RIP to YSL...the death of an ICON

Stars turn out for YSL funeral

06/06/2008

The funeral of the legendary designer Yves Saint Laurent took place at the Saint-Roch church on the Rue Saint-Honore in Paris yesterday afternoon.

French president Nicolas Sarkozy and his former model wife Carla Bruni led a group of mourners at the invitation-only service that included Saint Laurent's companion Pierre Berge, Catherine Deneuve, John Galliano, Vivienne Westwood, John Paul Gaultier, Valentino and Claudia Schiffer.

Sarkozy said: "One of the greatest names of fashion has disappeared, the first to elevate haute couture to the rank of art. He was convinced that beauty was a luxury that every man and woman needed."

Saint-Laurent, who died of a brain tumour at the age of 71, will have his ashes scattered in the country of his birth, Morocco.

"He spent much of his life in Morocco. He will stay there in a country that influenced and marked him greatly," Berge confirmed to AFP.

"He will end up in the Maghreb, where he was born."


Yves Saint Laurent

The son of an insurance company president, Yves Saint Laurent was born in Oran, Algeria. He inherited his fashion sense from his mother and his mothers friends. He studied first at the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture, but felt frustrated by the syllabus so left after a few months. Saint Laurent left home at the age of 17 to work for the French designer Christian Dior. Following Dior's death in 1957, Yves, at the age of 21, was put in charge of the effort of saving the Dior house from financial ruin.

Shortly after this success, he was conscripted to serve in the French Army during the Algerian War of Independence. After 20 days, the stress of being hazed by fellow soldiers led the fragile Saint Laurent to be institutionalized in a French mental hospital, where he underwent psychiatric treatment, including electroshock therapy, for a nervous breakdown.[3]

In 1962, in the wake of his nervous breakdown, Saint Laurent was released from Dior and he and his lover, Pierre Bergé, started their own fashion house with funding from Atlanta millionaire J. Mack Robinson. The couple split romantically in 1976 but remained business partners. During the 1960s and 1970s, the firm popularized fashion trends such as the beatnik look, safari jackets for men and women, tight pants and tall, thigh-high boots, including the creation of arguably the most famous classic tuxedo suit for women in 1966, Le Smoking suit. He also started mainstreaming the idea of wearing silhouettes from the 1920s, '30s and '40s. He was the first, in 1966, to popularize ready-to-wear in an attempt to democratize fashion, with Rive Gauche and the boutique of the same name. He was also the first designer to use black models in his runway shows.


I adore Yves. I was introduced to his collections by Cordell. He wore the YSL cologne. I have always had such great respect for this man and his vision. His was genius at its best. He was before his time and of his time at the same time. He should be paid great homage. I will be presenting a dedication show to his honor in October. Im sure he is somewhere whispering into the ears of the next great fashion designers.. and the muse for many others..

my FIRST love?? {the ANSWER may suprise you}

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised- Gil Scott Heron
by larsen42

Which came first: the chicken or the egg? Who knows? Well here is a better question. Which came first: women who loved and embraced themselves or "Carrie Bradshaw" telling women to love and embrace themselves? Okay, YES I went to the movies yesterday. As a matter of fact, I set my alarm for 8am, got up, dressed up very stylishly and took myself to the movies to see Sex and the City. In my early twenties I would go over to Brandy and Anitra's and we would all watch that weeks episode and chat it up afterwards.

But watching every episode of this series couldn't prepare me for the movie. I wont give it away to those who haven't seen it, but I will say this: it gave me a moment of clarity in my own life and the courage to live the way I chose and to have no regrets about it.

Which brings me back to my blog title, My first love? To know my first love will give me insight into why I do what I do and what made me love it. I had a garage sale the week before graduation, and in conversation someone asked about some artwork I was selling. That started a conversation with my mom and I about 'the arts' and the ones I love. I explained to the person that I was(in what feel like a past life) an artist, a poet and performer. They then asked why I stopped any/all of it. My mom replied that "Fashion was her new love. You know how young girls are, but art was her first love." I then disagreed. Wasn't music my first love? I wasn't sure. I needed time to think....

So here is the conclusion. My earliest memories are of writing. Making a Mothers day card for my mom and creating my own rhyming poem for the inside. Then maybe I was 7 or 8 I remember writing a song. It wasnt a good song, I still remember the lyrics...I wont type them for you, but I thought it was clever. LOL

For me poetry and art went kind of hand and hand. They were my first loves. My art never seemed to measure up (in my mind) to others I saw around me, but poetry; MY poetry always amazed the masses. In high school I made a killing junior and senior year making 1of a kind valentines for my classmates boyfriends. Complete with art and original poetry!! LOL Wow, I knew then that I wanted to be an entrepreneur. It was also in my junior year that I met the lady named, Fashion. A rep from SCAD[Savannah College of Art and Design] came to speak to my art class. My teacher set up a one on one meeting for me and after reviewing my fashion sketches, I was told that the school would be in touch. And they were constantly through my senior year. My last year of high school my teacher designed an independent study for me to delve into the study of fashion.

My 4 years at SCAD taught me so much. But they will most be remembered for being the place where I fell in and out of love with fashion design. I got into fashion right before the peak. I got in before everyone and they momma decided they could throw some bleach on some jeans and call themselves a designer. Once it became uber mainstream, I lost my interest; I refused to be lost in the abyss of ____________ "fashion designer".

Whats that in the background? What do you hear? The soundtrack to my life. Music has been with me all along. My love for music, my family jokes, is one of the many things that my fathers West African blood ingrained in me. Rhythm has always come naturally to me. I have a love for music that few understand. Music has sustained me through times in my life that would have broken others. But alas, music was not my first love. It was and will always be poetry. My drug will always be an open mic. The rush that flows throw me before I step onto stage and after a great show is like nothing I have ever felt. The pen will always be my weapon and my tongue the mighty sword. =)

NEW POETRY TO COME TO THIS BLOG VERY VERY SOON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(arent you excited??)

TULANE UNIVERSITY Commencement 2008

This is a video of the WHOLE thing.. Just incase you missed it.. And no, you dont have to watch the whole thing! LOL

But if u want to.. here it is...

video blogging... okay, lets try it!

so.. we all know by now, dia dia will try almost anything once..

SO, Im now trying to do the video diary thing. Hey if Karrine Stephans can do it, cant be that
complicated right?? LOL

Anyway, this is so hot off the press.. like just did it.. like 5 minutes ago! LOL

more to come..

*note: not all will be done from my bed--room! LOL =)

They asked for an ENCORE..what more could I say?

SO.. as you know.. relationships are my most perplexing muse. We have the best "thin line/love-hate" awe inspiring thing, where words dance in my head until I am forced to sit them down and put them into some type of order that relates to current events in the reality of dia dia.

Well here is a throwback to a happy memory. Original copy written poety from my cerebellum, circa 2007...august..

**leave ur comments below**


The Key

The key is not shiny
not new and clean, its jagged tainted and worn.
For years it was kept in a secret place,
never longed for another home.
Ive hoped for someone to take it,
but didnt trust enough to let go.
This key is heavy and dark;
the metal is so rusty and cold.

It occurred late on a Thursday
by happenstance he crossed my path
but--

not quite like I'd prayed for.


I stared into his eyes that night,
I was peeking at his soul.
Never thought he would be the one
for whom my heart bells toll.
As I watched him sleep for a moment
I knew this wasnt lust-
there had to be a plan in store.

Not one made by people, we could not have
constructed this, in between the lines.
He held me in his arms as he slept that night,
but I chose to silently gaze.
I thanked God in quiet reflection,
as I softly moved my fingers across his face.
Like braille I wanted to know him
to remember each touch after he had gone.

Soft tears fall down my cheek as I write this,
because its so much more than a poem.
He took the tattered key that night,
never uttering a word.
He cleaned all the stains off,
with care he washed them away.

I Imagine his his surprise to see it
shiny, clean and bright.
I imagine it would "bling, bling"
when held up in daylight.
But he didnt put it on a necklace,
he didnt show it to a crowd.
He quietly kept it in his secret place,
never spoke of it aloud.

The key is very special to me,
it unlocks the door to my heart.
He took the key from me that night,
and I pray they never ever part.



-A Lundy 08.

2007

3 x 52 and why we cheat ourselves....

I know some of yall will say, you never saw this coming! {insert smug laugh} Well on the other hand, since I been getting calls since my birthday party from friends in cities other than the N.O. sayin, "Hey, you look like you lost weight" maybe this wont be such a surprise!

And yes, I know that was a long intro! LOL Its FRIDAY!!!!! Be easy!
Well for everyone who doesn't know, which is most of yall, I decided to get a side job to help pay for my moving/relocation expenses after graduation to the big apple. I wasnt really looking for a job, but when opportunity smacks you in the face, why not??

I went with my mom for a consultation at Curves for moral support and winded up receiving a free week. So I did my lil week and really liked it, but didnt want to join since im already in contract with another gym until May... well the nice lady that gave me the free week, quit the following day and they were looking to hire someone. They had accommodating hours and free workouts for employees, so I was sold! LOL

My first week, I didnt wanna be too eager about the free workouts so I didnt really workout any. Then it started... gaining pounds back!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO I told the scale!
I went back the next week, and put myself into the computer! And two weeks later Im 3.5 pounds lighter... [sigh of relief]

Well I have recently (which I am VERY grateful for) been contracted to do some big jobs and I hardly have time to remember to breathe let alone work out, but you know me Im trying to do as much as I can do. Well I started working on Masse Media work while on my break at Curves which is the time when I would do my workout. So Im looking at the clock sayin,"hurry up dia so u can workout" yet, im still typing... then jumped up with 18 minutes left to do my 30 min workout. And I did it.. and skipped some of the circuit in the process. It felt okay at the time cause I was doing the workout, but at the end I felt cheated.

And it made me think about how we cheat ourselves out of good stuff sometimes. WHY? Well, for some its their commitment to success. Business conquers all. For others its the commitment to take care of everyone else but them. I have an ex-bf that cut his workout so he could get another job to take care of his whole family. Not kids but mom, dad.. etc.. The truth is that we can come up with all kinds of excuses for why we cant do things that we should do. And as Joe pointed out to me last night on the phone, "I feel like you make time for what you really want to do." as I had spewed at him so many times before! [ He got me, that was a good one!] And Im still sticking with that one, you do make time for what you really want to do, whether its sleep late, grunge out and watch tv in ya "house clothes", race cars, spend all your spare time on myspace or facebook, or space out and do nothing at all;then wonder where the time went.

Well I resolve in this 2008, to make better use of my time. Not to cheat myself out of things that are good for me, and to not let all this work, moving, graduation, or relationships drive me crazy! Lets see how that goes....

TGIF people... dia dia

Info to Remember

I know its only December, but I'm only 5 months away from being a Tulane Graduate! So for all those (should be all of you) attending my graduation ceremony, here is the site that the school has provided:

http://www.grads.tulane.edu/



There you can find travel info, dates and times of the Ceremonies, etc. You can call the school travel agency if needed to help make better travel arrangements! I am also working with my connections to get you guys some kind of travel deals. Especially yall coming from Georgia and Texas.

Also, for any of you who don't already know, I will be moving to New York sometime between May- August permanently once I secure a position at the record company. So yes, we plan to do it real big for graduation as my farewell to New Orleans!

And as for the travel plans, I will keep you guys updated as much as possible. I am also planning to host a fashion show and concert graduation weekend, so you guys can see first hand what my company is all about. Start making plans cause its gonna be a great weekend!


SEE YALL SOON!


Create yours at BlingyBlob.com!


Stay real Stay tru Stay u! --dia Dia

The day after.....my 26th...a reflection

So this is my first blog on this, my NEW blog site! [insert cheers]

Yesterday was my 26th birthday, and as we are approaching a new year, I thought it would be progressive to reflect on this past year. This year has been full of bittersweet memories for me. At the beginning, I broke up with my emotionally unavailable boyfriend, and declared that I would be single for a long while. Only to be introduced to the man of my dreams, when I least expected it.... ( still wondering how that happened)

This year I also went from being a music intern to owning and running my own company. That in itself has been a story all its own. I have met so many people, pushed open so many doors, and Im slowly making a significant mark on the entertainment industry in New Orleans. This year people say, "yeah, your face looks familiar.." next year they will be sayin, "yeah, dia dia, i know u...." well thats the plan anyway. And while running my business and maintaining my sanity through my personal life, I have been enduring my last year as an undergraduate in college. Knowing that I only have 3 more classes until I can be a college graduate, makes me happy and very proud.

I remember in the not so distant past, feeling like I had no real direction. I remember feeling like I didn't want to go on. Being a single mother, a full time student, and full time employee is something that no one can understand unless they have gone through it. And not to sound like a broken record, but going through Katrina at the same time, threw my whole life out of order, which was possibly the best thing that ever happened to me. Being displaced helped me define my goals, realize my options, and helped me see that I have no where to go but up!
Which is exactly what I have planned for next year!

Im excited and nervous about moving to New York this summer, but Im ready to move into the next phase of my life and my career. I wanna thank you guys for your support and encouraging words, because you will never know how much it all has meant to me over the years.

STAY tuned in 2008, I will be exceeding even my wildest expectations!

STAY real STAY tru STAY u -dia dia

Oh, how could I forget the pictures from my Birthday Party this past Sunday at Metropolitan!