The Curious Case of the women of Benjamin Button.

On Christmas day, after the family had retired to the fireplace for the evening, a few friends and I went to the local multiplex to watch The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. I have an odd fascination with both Cate Blanchett and Tilda Swinton. I admire Cate as a striking beauty, as an actor and as a fashionista. Tilda, however, intrigues me because I find her to be non-human bordering ethereal and especially gutsy in her lifestyle, fashion choices and movie roles.

Back to Button- the movie does not disappoint. Set in New Orleans, it chronicles the life of Benjamin Button, played superbly by an Oscar-hungry Brad Pitt, as he ages backwards. Born with the health and prognosis of an average 80-something year old, Button gains sight, mobility and agility as he ages (un-ages?). The movie spans WWI to the moments before Hurricane Katrina gained notoriety.

I'm sure you can find other blogs with more informed and educated reviews, but I will say that the cinematography, post-production and costumers did a superb job of creating looks for each character.

In the film Tilda resembles 1920s Art Deco and for this, I loved every scene she was in. Her angular and almost cubist bone structure added with an impeccable costume selection radiates frigidity without her uttering a single icy syllable.

Blanchett can do anything- I'm convinced. Her sapphire eyes, alabaster skin and ruby mane are, not to be cliche, breathtaking at 20, 30, 40, 50 and older.

Queenie, played by Taraji P. Henson, shines and is a certain for a supporting actress nod (and hopefully a win) at the upcoming Oscars. Her acting and role flirts with caricature but pulls back with a wallop of uncompromising emotion.

Interestingly, one facet many reviewers have glossed over are the racial undertones that punctuate most of the film. From WWI to the very intentional tie-in with Hurricane Katrina, every person that acts as caretaker (hospital staff, nannies and retirement home workers) is African-American. The social commentary is implicit, absent from the rhetoric; but we all know what happened with the levees broke. We know who was/is affected and for an administration laden with follies, Katrina ranks highly among them.

A curious case indeed.

Spotted

I spotted my local barista while at the H&M on Bloor. She looked at me, I at her, and for a split second I thought we had an outer-counter experience.

We politely smiled at each other before I went back to marvelling at a faux-fur shapka and she to her non-barista alter-ego civilian life.
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Tartan

C'est Noel!

Wishing you all a healthy, wealthy and happy holiday season, Christmas and New Year! Enjoy fine wine and good food! Tolerate bad family members and friends while also cherishing loved ones. Be safe, kind, patient and dressed in something festive. A goofy sweater or like the Stefani-Rossdales, maybe indulge in your finest tartan plaid (below). Drive carefully and most importantly, think about those less fortunate- donating to a food bank even after Christmas can really help someone along during these winter months.

Artifact

Maggie just got back a few days ago from Quebec. Before that, she was in Brazil making sure people don't litter. She's like captain planet minus the mullet and spandex (sometimes).

Although she didn't have to, she bought me a gift. Rather than HARD ROCK CAFE BRASIL or a Quebecois bumper sticker, she bought me a hand bound, leather bound journal filled with handmade paper. Pictures below. Needless to say, I love it and am now mustering up the courage to write well within it.

Thank you Maggie!

Haute!

Clémence Poesyn, French model-cum-actress, donning Haute Couture from a few selected houses for Black Book Magazine. Like most often, Chanel & Gautier, to me, stand out.

Chanel Haute Couture



Gaultier Paris

(Look at this beadwork...amazing).


Valentino Haute Couture


Christian Lacroix Haute Couture



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Music makes the people come together

I've compiled a list of my favourite albums of 2008. Unabashedly pop, some of the albums are guilty pleasures (Danity Kane), while others haven't left my CD player (yes, I BUY the physical copies!) and look like they're not going anywhere anytime soon. Some are new favourites (Kanye West & Lady Gaga) and others have been kicking around since spring (Adele). Absent from this list is Britney Spears, because although her album is a lot of fun, I doubt she knows it's even out. Shattered Glass from Circus is pure pop music genius however.

Come 2009, I'll be anticipating new Lily Allen, No Doubt, Ciara, Metric and Mark Ronson...

Lady Gaga- The Fame
Duffy- Rockferry
Santogold- Santogold
Adele- 19
Leona Lewis- Spirit
Madonna- Hard Candy
Pink- Funhouse
Solange- Sol-Angel & The Headly Street Dreams
Kanye West- 808s & Heartaches
The Ting Tings- We Started Nothing
Danity Kane- Welsome to the Dollhouse

OMFG

So now that exams are done and submissions are submitted, I can finally get into the Christmas spirit. Rather than my two front teeth, I want this sweater worn by one the Gossip guys, Penn Bagdley, at a recent Ray-Ban event. Speaking of Ray-Ban, I also want a good pair of gold-framed aviators and black on black or tortoise shell Wayfarers...



Source: www.justjared.com
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Rightfully so

So as the year comes to a close, I realize that my favourite video this year isn't by the newest or sceneiest. It's by Beyonce a.k.a. Sasha Fierce.

Single Ladies (put a ring on it) has not only inspired many great spoof videos, but it's actually a really great dance and video. Hell, I even do the karate chop dance in my car.

Beyonce is crazy and so am I. It's a good combo.

Ziggy Stardust

Channelling Mr. Bowie, Kate Moss on the cover of Vogue (I want to say New Zealand). Anyway, I'm a big fan of androgyny.

Rihanna Lagerfeld

People have said Mr. T, I say Karl Lagerfeld.



www.justjared.com

More Madge

So she panders clothing. Big deal. Prada two years ago, H&M last. Here she is for the upcoming s/s 09 collection for Louis Vuitton.

Posh Nosh

I kinda really love this shot. I'd post the rest of the shoot but it's all really vanilla. Too bad. For Harpers Bazaar Jan 09.


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Go

Melissa and Claudia are some of the coolest girls I know. Whatever they touch is golden. Make sure you go to this event (From Dec 4 - 21) or else they will find you and cut you.

Plus, what else do you have going on for the second and third week of Decemeber? NOTHING.

I watched Britney Spears' 90-minute informerical

...and all I really enjoyed was Madonna. But I'm biased. In other news, Britney Spears is sad on the inside, mildly mental and needs the wig keeper to lock her busted up weaves in the wig crypt forever.

Madge's "You are your environment," is a pretty great quote. Especially in retrospect (for me, not Britney).

In case you missed it, here is the condensed version:

Britney Spears - Lucky
I don't even think I write in so many cliches when I leave post-it notes at work.
F.U.S.S.

R U the 1?

ME: Cold and particular wanting warmth and luxury. Price is not an issue. Will make out calls. Baggage in the way of a lost McQueen find must be tolerated.

YOU: Wool blend Fair Isle sweater cardigan with either toggles, buttons, zipper or ties or a combination of at least two, at most three of these closures. Preferably in gray, black and white. Tan, brown and olive may also apply. Length does not matter, flattery is a must. Pilling is a turn off and dry clean only is a must.

All applicants must be available before Christmas.

ND

Besides The Killers and The Spice Girls (don't judge me!), No Doubt is my favourite band of all time (since 1995 anyway). This new picture has me really excited.

Model Behaviour: Street Style

Ai Tominaga - Daiane Conterato - Daul Kim (is kicking asses, taking names)

Gaby Odiele - Hye Park (the shoes! the shoes!) - Irina Lazareanu

Scary Stam - Karman Pedaru - Lily Donaldson

Maryna Linchuk - Shannon Click (amazing) - Shield Marquez

Skye Stracke

1. JACKETS, JACKETS, JACKETS! Do yourself a favor and go out and get an over-sized blazer and one black/gray motorcycle jacket...I want a motorcycle jacket REAL bad. I passed up on one I almost bought- except it was wool and not ~leatha~.

2. Asymmetry is the new symmetry. Think Comme des Garcons.

3. Black and gray denim is your friend. Trust.

Divorce does the body good

Madonna steps out for the first time since announcing her plans of divorce at a Gucci sponsored Unicef event. Wearing a Louis Vuitton dress made of feathers, Madonna looked the best she has in months. Green with envy Mr. Ritchie?

Obama Fever

Seems like everyone has Obama fever and now it's being translated into the world of fashion and entertainment. Can you imagine wearing McCain's face on a t-shirt dress? Dread the thought.

From the Spring 2009 line for Jean Charles De Castelbajac





And here is Madonna sporting the same t-shirt I blogged about a while ago.
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You should listen to this

Proposition 8 in the state of California calls for the re-banning of gay marriage. On election day, while many were making change by electing Barack Obama, 52% of Californians decided that gay people should no longer be allowed to marry. So where does this leave the 18'000 couples whom have wed since gay marriage was allowed in California? Are their marriages in null and void? So far, all is silent on the retro-activity of this now-passed proposition. Below is a video of MSNBC's Keith Olbermann discussing Prop 8. I highly urge you to watch it and send it to as many people as you think will appreciate/be changed by it. Especially provocative is Olbermann's argument concerning this entire notion of 'redefining marriage,' you need to see it.

Yes, you did.

It is 11:51PM and I should be doing my work for WRI330, but instead I sit on my laptop and in front of the TV watching history unfold. The best candidate won, the brightest candidate won. After two years of constant campaigning, and decades upon centuries of oppression and systemic suppression of minorities, Barack Hussein Obama II is the president of the United States of America. He is the 44th president and oh yeah, he's a Black man. Never did I think I would be witness to equality personified in such a way. After many months of a McCain/Palin campaign filled with hateful slurs, schemes and bewildering ignorance, Obama has shone as a beacon of integrity, elegance, dignity and eloquence.

It is now 11:57PM and the next first family of the United States has just taken stage. I watch his speech while holding back tears. Autumn just got a little greener. Change is here. Yes you can and yes...you did.

Make it work

Daveigh Chase wore this shirt at an event last week and I could've swore that I had seen it somewhere. A couple of minutes later I made the connection realizing I almost bought the same shirt from Urban Outfitters. A $44.00 men's shirt for kinda-red carpet event? Make it work!

Stunning

...photoshopped back to pre-Maddox days, but stunning nonetheless. December 2008 issue of British Harper's Bazaar.

Models with a message

Henry Holland's House of Holland is not quite high fashion, but can claim similar stake as the Betsey Johnson's and Jeremey Scott's of the fashion world (except he's British). Here is his line of tees from his S/S 2009 collection. Fun and kitsch and apologetically scene, Henry Holland is a fav of model du jour, Agyness Deyn.

You might have squint to see what some of these say. My personal fav? "WHAM BAM, THANK YOU STAM!"