The Must-Have Coachella Accessory--A Shawl

Whether or not you're going to Coachella the festival, or just going to the parties, or going to something called Desert Daze, you're going to need to wear some clothes (however little they might actually cover your body). It's going to be brutally hot, insanely so, especially if you're at the festival grounds in Indio where the temperatures will be creeping towards the 100s, you may get a moment of grace as the sun sets, when a warm breeze comes along that feels exactly like a gentle caress from the universe--however, this beautiful harmonious time between your body and nature is short lived, because at night it gets cold! Also, who knows if strange weather patterns are going to occur again and it'll rain like it did last year?! You can be prepared for all these weather changes and more by packing one simple item--a shawl!


A shawl is great for wrapping around yourself when you're a little bit cold, or just want to look like a cool, mysterious gypsy.


You can use it for shade!


Or when you don't feel like talking to anyone.


You can also use it to sit on like a fancy picnic blanket!


This is my friend Eva, the photographer of this shoot, demonstrating the super powers a shawl can bring to your outfit.

When you don't want to wear your shawl, just tie it around your purse. When you need a cover-up after the pool, tie it around your waist! If, god forbid, you spill something on your phone, SHAWL!

You can find one at any thrift store. They're basically just large rectangular pieces of fabric! Get creative!

Ride On

Don't let the bolo tie fool you, I've only ever ridden a horse twice in my life. Once was when I was a toddler (dressed in full cowboy regalia) and had a pony at my birthday party. The other time was on a random horseback riding trip with my family and the only reason I have any memory of it is because my horse was dropping deuces between each slow, plodding stride. It didn't let up throughout the entire day's ride. I'm still amazed at that horse's DGAF attitude. But enough about horse dumps, I'm pretty into bolo ties and this one featuring a beautiful silver stallion is tops in my collection! Doesn't this post just make you want to get on a beautiful, majestic horse and ride on into the sunset? No? Okay, my bad.

Blouse- Vintage
Denim dress- Nasty Gal
Fur Bag- Vintage
Shoes- Margiela X H&M
Bolo tie- Vintage


<3, Nicki

The Only New Year's Resolution I'll Ever Need...

Recently, I wrote an article on New Year's Eve getaways for LAIY. I had it all planned out. My boyfriend and I will not go to any crazy rager, have to talk to a single doorman, or spend more than minimum wage on any alcoholic beverage. However, as it turns out, I'm writing a new article, and it's called....

“How I Tried to Get Away But Ended Up Staying in L.A.”

I tried, I really tried. I wanted to get away from the hullabaloo (if I'm allowed to use that word) of New Year's festivities. I didn't want to have to do my hair or dress to the nines to count down the seconds to a happy new year. I wanted to be in a hot tub and greeting the new year with comfort and leisure and no great expectations except some peace and quiet. Of course, as with all plans, there's always the risk that it will all come crashing down like a gigantic glowing orb from the east.

So, what should you do when your plans fall through? Smile, because you know you're on your way to doing something better. Why worry about what you could be doing instead of making what you are doing the best thing ever? Lo and behold, here is the only New Year's Resolution I'll ever need, and a new article is born. Love what you are doing, if you lament anything you are not doing then go ahead and do it. If you can't do it yet, find some way to make it possible, build up those skills first, then do it. Don't spend so much time thinking and not enough time doing. Everything takes time. Do it now.

P.S. Yes, this means Tropic of Unicorn Blog is coming back! Happy New Year!!

Piñata

Pinata. from allisonvictoria on Vimeo.

This is the preview of a short film I did a few months ago. Innocent badasses pretty much sums up the characters.

Doing the Nasty

Well, this was awfully nice of them! Don't you just love how fashion makes everything look so beautiful and painless? It's like a wonderful fantastic dream.... I mean, of course, this is how I live and look ALL THE TIME! Thanks Devyn for the awesome shots. Thanks Jaclyn for the kind words. And Joanna Ewing, for making it all happen. You guys are super nasty.

Fruta Puta

Absolute madness has been going on in my life, folks. Sheer and absolute madness. The good kind, though. The kind that fills you up with a frantic frenetic energy that makes waking up at 5am totally worth it. I started working for Nasty Gal. They actually contacted ME and asked me to interview, so now I have a pretty sweet gig with probably the raddest company known to girlkind.

I'm also going to be featured on their blog pretty soon. Be on the look out for that, please, and when you notice how clean and pretty my house looks, be aware that I had a mini breakdown the night before while I was frantically cleaning the kitchen. (Somehow breakdowns always happen in the kitchen, don't they?)

I was wiping the counters and putting the dishes away when I just became overwhelmed by the possibility that things were NOT going to look the way I had wanted them to and I would be so disappointed and mad at myself for not doing all the things I wanted to do earlier-- I was freaking the fuck out.

I started crying a little at first, then I thought, 'Fuck it. Nobody else is in the kitchen. I'm all alone right now, so, I'm going to cry as much as I want to!' and I just let it out. Hard.

While I was crying, I felt extremely angry, and secretly, I wanted my boyfriend to walk into the kitchen and notice and be concerned and feel bad and guilty (though he was already helping out as much as he could!). But then, all of a sudden, I noticed I wasn't crying anymore, I was just doing what I needed to do, that episode passed so smoothly that I hardly noticed that I had stopped. My mood was calm and peaceful. The kind police officer of my mind had come and made way for the little ducklings and everything was totally happy and fine again. Everything was doable and manageable, and even if it was not perfect, who cares. I, magically, didn't anymore. It was weird, guys. But also awesome. Honor whatever feelings you're having, and eventually they will pass. Then you go back to your normal, happy medium. Hopefully, happy is your medium.

Anyways, this look was shot by my dear and amazing friend Timony Siobhan. Check out her Tumblr, too!

How to Choose

I find it very difficult to make decisions. When I'm given a menu, I scan the entire thing front to back, read all the descriptions, ask the other people in my party what they're ordering, read about those and compare it with what I think I might order. Then, when the waiter comes, I usually ask them what they recommend; if what they recommend isn't one of the 2 items I had in mind, then I ask them which of the 2 dishes I was vacillating between they like better. Then, I internally debate between the 3, and finally, after everyone's already finished their drinks and is ready for their second cocktail, I order. Okay, maybe it doesn't take me that long but I guarantee you that I am the last person to get their order taken.

I think this is an indication of a fear of commitment. I don't ever want to make a bad decision. I'm afraid of regret. This terrible trait renders me practically incapable of action sometimes, and that's bad. I think making choices are one of the most difficult things about growing up. How do you choose which career path to follow if you have many varied interests? How do you choose who to, gulp, marry!? Or when to have kids? I think the last two questions are the biggest choices in life and ones not to take lightly. However, I realize now, that picking a career or which school to go to or which field to study is not really all that important.

People change careers 5 to 7 times in their life. So, if you have an opportunity to try something you've always wanted to do, do it. Don't let fear hold you back. If you feel like quitting your current job to try your hand at something that truly speaks to you, it's better now than later, or never. If you don't know what to do, what career to choose, who you want to be, and how you want to spend your time, here is a question to ask yourself that might help to put things into perspective for you.

1. What are you most envious of?
Envy is considered a negative emotion but I think it can be a very valuable motivational tool. If you get envious every time you to go the theatre (to quote Megan Draper) then that's something inside of you telling you that you should quit advertising and give acting another shot.

The biggest piece of advice about how to choose? Choose to be grateful. Always.

And lucky for me, I'm only friends with people who don't mind sharing their food. ;)