NonSociety – Live Differently. Julia Allison Internet Enthusiast

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Aug 09, 10 1:48pm

Despite the fact that I wax poetic about my perfectly adorable, unbelievably reliable, energy saving, exercise inducing Mary Poppins (“practically perfect in every way”) of a transportation device, Cupcake, I haven’t actually been called out for being too obsessed … yet.  Alas, I fear the time is nigh, because I’m about to actively admit how ridiculously excited I am about, um …  Cupcake’s new basket liner.

But NOT JUST ANY BASKET LINER, mind you!  A custom made pink heart basket liner from THE basket maker to the bicycle stars - Betty Basket Liners.  Dustin, my man at BeachBikes.com (where I got Cupcake, and her magenta bicycle sister in Chicago, “Pink Petal”) recommended Betty in the summer of 2009, but it took me eleven months to get on my game and email them about what I consider to be the “finishing touch” for my beloved bike.

I connected with Tara, who offered to create a (complimentary) coordinating basket liner that would both hold any loose items I might put in my white metal basket - and, if need be, secure my pup Lilly if we were going for a tandem ride in the park.  I told her that I wanted to continue with the pink heart motif (shock) & she assured me that would be no problem.  In fact, within hours she sent me about 8 swatches, any of which would have been fantastic.  Of course I couldn’t decide.  So we went back & forth discussing the merits of each (this is where the story begins to get pathetic … um … it’s totally normal to spend multiple days debating basket liner fabrics … right??*), and I finally landed upon one I thought was perfect.

She asked for measurements for the white basket, and then, within two weeks, magically, there appeared my basket liner - which fits perfectly and looks even cuter than I had imagined (the giant pink bow certainly doesn’t hurt).  The best part of the basket liner?  The handles built in so you can pop it in and out of your basket & carry it with you as a bag!

Now would be the time to tell you that I’m eagerly anticipating taking Cupcake for a spin with her new Betty, but honestly, I think you get the point.  I love my bike.  Everyone should own one.  And most everyone who owns a bike should probably get a basket.  And most everyone who owns a bike with a basket should probably get a Betty Basket Liner.  :)

*I can’t believe I have to say this, but just in case you wanted to email me angrily about using my time more wisely, please know I am exaggerating for comic effect.   I only spent multiple HOURS thinking about the fabrics.  ;)

Comments

Aug 09, 10 12:18pm
Ever since I read in Ivanka Trump’s book that she uses handwriting software for her correspondence (which look, she claims, remarkably like actual handwritten letters), I’ve wanted to do the same. Super intern Amanda came up with the following options: HandfontFontifierYour Fonts ALL of them are under $10 (!?!) So here’s the question - have any of you actually used these?  Do they work?  Do you love them?  Do you have other suggestions for creating your own “handwriting font”?

Ever since I read in Ivanka Trump’s book that she uses handwriting software for her correspondence (which look, she claims, remarkably like actual handwritten letters), I’ve wanted to do the same.

Super intern Amanda came up with the following options:

Handfont
Fontifier
Your Fonts

ALL of them are under $10 (!?!)

So here’s the question - have any of you actually used these?  Do they work?  Do you love them?  Do you have other suggestions for creating your own “handwriting font”?

Comments

Aug 09, 10 8:59am

Stuff I Learned Today

Oh, hi.

So one of the things I like to do in life is Learn Stuff.  It feels good and it doesn’t require sweating (usually) and sometimes when I break away from obsessively staring at my laptop every six days or so to interact with real people I can tell them about the Stuff I Learned and they will smile and say “Wow, you Learn some new Stuff every day!” and I will smile back and say “Totally! Isn’t Learning Stuff great??” and everyone will be glad they don’t have to write a ten-page essay on it.

Today, whilst doing Very Important Research for a Very Important Not Even Remotely Important Magazine Article I am in the process of writing have been actively thinking about writing, I happened upon The Discovery Channel’s “The Science of Sex Appeal” series.  HELL YEAH, Discovery!  I love this Learning Stuff @#%&!

Especially since I’ve been more or less obsessed with biology’s effect on mating ever since I read Survival of the Prettiest: The Science of Beauty by Nancy Etcoff a decade ago.

Since here at NonSociety we’re all about Sharing Stuff (and, um, nail polish), check out three other works on this subject I highly recommend:

1. the crudely titled but eminently readable guide, Sperm are from Men, Eggs are from Women by Joe Quirk (2006) - (he changed the title for the 2008 paperback to It’s Not You, It’s Biology: The Science of Love, Sex & Relationships)
2. the more restrained but no less intriguing work, Decoding Love: Why it takes 12 Frogs to Find a Prince, and Other Revelations from the Science of Attraction by Andrew Trees (2009)
3. the fairly comprehensive not-your-fifth-grade-sex-manual, How We Do It: How the Science of Sex Can Make You A Better Lover by Judy Dutton (2009)

Here’s the general idea behind all of these tomes, which manages to be both basic - and, as you discover more about the issue, quite revolutionary:

“Sex appeal is not a matter of taste. It’s a biological imperative. Evolution is driving how we pick partners - and science can prove it.  We’re hard wired to read genetic clues in a potential partner’s face, body shape and sway, scent and voice.”

- The Science of Sex Appeal

Bottom line: sexual selection is far, far faster than natural selection - and perhaps more powerful!

“The greatest force in evolution is our turn-ons. Our need to hunt down caribou and forage for berries evolves us much more slowly than whom we choose to sleep with. Our environment built us to run, breathe, eat, squat, throw things, dig for tubers, and find shelter. But men and women bred each toher to be smart, creative, witty, loyal, and beautiful.  … Next time you decide to sleep with someone, remember the whole species is at stake.  If you have sex with a jerk, you’re selecting for jerk genes.”

- It’s Not You, It’s Biology: The Science of Love, Sex & Relationships

See, Learning Stuff will even help you get laid!  Or explain why you’re not …

Comments

Jul 30, 10 7:44pm
Allie is famous for her thank you notes (she writes a thank you note for EVERYTHING, IMMEDIATELY.  You’ll give her a gift and 24 hours later you’ll have a beautifully written thank you note in your mailbox the next day. It’s amazing.) I knew about PhiloSophies by Joanna Alberti, because she had made me “Julia” cards a few years back, and I knew they were adorable and Allie would love them. So I emailed her two photos of Allie & Britt, specifying that I wanted two sets of cards: the first with Allie in red (her favorite color) and Britt in blue (his favorite color), and one set with just Allie, writing a thank you with a little red apple (because she’s a teacher!) I paid $100, and I think it was so worth it - I know Allie will get great joy out of them. And once I have my new address in LA, I plan to have her do moving announcements for me too!

Allie is famous for her thank you notes (she writes a thank you note for EVERYTHING, IMMEDIATELY.  You’ll give her a gift and 24 hours later you’ll have a beautifully written thank you note in your mailbox the next day. It’s amazing.)

I knew about PhiloSophies by Joanna Alberti, because she had made me “Julia” cards a few years back, and I knew they were adorable and Allie would love them.

So I emailed her two photos of Allie & Britt, specifying that I wanted two sets of cards: the first with Allie in red (her favorite color) and Britt in blue (his favorite color), and one set with just Allie, writing a thank you with a little red apple (because she’s a teacher!)

I paid $100, and I think it was so worth it - I know Allie will get great joy out of them.

And once I have my new address in LA, I plan to have her do moving announcements for me too!

Comments

Jul 15, 10 1:24am
jennabee: And now this is my new obsession. Except it only exists in size 6. Girls with man hands like mine don’t get to wear pretty $12,000 rings, I guess. The ring of my dreams.

jennabee:

And now this is my new obsession. Except it only exists in size 6. Girls with man hands like mine don’t get to wear pretty $12,000 rings, I guess.

The ring of my dreams.

Comments

Jul 14, 10 1:25pm
katrinaszish: Got this email from my friends at Nanette Lepore PR today.  LOVE THIS!  Especially the feminine curves and peplum detail. WANT WANT WANT!!!!!!

katrinaszish:

Got this email from my friends at Nanette Lepore PR today.  LOVE THIS!  Especially the feminine curves and peplum detail.

WANT WANT WANT!!!!!!

Comments

Jul 13, 10 5:03pm
nonsocietysobsessions: FLIRT! WITH THE POSSIBILITIES… Summer’s in full force, and NonSociety and FLIRT! Cosmetics want to send you into the season in style.  Here at NS we LOVE all things bright and vibrant (have you seen Julia’s wardrobe?!), and FLIRT! is all about their super colorful makeup line. We want you to be colorful…be creative…and have fun with your makeup this summer!  Like Katrina is with her shoes! So, NonSociety and FLIRT! are giving away FLIRT! prize packs to two lucky readers to perk up their summer makeup.  Prize pack includes FLIRT! It Curl Mascara, Flowerific perfume, and bright, summery shades of eye shadow and lip color. To enter, let us know your favorite color of summer in the comments below:  Do you love yellow daffodils…the clear blue summer sky…freshly cut green grass…the turquoise of the ocean?  Let us know! Winners will be chosen at random by NonSociety and notified by the valid email address entered below along with your comment.  Winners will be announced on NonSociety’s Facebook page, so don’t forget to become a fan!  Contest is open to all US residents, age 18 and over. 

nonsocietysobsessions:

FLIRT! WITH THE POSSIBILITIES…

Summer’s in full force, and NonSociety and FLIRT! Cosmetics want to send you into the season in style.  Here at NS we LOVE all things bright and vibrant (have you seen Julia’s wardrobe?!), and FLIRT! is all about their super colorful makeup line.

We want you to be colorful…be creative…and have fun with your makeup this summer!  Like Katrina is with her shoes!

So, NonSociety and FLIRT! are giving away FLIRT! prize packs to two lucky readers to perk up their summer makeup.  Prize pack includes FLIRT! It Curl Mascara, Flowerific perfume, and bright, summery shades of eye shadow and lip color.

To enter, let us know your favorite color of summer in the comments below:  Do you love yellow daffodils…the clear blue summer sky…freshly cut green grass…the turquoise of the ocean?  Let us know!

Winners will be chosen at random by NonSociety and notified by the valid email address entered below along with your comment.  Winners will be announced on NonSociety’s Facebook page, so don’t forget to become a fan! 

Contest is open to all US residents, age 18 and over. 

Comments

Jul 03, 10 11:20pm
I wanted to see this the other weekend with CD, but we went to Million Dollar Quartet instead (big mistake, but it’s just a Broadway show, so no permanent damage done … except to our wallets.  And our eardrums.) Honestly, “Fly Me to The Moon” was just … unreal.  UNREAL!  Don’t go expecting dialogue - there isn’t any. And forget the plot (other than a lot of, uh, sexual liaisons).  That’s okay: it’s ALL about the dancing, and that was inspired. I basically just spent two hours mesmerized by the dancers’ bodies and Twyla Tharp’s imagination and stunning artistry. If you end up going, email me and let me know if you were just as blown away by it as I was.  (One thing - try to sit up front so you can see all of the dancers’ intricate movements.  We were in the fourth row, and that really wasn’t too close.)

I wanted to see this the other weekend with CD, but we went to Million Dollar Quartet instead (big mistake, but it’s just a Broadway show, so no permanent damage done … except to our wallets.  And our eardrums.)

Honestly, “Fly Me to The Moon” was just … unreal.  UNREAL!  Don’t go expecting dialogue - there isn’t any. And forget the plot (other than a lot of, uh, sexual liaisons).  That’s okay: it’s ALL about the dancing, and that was inspired.

I basically just spent two hours mesmerized by the dancers’ bodies and Twyla Tharp’s imagination and stunning artistry.

If you end up going, email me and let me know if you were just as blown away by it as I was.  (One thing - try to sit up front so you can see all of the dancers’ intricate movements.  We were in the fourth row, and that really wasn’t too close.)

Comments

Jul 01, 10 1:19pm
My new favorite boutique in New York: Roni NYC.  They have four locations, but the biggest (pictured above, taken with my iPhone on Tuesday), is at 44 Prince between Mulberry & Mott. Ryan Darius introduced me to them a few weeks ago, and I fell in love the moment I walked inside the store. They stock their racks almost entirely with pretty little dresses, bought by Roni herself, from places around the world.  As one of my pet peeves is seeing the Exact Same Item at stores from London to Miami to LA to SF to NYC, so being able to purchase a dress (she only buys one or two of each) here with the sense that it’s completely original is an incredible relief. Plus, the price points aren’t ridiculous - dresses go for $150, but they’re having a huge sale now, so they’re as low as $80.  That new little floral I was wearing in the bike shots from the other day?  From Roni.  I’ve barely taken it off since I got it. Anyway, just thought I would share this little gem.  Wish I had known about them sooner!

My new favorite boutique in New York: Roni NYC.  They have four locations, but the biggest (pictured above, taken with my iPhone on Tuesday), is at 44 Prince between Mulberry & Mott.

Ryan Darius introduced me to them a few weeks ago, and I fell in love the moment I walked inside the store.

They stock their racks almost entirely with pretty little dresses, bought by Roni herself, from places around the world.  As one of my pet peeves is seeing the Exact Same Item at stores from London to Miami to LA to SF to NYC, so being able to purchase a dress (she only buys one or two of each) here with the sense that it’s completely original is an incredible relief.

Plus, the price points aren’t ridiculous - dresses go for $150, but they’re having a huge sale now, so they’re as low as $80.  That new little floral I was wearing in the bike shots from the other day?  From Roni.  I’ve barely taken it off since I got it.

Anyway, just thought I would share this little gem.  Wish I had known about them sooner!

Comments

Jun 23, 10 2:32am
Lisa on Nonsociety: Birthday dinner for the husband at Del Frisco’s. The food here, especially the cheesecake, is incredible!!! I am sadly obsessed with Del Frisco’s … their mac & cheese should be illegal.  It’s a little cheesy to like them, because they’re midtown and cater to a strange subset of mostly-male-financial-here-on-a-business-trip-with-a-moderate-expense-account-banker-types, plus they tend to use - minimum - three sticks of butter per dish.  But DAMN the food is delicious. (Credit to another one of our NonSociety contributors, Lisa!)

Lisa on Nonsociety:

Birthday dinner for the husband at Del Frisco’s. The food here, especially the cheesecake, is incredible!!!

I am sadly obsessed with Del Frisco’s … their mac & cheese should be illegal.  It’s a little cheesy to like them, because they’re midtown and cater to a strange subset of mostly-male-financial-here-on-a-business-trip-with-a-moderate-expense-account-banker-types, plus they tend to use - minimum - three sticks of butter per dish.  But DAMN the food is delicious.

(Credit to another one of our NonSociety contributors, Lisa!)

Comments

Jun 04, 10 12:43pm
Dress above from Stop Staring From: Reader C.Date: June 3, 2010 10:21:09 AM EDTTo: julia@nonsociety.comSubject: Style Question!Hey Julia! I am addicted to your blog and think you have great taste in clothing!  I feel that I have similar style to you, but lately I have not been able to find many pieces that are both exciting and reasonably priced at the shops I usually gravitate toward. Specifically, I have a few cocktail parties and events coming up that require dresses and was wondering if you could suggest a few stores to look at?  I also live in New York, so physical shops or websites or whatever would be a great help!Thank you!! Hi there!  Well, first of all, thank you.  I think I can at least offer a few suggestions … My style is girly-preppy-fun, a sort of Betsey Johnson meets Charlotte York.  More than anything, I hate boring!  Why wear a dress if it’s not going to make you smile? As such, my favorite designers tend to be the aforementioned Betsey Johnson, DVF, Alice + Olivia, as well as the ineffable (but unaffordable!) Oscar de la Renta, Naeem Khan, and Carolina Herrera. Here is how I accumulate much of my wardrobe: 1. Old fashioned sample sales: I buy much of my designer wardrobe on sample sale (I have over 25 DVFs, most, but unfortunately not all, I bought on sale).  Most of my Alice + Olivia dresses (I probably have 15) were $100 each, as opposed to the $300-$500 they regularly cost in department stores. 2. Lower-priced designer lines: I’m addicted to Aqua by Bloomingdales, where the dresses rarely run over $100 and are frequently cute & fun.  I also (infamously) like Delias & Alloy, where you can occasionally find a cute little sundress that doesn’t look cheap for $50.  And yes, I still shop at American Apparel, where I just got three tutus I plan to wear as skirts for $70 a pop. 3. Online: Stop Staring (pictured above) has unique dresses in shapes from the 40s & 50s (which I prefer above today’s styles!) and if you have a few more dollars in your bank account, I die over most of the finds at Posh Girl Vintage. 4. Custom: Although I’ve definitely bought a few items from their sample sales, I regularly order dresses for events from Chloe & Reese, because you can get EXACTLY what you want, from the color to the shape to the fit.  It’s like having your own personal couture atelier. 5. Rent: Because sometimes you don’t want to repeat a dress, it does make sense to rent.  I used to borrow from Ilus-NYC, but they’ve now closed, and Rent the Runway is my new favorite spot.  You just select a gown at a fraction of the retail, they ship it to you for a few days, you wear it, then pop it in the envelope and send it back! (Full disclosure: they generously provide me with dresses gratis.) 6. Shoes: I’m newly obsessed with Bakers, where I just bought four pairs of delicious platform heels.  Of course there’s also Zappos & Aldo & Nine West, and if you’re feeling decadent, Bergdorf’s. ;) I’m sure I’ve forgotten a million places, but as I remember them, I’ll update this.  Thanks for asking! And readers, if you have suggestions for best online shops or little finds I don’t know about … let me know!  Julia@NonSociety.com

Dress above from Stop Staring

From: Reader C.
Date: June 3, 2010 10:21:09 AM EDT
To: julia@nonsociety.com
Subject: Style Question!

Hey Julia!

I am addicted to your blog and think you have great taste in clothing!  I feel that I have similar style to you, but lately I have not been able to find many pieces that are both exciting and reasonably priced at the shops I usually gravitate toward.

Specifically, I have a few cocktail parties and events coming up that require dresses and was wondering if you could suggest a few stores to look at?  I also live in New York, so physical shops or websites or whatever would be a great help!
Thank you!!

Hi there!  Well, first of all, thank you.  I think I can at least offer a few suggestions …

My style is girly-preppy-fun, a sort of Betsey Johnson meets Charlotte York.  More than anything, I hate boring!  Why wear a dress if it’s not going to make you smile?

As such, my favorite designers tend to be the aforementioned Betsey Johnson, DVF, Alice + Olivia, as well as the ineffable (but unaffordable!) Oscar de la Renta, Naeem Khan, and Carolina Herrera.

Here is how I accumulate much of my wardrobe:

1. Old fashioned sample sales: I buy much of my designer wardrobe on sample sale (I have over 25 DVFs, most, but unfortunately not all, I bought on sale).  Most of my Alice + Olivia dresses (I probably have 15) were $100 each, as opposed to the $300-$500 they regularly cost in department stores.

2. Lower-priced designer lines: I’m addicted to Aqua by Bloomingdales, where the dresses rarely run over $100 and are frequently cute & fun.  I also (infamously) like Delias & Alloy, where you can occasionally find a cute little sundress that doesn’t look cheap for $50.  And yes, I still shop at American Apparel, where I just got three tutus I plan to wear as skirts for $70 a pop.

3. Online: Stop Staring (pictured above) has unique dresses in shapes from the 40s & 50s (which I prefer above today’s styles!) and if you have a few more dollars in your bank account, I die over most of the finds at Posh Girl Vintage.

4. Custom: Although I’ve definitely bought a few items from their sample sales, I regularly order dresses for events from Chloe & Reese, because you can get EXACTLY what you want, from the color to the shape to the fit.  It’s like having your own personal couture atelier.

5. Rent: Because sometimes you don’t want to repeat a dress, it does make sense to rent.  I used to borrow from Ilus-NYC, but they’ve now closed, and Rent the Runway is my new favorite spot.  You just select a gown at a fraction of the retail, they ship it to you for a few days, you wear it, then pop it in the envelope and send it back! (Full disclosure: they generously provide me with dresses gratis.)

6. Shoes: I’m newly obsessed with Bakers, where I just bought four pairs of delicious platform heels.  Of course there’s also Zappos & Aldo & Nine West, and if you’re feeling decadent, Bergdorf’s. ;)

I’m sure I’ve forgotten a million places, but as I remember them, I’ll update this.  Thanks for asking!

And readers, if you have suggestions for best online shops or little finds I don’t know about … let me know!  Julia@NonSociety.com

Comments

Jun 02, 10 11:34pm
Style Me Pretty: The most brilliant wedding inspiration website on the web. My mom & I just spent thirty minutes ooing & ahhhing over the creativity showcased there … it’s inspiring whether you’re planning a wedding, a garden party, or just a daydream (that would be me!)

Style Me Pretty: The most brilliant wedding inspiration website on the web.

My mom & I just spent thirty minutes ooing & ahhhing over the creativity showcased there … it’s inspiring whether you’re planning a wedding, a garden party, or just a daydream (that would be me!)

Comments

Jun 02, 10 8:59pm
Totally and utterly obsessed with these orange Bonobos trousers (especially after meeting the co-founder emeritus - a Princeton alum - at Reunions last weekend … and having him shove me into a shrub.  Long story.)

Totally and utterly obsessed with these orange Bonobos trousers (especially after meeting the co-founder emeritus - a Princeton alum - at Reunions last weekend … and having him shove me into a shrub.  Long story.)

Comments