Four Adventures of Reinette and Mirabelle

I went to a movie by myself yesterday for the first time ever. I went to go see Pillow Talk, a Doris Day movie, but it turned out to be preceded by a long college lecture so I snuck out and went across the hall to see the Eric Rohmer movie Four Adventures of Reinette and Mirabelle, which I'd wanted to see too and was much more fun. It's about two young girls who meet randomly and end up sharing an apartment in Paris and how their new friendship holds up as their value systems clash. It was made in 1986 and I found myself laughing at the absurdity of 80s fashions even in super-chic Paris.

The girl with the lighter hair is Mirabelle, the Parisienne, and while she wears some crazy stuff, I won't lie and say that I don't now want some high-waisted jeans, oversized sweaters and little canvas sneakers. I also like the ridiculous polo/turtleneck teal shirt thing she has going on in the last photo, and the giant quilted coat, Wellies, and black tank top she wears when she meets Reinette out in the countryside. I also like her attitude: she's the one telling off the snobby art dealer above.

Inspiration: Dolce & Gabbana

I am really loving this look from Dolce & Gabbana, from the Sartorialist. I have been wishing for more gold earrings and these big hoops are simple but dramatic. I also like the clean, sexy silhouette, despite the fact that I have zero occasion to ever dress like that.
These weird images are from D&G's Spring/Summer 2011 ad campaign, the same as we saw from the runway shot. They give me a weird feeling, perhaps they play too much into the Madonna/Whore dichotomy or a hyper-sexualized portrayal of female jealousy. But anyway, I like the big gold earrings, the chandelier ones are especially cool.
The shirt in this photo reminds me of a still from The Leopard that is on the cover of the February schedule at the Siskel Film Center downtown. The print dress the actress wears in the film is less seductive, but it has a really fitted, pleated bodice with a little black drawstring around the scoop neckline and a full skirt. I really like this look, and think I need to add more fitted waistlines into my everyday wardrobe. This kind of fitted peasant top is so Italian-sexy, but it might be hard to find one that didn't look too costume-y.

Up Chairs

I rewatched Up, the Disney/Pixar movie, a few nights ago and was impressed again. It has some of the most moving dialogue-free animated sequences I can remember, and the attention to detail, especially in textiles, warms my heart (maybe) even more. I'd take Ellie's chair--the wildly disproportionate top-heavy one on the right, please. Oh, and an art deco blimp, that too.

And P.S. - google image search for "up chairs movie disney" brings some insane gems. Enjoy.

And that's it.

My roommates and I rented the documentary 7 Up, which follows 14 British kids who were 7 years old in 1964 until they are adults. 56 up is due out next year, and I for one am stoked. The other night we watched the first 3 installments, until the kids are 21. It's great! This is my favorite scene, where this kid explains why he doesn't want to get married.

Hedgehog in the Fog

My friend Claire is doing a project on Soviet children's books, and she sent me this incredible animation by 1970s Soviet illustrator Yuri Norstein. It's so good!
Also, Claire is super-smart. I hadn't looked at her blog in awhile, and wow, she is so cool. I think you forget, when you are having dinner with your cute friend and talking about boyfriends, that she speaks like 4 languages and is probably going to be a professor.

An Education

Jess convinced me to go see An Education with her last night because she claimed the clothes were incredible. They were! This is just a tiny sample! Oh my gosh, the hydrangea dress in the Paris pictures absolutely kills me. There were a lot of great early 60s Parisian high fashion, some late 50s shifts and full skirted dresses, a fabulous gold brocade, and I even liked the rather dowdy English school uniforms and the teachers staid skirt suits and her homework-doing plaid shirts and cardigans. I want those sunglasses and her hairstyle. Must cut shorter bangs.

Waltz with Bashir

Zeb and I went to see this movie, and it was very devastating but also very good. I think that animation can make horror even more terrible, by removing it a bit from reality. See Maus, which permanently scarred me in 7th grade.