ILLUSION IS BETTER THAN REAL LIFE - PART 1 OF 2

I know that I've written a lot about films lately but please continue to indulge me as I enjoy this Hollywood journey beyond the Academy Awards.  It's a good excuse anyway, for me to share one of my passions through blogging.

movieforums.com

Over the weekend, we watched a 2006 movie called "The Illusionist".  I vaguely remember wanting to watch it when it first came out.  However I somehow never got around to it.  Then our neighbour/massage therapist loaned it to me raving about Edward Norton, who I always thought was a bit mousy for my taste.  However I have seen him in a new light in this film.

cutprintreview.com

The story is closely based on a real life Viennese magician and supposed clairvoyant Erik Jan Hanussen, who was famous in the early 20th century.  He was killed in 1933 by Nazi soldiers.  The story is also loosely based on the tragic and salacious life of Austrian crowned Prince Rudolf.  However the essence of this film is love between a humble man and a woman far above his station in life.

I loved this film on many levels.  Visually, it was beautifully presented with slightly sepia tone colouring and softened corners to enhance that vintage mood.  The turn-of-the-century costumes and sets were impeccably presented.  I even loved the fictional Germanic-English accent, which I thought was most consistently achieved by Norton. 

Continued tomorrow...

VINTAGE LOVES OSCAR



Stars of "The Artist" welcome you
wordandfilm.com

Well, what did you all think about this year's Academy Awards?  I personally loved the return of Billy Crystal.  As usual, there were plenty of gorgeous gowns to admire.  The beauty of the vintage venue was the perfect backdrop for this event:



Natalie Portman looking gorgeous in
a vintage 1954 Christian Dior gown.
becomegorgeous.com



Michelle Williams in vintage inspired Louis Vuitton
She looks gorgeous in this peplum waist design.
becomegorgeous.com






Jennifer Lopez showing off all her curves
in this 1970's inspired Zuhair Mohad gown
becomegorgeous.com





Kate Hudson wearing a vintage Versace at the
Vanity Fair Oscars party
justjared.com

 


Emma Stone looking gorgeous and hamming it up in
her stand-out vintage inspired gown by Giambattista
bbc.co.uk


With 6 of the 9 nominated films set in the past, it's no wonder that vintage inspirations were everywhere.  I loved the 1930's era candy girls who went down the aisles handing out popcorn to the audience members.  Sigh...another Oscars come and gone. I'm already looking forward to next year.

Carol

Pack your STEAMPUNK for a Voyage under the Sea in 80 Days!

steampunkscholar.com

What is "Steampunk"?  Last year, Veronica talked briefly about this relatively new phenomenon.  I'm sure many of us have seen examples but we didn't put a name to it.  Lately I've seen numerous themed events such as a wedding reception and condo open house which featured this fantastical genre.

dailysteampunk.com

Simply put, Steampunk is Victorian elegance fused with modern day technology, to create a world that bridges and blurs the lines between centuries.  Many devotees have created sub-themes or slight variations in the original concept by introducing the macabre, erotica and goth characteristics. 

Jules Verne knew what he was doing when he created such crazy and interesting worlds in his books "Around The World In 80 Days" and "20,000 Leagues Under The Sea".  His speculations on future technologies were almost prophetic, similar in feel to the way that Da Vinci dreamed and invented.

Steampunk Fashions
robotvsbadger.com

Like any other romanticized theme, Steampunk allows us to immerse ourselves in the fun and goodness of time periods and push the bad under the rug.  After all, it's all about the fantasy and enjoyment.  And this theme has also carried over into personal style and fashions so that it's a portable way of showcasing not just a theme but also a lifestyle.

bizarrebytes.com

So what is Steampunk?  It's a genre, a design aesthetic and philosophy all rolled into a vintage feeling world where anything can happen.  I'd be interested in attending a Steampunk festival.  Renaissance enthusiasts shouldn't be the only ones to indulge in their fantasies.

Carol

New Items Now Available!

A leap year about to be upon us next week. February 29th gives us an extra day to wear our favorite vintage clothes!

New items now available. Have a great weekend everyone!

1930s black lace and satin lingerie robe

1920s hand embroidered black satin flapper dress

Edwardian silk and sequined corset blouse

Tooled leather saddle purse

Retro chiffon embroidered dress with matching jacket

AN INTRO TO RETRO

I've been an interior designer for many years.  Trends come and go.  Colours are in and out.  However an enduring trend I see is the resurgence and love of mid-century modern furniture.  I'm more of a European traditionalist when it comes to home interiors.  I grew up in the 60's and 70's so I saw first hand all the mod lamps, teak furniture and endless chrome.  Many people's decors looked like slightly nicer versions of a "Three's Company" set.  Smokey glass and fake wood grain are elements of design I don't need to see again as trends.

Barcelona Chair
bauhaus-total.com

Eames lounger
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Noguchi coffee table
bauhaus-total.com

A lot of my interior design colleagues are deeply in love with mid-century icons.  That's the difference.  They love the timeless qualities of a Mies van der Rohe Barcelona chair or chaise, an Eames lounge or a Noguchi coffee table.  These pieces are practical and sculptural as well.  Empty, they sit like art, but you can also use them like any other regular items of furniture in your home or office. 

To say that these amazing pieces are dated is like saying that a Picasso is old and Cubism was "sooooo 100 years ago!" 

Egg chair
Designed by Arne Jacobsen

I see the success of shows like "Mad Men" and "Pan Am" is due in part by the meticulous room designs with mid-century modernist furnishings and details.  So many modern items you can find in any home derive from people like Van Der Rohe, the Eames brothers and George Nelson. 

I believe that good design is a sweet blend of practicality and timeless aesthetics.  Mid-century classics are perfect examples of just that.

Carol

Amazed By Hermès!

blush.com

Recently an Hermès Birkin bag sold at auction for over $200,000 USD.  Holy #$%@&!!  I remember an episode of Gilmore Girls when Logan bought Rory one which caused quite a stir with grandmother Emily.  After all, a Birkin bag meant real love and commitment.  Rory didn't see the significance and simply shrugged it off.  I feel somewhat the same way.

Elizabeth Taylor's vintage fashion collection sold for a record high at Christie's - which we all fully expected, but an Hermès bag?! 

Spice Girl Posh is reported to have more than 100 Birkins in her collection, worth well over $1.5M USD. 

The Muse

On that fateful day in 1984, Jean-Louis Dumas felt so inspired by the struggling actress on board his flight, he named his latest creation after Jane Mallory Birkin.  The two designed the bag together and the rest they say, is history!

Until 2010, there was a very long and impressive waiting list as the bag is not produced on a certain time schedule nor in quantity.  I suppose that with certain things in life, being barely out of grasp - unattainable, is in itself the biggest appeal.  Why do we always want what we can't have?!

Dumas saw the actress struggling with her many smaller bags in the airplane which made him want to design a handbag large enough yet stylish enough for just such an occasion.  This coveted product has no label or branding of any sort, yet it is arguably the most recognized woman's bag in the world.

Posing Posh
myspace.com

I've heard a rumour that a neighbour of ours is on that list.  I won't be waiting with breathless anticipation to catch a glimpse of her preening around with it.  OK, are some of you out there yelling at me?  Are you offended by my irreverence?  Hey, that's the beauty of being a blogger - good or bad I thrive on all your thoughts and reactions.  So send me some words on this one!

Carol

HIP HIP BERET! HIP HIP BERET!

lulusvintage.com

I have always loved wearing a beret.  No it doesn't have anything to do with the obvious connection to French fashions.  Although I do love everything French!  Ever since I was a teenager, I've loved wearing hats.  I must say that some of the compliments I have received when wearing them have motivated me to continue on good hair days and on bad hair days!

store.drumbum.com

There seems to be a lot of conflicting information when it comes to the history of the beret.  Some say it derives from ancient Greece, others say ancient Rome.  The most prominent images that come to mind are chic Parisians and various military troops.  I think about the 1950's & 60's beatniks in basement cafes reading their poetry with angst.  I also think about the images of Che Guevara.  His iconic beret wearing portrait was on many t-shirts for many decades.  I recently saw one of him on a child's shirt with a caption that read "Who's this guy?".  That made me laugh a lot.  I guess Che is not as relevant with this generation of youths.

bobbypinblog.blogspot.com

Husband was reading a draft version of this blog when he commented that a beret isn't a very useful hat; it doesn't protect against sun nor rain.  Well, neither does a wicked pair of Manolo's, but what does that have to do with anything?!

One thing I like about berets is that it's unisex.  Sure there are sporting hats that are worn by both men and women, but how many types of fashionable head wear can say the same?  Berets are also so versatile in terms of materials used and variety of styles.  I also love that a beret can be worn with short or long hairstyles.  It can be worn with a coat or just with a cute outfit.  My favourite beret makes me feel sad as I lost it not long after I bought it.  It was grey wool with stylized snowflake designs.  I found it on display at Galerie Lafayette in Paris.

Some people shy away from hats in general.  They say they don't have the right face shapes nor the right hairstyles.  I say just go for it.  A hat - specifically a cute beret can really show off your personality in all the right way!

Carol