Fashion photography

Fashion photography is a foreign language class. 

YES, technically it is in English, but all the overwhelming analog/film jargon has put me in a steadfast state of confusion... being as I have NEVER taken film photography. Being as the syllabus used the phrase "or" when stating: you need a digital camera OR a film camera, I assumed both weren't necessary. 

Well the joke's on me. It is. So is the knowledge of how to develop and print film photographs. I must admit I've always wanted to learn film photography...however a little tutorial would have been nice. 

Today was our first portfolio. 

Through our experience here in Florence, Hil and I have realized two things: 

Hilliary hates being behind the camera

I hate being in front of it

Therefore, Hilliary will be featured in most all future and present photos

CIAO!

Missing: Fashion Week.

This weekend Maria, Hilliary, Cameron, and I planned a trip to Milan during fashion week. As most shows are invite-only, we were simply content roaming the streets, experiencing the fervor, doing a little shopping, and perhaps crashing an industry after-party or two. In honor of Milan fashion week, we also decided to indulge a bit and booked a 4-star hotel with plans of using their spa. (my mind was dead set on a hot stone massage)

This was the plan. A simple weekend of effortless glamour.

(*please see reference at the bottom for details)

Saturday

7ish AM: Quick burst of cardio to give us energy for the day (1*)

8:30 AM: board our Eurostar train to Milan.

10:50 AM: Each our Baci chocolate then arrive in Milan (2*)

11ish AM: take a taxi to a beautiful part of Milan (3*)

11:30ish AM: take a taxi to our hotel. Decide that we don't have time for the spa (4*)

Afternoon: take a taxi to the center(5*)/Duomo. Take some photos. Walk around(6*). Buy a skirt. walk around. Go inside the Duomo. Buy wine(7*). Take a taxi back to the hotel. Shower (8*). Read (9*)

Night: get ready. Have a glass of wine. Take a taxi to a fashionable area in Milan recommended by the receptionist (10*). Eat at an Argentinean restaurant (11*). Exhausted (12*). Get Grom (13*). See really cute shops (14*).Take a taxi back to the hotel. Read. Pass out (15*)

Sunday

9:30 AM: wake up refreshed

10:00 AM: Eat breakfast in the restaurant (16*)

10:30 AM: get dressed (17*)

12:30 PM: decide against cardio. Board our train.

2:50 PM: return safely and decide on Zoe for apertivo

REFERENCE

1*- In light of fashion week, we were 15 minutes fashionably later to the train station than intended. After hastily purchasing tickets, we realized our platform was at the opposite end of where we were. So we sprinted. In this lengthy moment of unbearable heat, I was met with an epiphany: chunky boots and a silk sheath dress should not be worn for any future athletic activity. 1) Regardless of how much you need it, silk ignore the need for air circulation. 2) thick-soled footwear + heavy shoulder bag continuously falling off/hitting your back = waddle-jog. Once at the platform, we realized the train was late. When Maria point out that we were the only one's waiting for the "late" train to Milan, we exchanged our tickets for the later Eurostar.

2*- Inside each Baci chocolate wrapper is a quote. While the rest of us had cheesy metaphors about love, Hilliary's quote stated "Bigamy is the product of having one wife too many. Monogamy is the same". Due to Hil's view on marriage and love, we found this quite fitting.

3*- When we got to the taxi line, no one seemed to know of MiHotel, our fabulous hotel. When I mentioned the name of the street, they scoffed and denied this road existed. Finally, one of the drivers said he did know of our hotel. It was brand new, and in a very nice part of Milan. So off we went...to the wrong hotel. Fun fact of the day: Mia Hotel is not MiHotel. Realizing we had the number, our taxi driver called the hotel and told us 1) it was on the opposite side of the city he took us to 2)it was on the street I though it was, I just pronounced it wrong 3) he wouldn't refund us for taking us far away from where we needed. So we got out and had Mia Hotel call us a cab to MiHotel.

4*-Upon arrival we were given complimentary cappuccinos and given early check-in. Tired and ready for a little pampering I asked if there was any availability for 4 massages. No. why? -because our hotel was incredibly modern...in every sense. Not only is the furniture very contemporary, Mihotel is a newborn, 2 months to be exact. Ergo, massage appointments were quite hard to come by, as the spa was currently a construction site. Dating a business major, I should have been more attentive to the fact that all the images (including the ones of the spa, obviously) on MiHotel were "stock photos". Nevertheless, to make up for their t.b.d. spa, MiHotel boasts the most incredible complimentary buffet from 7-11. Smoked salmon, freshly sliced fruit, pound cake, cheeses, breads, juice, granola...UH the list just goes and goes. Although we arrived after 11, MiHotel kindly let us dig in anyway.

5*- ask the taxi to take us to the fashion center. He takes us to the city center. But we get to see the Duomo, which is breathtaking.

6*-Curious to find the show tents, we ask a saleswoman in UCB where to go. First, we are told Milan is far different from London and NY and that shows are scattered. There are no tents, but rather unmarked locations strewn about. Second, the blog I read online and prayed was wrong...was true: the fashion week sched. has changed and it was over.

7*- Best wine I've ever tasted. I wrote down the producer on a piece of paper at MiHotel. Forgot to take it. Shocking.

8*- Oh the shower. Excuse me, the massage shower. High pressure (not to mention consistent), with multiple shower heads: 1 above, 1 handheld, and many tiny ones that went all the way down. My 50 minute shower at MiHotel definitely made up for my 0 minute massage.

9*- Clad in an over-sized MiHotel robe, of course

10*- hipster hangout. Ripped jeans, leather, bedhead hair, and a constant lingering of cigarette fumes. It was definitely a cool place...if perhaps I had dressed accordingly and brought a Machiavelli novel and blanket. But instead, I walked out of the cab looking pretentious in a strapless vibrant multi-colored maxi dress.

11*- Famished and turned away from a sushi restaurant for not having an appointment, we decided upon an Argentinean restaurant. It only served meat. Hil is a vegetarian. We decide to stay anyway and have 3 veggie apps and a bottle of wine.

12*- Realize we only want to go out because it was what we planned. We didn't know where to go. We were stuck in indie-ville. We were tired. We decided to go home

13*- The best gelato shop EVER. Get Crema di Grom ("crunchy crunchy" as we call it) in in a cone. delish!

14*- Realized how much we loved the area we were in (minus our uptown party garb) decided we wanted to come back and peek into some of the stores. Found out everything there is closed on Sunday.

15*- set the AC to freezing, and melted into the pillow top mattress and down comforter

16*-best breakfast EVER. SO SO SO good, and FO FREE!!

In writing, this weekend was a disaster. But if I was disappointed about anything, it was that I didn't take another 50 minute shower before we checked out.

Milan was crazy, and everything I didn't expect. But I loved it. We have decided that our life is one big comedy.

Milan was definitely one of the funniest episodes yet.

CIAO,

Jenna

Crazy for Chandeliers

After many nights of wrong directions, getting lost, and giving up....we finally found the Shot Cafe!

One glance at ceiling and all the frustration we endured to get us there became worth it. Chandeliers dripping with multi-colored crystal, glass, and even disco balls hung fabulously above our heads. For the girl who plans on having a chandelier in her bathroom, the Shot Cafe was my heart's desire.

Alphabetically organized and neatly bound, the menu consisted of shot-sized mixed drinks with the most outrageous titles like duck fart, sex in a tree, girl scout cookie, and many many MANY more.

What was supposed to be a one-stop night, of course (like most nights) became a bar hop.

1) shots cafe

2) meet 2 girls from Rome who want to know where Twice is. Appalled that they were recommended such a sleazy and Americanized place, we decided they absolutely must join our clan.

3) take them to Oibo, our first and favorite bar in all of Firenze. Introduce them to Dario the bartender.

4) Go to Rex. While it was calm and almost quiet the first time we went, it was now crazy, packed, and OH- a saturday.

5) walk back from Rex. Famished. Go to the Secret Bakery. Introduce John, the baker, to our new friends.

6) Go home. Find Alison asleep and sprawled out on Maria's bed. Have my first Florentine slumber party.

7)Go to sleep.

Fanastic night. Fabulous and spontaneous.

But a girl can only have so much fun. And I am exhausted. And will not be appearing out past 8 for the rest of the week.

CIAO,

Jenna

More than horses...

Oh and about my unusual comment below the sunflowers, I included a link. I get too excited about all that is Siena to attempt explaining it myself!

http://www.ilpalio.org/palioenglish.htm

Please enjoy my new theme song. Thanks.

CIAO,

Jenna

Delight on a Morning Stroll

Today was our first Saturday at the Diner. Usually reserved as our hangover haven, it was much more enjoyable eating our breakfast fully awake and ready to move into the day.

On a Sunday, the Diner is followed by a nap. Today, we continued on to the market for fresh food. We also picked up fresh flowers for our flat.

Empty wine bottles + Hilliary's knack for flower design= a cheap and fabulous transformation to our ity bity kitchen!

I love Saturdays!!

CIAO,

Jenna

Siena is my lover.

I am a unicorn.

...I will explain further once I get my computer charger.

CIAO,

Jenna

HI. I COOK NOW.

As Cameron so eloquently put: "Ya I cook. I make a mean funfetti cake."

More or less that was the extent of my cooking capabilities. Until yesterday.

At precisely 7:00 (as our sheet said DO NOT BE LATE) Apicius: The Culinary Institute of Florence, hosted its first of two cooking classes for ACCENT students. At precisely 7:11 Maria, Hilliary, Cameron, and I arrived. To our defense the directions are very vague and nearly half the street are unmarked.

Upon arrival, we recieved folders with recipes and tid bits of other info, as well as the timeless culinary accessory: our very own, top-of-the-line muslin apron...which we proceeded to wear into the night.

Our meal we were to prepare:

Potato gnocchi with Sicilian pesto

Chicken Cacciatore

Biscotti di Prato (Almond cookies)

I was one in charge of the gnocchi. This job consisted of peeling boiled potatoes, putting them into this masher contraption, and squeezing down as the potato oozed out like little worms. We then added 2 eggs yokes, in which i was in charge of separating from the whites. (It was later decided that egg separating was my newfound natural talent) Then with a bit of flour, Maria used her hands to mix it all together. Thanks to this class I know understand why italians cook with such passion: they immerse themselves..and fingers in it :)

After mixed into a big blob, we rolled little pieces into balls and VOILA: gnocchi!

After everyone finished making each course we set the table and dug into our homemade meal. When told that we could not bring any of the food home with us (due to insurance policies) I casually and oh-so secretly stuffed the left over biscotti into my purse! My roommates thanked me.

In conclusion I can really only say one thing: I COOK NOW.

haha

CIAO,

Jenna

The tragedy of having good taste.

Barolo: King of Italian red wines.

From: Made in Serralunga d' Alba, Piemonte of Nebbiolo grapes.

Producer: Fontanafredda

Body: Thick-legged, robust, oaky

Color: red garnet (red with small orange reflections)

VERDICT:The best wine I've ever tasted ...too bad the price of a good age is $6,000.

The Good Stuff...is in Firenze.

First Train. First vacation. First mistake.

It is never wise to go to a beach town when the last day of summer was the day before you arrived. If we had known, we would have chosen Ibiza.

Remini in the summer is a big beach town with endless rows of umbrellas and chairs lining the oceanside. However, this weekend maybe 1 per 200 chairs were vacated.

Remini in the summer is hopping with nightlife and even boasts one of the top discos in all of Europe. However, this weekend each bar/club was filled with sleezy 16 year olds and drugged out go-go dancers who moved at a ghostly pace.

Remini in the summer is HOT. This weekend it was FREEZING.

Yet we did not let this get us down. Instead we snuggled up in our towels and drank wine to warm our shivering bodies. By 2 p.m. we were warm and happy.

We ate dinner at a chic restaurant that overlooked a marina and served some of the best seafood I've ever tasted.

After dinner and in search of a fun bar, we stumbled upon The Grand Hotel. Apparently one must pack only ballgowns, for that was the only garment guests were wearing when we peaked inside the lobby. Right beyond the Grand Hotel gardens was some kind of Italian movie set. Alison and I creeped, paparazzi style, and secretly snapped a few photos.

Moving from the hotel, we stopped at an outdoor bar for beer and comedy. "The Good Stuff" or as they pronounced "Good-A Stuff-A", was an Italian cover band that for the most part successfully sang only American rock songs. While some of the wording was a little off, they were very serious about the music, and made for a great kick to the night.

Trying to find a dance club was a total bust as the only people still around for night life were men who had lost all their hair, or boys who had yet to grow any. The only women we saw we two barely conscious go-go dancers. Ergo the decision to call it a night was unanimous.

Although day one turned out to be quite entertaining, the thought of staying through Sunday night seemed a bit much. Instead, we packed our bags, checked out early and came home to Firenze. Its definitely a good feeling when you miss a foreign city you've only called home for 2 weeks.

Drinks at Moyo and a handful of new friends, we found coming home to be very rewarding.

CIAO,

Jenna

Staying on my toes, looking down, and avoiding dog poop.

Sophia eau de toilette (sp?)

Our new lunch restaurant where they cut fresh vegetables for your salad and you can spray as much balsamic as you want.

Having wine for lunch.

Wearing exactly what I want.

Going Remini to lay on the beach for the weekend...and I'm leaving in a few hours.

Being Italian.

....these are a few of my favorite things.

When pigeons attack me after I drop pepperoni at my feet

When I step in poop because Italian's don't pick up after their dogs

I simply remember my favorite things and then I don't feel so bad.

CIAO,

Jenna

Quotes of the Day

"I found the English Italian movie theater, and it's showing Indigenous Bastards." -Hilliary Latham.

"Fashion is an insidious profession. In art, it is what sex appeal is to love." -Our fashion photography teacher Franchesco.

"My wife, she left me."

"That happens with you heteros."

"that would make you....that's a sin against God's law. He made the whole universe perfect. The oceans, the skies, the beautiful flowers."

"That's right. He's a decorator." -(from the trailer of Woody Allen's new film Whatever Works)

"I would never live anywhere but Texas." (Maria)

"See you can actually say that since you've seen so much of the world" (me)

"I know. I've seen like every single COUNTRY in the US. I know my shit." (Maria)

HAHAHAHA. (after Maria came home from happy hour)...moments ago.

FINALLY.

FINALLY. I HAVE INTERNET.

So obviously much has happened since the last 2 posts. I am the last of the roommates to finally get internet, and have decided going back and updating is a fairly overwhelming task. One in which I am choosing not to do :)Instead I've included a few photos to sum up unwritten events!

xx-

Jenna

Counting to 21!

It was crowded and I was trying to find someone I had never met before. I was weaving in between clusters of Italians in tuxedos and Gucci gowns, asking for information of this mystery person, but no one could speak English. With sudden realization I remembered that I needed to meet another person on the balcony. As I began racing up the stairs, I abruptly awoke to the sound of Hilliarys voice....far too disoriented to function. We had 20 minutes until we needed to be on the steps of the Duomo to meet Larry and his wife.

Surprisingly we arrived at 8:55, five minutes early. Unfortunately Larry had told us to meet him at 10. Not 9. We reasoned however, that being an hour early was in fact better than being on time and proceeded to stay upbeat about our promptness.

Lar, his wife and Sarah Noles (sp?), a recent grad from TCU who now lives in Florence, took us up to Fiesole. Oh ps- Sarah was a French minor, who chose Italy over France. what what! Anyway, Fiesole is this beautiful little town in the hills above Florence. Although it was much bigger and prestigious than Florence 400 years ago, this little town is now a peaceful rejuvenation from the madness of the city. Lar took us into an outside “museum” so to speak, that boasted incredible views of little countryside towns (note: one of which Salvatore Ferraegamo designs and creates his shoes) as well as some ancient bathes and a theater hall. Contrasted against the historical architecture was a vivid contemporary sculpture that added an interesting element to the scene.

After some photo musings, we climbed an oh-so steep cobblestone road to the most outrageous view of Florence. Lar told us about the history of some of the buildings and encouraged us to donate a villa to TCU when we start making our fortunes.

After Lar bid adieu, the 7 of us roamed around to grab lunch. Star-struck by fresh produce, Maria and I each ate a ridiculous ripe tomato and shared a box of wild strawberry. No words. After Fiesole, some of us went to one of the super tiny grocery stores to get some food for our apartments. It was only after walking out with 2-3 huge bags each, that we realize the difference in market culture. Unlike most of the US, where grocery stores are a good 5 minute drive, Florentines have at least 2 in a 5 minute walking distance. So whereas Americans stock up as if preparing for hibernation, Italians buy food when they need new ingredients for a meal. I also believe this to be the reason Italians are so skinny: no opportunity to snack.

Embodying the typical fat American, we dragged our heavy bags home and now have a delectable fridge of cheeses, fruits, wine, and prosciutto. :)

My birthday extravaganza was perhaps the best birthday experience I have had to date. Let me begin with a delicious dinner courtesy of Mary and Harry (not Larry). Not only was this dinner accompanied with wine (Harry scoffed at the notion that TCU should restrict us from the drink of Italy’s culture), it also came complete with a pink birthday candle in tiramisu. A gesture I found very heartwarming. A great way to start off the evening.

Proceeding our quaint dinner was as follows:

1)free shots at Obio

2)wine and convo at Claire, Cam, Katie, and Allison’s flat

3)more free shots at Obio

4)TAKEN scare (see bottom for details)

5)long lost walk to Glass, in which it was determined that everyone knew everyone that everyone knew. shocking.

6)finally found Eddy along with his 2 friends

7)recieved orange VIP bracelets

8)on our entrance, met group who had another birthday girl. told them to find us and I’d get them into VIP

9)walk through trashy, sweaty dance floor to the front of the crowd

10)flash bracelets, walk up stairs to VIP dance stage, overlooking crows

11)walk up a couple more stairs to glass doors into VIP section

12)bottle service

13)HAPPY 21ST BIRTHDAY JENNA flashes on the flat screens around the club

14)my birthday is announced from DJ

15)dance on tiny platform next to DJ’s

16)Meet Miracle, another promoter...become quite close

17)champagne toast

18)See the group of girls I met earlier, find out I in fact cannot invite them into VIP

19)name still flashing on screen.

20)lots and lots of dancing

21)Alison spends over 350$ (250 euro) on Grey Goose

22) fall alseep at home in my club clothes.

BEST BIRTHDAY EVER.

Ciao!

Its tragic that I am only now writing my first post. While I have only been in Florence for 4 days, so much has already happened. I guess the best way to catch you up to speed is a quick recap

OK:

1) hailed a taxi from Florence airport and arrived safely to the hotel speaking no Italian to a man who spoke no English.

2)Met Daniella, our Accent guide. Love her. She took us to Bella Donna, where I met the rest of the group. Love them.

3)moved out of the hotel and into our apartment!! Taxi driver drove away before removing all of our bags...leaving me without my most beloved item: my laptop. Daniella came to the rescue and got ahold of the taxi driver and it was returned without a scratch. Thank GOD!

4)Orientation...blah blah blah, nothing exciting

I guess I can begin my blog with last nights festivities. Let me preface that the intention of the night was to go and toast wine to the semester ahead of us. While that certainly happened it was too hard to let our "first" night go to waste. For our first independent introduction to Florence, the 7 of us girls ate at Acqua al 2, a famously fabulous restaurant, which supposedly is now also in San Diego. We Split a bottle of the house red and white wine, and split 5 different pasta dishes and 3 salads. Delicious.

We then moved on in search of lemonchello. Stopped at a small cafe/bar. Their "lemonchello" was of cough syrup consistency, neon yellow, and can only be described as a thick melted lemondrop with a hint of liquor.

Very disappointed, we went to calm our nerves at an oh-so chic spanish bar called Ovio. Outside seating was sophisticated and simple with beige canvas umbrellas and modern furniture. Inside was a madhouse of music and energy. The wall behind the bar flashed neon pink light with the most impressive display of Grey Goose bottles of every size. The bartenders made their job into a theatrical spectacle, spinning bottles, flipping fruit, and hugging one another like it was their last hurrah.

Soon befriending the bartenders, we were getting free drinks and the first on the dance floor, as Maria worked it with an interpretation of Beyonce.

It was then that we decided that dancing was our greatest priority. We said farewell to our new friends and headed in what we hoped was the right direction of Twice, a dance club people had mentioned to us earlier.

Naturally we got lost, but when an eager American asked if we needed help, our rehearsed response was to ignore and keep walking. However, this was no typical American. This was Eddy. Fabulous socialite/promoter who had no intention besides getting us in VIP. And he did. As Hilliary and him quickly bonded, it was soon after decided that he was planning my birthday extravaganza. I am obviously very excited.

Hilliary fell in love with Eddy's surprisingly straight friend, Valerie (a man) who we believe will be attending my festivities this weekend.

At a far later time than expected, Hil and I walked home and somehow managed to find our apt. thanks to our Chanel landmark and a graffiti sign that says "pills" with an arrow pointing toward our flat.

All in all, I cannot deny my love for Florence. I simply don't know how we'll survive without each other once the semester ends. :)

CIAO

Jenna