Diary Talk: catch up.

Wow! Sorry readers I haven't posted in such a long time, with me graduating in the next couple of weeks my head has been all over the place, let me give you a run down of what's happening.

Ok, the film I was supposed to be working on, unfortunately the job fell through, I was and am, extremely grateful that the role was given to myself but for unfortunate reasons I am unable to be the costume assistant for the film, 'Piercing Brightness'. The film is still in the running to be shot so I look forward to seeing the finished product and with regards to my film reviewing, since I last spoke to you guys I have seen a variety of films: 'Rubber', 'X-Men: First Class', 'Hangover 2' etc.. I'm still inlove with film, I REALLY love it when you go to the flicks and you hear the 20th Century Fox music intro: that lovely feeling that the next couple of hours I can escape, it's such a fab feeling!

'X-Men: First Class' was really great actually, I went with friends and I embarrassingly hadn't seen any of the other X-Men films, but as soon as this film finished I went home and watched the first X-Men and I am now working through the films. I found it better to see 'X-Men: First Class', before I watched the other X-Men movies: it unravelled and highlighted the key characters. I haven't chosen a favourite character just yet, I will let you know when I do :)

'Hangover 2' wasn't as good as the first, but still the movie does make me giggle, and the film 'Rubber', I just came across because I went to see some friends in Beverly, and my friend, Emma, teaches media and film and it was in fact one of her students who said that she should watch the movie, 'Rubber' and my oh my, that film was just crazy! I read the back of the dvd and it just sounded that insane that it made me want to see the film. The film is about a rubber tyre who kills people- I know! If you ever get the chance to watch the film, do so, because I know it sounds very strange but it's that bad that it's good.





So, what lies ahead for me over these next couple of weeks? Well at the minute I'm on a marketing internship with the fabulous company CREATE based in Leeds, I will be seeing the beginnings of a restaurant to it's opening. I will be involved in marketing the restaurant and the company over these next few months- this is something i'm very excited to be working on, I have my first meeting this thursday so I will let you know how that goes. As mentioned I'm graduating this july, and I get my final grade for my degree this friday!! All the four years I've been studying for, all the hard work, tears, giggles, commuting, everything comes down to this grade so wish me luck :) I'm still working as a visual merchandiser for UKGreetings and I am collaborating with creatives on photoshoots so I'm still busy which is good.

Anyway I hope I haven't bored you guys, I just know it's best to keep communication on a high to just let you know that i'm still here. How are you guys doing? Do you have anything nice planned for the summer?

....fashion postings to come :)

Yohji Yamamoto: Pure Genius

I am very excited to see this film.

This week in fact, I am in london attending Graduate Fashion week which will be fab! but whilst I'm in london, I might try and go see Yohji Yamamoto at the V&A, has anyone seen the exhibit? Thoughts?

Yohji Yamamoto: This Is My Dream from Hintmag.com on Vimeo.

Donnie Darko

So my first film I watched for research purposes, was 2001's 'Donnie Darko' featuring a very young Jake Gyllenhaal, and my oh my was that film strange.Give it, it wasn't heavily sci-fi, but it did look at time travel and there was one main, highly odd, costume that run throughout the film.

Donnie is a very troubled teen, and he seems to find some crazy solace with his friend Frank, who appears from time to time in the film. Frank is a large bunny which only Donnie can see...see what I mean, a little odd. Donnie is a schizophrenic with a history of violence, and only recently has he stopped taking his medication and it's with this, that Frank appears in Donnie's life. Frank comes with news that the world is going to end soon and Donnie with this information, seems to begin to take a little control of his life, and the events that happen in his life, well not sane Donnie. When Frank visits Donnie he influences him to do certain things like flood his school, burn down buildings etc and it's all these events that seem to change and shape Donnie's future.

The film is quite a deep film, and with time travel as a key theme it can be confusing at times but I still quite enjoyed it, I would definitely recommend the film. It seems to be a classic, in fact, Donnie Darko is in the top 5 of Australia's My Favourite Film poll.

In terms of costume, as I've mentioned one key costume that ran throughout the film was Frank's bunny character, when you hear the word bunny, I think cute, soft small animal, not a grey, ghostly looking bunny with an evil face and grin. When I first saw Frank, my initial feeling was to laugh, maybe it was a nervous laughter because Frank is no cute bunny. Although the costume looks quite easy to create and seems like a simple idea, it's always those simple things that can really work. I went to see 'Insidious' at the cinema last week and although I did like the film, the constant shock, screaming and jumping did get a little tedious, I felt that the film would have been that little more creative by keeping those silences in the film, and playing with the viewers' mind. This is something I think Frank's character does, because it's such a simple costume but still eerily scary, it really works.

Diary Talk.

Although I have now finished my Fashion Promotion with Styling course, a little work has followed my exit, which is always fab!

I am attending Graduate Fashion Week on the 5th June, I have my exhibition private view on the 10th June, on the 11th June and the 12th June I am involved in 'The Stylist's Closet' at the Trafford Centre where I will offer personal style advise to the male customer and then to finish off, I am a costume assistant for London based artist & filmmaker, Shezad Dawood's new feature length science fiction film, Piercing Brightness, so over these next couple of months i'm busy busy busy which is really great, after my last hand in yesterday I didn't want my schedule to become stale, and with all this ahead it looks like it's getting busier.

I will keep you guys updated of my whereabouts over these two months, I will try and post as many photos as possible to show you a glimpse into my world right now.

So with all this ahead of me something tells me I need to brush up a little on my sci fi film knowledge, I might start with Blade Runner or 1930's classic Metropolis: i'm planning on posting my ideas and thoughts of each film I watch into the run up on here, kind of giving a little review. I'm excited about these next couple of months, meeting new people, making new contacts and getting into the industry.

Black Swan

Wow.

Just wow.

I saw the eagerly awaited film this afternoon and it really is incredible.

Natalie portman is just amazing, her portrayal of both the white and black swan is just mesmerising.

I loved the costume throughout the film; the ballet tutus, the shrugs, the perfect pink ballet shoes and the contrast of the monochromatic theme that is adamant in every scene is stunning. The colour changes throughout the scenes as Portman's character, the ever angelic Nina, begins to mutate into the dark, black swan.

Nina is a ballerina in a heavily competitive ballet company in NYC, her life is dance and nothing else: never has the saying, born to dance, been so right for this woman, this woman who strives for perfection so much so it becomes part of her downfall.
Nina is given the main character of the Swan Lake performance, the Swan Queen, a part she has wanted and worked for for such a long time, yet she hasn't got the role as she wants it completely, when Lily (Mila Cunis), another dancer in the ballet company, is always over her shoulder. The role for swan lake requires a dancer who can play the virgin like, ethereal white swan yet one that can turn and switch into the dark, sexy black swan. At first Nina seems to struggle with the formation into the black swan but after a night with the personified black Swan, Lily, she grasps the role and doesn't let anything get in her way.

Visually the film is just stunning. You understand certain choices of camera placement, fashion choices, lighting ideas: everything about the film hints at comparisons and the sheer starkness of black and white- the two sides and differences.

There were certain parts in the film that my eyes couldn't move from the screen, and others, where my eyes were covered with my hands. The film was everything I expected, Portman's portrayal of Nina is astonishing, and like I said visually this film is by far one of the best I have seen in a long time.

Black Swan

I am VERY excited to see this film....roll on february..

Natalie Portman looks incredible...

The Black Raven

This fashion film I saw today on SHOWstudio.com is absolutely beautiful. I kind of felt like I was in a trance whilst watching it, it's stunning.

Billie Piper, you see in another light altogether, her delicate movements and direct face really enhance the film and add to it's fascination.

The narrative of the film I love: the beginnning showing us the raven herself getting dressed, then onto 4 different looks, until the very end look and the blackest of black raven turns into a different shade. The director, Jez Tozer,
is just incredible.


A/W 2010 » Editorial
Taking inspiration from Negredo - a 'black blacker than the blackest black' and first element of the mythological process of alchemy - this film is a melancholy and emotional evocation of the dark mood of the A/W 2010 collections.

The Runaways

Who is excited to see The Runaways? starring Dakota Fanning as Cherie Currie and Kirsten Stewart as the androgynous Joan Jett. After watching the trailer and seeing countless images in newspapers and the internet...I cannot wait. The fashion really resembles most of the catwalks for fall/10.






If you wanna read a fab article on the films costume designer, see here.

UPDATE: A Sprinkle of SALT.

So I finally got to see the film the other day, after watching countless adverts on the TV, and it lived up to my expectations: I really loved the film. I became quite envious though of Angie, I mean who wouldn't want to be a kick ass detective?!

Anyway, so the more closer it came to the premiere night of the film, Angie has been out and about, I say this so blasé but hey, when you see her at the premieres and promotional events she looks stunning, almost like she hasn't been flown all over the world to promote her film.

So in regards to my last post, I wanted to check out what style choices she has chosen since.

Here's a couple....

Jolie in the french capital. An effortless beauty.

Pamella Roland Gown.

A gorgeous shot. In london.

Elie Saab navy blue, ruffled front dress.

Jolie in London, in a gorgeous Amanda Wakeley dress.

The Fashion Body

Ever since I have been learning about fashion in university and college, I have loved to learn and understand about the connection between the body and fashion. This is where my love for styling came into practise. So when I was sent in my email, articles from SHOWstudio.com about a current project with collaborations with many creatives, showcasing short films on the webpage about the fashion body, my computer cookies became blocked with SHOWstudio.

The articles are a real good read and the short films are brilliant, my favourite? Gotta be Chest by Alice Hawkins, the model is having a right giggle and the music is fun.

A sprinkle of SALT

I admire Angelina Jolie as an actress, a woman, a goodwill ambassador and a style icon, so in light of her new film out in august, I have been keeping a close eye on Jolie's style choices for the premieres  and promotional events for SALT, which I cannot wait to see.

So far Jolie has attended many events promoting the film, wether she be in Moscow, Tokyo, L.A. or Mexico she has made some chic fashion choices....but I do question wether some are a little too safe, because I mean with her lifestyle, beautiful family and her amazing body she can crank up the glamour.

Here's a few....

Tokyo, wearing a Versace Gown. This is quite a simple choice but the cut of the gown is sexy and adds extra style.

Moscow, wearing an absolutely gorgeous dress, Angies make up and accessories are kept to a minimum, the dress can speak for itself. Her hair looks amazing too, a trademark of Angies-long and luscious.

L.A., wearing an Emporio Armani, sequined mini, chicly placed with nude Ferragamo heels. 

Mexico, wearing a Versace Strapless in classic white.

Jolie may wear plenty of black, with different fabrics and textures but I think it's her natural beauty that makes every ensemble look incredible.

My favourite? Gotta be the red floor length, her whole look is stunning.

I wonder how Evelyn Salt (her character) dresses being an CIA officer, maybe more black?

Los Abrazos Rotos

Today I finally watched 'Broken Embraces'. A film directed by Pedro Almodóvar, starring the amazingly beautiful Penélope Cruz.

I saw a poster for the film at my local museum a couple of months ago, the movie poster itself was very striking, and simple. The image, which I love, doesn't necessarily give much away about the film, although the image plays with main colour of teh film The image looks almost Andy Warhol-esque, it really is stunning and shows the prodominant colour of the film, intense red. Anyway, so I bought the DVD instead and after watching it I really do wish I could have seen it at the cinema.

The film, visually was stunning. Penelope always looked incredible. Her character: a mistress to a man with a huge obsession is a woman with attitude, but one who is inlove and is caught in a jealous and aggressive relationship with a highly wealthy, well known business man. The film was very inspiring, I love looking at films for inspiration for photoshoots and styling ideas. With this film, as with many, I love how the costume designer, Sonia Grande, really used the characters' clothing as a tool to the scene. The art director too, Víctor Molero, has amazing visual talent.

My favourite part of the film has to be when Penelope is sat in hair and make-up just before shooting the film, preparing for her role and the team are playing around with hair ideas and almost making Penelope look like a replica of Audrey Hepburn: it's amazing how much a wig and change of make-up can really evoke a character. The lighting in the film really enhanced the clothing and the lucious colours: it reminded me almost of Juergen Teller's imagery, with his clean and clear sharp white light fashion photography. Another visual I noticed was the art directors choice of showing certain details but highlighting them more prominently, for instance when Mateo (the film director in the film) is filming his film and the camera highlights her surroundings, to really build up a character, I really like this and like applying it to the photoshoots I do. Whilst watching the film I just couldn't help but link the visual of the film to an older post of mine, where I looked at Robert Doisneau:Plam Springs 1960 collection, the colours and the fashion choices sent me write back to those images.

I loved the film visually and the plot of the film too, I just wish I could speak Spanish so I didn't have to read the credits and then I would be able to just devoir the visuals of the film.

American Gigolo photoshoot

As promised these are our group shoot images for our end of year photoshoot, based on the film 'American Gigolo'. (unedited photos)

Photography: Laura Oliver
MUA: Hannah Ellen
Team Leaders: Myself and Claire Johnson
Styling/art direction etc....Fashion Promotion with Styling students, year2, UCLAN

The Premiere's with the girls....

Well, now that SATC2 mania has relaxed a little, I just want to share my favourite Premiere outfits the ladies chose.



New York


London



Tokyo

My favourite has gotta be the Tokyo choice of dress. The ladies look gorgeous, there dresses are stunning and each looks vintage-esque which I just love, the garments seem to have more character. I think at the Tokyo premiere also, the girls look more like their on screen characters. Miranda choosing the ever so elegant and formal LBD: Charlotte looking like a gorgeous 1950's lady: Samantha wearing a sexy shimmering dress and Carrie, wearing a stunning Carrie-esque dress with added Carrie styling choices i.e eccentric jewellry, vintage tan belt finished off with towering heels.

I'm excited for the DVD to come out to see all those yummy bonus features, maybe an interview with Patricia????