hermosa

the brave one
the daddy's girl
the responsible one
the shy one
the strong one
the middle one
the bitchy one
the tomboy
the cool one
the athletic one
the beautiful one
the non-crazy one
the connector

my sister and i are often compared, often mistaken for twins, often labeled. the idea being that we look alike but are totally different people. this is my sister sitting on a secluded beach in nicaragua; a private beach strictly for surfers. she's gone down with our cousin and friends (all boys) for some hard core surfing. so yeah i guess we are a bit different. I wish I was that rad! Check her and our cousin on the Nicaragua Surf Report.

there's something about...

Boys like dive bars.
Boys like girls that like dive bars.
Boys like girls who play pool well.
Boys like long hair.
Boys like girls who wear mini skirts.
Boys like high heels.
Boys like girls who wear high heels and a mini skirt to a dive bar to kick their ass at pool.

where have all the cowboys gone?

I've gone to dozens of trade shows during my time as a buyer but never for menswear. As I walked west on 22nd a familiar feeling came over me but with one wonderful difference. Instead of swarms of women, buzzing about heads down deep in blackberry mode, all I saw were fabulous men. I was surprised to find so many well dressed and seemingly straight men! They were like little dolls all making their own statement-model off duty, the polished urban workman, LA graphic tee guy, gentleman prep, librarian chic...take your pick. And I was one of the few women there which by simple numbers garners attention.

Being already coupled to one of these rare well dressed hetero's, I am unable to partake of this hot man resource. Hence, I pass the word to my guuurrlllsss. Looking for a date? Take a slow lap around Capsule!

**On me: Sophomore men's tee available at Opening Ceremony, Schott jacket designed by my friend pictured below, wood platforms by Aldo, studded bag by Forever 21**

Never Say Never

I suppose when you wear at least 8 pieces of jewelry at a time people are bound to notice, ask questions, ect. Lately, it's all about my cuffs that were inspired by a Robert Lee Morris piece that is just too rich for my blood. Luckily, I live about 3 blocks from the store so I can go visit-each time under more and more pressure to buy it. Needing a more economical alternative I found two pieces on Broadway between Spring and Broome. The street artisan who made these, advised me to get two of the same but I love the mix matched combo. I feel like Wonderwoman.

As we strolled the city on Saturday the compliments and questions about my jewelry lead to a serious discussion of whether or not to give it a go myself, despite the promise I made myself never to do so when I worked as a Buyer for Intermix. But who knows? I already have quite a few potential customers. Stay tuned...

you give me fever

It is virtually impossible to remain sexy in this type of weather. Record highs in temp, hair frizzing humidity and absolutely no breeze flowing through your summer dress. Luckily, in times like these you can be as close to naked as you'd like and it is perfectly socially acceptable.

Will the high heat and bare skin lead to summer lovin' or maddness circa 1976?

lights or angels?

"So when are you moving to Paris already?" he asks.
"I don't know...when I'm settled I'm guess." I reply.
"Moving is like having children...it must be done with a a bit of spontaneity! No planning."

Perhaps he's right but for now I'm just representin' on the west coast. It is seriously growing on me! Could i trade the city of lights for the city of angels?

**Alex & Chloe paris tee, Current Elliot boyfriend skinny in trash wash, vintage belt from parisian shop Coiffeur, cuffs from nyc street vendor.

Kate Moss for Topshop

what boy doesn't like a little Kate?

Parents Just Don't Understand

My father is a very subtly hilarious man. You have to really pay attention to catch it all. Being an old school Latin man, he is often put off by some of my fashion choices (which I find amusing). He'll never fully come out with it. He'll just make quiet jokes like "don't forget your suitcase" referring to my over-sized Givenchy Nightingale.

This week I chose, what I believed to be, the perfect grey nail polish. It reminds me of Ken's pastel-y grey tux he wore won he married Barbie (and it matches my Grai leather jacket perfectly). I received many compliments-from all women of course. As I walked through the park linked arms with my dad he says conversationally, "oye que hiciste? encontraste un monton de lodo para ponerlo en las unas?" Translation: hey, what did you do? find some mud so you could put it all over your nails?" I literally died laughing! The perfect dad joke and probably what many men were thinking...

Call Me Maria Mariposa

This Sunday the Hoppe family took a stroll through Central Park together. Any family gathering requires that I work as photographer; a job I love and sometimes hate. As the family began to cross this lovely bridge, I stepped into the woods to capture this moment. I took two three shots and as I brought the camera down a butterfly landed right on my hand! I let out a squeak and it fluttered away. I ran to catch up to the family and reached my mother and cousin Ted first. As I approached, excited to tell what had happened, my cousin said, "you look so pretty Jessy." "I love your dress; it's like a mariposa...I'm going to call you mariposa." What a coincidence, I thought! Mariposa means butterfly in Spanish and I quickly told them the story. My mom said this is very good luck.

My new dress did make me feel like a mariposa; delicate and dreamy...in my own world. The soft colors, flutter sleeves and chiffon fabric made me feel like I could fly away or break into song and dance ala Maria in West Side Story. That's why it's so important to dress the way you feel sometimes; helps the soul.

y tu mama tambien

Sometimes when I call my mother the mere sound of her voice will make me feel like crying. I'm not sure why. I'll hide this from her because if she heard me cry she'd panic and wonder why. There is no reason really, just that I miss her. That the sound of her voice is safety and unconditional love. It's as if life is a game of tag and my mom is like touching base.

I am my mother's daughter. A serious mama's girl! As a child, you couldn't find me much place else but at my mother's feet or in her arms. I physically resemble her most, same freckles and skin tone, and inherited her most charming qualities. And by "charming" I mean crazy; in the best way possible. As unconventional as my mother may be what you never doubt is her love. She is full out, in your face, kiss you all over, on fire mother love. Who I am in my mother's eyes-that's the woman i want to be.

I love you so much mommy!

x
Jessica

Join the Club

Bodacious is back in style and I for one could not be happier! At least, in the men's magazines, which is what we really want to know anyway. We already know what catty bitches think. Women "are like a box of chocolates;" some are called sexy, elegant, cute, pretty, and the ever cheesy HOT. Bodacious babes a la Jessica Rabbit possess a certain je ne sais quoi; a quality that separates the boys from the men. It's not just the beauty or the bangin' body, although those will certainly knock you on your ass. It's the look in her eye, the way she sways through a room, the way she could care less that every man notices her as she sways through the room, the way she withholds, the feeling that she could devour you at any moment...but she's not and if you ever left her she would feel real and deep pain but never be alone. It's a power developed from a young age; a gift from men themselves. Women who have never had to question their attractiveness to men approach the whole game differently-they have no fear. There is much to be learned from these vixens. Read below for some tips from my favorites: Christina Hendricks and Padma Lakshmi.



About ogling: The men who look, they really look. It doesn't insult us. It doesn't faze us, really. It's just — well, it's a little infantile. Which is ironic, isn't it? The men who constantly stare at our breasts are never the men we're attracted to.

The sexiest thing is to know you.

We remember forever what you say about the bodies of other women. When you mention in passing that a certain woman is attractive — could be someone in the office, a woman on the street, a celebrity, any woman in the world, really — your comment goes into a steel box and it stays there forever. We will file the comment under "Women He Finds Attractive." It's not about whether or not we approve of the comment. It's about learning what you think is sexy and how we might be able to convey it. It's about keeping our man by knowing what he likes.

We also remember everything you say about our bodies, be it good or bad. Doesn't matter if it's a compliment. Could be just a comment. Those things you say are stored away in the steel box, and we remember these things verbatim. We remember what you were wearing and the street corner you were standing on when you said it.



The best thing you can do for someone is make them a beautiful plate of food. How else can you invade someone's body without actually touching them?

Sex is an act. Love is a way of being. Both are very enjoyable to engage in. Both can be in short supply sometimes.

I'm not of the American ilk that, you know, your lover needs to be your best friend and know you inside out. I think he should know you well enough to please you. Otherwise, what secret will there be to tell him when you're ninety?

The parting? I think you always learn a lot when you leave an important stage in your life. With every kind of growth, there's a lot of pain.

You can't spar and say, "Not the face."

Beauty is something that commands your eye to look at it.

I never worked as a model in Japan. Girls went to Japan and they came back with suitcases full of money. But I never got invited because I know what they like. They like blond girls, they like flat-chested girls, and they don't like dark girls. On the other hand, I could mint money in Italy in the 90's. Both had to do with local preferences.

My grandparents had an arranged marriage. I don't think I ever heard them say, "I love you" to each other. And I don't think I ever had greater evidence of it.

birds of a feather

"It's so strange how all these women look alike. Like the Jersey girls all have the same wacky big hair, tight clothes and trashy make-up, the Orange County ladies are always bedazzled with weird surgery and even the New York girls have their hipster formula like the baggy t-shirts and semi-dirty hair but your style is so different. I mean...I think you have great style."

-reaction to watching Jerseylicious and one of the best compliments I've gotten in awhile.

After dating my first boyfriend, who absolutely HATED the way I dressed, I vowed never to do it again. This is just the first of MANY changes he will try to make and it's a slippery slope! Find someone who is feeling your style, doesn't judge you for caring and understands it is an important expression of who you are. Besides, the ones who love your crazy dress usually have the best style themselves.

you make me feel, you make me feel, you make me feel like a natural woman...woman

It seems the generally accepted stereotypes about Latina women are good and bad. They include passionate, sexy, loud, demanding, hyper feminine, temperamental, difficult, unpredictable, maternal, good cooks, and most times great dancers. Maybe it's the trip to Nicaragua, the tribal tan, time with my family this Saturday, playing mommy to my nieces and nephew, dancing wildly at the party, cooking Sunday with my mother but I'm finally getting comfortable in my own skin. And I'm absolutely loving how daaaarrrrk it is.