Thursday's Movie Review: The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964)

A bittersweet and heartwrenching tale of young lust and marriage in 1960's France The Umbrellas of Cherbourg is one of those movies that has to be experienced once. It's not a movie that will appeal to a broad audience, and the fact that all dialogue is sung instead of spoken will turn off some. There are two reasons to watch the film--1) the visuals and 2) Catherine Deneuve.



Umbrellas Of Cherbourg is part of the French new wave in cinema. The backgrounds are inspiring in Easter egg colors. Catherine Deneuve skips around her technicolor world, a vision in youth and blonde hair, a perfect paragon of young love. Nino Castelnuovo is an appropriate Romeo to Catherine's Juliet. I love Deneuve's iconic black hair ribbon, her constant ballet flats, and that lovely salmon pink coat. Watch this one with a boy you are about to break up with anyways as a form of revenge/torture.

Daily Dose of Pretty: Christian Louboutin Fall 2011 Lookbook

I've always been a bit of an art buff so I flipped when I saw Louboutin's Fall Lookbook! I love the juxtaposition of his iconic shoe with classic portraiture, a perfect marriage of fashion and high art! The inspiration for these advertisements was pure genius. Sit back, contemplate each image, and enjoy the pretty.

Weekly Expense Report: Lil Bit O' Everythin'

I would have dressed myself head to toe this week if it weren't for the fact that nothing I bought matches. I worked too much this week so I was restricted to online shopping.

I used my Shoedazzle credit this month for these Patra sandals ($40). I think these are my most-wearable purchase so far, I'm obsessed with sea-glass green so these match a lot of things in my closet already! I love getting cheap and stylish shoes every month!

I was so excited for the Tarina Tarantino sale on Ideeli! I managed to snag this necklace ($49) during the sale and I have a few more pieces on my wishlist!

I also purchased this dress ($39) from Ideeli to make the most of my shipping cost! I'm really excited about the color, purple is not a color that I do a lot. I love the ruffles and the little pockets!

Thursday's Movie Review: Valley of the Dolls (1967)

As an anachronistic diva I find inspiration in many things but movies are one of my favorite sources. I like watching classic movies because they form the furniture of our culture and are referenced again and again. Valley of the Dolls is one of those movies that is mentioned so many times but how many of us have actually seen it? Luckily Netflix streaming came to my rescue!



Yowza! How risque and scandalous right? Watching Valley of the Dolls was kind of like ripping off a band-aid very very slowly. The movie starts out bright-eyed and bushy-tailed with Miss Wells moving to New York City where the three girls meet. As they grow famous their lives spiral downward and each faces subjects that are so intimate for women then and now. I love the clothes--Jennifer's pink poolside palazzo pants + green bikini top and Lawson's gold beaded pantsuit stick with me. The make-up is inspiring too, the deep shading in the crease is so 60's! This would be a perfect movie to watch with your mom for a girls-night-out. Don't forget the sherry!

Sophisticated Pierrot Style

There is just something so classic about a French clown. I really love this shoot by Solve Sundsbo for Numero magazine because it displays a wonderful use of black and white to full effect and offsets the iconic bowler hat. The makeup here is gorgeous as is the pale skin and ethereal lighting. Who knew a clown could be so sophisticated?






P.S. There is no Weekly Expense Report this week, I've been a good girl.

A little inspiration...

I'm really digging the French-provincial-meets-Manhattan aesthetic of Wisteria.com. The site offers rare finds, great design ideas and exclusive items to bring personality to your home. Sit back and enjoy the pretty.

Weekly Expense Report: Yet More Shoes!

I used my Shoedazzle credit for these Nattie heels ($40). They look like something Betsey Johnson would have come up with. I'm crossing my fingers that these will be semi-comfortable. A girl can never have too many shoes.

Sunny Days Ahead! aka How to Kill an Hour

I can get lost at Giantvintage.com's huge selection of vintage eyewear. We all know summer is in full swing so everyone needs a sunglasses wardrobe to combat the days ahead. Those who know me know I am obsessed with not aging so you will find me wearing sunglasses on even a cloudy day! I spent two hours browsing the site and filling up my shopping cart before I realized I had $300 in sunglasses. Considering that all styles are under twenty-four bucks a pop that is quite the accomplishment. Like the ones in the pic? Crawford can be found here ($20). Men's styles available too!

Katy Perry + Vanity Fair

I much preferred Katy Perry when she sung about kissing girls than fireworks but I do love the looks she is sporting in this Vanity Fair spread. I love how the girl vacillates between kooky and glamorous. This editorial sums her up nicely, fluffy blurbs and all.

Weekly Expense Report: Vintage Finds + Summer Shoes

My best friend Eden and I went vintage shopping this weekend in Cuyahoga Falls, OH. We found a great shop called Secret Past and went a little crazy for vintage shoes, hats, and jewelry. We hit all the antique shops in the area and then stopped by Metropolis Popcorn for a snack (Reese's and Vanilla Pecan respectively.) We also did some disappointing thrifting around Akron before ending up at DSW and TJ Maxx for some serious damage. We had dinner at Bravo and enjoyed Bruscetta, Lasagna Verduta + Chocolate Lava Cake, and Grilled Salmon and Asparagus Salad + Creme Brulee respectively. We were our fabulous selves all weekend. Let's check out my haul!

I fell in love with this pink and aurora borealis crystal bib necklace ($24). I'm not afraid to wear rhinestones every day, I don't know why other women save them for special occasions. Their lives are 80% less sparkly than they should be! There were matching earrings which Eden snagged.

There is a lost art to wearing a cardigan and this is one of the accouterments ($12). The little roses and pearls are so Betsey Johnson. I will be clipping this onto lapels, shrugs and cardigans.

I fell in love with this vintage pillbox hat ($8) and snapped it up immediately. I'm going to start wearing hats for a vintage flare more often. I love the little rose on the back!

This is a hat/hair ornament ($15) that looks amazing against my burgandy hair. The blue netting sweeps over the face just so and the sequins are simply magical. I need to find an outfit for this one!


I was so excited to find the Harajuku Lovers Yipee Wedge Sandal ($35) at DSW. I fell for the red because it fulfills my childhood love of the jelly sandal and combines it with Minnie Mouse and walk-all-day comfort. I love the details--the heart-shaped buckle and gingham sole featuring one of the L.A.M.B girls.

My favorite find, I was coveting these on Zappos when they sold out. You can find these Poetic License Dainty Doll flats ($98) on the Irregular Choice site still. The pink + green combo kills me, then we have cherries, rhinestone bows, and a comfortable heel so I can actually wear these to work for a winning combination.

I scored the Born "Miss" wedge sandal ($84) at TJMaxx for only $50! I had not seen the pink I had been coveting in the Columbus stores so I had to snap it up when I saw it! If you know me you know I am obsessed with comfortable high heels that I can wear all day so I stalk Born and Sofft's websites looking for cute styles. I spare no expense on comfortable shoes!

Mobster Chic

Now that Summer is in full swing I'm already lusting after Fall's cool weather, jackets, and leg coverings. Gucci's Fall 2011 collection gave us color and mobster chic. I will be channeling my inner Bonnie Parker with a fur stole and swinger hat in just a few months. I find these color combinations wildly inspiring!