April 2011

Weekend Reads #19

April 29, 2011 · 15 comments

in Features

It’s been a while, hasn’t it, since I’ve done one of these posts? I’m sorry for that, but if you follow me on Twitter and Facebook you’ll know I try to share some of my favorite posts throughout the week when I’m taking part in FBFF on Fridays. This week, though, I was feeling nostalgic. And more than anything I was feeling the bloglove; there were so many great posts this last week and so many feel-good moments. I’m blessed to have all these inspiring people in my life!

 



Little Girl, Big World – Spotlight On: Cotton

Ashleigh wrote a perfectly genius piece on the fabric of our lives as part of a new weekly series in which she’ll be spotlighting different fabrics, textiles, methods and treatments. I love the idea of learning more about fashion as a substance, all the things that go into making clothes what they are whether it be a material or a process. In the case of cotton, it’s quite fascinating. It was fantastic to be educated on a material that pops up so often in the lives of most of us fashionistas.

 



Viv and Larry – Ten Reasons Why Gone with the Wind is Still Awesome

It’s no secret I’m a huge fan of vivandlarry.com; Kendra, as you all experienced last week, is a fantastic writer and when it comes to classic film, Vivien Leigh, Laurence Olivier and Gone with the Wind she’s the ultimate authority. This post is a perfect example of her understanding for all the elements that go into the making of a film; I learned a lot from her piece on what makes Gone with the Wind the epic it is.

 



Beautifully Invisible – Retail Therapy: A Few Tips for Saving

This spectacular bit of blogging brilliance is not for the faint-of-heart shopaholics. Consider yourself warned. In the way for which she’s become revered, B goes above and beyond to share her tips on smart and savvy shopping. She highlights some of her favorite ways to save money while shopping, including some of my own standbys, but she also introduced me to a whole lot more. Go check it out, but I’m telling you you’ll never want to leave. Except maybe to find your closest Runway at Maxx and begin the hunt for a pair of Louboutins at bargain prices. It’s okay, you can squeal. I’m doing it, too. Nobody judges over here.

 



Vote for Gracie – Classic Castaways

If you’re a classic film fan you have to read Meredith’s post on the not-so-fondly remembered gems (or are they pebbles?) from Hollywood’s golden age. And if you’re not a classic film fan I think you should still go check it out for her fantastically witty writing. When a lot of us think of vintage Hollywood it’s usually the same thing – Roman Holiday, The Wizard of Oz, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, those fabulous Technicolor MGM musicals – but Meredith exposed the underbelly of the era, the films with such greats as Gregory Peck, Bette Davis and David Niven who might just turn over in their graves at the memory of the final productions. And they all just rocketed to the top of my to-watch list.

 



The Loudmouth – April Inspiration: Anika of By Anika

Stephanie of The Loudmouth (who’s fabulous, by the way) featured the also-fabulous Anika of By Anika as her April inspiration; this is such a must-read, I can’t even begin to put into words how much I love it. Anika writes on her life, love and liberation through fashion blogging and beyond. I’m sure everyone who reads my blog knows how much I adore Anika and this post perfectly explains why. She’s genuine, with insurmountable kindness and she’s one of the few people in this world who makes quiet-as-a-mouse me bust out laughing. A favorite line: I don’t ski (I can if properly motivated, but there are so few shoe stores at the bottom of skiing slopes, you know?). Go read it and experience the amazing charm that is Anika!

 

I hope you all have a lovely weekend; and to my Janeites, our Northanger Abbey rewatch and Twitter party is happening in just a few hours! For anyone who doesn’t have access to the film you can catch it in parts on YouTube. Cheers!

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Hairspiration: High and Mighty

April 25, 2011 · 65 comments

in Arts, Beauty





A few weeks ago I saw Nigel Cole’s new film Made in Dagenham, an absolutely brilliant film that I’m sure I’ll be talking about more in the future (it will doubtless be one of my favorite things from April). It’s a retelling of the women who went on strike at the Ford car manufacturing plant in Dagenham in 1968 with the amazing Sally Hawkins as Rita O’Grady. It also stars Bob Hoskins, Miranda Richardson, Rupert Graves, Rosamund Pike and a slew of other spectacular actors. I feel kind of bad talking about the hairspiration when there was so much inspiration and motivation to be had throughout the film. In fact, it’s a perfect example of how flawed the US rating system is: Made in Dagenham boasts an R rating for continual swearing and one minor, entirely non-explicit sex scene while the message of the film is one that should be heard by all ages, especially young women today. Basically: get this movie as soon as you can. It’s a spectacular experience.

But as with most anything based in the 1960s there’s the undeniable presence of fashion and style. So while the story and the strength of these women captured my heart I couldn’t help but notice how fabulous they looked while making history. Andrea Riseborough was my favorite with her impossibly high hair, treacherously long nails, flawless make-up and effortless sex appeal. Her look was fantastic and it had me thinking back to when I used to do Mad Men-esque beehives; though I’ve never gone all Amy Winehouse like Andrea did in the film – not for lack of trying, mind! One really feels amazed at how hair is able to defy gravity like this. All the same, feeling spontaneous on Easter Sunday had me reaching for my teasing comb and – yes indeed – the can of hairspray. As if that’d be enough.



The result was nothing to rival the styles on Andrea’s Brenda in the film, but it was a revelation to know that my very thick, very heavy, hasn’t-been-trimmed-in-two-years hair still has the wherewithal to pull off even a moderate bit of height. I think I can say it’s been a successful adventure in high hairspiration.

*Made in Dagenham promotional images from Andrea Riseborough Online.

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Friend Friday: Inspiration

April 22, 2011 · 38 comments

in Community, Fashion, Lifestyle

In further celebration of Fashion Beauty Friend Friday’s first birthday we’re going back and answering the very first set of questions. I’m excited because, of course, I wasn’t around for this monumental inaugural set; I’m happy to have the opportunity to give my answers now. Let’s get to it!

1. Which celebrities do you look to for fashion inspiration?
Christina Hendricks – an obvious choice, I know – must be one of my go-to girls. I’m always inspired by the way she approaches fashion for her unique shape. It’s always interesting to see what flatters her, what she’s comfortable in and how she translates fashion for her figure. Also, I love Marion Cotillard for her adventurous style. I’ve seen her pair colors I wouldn’t even dream of putting together and it really works. She inspires me to think outside the box. Audrey Tautou; she has a way of taking the Audrey Hepburn look and giving it a fresh, modern spin. And Keira Knightley. Her style timeline seems to mirror mine in a lot of ways. We both went for the slightly grungy boho look with over-sized scarves and chunky knits, but then we matured into something classic with maybe a bit of Parisian flair. Keira was also a big inspiration for me at an early age, when my interest in fashion really came to the fore, so there’s a sentimental attachment there as well.


Christina Hendricks, Marion Cotillard, Audrey Tautou and Keira Knightley

2. When it comes to your own personal style, what inspires you?
I think in a way I’d have to say history inspires me. There are elements from different periods of fashion that seem to have a permanent home in my own personal style. I think about Galliano and how history played a big part in the inspiration for his collections; it seems like I see fashion in a similar way. I try to look forward and take a more contemporary approach sometimes just to mix things up, but I always come back to the past. There’s a certain refinement to it that really appeals to me.

3. How do you hope to inspire your readers?
I don’t tend to think of myself as someone who has the capacity to inspire so this isn’t really something I’ve given much thought to, honestly! I guess I just hope that I’ll encourage others to look inside and understand their own personal originality, and to embrace that. But in all reality, you all are the ones inspiring me. I’ve learned a lot from my fellow bloggers, including the art of owning one’s uniqueness. I’ve learned to be confident in my own style and that some fashion rules are just sitting there, waiting to be broken. What new things I’ve contributed to the pool of inspiration around me I’m not sure. Hopefully there’s something in there!


A recent gift from my mom that I thought needed to be shared.

4. Outside the realm of fashion who/what inspires you?
Another strikingly obvious answer considering that my blog’s name is a reference to one of her films: Audrey Hepburn. I’m putting her under this question and not the first because the Audrey I so admire is the woman behind the icon we all see. I love her style, but it really has nothing to do with her style. Whenever I think of her I see the children she helped in her efforts with UNICEF, her own sons Sean and Luca, the lovely Rob Wolders who she spent her last years with, her garden in Switzerland where she felt most at home, the many handsome costars she cared so much about; and I see Audrey herself with all her insecurities and presumed imperfections. She overcame a great deal after the war and the strength she found inspires me. Her passionate desire to help others inspires me, her love of animals, her sensitivity. She was an amazing person and part of the reasons I love her films so much is that it gives me the opportunity to see a bit of her in every character and to connect with her a bit.


Other women who inspire me in my daily life: Sophie Dahl, Donna Karan and Cynthia Rowley. Sophie of course played a big part in bringing curves back to fashion in the nineties; I admire the way she always embraced her size, whatever it was. And I love her writings, her personality and just her overall style. Donna Karan is an amazing woman who’s accomplished so much and stayed true to herself through it all. And I’m inspired by Cynthia Rowley’s what’s-life-without-risk attitude. She doesn’t seem to let obstacles get in the way of her dreams. And Oscar de la Renta is her neighbor; what’s not to be inspired by?

5. Which songs inspire you?
Oh, so much music. I listen to a lot of different things and so much of it means something to me. My favorite songs are George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” and Édith Piaf’s “La Vie en Rose”, but if I were to pick a song that truly inspires me I would say something by Sia, I think. She’s my favorite musical artist, so passionate and fascinating. She puts a lot of her emotions, fears and personal experiences into the writing of her music and I think it really affects the listener. I think the song that introduced me (and probably a lot of others) to her was “Breathe Me”, which was featured in the finale of Six Feet Under. It’s an amazing song and, I think, her greatest achievement. I can relate to her feelings when she wrote it and I think that’s partly why it means so much to me.


Sia – “Breathe Me” (Live at KCRW, 2007)


What about you: what are your inspirations? I’d love to know. I also hope everyone has a lovely holiday weekend. Happy Easter!

Fashion Beauty Friend Friday was created by Katy Rose of Modly Chic. Become a member at the Fashion Beauty Friend Friday Google Group to join in the discussion! For more info on how to join read V’s Friend Friday 101: How to Get Started on Grit and Glamour.

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