Style Inspiration: Gilda

With Mad Men being over until next year, I have been spending a lot more time watching classic films trying to get my vintage clothing fix.  And with it being so rainy and cloudy outside, Gilda was the perfect film for my case of the Mondays.  Starring the impeccable Rita Hayworth as our title character, Gilda is all about the manipulation, and glamor that epitomizes film noir.   

Her costumes are full of glamorous pieces from the 1940s.  Sequined boleros, floor length slinky gowns, heavy fur coats, and layers of costume jewelry.  And nothing would be complete without Hayworth's signature red locks, and flawless makeup.  After all, they don't call them sex symbols for nothing!

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Hipster Hideaway: New Paltz, NY

This weekend I got quite the treat.  My boyfriend booked a spontaneous overnight to a B&B in New Paltz, NY.  Always needing a break from the city life, I was super excited for a quick getaway.

Located two hours outside of NYC, New Paltz is a great little college town surrounded by tons of great nature.  Unfortunately, we didn't get an opportunity to go hiking (just not enough hours in the day), but we did get to spend time in this quaint town soaking up all that we could.  We had a great time seeing beautiful fall foliage, tasting NY wines, eating awesome local foods, doing some shopping, and exploring Huguenot Street.

Highland Manor B&B- Amazing grounds, great food, and super hospitable!

We couldn't help but stop for these homemade pretzel rolls and mustard.  We ended up picking up a jar of the cranberry mustard, I can't wait to use it on everything! 

The BF and I on historic Huguenot Street. Love those fall colours!

I totally fell in love with upstate New York and I can't wait to get back!

Hipster Must-See: Monsters

I love horror movies, but lately, I've been really feeling Sci-Fi movies.  I've always had a thing for ridiculous monsters, and with recent releases such as Cloverfield, and The Mist, I'm glad to see a resurgence for big bugs and monsters.  So when I saw a previous for the low-budget, independent film, Monsters, I couldn't wait to check it out in theaters.

Written and directed by Gareth Edwards, this sci-fi vehicle was supposedly shot on an ultra-low budget.  Gareth also did the cinematography and visual effects, which was one of the many ways he saved money, I'm sure.  The most surprising thing about this movie is that although it was made for next to nothing, it looks like it cost millions to make.

The premise is that a probe carrying alien life forms has crashed in New Mexico and six years afterwards, we have adapted to having an infected zone that takes up most of Mexico.  After an attack in Costa Rica, a journalist must get his publisher's daughter through the infected zone and home safely.

It is a film that sounds as though it is bound to be crazy and action packed, but in truth, it was more about the relationship of these two people.  Not at all what I expected, but to be honest, I kind of loved it.  The visual effects weren't great, but the world that Gareth Edwards created was completely believable, which could be due to the fact that he used real people as his extras and often shot on location to save money.

As a supporter of independent film, and anything remotely weird, scary, etc., Monsters is a definite must-see.

Check out more info here:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1470827/

And here's the trailer:

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi1938032921/

Fall Fashion Wishlist

I haven't been seriously shopping in years.  The last pair of jeans I bought were purchased in my second year of university, and aside from the t-shirts I recently bought at Urban Outfitters, all the other ones are starting to come apart.  Part of the problem is that I just can't force myself to enjoy shopping outside of chic boutiques and vintage stores, and the other part of the problem is that, as a freelancer (it feels pretty cool to say that) money isn't always coming in regularly, so I'm not one to go spend a bunch on clothing.  I'm craving loads of rich, saturated colours like mustard, royal purple, and magenta.  And I yearn for luscious fabrics like velvet, lace, and tweed.  So, here are a few of my fall must-haves:

1. Anthropologie Dancing Blooms Cardi $128
2. ModCloth Charming Correspondence Skirt $63
3. Banana Republic Silk Belted Ruffle Shell $79.50
4. Chloe Kerala Slouch Tote via Bluefly.com $980
5. John Fluevog Dig Boots $379
6. Angelina Burgundy Opaque Tights via Amazon.com $9

Fall Reading List

Photo Courtesy of ArtsJournal.com

I love absolutely nothing more than sitting in the cool fall sun with a nice cup of coffee and a good book.  I yearn for days off so I can make that happen, and now that it is officially November, it's time to say goodbye to the indian summer we've had in New York and say hello to fall.  Here are a few of the books I'd like to read this fall:

• Savage Beauty: The Life of Edna St. Vincent Millay by Nancy Milford- As I've mentioned in previous posts, this book has me feeling super nostalgic for New York in the early 20th century, and it's been an excellent introduction to poetry.
• Loving Frank by Nancy Horan- I've been dying to read this book for ages, and coming from the home of an architect, it's no wonder why. 
• Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller- This is November's book for one of the book clubs I keep y eye on through meetup.com, and it's on every Random House list I've looked at.  A definite must read.
• Let's Bring Back: An Encyclopedia of Forgotten-Yet-Delightful, Chic, Useful, Curious and Otherwise Commendable Things From Time Gone By by Lesley M.M. Blume- I wouldn't be so interested in picking up a newly released book (too much hype involved), but this one is worth an exception.

I only have four more books to go before I reach my goal for the year.  Hopefully I can get a few of these books finished before I head to New Orleans for Christmas!

Style Icon: Juliette Lewis

I have loved Juliette Lewis for years.  I think my first introduction to her was in From Dusk Til Dawn, and with Natural Born Killers being one of my favourite movies, she has stayed on my radar for years.  But it wasn't until a few years ago, when Juliette transitioned into music that I really started taking notice of her style.  She has often been my hair icon, with her messy waves, big bangs, and grown out brunette colour.  I remember spending hours watching her videos on YouTube, and being totally enamored of her Indian headdresses, leather pants, bodysuits, sequins, and glam rock makeup.  I was completely inspired, and to this day, whenever I have an excuse to get dressed up, I want to throw one or all of these elements into a crazy outfit.  

  

Feeling Victorian

I've always had a soft spot for the Victorian Era.  I used to be obsessed with the clothing, lifestyles, even cooking utensils of the early 20th century, and lately, that nostalgia has been at peak levels.  Maybe it has something to do with my current reading, but I've been daydreaming about early 20th century New York and ways to stay warm in the winter without central heating.  I long for adorning myself in fur capes and muffs, large decorative hats, delicate silk and chiffon frocks, and boots that take an hour to lace.  And I don't think I'm the only one, I've been lusting after Victorian inspired dresses from Anthropologie, and as always, John Fluevog never disappoints!  I will be swooning over all these choices as a scour eBay for early 20th century inspired clothes I can actually afford!

1. John Fluevog Lourdes Boot $415
2. John Fluevog Guilia in velvet $289
3. John Fluevog Lanciano $249
4. Anthropologie Spectre Dreams Dress $248
5. Anthropologie Time Gone By Dress $128
6. Anthropologie Laced With Grace Dress $168