Friday, December 28, 2012

The Dark Knight Rises

Films capture the essence of a culture. They are little time capsules that can let us relive certain ancient periods or they can make us relate to modern day adventures. Regardless of all the great and epic stories that have been told through the magic of the silver screen, they're also great fashion inspiration. Every week I'll post a breakdown of a character's style and how you can achieve it yourself.

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The Dark Knight Rises

Christopher Nolan's highly anticipated third installment of his batman series hit the theatres a couple of months ago so I think that almost everyone knows already what the movie's about. Just to be sure I'll tell you the storyline in short without major spoilers. 
The movie begins with Bruce Wayne trying to beat Howard Hughes on the terrain of being an eccentric recluse. Selina Kyle grabs his attention when she steals a pearl necklace from his safe in such a swift catlike manner that he is impressed. Eventually Batman rises when Bane attacks Gotham. 

That's not the whole storyline off course, but enough to keep you guessing if you're going to watch it for the first time. Which you should! This is not a batmanmovie, but a Christopher Nolan film with Batman in it.

Selina Kyle

Her alter-ego is Catwoman (not much of a spoiler) and though she steals, she's not really one of the bad guys. The best word to define her personality is: ambigue. She was brought up in tough circumstances (try being poor and alone in Gotham City, not so much fun), so she learned from a young age to only do what's best for her. That combined with her agility and intelligence is a recipe for becoming a villain. On the other hand her strong feelings towards doing what's right keep her from becoming another ego centric criminal. It doesn't matter if you like her criminal behaviour, because her style is surely something you'll want to steal yourself.


Dangerous Elegance
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Selina Kyle's every day attire looks every bit as mysterious as she is.
If you want to channel that elegant and sexy look, start by pairing a black pencil skirt with a peplum blazer. Try wearing a bustier top underneath for a sexy detail. Grab a wide brimmed hat for an anonymous feeling and classic black bag. Pearl earrings complement the formal side of this look, while studded short leather gloves fit in with the whole 'edgy details' theme she has going on here. Dark brownish red lips and simple black pumps is all you need to complete this look.


Feline fierceness
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I can imagine that most of you wouldn't want to wear the skintight suit that Catwoman wears, but the outfit that I created is a lot more wearable with a wink to the typical catburglar outfit.
The black leather paneled skinny and a asymmetrical leather biker jacket combo gives you a bad girl aura. Combine that with spiked ankle booties and a flirty red lip, et voila, the wearable Catwoman outfit is  completed!


Thursday, December 27, 2012

The Help

Films capture the essence of a culture. They are little time capsules that can let us relive certain ancient periods or they can make us relate to modern day adventures. Regardless of all the great and epic stories that have been told through the magic of the silver screen, they're also great fashion inspiration. Every week I'll post a breakdown of a character's style and how you can achieve it yourself. 

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The Help

Earlier this year Viola Davis walked away with an oscar for best actress for her outstanding performance of a black southern maid during the sixties. Jessica Chastain was nominated for best supporting actress, but didn't snag the price. She lost the oscar to co-star Octavia Spencer.
If this doesn't convince you that you should watch the movie, then at least consider watching it for a huge source of fashion inspiration.
It's based on the 2009 novel, 'The Help', and centers around a young girl who just finished college, Skeeter. She's determined to become a professional writer and she starts interviewing the black maids who work for her Southern high society friends. In a period and place were racism was still palpable in the air, that didn't come over too well, and she's forced to secretly interview the maids. Another problem that arises is the fact that the maids form a tight knit community of their own and don't like it that she's trying to wiggle information out of them. Eventually Aibileen (Davis) is the first to open up, which lead to the rest of the maids telling their stories as well. And boy do they have something to tell!
Spolier alert: you will have seconds thoughts next time you'll eat pie after watching the movie.
I think that the movie managed to turn a dark and depressing subject into something filled with hope without neglecting the seriousness of it. 

Celia Foote

A blonde bombshell, played by Jessica Chastain, who's arrival in Mississippi causes a lot of controverse. She's wedded to a rich socialite (Mike Vogel), but he used to date Hilly (Bryce Dallas Howard, daughter of Ron Howard). Hilly is a snobby, racist bitch avant-la-lettre, and rumor has it that Celia stole her husband from Hilly. This is reason enough for Hilly to completely outcast Celia, and she demands that all her friends do the same. Celia on the other hand is a kind, caring and naive woman who was born into a working-class family and feels insecure about her new position on the social ladder. she isn't the perfect housewife, but she sure knows how to dress to impress.

Southern Rose







Celia loves to showoff her curves, so start with a tight pink pencil skirt. Tuck a flower patterned light pink blouse in your skirt and strap a big red belt around your waist. Find red flower studs and a coral toned lipstick to embrace your inner bombshell. Beware, it's still a modern day uptake on the look and not a costume party outfit so instead of bold red nails, opt for a mint green nailpolish. The minty color will bring out the pink and red tones and offers a refreshing detail to your appearance. Mint was also THE it-color for accessories this summer, and since it's officially the last day of summer, try rocking those summer vibes as long as possible. Neutral pumps will let your clothes have all the attention, and they match with your beige leather jacket. I added a leather jacket to give the look something edgy but without taking away it's powdery feeling, it's also great for a swift transition to an indian summer outfit.



Playful Beauty







Brighten your day with a yellow playsuit and creamy sunglasses. Slip into white colored wedges to get that sixties vibe going on and add a modern twist to it by wearing a white jeans gilet. A simple yellow bracelet and white flower studs will leave you looking like an innocent summer beauty. Paint your nails  pink and find a matching lipgloss. Et voila, a modern day Celia! Just check that your husband is not the ex-boyfriend of a psycho high ranked socialite and you're good to go.








From Dusk Till Dawn

Films capture the essence of a culture. They are little time capsules that can let us relive certain ancient periods or they can make us relate to modern day adventures. Regardless of all the great and epic stories that have been told through the magic of the silver screen, they're also great fashion inspiration. Every week I'll post a breakdown of a character's style and how you can achieve it yourself. 




From Dusk Till Dawn

Cult movie written by Quentin Tarantino and directed by Robert Rodriquez, aka the golden couple of gory B-movies that you've got to love. 'From dusk till dawn' has some serious stars in it on the brink of their rise to fame. George Clooney stars as the protagonist Richie Gecko. His brother, Seth, is played by Quentin Tarantino (he sure loves his cameo's/small roles). They are two good or nothing criminals who robbed a bank and didn't bother about killing a bunch of people in the process. So they did what every self-respecting cliché criminal would do, flee to Mexico. Once they get there they kidnap a widowed preacher  Jacob Fuller (Harvey Keitel), as if they were begging for a act of punishment of God. His two children, played by Ernest Liu and a still innocent looking Juliette Lewis, are also being taken by those two ruthless criminals. Young Juliette develops a little 'stockholm-syndrom' crush. But then again, I still have to meet the woman who would complain if George Clooney kidnapped her. The bizarre gang heads down to a local bar to meet a local crimelord. If you asked yourself, what would be the best over the top name for my imaginary bar, don't look further: 'The Titty Twister'. It looks like something Charles Dickens himself would have come up with! 
Anywho, the Gecko brothers don't really mind entering 'The titty twister' or should I say, they were bursting with excitement. Little did they know what was waiting for them. The preacher and his kids are forced to come with them, resulting in Harvey Keitel doing his best to act like he would never ever set foot in a bar like that. While they're waiting for this Mexican thug, they admire the local beauties scattered allover the place wearing even less than Kate Middelton on a sunny day in France. When Santanico Pandemonium (should have been a warning) walks onto the stage, it immediately launched Salma Hayek as 'Hottest woman of the goddamn planet'. She does this seductive dance with a heavy looking python. Every man in that bar is hypnotized by her, just like every man in the theatre for that matter. BAM! Enter the fangs! 
The bar  is a coverup for vampires led by Santanico, to feed on unexpected visitors. What follows is one hell of a night where the Fullers and the Geckos have to work together to survive. 
I loved this movie because it looked like another ordinary crimemovie but somehow it turned in a horror/vamp movie within the blink of an eye.

Santanico Pandemonium

As the main bait for her and her coven's food, she has to look hypnotizing seductive. If you want to achieve the same look when you go to a party, I wouldn't advise to translate her look literally. Unless you just so happen to be a circus artist who is looking for a new outfit for her snakebit, then by all means, look for a flimsy red bikini and work that feathery crown! For the rest of us, here's another uptake on Santanico's outfit.

Diabolical Flirty







Don a Greek inspired floor grazing dress in the new it-color, oxblood (sounds very appropriate). Accessorize it with a golden statement snake necklace, referring to her naughty snake dance. Golden brown feather earrings will compliment the red and the gold of your outfit without looking like you wanted to play a dress up game. It's also a wink to her feather crown that she wears during the snake dance. This look is very noticeable so I recommend to tone your makeup down but be sure to swipe a rich dark brownish hue on your lips. Slip into some golden sandals (or strappy golden heels) and you're good to go. You'll turn heads without having to dance in a tiny bikini! 


The Vow

Films capture the essence of a culture. They are little time capsules that can let us relive certain ancient periods or they can make us relate to modern day adventures. Regardless of all the great and epic stories that have been told through the magic of the silver screen, they're also great fashion inspiration. Every week I'll post a breakdown of a character's style and how you can achieve it yourself. 


The Vow

Leo & Paige are a cute newlywed couple. How can they not be cute if they're played by the prince and princess of romantic comedies, Channing Tatum & Rachel McAdams (No worries, Jennifer, you're still the queen). Too bad that they live in a hollywood product, so off course something dramatic has to happen to them.  After a car accident she doesn't remember that heavenly creature standing next to her hospital bed introducing himself as her husband. Girls, when Channing Tatum says that he's your husband, you do not, I repeat NOT ask questions! Unless you're as gorgeous as Rachel McAdams, then you're allowed to turn him down. Leo has to let his wife fall for him again, and he has some competition from her ex-fiance...  SPOILER ALERT: He succeeds. 
I don't think you would have guessed that they would find their way back to each other, it's the most surprising outcome ever of a romcom movie. I sincerely hope you'll notice the pool of sarcasm that has dripped from your screen. It's basicly a renewed version of '50 first dates' with better looking actors. But somehow I really liked it, probably because it's based on a real life experience (true story sounds too corny) from Kim and Krickitt Carpenter. Kim still doesn't remember her first years with Krickitt, but somehow they managed to get back together.

Paige

When Leo meets Paige she's a happy and bubbly woman who cut loose with her stiff family to become an artists. Her free spirit reflects in her clothing style. I would describe her as 'alternative girly'. Even though sometimes she wears some, let us say, daring prints and combinations she manages to make it look cute. After her accident, she doesn't remember anything from the point when she left her family. So it's only natural that she reaches out to them. That's when the style of her family and old friends wiggles it's way back into her closet.Bye bye artsy Paige, welcome back Ivy League girl. I must admit that her preppy side (she even colors her hair blonde) has some great outfits, even though they're less risky. 

Alternative Girly











Pair a pretty white lace dress with a simple brown leather jacket. A red bow belt will accentuate your waist while providing a pop of color. A brown leather bag will match your jacket, while neutral colored ballet flats tie the outfit together without being overwhelming (the spikes on the back are a nice trendy touch). The golden necklace with heart shaped pendant, that doubles as a watch, symbolizes the eternal love of this couple. No nail polish is a wink towards her breezy personality.This fun and stylish outfit is the way to go if you want to seduce that starbucks employee who looks just like Channing. 



Ivy League Chic









Start with a grey dress that doesn't show any cleavage. A navy blue cardigan will make it look less severe. Grab a small grey clutch to hold your essentials (don't try to stash your entire beauty case in it, bulky is not chic). Simple pearl earrings make everything look classy and are perfect for this 'I'm going too meet my in-laws' look. Adding a headband will certainly make things look extra preppy, so opt for an embellished one to create a trendy vibe. Paint your nails with this barely there but still noticeable pink nailpolish. Last but not least, grey pumps, because flats will make you look too boring.