Music Worth Loving

Here are my top 5 personal picks (and there were many) that recently performed at the Coachella Music Festival in Indio, California.



This 5-piece band from Jacksonville, Florida offers an Arcade Fire indie-rock easiness.
Black Kids single, "I'm Not Going To Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You" is a trip down the best of The Cure.





Jens Lekman:
Who knew a Swede can croon like this? A Dean Martin understudy with a hankering for Jarvis Cocker, Jens Lekman gives a synthesized indie sound.




Metric:
I started listening to this band for their chic style and the lead female singer's voice.
Their recent stuff is more melodic and her voice puts you into a trance where three hours later you're still listening. "Monster Hospital" is still one of my favorites as it gets me going in the mornings and reminds me of Elastica.




St. Vincent:
I discovered St. Vincent while everyone else was listening to Kate Nash and Feist (they're good too). Annie Clark certainly does it enough for me with "Now, Now" and "Marry Me" because she's a modern touch of an indie Edith Piaf and I like that.




The National:
If you enjoy a smooth whisky, Tom Waits and A Band of Horses then The National hits all that. A good Brooklyn band whose style pays a nice homage to Nick Cave and maybe Interpol.

Insider: Cecilia Bien

name: CECILIA BIEN

occupation: Fashion Designer at Rugby Ralph Lauren

hometown: Concord, Massachusetts

homebase: Greenpoint, Brooklyn

where did you study fashion?  

Washington University in St. Louis School of Art

what was your first internship?  Anna Sui - I actually had some pretty cool tasks.  I don't really remember ever going on coffee runs for people.  I organized a lot of vintage samples and in one of Anna's closets, I found a diary from her teenage years.  I remember sketching out some accessory ideas. 

who are some of your fashion icons?  Frida Kahlo, Louise Brooks and women in Gustave Klimt paintings

what's your daily extravagance?  Daily extravagance or daily indulgence? I wouldn't say there is really anything "daily" other than drinking red wine and indulging in really delicious rich foods...wouldn't say this is an extravagance though. Just enjoying life...I suppose the money I spend on shoes can be quite extravagant, but that's not daily.  I try to keep it to two pairs a season. 

in one word, what do you love most about your job?  People.

best place to people watch in new york city:  Right outside where I work is a fun place to watch all the plastic surgery-ed Upper East Side housewives come out of Barney's or the MoMa during art openings, the Comme Des Garcons store in West Chelsea and Thompkins Square Park. 

what did you wear to work today?  A lace Anna Sui dress (from my internship!) that I shortened and took the empire seam out of to make loose and 20's style-fitting over a Rugby backless ballet top, black cable tights, Frye engineer boots, a vintage pin in my hair and a hot pink leather Miu Miu bracelet with gold rings. 

what was the last song downloaded into your iPod?  

Jens Lekman, I love " A Postcard To Nina"