Posts from — March 2008

It took a long time for Penelope to come out to theaters, and when it finally did I was afraid it was going to be too cheesy even for me, but it did look sweet and I love Christina Ricci, although yes, I also long for her curvy, dark-haired days. The added bonus was the presence of James McAvoy, who has been stroking my ladyboner lately. The whole film is a feast for the eyes of us whimsy addicts. I thought it was a lovely cross between the charming aesthetic of Amelie and the fairytale extravagance of a Tim Burton film, come to find out later Michel Amathieu, the cinematographer from Amelie, actually worked on it!

My favorite scenes are in Penelope’s bedroom, where Mark Ryden paintings hang on the walls, bookcases are filled with first editions, and encased exotic plants allow her to be entertained while hidden away from the public for twenty-five years. I adored Penelope’s style, which is colorful and quirky enough to be considered eccentric for her blue-blooded upbringing, but would fit perfectly within the folds of Wardrobe Remix. You almost want to assume she’s been in her room all this time reading Lula, looking at street-style blogs and ordering everything from Anthropologie.

Rich colors envelop her wardrobe; deep purples, greens and reds all helped to perpetuate the fanciful theme. She had fabulous coats, which is one of my greatest fashion weaknesses, and there was one scene where she had on a turquoise coat with matching tights and shoes! More human Crayolas! I love it. Her trademark purple overcoat with mismatched buttons, patterned scarf and pig mask should be mimicked for this year’s Halloween as it actually was in the movie. Even James McAvoy, whose every scene in the film caused me to mutter breathy “Hellos” and “mmm, Delicious” like the pervert I am, looked up to par style-wise in his pinstriped blazer and overall down-and-out, dirty boy chic, a far cry from his clean cut look when he boned Kiera Knightley against that bookcase in Atonement [Hello best non-nude sex scene EVER]. The whole time I fantasized about giving that dirty ol’ ruffneck a sponge bath with a loofah and some Dove soap.

I wish there had been more dialogue-focused scenes between Ricci and McAvoy as they had a very cute repartee during earlier parts. Christina as a pig-nosed Blythe doll is perfect as Penelope. She’s a lil’ hottie! And she totally could have made some pretty lace mini veils to cover up her snout in the real world. It would be the new fashion trend.

Penelope is basically a cute film with an assortment of eye candy that also makes you feel happy. It’s safe enough to take your little sister to and you won’t feel ashamed having enjoyed it. Unlike that one time I stayed home on a Friday night and “accidentally” watched High School Musical 1 and 2… aiiii how embarrassing.

This was right when the Gulf War started in ’91. I was ten here and obsessed with The Goonies. My crush on Mikey was for real DEEP. I always liked the unlikely hero best. Maybe I still do!

I also had a Goonies Club at school and filmed a “sequel” AND rewrote the story with me in the cast, as a cheerleader. BWAH! That will be a future scan. Also: “I am still searching.” What a goddamn nerdalish.

1. read, phone moment, 2. Untitled, 3. Untitled, 4. POUPID POUPEE, 5. My favorite photograph – Guy Bourdin, 6. duchate molando, 7. ms. prettiness, 8. 2326148599_0b4ed9a2d4_b, 9. 2326885258_77d6b9551b_b, 10. 2326966988_49b68a8a1d_b, 11. 2326970662_5d674e3cae_o, 12. Lust is love, 13. for Miss Marie, 14. 1125058915, 15. I’ve been talking to Ronnie Corbett about my pregnancy, 16. nostalgia, 17. bjork in her oscar swan dress, 18. all you need is me, 19. Balkan Erotic Epic Women Massagin Breats, 20. Convertible Dudes Photo Shoot #6, 21. recent acquisitions…, 22. Untitled, 23. Untitled, 24. Moda Lisboa|Estoril 2008, 25. Untitled, 26. White-eye at Kitano shrine, 27. Fashion Notebook 24, 28. Untitled, 29. Untitled, 30. Octaputh!!!

A good variety of cuteness, sexiness, whimsy and menz you want to bone. You know which one I am talking about.

Poor Hello Kitty, she’s been used and abused in so many ways. Her image has been depicted on guns, vibrators [which we all have..right?], banana covers?!, Sars masks, and now a notorious Columbian drug lord has found a new way to pervert our favorite feline prom queen by hiding coded messages inside Hello Kitty images.

This kind of reminds me of the time in high school when I would hide condoms in a stuffed plush hot dog. I like it. If I were a drug mastermind I would do the same thing. Perhaps I would send secret messages through images of corn on the cob. Like I don’t already.

I go bonkers for anything panda-related so this recent post from Fops and Dandies about Beijing-based artist Zhao Bandi’s panda-themed fashion show immediately caught my eye. Bandi, who also goes by the name ‘Pandaman’ has been known to use stuffed pandas as a medium to express modern Chinese social issues in a satirical manner. The fashion show, which debuted last fall, allowed a new kind of platform for his amusing social commentary.

Over thirty models decorated in outrageous panda-inspired outfits walked the runways portraying different characters of Chinese social classes, from corrupt government officials and web celebrities, to lesbians and label whores. Well, now I have a good idea of what will either be my next Halloween costume or Madonna Inn photoshoot…

And as with any interesting artist comes a backlash of controversy, the show triggered the acceleration of a “panda law” to be passed in Chengdu, protecting the endangered animal’s image from being represented as anything considered suggestive or demeaning. So basically, the artist would not be allowed to strut around the town arm-in-arm with a couple panda girls like a Furry-loving pimp daddy! For shame!

Obviously, this picture of me jumping on the bed in a panda hat would be outlawed! This whole thing sparks my interest, not only because I squeal at the sight of anything panda, but also because my vacation to Beijing last year exposed me to their incredible art scene.

I can’t wait to see what Pandaman has up his sleeve next.

[Sources: Fops and Dandies, Pandatime, Art Zine China, Show China.]

My friend Tricia gave me this Japanese Cat Fight Pose book she found at Wacko because the girl on the right supposedly looked like me. Scary because from certain angles she does and I had to do a double take!

Of course IN OUR COMIC BOOK WORLD, this really would be true, except I would be wearing a better outfit, like my corn suit.

After spending time comparing Chloe Sevigny’s new clothing line to the era of tack, I figured why not cleanse our palettes with a series on silver-screen stars whose styles we can admire and be inspired by, and will hopefully not induce any vomiting. A favorite modern celebrity of mine who is a fan of the ‘Good Old Days” look is songstress Kate Nash, whose catchy “Foundations” was on every mix I made last summer.

Her style is mostly vintage ’50′s and ’60′s dresses and she is rarely caught wearing pants or jeans [like yours truly]. I remember when I first watched the video for “Foundations”, I swooned over her ability to dress like a banana head-to-toe and make it look hot. What can I say? I have a thing for people that look like human Crayolas. Her video for “Pumpkin Soup” makes me so happy. Even with those freakish dancing cats. I love her outfits in it too. Big red buttons on a blue dress! Did I mention I love dressing like a four-year old?

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Another person whose style I covet is the character of Chuck on Pushing Daisies. She too has the colorful vintage-inspired style down, but often pairs her dresses with cardigans, and H&M has a really cute bubble-gum pink one out now. Oh Pushing Daisies, how I miss you so! Perhaps dressing like Chuck will help hold me over until the fall when they air new episodes.

While I love bright colors, I tend to wear a lot of black with bursts of pink, turquoise or red in the form of tights, belts and scarves. This spring I’m trying to veer away from the dominantly black wear, which is very hard, considering I love dressing like Wednesday Addams most days. I call mine the “Amish Whore Look”. Anyway, my favorite consumer crack, Target, is making goth withdrawal easier with Isaac Mizrahi’s Easter-egg hued, retro party frocks and waitress-style shirtdresses. I paired them below with Natalie Portman’s new vegan shoe line for Te Casan.

Do you think she gave a pair to Scarlett? I hope it’s the red high-heeled Mary Janes. Why am I such a dude for them lately? As for my Target perusal, I actually settled on a green plaid shirtdress by Merona. It’s very ‘gonna-bake-you-a-pie-barefoot’, no?

I think these Mizrahi outfits would please both Kate and Chuck, and if only I could put them right on and jump into the screen Mary Poppins-style, I’d dance with those freakish cats in “Pumpkin Soup” and…dry hump Ned from Pushing Daisies for 2.5 hours. Oh my gaw…

HAPPY FRIDAY!

I have a post or two planned later but I just wanted to say ‘ello in the form of more Madonna Inn fun.

I like Chloe Sevigny. She’s unique, talented and always refreshing…though I’m not too crazy about her designs for New York City store, Opening Ceremony. Don’t get me wrong, I try very much to be fair-minded about fashion, and my favorite thing to ask myself is “Can I rock this shit?” The answer for Chloe’s line is, “Maybe if I hopped in a DeLorean going back to 1991.”

Many of these outfits would be perfect for the lovely ladies of Beverly Hills, 90210, or any of our other favorite late ’80′s to early ’90′s sitcoms. I can see both Kelly Taylor and Blossom Russo fighting over that leather biker cap/ black dress ensemble. Blossom’s BFF “Six” would be right over with the latest gossip wearing that floral midriff top and skirt getup. Kelly Kapowski would give Zack Morris a boner wearing those flowery cigarette pants with matching halter top. If there was a female Duckie in Pretty in Pink, she would definitely be dancing to Otis in that ‘lil pink tuxedo and creepers outfit. The look on the bottom far right would have been perfect for Janet Jackson’s backup dancers in “Escapade.” I really could go on and on.

However, since I can find something I like anywhere, [such as in a strange outdated store in Solvang, CA- more on that in a future post], I will say I like those shoes in the top farthest left corner, even though I’m not sure if those are part of the collection. I also like that high-waisted gingham skirt with the white top.

I have to hand it to her, she does have a very distinct and extraordinary fashion sense. SHE can totally rock that shit. But for a collection, I don’t find it accessible to most people. It’s too literal. And you can find these same items at your local Goodwill, though these are sans mothball and urine stank.

Still, it does put a smile on my face and a giggle in my heart. And I bet she had a lot of fun making it and I do like this small shout-out to our favorite mang, Morrissey:

More of the collection is here.

[Lots of love to Leylabot for the heads up!]

I’ve been listening to “Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?” from Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward’s musical collaboration She & Him over and over lately. Their debut album, which features nine original tracks and two covers, drops on March 18. I remember hearing she had a cabaret act called “If All the Stars Were Pretty Babies” back when you couldn’t find wonderful things like this as easily on the internet. Someday I hope to be in a cabaret act like that. Sigh.

Miss Deschanel has what I like to call a “Sunday Afternoon type of voice” which is the kind that triggers memories of my mom and dad playing old jazz records while I colored on a Sunday afternoon. Aww. I’m hoping at some point she covers Skeeter Davis’ “End of the World”. It seems only natural, doesn’t it?

[Photos: Autumn De Wilde for Lula Magazine]