The Emperor Knows Clothes

Après moi, le déluge.

Last week I had the (guilty) pleasure of seeing Valentino:  The Last Emperor.  The film was a surprisingly candid look into the divinely glamourous life of Signore Valentino Garavani and his lifetime partner in business and life, Giancarlo Giammetti.  Elegant, touching, humorous, with a touch of drama, the film contained all the elements one would expect in the telling of any life story.   A must see for every fashion enthusiast, you will leave feeling inspired after a peek into the life of one of the world's greatest fashion inamorata.  

Valentino:  The Last Emperor.

Bat my lashes

I undoubtedly adore musician Natasha Khan aka Bat for Lashes. She is a huge style inspiration, if I ever caught wind of her holding a yard sale I would book a flight to London ASAP just to be able to rummage through her stuff.

My love for her started a few years back when I saw a brilliant music video for her single "What's a Girl to Do". Now that she has a new album out I thought I would pull up some of my favorite photos of her personal style...















A few quotes by Natasha about personal style:

"I think for the very first album it was more my excitement at being let loose and free to be creative, and picking things out of the dressing up box, and swapping and changing things around that didn't necessarily fit together. I'd always had a love, more intellectually, of Native American folklore and I really liked strange photographers like Diane Arbus and all the beautiful drag queens of New York, and I really loved Nick Cave and his gothic dark things."

"When it came to people wanting to do press pictures early on I really delved into my inspirations and just picked out things that spoke to me in quite a spontaneous way. I feel like that's carried on, really. I've really developed my understanding of what I like to wear, and I've got more comfortable in my fashion and knowing what I like and don't like."

"There's so much weird politics and regulation about what's cool or authentic. And to me what's always been cool is not giving a shit what people think, that's the epitome of cool. If you have to dress a certain way to be cool or taken seriously then you're not being true to yourself, and that's quite sad really isn't it? I don't put any demands on anyone else, and I don't think anyone else should do the same."

"I like old fashion more than current stuff for men. I've noticed that the younger generation in Brighton are starting to look quite smart. Everyone looks like a poet or a writer, and I find that really sexy."

"I've seen Nick Cave around, and he does tend to be quite smartly dressed, but I have seen him in quite dress-down casual stuff, t-shirt and jeans I think maybe. He's not always the dark lord, and I'm not always the mystical, feather-wearing goddess."

Just Jump(ers)

Came across this photo of Jessica Biel for the next issue of Allure magazine. I'm not a fan of Jessica's, I actually think she's a boring actress and have yet to see her in anything where I didn't wish she would get off the screen. Easy Virtue is her next film to hit theaters this week, the story line sounds pretty good and it takes place in my favorite era... lets just hope her acting has improved to where she can carry the lead role.

I like the One Piece by Derek Lam that she's wearing for the magazine shoot. Here are the other one pieces from the same Spring 2009 collection.

L.A.M.B Fall '09

I'm really dig'n the first Jacket... and those black heals.







Speaking of Gwen it looks like she and the boys from No Doubt will be making an appearance on the Gossip Girl spin off as a fictional 80's band called "Snowed Out". Which is a bummer because I loved Gwen's cartoonish Disney Land character inspired style waaay back in the day when No Doubt were little young ones, it would have been nice to see that style in the show... but it makes sense since the time frame of the G.G. spin off wouldn't match up to when No Doubt was playing their first shows.

I don't think her wardrobe for the show is very "80's" but then again I haven't seen the episode, maybe it works somehow.



Here is a video of a young Gwen repairing her costume with a glue gun before a gig. It's so cute at one point the interviewer asks if she make clothes for other people and she says "No Way! I don't even have time"... ha ha. I have always loved Gwen I think she has been the longest standing style icon for me. I know some of her outfits and hair styles have been just outrageous but thats what's so great about her, she has the confidence to wear and do whatever she wants.

CHANEL No5

I absolutely adore Audrey Tautou and this new commercial for CHANEL. The wardrobe/styling is great, so is that hot guy who catches her interest.

I personally think Audrey is a much better "face" for the brand than Nicole Kidman was, not that I don't think Nicole is a beautiful woman. I guess I'm more partial to big doe eyes and dark hair... plus Audrey is actually french. I can't wait to see Audrey in "Coco avant Chanel".

Dear Creatures

A friend of mine told me that I might like this designer because I'm a huge fan of Jumpsuits/Rompers/Playsuits whatever YOU call it I love them. So I went to the site to check out the spring collection and I actually already know of Dear Creatures or at least have seen the clothes in various places.

I love the pieces although most of the styles are a little to cutesy/girlie for me to pull off, but that doesn't mean I don't like it on other people. Apparently Zooey Deschanel has been the best press for Dear Creatures, the actress has been seen wearing the clothes all over the place... movie press junkets, out and about town and already in two different commercials (I like the dress Zooey is wearing in the picture on the right). Regardless it looks like Dear Creatures is well on the path to a great and bright future.


Here are some images from the Spring '09 Look Book... and that romper is pretty darn cute.





I actually love the Autumn '08 collection more than the spring '09... This dress below I adore but sadly I couldn't pull it off, I love that style even better as a blouse, now that I would wear!

Check out www.dearcreatures.com