet so 70’s.  How can it be?  But it is elegant, classic and just so fantastically retro.  It looks like it would elongate and be light as a feather.  Perfection.  To jazz things up a bit, I went with a really electric blue color to compliment the yellow.  It just felt right.  It felt punk 2009 meets LSD 1970’s.  

I hope you like this Wish List as much as I do.  I didn’t want to add a necklace for this dress.  I see this with hair slicked back in a low bun or a very high ponytail and just showing off those collarbones.  The only bit of bauble is a bad-ass rocker cuff that I thought was really rocker-chick fun.  You know those 54 girls–they liked their dancing, booze and their Jagger.

FYI: Mr. Roy “Halston” Frowisck (who sadly died in 1990) was specifically known for his dresses being worn to discotheques. Born in Iowa, he began his career as a window dresser.  He worked mainly with hats and his big break was when the Chicago Daily News ran a brief story on his fab hats.  In 1957 he opened his own shop (seems very Coco Chanel, eh?) and then moved to NYC working for famous milliner Lilly Dache.  He then was let loose to become head milliner of Bergdorf’s and his big claim to fame was designing the famous pillbox hat for Ms. Jackie Kennedy that she wore to her husband’s presidential inauguration.  He became part of a hip crowd of jet setters and  Bianca Jagger, Liza Minnelli, Anjelica Huston, Lauren Bacall, Babe Paley, and Elizabeth Taylor all wore his goodies. His perfume (bottle designed by Elsa Peretti) became the second biggest perfume of all time.  A great man with an interesting life, he died of AIDS in 1990.  But his name lives on and I am pleased to show you that his lovely clothes still, 3o years later, have remained in the limelight.

Dedicatedly yours,

—One of 365

This stunning, canary yellow, strapless silk-gown epitomizes the Halston of today and yesterday. People might ask you where you got that AMAZING vintage piece, but they also might ask where that couture dress came from. It is timeless. I love the color. I think on light skin it will look ethereal and on dark skin, it will bring out your color beautifully. The dress is simple. It is meant to act as a column--like Greek goddess gown. You are meant to make an entrance, be handed a glass of champagne, put it down and then dance. I think this is jaw-dropping and elegant. The back has a slight cut out, which is very sexy, but is layered with tiers so nothing too revealing. I think this dress would be bland and boring in black or white. Yellow is the perfect match. Strapless Silk Gown, $3,814, halston.com

I love colors and how designers are embracing pops of palettes in their designs. No more matchy-matchy anymore. I think the yellow and the blue make a stunning combination. I like the texture of the snake-skin. It modernizes the outfit and brings the whimsy from the light silk and layering to a more rock-star badass 54 girl making her entrance. With a 4.5" heel, the column dress is going to make you look sky-high which will look amazing and you'll feel like one of Warhol's muses entering The Factory! I think these are all rock n' roll and are a really fun surprise because they aren't expected with the outfit. Penn Snakeskin Sandals, $995, halston.com

I love this bag because it's slouchy, and suede. It looks the part of being 70's and is a total clutch with a removal strap so you can make it casual or dressy. Again, ties in with the shoes and the bright colors of the yellow and the bright blue. Totally unexpected which is what you want with a statement outfit. And hey, the 70's was all about experimenting, right? It's also roomy, so you can stash anything you need in here. Not just a lipstick and a cell phone. The strap will be useful if you start dancing. Just wrap it around your wrist and you are set to boogie! Henry Small Suede Clutch, $1,395, halston.com

All rock and roll babes have cuffs with metal right? Well, yours just happens to be a HALSTON dahhhling! I like this because it's your first introduction to the pop of color blue and it also shows those who see you that your not just some lovely yellow flower walking into the room, but a chic killer in your 70's homage to the king of disco. I think it will lengthen the arm and go nicely with the bag. And if your shoes peep out, it will all tie nicely together. Hey, and if a guy you don't like tries to hit on you, it works handily as a gauntlet!! Stud Embellished Cuff, $995, halston.com

Halston have always been famous for their fragrances. The packaging for 2009 has been revamped by the famous Elsa Peretti (known for her beautiful Tiffany's jewels). To quote the designer of the fragrance, Carlos Benaïm, he says the fragrance is a "floriental woody, and has top notes of Sicilian bergamot, marigold and black currant; a heart of precious roses, orris, jasmine petals, rose absolute and rose essence, and a drydown of patchouli, sandalwood and deep amber." So, grab yourself a bottle, even just to have sitting on your bureau. Stunning!

PS: If you dig my Wish List’s then just click over to your right and hit the side-bar under “Wish Lists.”  You’ll find everything from Net-a-Porter to Sonia Rykiel (great timing too because she just announced her collaboration with H&M).  It’s always such fun!  And if you really LOVE fashion, check out Fashion Fridays on the sidebar too.  It’s a bit bonkers, but a really fun weekly staple from my wardrobe that I make a story up about the look and show the clothes and allow you to visualize the whole sha-bang from the picture I’ve painted.  Again, lot’s of fun for you fashion lovers.

xoxoxo

WTF is right? And it is perfect that this is in a pill sorter because all weekend long this website has given me a major headache. Not being able to post on Saturday because I couldn't access the back-end and NOW having to write an apology post because my earlier entry that I wrote tonight has gone into the ether.....poof! It is not recoverable. That is a serious WTF? Those 3 simple words have probably been muttered more tonight between me, my Host and soon the gents at Wordpress when they hopefully call me on Monday. So, thanks for staying loyal and giving a great big WTF shout out to me and supporting One of 365. Let's hope tomorrow doesn't get wiped away. It's the Wish List, and damn it's good! xoxoxox

Dear Ethers,

I’m rapidly typing this to you at 11:16pm on Sunday night so that at least I can salvage some of my weekend website woes.  Many of you noticed that in this empty slot was an entry about my night out with a new friend and Hollywood.  Well, it’s GONE.  MY Host, who claims to back everything up for 2 months, cannot find it and it is one of the very few that I wrote directly into Wordpress (I usually write into Word first…) so I have no other copy.  

AND Saturday my Host was down and I couldn’t get in at all to write.  Sunday I write my post only to check in later that evening (at god knows when o’clock) my page is gone!  I hope this makes it out to you all.  I hope it doesn’t secretly get kidnapped in the night.  No, but seriously, I am really annoyed.  I think enough of you might have read the post anyway, but it is a shame that there is a gap in my archive. 

Well, this is what I can call my opus for the weekend of the 25th, 2009.  Hey, there are gonna be accidents on the road in this sphere, I just didn’t think they were going to total my blog!  

OK.  ”Wish List” tomorrow.  Let’s hope the Host is well-oiled and back to normal!

Dedicatedly yours, 

—One of 365

Dear Ethers,

I always feel a tremendous triumph when I write this post, for yet another week (well, work-week) has past.  Though I freelance and often work weekends, I’m glad that my vacuous little post gives a little whimsy to the nice days off ahead.  If you view my blog at work, you don’t have to think too hard.  You just scroll down the page, look at some bonkers outfit out of my closet, go “meh” and then move on with your day.  I love doing it because I have this crazy wardrobe full of clothes and it’s going to be fun and look back at all of my Friday posts and see the different get-ups I got-up to throughout the year.

It has been broiling in Los Angeles.  Even in this desert climate where I’m used to it cooling down in the evenings, there is no justice at night.  My fan is my only salvation and I try and wear as light a fabric as possible to sleep in so I don’t sweat to death (I told you, I refuse to sleep in the nude because it’s earthquake territory here and that’s all I need–a 7.5 on the Richter Scale–Armageddon and me naked scurrying for my life).  I bought the dress this week for 15 smackaroos at a blowout sale.  It is made of really lightweight, stretchy fabric and sits on the body well.  It can be worn as a halter, but I like wearing it with the beads around the neck, so strapless it is!  I think the amber neckless makes it more exotic and tribal.  AND I get to wear one of my nifty strapless bras I got from the Gap that I raved about (READ: BRA STORY–it’s a hoot with a nutty picture to boot!).  I finally took a photo of the thing that holds my girls….love it!  And my loveliest citrus Ferragamo’s that I had shipped over from Italy this August.  The LAST pair in all of Europe in my size.  I had a hook up from my mag days at old Salvatore and she got me a deal on these beauties–still expensive—but I own these in black leather and they are just perfection.  They’ll never go out of style and they are so comfortable.  They discontinued the kitten heel in England and the United States—which is what I LOVED about them.  You can only buy the kitten in Italy and some parts of Europe.  I cherish them.

Right, so I wore this to an event that was for a very colorful jewelery launch last night.  It was Africa hot inside and out.  I thought, hey, Africa hot, why not conjure Africa?  I thought this looked a bit African–sorta (look, go with me on this, okay?).  I wanted to be colorful and bright and lightweight.  And I wore my hair down which you just might be able to glance in the picture.  I rarely do that and I so wanted to take a clip and put it up, but the dress looked good with it down, so down it stayed.  So, no big story here.  A cheap dress, damned expensive heels, a bargain bra and a hand-me-down necklace.  Pretty simple and I think pretty chic.  Have a wonderful rest of your work-day and I’ll chat with you on Saturday.  Oh.  I’m covering an event that the devil itself created tomorrow night that might keep me up until 5-6am so I might post late.  Forgive me.  Actually, I should say, LORD forgive ME for this assignment.  Hey, at least I’m earnin’ the bucks.  I’ll try and tell you as much as I can…..Tweeting usually gives me a bit more freedom.

Dedicatedly yours,

—One of 365

I don't love how this picture looks. It doesn't really look so polished. But, this was taken at 3am by English gent who had been up 24 hours working on a report and had a wonky eye. Yes, I should have smoothed out the dress and pulled up the bust a bit, but hey, guys, sometimes, I'm exhausted, okay! Also, my arms look terrible and they aren't, so no judgement! With my excuses made (and they seem to be made a lot lately...boy, I'm going downhill) I just like the pattern, the colors, the tribal feel. I like how easy this is just to throw on. Just slip on the shoes, put the necklace over your head and fling the dress on. EASY!

C'mon, for $15 you can't really complain. It elongates and it has a built in elastic belt that makes your hips look small and allows the top of the dress to blossom. Worn either as a halter or strapless, take this on holiday as it won't wrinkle. Wear it over a bathing suit, because the material will dry ASAP. It's just a great Summer dress. Wear with hair down and a necklace or hair up with big hoop earrings. Tribal dress, $15, Veronica M, Los Angeles

If I was going halter-style maybe I could have gone bra-less. But no, strapless=bra! No sagging boobs for me thank you very much! And see it in its glory. The bra I spoke of. The Gap 32C. It's lovely lilac and lace. Comfy yet supportive. A bargain. I can't remember what I said I paid for it. Was it, like, $15? Strapless Bra, The Gap, Around $15

English gent's mom was always bringing me back lovely things from the Middle East. This was just another fab gift. Simple. A strand of luminous amber beads that sits perfectly around the neck. You know how some amber is foggy or matte. No, this is clear and speckled. It is stunning. I love that with the dress this almost replaces the look of the halter neck. I think it really makes the neckline. Amber necklace, English gents Mom, Priceless!

I could write a whole dissertation on these. The comfort. The style. The classic beauty. These are PERFECTION. I own these in a matte black leather. I wear them everywhere. Well, I was in contact with a gal PR of mine from Maestro Ferragamo and she told me when the sale was going to hit. She sent me a color book and told me to act fast. My shoe size (7 US, 5 UK) is VERY popular and on sale, these would go quick. I wanted the yellow so badly. And sitting, the very last pair in my size in Europe, in their smallest shop in Genoa, were these. And even on sale, they were a bloody fortune. I love that I might be one of the only people in the States who owns these. They were limited edition in Italy and for that season only. You'd think the color wouldn't go with anything, but it goes with EVERYTHING. And the kitten heel gives you just that extra oomph of height. I ADORE these. Karla Pumps, 330 Euros, Ferragamo, Genoa