I'm back

It started with a Tweet.

@diabolina I miss your blog! Please write again soon 🙏#fanfrommanila
— leeleeput (@msbyuds) August 2, 2013

Followed by a Pinterest comment on my pin about the existential crisis that is blogging ;)

Two little interactions. Two tiny moments of connectedness. Two lovely instances of my soul dancing with strangers in cyberspace.

Made me remember what blogging felt like: befriending women around the world through my writing. Sharing. Creating. Feeling known. Inspiring. Making people smile, feel, think, cry and of course, shop ;)

I remembered that for four years of my life this blog was a whole thing. It was my thing. Blogging was therapy, exhibitionism, creativity and escape - all rolled in to one.

It's been hard to admit why I stopped blogging last year. The truth is that I lost my self there for a while. In my grandmother's death, in work. I questioned what I was doing with my life and even more devastating, I doubted my voice.

I retreated from fun and fashion and writing. Which left me sad and frumpy and voiceless. Not a good look on anyone – especially a fashion blogger.

It's taken me most of 2013 but I'm starting to feel like myself again. Change is in the air. I even give a fuck about shoes again. Mental note: Blanche is always right.

So how do I catch up on nearly a year of blogging? Not entirely sure. Feels like the format should evolve. Blathering on about my daily outfits seems soooooo 2008 ;)

As a lady of (gulp!) 36, I think it's more about sharing the big life "ahas" with some food and fashion porn mixed in. Kinda like this:

Life

My mom took me to Europe the summer after I got my Master's degree. Then I blinked and TWELVE years passed! So this summer, I finally returned the favor.

Not so fun back story: During my entire career, I've never taken more than 5 days off in a row. So no "big" overseas trips. Biggest regret of my 20s.

My grandmother dying was a huge wake up call. Made me finally understand that tomorrow is not guaranteed. That, in an instant, the things you put off can become regrets.  And that my (hilarious) mother may not always be this healthy...

So why not watch the fucking Eiffel Tower twinkle together more often than once a decade. It's like it took all the pain of my grandma's death to remind me that I was alive.

And guess who got in on Europa con nosotras? Yep, the man, the myth himself: Mr. Diabolina. It was our first time there together.

Trying to go through 1,500 pictures from Europe is #bougieproblems central. Here's one fave in Bruges pic.twitter.com/J1rrS6Zu4t
— Diabolina (@diabolina) July 17, 2013

He never took real vacations from the firm either. Ugh to both of us type As.

For most of this year, he's been negotiating his own career transition, wrestling his own darkness and emerging a healthier, happier man for it. I've never been prouder of him.

And, um, babies are suddenly everywhere around us right now.

If there's a baby in the room, this is where you'll find me pic.twitter.com/uS0EBtVNfQ
— Diabolina (@diabolina) June 1, 2013

Especially in our heads.

It's shocking but, for the first time in my adult life, I can actually picture myself as someone's mother. I think that's yet another by-product of losing one of the women that raised you. You want a piece of you back. You think about your legacy. You long for connections that promise forever.  

LOVE how much my godson & I look alike when we smile...and how unimpressed his sister is with us #shade&sequins pic.twitter.com/dOrFD5w5Rf
— Diabolina (@diabolina) August 13, 2013

No decisions have been made either way but it feels good to approach it head-on as a conscious choice. Stay tuned. (It's my mom's favorite channel, btw.)

Food

Celebrated my birthday dinner at the new vegetarian hot spot Crossroads with our favorite hot vegetarian architect.

Go to there even if you're a carnivore. Super creative uses of vegetables that recreate the textures of meat and seafood and cheese. The "crab cakes" are a must.

We also went to the Polo Lounge at the Beverly Hills Hotel for brunch that weekend. Hadn't been in nearly two decades. Too many memories of my dad, who had a clothing store there back in the day.

Mama looks like SHE's turning 36 pic.twitter.com/17ow7Zxozo
— Diabolina (@diabolina) July 28, 2013

Highly recommend for the old Hollywood glam...with a major side of French toast.

Fashion

So I get an F for hardly shopping in Europe.

After 2 weeks in Europe, I only bought 2 pairs of shoes & a few trinkets. HUGE restraint on my part #growingup pic.twitter.com/i3cQ49N52s
— Diabolina (@diabolina) July 9, 2013

Trying to make up for it with a belated birthday spree. Gave my tootsies a treat in mixed prints. Courtesy of Loeffler Randall. Obsessed in love with this brand. Comfortable, chic and reasonable...well, on sale they are.

Another yummy that I'm newly stalking: Bionda Castana. You're welcome.

BC fans send us their holiday photos :) Keep them coming... pic.twitter.com/KrUapN35nj
— biondacastana.com (@BiondaCastana) August 7, 2013

Pondering a new bag too. Was leaning toward a classic Balenciaga in a poppy, girly color because I have all the boring basics covered.

Then these two edgier Phillip Lims (for significantly less) got stuck in my lusty head. 

Confession: Increasingly obsessed with leopard and fur. Also fake eyelashes and bronzer. The transition to full drag queen is almost complete.

Feel like a woman, wear a braided gold lamé headband to jury duty
— RuPaul (@RuPaul) August 14, 2013

But I'm going to hold off on buying a bag until Phillip Lim for Target hits stores. Seems like it's going to be the best Tarjay collab since Missoni, riiiiiight????

Officially can't wait for 9/15! Loving every look at the #PhillipLimForTarget preview. https://t.co/zeiJTBt69r
— A Bullseye View (@ABullseyeView) August 12, 2013

So what's new wit-chooo?

xoxo

The day I met the Olsen twins

Happy 2013!!

Kicking off the new year with the story behind one of my fashion highlights of 2012.

It started with a text from my sister from another mister, Jean Bean, that simply read: "Can you interview the Olsen twins?" Just like that. Just like interviewing THOSE Michelle-Tanner-turned-mini-moguls is no big deal. 

For a hot second, I tried to roll like it was no big deal too...but my mom quickly called bullshit. She was MUY excited. On the morning of the interview, she sent me a crazed text, demanding I send her photos with the twins. Who knew she was an MKA super fangirl? Must be a mutual tiny people admiration society thing.

I'd be interviewing Mary Kate and Ashley before an unpublicized appearance at NM Beverly Hills for The Row, the high end label they created a few years ago. Instead of a trunk show, they typically do in-store appearances that are more one-on-one sessions with clients. I think the only thing more surreal than interviewing the Olsen twins for your bff-slash-editor would be to show up at Neiman Marcus and get styled by them in the middle of the store floor in front of God and everyone. Can you imagine?



I got to Neiman's early and was ushered into a green room/fur salon. Fitting, I thought, since the Olsen ladies unapologetically love 'em some fur. While I waited for them to arrive, I chatted up two women who work with the Olsens on The Row and one who works with them on all their ventures.  All three were lovely, articulate and self-effacing. Always impressed by ladies who surround themselves with awesome ladies – in life and work. Feel like there are too few of us who do ;)



When the twins finally arrived and we were introduced, I think I had an out of body experience. It was beyond ODD to see these larger-than-life-mythical-creatures I've seen for decades standing there in front of me, shaking my hand, looking just plain normal, unassuming and young.

I was super struck by how tiny they were. To say they are petite in person is an understatement. I somehow wasn't prepared for it and felt very protective of them in an I'm-tall-enough-to-be-your-mother way.

You can check out my entire interview with the Olsens here on NM Daily
but here are a few more tidbits:

• They are both extremely soft spoken. To the point that I was worried my iPhone voice memo would not be audible even though I held it about a foot away from them.

• Ashley has a very open, sparkly energy about her that draws you in. I know it sounds obnoxious  but she definitely has that "glow" people talk about when they meet magnetic, famous types.
  
  For examples, she zeroed in on me the moment we sat down and asked me if I was based in Dallas or LA. I told her LA because I only freelance for NM and work full-time for Twitter.

Her eyes widened and she asked me what I did for Twitter. I told her and she said it must be "super interesting" to work there, holding eye contact and seeming actually interested. I said it was...most days...that it's just another new brand seeing if it can make it for the long haul.

(Earlier, I had a very interesting exchange about how social media is redefining celebrity with one of the women who works for the twins. She told me that the twins aren't into social media for themselves ["very private people"], but their Stylemint and Olsenboye lines definitely leverage their fan base on social sites.)

• While Ashley was super talkative throughout the 20 minute interview, Mary Kate took a while to warm up. Her answers were more clipped at first, guarded, cautious. Her whole energy was definitely more serious and wary. Must have been hard to grow up in such an intense spotlight. You likely either internalize it (i.e. that glow Ashley has) or you retreat from it. 

• Both women were extremely thoughtful. I was impressed with how knowledgeable they were about the business side of The Row. They were also very focused on emphasizing how hard they work: that they are in the office every day, that the CFDA award for womenswear (they were the youngest winners ever) makes them want to work even harder. Love.

But my favorite exchange was this one – during which they finished each other's sentences and looked at each other affectionately the whole time:

Me: The two of you have worked together your entire lives. How has that working

relationship evolved over the past few years with The Row?

Ashley: I do feel lucky that I have a partner. You definitely feel like you have someone…

Mary Kate: To bounce ideas off of...

Ashley: Definitely. And we’re so used to working with one another that we always have the same ultimate goals and the same vision. It’s nice to have a sounding board...

Mary Kate: It’s also been really nice to be surrounded by the creative people and the business people we work with on The Row. I feel like we’ve grown together and challenge each other, challenge processes. We face problems together – good problems and bad problems – and get through them in the most educated way. A lot of that, I think, comes through communication and talking though situations to get to the best solution and end product.

As the interview wrapped up, some tea and coffee arrived. They waited for me to finish before they helped themselves. They also apologized for being tired, gesturing to their faces. I told them they sounded very articulate and that I didn't want to hear them complain about their faces. Told them to wait 'til they were 35 and then talk to me about looking tired. They laughed and I think I detected a hint of surprise/horror at my age. 

On the way out, I asked for a photo for my mom and they said of course, "anything for mom." I told them that she was apparently a big fan, that who knew they had a 63 year-old Guatemalan lady demographic. They laughed and said that was "great to hear."  Super lovely kittens. 

Super lovely opportunity thanks to my Trojan twin!

The Outfit

Elizabeth and James top

J Brand jeans

Club Monaco anorak

The Accessories

Chanel bag

Kate Spade heels
Dita sunglasses

Hautelook necklace and bracelet

The Grade

D 

The Commentary

What does one wear to meet street style stars extraordinaire turned designers when one is feeling LARGE from Thanksgiving and tragically unfashionable from working in tech? If you are me, you turn to your friend, the Internet, for inspiration. Checked out what the twins had been spotted in recently. Even found a photo of Ashley arriving at the airport the day of the interview looking travel classic chic. 

Thought about similar dark trousers. Or liquid leggings. All black, maybe a camel coat with Louboutin nude heels. But then thought Id look like the stalker I am and just decided to keep things casual. Threw together a look around the one Elizabeth and James top I own and did matching lips and spiky necklace.




 Added the sparkly Dorothy shoes I've been living in this winter.




Fine look for work at Twitter. Not so much at Neiman Marcus where everyone was dressed to the nines when I got there. Doh. Thankfully the twins weren't. Both were art-school chic in all black layers. Ashley was wearing sneakers. 

She had on this super cool The Row sweater with a faint sparkly palm tree print. Very subtle, very chic.   

Mary Kate was in skinny leather pants and flat boots.



Should have gone all black, always safe, always chic...
also should not have ruined the picture for my mom by looking blind. F.