LIFE: Check us out: We've moved!

Hi lovelies,

We've moved the blog and site to www.readmuse.com where you will find more regular posts, essays, videos (coming soon) and other fun things. The site is still a work in progress, so please be sure to email your feedback (your thoughts, likes and dislikes) to us at info@readmuse.com.

xoo,

Team Muse

LIFE: Please bear with us

We've been hard at work on our redesign, updating our content management system and other fancy Web things. Due to technical difficulties, it's going live a few days later than planned. But, please be sure to check back with us next week.

xoo,

Team Muse

LIFE: R.I.P. Mildred Loving

Mildred Loving, an often overlooked and accidental civil rights pioneer who was banned from Virginia after marrying a white man (she was black), passed away on May 2 at age 68. You may have read her backstory in a history class or two in school (depending on where you're from): she married Richard Loving and was arrested a few days later for violating Virginia's Racial Integrity Act. They avoided jail time by promising never to come back to the state. She in turn took her case to the American Civil Liberties Union who took it to the Supreme Court whose justices overturned Virginia's racist law. Read more about her here.

WARDROBE: More clothes to spend your money on

We'll be looking specifically for these pieces at the Barneys New York pre-sale of Rogan Gregory's collection for Target ($15 to $45, can't beat it). It kicks off May 9 and runs through May 11.

WARDROBE: All the pretty dresses

Last night, the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute had its annual gala. Here are a few of our favorite looks. (Photos from Style.com)

SOUNDS: On today's playlist

"I'm Glad," by The Black Keys (click song title to listen)

LIFE: Exposed double standards

Today's Sunday Times features an interesting article that reveals that John McCain has a Jeremiah Wright of his own and explores the double standards that surround the controversy.

SOUNDS: On today's playlist: A go go study

"Rising Up," by The Roots (click song title to listen)

"Body Snatchers," by Rare Essence

"Keep it Gangsta," by Backyard Band

"Let the Beat Roll," by Junkyard Band



We love The Roots' searing political lyrics on "Rising Down" because it's substantive and taps into a lot of feelings that come up among our friends when we discuss the election, war and life in general. On a completely different level, we're feeling their current single, "Rising Up," for its obvious D.C. go go references. For those of you who don't know, go go is a regional sound that's pretty much exclusive to the D.C./Maryland/Virginia area. It overlaps with Miami bass in that they both share a drop-it-like-it's-hot kind of sensibility. Musically, go go is quite different from the Miami sound, though, because the drum patterns are much grittier and raw in a D.I.Y. sense (think kitchen pots and pans). So we had to include a few old favorite go go tracks for a little study.

WARDROBE: Sample sales

WHO: Missoni and Cynthia Steffe
WHERE: Underground NYC at 440 Broadway (between Grand and Canal), 212-226-4312
WHEN: through Monday, May 12, noon - 7pm

WHO: Dolce & Gabbana
WHERE: D&G Showroom at 85 Spring Street (between Broadway and Crosby)
WHEN: through Sunday, May 4

WHO: Max and Chloe
WHERE: 122 W 26th Sreet, Suite 603
WHEN: May 7 through 9

WHO: Shelly Steffe
WHERE: 34 Gansevoort Street
WHEN: through May 4, 12 to 6pm

SOUNDS: Three reasons we heart Santogold

1) The world of music production is largely dominated by men. But Santi White aka Santogold has been holding it down for the alternative chicks ever since the early '00s when she wrote and produced music for Res' "How I Do" , an album we loved. She's also produced for M.I.A. and co-written a song with Mark Ronson for Lily Allen.

2) She's the anti-Beyoncé. Not that we don't love our R&B divas too. But it's kind of refreshing to see artists like Santi, who Björk enlisted to tour with her las year, and Janelle Monae give us unique point of views that don't necessarily involve sex on a platter or trifling men who won't pay phone bills.

3) She's persistent. Santi, who once worked A&R for Epic Records, has been screwed over by the music industry more than a few times (hence the name of her former punk band, Stiffed, which we also were digging). Lucky for us, she persevered through the bull-ish.

WARDROBE: Outfits we like

WHO: Tina Chadha, a writer and editor based in Manhattan
WHY: The wide/slightly flared leg jean looks a little more fresh than skinny jeans at the moment.

























WHO: Three sales staffers at Dover Street Market in London
WHY: Because whenever we see red tights on the street it looks like the wearer is trying way too hard. The girl rocking them on the left is one of the few we've seen pull the look off in a nonchalant kind of way.

WARDROBE: The establishment responds, finally

Could we one day see black models appear in Vogue as frequently as their white counterparts? No telling. But the brand is taking a step in the right direction by addressing the dearth of diversity in its pages with its Italian edition. The Independent reports that Vogue Italia's July issue will mostly feature black models shot by Steven Meisel. That's thanks in no small part to the movement Bethann Hardison started to bring attention to the problem. Editor-in-chief Franca Sozzani decided to address the issue, "Because nobody is using black girls. I see so many beautiful girls and they were complaining that they are not used enough." Here's hoping that it actually promotes long-term change instead of flavor-of-the-month trendiness.