"Then you shoulda put a ring on it"

I like this. Quite a lot.

Just Being Audrey

Just Being Audrey is a beautiful picture book biography written by Margaret Cardillo and illustrated by Julia Denos. I have read it several times since yesterday, and it has yet to get old. It tells Audrey Hepburn's story with charming prose, and the most exquisite artwork. Seriously, I am addicted to the spreads in this book, and feel so happy I learned about Julia's work via Emma's blog yesterday.

When I observe the children's/young adult literature characters and pop stars I personally do not believe make positive role models, I love knowing this book exists. In a small space, the book promotes being oneself, and being kind to others. This means more than trying to gain popularity, or a boyfriend, or whatever young girls and women constantly struggle with. Even as an adult, I constantly remind myself of this, no matter how "painful" it seems to let go of those who pressure me, or do not appreciate who I am. It is a lovely message connected with one of the most fashionable icons ever.

Anyway, enough of my spew! I am so addicted to Julia's art, I sought out her blog and website. Also, the book's trailer contains more Audrey artwork! So. Utterly. Fabulous.

Fiddle-dee-dee!

Here is another fabulous question asked via Formspring:

What do you use to inspire an outfit? You come up with such great looks!

Everything and anything. Literally. I am visual person, and gain inspiration from sources such as: art books/museums, magazines, coffee table books, history books, blogs, people I see on the street, and even the imagery I create in my head while reading. I love fashion from all eras, including the present, so if I see a garment or look I think I could work, I give it a shot. 

However, for the sake of specificity, I gain probably the most inspiration from movies, particularly the older movies regular readers know I love. I think I become most inspired this way because when I watch a movie, I not only see an image of a garment, but also its movements and interactions with an environment. Not that an image cannot provide these. Movement just makes them richer. I most likely sound like the biggest nerd writing I love observing the movement of clothes, but it's true. I find few objects more charming than a skirt that gracefully rustles and sways. Also, I feel an emotional investment in garments inspired by movies because I often admire or care about the character who wears them. 

For instance, I found this hat in my parents' closet, and claimed it because it reminded me of Scarlett O'Hara's barbecue outfit in Gone With the Wind. I do not think Scarlett is a likeable character, but she possesses some endearing qualities. Not to mention, she wears "Civil War couture" throughout the movie. Despite the grim time period, I consider this wardrobe one of the most romantic I have ever seen. 

via

Furthermore, I think this hat also hearkens the Enchanted April ladies. Enchanted April follows four women in 1920s London who abandon their lives for a month-long vacation at an Italian castle. While there, they wear shift dresses and wide-brimmed straw hats galore. It is a lovely movie, but I still consider Scarlett my reason for adopting this hat. 

I only mention Enchanted April because looking timeless also remains an inspiration for me. I love the idea of looking fashionable for more than just a moment, or a trend's length. Even though I admire both vintage and contemporary fashion, my personal style is more about conveying myself than capturing a specific era or trend. Therefore, I try not to look too 1920s, or 1960s, or 2011, and I look for pieces that prove chic over time.

Feel free to ask my more fabulous questions on Formspring!

Marlon on a Wednesday: "If I were a bell ..."

The fabulous that Marlon and Jean Simmons create in Guys and Dolls. Enjoy!

"Now I'm smooth and snappy"

Here is another Formspring question, this time from Shybiker's Ally!


In the movie "Zelig," Woody Allen inserted himself into past events. If you could do that in real-life, what old movie or historical event would you want to be inserted into?


Great question (and movie recommendation :-))! The first classic film I really fell in love with was the 1962 musical, Gypsy. It stars Natalie Wood as the famous stripper and burlesque performer, Gypsy Rose Lee, with Rosalind Russell as her mother, Rose, and Karl Malden as Rose's boyfriend, Herbie. The musical actually chronicles Gypsy's life before she became famous, and her relationship with her mother. Her mother, "Mama Rose," pushes Gypsy (then known as "Louise") and her younger sister into show business by creating a ridiculous vaudeville act. The film mostly centers on this, runs at about two and a half hours, and does not introduce the burlesque until the last thirty minutes or so. 


I first saw Gypsy when I was 11 or 12, and it stuck with me. I developed an obsession as I learned the songs, and pined for Gypsy's sophistication and glamour. Therefore, of all the classic films I have seen, I would most like to be in Gypsy. First, its time period and genre make it ideal. Since it is a musical, I could express myself by singing and dancing with a 1920s and 1930s theater backdrop. Tulsa, another character who performs in Mama Rose's act, does this. One of my favorite numbers from Gypsy is Tulsa's "All I Need is the Girl." He comes off as so charming, and dances impressive choreography. I could not find the 1962 version on YouTube, but I did find 1993 film version. I have not seen this version, but the scene remains pretty much the same, except with different actors.





Second, as I mentioned before, Natalie Wood's portrayal of Gypsy has always inspired me. I would love to be in this movie and perform a striptease like this number. It looks fun and empowering, though I would probably never do anything similar in real life. This (which is from the 1962 version) is one of my favorite parts of any movie.





Feel free to keep asking me such awesome questions!

~F.

Dance

These photos are not that pretty, but I had to share the great harem pants I bought months ago. They may or may not be hideous ... I am so into them I do not know or care. Also, I could not decide on shoes, so I decided to go barefoot, and use some of my past dance training. Ha. 

Also, I posted this on my Twitter, but due to lack of content inspiration, I decided to set up a Formspring. So far I have been asked a grand total of ONE question ;-) Here we go:

If one life just bled into another going from past life to current life, who do you think you were in your past life?

Hard question! This may sound arrogant, but I like to think I have a special connection with the actor, Natalie Wood. I read one of her biographies a couple years ago, and felt I related to some aspects of her personality and experiences. Also, when I watch her films, I root for her characters more than any other actors'. I just want everything to turn out for them. So, basically, I may have been her in my past life, in my opinion. Or not!

~F. 

Dancing in the 1920s: Charleston

Gotta love the Charleston. I actually learned how to do it at one point, not nearly as well as the people in this clip, but well enough! Here are some flappers and gents dancing the Charleston and others.



~F.