The Yeah Yeah Yeahs performed at the 9:30 club this past Friday night to a sold out show. Considering I had never seen them live, I knew before the show even started that I was about to witness something spectacular, and I was right. Karen O, Brian Chase, and Nick Zinner, took the stage exactly at 10:30pm to a crowd of screaming fans. I literally felt the excitement in the air and braced myself as Karen O reached for her mic.

They opened the show with “Dull Life” which is from their current album titled “It’s Blitz!” Karen O’s stage presence definitely was not dull, in fact it was the opposite. From head to toe she was covered in color so you couldn’t help but stare at her. As she jumped and twirled around the stage, it was obvious that she was born to do this. In between songs she would take sips of her water (or alcoholic beverage) and spit it out into the air like a true rocker. Her wildness was contagious.

Surprisingly they played a lot of oldies including “Gold Lion,” “Y Control,” and “Kiss, Kiss.” Once they bowed and left the stage, the audience only wanted more from them, so for their encore they kicked it off with “Maps” and everyone sang along. It was sad to see the show come to an end because clearly I wanted them to stay on stage and play some more songs. I did however come to the conclusion that Karen O is a rock goddess and she has a talent unlike no other. I think the pictures say it all.

Once again, a special thanks to 9:30 club for letting Killahbeez attend this amazing show!

All photos by Quyen Nguyen

New York Fashion Week (Spring 10′ Ready-To-Wear) came to an end recently and I have to say that there were a lot of collections that blew me away. The collections were original, colorful, and definitely unique. Is Spring here yet?

Rebecca Taylor

To view more from the collection, go here

Alexander Wang

To view more from the collection, go here

Jill Stuart

To view more from the collection, go here

Derek Lam

To view more from the collection, go here

One of my favorite stores, Opening Ceremony, recently launched their third store in Tokyo, Japan. Humberto Leon and co-owner Carol Lim welcomed celebs and designers into the eight floor store with open arms and excitement. With each floor having a different theme, actress Kirsten Dunst believed that it was the coolest store she’d ever been to. As for the entertainment, Julian Casablancas of the Strokes, played a live set from his upcoming solo album. If you’re planning to visit Tokyo in the near future, make sure you stop by this fashion wonderland for some shopping.

Carol Lim, Ashley Olsen, Humberto Leon, Mary-Kate Olsen

Alexander Wang

Erin Wasson

Sean Lennon, Yoko Ono, Humberto Leon

Kirsten Dunst and Jason Schwartzman

To view more photos, go to Style.com

New York premiered the long awaited “The September Issue” at the Museum of Modern Art. The R.J. Cutler documentary follows Vogue editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour, as she prepares for the 2008 fall fashion issue. The film received positive reviews, with designer Peter Som stating: “You can’t make this stuff up. I loved it.”

Sienna Miller and Anna Wintour

Chanel Iman

Lorenzo Martone and Marc Jacobs

Raquel Zimmermann

Phillip Lim

To see more pictures, go to Style.com
To view the trailer, go here

Our beloved fashion reality show is finally returning for its sixth season! It will be premiering on the Lifetime network (instead of Bravo) on August 20th, so mark your calendars. Besides being on a different network and having new producers, this season will be taking place in Los Angeles and not New York City. Will the show still be entertaining now that it’s on a new network and in a new location? Guess we’ll have to watch and see. For now, here’s a glimpse at the sixteen designers below.

(Image from Tom & Lorenzo)

For more information, go to the Official Site

This Swedish brand has been around since 1997, starting out as a denim brand. Soon after it branched out into women’s and men’s apparel along with accessories. Acne has always had a very clean and yet interesting style. The five looks below are perfect for the summer time and can be worn day or night.

Get it here

Get it here

Get it here

Get it here

Get it here

Check out Acne’s official website

This Australian brand was launched in 2005, and fortunately for us girls, it’s cute and affordable. The label’s inspiration is a combination of the most recent trends, vintage pieces, and street style. The good thing is that the clothes are carried on a variety of sites, including Urban Outfitters and Revolve Clothing. Below are some of my favorite dresses…

$70, Pipe Dream Dress
This dress is feminine with a little edge thanks to the zipper. I’m still loving zippers, and with this dress you can wear it out in the daytime or at night.

$77, Monet Bustier Dress
Floral is everywhere, and I like it. This is girly and bright, which makes it the perfect summer dress.

$85, Don’t Mesh With Me Dress
I love black dresses that are form fitting and simple. I can see this dress being part of Alexander Wang’s collection, which makes it even more appealing. Plus, who doesn’t love mesh?

Check out MinkPink

(Image from Reactionary Century)

Going into this sold out show at the 9:30 club, I really did not know if I would enjoy what I was about to see. I’ll be honest, I had never really given Animal Collective a real chance. But it’s hard to ignore them when Pitchfork is praising their albums and other music critics feel that the current album, “Merriweather Post Pavilion,” is the best album of the year. So before attending the show, I made sure to familiarize myself with not only “Merriweather Post Pavilion” but their previous album “Strawberry Jam.”

I had never heard of Grouper, who was the first to come on. I assumed it was a band, however it’s just one girl, and that girl is Liz Harris from Portland, Oregon. Unfortunately it was hard for me to focus on her because the audience was pretty noisy during her set. In the center of the stage, she sat on a chair singing into a mic and playing her guitar while random noises were playing in the background. It’s difficult to categorize what kind of music she plays, but does that really matter? She has something going for her that is unique, and with her dreamy-like voice I feel that her sound has the potential to capture people if they let her.

When it was time for Animal Collective to come out, the audience simply went insane. Geologist (Brian Weitz), Avey Tare (David Portner), and Panda Bear (Noah Lennox) quickly walked to their three stations that were set up. Avey Tare stood in the middle with the mic and his electric guitar, while Geologist was to his right using a sampler, and Panda Bear to his left also using a sampler along with the percussion and guitar. The first song they played was “Chocolate Girl” which I’m not sure if the audience recognized. I know I didn’t recognize it so after looking it up, I found out that it was actually from their 2000 album called “Spirit They’re Gone, Spirit They’ve Vanished.”

(Image from Flickr)

They actually performed a good variety of songs from all of their albums (and that’s a lot), and I’m sure there were people that knew all of them and some that didn’t know every song performed, but that was okay. From beginning to end, the crowd was loving them and you could really see and feel it that night. Probably one of the highlights of the evening was when they played “My Girls” which is one of their more popular songs, if not the most popular. With Panda Bear singing the vocals, his voice definitely sounded strong and clear, and I was impressed.

What’s interesting about Animal Collective is that the music is nonstop. Meaning they jump from one song to the next, never taking a break in between. When they performed “Summertime Clothes” which is off their current album, the crowd definitely knew it because they started to cheer and scream. The song is fun and bouncy and the audience was either bopping their heads or jumping up and down to the beat.

I normally enjoy it when the artist or band interacts with the audience, and with Animal Collective that wasn’t the case. They thanked everyone for coming out and supporting them, and that was basically all the interaction we got. Perhaps they were too immersed in their music, or maybe they didn’t think that it was necessary to talk to the crowd that much. Either way, I don’t think the people cared too much.

Throughout the show lights were flashing all over the place, from the audience to the group members. And I can’t forget about the huge white ball hanging from the ceiling right above the stage where different images would appear on it. It was very psychedelic in a way and at times I felt that maybe I should have been high during the show. It obviously had a special effect on the audience causing them to become more and more energetic.

During their encore, the last song performed was “Brother Sport” which made the audience show off dance moves I’ve never seen before. This was quite amusing for me because it was clear that they lacked rhythm, but they didn’t care, not one bit. And even though I can’t say the show made me a fan, because I still felt that the music was a little too weird for me, it doesn’t really matter. What matters is that all those people came out to show their love and support for Animal Collective and their music, and that’s what really counts.

A special thanks to 9:30 club for allowing Killahbeez to attend this show!

First off, I have to say that Peter Bjorn and John definitely know how to rock out. It was my first time seeing them live, and I was truly amazed by their performance. Their opening act was Chairlift, a trio from New York, which I thought sounded pretty good live. Considering I was only familiar with a few songs from their current album “Does You Inspire You,” I still enjoyed them overall.

Just like at their Vancouver show, they covered the Snoop Dogg song ”Sensual Seduction” which was a pleasant surprise for the audience and personally I think they pulled it off.  Some of the standout songs to me were “Evident Utensil,” “Bruises,” and “Planet Health.” Yes I find those three the most catchiest, but Caroline Polachek and Aaron Pfenning’s vocals were on point and I simply love it when the songs sound just like the record. I’m sure we’ll be hearing more from Chairlift in the near future.

Did I mention the show was sold out and that this was Peter Bjorn and John’s last stop on their U.S. tour?  The moment the lights dimmed, the audience went into a frenzy. They walked onto the stage one by one, each displaying a different look. Peter Morén wore a white blazer with black slacks and a silk scarf around his neck reminding me of Hugh Hefner. Björn Yttling had an all black ensemble on, leather jacket included. And John Eriksson had a white button up shirt with suspenders, a leather jacket, and a hobo-looking hat.

They started the set with a song from their new album “Living Thing” called “Just the Past.” This song has an addictive beat and you can’t help but just bop your head throughout the whole song. Actually, I found myself doing that to practically every song they sang. What’s great is that they sang a lot of their old stuff from “Writer’s Block” which included “Amsterdam,” “The Chills,” “Objects of My Affection,” and of course their hit “Young Folks.” The crowd loved it, especially during “Young Folks” when Peter got the audience to sing Victoria Bergsman’s part.

What’s funny is that I didn’t expect Peter to be running back and forth across the stage presenting a variety of dance moves, but he did, and it was awesome. He also threw in random guitar solos during a couple of songs which was entertaining to say the least. But I can’t forget Bjorn and John because they definitely did their thing as well. Bjorn appeared to be the serious one in the group, standing still for the most of the show with a stern look on his face. He did crack a few funny faces though, and showed off his guitar skills and deep vocals. John played the drums effortlessly, tossing his sticks into the air and catching them through most of the set, and lending his vocals to certain songs.

When they played “Nothing to Worry About,” their first single off the current album, you could tell it was a crowd pleaser because people immediately started to dance. At some point, the group introduced their entire road crew, which demonstrated how grateful they were to have those people with them on the road. In fact, one of the “roadies” named Ross joined the band onstage to play the bongos for one of the songs, and it was quite amusing.

Soon the band bid their farewells and left the stage, leaving the audience only wanting more. All of the sudden the “roadies” were on stage and passing out masks to the front row so they could wear them when the band came back out for their encore. Since it was dark, I couldn’t make out what the masks looked like. Once Peter Bjorn and John returned back to the stage and the lights came on, you could see that the masks had the band members’ faces on it. They immediately started to laugh and point at the people in the audience who had the masks on. They began to play “Lay It Down,” another song from their current album, and all the “roadies” and even Chairlift came onto the stage and started dancing around, wearing masks of course. It was a great moment to witness, mainly because it was the end of something really beautiful.

And just when I thought the show was coming to an end, the band played a few more songs from their recent album and even did a cover of Joy Division’s “Transmission,” which was clearly recognized by the audience. When they said their actual goodbyes, it was bittersweet for the crowd and of course the band and their crew. I realized that what makes Peter Bjorn and John special is that you can really tell that they love doing what they do, which is making music and performing it in front of people. A special thanks to 9:30 club for letting Killahbeez attend this great show! Check out their site for upcoming shows.

I really did not know what to expect from Lily Allen considering I’ve never watched any live performances of hers or read any reviews on her shows.  But by the end of the night, I was convinced that she knew how to put on a damn good show.

Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head opened up for Miss Allen at the 9:30 club in front of a sold out audience, and came on around 9:15pm. Unfortunately I missed them, so for those who were looking forward to reading about them, my sincere apologies. Allen was expected to come on stage at 10:15pm and fortunately she was only 5-10 minutes late. A huge white curtain covered the stage and as soon as the opening for “Everyone’s At It” started to play, the crowd went crazy. The curtain dropped only to reveal the band and Lily herself.

My first thought was that she looked cute from head to toe. Even though she was wearing extremely high heels, you could still tell that she’s a tiny girl.  I then immediately noticed how good her voice sounded. It was almost as if I were listening to her on my ipod. The second song she sang was “I Could Say,” which is one of my favorites from her current album “It’s Not Me, It’s You.” The song talks about growing up after getting out of a relationship and it’s definitely relatable.

I expected her to throw out some of her old stuff which she definitely did. The first was “Oh My God” which was a collaboration that she had done with Mark Ronson and is a cover of a Kaiser Chiefs song. Another oldie was “LDN” which is from her debut album “Alright, Still.” The crowd practically went nuts for every song, whether it was new or old. She slowed things down a bit with “He Wasn’t There,” telling the audience that the song is about her absent father. Afterward she sang  “Littlest Things” which was a favorite of mine off her old album due to its haunting tune and message.

With a cigarette in one hand and a mic in the other, she still was able to show off her vocal abilities and I found that amusing only because I had never really seen an artist smoke one cigarette right after the other during a show. The audience got pumped up once again when she sang “Not Fair” and “Fuck You” both from her latest album. These are songs that make you want to dance regardless of its meaning. But if you really want to know, one is about a guy who seems perfect except he’s bad in bed, and the other is regarding George W. Bush. She soon said her goodbyes and thanked the audience and her band, but of course we knew better than that.

The crowd screamed for her at the top of their lungs and she quickly returned back to the stage wearing a t-shirt, jeans, and jordans. Looking more comfortable and even smaller, she danced to the background beat of Kid Cudi’s “Day ‘N’ Nite” for a bit and then continued by singing a cover of Britney Spears’ “Womanizer.” If you don’t have it, go get it! And just when you thought the show was coming to an end, she busted out with “Smile” and “The Fear” as her last songs for the evening. The crowd was loving every minute of it, literally.

As I walked away I thought about how awesome the show was and how much I really do love her music. She was energetic, giggly, and chill all rolled into one. It’s unfortunate that she doesn’t have the best reputation when it comes to the paparazzi, but don’t believe everything you read and see about her. This girl knows what’s up and I have a feeling she’ll be sticking around for years to come.  A huge thanks goes to 9:30 Club for allowing Killahbeez to attend an eventful evening.  Keep an eye out on their calendar as there are plenty of great shows coming our way.

I’ve had a major girl crush on this model for quite some time now. You probably recognize her face from ads such as Gap, H&M, and makeup brand Maybelline. She’s walked the runway for designers Roberto Cavalli, Gucci, Karl Lagerfield, and Balenciaga. She’s also known as designer Alexander Wang’s muse and good friend.

Now Wasson can add designer to her resume. She recently released a clothing line called Erin Wasson X RVCA which is a collaboration with the skating brand RVCA.  The line truly represents Wasson’s personality and style. It’s tough, chic, and just a little girly, which is perfect for the downtown girl.

Wasson (in the center) debuting her collection at fashion week

Wasson wearing a dress from her line

Some pieces from the Erin Wasson X RVCA collection

Shop here: La Garconne, Opening Ceremony, Oak

Unfortunately New York Fashion Week has come to an end. It was great to see what the newest looks for Fall 09′ would be, but what also excited me was seeing what the attendees at the fashion shows were wearing. Here are some of my favorite celeb looks….

Taylor Momsen at the Anna Sui show
Image from JustJared

Mary Kate Olsen at the Proenza Schouler show
Image from PopSugar

Nicole Richie at the Proenza Schouler show
Image from PopSugar

Joshua Jackson with girlfriend Diane Kruger at the Tommy Hilfiger show
Image from PopSugar

Kate Bosworth at the Diesel Black Gold show
Image from KBO

Rachel Bilson at the Zac Posen show
Image from PopSugar

A good man is hard to find, but a man that knows how to dress is even harder. And I’m not talking about those so-called “metrosexuals” (whatever that is). I am referring to a man that enjoys fashion and enjoys dressing well, and no he does not have to be gay in order to fall into this category. Below are some looks that truly are unique and definitely represents the individual’s style.

I love this outfit from head to toe. It’s the modernized version of an everyday look, just with extra touches like the blazer and briefcase.

Now who said that the elderly can’t dress? It’s a mix between classy and rugged, and with that combination you just can’t go wrong.

Love the hat, the sunglasses, the watch, and pretty much everything else. Why can’t more guys dress like this on a regular basis?

Images from The Sartorialist and garance dore

As usual, there are many, many things that I’m dying to buy for this new year. So here’s a peek at just some of the items that I’ve been wanting to have. Of course I won’t be able to get every item on my list, but a girl can dream right?

Elizabeth and James zip hoodie dress, $295
I love this dress mainly because of the zippers. The hoodie also adds a unique touch making it your not so regular LBD. Of course it doesn’t surprise me that I’m drooling over this item because I adore the label.

Monrow roll v neck tee, $122
What can I say, I’m a sucker when it comes to t-shirts, still. I think a part of me will always love that t-shirt and jeans look, probably because it’s so comfy and so easy to pull off. Now I know this t-shirt is ridiculously over priced, but I love the metallic tiger stripes!

Alexander Wang zipper clutch, on sale $195
That’s right, another item with zippers! This leather clutch is simple and I like the fact that it is a foldover clutch, which only makes it more interesting.

Dolce Vita baxter ankle boot, $195
I have been on a mission for lace up boots for a few months already, and I believe that this pair definitely is my ideal lace up flat boot. If I can’t get these, then hopefully I can find something similar.

Elizabeth and James laurent shirt, $225
Here’s another Elizabeth and James item, an over sized button up shirt that looks like it could belong to your boyfriend. I love over sized shirts, I say the looser the better!

Dior Vernis – Nude Chic, $19
I’m really loving this nude colored nail polish. Don’t get me wrong, I still love my red colored nails, but sometimes you just want something simple and clean, and that’s what the color nude is all about.

Pyramid Facet Ring, $3.80
You can never have too many rings, at least I can’t! What attracts me to this ring is not just the price (thank you Forever 21), but I love the jagged sharp points on the ring. Plus it’s gold, a flashy gold, so your hands will most likely stand out.

BDG pleated knit pull on skirt, $38
This skirt is super cute, love the pleats in it. Not only does it come in this purple color, which is one of my favorites, but it comes in black as well (another favorite color).

The line debuted in 2005, with Lim stating that “3.1 is about clothes that refine instead of define women.” Not until recently did I realize how much I truly enjoy Lim’s clothing. When you look at his line, it’s as if you are looking at a work of art. The clothes are simply beautiful. It’s easy to see why Lim won the prestigious CFDA Emerging Talent award in 2007.

Ruffle Front Shift Dress, $695

Silk Pleat Mini Skirt, $310

Asymmetric Cadet Jacket, $595

To view the collection, go here

I have yet to own an item by Rag & Bone, but you can bet that it’s near the top of my list of “designer apparel I want in my closet.” The brand was founded in 2002, by Marcus Wainwright and David Neville. Their inspiration was simply to design clothes that their friends could wear. Not only do they carry a women’s line, but they have a men’s line as well.

Caftan Dress, $285

Wrap Blouse, $310

Navy Great Coat, $790

Blue Check Western Shirt, $235

For more info, go here

I am loving lace up boots right now, in fact I’ve been in love with them for the past couple of months. I still need to buy a pair for myself, just not sure which ones I adore the most. This style of boot can be worn with almost anything and instantly gives your outfit some edge. Here are my top 5 favorites…

Jeffrey Campbell, $150 at Urban Outfitters

Forever21, $28.80

Repetto, on sale for $188 at Oak

Urban Outfitters, $88

Frye, on sale for $249.99 at Urban Outfitters

If you don’t recognize the name or face, you will now. Jen Brill has style, just ask anybody who lives in NYC. She is the events and publicity director of The Maritime Hotel in New York, and she’s also the fiance of photographer Terry Richardson. She’s currently modeling the latest collection from Sophomore, and the designer of the label, Chrissie Miller, just so happens to be a good friend of hers. Other then attending fashion shows and trendy parties, Brill is a busy New Yorker working on other freelance PR projects for some of her friends. I think it’s safe to say that I have an official girl crush on her.

Posing with Fabiola Baracasa

Images from Sophomore and ArtObserved

Lately Nicole Richie has been popping up at different events and looking gorgeous of course. The past few years I have been a big fan of hers and I can say that almost 100% of the time I agree with her fashion choices. I have to give her props (and possibly her stylist) because she always looks so well put together. I’m loving her hair, makeup, and outfits in all three of the pictures below.

At the 18th Annual Environmental Media awards in LA

At Vogue’s Alberta Ferretti store opening in LA

At an H&M private event in LA

All images from Popsugar

So I don’t shop at JCPenny, like ever.  But with the announcement that designer Charlotte Ronson is coming out with a line called “I Heart Ronson” at JCPenny definitely has me thinking twice. The collection is to be priced anywhere from $15-$65 dollars, and will feature tops, jeans, sweaters, jackets, and dresses. The collection will make its debut this Spring (I heard around February), and I absolutely cannot wait!

Images from Nylon