Wednesday 5 October 2011

The busiest bee of all

Once upon a time I was able to keep a blog, that was nice for me.
After working over the summer back in Yorkshire I've moved into an adorable flat in North London. I've done loads of good stuff in the summer but nothing of any interest to anyone but me, except this illustration I did for a friend which I think is really cute, the water colours haven't scanned very well though.




Sunday 29 May 2011

Fighting crime, trying to save the world!

As a general rule I do not like superhero movies. Maybe it's because as a kid I read the comics so much and the film adaptations ruin them for me or perhaps it's because a lot of the light hearted humor often used in comics is taken out and replaced with grumpy men who, although very attractive in the flash (or so I imagine) look like pricks in their costumes. 
However, superhero films with female characters in you say? I'm there! I don't know a woman alive who wouldn't kill to look like Halle Berry playing cat woman or a man that wouldn't fancy his chances with her for that matter! 
My first memory of female characters in such costume is tied between Julie Newmar's cutesy get up as Catwoman in Batman and Uma Thurman's role as a blasé Poison Ivy. 
I personally think a woman kicking a man arse is the perfect female role model, although the pvc and leather can probably hold off for a few years.





Also, complete hair envy whenever I see poison ivy.









Oh, and OBVIOUSLY you can't ever forget....



 

Wednesday 25 May 2011

ARGH! Real Munsters

When I started university my only initial way to survive the work load and deal with the fact I had to become a proper adult and my mum didn't live 15 minutes away anymore was was to resort back to my childhood in the form of books, films and television. I'm not ashamed to admit I have seen every single episode of Sabrina the teenage witch and Saved by the bell (next stop Buffy) along with clueless, she's all that, jawbreaker and any other 90's film you want to throw my way.
Recently I've become obsessed with The Munsters! I don't know how popular it was with outside my household, we didn't have cable when I was little so programmes like The Munsters, Bewitched and I dream of Geenie kind of replaced cartoons. ANYWAY yeah, if you haven't seen The Munsters you should really give it a watch (there's episodes on youtube) its so funny and aesthetically pleasing, especially Mrs Munster and the family house.






I know this is the slighty newer version so for anyone who watched the older ones:




Saturday 7 May 2011

Yiunam Leung

Although I like to whinge about university there's no denying it can be a very inspiring place to be as an art student, being surrounded by talented photographers, illustrators, fine artists, fashion designers and so forth gets your brain cogs moving.
It also means you can assist each other in your area of expertise, after my fashion show yiunam leung drew up an illustration of my outfit and it's so lovely, it's got its own little spot on my desk!


Tuesday 3 May 2011

Volupté

Never ever in my student lifetime will I ever be able to afford to visit Volupté but I often like go on the website and pretend I have loads of money and can afford to go.
Volupté  embraces all things vintage and beautiful, it describes itself as 'the most decadent little supper club in town, with burlesque shows, great food and cocktails' and it's hard to argue, with DJ set's, a restaurant with a very sophisticated menu, tea parties, cabaret, burlesque performances, live bands and most importantly an extensive cocktail menu, all oozing glamour with a pinch of mischief.
The website does a lot better job of selling itself than I do.




Pictures from the Volupte gallery

Calling all London based Vintage Fanatics!

Vintage fashion has had a big chunk of my heart ever since I was 13 and bought my first Vintage dress - a Victorian night gown. I never wore it out because one of the meanest girls in school (whom, may I point out left much to be desired in the wardrobe department) told me I looked like a grandma, which is something I'm used to hearing now but was not ready to accept at the beginning of my teenage years. 

It could also stem from years of hand me downs, there was nothing more exciting than receiving a bag of new clothes the cool girls down the road had outgrown, although the majority of it was tat and involved bullying my little brother into wearing it resulting in his overtly macho self in present day.

I love the way Vintage has evolved in recent years, mixed with newer or self made pieces these old garments get a breath of new life BUT for me there's always something more wonderful about a girl throwing on a 50's dress with the perfect pin curls and scarlet lips as if she just stepped out from the era itself. 
On the 29th to the 31st of July Vintage will take over London's Southbank in the form of 'Vintage by Hemmingway', a festival arranged by Wayne and Gerardine Hemingway celebrating everything from the 1920's through to the 1980's in the forms of film, fashion, music and culture. Last year brought gigs that catered for all sorts of musical tastes, from soul to disco, a sock hop, best in show, vintage art and my personal favourite, a roller disco!
for more information and tickets click here!


Here's a taster from last year!




Ingrid will make a wonderful wife

I've lived with Ingrid now for nearly 9 months, she's literally insane and always has a story to tell. Strong willed, intelligent, beautiful and multi skilled, from modelling to arranging charity gigs and tea parties to baking to preparing picnics for rendezvous, to me she is the perfect woman. Don't let it fool you, she belches like nothing you have ever heard before! 

(picture from http://londelhifashion.wordpress.com/2011/03/24/as-new-as-vintage-oxymoron/)

Name:Ingrid Aukrust Rones

Occupation:Student

Dream occupation:Muse

What first drew you towards the pin up style?The red lips and the models' confidence in their lovely, healthy bodies.

What's you favourite era for dress?

I love the doll-like beauty of the Roaring Twenties, the elegance and simplicity of the 60s and the 1950s figure.

Who are you style icons?

Grace Kelly - Because she always looked graceful, and because her style was consistent without being boring or old-fashioned.

Joan Harris (neé Holloway) - Yes, this is a fictional character from Mad Men. She's so confident and sexy, but at the same time sensitive. She's ambitious and professional, and dresses extremely well according to her gorgeous body.

Then there's Angelina Jolie's character Elise in the new film 'the tourist', dressed by Colleen Atwood. And, of course, the casual, laid-back elegance of Humphrey Bogart.

what's your perfect day out?

When I have the time to spend embarrassingly long doing my make-up, then walk around London watching all the inspiring people and discover new places and cafés.

And your perfect day in?Alone in bed with great films and food easily accessible from the bed.

Do you have a party trick?

I accept all challenges.

If you were a burlesque dancer what would your name be?

Miss Scarlet

Favourite film?

I just saw the King's Speech, and fell in love.

Favourite band/artist?

I have many, but if there is one record everyone should hear it's a recording of Vivaldi's Gloria with Nidarosdomens Pikekor (it's on Spotify).

Favourite place?

I have so many!

Favourite person?

I'm a tiny bit in love with Obama.

If you could bring back three people from the dead for a tea party who would they be and why?

I'd like to hear how Oscar Wilde talks, listen to J.S. Bach play and become John Holmes' widow.

Hot or cold?

Cold, you can always put on more clothes.

Sweet or savoury?

Savory, a perfect dinner is always better than sweets.

Boys or girls?

Can't live with or without boys, but I have huge respect for women and our unity and strength.

Summer or winter?

Summer as season, but winter for the Olympics!

Heels or flats?

Heels

What would you take to a desert island?

Company

What's the best advice you ever received?

My mother once advised me to never stop dreaming.

And finally, tell us a secret about yourself?

I wish I could save the world.


Betty Paige, Babylon, Burlesque

With all my university projects handed in I've finally got time to catch up with all my favourite fashion publications on and offline. The one below, entitiled 'Hackney Road Babylon' made me choke on my cuppa, it ties in perfectly with all the burlesque and pin up styles I've been looking at for my university project! The combination of beautiful garments, edgy, unique looking models and a gritty, urban environment is what always makes the Vice photo shoots so interesting, I particularly like this one because it reminds me of Betty Paige!





Speaking of Betty Paige, if you you have never seen 'the Notorious Betty Paige' then you should be ashamed of yourself!

Sunday 17 April 2011

Trust me, trust yourself, there's nothing wrong with the weird.

Have you seen Evelyn The cutest evil dead girl? Creepy, grim, adorable, hilarious. I found this short film on youtube recently and I can't stop watching it, Think Emily the Strange but in motion. Not only am I completely in love with Evelyn and her ...kooky characteristics but it's so aesthetically pleasing! The set, make up and costumes remind me of Burtons work, especially the 'live' village which is reminiscent of the sickly happy town in Edward Scissorhands as well as vibes of The nightmare before Christmas coming through in Evelyn's world. Oh, and the cardboard aspect reminds me of Play Days (90's British kids TV programme to those who missed out)!

Most importantly (for me anyway) are the costumes, those dresses are so adorable, the gruesome trio's remind me of the mini shift dresses sold to the masses in the 60's and Evelyn's reminds me of a patchwork version of Wednesday Addams. I'm going to have to make myself one.

Tuesday 5 April 2011

Eat my shorts

Saturday, March 24,1984. Shermer High School, Shermer, Illinois, 60062. Dear Mr. Vernon, We accept the fact that we had to sacrifice a whole Saturday in detention for whatever it was we did wrong. What we did was wrong. But we think you're crazy to make us write an essay telling you who we think we are. What do you care? You see us as you want to see us - in the simplest terms, in the most convenient definitions. You see us as a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess and a criminal. Correct? That's the way we saw each other at 7:00 this morning. We were brainwashed.








 

Ah man, I love The Breakfast Club so much. I'm completely infactuated with John Bender for the whole film, anyone else?

Spring project 2011

This year I feel like I've learned so much at University, since before I got there I couldn't pattern cut and my sewing skills were a bit of a joke. Here is my outfit for the first year show, all pattern cut and sewn by myself.


(please ignore how much the back of the dress needs pressing after sitting in a garment bag for 12 hours, it makes me grimace)

The show itself was also absolutely amazing, I'll put some pictures up of that very soon!

Tuesday 29 March 2011

Pin up obsessed

When you spend too long googling pin ups (waaaay too much mad men this week guys, one step away from chain smoking and an up do) you end up reading lots and lots. Which results into me writing lots and lots. I've recently been looking at high end fashion and how pin up has influenced it, suprisingly I didn't find as much as I expected to, what with modern day pin ups growing ever more popular. Here are some I did find, dating all the way back to 2009 which is basically dead in fashion terms.

Luella 
The last ever collection from Luella (sob) was pin up chick at its most adorable. Pastel colours such as pale lemon and a sugary pink that wouldn’t go amiss on your Nan and cutesy bows and peter pan collars with large buttons make the whole affair as sweet as hell. Top knots adorned with big plastic bows decorated the models hair and clashing shoes prevented some looks appearing a little grown up. 

I remember when I first saw this collection a couple of years ago, I lusted over the cut out heart dresses in particular and was brought to tears when she went bankrupt a few weeks later (moreso when Primark and Peacocks began to do tacky copies of the cut out heart dresses, shameful guys, shameful!) 

For me, everything about this collection shouts candy coated pin up. Firstly the print, ditzy florals and polka dots, reminiscent of the 50’s these prints wouldn’t look at all out of place on a full body circle skirt and the polka dot reminds me of a red and white print (similar to what I found on brick lane in an earlier post) that you can easily visualise on the bikini of a cheeky cheesecake pin up.  Secondly, hips exaggerated with padding (anyone else think of diors new look?) and nipped in waists create the ideal hourglass figure on even the most petite models. Thirdly, both the neckline and heart cut out reveals just enough cleavage (not so much here though, bloody models) to be subtly sexy, the important thing about pin up is that it isn’t in your face smutty, it’s very much about being subtle. FINALLY the bows, big buttons, peter pan collars, plastic accessories keep this look really cute and stop it from being too dressed up and serious, if this look was edible it would rot your teeth.

Whenever I envision someone wearing this collection I always think of a really innocent looking, clumsy girl, flashing a little too much of her stockings, walking her candy cane poodle.




Miu Miu

Is there anybody who didn’t love the S/S2010 collection from Miu Miu? How could you not! The print was absolutely divine, the collars were adorable and it all felt so fresh and new, it does even now with versions still trickling down the highstreet, from River Island to H&M to Zara although nothing could compete with the real thing. 

In my eyes, this whole collection reflects a much more modern pin up, especially the trouser and top combinations which aren’t as obviously pin up as the dresses. Prints of nudes lazily sprawl on collars  and dresses mixed in amongst cats and dogs and delicate beading. The fishtail plait and Mary Jane style shoes keep this look young. I’m really surprised I like this look because I usually prefer much more minimal clean cut styles but the prints and embellishments that adorn this collection work so well, it clashes without becoming overkill.
The silhouette of this collection works wonderfully well, nipping in at the waist and following the contours of the body without being too fitted. The dare to bare dresses and embroided chiffon make this Lolita-esque look a little naughtier and flash flesh in a tasteful way, as any respectable pin up knows it’s not revealing skin in the form of an overspilling cleavage, it’s about being more subtle and creative about the way you show off your skin. The trouser suits allow a more grown up pin up style, with keeping literally all skin covered whilst still looking sexy.









ALSO, let’s not forget the shoes (as if you could) they are seriously the most beautiful things I have seen in shoe land for such a long time, they give me shenvy, shorgasms, I shove them (shoe-love..doesn’t really work as well but you get the idea.)

 Vena Cava

 
Vena Cava’s Resort 2011 collection offers a diverse range of garments in colours ranging from light greys and white tones to vibrant violets and corals to deep navy and black. Despite having such a wide range of garments with jumpsuits, skirts, dresses, crop tops, vests, jackets, waistcoats and more included in the line up, the collection works well and with repetition of patterns and details the whole lot comes together well. 

The collection was inspired by a trip to Death Valley, a desert valley in East California and a 1970’s film that was, in parts, shot there entitled Zabriskie Point which takes a look at life in 1960’s America, I rate this film even though I haven’t seen it because one of the main characters is called Daria and I love the TV show Daria so much (though I doubt they are connected). Layers of Fabric and uneven hemlines along with shades of orange and beige echo the landscape of Death Valley and the whole collection is so summery, with hats and sunglasses and sandals adorning models and flirty hemlines each look is perfect for the desert sunshine, when combined with a stylish factor 60 sun cream.

Fitted mini dresses and tops teamed with short shorts give this collection a really youthful pin up feel, subtly attracting attention to the natural curves of the female figure without being smutty yet showing off enough leg to be a little more than cheeky. The whole look is what I can only seem to describe as cool, it’s eye catching for all the right reasons, the patterns are very modern and the colours work with each other so well.  My favourite pieces are the black jumpsuit with adorable dungaree style clips injecting another bout of youth to the collection aaaand the sleeveless blouse and shorts combo, which to me feel’s very pin up indeed!