Band of Outsiders Spring Lookbook

Before the holidays, my Mom asked me what I wanted for Christmas. It took me a few days to come up with exactly what I wanted aside from her mailing me some of my stuff from home and then it came to me: a Polaroid camera. Since then I've been taking it with me every time I explore a new place in New York or go to one of my favorite places. But anyway, my obsession with Polaroids goes on and when I saw that the new Band of Outsiders lookbook, featuring Kirsten Dunst, was taken in Polaroids I got very excited. Two of my favorite things: fashion and film!

Anjelica the Muse

Watching Wes Anderson movies, in this case more specifically The Royal Tennenbaums, always makes me think of Anjelica Huston in her younger days running around modeling, acting as muse for designers Valentino and Halston and being photographed by the most iconic photographers of the seventies. She was discovered by Diana Vreeland and her career rose from there. Not many people knew she was a model before she was an actress and these pictures are too good to not show. Enjoy!

Clockwise from the top left: In Vogue 1972, with Halston in his studio, photographed by Gian Paolo Barbieri in Valentino and for Walter Albini, by Bob Richardson (Terry's Dad), and by Richard Avedon.

Rear Window

A couple weeks ago I saw the Alfred Hitchcock movie Rear Window for the first time while madly sewing away on a couple different projects. Basically a man, James Stewart, breaks his leg on a photography assignment and is wheelchair bound for eight weeks and while staring out his rear window he believes the man across the way murdered his wife. In the meantime his girlfriend Lisa, played by Grace Kelly visits him and also becomes obsessed with the happenings in his apartment building.

The film was made during one of my favorite eras for fashion, the fifties. With Grace Kelly as the leading lady, it was the perfect time to showcase a little fashion throughout the movie. Besides having one of the most classic beauties of all time starring in this Alfred Hitchcock movie, the legendary Edith Head did the costumes and judging by Grace Kelly's wardrobe throughout the movie it was a match made in heaven. This is one more piece of inspiration for my forthcoming pin-up inspired line!

Clockwise from the top left: A version of the Rear Window poster, Kelly in the "Paris Dress" designed by Edith Head, Kelly, Hitchcock and Head in discussion, and three more Edith Head creations.

BTW my absence in the blogging world can be blamed on the fact that I a) graduate this quarter and b) just turned 21 last week Wednesday. Just FYI!

Gaga Kitty

When browsing through my daily websites I came across pictures of a Lady Gaga x Hello Kitty collaboration, two of my fashion favorites! The photos were taken for Hello Kitty's 35th birthday and are going to be used in a limited edition re-issue of Lady Gaga's first album The Fame (which will also include a lock of her hair and 3-D glasses to view other photos)! Throughout the shoot, Gaga keeps her eyes closed the entire time to show eye makeup on her lids that make her appear to have what I call "Sailor Moon eyes" or Manga-style eyes. Photographers Markus Klinko and Indrani were the masterminds behind the shoot below:

"I live for fur. I worship fur!"

Cruella De Vil is probably one of the most fashionable villains out there. Not only was her hair way ahead of that whole two-different-hair-color thing but she also wore big fur coats around all the time with her little cigarette holder completing her fierce look. As I was looking through photos of the Jean Paul Gaultier Fall 2010 Couture show, one picture stuck out to me in particular and SCREAMED Cruella De Vil. The drape of the fabric and the model's cigarette holder made me think of what Cruella might be running around in if I saw her somewhere now.

Above (from left to right): The "Cruella" look from the JPG Fall 2010 Couture show, the animated Cruella De Vil, and Glenn Close as Cruella De Vil in 101 Dalmatians.

Gettin' Around Town!

Lately, in many a recent fashion publication, I have seen some adorable Miu Miu dresses that I haven't been able to locate in any of their fashion shows. In any case this collection (which ever it came from) seems very Easter inspired with pastel colors and applique flowers and tons of loveliness!

Above (from left to right): January Jones in C Magazine, Lily Allen for Elle UK, and Carey Mulligan at the Met Costume Gala.

"Back in St. Olaf..."

Just when Rose is about to start her St. Olaf story, this is about the time where Dorothy would take a newspaper and hit Rose over the head with it. Rose Nylund is the naïve Golden Girl with a heart of gold. She's very laid back in her clothing favoring flats, Keds and crew neck sweatshirts. But she also knows when to dress up, like when competing in a dance competition. I bet everyone's happy she doesn't dress like the rest of the people in the farmland she calls home.

"Toto, I Don't Think We're in Miami Anymore..."

Dot, Dot, what a girl I've got. Dorothy Zbornak is the one who tells it like it is; she is the sarcastic Golden Girl. Her style can be described as hobo chic with the oversized cardigans and sack dresses she is so clearly fond of. If you look closely, throughout the show she wears Chanel earrings very similar to this Chanel necklace. Dorothy would fit in perfectly today with her classic eighties style.

What Would Blanche Wear?

I have been feeling particularly inspired by the Golden Girls lately and decided to make a Polyvore for each one. I started with Miss Blanche Devereaux and picked out some outrageous eighties styles from today she would probably be wearing. Yes, I know my obsession with the Golden Girls SEEMS weird but I really think they were style icons from that time... Can't you just see Blanche going to the Rusty Anchor in that green dress? Or hanging down by the beach in those sunglasses and that "Hello Sailor" knit dress? I certainly can.

She Must Like Kissing Boys Better

Yes. This post is related to Katy Perry. Yesterday as I moseyed my way around the magazine racks of a local Rite Aid, I noticed Katy Perry was on the cover of Glamour in THEMOSTADORABLEDRESSEVER. I'm actually pretty fond of her music and pretty much everything she wears because I appreciate that she wears clothing that can also be considered art.

ANYWAY, upon more research this morning I found out the dress is by Blugirl, one of Blumarine's sub-divisions. Which is probably why I loved the dress Katy Perry wore on the cover, because I love all things Blumarine. In addition to being a big fan of Blumarine, I'm also a big fan of enlarged leopard prints as well as bold colors. I also really like the Juicy Couture belt in the cover picture. Here's the cover:

And here's the picture from the Spring 2010 Blugirl runway show:

Dear Blog, You Haven't Been Forgotten, Love Chelsea

Well, this must seem like an epic fail to my peers in the blogging community. I have been on Winter break for the past seventeen days and haven't written a single post. But it's a new year so here's a new post with a short recap of the last month and my plans for the next month.

Fall quarter finally ended much to the relief of my sanity. I finished out finals with a respectable 3.0 and finished my internship at Alchemy Goods as well. I've been gone from Alchemy for less than a month but I miss being there! It's like I have this extra chunk of time that I haven't had available to me for the past five months and I don't even know what to do with it. Sleep in? Do the dishes? WHAT?! The possibilities were and are truly endless.

Once finals passed by, I skipped town less than 24 hours later and went to New Mexico where I relaxed with my grandparents and ate and made some of the most fantastic Mexican food along with massive amounts of baked goods (which will be elaborated on the othah blog). The awesome thing about this trip was that I had time to detox from various things such as school and other things (heh), but my Grandma Geno also nursed my fashion needs with a simple task: shopping. I bought some awesome pieces including, but not limited to, some Rodarte from Target.

After eight glorious days in New Mexico, I got home to Seattle just in time to celebrate Christmas with my fam. I got a little Betsey, TONS of bath products, and Martha's Craft Encyclopedia (ya know, because we're on first name basis). And any money I got basically went to buying shoes and clothes, DUH.

Now that 2009 is over and 2010 (the year a I graduate college!) is upon us, here are the things in store for this blog. Many, MANY more outfit picture posts and more posts related to trends and inspiration I like. I was also presented with a spectacular opportunity maybe designing something for someone of a famous (!!!) nature, which will be elaborated upon later. Also, I've decided to write my blog in a way that more represents my real voice and attitude: my sarcasm and complete annoyance with most things around me, in my own unique, funny sense of detachment.

Something small, yet oddly enough FASHION related, I have to offer my readers who are perhaps bored enough have even read through this entire post is In Style's List of the 100 Best Dresses of the Decade. Here's one of my favorites:

Kate Hudson in Valentino in 2003

Anyone who knows me, knows that I'm a BIG fan of Valentino. This dress is a little off the beaten path of what he normally designed, as I had no idea he even designed anything without beading, feathers and/or sequins.

Happy New Decade!