music: i feel like classical.

This morning I woke up feeling calm, relaxed and yes very relieved that it's Friday, the start of my weekend. This week has been long for me, yet productive to say the least. However, I am quite ready for some dl time.

I'm heading home to my parents this weekend. For the past three weeks, they have been babysitting my dog, Mia. It's been her "summer vacation" with her grandparents (I like to say) ... and my mom loves it, treating her like her granddaughter ... spoiling her with treats, affection and lots of walks. Plus, she gets to see her cousins, "Coco Chanel" (bloodhound), "Rosita" (english bulldog), and her 1/2 brother Mooshie (maltese). Anyways, I'm very excited to leave the city for a few days and head out to the country to see my parents and of course to see and pick up my lovely, incredibly adorable, Mia.

To start off my "calm" and "relaxing" weekend, here's one of my favorite piece: Bach Concerto in F minor (2nd movement).

press: shiny squirrel.

thank you shiny squirrel for featuring our look book on their blog yesterday!

inspiration: knit the city.

"Knit the City are a crack team of woolly warriors turning the city Knitwise since February 2009.

Knit the City are part of an ongoing campaign to guerrilla knit the city of London, and beyond that the world.

No part of the city is safe from Knit the City’s woolly war on the mundane, humdrum and expected. We will bring woolly sunshine to you where ever you dwell. We’re nice like that."

For more information: Knit the City.

de*nada: new collection on new site.

If you haven't (so bad of you), check out my newly designed website today! Designed by a good friend of mine (thank you James!), my new site features de*nada's new autumn/winter collection and look book photos ... so what are you waiting for? Take a peek today ... www.denadadesign.com

Also, if you're on facebook ... why not become a fan of de*nada? www.facebook.com/denadadesign

art: veiled vestal virgin.

Veiled Vestal Virgin by Raffaele Monti, Marble, 1847, in Chatsworth.

Raffaelle Monti (1818-1881) was born in Milan, Italy. He studied under his father the noted sculptor Gaetano Matteo Monti. By way of Vienna and Milan, he came to London in 1848, and settled there. He exhibited at the Royal Academy, and Monti soon earned recognition for his piece for the Duke of Devonshire, the "Veiled Vestal Virgin."

In Ancient Rome, the Vestal Virgins (sacerdos Vestalis), were the virgin holy female priests of Vesta, the goddess of the hearth. Their primary task was to maintain the sacred fire of Vesta. The Vestal duty brought great honor and afforded greater privileges to women who served in that role. They were the only female priests within the Roman religious system.

Borrowed from: Wikipedia.

july 28th = independence day of peru!

Today is the Independence Day of Peru! I wish I was in Peru to celebrate this great day with my family ... but since I'm not, I'll celebrate in spirit with a pisco sour in hand!

film: train/bed.

Train/Bed from Lam Thuy Vo on Vimeo.

recap: neighbors.

Last Wednesday, I went to "Neighbors," an art and music performance / auction held at the Black Cat. It featured live painting by Kelly Towles and music by DAVO ... basically the night was comprised of Kelly painting three large panels as DAVO performed live. After each panel was painted, it was then auctioned off to the crowd. The night was a success ... all three panels were sold as well as all the wooden cut-out prop pieces that were set-up around the stage (made by Kelly prior to the show). If you're interested in seeing their next show, it's set for August in San Francisco ...

For more information: Neighbors.

photos: nyc.

A few days ago, I got back from my week long stay in NYC. Although I am seriously physically and mentally exhausted from this trip (and in need of some mandatory sleep-in mornings this weekend), my fiance and I had so much fun ... big thank you to our friend, Matty! Of course, I made sure to bring along my cameras and take tons of photos. Here are only a few (can't you tell I'm obsessed with urban landscapes?) ... to see more, visit de*nada's facebook page!

interview: de*nada at readysetdc.

Last week, Justin of ReadysetDC swung by studio to chat with me about de*nada and ask a few questions about my new collection. The interview went smoothly, and it was awesome to talk to Justin about DC, and its many great things it has to offer its creative community.

To read the entire interview, visit de*nada at ReadysetDC.

ReadysetDC is a blog + collection of creative projects aimed at creating awareness of everything amazing in DC, including urban development, culture + art. We seek to be a source of inspiration + a spark for discussion.

event: neighbors.

I'm back from a long weekend in NYC! And although I enjoyed running around the city checking out trade shows and events, and trying not to be late for meetings, I'm so happy to be back in my lovely, DC ... sometimes being away from your hometown makes you realize how much you love it! Anyways, I'm back and ready to catch up on work.

After work, I'm heading to Neighbors at the Black Cat, an art and music performance/auction with live painting by Kelly Towles and beats by Davo.

"The live performance is better than watching clash of the titans. That little metal owl kicked major ass. We are a lot like that little metal owl."

For more information: Neighbors, The Black Cat 1811 14th St. NW Washington, DC, July 22, 2009 at 9:00pm - 2:00am

new stockist: nasty gal.

This coming fall, De*Nada's autumn/winter '09 line will be carried at Nasty Gal Online Boutique. Nasty Gal offers a wide selection of the most desirable and coveted new and vintage clothing and accessories available online. For more information, please visit www.shopnastygal.com

De*Nada is an emerging contemporary women’s and men’s accessories line created by DC-based designer, Virginia Arrisueño. Combining traditional elements with modern trends, De*Nada offers a rising collection of handmade knit accessories for individuals, who desire both quality and style.

Inspired by the culture and the traditions of her Peruvian heritage, Arrisueño works closely with skilled artisans in Perú to create De*Nada’s growing collection. De*Nada is currently sold at select retailers worldwide.

For additional information, please contact info@denadadesign.com / Visit De*Nada’s website at www.denadadesign.com

loves: mia michaels.

I think that this piece is so far my favorite from Mia Michaels. I know I said this before, but her choreography is absolutely beautiful and breathtaking.

de*nada: new collection on new site.

De*Nada launched a new online site today to showcase its autumn and winter knit ‘09 collection, which includes more than a dozen new designs for scarves, gloves and hats. Currently sold at select retailers throughout the U.S. and around the world, De*Nada’s line of handmade knit accessories, for both men and women, will be available at www.denadadesign.com in autumn 2009.

For additional information, please contact Virginia Blanca Arrisueño at info@denadadesign.com

About De*Nada
De*Nada is an emerging accessories line, specializing in handmade knits for women and men. De*Nada is the vision of its founder, Virginia Blanca Arrisueño, who in spring 2005 sought to blend contemporary styles with ethnic elements to offer stylish yet high-quality merchandise. Inspired by the culture and the traditions of her Peruvian heritage, Arrisueño continually works alongside skilled artisans in Perú to create De*Nada’s growing collection.

**Special (big) thanks to James Hobbs and David Zhou (web team), Lise Metzger (photographer), Morgan Hungerford (wardrobe stylist), Akemi Kanazaki (make-up and hair stylist), Zahra Bennett (assistant), Kelly Towles (my emotional and physical support), and our lovely models, Kristen and Sasha.

inspirations: dan witz's dark doings.

"I don't think I've ever been as excited as I am about this work I'm doing now... I'm calling it, "Dark Doings", inspired by my recent time in Amsterdam's red light district."-Dan Wiltz.

Borrowed from: Wooster Collective

music: you came out.

We Have Band - You Came Out (Official Music Video). Directed by David Wilson in very special collaboration with Fabian Berglund and Ida Gronblom from Wieden + Kennedy. Produced by Blinkink. Shot over 2 days and stop frame animated from 4,816 still images without a single moment of video footage.


For more info about We Have Band: www.myspace.com/wehaveband

art: mine.

Hermana ("sister"), 36 x 60 inches, Mixed Media, 2003

loves: panda head mag.

Panda Head Magazine is a DC based quaterly online magazine, which includes fashion spreads, interviews, vignettes, and photography. It’s a great magazine, which I always look forward to reading.

The creator of Panda Head is Morgan Hungerford, a good friend of mine who I met a few years back. She was also the stylist of our recent autumn & winter '09 lookbook (which will be debuting on our new online site soon ... knock on wood). Other members of Panda Head Mag include Erik Lofton and Nilay Lawson.

For more information: Panda Head Magazine

loves: dance.

choreographed by Mia Michaels.


choreographed by Mia Michaels.


choreographed by Sonya Tayeh.


choreographed by Sonya Tayeh.

I love all types of art. In specific, I love the art of dance and am so amazed at how dancers are able to move their body rhythmically and with so much control and refinement to music … and on top of that, be able to communicate to the viewer non-verbally and evoke such strong emotions. Can I dance? Unfortunately, I was born with two left feet so to speak … and so my chances to be a relatively "ok" dancer are … well, zero. I do love to dance though. However, I only dance in the comfort of my own home … Mia (my dog) is usually there staring at me with amusement.

Two choreographers who I am obsessed with at the moment are Mia Michaels and Sonya Tayeh. They have choreographed several performances for So You Think You Can Dance, an American dance reality television show and competition. Michaels, who has won an Emmy for her choreography, is such an inspiration and her contemporary work is absolutely breathtaking. Tayeh’s "combat jazz" routines are edgy and youthful ... gotta love a girl who can sport a mohawk. Overall, I always look forward to seeing their choreography every week on SYTYCD.

Here are four of my favorite pieces from this season and past of So You Think You Can Dance.

trip: the big apple.

Throughout the year, I tend to travel frequently. From DC to Las Vegas, to Lima, to LA, and so on and so on ... it seems like I am always going "somewhere" every other month.

This month, I am heading to New York City. The trip is mostly for business purposes ... I have meetings with a few stores, I need to "walk" a trade show and also check out some retail events, etc, etc. Although I'll only be there for a few days, I do plan to squeeze in some "fun" activities such as seeing art exhibitions, shopping, and of course visiting friends.

I've been to the "big apple" numerous times before. And I must admit that I am in love with this city. I mean, the whole city is a design inspiration. I constantly take mental notes whenever I'm there.

I look forward to heading up there ... and I'll be sure to take tons of photos and post them up when I get back.

happy 4th of july.

Okay, so I know I am one day early ... however since I rarely blog during the weekends, I figured it wouldn't hurt to say "Happy 4th of July!" early ... so, "Happy 4th of July!"

Wow ... is it me, or does time seem to be flying by so quickly nowadays. It seems like yesterday, I was celebrating my birthday, which was in early June. I know that this "fly by" is probably due to me being absolutely consumed with work lately... can you believe I even dream about work? ... which means that it's now effecting my sleep and making me look haggard and feel horrible in the mornings (how I pity my fiance). The past couple of weeks have been brutally stressful for me to say the least, and so I am actually looking forward to this weekend.

I don't have plans really ... not going home to see family ... don't have set plans to go to a barbeque. But to be honest, I'm actually looking forward to spending some time alone ... some "me" time. I am in definite need of a mental weekend, a few days to myself distressing my mind and body of any work related thought. What will I do? I have no idea ... I'll probably be spending my weekend taking Mia out for a run, renting a few dvd's and crashing on the couch, or even better, sleeping in on Sunday morning. Whatever I end up doing ... just be certain that I'll be attempting to recuperate fully before Monday creeps up again.

film: far from the 16th.

"Far from the 16th" from Paris, Je T'aime.

music: gentleman who fell.

borrowed from: cyana trendland.

So as I was skimming through cyana trendland this morning (I know, I'm hooked), I saw a post about Milla Jovovich's album "The Divine Comedy." Instantly, the post brought back so many memories for me. This album came out in 1994 ... I believe, I was 13 at the time. Back then, Milla Jovovich was only known for her modeling career, who then created a well-received 11 track album. I used to listen to "The Divine Comedy" specifically for one song, "gentleman who fell." It's a great song ... and today actually was my first time viewing the music video for it ... which I also love, of course.