this “indie clothing” website is nothing more than a snooze i seem to have seen before. it made me wonder who got pissed at urbanoutfitters online and decided to replicate and attempt a twist. with even their category name repeat of “apartment” to look at odd ‘indie’ things to fill your house with, this website seems to desperately try to become the twin to urban outfitters. Although they are without my personal favorite part of the urban outfitters website, the furniture! Their unique and mid-century, modern furntiture available online only is my favorite favorite obsession. Along with the clothing, the curtains, the electronics, the decorative pillows, and duvet covers, urban outfitters sells furniture that is only available online. All the pieces are things that make me want a huge house so I can fill it with all of their pieces.

Mod-cloths attempt at a twist, in terms of voting for upcoming pieces is something I think could be a wave into the future of online shopping but their vintage collection seems to be a bit annoying. Taking into account that everything but one piece was sold when I looked at it, it seemed like they were showing that they sold all these non-name-brand vintage pieces and maybe you too could join the club, if you were lucky enough that is. it’s like really?! get over yourself. no one likes a show off, and that is what this section was all about. it was that indie-nose in the air attitude that is way too familiar for this style.

Needless to say my excitement subsided but my entertainment didn’t. this website has shown me that laughter comes from unusual places sometimes. and although i’m a fan of the styles, i’m not a fan of the attitude and that would be bring me right to rebellion in terms of participating in this latest trend.

I recently made a trip to the California state capital,  ”San Fr-” Noooo….Sacramento. I think in a place where 90210, LA, OC and San Francisco come to mind on most travellers to the state, the natives too tend to forget all about that city, you know up there where State Government takes most of its action. My quick trip was mostly enjoyed by the wonderful JDV boutique hotel, The Citizen and it’s restaurant, The Grange. A hip and well styled lobbyist building turned hotel, the rooms each feature artwork by a famous political cartoonist, even the normal not so political guest can understand and appreciate it’s intention. Minus the normal big city bums and the unusual, occassional dead bat I came across, the city was pretty pleasant. Good food and a different big city to explore, I found it to be a quaint and warm big city, which I really didn’t think was possible anywhere. The only thing I found to be off putting was something that registered to be missing in other cities. I’ve been told it is done in Southern California but I’m sure not to this degree. Sacramento is host to a gallery art display in it’s city on the Second Saturday of every month. It is called Second Saturday (More info at 2nd-Sat.com). I’ve seen a glimpse in the dark of the Davis version of this event but was shocked by Sacramento’s version. The galleries open up until 9 and host openings in the evenings. In addition, all the restaurants, stores, and even banks open their doors until 9pm to display art work. There is nothing more interesting than seeing a bank turn into a gallery with the art work on the walls, but what struck me as odd were the kinds of people there. I mean typically your mind travels to the wine-drinking very sociable and calm adult when you think of art purchaser, but this event has grown so large that it felt like one city-run Disneyland in a place that calls it an ‘art event’. I think there was less art purchasing than there were bar crawls (kids and all) or teenage pickup lines. Some streets were blocked off, with cops at guard, and it allowed the teenagers to run wild, crowd together, meet up and most of all LOITER. oh boy! with crowds of people, the steets packed with music, which was actually the highlight of every street corner or alley way, and the people were all going in the same directions. The galleries were full but the price tags still present, no Sold sign in sights…ever! I felt like Vegas had gone to the galleries and the people who couldn’t travel to Reno this weekend decided this could be the next best thing in their town turned big city. It was a disappointment to the art lover, the one who wants to calm and quiet of a typical gallery opening. The city may celebrate success but I only claim shame to this eclectic Sacramento spectacle.

after the closing of a weekend that hosted the Electrical Daisy Carnival in Los Angeles, I am reminded of the comeback that the 90s in making in the year 2009.

it is normal that a modern generation will pull inspiration from an older one; take old ideas like fashion trends and social activities and rework them to fit into society in the current year.  But this new 90s comeback in 2009 is a disgrace to borrowing from the past. Not only has it not been long enough, because lets face it the 90s were here only yesterday, but the revival of the 90s that is coming back isn’t the best of things to bring back.

First, it’s fashion. Plaid is making a rolling comeback in every girly store in the nation. A new, refreshed grunge makes a comeback. With the already established interest in anything “vintage”, plaid plays a perfect role in letting young teenagers feel as though they are being original by taking from the 90s. But really the 90s weren’t that long ago. These clothes can be pulled from your big sister’s closet and you are going to try and pull it off as modern? Ripped jeans and plaid mix for the perfect 90s flashback seen on the modern day teenager.

The trend to attend raves has made its appearance with the young adults/college children of today and I’m not so sure they modernized it in the best way. The modern interpretation of the rave consists of pure drugs. In the 90s, raves were yes social parties where people sometimes did drugs, but more than anything the music was the main attraction. Raves attracted a particular culture of people that were interested in the dance party aspect of a rave. But today it seems that more often that not, the drugs take focus. The centralization of people doing them is attractive, the availability of the drugs makes it easy for experimentation, and the effect that glowsticks and techno can have on tripping out on the drugs  makes the trip that much more enjoyable to the user. Raves were supposed to be about the culture of peace, love, and unity by dance and by music. Now that is not to say that music isn’t there and there aren’t music lovers. The music lovers are there, but probably are high.

The one thing that is good about Raves though is their sustainability of the some of the best musicians and DJs ever. I have to say that I am thankful to the world of raves and the kids who only go to trip out and seem cool on a not so mainstream level. Because if it weren’t for the young teenage girls who dress slutty and only go because they think they are supposed to suck on pacifiers and stare at lights, the DJs wouldn’t be able to stay out of mainstream light and remain in the backlights. If those kids didn’t go to experiment and try to look cool, some of the greatest DJ names might have become sell-outs and their lyrics and sounds might have been destroyed by the average music listener who is always ready to sing along.

Raves do reflect the interest of today’s generation of young people because drugs and alcohol take a large role. The group of rebellious teens seems to be a large one in today’s generation. Youth has taken experimentation to a whole new level and made pre-mature introductions to lives filled with addiction and abuse. Legal drinking age becomes monumental and promotes Vegas as the place for change. Evenso, sometimes they just forget that drinking is illegal because their social activities are so focused around it. They make socializing into shots and with that warped thinking, many other views start tilting. The view of love, relationships, friendships, and people start to find their way to dark places and take home in their minds. And sometimes they have a hard time finding their way out and back into their own minds and way of thinking. Individuality rarely shows itself and the sheep mentality begins to be present itself more often than not.