Now, I wasn't sure whether or not to wait to do this post, seeing as the Cannes Film Festival is still in full swing, and there are still several red carpets to, so maybe I'll end up doing some special weekend posts about the rest... or maybe not. Anyway, I realized a fun way for me to cover red carpet events without it just being another runway fashion review - I'll sort the gowns I like or don't like by time period! Here we go:
1900s
Romantic lace, a soft decolletage, and the diamond collar necklace all make for a beautiful Gibson Girl silhouette on the lovely Eva Herzigova. The a-la-Draper hair is simple and elegant.
1910s
Grecian detail, a wide belt, and chiffon shoulder panel all give a dash of Lucille to Eva Longoria's gown.
1920s
The simple design, drop waist and tiered ruffle skirt all give Ms. Rossy de Palma a Flapperish Flair. This gown is also reminiscent of the Sevillanas.
Honorable Mention
1930s
A Clingy silhouette, halter top, and bangles bring back memories of Nancy Cunard.
Honorable Mentions
1940s
Woah. Who brought Gilda to life? This is 100% Rita Hayworth. Lovely!
Honorable Mentions
1950s
It's no surprise that Marion Cotillard should be chosen for the 50s when she's decked out in Dior. Gorgeous.
1960s
I find it ironic that Ms. Fonda should have been picked for this decade, as it was the decade of her youth. Her sweetheart neckline, ratted hair, and cinched waist all bring back the stylin' sixties.
1970s
I'm torn. I really can't tell how I feel about these disco era digs. They are very seventies, and very very much the color of mustard. Either way that is Charlie Chaplin's grand-daughter.
Hope this was fun! I might go through this again next week to round up some more dresses... Or I may simply update this post. Either way you'll be updated of anything I do with this. Have a great weekend, readers!
Before you watch this, I must warn you: it's the epitome of mediocrity. It's neither bad enough to be hilarious nor good enough to be appreciated by "Grease" fans. In fact, I'm not really sure why I'm showing this to you, except that it's at least a plus that they're playing off of a classic.
Juicy tidbit: the woman who plays Rizzo (and kicks Longoria off the bench) is the wife of a former team mate of Tony's. She and Parker have been allegedly sexting for seven months.
Again, I'm really not sure why I posted this. I'll post a proper Music Monday as well.
I'm doing things a little bit differently this week. For starters, I had to retro-actively post this week's entry due to a mountain of homework and such. I'll probably put up more artwork later this week.
Ten-year-old Jackie singing on AGT
Anyway, for those of you that don't know, Jackie Evancho is the ten-year-old runner-up on this past season of America's Got Talent. Her voice stunned audiences nationwide; so much so that judge Howie Mandel asked her to perform a voice exercise to quell rumors that she had been lip-syncing. Here she is performing "Time to Say Goodbye" on AGT:
It is rather incredible. Normally, I wouldn't be featuring a singer such as Evancho. However, something about her struck me as I watch her appearance today on the View:
It's hard to believe someone that vibrant and well-spoken is a mere child of ten... The voice is one thing, but child prodigies have existed throughout history (Mozart played concerts by age five), yet often these extremely talented people tend to be withdrawn and somewhat shy. It's incredible to see a girl so mature at such a young age.
Jackie's second album hits stores today!
My favorite thing about her, though, is how she chose to use her gift. Perhaps it's just a bit of prejudice on my part, but I think it would be safe to assume that most girls Evancho's age listen mostly to pop. From personal experience, most children her age tend to find Classical music and Opera to be a terrible bore - which is perfectly understandable. Evancho breaks the mold and sings many beautiful Arias along with some more modern cross-over pieces. It's nice to see a young girl rewarded for taking an interest in something other than Hannah Montana (who, I should mention, no longer exists. Miley Cyrus has officially given up her alter-ego).
Jackie sings with Sarah Brightman on AGT
Plus, have you noticed she actually dressed like a little girl? I think she's a great role model for young girls who like to sing. Her second album, "O Holy Night" debuts today, and it's starting out second only to Susan Boyle on Amazon's Best-seller list!
Tiiiiiiiime toooooooooo say goodbyyyyyyyyeeeeeeeeeee, Nostalgically Yours
Let's start off the week with the recent hit by the British singer/producer duo La Roux:
I first heard this song through my mother, believe it or not. It was her and my sister's new favorite song, and has since become mine. Of course, this song and its music video simply ooze the 1980s, but if you're still not convinced just check out the album cover:
Seeing her perform on a great deal of variety daytime shows has really given me insight into the mindset that predominated that time period. I quite frankly used to hate the eighties. I felt the music was bad, the clothing was worse and I saw it as awkward transition between the seventies and the nineties. Recently, though, I've come to the conclusion that the opposite is true. The eighties were the iconic time whilst the seventies and nineties (though they did have their own distinct styles) were more transitional.
New Romantics such as Boy George incorporated 19th century clothing into their wardrobe, inspiring designers such as Vivienne Westwood to do the same.
The 1980s saw many great cultural changes across the globe. Calvin Klein began featuring racy clothing and underwear commercials in gigantic public billboards. Synthetic music was invented and exploded into pop culture. The punks of the 1970s would dovetail into the New Romantics and the Goths. Rap, Hip-Hop, Techno, and Rave were all subcultures that have their origins in the 1980s. Globalization began taking jobs from the United States and stores like Walmart and Kmart began to flourish under a stream of cheap products from Asian countries. The movie "Wall Street" epitomized the no-holds-barred attitude held, not only towards the economy, but also to almost every aspect of life.
Apparently Brooke Shields says she can still fit into the jeans from that controversial ad - Shields was 15 years old at the time.
When I saw La Roux perform on the Ellen Degeneres show, I was taken aback by how amazing this all seemed. I was also hypnotized by that drummer; the way he danced while he played. For a teenager coming of age in the 1980s, it must have been absolutely breathtaking... Nothing like this sort of music had ever been seen. Of course, synthesizers were used in disco, but this was not just about the music. It was a lifestyle. The music videos featured bizarre non sequitors. The bands wore crazy outfits and did crazy things. Imagine a pop culture permeated with Lady Gagas. That was the 1980s.
In retrospect, it's no wonder we all have this stigma with the shoulder pad and synthesizer culture. However, many signs indicate that the 80s are coming back. Music and fashion have reflected this, and I think the arrival of Lady Gaga has opened the doorway for other artists to help push the envelope in artistic expression.
Christina Aguilera is already getting flack for her video "I'm Not Myself Tonight" (Not Safe for Work), but she was already trying to push limits with her video for "Dirrty" (NSFW). She was completely bashed for being so hyper sexual in the 90s, but now she's following Lady G's lead and letting her hair down a bit.
Perhaps this means that we are, in fact, entering a new period like the 80s, where we will see behavior and statements that we could never have imagined. If a raw meat dress at the VMAs isn't enough to give that general impression, then I'm not sure what is. Hopefully, though, we'll learn our lessons from the past and avoid running the economy further into the ground through the near complete deregulation of Wall Street - but I promised I wouldn't get political, so I won't. In short: I'm excited for the coming decade - I hope you are, too!
As I try my hardest to get into the groove of writing this blog while juggling a steady stream of work and social activities, I'm trying to find ways to post less while not detracting from your reader experience. One of the ways I'm going to do this is through "Music Mondays". Occasionally I'll feature music videos I think have a certain nostalgic flair and talk a little bit about the artist.
This week I feature Beyoncé's "Why Don't You Love Me?"
I like Beyoncé a lot. As I talk about in my Beyoncé and Fosse post (which, for the purposes of this new post, I've refurbished with in-text videos!), she borrows a lot from the past. This video is a kick-ass blend of 50s, 60s, and 70s retro glam! Was anyone else seriously coveting her hair in the bedroom sequence?
No? Just me? Okay, moving on.
None of the clothing in this video is vintage - in fact many of the garments and accessories look very modern - yet it all has a distinct retro feel. This really shows the power of styling to steer the mood of an outfit and really create a look. It's a good example of how all of you out there can incorporate a retro flair into your everyday outfits.
My thoughts and feelings on Katrina five years later are still all mixed up. While I gather my thoughts to better express them to you, here's a little on what I saw yesterday during the 5-year anniversary celebration.
Five years to the day, yesterday, Katrina made landfall here in New Orleans. Katrina began a new chapter for New Orleans, and for the United States. The impact of Katrina attracts worldwide attention - one of the film crews in Jackson Square yesterday was filming for Aljazeera!
Well, this year the people of New Orleans have decided it's finally time to close the Katrina chapter, and to leave painful memories of flood and ruin behind. This lead to many mock jazz funerals held around the city, including the one at the Hotel Monteleone, where blue tarps and packaged meals were symbolically buried along with the old girl herself. The ceremony we followed featured a live jazz ensemble, mourners, and a tap dancer:
It was quite the festive weekend, what with the presidential visits and memorial concerts, ecumenical masses and the like. It's absolutely incredible to think where New Orleans is today. Five years ago, in the wake of Katrina no one could have imagined the courage and dedication with which the residents of this city would Rebuild, Restore, and Renew.
It's exciting to be starting a new chapter in my life just as New Orleans is opening the door on a new era. The ghosts of Katrina may still come knocking at our doors, but we as New Orleanians have made a vow not to let them in anymore, and not to rest until we've driven them all out of this city once and for all.
You will definitely be hearing more about this, so stay tuned! Nostalgically Yours
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" debuts today, and it's starting out second only to Susan Boyle on Amazon's Best-seller list!
