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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Style Inspiration: Heathers

Everyone knows that Heathers in an iconic movie- for many reasons.  It is the original mean girls movie- full of manipulation, mockery, and murder.  The one-liners are great- "did you eat a brain tumor for breakfast?" and the actresses are perfect.  But for me, it's all about the clothes, when I recently watched it, that was the only thing I could focus on.*  The fashion is completely and utterly over-the-top and I absolutely love it.  The Heathers all have their selected colour that they wear in monochrome, all the way down to their croquet mallets.  The 80s shoulder pads, the matchy-matchy color combinations, and the coloured tights underneath everything.  As it's becoming colder, I'm definitely feeling monochromatic looks with tights to match- I've already invested in purple, teal, gray, and navy pairs to get me through the winter.  I'm longing for lots of ruffly skirts, cozy sweater and blazer combos, lapel broaches, and perfect fall flats!  Just gimmie some pate and croquet and I'm sold!

* Besides Christian Slater that is, but if he's on the screen, he's pretty much all I can focus on!

Style Inspiration: The Exorcist

I think that when someone mentions The Exorcist, fashion is probably the last thing that comes to mind.  But last night I had the opportunity to watch The Exorcist on the big screen for the first time and my entire view of it changed.  Usually I cover my eyes throughout most of the movie, it is the only film that has ever been able to absolutely terrify me.  But this time, as I sat in a dark theater clutching JB's hand, there were certain times I had to keep my eyes uncovered...for the clothes.  At least Ellen Burstyn's clothes.

The 70s were kind of a mess.  I don't always find the wild prints and polyester to be flattering or attractive in the least bit, and home decor? Forget it, but something about the way Burstyn managed to pull together the iconic 70s style really got me.  Playing the mother of a possessed girl would leave anyone a total wreck, but Burstyn manages to look effortlessly chic the entire time, even when she looks as though she is about to come apart at the seams.  Heavy wool peacoats, chic button up dresses, scarves, oversized sunglasses, wide leg trousers, and heavy platforms are pure perfection for the fall months in DC.

I know that this fall I'll be on the lookout to steal some of the chic style from The Exorcist.*

*Ya know, minus the whole demonic possession thing.

Style Inspiration: What a Way to Go

I know that this is a hot topic for blog posts these days, so maybe I'm slow to catch on, but I recently watched What a Way to Go, and now I fully understand the gravity of Shirley Maclaine, Edith Head, and 1960s glamour.

The story is great, the acting is fantastic, and the costumes speak for themselves.  Shirley Maclaine's style transforms with every man she marries (not an easy task), and every costume is better than the last.  It makes me want to wear nothing but glitter, feathers, bright colors, hats and fur, just what I need for winter!  And it makes me want to dye my hair pink too!

*I've left captions off the pictures intentionally, I sincerely urge you to go watch this movie ASAP!

Style Inspiration: Mad Men

I have been a bit apprehensive about doing a style post pertaining to Mad Men for quite some time now.  This is mostly due to the slew of fashionista bloggers out there worshipping both the style of Betty and Don Draper alike.  But, with the season premiere just around the corner, I thought it was time to honour the show that has given me fashion inspiration before I even watched it.  And what an appropriate way to celebrate my 100th post!

You see, I have been a collector of vintage clothing for ages, and it just so happens that the hourglass waistlines and full skirts look pretty tremendous on me, so the late 50s and early 60s style has been a go-to of mine for years.

I adore the flower print dresses, and on more than one occasion I have claimed to wanting to dress like I'm rushing a sorority circa 1962.  Pair that with some sparkly costume jewelry, clip-on earrings, or maybe an oversized cocktail ring and I'm sold.

Unfortunately, dressing like it is 1963 all the time is no longer practical in this sweltering and filthy city.  You can only get away with second skin dresses and matching heels so often.  So I steal a few touches here and there to make it more practical.  Lately, it's been all about the liquid eyeliner paired with a heavily saturated lipstick.  I'm addicted to MAC's Lady Danger (definitely my signature colour), Impassioned, Morange, and Girl About Town for these purposes.

I also love adding vintage broaches to my dresses.  I have been lucky enough to come into a few of these over the years, but you can find them on eBay for super cheap.  It probably doesn't hurt that Christina Hendricks looks absolutely phenomenal in all the 1960s styles.  No wonder Prada and Louis Vuitton both stole the 1950s/60s inspiration for their upcoming seasons!

Style Inspiration: Jawbreaker

When I was 13, the video store I went to gave away free posters, and one day, the poster for Jawbreaker was in there.  Immediately drawn to the pop art colours, and enviable females (remember, this was during my easily impressionable stages of my looks), I picked up the poster, and Jawbreaker continues to be one of my favourite movies to this day.

Rose McGowan, Julie Benz, Rebecca Gayheart, and Judy Greer are all gorgeous.  The visuals are stunning, and the storyline about killing your popular best friend is purely Heathers.  But the part that continues to get me is the clothes.

Part 1960s sorority, part 1990s matchy-matchy, the clothes in Jawbreaker make me want to fill my closet with flower patterns, kitten heels, matching clutches, and cardigan sets.  And Rose McGowans technicolor lipstick/pale skin/liquid liner combo is already something I've become quite familiar with.

So here's my essential fashion ala Jawbreaker check-list:

1. Invest in a printed floral dress.
2. Buy some bright coloured scarves to tie around my neck ala Courtney Shane.
3. Invest in a matching clutch purse where I can keep all my make-up for my essential "pre-lunch touch-up."
4. Start building a collection of super-high heels and too tight cardigans.
5. Expose the manipulative popular girl for the evil murderess she is...

Oh, wait, that last one is from my "things to do before graduating high school" list.  My bad.  Though in all fairness I think that the style from Jawbreaker is something I could pull off for a super warm summer in New York.

Style Inspiration: Teen Witch

Ahhh....the 80s.  A time when Madonna and Billy Idol ruled the airwaves, Dynasty and Cheers made television complete, and a time when John Hughes managed to explore the teenage psyche in a timeless way.  A time that has lent us so many great pop culture fixtures, including ridiculous fashions.

Being stuck inside due to rain, this weekend I forced my roommate to watch Teen Witch.  The cheesy movie, that is part musical, part ridiculousness, was modeled after Teen Wolf making an attempt to capitalize on the films popularity.

It's the story of Louise, the uncomfortable, awkward 15 year old who finds out that she is a descendent of a great witch and will gain these powers upon turning 16.  And what does she do with her powers?  Why, make herself the most popular and pretty girl in school of course.

And with that popularity comes a wardrobe of 80s excitement that I envy:

BEHOLD- Shoulder Pads!!!  Although they are making a comeback on the runways the past few seasons, nothing compares to the way they made formal dresses with shoulder pads in the 80s.

Perfectly matchy-matchy outfits.  The 80s was like Granimals, but for adults.  

And last, but not least, Tutu's.  There was an overabundance in tutu's and tiered skirts in this film that make me want to stock up and wear with ankle boots (my mom would be proud).

Style Inspiration: Willow

Ok, this one may seem a bit outlandish, but here me out.

Ron Howard's 1988 epic has always had a very special place in my heart.  I grew up watching this movie on repeat, developed a crush on Val Kilmer before I knew what crushes were, and always wanted to be a red head because of Joanne Whalley.  And in my older years, I'm taking it one step further and using it as a current wardrobe inspiration.

Now, I'm not suggesting wearing armor to the Lower East Side, or wielding a sword through Midtown, but I think that inspiration can be found everywhere, even fantasy movies starring Warwick Davis.

Fashion highlights of this film include: the bits of fur that the brownies sport, the layers of chains that are part of Sorsha's battle gear, the amazing boots that all the warriors ride the countryside in, the dashiki style tops of the male Elwin's, and (obviously) the kick-ass all black, structured outfits that allow Sorsha to kick Madmartigan's ass and steal his heart.

And I don't think I'm the only one inspired, check out some of these pictures from the Fall 2009 and Spring 2010 runway shows and see if it takes you back to Tir Asleen...

Chanel Iman during the Phi Fall 2009 show is oddly reminiscent of a modern day Sorsha.  Metal chest plate and helmet optional.

Dolce and Gabbana Fall 2009.  

Alexander Wang Spring 2010

Style Inspiration: The Runaways

Yesterday, I decided to take in a solo movie, so I hiked to the Lower East Side to see The Runaways.  And while I wish I would've saved the money (Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning are just not convincing), the one thing I took away from the film was a revamped love of 70s style.  

Sequins, jumpsuits, platforms, and a little bit of Bowie, everything glam and rocker that I cannot get enough of.  However, since I can't show up at my corporate financial firm wearing sequin platform boots (I wish), I'm going to need to find ways to sample their style without going over the top.  


First stop- Invest in some patterned neutral colored shirts.  Paired with black pants or a black pencil skirt I think I could almost get away with it.  


Second stop- As I've mentioned in a few previous posts, it's time for me to bring back the silk scarf trend.  Back to eBay hunting it is for me.  


And then maybe, just maybe I can invest in some super tall platform boots/sandals and sneak them in on a casual Friday.  Hey, I work in the back of the office, am already known for the sheer amount of color I wear, why not mix it up and throw in some height too?  Maybe they'll never notice :)

Style Inspiration: Rebecca

I have been spending a lot of time catching up on my classics everything: movies, books, plays, music, etc. And while catching up on classic films, I have been watching a lot of Alfred Hitchcock.

Sometimes, I fall asleep during these films.  Not intentionally, but usually it's me and the dog on the couch, which is a recipe for napping.  But tonight when I watched Rebecca I couldn't stop watching.  Hitchcock's first Hollywood film and only Oscar winner is a psychological thriller about a newlywed (Joan Fontaine) who cannot quite cope with the memory of her husband's (played by Laurence Olivier) ex-wife.  Excellent acting, a few plot twists, and beautiful cinematography make this film great, but what I really love are Joan Fontaine's outfits.

Pencil skirts, thin silk blouses, cardigan twinsets, and fabulous accessories spell 30's glamour in a subtle, easy way.  Prior to the 1950s era of excess with fabric to spare, hemlines went up, silhouettes went down, and the clothing stayed plain.  Although it is more difficult for me to find pieces of clothing from this era that work for me, I can certainly dig it.

Joan Fontaine kills it with her boxy shouldered jacket and matching hat.  First stop, invest in some awesome vintage hats (my mom and I have been collecting since I was a kid), second stop, a 30s style bob to show off those hats.  I need to start working on my pincurls again.

Fontaine's silhouette is perfect.  Knee length pencil skirt, puff sleeved blouse, short heels, the costume of choice for Hitchcock heroines.  

So instead, I will scour eBay for hours, fighting off the wards of other women who love the look of Hitchcock heroines, film noir, and The Great Gatsby.  I will continue to collect vintage dresses, pin-up style heels, heavy wool coats, and costume jewelry.  In fact, I should probably go check my site now, I think I have some bids about to end :)

Style Inspiration: Network

I love Turner Classic Movies 31 Days of Oscar.  It has given me the opportunity to fill my DVR with all those pesky movies that fill my "Must-See Film" Excel spreadsheet (yes, it exists).  Currently, I'm watching Network, and while i can appreciate the message, the acting, the directing, etc., what I can't stop admiring is Faye Dunaway's super 70s wardrobe.  

Seeing as tomorrow is my first day in a business-casual environment, I am stressing over how I will turn my primarerly vintage wardrobe into any semblance of corporate cool.  Enter: Faye Dunaway.  As Diana Christensen, Dunaway spends the entire movie rocking mid-70s pantsuits, silk blouses, and amazing skirt and turtleneck combos that make me seethe with envy.

Dunaway, who is usually seen as a fashion icon for Bonnie and Clyde, or Chinatown, rocks the 70s penis-envying male styles that I have come to admire and seek.  Sticking mainly in the same neutrals I have always sought-out when outfitting myself for a day in the city, she manages to bridge the gap between being totally badass, and completely sexy, another ideal I can only hope to one day achieve.

Granted, my body may not be the slim, tall 70s ideal, but that doesn't mean I can't try.  So after my rent and utilities come out of my first paycheck, I think the rest of it will be spent on some wide-leg trousers, a button up silk blouse, and maybe a patterned scarf for good measure.  Super corporate bad-ass chic, here I come.  

Style Inspiration: The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus

My recent sobriety has caused me to look all over for ways to kill time, and one of my favorite tried and true methods is a trip to the movies.  This weekend, that movie of choice was The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus.  Dragging along my roommate, who was easily bought with the following: Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell, Jude Law, and Heath Ledger, we took in a matinee showing at the Landmark Sunshine Cinema.

I wasn't sure what to expect.  Being Heath Ledger's last film, I imagined clever rewrites, great performances, and difficulty watching the screen.  Combine that with Terry Gilliam's sense of surrealism and an appearance by Tom Waits and this movie became a hipster's dream.

Turns out, what I was most captivated by was Lily Cole as Valentina.  Cole, a model turned actress who scored the role of Alice, in Marilyn Manson's upcoming Phantasmagoria: The Visions of Lewis Carroll, has doll like features and legs to die for.  Going from runway to silver screen isn't always so successful for some models, but Cole seems to have a promising future as an actress.  Perhaps it was the cinematography, or the art direction, but Cole seemed to blend perfectly among the bizarre and strange of Parnassus.

Lily Cole's porcelain doll like features and striking looks made her an obvious choice for Gilliam's film

My personal favorite?  The gypsy like clothes Cole was seen in for most of the film.  Layers of skirts, scarves, knits, necklaces, topped off with a jangling anklet.  I could not get enough.  It was like an Olsen Twin meets Stevie Nicks meets Gypsy.

Heath Ledger and Lily Cole in The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus

My plan this winter is to take a page from the impoverished world of Dr. Parnassus, one part vintage dress + two parts knit = enough warmth to help me survive New York City...or London.

Style Inspiration: Near Dark

I know that vampires are all the rage these days, but after taking a Vampires in Literature and Film class in university (oh yeah, that was offered), I feel like I might be a bit more qualified to talk about vampire films then some people out there.

I am a sucker for 80s vampire films. The Hunger, Lost Boys, and last, but very not least, Near Dark. Kathryn Bigelow's western vampire film is ridiculously violent, has a killer soundtrack (scored by Tangerine Dream), and is full of sociopathic crazy southern vampires.

Near Dark also does one thing for me that some of these other films have not. It gives me this ridiculous style inspiration. Call it growing up in the country, or maybe it's my fond nostalgia for the American Southwest, but it makes me want to be a sexy cowboy vamp.

Jenny Wright's tight jeans and tied shirts, Jenette Goldstein's blond hair and dark roots, and most importantly, Bill Paxton's spurs. I feel like I could get away with most of these looks in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, but the spurs are something I'm not so sure of. But man, I would feel like such a badass...



I wish I was cool enough to pull of Jenette Goldstein's wicked dark roots and tough as nails exterior



Bill Paxton and Adrian Pasdar in the memorable bar scene. This scene singlehandedly made me want to own spurs, if you have yet to see it, it's on IFC all month, and easy enough to find on Netflix.