Grace under V

Grace Jones excites and scares me all at once. I remember being fascinated by her as a child- explains a lot. Her, Bowie and Prince always stuck out to me for their stage personas and costumes. Later, the appreciation for commanding a stage drew me to Madonna and Micheal (and Janet!) Jackson.

Here she is on the cover of V Magazine being her usual scary, sexy self.

Liquid Leggings

Nicole Scherzinger, lead feline for The Pussycat Dolls, walks the streets of London wearing a kick-ass biker jacket and liquid leggings. The rest of PCD, her doppelgangers, are nowhere to be seen.

Although many girls shouldn't attempt liquid leggings (you know who you are), I can appreciate anything with an 80s vibe.

Channel HBIC (Head Bitch In Charge) Cher circa Turn Back Time and invest in a cropped and fitted motorcycle jacket. Pair it with a dress for cool irony or rock it like a biker chick.

So readers- what are your thoughts on liquid leggings? Y/N?




pics courtesy of FadedYouth (who probably stole them from somewhere else).

Posh for Armani

Following her hubby, Golden Balls, Vicky B. has decided to bare almost all for an Armani knicker advert.

Adobe Photoshop also deserves an award for making Posh look almost human, a human painting anyway. These images look almost painted- intentional?

Triple Word Score?

I love a good game of Scrabble. Someone who knows me quite well not only got me Scrabble, but The Diamond Edition nonetheless. It was love at first seven letters.

Here's Amy Winehouse playing a wicked game with a reporter of The Sun. The stories coming out of her vacation are hilarious. They range from Amy begging for drinks, a shag or drugs. Hobbling around the floor and accosting other vacationers for their drinks- I wish I could be a fly on a wall.

What I'm watching now...

This ad gives me the creeps. The dad is giving me bedroom eyes and looks of love I do not want. The kid is cute though. I feel as though I should call the authorities and install NetNanny on the kid's computer. Weird.


I think this song is just disgustingly sweet and catchy. Korean pop music is actually pretty good. I guess the ladies of Girls' Generation are the equivalent to The Pussycat Dolls (they do, after all, have 9 (NINE!) members).

Poetry in Motion

Anastasia Valeryevna Liukin or Nastia Liukin if you're nasty, garnered world-wide acclaim when she and American tart, Shawn Johnson, competed at the Beijing Olympics for performing on the balance beams and other trickery.

Here she is, at the age of 19 in a series of adverts for Max Azria. I think these shots are pretty amazing and full of motion.

You can talk about me, because I'm a hot topic

Fierce.

I want to know if Larry King listens to Pussycat Dolls while sipping on a chai latte, reading Skinny Bitch and wearing his juicy sweats.

When I grow up, I want to be like Larry King, minus the hunch.

Golden Globes 2009

So another award season is in the midst, and here are my favourites from tonight's show. Before I get into it, I noticed a lot of neutrals such as taupes, beiges, tans and dull metallics like warm silvers. If people ventured into colour, it was cobalt blue or in Cameron Diaz' case, a bright pinkish-coral (a big trend I predict this s/s 09). As always, black is always the safest but this year was all about detail, accentuating curves by cinching or draping and there was a lot of tiering. As for jewellery? Everyone used Turquoise (the stone or colour) for 'pop' against neutrals. Transferable to us mortals come Spring? I think so.

So who is my pick for best dressed? Well, I would have to make it a tie. And like night and day, these two choices couldn't be any different.

Evan Rachel Wood wearing in Elie Saab. This gown oozes sophistication and luxury. I love the detailing and was a definite show stopper while remaining subtle.

And then there was J.Lo...looking like...J.Lo for the first time in years. Smoulder much? This gold Marchesa gown touches on the now-infamous Versace dress she wore to the Grammy Awards years ago.





The riskiest dress of the evening belonged to Maggie Gyllenhaal who worse this modified 80's Power-Bitch ensemble from Lanvin's 2009 resort line. It reminded me of Dynasty for all the right reasons. An unconventional leading-lady and actress, it takes someone with a quirky, eccentric take on fashion to pull this off and I think she nailed it.


Otherwise, shoulders were left pretty bare.

Eva Mendes wearing a very origami/architectural inspired dress which really resonated with me upon first glance.


Beyonce is always hit or miss for me, and here, I think that the bead work and detail really accentuates her famous curves. Once again, it's Elie Saab.

Drew Barrymore did it up her way too- in custom made (by Mr. Galliano himself) Dior. This grey design, along with the retro-tousled do and crimson clutch, stood out amongst a sea of 'safe.'



And the gents...?


Zachary Quinto wins for my vote for best dressed man of the evening.

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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