Style Sheet - Anarchy in the USA

Believe it or not, my awkward pre-teen years were spotted with 12-inch singles, ripped jeans, and a ritual twelve-am howling of my favorite Clash song. Yes, through those early identity crises that we all go through I was a tried and true punker, shearing apart leopard print skirts and sporting combat boots, a practice which I'm sure confounded my peers who associated punk rock with Hot Topic and Good Charlotte not anarchy and an abundance of plaid. Despite my frilly, silly wardrobe today, I'm still a punker at heart who can slam dance with the best of them, and in celebration of the movement that rocked the UK to the USA and beyond, this week's style sheet is all about the underbelly of rock-'n'-roll itself - punk rock!

Tank Girl

Nothing says anarchy quite like the chain-smoking, butt-kicking, counter culture diva herself - the epitome of rock and roll and the only girl who can handle a gun so large that it occupies three different counties, Miss Tank Girl. The brainchild of Jamie Hewlett (of Gorillaz fame) and Alan Martin, Tank Girl has been breakin' backs and taking names since the 1980's, but her comics are still floating around today in the form of both compilations of the original strip and a completely new mini-series by different artists all sharing a love for the sharp-tongued mistress of punk.

Where to buy: Barnes&Noble.com

Hellcatpunks

What's a punk rocker without a leather jacket? Without combat boots or ripped tees or a lifetime supply of safety pins? This unique rock'n'roll clothing brand delivers all that and much more to both budding delinquents and seasoned rockers with an abundance of buckles, straps, and, of course, plaid. Perfect for those who dig the classier grunge look of "High Punk", Hellcatpunks will have you slam dancing and rock-n-rolling and giving the whole world the middle finger with a great big dollop of style.

Where to buy: Hellcatpunks.com

The Toy Dolls

Think you know what "classic" punk rock is? Think again. These guys have been around since the dawn of the punk movement all the way back in the 70's, and they're still rockin' today! Churning out album upon album of silly but undeniably punky tunes about everything from a brilliant circus elephant to suburbanites who can't stop watching Dynasty, The Toy Dolls make punk seem like, quite literally, child's play! (After all, nothing says punk rock like falsetto tunes and kazoos!)

Where to buy: amazon.com

Lolita No. 18

Taking the idea of a typical punk band and turning it on its head, this all-girl Japanese ensemble rocks out with the best of them and gives punk a kitschy flair that'll shake and shimmy and sway even the toughest of punks. Covering classics like "Rockaway Beach" and "Dig That Groove Baby" in swingin' sandpaper voices, Lolita No. 18 gives the "girl band" concept a face lift, complete with nose piercing and safety pin lip ring. You'll never think of punk rock the same way again!

Where to buy: amazon.com

Always,
Penelope ♥

Style Sheet - Geisha Girl

Photo by Mariangela Felicity Totaro

I have to admit, this week's Style Sheet is influenced by a  passion of mine that has just recently come to fruition. I've been telling myself that I'm going to visit Japan for years now, maybe even take up residence there for a little while, dissuaded only by my weak grasp of the seemingly complex language. This past week, though, I've put my reservations aside and picked up as many instructional books and video games as I possibly can on a whim, and I'm happy to announce that I'm picking up Japanese surprisingly fast! In celebration of my non-failure (for I can't say it's a success until I've completely mastered the language) today's Style Sheet is all about those gloriously gorgeous ladies of Japanese lore - the modestly lovely princesses of Nippon themselves - those daring, darling, geisha girls!

Matsuri Geisha Hair Pin

What's a geisha without extravagantly beautiful hair sticks to don? Described as "mint green Bohemian glass beads on intricately engraved bone," these gorgeously vibrant pins are the perfect cherry to top your super sweet green-tea-ice-cream-sundae of a hair-do with. Wear them with your best pink kimono, tiny blossoms and all, for an electric night filled with sushi and sake, or with nothing at all for a tranquil gardenia bubble bath!

Where to buy: longlocks.com

Lady Snowblood

Remember Kill Bill, that swingin' Quentin Tarantino film from six years back? Lady Snowblood just so happens to be its prickly-sweet Japanese precursor from 1973, a cult flick filled with gangster geishas hellbent on exacting revenge and traveling bandits with a taste for European debutant balls. Vividly beautiful and sharply gory at the same time, Lady Snowblood shows that not all geishas are those elegant and gentle beauties that we've come to expect - they can have quite a naughty side too!

Where to buy: amazon.com

Roberto Cavalli Chinoise Print Dress
The uniqueness and elegance of traditional Japanese garb will always have its place in the fashion world - for kimonos never go out of style - but it's always fascinating to see the modern twist that designers put on these far-from-modern dresses. Roberto Cavalli spices up tradition with this amazing kimono-esque dress, perfect for hushed spring days spent under explosive cherry blossom trees or mystical festival nights where ponds and lakes and rivers alike light up with tiny paper boats, burning bright into the night with the secrets of the dead.

Where to buy: net-a-porter.com

100 Poems by 100 Poets White Teapot Set

In order to become a geisha, you're required to be well-versed in a slew of traditional "domestic arts", namely flower arranging and tea ceremony. While not all of us have the precise level of grace needed to excel in the latter, absolutely anyone can indulge in the tranquil thrills of chakai, serving sweets, tea, and a light snack to a cast of close friends. Throw your very own chakai with this traditional tea set, inscribed with one of the 100 poems from the 13th century anthology of Hyakunin Isshu, and refine your natural grace to geisha-like levels!

Where to buy: teavana.com

Always,
Penelope ♥

Style Sheet - Bonjour, Paris!

In the spirit of being spontaneous and trying something new, I've decided to start a new segment around this super dizzy merry-go-round that is Cocoa, hopeful something that all of you amazing bunnies will enjoy! The Cocoa Style Sheet will be a weekly compilation of stunning a-go-go clothes, beauty products, books, places, and anything else that I can think of all centered around a rotating weekly theme. This week? That theme just so happens to be the one and only city of art, love, and style supreme - Paris, France! 

Have an idea for a theme? For a featured product? For a new and unique cupcake flavor? Let me know! I'm dying to hear your thoughts and suggestions, my mocha bunnies! Throw your two cents into the hot Cocoa cup!


TokyoMilk Parfumarie Curiosite in French Kiss

Tokyo does Paris! This little bottle of aromatic bliss describes itself as "a sweet pucker of mandarin orange, gardenia and tuberose" - and what a kiss it is! A kiss about squeaky sleek platform heels, reapplying your lipstick atop the Eiffel Tower and oversized black berets worn by tiny girls sipping cafe au lait, French Kiss captures all of those wonderful kisses that the hometown of sizzling love has to offer.

Where to buy: anthropologie.com

Retro-Style Chanel Brooch

What would Paris be without fashion? Without haute couture and incurable style? This stunning brooch takes its wearer back to the vintage days of French mode in a way that brilliantly captures the style legacy of its company's founder, Cocoa Chanel. In the words of the decadent fashion dame herself, "A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous." Luckily this effervescent accessory just so happens to be both! 

Where to buy: chanel.com

Almondine Bakery

New York Magazine named this itsy-bitsy pastry cafe the "Best Bakery in New York" for 2009 - an all-too deserving title for the Dumbo-based shop which serves up sticky sweet croissants, oversized mugs of bittersweet hot chocolate, and sugar-dusted raspberry doughnuts daily. A heaven on Earth for those world travelers looking for the best French bite a little closer to home, Almondine is never one to disappoint, whether its clients be casual Brooklynites with a incurable sweet tooth or tried-and-true Parisians.

Where to enjoy: 85 Water Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201

almondinebakery.com

Entre Nous: A Woman's Guide to Finding Her Inner French Girl

"Ever wonder what gives French women that je ne sais qua?" The back of this fabulous, flirtatious, and all-around awe inspiring book reads. "At first you might think it's the elegant figure, matchless style, and mysterious allure. Then you realize those qualities don't come from just anywhere. They come from generations of women raised to cultivate an extraordinary sense of self. French women know who they are, like who they are, and excel at presenting who they are." A thrilling roadmap to the lessons learned from a multitude of French women, Entre Nous shows that any woman can capture their unique and charismatic charm - all they need is a little bit of style, lots of spunk, and that enduring spirit that tells a girl to always hold her head high and never give up!

Where to buy: amazon.com

Always,
Penelope ♥