a tiny machine

all is right with the world

2010-07-16T16:36:00.004-05:00

Yeah! MAC and Rodarte have completely redeemed themselves in my eyes. I'm looking forward to hearing more about what organization they will work with to donate funds to help women in Juarez.

MAC's statement:

We understand that product names in the M·A·C Rodarte collection have offended some of our consumers and fans. This was never our intent and we are very sorry. We are listening carefully to the comments posted and are grateful to those of You who have brought your concerns to the forefront of our attention. M·A·C will give a portion of the proceeds from the M·A·C Rodarte collection to help those in need in Juarez. We are diligently investigating the best way to do this. Please be assured that we will keep you posted on the details regarding our efforts.

Rodarte's statement:

Our makeup collaboration with M·A·C developed from inspirations on a road trip that we took in Texas last year, from El Paso to Marfa. The ethereal nature of this landscape influenced the creative development and desert palette of the collection. We are truly saddened about injustice in Juarez and it is a very important issue to us. The M·A·C collaboration was intended as a celebration of the beauty of the landscape and people in the areas that we traveled.

day of the dead

2010-07-16T11:49:00.008-05:00

The first image from Rodarte's collaboration with MAC has been released, and though I'm excited for the collection, I've got a major complaint as well.

The palette and theme were inspired by Mexico, and as is Rodarte's style, there's a dark gothic femininity to the names and colors. A sheer white-washed lipstick named Ghost Town and a delicate pink blush named Quinceanera already sound like stand-out items. But as multiple bloggers have pointed out (I believe that The Frisky was the first to notice), there are two nail polishes named "Juarez" and "Factory."

Uh, really? As in Juarez, the factory town which has gained infamy due to the horrifying number of young women who have been raped, disappeared and/or found murdered in recent years? The town notorious for a police force that still refuses to take these matters seriously?

I'm all for being dark and creepy, but naming a pink nail polish "Juarez" isn't gothic or moody, it's fucked up. I'm especially surprised since MAC is usually such a socially conscious brand. I'm hoping that MAC releases an apology, or at the very least, clarification as to why the names were chosen.

my summer of love

2010-07-15T16:04:00.005-05:00

more gorgeous shots of Lindsay Lohan by Ellen von Unwerth for German GQ

Speaking of the freakishly talented Ms. von Unwerth, I also loved these photos she took of Mila Kunis for German GQ.

va va voom

2010-07-15T10:00:00.001-05:00

Linday Lohan by Ellen von Unwerth for German GQ

maaaaarge!!

2010-07-15T09:44:00.006-05:00

My first encounter with A Streetcar Named Desire was a 1992 episode of The Simpsons. In “A Streetcar Named Marge,” Maggie Great Escape'd her way out of The Ayn Rand School for Tots, (which I found especially funny since by sixth grade I already had a bizarre love/hate relationship with The Fountainhead), but more importantly, Marge Simpson tackled the role of Blanche DuBois in the local community theater’s musical version of the iconic play. Perhaps the most notable scene from their production included Marge swinging from the rafters while fluorescent lights flashed and a foggy mist rolled across the stage. It was the director's subtle dramatization of Blanche's descent into madness.

I may have been 11, but I was not an idiot, and I got the joke. The Simpsons had taken a masterpiece of American dramatic literature and turned it into an over-the-top soap opera with special effects. It wasn’t until I went to college and majored in theater that I realized the only reason Williams himself didn’t include similar pseudo-rave stage directions is that fluorescent lights and smoke machines had not yet been invented.

Please understand that these playful jabs at the late Williams come from a place of deep admiration and affection. He was a marvelous playwright and a beautiful wordsmith. With the turn of a phrase, he could break your heart into a million pieces and then put it back together again. But he was also a man with a passion for the melodramatic, and I suspect that if he were alive today, his favorite show would be True Blood. "Stellaaa!...I mean, Soooookie! You are miiine!" Yep, Williams would have most certainly ponied up for HBO if he knew all the delicious gothic camp that was in store for him. So when my friend Jay Gabler posted his polarizing review and his follow-up blog entry of the Guthrie’s production of Streetcar on The Twin Cities Daily Planet, I could see where he was coming from. A Streetcar Named Desire is a legendary Pulitzer Prize-winning play, but that doesn’t mean it's not an exercise in extreme melodrama.

Imagined gunshots and ghostly polka music can feel a bit ridiculous when one is trying to watch a serious play. And the constant use of streetcar sound effects to highlight Blanche's mental decline isn't exactly subtle. Perhaps the stage direction didn't feel quite as campy when the play made its Broadway debut. But whether you were watching Streetcar in 1947 or are planning to catch it for the first time during the current production's run, one must remember that Blanche has created a fantasy world for herself, and it is only through that magical lens that we can truly understand and empathize with her story.

It is oft speculated that Williams found inspiration for Blanche in his sister Rose. She was diagnosed with schizophrenia at a young age and eventually lobotomized, leaving her non-verbal for the remainder of her life. But in addition to this horrible loss, Williams himself struggled intensely with addiction and depression. He constantly feared for losing his mind, and Blanche symbolized that fear for his own sanity as much as she emulated his beloved sister. Beneath the histrionics, A Streetcar Named Desire is a devastatingly personal work. And when the marvelous Gretchen Egolf delivered her delicate ramblings in that slightly quivering Southern drawl, my heart broke not only for Blanche, but also for Tennessee.

Though director John Miller-Stephany's production was not groundbreaking, it was certainly a capable and faithful execution of a master writer's work. The production design was confident, and the cast seemed to relish their meaty roles. Egolf's Blanche was both pathetic and intoxicating, pitiful and fascinating. She was the soft romantic light from a cheap paper lantern over a bare light bulb, while Stacia Rice's Stella was the slow burn of a lit cigarette. Rice's performance was solid and steady, and throughout she managed to imbue Stella with an unmistakable sensuality and passion. With one sister so rooted in reality and the other in fantasy, it was rewarding to see the two actresses sharing moments that felt so genuine and affectionate.

As for Stanley Kowalski, I both admire and pity any actor brave enough to devote himself to the role. Perhaps more than any other character in 20th century theater, Stanley is haunted by one particular performance. No, not Ned Flanders. I'm talking about the one and only Marlon Brando. Ricardo Antonio Chavira's portrayal of the Stella's brutish husband was impressively ambitious but occasionally fell short. He easily captured the frustrated emotional outbursts of a volatile man-child, but never quite nailed the the smoldering allure that makes Stella and Stanley's ardor for one another so believable.

Though I would be curious to see a more stripped-down version of Streetcar at some point, I can't help but fear that such a production would require stripping down Blanche of who she is. And it seems almost cruel to steal that fantasy away from her, when it's all she has left. It’s like Ms. DuBois says, “I don’t want realism, I want magic.”

For more info on the play and to purchase tickets visit http://www.guthrietheater.com/

Originally posted at letoilemagazine.com

this is the happiest day of my life

2010-07-14T17:13:00.001-05:00

I write like
H. P. Lovecraft

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!

Who do you write like?

"moonshine whiskey"

2010-07-05T13:26:00.003-05:00

Dead and Breakfast is finally available on Netflix Watch Instantly. Let's celebrate with a zombie linedance!!

i've got doll hair stuck in my teeth

2010-06-24T11:23:00.002-05:00

Jessica Alba in Genlux Magazine

an important read for comic book fans

2010-05-22T16:35:00.000-05:00

Click here to read a fantastic essay about the representation of women in comic books. I love comics, but as a woman it can be a very frustrating medium to enjoy. This essay explains why.

i want a pony

2010-05-20T16:56:00.001-05:00

Or at least this Equestrian Romance Ring that my friend Emma found online. (Insert cute little whinny.)

the stockholm chronicles: chapter two

2010-05-20T16:17:00.010-05:00

tambourines and harmonies (in which your narrator attempts to become best friends with american folk singers)

Because nothing cures jet lag like loud music in a small venue, Elen and I went to a concert on my first night in Stockholm. We've both been big She & Him fans for quite some time, so it was just a bonus that we got to see the show together while I was visiting her in Sweden. The Chapin Sisters opened the show with a charming collection of sweet country melodies. We spoke to two of the sisters after the show and found them to be as lovely in person as they were onstage. Sadly, they had to turn down our offer to wreak havoc on Stockholm as they had to immediately board their tour bus to depart for Oslo. Better luck next time I suppose. We'd also hoped to use the night as an opportunity to become best friends with Zooey Deschanel (I've known we were destined to for friendship ever since I learned that her parents took her name from Franny & Zooey by JD Salinger), but she retired straight to the tour bus after the show. Our scheme had been foiled. Failure.

But we still got a great concert out of it. The band was fantastic. M. Ward was a joy to watch and Zooey Deschanel's voice sounded just as great live as it does on their albums. When she walked out onto the stage and settled behind the microphone, I whispered to Elen, "Wow, she's really tiny." "Um, Beth, she's sitting on a stool." Except Elen was wrong! There was no stool! Zooey Deschanel is that little! For someone that small, she still had quite a lot of energy to share. She spent almost the entirety of their set bouncing up and down, clapping and shaking her tambourine. It was kind of like watching a five year-old.

When she asked the crowd how many Swedes were at the show, the audience (almost entirely Swedish) gently clapped and I think someone may have whistled. Of course, she followed that up by asking whether there were any Americans in the audience. I think there were perhaps five or six of us in attendance, but we all screamed at the tops of our lungs to create a din that dwarfed the Swedes. Because Americans? We are very very loud.

a nashville girl in stockholm (in which a swede sings country music with a cute american accent)

Interestingly enough, my most intimate musical experience in Sweden took place in a raucous British pub. Once Elen and I pushed through the throng of drunken rugby fans and teetered down a precarious staircase, we found ourselves in a relatively quiet basement venue with an indie folk atmosphere. Several bands played songs (all in English) inspired by American country music (the Dolly Parton kind, not the Taylor Swift kind). My favorite performer was the evenings emcee, Charlee Porter. No, that's not her real name, but she wanted a stage name that matched her music. Her songs reminded me of Jenny Lewis and a bit of She & Him, but Charlee's voice and earnest songwriting were very much her own. She had almost completely mastered that slight American twang, except for when she sang about her little country house and pronounced "country" as "cown-try." It was painfully endearing.

We chatted after the show and I was surprised that although she sings with such a strong American accent, she still speaks English with a heavy Swedish accent. It was just another one of her characteristics that I found completely adorable. When I asked her if it was difficult to write lyrics in a language other than her native tongue, she surprised me by revealing it's much easier for her to write lyrics in English. Not only do many Swedes sing in English to reach a larger audience, it is often a more natural writing process since such a majority of the music they listen to growing up is American or British.

After the show, Elen and I shared some Jameson with a fellow ex-pat until the bar closed. It was time to take Elen home and put her to bed. (She has had maybe two drinks since she's been abroad, so any tolerance she once had has completely evaporated. Give the girl two beers and it's time to put her down for a nap.) Once she passed out in her bed and was softly snoring, I read for about three hours. Because apparently I don't sleep in Sweden.

"so happy i could die" (in which your narrator dies and goes to heaven...disco heaven)

Lady Gaga's Monster Ball stopped in Stockholm the day before my birthday, so Elen and I decided that we were fated to attend. Despite the chilly rain, hundreds of fans huddled outside The Globe Arena, creating an ocean of umbrellas. Unfortunately, umbrellas were the one item not allowed inside the venue, so as the crowds filed into the arena, enormous umbrella graveyards accumulated to the side of every entrance. Since Elen and I had assigned seats, we eschewed waiting in line and instead spent the hour before the show having a quick bite at McDonald's (for strength!) and pounding a Red Bull and vodka at a local bar (for energy!). Once we were suitability buzzed and caffeinated, we jittered to our seats just in time for the lights to drop.

As was expected, the production featured elaborate costume and set design. The show followed Gaga on her harrowing journey for fame. It was kind of like The Wizard of Oz, but with more profanity. We followed her through gritty urban jungles and dark haunted forests. She transformed from vixen to nun to fairy, then back again. There were times when I felt like I was watching a movie; it seemed impossible that the show was happening right in front of me.

The lady herself pleaded like a demented Tinkerbell as she collapsed onstage and begged for the audience to clap for her to save her life. "Are you really going to let me fucking die!?!" she screamed as the crowd roared. The dancing spectacles were predictably fantastic, but where the star really shined was at the piano. As she sat at her pyrotechnic baby grand, her cries rang out lovely and clear, enthralling the audience. When she pounded the keys and raised her voice, her simple pop ballads became anthems. So yeah, that was pretty cool.

Elen's four year-old niece has since learned to sing "Gaga oh la la!" This pleases me.

If you missed chapter one, here you go!
more adventures from Sweden to follow...

the call of the north

2010-05-19T12:30:00.010-05:00

Since I follow Ron Perlman's career with harmless obsession, I saw The Last Winter on his CV when it was still in pre-production. I was delighted to learn that Connie Britton (Tami Taylor!) and Zach Gilford (Matthew Saracen!) were also in the cast. If you don't watch Friday Night Lights, that will mean nothing to you, but it means a whole lot to me. Though the movie was never released in Minneapolis, I read through every review I could find. Though I was intrigued, the reviews were frustratingly vague. Despite everything I'd read, I still couldn't figure out what the movie was actually about.

Here's what I knew: A crew is sent to Northern Alaska to prepare a site for oil drilling. Environmental scientists are also appointed to the team. Conflict appropriately ensues. That much was basic enough. Then members of the team begin to die due to mysterious circumstances. Mysterious circumstances? Like ghosts? Do they go cabin fever and murder each other? Did they unearth some rare zombie infection from beneath the frozen tundra? Is Mother Nature getting pissed off like she did in The Happening? IS IT A WENDIGO?! (I kind of think everything is a wendigo.)

Cut to A Tiny Machine a few years later as she discovers that The Last Winter is available to watch instantly on Netflix. Holla! Even on my little laptop, the cinematography immediately created an atmosphere of urgent loneliness as it swept across the Alaskan tundra. The miles of eerie white blankness were both quietly beautiful and vaguely unsettling. With the ice stretching on forever, the crew's housing was a tiny speck on the landscape. The cramped quarters and the infinite whiteness worked together to build a disturbing sense of claustrophobia. As the team members began to die, the sense of isolation increased to a deafening level.

Throughout the movie, I couldn't help shivering under my blanket. The dialogue was sparse, and director/co-writer/producer Larry Fessenden relied on graceful camerawork to maintain the moody atmosphere. After it ended I felt cold and vaguely unsettled. The story was so quiet and gradual that I didn't notice how completely tense I was until the closing credits drifted onto the screen. Unfortunately, it would be cheap of me to spoil it for you and reveal the crew's antagonist. (Besides, if you really want to know you can look up the summary on wikipedia all on your own.) But I can tell you that The Last Winter is an incredibly well-acted low-budget indie with believable conflict and plenty of moments that will send chills down your spine. It's the thinking woman's horror movie.

Brrrrrrr.

hungry like the wolf

2010-05-18T16:17:00.004-05:00

As an avid fan of The Descent, I'd been meaning to watch Neil Marshall's cult film Dog Soldiers for quite a while. So when I stumbled upon it on television in Sweden, I knew it was time. And that is how my best friend Elen and I ended up spending an evening doing the exact same thing in Stockholm that we do in Minneapolis: watching horror movies and drinking red wine.

Dog S0ldiers takes place in the Scottish Highlands, where a group of British soldiers is slated to compete against a special forces unit in a routine training exercise. While scouting through the forest, the soldiers locate the shredded remains of the special forces team. The only survivor is the injured Captain Ryan, who appears to be in shock. Shortly after, the men are attacked by vicious carnivores that, due to the heavy brush and some frenetic Evil Dead-style camera work, remain a mystery to the audience. Sergeant Wells is disemboweled by one of the beasts, but the surviving soldiers carry him and Ryan to a nearby road. They are rescued by Megan, a zoologist who is living in the remote area to study the local werewolf legend. She drives them to a deserted farmhouse where the soldiers tend to their wounded and prepare to defend themselves against the vicious werewolves that have surrounded them.

Part of what makes Dog Soldiers work is that it's perfectly content to fit into the typical horror movie formula. Marshall doesn't waste time trying to subvert the genre or show off his cleverness. And since he's situated comfortably in an established plot arc, he can focus his energy elsewhere. The movie has plenty of fun with war movie cliches, but shifts effortlessly from engaging humor to quiet suspense to graphic violence. The fight scenes are kinetic, particularly when a soldier faces off with one of the canines in hand to hand combat.

Would you look that badass if you were about to get into a fistfight with a werewolf? I'm guessing not. This guy is my hero. Maybe Dog Soldiers won't change your life, but its cult status is well-deserved. Besides, decent werewolf flicks are hard to come by. I take what I can get.

death at a funeral

2010-05-18T10:16:00.001-05:00

Art-A-Whirl weekend kicked off with a fashion show in the Thorp Building with a retrospective of local fashion veteran Kerry Riley's work. "The Death of Red Shoe" commemorated her successful clothing line Red Shoe Clothing Co., and also gave the designer a chance to publicly announce that she is relaunching her designs under the new label Needle & Black.

As is an issue with many retrospective-style shows, the presentation felt slightly disjointed as it veered between the dramatic and the casual, the wearable and the couture. However, the looks provided an engaging summary of the designer's history in The Twin Cities. Riley's unique leather harnesses punctuated the collection, while her infinitely wearable jersey dresses in stripes and solids highlighted the chic accessibility that the designer has made her signature.

Riley's breezy summer dresses can be easily dressed up or down, and as the models sauntered through the open-air venue, I couldn't help but imagine spending the summer biking around the lakes in a Kerry Riley dress, wedge-heeled sandals and a straw fedora.

Red Shoe's swan song culminated with an ethereal dress that fluttered in the breeze as the model floated down the aisle on a summery swing. The finale gown's cathedral-length train danced as it caught the air, a suitability dramatic closing for such a successful local line.

Ever the gracious host, Riley closed the show with a few words about the line and many thanks to her family and friends. I was reminded of something that I often take for granted in the cities: Though plenty of our talented local designers continue to have great success, through and through, they are a humble and kind-hearted bunch. It's our very own version of "Minnesota nice."

[All photos by Stacy Schwartz]
Originally published at letoilemagazine.com

the stockholm chronicles: chapter one

2010-05-05T07:08:00.034-05:00

disaster strikes (in which your narrator is embarrassingly irresponsible)

My flights to Amsterdam and Stockholm were pretty uneventful. The volcanic ash was light. The wine was free. The in-flight movie screens were teeny tiny. I did sit next to a lovely Norwegian named Mari, who is afraid of flying and spent our take-off and landing clutching my hand in a vice-like grip. Apparently, fear of flight knows no language barrier. Upon my arrival my best friend Elen was there to greet me and take me home to her apartment where I promptly fell asleep on her bed. All was well for the first couple of days, until I made an alarming discovery. My passport was gone. Yes my friends, I lost my passport. The traveller's worst nightmare. I didn't tell anyone other than Elen right away as 1) I didn't want anyone to worry about me (especially my mother), and 2) I was horribly embarrassed. It's one thing to have your passport stolen, but in Sweden, robberies occur about as often as I clean my apartment. Very rarely. When anything embarrassing happens, my first instinct is complete denial. But over the years I've learned that the best way to get over a mortifying experience is to have a laugh at your own expense and then tell your tale, both so that your friends and family can get in on laugh and also so that they can learn from your mistakes.

The last time I'd had my passport out of my bag was when I boarded my flight in Amsterdam. Since I didn't need to take it out again, it was a few days before I noticed that it was missing. Upon that discovery, I uttered some un-ladylike curse words, then gulped down the panic and went to the Stockholm U.S. Embassy website. I'd hoped to give them a call, just to hear a reassuring voice and have someone walk me through the process, but the American Embassy in Stockholm only takes phone calls from 1:00 to 2:00 pm on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. I know, right? Their offices are only open from 9:00 to 11:00 am, and so it was here that I learned my first lesson: American Embassies have bizarre hours. I learned on their website that I would need to come in with new passport photos, a police report for the lost passport, as well as all identification that I had brought with me to Sweden. The police report was easy enough. Again, Swedes seem to be missing the crime gene that's so prevalent in America, so the station was quiet and I think the woman who assisted me was just excited to have something to do. The process was quick and painless. What was not as easy was getting my passport photo.

You see, for some reason, American passports use a different size photograph than, um, pretty much every other country. So not only do you need to find an establishment that can take your picture, you've got to find one that offers American sizing. If you check a U.S. Embassy website and it mentions that there is a passport photo machine in their building: DO NOT BELIEVE THEM! They will have one, but it will be broken. By the time Elen and I located an establishment that could accommodate my needs, it was eight minutes til close. We broke into a powerful sprint-walk, and though the doors were closing just as we arrived, a friendly employee took pity on us and let us inside. This is why my temporary passport features a photograph of me in which my bangs are wind-blown and my face is a bright cherry red. I look forward to taking a new picture shortly.

Once I had the necessary documents, it was time to give my friendly American Embassy a visit. Losing your passport is a stressful experience, but I knew that when I crossed over that threshold to American soil, I'd feel safe and reassured. I took the bus over to the Stockholm street that may as well be known as "Embassy Row." It was bordered by a lush green park, and the embassies themselves were beautiful dark brick buildings. The air was brisk and the sidewalk was wet from rain the night before. As I walked past Italy, South Korea, and Germany, I knew everything was going to be okay. Then I saw the American Embassy. You'll know the United States Embassy becuase in this sea of friendly architecture and foliage, it is the giant gray rectangular building that looks straight out of the Eastern Bloc. It is an oasis of depressing bureaucracy. My favorite feature was that, unlike the other embassies, visitors have to line up outside a guard station on the sidewalk. You can't go in and wait. I queued up with other Americans and the Swedes applying for visas and waited. For a while. The brisk chill that I'd been enjoying earlier settled into an unfriendly cold as the rain resumed. As we all hopped in place, trying to stay warm, the guards finally began to call us one by one to go through security. Inside was a waiting room full of cranky people, both American and Swedish, and I can tell you that I will never complain about the DMV again. It was hot, crowded, and there were crying babies everywhere. Fortunately I'd brought a book with me, so I did my best to tune out my surroundings and catch up on my reading. Eventually someone took down my information, and told me that my passport would be ready by 2:00 pm. Finally, I was approaching the homestretch.

the American Embassy in Stockholm, looking as chipper as it gets

Since I had a couple of hours to kill, I settled in at a Japanese restaurant and consumed copious amounts of sushi. I continued to devour my novel as well, but I decided that I should head back so that I could be back at the embassy early. I arrived about half til 2:00 and approached the guard booth. "We don't let anyone in until 2:00." "Not even to wait inside for a passport?" "No. 2.00. Exactly." I was stuck outside in the cold. Again. I should have stayed at the restaurant. At least this time I was first in line. When the guards finally let me go through security at five past the hour, I made my approach to the dreaded waiting room of waiting. It was completely deserted. I was alone and it was disconcerting. Free of the previous throng, the room had actually become quite cold, so I snuggled up in a corner chair and waited for my name to be called. I thought about getting a snack or a soda, but all of the vending machines were empty. There also did not appear to be a restroom. An employee finally came over to let me know that they were having computer issues and that I would have to wait another hour, so I continued to wait and shiver.

When my passport was ready, a wave of relief washed over me. Sure, I looked like crap in my new photograph, but it was only temporary. Now that I've shared my story, I hope that you, dear reader, can learn from my experience and know what to do if you ever lose your passport in a foreign country. But I will remind you, the best strategy is to never lose it at all. I know I'll never lose mine again, since as soon as I receive my new permanent passport I am having it surgically implanted in my forearm. Getting it renewed might be a little painful, but at least I'll have peace of mind.

more adventures from Sweden to follow...

pour one out for me

2010-04-30T11:58:00.010-05:00

Though I'll be in Stockholm next week, I want to let Minneapolitans know that létoile is sponsoring a night at The Guthrie Theater on May 5th. The discounted tickets for David Henry Hwang's M. Butterfly are a mere $15, and guests are welcome to attend an after party catered by Sea Change on the patio. Complimentary hors d'oeuvres will be served while the lovely DJ Matt Perkins will provide the evening's soundtrack. To take advantage of this fantastic deal, call the Guthrie Box Office at 612-377-2224 and request the l'etoile special discount.

Photo by Michal Daniel courtesy of The Guthrie Theater

In the meantime, don't forget to vote for my handsome fiancé for One Man Minneapolis. If Brian wins, in addition to making a donation to the YMCA, he will also be donating all of his personal winnings to MNfashion, Dress for Success via l'étoile, and The Humane Society. That's right, the personal winnings that we could spend on a honeymoon? He's giving them all away. He is a better person than I am, but I suppose that's why I love him so much.

zombies and zeppelins

2010-04-30T09:10:00.020-05:00

This post is dedicated to l'étoilette, birthday girl and all-around superstar Juleana Enright, who looks right at home in a pair of steampunk-style goggles. She is also the worst vegan I've ever met.

Author Cherie Priest has recently made quite a name for herself in the steampunk universe, and for anyone looking for an introduction to this strange and fascinating genre, her novel Boneshaker is an excellent place to start. I mentioned this book before in my Best Nerdery of 2009, but I thought it deserved a bit more attention.

Set during the Civil War in an alternate Seattle, Boneshaker combines Priest's two most revered genres: steampunk and horror. After a devastating drilling accident in the heart of downtown Seattle, a mysterious underground gas is released, infecting the city's residents and transforming them into flesh-craving zombies. A great wall is built to contain the heavy gas and the gut-churning undead, and the survivors residing outside of the city live in relative peace. Protagonist Briar Wilkes is forced to enter the city (via zeppelin, naturally) after her teenage son Zeke sneaks into the quarantine zone in an attempt to exonerate his father, the inventor responsible for the tragic drilling disaster.

An uncommon feature of the novel is that the main character is a single woman who we can assume is in her late 30s or 40s since she has a teenage child. It's still quite rare for novels and films to have a middle-aged action heroine, and it's commendable that Priest took this route without any self-congratulation or fanfare. While reading the compellingly visual book, I couldn't help but wish for a television mini-series of the story. I immediately imagined Paula Malcomson (Caprica, Deadwood) as Briar Wilkes, with her hair dyed dark. Are you listening Syfy? I'm giving you gold here!

In addition to being selected by Amazon as one of the essential science fiction novels of 2009, Boneshaker made it to the final ballot for the 2009 Nebula Award for Best Novel and has been nominated for a 2010 Hugo Award. Priest will be following Boneshaker with Dreadnought, which will be set in the same universe.

yum yum!

2010-04-30T08:39:00.005-05:00

Ta da! We've released our spring fashion editorial "Kiss Me Cake!" When I concepted this shoot, my thought process was this: Dresses are pretty. Cakes are pretty. Hats are pretty. Let's shoot dresses with hats made of cake! I didn't really think through the logistics of this idea. So kids, want to know the inside scoop? Cake hats are heavy. Our models were fantastic champs all day and I think we owe them some massage certificates for those neck cramps. Additionally, all of the fashion and accessories were made by local designers, as well as the cake hats themselves. Enjoy this tasty treat with a lovely introduction by our own staff writer and science fiction legend Rob Callahan...

l'étoile magazine's spring fashion editorial, "Kiss Me, Cake" is a sweet mashup of high style and delectable pastry! Basing their designs off of sumptuous gowns and fresh springtime garments, three Twin Cities cake decorators created sugary "hats" that matched the decadence of each dress. Shot by l'étoile editor Kate Iverson, with creative direction by Beth Hammarlund, art direction by Chris Larson, fashion styling by Jahna Peloquin, and hair/makeup by Kate Erickson.

Layered beneath the intoxication of tiramisu rum, the sticky-sweet sapor of icing and devil's food richness, venerable vixens and dazzling dolls adorned with delicate ribbons, bows and sugar flowers beckon like sirens to the sweet of tooth. The promise of love and confection awaits, so look ahead to Kiss Me, Cake. -Rob Callahan

Click to enlarge the spread and page through the photos

happy feet

2010-04-29T14:15:00.006-05:00

There just isn't any way that I can justify spending $88 on a pair of Keds...is there? They sparkle! They're by Alice + Olivia! They're at Neiman Marcus! And they sparkle! I need sensible walking shoes to take with my to Stockholm next week! Does that reasoning work? Bueller?

a willowy glittery fantasy forest

2010-04-29T12:30:00.002-05:00

I just realized that I'd forgotten to share l'étoile's end of winter fashion editorial here on my personal blog. The white glitter antlers and the frozen crown of twigs were kind of pain to make, but they were worth it in the end.

Click to enlarge the spread and page through the photos

deus ex imagination

2010-04-29T11:11:00.010-05:00

Last Friday for l'étoile's MNfashion event "Imagination Mechanism," our staff took on a unique challenge. The party was a celebration of the creative process, so guests were invited to watch a photo shoot as it took place in one of the Eitel Building's gorgeous apartments, then the entire post-production process (re-touching, layout design, etc.) was projected to give attendants an insider's view of how a fashion editorial is created. So yes, we styled and produced a photo shoot, re-touched the images, and designed a layout all in one evening. If there is ever a Project Runway-style fashion editorial competition, I'm pretty sure the l'étoile staff could easy handle whatever challenges they threw our way.

Click to enlarge the spread and page through the photos

Special thanks to our sponsors Eitel Building City Apartments, Vision Management Group, Secrets of the City, and Ginger Hop Restaurant. A big thanks also to Clement Shimizu, Cole Griswold, Anna Lee, The Guthrie Theater, MNFashion, all the l'etoile staffers, all our awesome volunteers and the huge (and stylish) crowd who came out to check out the event -- we were blown away!

american psycho

2010-04-26T15:02:00.003-05:00

Laura Fulk has made a name for herself in the Twin Cities and beyond by taking traditionally feminine sartorial elements and subverting them, creating modern looks that are both aesthetically pleasing and intellectually challenging. She toys with images of 1950s housewives, suffragettes, and pioneer women, while remaining effortlessly true to her contemporary design sensibility.

In "To the Ends of the Universe," her second solo runway show since last spring's "Suffocate," Fulk presented her Autumn/Winter 2010 collection amidst the modern architecture of the McNamara Alumni Center. As was to be expected, the presentation was one of the most polished and professional of MNFashion Week, thanks to Fulk's business partner and the show's producer Ray Shan.

The collection itself contained a healthy balance of dresses and separates that ranged from office appropriate to cocktail ready. Plenty of the dresses featured conservative cuts with high collars and knee-length skirts, though many included daring slits that allowed peeks of the contrast lining within. Very little skin was shown, but the strong shoulders and chain details gave the collection a hard edge.

One of Fulk's unique abilities is to create pieces that are conservative in cut, but tweak the design in such a way that something about the overall look feels slightly wrong and unsettling. The coats and dresses were surprisingly conservative, but by incorporating a moody palette, consistent asymmetry, and deconstructed details, Fulk conceptualized a collection that was half Park Avenue princess and half American Psycho.

During a model's first pass, a simple black number appeared to be a slightly updated version of a basic kimono dress. But as the model marched back down the aisle that served as the runway, a beautifully constructed row of pleats was revealed across the back. The delicate pleating was seen throughout the collection, a hallmark of how far Fulk has come with her tailoring.

Fulk also played with separates and knits in this collection far more than her previous show. Sweaters with bulbous over-sized sleeves were unconventional, but wearable. Blouses and trousers were true to the designer's vision, while being perfectly appropriate for both the office and happy hour. Though Fulk's major strength still lies in her dresses and coats, it will be exciting for consumers to have more Fulk pieces that they can mix and match into their own wardrobes this fall.

Considering that she has such a singular vision, Fulk is a designer who regularly reaches out to others artists to collaborate. This collection featured prints created by MCAD alumnae Melissa Breitenfelt and Laura Weber. The prints referenced delicate nebulas as well as colors that reached dark oceanic depths., The greens and blues were a pleasing compliment to the science fiction-inspired elements that Fulk often touches upon in her work.

The closing looks echoed a theatrical element used at Fulk's last show at The Lab Theater. Two models walked the runway dressed as mirror images of one another, a rare point of symmetry in a show overflowing with imbalance. Though one model's look echoed the cool shades of the previous looks, the other model wore a dress accented with fiery touches of yellow and red, keeping the collection connected to the designer's outer space inspiration. Both dresses featured scattered LED lights, a favorite of technologically-savvy designers such as Hussein Chalayan. The blue pricks of light also adorned the train of the finale gown, along with a thread painting of hand-dyed raw wools and organic silks. According to the designer, the thread painting was a technique she experimented with in her earlier work. Its use in this collection was a glorious re-birth.

Many of Fulk's signature design elements such as funnel collars, contrast lining, asymmetry, and elegant deconstruction punctuated the collection. Though the designer has developed one of the most recognizable design aesthetics in the Twin Cities, it would be compelling to see her operate further outside of her comfort zone. When establishing one's voice as a designer, it's dangerously easy for signatures to become crutches. But if there's one local designer who constantly pushes herself forward, it's Laura Fulk.

Photos by Lauren Gantner

Originally published at letoilemagazine.com

danger, danger! high voltage!

2010-04-25T19:35:00.002-05:00

An annual staple of the local fashion and music scenes, Voltage: Fashion Amplified has become one of those rare events that manages to outdo itself every year. This year, MNFashion's pièce de résistance was as big as ever in the First Avenue Mainroom, bringing together five bands and over 15 local designers with seamless execution.

[A look by Raul Osorio. Photo by Digital Crush]

The runway show opened with designs by Raul Osorio, a new designer quickly becoming known for well-cut and beautifully draped menswear. The military-inspired jackets with over-sized buttons and epaulets would have been elegant additions to the costume wardrobe of the Guthrie Theatre's recent production of Macbeth. Impeccable trousers with trim and pocket details in complimentary colors were juxtaposed with gently draped hoods and scarves. Osorio and stylist Danica Andler worked with jewelry designer Carrier Pigeon to craft a custom line of chains, brooches and necklaces for the collection, and the exaggerated pompadours and chiseled makeup perfectly complimented the line's aesthetic.

[A look by Frances Zerr. Photo by Digital Crush]

Frances Zerr's collection took to the stage next. The designer's series of wearable garments offered relaxed features such as elastic waistbands, drawstrings and flat pockets, but the pieces were hardly loungewear. The line offered elegant racerback tanks, sundresses with edgy cut-outs, and a fresh take on the shirtdress. Stylist Angie Hanson accessorized the collection with flirty bits and baubles by local upcyclers Vintage City Classics and fresh-from-the-market props and laidback fedoras. The line was perfectly suited for leisurely bike rides and summer afternoons spent drinking chilled wine outside Barbette. Speaking of which, any of these looks would be perfect for the restaurant's annual Bastille Day block party this summer.

[Blue Sky Blackout in Blackblue. Photo by Digital Crush]

Osorio's and Zerr's collections went out to a soundtrack courtesy of new supergroup Blue Sky Blackout in dapper looks styled by Steve Kang, owner of St. Paul boutique BlackBlue. Kang managed to get the boys out of their usual black uniforms and into seersucker suits fit for gin and tonic-swilling Nantucketers. The looks were dressed down with pastel polos in varying shades, and it's a testament to guitarist Jon Hunt's swagger that he was able to make aquamarine look so very rock and roll.

[A look by Kelson by Brianne Jones. Photo by Digital Crush]

Red Pens kicked off the next set outfitted in looks by local design rock star Kerry Riley of Red Shoe Clothing Co. Riley suited guitarist Howard Hamilton in casual menswear, while drummer Laura Bennett was glammed up in a show-stopping gown with a cathedral-length train and a deconstructed bleach treatment. Brianne Jones' line Kelson took to the runway next with a series of contemporary looks, which were quite a departure from Jones' collection for Voltage 2008 under the line Belle. Though it didn't have as strong of a point of view as Belle, at times seeming disjointed, there were plenty of items in the mix that were both interesting and completely wearable. Accessory designer Karin Jacobson's recent foray into lower-priced laser-cut pieces was the perfect compliment, and stylist Alice Sydow of I've Got Your Style created a presentation that would appeal to just about any city girl.

[A look by Elena Mercurio. Photo by Digital Crush]

Local fashion rookie Elena Mercurio made her Voltage debut with a collection that included the most innovative piece of the entire show: a white evening coat with artfully placed openings in lieu of traditional sleeves. Felt accessories by silvercocoon and bags by Post- helped give the collection a modern feel, and the scrunched socks worn with open-toed wedges were a nice touch added by stylist Mike Head. Mercurio's aesthetic is brimming with potential. In this collection, she seemed to struggle with her confidence and consistency, but she approached the task with such ambition that it's impossible not to be excited about what she'll do next.

Caroline Smith must be sick of Jenny Lewis and Kate Nash comparisons, but when the stunning redhead and her dapper band The Good Night Sleeps took the stage in looks by design duo Calpurnia Peach, the comparisons were certainly apt. Smith's dress, featuring a wallpaper print that has become a signature of the designers, had a delightful retro feel. It was the perfect kick start for the next two designers to hit the runway.

[A look by Danielle Everine. Photo by Digital Crush]

Fashion stylist Trevor Small clearly enjoyed working with Danielle Everine's collection. The designer's windowpane plaid women's suiting and soft blouses were beautifully complimented with wide-brimmed millinery by Angie's Hats, dainty gloves, grosgrain hair bows and men's ties. Everine's leather accents and clever cuts kept the collection from feeling dated, and the result was a presentation that was truly entertaining to witness. The hair and makeup were on trend with kicky side braids and exaggerated brows, thanks to a strong vision by Voltage lead stylists Catlin Weston (hair) and Ashley Kilcher (makeup), but it was the voluminous upsweeps that would have made Katharine Hepburn green with envy.

[A look by Carmichael Claith. Photo by Digital Crush]

Carmichael Claith by Christine Carmichael followed with a series of looks begging to be worn by British model Karen Elson on a Brighton Beach holiday. The collection opened with several boardwalk-appropriate nautical pieces and gently evolved into the girlish femininity that the line has become known for. The ladylike prints and ruffles were accessorized with exaggerated bowties, over-sized bows, and tiny accent bowler hats (which I'm sure METRO Magazine Fashion Editor Mary O'Regan had her eye on). Accessory designers Pea's & Bean's must have been head-over-heels for how well the pieces all worked together. Heeled oxfords, delicate ankle socks and fishtail braids completed the looks. It was a great showing by fashion stylist Zach Pearl.

[Mayda in Laura Fulk and model in George Moskal. Photo by Digital Crush]

Local rock icon in-the-making Mayda took over the stage wearing a look by Laura Fulk that included a violet scarf-vest accented with LED lights. Fashion fixture George Moskal presented as the pint-sized singer performed, offering an extremely wearable collection of sophisticated separates and cocktail dresses. A dramatically-shaped teal frock practically cried out for a turban; it was so deliciously Dynasty. But where his designs really excel is in separates, where he blends casual elements such as t-shirt cuts and chest pockets with elegant draping and timeless fabrics. With accessories by Liebling Designs jewelry, Nelle handbags, and fingerless black gloves adding a tough edge, stylist Trevor Small's presentation gave audience members plenty of new additions for their mental shopping lists.

[A look by Kevin Kramp. Photo by Digital Crush]

The show shifted from the sophisticated to the unconventional with Kevin Kramp's avant-garde collection of men's knits. Gaping cowl necks and wild patterns were teamed with edgy accessories by Ferociter and OGI Eyewear. A scarf so heavily looped and layered around a model's neck and shoulders created a silhouette both attractive and unsettling, faintly recalling the hunched Skeksis in The Dark Crystal. The daring collection was styled by Zach Pearl, whose handmade, colorful sport sandals worn with socks was a deft contribution to the overall look and feel of the collection. With bold makeup and cornrows conceived of by lead stylists Ashley Kilcher and Catlin Weston, respectively, it was the most aggressive and forward-thinking presentation of the evening.

[A look by PFT Couture. Photo by Digital Crush]

Anthem Heart (with design help from Monica Ulrich) supplied closing band Ruby Isle with the appropriate party gear for a crowd-pleasing finale. PFT Couture's Pafoua Thao brought the show right into summer with flowing mini-dresses in tropical prints. With bold white and gold earrings by Two Bit Bling, bird-of-paradise fascinators by Ruby3 (designed by Voltage producer Anna Lee), and adorable clutches by Christopher Straub of Project Runway fame, the collection practically begged for poolside cabanas and Mai Tais. A plunging white gown with black calligraphy strokes brought to mind both Dolce & Gabbana's recent Marilyn Monroe-printed frocks and Christian Dior's iconic newspaper print dress. Thao hit her high note with an Asian-inspired finale gown, a dramatic number that showcased her skill for fabric manipulation.

[A look by Emma Berg. Photo by Digital Crush]

For the finale, mplsart.com director Emma Berg further established herself in the fashion community with an array of mouthwatering finale confections. Blouses, harem pants and layered skirts showcased Berg's ability to craft separates that range from avant-garde to conservative (relatively speaking). A kaleidoscopic firecracker print created by local artist Ruben Nusz served as a throughline for the collection in both style and color. The sweetness of the designs and the edible Rox Jewelry by Robyne Robinson were tempered with edgy bags by Christopher Straub and styling inspired by the designer herself. Models in cropped black wigs, dark netted veils and goth lipstick complimented the dessert-like quality of the designs, creating a ladylike juxtaposition often seen at major couture houses such as Christian Dior and the now defunct Christian Lacroix. Like good perfume, the overall effect was sweet, but never cloying.

[PFT Couture's collection. Photo by Digital Crush]

It is truly inspiring to watch so many people come together and, through talent and hard work, actualize such a fantastic sartorial spectacle. Over the past few years, Voltage has become the prime springboard for aspiring fashion designers, stylists and models, as well as the ultimate marketing opportunity for more established lines. Lead Stylist Jahna Peloquin, a veteran of the Voltage crew (and l'étoile Fashion Editor), approaches the collections with just as much wit and sophistication as the stylists working New York Fashion Week, and founder Anna Lee has taken her creation to greater heights every year. This year's Voltage show truly showcased just how established the Twin Cities fashion scene has become in recent years.

Visit www.digitalcrushphoto.com for more Voltage 2010 photos by Digital Crush.

Originally published at letoilemagazine.com.

this looks fantastic

2010-04-02T21:39:00.002-05:00

lost at sea

2010-03-31T14:51:00.000-05:00

When first waking up, I spend a few moments in this strange place between consciousness and sleep, like I'm existing in two worlds at the same time, but am disconnected from both. I'm lost in this space where everything around me feels both familiar and foreign. Slowly my mind clears, my senses wake, and I remember where I am and who I am. But that feeling of drifting deja vu and disconnection is so distinct and unique that I was incredibly surprised to experience a similar sensation while watching Triangle.

Triangle was written and directed by Christopher Smith, the auteur behind the hilariously disturbing Severance. Though it was actually released in 2009, it certainly never came to a theater near me and finally just came out on Netflix Watch Instantly. Starring Melissa George, this outing is less gory and less funny than its predecessor, but it's still thoroughly mesmerizing. George stars as Jess, a waitress and single mother of an autistic child who is invited on a sailing trip by Greg, a regular at her restaurant. They are joined by two of Greg's closest friends, Sally and Downey, their friend Heather whom they awkwardly invited along in the hope that she'd hit it off with Greg, and 18 year-old Victor, a troubled kid that Greg has taken in to help him operate his boat, The Triangle. It's sufficiently awkward and realistic as the characters meet and get to know one another. Sally takes an immediate dislike to the quiet Jess, partially due to her disappointment of not being able to set up Greg and Heather, but also due to Jess's shorty shorts. Jess self-consciously stumbles as she attempts to make friends, while visibly dealing with the guilt leaving her son for the day.

It doesn't take long for things to turn dark. A sudden storm tears the boat apart and tragically drags the likable Heather out to sea. Once the storm passes, the survivors huddle on the hull of the capsized sailboat. To everyone's relief, a cruise ship appears in the distance and makes its way to the rejoicing survivors. But the ship is abandoned, completely deserted. Soon after, the characters start being picked off one by one, and eventually Jess faces a masked assailant in a climactic fight scene on the upper deck, during which she victoriously throws her attacker into the ocean. And that's just about when you hit the half hour mark. Wait, what?

So the standard slasher storyline is finished and there's still about an hour to go. And this is when things get strange and that disconnected otherworldly feeling starts to kick in. As Jess gazes out to sea, relieved at having killed her anonymous assailant, she sees a capsized schooner with five survivors waving for help. When the cruise ship approaches, Greg, Sally, Downey, Victor and Jess Version 2.0 board the ship and the story begins again. What follows is a beautifully executed dance of overlapping timelines and trippy plot twists. That dreamy deja vu ratchets up as Jess struggles to understand what is happening to her and why events are repeating themselves.

Usually I am all about the spoilers, but this is a movie that needs to be enjoyed with a little surprise and mystery. I can't bring myself to give anything else away. It's not a perfect film, but it's an ambitious and occasionally fascinating one. The screenplay is beautifully written, with realistic dialogue, a complicated concept, and subtle references to Greek mythology and The Bermuda Triangle that weave together creating a chilling chain of events. The entire cast hits their notes perfectly, but it's Melissa George who carries the whole film with believable weight and grace. I used to be firmly in the anti-Melissa George camp (thank you Alias season three), but after Triangle, In Treatment, 30 Days of Night, and realizing that she was totally in Dark City, I'm starting to think that she might be an extraordinarily talented actress.

i really think so

2010-02-24T18:53:00.003-06:00

keep their heads ringin'

2010-02-16T19:49:00.001-06:00

Loving the cover art for the upcoming release of the "Telephone" re-mixes.

twinsies!

2010-02-15T15:49:00.003-06:00

Great minds think alike! On the left is a new look from Richard Chai, on the right one of Emma Berg's looks from last fall. Keep an eye out for Miss Emma. She's going places.

l'enfant terrible

2010-02-15T10:00:00.000-06:00

McQueen, my king, is gone. Only a week after the death of his mother and three years after the suicide of his mentor and dear friend Isabella Blow, incomparable fashion genius, l'enfant terrible as he was often called, Alexander McQueen has taken his own life. The man who began his career on Saville Row, creating custom-tailored suits for royal pricks and rebelling by embroidering vulgar messages inside their coats, has died and it is heartbreaking.

Isabella Blow, who devastatingly took her own life three years ago, was my idol growing up. Though an esteemed fashion editor, it was mostly her iconic hats that made me fall in love with her. So when she discovered and launched the career of (Lee) Alexander McQueen, I took notice. I may have been leading a mundane ponytailed high school existence with days consumed by the school paper and dance team practice, but at night I was clipping out McQueen images from magazines and pasting them up inside my closet, obsessed with the designer who taught me that beauty and horror can co-exist.

Fall 06

Alexander McQueen established himself as fashion's bad boy early in his career, a moniker I always disliked, but that he seemed to enjoy. His first collections in London were as despised as they were revered, and his attitude toward the norms of the industry incited established designers to label him a hooligan. McQueen loved pointing out the silliness of the fashion world, taping interviews with his back to the camera and closing a show by mooning the audience instead of taking the traditional designer bow.

I was mesmerized by his time spent at Givenchy, where he was able to make his theatrical vision a reality on the runway. Many considered his career at Givenchy a failure (he even called his first collection crap). The house known for dressing Audrey Hepburn in chic and feminine gowns did not seem an appropriate fit for McQueen's avant garde style. But the designer used his brief tenure there to set a new industry standard for imaginative runway presentations, particularly when double amputee model Aimee Mullins walked down his runway wearing elaborately carved wooden legs.

the legendary prosthetic limbs

Shortly after, he had Shalom Harlow spray painted by car factory robots.

And in 2006 he transformed Kate Moss into a ghostly hologram.

In his last presentation, he took his showmanship to new levels with the frighteningly beautiful production "Plato's Atlantis."

When Gwyneth Paltrow was eviscerated by the fashion press for wearing breast-baring McQueen to the Academy Awards in 2002, I was overjoyed that a stereotypical Hollywood "ingenue" and "starlet" (or any other insulting and infantalizing term that you can imagine) was screaming "Fuck you!" in McQueen. Because McQueen was more than a designer, he was a language. And whatever you said, if you said it in McQueen, it translated to "I am not the woman you want to fuck. I am the woman you do not want to fuck with."

Fall 09

McQueen was always a polarizing figure, particularly when it came to feminism. Early in his career, he was vilified as a misogynist for exploring the Highland clearance in his legendary "Highland Rape" collection. More recently, he came under fire for dressing models in painful corsets and unwalkable heels, a decision that many argued further subjugated women.

Meanwhile, other critics praised him for his fearsome and empowering designs that portrayed women as predatory, sometimes unsexed, as Lady Macbeth would have said. Despite all of the controversy and debate, he always struck me as a lover of women, constantly celebrating the strangeness and the bewitching character of the alleged fairer sex. His themes were somehow both frail and hostile, as if he were a frightened child lashing out at the world through his art.

a torn and battered look from the Fall 95 "Highland Collection"

Alexander McQueen was many things: a master tailor, a shock artist, a rogue taxidermist, and a lover of all things both terrifying and beautiful, the macabre and the transcendent, the gothic and heavenly. He was a black star and a supernova, united as sartorial maestro. How could a man capable of such artistic darkness also create visions of such imaginative romance?

Spring 2007

I know that people often react to suicide by asserting that the act is selfish and cowardly, and maybe that's true. But aren't we're all selfish and frightened? And perhaps it was selfish of us to expect so much, to crave so much from McQueen the artist, a soul so fragile and deeply troubled. I don't know if there is an afterlife, but I hope that Alexander McQueen and Isabella Blow are somewhere out there together, somewhere magical and safe.

a look from the Spring 08 Isabella Blow tribute collection

What a wonderfully strange and magnificent man he was, and what a devastating loss for us all.

Alexander McQueen 1969-2010

heart of darkness

2010-02-13T19:17:00.003-06:00

Amazing director (Philip Ridley). Talented cast (Jim Sturgess, Clemence Poesy and Noel Clarke). Strange and thrilling premise. Color me in.

oh holy jesus

2010-01-28T00:16:00.003-06:00

I don't even know what to say. I need someone to explain to me what the hell is going on at Valentino. I've had issues with label in recent years, but I just don't have the wherewithal to break this collection down tonight, so I'm going to let it marinate and attack the collection with commentary tomorrow. In the meantime, Jenna's got some great observations up on Jezebel. The first thing I thought when I looked through the first couple of looks was: Oh shit. Poor man's Rodarte.

show me your teeth

2010-01-27T12:31:00.000-06:00

Tavi and Alexa Chung at the Chanel show

a few outstanding looks from chanel

2010-01-26T18:04:00.007-06:00

be mine

2010-01-26T18:02:00.001-06:00

backstage at Chanel Couture

i want candy

2010-01-25T18:18:00.006-06:00

So after I selected these images from the Christian Dior couture show and made my little comments, but of course before I had proofread and posted it, Dodai at Jezebel did the same thing (with some of the same exact references). But of course hers is far more insightful and funny. Blast! But anyway, here's a less entertaining version to keep you less entertained! It's what I'm here for!

"Off to the fox hunt! Pip, pip! Cheerio!"

"It's so fortunate that I just happened to be wearing my riding culottes today!"

"I'll get my hands on those dalmatians if it kills me."

I'm intrigued by the physics that went into designing this hat. I must understand the science!!

I feel like there's something very Marie Antoinette meets Valley of the Dolls going on here.

I'm fighting the overwhelming urge to cover my apartment with tea roses and bustled satin. Is that wrong?

I love seeing couture and knowing that, if I could afford it, I would totally wear this for dinner with my girlfriends. Perhaps not the hat, unless we were getting together for High Tea at The St. Paul Hotel.

"My parents named me Chanel Iman. Thank goodness I turned out pretty."

Someone's been marathoning Joan Collins movies.

Like, lots of Joan Collins movies.

This model's hair makes me want a danish, please.

The world needs more bustles. It's an easy spot to store your clutch, leaving your hands free for more important things such as gesticulating wildly, nibbling chocolate covered strawberries, and sipping champagne.

And now I'm hungry for scallops.

Fashion pirate!

for your consideration

2010-01-25T11:21:00.017-06:00

Ah, the SAG Awards. So unfortunately named, but still the only awards that I really put much faith in, at least as far as acting is concerned. Though there were a lot of lovely looks on the red carpet (Julianna Margulies in Narcisco Rodriguez and Meryl Streep in Balenciaga deserve a quick acknowledgment), this list includes just my very favorites of the night. Enjoy.

Monique in um, I'm not really sure: Let's start out with a dress that I desperately want for myself, and can someone please tell me who made it so I can track it down? Monique and I have quite different body types, but this is a chic and feminine gown that has the potential to flatter so many figures. The pale blush shade can be a little hard to wear (and would probably wash me out), but it looks magnificent against Monique's skin tone. Another major point for this look is that the actress (and potentially her stylist) insisted on proper undergarments. This is an issue for any figure, especially when one is wearing a gown made of thin fabric in a pale color, and I've seen many a beautiful dress ruined by unsightly foundation garments. Victory all around.

Kate Hudson in Emilio Pucci: Why? WHY does Kate Hudson keep wearing dresses that I love and forcing me to include her in these red carpet recaps? I'm seriously considering no longer featuring her on this site and starting a Hudson boycott. Because I'm sorry, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Fool's Gold, and Alex & Emma cancel out all the beautiful Emilio Pucci, Marchesa, and Versace in the world. But this dress is still gorgeous (though I could do without the awkward pout 'n' pose).

Marion Cotillard in Elie Saab: This Elie Saab strikes me as a bizarre combination of Bjork's infamous swan dress and a figure skating costume, but you know, in a good way.

Christina Applegate in Roberto Cavalli: Normally princessy gowns aren't my favorite, but there's something so simple and elegant about this dress (descriptive terms I don't usually associate with Roberto Cavalli). Ms. Applegate's hair was also fantastic. Appropriately formal, without being fussy.

stunning rosy makeup and sparkly accessories as well

Sandra Bullock in Alexander McQueen: First of all, I love Jesse James and I adored Monster Garage. I find it so hilarious to see photos of him at these events in a suit. Love it. Secondly, I knew you had it in you, Sandy! I haven't really liked any of Sandra Bullock's recent red carpet choices, but this McQueen gown is such a fantastic selection. Alexis Carrington would be proud.

Anna Paquin in Alexander McQueen: This is such a fantastic McQueen collection and it's so rewarding to see an actress give it justice at such a large event. The dress is quite a lot in itself, so I'm glad that Ms. Paquin didn't go overboard with styling.

Dianna Agron in Georges Chakra: Though the draping on Ms. Agron's gown looks slightly modified from the runway version (perhaps just pinned or belted differently? or just a funny angle?), it's still absolutely stunning and a red carpet standout for this event.

the original runway look

Jennifer Carpenter in Paule Ka: Sure, this isn't exactly a unique look, but Jennifer Carpenter wears this micro-minidress with such confidence that it just won't get out of my head. Gorgeous draping accents on the dress, and I love the black notes in the accessories. Also very Alexis Carrington.

Michelle Monaghan in Calvin Klein: This actress used to be baby-sit my friend, and though she is apparently the world's worst sitter, I've been quite impressed by both her film roles and her red carpet choices. She tends to favor Calvin Klein, and this modern graceful number is a great example of how well the line works for her.

Diane Kruger in Jason Wu: This is my personal favorite look of the night, and to no one's surprise, it's worn by Diane Kruger. It's not quite as dynamic as Michelle Williams' mustard yellow Vera Wang from the 2006 Academy Awards (Ms. Kruger is even rocking a similar tomato red lipstick), but it's a beautiful color and cut. Though Ms. Kruger doesn't seem to pick favorites with designers, a lot of my favorite looks of hers happen to be by Jason Wu. The pair seem to work quite well together.

Carey Mulligan in Lanvin: This is a pretty predictable choice for Ms. Mulligan, and it's a strikingly similar cut to the Nina Ricci gown that she just wore for the Golden Globes. That said, this Lanvin number is still a stunner, and the color suits her (despite the unfortunate fact that it tends to blend into the red carpet in event photographs).

delicious dresses

2010-01-21T14:22:00.007-06:00

Did The Golden Globes leave you feeling a little short on pretty? Me too. Here's some fashion sustenance for your sweet tooth.

Kate Bosworth in Calvin Klein at a Golden Globes After Party

Diane Kruger in Miu Miu at the BAFTA Tea Party

Chloe Sevigny in Christian Dior at a Pre-Golden Globes Party

Ashley Olsen in Erdem at a Golden Globes After Party

Rachel Bilson in Chanel at The Art of Elysium Annual "Heaven" Gala

Anna Paquin in Viktor & Rolf at The Art of Elysium "Heaven" Gala

Jennifer Carpenter in Basil Soda at a Golden Globes After Party

Jamie King in Burberry Prorsum at The Art of Elysium "Heaven" Gala

Olivia Wilde in Marchesa at The Art of Elysium "Heaven" Gala

Diane Kruger in Donna Karan at The Critics Choice Awards

Kate Bosworth in Alexander McQueen at The Art of Elysium "Heaven" Gala

Chloe Sevigny in Christian Lacroix at a Golden Globes After Party

Camille Belle in Valentino at the Art of Elysium "Heaven" Gala

Ashley Olsen in Alexander McQueen at The Art of Elysium "Heaven" Gala

when it rains it pours...fashion!

2010-01-19T19:19:00.022-06:00

Ah yes, the Golden Globes. The Double Gs, which interestingly enough is also Heidi Montag's new cup size. Ba dum ching! But really folks, let's get down to business. Since the Golden Globes didn't see fit to honor the actual best picture and best director of the year (ahem, The Hurt Locker), I 'm going to say fuck that noise to the awards and get to what actually matters: the fashion. Hey-o!

Diane Kruger in Christian Lacroix: God, I cannot believe all the troubles that have befallen this amazing house. Lacroix is such an exceptional couturier, and this gown is a great example of haute couture as wearable fashion. I love that Diane Kruger chose a piece from this collection, as Lacroix can use all of the positive publicity it can get. Side note: I'd like to think that if I were somehow invited to an event of this kind and it happened to rain, my jaunty tuxedo'd manfriend would also be happy to dote on me with an umbrella, Pacey-style.

Olivia Wilde in Gucci: I don't know too much about this actress other than she's incredibly beautiful, she's on House, and she played Mischa Barton's love interest on The OC. Sigh, I miss that show. More specifically, I miss the first season of that show. But back to Wilde, she's been wearing some gorgeous gowns to events over the past year, enough so that I feel like I have a very firm grasp of her taste and style despite knowing so little about her career. She tends to favor looks with a bit more of a romantic feel, so it's refreshing to see her trying something new with this slinky Gucci number. It feels very Tom Ford era to me.

so much slink

Carey Mulligan in Nina Ricci: I'm conflicted about this look. I absolutely love Carey in this dress, but I'm also very loyal to the runway version. And this re-imagination just seems so watered down in comparison. So even though she looks great, and I can't get fully behind this gown as it's a bastardized version of a piece that I adore.

the original runway version, which is so red carpet appropriate

Maggie Gyllenhaal in RM by Roland Mouret: Roland Mouret is another designer who's struggled financially over the past few years, so it's exciting to see his new line getting so much attention (Zoe Saldana wore a badass RM by Roland Mouret gown to an Avatar opening last December). I'm way of so many shades of peach on the red carpet, but this rosy shade is stunning on Gyllenhaal. And as usual, Mouret's architectural design is sublime.

Kate Winslet in YSL: Standing in front of a door doesn't make for the most glamorous of photographs, but I chose to feature this particular image as it realy shows off the lines of this YSL dress. Simple, but not at all boring.

January Jones in Lanvin: I've read quite a few complaints that this gown was too drab or morbid, but I've never had a problem with basic black, especially when the dress in question is so elegantly designed and constructed. I'm quite partial to the work of Alber Elbaz, and this dress is a classic example of the simple elegance he has brought to Lanvin.

Julianne Moore in Balenciaga: It makes more sense to me to hate this gown than to hate January Jones' gown. I think hating this gown is fair. That said, I personally love it. As much as I'm a slave to Balenciaga, I feel like Nicolas Ghesquiere has fallen into a bit of a rut over the last few seasons, and when I first saw this dress I remember thinking that it seemed like he had gotten some of his spark back. It's a very fresh design and a pleasant red carpet surprise.

Nicole Kidman in Nina Ricci: I'm struggling with this dress. I find the design unquestionably spectacular, but the color falls flat for me. Peach is a notoriously hard color to work with and wear, and I'm not sure if it's working for Ms. Kidman here. In addition to looking washed out, her makeup also seems to clash with the gown. It's such a shame when a gorgeous design like this falls flat in execution. Also, foundation garments. Look into it Nicole. You're a gorgeous woman, but your nipples are totally distracting me. And not in the good way.

Marion Cotillard in Dior: Sure, this is a fairly predictable choice for Marion Cotillard, but at least she had some fun with length and asymmetry. And the color truly suits her.

Kate Hudson in Marchesa: Ugh, the insipid Kate Hudson. Not my favorite actress, but I can't hold her career choices against this amazing gown from Marchesa's bridal line.

Jennifer Garner in Versace: Ah, my dear sweet Sydney Bristow. I love Jennifer Garner in this Versace gown. Sure, it's a fairly simple choice, but the lines make the actress look positively statuesque.

Jennifer Aniston in Valentino: Just. Awesome.

Jaime Pressly in Kevan Hall: Magpie heaven.

Calista Flockhart in Alberta Ferretti: Kate Hudson may have worn a dress from a bridal collection, but I personally think this Alberta Ferretti number would make a far more amazing wedding dress. I love the chevron details, the fluttery sleeves, and the fact that this painstakingly created gown manages to look so simple and effortless. Want.

Emily Blunt in Dolce & Gabbana: I actually am completely meh about this gown. I just love Emily Blunt and used this as an excuse to post a picture of her. I was recently watching one of the BBC Hercule Poirot movies from five or six years ago, and Blunt played a feisty American. Let me tell you kids, her American accent has improved greatly over the past few years.

Drew Barrymore in Versace: I don't care if it looks like Drew Barrymore has a major barnacle infestation growing out of her hip and shoulder. This dress is fucking gorgeous. When did I become such a Versace fan? It was one of my least favorite labels growing up, I think partially because as a kid I couldn't wrap my head around the context of the house. But I've been obsessed with the Atelier Versace collections over the past couple of years.

Courtney Cox in Victoria Beckham: So glad Victoria Beckham has moved on from designing the poor man's Roland Mouret and is now releasing such classically beautiful gowns.

Christina Aguilera in Versace: I loved this dress on the runway. I loved it when Donatella wore it a month or two ago. And I still love it now. It doesn't hurt that Christina's chopped her hair into a very chic bob. As I mentioned above, peach is a difficult color to work with and wear, but both Versace and Aguilera pull it off with aplomb.

Anna Kendrick in Marchesa: I like when Marchesa goes full-out grandmother and produce fussy gowns made of old drapes and wallpaper prints. And I'm not even being sarcastic.

Chloe Sevigny in Valentino: This gown is without flaw. I am so horribly embarrassed for the poor usher who stepped on the train when Sevigny went up to the stage to accept her award.

Zoe Saldana in Louis Vuitton: Seriously, where did Zoe Saldana come from? I love Center Stage as much the next person, but I certainly wasn't expecting little Eva Rodriguez to explode in 2009 with Star Trek and Avatar, and a killer wardrobe to boot. Honestly, I am always excited to see what she's wearing, and this dress is no exception.

Ginnifer Goodwin in Vionnet: I love the current Vionnet reboot, and I appreciate that Goodwin so often wears bright colors to red carpet events.

Rose Byrne in Lanvin: Mmmm, more Lanvin. And thank goodness for Rose Byrne. I need to catch up on Damages stat.

Cameron Diaz in Alexander McQueen: As is often the case with Ms. Diaz, I am completely unenthusiastic about the hair and makeup. But the dress, the glorious McQueen.

Sophia Loren: I'm not sure who designed this dress, but I know that I want it horribly.

wotcher, apples and pears, pip pip

2010-01-15T18:03:00.001-06:00

I'm a fairly large Steven Moffat fan. For the uninitiated, Moffat wrote the fantastic BBC miniseries Jekyll (starring James Nesbitt and Michelle Ryan), as well as a number of my favorite Doctor Who episodes ("Blink," "The Empty Child," "The Doctor Dances," "Silence in the Library," and "Forest of the Dead"). He is also taking over as Doctor Who showrunner now that my beloved Russell T. Davies has stepped down. So how, for the love of God, did I miss the fact that he's created a new series for the BBC coming out in 2010? And the very best part is elementary: It's Sherlock Holmes.

Sherlock will be a contemporary update of the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle series starring Benedict Cumberbatch (Atonement, Amazing Grace, and all around best name ever) as Sherlock Holmes, Martin Freeman (The Office, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Hot Fuzz, Love Actually) as Dr. Watson, and the always awesome Rupert Graves (Death at a Funeral, V for Vendetta, Intimate Relations) as Inspector Lestrade. Oh, and Una Stubbs (hello Till Death Do Us Part) cast as Mrs. Hudson certainly doesn't hurt. The venture is a collaboration between Moffat and comedian Mark Gatiss, who has also been very involved in the Doctor Who franchise. The series will air on BBC One with four episodes already ordered by the network. If a full series is ordered, showrunning duties will most likely go to Gatiss as Moffat already has quite a lot on his plate as the man in charge of Doctor Who.

One of the more interesting aspects of a present day update of Sherlock Holmes is the fact that Watson can, once again, be a veteran of the war in Afghanistan. I'm extremely interested to see how all of the updates to the characters and stories will play out, but if there's anyone I'd trust with such a task, it's Moffat. I just hope he can convince my beloved David Tennant and James Nesbitt to stop by for guest appearances.

i would like this trench coat, please.

2010-01-15T15:25:00.004-06:00

And just like that, we have Jean Paul Gaultier images for Target as well! I was very curious about this collection, since Gaultier has so many signature styles and looks under his belt, so I was dying to know which of his looks he would incorporate into this collaboration. Nautical elements? Check! Motorcycle chic? Check! Sexy and subversive Americana? Gingham! I mean, check!

posen porn

2010-01-15T10:38:00.004-06:00

The lookbook images of Zac Posen's Designer Collaboration collection with Target are finally out. When Posen first arrived on the scene, I was a huge fan of his. And though I still look forward to his collections, over the years he's sort of taken a backseat to other designers in my mind. Fortunately, this collaboration has put him front and center on my radar again and now I find myself trolling through his archives and sighing at the beauty of so many of his creations. Boy, that guy can really turn a dress.

and in pretty people news

2010-01-11T11:18:00.006-06:00

Rumors abound that supermodel Catherine McNeil and model/Australian MTV VJ Ruby Rose are engaged and planning a legal marriage in Canada. Congratulations to the happy couple! Fun tidbit: Catherine McNeil won the Girlfriend model search in 2002, and Ruby rose finished second. I would imagine that matchmaking at an international model search is a pretty great way to guarantee the continued existence of almost uncomfortably good-looking couples.

Catherine McNeil, one of my favorite models working today

the adorable Ruby Rose

god i hate the dollar right now

2010-01-08T09:36:00.004-06:00

Pardon me, but do you have €290.00 I could borrow? I simply must have this Valentino tee with orchid appliqué and tulle details designed especially for Colette.

bright young things

2010-01-06T11:34:00.005-06:00

the lovely and talented actresses Gabourey Sidibe and Dakota Fanning on the cover of The Size Issue of V

the tenth doctor

2010-01-05T10:08:00.007-06:00

"I'm the Doctor. I'm a Time Lord. I'm from the planet Gallifrey in the Constellation of Kasterborous. I'm 903 years old and I'm the man who is going to save your lives and all 6 billion people on the planet below. You got a problem with that?"

I haven't even watched the 2009 specials yet and I already miss David Tennant.

the way it was made to be played

2010-01-04T23:03:00.002-06:00

Holy shit. My friends made a documentary called Pond Hockey, and not only is it a great movie that's been doing quite well, but today I went to Hulu and it's on the front page! Congratulations boys! Especially Bone, who makes awesome movies, cute babies, has a kickass wife, and drinks a Mad Dog 20/20 like it's nobody's business.

my favorite looks of 2009

2010-01-04T20:20:00.023-06:00

Keep in mind that I've already included a few of my 2009 favorites in my 2000-2009 list, so in the interest of keeping things fresh, they won't be repeated here.

Olivia Wilde in Marchesa at The Emmy Awards

Evan Rachel Wood in Elie Saab at The Golden Globes

Ashley Olsen in vintage at The CFDA Awards

Reese Witherspoon in Rodarte at the premiere of Monsters vs. Aliens

Drew Barrymore in Giambattista Valli at The Late Show with David Letterman

Michelle Monaghan in Peter Som at the premiere of Up

Jennifer Hudson in Roland Mouret at the Grammy Awards

Anne Hathaway in Azzaro at SAG Awards

Chloe Sevigny in Miu Miu at The MOCA 30th Anniversary Gala

Rachel Weisz in Christian Dior at Cannes

Daphne Guinness in Alexander McQueen at the Nars 15X15 launch

Isabelle Huppert in Chanel at Cannes

Carey Mulligan in Vionnet at the premiere of An Education

Emma Roberts in Versace at The Costume Institute Gala

Emma Watson in Rodarte at a private dinner for the designers

Michelle Monaghan in Calvin Klein at Free Arts NYC Benefit Auction

Michelle Williams in Chloe at The Independent Spirit Awards

Marisa Tomei in Versace at The Academy Awards

Asia Argento in Armani at Cannes

Camilla Belle in Alexander McQueen at the premiere of Push

Leighton Meester in Louis Vuitton at The Teen Choice Awards

Lucy Liu in Giambattista Valli at a party for Mont Blanc

January Jones in Andrew Gn at The SAG Awards

Anne Hathaway in Chanel at The National Board of Review Gala

a Max Lohrback look for Voltage: Fashion Amplified

Kirstin Dunst in Rodarte (with the designers) at The CFDAs

Ashley Greene in Bottega Veneta at The Late Show with David Letterman

Jennifer Aniston in Valentino at The Academy Awards

Emily Mortimer in Yves Saint Laurent at the BAFTAs

Freida Pinto in Christian Lacroix at The Golden Globes

LeAnn Rimes in Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti at The Grammy Awards

Gwyneth Paltrow in Versace at the Grammy Awards

Evan Rachel Wood in Elie Saab at The Academy Awards

Camilla Belle in Alexander McQueen at the premiere of 2012

Melissa George in Dolce & Gabbana at The Academy Awards

January Jones in Versace at The Golden Globes

Natalie Portman in Rodarte at The Academy Awards

Drew Barrymore in Alberta Ferretti at the premiere of Grey Gardens

Penelope Cruz in vintage Balmain at The Academy Awards

Ginnifer Goodwin in Yves Saint Laurent at The Emmy Awards

Anne Hathaway in Armani at The Academy Awards

Leighton Meester in Prabal Gurung at The Library Lions Benefit

Alexa Chung in Jason Wu at the CFDAs

my favorite red carpet looks of 2000-2009

2009-12-31T15:00:00.004-06:00

Yes mother, I know that the new decade does not technically begin until 2011, but everyone else is making their Best of the Decade Lists and I don't want to be left out.

I've already offered my opinion regarding the best dressed celebrity of the last ten years: Ms. Diane Kruger. This list features my favorite red carpet dresses (and one film costume) of 2000-2009. You'll notice that a few of the classics have been left off the list. For example: Renee Zellweger's lemony vintage dress from the 2002 Oscars, Julia Roberts' iconic vintage Valentino that she wore while accepting her Academy Award, and the blush Versace confection that Penelope Cruz wore to the Academy Awards in 2007. These are all gorgeous gowns, but this list is more geared toward my personal favorites. When I close my eyes and try to remember my favorite dresses from the past decade, these are the looks that spring into my mind.

Michelle Williams in Vera Wang at the 2006 Academy Awards: Although the dresses featured on this list are technically in no particular order, I had to lead with this gown. The color, the details, the accessories, the cherry bomb lipstick, it all works so well together. The combination appeals to those with vintage sensibilities, but it still feels completely modern.

Kirsten Dunst in Rochas at the 2006 Cannes premiere of Marie Antoinette: This dress was panned for being dowdy and matronly, but to those people I say, "It's Rochas! ROCHAS!" I loved what Olivier Theyskens did at Rochas, and this gown was the perfect swan song for the end of his tenure. It's so elegant and beautifully made. Plus, Jason Schwarzman is a fantastic accessory.

Nicole Kidman in Christian Dior at the 2000 Academy Awards: I can hardly believe that this photograph was taken within the last ten years, but there she is, Ms. Nicole Kidman on the arm of Mr. Tom Cruise. I'd already become a bit of a fan of Nicole Kidman in her own right due to the Gus Van Sant-directed To Die For and that badass chartreuse John Galliano gown that she wore to the Oscars in 1996, but it was this Galliano-designed gown that made me fall in love with her. The Grecian hairstyle is stunning, as are the gold mesh fingerless gloves. I'm a little iffy on the shoes, but I'll let them slide because GOLD MESH FINGERLESS GLOVES!

Jennifer Connelly in Balmain at the 2009 Los Angeles premiere of He's Just Not That Into You: And so Balmainia began and a tiny machine hatched a nefarious scheme to steal Jennifer Connelly's legs.

Keira Knightley in Valentino at the 2008 BAFTA Awards: Despite the tiered skirt and the thousands of sequins, there is still a sort of understated simplicity to this gown that I adore. Though Valentino Garavani is not my favorite designer, he is certainly a visionary that understands romance, perhaps better than any other designer in the past ten years.

Jennifer Lopez in Chanel at the 2001 Academy Awards: Nipple jokes aside, I love this entire look. The minimal hair and makeup are the perfect compliment to this elegant gown. I prefer my Jennifer Lopez in couture (as opposed to corduroy) and I'm always excited when she shows up to events in labels like Marchesa, Versace, and of course, Chanel.

Reese Witherspoon in Chanel at the 2006 Golden Globes: God, I want to wear this dress out for New Year's Eve tonight, but with very different shoes.

Kirsten Dunst in Chanel at the 2005 Academy Awards: Ms. Kiki D gets a lot of criticism for her red carpet choices (a couple other Chanel Couture pieces come to mind, though personally I loved most of them), but even when I don't agree with her taste, I love that she makes such a point to regularly wear and promote couture. This Chanel number is both sexy and conservative, one of my favorite sartorial combinations.

Sarah Jessica Parker in Christian Dior at the 2009 Academy Awards: I know that Sarah Jessica's heaving bosom was a bit distracting, but this gown is such a true masterpiece. The design and construction are beautiful, but what really gets me is the belt. I LOVE that John Galliano added the belt. It takes this dress from potentially just another ballgown to some far more sophisticated and chic.

Portia de Rossi in Zac Posen at the 2007 Academy Awards: I know that some critics found the fringe on this Zac Posen gown to be rather garish, but I don't find them to be at odds with the rest of this elegant dress at all. I think it's a great interesting detail to what would have been an otherwise (beautiful) plain backless gown. And the navy really works on Portia de Rossi. I mean, she looks great in anything, but in this dress she positively glows.

I had to include a photo of the back of this gown.

Ashley Olsen in The Row at the 2009 Costume Institute Gala: This dress may be extraordinarily simple, but whenever I think about my favorite dresses from the last few years, this is always the first gown that comes to mind. The dress is smartly-designed and the entire look is beautifully executed.

Sienna Miller in Matthew Williamson at the 2004 Venice Film Festival: I'm sure a lot of people disagree with me on this choice, but I LOVED this Matthew Williamson collection and was so happy when Sienna Miller wore this gown to such a high profile event. The details are so interesting, and the juxtaposition of the romantic pastel chiffon and the harsh strips of black feels so fresh and clever (even five years later) . I'm not usually a fan of a lot of Miller's red carpet looks, but in this case, everything works for me. The messy hair, the over-application of bronzer, the sweet little purse, it all makes me wish she were wearing this in Nice or Monaco as opposed to Venice.

January Jones in Versace at the 2009 Emmy Awards: January Jones has begun to emerge as a fashion icon over the past two years, and for me it was this gown that sealed the deal. This dress somehow manages to balance hard-edged design with...prettiness? Is that the word I want?

Keira Knightley's green gown in Atonement: Okay, this dress is from a film, but it simply must be mentioned. In only a couple of years, it has become one of the most iconic looks in cinema. Costume designer Jacqueline Durran made beautiful choices with the fabric, the color and the cut, creating a dress that's feminine, sensual, but unmistakably strong.

Zoe Saldana in RM by Roland Mouret at the London premiere of Avatar in 2009: This is quite a recent addition to this list considering it was worn less than a month ago, but this otherworldly Roland Mouret stunner was a perfect choice for both the actress and the occasion. Saldana definitely has the look and the attitude to pull off such an architectural gown. I actually think that this look should automatically make her the face of Thierry Mugler's Alien, one of the most avant garde and unearthly fragrances ever made. Who knew our little Eva from Center Stage would come so far?

Reese Witherspoon in Nina Ricci at the 2007 Academy Awards: 2007 was considered by many to be Reese Witherspoon's comeback year. I don't remember her ever leaving really (didn't she just win an Oscar the previous year), but apparently after getting divorced, showing up anywhere looking put-together is considered a "comeback." But I shouldn't complain, because this alleged comeback, however ill-named, brought two gorgeous Olivier Theyskens-designed Nina Ricci gowns to the red carpet (another one is posted just a few dresses down).

Ellen Pompeo in Versace at the 2008 Golden Globes: Like Ashley Olsen's The Row dress from the Costume Institute Gala, this simple white gown stood out on the red carpet with the help of just a few extra details. The draping in the back and the silver accents on the sides make Ellen Pompeo look like some sort of alien superhero. The look is still minimalist, but with a decidedly avant garde edge.

Kate Hudson in Balmain at the SAG Awards 2008: Okay, it pains me to include this gown on this list, because I am not a fan of how Kate Hudson wore her hair and I am also not a fan of Kate Hudson in general. I'm trying to think of one of her movies other than Almost Famous that I can sit through.....The Skeleton Key? That was kind of creepy and Peter Sarsgaard was in it....yep, that's all I've got. But I digress. Insipid romantic comedies and lackluster hair aside, I adore this strapless Balmain gown. I've often heard it described as "hippie chic" and "bohemian," terms that make me shudder when it comes to fashion. But I always thought of this dress as a little more rock and roll than hippie. I would love to wear this out with a fitted leather jacket and my Frye black motorcycle boots.

Michelle Obama in Jason Wu at the 2009 Inaugural Ball: After all the messages of change, it was appropriate that the United States' new First Lady attended the ball wearing a dress by young designer Jason Wu, as opposed to a more established conservative designer (ahem, Oscar de la Renta, who I'm fairly certain is still bitter about that).

Reese Witherspoon in Nina Ricci at the 2007 Golden Globes: I'm not exactly sure how this happened, but Reese Witherspoon is featured three times on this list. I have nothing against her and often like what she chooses for events, but I certainly wouldn't have pegged her as such a favorite of mine. Yet here she is, looking fantastic again in canary yellow with kicky red lips and heels.

Thandie Newton in Biba at the Serpentine Summer Party in 2007: This dress may not be as iconic as some of the other gowns on this list, but when I first saw this photograph it took my breath away. Thandie Newton is a phenomenally gorgeous women to begin with, but this Biba gown managed to transform her into an even more regal beauty. Forget the Disney Bridal Collection. In my mind, this is what a fantasy princess bride would wear.

Emma Watson in vintage Ossie Clark at the 2009 London premiere of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: Emma Watson has really come into her own over the past few years and it was this dress that convinced me that she actually has a very innate sense of style. She's been rocking some great Chanel frocks at Harry Potter premieres over the years, but it was really this vintage Ossie Clark that proved that her style was more than just recreating sweet looks from the Chanel runway.

Natalie Portman in Lanvin at the 2005 Academy Awards: A friend and I recently had a discussion about how whether or not you love Lanvin (full disclosure: we both decidedly do), you have to admit that few people love clothing more than designer Alber Elbaz. I can just imagine him sketching this dress and experimenting with the fabric. Natalie Portman looks amazing here. Now if only we can convince her to remove her name from that pesky Roman Polanski petition.

Keira Knightley in Valentino at the 2006 Golden Globe Awards: Although Keira Knightley is a gorgeous young woman who's worn many a beautiful gown, I don't usually consider her one of my fashion favorites. Her red carpet choices often feel a little bit forced and/or over-styled to me. This, however, is such a stunning simple gown, and it's such a natural choice for her. A great example of not over-thinking and just letting the gown do all the heavy lifting.

Jennifer Connelly in Balenciaga at the 2007 Los Angeles premiere of Reservation Road: I was a huge fan of this Balenciaga collection. The dresses, the boots, the campaign (starring Connelly, of course), I was enamored with all of it. So I loved seeing Ms. Connelly rock the dress AND the shoes at this event, with a sleek, almost stark chignon to boot. I don't know what she did in a previous life to earn those legs (and all of her DNA, really). Girl must have been a saint.

Diane Kruger in Marchesa at the 2009 Inglourious Basterds premiere at Cannes: This is one of my favorite dresses from the past year, but it's not a stretch to say that in a few years, it'll still be one of the gowns from 2000-2009 that I remember most.

bill adama's totally hot for teacher

2009-12-28T22:01:00.002-06:00

"Battlestar Rhapsody" by way of io9

2009: The Year's Best Nerdery

2009-12-27T12:02:00.015-06:00

Dollhouse Season One Episode 13 and Season Two Episodes 4-10: Dollhouse has had it rough. It was clear from the very first episode that the show was overflowing with ambition, but the first season never quite found its footing. And when FOX pulled season one's series finale "Epitaph One," Whedonites started to wonder if the series would get a real chance to live up to its potential. Fortunately, a second season was ordered, and "Epitaph One" was included in the DVD set of the first season. And this is when fans started to realize what was going on. "Epitaph One" is fantastic, an amazing episode of television that truly captured what Joss Whedon was trying to accomplish with Dollhouse. It was tightly-written, well-acted, and directed with a clear sense of purpose. Yet, this is the episode that FOX chose not to air. This episode and subsequent interviews with Whedon made it clear that instead of filming the ambitious Dollhouse that he had created, studio pressure forced him into a corner wherein he was encouraged to write "engagement of the week" episodes. This is why the first season stumbled and stuttered. It's difficult to approach the amazing questions and ideas that this series lays out before you if every week you're supposed to give the studio an "Echo Robs a Bank" or an "Echo Wears a Slinky Outfit" episode.

Season Two started out a little bit stronger, with Whiskey bringing up a few amazingly complicated questions about identity and the right to live, but it wasn't until the network announced that they wouldn't be picking up Dollhouse for a third season that things began to pick up. FOX agreed to let Whedon finish up the season, but it seems that once the series' fate was determined, they stepped back and let him do whatever the hell he wanted. And this was exactly when the series got REALLY REALLY GOOD. Say what you will about Dollhouse as a whole, but over these past few weeks, it has featured some of the most compelling episodes of television that I have ever seen.

District 9: There's not much more I can even really say about District 9 that hasn't been said far better by film critics. This movie restored my faith in the idea that major summer action blockbusters can also be thoughtful, moving, and well-crafted. Suck it, Michael Bay.

Moon: Duncan Jones' directorial debut was absolutely riveting. It can't be easy to establish your sovereign voice as an artist when your father's David Bowie, but considering Jones was able to make this fantastic film for just $5 million, I'm not too worried about him. His direction is both artistic and economical in a way that recalls Alfred Hitchcock.

Star Trek: Lens flares!

The Guild: Ah, Felicia Day. My shameless girlcrush. The actress (who also starred in the aforementioned Dollhouse "Epitaph One" and Dr. Horrible's Sing-a-long Blog) writes, directs, produces and stars in this web series about a guild of online video game chums, whose online interactions eventually spill over into their real lives. Plus, Will Wheaton guest stars. Still not sure if you want to give this series a try? Consider that the episodes are only about six minutes long, so it's not a major commitment. And for a little sample of what you'll be getting, check out The Guild music video "Do You Want To Date My Avatar?" Seriously, Felicia Day is such a nerd's wet dream. I'm fairly certain that if Manfriend and I were to select the celebrity that we could have a tryst with if the opportunity arose, she'd be both of our selections.

Boneshaker by Cherie Priest: Cited by many book critics as Priest's best work to date, Boneshaker is set an alternate 19th century Seattle. The Bone-Shaking Drill Engine has inadvertently unearthed poisonous gas from the core of the Earth that transforms anyone who breathes it into a living corpse. The story follows the emotional journey of a mother and a son as they attempt to re-write history and change the future on humankind. It's an intense read, perfect for quiet winter days spent curled up in bed.

Fringe: Giant grubs bursting out of refugees' mouths. A brewing war between two different dimensions. Pacey from Dawson's Creek comfortably speaking Chinese and Arabic. The world of Fringe is a strange one indeed. And though the ratings have suffered in its second season (mostly due to scheduling), the writing and acting continue to impress. And please, could someone show me how to make my hair do that?

Warehouse 13: Did someone say that they wanted a little more steampunk in their lives? Syfy delivered in spades with this fun-loving series in which Secret Service agents travel the world in search of dangerous supernatural artifacts.

Avatar: Haven't seen it, but the trailer and hype alone earn it a spot on The Year's Best Nerdery.

Sherlock Holmes: Okay, so I haven't seen this yet either. But I stand by my choice.

Nail on the Head: Dear Zach Braff...

2009-12-27T11:23:00.004-06:00

Heaven bless Jezebel. Over the past ten years, I've come across so many thinly-written soul-searching young white male characters in film, television and books that I despise with so much vitriol that I can't even articulate it properly. This inability to express my hatred probably explains why people look at me like I'm a few grapes short of a bunch whenever I try to discuss this matter. But Jezebel is busy whipping out their 2000-2009 Best of and Worst of Lists, and in their post Your Boyfriend Sucks: The Worst Fictional Dudes of the Decade, Hortense summed up my feelings about this recurring character better than I ever could:

The Emosogynist: He's just so tortured, y'all. He can't even bring himself to cry, which is weird, because he's so deep that you'd think the emotional well could never run dry. Something hurt him, man, and now he's just dead inside. He'd explain it to you, but you probably wouldn't understand, unless you're super cute, kind of quirky, and you remind him of the girl he fell in love with 5 years ago, before his heart turned to dust and blew away. Of course, if you were around then, you might have saved him from this cold, heartless life he leads, but alas, no, some woman destroyed him forevermore, and he just can't be put back together again, unless, of course, he's put back together to an indie soundtrack by (an often much younger) woman he can easily manipulate and later dismiss after his confidence rises. He has to find himself, you know? And the only way he can do that is through some girlfriend who isn't aware of the fact that he's a bitter 16-year-old trapped in a 28-year-old man's body.

That's right, boys. You're going to have to figure out how to get over your existential crisis all on your own, because my fun talented clever beautiful and witty girlfriends will never be any man's Manic Pixie Dream Girl. Believe it or not, our sole purpose in life is not to be "that bubbly, shallow cinematic creature that exists solely in the fevered imaginations of sensitive writer-directors to teach broodingly soulful young men to embrace life and its infinite mysteries and adventures." (Thanks, Nathan Rabin!) So while we're at it 2010, let's kill the MPDGs too!

I realize that this post may make me sound a bit like a man-hating hag who sits around all day with her cats posting on feminist websites. And though I am sitting with my cats, commenting on Jezebel and Feministing, and feeling a bit haggish, I don't hate all men. I love dudes. But my dear archetypal young white male character who attempts to pass off self-involvement and narcissism as depth (that means you, Zach Braff!), your time has come. Cheers to 2010!!

Diane Kruger: The Obsession Continues

2009-12-27T08:00:00.005-06:00

Continuing my post from yesterday....

in Jason Wu at a 2009 party for the designer

in Chanel announcing the 2009 Golden Globe nominees

in Balmain at the 2008 Boucheron party during Paris Fashion Week

in Chanel at the 2008 Berlin premiere of Filth and Wisdom

at a 2008 Chanel Couture show

in Christian Dior at the 2006 BAFTAs

in a Claudie Pierlot blouse and Chanel flats at a 2009 party for the CFDA Fashion Fund

in Valentino at the 2009 Venice Film Festival premiere of Valentino: The Last Emperor

in Balenciaga at the 2009 Elle Women in Hollywood Awards

in Jason Wu at the 2009 CFDAs

in Narcisco Rodriguez at the 2009 Hollywood Awards Gala

in Roberto Cavalli at the Cannes 2005 premiere of Joyeux Noel

in Lanvin at Cannes 2009

at a 2008 Christian Dior show

in Chanel at the 2008 amFAR gala

in Balmain at the London premiere of Inglourious Basterds

in Chanel at the 2009 Costume Institute Gala

in Rochas at Cannes 2004

in the FCUK Serpent dress at a 2006 screening of All The King's Men

in Burberry at a party for National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets

in Christian Dior at the 2007 SAG Awards

in Elie Saab at the premiere of The Hunting Party at the 2007 Venice Film Festival

at the 2007 Chanel Cruise show

in J.Mendel at the New York premiere of National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets

in Alexander Wang at a party in New York City in 2009

in Marchesa at the 2009 New Yorkers for Children Benefit

in Phillip Lim at the 2008 Berlin Film Festival

maintaining her casual chicness even in cold weathher

in Nina Ricci at the 2009 Annual Sidaction AIDS Benefit Gala

in Marchesa at Cannes 2009

Best Dressed of 2000-2009: Diane Kruger

2009-12-26T18:58:00.003-06:00

Though I didn't really start to notice Diane Kruger's consistently glamorous and effortlessly chic style until 2006 when I saw a photo of her at The Golden Globes in a claret velvet Lanvin dress, she has blown me away so many times in the past few years that she was my clear choice for my Best Dressed of the past ten years. She walks red carpets in couture looking just as comfortable as when she's photographed running errands in jeans and sunglasses. Her sartorial choices combined with the grace and ease with which she carries herself have made her one of my personal style icons.

So prepare for an über-long post featuring oodles of Chanel, Lanvin, Christian Dior, Marchesa, Valentino, Balmain, Elie Saab, Jason Wu, and many many more. And keep in mind that there are plenty of fantastic looks not included, as I couldn't possibly contain all of the past decade's Kruger in one post.

Diane Kruger in Valentino at the 2009 Césars (the French equivalent of The Academy Awards)

the dress that started it all (for me, anyway) Lanvin at the 2006 Golden Globes

in Christian Dior at the 2008 Venice Film Festival

in Balmain (before Balmainia) at the 2007 Condé Nast Movies Rock party in Los Angeles

in Chanel at a 2009 taping of The Late Show with David Letterman

in Jason Wu at the 2009 Cannes International Film Festival

in Chanel at the 2009 Melbourne premiere of Inglourious Basterds

in Yves Saint Laurent at the Metropolitan Opera's 125th Anniversary in 2009

in Giambattista Valli at the 2009 Pour Elle premiere in Paris

in Versace at the 2009 Los Angeles premiere of Inglourious Basterds

in Calvin Klein at Serpentine Gallery's 2007 summer party

in Chanel at the 2009 Fete D'Hiver Gala

in an Kimchi Blue dress from Urban Outfitters out and about in 2009

in Chanel at Cannes 2004

in Christopher Kane at Cannes 2009

rushing through the airport, but still looking gorgeous

in vintage Chanel at Cannes 2009

with a Longchamp bag at the brand's 60th Anniversary in 2008

in Elie Saab at the 2006 Academy Awards

in an Opening Ceremony dress out and about in 2009

in Alberta Ferretti at the 2008 Costume Institute Gala

cute girl on a bike!

in Roberto Cavalli at the designer's boutique opening in Paris in 2009

in Hervé Léger by Max Azria at the 2009 Berlin premiere of Inglourious Basterds

in Lanvin at the 58th Annual Berlinale International Film Festival in 2008

in Chanel at the 2009 amFar gala

in Oscar de la Renta at the 2004 New York premiere of Troy

with the Kaiser at the 2008 Chanel Cruise after-party

a more casual look during the 2009 Cannes International Film Festival

in Marchesa at the 2009 Sydney premiere of Inglourious Basterds

to be continued.....

she comes from the future

2009-12-23T15:39:00.001-06:00

military fashion: yay or nay?

2009-12-20T13:14:00.005-06:00

I'm so in love with Rihanna's new video for "Hard." Been a fan of her music and her fashion for quite a while, but hated "Run This Town" with Jay-Z and Kanye West, and I didn't enjoy "Russian Roulette" at all, the song or the video. So I guess I've been a little concerned, but "Hard" has absolutely put any doubts in my mind to rest. Love the song. Love the video. The fashion is pretty stellar (I want a Mickey Mouse helmet ever so much), but more than anything, I have to praise the makeup artists for this video shoot. They really did amazing work.

I've always been a bit conflicted about military trends in fashion, especially when it's not just a thematic reference, but a specific item from military dress. Coming from an Air Force and Army family, for a long time I felt that using uniforms in an ironic sense or even just for aesthetic purposes was kind of disrespectful. (In high school, there no way my mom was going to let me go to school wearing a pair of army pants.) But as I grew up and my Vogue and W archives expanded to fill up an entire bookshelf, I got over these concerns. Don't get me wrong, I've still got my dad's framed flag in my living room and his dog tags on my dresser, but I also recently asked my mom if I could have his old garrison cap for fashion purposes. (She didn't seem to mind. Maybe she's gotten over her concerns too.) So what say you? If I wear my dad's old garrison cap out and about, is it disrespectful to him? To the military? Or is it just a badass accessory? (Keep in mind that garrison caps are sometimes referred to as piss cutter caps or cunt caps, so it's not an item of dress that the military necessarily holds in the highest esteem.) And if it is disrespectful to wear it as a fashion piece, is it less so if I wear it without rank insignia? Thoughts?

Ron Livingston wearing a garrison cap in my favorite mini-series of all time Band of Brothers

ooh la lanvin

2009-12-18T12:31:00.004-06:00

Hey Rodarte for Target fiends, check out the lookbook model Jamie Bochert in the new campaign for Lanvin. She also stars in the new Marc Jacobs campaign. Definitely someone to keep an eye on.

my new domestic strategy

2009-12-16T14:37:00.002-06:00

Perhaps if I wear a gorgeous cocktail dress while washing and drying dishes, it'll make the the task of attacking my sink of dirty plates and wine glasses a little less daunting. Must purchase adorable vintage apron and cute rubber gloves to adequately protect the aforementioned dress and fresh manicure.

so not safe for work

2009-12-14T21:21:00.003-06:00

Love her. Hate her. Who cares? Courtney Love looks like an ethereal goddess in Dazed & Confused.

snarky intellectuals can love fashion too!

2009-12-10T11:02:00.004-06:00

Everyone MUST read this interview with New York Times journalist Cintra Wilson in Elle. God, I love this woman. She's one of my favorite fashion writers of all time.

Eventually I'll get around to hosting that dinner party with Cintra, Cathy Horyn, Suzy Menkes, Grace Coddington, the late great Isabella Blow, Hamish Bowles, Robin Givhan, the late Diana Vreeland, Carine Roitfeld, Nicola Formichetti and Jahna Peloquin. Emma Berg, Kate Iverson and Marina Maric are totally invited as well.

up in the air

2009-12-09T11:43:00.002-06:00

Lady Gaga performing for Queen Elizabeth at the Royal Variety Show

it was (mostly) good while it lasted

2009-12-08T13:49:00.007-06:00

Of course, as soon as Dollhouse's cancellation is made official, the episodes ratchet up the awesome creepiness that the show does so well. Such is life. Last week's two episodes ("The Public Eye" and "The Left Hand," aired back to back) featured some extremely twisted story lines and disturbing characters, and left me intensely curious as to how this series is going to end. Stunt casting was in full effect, with the awesome Summer Glau as a sufficiently unnerving Bennett Halverson, the genius super-tech at the Washington D.C. Dollhouse. Watching her interactions with Topher (the Los Angeles Dollhouse tech, previously thought to be the king of the ick factor) reinforced just how evil Rossum truly is, that it is a corporation in the business of mind-rape. There were a few well-done reveals, and though they weren't particularly shocking, the characters reactions made them compelling. Plus, Ray Wise and Keith Carradine? Love. This show has managed to assemble one of the most impressive rosters of actors in television history. Let's take a look at the cast and some of the guest stars, shall we?

Eliza Dushku (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Bring It On, Nobel Son, Tru Calling)

Olivia Williams (Rushmore, An Education, Emma, The Sixth Sense)

Tahmoh Penikett (Battlestar Galactica, Riverworld)

Harry Lennix (24, The Matrix Reloaded and Revolutions, Ray, State of Play)

Amy Acker (Angel, Alias, The Cabin in the Woods, Catch Me If You Can)

Alexis Denisof (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, How I Met Your Mother)

Reed Diamond (pretty much every television show ever, especially Homicide: Life on the Streets)

Keith Carradine (Dexter, Deadwood, and pretty much every television show ever)

Ray Wise (Twin Peaks, Reaper, 24, and pretty much every television show ever)

Summer Glau (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Firefly, Serenity, Angel)

Alan Tudyk (Firefly, Serenity, V, Death at a Funeral, 3:10 to Yuma)

Felicia Day (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dr. Horrible's Sing-a-long Blog, The Guild)

Mark Sheppard (Battlestar Galactica, Firefly, Warehouse 13, 24)

And this list doesn't even take into account the amazing cast members that I wasn't familiar with before Dollhouse: Fran Kranz, the AWESOME Enver Gjokaj, Dichen Lachman and Miracle Laurie.

It's an impressive group of actors, and I'm so glad that Joss Whedon was able to bring them all together to make two seasons of one of the most ambitious shows I've ever seen. Dollhouse certainly wasn't without some serious flaws, but it's heartening to see such talented writers and actors dedicated to taking new risks in television.

lara in the grass

2009-12-08T13:32:00.001-06:00

the new leaked photograph of Lara Stone for Louis Vuitton

all i want for christmas...

2009-12-07T12:07:00.002-06:00

...is a Comme des Garcons Barbie.

follow the white rabbit

2009-12-04T19:56:00.003-06:00

Tim Curry as the Dodo! Kathy Bates as the Queen of Hearts! Andrew Lee Potts as the Mad Hatter! Colm Meaney as the King of Hearts! Harry Dean Stanton as the Caterpillar! Ugh, please don't totally suck.

gaga in elle

2009-12-04T19:13:00.003-06:00

all that glitters

2009-12-04T09:49:00.008-06:00

Check out the Vita.mn holiday fashion spread styled by one of my very BFFs Jahna Peloquin.

LOVE this dress. Absolutely cannot fit it into my holiday budget. Foiled again.

Sretsis "Matina Disco" dress ($580), Le Glitz stretch rhinestone cuff ($84) from Belle Reve. Coach black satin clutch ($98), Guess? cocktail ring ($28) and pearl-and-chain necklaces ($22.50-$40 each) from Macy's. Vintage gloves ($12) from Blacklist Vintage.

Rodarte! For Target! Eeeeee!

On Lily: Rodarte for Target lace halter dress ($45, available Dec. 20) from Target. Black vintage gloves ($14) from Blacklist Vintage. Karen Zamos rhinestone belt ($110) from Belle Reve. Charter Club rhinestone bracelets ($20-$36 each) and Steve Madden suede ankle boots ($79) from Macy's. Third Willow silk clutch ($65) from Design Collective.On Nick: Dorsia striped shirt ($77), Bill Tornade pinstriped pants ($118 on sale) and Bruno Piattelli blue silk bow tie ($21) from Elsworth. Torino stingray belt ($215), Grenson Jackson leather boots ($325), DPC black wool fedora ($35) and Castel Storm watch ($295) from MartinPatrick3.

I LOVE this George Moskal cropped top and matching skirt. PLEASE, nobody buy this. If it fits, it must be mine. (Mental note: Get thee to the MNfashion Holiday Boutique tomorrow.) And how much do you love the tights that Jahna covered in gems?

George Moskal blue velvet cropped top ($150), George Moskal blue pleated skirt ($200) and Carrier Pigeon lace ring ($50) from MNfashion Holiday Boutique. Macy's fabric flower necklace ($40), Baby Phat grey leather sandals ($47 on sale) Coach powder blue satin clutch ($77.40 on sale), and Betsey Johnson crystal earrings ($35) from Macy's. Tights provided by stylist.

more wants

2009-12-03T16:00:00.003-06:00

The rest of the images from the Rodarte for Target lookbook have finally been released. My December shopping budget is already in serious trouble.

Black Slip Dress (also available in tan - I'm unsure which color I want more.) $39.99
Black Lace Tights $12.99

Black Lace Cardigan $29.99
Bow Belt (I want the black one.) $12.99

Sequin Minidress $49.99

Lace Print Dress $34.99

Lace Cardigan in Tan $29.99

Asymmetrical Cardigan in Gray $44.99

Knee Highs in Tan/Peach $9.99

the want list

2009-12-03T12:53:00.010-06:00

Sonia Rykiel for H&M

omg mng!!

2009-12-03T12:15:00.003-06:00

What is up, JCP? Raising your game. First Charlotte Ronson, then Olsenboye (launching this February), and now, JC Penney has announced that it will be carrying a diffusion line by Mango (appropriately titled MNG by Mango). The collection won't launch until next fall, but as a resident of the tragically Mango-less Twin Cities, I'm psyched at whatever I can get.

start saving now

2009-11-30T10:03:00.005-06:00

Zac Posen is doing a line for Target! The collection will be in stores April 25-May 30.

korea, je t'aime

2009-11-25T15:48:00.003-06:00

I love Korea. Like, love love. Although I've never actually been there, I feel like I go there all the time in movies and magazines. I adore K-Horror, I obsess over Korean fashion, and I've never met a plate of bulgogi that I didn't like. I know I shouldn't judge an entire people based on food, fashion and film, but let's be completely honest: If you're Korean, I probably love you. So it's no surprise that I'm a big fan of Vogue Girl Korea. I wish some of the magazine's joie de vivre would influence more teen media in the states.

the sincerest form of flattery

2009-11-25T13:18:00.008-06:00

a new look from Forever 21 Collection

a Fall 2008 RTW Narcisco Rodriguez dress that Sarah Jessica Parker wore in American Vogue

Obviously, this isn't an exact copy, but when I saw the image on the front page of the Forever 21 site, the first thing that popped into my mind was this photograph.

pretty packaging

2009-11-24T14:39:00.002-06:00

Kim Cattrall for Bailey's in a custom dress by Patricia Field

i want this suit for christmas, please.

2009-11-24T12:25:00.004-06:00

I'm not really on the Twilight bandwagon (even though I love me some Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson), but I LOVE this Bottega Veneta suit worn by New Moon actress Ashley Greene. Soooooo jealous.

december 20 is so far away

2009-11-24T11:03:00.002-06:00

This weekend, while helping a friend prepare for a photo shoot, I was able to check out some of the Rodarte for Target pieces in person. Didn't try anything on, but got a closer look at two of the party dresses (the black lace dress pictured above, and the frothy nude dress seen here), as well as the must-have sheer black lace cardigan and the lace-trimmed bra and undies. Judging from these pieces, the collection is impressively well made. I was quite taken with the quality of the fabric and the construction, considering this is such a mass-produced discount line. The dresses and the cardigan look just as great in person as they do in the photographs.

I'm a bit confused about the bralette and undies. Based on the promotional images, I truly thought the items were underwear, but they felt like a nylon/lycra blend, a pretty standard swimwear material. Not quite sure what to make of that. I've never really given lacy bathing suits much thought before, but I suppose if anyone can get me on the bandwagon, it's the Mulleavy sisters.

get ready

2009-11-24T10:35:00.001-06:00

wait, what?

2009-11-23T09:37:00.005-06:00

Did Carrie Underwood wear a bastardized version of PR contestant Carol Hannah's opening dress from her finale collection?

Carrie Underwood at the American Music Awards

Carol Hannah's opening look from her Project Runway collection

P.S. Wow, apparently I'm not the only one noticing. Check out Carol Hannah's response on Blogging Project Runway.

flame on!

2009-11-22T22:18:00.001-06:00

and the winner is...

2009-11-20T10:12:00.017-06:00

Last night marked the end of the sixth season of Project Runway. Well, it actually ended in February, but we finally saw it! Before I get to the finale, I'd like to send out a huge thank you to Hell's Kitchen. I had so much fun co-hosting l'étoile Fashion Trivia this year. It was great coming in every week, getting to know the staff, and drinking my weight in bellinis. And to the Fashion Trivia regulars (especially Christopher, who became our weekly guest of honor), thanks for coming by week after week and participating in what were sometimes brutally hard rounds, and humoring Kate and me by laughing at our lame jokes. You guys are the best! Now, on to the show. Carol Hannah was still sick. Althea was still an airhead. Irina was still "Meana." It was pretty much what we expected.

Carol Hannah's collection was the most disjointed of the three, containing some of the evening's highest notes (her blue Grecian 13th look) and the lowest notes (what was that horrible purple tunic-y thing?) of the episode. As per usual, her work was impeccably tailored. Her collection was the most colorful, and certainly the most fun.

Carol Hannah's beautifully draped 13th look

I really really want to wear this dress to Walker After Hours tonight.

Although I didn't quite get the inspiration of Althea's collection (she mentioned that that she was inspired by science fiction from the 50s and 60s, which I didn't see), I liked a lot of the individual pieces. It was great sportswear. And though I could see myself wearing multiple items, sportswear doesn't always translate the best to the runway. The collection didn't have any show-stopping numbers.

I do love the sweater from the opening look.

Althea's lovely and wearable 13th look

Irina's collection was a whole lot of black. What did it look like? I could barely tell, because it was almost all black. When she'd received critiques from Tim Gunn, as well as Nina Garcia and Michael Kors, it was mentioned multiple times that the collection could really use some color. When black goes down a runway or is photographed for an editorial, a lot of the detail is going to be lost. So when Irina sighed in sadness on the runway that you couldn't make out some of the intricacies of the collection, I was delighted that Nina called her out on it. It was a poor choice, and she'd been told in advance that it was a poor choice. But whatever, she won anyway.

Irina's 13th look

Nina thought the tees were "intimate." I thought they were lame.

The highlight of the episode was certainly guest judge, Suzy Menkes. I don't know how Lifetime managed to snag her, but what a coup. The woman holds an Order of the British Empire and a Legion d'Honneur in France. She is one of the most respected fashion writers of all time, talks like Mary Poppins, and rocks a pompadour. I love love love her. More judges like her, please.

Now that the finale has aired and Irina has been revealed as the winner, I'm extremely curious as to how this whole New York Magazine plagiarism scandal is going to go down. If you haven't heard, New York Magazine recently noticed that Irina used their "Reasons to Love New York 2008" on one of her pieces (image below). This is seriously shady intellectual property right business that obviously wasn't caught when the finale was recorded. How can Project Runway justify a winner who has blatantly plagiarized material? And furthermore, why did Irina (who, ironically, was regularly accusing Althea of copying her) even feel the need to use the New York Magazine article? How hard could it have been to brainstorm her own list of reasons to love New York and have those printed on her design? Who knows who this will end, but as The Cut pointed out, New York Magazine totally has their new softball uniforms.

more sad news

2009-11-19T15:53:00.007-06:00

Jeanne-Claude, spouse and artistic partner of Christo, passed away last night. Her creative passion, innate talent, joie de vivre, and fire engine red hair will be missed.

"The Gates" in Central Park

"Wrapped Coast" in Sydney, Australia

"Surrounded Islands" in Miami, Florida

forever young

2009-11-19T14:40:00.014-06:00

Daul Kim was found dead in Paris this morning. She was 20. The cause of death has not been released to the public, but rumors have already emerged that the young woman took her own life.

In addition to being a fantastic editorial model and a runway regular for some of my favorite designers (Alexander McQueen, Chanel, Rodarte), Daul recorded video diaries for New York Magazine during Fashion Week. I became a bit of a Daul's diary addict, not only because of the interesting glimpse her entries gave into the life of a model, but also because she seemed like such a genuinely sweet and funny person. She'll be missed.

backstage at Alexander McQueen

on the runway for Chanel

for Korea Numéro #0

shots of Daul after she first dyed her hair blonde

showing off her new style after chopping off her long blonde hair

backstage at Dries van Noten

on the runway for Chanel

on the runway for 3.1 Phillip Lim

backstage for Alexander McQueen

on the runway for Yigal Azrouël

backstage at Chanel

on the runway for Rodarte

on the runway for Louis Vuitton

backstage at Rodarte

backstage at Dolce & Gabbana

on the runway for Rodarte

backstage at Zac Posen

on the runway for Peter Pilotto

on the runway for Vivienne Westwood

Rest in Peace.

enjoy a quickie this weekend

2009-11-19T10:21:00.006-06:00

Last weekend I attended the second performance of Quickies 2009 at Bryant Lake Bowl. I'd missed Quickies 2008, but the buzz had been overwhelmingly positive. After a few beers, I went into the theater in good spirits and excited for a night of inexpensive theatre that didn't require me to dress up or sit in a seat for two and a half hours. Quickies delivered, and I found myself not only laughing out loud, but also unexpectedly touched by the material.

Quickies is compromised of four short plays performed by four independent theatre companies. The subject matter ranges from a zombie invasion to an examination of a relationship entirely though notes written on Post-Its (a surprisingly moving piece). This Friday's performance of Quickies 2009 is the last, and with tickets from $12-$15 (pay what you can, and only $10 if you still have your Fringe button) it's well worth the price. Doors open at 6:00 and the show starts at 7:00.

black friday looms

2009-11-17T02:53:00.000-06:00

Already stressing over holiday shopping? If you haven't already, be sure to check out l'étoile's Guide to Holiday Shopping, the sassiest and most comprehensive shopping survival guide in the Twin Cities. It's going to be my bible for the next month.

nerds, prepare to lose your minds.

2009-11-16T15:55:00.003-06:00

The long-floating rumors have been confirmed by the animators. Rd-D2 totally had a cameo in J.J. Abrams' Star Trek. [Gizmodo]

a hard pair we will be

2009-11-16T15:23:00.001-06:00

a lesson in contemporary fashion

2009-11-16T11:18:00.015-06:00

The Museum of Contemporary Art's 30th Anniversary Gala had some great fashion this weekend. The cocktail dresses and gowns were a visual buffet for anyone who craves a little more risk on their red carpet.

Chloe Sevigny's Miu Miu party dress was my favorite look of the night. She's also rocking a pale milky pink lipstick that reminds me of Proenza Schouler's "Proenza Pink," a limited-edition shade from Lancôme's Pout-à-Porter series.

Eva Mendes strayed from her usual Calvin Klein uniform and delighted in Miu Miu. Even though Eva is gorgeous and has worn some beautiful gowns, I still find her kind of bland on the red carpet. This is the first time that I've found myself truly charmed by one of her looks.

Carey Mulligan continued the "I Heart Miuccia Prada" theme in more Prada. Though this is a fairly conservative dress, it's still a very alluring and slightly edgy look. I've kind of decided that Carey Mulligan is the opposite of Blake Lively on the red carpet.

Carine Roitfeld tends to be a bit of a slave to Balmain (as does her daughter), but in this case I can't fault the Vogue Paris Editor-in-Chief for her brand loyalty.

Zoe Saldana has become one of the most consistently well-dressed stars on the red carpet, and this Marchesa gown scores her another point in the win column. It might be a little over the top for this event, but who wouldn't want an excuse to break out such a striking gown.

Speaking of over the top, I was enamored with this Marchesa gown when I saw the preview photograph, but I was afraid no one would have the guts to wear it for an event. Thank God and the gays for Shirley Manson. I love her.

I certainly can understand why someone would hate this Sonia Rykiel jumpsuit, but I'm thrilled that Liz Goldwyn wore the piece to this event. The color, the cut, the interesting details, I'm infatuated with all of it. It's such a fun choice for a contemporary art event. My favorite looks are usually worn by those that understand that fashion should be fun, and that you're allowed to have a sense of humor. That's definitely the case for the looks worn by both Liz and Chloe.

and a dash of gin!

2009-11-15T15:09:00.004-06:00

January Jones on Saturday Night Live

want your bad romance

2009-11-14T19:17:00.006-06:00

Found this behind-the-scenes video of Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" shoot. It's not much more than a tiny highlight reel, but you get a better of understanding of the set design, which is really quite impressive. You also get a closer look at the white bat headpiece that I'm mildly obsessed with, and you see that in the scene with the polar bear peignoir, Lady Gaga actually wears a fake white rat on the side of her head (something you don't really catch in the final cut of the video).

Did you notice that she mentions three Hitchcock films in the second verse of the song? Try and catch all three.

let me show you how it works, clanker.

2009-11-14T18:40:00.004-06:00

I was super late to hop on the Star Wars: The Clone Wars wagon, but thank the Baby Jesus I got there eventually. I know that the show still suffers from a lot of anti-Episodes I-III sentiment (and, you know, fair enough), but seriously, if the movies had been as good as the animated series, they would've killed critically and commercially. Yeah, I know they did pretty well commercially, but they would've been less of a pop culture novelty and more of a generational touchstone. Perhaps more so than Episodes IV-VI.

I really cannot say enough about the series and the prequel film. I find myself so inspired by these animated characters, and emotionally invested in everyone from Master Yoda to the clones. The show can be devastatingly brutal, and it's a little strange to watch and find yourself mourning the loss of future Storm Troopers.

It doesn't hurt that the show is visually stunning, with great performances from the vocal cast and a beautiful score. Perhaps best of all, the show has a silly and irreverent sense of humor. The evil battle droids are the goofy comic relief, but not so much in a half-baked and moderately offensive Jar Jar Binks kind of way. Their banter and silly one-liners pepper beautifully violent battle scenes with some necessary levity that reminds you that, hey, two Republic ships full of 20,000 clone soldiers were just destroyed, but this is still a cartoon and it's meant to be fun.

Roger, roger.

what's new pussycat?

2009-11-13T16:31:00.005-06:00

I can't help loving all things Hello Kitty, so seeing Lady Gaga star in a shoot to celebrate Hello Kitty's 35th anniversary was music to my eyeballs. The photos will be featured in the singer's upcoming album, The Fame Monster.

Then of course there's the Japanese Vogue shoot of Hello Kitty with John Galliano wearing custom Dior clothing.

And I can't forget the gorgeous MAC Hello Kitty collection.

ga-ga-oh-la-la

2009-11-12T18:08:00.008-06:00

Nicola Formichetti (who is totally one of my idols) has posted a breakdown of Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" looks on his blog. A few of my favorites...

Alexander McQueen dress and shoes, Haus of Gaga razor blade sunglasses

"I wanted to design a pair [of sunglasses] for some of the toughest chicks and some of my girlfriends - don't do this at home! - they used to keep razor blades in the side of their mouths… That tough female spirit is something that I want to project. It's meant to be, 'This is my shield, this is my weapon, this is my inner sense of fame, this is my monster.'" -The Gaga

suit and crown by Haus of Gaga

bat headpiece by Shinji Konishi (Can I wear this in my wedding someday instead of a veil?)

Franc Fernandez headpiece and outfit

Agent Provocateur lingerie, Benjamin Cho crystal rosary, Keko Hainswheeler mask

Nasir Mazhar orb

Alexander McQueen dress, leggings and armadillo heels

Benjamin Cho faux polar bear coat, Alexander McQueen dragon heels

Haus of Gaga brassiere, Alexander Mcqueen dragon heels, RP Encore headpiece

prepare to release your inner goth ballerina

2009-11-11T12:01:00.005-06:00

Courtesy of Nitrolicious, we're finally seeing more images of Rodarte's upcoming line with Target. The black lace dress is very holiday Audrey Hepburn (and fits great on the model below), but I'm more excited about the dress on the right (the scan is from Teen Vogue). I love what the Mulleavy sisters do with ballet and fairy-inspired dresses, so I'm pleased to see that they were able to incorporate some of their romance and whimsy into a lower-priced capsule collection. The piece de resistance for me is still the skeleton sequin minidress, but the collection has the potential to have a lot of depth and variety.

Here are some more spoilers from the editor's preview in August. I love the lace tights, the lace-trimmed bralettes, and the leopard print jacket. And the sunglasses are pretty stellar.

an early winter

2009-11-11T11:42:00.002-06:00

Spring 2010 lookbook images of Nicole Richie's fashion line Winter Kate (named after her daughter) have just been released on her website. I reserve judgment until I have the opportunity to see the clothing in person, but some of these shots look promising.

I wish I had a better detail of this print, but I'm very pro-kimono dresses in general.

Again, need to check out the detail in person, but very excited for this crocheted(ish?) vest.

Is this a dress or a nightgown? I don't really care. I'm a sucker for tiny floral print, so this already has me intrigued.

I want to crank up the heat in my apartment this winter and adopt this look as my official lounging uniform.

oh my ga-god

2009-11-10T18:52:00.004-06:00

Holy heavens, Lady Gaga's video for "Bad Romance" has finally been released. Manfriend has already been forced to sit through it eight times.

Of course, the divine Miss G was the first to rock the Alexander McQueen high heels from hell. Bless her heart.

nooooooooooooooooooooo!

2009-11-10T11:10:00.001-06:00

Luella is closing. I need a stiff drink.

dawn of the english dead

2009-10-30T13:08:00.008-05:00

I'm a sucker for Jane Austen and I'm a sucker for zombies. So Quirk's announcement that they'll be releasing a prequel to Pride and Prejudice and Zombies has me all atwitter.

Dawn of the Dreadfuls will be an original work of fiction based on Austen characters (as opposed to Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters, which were both re-imaginings of Austen novels). The story will follow young Elizabeth Bennet and her sisters as they grow up and are trained by their father to become zombie slayers. Hopefully, this work will live up to its excellent predecessor.