New Look

Hey everyone!

So lately I've been getting bored of how Mallory In New York looks, and I decided  yesterday to give it a new look! I sat here like an idiot for hours, playing around with all the design and template options, only to find that the original look was in fact the best!

However, I am a strong believer that as life changes, the things around us change as well. And if they won't change on their own, then we should change them! So that's exactly what I'm going to do. I'll be playing around with the look and feel of Mallory in New York over the next few weeks, and I guess we'll see where it ends up!

There are already a few changes you may notice:
1. The Link Bar. I decided that it would be a lot easier to navigate if around the blog if everything was separated into categories: Beauty, Fashion, My Life, Interviews, and My Looks [coming soon!]. I'm working on organizing everything into categories as we speak!
2. The Width. One thing I ALWAYS hated about the blog was how narrow it was. It would take seemingly forever to scroll down past every not-so-long post. I played around with the width, and I now feel a lot better about the look!
3. The 'About Me' and FAQ. As I'm sure you've all noticed a long time ago, I LOVE incorporating my somewhat interesting daily life into the blog! I've actually heard from a lot of readers that they enjoy my posts about my personal / professional life the most, and that they want to know more. So, I'm working on an all-inclusive mini-biography to include under the About Me tab.  As for the FAQ tab, I'll start answering some of the questions that I'm - you guessed it! - most frequently asked. Feel free to comment on the FAQ page with new questions you're curious about, or you can just email me at MalloryinNewYork [at] gmail.com OR reach out to me on Twitter (@MalloryInNYC).

So there we go. I guess overall I'm looking for a more professional look, while still staying true to my personality and the main components of the blog -- Girly, NYC, and PINK!!! If you have any suggestions, please let me know!

I'm baaaaaaaack!

Tavi's been busy, but so have I.

If you've been following my infrequent, career-obsessed posting this summer, I'd like to thank you. Seriously. I know I can get boring when I go into internship mode, but in an attempt to keep this blog relative to my life, I felt my internship and job search were the best topics to blog about. After all, its called Mallory in New York, and as Mallory, living / working / interning in New York, this has been my main focus all summer -- even more than makeup (gasp!).

After finding a job and internship, I assumed I'd be back to normal (i.e. blogging 3-5 times a day about beauty, fashion, and Bebe Zeva!). Well, I was wrong.

During the summer, I was literally doing nothing but job hunting 5 days a week, and interning at Life & Style the other two days. Now, let's just say I'm a little busier.

Monday: Clinique [6PM-9:45PM]
Tuesday: FIT [9AM-9:30PM, with breaks]
Wednesday: Nicole Miller [9AM-5PM] and Clinique [6PM-9:45PM]
Thursday: FIT [9AM-6PM, with break]
Friday: Nicole Miller [9AM-5PM] and Clinique [6PM-9:45PM]
Saturday: Clinique [9AM-6PM]
Sunday: Clinique [9AM-6PM]

That's pretty much my weekly schedule. Now, throw in 3 online classes, homework, and time with friends, I don't have much time to blog. And, that doesn't mean I don't miss blogging and MINY, because I do. A LOT.

Now, it may be hard to believe, but last semester [when I was interning at JoonBug and working at Starbucks] my schedule was far worse. And, I still managed to find time to blog up to 8 times a day!

So, as I settle into my new schedule, please be patient with me. It's going to take some time, but I'd like to be back to blogging [at least] once a day by the end of September. Until then, enjoy watching my crazed, MAC-obsessed posts become more and more frequent as October grows closer. And, if you really miss my sarcastic ramblings, follow me on Twitter [@MalloryinNYC]!

---Mallory in NEW YORK

New Job, New Internship, New Goals

The JOB: I realized a while ago that the beauty industry is a major interest of mine -- maybe even as much as fashion! Which is why Mallory in New York revolved solely around MAC's new collections for an extended period of time. [Come on, Don't pretend you didn't LOVE it!]

Absolutely loving my new job at CLINIQUE!

Back in April, I submitted a general resume to Estee Lauder. If you're not already aware of it, Estee Lauder is the Conde Nast of cosmetics. The company owns Aveda, Bobbi Brown, Clinique, and, of course, Estee Lauder, as well as countless others.


I received a call a few days later, requesting a phone interview. The interview [called Talent Plus, as I later found out] was 45 minutes long with a rep from corporate Estee Lauder. They asked questions, I answered, and somehow, I PASSED!

A few days later, I got an email saying that there were no openings at Estee Lauder, and would I be interested in Clinique? Um, YEAH!

Days passed, emails were exchanged, and yet, no word from Clinique. By now, we've all learned that I am a very persistent person. So what did I do? I borderline stalked the HR department, and landed an interview with Aveda in SoHo!

The interview went well, but I didn't get the job. By this time I had pretty much forgotten about Estee Lauder, and I began the interviewing process for Juicy Couture. I also landed a job at Uniqlo as a temporary thing, which I soon quit.

Come on, how can you NOT love makeup that's GOOD for you?!

Then, out of the blue, I got an email from Estee Lauder saying that there was an opening at Clinique in Macy's, and it was mine if I wanted it. Two days later, I went in for an interview with the Clinique Counter Manager, the Macy's Cosmetics Manager, and the Macy's Regional Manager. And, somehow, I GOT THE JOB!!

I've been working for a few weeks now, and I absolutely LOVE IT! It's slightly weird though, because I'm the youngest Beauty Advisor in the ENTIRE Cosmetics and Fragrance Department. But -- I've met my sales goals every day I've worked, which is pretty impressive, especially considering the fact that I don't even know how to put makeup on! But hey, its a work in progress. ;) [Update: I have now mastered the are of applying makeup, sans eyeshadow.]

The INTERNSHIP: I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Interning is THE MOST important thing you can possibly do when pursuing a career in a creative field. Unfortunately, the majority of my peers haven't quite realized this yet. I, on the other hand, have caught on pretty early.

Nicole Miller Fall 2011 Collection. Gorgeous!

It's pretty hard getting your foot in the door with internships. I saw this firsthand earlier this year when I was applying for my first internship [JoonBug.com], and again in May when I was applying for a second internship with a well-known publication [Life & Style Weekly]. But now, 8 months later, I have two great internships on my resume, and an entirely NEW dilemma: Getting internships has become TOO easy.

Now, I know this sounds very ungrateful and extremely un-problematic, but honestly, when you're choosing between internships with great companies like Oscar de la Renta, Stella McCartney, Nicole Miller, and Harper's Bazaar [along with many others], choosing just one isn't easy. They're all such amazing opportunities -- I don't want to turn any down OR burn any bridges!

I saw the designer herself the other day!

But, ultimately, I did choose one: Nicole Miller. [I let the others know that I'd already accepted something, but would LOVE to be considered for a Spring internship!] I picked up a great vibe from the office when I interviewed, and I was offered a Public Relations internship within the week!

I started interning at Nicole Miller two weeks ago, and its absolutely incredible. Again, I'm the youngest [I'm a freshman while everyone else is either a senior or out of school!], but I don't mind. After all -- I'm learning so much about Fashion PR! And -- the best part -- there's a STARBUCKS in the building!!

The [New] GOALS: Originally, I came to New York to go to FIT, major in Fashion Merchandising, and become a buyer at Macy's. But upon arriving, I soon realized that there is FAR more to fashion than designing and merchandising.

I'm aiming to intern at Vogue next Spring!

I started to pursue my longtime love of writing, possibly considering a career in journalism. Then, I began interning at Nicole Miller, and became extremely interested in pursuing PR. But -- I'd still love to be a buyer.

So, I guess I don't have quite as clear a goal as before, but I have something better -- A LOT of great options! My first choice would be to pursue a career in journalism [ideally, I'd love to be at Marie Claire, Nylon, or Elle!] but unfortunately, its pretty hard to find a job in magazines these days. And, if you are so lucky to actually find a job, you'll get paid less than 40K a year, which is definitely NOT good enough for the lifestyle I want, or even the one I have right now!

I'd love to be a Cosmetics or Accessories buyer at Saks!

My second choice would be to become a buyer. My boyfriend is interning at Saks, and is meeting all of the head people, as well as the buying team. Everyone LOVES working at Saks, and I definitely want to intern in the buying department the summer before my junior year [next summer]. I'd love to be either an Accessories or Cosmetics Buyer!

My third choice would be to go into Fashion or Beauty Public Relations. As previously mentioned, I'm loving my experience at Nicole Miller so far! And by December [when my internship ends] I'm sure I'll love it even more!

So, now that my personal / professional life is a little less hectic, I'd like to thank all of you for bearing with me on my endless ramblings revolving solely upon my never-ending stress [i.e. the desire to find the PERFECT internship!]. I am well aware I can get boring and/or repetitive, but thankfully that's all over with. Now, I can finally get back to doing what  I love: Blogging about pretty things! [cue fireworks]

Why I NEED A Glamorous Job

Andy hated her job, but at least it was uber enviable!

My job hunt has been crazy, and my internship search hasn't been any better. It's not that I can't land anything, but more in the sense that I can't land anything good enough. And, I know that seems horrible. Like, I'm not even a college sophomore [yet], so what the hell am I expecting?! Well, I'll tell you.

I want something glamorous. I know that sounds horrible and immature and very Massie Block-esque [read the Clique if you haven't yet! It. will. change. you.] but honestly, who doesn't want something glamorous?!

It may sound weird, but at FIT [Fashion Institute of Technology], having an awesome job / internship is almost like a status symbol. [Or, maybe this only holds true in my own disillusioned, workaholic mindset? Hmm...]

Example: Obviously, there's no substitution for Fendi, but working in Fendi's SoHo boutique is definitely brag-worthy. Do you see what I mean?

And in the end, she became a better [and more stylish] person.

Of course, I [for the most part] LOVED working at Starbucks last year [free coffee, hello!], but I definitely envied the attention other girls got by working at Sephora or BCBG. And I'm not saying that people will want to be your BFF if you have an amazing internship either, but it definitely adds some major points on your glam-factor. [Did I really just say that?!]

So, after realizing what I wanted, I gathered up the motivation to go get it. I applied like crazy to glam-worthy jobs and fashion internships alike, and after weeks of interviewing as if it were my full-time job, I am finally satisfied.

The saga continues.... Stay tuned! :)

Where Have I Been?!

Bebe Zeva is AWESOME.

Like I said in my last post, I've been crazy busy lately in my job / fall internship search. After being unemployed since April (at my own will, of course!), I've managed to keep myself busy by interning at Life & Style Weekly, obsessing over Bebe Zeva's latest looks, and checking Ed2010 and freefashioninternships.com for new postings every. five. minutes.

Seriously. That's actually the main reason behind my absence in the blogosphere -- my addictive Type A tendencies. Although I have tons of free time, and I just can't seem to focus. At least three times a day, I'll log on to Blogger, with an awesome idea for a post, but I won't be able to complete it, or in some cases, even start it. And why not? Because I'm obsessive.

You see, after signing the lease for my amazing but ridiculously expensive apartment, I realized how much I hated my job. So, I quit. And although I felt far less suicidal in the following months, it suddenly dawned on me that I no longer have any means to support myself, except of course for my wealthy parents and my boyfriend who works in Sak's Fifth Avenue's corporate office. But as we already know, I hate relying on other people. So, I started my job hunt.

Even these SIMS got a job easier than I did!

With no retail experience, I knew full well that it would be pretty hard to land something at a clothing store. But honestly, I wasn't asking for anything too glamorous -- just a part-time gig at Express, is all. Even this, though, proved difficult.

And that's just the job. You should know by now that's I'm really big on internships. I mean, demanding bosses, competitive peers, unappreciative clients, and no pay -- how does it possibly get better than that?! Really, all kidding aside, internships are great experience, and I've been lucky enough not to get hit with any bad experiences along the way. In fact, all of my internships have been absolutely incredible!

Hint: I haven't been writing about it -- I've been busing living it.

As I've mentioned far too many times, I'm currently interning at Life & Style Weekly. I absolutely love it, but unfortunately the commute is killer. (An hour and a half by bus to Englewood Cliffs, NJ) And, of course, the fact that I want to vary my experience beyond editorial. So, as good internships fill up quickly, I began searching for the perfect Fall internship immediately after landing my position at Life & Style back in June.

This was just the back story of why I've been gone. I promise, my next post will focus on the results of my job & internship search!

A Note About Fashion Internships, including my own experience at Life & Style Weekly

A recent issue of Life & Style

Let me start off by saying I am SO sorry for being so MIA!! I know its no excuse, but I've been super busy with my internship in the Fashion Department of Life & Style Weekly and, as a result of quitting my job at Starbucks back in April and moving to a super expensive apartment, job-hunting.

Oh, and please don't think I forgot that I promised to give all the juicy details bout my time at Life & Style Weekly! I definitely didn't forget, but I did realize that saying too much would be wayyy to unprofessional for my taste.... And, of course, that there's really nothing to tell. Nothing bad, anyway.

As we've learned from my friend at Teen Vogue , fashion internships are not glamorous. Its definitely not unusual for an intern in the fashion / magazine industry to work 3-5 days a week, be constantly mistreated, and not get paid.

Its actually pretty funny, because I'm one of the only people I know who is actually willing to do all that, while keeping a genuine smile on my face. I'm definitely NOT afraid of hard work, and I'm determined to do anything possible to assure I achieve my ever-changing career goal[s]. (Right now, I either want to be Editor-in-Chief of Marie Claire, or a Senior Accessories Buyer at Saks Fifth Avenue!)

A friend of mine interned at Teen Vogue, and HATED it!

So, in an effort to be realistic and to not get disappointed, I went into Life & Style Weekly with very low expectations. Not that this is  bad reflection on the company- I was just trying to protect my morale. And, I'm thrilled to say, Life & Style Weekly has 100% proved me wrong!!

Its been a month and a half since I began, and I literally LOVE every second! Life & Style Weekly is  celebrity-driven magazine, which focuses on bringing the beauty and fashion trends of celebrities to their readers. I've always loved celebrity culture far more than I should have - check out this video of me meeting Ashley Tisdale at age 15 - so naturally, a magazine that revolves around it is a perfect fit! But, somehow, it gets more amazing than that...

As I mentioned above, I'm interning in the fashion department. At the magazine, there are tons of departments, including art, news, PR, beauty, fashion, etc. After meeting a few other interns, I've found out something pretty crazy- they're all just general editorial interns!! Not that there's anything wrong with that, but I think its really cool that I get to work specifically for the fashion department, rather than completing any administrative tasks that other departments just happen to have left over.

My favorite thing about interning at  Life & Style Weekly is that its an incredibly hands-on internship! As I mentioned before, I don't mind going out on constant coffee runs, but absolutely nothing compares to the amazing experience I'm getting!

This is what most fashion internships are like... I just got lucky!

So, whats my typical day like? Well, the majority of my day is research. Whenever a celebrity steps out at an event or movie premiere, and the editors like the outfit they're wearing, they'll send the picture to me so I can find all the details of their look, including what they're wearing, who designed it, and what it costs, as well as details about the event. Now, this may sound boring, but I actually really enjoy it! And, I've found that I'm pretty good at navigating my way around the internet, which is an awesome skill to have.

When there isn't something specific that I'm looking for, I'll make good use of my time by brainstorming trends I've seen lately. After I get the green light from the editors to go ahead with the trend, I'll find photos of celebrities wearing the look, and all the details about where they were, what they're wearing, and when they wore it. I can't count the number of times where an entire spread will be based on the ideas that I develop, which ultimately becomes the captions!!

Katy Perry changes her look A LOT- trust me, I know!

Some of the more notable things I've done have been finding the details on Kate Bosworth's summer boots (trust me, she has A LOT!), compiling photos of Katy Perry's most memorable costumes, and finding the temperatures of 50+ appearances of an A-list star (seriously).

All in all, I'm having a great summer, and I'm gaining amazing experience at Life & Style Weekly! I'm almost sad to see it end...

P.S. Look out for a post in the next few days about my NEW JOB and FALL INTERNSHIP!! (Or, you could just follow me on Twitter to avoid the wait!)

My New Internship + What I Went Through To Get It

It should come as no surprise that when I graduate, I want to work at a magazine and pursue a job in fashion journalism. It should also be incredibly, incredibly obvious that I am an extreme over-acheiver.... [My first year in college, I had a full time job, 20 hour / week internship, and was taking 21.5 credits in school.]

Now, after quitting my BEYOND shitty job at Starbucks, I've been able to put things in perspective. Here's a breakdown:

1. School & Grades
2. Fashion / Beauty / Editorial Internship
3. Unrelated job

With that in mind, I passed all of my exams with flying colors, applied like crazy for the perfect summer internship, and took a break from the working world. After 3 long months of applying everywhere I could think of, I began to realize that it would be almost impossible to intern at a magazine right now.

Hearst and Conde Nast own almost every major fashion magazine, and they require school credit, which I can't earn until next spring. Now, I could always lie, but let's just say that doesn't always seem to work. [I had a friend who lied about earning credit and got an internship with Teen Vogue, only to have them find out and treat her even worse than before! So, after seeing my friend put in 25+ hours a week for no pay, credit, or letter of recommendation, I'm far past the idea of lying as opposed to simply waiting a semester.]

Anyways, after racking my brain and panicking about not having a summer internship, I got an email from an editor at Life & Style Weekly, owned by Bauer Publishing. She said that my resume was forwarded to her by HR and asked of I was interested in an internship with the Fashion Department. Of course, I said yes. She told me that I would receive more info from her the following week. I didn't.

Now here's where I differ from most people. To quote my Facebook and Tumblr biographies:

"but i know what i want.
and i know how to get it.
and nothing and no one will ever stop me.
i never give up.
and i believe that anything is possible.
♥"

When I didn't hear from her, I worried that I wouldn't get it, or that they had given it to someone else. Most people would have stopped there and simply moved on and forgotten about it, but instead, I sent her an email. She assured me that an answer was coming.

The following week began, and still no email. I worried, and I sent her another email. She told me that I would hear the next day. I didn't, and I emailed her. She responded and asked if I was available for an interview the next morning. I said yes!

The interview was relatively short. She sounded like she was in a major hurry, and quickly spewed out questions, like:

1. Are you OK doing occasional administrative tasks?
2. Are you available to come in two days a week?
3. Will you be able to continue for two months, until mid-August?
4. Are you OK with not getting paid?

Now, for those who aren't too experienced in the world of fashion internships, they are VERY demanding! As an intern, you're expected to work crazy hours and devote 3-5 days a week, commit 3+ months, do countless unimportant admin tasks, and above all, almost never get paid. So, needless to say, these expectations were incredibly low.

The conversation was short, and she said I would hear the following day. By this point, I was well aware that I shouldn't hold her words to be exact. I didn't hear the next day, but I heard the day after that. And...... I GOT THE INTERNSHIP!!!!

So, the moral[s] of the story?

1. In the wonderful world of fashion, absolutely NEVER expect that as an intern, you are only thing on a potential employers mind!
2. As a job hunter, absolutely always follow up. If I didn't, I wouldn't have gotten this amazing internship.
3. Do not, under ANY circumstances, lie to a potential employer. You might get away with it, but if you're caught, you're screwed. Just look at the little anecdote about my friend at Teen Vogue- she will NEVER be able to work at any Conde Nast publication again!! [Glamour, Lucky, Marie Claire, Vogue, W, WWD, Teen Vogue, etc.]

As for my experience at Life & Style, I actually began on June 13th. I didn't want to blog about it until I knew it would work out, and then it kind of slipped my mind... Its going great so far, and you can definitely expect some posts about what its really like interning at a major magazine!!

Style Transformation: My Journey From Normalcy To Brand Whore

Growing up, I was pretty down-to-earth. I would play soccer after school, walk neighbor's dogs for money (an entire $5!), and occasionally, if I was lucky, get a new shirt from Target. No, I wasn't poor. Quite the opposite, actually.

I grew up in a wealthy town, where everyone around me was fixated not on the shoes I wore, but on the tiny label that could be found on the inside. It didn't quite make sense to me then, and I'm not quite sure it does now either.

Until age 12, I was a tomboy. I couldn't care less about how I, or anyone else, dressed. I did, however, begin to care when I reached the age of 13. I was in 7th grade, and I never felt more powerful. I strived to create my own individual style, and let’s just say it was far more "unique" than anyone else's. I was the first girl who was allowed to wear makeup, which I chose to purchase from Hot Topic- back when it was cool, of course. I paired my lime green-shadowed eyes with black polish on my long nails, and completed my look with thick, hot pink streaks in my waist-length dark brown hair. My parents encouraged individuality, which I certainly had no problem attaining.

Fast forward about two years to my freshman year in high school. I was now a bottle blonde with a fake Coach purse and 1.5-inch acrylic nails. I was friends with the girls on the dance team, with whom I skipped meals and reapplied my CoverGirl bronzer every hour, on the hour, as if it were my religion. We strived to be the South Florida reincarnations of Regina George, and lip gloss was never far out of sight.

Sophomore year, I transferred to a new school, where the houses were bigger and the noses were faker. Girls here had real Coach bags, as well as clothing made by then-foreign Italian brands. I was disgusted by their shallowness, and even more, by how much of my old self I saw in these inhuman clones of each other. From that moment on, I strived to be as far away from the girl I was only a few months prior as possible. I refused to wear anything designer, and I wouldn’t buy anything expensive unless it was already on sale. I became a vegetarian, and stopped wearing makeup altogether. In a way, I was a Hippie, minus the drugs and free sex, of course.

Junior year, after the boy I was “in love with” fell for the rich blonde girl with the flawless makeup, I put my inner “flower child” to rest. I began wearing makeup again, and I became less opposed to designer brands, not that I could ever wrap my mind around spending hundreds of dollars on a purse, of all things. I became balanced, a word that once scared me to death, as my extreme personality encourages the exact opposite. Oh, and the boy? He later turned out to be gay.

I continued this positive path throughout the rest of high school, and now, a freshman in college, I had believed I was still on it. Until, of course, I was approached by a street style blogger on the busy Manhattan streets just a week ago, who asked me what I was wearing, to which I answered: “Michael Kors sunglasses, Banana Republic boots, ToyWatch watch, True Religion jeans, BCBG top, Burberry cardigan, and Coach purse.”

What had happened? I had finally achieved a balance, but now, my outfit easily cost over $1000, and I didn’t even notice. Heck, I was even carrying a Coach purse! Now, looking through my closet, it seems my style has transformed once again. But this time, it wasn’t overnight; it was a gradual change. Although I had grown up in an upper-middle class family, my parents had raised me in a way to assure that I wouldn’t end up this way, just like everyone I was once surrounded by. But now, I’m the person they’ve always tried to prevent, as well as the one I’ve both loved and hated. My name is Mallory Levy, and I’m a Brand Whore.

Cirque Du FIT

As if its not obvious by now, I'm a fashion student. Just take a look at my sidebars... I go to FIT (the Fashion Institute of Technology) in New York City, and its completely 100% the BEST FASHION SCHOOL. Trust me on this one- Donna Karan and Michael Kors are both Alumni, as well as many others.

Well, although I love my school, I also love my boyfriend, who (obviously) doesn't go to FIT. He lives in Hoboken, about 10 minutes outside of the city. I practically live in his dorm room. His friends are my friends, and when I walk around his campus, its a rare occasion that I do not know at least 50% of the people I pass by.

The real Cirque du Soleil- Our FIT adaptation was a bit different, but just as fabulous!

So, since I'm almost never at FIT, I'm pretty out of touch with campus events. In reality, FIT's campus life isn't really that big anyway. I mean, who really wants to hang around at some lame movie night when you could be out clubbing at Webster Hall or Pacha? No one. So, it was quite surprising - to myself and many others - that I actually attended an FIT event yesterday.

The event was Cirque Du FIT, a carnival on 27th street between 7th and 8th Avenue. It was exclusive to FIT students only! I went with my friends Jen (City Style) and Sara (Sara Pollack). There was a fashion show, tye dying, Pita Grill, a chocolate fountain, Vitamin Water, and soooo much more- I tried a 'fried oreo' for the first time!!

Here's a picture of me that was taken at the event:

P.S. Like my dress? Well, I'm thrilled to say that you can look forward to my first "What I Wore" post in the near future, featuring my entire outfit!

My All-Time Favorite Movies

Hey Everyone!!

Since I seem to be in a movie mood the past few days (see: THOR) I figure I'd do a second post, but this time, its a list of my all-time favorite movies! These ones are classics, at least in my opinion. They're the movies that no matter how many times I watch them, I'll never tire of them! Soo here they are:

Life Size
Released in 2000, this movie was made famous far before Lindsay Lohan went crazy. In the movie, she plays a young girl named Casey who is upset that her mother has died, and tries to reincarnate her mother using a book of spells. She fails to bring back her mother, but instead brings to life her Eve doll, which is similar to Barbie and played by Tyra Banks. During Casey's desperate attempts to turn Eve back to her original plastic form, Casey and her father begin to form an attachment to Eve, who changes their lives for the better. My absolute FAVORITE scene is when Tyra sings "Be A Star" at the conservative office party! Life Size is an absolute perfect example that not all made-for-TV movies suck. :)

Hair Spray
Based in the late 50s/ early 60s, Hairspray was one of the biggest hits of 2007! It stayed in theaters for over 3 months and was simply incredible. The all-star cast certainly helped- John Travolta was dressed as a woman, Queen Latifah was blonde and wore leopard print, and Michelle Pheiffer was a faded beauty queen! As for the kids, the now-retired Amanda Bynes wore pigtails and sang for the very first time- and wasn't half bad!! Hairspray also marked the beginning of Zac Efron's career as a "real actor", and Nikki Blonsky's career as an actress at all- she was simply an employee at Coldstone before being cast! Also, this was James Marsden's first MAJOR role- at least in my opinion!





In addition to the cast, the music cannot go unmentioned. From Nikki Blonsky's somewhat humorous, but overall heartwarming, "Good Morning Baltimore" in the opening scene, to the closing ensemble cast's "You Can't Stop The Beat", Hairspray was full of catchy show tunes that were surprisingly authentic. I particularly loved "Nicest Kids In Town", which was sung by TV-show host Corny Collins (James Marsden). Very catchy, very corny, and very politically incorrect... I loved it! Because of Hairspray's soundtrack, my sister and I still burst out into song at random.

Legally Blonde
Come on, how could I not love Legally Blonde? The movie that made the beautiful and talented Reese Witherspoon famous, Legally Blonde is 100% a CLASSIC. It proves the whole "dumb blonde" stereotype completely and utterly untrue, as the seemingly moronic Elle Woods is dumped by her "bonehead" boyfriend Warner, and decides to follow him from sunny California to Harvard Law School. Against all odds, she's accepted!! Elle's love of pink and all things girly combined with her shocking huge brain makes her instantly lovable. Each character is so quirky and well-written, its impossible NOT to love Legally Blonde! My boyfriend even likes it... but you didn't hear that from me!

Mean Girls
Yet another Lindsay Lohan movie, Mean Girls is the one that made Lindsay into a superstar- beyond Disney! After a movie where she *tries* to initiate sex and says "bitch" uncountable times, its quickly made obvious that Lindsay is no longer a child star. But you know what? It's okay, because when starring as Cady in Mean Girls, she is absolutely awesome! Every character is likeable - in their own way - and mean girls is by far the most quotable movie EVER. Aside from Lindsay, Rachel McAdams and Amanda Seyfried were incredibly perfect in their roles!!

What Happens In Vegas

Cameron Diaz + Ashton Kutcher = PERFECTION. Cameron plays Joy, an overly controlling, but super pretty, woman with a Type A personality who is crushed after getting dumped by her surprisingly unattractive boyfriend. Jack is a major slacker and party boy who is fired from his job by his own father. Jack and Joy meet in Vegas, and while under any other circumstances they would never interact, the magic of the city has other plans for the two. They get drunk, have sex, and wake up to find that they're married. The problem? They won 3 million dollars, and if they divorce, they'll lose it! Ultimately, they fall in love after going through hell to get a divorce. It honestly makes me want to travel to Las Vegas one of these days. 21st birthday, maybe?! ;)

Mamma Mia

After watching Mean Girls, I quickly realized that Amanda Seyfried, who portrayed the dim-witted Karen Smith ("I think I have ESPN or something"), was extremely talented. However, back in 2004, I was literally the only one who thought this. Well, that all changed in 2008 when Mamma Mia was released, making Seyfried one of the most sought-after actresses in Hollywood. I should totally be an agent, right??

But really, Mamma Mia was incredible. Recreating famous songs by ABBA, the soundtrack was sure to be a hit! I loved "Honey, Honey" and "Mamma Mia", and honest to God, "When All Is Said And Done" seriously made me cry! One of the sweetest songs EVER. although some people complain about the musical abilities of Pierce Brosnan, it was the feeling behind  the songs that was magical (and yes, I'm very well aware that that sounds corny as hell!). Also, I was pleasantly surprised at how perfectly Meryl Streep, who typically portrays very serious characters, fir into the slightly slutty , former-hippie role of Donna.




Long story short, I saw Mamma Mia EIGHT TIMES  while it was in theaters, and countless times afterwards. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend that you do! Your life will never be the same. ;)

Enchanted
If there's one thing you should know about me, its that in my heart, I'm 6 years old. I love fairytales, musicals, and happily ever after's... which, in reality, is EXACTLY what Enchanted is! Starring Amy Adams as Princess Giselle, Enchanted begins as a cartoon, until Giselle is pushed down a fountain and lands in the greatest city in life- none other than my new home, New York City. Her goal throughout the movie is to find her Prince (James Marsden), until she finally realizes that she loves Patrick Dempsey, and eventually saves the city by defeating the evil queen on top of the Empire State Building- think Godzilla. As if the movie could possibly get any better, its filled with pretty dresses and extremely Disney-esque music, two things that I'll always love! My favorite scene is in Central Park, when Giselle sings "How Do You Know."

Click
Not only do I absolutely LOVE musicals, but I also love comedies, ESPECIALLY those which star Adam Sandler! Think I Now Pronounce You Chuck And Larry, The Wedding Singer, and 50 First Dates. But, my favorite of all time is Click. Adam Sandler stars as a workaholic, who's life is turned upside down when he tries to take a shortcut by purchasing a universal remote, which is a bit more "universal" than he originally believed. In the end, he learns that he has been making a lot of mistakes, and is granted a do-over. :)

So, those are my favorites! In reality, I've probably left out quite a few, but here are my definite top picks, the ones that I'll never tire of. If you HAVE NOT seen any of the above -like a surprising amount of my friends - I strongly suggest that you do, because they're simply amazing. :)

My Journey Through the Highs and Lows of Unemployment

After arriving in New York City last August, I was desperate to find a job. A week later, I had one. Now, 8 months later, I don't. I love it, and hate it. I'm relaxed, but broke. Conclusion: I need to figure something out.

I think it all started when I was younger. I was always eager to be a "grown up". To buy my own things, call my own shots, and even (if you can believe it) have my own bills. My parents talked to me about careers ever since I was a kid. I went from fashion to artist to writer to journalist to lawyer to politician to veterinarian and finally, back to fashion. They stressed to me how important it was to turn my interests into something profitable, because if I hate what I do, I'll have a miserable life. As a result of growing up with my parents, I've been planning my career since I was 5.



At age 15 (March 2007), while everyone else was still in summer camp, I got my first job. It was at Boomers, a theme park in Florida and California. Picture Chuck E. Cheese, but soooo much better. I worked at the prize counter, and I eventually ran the entire thing, from deciding how to display the toys to actually choosing which ones to order. I loved kids, and I had a million friends who worked there with me. It was the best first job I could ever ask for.


Three and a half years later, it was August of 2010, and I was now unemployed for the first time since I was a freshman in high school. Now, a freshman in college, I wanted to be independent from my parents. I didn't want to be a brat, so I went job hunting.


With my insane coffee obsession- I seriously go to Starbucks 5 times a day- I figured it would be best to save money in any way possible. So, I got a job at Starbucks, and saved $300+ a month on coffee. I loved my job, for a while at least. It's true what they say- Starbucks is an amazing company to work for. It's also true, however, that coworkers can either make or break your attitude towards work. From the manager who couldn't figure out what the hell she was doing, to her condescending assistant who was an "actress" ("This is just my day job"), to the power-hungry coworker pursuing a Master's in painting (seriously), it wasn't exactly the best environment. I constantly felt attacked, as well as prejudged- I was a blonde with a high pitched voice, going to fashion school. The only nice person was my supervisor, who I later got accused of having an affair with. It was so mentally exhausting just being there, that I finally quit.


Now, three weeks later, I'm unemployed, and I don't hate it this time. I may be completely Type A, but I haven't actually relaxed, or even had a single day off, in months. I was working 8 hour days, 7 days a week. Some days, I was working for 13 hours straight. Don't get me wrong- I'm no quitter. But working in a coffee shop? Not quite the best use of my time. I work 15+ hours a week for JoonBug, which is far more work than serving coffee, but I have no problem with it. In fact, I LOVE it. If I'm working towards something that will actually help me, I'm completely committed, no matter what the hours are! In fact, I'm one of the only girls I know who is actually eager to work for free- AKA "intern."



The other side of the spectrum, however, is that I'm now completely, totally broke. My boyfriend and I just signed a lease for our first apartment, which is absolutely gorgeous, but it's $2000 a month! Now, I have no job, and he doesn't start his high paying gig at Saks Fifth Avenue until late May. We move in May 1st, and yes, I will put pictures up! :)


Now, we're broke, and little bit stuck. I'm forced to do the most horrid thing ever- Ask for my parents' help. As I mentioned above, what I wanted more than anything when I first got to New York, was to be completely independent from my parents. And for the past 8 months, I was. Now, I'll have to put my ego aside, and ask for help from my mom and dad. It may seem immature, but it's definitely a big step towards growing up.


What do you guys think? Did you have a similar experience when moving out and away from home? Or, perhaps you were less stubborn than I was, and you avoided this problem altogether?

A New Outlook

Hi Everyone- First off, I'd like to say thanks to everyone for following my blog, as well as all of the awesome comments you guys leave. It makes my day!

Second, I know I post pretty often, but I'd like to post more. More indivial stuff, that is. I'm sure you guys have noticed that at the bottom of each page, it says "As seen on JoonBug", with a link you can follow to see the original post. Well, my internship is at JoonBug.com, where I blog on Fashion, Beauty, and other fun stuff! Everything is featured on JoonBug.com, but I like to post it here as well. Mallory In New York is sort of my life, in writing, and I like to include all of my writing on my way to becoming a Beauty Editor (or something linke that!).

Well, I love JoonBug and I'm thankful for it, especially for giving me a foot in the writing world- it looks awesome on my resume! The downside? It's not personal, except for little tidbits I add in that are easily relateable.

As things are right now, I'm rediculously busy- 21.5 credits in school, 25+ hours a week at Starbucks, and 15+ hours a week at JoonBug. Add in homework, exercise, and a serious relationship, and I have NO TIME to breathe. One thing that I'm sure will help- I just quit my job. I now have no income and will be completely dependable on my parents and boyfriend (AKA, I'm now the type of person I've always loathed!), but at least I'll have more time to devote to my writing.

I'm now working on getting an internship with Lovelyish (Check out my trial post on Taylor Momsen's style!), so I can bring more exposure to Mallory In New York, as well as write on a more personal level. I have a lot of trouble writing unless I'm forced to do so. I've also been applying around like CRAZY to magazines for summer internships. I want more on my resume, and anything helps. I'm also a COMPLETE workaholic. I'm in talks with people from Gotham, InStyle, Us Weekley, Twist, J-14, and many others. We'll see where this goes...

Back to my original point, I definitely want to start writing on a more personal level. I LOVE writing about beauty and fashion, and I'll continue to do so, but I also want to write more about my personal life. After all, I'm a Fashion student in New York City! It won't be too boring, I promise. In fact, I already have a few posts like that on the way. I'm just a little hesitant about making them public, but I've decided to just not use names. I'm taking Taylor Swift's approach: "If you're mean to me or break my heart, I'm going to write a song about you." Or, in this case, a post on my blog, and the same goes for if you're nice, and if you change my life.

In addition to adding insights into my life, I also want to start outfit blogging. I have a pretty cool sense of style, and I want to document it, but first, I need a new camera!

Please leave any questions, comments, and suggestions below!