Valley of the Dolls or Betty Draper?

I decided to post this feature in celebration of the season premier of Mad Men this past Sunday. Betty was conspiciously absent from the first episode as Don settles down with his new wife. What's in store for the former Mrs. Draper this season? I think this editorial shows a Betty a few years later, twice divorced and downing dolls and alcohol while the kids are at school and greeting the mailman in a Miu Miu coat. The character reference is obvious and the use of shadows are a reflection of Betty's eventual decline from the fresh pastel-loving girl from season one. Brilliant. This "Valley of the Dolls" editorial was shot by Rosie Huntington for Harpers Bazaar UK.

Like Sweets from Heaven

Marie Claire South Africa had this jaunty little spread for January 2012. Prada Resort 2012 invites the 60s-inspired patterns, sorbet colors and bold makeup to come out and play. The silhouettes are very 40s while the Pop Art patterns make the clothes modern again. Notice how the same hat worn multiple ways ties all the images together.

Diana Agron does the 60s

Yet another celebrity I'm not really sure why they are famous yet looks killer in mod style. I'm really loving the Miu Miu coat and Tarina Tarantino earrings. These lady-like structured styles and pale pink lips are thanks to Nylon magazine.

More More More!

This Editorial is titled "More More More!" and that's about all I know. A little dowager chic, cotton candy-colored hair, and the artful reveal of lingerie are the unifying themes of this shoot, I just wish I knew more about it.

Tattler Russia's Ice Princess

Winter in Ohio kicks off after Christmas, our Indian summer frosts into full-blown winter with blizzards and ice storms. I love the changing of the seasons and winter holds a special place in my heart as the season of cozy cashmere, fur (faux please!), dazzling sequins, bright tights and cool winter coats. This editorial celebrates my favorite parts of winter with a strong 1920s vibe. I can't get over the liberal use of fur and gypsy accents that makes me anxious to get into the snowy part of winter. I can just see myself scraping the frost off of my car in one of these glamorous looks from Russia's Tattler magazine.

Mechanical Dolls

I love antique dolls and Pierrot-inspired photo shoots, thus I love this recent editorial for Vogue Italia October 2011 by Tim Walker. The mix of dolly-kei, victorian, and gothic circus is completely fabulous and there is not a spot of pink to be seen! (See? I can diversify!)

Anna Paquin + V Magazine 2011

Anna Paquin got all dolled up for V magazine and she looks...a bit ridiculous doesn't she? Paquin has a very modern face and figure so the hair and clothes do nothing for her. She honestly looks like a drag queen or like she's wearing a Marilyn Monroe Halloween costume in some of the shots. I do like the Hitchcock feel that some of the images evoke but overall I'm so distracted by the wrongness of the whole shoot. This is a great example of anachronistic style taken too literally, it becomes costume-y. If the stylist had mixed in some more modern elements the shoot would have been less jarring.