FASHION: American Apparel vs. A Designer?

Written By Nicole

People who know me know that I work at American Apparel. So when the staff was asked to write about a designer we liked and how they related to AA's style, I knew exactly who to write about, so here's my take on it. Enjoy!

It's a known fact that the fashion industry is filled with plenty of talented and influential designers of all ages and types. And being a girl who loves clothes and the way it portrays a person, it's hard to pick just one designer out of the many I admire. (I've always loved the fun-girly look from Betsey Johnson and Diane Von Furtensburg) However, there's one designer that sticks out in my mind among the rest: Alexander McQueen.

Although McQueen sadly passed in February of this year, right before New York Fashion Week commenced, his legacy, designs, and inspiration lives on.

A lot of my friends ask, how can you like his clothes when they are so bizarre and unwearable? Well, I gues the clothes need the right type of person to wear them who appreciates the skill, time, effort, and creativitiy put into each and every fabric. I unfortunately don't own any Alexander McQueen because I don't have the money -- but when I have saved up enough to buy myself one of his pieces that I can incorporate with every outfit (perhaps his famous skull-scarf), I will wear it proudly. He was an innovative artist and designer who not only made gorgeous garments but also put on spectacular runway shows all over the globe and did creative merges with other companies to reach new audiences (ex: McQueen teamed up with Puma to create the ultimate fashionable sneaker and who could forget his Plato's Aquarius pieces in Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" video?!)

So how does McQueen relate to American Apparel? Multiple reasons.

Whether it is a racey advertisement, a pair of bright purple disco pants, or a new item that hasn't been in stores yet, both American Apparel and Alexander McQueen provide positive shock-value. Both brands get people talking! Where else would you find Armadello shoes or bird-caged hats -- likewise to AA, a chiffon cat shirt or tie dye pantyhose? Yes they may be extreme but these pieces are what make fashion fun! In addition, I like how Dov Charney and McQueen both love what they do and put a lot of hard work into their clothes from the ground up.

FILM REVIEW: Unstoppable

Written by Matt

Unstoppable

I was going to start this review with, “Watching Unstoppable was ...”. Then I remember that as I walked out of the theater I caught myself feeling a little giddy, the comedown effects after experiencing or being part of something exhilarating. Instead of being a viewer I had become an unknowing participant.

It is difficult to review this movie because it was goobad(pronounced gubad). The script written by Mark Bomback was very linear and predictable; it felt as though it was built on the foundations of every runaway train script from the past. Ie: A train hurtles towards a town/city carrying a deadly cargo, if it is not stopped the destruction caused will be unfathomable.

Director Tony Scott used perspective and live action news footage to increase the realism of the movie. This worked well for most of the scenes, but the news chopper felt decidedly forced. Helicopter perspective works great chasing cars and people, actually anything with a random path. Not a train. At one point when Chris Pine’s character Will fell between the trains the footage shot from the chopper looked amateurishly fake.

When I know Denzel Washington is in a movie I know that he is right for whatever role he portrays. I absolutely believed he has been working for the railroad for 28 years. There were times throughout the movie where he was phenomenally good at his job, almost displaying abilities bordering the supernatural, and I believed it.

Chris Pine worked well with the more experienced Denzel Washington. Maybe he chanelled his feelings about the movie because I completely believed he did not want to be there. His character was hilariously passive aggressive at times, displaying his unwillingness back down.

Rosario Dawson played her role well because she’s a great actress. But I hesitantly say her portrayal seemed too weak or vulnerable to be in the position of authority or have the knowledge she possessed in the movie. This is in no way a sexist remark since a female was necessary for this role, evident by how much *minor spoiler alert* I like how Frank gets the kiss at the end. From the movies standpoint Rosario Dawson was miscast. This is too bad because I really liked her in ‘Seven Pounds’.

Honourable mention should go to lead welder Ned portrayed by Lew Temple. Like a chameleon he reminded me of more than a few people from my own life.

Much like watching the World Cup drew me in and had me cheering along with every railroad employee in the movie. After being emotionally stimulated by good acting I still felt as though there was something lacking from the movie, something missing. If Superman had swooped in and saved the day it would have been a better movie.

In conclusion if the cast had done another movie together with a fresh story, a better plot it could have been amazing.

I give this movie a B-. The actor’s performance eclipsed the shaky plot. Realizing that I did not watch the movie, I experienced it earned brownie points.

PS. The title is ironic because the train was in fact stopped at the end of the movie. Stoppable with any adjective would have been a clearer description.

LAZY SUNDAY!

Hi Guys!

So we feel like complete idiots for not posting the pictures for our delicious butter chicken on basmati rice dinner, followed by fresh baked french vanilla cake with strawberry icecream. Our cameras are busted -- but our laptop webcam isn't!

Here we are. Chilling like an old married couple on a LAZY SUNDAY.

A lazy Sunday for us is a ritual. It's a day (depending on work or an early appointment) where we sleep in, make a hearty breakfast, relax at home, read a book, enjoy each other's company, be lazy on the couch, make an exquisite lunch, cozy up in our bed with handfuls of snacks and watch a movie or two, act like goofs, and brainstorm (and then make) the best dinner ever. IT'S THE BEST DAY OF THE WEEK!

To anyone reading, what do you do on Sundays?

FOOD: Testing 1,2,3.

Nicole here!

Matt and I are in the process of trying to figure out how we want this blog to look and how we are going to organize putting content and pictures up, and who does what etc. It's going to be fun!

Right now we are experimenting with a food post to share with you all. Can you guess? Nope probably not. It's butter chicken on basmati rice for dinner with baked french vanilla cake and strawberry icecream for dessert. Total price for the food was literally under $20. If we went out to eat, the price would have been doubled and dessert probably would not have been included....but mmm, just thinking about how good it's going to tastes makes me drool.

Be back in a few with updates!

-N