Monday, October 6, 2008

NAKIT KAO CIVILIZACIJSKI FENOMEN


Istorija ljudske civilizacije pamti i svedoči o raznim vrstama ukrašavanja ljudskog tela, kako putem iscrtavanja nalik današnjem tetoviranju, tako i putem nakita koji je od pamtiveka bio sastavni deo statusnog obeležja. Vladari su kroz istoriju imali svoju vrstu nakita, crkveni stalež isticao je religioznu simboliku nakitom od zlata, a niži staleži su uglavnom nosili nakit koji je jasno određivao njihov društveni status. Nakit je oduvek pretstavljao simbol i obebeležje, bilo moći, religijskog opredelenja, statusa i položaja u društvu, etničke pripadnosti, a tek u novijoj istoriji preuzeo je ulogu glavnog i nezaobilaznog modnog detalja. Posmatrano sa psihološkog stanovišta, može se zaključiti da je u ljudskoj prirodi potreba da se telo ukrasi i na taj način izrazi, opredeli i pokaže i konačno izađe iz okvira zatvorenosti. On je jezik koji govori sam za sebe, jasno određujući onog koji ga nosi, bilo da su u pitanju vladari, savremeni ili posmatrani kroz istoriju, bilo da su u pitanju javne ličnosti, umetnici ili tvorci današnje mode. Menjao je svoje oblike, dizajn ili kvalitet, ali namena mu je uvek ostajala ista - na što eksplicitniji način izraziti i definisati osobu koja ga nosi.


Savremeni kreatori koji su nakit svrstali isključivo u modne trendove i sastavni deo svakodnevne garderobe, pojačavaju njegovu eksplicitnost kreirajući upravo nakit namenjen pojedincima koji znaju da ga ponesu. Tako imamo specijalno kreiran nakit za određenog glumca ili muzičku zvezdu. Danas se zna da ne može svaka osoba ni da nosi svaku vrstu nakita, već da je on sastavni deo ličnosti i da kao takav najbolje dolazi do izražaja. Jedna pank zvezda poput Bili Ajdola svakako na sebi ima ukrase koji izražavaju i vrstu muzike i njegov život i popularnost. Isto je i sa hevi-metal grupama, rokerima, manekenkama, ženama, muškarcima. Nakit je univerzalno sredstvo koje ima tu sposobnost da predstavi na način koji se od njega traži. Možemo li zamisliti jednu glamuroznu Merlin Monro kakvu je svi pamtimo, da na sebi ima plastične perle i jeftine mihđuše, ili princezu Grejs Keli da na svom vratu ima bilo šta drugo osim dijamantke ogrlice. Nedopustiva zamisao kao sneg u pustinji. One su sastavni deo nakita koje su nosile i nije daleko od istine da čovek ono što nosi u sebi, nosi i na sebi.


Nakit bilo koje vrste svakako možemo tretirati kao fenomen na više nivoa, od društvenog do modnog i njegova uloga u svim civilizacijama nije bila ni malo zanemarljiva. On je uvek pratio istorijske tokove i prilagođavao se podnebljima i ukusima i naravno uvek imao isti motiv i cilj. Danas se jedna moderna dama ne može zamisliti bez pažljivo odabranog nakita, bilo da je u pitanju glamurozan zlatni nakit ili skupa bižuterija, on je taj koji daje posebne dimenzije ličnosti i govori o nama ono što nesvesno želimo da iskažemo. Diskretna osoba povučene prirode svakako će na sebi nositi i takav nakit, neupadljiv i nedominantan, dok će suprotno njoj, osoba izraženih stavova, jasnih ciljeva i nabusitih manira nositi nakit prilagođen upravo svom karakteru, izražajan, upadljiv i pretenciozan.






Nismo ni svesni kolika je zapravo njegova uloga u našim ličnim opredeljenjima, i koliko nas on otkriva i govori o našoj prirodi. Upravo iz tih razloga o nakitu možemo govoriti kao o fenomenu koji je prateći i sastavni deo ljudske civilizacije. Pogledamo li nakit iz doba Marije Antoanete, onaj koji su nosili naši vladari, ili egipatski faraoni i grčki filosofi, jasno ćemo primetiti zajedničku notu koja spaja sve njihove ukrasne detalje, a to je - cilj da se izrazi stav, stalež, dominacija i lepota. Plemenitim metalima i veštim izradama i ručnim radom, nakit je kroz istoriju uvek bio glamurozan i isticao je karatker i položaj onoga koga je nosio. On otkriva, govori, impresionira, zadivljuje, ulepšava.

Međutim, treba se zapitati da li je uloga nakita kao fenomena baš uvek pozitivna, i da li on baš uvek može da osvoji i estetizuje osobu, ili može da ima ima i suprotan efekat, da izazove odbojnost i zgražavanje. Puno je opisanih istorijskih momenata u kojima nakit igra presudnu ulogu pod drugim terminom, pod terminom blaga i kao takav izazivao je ratove i konflikte, prokletstva i pogibije. Kroz ceo srednji vek opisivane su spletke po dvorovima koje su se upravo nameštale i odigravale preko nakita i oko nakita, naravno vrednog i namenjenog, nakita koji je prenošen s kolena na koleno i imao moć u koju se doista verovalo. Amajlije, drago kamenje, ogrlice, prstenje koje je donosilo sreću i odnosilo radost, sve to je bilo sastavni deo ovog istog fenomena koji živi i do dana današnjeg i to vrlo malo modifikovan i ne mnogo unapređen.






Danas se nakit kao modni detalj i umenitčki izražaj, uvukao i postao neizostavan u mnogim sferama ljudskog delovanja i pridaje mu se velika važnost. Ne možemo zamisliti savremenu modnu industriju, medije, filmsku umetnost, pozorišnu i muzičku scenu, a da se pri tom ne osvrnemo i na estetske detalje specijalno kreirane u njihove svrhe. Glumci, manekeni i uopšte medijski atraktivne ličnosti postaju promoteri određenih modnih kuća nakita - “Cartier”, “Swarovski”, “Bvlgari” itd. Nakit danas, kao nikada ranije, razvija sopstvenu industriju. Skup, otmen, ili jeftina bižuterija, letnji, prolećni, adolescentski ili za zrelu dob, glamurozan ili namenjen poslovnim ljudima, nakit je postao nezaobilazan i jasno definisan kreativni detalj svih nas. Opet jedno novo lice istog fenomena, a njegova uloga naravno ista kao i uvek kroz sve istorijske tokove. Da li je on proizvod ljudske sujete, materijalizma, ili potajna želja čoveka da se istakne, dopadne i nametne, ostaje na svakom od nas da zaključi. Jedno je sigurno - nakit nas čini posebnim, postaje deo nas i stapa se sa našom ličnošću, a kada je pravilno odabran i prilagođen, njegov fenomen je još dominantniji jer daje posebnu vrstu lepote kojoj svaki čovek teži.




Posh Magazin

CIPELE - NAJVECI ZENSKI FETIS



Obuća vekovima unazad ne predstavlja više samo predmet koji će nas zaštiti od nepovoljnih uticaja tla. Kroz istoriju obuća je, pogotovu ona ženska dobijala sve više na značaju, u modnom, kulturnom i fenomenološkom smislu, a danas u 21. veku, dobila vrlo laskavu titulu najvećeg ženskog (ali i muškog) fetiša, koji žene širom sveta opsesivno kupuju i teže da ga imaju u što većim količinama. Da, danas je postalo moderno pohvatili se količinom pari cipela u ormanu, neizostavno je cipele “uklapati” sa garderobom, tašnom, kaišem, a ponuda je toliko velika da su dizajneri ovog odevnog predmeta na velikim mukama u pokušajima da izmisle nešto novo i ponude nešto što još nije viđeno. Najpoznatija imena u svetu modne obuće potiču iz Italije, kao prestonice mode, pa su italijanske cipele, samim tim postale sinonim za dobru, kvalitetnu i ekstravagantnu obuću.

Aaaaaaa! NEMAM STA DA OBUJEM!

Koliko ste se puta našle ispred ormana suočene sa strašnom konstatacijom da nemate šta da obučete, za neki događaj od životne važnosti? Naravno, kao i sve žene nebrojeno puta… Kao što nikada nemaju šta da obuku, nikada nisu dovoljno mršave, tako žene nikada, ali apsolutno nikada nemaju dovoljno obuće u svom plakaru. Osim što se kupovinom (uglavnom) skupe obuće, uspešno leče, makar na trenutak neka sitna nezadovoljstva i frustracije, osećaj sreće kada se obuje neki novi, još “nerazgaženi” par fantastičnih sandala je zaista neopisiv. Tržište ženske obuće je upravo iz tog razloga, daleko veće od muškog, izbor je neuporedivo bolji i raznovrsniji, a žene naravno, verniji, redovniji i opsesivniji kupci cipela.


CIPELARNIK KAO U STONOGE






Salonke, sandale, sandalete, čizmice, baletanke, mokasine… samo su neke od kategorija ženske obuće koje u zavisnosti od sezone možemo videti u izlozima naših prodavnica. Izbor je ogroman, a žene samim tim uvek u velikoj dilemi. Da li kupiti obuću koja je potrebnija ili onu koja je lepša? Da li kupiti čizme ili sandalice usred novembra, da li se častiti prelepim salonkama onda kada su nam potrebne papuče? Eto možda jednog od odgovora zašto gotovo svaka žena ima bar pet puta više obuće od jednog prosečnog muškarca. Kupovina obuće je nekada zaista zahtevan posao koji može u nekim slučajevima trajati danima, a koji se po pravilu uvek završi sa nekoliko pari više nego što smo planirale da kupimo...


ITALIJANSKI SMEK


Kako su Italijani među prvima shvatili neobuzdanu žensku potrebu za posedovanjem ekskluzivne obuće, sigurno možemo reći da su italijanske cipele jedne od najkvalitetnijih i najproslavljenijih na svetu. Sinonim za stil i ukus kada je obuća u pitanju je italijanska cipela, a među najpoznatijim su svakako one sa potpisom “Prada”, “Via Spiga”, “Gai Mattiolo”, “Giancarlo Paoli”, “Versace”, “Gucci”, “Miu Miu”, “Cesare Paciotti”, “Costume National”, “Vicini” i mnogi drugi… Jedan od trenutno, jako popularnih imena u svetu manufakture cipela je poznati njujorški dizanjer obuće (poreklom Španac) Manolo Blahnik, kog je široj populaciji žena predstavila čuvena Keri Bredšo iz kultne serije “Seks i grad”. Njegove cipele su zaista nešto posebno, spoj umetnosti i funkcionalnosti obuće, mada se za neke od njegovih najpoznatijih cipela može reći sve sem da su udobne i lako nosive. Manolo Blahnik uglavnom radi unikatnu obuću i obuću po porudžbini, a njegove najvernije mušterije su najveće holivudske dive.

Neprocenjivi par…


A koliko je žena spremna da plati cipele koje joj se svide? Hmmmm… čini se da je nemoguće proceniti, jer bi većina žena dala i poslednji dinar za par ekskluzivnih cipela koje joj oduzmu dah, bez obzira da li su joj trenutno potrebne i da li ih sebi može priuštiti. To je činjenica, a činjenica je da je i većina cipela poznatih marki izuzetno skupa i njihova cena kreće se od 300$ pa do čak nekoliko hiljada dolara po paru. Mali broj žena i u svetu i kod nas sebi može dozvoliti luksuz da više puta mesečno pazari jedan takav par, pa je većina njih primorana na one nešto pristupačnije marke. No, poenta nekada zaista i nije u ceni ili izradi same cipele, već u harizmi žene koja je nosi. Ponekad i sasvim jednostavna, ali elegantna obuća može izgledati “kao milion dolara” ukoliko žena ume da je nosi i na taj način izrazi svoju ženstvenost.
I zato ne bi trebalo mnogo da se opterećujete potpisom koji vidite na cipeli, ili da uzdišete za izlogom u kom ste videle basnoslovno skupe cipele koje sebi ne možete priuštiti. Ponekad se desi da i u daleko jeftinijim radnjama pronađete nešto što će savršeno pristajati vašoj nozi i vašoj ličnosti, jer ne zaboravite da svemu materijalnom oblik i vrednost dajemo pre svega mi sami na način na koji to nosimo...

Posh Magazin

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Paris S/S 09: YSL

Back on the Paris runway, we have the YSL show. I must admit, when the rest of the fashion world applauded Pilati for his first collections, I was still a bit hesitant about them. It just wasn't quite the Tom Ford era YSL style, I associated YSL with (that was the era that motivated me to become a hardcore business woman just so I can wear them!). It's taken a while, but I think I'm finally warming up to Pilati! I am loving his minimalistic, oriental inspired collection. It is simple, wearable but still feminine and elegant.
I am loving the subtle black prints and the more relaxed but still structured silhouette of the collection, which is still very flattering. The whole super cinched, fitted and tailored thing is getting old. This is modern and refreshing.
One of the biggest thing on this runway are these lattice mesh shoes. The fashion world is loving this child of gladiators sandals and boots. Personally, I am not so sure. I didn't like the whole gladiator thing to begin with. And if I think that boots with peep toes are unnatural, these are definitely out of my comfort zome. It kind of reminds me of those jello mesh flats that were popular a while back. I do like the metal lattice heels though. That is really modern and cool looking, just not the rest. Maybe it takes getting used to?

Image Source: Style.com

Saturday, October 4, 2008

Midsummer Night Dreams: July Movie Wrap-Up

I made up for my bad behavior in June and saw a whole mess of movies in July! Daily affirmation: I AM a good cinephile!


The Damned - (1969) - Film
Seen: Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Back in late June and early July the Gene Siskel Film Center held a comprehensive retrospective of the films of Luchino Visconti. Not being any sort of an authority on the director, and one who really only has passing familiarity with him (i.e. La Terra Trema (1948) and The Leopard (1963)), I figured it was about time I see some more. This wasn't a hasty catch-up session, however, for most of the movies were presented on fantastic 35mm prints, some of which have never circulated in the States. The first I saw was Visconti's The Damned, and I very much like the description given to it here:

"The Damned is to the WWII genre what a chiffon-clad drag queen brandishing satin scarves is to an audience of racecar drivers."

Sandra - (1965) - Film
Seen: Wednesday, July 2, 2008

The next day I caught Sandra, probably my favorite of all Visconti I've seen so far. Who can resist Claudia Cardinale projected in black and white so torn and tousled?

Not many reviews are out there on this one. But who ever thought TV Guide could provide a better context and outline of the film than the jargon-happy film buff? Anyway, it'd be silly for me to try to describe it better myself, it's just not fresh in my head anymore. So we'll rely on TV Guide for now...






Close-Up - (1990) - DVD
Seen: Saturday, July 5, 2008

"It was very hard to pretend to be someone else, but I liked it."

The first signifier of artificiality, or at least an acknowledgment that what you're about to see has been consciously edited and framed, is the movie's credit sequence. For Kiarostami's Close-Up, the credit sequence doesn't begin until more than 15-minutes into the film, giving us an added layer of ambiguity--is this documentary or fiction? Both, is the short answer. Our primary subject before Kiarostami's camera is a man accused of impersonating a film director, and he's on trial before his peers and family humbly owning up to the fact that he led strangers to believe he was someone he was not.

The story is structured so that we toggle between the present (the time leading up to his trial and the trial itself) and the past (talking to strangers, gaining their trust from false premises), and while initially we don't know who Kiarostami (who is speaking off camera) and the journalist with him are talking about, it very quickly becomes clear. The man on trial is the "star" of the film and the one we root for--despite his impersonation, despite the fact that we don't truly know who he is. His persona unravels, but still the man is so blatantly honest about why he impersonated the filmmaker: to be in a position of authority.

Also, on visuals, American Beauty gets credit for making a billowing plastic shopping bag look pretty, but it's got nothing on the magnificence of Kiarostami's tin can tinkering down the street, or the streaks of an airplane's vapor trail across the sky.


The Incredible Hulk - (2008) - Film
Seen: Saturday, July 5, 2008

Hancock - (2008) - Film
Seen: Sunday, July 6, 2008

Iron Man - (2008) - Film
Seen: Sunday, July 6, 2008

Three! Big! Summer! Movies!

In order of preference:
1. Iron Man
2. Hancock
3. The Incredible Hulk--wait. No, to put Hulk on a list of "preferences" implies I preferred this movie at all. More than the poorly blocked scenes with empty, un-visualized space that amassed to gaping holes, a visual analogous to the silent, dead air of radio; more than the contrivance known as the conflict between Sgt. Ross and his daughter; more than the anticlimactic battle scene to prove the filmmakers are proficient in animation software--more than all of these things, what an unfair undermining of Liv Tyler as Betty, Sgt. Ross's daughter.

She has no valuable dialogue, is a void of personality and intellect, and finally becomes just another damsel in distress. Only worse, she is framed with nearly pornographic shots of her mouth glazed in soft pink lip gloss. Gah! Not helping the cause. And you can't blame Liv, who isn't a bad actress. After all, she's only as good as the lines that were never written for her.


Little Children - (2006) - DVD
Seen: Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Little Children! Another flick that fell through the cracks! But finally, yes, I've seen it! A lot of great things are going for this picture: a stellar performance from Kate Winslet (in sex scenes to boot), the superb framing of shots that add an extra layer to the mise-en-scene, which was a creation of conscious sterility; and another look at the dull banality of suburban life. Ah, maybe that's a cliche by now (again, American Beauty comes to mind), but I found this portrayal a bit more comforting, and I suppose less condescending to that culture. A film professor friend of mine expressed her anger at the film's conservative conclusion, where Winslet and her extra-marital lover finally return home to the lives they until that moment were clearly unhappy with. I let it slide, but I'm flexible. Anyone have thoughts on that?


Zodiac - (2007) - DVD
Seen: Wednesday, July 9, 2008

For me, this is the scariest damn movie I've seen in a long, long time. I couldn't watch it alone. My boyfriend who was quietly studying in the room next door was summoned to the living room to calm my nerves. I'm still having horrific flashbacks of the old man emerging from his cellar, in what appears to be thin air from screen left as Jake Gyllenhaal runs out his front door. (shivers)


Being There - (1979) - DVD
Seen: Sunday, July 13, 2008

Peter Sellers in Hal Ashby's Being There is the most tender, sweet, and hilarious character to emerge from the drug-addled fiasco of 70s auteur cinema. While most of the cinema I know from this era of transition for Hollywood studios is generally disillusioned in tone, anxious and angry in its narrative direction, Being There feels like a curious shrug of the shoulders to those conventions. That's not the same to be said about other Ashby films, like The Last Detail (1973), but even then there's a bit of melancholia that's present in it and other Ashby movies--Harold and Maude (1971) and Coming Home (1978) in particular. Chance's (Sellers) love scene with Mrs. Rand, played by the adorable Shirley MacLaine, mimicking the the make-out session he sees on TV--in a call-back to Buster Keaton's Sherlock Jr. (1924)--is meta-cinematic tops.


The Hoax - (2006) - DVD
Seen: Saturday, July 19, 2008

Here's one I missed upon its release that I had high expectations for, but by the second half of the film as our main man, Clifford Irving (Richard Gere) descends into a weird psychological blackout, The Hoax lost me. Most of the reviews of the movie mention the shocking level of ambition and lack of inhibition in Irving's character, and surely it is the most compelling aspect of the story. But somehow it fell flat. Maybe it was the emphasis on his love affairs? His personal friendships and marriage? The puzzle pieces never fit together for me, and I was irritated with its glossiness and formulaic structure, if you'll indulge such disdainful generalities...


The Dark Knight - (2008) - Film
Seen: Monday, July 21, 2008

Here's one portion of this post I've got to apologize for, because the enthusiasm I initially felt for The Dark Knight I am afraid has waned in time. I left the theater elated, thinking it was smart commentary on our current wartime and domestic spying crisis. After all, when the final fight scenes end, Bruce Wayne had the cell phone surveillance program shut down. But as my movie mates adamantly pointed out, the program's destruction didn't ensue until after he chose to use it, in his rather god-like and unquestioned manner. So suffice it to say, at least in terms of The Dark Knight's politics, I remain ambivalent. As for the rest of the film--it's characters and performances, the scenery and location, and its overall suspense, it would be putting it lightly to say I adored it. It is a cliche by now to mention the stellar and utterly spooky performance from Heath Leger, but sometimes cliches work. For me, he made the movie. The Chicago scenery was great--and great for a Chicagoan to see her town on the big screen too. The film's shooting was the most talked-about event here on the streets. In New York and L.A. a movie shoot is commonplace, but is a rarity in the Midwest.


Citizen Kane - (1941) - Film
Seen: Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Can't see Orson Welles' Citizen Kane too many times! I saw it on my 29th...


Transformers - (2007) - DVD
Seen: Sunday, July 27, 2008

Listen, I didn't see Transformers in the summer of 2007 when it was released, so finally, perhaps in the spirit and momentum of the summer blockbusters that preceded it in this queue, perhaps that explains why I suddenly found myself tamped down with boredom from this lifeless monstrosity. I mean, what the fuck? The Autobots' comedy yuk-it-up outside Shia LaBeouf's house? I'm just getting mad now...


Coming Home - (1978) - DVD
Seen: Monday, July 28, 2008

There, there, all better. Ah--thank you, Hal Ashby, for making such a great movie. I mean, really, thank you. Coming Home is another perfect example of the sort of sensitivity Ashby's films can portray. When you watch Hal Ashby you have a feeling that on the most basic level he simply cares for humanity. Coming Home shook me with real, raw emotion. And what a performance from Jon Voight! His speech to the young military recruits at the end, simply sublime.

Friday, October 3, 2008

Sofia Coppola za LV


Sofia Coppola ce biti novi "gostujuci" dizajner za poznatu kucu Louis Vuitton. Sofia ce dizajnirati kolekciju cipela i tasni, koja ce biti dostupna sirom sveta.
Izgleda da Marc Jacobs uziva u saradnji sa umetnicima : Richard Prince, Takashi Murakami, Rei Kawakubo i sada Sofia Coppola.
Nista novo, zapravo, Sofiina interesovanja za modu datiraju jos iz studentskih dana, kada je radila za Karl Lagerfelda.
U svakom slucaju, verujemo da ce ova saradnja biti uspesna!

Ctrl BG: A Shortcut to Financial News 10/3

I've decided to do my write up early this week- just in case something else happens right after I hit "publish."

After European banks started falling last weekend, everything else started falling apart when everyone realized that this credit crisis was not limited to the US. On Monday, Wachovia made a deal with Citigroup with the help of the FDIC to buy their bank deposit arm for $2.16 billion.

On Tuesday, Bailout plan #1 was rejected by Congress, and the Dow Jones fell over 700 points, hitting a record low since the October Market Crash in 1987. It was actually quite exciting- it is definitely not everyday that we see history in the making! This also served as a good shocker for congress members who voted against the plan. Many of them were worried about the "unpopularity" of Bailout plan #1 with their voters, since many people viewed this plan as a bailout plan for Wall Street (many nay-saying congress members are facing re-election this November). What did they think was going to happen if the bailout plan doesn't go through?

With this record crash in the market, people finally realized that this was a bailout plan for the people. This is not a time to place blame and punish those who did wrong (I mean, if we're really going to place blame, I think the people who borrowed the loans knowing they cannot repay them is equally to blame as the banks who made the loans to begin with). This is a time to take action before the effects of the credit crunch affects the rest of the economy. It would be irresponsible for the government to do nothing. Call me selfish, but right now, as a worker and member of the society, I'm more worried about the adverse effects this will have on my job (the just reported the biggest job lose in 5.5 years!), my 401K, my ability to get a loan (not that I'm planning to buy a car/house any time soon, but IF), and just my way of life in general. Even if you don't invest, have a 401K or have/need a loan right now, businesses you're linked to may close down because they are unable to get a short term loan to fund their business operations or their prices would go up because it will be more expensive for these businesses to get a loan and operate.

Good thing voters and congress members finally realized this on Friday, and voted 263 vs 171 for Bailout plan #2, which was created in record time. It is basically the same as Bailout plan #1, except with an extra $150 billion put aside for random tax packages (way to take the "load" off our future generations). They ramped up the FDIC insurance limit to $250,000, put more oversight on the execution of the $700 billion, gave the SEC authority to suspend the "mark to market" accounting standard (so firms don't have to mark down their assets just because the market is crazy these days) and a gazillion little tax breaks benefiting the environmental friendly, middle class, natural disaster hit states, homeowners,educators and businesses. Basically something for everyone- even people with mental health needs and the makers of "certain wooden arrows designed for use by children" (I don't even know what that is). It sounds like basically the same plan to me, except policy makers decided to take this opportunity for "quick action" to randomly put in policies they've been meaning and wanting to pass, to make it sound like a better plan. Oh well, I guess it works out for everyone in the end.


Unfortunately, now even the bailout plan isn't good enough to restore confidence and the market continued to fall after Bailout plan #2 passed on Friday. It's going to take a while for the bailout to take effect. At least there's hope. I'm thinking it is not a good time for Mr. Schwarzenegger to be asking for a $7 billion short term loan to weather CA out until tax comes in, in spring.

On the other hand, while the current economical situation is being compared to scary sounding things like the economic Pearl Harbor, the Great Depression and at the edge of the abyss, Mr. Buffet went on a shopping spree. After buying some of Constellation Energy for $4.75 billion and Goldman Sachs for $5 billion in September, this week, he also bought 10% in Chinese battery and automotive maker, BYD, for $230 million and more of GE for $3 billion. Even though this may sound shocking in this market, Buffet is actually a very sensible shopper. While fashion trends go in and out, the classics will never go out of style. Goldman Sachs and GE definitely qualify as classics, one being THE top bank on the street and the other being literally the backbone of the American economy, dabbling in a bit of everything. One is Hermes and the other is Bergdorfs. And the best part is that he's buying all these quality investments at a BARGAIN price. Another good shopping philosophy is to invest in emerging talents before they're famous and mainstream. BYD with its rechargeable green batteries and electric cars is definitely part of an emerging market. I'm not sure in which category Constellation Energy fits in, perhaps a bit of both? Either way, Buffet is a very sensible fellow shopper. As he said, "I like spending...The cheaper things get, the better I like it. This is a good period for us..go ahead." I can definitely relate to that. If only I knew the market classics as well as I know the fashion classics and had the capital to act on it. Another Buffet philosophy that I agree with, "there's no way a smart person can go broke except through borrowed money. All borrowed money does is help you get it a little faster, but (it also will) help you get poorer a whole lot faster." Credit card debts are definitely not pretty.

Buffet also made a deal with Wachovia this week, through Wells Fargo (which he owns a lot of). Yes, the same Wachovia that I said earlier in this post, that had just made a deal with Citi on Monday. Wells Fargo upended Citi's offer and offered to buy (the whole of) Wachovia for $15.1 billion without government help. Previous agreements and honor of word aside, this is definitely a better deal for Wachovia and the government since they don't need to help anymore. Wells Fargo is actually one of the few banks that is weathering this market out quite well, having had less exposure to bad debt (they have a much stricter credit requirement- as they should!). Citi, of course, is miffed that their government sponsored bargain deal has been thwarted and are thinking of suing them. Do I see a banking bitch fight coming? Probably not, the government would probably do something. This market doesn't need anymore drama... but it would've been fun to watch :P. It's no wonder that CNBC reputedly has had the best ratings these last two weeks since earlier this decade!

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

The Puffer Trench

Every year when fall comes around, I am shocked by how cold it is. Summer and time does a good job of fading away memories of the bitter cold and biting wind. Walking around, people are pulling out their trench coats against the cold. But is that enough to keep us warm? It IS only made out of a layer of cloth (or two, counting layers) after all. I own one and I don't find it very warm at all. Maybe I'm just more easily chilled than others, but I'm thinking that something a bit more substantial is called for. Luckily for me, Burberry knew just what I was thinking.
I am loving Burberry's latest puffer trench coat. Lined lightly with down, it is most definitely warm enough for fall. Unlike other puff jackets however, it still has SHAPE. A very slimming and flattering trench coat shape at that. What more can you want? It will totally last you all the way through fall (plus or minus some layers) and maybe even winter (probably not for snow though, for snow you need the heavy duty stuff)!

Image Source: Burberry

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