Jan
30
Day of rest
This morning I will post this and then start work, Monday blues hitting me hard but still excited about the prospect of starting fresh. Yesterday I mentioned that I had I awoke at 2 am, so before 10 am I got so so much work done. This allowed me some temporary freedom from a week of struggling, working, and thinking a little too much. (Below a photo of my friends’ apt). This post is long, but you know I am detail oriented, so I like to make sure I get everything. Longer the post the better, you guys have stuff to look at on the flip side if you’re at work or something..Wanted to take you guys on my Sunday with me. Spent a lot of time doing all these descriptions here, though I don’t like writing too much. Also my parents are overseas right now, so they are always wondering what I’m up to. Don’t need to call em up these pictures should suffice. I am alive and well, don’t worry!
It all started with brunch on a Sunday morning. Subconsciously I already knew I’d spend the whole day with Chelsea doing nothing. Why would you only spend a couple hours with a person on a Sunday, kind of anticlimactic to have brunch and skidaddle.
We felt like we had a head start on the day, already got here by 10 am, a little too early for the normal Bushwick brunch crowd to stream in. This place was very nineties in a good way, they were playing TheThe and really great old hip hop joints (Nas’ Illmatic..anyone?) This place is called TANDEM by the way, a very nondescript brunch place on Troutman between Knickerbocker and Wilson.
There is really no other brunch drink to order here besides the Aperol Spritzer.
And no other thing to order besides the Omelette stack, a baked casserole of eggs and ham, simple but full of oozing cheese goodness.
Got this with a side of grits and kale. Next time I come here I will just order four plates of this kale. The most amazing kale salad, oil, lemon and parmesan cheese. Chelsea is a regular so she figured out the dressing flavor to a tee.
After brunch we headed back to her place. Chelsea is in the processing of designing some album covers for her friends’ band and wanted me to check it out, we also had to do some image research. Now you will see me play a little Selby on her place. She has a wonderful apartment, full of charm and personality.
Felt like I was in a Terence Malick film with these ethereal curtains, all you need now are trees and sunflares.
This is Chelsea’s friend’s cat, Crackers. What a perfect name, no? This cat was extremely friendly.
Chelsea is a fashion magazine/book fiend, one of my first memories of meeting her was thinking, wow this girl knows everything that happened in fashion and arts between the 60′s to present, it’s pretty insane. She has an ENVIABLE collection of Purple Magazines, before Purple is what Purple is now. Feel like I owe Chelsea something, she taught me a lot, I realized I knew so little next to her.
My favorite Smith’s song of all time, ‘There is a light that never goes out’.
Adorable doll, this was given to her as a gift by her friend Gabe who is an artist. This doll fits Chelsea’s sartorial vibes to a tee.
We tried to listen to some Kylie Minogue, but no dice, her record player was a little shifty.
Chelsea’s incredible vintage Chanel jacket, how did you score?
Gorgeous ring.
Really important fashion photography book of ALL time, Bob Richardson. His son, Terry Richardson, bonafide legend too.
Another legend? Phoebe Philo, got to check out this incredible Gentlewoman issue I missed out on.
Chelsea and I looked through very many books, we are sort of planning a collaboration with the notorious Sarah Wilmer, who is a very talented photographer, we’re not sure yet on the deets but we think Sarah is down. I will end up bringing food and playing assistant to this shoot, because Chelsea is already a great art director and Sarah Wilmer knows how to shoot, me I can cook and make sure the models look good? Yes.
Typical, Chelsea is always showing me amazing stuff, and I’m always getting inspired.
Next priority, music, Rihanna, best jam right now “YOU DA ONE”. Not much more to say. Rihanna is a hit machine, one after the next, she understands our generation, that albums don’t work anymore, that music now moves song by song. Where is my thank you note for Rihanna? She has helped me survive some heavy work sessions at the studio. Recently read some harsh criticism on Drake and Rihanna, New York Mag criticized them both for being empty hit machines..Canceled my subscription to NYMAG shortly. We also listened to En Vogue and Mariah Carey. Don’t let this fool you though, Chelsea’s music library is scary good. But we kind of didn’t feel like listening to Patti Smith.
We encountered a very serious problem, when we got back to her place, there was no internet. This is worse than not having water. What exactly are you supposed to do without internet nowadays? I can survive for days without a tv, a shower, food, but no internet..I really might die. We looked for a connection, and look at the list of these names??? “Feminism is for everybody”…..“IChugBuschSlightlyHarder”….?? Still no dice, we were locked out.
Chelsea had to make a phone call to her provider.
Finally, we felt alive again. A strong internet connection, Chelsea had a lot to show me. She introduced me to this incredible fashion video shot by Nick Knight. The clothes were by Walter Van Beirendonck, genius, hero..If you want to know more about Beirendonck, check Hapsical’s comprehensive comb of his work.
Just incredible, the formal presentation of this video is all of these male models moving horizontally (from left to right) but the looked like they were walking forward on a runway. So just think about how clever this idea is, moving sideways but walking towards us…Clothes and styling were brilliant as well.
Chelsea works at V Mag/V Files, really is the perfect place for her because she already has a dictionary-like knowledge of fashion and art, nobody else would be able to do her work. Another friend of ours works here as well, Nicole Michalek, very talented girl. We wished she was here with us on this Sunday.
After the video, we slowly made our way through a haze of L WORD episodes. We started out with just one episode, but you know how these things always go. One after the next…both parties nervous because they want to keep watching more but unsure whether the other was game…“Want to watch another?”….. “Did you even have to ask?”…I must say that the character Shane has completely changed my life. A perfect human being, androgynous and the kind of woman that is attractive to BOTH sexes. She puts Angelina Jolie to complete shame. I have never wanted to be someone more. Chelsea and I also like Bette Porter a lot. We went through four before we realized that we needed grub. Hunger straightens your priorities I guess.
We were craving Tacos, something to hit the spot hard. I have been eating Mexican food in NYC for about…12 years now, and wow this place beats all others. In Bushwick near Wyckoff and Starr, near the Jefferson Stop…Read about this place here.
I don’t think I have ever been more excited in my whole life.
Telemundo playing in the background, perfection.
Guadalupe art…? Even more perfection. One after the next..
Everyone in here was wearing adidas sneakers, person to the left of me, in front of me, and some others..
Chelsea ordered a quesadilla of sorts, I got regular ol’ beef tacos. I will try the spicy chorizo next time.
Chelsea bought me dinner, felt so special, I was going to pay but she would not let me get a word in edgewise. We walked down the street and she showed me this incredible warehouse of vintage clothes and trinkets. There she is to the left on the phone, she’s always on the phone because everyone’s always calling her.
We got back in the car, roll with me and you’ll get door-to-door service, I imagine myself being a great truck driver or limousine driver in my next life. Couldn’t let Chelsea walk back home in her new heels in the freezing cold.
Dropped her off, felt a little empty, had such a great day of happiness and relaxation, but now I was back on the road. Couldn’t blast my music yet, was still on the grid. Doesn’t this photo below feel like ‘the wire’.
Years of shooting now, I don’t need to have my head & eyes looking into my DSLR viewframe to shoot.
Anticipating this moment, right about to get on the BQE, ready to blast LIGHT UP by Drake and Jay-z. Could not wait.
Thanks for reading, I hope you guys had the perfect Sunday too.
Nice post! +1 for the Blue Moon’s.
for some reason, i always felt that your posts are somewhat surreal. almost dream like. this one is probably one of the more surreal ones…
That photos DOES look like a shot form “the wire” like the projects in season 1 haha. I also wanted to add, I think I have the same bed as your friend. The white one, it’s from IKEA. Probably many girls have but it was cool to seen on someone from NYC
Loved this post (and The L Word too). Am I to understand that there are rules there about blasting music in your car while in a neibourhood? If so, right on … Can’t tell you how many times I’ve been awaken by someone’s low to the ground bass thump.
Loulou
I was always under the influence that you were some form of high class creative with a very secretive personal life. A perfectionist of many sorts, however this post is a nice insight into your life. I have been ignorant, you are very much a normal human being with fun down to earth friends. This is an excellent post for opening my eyes x
i’m so in love with this post!the first restaurant looks totally awesome!and i like the wall with lots of fashion pics so much!u just make me miss nyc so badly!
http://lustforgourmandise.blogspot.com/
xxxx
I really like your photos. Their composition always tells me a story and takes me into your world. Congratulations!
What an inspiring interior, and woman too by the sounds of it.
Highly Immersive post. Thank You ^_^
Incredibly engrossing post. I love Chelsea (obviously not personally, but from afar, looking at her blog) + it was so interesting seeing shots of her apartment. I love the shots from/of your car, too. Reminded me of Drive. Perhaps that is an example of the simulacra that film has created; it is just you, in a car, but suddenly it is an imitation of Drive, because the film has become a zeitgeist of driving in a city. Clearly, I have love for that film. Though perhaps you are the same with The Wire – how you saw it in the photo. Anyway. Great post. Have a good day.
i feel the same way about shane. i feel so attracted to her and yet, more so, i wish i was her.
OMG yesterday was so chill! I have some AMAZING shane photos to send you, get ready!
Ps Thanks Georgiana!!!
I enjoy Cat Party (and cats!!! Crackers is adorable!) so it was nice to learn a little more about Chelsea. Her aesthetic seems so very…well, perfectly cat–and all the contradictions/paradoxes of those creatures, know what I mean? How they’re endearingly cute and soft, sweet and purry, but there’s also a sleekness and sexiness and edge with the claws, you know….
Sounds like you two had a lovely day!
Hey you’re not so anonymous anymore. Saw that photobooth picture of you with Chealsea.
That’s not me. =P
i thought the same thing at first! but i could tell it wasn’t luxirare. :-p
I am so jealous, doing nothing with Chelsea is my absolute favorite thing to do! It’s funny because when I come and visit her we end up chilling in her apartment drinking beer and eating mexican delivery more than going out on the town. Wouldn’t have it any other way!
SHANE 4 EVA
You know, I preferred the more mysterious Luxirare. I like how you described your morning routine and you’ve even inspired me to get up earlier, but this feels too much like you’re inundating us with too many details of your life. Just venting, but I hate when bloggers post too much about their friends. People come to this blog because they’re interested in you.
Fuck off asshole.
I disagree with Anon, I really liked this post and I’m happy to learn about what makes you, you, what is behind the amazing detailed food and fashion design. I like this a lot.
What a fabulous post! You definitely had a more fun filled Sunday than I
Chelsea’s apartment is killer!
http://lilylovelock.blogspot.com/
x
i see blue moon, that’s a plus!
what a lovely sunday you had.
Well, Anon – I have to disagree – you’ll see that I have a name, you should try it sometime. So cowardly.
Since when did a glimpse of a life NOT count towards knowing more about someone? And please, when you say ‘People’ but really mean ‘I’, just say it.
Bloggers blog for themselves just as much as their, in this case, quite diverse audience. That’s kind of the whole point of having a blog. There are no rules. Ack!
Now, back to the post – loved the details (now going to re-organise my bookshelves by colour LOL)
I love all your posts, whether they’re rare or lux – it was lovely that you wanted to take us along with you somewhere.
You write what you want to write. Create what you want to create and eat what you want to eat!
My Sunday was 19 hours on the trot sewing for a deadline. I have fabric burn on my finger tips from feeding into the machine! It was bliss.
sorry. have written a novel – but Anon got me really pissed off.
I was at first intrigued when Luxirare said she was going to “let us in” on her life a little bit more in the new year, but I do find myself agreeing with ANON in that it’s turned into an inundation, almost more of a distraction than a complementary supplement to the blog.
What I liked about Luxirare was the degree of professionalism and style of writing that she used to have, which now appears to have been lost. Looking back at posts from even just 1 year ago, the difference between then and now is so vast, it’s almost as if another person is writing for her and documenting her life. I prefer the mystique and professionalism of the previous Luxirare to this one who finds it necessary to tell me that her friends buy her tacos.
Luxirare is branded to be LUXURIOUS + RARE but it has now turned into flaunting her luxuries, and where a mere glimpse of her unblurred face used to be rare occurrence, she now routinely posts with no less disguise than a pair of sunglasses.
The brand identity is being lost. If anything, a separate blog or section should have been instated to separate intimate personal details from the pristine professional brand-related posts and projects.
I know I’ll receive some flack for it, but that’s my opinion.
That makes us three. It’s nice to know who she is, and the glimpses of a face here and there just went so well with the Luxirare manifesto: a minimalistic focus on the ideas and concepts and instead of an indulgent chronicle of daily glamour.
Of course she’s allowed to take this site in whichever direction she wishes – and the webzine is still pure creative genius – but as Nire pointed out, it’s become quite jarring and distracting.
Loving this new direction, my friend. Chelsea is boss, love her blog.
xx
don’t listen to them haters, luxi – do as you wish.
every one of us is curious to learn about the real person behind this thing, and it’s very refreshing to see there is one, and not just a cold-blooded-flash-photography bot.
have a great week!
Everyone has a right to their opinion Sweetie. Speak for yourself and don’t worry about what other people are saying.
I love Cat Party!!! Been following it for years. thanks so much! her apartment is really great.
Well, I like it all and don’t mind the variety in posts, but to address concerns of some of the disgruntled commenters: maybe these lifestyle/lunch-with-friend/what-I-did-last-night posts could go in the Luxirare journal that was created a couple months ago or so? And the Luxirare brand clothing and food creation posts could go on the webzine site? It just seems to make more sense that way, and like that was the original intent with the three different blogs.
you’ve got to try the pork tacos next time
I agree with the more critical voices. Luxirare now seems like a different person to me, very irritating, less classy. It’s like a 180° change in direction.
And I don’t understand why some commenters can’t stand different opinions or call them “haters” – everybody is entitled to his or her honest opinion, I hope Luxirare doesn’t only want the fan-girls and Yeah-sayers.
Mexican food is really good!
I love Chelsea’s desk, where is it from? I’m looking for a desk for my room….
Thanks!!!!
IKEA! In the table section. The actual desks there are too small xo
NONE OF MY BUSINESS but I really hope you aren’t a smoker! It’s an icky habit.
Felt like I was watching Gosling’s ‘Drive’ movie. lol
my neighborhood! i’m a huge fan of your blog, and it was so fun to see you visit tandem (try the elderfashion next time.. a play on the old fashion with elderflower liquor. yummm) and driving through the streets of bushwick. your friend has such a great apartment! i love the introduction of little pieces of your life. so fun.
xxoo
oh! and have you tried roberta’s? that place is right up your alley.
Thank you for introducing Tanbem – it seems really great! I just moved to the neighborhood and I will definately visit it soon. I also love CatParty! I did’t know you two were friends. Thanks Luxirare, keep anonymous and keep up good work.
You probably already know this, but don’t listen to your haters or your fans. Just evolve into the person you want to be. Time changes everyone and who cares what anyone says? Your current haters used to be your fans. And your current fans may not have liked you before (admittedly, myself included). Now I realize it doesn’t matter – just live your life and be happy.
It’s funny how anyone offering any criticism is seen as a “hater.” Not everyone is going to like what you do in life, but calling someone a hater for expressing their opinion is ridiculous and far-fetched.
If you get angry anytime anyone criticizes your work, then you are going have a difficult life. You sound like one of those immature young people who cannot tolerate any kind of input. So prevalent now a days…
I haven’t seen any “haters”, but I have noticed some people offering their opinions and polite criticisms… I think “haters” say things more along the lines of “you suck”, and have nothing constructive to offer. I also consider myself to be one of her biggest fans, so to be referred to as a “hater” is…kind of hilarious.
I’ve personally noticed the number of comments decreasing from what used to be average 70-80 comments per entry, this is mostly due to the fact that her posts were much rarer… kinda losing the “rare” aspect of Luxirare (ha!). The content of the comments also had much less ooh-ing and ahh-ing, and much more “this is great, because”… they had substance. But that’s what happens when you gain popularity I guess, not everything can be maintained and micro-managed.
JESSICA is correct in that she should evolve into the person that she wants to be, but the fashion and food industries aren’t just about being creative and innovative, the product also has to sell. If the blog loses its primary emphasis on the product and process then it will also lose the viewers who are interested in the product/process, and then it becomes just another semi-pretentious lifestyle blog.
Actually Luxirare’s traffic has kind of sky rocketed in the past few months, don’t think comments matter necessarily, her work is better now..I think..and I actually like her lifestyle posts.
It wasn’t my intention to address the traffic in general, I was specifically mentioning the comments because comments have substance. Well, they used to at least.
I enjoy her lifestyle posts as well, I just think she needs to tone it down a little bit on them as it feels like the blog has been inundated with them, which is causing a loss of emphasis on her work.
I guess I just prefer the air of mystery and anonymity she used to perfectly embody. It would seem as though she’s getting sick of hiding behind the scenes after having a couple increasingly successful years…
I love your blog and these new, more intimate posts. Something I noticed that bummed me out was the ashtray in your friend’s apartment. She and her roommate had so many interesting and beautiful treasures but she/her roommate smokes indoors? I’m always so bummed when finding something incredible at a thrift shop or used bookstore that is just destroyed by the smell of cigarrettes. That Chanel jacket is incredible!–but I bet it reeks now