26 January 2008

front(lines): disney


As part of Disney's "Dream Portrait Series," photographer Annie Leibovitz created this "Where you never have to grow up" shot featuring Gisele BĂ¼ndchen as Wendy Darling, Mikhail Baryshnikov as Peter Pan and Tina Fey as Tinker Bell (below)...so funny.



From BĂ¼ndchen: "Coming onto this whole set, it feels like you are living the whole Peter Pan story. When I think of all the Disney stories, it actually is my favorite. It isn't just like a princess finding her prince; Peter was more about finding a true adventure and a different thing, you know?"

All of this is part of Disney's Year of a Million Dreams" celebration campaign. Other celebs featured - "Where a whole new world awaits": Jennifer Lopez as Jasmine, husband Marc Anthony as Aladdin and soar Whoopi Goldberg as Genie; "Where dreams run free": Jessica Biel as Pocahontas. Since January 2007, Leibovitz has featured Beyoncé, David Beckham, Scarlett Johansson, Rachel Weisz, Roger Federer, Julie Andrews and Abigail Breslin in scenes playing out their Disney fantasies.

22 January 2008

love(notes): ysl


I've always liked Erykah Badu for her individual style...making fashion wrongs look so good. Here she is rocking the geek chic look. But I would like you to divert your attention to her footwear. She is wearing the Yves Saint Laurent Platform Loafer available @ Barneys.


Canvas platform peep toe loafer with leopard toe. Patent leather decorative strap and trim. 105mm patent covered heel. Leather sole. Fabric/leather upper. Available in Beige/Dark Brown. Made in Italy. $675
from thestylemusings.com
photo cred: splash & barneys.com

21 January 2008

idle(prattle): car clearing

I am selling my car which means that I have to clean it out. I started this afternoon and got as far as I could before my hands froze off. I have found the usual loose change and receipts. But then I started finding things that I either completely forgot about or had no clue where they came from. I have found,


a tape measure
3 mugs
a movie script
a font reference guide
pantone cards and paint cards
an art history manual
a tea guide
2 novels
5 magazines
4 maps
a cell phone charger (from two phones ago)
a make-up bag
2 gift bags
a box of envelopes
an infinity of pens (never could find one when I needed!)
a highlighter
two 9" shiny gold stars
7 shoes (not 7 pairs, just seven shoes that may or may not match)
a t-shirt
a pink top
a dress
a sweater
5+ water bottles (stopped counting)
3 totes bags

Where exactly am I going with all of this stuff?!? Most of the stuff was shoved under the seats, in pockets behind the seats or in the tote bags, but still! I tried to imagine if a stranger went through the car, what kind of person would they think I am. Some of the things I can explain, while others, I just look at as if they were alien artifacts. I can't do anything now but laugh and bask in my new found treasures. Actually, half went straight into the garbage & recycling bin.


20 January 2008

front(lines): lanvin redux



These are so ridiculously pretty. Plus they aren't that scary. These are why I like looking at the advertising more than the editorial content sometimes (sorry). I like the purposeful blurry edges, it gives them a surreal, painted look.
photo: tfs/original sin and luxx

19 January 2008

love(notes): veronica webb

At cocktail party hosted by Veronica Webb and Donna Karan Thursday night at Urban Zen Boutique in New York City.

17 January 2008

love(notes): malandrino

Angie Harmon & Debra Messing at the the opening of the Jimmy Choo Flagship store on Rodeo Drive, benefiting the Entertainment Industry Foundation’s Women’s Cancer Research Fund.
I LOVE Angie's Catherine Malandrino skirt & top and Debra's handbag...Jimmy Choo? Let's just sit and admire.

From the S/S 2008 collection. Model: Coco Rocha
from thestylemusings.com
photo cred: Donato Sardella/WireImage; Marcio Madeira/style.com

16 January 2008

idle(prattle): mission organization

I left the house last week with the sole mission of getting the house organized. Seven hours later, I came home with a wondrous supply of organizational gadgetry and two additional items I smuggled in under a Rubbermaid lid.


Rimmel Extra Super Lash Mascara

Erin Fetherston dress from Target.
Interesting stories (excuses) for both. I stumbled upon this mascara last year:
A girlfriend & I were out running errands.
Her boyfriend called to invite us to this supersonic party.
Not enough time to make it back to her flat and my hotel to get ready.
His flat was closer.
Pit stop to H&M and Boots to get party supplies.
My refusal to buy expensive make-up that I already owned.
Needed cheap substitute.

This is one of the best mascaras that I've come across for the price. It is really inexpensive, yet it does not dry out and really builds up my lashes. I now use it on a regular basis. You can go to the Rimmel site to find out where to buy.

However, what I was really excited about was this Erin Fetherston dress from Target. It is currently available online for $31.49 on clearance. However, I found it in the store also on clearance for $11.24. The last one in the store. Yep.

As I was doing my dressing room dance...you know you have one....it reminded me of this dress that is burnt into my mind. I went on the Jam Cruise a couple years back, and there was this girl dancing beside me. She had on this black flapper dress with the tassels and she was just shimmying away. And I was jealous, yet in awe. In my mind, we were battling. We were tied until she pulled out these little black gloves. It was over. Ever since then, I've wanted a dress that I could shimmy in without being too costume-y. And I found it. If only I knew where she is now. I am so ready for a re-match.
photo creds: drugstore.com & target

15 January 2008

idle(prattle): milan's man

I usually don't pay much attention to the mens shows, but when I do,  I try tried to look at them in the context of being for the man in my life. But halfway through I am always like "forget him! I like this & this & this..." For example -

Alexander McQueen Fall 2008
I can't imagine on my best day and he on his worst, convincing him to rock this. I on the other hand, I would at least try it on...it just looks so cuddly.



With the men shows, I find myself scoffing at the designs whereas if it were on the womens runway I would probably call it "innovative." It is hard for me to look at the shows with the same eyes because it doesn't apply to me and that means, well...it doesn't apply to me.

I actually do like going in the menswear department. The paisley ties call out to me. There are times where I wish that my man was more fashionable. He describes his style as preppy (pause) even though his closet mostly consists of hoodies, t-shirts, and khakis. And he likes details - off centered zippers, raw edges, geometric shapes. I think since he doesn't own jeans (crazy!), he thinks he can categorise himself as preppy. Right.

Even though we are on totally different wavelengths when it comes to fashion, I appreciate that because [A] I don't have to share a closet [B] I get final say on all things fashion related [C] I don't have to share a closet. As I've mentioned before, he has recently expressed an interest in dressing more...stylish, for lack of a better word. In my perfect world, if he dressed like Graham Norton, he would be my perfect accessory ... shiny, glam & bright. But I don't see that happening anytime soon. And that's okay.


With all of that said, I am making an effort to research mens clothing and the current men's shows are a good source of inspiration. I really liked Cavalli's collection,  If I were to dress my boyfriend,







rom thestylemusings.com

14 January 2008

front(lines): lanvin

Vogue US January 2008 for Spring 08 campaign. Model:Olga Sherer; Photographer: Steven Meisel
Every time I see this Lanvin ad, I get a little scared. You? It is such a beautiful photograph, but it still makes me want to look over my shoulder.
photo cred: tfs-faith akiyama

06 January 2008

style(hunt): blue shoes



There are two things that I like about this picture. The chair and the shoes, but for the purposes of this conversation, let us focus on the shoes. I can't tell if they are satin or the same material as the chair, I just like the sheen and the color regardless. When I saw them and the follow thought process took place -

Why don't I have blue shoes? I have the obligatory blacks & browns, then the reds, greens, yellows, whites, silvers, greys, golds, bronzes, beiges/camels/tans, hot pinks, light pinks but no blue? And while I'm thinking about it, no purple either. Strange. Are her shoes purple instead of blue? I need both either way. Well, I do have that navy blue pair, but they aren't shiny. And then there are those dark turquoise heels, but those are more in the green realm. Come to think of it, I don't have a lot of blue anything. Except my jeans, but those don't count, because they really aren't "blue" you know.

This conversation sounded much more intellectual in my head. Like most things that I discover that I like and 'need,' I hit the internet. In this case, Zappos. I don't know if I ever mentioned this, but one of the reasons that I started this blog was to justify the insane amount of time that I window shop online. Here's the shoes...


[1] BCBGirls, Nice: patent upper. pointed toe. lightly padded insole. covered heel. rubber outsole for added comfort. made in brazil. 3.75" heel. 6.00 oz. color is called oil blue. $92.95 When I saw these, the song Electric Avenue popped into my head. I've discovered that when a piece of clothing/accessory/shoe sings to me, I better listen.

[2] KORS Michael Kors, Lush: crackled metallic upper. leather footbed. matching stiletto heel. leather sole. made in italy. 3.5" heel. 5.80 oz. color is called colbalt. $273.95. Standard pump silhouette with a cool metallic finish and color.

[3] Moschino: crackled metallic leather upper. leather lining. leather sole. made in italy. 4" heel. color is called blue $495. I know that it isn't exactly the right color, but I guess I just really like crackled leather. Oh, and the t-strap double buckle. These are my favorite pair.

[4] Franco Sarto, Chili: peep toe pump. suede upper. inside open shank. lightly padded footbed. covered heel. synthetic sole. 3.5" heel. 7.00 oz. color is called electric blue. $82.95. I liked the heel, the peep toe and the d'orsay sides. Pretty much everything.

03 January 2008

front(lines): luxe news

  • Lifetime is making a miniseries about Coco Chanel starring Shirley MacLaine, who will play the designer in her later years. The project even has Karl Lagerfeld's blessing
  • Natalie Portman will be designing a line of completely animal-free shoes, to debut in February, for Te Casan.
  • Lacoste lost the lawsuit it had against a UK dental practice because Lacoste felt the crocodile logo they used was said too similar to the clothing firm's famous croc. They now have to pay £1,450 towards the dentist's legal costs.
  • Gucci is creating a limited-edition collection for Beijing summer games.
  • Dolce & Gabbana names Christophe Albarran as president of its U.S. subsidiary.


ALSO READ -

Chicago Tribune: 2008 may test luxury retail market
Wall Street Journal: Why Luxury Will Lose Luster in 2008
Portfolio: Will The Rich Stop Shopping in 2008?
Travel Agent Central: 2008 Trends in the Luxury Market
Telegraph: Breathing new life into luxury
WWD: Luxury's Latest Frontier: Brands Rush to Expand In Surging Middle East

02 January 2008

design(mode): best film costume of all time

[1] Knightley's green dress from the movie Atonement, designed by Jacqueline Durran

Sky Movies and InStyle magazine conducted a survey for the "Best Film Costume Of All Time" and Keira Knightley's green dress from the movie Atonement won.  I agree that it is a pretty great dress, and it has become 'that green dress,' but I am very hard pressed to commit to the OF ALL TIME part. It is the most recent on the list, plus I am curious as to if the people surveyed were given a list of options or asked to name their favorite? What people? Film companies involved? Why am I so naturally sceptical of everything?

Sky Movies director Ian Lewis said: "There's no doubt that Keira Knightley's dress in Atonement created a massive stir this year, so it will be interesting to see whether it attains this iconic status in years to come." Very interesting. Here's the rest of the list with pictures and a bit about how the green dress became the green dress.

[2] Marilyn Monroe's white dress in The Seven Year Itch

[3] Audrey Hepburn's black Givenchy dress in Breakfast At Tiffany's

[4] Olivia Newton-John's skin-tight pants in Grease

[5] Kate Winslet's blue gown from Titanic

[6] Diane Keaton's tie and waistcoat in Annie Hall


[7] Nicole Kidman's corset in Moulin Rouge

[8] Liza Minnelli's fishnets and bowler hat in Cabaret

[9] Cate Blanchett's gown in Elizabeth: The Golden Age

[10] Vivien Leigh's costumes in Gone With The Wind

Here's an excerpt from the New York Post about the origin of the green dress:

The film's costume designer, Jacqueline Durran - who designed the dress after studying documentary and fashion photography from the 1930s - and Ivana Primorac, the film's hair and make-up artist, say that director Joe Wright dictated everything about the costume: the color, the cut, the silhouette, the amount of movement it should have.


“Joe said the dress had to be green," says Durran, though, she adds, “we really didn't know why."


To attain the deeply saturated emerald hue Wright envisioned, Durran sourced three different sheer fabrics, all varying shades of green, then layered them, creating a color she otherwise could not find. Wright had the improvised swatch sent to a dye specialist, who, Durran says, “created the perfect green."


“Joe is very, very particular; he has a lot of style and a good eye," says Primorac. “He knows more about fabric than anyone I've ever met."


As for the rest of the costume (which looks deceptively minimal but is composed of tiny, artful details): The dress is backless, Durran says, “because Joe knew he wanted to shoot Keira from behind, so the drama in the dress had to come from the back." The tiny, laser-cut perforations in the bodice were about “taking away, rather than adding on," she says, to serve the period's minimalism. To create the fluidity of movement Wright required, Durran created a bias-cut bodice and a straight-cut skirt, then improvised a wrap around the waist. “Just a design element, a nice detail," she says.


The result is a costume that is aspirational, both aesthetically and emotionally. It's the way a young girl, who is not yet as sophisticated and worldly as she wishes to be, would want to look in 1939 as well as in 2007. (Wright also directed Knightley's TV ads for Chanel Mademoiselle, which share the exact same visual language as this 20-minute stretch in “Atonement.")


“We wanted the look to be authentic, but to have a freshness, to appeal to the modern eye," says Durran. “I'm very pleased if it's striking a chord. That's what we were trying to do with that dress."





01 January 2008

ciné(screen): unfolding florence



"Unfolding Florence: The Many Lives of Florence Broadhurst" is a docu-drama based on the life of Florence Broadhurst. I would describe Broadhurst as the Australian CoCo Chanel in the sense that she kept re-inventing herself to stay on top. She made up her own storied background, which included her being British, a close friend of the Queen Mother and a memeber of a wealthy cattle family from Queensland.



The film goes from her birth to her murder in 1977, reading from her personal letters and with interviews from family, friends and others who knew and worked with her. She was this amazing, feisty, determined, sometimes unethical woman who toured the world in the 1920s singing, then opened her own boutique in London in 30s,  became a painter in the 50s and a wallpaper designer & socialite in the 60s. Overall, the film has a dark comedy feel and disbelief of what this woman thought she could (and did) get away with.

Even though I would probably be a little scared if I had to cross her path, I was drawn into how she was so whimsical about life. A couple of her quotes:

“Women always thrive when thrown up on their own resources”

“Dull colors make me a dull person”

“I’d always been told that I was born before my time. Oh, surely to God the times can just catch up.”

Today her designs are making a revival through Signature Prints and fashion designer Akira Isogawa.



photo cred: abc.net.au
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