Happy Halloween!

Maya is going as Rocky.
See how intimidating she is?

French Milk

I'm not usually a fan of graphic novels, besides

Image from LSU.edu.

and this, which I enjoyed in high school:

Image from BetaParticle.com.

But the graphic novel, French Milk, sounds so charming that I have to read it.

Image from IndieBound.com.

Besides the fact that the main character is a girl (pretty much the only reason I'd read a graphic novel), it takes place in Paris. Perfect. The graphic novel catalogues the author's trip to Paris with her mother, capturing all the charming oddities and moments that happened.

Has anyone read it? I can't wait.

Please excuse my absence...

...as I've been in Vermont.

I've been seeing things like this

Image from SE Jones Photography.

and this

and this

and this.


And doing things like this

and this

and this

and this.



But I'm back now, in the Town of Charles, so expect posting to occur semi-regularly for the next while.

The Duchess

Historic drama? Check. Gorgeous costumes, jewelry and hair? Check. Strong, independent heroine played by Keira Knightly? Check. Could this be Pride & Prejudice that I'm talking about? Or Silk? Or Atonement? Well, yeah. But it's not. (Even though it's become the formula for many films that I love.) Last weekend I saw The Duchess. It was fabulous, to say the least. I knew from my first viewing of the film's trailer that I wanted to see this, so I avoided reading reviews, so as to not give away any possible plot details. I was very pleased. I was tempted to read up on Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire's life, but I realized that that would be just as bad as reading film spoilers, so I avoided that too. I was certainly surprised by many of the plot twists, and even more surprised to learn that they had actually happened.

If you want an engrossing film that makes you tear up at unexpected moments, this is for you. However, if you just want to sit and ogle gorgeous gowns, corsets, thigh-high stockings tied with bows, powdered wigs and faces, and some amazing jewelry and gigantic mansions, you'll have more than enough entertainment as well.

See it. Tell me what you think.

MADNESS.

Image from the The Chicago Tribune.

Holy cow...I know I'm late to the party on this one, but how good is Mad Men? The intro credits, the storyline, THE COSTUMES, the characters...it's like an Academy Award-winning drama stretched into multiple seasons of awe-inspiring goodness. It's too good to be a TV show, really.

I always meant to watch this show, but I learned about it after the first season had already begun, and I hate starting a show in the middle of the season. Thanks to the almighty Netflix, I am now three or four episodes away from the end of Season One. Too bad Season Two is already on air. Hopefully I'll be able to catch up on the marathon of that one.



I just cannot get enough. Does anyone else watch this? Have a favorite character?

Men.

What if more men dressed like this?
Image from The Sartorialist.

His outfit is fashionable without being trendy. His lengths, layers and proportions are perfect...you can see each article without him having to exclaim, "Look what I'm wearing!" The way he's wearing his boots adds an effortlessness to this entire look. I wish more guys would take textures, layers and colors into consideration when dressing. Dressing well doesn't mean putting on a tie or a button-down. It's all about the whole effect.

Lanvin Lovin

It seems that I'm always overwhelmed with something. Well, Fashion Week is another one to add to the list. From New York, to London, to Paris, to Milan...I just can't take it.

Anyway...I felt that I could get out of my overwhelmed state to just share with you my highlights from Lavin's Spring 2009 collection. Yet again, my heart aches with longing for any and all of these pieces.



Images from Style.com. See the complete collection here.

I could post every image from the show (and from the looks of it, I almost did!).

I love the way Elbaz focuses on color...usually one bright color and then black. There are no distractions from his silhouettes. The styling for the show is perfect...the heels, the occasional necklace in the perfect, contrasting color (see the pink dress...I'm not usually a pink person, but love the coral necklace with it, as well as the booties), and the shoes are GORGEOUS. He also creates outfits that celebrate the female form. He gives these waifs the illusion of curves! A+.

Oh, and:

ee cummings

since feeling is first
who pays any attention
to the syntax of things
will never wholly kiss you;

wholly to be a fool
while Spring is in the world

my blood approves,
and kisses are a far better fate
than wisdom
lady i swear by all flowers. Don't cry
--the best gesture of my brain is less than
your eyelids' flutter which says

we are for eachother: then
laugh, leaning back in my arms
for life's not a paragraph

And death i think is no parenthesis

ee cummings' birthday is today. I thought this was worthy of posting despite my recent lack of inspiration.

Inspiration is so fleeting, sometimes...

Dear God, I Need to Go to Spain

As anyone who reads this blog knows, I watch WAY too much television. I love it. Blame it on my rich fantasy life.

The latest thing I'm hooked on is Spain...On the Road Again.


Spain...On the Road Again takes Mario Batali (chef), Mark Bittman (food writer for The New York Times), Gwyneth Paltrow (actress) and Claudia Bassols (Spanish actress) across Spain to show the highlights of the country's cuisine. This show is filled with the most beautiful Spanish architecture, lush scenery and food that looks so fresh that you might find yourself licking the screen. Not only that, but you get to watch two incredibly beautiful (and incredibly thin) women stuffing their faces with paella, lamb, clams, and any and all other Spanish cuisine. It's torture. Also, who knew that Gwyneth can speak fluent Spanish? Apparently, she studied abroad in Spain and has been officially adopted by one of the regions. I hate her. The cinematography is fantastic and the show is so color-saturated that it makes everything look that much more beautiful. Watch it. I spend an hour in total envy of the fact that they are getting paid to eat food, look gorgeous (the ladies, at least) and explore one of the most beautiful countries in the world. How can I get a job like this? Travel Channel...are you hiring? What about you, Food Network? Does anyone have any connections?


Here's a little taste of the show (pun intended), so you can see what you're missing.

Lilies of the Field.

I rented Lilies, a BBC series, on Netflix over the past week, thinking it was just a mini-series. Over the 3 discs (8 episodes) I fell in love with all the characters and loved the costumes (specifically those of the dramatic middle sister, May). However, the last episode, while wrapping up a lot of loose ends, didn't provide the kind of closure a final episode should. I did some research and found out that the show had been canceled, and now my heart's broken. I need them to go back and continune this show!

It's centered on three sisters living with their father and brother in 1920. They don't have much money, their dad is tempermental and their brother has some serious post-traumatic stress from World War I. While the storylines are great, May wears literally item after item that I would die to have in my wardrobe today. High-collared coats, amazing boots, close-fitting cloches (and there's a sleeveless blue goddess-style gown she wears at one point that I would actually commit a crime for)...I was totally in love with the costuming and the whole look of the show. Rent it. It's perfect for a cold day on the couch, under a blanket (which hasn't actually happened yet, here in Charleston, but I turn the fan on high and pretend it's cold out).


Image from the BBC.

All I Want for Christmas (from Anthropologie).

Anthropologie is a den of temptation for me. Of course, when their latest catalog arrived on Friday, my heart broke at least a million times for all the beautiful articles of clothing that will probably never be mine. However, Santa Claus has been known to work miracles, so maybe some of these things will be mine, come December. (Yes, I realize that Halloween and Thanksgiving haven't even happened yet.)

Here's a collage of my Anthro drool-worthy items:



Are those ruffles on that blouse and sweater? Surprise, surprise.

Declare Yourself.

Cross-over.

I love when two of my interests, fashion and film, overlap.

That's why I am thrilled about this movie:


But I've already raved about that in a previous post.

However, to add to that excitement, I just read news that a film is being made about Vivienne Westwood, and Kate Winslet is playing her from the 1970s until the present day. I don't know if my heart can handle this much joy.



Are you thrilled? I'm thrilled.

One thing I am very sad about, however, is that my dream booties seen in my collage here, are on backorder till November. Sob...

I am freaking out.

I just need to remind you all that tonight is the season premiere of Pushing Daisies! There's enough dark and depressing political and economic drama on TV lately, so relax this evening with the cutest dark comedy you'll ever see (if you haven't already fallen in love with this show.) Lee Pace is adorable, as are Anna Friel and Kristen Chenoweth. I love the cast, I love the costumes, and I love the sets. Pushing Daisies is filled to the brim with creative inspiration.

Love it.