Oui, Je Suis Une NARS-issist!

In a few weeks the fall/winter 2012/2013 collections will be presented all around the world – from New York to Paris – but in the meantime, make-up brands are introducing their spring 2012 collections. As a make-up junkie, you may realize why I feel a thrill of excitement any time I hear about the launch of a new set of shades. My beauty routine is pretty simple, when it comes to make-up and skin care, but I like trying new shades, even if I end up wearing black eyeliner, peachy-pink blush and red lipstick all the time. If you are regular readers of this blog, I’m sure you know I’m not simply a make-up junkie: I’m a NARS-issist, too, totally devoted to the brand founded by François Nars. Their spring 2012 collection has just been presented, so let’s take a look at what’s new.

The most evident change from the previous collection is the testimonial. Ginta Lapina, a 23-year-old model from Latvia, has been chosen as the new face of the make-up brand [1]. She looks gorgeous in the advertising campaign, shot, as usual, by François Nars himself: her blonde hair and blue eyes beautifully contrast with her tanned skin, emerald pink bracelet and pink (latex?) dress (or is it a swimsuit?). I totally agree with this choice, but I’m a bit sad as well, because I think Mariacarla Boscono was perfect as the face of this brand.

Tags: ginta lapina, nars, nars spring 2012 collection

What I Feel Like Is Gloria Effing Swanson

I’m sure this theme – tv sets/monitors in movies – will surprise you. As you know, I haven’t watched tv since 2008 and I have no intention to stop: I hate Italian television and most of its programmes, but televisions in movies have always had a special charm to me. Maybe it’s just a question of metacinema (a movie in a movie), but someone watching television in a movie always stirs something in me. I know this Friday Guessing Game is not easy at all, but focusing on what is on these monitors and televisions can really help you to identify the movies. I hope you’ll enjoy it! Share the love ♥

No video solution this week, I’m sorry, but you can see the solution of the guessing game in the picture above. Some of the screencaps were really difficult to identify, but I think others were a little bit easier, because what is on the tv can help you. The winners are – again – Lorenzo and his friends, who guessed 3 movies right. Guys, you know you can do better than this, but this game was actually hard.

From the Valley to the Upper East Side: Lily Van der Woodsen’s Style Cross-Over (5.11 – The End of the Affair?)

Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage surely know how to waste a treasure. They left us in December with one of the greatest cliffhangers ever, just to come back in January with one of the worst episodes ever. I mean, are they kidding? How can they think the audience can appreciate such a bland episode as The End of the Affair? [1]. I just don’t understand what has happened and the direction they want to give Gossip Girl. Blair is the ghost of the Queen B we’ve seen in the first seasons (the religious reason behind her decision to marry Louis is beyond ridiculous); her love story with Chuck is stale and pointless, not to mention the possibility that Serena and Dan could be back together (ok, they were pretending at the most depressing New Year’s Eve party ever, but it’s clear Serena still likes him). And the storyline of Charlie? That could be another great thing, but it’s like they bombed it, too. Too bad rumors say that there will be another season after this one; I mean, it would be like beating a dead horse…

Despite all my disappointment, I keep on watching it because I’m kind of attached to the characters and because I need my weekly dose of Upper East Side glamour from Lily. In this episode, she only sports one outfit, very chic and very much in her style.

In the opening scene, Lily and Rufus are sitting on the couch in their living room and chatting about Jenny (who’s in London, partying with Alexa Chung – I don’t even want to comment on that) and Eric. Lily is still thinking of Charlie, who ran away after Blair and Chuck’s car crash, apparently without a reason. In this screencap, we can see she’s wearing a white dress with a floral black print and yellow accents, paired with a short black cardigan, black tights and matching pumps.

Tags: gossip girl, ippolita, kelly rutherford, lily van der woodsen, nancy gonzalez, the end of the affair?

69th Golden Globe Awards

Here we go! The awards season officially started yesterday with the ceremony of the 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards, which took place at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Hollywood. As usual, I was super-excited for this event and I must admit what I saw on the red carpet didn’t bring me down, so let’s go through my best-dressed list.

Ladies in Red

Hate her or like her, but nobody can deny the impressive star power of Angelina Jolie. She’s usually a vision on red carpets, even when she wears simple dresses, so guess what happens when she overtly plays the glamour card. She wore a gorgeous Atelier Versace one-shoulder satin dress with thigh-high slit, draped waist-line and red folded detail on the neckline. I think her style is actually boring (I much preferred her when she played the goth card), but this time she was flawless, even thanks to the red lipstick she wore.

I’m glad she opted for a simple chignon, which beautifully emphasizes the dress. She accessorized her outfit with a red Christian Louboutin Pharaon satin clutch, Lorraine Schwartz diamond earrings and ring.

Tags: 69th golden globes, angelina jolie, claire danes, connie britton, dianna agron, jessica alba, laura dern, lea michele, michelle williams, natalie portman, nicole kidman, red carpet, rooney mara, star style

A Good Tree Cannot Bring Forth Evil Fruit

Yesterday afternoon I was driving home from school and I was thinking of how sad and uncool is the life of teachers according to movies. Just think about that: teachers are often depicted as the enemies, people whose only mission is ruining your life. Even when they are not enemies, they are seen as sad and probably lonely people: their lives are meaningful only in relation to their job. As a (fixed-term) teacher, let me tell you that my job and the conditions in which I work are hard. It’s not true that we don’t have a life outside the school, but it’s true that sometimes our job defines ourselves because it’s a sort of mission, or at least it should be. I’d like to go in depth of this topic (teachers in movies), but in the meantime here is my Friday Guessing Game devoted to schools, blackboards and writing. I hope you’ll enjoy it!

After some weeks of written solutions, I’m back with a video solution. As usual, I didn’t speak about the Friday Guessing Game only, but you can also see my latest manicure. Those who decided to take part into this game were amazing and they all did their best to guess the identity of the screencaps. The winners are – again – Lorenzo and his friends, who guessed 8 (!) pictures right, but my kudos also go to Ale and Bea, too, because they guessed 7 pictures right. In any case, I’m happy when my games bring people together

Ball Gowns

Now I live in a permanent 1994-1995 time warp…

Edward Meadham [1]

Oh, dear Edward! I can totally feel your pain. You were a teenager in the 90s, just like me, so I totally get what you’re talking about. That decade has been largely idealized by younger generations, but we lived it and realized how special it was. I don’t know if it’s only a problem of mine but, besides still listening to the music that I used to at that time, I’m gradually retreating to the visual fashion imagery of that decade and I realize its unique magic is still intact. Some time ago I had the chance to see an editorial which appeared on the couture supplement of Vogue Italia in September 1995, one of my favourite editorials ever. I don’t know why but I had lost memory of it, so finding it again has been like opening a long-forgotten box of secrets.

The model, Stella Tennant, was 25 years old and perfectly captured what being effortlessly cool meant. She posed for Mark Borthwick and was styled by none other than Anna Dello Russo, the bizarre bird of paradise that everybody knows. “Traditional ball gowns in ’95 version” says the caption in the opening shot, and this was actually an interesting project – introducing ball gowns into a minimal background.

The opening shot sets the tone of the whole photoshoot and is impressive in its extreme simplicity. A gorgeous Pierre Balmain Haute Couture black strapless ball gown stands on a neutral background and is kind of suspended: nobody is wearing it but its beauty is emphasized by the human absence.

Stella Tennant sported a short haircut with side parting, she wore a little make-up and no jewellery, yet she managed to look wonderful. The picture above was shot in front of a green metal wall, which beautifully contrasts with the pink satin of the embroidered ball gown by Guy Laroche Haute Couture. Her androgynous figure created another contrast with the elaborate decorations and shapes of the dresses: the result was extremely modern and fresh, far from some artificial industrial/urban atmospheres present in some pictures by Helmut Newton, for example.

Tags: anna dello russo, ball gowns, mark borthwick, stella tennant, vogue italia

Christina Aguilera’s Style: The Voice Panel for the 2012 TCA Winter Tour, January 6, 2012

My Christmas holidays are sadly coming to an end, but I’m kind of excited because one of my favourite moments of the year is starting: the awards season is on its way, Gossip Girl is starting in two weeks and the second season of The Voice is coming, as well. Holidays have finished for Christina Aguilera, too: yesterday she attended The Voice panel for the 2012 Winter TCA Tour in Pasadena.

Now, let me tell you something about her outfit. I love this silk chiffon dress, it looks lovely on her and I’m praying she’s finally embracing the right style for her. I’ve always approved of her most daring outfits and I don’t give a damn about all the criticism she’s got about her weight, but this time I can’t pretend I haven’t seen what’s going on here. I rarely wear a bra because I feel more comfortable like this, but I’m a size 32 and I don’t need much support. This is clearly not the case of Christina, so, honey, what about wearing a good bra from now on? I repeat I’m the first to embrace a very natural approach to my body, but a dress like this calls for some support and nobody can say it’s not true. Sure she’s free to do whatever she wants with her image: I think she’s an incredible role model for women, because accepting yourself is fundamental, but a bra has never killed anybody, right?

Tags: christian louboutin, christina aguilera, lady peep pumps, loree rodkin, star style, supernatural leopard dress, the voice, the voice panel, thomas wylde

Just Forget You Ever Saw It. It’s Better That Way.

My Christmas holidays are coming to an end, but the Friday Guessing Game is going strong as usual. This is the first game of 2012: I decided to devote it to mirrors, a theme recurring in many movies which has always intrigued me. I hope you’ll enjoy it.

I know it wasn’t easy, but I’ve got winners: Lorenzo and his friends! Well done, boys! The third screencap, taken from Repulsion by Roman Polanski, wasn’t easy at all, but you guessed it right! The same can be said for the seventh one – Kim Novak in Pushover by Richard Quine! Awww, I always say that, but I love when my Friday Guessing Game bring people together ♥

If I Could Turn Back Time: Titch and Faye in “This Is England ’88″

Whenever I speak about my relation with tv, I proudly explain I haven’t watched it since 2008. Italian tv bores me to death and I think the ritual of watching it is a thing of the past. This doesn’t mean that I don’t appreciate good tv products: I watch many American and British series, which are definitely better than the best Italian tv show. I’ve already expressed my admiration for an excellent mini-series which aired in December 2011 - This Is England ’88: the plot, the characters and the setting are just impressive.

The different kinds of style sported by the female characters obviously caught my attention. After Lol and Kelly, here is the complete overview of what Titch and Faye wore. They’re very different characters, but have one thing in common: both of them are new entries, introduced in the story to bring a breath of fresh air and more drama.

Titch (Autumn Smiles) is introduced as Harvey’s (Michael Socha) girlfriend: they’re at a pub with Kelly, Trev, Gadget and Banjo, when Milky arrives. I must admit I was immediately struck by her style, much in contrast with Kelly and Trev’s. In this first scene, she sports a sort of uniform, an outfit which will distinguish her all through the mini-series. Unfortunately, we don’t know anything about her [1], which is a pity, because it would have been interesting to know more about her background. I can assume she comes from the lower middle class, like most of the characters, or at least she feels part of that part of society.

Tags: autumn smiles, charlotte tyree, shane meadows, this is england '88

Red Carpet Heroines: Bryce Dallas Howard’s Maternity Style

I rarely write about red carpet events because I prefer analyzing fashion from a different point of view, but sometimes I like focusing on celebrities who catch my attention, those I call “red carpet heroines”. They rarely appear on the best-dressed lists, which is another reason why I like them so much. Show business is more about business than about show, and the choice behind the outfit sported on a red carpet is often ruled by business itself. Sometimes it happens to see people who apparently don’t conform to the rule, people who seem to wear what they want, who are proud of their style. Probably this is not true, because even their “different” style is the result of a stylist’s work, but still.

The red carpet heroine I’ve chosen today is Bryce Dallas Howard, a beautiful and talented actress who has been mediatically crucified for her pregnancy style. She has been criticised for wearing muumuus, unflattering dresses and – guess what? – maternity clothes! Well, if the touchstone is Victoria Beckham, it’s clear Bryce looks like a tramp, but all this criticism shows one of the biggest contradictions of our times. The female body has become a battlefield, literally: the way in which is modified and treated, the way in which it changes, is often used to speak about politics and society. Women (celebrities included) are not even free to live their pregnancy as they wish: if you spend 9 months perched on 10-inch heels, you’re cool, a role model for the whole world; if you wear loose dresses and you still manage to look good (this is the case of Bryce), you’re pointed out as the shabby one. Isn’t it absurd and totally out-of-this-world?

You may not like her style, but I think nobody can deny Bryce’s maternity outfits have been always nice and original in their simplicity. Let’s see some of them.

When she attended the Cannes Film Festival in May 2011, she was in the early stages of her pregnancy. At the photocall of the film Restless by Gus Van Sant, she chose a very severe outfit, which included a long blue skirt and an awesome lace blouse. She also wore Pollini grey strappy sandals and a gorgeous pair of gold earrings with semi-precious stones (a recurring element in her style).

Tags: bryce dallas howard, christian cota, dolce & gabbana, isabella oliver, j crew, le vian, reem acra