Every spring, my boyfriend's family spends a weekend abroad and this year we all visited Den Haag, the political capital of The Netherlands. And like every year, my boyfriend and I fill one whole day with shopping. One department store I always visit when I'm in The Netherlands is De Bijenkorf, which has an amazing beauty department.
I finally got the chance to discover another great Estée Lauder Cosmetics' brand, Bobbi Brown. Since I needed a new foundation, I tried Bobbi Brown's Natural Finish Long Lasting Foundation SPF 15. And I must say I'm thrilled! Not only does it come in fairly pale shades, which suit my skin tone perfectly, immediately when you put it on your skin, the fresh and smooth feeling of the foundation gets through. Plus it protects my skin against the harmful rays of the sun, which came in handy the rest of the weekend.
I walked out with the '0 - Porcelain' shade and I can't stop bragging about the product. It's a keeper.
This morning, my sister sent me the Times Online's 25 movies that shook the world of fashion, since I'm writing my thesis on the relationship between Fashion and Film. And the people over there sure did their homework, since scientific literature often mention the same cinematographic works.
Top 10
1. West Side Story, 1961
Can someone please explain what this movie is doing on no. 1?
2. Belle de Jour, 1967
The lovely Catherine Deneuve dressed by YSL, what's not to like.
3. The Big Sleep, 1946
Haven't seen this one yet. But I'm sure every girl dressed up like Lauren Bacall in order to attract a Humphrey Bogart-type of guy...
I just stumbled on these Louboutin-pictures. Rumour goes that these are part of the brand's ad campaign, which apparently is a first since the French designer doesn't need to advertise.
What do you think of them? They've got that bizarre CL-twist on them, no?
My daily beauty routine consists of using about 7 different Clinique-products, and this excludes the make-up. Did I ever mention that Clinique skin care products are the very best and that it is the only brand I trust when it comes to skin treatment? Since I've been using this Estée Lauder-brand, my skin looks better than ever. And the coolest thing is that I got the opportunity to be an intern at their Benelux-headquarters in Brussels the last two summers. It really was an amazing experience ... (I really should do a review post about the brand and share my thoughts!)
But since nail polish apparently can't be totally allergy-proof, Clinique doesn't produce any. Too bad, because I'm sure it would be some nice colors and shades. And so, I have to turn to Chanel Le Vernis. A good friend of mine, a very cool fashion photographer, spotted the brand's newest summer collection (Les Pop-up) and was so nice to share the images with me. He told me he was getting his girlfriend all three colors. I too fell in love with these shades and decided to, just like him, already head towards the store and pre-order the nail polish for me and my sister. I'm getting these two colors in a couple of weeks. Can't wait.
My mom is the best. She surprised my sister and me both with Chanel's latest Mademoiselle lipstick, each, while we only ordered one. Only an hour after she got hers, my sister took off with her friends and got to wear her new lipstick. Meanwhile, I'm stuck indoors working on my thesis. I still have quite a lot to do, since the deadline is the 17th of May, so I got up early and didn't even bother to put on a cool outfit today...
This in contrast to what I wore yesterday. I got to show off my new flats. I haven't regretted this purchase yet.
Oh and my sister and I received some very exciting news today, regarding our blogs. We'll reveal it in a week or two...
I just added a new item to my wish-list; Alexander McQueen: Genius of a Generation by Kirstin Knox.
Hopefully, they'll put the book on amazon.com pretty quickly, because I really want to read this. Too bad I'll already have handed in my thesis (which features the British designer) by then...
Yesterday my boyfriend finally got back from his 3 weeks tour in the USA with his band. Despite all of the lost luggage, he still had -in his carry-on- a copy of Vogue's April issue , which remembers Alexander McQueen... So'll have something to read later on this evening...
I don't know why, but I recently fell in love with the Hermès Collier de Chien-bracelet. And I'm not even a bracelet-kind of person. I did however wear such chunky, studded bracelets when I was younger, but I guess that subconsciously, I'm still not over that trend...
The black & zilver one for me, please... But then again, since the bracelet is so pricey, I'ld rather continue saving up for the new watch I've been lusting for for a while now... New watch >> a bracelet when you're not a bracelet-kind of person...
Edit: Hermès has created a paper DIY-version of the bracelet. Go to Hermès.com and visit/travel the 'world of Hermès' and download the pattern. Example.
Remember the Proenza Schouler-dresses I loved so much? Martha Stewart -of all people- is teaching Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough how to tie-dye their own fabrics... No offence, Mrs. Stewart, but I prefer the real deal.
Speaking of which, I'm jealous of Chloe Sevigny. Spring hasn't even really come through and already she's walking around in Proenza Schouler's next fall collection.
During the last few days, all I did was spend my time working on my thesis, analyzing those four movies again and again. Today I haven't even left the house even though it was such a beautiful day. So I don't care what I'm doing tomorrow as long as I can take these two favorite items out, preferably out in the sun!
Presenting my old, grey BalenciagaThe Brief bag, paired up with some grey faux python heels by Zara.
Apparently, Karl Lagerfeld shot Coca Cola Light's last campaign. The models starring are Coco Rocha and his beloved Baptiste Giabiconi. Am I the only one who thinks this picture is quite boring?
Edit: To whoever that cares: The campaign will be released in France on the 28th of April and limited edition boxes will be available Galeries Lafayette and Colette (WWD).
Yesterday the shop assistant of our local beauty store was so kind to put aside one of Chanel's newest lipsticks, the Rouge Coco Mademoiselle. I'm getting this color, which Vanessa Paradis wears in the latest ad campaign, since it goes so very well with my skin tone. Pure red lipstick is too harsh on me during the day time. The Mademoiselle is more subtle for a day-look and very flattering. So I'm expecting a call in the next few days telling me I can go and pick it up.
However, I still do not understand why the shops only get 3 pieces of a lipstick that is featured in a global campaign. Same reason why I don't understand why all of a sudden Chanel considers its nail polish as super exclusive. Isn't non-exclusivity the main reason why big fashion houses picked up make-up and fragrances? So that they can earn big bucks on a group of people who would never buy a Chanel clothing piece or bag, so that they can feel as if the dream of rare luxury products is within reach?
Anyhow, I've spotted the latest Givenchy perfume print campaign in the store yesterday and I absolutely love it! The dramatic outfit and pose in contrast with the spring decor, I think it's one of the coolest things I've seen in the 'beauty department' lately. Out of curiosity, I tried on the Demoiselle perfume, but it isn't a scent I would wear. I'll just stick to my Terre d'Hermès.
I'm just sitting here, in my faculty's media center, waiting for my next class (Film History) to start. Only a few minutes ago I was visiting the promotor of my thesis to update him on the research I've been doing during the last week. So far so good, since I've finished the greatest part of my thesis, analyzed the movies I needed to see quite a few times and now the only thing left to do is to just write the results down. I already made a mental map out of what should be included or mentioned, and discussed it with my promotor and the thinks it's very good. And luckily our Easter break is coming up, so I'll be able to work really hard without any distractions, so that - hopefully- I'll be done by the end of those two weeks. By then I'll still have about 4 weeks to do the lay-out and bibliography of the piece. So thinks are looking good, I'm pleased.
Anyhow, this weekend there's a wedding my family and I have to attend and I'm still wondering what I should wear. I hate that grey, cold and dull weather outside, since it won't be cold enough for a layered look, nor will it be warm enough for a great spring dress. My mother suggested I wear my Proenza Schouler-dress.
Since the day I saw that look on the Runway a few years ago, I've been totally obsessed by it and the brand. And then a year later I spotted it! The purple one I always wanted! At a sale! In my size too! At first I said I was just going to try it on for the fun, to see how it looks... I should have known that I was going to buy it as soon as I saw how nice that floaty fabric looks, and how well purple works for me, and how versatile the dress is, and how it is fit for work or a party and what an investment it would be... you know, my usual excuses. In the store I wore a purple Givenchy belt with it, and stupid me, I didn't buy the belt since I was going to be spending enough money as it is. So I got the dress, only to find myself a week later in the store again, and this time to get me that Givenchy belt. Unfortunately someone else beat me and the belt was no more. So after a long and extensive search I found a blue Furla belt that goes perfectly with it, so now I'm all set...
The only thing is that I don't want to wear it to the wedding! It will be a walking dinner/party and I'm sure I'll mess the dress up. Or someone else will trip and pore wine all over me. Or some other dumb thing that always happens to your favorite outfits! So for now, no Proenza Schouler, and I'll keep it safely in its dust bag. Just were I left it, the day after I got it.
Number of times I stated that this is my favorite dress of all time: probably around a 1000 times by now
Number of times I actually wore it: zero.
As mentioned before, for my thesis on film and fashion I'm analyzing Robert Altman's Prèt-à-Porter. The film is a parody and satire on the fashion world, and ridicules the industry. The movie, set during Paris Fashion Week, sends out a quite stereotype and negative message that only greed, betrayal and shallow 'keeping up appearances' are of the greatest importance in the business.
And yet, never did I see a Hollywood picture in which so many 'real designers and models appeared; Jean Paul Gaultier, Gianfranco Ferré -back then working for Dior-, Sonia Rykiel, Christian Lacroix, Issey Miyake, Campbell, Schiffer, Christensen... And not to mention the designs by many other great fashion houses. It's a shame that I've left the DVD at home, but when I return for the weekend I'll put up a screen shot of the end credits, so you can discover which designs -by whom- were featured in this 'fashion film' yourself! This movie beats Sex and The City for sure.
But the 'communications scientist' in me can't help but wonder; why were these fashion icons so happy to work on this project, if it puts the industry in bad daylight? Is bad publicity better than no publicity?
For anyone who loves fashion, this movie is a must!
Don't let this boring trailer mislead you, the film is much more fun...
And the title chosen for this movie is genius, Ready To Wear, when all designs presented are totally unwearable.
edit: And according to literature, Karl Lagerfeld was so furious that one of Altman's characters portrayed the french designer of chanel as a 'thief' that he called in the German juridical system and had the movie banned from German cinema's. But the picture does however feature quite some product placement by the house of Chanel. Curious and curiouser...
One of my favorite fashion related sites is Fashionair.com, so I check it on a daily basis. However, I had no idea that today their Christian Louboutin-film premiered, featuring the french designer himself. How I wish I could dance like that in my high heeled pair of Louboutin-shoes. They're comfortable alright, but I'm pretty sure I shouldn't try to do a little dance routine myself.
My Ron Ron's, only 10 cm high but killer heels for sure, in every sence of the word...
Today, I'm just doing some research on the film Funny Face, before I'm off to my promotor to discuss my thesis and have my Film History-course. That class is so interesting; just last week we learned about the German expressionism film (think: Nosferatu and The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari) So eerie, yet so cool.
Anyhow, I just came across this article on Audrey Hepburn's film, from 1957. And I love the colors in the pictures so much, that I just had to post them on my blog. (Full article in Life)
Another weekend has passed and once again, I've spent it working on my thesis. Since I'm analyzing the use of product placement in 'fashion films', I have to check which brands I and my two 'assistants' (my sister and boyfriend) are featured in the four films I've selected for my research.
Remember when I did the same thing for Sex and the City?
Back then I spotted 25 different high end fashion brands. My sister did the same thing two weeks ago, and got 23 brands, while my boyfriend found 17, if I can figure out his hand writing correctly. Chanel got a leading role in the movie since it was featured the most amongst the brands.
Yesterday, my boyfriend helped me out with The Devil Wears Prada. And Patricia Field and the producers did a great job on this one. Just by recognizing bags, boxes, and labels in the back drop, or listening to which designers and fashion houses the characters are talking about we've found a whole list of fashion brands; Although he claimes he doesn't have a good eye for these sort of 'where-is-wolford?' and other brand recognition-games, my boyfriend spotted 30 different brands. My list on the other hand featured 32 labels. Once again Chanel was the big winner, although Prada is mentioned in the title and gets the spotlight.
I'm planning to do the same thing for Confessions of a Shopaholic, Funny Face and Prêt-à-Porter, which should be interesting since the two latter are more of a parody on the fashion world. Furthermore, I'm going to analyze the four films on what message they send out; a Hollywood dream world or rather "don't sell your soul for shoes and bags"?
Either way, although the high amount of brands featured in these films might be irritating for the viewer, they don't disrupt the film experience, nor are they perceived as payed advertisement. Since the main story is set in the fashion world, it is only natural that the characters talk constantly about their favorite fashion label or that bags and recognizable must-haves are lying around in the background? And that all of the scenes take place in luxurious fashion stores and fashion salons? The fashion film is the natural habitat of product placement, and this without giving the crowd the feeling that they're watching a commercial...
So for the last past days, I've been going through literature on how elements from the film industry can influence the fashion world. And I've found quite a few. For instance, a film star or character can start up a trend easily, like the Louise Brooks-look or the Letty Lynton-dress.
But aside from influencing the public, film has cast a spell over some fashion designers as well. Jean Paul Gaultier and John Galliano, they both have a thing for Hollywood movies and film stars, hence their many collections inspired by the industry's golden age... (see: JPG haute couture 2009 & Galliano's Fall 2005)
Alexander McQueen, also a film-enthousiast, based some of his creations and fashion shows on Hitchcock's work or movies like The Shining and They Shoot Horses, Don't They? Also, after watching a Harry Potter-movie, the designer incorporated the chess segment in his 2005 spectacle, where the models functioned as pawns.
And the fashion business is catching up on the film world really quickly, with Burberry being the first fashion brand to broadcast their entire fashion show in 3D globally, only weeks after Avatar premiered.
Aside from working on my thesis and catching up with our families, my boyfriend, my sister and I went to see Alice in Wonderland. Maybe I expected too much out of it, but I didn't like it at all. The 3D-effects had no added value, and the story was quite boring. Plus, I missed that whole Tim Burton-vibe. So sad, 'cause I had high hopes for this one.
The following day my boyfriend's band had to play near the Flemish/French border, which gave us the opportunity to head to Lille for a shopping afternoon. We'd been there a few times and we've always loved this little town. It has many of the great luxury brands, a Printemps and the Galleries Lafayette. But the brand that surprised us the most was The Kooples. Belmodo.tv had mentioned their love for the brand, and when I saw the real deal, I couldn't agree more. Great basics with a rock and roll edge for him and her. And the brand's mission statement to dress trendy couples, seduced both my boyfriend and me. We each left the store with our new favorite fashion items. The following day, I already wore my new tulip-skirt to his dad's birthday party, and I think it would look great with my Alexander McQueen skull-shirt as well.
And planning a trip back in a few months, I really need those Marc Jacobs and Repetto-flats I spotted at the Printemps!
Today, the presentation of Alexander McQueen's last collection took place. I think these luxurious and magical designs look fit for Victorian queens and princesses. And it immediately reminded me of his Fall/Winter 2008-line. The prints, the folds, the richness of the dresses, I love it all. And that mix between the gold and red fabrics have a ancient Roman general feel too it, although I find the last white/light grey dresses more medieval.
More images on this exclusive collection and presentation through Grazia. And the Telegraph wrote a nice review, as well as Style.com.
There already were rumors that Chanel's decor for the Fall/Winter-show of 2010 featured a gigantic iceberg. The polar bear-drawing on the invitations must have had something to do with it.
I just found the first video of the fashion show, and it looks -again- too cool, literally. I love the two-toned shoes vs. the all white outfits, and how the scenery and set blends in with the designs perfectly. And the puddle of water the models walked in... Did Lagerfeld find inspiration in global warming or the past winter cold? If I would have some of those looks hanging in my closet, I wouldn't mind if winter lasted a little longer...
Apparently, Mr. Lagerfeld only used faux-fur for this collection. So very polar bear-proof. The one thing that was real on the other hand, was the glacial centerpiece, real snow and ice imported from Sweden!
Today, all students of the History of Narrative Film-class had to attend the screening of a German film (1926). Luckily, it was a silent film, since I have a headache that's been killing me for days, and a matching sore throat. But luckily, I felt a bit better when I spotted the first Alice in Wonderland-film made. This sets the mood for the Belgian premiere this wednesday.
Have you seen Roberto Cavalli's latest collection? I must admit, his clothes don't always fit my personal style; too much leopard prints and golden accents. Oh, but not this time. I think the whole collection looks stunning. And there is already one item I absolutely want and need: That cool, thin, silk scarf would just look to cool with a pair of jeans and that grey shirt I bought a month ago...
Oh and speaking about stylish Italians; have you seen the Jak & Jil-pictures took in Anna Dello Russo's apartment/closet? Stunning! I am in complete awe, also since she seems like such a nice person. Really. This is her packing up for Fashion Week.
I am not a fan of brown. The color just doesn't suit me. But I did however, just fell in love with Gucci's latest collection. The girls look so tailored and elegant. Fits in perfectly with the brands heritage. I can't wait till these clothes hit the stores, I'm sure I will be crying my eyes out, since brown just does not suit me/my skin tone...
My parents have always adored Italian fashion labels, so when my sister and I were younger we would always wear some very cool brands. I remember wearing some Versus-items, the second line of Versace, that was cancelled earlier. But now it has made a comeback, thanks to Christopher Kane. And what a comeback. Although I'm not a little girl anymore, I still go crazy when I see ballet-inspired skirts. Oh and purple/blue/red/black do go with my skin tone...
I was browsing the A la Mode-blog, since she commented on a blog post of mine, when I saw the pre-fall collection by Alexander McQueen. I had no idea the company had put the look book of this collection online, and that it went unnoticed. Or did I miss the articles in the press?
Despite the colorful dresses and pieces featured at the end of the look book, this collection has a very serious feel to it, I think...
Oh and The Style Crusader has put up a post on the tribute wall for the designer.
I was wondering; Has anyone seen Tom Ford's movie yet? I wanted to see this film so badly, not only just because I have a thesis to write. But the day before the movie premiered in Belgium, I found out they are not showing it in the theaters near me. Such a shame.
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