Magnificent Redhead

Isn't there something about the best of the redheads that makes them so glorious, ethereal and mesmirizing? It gave me something of a jolt when I realized that Ms Elson is a year younger and already a supermodel, rockstar wife, vintage boutique owner, mother of 2 kids and now, a recording artiste who actually (gasps) can sing and play...well.

Guess I can always, erm, pick up a musical instrument in a lame bid to catch up.

Beautiful single here.

(Top photo from LuLu, next 2 from Style.com and last pic from American Vogue)

Beautiful Girl

You know how certain nationalities have a certain look which is instantly recognizable. Hence some people often gets the "Are you Japanese/Korean/Scandinavian etc" queries?

Well french style is of course much admired and emulated but the attitude (as with flair) falls strictly in the category of either you have it or you don't.

Diane Birch could easily pass off as long lost daughter of Jane Birkin and hence half sister to Lou Dillon and Charlotte Gainsborg. But she's actually American, a great singer with a (seemingly) wonderful wardrobe to boot. Extremely quirky and chirpy video, check it out here.

Smoking Guns

Be a character in a Raymond Chandler novel, hanging out with Philip Marlow
International woman of mystery
Be a spy and solve mysteries, in the perfect trench with nary a hair out of place
Soft waves berry lips
Silk dresses sharp heels
Give me my own gun...actually just the Dior python detective briefcase with attached gun and holster will do, thanks!

(Dietrich, Bacall, Inimitable Gong Li in 2046, Charlotte Rampling in adaptation of Farewell, my Lovely, 17 years old (!) Karlie Kloss in Dior s/s 10 campaign, dream bag swoon)

Pink ballet shoes

It's always interesting to read about the creative process and what inspires designers and artists because what they do is so visual and (relatively speaking) immediate that scrutinizing the synergy between inspiration and end product is to my geeky nature at least, so much fun.

Dossier interviewed Rachel Antonoff recently and it's one of those interviews which really shouts out to me and had me furiously nodding my head (virtually of course) in response to the answers given. The notion of fashion as costume and playing dress up may be nothing new, but that sense of wonder and whimsy really does seem to come through her designs in general. I used to really love Mooka Kinney and it was definitely boo when they shuttered the brand. But as they say, you can't keep good talent down. The s/s 10 collection for her eponymous brand is lovely as it is. But knowing that she was inspired by ballet, and specifically ballet through a child's eye and all "the things that people love when they are five through nine", one can certainly see the inspirations infused in the pastels, short pouf skirts, the touches of peter pan collars and pockets on pants which were all part of a child's wardrobe growing up in the enid blyton era.


And it's almost scary that just as I have been recently inspired by the entire film noir theme in fashion and thinking about how to incorporate elements into daily wardrobe (that's subject of next post!), Antonoff spoke of how private detective theme is the inspiration for her next collection and spies and trench coats. Oh gosh, inspiration telepathy! Or great minds think alike! Or maybe we all spend too much time reading the same things. Hmm. On that note though, the only part of the interview which did not shout out to me was when she spoke about The Lovely Bones and how "If you read it without crying you might want to go to the doctor". Erm, I didn't cry, thought it was cliché in parts and frankly was bored to bits while reading the book. Lack of empathy?

(See more of collection at Rachel Antonoff)

It's all in the attitude darlings!

And who says you have to stride in pants and flats, how unoriginal!

(Via Jak & Jil)

Lovely Liv

To be anyone's muse connotes that one must have a certain quality; be it a look, a style, an eye. To be crowned as Ingmar Bergman's muse is a heavy title to wear. But how gracefully Liv Ullmann seems to play that role.

While together, Liv and Ingmar lived together with their daughter on the Swedish island of Faro where in a tiny little house Ingmar conceived and filmed many of his masterpieces. Apparently Ingmar had this habit of scribbling all over the furniture and walls his reminders and numbers. And on his workroom door, Liv and him would make daily drawings about their feelings for each other. When Liv left Ingmar finally, she drew a heart and wrote the words, "Liv leaves". And despite subsequent marriages on both sides, Ingmar kept that door and its markings till the day he died and even took pains to freshen it so that the elements would not bleach and fade it down.

When the stuff of movies and real lives collide.

But if you too had lived and loved beautiful lovely Liv with those eyes, maybe you'll never let that door fade too.

(Liv in Scenes from a Marriage, must find round geeky specs!)

(Liv today, photo from W Magazine)

And for all you lucky new yorkers, Liv is now directing Cate Blanchett in a production of A Streetcar Named Desire. Ah, Blanche DuBois. One of the best roles ever written for actresses past 30. Being staged by 2 thespians whose writeups invariably include the words, grace and strength. Run, don't walk. Meantime, I'll just sulk here in my corner. More on that here.