My Life is a Countdown

2 days before my summer vacations

4 days before visiting my sister

8 days before my trip to Cuba

21 days before my birthday

My life is a countdown.

Victoria's Secret dress

Mexx black cardigan

Vintage belt

Vogue US July 2010 - Review

MAGNIFICIENT OBSESSION

Photographer : Peter Lindbergh

Models : Natalia Vodianova & Ewan McGregor

Fashion Editor : Grace Coddington

What you will like about it

• The photos are like snapshots from a 1950's movie. 
• Ewan McGregor is the star of this shoot.  He blew me away.  He is such a great actor, so good at communicating a wide range of emotions, that even in 2-D, frozen on glossy paper he was able to make the character alive. A tour de force!
• Beautiful choice of clothes : hourglass dresses, full skirts and perfect accessories such as gloves and brooches.  Full skirts were part of the New Look in 1947 and reigned until the early 1960's.  If you want to read more about it, I wrote a post on the New Look : http://maketheworldaprettierplace.blogspot.com/2010/05/history-of-fashion-new-look_11.html

What you won't like

• Natalia Vodianova was not the right model for this editorial.  I don't know if it's because she looks extremely young in some photos or the fact that she isn't as good at expressing emotions as Ewan McGregor.  It just doesn't work. 
• I don't feel any chemistry between the co-stars.  They look like they are each doing their own thing in some of the photos.
• The editorial presents two different hairdos : the beehive à la Prada for fall and the hair down with no particular style.  The beehive looks really good but after the sixth picture, it gets boring.  The hair down look could have been more styled, maybe like it was on Marion Cottillard. 

Flower Girls - Part 1

Photographer : Ben Hassett                                                              Photographer : Holly Blake

Model : Olga Sherer                                                                       Model : Tiah Eckhardt

Photographer : Miles Aldridge

Model : Shannan Click

(Via Fashion Gone Rogue)

Louis Vuitton Fall 2010 Campaign

The models seem to have popped out of a Mad Men episode.

Same feminine spirit of the runway show.

Retro shoes and dresses.

Three decades of top models that range from their 20's to their 40's

Shot by Steven Meisel.

What is there not to love?

Models : Christy Turlington, Natalia Vodianova, Karen Elson

Photographer : Steven Meisel

Stylist : Karl Templer

(Via Fashion Gone Rogue)

Prom Night at 31

I work as an accountant for a four-stars hotel that hosts a lot of proms. 
This got me wondering about what I would wear if I had to go to prom all over again. 

This is what I came up with.

I chose this dress because it is young and fun because I think prom should be taken too seriously.

I wanted my outfit to be girlie but not over the top so I chose accessories with a harder edge.

What do you think?

Perfume Commercials

Some perfume commercials are so beautiful and elaborate these days, they are almost like short films.  Here are some of my favorites, selected so there is a nice variety of different ad styles : sexy, romantic, theatrical and chic.
Let me know if you have a favorite and I might include it in a Part 2.
Trésor de Lancôme is my sister's favorite.


CHANEL No 5

Directed by Baz Luhrmann

Model : Nicole Kidmand

J'ADORE DIOR

Model : Charlize Theron

MISS DIOR CHÉRIE

Directed by Sofia Coppola

Model: Maryna Linchuk

TRÉSOR LANCÔME
Model : Ines Sastre

Cuba, Sì!

This is my fictional wardrobe for Cuba.
I can't afford a new wardrobe for my trip so I decided to put together a fictional one. I was inspired by the old American cars that Cubans still drive. I chose retro prints and cuts and floral cotton dresses for daytime because they are casual, fun and light - great for the heat.


This post is an experience. You have to watch the short film before looking at the clothes.

Blue Suede Shoes

Aldo Blue Suede Shoes

Suzy Shier Grey Pants

Vintage Ebay Clutch

My blue suede shoes - this is not the first time you've seen them and it won't be the last.

I'm sure I have mentioned before I bought them on sale for 25$!

God, I love a good deal.

About the pants now.

I bought those pants when I got a "real" job.

They were part of my new wardrobe at the time, a serious wardrobe for a serious job.

Funny how things change.

The necklace was a gift from my boyfriend when we were in South Beach last year.

He said the color matches my eyes...

Isn't he sweet?! :)

Summer Obsession

This is what I'm suggesting for Summer!

Is it Fall Already?

X
I'm annoyed.

I've been annoyed ever since I saw the clothes featured in Harper's Bazaar June/July 2010.

Is it only me or is it too early to talk about clothes for fall ?  After all, we are only in June.

I understand they showed the Fall Collections already but it's so early, it's depressing.
For a lot of northern countries like mine, summer is just beginning and according to my calendar, it will begin officially on June 21st, the summer solstice.

So, why the rush ?

I know vendors need to advertise the new merchandise but it feels like they skipped summer.

Okay, I have to admit something before I continue with this argument : I may have a conflict of interest..

I LOVE Summer.
I live in Canada and it's the only season when my feet are not cold.

My makeup may be melting, my hair may be frizzy but I love it!

Hot and humid.

Anyway, I was flipping through the new issue of Vogue.

There was an outstanding editorial about Natalia Vodianova and Ewan McGergor playing a 50's couple.

Brilliant storyline, beautiful pictures, fantastic clothes......for fall!

What a disappointment!

Normally, I would be jumping for joy after seeing such a beautiful editorial except that is not fall yet.

If you're wondering what the pictures look like I'm going to feature them eventually - they are already on my computer - but it would just feel so irrelevant to write about them right now.

Is it me?  Am I too in love with summer that I can't see we need to prepare for fall already?

I always felt that whereas magazines are about what's going to happen in a few weeks' time, blogs are more about what was happening right now. 
Anyway, that's how I want by blog to be.  I don't want to lose touch with reality.

So, even though we have already seen the fall collections and we are all dying to blog about them - myself included - do you think bloggers should wait at least until August before bringing up the subject?

So, my dear readers, I ask you : is it time for fall already?

Marie Claire Italia - July 2010

I can't wait for my summer vacations in Cuba!

It's gonna be myself, my boyfriend, the ocean and a bikini for a week.

On July 8th, I will be like this model, frolicking on the beach!

Well, like this model but with a few more pounds :)

Photographer : Rennio Maifredi

Model : Erin Heatherson

Stylist : Laura Seganti

(Via Fashion Gone Rogue)

Vogue Germany - July 2010

You can almost feel the water !

(From Greg Kadel Studios on Vimeo)

WATER & FIRE

Photographer : Greg Kadel

Model : Cameron Russell

Stylist : Brian Molloy

(Via Fashion Gone Rogue)

Chanel No 5

I've had this Marilyn Monroe t-shirt forever - exactly 10 years.

I still love it as much as the day I bought it.

After a few years in storage, I think it's ready for another spin :)

This clutch was 5$, I still can't believe it !

The skirt is one of my favorite because of its retro vibe.

JUST TELL A WHITE LIE

I live in a four-appartments complex and they all have a balcony with a view of the inner barkyard. When I take pictures of myself for the blog, I make sure the neighbors are not home because I don't want them to think of me as the crazy girl who takes pictures of herself. When I hear a car arriving I just run inside. It can be difficult when I use a tripod but by now, I’ve mastered the running-inside-with-a-tripod technique quite well.
Yesterday, I didn’t hear one of the neighbor come home. He is a young guy, younger than me and I think he waits tables for a living.

"Are you studying in photography" he asked me.

"…" I was caught off guard

"Because I see you often taking pictures." did he continue, waiting for an explanation.

"..."

I thought for a second to tell him about my blog but I figured it was a bad idea so I went for the white lie. You have to understand that I am the worst at white lies. I HATE lying especially when I am not prepared. I just get confused. So I said :

"Sort of"

Fortunately he didn’t ask me what "sort of studying in photography" meant because I am still wondering myself!

My Comments on VOGUE'S Top Ten

VOGUE'S TOP TEN FOR THE SUMMER

and what you should remember from it!

1. A tiny white bikini, for poolside iced-espresso sipping.

In theory, a tiny white bikini is awesome but in reality it's not very flattering for the body. Unless you are a Sports Illustrated model with a beautiful tan and mile-long legs and you weigh 100 lbs soaking wet, us mortals should stay away from the white bikini.

2. A high-waisted Hollywood-goddess swimsuit for frolicking scenically in the surf.

Polka dots, nautical, ruffles, etc. A retro swimsuit is always cute. Just make sure it's not too high-waisted because it would look like you put on your Grandma's swimsuit instead of your own.

3. A slim-cut, mannish jacket to wear over numbers 1 and 2 as an unconventional cover-up.

I love the idea of an unconventional cover-up because we wear too often the same boring wrap skirt. The mix of the masculine jacket with a bikini is new and sexy. Note : this style is reserved for women who sit by the pool/beach with no intentions of going in the water. For women who actually plan on getting their hair wet, a jacket is not such a good idea. Do we really want pool water on our beautiful jackets? But a trifted men's shirt might do the trick. I'll try it and report back to you.

4. A zebra-striped bag, big enough for a bottle of SPF 30 Crème de la Mer and several eBay-ed copies of Fleur Cowles's Flair.

A zebra-striped bag is a great idea for a beach tote. It's fun and casual. Crème de la Mer is supposed to be the best and I think investing in a good SPF lotion is necessary : your face will thank you later. If you can't afford Crème de la Mer - like yours truly - any SPF lotions at your local drugstore will do.

VOGUE is the best and here we have proof : who else would have thought of reading vintage magazines on the beach? So cooool!

5. A chunky white wristwatch.
This one I have mixed feeling about. It depends what you wear with it. I just don't want to have the feeling the 80's are going to call at any minute to have it back.

6. A wide-brimmed hat. Those passé porkpies never were much use in the sun.

A hat adds style to any outfit and it goes with your SPF lotion. It is my goal to find the perfect hat for my summer vacations and have enough confidence to actually wear it.

7. A white minidess, possibly sliced or cut out here or there. (Yes, white is everywhere.)

There is nothing more summery than a white minidress - when you had time to get a tan to go with it. The sliced/cut out part is optional thank God!

8. A blouse with an I Love Lucy print. Leopard spots? Polka dots?

Again so cool. I want an I Love Lucy t-shirt!

9. Bangles that look like they came from a market in Zanzibar, to wear on both arms.

I'm on a mision for this one. I want this look so badly but my wrists are so tiny, the bangles are always too big and they slip off.

10. A perfectly weightless pastel chiffon dress, for wafting down lower Fifth Avenue, pretending

it's 1938 and we're inspiring Irwin Shaw to pen "The Girls in Their Summer Dresses."

A vintage pastel chiffon dress! Yes, please!

And here is the link to read this wonderful short story : http://www.classicshorts.com/stories/dresses.html

HAVE A GREAT SUMMER EVERYONE!

(Summer Top Ten's Source - Vogue US June 2010) - (Photos' Source - Vogue Italia 2005 /Carolyn Murphy by Steven Meisel)

(Photos via Fashion Gone Rogue)