A(squared) + M

Current State of Affairs

2011-02-04T18:09:00.000-08:00

So we haven't posted in a while, and I (Mamie) wanted to update you with some things I'm currently loving.

These are two portraits from Vik Muniz's series "Pictures of Garbage." Last Friday we saw a movie called Waste Land and it was phenomenal. I'm not sure if you know anything about Vik Muniz's work, but he does a lot of portraits using mediums that most artists don't usually use (he carved the Mona Lisa into a peanut butter and jelly sandwich) and this movie is about a series he did in Brazil using garbage. He puts together these portraits and then photographs them. What's so wonderful is the story behind the portraits, and how he got to know the subjects. I don't want to give anything away, but it was such an inspirational movie, I strongly recommend it.

via fashion gone rogue

I want to try out this eye makeup. I've never been one for crazy makeup, but I really want to try metallic eye shadow.

via 500 Photographers

I wish I could make this photograph bigger, because it is just so great. Once, when I was around 10, my parent's best friends left us pink flamingos in our summer house garden to greet us when we got there. At the time I thought it was the funniest thing ever, and whenever I see them I think back to the pink flamingos that looked out of place in our New England garden for an entire summer. This photograph was taken by Peter Granser who is coming out with a book with images from an insane asylum. What an interesting subject...I definitely want to get the book when it comes out (expected late 2011)

Expect more posts soon, this hiatus is over.

A Few of My Favorite Things

2010-11-17T13:53:00.000-08:00

Just a few of my favorite things, people, places, and events taken with my favorite cameras.

Carnivals

Light Displays with Cristina, myself, and Nicole

Sublunar

Alex

Casper, the friendly ghost

Alex and Mamie

Van Dyke's, Lincoln Road

Jassenia, myself, and Cristina

Cristina, Jassenia, and Mamie

The Frieze with Nicole, Alex, myself, and Cristina

Police Department Building in NYC

My unfriendly cat

Pika, fluffiest dog

Model Behavior

Farmers' Market, NYC

it's finally here!

2010-10-15T18:53:00.000-07:00

WE ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE OUR ETSY STORE IS FINALLY OPEN! WE KNOW WHAT YOU'RE THINKING: "WELL IT'S ABOUT TIME!" YEAH, WE KNOW IT HAS TAKEN US A WHILE. BUT NOW THAT WE ARE FINALLY OPEN FOR BUSINESS WE COULDN'T BE HAPPIER. SO, WITHOUT FUTHER ADO, HERE IS THE LINK TO OUR ETSY SHOP:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/asquaredplusm

ENJOY!

Military Status

2010-10-08T15:12:00.000-07:00

I (Ale) recently bought combat lace-up boots and am completely obsessed with them. Yes, I do realize this military style has been quite prominent for a while but I wasn't quite sure about them before for a couple of reasons:

I didn't think they'd match with ANYTHING.
I thought they'd be incredibly hot and let's face it, boots in 100 degree Miami weather does not sound very enticing.

Quickly I after I bought the boots, I was able to realize these myths were completely and utterly false. The boots match was absolutely everything. I've worn them with summery floral-print dresses, jean cut-off shorts, and even with skirts. The boots basically create any style you want, whether you're looking for an edgy, "hipster," or even minimalistic look, the boots are there for you!

Usually, I am the #1 advocate against boots in hot/summery weather, but these boots are so versatile. Which brings me to my next point; they are not hot at all and are incredibly comfortable! If you have been hesitant over making this fantastic purchase, I recommend you get over your hunch and buy those boots already! You will never regret it; I can definitely promise you that!

Anja Rubik

2010-09-23T13:52:00.000-07:00

love her.

minimalism

2010-09-05T08:06:00.000-07:00

I (ALEX) HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT REINVENTING MY LOOK. I WOULDN'T REALLY CALL WHAT I WEAR NOW A "LOOK." I BASICALLY JUST BUY WHAT I LIKE, NOT NECESSARILY THINKING ABOUT HOW THE DIFFERENT PIECES IN MY CLOSET WILL FIT TOGETHER TO CREATE AN OVERALL LOOK. AT FIRST I WAS THINKING ABOUT GOING FOR SOMETHING KIND OF ROCKER-GLAM. BUT IT'S HARD TO FIND A GOOD PAIR OF LEATHER PANTS THAT AREN'T SUPER EXPENSIVE! AND YOU CAN'T HAVE A ROCKER LOOK WITHOUT LEATHER PANTS! SO I'VE DECIDED TO GO FOR A SIMPLER LOOK THAT WONT BREAK MY BUDGET: MINIMALISM. I LIKE MINIMALISM BECAUSE IT'S VERY CLEAN, FRESH, AND ALWAYS LOOKS CHIC WITHOUT TRYING TOO HARD.

I WAS INSPIRED BY THE FALL 2010 RTW COLLECTION BY STELLA McCARTNEY:

(VIA STYLE.COM)

TODAY I WAS BROWSING THROUGH MY FAVORITE WEBSITE, LOOKBOOK.NU (REMEMBER I TOLD YOU IT'S ADDICTIVE) AND I SAW THIS GIRL:

HER NAME IS PATRYCIA REGULSKA AND I'M KIND OF OBSESSED WITH HER STYLE. HERE ARE A COUPLE OF HER OUTFITS:

(VIA LOOKBOOK.NU; SHE ALSO HAS A BLOG: PUCHAT.BLOGSPOT.COM)

I'M DEFINITELY GOING TO TAKE SOME NOTES FROM HER STYLE AND TRY TO INCORPORATE IT INTO MY WARDROBE.

FINALLY (SORRY THIS POST IS SO LONG!) HERE ARE A LIST OF ITEMS I THINK YOU NEED IN YOUR CLOSET WHEN TRYING TO PUT TOGETHER A MINIMALIST LOOK:
1) SLIM, CROPPED AT THE ANKLE BLACK, WHITE AND BEIGE PANTS
2) SKINNY DARK JEANS
2) A COUPLE OF SIMPLE T-SHIRTS (WHITE, BLACK, AND GREY)
4) SOME NICE OVER SIZED SWEATERS
5) A COUPLE OF STATEMENT PIECES THAT STILL MAINTAIN A SIMPLE SHAPE (KIND OF LIKE THE LACE SHIRT PATRYCIA IS WEARING IN THE LAST PHOTO)

OVERALL, I WOULD WEAR SIMPLE SHOES THAT ARE STILL FUN, LIKE STUDDED BOOTIES, AND I WOULD KEEP THE COLOR PALETTE PRETTY BASIC MAYBE ADDING IN A POP OF COLOR EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE MINIMALISTIC LOOK? WHAT IS YOUR LOOK?

AND DON'T FORGET TO FOLLOW US THROUGH BLOGLOVIN', FACEBOOK, OR GOOGLE FRIEND CONNECT (ALL BUTTON LOCATED ON THE RIGHT SIDEBAR)

wisdom teeth

2010-08-26T08:03:00.001-07:00

I (Alex) just got my wisdom teeth out yesterday. Thank God I'm not in too much pain (it only hurts a little when I chew or talk) and I'm only a little swollen; that was my biggest fear, looking like a chipmunk. On a side note, I realized the other day that one of my biggest fears is spelling my name wrong when writing in sharpie on a book or something, I mean how embarrassing is that? Anyways, so today I'm missing school and I'm really bored so of course I've spent the morning online window shopping and looking at blogs. Here are a couple of things I'm craving:

A.R. Trapp Maestro Sunglasses ($450.00, J.Crew)

Albertus Swanepoel Fedora ($165.00, J.Crew)

Mangolian Lamb Stole ($98.00, J.Crew)

And a couple of looks I love from lookbook.nu. If you've never been on that website I must warn you its addictive! I've spent the last hour on it and had to force myself to close it.

I love all four of these looks, but I think my favorite is the last one with the green shirt and fur vest, so CHIC! Which look is your favorite?

Well, I have a ton of homework to do since I'm missing school. Better get crackin'.

And don't forget to follow us using Google Friend Connect, Facebook, or Bloglovin' (all buttons located on the rights sidebar)

thirteen photos

2010-08-15T00:00:00.000-07:00

By Neil Stewart

new design coming soon!

2010-08-13T21:43:00.001-07:00

Since we are starting our senior year soon we spent the day looking through old projects and essays. It's fun to look out how you've developed over time and laugh at what you used to think was "good" writing. In the eighth grade Ale did her science fair project

on the human finger print. Our finger prints are a unique and pretty part of our bodies, but we don't give them much thought. This inspired our new t-shirt design.

We like to call this design "Identity." What do you think?

And don't forget to follow us on Bloglovin'

P.S. We'd like to give a shout out to our sole male follower, Joe. Thanks for the support!

cool chicks

2010-08-08T20:19:00.000-07:00

all photos via style and the city
(click on the pictures to enlarge)

I love these casual chic outfits. I always look to street style blogs for inspiration. Where do you look for inspiration?

And don't forget to follow us on Bloglovin'

secrets, secrets are no fun...

2010-07-30T19:48:00.000-07:00

via olsensanonymous

...unless you tell everyone.

I (Alex) don't have the time right now (or space really) to tell you about my obsession with mary-kate and ashley and their AMAZING style! But don't worry I will blog about them again soon! Who doesn't love mka?

What do you think about their style? Is is something you like to admire from afar? Or would you raid their closets like there's no tomorrow?

macaroons and big news

2010-07-25T11:00:00.000-07:00

Lately I (Alex) have been craving macaroons (a delicious French desert). Macaroons are anything you could possible want in a tasty treat: crispy cookie on the outside, soft cake and frosting/jelly filling on the inside. What more could you ask for?

If you would like to make macaroons here is the recipe from Martha Stewart.

Ale and I have been talking about baking macaroons for quite some time now, but we've never gotten around to it. I guess once you've tried macaroons from Ladurée (a bakery based in Paris) you figure nothing will ever taste as good.

On another note, we have some big news. We've been working on some new designs for A(Squared) + M and can't wait to show them to you! We will also be opening a shop on Etsy very, very soon. So you will be able to purchase our t-shirts online!

Here is one of our new designs:

Don't forget to follow us on Bloglovin'! and check back for news about our online store

Skeleton

2010-07-13T11:38:00.000-07:00

The Givenchy Fall 2010 collection was created by Riccardo Tisci. His inspiration? The human skeleton. Here are my favorite looks:

images via style.com

What do you think of the collection?

Ken: Barbie's Husband and Fashion Model?

2010-07-08T09:22:00.000-07:00

So, basically the new issue of Esquire has the best editorial...ever. It's actually the coolest, yet most humorous one I've ever seen. The Esquire styling team dressed the tiny model in the Fall Burberry Prorsum, Paul Smith, Gucci, and Prada collections. Though this photoshoot is incredibly adorable, Ken was apparently quite the diva on set refusing to do what was asked of him. I'm serious. Esquire actually mentioned his attitude in the article accompanying these photographs. This is probably the last time Matthew Donaldson (the photographer) will ever hire a plastic model.

Just a small footnote: Isn't the resemblance between Ken and Garret Neff uncanny? I mean, just compare the first picture of Ken to this one of Garret! They're even wearing similar jackets!

You want to be on top?

2010-06-23T05:12:00.000-07:00

Some of my favorite pictures of my favorite models:Lara Stone, Valentina Zelyaeva, and Natalia Vodianova.

Who are your favorite models?

stunning photos + beautiful dresses

2010-06-19T12:00:00.000-07:00

Tanya Dziahileva for Harper's Bazaar Spain July/August 2010 by Nico

Woodies

2010-06-18T07:03:00.000-07:00

I (Alex) just bought these adorable clogs by Jeffrey Campbell ('Charli-C Clog'). They are so comfortable, even though they are EXTREMELY high! I can't wait to wear them! I'm actually going to wear them out to dinner tonight. This is what I'm going to pair them with:

Eyelet floral sleeveless blouse from Anthropologie
Cropped, matchstick white jeans from J.Crew

The clogs also come in black:

If you are thinking of buying some clogs but don't know what to wear them with maybe this post from Who What Wear will help you get some ideas. For the full article click here.

What do you think about clogs?

W.W.W. (What We're Wearing): Resort Wear

2010-06-16T14:42:00.000-07:00

It was a beautiful day at the beach today, which inspired our resort wear esembles.

Details in the fabric...

and just a little random side note, Ale just bought this cute little card...

...that brought this adorable necklace!

Passion Pit

2010-06-15T08:32:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, we went to a Passion Pit concert in Miami Beach with some of our friends and to say the least, it was AMAZING! Out of all of the concerts I've ever been to, I'd have to say this was one of the best. I was expecting a lot from them, considering their one of my favorite bands and they surpassed my expectations. Honestly, it felt like one huge dance party the whole night! It was pretty insane and full of so many fun and crazy people. The concert also started out with two good opening acts, Brahms and Tokyo Police Club (not in any way related to that weird band, Tokio Hotel). What has your favorite concert been?

Passion Pit frontman, Michael Angelakos
Us (Alex and Ale) and our good friend, Jime
They had the coolest lights that were changing colors throughout the entire night!

Trapped in a crazy crowd of people

If you haven't heard of Passion Pit, I recommend you check them out. Their music is so fun that listening to their songs will make you want to jump out of your seat and dance (this has happened to me, I promise). Here I leave you with one of our favorite songs by them, "Little Secrets."

And finally, since this is a fashion blog, I must end on some fashion note. At the concert most of the guys were dressed like this: "Hipster-style": Mostly Plaid shirts, v-neck t-shirts, skinny jeans, and wayfarer sunglasses

And the girls:

A lot, a lot, of Urban Outfitters, American Apparel, and vintage style items--very "hipster-style"

*By the way, pardon the poor quality of the concert pictures. I'm working to get a new camera considering I've had mine since the 7th grade!

Stylish Guys at the Movies

2010-06-13T07:58:00.000-07:00

Every year we get together with some of our closest friends to have a D4 movie marathon. D4 means we watch movies by Leonardo Dicaprio, Johnny Depp,Robert Downey Jr., and my personal favorite, Matt Damon.So yesterday, as we were watching all of their great and not so great movies (umm, cry baby?), I realized that they each have their own cool, yet relaxed style.

Okay, so this picture doesn't really show off Leonardo Dicaprio's current style or anything, but I definately couldn't leave this picture out. But seriously, how cool does he look?

Matt Damon's style on the red carpet usually combines dapper and relaxed in one look (i.e. his beige suits). But his street style and his photoshoot looks are a bit more relaxed. And those leather pants in the picture above are amazing.

Even though I always make fun of Johnny Depp's style, just yesterday I realized he actually has a very cool, rocker, bohemian look. But I must admit, his style was definately the best circa 1990s, when he was dating Kate Moss.

Finally, Robert Downey Jr.'s style. I think Robert's style is a " hate it or love it" style. Personally, I love it. I think it's eccentric but not gaudy or cheesy in any way whatsoever. My favorite of all of his looks was his ensemble at the Oscars this year. His bow-tie was humorous but tasteful and his sunglasses were the epitome of cool. I usually hate it when people wear sunglasses to award ceremonies but he pulled them off incredibly.

By the way, the movies we watched yesterday were:

Less Than Zero- Robert Downey Jr.

Cry Baby- Johnny Depp

Bourne Identity- Matt Damon

The Departed- Leonardo Dicaprio and Matt Damon

Who are some of your favorite "stylish guys"?

starbucks cup: just coffee or the latest accessory?

2010-06-10T14:29:00.000-07:00

You know what I've noticed lately? Almost everyone walks around with a starbucks cup these days! It's like it's a new accessory or something.

I must say, the starbucks does kind of complete Ashley's look. It adds to the whole "I'm so over it" attitude. Don't you think?

So, the starbucks cup: just coffee or the latest accessory?

style on the runway

2010-06-10T12:12:00.000-07:00

I'm sure a lot of you are jetting away somewhere fabulous this summer. Now, I don't know about you but I always find it a little difficult to choose an outfit to wear on the plane. I mean I want to be comfortable but not look like a slob. I want to look put together but not like I'm trying to hard. Does anyone else have this problem? So I decided to look to people who are stylish and always on the runway (the airplane runway that is). And who better than celebrities?

Here are some of my favorite airport chic looks:

Diane Kruger & Joshua Jackson

Rachel Bilson / Kate Hudson

Chloe Sevigny / Camron Diaz

David Beckham

All photos via People's style watch

What do wear when speeding down the runway?

xoxo Alex

black summer

2010-06-09T07:20:00.000-07:00

Who decided summer was all about bright colors?

Marlena Szoka by Daniel Gabbay Marie Claire Italia

Want an edgier look this summer? Draw inspiration from this editorial and switch out the bright for black in your wardrobe. What do you think about this dark summer look?

Summer playlist

2010-06-05T16:31:00.000-07:00

Finally time to relax, enjoy the weather, and of course buy our summer necessities (like the coral lipstick we talked about in the last post).

Next time we should let eachother know what we're wearing before we show up in the same outfit. This is the second time it happens.

During lunch we pulled out our laptop and put together a summer playist to rock out to in the car and listen to on the beach.

What we're listening to this summer:

We are your friends by Justice

Make you mine by Miami Horror

Dancing in the Moonlight by Toploader

The Breeze by Dr. Dog

Daydreamin’ by Lupe Fiasco

Broseidon, Lord of the Brocean – SuperMash Bros.

I bleed purple and gold- SuperMash Bros.

12 :34 by Bikini

Heartbeats by Jose Gonzalez

Lights Out by Santigold

& Down by Boys Noize

Time to get Ill by Beastie Boys

Meiplé by Robert Thicke feat Jay-Z

We’re Going To Be Friends by White Stripes

Je veux te voir- Yelle

Fire Power by Wolfgang Gartner

Young Folks by Peter Bjorn and John

When You Love Somebody by Fruit Bats

Waterslide by Bonedaddys

Easy Love by MSTRKRFT

Vanished by Crystal Castles

Little Secrets by Passion Pit

Cheated Heart by Yeah Yeah Yeahs

The Only Living Boy in New York by Simon and Garfunkel

Fire Cracker by Steel Train

Mr. Pitiful by Matt Costa

Girls In Their Summer Clothes by Bruce Springsteen

Care of Cell 44 by The Zombies

One Time Too Many by Phoenix

Coccotte- Teenage Bad Girl

Waters of Intergalactic (Justice vs. Beastie Boys) by DJ Alive

What are some of your favorite summer tunes?

Stop Motion

2010-06-05T13:47:00.001-07:00

This is one of my favorite stop motion videos. I'm sure all of you have seen it already but it's awesome.

Her Morning Elegance / Oren Lavie

Puts me in the summer mood

2010-06-03T13:51:00.000-07:00

Great way to complete your beach look? CORAL LIPSTICK! I'm definitely putting coral lipstick on my beauty essentials list for summer. Are you?

This editorial really puts me in the summer mood. What puts you in the summer mood?

Nika Lauraitis by Max Abadian Flare June 2010

Currently loving...

2010-06-02T16:56:00.000-07:00

Mary Kate and Ashley. I'm currently obsessed with Mary Kate and Ashley's style (a little more Ashley than Mary Kate). I like their effortlessly thrown together look.

Photo source: tfs & Olsens Anonymous

What do you think about their style?

Not Studying

2010-05-31T07:35:00.001-07:00

Alright, I'm burnt out. I'm entering finals week and I just don't feel like studying. Obviously I've done a little bit (or else I would be a mess) but I'm sick of everything and I'm procrastinating. Yesterday I went shopping to help a friend find shoes for prom, and today I'm blogging. At this point, I'm even doing SAT homework instead of studying.

About two weeks ago I went a little crazy and bought six books for under $15 on Amazon. One of them was by Camille Paglia, a feminist that our history teacher told us about. I was interested in buying one of her books because she doesn't believe in feminism in the typical sense. She believes that the reason why American society is so advanced is because women find power attractive and men are trying to impress them. Here are some of my favorite quotes by her:

"Woman is the dominant sex. Men have to do all sorts of stuff to prove that they are worthy of woman's attention."

"Men know they are sexual exiles. They wander the earth seeking satisfaction, craving and despising, never content. There is nothing in that anguished motion for women to envy."

"It is capitalist America that produced the modern independent woman. Never in history have women had more freedom of choice in regard to dress, behavior, career, and sexual orientation."

This is the book I bought: In Break, Blow, Burn Paglia looks at forty-three poems and analyzes them. When I first started reading it, I immediately jumped to Sylvia Plath's "Daddy" because I love Sylvia Plath. I haven't gotten far in the analysis because it's long and I really should be studying.

Alright, that's enough for now. Expect a lot more posts when we finally start summer. Sorry this wasn't fashion related, but I just thought I should share what I am currently reading.

Tootles,
Mamie

It's finally here!

2010-05-26T11:37:00.000-07:00

SUMMER! I can't believe its almost summer vacation after such a long and stressful school year! I'm can't wait to get to the beach and go tubing, water skiing, and soak up some sun (my school knee-high socks haven't done my legs much justice). But what I'm really looking forward to is my summer wardrobe. Not that we can't dress in summer clothes year round in Miami, but something makes it feel different when its actually summer. This summer I'm looking forward to wearing:

Bright bikinis. And it's always nice to through in some nautical designs and solids to pair with patterned tunics.
Bikinis by: Banchu, Chloe, Rosa Cha & Emilio Pucci

Safari city shorts. Perfect to pair with a white linen button down, cross body bag, and leather walking sandal.
Shorts by: Chloe

Hats. Great from shielding your face from the sun at the beach (it's never too soon to prevent wrinkles!) Plus its the cherry on top for your laid back summer look.
Hats by: Emilio Pucci & La Cerise Sur Le Chapeau

Tunics. I can't wait to throw on some loose and lightweight tunics. I would pair it with skinny cropped white jeans, over a bathingsuit, or as a dress with a nude slip underneath. Tunics are so versatile and always look great.
Tunics by: Missoni & Single

What do you have planned for your summer wardrobe?

Met Gala 2010

2010-05-05T15:30:00.000-07:00

Here are a few of the great looks from the Met Gala

Jessica Stam in Rachel Roy.
Sienna Miller in Emilio Pucci (with a nice accessory on her arm, if I might add).

Blake Lively in Marchesa.
Stella McCartney, Liv Tyler, and Kate Hudson, all wearing Stall McCartney (Kate Hudson's dress is my favorite of the three).

Gisele Bundchen in Alexander Wang.
Eva Longoria in Marchesa.

Vera Wang and Mila Kunis, both in Vera Wang.
Jennifer Lopez in Zuhair Murad.

Emma Watson in Burberry.
Zoe Saldana in Calvin Klein.

I would have to say my favorites are: Sienna Miller, Blake Lively, and Eva Longoria.

Which ones were your favorites?

Tootles,
Alex

What More Can I Say?

2010-05-02T06:58:00.001-07:00

I love the movement in this editorial. And even though it is from last year, I'm still going to use some of these pieces for inspiration this spring. I want to wear flowy long dresses, but I also would love to add pieces with shape (like in the photo right above) for this summer.

Vogue Italy July 2009

And in case you were wondering where the title of this post came from, I told Alex I was going to name it after the first song that came on my iPod Shuffle. So there you have it, What More Can I Say? by Jay Z

Tootles,

Mamie

Oh, the places we'll go...

2010-04-18T15:49:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year when schoolwork is such a chore, everyone is burnt out, and teachers still keep piling on homework.

The other day, while doing homework together, we got a little sidetracked and ended up spending an hour talking about where we wanted to go. We thought we'd share our top places with you, just in case you wanted to take a break and day dream like we have been.

Ale wants to go to Tokyo.

via here and here

Mamie wants to go to Croatia

via here and here

And Alex wants to go to Morroco

Where do you want to go?

Tootles,

Alex, Mamie, & Ale

I Have Patrick!

2010-04-15T18:44:00.000-07:00

July 2009 Vogue UK

One thought that comes to my mind whenever I see Patrick Demarchelier's name, is Emily Blunt and Ann Hathaway calling "I have Patrick!" in The Devil Wears Prada to Meryl Streep. Such a great movie. Honestly, I can recite every line, and I do in every day conversation.

Anyway I just found these photos and they got me excited because a)Patrick Demarchellier is a genius and b) I want summer, and brightly hued dresses on Agyness Deyn just get me in a summer mood

What gets you in the summer mood?

Tootles,

Mamie

Tom Ford, The Greatest Man Ever? I think so.

2010-04-07T20:52:00.000-07:00

So recently I've decided that Tom Ford is the greatest man ever. Why, you make ask. Well let me tell you. As if being an amazing menswear/glasses designer and film director wasn't enough, Tom Ford had to make himself even more incredible by announcing that he'd be launching a women's clothing line. Oh Tom, you never cease to make yourself seem even more irresistible than you already are. So, back to his other accomplishments...

Let's list the reasons of why Tom Ford is the greatest person ever:
1. His glasses are absolutely amazing. Whether they're for the sun or simply for seeing, the designs are always fantastic and completely different to those of any other designer's. The retro-vibe is great and the glasses are modern even though they are reminiscent of the 50s. And can I just point out how awesome the ensemble the model is wearing is?:

This picture brings me to my next point...

2. His ads are always the best. The collaborations between Terry Richardson and Tom Ford truly are fascinating. Good job Mr.Ford, picking the best photographer to photograph your clothes.

3. People who wear his suits/tuxedos never seize to look amazing in them.

4. He wrote and directed his first movie this year and it was phenomenal (nominated for an Oscar, nominated for 2 BAFTAs and won 1 of them). Not many people can do that.

5. Finally, he is definitely the sexiest man alive.

So, there you have it. Now you know exactly why Tom Ford is the greatest man ever (at least in my mind).
Tootles,
Ale

"You're the models...It's not our job to tell you what to do."

2010-03-30T12:35:00.001-07:00

The making of "The Classics" photo shoot. Click here to watch the video.

We hope you enjoy the video.

Tootles,

Alex, Mamie & Ale

Photoshoot of "The Classics"

2010-03-29T13:45:00.000-07:00

Saturday couldn't have been a better day. The sun was shining, it was warm out and our models and hair stylist and make up artist were fantastic. Seriously, it was perfect.

Thanks to Sofi, Nicole, Mari, Cristina, and Juana for doing a great job modeling. Thank you to Gaby and Azul for making them beautiful (not that they already weren't). We all had so much fun and can't wait to do it again. To see the rest of the pictures from the shoot, check out our facebook page or our flickr page.

Tootles,

Alex, Mamie, & Ale

Spotted...Alex

2010-03-27T19:06:00.000-07:00

Here is our good friend Alex at a Best Buddies event wearing an A(Squared) + M t-shirt. We know Alex from school and she has followed A(Squared) + M since the very beginning, and always supported us. We really appreciate it Alex!

Tootles,
Alex, Mamie, & Ale

Make It Work

2010-03-26T20:11:00.000-07:00

We are getting ready for tomorrow--our first photo shoot. And we are beyond excited. We spent the day buying snacks for our models (Sofi, Mari, Cristina, Nicole, and Alexa) and supplies for our hairstylists and make-up artist (Azul and Gaby), all friends from school. We are going to shoot next to a carousel and on the beach. We're hoping we won't run into any problems considering all the traffic from the Sony Ericsson Open.

On that note, how sexy is Novak Djokovic?

Yeah, we thought we should share that bit of beautifulness with you.

Anyways, back to our day. We encountered a bit of difficulty after we bought all of the supplies. For some reason we decided it would be nice to walk to the store--bad idea. We ended up having to lug a ton of food and a pack of 24 water bottles. That's when we noticed we weren't as fit as we thought we were.

Ale, rockin' the Quasimoto look.

When we got home, we started setting up the possible jackets, shorts, pants, and shoes to use for the shoot. While setting up, we jammed to:
The good ol' standby, Shakira.
Passion Pit (wishing we were at Ultra)

The Strokes
Frank Sinatra

Girl Talk

We ended the night by making Ale paint our nails and watching everybody's favorite movie for the 12413854257th time--The Hangover.

Expect more updates really soon (as in tomorrow) about the photoshoot.

Tootles,
Alex, Mamie & Ale

It's all so exciting...

2010-03-25T13:48:00.001-07:00

Because spring break (finally) starts tomorrow, and because I stayed home sick (wayyy too much time spent on the computer), I decided to put somethings that I'm really excited about.

this picture is from here

All the blogs that I've been reading are all so excited that it's finally warm out. We live in Miami, where spring doesn't really exist. Seasons are just a technical term referring to the color palettes of our wardrobes. So I'm just as excited as the next blogger to bring out the brightly colored dresses and open toed heels.

That's the city of Omaha, Nebraska, where I will go for a week this spring break. I know what you're thinking, what's in Omaha? And the answer is…our good friend Macy! Macy was an exchange student at our school last October and she lived with me. I cannot wait to see her…and Omaha.

Today while watching a marathon of first season Real Housewives of New York City, I saw a commercial for a special on Bravo TV with Christian Siriano. It's called "Christian Siriano: I'm having a moment" and it opens with "I've lost all my friends, all I ever do is make clothes." Do you realize how excited I am for this? I don't even have the words to describe how much I love Christian Siriano. I cannot wait to see him in action once again. So I spent a good amount of the day pretending that I could actually afford half of the things on Net-a-Porter. I feel in love with these shoes. Usually my style is very formal, and I don't like quirky or weird or out-there things, but I just couldn't help myself—these shoes are so cool. I've already found ways to incorporate them into my wardrobe. Obviously I'm not excited for these shoes, because, um, I'll never be able to own them, but I can't stop thinking about them so I thought I'd put them up there.

You know what you should be excited for? We are having a photoshoot this weekend for
A(Squared) + M. Expect a lot of updating.

Tootles,
Mamie

Style File from Dani...Summer Look

2010-03-21T18:32:00.000-07:00

Dani, a good friend of ours and the first person to purchase an A(Squared) + M t-shirt, did a style file of her own!

My favorite place to shop is Dani's closet. Her style is artsy-meets-preppy-vintage. This style file shows how Dani likes to wear her A(Squared) + M t-shirt.

1. T-shirt by A(Squared) + M
2. Sunglasses by Marc Jacobs
3. Hat by Jcrew
4. Necklace by House of Harlow
5. Blazer by Shopbop
6. Shoes by Jcrew
7. Jeans by Current Elliot

Because of a lot of school-related stress, there is nothing that I crave more than a relaxed look like this one. Just looking at that hat gets me excited for summer! It's definately on my list of spring essentials.

Tootles,
Mamie

101 fans on Facebook!

2010-03-20T07:12:00.000-07:00

As of yesterday, we have 101 fans on Facebook! We decided to celebrate by going to My Yogurt Bliss, this new frozen yogurt place that everyone has been talking about.

It was actually amazing. Definately our new favorite place for an after school snack. It's all self-serve and they have non-tart and tart yogurts so there's a little something for everyone. Then you can literally put all the toppings you could possibly imagine. This is a picture of Alex's. It's a mixture of cake batter and red velvet frozen yogurt with cookie dough, captain crunch, sprinkles, hot fudge, and m&ms. It sounds like a diabetic nightmare...but it was delicious.

Lessons for next time:
1. Don't go overboard with the frozen yogurt, instead go overboard with the toppings.
2. Stick to similar flavors--Mamie literally put everything she saw and ended up with fruity pebbles, coconut, red velvet and cookie dough. Not the best combination

Tootles,
Alex, Mamie & Ale

P.S. If you haven't become a fan of us of on facebook yet there is a nifty button to the right of this post. Go ahead and click on it.

New Design, Style & Color

2010-03-15T14:04:00.000-07:00

Here we have our new penny farthing design in black and brown. We now have the camera in brown as well and a new t-shirt with buttons on the sleeves.

Tootles,

Alex, Mamie & Ale

New Packaging!

2010-03-15T06:30:00.000-07:00

Aren't these bags cute?

...and so is this coke can

Style File…Out

2010-03-14T20:13:00.001-07:00

So here we have an outfit perfect for when you want to feel flirty and sexy. See how versatile these shirts are! You can wear it for a night on the town and the next day for Sunday brunch. Can you really say that about your other t-shirts?

Okay maybe you can, but are your other t-shirts handmade?

Haute Hippie has been making some really cool skirts lately and we just loved this one. We decided to tone the look down with the blazer but we couldn't help ourselves with those shoes. Aren't they great?

Skirt by Haute Hippie
Blazer by Plastic Island
Earrings by Lizzie Fortunato
Bracelet by CC Skye
Shoes by Christian Louboutin
And of course t-shirt by A(Squared) + M

Tootles,
Alex, Mamie & Ale

Spotted...Dorothy

2010-03-14T12:55:00.000-07:00

Spotted. Dorothy Hector looking good in The Camera T from our Classics line on her way back to college. We love the peak of the teal tank top and that grey ruffle sweater! Glad you like the shirt Dorothy!

Tootles,
Alex, Mamie & Ale

Zac Posen

2010-03-11T15:46:00.000-08:00

Can I just say how obsessed I am with Zac Posen? Yes, with the line, but mostly with him. I'm not obsessed in a creepy way or anything. You also must admit, he's pretty great. The fact that he's only 29 and is such a great fashion designer makes him one of the most awesome designers (in my book at least).
So now that my secret long-term crush has been revealed, let's talk about my favorite looks from his 2010 fall fashion show.

I love the combination of the architectural crafting of the dress with the striking floral prints. Though I'm not usually a fan of big floral prints (because let’s face it, they are usually rather reminiscent of a grandma's old couch), Zac Posen has really turned me on to them. I also kind of like the boots but not with that dress in particular.

The flowy fabric in these dresses looks fantastic with the floral print! I think I may like these even more because they’re very practical. These dresses do not only serve as the beautiful yet impractical “runway look”, but also as the chic young woman’s cocktail party look. By the way, terrific touch with the sheer hot pink tights, Zac!

Though much less multicolored and exciting in comparisson to the other dresses, I love the look this dress gives off--effortless and chic. I like how Zac combines the super tight and restricting bandage top with a flowy skirt. The color is also great.

Even though I’m not usually a fan of mustard yellow, I’m kind of liking this look. I love the western vibe this outfit gives off; it makes me feel like I’m watching Bonanza. Though it may not sound so, this is actually a great thing.

Tootles,
Ale

The Oscars 2010: The Best and Worst

2010-03-09T14:45:00.000-08:00

When I tuned in to watch the Oscars the other night I have to say I was a little disappointed. It was a bit boring compared to last year, but the beautiful gowns made it more interesting. So here are my picks for the best dressed on the red carpet this year…

Sandra Bullock in Marchesa
Wow. “Wow” does not even begin to describe Sandra Bullock in this gorgeous dress. The moment I saw this dress I knew I had fallen in love for the first time. I’m starting to get obsessed with sequined dresses (I know, I know I’m a little late on this trend) and wish I had somewhere to wear a dress like this to. Sandra’s body looks amazing; it’s as if sequins were just poured over her. She looks sexy yet very sophisticated and elegant. I also love the way she did her hair and makeup—understated and simple which compliments the dress very nicely. This whole look is just stunning.

Anna Kendrick in Elie Saab
Anna Kendrick looks so angelic in this soft and flowing dress by Elie Saab. I think this is her best look so far. The color compliments her skin tone so well and the draping makes her look so graceful and effortless. But Anna still shows her sexy side with the high slit and lace detail. I also love the off-the-shoulder neckline, something that is not seen very much on the red carpet but is so flattering on Anna.

Diane Kruger in Chanel
Now who doesn’t love Diane Kruger’s fashions sense? She always looks great, so it was no surprise when she walked onto the red carpet looking picturesque in Chanel. The dress is beautifully crafted and has just the right amount of detail and simplicity. It brings attention to her hips (with the flower detail) but Diane is able to pull it off still looking thin. But then again Diane can pull off just about anything. I know, I hate her for that too.

Carey Mulligan in Prada
I have to say this was my favorite look of the night. It is so elegant but still has a little bit of an edge. I love the unique hemline that could be awkward but really works in this case. It gives a classic design a new, modern twist. The shoes and earrings are fabulous but don’t take away from the exquisite embellished detail on the dress. The dress is simple, elegant, edgy, modern, just spectacular. And Carey is so adorable.

Miley Cyrus in Jenny Peckham
It took me a lot of effort to type Miley Cyrus’ name under the best dressed list, (can you tell I’m not the biggest Miley fan?) but I really liked her dress. She’s working the whole underwear as outerwear look here and it seems to be a success. The skirt looks a bit tutu-ish, but let’s face it what girl doesn’t enjoy wearing a sequined tutu from time to time? Her hair is very soft and romantic, which contrasts perfectly with the sexy, corset look of the bodice. Overall, I have to admit she looks beautiful. But did anyone else notice the SLOUCHING!? It was killing me! She would have looked much more graceful if she just stood up straight. Sorry Miley, but you didn’t expect me to start liking you just because you wore a pretty dress did you?

Meryl Streep in Chris March
Meryl Streep always chooses a dress that it classy and flattering and the one she wore to the Oscars this year was no exception. Meryl looked great on the red carpet sporting a wrap-like dress by Chris March. Chris March? The fat guy with the awesome laugh from Project Runway? Yes, that Chris March. I guess he moved away from the transvestite market and is now dressing renowned celebrities. Good choice Chris. This dress is very simple, but who ever said the Oscars had to be over the top? Meryl is definitely going for the less is more look and it’s working for her. But let’s not overlook the plunging neckline, you go Meryl! All in all, she looks lovely. And sometimes lovely is all you need.

Rachel McAdams in Elie Saab
Really, what is there to say about Rachel? She always looks striking. But this dress was one of her best looks yet. It looks like she just wrapped a beautiful flower watercolor painting around herself. The colors all blend together delightfully and look so flowy. I love the draping of the bodice and the volume of the skirt—just the right balance. Rachel keeps her hair and makeup simple so that all eyes are on the dress. Once again she looks magnificent.

Kristen Stewart in Monique Lhuillier
Kristen Stewart’s dress was beautiful. The draping was lovely and flattering for her body. It actually looks like she has curves as apposed to her normally boyish figure. The midnight blue color looks great on the red carpet and complimented her milky skin tone. I have to admit I’m not the biggest fan of the mermaid silhouette but it looks fantastic on her. Kristen you look beautiful, would it kill you to crack a smile once in a while?

And now for the worst dressed...

Amanda Seyfried in Prada
Amanda Seyfried was swallowed up by the overpowering volume of her shinny dress. The cut is very unflattering on her and doesn’t do her justice. And don’t even get me started on that hemline. Better luck next time Amanda.

Kate Winslet in Yves Saint Laurent
Oh Kate, I feel bad putting you on the worst dressed list but let’s face the facts your dress was just awkward. The bodice was too sculptural, the skirt was just shapeless and the color just washed you out. Your dress was beautiful at the Oscars last year, what happened?

Charlize Theron in Christian Dior
Aim, ready? FIRE! It looks like she has two targets over her breasts. Need I say more?

Zac Efron in Calvin Klien
I was a little confused when I saw Peter Pan walking down the red carpet. Oh wait, is that Zac Efron? Oops. Seriously, aren’t you a little old for the spiky, wild hair look? I think so.

(All photos from nymag.com)

Tootles,
Alex

Dries Van Noten

2010-03-06T17:47:00.001-08:00

I recently had to buy a black suit for a school event, which is kind of ridiculous since I'm seventeen years old. Someone told me I looked professional. I didn't, I looked like I was going to a funeral.

The point I'm trying to make is that business women no longer wear black suits and sensible heels. They rock the world in Chanel and Christian Louboutin. Power is sexy and Dries Van Noten is designing for the power women of today. Absolutely gorgeous.

This is such a great color. Still neutral, but not-your average neutral so it looks fantastic. I think it's perfect for this fall.

Love this bag. Due to my obsession with big bags, I think this is fantastic. This jacket has a little bit of a masculine feel to it. I love men's clothing on women, it's one of the sexiest things out there. This is beautiful. I love turning trench coats into dresses, because I think they have such a flattering cut, it's a waste not to use them as dresses. This is so gorgeous I can't stop looking at it. Love how effortlessly chic this looks.

This jacket is magical and matched with the leopard it's perfection.
Oh my goodness. This silhouette is gorgeous. This dress is gorgeous. This jacket is gorgeous. These shoes are gorgeous. Gorgeous Gorgeous Gorgeous.

Simple. Classic. Timeless.

Love the Leopard and the cinched waist with the bulky vest underneath. Utterly Genius

Love the Lace. It's beautiful. I love the green sleeves in the dress and those shoes with that skirt.

Love these dresses. The colors are rich and the shapes are beautiful

I don't usually like gold that much but Dries Van Noten did a great job with it in this collection. I love how the jacket is paired with black pants and shoes but the dress, which is simple, has bright green shoes. Fabulous.

Tootles,
Mamie

P.S. All the pictures are from New York Magazine

Style File…Sunday Brunch

2010-03-05T16:49:00.001-08:00

Here is our first look with our camera t-shirt! What we love about this look is that it's something you can just throw on when you have nothing else to wear, but still look stylish. And do we need to mention how exciting it is that Emma Watson started her own line? Love, love, LOVE her style! These shoes are great too, a little golfer-esque but not so uptight. We thought the snake pin added a little extra-shine (Mamie needs her sparkle) that is always nice. The scarf added a little needed color, but it's light enough so it won't get you all hot and sweaty in the summer. When we saw this purse, we all fell in love with it. It's fun and edgy—and its big so you can literally stuff your life in there (which, let's face it, that's what purses are for).

Tootles,
Alex, Mamie & Ale

Model off the Runway...Karlie Kloss

2010-03-05T15:24:00.001-08:00

"Be patient. Be confident in yourself. Anything can happen if you really work at it. Never give up. It's corny, but never give up."

-Karlie Kloss

Why do we love this quote? Because so far it's been a challenge with A(Squared) + M but we never give up, no matter how frustrated we get. And Karlie Kloss is pretty amazing.

Karlie Kloss is one of the most coveted models at the moment. She is best known for her great walk and has opened and closed countless shows, including Marc by Marc Jacobs and Carolina Herrera. We love her street style because it is simple but still looks put together. Karlie is able to look stylish, while not looking like she tried too hard. She prefers jeans or a pencil skirt, and tops it off with a simple tee and cute jacket. These are perfect style staples everyone should have in their closet because they can be dressed up to attend a party or event, or dressed down for a more casual, relaxed look. Although she does not take many risks, or go for a more avant-garde look, Karlie is only seventeen and we applaud her for dressing sophisticated but appropiate for her age. She always looks polished and ready to conquer the fashion world.

Tootles,

Alex, Mamie & Ale

Because We're Obsessed...Scarves

2010-03-05T15:04:00.000-08:00

What can we say we just love light and airy scarves. Hermes’ new ad with Karlie Kloss is so beautiful and summery, it makes us wish we were at the beach lying on a pile of Hermes scarves, but then again, who doesn’t always want to do that? We also love Phillipe Roucou’s new objets trouves line: scarves that have different Polaroid pictures of “found objects” printed on them. Although the whole Polaroid fad seems to be overdone, Roucou has made them exciting and relevant again. We also love how great they look on. Usually with a big print that is hard to do, but Roucou manages to make them look awesome.

Tootles,

Alex, Mamie & Ale

Don’t Stop Believing

2010-02-12T08:31:00.001-08:00

17 t-shirts made and sold? Check.

It's happening. Right now, our first orders of t-shirts are DONE and once we put the tags on them, they will be given to the people who bought them.

It's exciting really.

So after setting up the sweatshop (Mamie's garage) we got to work. We jammed to Jay-Z, Shakira and Phoenix, excited and happy that we were finally making the t-shirts. Now they're all hanging to dry and we are still jamming…

Now that we've got our first order done, we feel like we can conquer the world. Soon we'll be setting up a Pay Pal account to make the t-shirts available online.

1. Our supplies.
2. Centering print.
3. Applying ink.
4. Printing design.
5. Finished product!
6. Close-up.
7. Waiting for them to dry.

Check back with us soon to see new designs and how you can order online.

Tootles,
Alex, Mamie & Ale

Follow my blog with bloglovin

2010-02-09T15:26:00.000-08:00

If you don't want to miss any of our updates, follow us using bloglovin'. Just simply click the title of this post and it's really easy from there.

Tootles,
Alex, Mamie & Ale

Success!

2010-02-08T17:13:00.001-08:00

After realizing we weren't the silk-screening pros we thought we were, we decided to consult a professional (our art teacher Ms. Synder). We came to her in a panic and she calmed us down and said "don't worry, bring everything tomorrow and we'll make it work."

And just like Tim Gunn, she made it work. She taught us how to put the emulsion on correctly (we had put too much), use a light table (we were using a light bulb), and how to wash the emulsion out (we used laundry detergent).

So finally, we got the print on! It looked great and we were really happy with it. Since then, we've designed a logo and gotten six orders! Our goal for this week is to actually print it on the shirts and give them to the people who ordered. We are also going to talk about new designs and advertising strategies.

1. Ms. Snyder teaching us how to properly apply the emulsion.

2. Burning the design onto the screen using a light table.

3. Washing away the emulsion.

4. Printing the design onto t-shirt material.

5. Success!

Tootles,
Alex, Mamie, & Ale

Bitter Sweet

2010-01-29T17:10:00.000-08:00

We started the day feeling really confident and pumped. We made a quick trip to the art supply store and bought a kit complete with all the supplies we needed: a screen, emulsion (photosensitive), emulsion remover, and a squeegee. And then it was pretty much downhill from there.

When we opened the kit, the instruction might as well have been in Chinese because they did not make any sense to us. We decided to wing it.

To spare you all the gory details we basically ended up spending an hour in a laundry room, that was pitch black might we add, only to find that we had completed the process wrong and would have to start over.

But our good luck doesn't end there. When we tried to remove the emulsion from the screen, it wouldn't come off! One bottle of emulsion remover, half a bottle of Windex, a quarter of Tide detergent, one bottle of nail polish remover, some vinegar, and two bottles of dish detergent later (hey, we were desperate) the emulsion still hadn't come off completely. But we reduced it to a faint stain.

At that point we were pretty down but we are not giving up! We are giving it another go this week. Maybe this time we will follow the instructions better (or actually read them). Wish us luck...again!

Here are some picture documenting this "tragic" event. On the bright side, we learned a way NOT to silkscreen.

1. "The Sweatshop."
2. Making the stencil.
3. Waiting for the stencil to burn onto the screen.
4. Still waiting... (from above).
5. Still hasn't burned through... (from below).
6. Okay, crazy...
7. Cleaning the screen.
8. Lookin' good Ale, lookin' good.
9. Scrubbing away.

Hopefully when you check back with us we will have pictures of our design printed on a t-shirt.

Tootles,
Alex, Mamie & Ale

How It All Started

2010-01-29T14:48:00.000-08:00

It started on a Saturday.

As we walked through Nieman Marcus, Ale noticed a t-shirt that resembled the print Alex had made in art class. "Hey!" Mamie said, "we could so make a shirt like that!" And after that, we were no longer drooling over the Christian Louboutin shoes or the Chanel purses; all we focused on was starting up this new t-shirt business. And that's how we came up with A(squared) + M.

Fashion has always been important to us. Mamie's role model is Anna Wintour, Ale has an infatuation with Marc Jacobs, and Alex is the next Rachel Zoe, we promise.

Even though we admire these influential figures, we wanted to create a style of our own. A style that would emulate the girl we strive to be. Someone who is confident, independent, a risk-taker, charming, and effortlessly chic. The look we are going for with our t-shirts encompasses all of these qualities and creates a vintage "street-style" look.

Not only did we want to make stylish t-shirts, we wanted to raise awareness about something we care about as well. A(squared) + M is a way for us to embrace our interests in fashion and the arts, while doing just that. We chose to support March of Dimes because it is an organization that is close to our hearts. March of Dimes is an organization that focuses on bettering the health of babies, specifically the prevention of birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality. A(squared) + M donates a percentage of its profits to the organization in hopes of making a difference in a baby's life.

Our goal is to donate $500 dollars in the next 6 months to March of Dimes, starting after our first order.

So today we started experimenting with different ways that we could get our design on these t-shirts. It didn't quite work out like we planned. It wasn't consistent, the print came out too light, there was a lot of smudging going on--overall, it just didn't work.

Our next plan is to try silk-screening. We'll let you know how that goes soon, wish us luck!
We will be posting pictures so don't be a stranger and visit our blog again!

Tootles,
Alex, Mamie & Ale