Elizabeth Taylor Polyvore Set

I love creating sets on Polyvore (www.polyvore.com). It's like having an online dream closet! 

Elizabeth Taylor by m-magdalena featuring strapless dresses

Funny Fashion Flashback #1

I love watching old movies to find fashion inspiration. The display of glittering gowns and elaborate hats always leaves me with a desire to embellish my wardrobe. Sometimes the trends I enjoy the most, are the ones I find the most bizarre.

I recently watched the original version of The Women (1939) (it was later remade in 2008), and felt inspired by its display of gorgeous fashion. Among some of the most interesting trends were the hats and headpieces, in particular a piece worn by Rosalind Russell's character, Silvia Fowler. When I saw it, I couldn't help but think of the Louis Vuitton Fall 2009 collection which debuted the famous "bunny ears". It turns out this trend was a remake as well.

Rosalind Russell in The Women (1939)

Jessica Stam in Louis Vuitton Fall 2009

There and Back Again

In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.

Peter Jackson on the set of The Hobbit

If you haven't heard about Peter Jackson's upcoming directorial venture, perhaps you've been living in a hole yourself! The director of The Lord of the Rings trilogy has been working on a movie version of J.R.R.Tolkien's The Hobbit. The story will be released in two parts entitled The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and The Hobbit: There and Back Again. According to the official blog ( www.thehobbitblog.com ), many of our favourite actors from The Lord of the Rings will be reprising their roles alongside many new talents.

The first behind-the-scenes video suggests that fans will not be disappointed. Dust off those elf-ears, because for the next few years you're going to hear a lot about these much anticipated films!

Far Too Much To Take In

This weekend I was lucky enough to see The Lion King, the musical, and I must say that it is one of the most beautiful shows I have ever seen. The props, costumes, sets, and music worked together to create a masterpiece. The puppetry was so inventive and the choreography so perfect that it was easy to envision the actors as animals of the African savanna. Everyone should see this show at least once in their lives!

Scar and Mufasa

Leaping Gazelles

Cheetah hunting Giraffes

Just a final thought.....why is Zazu white in the show? And why does the actor have a hat? Odd, no?

Zazu

Hitchcock: The Blondes

Kim Novak in Vertigo (1958)

This weekend I watched Hitchcock's Vertigo for the first time, and it got me thinking. Isn't it interesting that the main heroines in his most popular films were all blonde? It is no secret that Grace Kelly was a muse for Hitchcock, but could the colour of her hair have also contributed to the popularity of his films? We all know the phrases "blondes have more fun" and "gentlemen prefer blondes"; should we also add "blondes make a blockbuster" to the list? Perhaps not. Maybe Hitchcock's personal preference for blonde leading ladies has changed our perception of movie heroines, making us more attracted to films with platinum haired stars.

Grace Kelly in Rear Window (1954)

In Hitchcock's films, the blonde characters often deceive us by appearing innocent and pure while presenting a mischievous or even villainous nature later on. The men in the films often become enchanted or obsessed with these blondes, making them more vulnerable to their wiles. This does not mean that they are dull, however, for Hitchcock's blondes are always witty and intelligent (not to mention beautiful and with great fashion sense) - heroines that girls daydream about being like.

Janet Leigh in Psycho (1960)

So whether or not Hitchcock was the originator of these fair characters, his films often make me want to reach for the bleach.

Tippi Hedron in The Birds (1963)

Ode to Marcel Duchamp

As I spent my day rinsing, de-labeling, and drying wine bottles, I couldn't help but think about Marcel Duchamp's readymade work Bottle Rack (1914). Duchamp's method of creating works of art relied on his simply selecting an object and naming it "art". Since this work was actually a real bottle rack meant for drying wine bottles, it ended up being mistaken for garbage and disposed of. Regardless, through works such as Bottle Rack (1914) and Fountain (1917) Duchamp cast a new light on what can be called "art".

While I flushed the insides of the bottles and placed them carefully on the bottle rack, I felt as though I was creating a strange Duchamp-ian work of art. This is my ode to Duchamp!

Destino - A Dali/Disney Production

Apparently, in the 1940s, surrealist artist Salvador Dali teamed up with Disney to create an animated film titled Destino. The film was not completed until 2003. Dali has always been a personal favourite of mine, and so it is a pleasure to see his paintings in motion. If you pay attention, you can often spot specific Dali paintings incorporated into the animation. Persistence of Memory (commonly referred to as "Melting Clocks") makes a small appearance - see if you can spot it!

Extravagant Hair Decor

In a quest for bridal accessories I often come upon some interesting designs. My latest search led me to discover these extravagant and colourful headpieces. At first I thought they would be a little much for a wedding, but the more I stared at them, the more I came to love them. Perhaps my idea of what is appropriate apparel for formal events is a little out of the ordinary, but wouldn't it be fantastic if women started paying as much attention to their hair accessories as their other jewellery?

Bernini - Master Sculptor

I first saw this closeup of "Hades abducting Proserpina" in an Italian travel book when I was a child. I thought it was so incredible that I HAD to see it someday in person. Little did I know that the artist who sculpted this work was one of the most influential artists in Baroque Italy. Gianlorenzo Bernini's works are breathtakingly beautiful and a constant source of inspiration to me.

I was lucky enough to visit the Galleria Borghese a few years ago, fulfilling my desire to see this sculpture in person. Let me tell you, it is even more gorgeous in reality!

"Hades abducting Proserpina" by Bernini

Closeup of Hades' hands

How women and men see colours.

I found this today; it made me laugh.

That's right! This IS a blog!

I have decided to start a blog. Mostly I will be using this as a means of tracking neat ideas, art, fashion, and all things inspiring. Enjoy!