Blue Valentine

Unfortunately, I haven't been able to see this yet. But I can't wait to.

I like Ryan Gosling's little guitar and funny voice. Oh, and Michelle Williams' dancing.

I'm quite the fan of Michelle Williams. Though this admiration is only recent, and mainly on account of the beautiful outfits she's been rocking out in lately.

The sumptuous mix of Chloe, Chanel, Oscar de la Renta and Azzaro, she's regularly spotted in, teamed with that platinum elfin crop makes her look so effortlessly, not to mention enviously, chic. PLEASE someone....buy me her wardrobe!

(Images: found. Michelle Williams from top - Chanel, Vogue 2008, Chloe, Oscar de la Renta, Suno, Chanel, Chloe, Azzaro and Jason Wu)

Ballet is back

 

I've decided to take up ballet lessons. Well, hasn't everyone since seeing the a-mazingly beautiful Natalie Portman in the Oscar-winning Black Swan? 

Tutus, ribbons, barres and buns, I very much enjoyed my ballet lessons as a pre-teen. I attended all the competitions and even won 'performer of the year' at my local Born to Dance studio.

Pliéing (well, generally prancing) around the garden, I would showcase my latest moves to my bored yet patient parents. It was the baby pink shades and prettiness of ballet that I fell for. Feeling graceful and dressed, as I believed, like a princess, I couldn't wait for my weekly Friday classes.

But I soon reached that age when ballet wasn't 'cool' anymore. Pink became babyish and my definition of 'pretty' altered with age. I  began to dread Fridays, pushing my feet into those pumps and tying my hair up in those sickly ribbons - I couldn't wait to stop my ballet lessons.

Fast forward twenty years, with thanks to Hollywood and high fashion, my beliefs in ballet have now reversed. Pirouetting into Spring/Summer 2011, russian ballet-inspired designs are just...inescapable. David Koma, Chloé and Erdem present floating and flared silhouettes whilst Erin Fetherston and Marchesa provide neutral palettes filled with stone, powdery pink and flesh tones. Chiffon, lace, embroidery and embellishments are cascading the catwalk. 

It appears ballet is back!

So it seems my refound interest will be keeping me bang on-trend for this coming season. I should get practising my pose and points then, shouldn't I? I know my revival performance to my parents in the garden will be eagerly anticipated. 

(Images: found. Top: David Koma, Chloé, Erdem, Erin Fetherston, Marchesa and Marchesa. All S/S 2011) 

Adele: The Gentlewoman

So the Spring/Summer edition of The Gentlewoman has arrived. Behold Adele...

Cannot wait to grasp my mits on this.

I've always been a bit of an Adele fan. (I still adore 'Make you feel my love', even if X factor ridiculously overplayed it in 2010). But it wasn't until Adele's recent Brit performance when I realised how good she actually is.  

 You give Cheryl Cole a piano and mic and she definitely wouldn't be able to do this...

(Mind you, give Cheryl Cole a pair of shredded trousers, military hat and jacket and she, like Adele, will still make it to Number One).


(Image: UPTHEWOODENHILLS.BLOGSPOT.COM)

Inspiration: Feja Beha

My hair is at that very awkward length at the moment. Is it a bob anymore? No. Is it mid-length? No. It's neither here nor there. So, I'm looking to Freja Beha Erichsen for  inspiration.


Tousled waves and a scruffy fringe, alike the striking 23 year old Danish model, will work well as an interim style whilst I embark on the irritatingly slow journey of 'growing my hair out'.

Alexa for Madewell

Here's a sneaky peek of Alexa Chung's Madewell collection. I've already been checking out the website http://www.madewell.com/ and pretty much want everything.

The Memory of Marchesa

The ninth issue of Acne Paper. My favourite one yet.

In it's main shoot photographer Paolo Roversi sets the scene in his usual edgy yet incredibly enchanting way. 

Roversi uses actress Tilda Swinton to portray the Italian heiress Marchesa Casati. (To give you a quick low-down Marchesa is one of Italy's most historical fashion icons. An extremely intriguing lady it seems; she had nude servants, wore live snakes as jewellery and paraded around with a pair of cheetahs).

As you can see Tilda Swinton plays the part perfectly, albeit still looking as if she has just escaped from Narnia.

This Charming Man

'People say there is a sense of unease in my paintings - that's good'

Charming Baker produces sweet, surreal and often uncomfortable works of art. 


Damien Hirst is already at the front of the queue, so there's no chance these will be featured on my walls anytime soon.