A few more things I’d like to share:
-
Small Magazine
I tend to swoon over adorable, high-end childrens magazines. This one is free and on the internet, so I don’t have to feel weird about paying money for a magazine about something I don’t have (yet).
And really, I would wear every last outfit in there if they made it adult sizes. There is some gorgeous, swoon-worthy stuff. Check it out.
-
Pumpkin Recipes
It’s a pumpkiny season, and there is a bumper crop of squashes out there to be scooped up at discounted prices, so a New York Times collection of pumpkin based recipes is pretty timely. Plus, pumpkins are delicous.
-
Ombre Crafts
Ombre is pretty. Crafts are fun. These pretty and fun ombre crafts live in that unique Martha Stewart universe where crafty projects end up looking high end, and elegant. You know, as opposed our own dimension where the words “Crafty” and “Elegant” are often mutually exclusive.
-
Typocalypse
Diagnose your font use. Figure out what your typography choices say about you (I like to dance on the ceiling, it turns out).
- the candi factory
Karen over at Say It With Pie has long sung the praises of these hand made, artisinal undies. They went on sale, so I finally broke down and bought a set - a days of the weeks set, to be specific - because who doesn’t love an adorable days of the weeks set of underwear? And they’re typographic underwear, no less! Monday is Cooper Black!
Karen says, on top of being really cute, they last forever, and are super comfy. So far I’ve already found the latter to be inordinately true. These things are heaven. Plus, I am strongly behind any operation that simply does not believe in thongs. Sing it, sister.
A few recent finds:
-
Random noodle soup generator.
You know my allegiance to noodles. Second only to my loyalty to dumplings. You can pry carbohydrates away from my cold, dead hands.
-
Awesome Mad Men illustrations.
Pretty up my alley, don’t you think?
-
Everyday Minerals
A great sounding mineral makeup company. Vegan, enviromentally friendly, super inexpensive, safe for sensitive skin, tons of colours, cute packaging… Need I say more? Oh, ok then, there are free samples to be had (free! I know!). Go. Run. Get some.
-
Shopsin’s General Store
An amazing sounding diner cooking hardcore American comfort foods - but always with a twist. There are over 900 menu items! This place sounds like priority number one for when we finally make it to NYC. The cookbook sounds amazing too.
-
Moop bags
I’ve been looking for a cute bag for a long time, and I’ve finally narrowed it down to a Moop duffel in black. The bag is sturdy, has lots of pockets and is water resistant, the companies run by an awesome lady, and everything is environmentally friendly, handmade and designed from scratch. What can’t you find on Etsy?
If you know me, you know that I love Mad Men.
I’m pretty proud that I was one of the first people to discover it, way back in the spring of oh-seven when it premiered on AMC (before that if you count me salivating over the ads). To be fair, a show made by the classic movie channel set in an early sixties advertising firm surrounded by vintage office equipment, mid-century furniture, fabulous fashions, saturated colours, excellent writing, and some very good actors (including former cast members of pretty much all my favourite TV shows and movies, ever) combines ALL of my favourite things in the universe into one beautiful little package - wrapped up in ribbons and bows like a present just for me.
So when Joan Holloway (also known as the sexiest character on TV) strutted across the screen in a cute little capris, and boat-neck sweater outfit I was pretty much instantaneously jealous.
Until I remembered I have pretty much that exact outfit sitting in my mid-century, walnut, tallboy dresser:
Yeah. It was totally meant to be, this outfit and me.
P.S.: I am thinking of dying my hair red.
I just added him as a flickr friend. He’s so web 2.0!
I would also like an Obama 08 t-shirt at some point, because I think his campaign logo (you know, the O with the swoop?) is some of the sexiest logo design I have ever seen. I like this version, in particular (but for the record, I also like this one, which has nothing to do with politics, it’s just super cute).
Gah. I wish I was American so I could vote in their exciting, history making election instead of our boring, boring, boring and depressing one.
Stephen and Stephane’s respective charisma combined couldn’t match the charisma found in Obama’s left pinkie.
Well, we’re still pretty busy ’round here, especially since we are leaving for a bit of vacation soon (nothing too exciting, just returning to Liam’s hometown for a week to attend one of his oldest friend’s wedding).
We spent the other night on the set of a TV show, which was pretty cool. Even cooler was seeing a good friend, an old friend, take charge and kick ass like the awesome producer she is.
Sometimes it seems like just yesterday that I was just a kid, and now my friends are lawyers, and producers and doctors. It’s weird to know real, live, important grown ups. It means I must be one myself (scary).
Anyway, I might try apprenticing on set in the art department - which has always been one of my (admittedly many) dreams. I even took a course or two in set design.
Talk turned to the completely unglamorous work that goes on behind the scenes of these things, and it was mentioned that one should be prepared to get covered in all manner of messes at this particular shoot.
Of course, only I would turn that conversation into an opportunity to wear a cute outfit… But of course I did.
People are always surprised to find that I have no fear of getting messy - but you can’t do things like art or cooking or gardening without getting a little dirt under your nails, a little flour on your collar and a little paint in your hair.
You just have to prepare yourself for a mess - and that includes wearing proper attire.
So at the moment, I’m dreaming of cute kerchiefs and cuffed coveralls, worn Rosie the Riveter style. Something like this gorgeous little pic from this months Marie Claire (found via Jezebel, of course):
I’ve even found a company that makes adorable coveralls, specifically fitted for women, named after Rosie (which is pretty awesome).
Of course, Bluelines loves a good coverall too, and actually did a more stylish spin on them, turning an old pair into a cute little shirt dress.
Which is probably more the route I’ll take. Particularly the scrounging thrift and surplus stores for a deal part - because I’d rather not get cement, and mud, and wood glue, and paint all over something I paid more than twenty bucks for. It’s kinda the point of wearing coveralls in the first place.
This is the best outfit I have ever seen on a celebrity (Lily Allen, BTW).
Pink!
Turquoise!
Sparkles!
Bambi!
Who’s her stylist? Hello Kitty?
It’s all sooooo cute! If i had gotten married at the age of 11, I probably would have worn exactly that, pink hair and all. Actually, I will probably still wear something like that when I do get married in the next couple years. I just can’t help it, when I see vibrant pastels like that all in one place, it just makes me happy. It must take me back to some childhood place where Rainbow Brite and Jem and the Holograms still scamper about.
Also adorable: the apology she put on her blog for gettting drunk that night
And I Quote:
“Last time I wrote here, I was defending my honor and dignity, explaining my innocence and also outrage at the press for insinuating my behaviour was embarrassing. This time I’m putting my hands up, I got very drunk last night, too drunk. It’s not cool getting that drunk, I feel awful and I have to thank my little brother Alf for getting me home safely.
Kids, drink responsibly or you’ll end up looking like this, not pretty! Was quite fun though, from what I can remember. Need fry up now.”
Celebrities, they make mistakes just like us!
(Except in much, much better outfits).
I’ve been looking for a new bag for pretty much ever. The one I use all the time right now is an army surplus looking messenger I got from the mens department at the gap for four bucks 7 years ago (that’s pre Liam).
I like it cause it’s rugged, but minimalist and it’s ballistic nylon stands up to anything and is neutral enough to go with most outfits - but it also is rough and eats into (and ruins) my t-shirts, has no pockets on the inside, and no zipper or proper closure at the top (which is imperative when traveling to pick-pockety tourist areas - which I would like to do from time time).
Plus, it’s wicked old, and I’m kinda sick of it.
So, I’ve been searching, and searching, and searching… It seems everything out there is either ridiculously oversized and impractical, covered in patent leather tassels, or just plain butch and sporty.
I would like to have a choice other than Carrie Bradshaw, Harajuku Girl and Soccer Mom, please and thank you - normal human being who has to carry stuff around when she goes out would be nice.
I was leaning towards this little baby. It’s just old fashioned and rustic enough for my tastes. It’s kind of Indiana Jones meets Gossip Girl.
But then. I stumbled upon these little wonders (a bag AND shoes that match).
I (as previously discussed) hate purple, but I will make an exception for these beautiful little babies (I will probably end up wussing out and getting them in neutral brown instead though).
The bag can be found here. The shoes can be found here.
They are both made by relatively small companies. The bag is even made by a company that has a commitment to being green, and not sending things out to sweatshops. Yay to that, and it’s neat, guitar-strap strap.
The shoes (even though I was not looking for them) are a particularly good find I think. I feel like they’re the kind of thing that Jordan Baker in The Great Gatsby would have worn. They’re totally a 1920’s version of sporty sneakers (you know, with super-practical platform heels and shantung silk).
This colour co-ordination happened mostly by accident.
Although (as lame as I know it is to be matchy-matchy in this day and age) it makes me kinda happy when my wellies match my clutch, if you know what I’m saying (who do I think I am, the queen?).
By the way, this picture also pretty much encapsulates everything I love about spring.
Ok, so I don’t normally talk about this sorta thing here but:
a) She might belong to a cult, but did Katie Holmes not look smokingly gorgeous here? Yes. I believe she did.
b) Would I not (with my admittedly chunkier build, but exact same texture and colour of hair) look similarly smokingly gorgeous in a similar haircut? Yes, I think so too.
Go see it.
Seriously.
It’s beautiful.
If you like Wes Anderson you will love it. If you consider yourself to be a student of cinema and literature you will love it’s depth and elegance (although if Hollywood movies and best-selling books are more your thing you might not). If you’re looking for a bit of a visual boost, some eye candy to jangle your creativity, it’s perfect too. If you’re looking for inspiration for decorating your home, then this is the movie to see this season.
The India depicted is (like in most Anderson movies) not so much of the present, or even of the past, but one of dreams captured cinematically. The set pieces and locales are astonishing - everything is drenched in a vibrant, fairy-tale exoticism. However, it’s not quite as much of a fashion flick as other Wes Anderson movies have been - despite the help of Mark Jacobs and a large set of absolutely divine Louis Vuiton luggage.
I found this poster for it, and it’s a bit of a odd find as it depicts only Natalie Portman and a tiger. While both are certainly in the movie, they do not appear as more than spoken-of-mirages, and blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameos. But I do absolutely love it’s retro illustrative style, reminiscent of mid-sixties movie posters. It certainly hints to the mystery and style of the movie.
Script-wise, Anderson is back to form - recalling his first (and most critically acclaimed) film: Bottle Rocket.
Anderson’s trio of brothers are, though a return to a familiar subject of disaffected families, one of his most emotionally interesting depictions. Although he does receive a lot of help from his always impeccable casting.
Brody? Schwartzman? Wilson? You can’t go wrong
I’m really hoping that he never collaborates with that Noah Baumbach ever again. I actually quite like Roman Coppola (his CQ was entirely underrated) so I think he was a much better choice as a collaborator than that other guy. They certainly share a certain retro, new-wave, colour-drenched sensibility. I could tell he added a lot of sparkle and elegance to the cinematography and script - but then again, it’s well established that I have a thing for the Coppola family.
Speaking of which, Jason Schwartzman is also quite effective here - I think it’s his sense of humour which most comes out in both his performance and the script (which he also co-wrote), bringing levity to Wes Andersons darker inclinations. .
Here’s also hoping Owen Wilson never succeeds in his recently publicized attempts, because he is a woefully wonderful actor who adds so much undertones and depth to a performance - but damned if doesn’t ever get to show it except for in Wes Anderson movies.
backwards »